Mortis and Malachai ended up sleeping on the streets that night.
They had been fortunate enough to receive help from the caravan driver and enter the city for free—but it seemed their luck had run out.
At least Blossom was safe.
When they parted, she had hesitated to let go of Mortis' hand. He had simply patted her head and smiled, telling her to go with Lapsus.
It was better that way.
Even so, Blossom kept looking back at him as she left, again and again—like she didn't quite want to go. Somewhere along the way, she had begun to see him as an older brother.
Come to think of it, Mortis had never even asked about her family.
He had just… taken her along.
Mortis and Malachai huddled together beneath a dim streetlamp.
The night was bitterly cold. Mortis could feel it seep into his lungs with every breath. Malachai, who had never experienced cold in the underground temple, trembled—but endured it without complaint.
The stone beneath them was unforgiving, pressing into their backs and aching through their bones. They had no blankets, no pillows—nothing but each other.
A faint chime broke the silence.
Mortis looked up.
Gerald stood at the entrance of The Silent Room.
He cleared his throat gently and offered a soft smile.
"Would you like to come in?"
Mortis and Malachai didn't hesitate.
The bar was warm.
Oil lamps cast a dim, golden glow across the room, like a small, quiet sun had been lit within its walls.
Mortis looked at Gerald with quiet gratitude.
A true angel in disguise.
Gerald returned to the counter, wiping a glass as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Would you like something to drink?"
Both Mortis and Malachai shook their heads.
Gerald sighed lightly. "Then… how about some warm water?"
They exchanged a glance before nodding.
The warmth soothed their throats, easing a thirst they hadn't even realized had built up over days.
"Thank you, sir," Mortis said between breaths. "You've helped us more than you know."
Gerald shook his head. "It's nothing, dear boy."
Mortis exhaled slowly.
And then—
Everything changed.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have unlocked a new skill: "Crimson Sight."
Do you wish to activate it?
Mortis kept his expression neutral as he read the message.
"Yes," he murmured quietly. "Activate."
His vision shifted instantly.
The world peeled away.
Malachai and Gerald were no longer whole—only their inner workings remained. Veins, arteries, the steady rhythm of blood flowing through them like a living current.
It was unsettling.
And strangely… beautiful.
Mortis forced himself to focus.
Gerald's heart caught his attention.
It pulsed irregularly, weakly.
Where there should have been a strong, deep red, there was a dark, sickly purple—like something decaying from within.
Mortis froze.
Then he stood abruptly.
Both Gerald and Malachai flinched at the sudden movement.
Mortis stepped behind the counter and placed his hands firmly on Gerald's shoulders.
"What are you—"
["Divine Blood Purification" activated.]