As the group of individuals engaged in conversation on their way to the Southern cathedral, Kai shared intriguing information about himself—he possessed a unique flaw to discern when someone was lying to him.

'so that's how he knew my name wasn't red'

Meanwhile, Rin observed their exchange from a distance, concealing the blood she was discreetly suppressing with each silent cough.

Wearing her mask, every step she took seemed to be enveloped in silence, as if a vacuum surrounded her, absorbing any sound she made and rendering it nonexistent.

As the pair engaged in a heated disagreement, their attention diverted elsewhere, an undeniable connection was between them

'Sunny could use another friend'

Seizing the moment, she slipped into a narrow alley, gently adjusting her mask to reveal a fraction of her face. Striving for absolute silence, she found herself succumbing to a fit of violent coughing, each raspy exhale echoing through the desolate space.

A pool of crimson painted the ground as the excruciating pain surged once again—a relentless torment that resurfaced daily, intensifying with each use of her power.

As she exited the alley, she failed to perceive the looming presence of a shadow observing her every move.

Unbeknownst to her, it lingered in silence, witnessing the unfolding scene. As she approached the pair engaged in conversation, the shadow remained ever watchful, blending seamlessly into the dimly lit surroundings.

Kai was looking at him with a strange expression again. Sunny frowned as he

looked rin then back at kai:

"What?"

The beautiful young man shook his head.

"No, no. It's just that… it's an awesome Ability. I wish I had an Ability like that, to be honest."

Sunny glared at him and uttered through gritted teeth:

"Says the guy who can fly! Why would you want to hide your perfectly symmetrical face anyway? Tired of being ogled by love-stricken supermodels?!"

Kai sighed.

"Something like that. How did you know?"

*****

As the first light of dawn cast an eerie glow over the landscape, Sunny, Rin, and Kai strolled amidst the crumbling remnants of the once vibrant city. With each step, the darkness of night reluctantly yielded to the approaching day. While one of them found solace in the growing light, the other two couldn't shake the unease that crept in with the fading shadows, feeling exposed without the comforting cloak of darkness to shield them from the world.

*I have almost forgotten how mournful this place looks when the sun is up.*

*Yeah it's quite depressing*

In the distance, the waves of the deep sea seemed to pause their relentless crashing against the weathered stone walls of the ancient city. These sturdy fortifications had endured countless years of wear and tear, yet not a hint of the dark water managed to breach their defenses. Rin couldn't help but marvel at their resilience, imagining they would remain steadfast for centuries to come.

Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Rin shifted her gaze towards the western horizon where the ominous outline of the Crimson Spire stood tall. It cast a foreboding shadow over the Forgotten Shore, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking within its vicinity, daring anyone to challenge its presence.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

*Hey um Sunny… are you.. okay?*

He looks over his eyes are slightly closed

*I talk to a rock for most of my days Rin. How good do you think I'm doing?*

*Splendid*

*I see your standards are falling.*

*Ey... I know you're a cockroach that could survive anything, i mean you did get gutted not to long ago*

He shrugged before replying

*I take being a cockroach as a complement... But yeah I still haven't recovered from that whole gutting thing…*

He pauses briefly, causing Rin to do the same, but Kai, oblivious to the momentary halt, carries on walking.

*Rin look at me*

*What is it Sunny?*

*There is blood on your shirt…*

She's overwhelmed with panic as a rush of emotions flood her, and that familiar strange sensation she felt the last time her tail appeared washes over her again.

'calm down Rin'

Her words were hesitant, as if uncertain of finding the right thing to say.

She seemed to grapple with uncertainty as her voice wavered, searching for the appropriate words.

*I.... Um... Some guys tried to...um...kill Nephi's… i dealt with it*

*You're lying and you know it. I'm coming closer.*

As he moved nearer to her, she instinctively attempted to maintain some space between them, yet he persisted, inching closer still.

Despite her efforts, his face drew near to hers, almost touching her masked visage.

As she felt that familiar sensation of a tail beginning to emerge, her heart quickened, and she struggled to keep it under control, trying to suppress the rising excitement within her.

*No wait dont sunny*

*It's fine Rin. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm worried for you. You've been putting yourself on the line for everyone else a little too much. And you get hurt every time because of it. You know it. And I know it.*

His words, coupled with his presence mere inches away, stirred a flurry of emotions within her. She could feel her heart racing and the familiar sensation of her tail itching to emerge, overriding her attempts to keep it hidden.

His lips had a rosy hue, and his hair, though slightly tousled, exuded a subtle sheen. There was a captivating luster to his dark locks, complemented by the radiant shine in his stunning brown eyes.

She couldn't hide her emotions, and when Sunny stood before her, he paused momentarily. He tilted to the left, then glanced back at her before tilting to the left once more.

*Wow Rin, I didn't know you were going to start sprouting new body parts. Is that a new hair style? How come you never told me about this?*

He gently reached out and gave her tail a tug, causing her to flinch at the unfamiliar sensation of her limb being touched. She quickly pulled her tail out of his grasp, finding the experience rather strange.

*Touch it again and I'll punch you, and I didn't tell you because this is recently new*

She gently shook her head, exhaling deeply to calm her racing emotions, allowing the tension in her body to gradually dissipate along with the trailing remnants of her feelings.

Making the tail fade

*It's so soft! What makes it sprout out? Is it the stress? Do you control it?*

*I don't know, i have a theory that strong emotions cause it*

He smiled teasingly

*Interesting, then let me test!*

Before she could even respond, Sunny swooped in, lifting her up in a warm embrace. She could feel the gentle touch of a hand running through her hair, adding to the moment's intimacy.

She felt a rush of embarrassment, her cheeks flushing crimson, upon hearing Sunny's voice recounting the reappearance of the tail

In the blink of an eye, she forcefully shoved him away. A rapid, impactful punch to the gut left him breathless, struggling for air. Unfazed, she confidently strolled past him, determined to catch up with Kai.

As she hurried to catch up with Kai, she couldn't shake the warmth and comfort of his hug from her mind.

The sensation of his hand gently caressing her hair sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, making her stomach flutter with an odd yet delightful feeling.

Finally, she managed to catch up with him. As he glanced back, he noticed Sunny lying on the ground with Rin by her side, walking alongside her.

Kai spoke confused:

"What happened to him"

She glanced over her shoulder, her voice devoid of any emotion or warmth, as if it had been drained away entirely.

"It died"

"Oh..um..okay..hey Rin, you… there's two of something behind you is that normal"

As she turned around, she couldn't help but notice two adorable, fluffy orangy-red tails emerging right behind her.

'so i have more than one'