When she came back, her eyes lit up as if she'd been waiting all day to ask.
"So, tell me, how's Earth? What's it look like now? Did World War III finally happen? Or maybe aliens landed already?" she said, leaning forward with a grin.
Renny chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know how long you've been here, but… what's the last year you remember being on Earth?"
She tilted her head back, eyes tracing the ceiling, lips pursed in mock thought. "Hmm… uh…" She squinted dramatically, then shrugged. "Can't remember."
"Then it must've been a very long time," Renny said, watching her.
She smirked. "Time gets scrambled here. We're living in a different world entirely."
Renny nodded. "Yeah, that's true enough." He let the silence linger before adding, "So… what's your name? You know mine already. It's only right I know yours, no?"
She shook her head, lifting her cup to her lips with a teasing smile. "Your contract. How's that going?"
Renny narrowed his eyes. She was dodging, deliberately. But why? He let it slide and pressed on.
"Well… it's going well," he said, then caught himself and shook his head. "No. Actually, I'm struggling."
"Oh?" she leaned in, eyes curious. "Why's that?"
"I've got no tools. No skills to buy." He paused, then smirked faintly. "Well… not no tools. But what's there is human junk. Guns, blades, chains. Against something like a Soul Guardian?" He almost said Rotmen but bit the word back. "Might as well throw pebbles."
She laughed softly, the sound almost musical. "Huh, that makes sense. The Garden of Ezra has been non-functional for as long as I can remember. No gardeners planting seeds, so of course you've got nothing to buy."
Renny blinked. "Garden of Ezra? What do you mean?"
She adjusted her posture like a teacher ready to instruct a curious pupil, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Tell me, Ezraphor...where do you think demon seeds come from?"
He frowned, realizing he'd never actually thought about it. "…Every family has a garden?"
She nodded. "Yes silly. That's where the seeds come from. It's the same with the mark abilities. All tied to the garden. If yours isn't working, then no Ezraphor powers for you, darling.
Except maybe the general toys."
"Like entering the Shadow Realm," Renny muttered.
"Huh...yes."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Then is there anything I can do about the garden?"
She lifted her brows and gave a helpless little shrug. "Don't know. But I do know only you could enter it. Gardens are family-bound. Even then, gardeners don't just let us walk in...they've got to sell. Business, dear...you understand?"
Renny nodded slowly, piecing together the economics of it. "If the Ezra garden isn't functional… and I'm the only Ezraphor left… wouldn't that mean it's unguarded? I could just enter and take whatever I wanted?"
Her laugh rang out, playful, almost mocking. "You really think like that? That it'd be that easy?" She leaned forward, eyes glittering with mischief. "No, Ezraphor. More likely, you've got the key. Tied to your soul. And if you ever find the garden's core, you could unlock it. Maybe even bring it back to life." She tapped a finger against her lip, gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "Huh… wouldn't that be interesting," she added, half to herself.
Renny tilted his head, studying her carefully. How does she even know all this? The thought nagged at him until he finally asked, "How do you know so much?"
Leila giggled softly, swirling her cup. "Huh...it is really easy to gain knowledge my dear…you stay here long enough, climbing from Grade One to Five, you see a lot, you hear even more."
He leaned back, still unconvinced. "So all this you're saying...about the garden, about the key...is it factual?"
"Huh… factual?" she purred with a sly grin. "Just baby gossips I've snatched here and there. You'll learn fast, Ezraphor...nobody down here really knows anything. Not even about their own families."
That earned a small laugh from him. "Yeah. I get that vibe. Everyone dodges the Ezraphor topic like it's poison. Except you, apparently."
Leila lifted a brow, almost proud of herself. "Maybe I'm braver. Or maybe I just like poking at mysteries." She leaned forward, voice lowering. "Either way, if you really can kickstart your garden, don't expect instant miracles. It'll take time before seeds or abilities start flowing again. But..." she tapped her cup against the table, "...in the meantime, I can give you any seed you need for your contract. And when you're ready, I'll even help you with the garden itself."
Renny narrowed his eyes. "And what do you want in return?"
She widened her eyes, feigning innocence. "Can't a senior help a struggling newcomer?"
"The President warned me how transactional hell is," Renny said, smiling faintly. "We're demons, not angels. There's always something in return."
Leila's lips curled into a sly smile. "Touché. Fine, you got me. But it's simple… I just want to satisfy my curiosity. To see if I'm right. And if you pull it off, I'd have special and unlimited access. Isn't that so, Ezraphor?"
He chuckled. "If it works, sure. That's a big if, though… I'll take the gamble."
"Yay! That's great!" she squealed, clapping her hands like a kid promised a trip to Disneyland. Then, with a sly little tilt of her head, she added, "And since we're being honest… I suppose I can give you my name now. Leila Velzira."
Renny froze for a beat, eyebrows rising. "Velzira? Wait...how the hell are you living here? I thought only Omekros lived in this zone."
Her grin widened, playful as ever. "Yes, darling. This isn't my apartment." She smiled at Renny, devious and unbothered. "The Omekro who lives here… that's the one you're really looking for." Her eyes locked on his.
"Vice President Krovanis," Renny whispered, almost to himself.