The bruises on his arms disappeared in an instant, the ache in his bones dissolving as warmth flooded his body. Each breath felt deeper, sharper and his body relaxed as if he had put down a heavy load. For the first time in his two lives, he felt… whole.
Black filth oozed from his body, staining the sheets. The smell was horrible, a rancid stench that made his stomach churn. It clung to his skin like tar, thick and vile, as if every ounce of weakness and corruption trapped within him had been forced out.
For a moment, he wanted to retch—but beneath the disgust was something else: relief. With every drop of the foul substance that seeped from him, his body felt lighter, cleaner, as though the rot of years had finally been purged.
As an avid reader, Leon was not that much surprised—he was elated.
"HAHAHAHHAHAHA" Leon laughed like a maniac. "Finally my golden finger has awakened." his voice echoed in the room.
'What is the source of this power?' he questioned as more and more waste was purged from his body.
He racked his mind, searching for an answer, but nothing surfaced. The only certainty was the vitality coursing through him—a force so pure, so overwhelming, it seemed to rewrite the very essence of his being. His veins thrummed with energy, his breath carried a strange sweetness, and even his thoughts felt sharper, clearer.
The strange energy within him ebbed away, fading until nothing remained.
With a sharp breath, he sprang up from the straw bed. Only one thought burned in his mind—he needed a bath.
He opened the door only to be welcomed by a beautiful sight of a young version of Melina bending over a pot.
For a moment he forgot about his stinking body and stopped to admire her.
Her curves were outlined by the dress, the fabric clinging just enough to hint at the softness beneath.With every stir, her ample behind moved with a gentle rhythm, the kind that drew his eyes and refused to let them go.
It was hypnotizing.
'So this is Kara… divine, simply divine,' Leon thought, his lips tugging into a faint, uncontrollable smile.
Compared to Melina's mature allure—ripened and confident—Kara was untouched, a budding flower still unaware of the beauty she carried. His old timid self might have stolen a glance then looked away, but his new self reveled in the sight, unashamed. Every line of her body, every unguarded movement, seemed more vivid to him, painted sharper by the strange energy still coursing faintly through his veins.
Smelling something foul in the air, Kara stopped what she was doing. Her delicate nose wrinkled as she frowned and followed the scent, turning her head toward the doorway.
Her eyes widened slightly when she spotted Leon standing there—unkempt, skin glistening with sweat and streaked with some strange black grime. For a brief moment, surprise flashed across her face, then embarrassment, as though she had been caught off guard in the middle of a private moment.
Leon stiffened. He had been so absorbed in admiring her that he had forgotten the stench clinging to his body. The rancid odor now seemed to stretch between them, heavy and undeniable.
Kara tilted her head, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. "Leon, what are you doing out of bed?" she asked softly, her tone carrying both concern and curiosity.
Stepping closer despite the faint stench clinging to him, her eyes swept over his frame, lingering on the strange dark stains marking his skin.
"And what… What happened to you? Why do you smell like this?" she asked, her nose wrinkling ever so slightly.
Then her eyes widened as if a revelation had struck her. She straightened abruptly, her face full of shock.
"You can walk? …How can you walk? Mother said you were still weak!"
Ignoring the filth smeared across his body, Kara reached out and touched his forehead to confirm that he was okay.
The moment her skin brushed his, a warmth spread between them, startling her. Her hand recoiled as if she had been burned, and she stumbled a step back, eyes wide.
"I—I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice soft and trembling. "I didn't mean to touch you, I was just… shocked."
Her face flushed crimson, the tips of her ears burning as she lowered her gaze to the floor. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, unable to meet his eyes, her shame almost palpable.
Leon studied her, the corners of his lips curving ever so slightly. He was fascinated by how cute she was—so different from the confident, mature Melina.
"Kara," he said softly, his voice steady yet carrying a subtle weight that made her glance up despite herself. "You don't have to apologize. You were worried about me. That's… enough."
"I… I have to inform Mother," she said quickly, almost as if clinging to duty to escape the strange tension building between them. Her hands twisted against her dress, knuckles pale.
"It is okay—we will tell her later," Leon countered, his tone calm but firm. "Right now… I need a bath."
"I'm sorry I forgot," she apologized. "Go to the back of the house, I'll bring you water."
As he stepped outside, Leon's eyes were drawn to a fence made of thick sticks, the gaps wide enough for anyone passing by to easily see through.
'Am I really going to bathe out here in broad daylight?' he wondered, his stomach tightening at the thought.
A simple stool had been placed beside a large wooden bucket, the kind made from staves bound tightly with iron hoops.
Kara brought water and carefully poured it into the big wooden bucket, the steam curling up into the cool morning air. Her hands trembled slightly as she handed him a rough piece of cloth.
"Thank you, Kara," Leon said softly, his voice steady.
Then, deciding to tease her, he let the cloth drop to the ground without waiting for her to leave.
Kara froze. Her wide eyes lingered on Leon's naked form for a heartbeat too long, her mouth slightly open in shock. Then, as if a cold wind had struck her, she spun around and fled, her dress whipping behind her like she was being chased by ghosts.
Leon couldn't help but let out a low chuckle, his eyes following her retreating figure. The thrill of her reaction, the flush of color on her cheeks, was intoxicating.
He took a deep breath and stepped closer to the bucket, dipping the cloth into the warm water. The steam curled around him like a soft veil, but his thoughts were elsewhere. As he scrubbed at the grime and blackened filth covering his skin, Kara's shocked expression replayed in his mind, each detail fueling a spark of mischief.
'She's so innocent… so easily flustered,' he thought, letting a slow smile curve his lips.
He had picked his next target.