The manager's office — to get there it was necessary to follow a small staircase that led to a higher corridor. It could be called the second floor if it wasn't just a raised continuation of the first floor. It was the same corridor where one of the elevators leading to the upper floors was located: one corridor led to the left side and the other to the right side. The division seemed somewhat significant, important given the separation by hallway. Perhaps just asking to find out? Could easily represent the division between the more luxurious apartments and the simpler ones. She heard many things, but didn't pay much attention to any of them as her reality was so distant before.

For now, it wasn't important. She didn't have a chance to mention it, as she was long before dragged down the corridor by the taller man towards the final goal. Olivine didn't seem to be in a hurry, quite the opposite — perhaps his steps were just naturally too fast. Nothing too complicated, maybe just a structure that would boggle the mind of a newcomer until they eventually got used to the local layout. Even with her mind elsewhere, Yev paid plenty of attention.

After the crossing, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, the blond-haired concierge left her behind. Without any farewell or warnings, he disappeared — barely a moment before she blinked and he vanished from sight.

In front of a tall door with unique details, a golden handle and a half-moon symbol in the center above, the lock unlocked itself and allowed Ilyna to enter. She looked around, waited a while and stepped inside. Once in, the click of the lock sounded audible to her ears as the door closed again.

Without a companion, it felt like a terrible invasion of privacy. Even if she had permission, without the owner of the office, it still felt… odd. After all, it was the manager's office, the one she didn't know and hadn't even seen his face before. He would be the one to decide whether she could stay or not. Thinking about it now, it seemed unthinkable to enter the room of someone in authority at the invitation of a third party.

She deeply hoped, however, that he wasn't as terrible as the Miss Mason with whom she had dealt earlier — or all those other petty humans. If she's human too? That's just a detail.

In any case, the space was particularly pleasant. Although it was frightening to enter a room like that alone, it still aroused her curiosity.

Like the rest of the hotel, the office is also a mix of Western architecture and Eastern decor. At a glance, the walls are covered in ornate boiserie panels and meticulously detailed paintings. There were undeniably many details to pay attention to. The office was spacious, full of traditional Japanese ornaments and pictures that made reference to ancient oriental paintings. Another notable feature was, curiously, the amount of religious symbols that filled the bookshelves, from books on Shinto and Buddhism, statues of ancient gods, scrolls and such like. Everything was pretty, slightly comforting, and seemingly well maintained.

Perhaps the hotel owner was particularly religious? It was a doubt that could easily be used to her advantage to talk to him when Yev found the opportunity. Getting closer was now more than essential if she wanted to keep her stay. And yes, because she would be staying there from then on — her plan was pretty settled. A hotel with the presence of non-humans would be perfect! Could there be a better place than this? Even if there were only two, that's more than she'd come into contact with on a single day in her entire life. What if there were more? Missing that chance was absolutely unthinkable.

The manager seems to have a real taste for antiques. There are tall dark oak bookcases filled with books, many documents, antique artifacts and derivatives occupying the shelves on the right and left of the place. In a way, the artifacts and tapestries bring a unique air to the carefully decorated and well-ornamented room, like visiting a space that contains a harmonious blend of what is modern and the beauty of what is considered old-fashioned.

In addition, small plants adorn different corners of the office, especially a big bonsai next to the perfectly trimmed chess table. Possibly a personal hobby of the manager? Noted as another subject she could mention further on. And there are probably a dozen other details that Ilyna missed, given the variety of objects there. It might take a whole day to see and analyze everything properly.

But, she reminded herself mentally, that office wasn't hers and poking around where she didn't belong wouldn't bring good things. At least, not today.

Then, her gaze wanders over the walls. The largest of the pictures is, in particular, a gold-framed engraving: a giant creature with a quite strange shape. From the dark fur on its torso, the large paws and sharp nails like those of a feline, a very long tail, an elephant's trunk, prominent canine teeth like those of a wild boar and bright eyes like two shiny jewels. The colors used are light and well dispersed, using mostly shades of blue, a light ambient backdrop that seems to allude to being above the clouds. Below, engraved on the frame, is written: baku (獏). The painter's name is oddly worn and faded compared to the rest, making it impossible to identify who it might have been.

Stepping back a little, her back is to the canvas. The irises embedded in the painting move lightly, following the nothingness slowly, along with the creature's gaze over the girl.

As for the oak table in the center, there are only a few items on it: an inkwell, a peacock feather, sheets of paper and a lamp that imitates the shape of a waning moon. It is surprisingly clean and with little information that differs from the rest of the office. In the center of it there is a small gold plaque with the name 'Genji Clysmic' engraved on it — the name of the owner and manager. Opposite, there are two padded seats for any guests, where she supposes is where she ought to sit.

Clysmic — she makes a mental note of that surname. Genji is someone she remembers by name, but not by face. There's probably confusion due to the number of previous members. Was it four? Five? All Yev remembers is the use of the surname, a non-famous but wealthy family.

Yevdokia can't think, even with effort, how she could convince such a man to let her stay at the hotel. She has money, yes, or at least she thinks she does, but the hotel seems much more expensive for an unemployed young woman to afford on her own. From the outside it still looked attainable, but after a simple walk through the corridors and a look at that office, she realized that it was quite far from her reality. Considering the location and all the luxuries included, perhaps the money she had brought wasn't even worth a month's stay.

Now she feels she should rethink her drama lessons. Her talent for escaping from complicated situations might be very useful now, as long as she thinks quickly. Maybe he'll feel sorry for her if she gets down on her knees and cries until dehydrated. Showing despair could soften a caring heart, right? He has a reputation for being a very generous man.

The door opened abruptly in the middle of Yevdokia's train of thought, disrupting her thoughts and shattering them with ease.

The girl immediately straightened up in her seat before turning to face the figure that had just entered. She was ready, or almost so, to begin her decisive speech about how she would — or should — stay at the hotel and how willing she was to work, even if it meant washing dishes or cleaning toilets if needed. Yevdokia was going to beg on bended knee if the manager wanted her to. Want tears? She'd give him tears, whines and sobs and everything else. 'I can wash, iron, cook and carry up to a ton if you only let me stay!' she imagined, already displaying an abandoned puppy pout.

But... he was nothing like the elderly man she had expected.

“Have I kept you waiting too long? I rather hope not.”

Her jaw drops and she stands still.

The calm voice sounds again with its typical lightness, the owner of the gentle blue eyes and hair of the same color appears. The click of the door sounds throughout the room as he pushes it shut, the outside sound coming from the hall now perfectly stopped thanks to the acoustic insulation.

“Managing large events is always pretty exhausting. It's a bit difficult to avoid the crowds when they're everywhere, you know? Full of questions, others wanting to lavish you with praise, plus those full of frivolous chatter… I'm a good listener, but above all that, I have a duty to my clientele.”

Walking up to the desk, the man's elegance is evident even in his most minute gestures. Even the way he walks seems meticulously majestic. The light clothes help to highlight this contrast, complementing the whole air of grace. It matches perfectly with the rest of the office, whether in color or small details, as if the room were a reflection of her personal tastes.

The girl's posture quickly adjusts on the seat, trying to look somehow more professional, not a nuance in front of him and the entire environment around them. Nervousness welling up in the pit of her stomach; one moment her arms are crossed, then her legs, until she gives up and undoes everything. Appearing confident was an excellent trick, that is, if she could do it now.

“Of course not! I hardly waited.” Yevdokia replied hastily, a gentle, polite, perhaps bashful tone, trying to pretend she wasn't trembling. “You have a very pretty office, nicely decorated. Have you read all those books?”

The truth was that, since she had entered, she lost track of time. Whether it was an impression or not, everything seemed to move more slowly in that space, as if time had a completely different power — light, but so slow all the same. Being distracted by so many things to see, she hardly noticed the minutes passing, if they passed at all.

“The books? I've read enough. Some are just there to complete the shelves.”

He walked around the room before sitting down on the seat behind the desk. Jacket carefully slipped over his shoulders, he rested it on the back of the padded chair, giving a better view of the blue vest with the painstaking detail of flowers carved into the fabric.

“How wonderful. It would be extremely impolite of me to keep you waiting too long.” He murmured in a satisfied tone. “Your name, dear?”

Shrugging her shoulders, she replied in an almost whisper: “Yevdokia Ilyna...”

His eyebrows rose, surprise quite evident. There's no exact reason why, just that minute of silence for someone who seemed to be wondering. Eyes blinking, a polite smile soon replaced his curious expression.

“It's a great pleasure, Miss Ilyna. I'm Genji Clysmic.” He carefully crossed his legs. “But you can call me whatever you feel most comfortable with, without problems.”

The name on the little plaque now stood out more prominently, the owner of the place was the person she had met earlier, the one who had helped her in the foyer and acted so polite: the blue-haired man. Lucky or not, Yev couldn't say, but a part of her couldn't rest at the thought of not having made one of the best first impressions — of having been a nuisance. That's not what she stood for, right?

“May I ask why you came to the hotel?” He interrupted her thoughts with another question, “If you urgently sought me out, there must be an important reason. Shelter? Necessity? Running away from something, or someone?”

“Oh, yes! I-Indeed there is!” Yevdokia rubbed her thumb over her knuckles and tried to put on her best smile, the posture displaying some weak confidence as she straightened up. “Someone suggested that I should come here… They told me you could help me, y’know, find a place to stay. More than one night, I mean.”

Mr. Clysmic frowned for a split second, displaying a mixture of surprise, curiosity and fascination in that look — like a stormy tide that hides many things in its depths.

“Someone, you say?”

“Someone…”

He blinked, looking confused at the lack of explanation. Then Genji gestured, encouraging her to continue.

“...May I have the honor of knowing the individual's name?”

“I don't... I don't know exactly who it was. It wasn't an acquaintance.” She whispered, eye contact being abruptly cut off. “But they… weren't a bad person.”

It wasn't a total untruth. She didn't get to see the individual's face in the low night light, along with the hood that covered their head. What little she could see, however, she wouldn't dare tell, because she had a promise to keep. They were just someone, a coincidence, a mere person who met her by chance and had the generosity to offer some help. A stranger, but with a heart that was worth more than a whole friend, far more than any other interaction Yev had ever experienced.

And after all, what would she say? That they were a bit taller than her and paler? Would dark clothes make them more or less distinguishing? It's not as if she knew much anyway. Answers would only serve to confuse rather than help.

“And yet you obeyed the stranger's request?”

Yevdokia let out a loud, nervous laugh, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. The creeping anxiety in her chest intensified. Although she tried to diminish the strangeness of the situation, it would be worse to try to exemplify it. With him asking like that, it seemed that she had made a decision that was as reckless as it sounded.

“W-Well, I didn't have many options at the moment...” She scratched her throat, feeling her cheeks burn and then flush. Nervousness grew, heart racing. Shaking her head, she continued: “So I went for the one that was closest, the one that seemed most favorable, of course! I-I felt that destiny was calling me and I put my trust in it. As you can see, it wasn't such a bad choice, not least because I got this far, to you!”

The Clysmic's gaze seemed to soften. At no point did he seem to judge her for the whole situation or for the oddness of the condition in which she had been brought to the hotel, despite her confusion at the circumstances. Quite the opposite, he just seemed intrigued. The calm smile never left his face despite the little slips of uncertainty, the lips once parting on the verge of verbalizing something, but nothing escaping out loud. Instead of doing or saying anything, he just listened and carefully observed.

A short pause for thought and the words slip out lightly.

“The same goes for your entrance? I'm curious to know how you two managed to get past the security guards so easily. On your own, I know you couldn't... So, I assume it was someone strong or well familiar with the hotel's structure, was it?”

Another difficult question to explain.

“Oh? T-That?”

Embarrassed, her eyes widened as they stared at the manager's face, her heart starting a marathon and legs turning to jelly. Think fast, Yev!

“T-There was no one there when I arrived. And he wasn't...”

She won't mention how they got over the walls. However suspicious it looked and how it could be considered an invasion, that wasn't the purpose. It wasn't exactly difficult, given that she had arrived with the help of an exceptionally talented non-human. Using stealth and sheer convenience, no security guards spotted them.

Being alone, getting across wasn't even a possibility, it was too high to climb without help. In the end, the entrance door was clear as they approached and there she was left. So quickly that no one realized it, an opportune gap that couldn't be missed. It's a shame that the one who helped her didn't accompany her. A non-human, her mind never forgets.

“Really? How lucky, I suppose.” He murmurs, his soft tone partially diminishing the seriousness of the situation. “It's a lucky year, after all. So perhaps this was a kind display of fate for you?”

“Yes! It was pure luck. We took advantage of an oversight and made a lucky break.”

His smile waned.

“...You called us careless?”

Yevdokia immediately shut up.

Despite his classy posture in the situation, his expression was unreadable to Ilyna's eyes. No matter how calm the features occupying that face appear, any other emotion seems to be covered up like a blank page. Despite small hints that something has been done to the paper, nothing is clear at first glance, not even a curve or a fold. Apart from curiosity, everything else seems dormant, buried inside.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

It's not very comforting not to know what's going on in someone's mind, however, nor in the face of a gaze that pierces through your soul. As Yevdokia searches for some sign of approval, she's not sure how well she's doing her job as his face changes an imperceptible detail here or there, nothing more. Was he interested? In a good way or a bad way? Should she be concerned, or not?

“Well...” He scratches his throat audibly, glancing across the table with a thoughtful expression. “As you may know, we're talking about a high-end hotel. The price of a stay is steep, to say the least. The more expansive the tastes and needs, or longer the stay, consequently, the more expensive the contract will be. There are a variety of alternatives, both in terms of payment and contract, to suit your purposes. As long as you can afford it, there won't be many obstacles to you staying.”

“Oh, don't worry!” Yev said quickly before pulling the bag onto her lap. “I've got the money!”

Hastily opening the first pocket, she hurriedly moved a few things out of the way as she searched for what she so desperately wanted: an envelope. On the manager's desk are placed: a toothbrush along with toothpaste, a hairbrush, a phone with a case that opens and closes, key chains and a mini hair straightener.

His blue eyes flicker slightly as he watches the girl searching, impressed that there was so much more in such a tiny pack. He parts his lips to speak, only to be quickly interrupted:

“Ah. Hold on. I-I'm sorry... Just let me-”

Lips closed, Genji shrugs his shoulders and leans back.

After a full minute or so, an envelope is finally found in one of the inner pockets. Despite its slightly crumpled state, what's inside remains untouched, most importantly. The envelope is then placed on the table under a couple more murmurs of apologies and anxious bows, head going up and down in panic. It's an important moment and yet she still manages to fumble. Her heel hit the foot of the chair from nervousness, and Yevdokia hurriedly ducked her head to pick up everything she had taken out of her backpack and put it back — including those few things that fell on the floor.

“Need a hand...?”

“It's okay!” She gestured hastily. “Don't worry about me! Just take a look.”

The manager's eyebrows frowned slightly, taking a long inspection of the contents of what was handed to him after seconds in a silent pause. It didn't seem to contain anything different, even in its smallest details.

However, even though it was ordinary on the outside, some surprise brushed his features when his fingers lifted the flap of the envelope slightly to peek: more than a million yen had accumulated, money that smelled new and looked unspoiled. It takes Genji a while to ponder before anything escapes his throat. He doesn't need to use anything other than his eyes to ascertain its authenticity, which still arouses an unsettling curiosity in his gaze.

“I assume, then, that either you or your parents are working with something quite lucrative?”

“No parents. And I don't have a job,” came her lightning-fast reply.

“...And yet you have a million yen on hand?”

The expression on the Clysmic's face was indescribable, although the corners of his mouth had curved slightly more, uniform to his squinting eyes and slightly arched eyebrow. In her place, Yevdokia feels her throat going dry and a shiver running down her spine, exasperation already bordering on the edge. Was she sounding suspicious? Was she looking too suspicious?

For a moment Genji seemed stunned, although now there was only something akin to amusement in his stare. He even seemed to be holding back... a laugh?

“I-I didn't get the money illegally, if that's what you want to know!” She began to explain in genuine despair, hands gesturing anxiously in the air, although her own diction was failing itself. “It was totally honest! I-I swear it! Clean, pure, brand new money!”

Yevdokia felt herself beginning to melt into the chair. If there's nothing to be afraid of, why is she stuttering?!

Genji's lips suppressed into a thin line a genuine chuckle, his head tilted slightly to the side.

“It's not that…” He muttered in a tone that carried a hint of mild amusement. “I just assumed something else. I'm relieved it wasn't... illegal, although, if it gives you any comfort, it hadn't crossed my mind.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. So don't scare me like that, damn it!

The envelope was carefully collected. As the money was counted, bill by bill, with great attention and detail, his expression returned to its usual neutrality. It's surprisingly quick, finished as if handled like a feather. Less than five seconds for such a feat, it's almost as impressive as everything else. With a slight nod, he neatly lines up the money before tucking it back into the envelope.

“So… This is for a three-day stay in an average room.” Genji commented simplistically, his eyes rising to her face again.

Her chin dropped to the ground, eyelashes blinking nervously. Three days? An average room? What kind of stab would it be if she chose thirty days? A whole year's salary? And a year's accommodation?

“O-Only that?!”

“Only. Even for a single day in a luxury room, you'd still be 300,000 yen behind. Why? Did you intend to stay longer?” Genji adds with that succinct quirk of his, arms crossed in front of his chest.

Of course she wants to! The opposite was difficult. It seemed absurd not to wish for a single day in that paradise on earth, even if her main motivation wasn't the luxury or amenities — a certainly tempting extra.

A hotel like that piqued her interest the moment she laid eyes on its staff, the exact kind of circle she'd like to be involved in. There was no way she could let the opportunity to be close to such magnificent beings slip away after years of seeking. When was the last time she had the chance to speak to a so-called non-human? A long time, certainly. Now, face to face with one, it was her first time having such a long conversation with a non-human.

When would she have this chance a second time? Maybe never! She needed to take the chance. What if she never saw them again?

Trying to return afterwards would be as arduous as moving in all at once. By God — Yevdokia was already determined to move mountains for that goal. A hotel with non-humans was beyond any daydream she had ever imagined: just one chance, just one chance to win. Perhaps it was even a reward for her tough days and everything else. The concentration of so many of them in the same place was as rare an occurrence as a bolt of lightning falling twice in the same spot. Three in a single day was definitely the furthest she'd gotten in years.

As if the battery were being recharged, those gray eyes took on a blast again, the brilliance returning like a cluster of tiny stars twinkling in the once cloudy sky. The confident stance is adopted again, this time as firm as before. Giving up is simply not an option.

“I'd like to be a temporary resident! To live here, those are my intentions! Three days is definitely not enough, not even close!” Yev exclaimed with determination, palms slamming heavily against the table. Her sparkling eyes and that wide smile between her teeth were proof of the flame that had ignited inside her, the first sign of a return.

That excitement infected Clysmic to some extent, drawing a playful smile from him.

“Temporary resident? Like a permanent or more long-term contract, you mean?”

“That's right! I'd like to become a resident of the hotel for much longer than just a few days.” She nodded positively. “That's possible, right? Something like... like an extended contract! As long as it takes. Years, if possible.”

“It's within the realm of possibility, yes.” The little smile widened. “The money, unfortunately, isn't enough for a stay of more than three days.”

Yevdokia felt a pang in her heart, the smile falling away, her shoulders shaking in hopelessness. For an instant, her mind sailed through dark seas of the purest pessimism, picturing herself sinking into a dark, icy ocean. Long eyelashes blinking slightly, she pursed her lips before trying — miserably — to pull herself together.

No giving up, she just needed to think fast!

What could possibly be done in only three days? Absolutely nothing, of course, especially if it meant having to move away from that paradise as soon as her stay was over. She definitely needed more money. Money in large quantities and quickly. Besides, where else would she go if not to that hotel? A very unique hotel, a place where the owner himself looked like a deity, so handsome, elegant, polite and a dozen other good adjectives. And with non-humans — the main thing! If she didn't go now, there would never be another chance.

“...Miss Yevdokia?” The Clysmic whispered when he noticed her rambling on for too long.

“Ah!” Her eyelashes blinked and she adjusted her posture against the seat awkwardly. The arms went around the backpack in a gentle hug. “I... I can get more money! I can do it quickly, and without any problems!”

“Do you think you can?”

“Absolutely! I can raise the money and pay you back later! Isn't that possible? Like at the end of the month, for example. I can also work for the hotel to cover the costs. I know how to wash, clean or cook, and I'm fast too! They always said I had great reflexes in high school.” She mentioned proudly, pointing to herself. “And an unwavering charisma. I can be a handyman if I have to. How about two jobs?”

The blue of his eyes sparkled with immense fascination while hers were tearful and threatening to fall out. The Clysmic marveled at all of the younger girl's determination — and also desperation — to be in the building, while she felt between life and death. It was irresponsible and reckless to put oneself so headlong into a debt without knowing the price, but it was intriguing that she wanted to go that far, even though it was undeniably worrying. A real and genuine willingness to possibly loyalty.

Genji contemplated the situation with a phlegmatic smile, his expression unaffected. Both palms pressed together over the table, the glance focused on the younger woman before he continued:

“There is an alternative.” He paused, looking away for a second. “You have the choice of signing an annual contract, if you prefer. There will be a considerable but convenient discount if you do so compared to the standard price if you go for a monthly payment. Of course, it will still be quite a debt...”

Yevdokia's eyes took on a magical glow when she heard those first words, her posture immediately stiffening. Leaning forward now with all the interest in the world, she whispered happily: “A whole year?”

“Exactly.” The smile between his thin lips increased, as he lightly adjusted the golden frame of the monocle on his face with middle finger. “We'll make a special arrangement. You can, as soon as exactly 365 days have passed, thus completing a year, provide payment. Obligatory, of course, with no option to decline. 49,500,000 million yen for annual occupancy with breakfast, lunch and dinner all inclusive. Room service, access to hotel areas, etc.”

Millions. It's not a dozen, or a thousand, but millions — a lot of millions. 49,500,000 specifically. Eight bright digits in a debt to be paid off in 12 months, more than she ever had in her bank account. The word echoes in her head with no real meaning, like an echo drifting through nothingness. Otherwise, she would have taken time to think and calculate how much it would hurt her pocket when she paid off the debt, and if she paid off the debt. It didn't sound like an easy amount to pay off. What was the minimum salary?

Despite a confused look on Ilyna's face, her reasoning didn't follow her speech and the answer came naturally.

“N-No problem! I can do it!”

Quickly. Genji pauses for a moment to reflect on the answer. He waited, perhaps expecting a change. However, she remained firm in her words.

“If the contract breaks, there will be a penalty with a 50% increase in interest. If the deadline is exceeded, you will pay an extra 1.5% interest for each day you are late. Understood?”

In better words, Yevdokia would be sunk in bitter debt, perhaps eternal at worst. It seemed like the kind of thing where, even if she tried hard, she would pay for the rest of her life at the first slip-up. Her rational side, however, remained dormant while her emotional one remained active and excited about details that were big to her, but smaller in reality.

“N-No need to worry, I'll be able to pay on time...” She whispered slowly, more something said to herself than to the older man.

The silence that prevails for the next few seconds is torturous. The lack of conviction in her voice almost makes her fear the end of the conversation. Are eight digits a lot? For her, yes. Probably not so much for him. Is that the standard price for a hotel? He has a pretty good reputation to be fooling her...

Contemplating the situation for a moment, Clysmic reached out to take a piece of paper from one of the drawers. Placing it on the table, he carefully picked up a long black quill with shiny dark blue fuzz which he sank the golden tip into the inkwell. In addition to what looked like a file to be filled in with information about the resident, there was another bunch of sheets tucked underneath: the terms and conditions. The contract, she guessed.

“Excellent. If that's how you commit.” He murmurs after completing the first line, his delicate, light handwriting tracing the paper with effortless ease. “Have any documents?”

The girl fumbled in her seat to find what the other wanted amidst the mess her pack was in at the moment, which tended to get worse at every new inspection. The documents were quickly handed to him as soon as they were found in a worn wallet full of cute stickers. None of them were too recent, however.

For his part, Genji had taken forever to go through the document front and back. No comments are provided at first, although he shakes his head slightly in understanding. As he continues his small talk, he fills in the blanks with impeccable speed.

“19? You're still very young.” He mentions, his gaze fixed on the sheet. “Aren't you too young to start living alone?”

“It will be better this way.”

Without explanation, the rudimentary tone leaving no room for interrogation, the subject was closed without further inquiries. She doesn't give an example, he doesn't ask in depth. It's that simple.

The blank spaces on the paper continued to be patiently filled in as he listened attentively to each answer, his gaze flicking between her and the paper. A few lame excuses escaped her lips as temporary answers to one thing or another, and Yev laughs nervously whenever she receives an inquisitive glance. Nervous because: number one, the questioner is a non-human, and number two, because she has just realized that she has come without any preparation. He must surely have a thousand and one suspicions about her after so many ill-fitting answers.

The older man frowned slightly, taking a deep breath before reviewing the documentation one last time. “Those documents, I'll need to make a copy of them.”

“No problem.”

The smile Genji gives her is genuine, returning the reaction with only a slight nod as he continues to finish the rest of the document, line by line, detail by detail. It's long, full of paragraphs, a contract that would be daunting if Yevdokia were slightly more rational — at least at this point. There are only a few blanks left from the things Yev hasn't answered, plus those she hasn't made any comments about. It doesn't take long before it's almost done, stopping after meticulously sliding the ink from the tip in an impeccable signature.

In the blink of an eye, the document is turned towards her. His hand moves away and she is given the freedom to look at the documentation for herself and reach her own conclusions.

Leaning in close, Yevdokia lifts the file up and focuses on the lengthy paragraphs on the next sheet, which outline the terms of the contract. Words, words and more words. It's more than enough to make her vision spin, but she struggles to understand at least the first and last line of each. With a quick flip through, she eventually reaches an interesting point: much is said about integrity, legal issues and confidentiality with the hotel. On the last page, parts highlighted in bold emphasize the previous subject.

‘...and everything that happens in the hotel, must be kept in the hotel.’

The first phase of a paragraph of perhaps more than ten lines. Her mind aches just from superficially analyzing the rest, so Yevdokia lets go of this part of the document and leafs through the rest. She spends no more than twenty seconds on each page, trying hard to stay focused. The rustling of papers eventually stops, cut off by the low voice.

“Your eyes...” Genji whispered after a full minute of silence, his hand on his chin in a contemplative expression. "There's something about them that has me wondering."

“My... eyes?” Yev raised her head slowly, eyebrows slightly raised. “What about them?”

“They seem to... sparkle when you look at me. When you looked at Olivine, too. It wasn't curiosity, no.” He commented in a soft tone, a small smile creeping across his lips. “It appeared to be a realization, and then, admiration. One followed the other… I suppose you know, don't you?”

The silent exchange of glances seems so intense to simultaneously say nothing to either of them. Yevdokia looks confused for the first few seconds, that eye contact sending shivers down her body when she eventually realizes what he means.

“I-I know? About… what?” she mutters with some trepidation, hastily lowering her gaze and gulping.

His gaze clouds over for a split second. Despite this, his expression remained unreadable as the quill was dipped one last time into the inkwell, the excess lightly removed before it was handed to the Ilyna. The ambient temperature seemed to drop during the conversation, just enough to make her feel cold.

“Sign.”

Eyelashes flickering, she eyed the quill before carefully picking it up. As if it were a precious object, she slowly dragged it towards the document, fingers trembling with nervousness. On the line below Mr. Clysmic's name, that's what she was supposed to do. Despite all her previous overconfidence, as her hand overlapped the paper it was as if her heart was racing endlessly, beating so steadily and strongly against her ribcage that she could clearly hear it throbbing in her ears, feel it pulsing beneath her skin.

The closer she got to the paper, the more that strange energy enveloped her like a cloak. Hair stood on end, heart racing, mouth dry and a strange throbbing in her head; all indicating that this contract was not so... normal. Ordinariness is not a synonym that applies to anything she had seen so far, but that feeling to the core was undeniably different. If she moved her hand away, the strangeness disappeared like a vague memory, but if she approached again, everything returned with the same intensity.

It's the contract — her brain warns her. There's something different about it.

Still, hesitation seems unthinkable to Yevdokia, even as every fiber of her being seems to sense whatever comes from that half-yellowed piece of paper as her hand hovers over it. Taking a deep breath, the quill is slid quickly across the paper and the ink stains the place where it took a second longer.

Roughly scratched against all her instincts, there she signs: ‘Yevdokia Ilyna’, officially a resident.

The black ink dried in less than a second of its transfer, the writing bonding to the paper as if it had always been there even in print, a strange golden reflection passing letter by letter in the blink of an eye like a delicate glimmer. As a result, a bolt of electricity went through the girl like an electric shock that passed through every centimeter, bottom to top. The impact resulted in an abrupt push backwards, her back slamming against the padded seat. Her chest tightens in a repressive sensation as if something had reached inside her, into the very soul.

Eyes wide, mouth open in a perfect 'O' — Yevdokia doesn't even know what or if she should say anything. She still seems to be trying to assimilate what she's just done. The gaze remains fixed on the floor for the first few seconds until she dares to look at the Clysmic under the long eyelashes.

The smile that curved Genji's lips was small and almost imperceptible as he stared at the surprised reaction on the girl's face with no apparent emotion.

“Welcome officially to the Imperium Corvus hotel, Yevdokia.”