The glow of the setting sun bathed Ivy's bedroom in amber light, casting elongated shadows against the walls. A faint, warm breeze filtered in through the open window, carrying the distant sounds of life beyond their quiet moment. Ivy stirred, her senses slowly coming back to her as she realized her head was resting against something soft and warm.
Violet's thighs.
The realization struck her at the same time as the gentle sensation of fingers combing through her unruly, purple hair. The touch was so soothing, so careful, that for a moment, Ivy didn't move. She remained still, her half-lidded eyes focusing on the figure above her. The golden light caught Violet's fluffy blonde hair, giving her an ethereal glow that only added to Ivy's momentary disorientation. For a fleeting second, Ivy could have believed she was still dreaming.
But then Violet spoke.
"Can we talk?"
Ivy blinked up at her, the question pulling her fully back to reality. She met Violet's gaze, noticing the way it flickered with hesitance. There was something weighing on her, something unspoken. Ivy's response came out slower than she intended, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Talk? About what?"
Violet hesitated, her fingers stilling in Ivy's hair. Her expression faltered, like she was reconsidering whether she should say anything at all. Ivy frowned slightly, noticing the subtle shift in mood. Rather than let the tension build, she sighed and sat up, shaking off the remnants of sleep.
"Alright," she said, voice a little stronger now. "Let's talk."
Violet's lips parted slightly in surprise before her usual bright smile reappeared, albeit a little forced. Without another word, she shifted to grab a thin plastic bag from the end of the bed. The rustling filled the space between them as she pulled out various snacks, her usual enthusiasm bubbling to the surface.
"I stopped by the corner shop after school," Violet said, pulling out a packet of crisps first. "Got some of your favourites—oh, and look, they had the strawberry milk you like!"
Ivy watched silently as Violet continued showing off each item, naming them as if she were introducing old friends. It was painfully obvious that she was stalling. After the fourth snack was presented, Ivy reached out, gently taking the packet of crisps from Violet's hands and setting it aside. Violet stopped mid-sentence, looking up at Ivy in surprise.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Ivy gave her a knowing look. "You're trying to avoid whatever's bothering you."
Violet opened her mouth to protest but faltered. Her grip tightened around the plastic bag before she finally sighed, shoulders slumping. "We can talk after we eat—"
"Snacks can wait," Ivy interrupted, her voice taking on a more serious tone as she placed a comforting hand on Violet's shoulder. "This is more important."
Violet bit her lip, shifting her gaze to the side before finally exhaling deeply. After a brief pause, she asked, "What… are you?"
Ivy's brows furrowed. "Huh?"
The question was so vague, so unexpected, that she could only blink at Violet in confusion. It was almost comical how blank her expression became.
"I'm a girl," Ivy answered flatly.
Violet let out a strangled noise, her face instantly turning red. "N-No, that's not what I meant!" She waved her hands frantically, trying to clarify. "I mean—what kind of Semi-Immortal are you?"
Ivy quirked a brow at that. "Oh." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "Not sure, honestly."
That seemed to baffle Violet even more. "What? How can you not know?"
Ivy shifted, looking thoughtful. "I fit the categories for both Low-Rank and High-Rank, so I dunno where that leaves me."
Violet's eyes narrowed slightly. "That doesn't make sense. Once you're assigned a rank, that's it. You can't be both."
Ivy shrugged. "Maybe there's more than just two kinds?"
"That's not how Semi-Immortality works."
Ivy hummed but didn't argue. Instead, she leaned back on her hands, gazing at the ceiling. The conversation was dredging up thoughts she didn't particularly enjoy revisiting. Amritkala's words echoed in her mind.
"Normal Semi-Immortals? Is that truly what you believe yourself to be, Ivy?"
Her expression soured slightly at the memory. But before she could dwell on it, Violet spoke again, her voice tinged with nervousness. "Can I… ask you another question?"
Ivy glanced at her, noticing the way Violet was fidgeting with her fingers. A small, amused smile tugged at Ivy's lips. "Go for it."
Violet hesitated before finally asking, "How many lives do you have?"
Ivy blinked. "Huh? You haven't seen it yet? You didn't see it even when you dyed my hair?"
Violet shook her head. "You were wearing a bandage then too. So… I never actually saw it."
Ivy's fingers instinctively went to her neck, hovering over the bandage that concealed her marking. She sighed before peeling it off without hesitation.
Violet's reaction was immediate. "W-Wait, you don't have to—"
Her voice caught in her throat when her eyes landed on the number...100.
A silence fell between them. For a moment, Violet could only stare. Her mind scrambled to make sense of what she was seeing. This was impossible. The highest number she had ever seen on a High-Rank was 70, and the known limit was 80. But Ivy—
Violet's brain practically exploded.
"What the hell—?!" She suddenly grabbed Ivy by the shoulders, leaning in as if seeing the number up close would somehow make it less absurd. "How do you have 100 lives?! That's not—It's not even possible! That would mean you're—"
Ivy's expression remained unreadable as Violet continued to ramble, frantically trying to piece everything together. She didn't even seem to notice that she was practically in Ivy's lap now.
With a firm but gentle grip, Ivy grasped Violet's wrists, stopping her mid-ramble. "Violet. Breathe."
Violet sucked in a sharp breath, her frantic energy simmering down as she finally met Ivy's eyes.
Ivy's voice lowered, more serious now. "I don't know what I am. But it's not safe for you to touch me right now."
Violet blinked. "What?"
Ivy hesitated, her gaze flickering away as a faint blush dusted her cheeks. "It's… dangerous."
Violet tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Why?"
Ivy's grip on her wrists loosened, and she shifted uncomfortably. "…Because."
Violet narrowed her eyes. "Ivy."
Ivy refused to meet her gaze. "…Just trust me."
Violet huffed, crossing her arms. "You're acting weird."
Ivy muttered under her breath, "Says the girl who just lost her mind over a number."
Violet gasped dramatically. "Well duh! I'm sure anyone would!"
She leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes, practically buzzing with curiosity. "Okay, spill. You've gotta tell me now," she whispered, her voice full of excitement. "Seriously! What's the big, scary secret? What makes you so 'dangerous'?"
Ivy clenched her jaw. She didn't want to explain. But Violet was like a pesky little gnat, buzzing around and refusing to be swatted away. With a defeated sigh, she mumbled, "Remember that alleyway?"
The simple question seemed to suck the air out of the room. Violet visibly stiffened, a sudden chill tracing its way down her spine. The image flashed in her mind: grim brick walls, the damp, musty air, and the frantic thumping of her heart as that creep cornered her. A shadow crossed her face, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of her sleeve. "Yeah," she replied, her voice suddenly tight and strained.
Ivy watched Violet carefully, a nervous knot forming in her stomach before she continued, her voice a little shaky. "Okay, so remember that creepy guy? Back then? When he just... keeled over? That wasn't just him being a scaredy-cat. That was me. I have this... thing called 'Paralysis Shock.'"
Violet's eyes widened a fraction, her mouth forming a soft 'o'. "Paralysis Shock?" she echoed, like she was testing the words on her tongue.
Ivy nodded. "When I make direct eye contact with someone, I can paralyze them completely. They can't move. Can't look away. Their body locks up, and… they start seeing things. Hallucinations—visions of their worst fears."
The air hung heavy as Ivy's words sunk in. She held her breath, bracing herself for Violet's reaction.
And then… giggles. Soft at first, then muffled as Violet covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
Ivy's eyes narrowed slightly. "You think I'm kidding, don't you?"
Violet removed her hands from her face, amusement still lingering in her expression. "I mean… yeah. No offense, but Semi-Immortals don't have powers. Just regeneration and better reflexes, right? What you're describing sounds like something straight out of some anime or video game."
Ivy said nothing, her expression unreadable. It was that unwavering look that made Violet's smile start to wobble. Bits and pieces of that encounter in the alleyway started to click back into place – the way that guy had just frozen, like a deer in headlights, a look of pure, utter dread contorting his face right before he went down. The entire incident happened so swiftly and smoothly that it was almost too easy to forget.
And he'd been one of the Crossed Clan. A tough guy, someone who should have been able to hold his own. But he hadn't even put up a fight. He'd just... folded.
Violet's breath caught in her throat. "Hold on..." she breathed, her eyes locked on Ivy with a newfound intensity. "You're actually serious?"
Ivy just nodded, slow and steady, like she was driving a nail into a coffin.
Violet blew out a shaky breath, her hand finding her forehead. "That's just… insane." Her brain was spinning, replaying bits and pieces of that crazy meeting, trying to make sense of what Ivy was laying down. Still, something felt off.
"You said 'contact' was a no-go," Violet mumbled, giving Ivy a wary glance. "But that guy didn't even touch you. So, the 'Paralysis Shock' thing couldn't be the sole reason why you were concerned about me touching you before. Which means…" Her eyes narrowed, studying Ivy like she was a particularly tricky puzzle. "You've got another one, don't you?"
Ivy visibly tensed, like she'd been caught red-handed. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she nodded again.
Violet swallowed hard. "Spill. What is it?"
Ivy fidgeted, her fingers twisting the fabric of her sleeve. She hesitated, like she was confessing something deeply shameful, before finally admitting, "It's called Emotional Drain."
Violet raised an eyebrow, waiting. "And what exactly does that do?"
Ivy's gaze dropped. "It's… hard to explain," she admitted. "But… when I make a psychic or physical connection with someone, I can pull emotions from them. Fear, despair, happiness—it doesn't matter. I can take it."
The silence hung heavy, thick with tension. Violet's eyes bored into Ivy, searching for any sign of a lie. "So, let me get this straight," she began, each word measured. "You can take emotions? Like, someone's sadness just... vanishes because of you?"
Ivy winced slightly. "Absorb is probably a better word," she mumbled, avoiding Violet's gaze. "And it's not exactly painless for them...it leaves the other person feeling wrung out afterwards or at least that's what I've gathered from what Amritkala told me..."
Violet took a beat to process that. "Okay, wow," she finally said, the weight of the revelation settling on her shoulders. "That's... kind of terrifying, isn't it?"
A wry, almost self-deprecating smile flickered across Ivy's face. "Tell me about it," she said, the grin fading as quickly as it appeared.
Another beat of silence passed before Violet shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe this. I mean, I do believe you, but… I don't know how to react to all this."
Ivy huffed lightly, leaning back. "You and me both."
Violet pursed her lips, mulling over everything she'd just learned. Then, after a moment, she let out a breathy chuckle. "I knew there was something different about you."
Ivy arched an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Violet smiled, resting her chin on her hand. "Yeah. Turns out my gut was right."
Ivy stared at her for a moment, then let out a small chuckle of her own. It wasn't much—just a barely-there exhale—but it was genuine. And somehow, after everything that had just been revealed, it made the air between them feel a little lighter.
⋯
The room had settled into a cosy hush, the earlier tension fading like the last notes of a song. Ivy was busy diving into a colourful mound of snacks, her hands skilfully navigating the crinkly wrappers, while Violet, now free from her previous perch on Ivy's lap, adjusted herself on the mattress. She crossed her legs, settling in as if she were ready for a more casual conversation, her gaze lingering on Ivy.
"I have another question," Violet piped up, her curiosity sparking.
Ivy was only half-listening, her attention primarily focused on wrestling a stubborn pack of flavoured gummies open. With a casual hum, she replied, "Yeah, go for it," and tossed a bright red gummy into her mouth, savouring the sweetness.
But Violet's next question caught her off guard, sending Ivy into a mini coughing fit as she nearly choked on the sugary treat.
"So, who's this Amritkala person?" Violet asked, her tone a mix of genuine curiosity and playful intrigue, as if she had just uncovered a secret waiting to be shared.
Ivy practically inhaled her gummy, the thing getting lodged somewhere in her throat as she clawed at her neck. "Ugh, sorry—wait, WHAT?" she rasped, voice all scratchy. She blinked hard at Violet, eyes bugging out like she'd just seen a ghost. "You seriously don't know who she is?"
Violet just shrugged, totally unfazed as she gently pet Ivy's back. "Nope, not a clue."
Ivy just stared, clearly at a loss for words. How could she not know?
Violet, always up for a puzzle, started ticking off possibilities in her head, judging by Ivy's dramatic reaction. "Alright, so she's not family, cause you've only got your aunt and uncle. And definitely not a friend, let's be honest here..." Ignoring the withering look Ivy shot her, she tapped a finger to her chin. "Teacher? Nah, the name's too out there. Celebrity? Oh! Crush—?"
"Stop," Ivy interrupted flatly, her expression deadpan. "Amritkala is the deity that gives people Semi-Immortality."
Violet blinked. "...Oh."
Ivy mirrored her stare, just as confused. "Wait—are you serious? You actually didn't know?"
Violet tilted her head in thought. "I mean, I've heard some homeless Semi-Immortals mention a goddess blessing them with immortality, but I thought it was just some kind of coping thing, y'know? Like religious belief or whatever." She paused before adding, "Whenever I've died, I never saw a goddess. I always just saw these weird little wisp-things."
Ivy's brows furrowed. "Wisps?"
Violet nodded. "Yeah. They looked like floating blue energy balls. Super cuddly, too. They'd ask me about how my Semi-Immortal life was going and stuff."
Ivy's mind churned, a knot of suspicion tightening in her stomach. It was starting to dawn on her that maybe, just maybe, her situation wasn't exactly standard for a Semi-Immortal. If Amritkala didn't usually visit Semi-Immortals like Violet, and Violet didn't even know who she was but still saw Amritkala's messengers... then what was so special about Ivy?
If Amritkala rarely interacted with Semi-Immortals like Violet, and Violet was completely unaware of her existence yet still encountered Amritkala's messengers within the Unbound Realm, then what made Ivy so special? What made the Goddess choose to speak to her directly instead of the other Semi-Immortals?
While Ivy lost herself in thought, Violet reached for the snack pile and snapped a Kit-Kat in half before offering one piece to Ivy. Without a word, Ivy accepted it, her expression softening slightly as their pieces clinked together in an unspoken toast before they each took a bite.
"So," Violet mused, chewing thoughtfully, "what's she like, personality-wise?"
Ivy let out a deep, annoyed grumble. "She's a pain in the ass."
Violet grinned. "That bad, huh?"
"She speaks in riddles, reprimands me like some ethereal mother, and is generally a cryptic nuisance," Ivy grumbled.
Violet snorted. "Sounds like you two are close."
Ivy shot her a disgusted glare, which only made Violet laugh even more.
Violet rested her head on Ivy's shoulder, her giggles fading as she settled into a cosy position. Ivy, surprised by the sudden closeness, tensed up. "You know you shouldn't be touching me, right?" she murmured.
"I know," Violet hummed, but she didn't budge an inch.
Ivy sighed, giving up the argument before it could start. Instead, she let Violet stay where she was and continued eating her sweets.
After a few moments of silence, Violet murmured, "I wish I could meet her… It'd be nice having a motherly figure to talk to for once…"
Ivy paused, her eyes flickering with a mixture of emotions. She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Can I ask you a question now?"
Violet looked up, her eyes meeting Ivy's, a small smile playing on her lips. "Of course."
Ivy's gaze held an unusual weight as she met Violet's eyes.
"How did you become a Semi-Immortal?"