Water poured into the chalice from the shower, and almost immediately, a thin mist rose from within, carrying a faint metallic scent mixed with something far older.
West stared at it for a moment, then lifted it to his lips.
The first sip sent a shiver down his spine.
It wasn’t unpleasant—far from it. Warmth spread from his throat into his chest, then outward through his limbs, like liquid sunlight flooding his veins. His muscles tightened involuntarily, and a sharp sting spread across his body.
West gasped.
He watched, wide-eyed, as the shallow cuts along his arms sealed themselves shut. Bruises faded from angry purples into nothingness. The ache in his ribs melted away like it had never been there. Even the deeper soreness left behind by Adrenal Control dissolved quietly.
His breathing slowed.
Within seconds, his body felt... whole.
Not just healed... but reinforced.
West laughed softly, incredulous. He turned the chalice in his hands, admiration clear in his eyes.
"You," he muttered before pressing a quick kiss against the cool metal, "are going to do incredible things for me."
As if on cue, a voice drifted in from behind him, cutting through the sound of running water.
"You good in there," Aria asked lightly, "or do you need my help getting the rest of the dirt off?"
West’s heart jumped as he moved quickly.
The chalice vanished into his inventory in a flicker of light just as he turned around and froze.
Aria stood a few steps away, framed by steam and soft bathroom light.
She was dressed in a tank top that barely held her boobs and blue bum shorts that cupped her butt cheeks tightly.
She stared at West with a sultry look with her damp hair clinging lightly to her shoulders.
She took a step closer...
Then another...
Before West could say a word, she closed the distance and pressed him back gently against the tiled wall. Her lips met his firmly and urgently as if she’d been holding something back for far too long.
The shower continued to rain down around them.
West responded instinctively, finding her waist with his hands as the heat of her presence grounded him. The kiss wasn’t rushed, but it wasn’t timid either.
"I missed you," she murmured softly against his lips. "I was... really scared."
West exhaled a quiet laugh, resting his forehead against hers. "Yeah," he said gently, "dying would’ve been pretty inconvenient. Wouldn’t want you to lose your brother..."
She let out a shaky breath that turned into a soft laugh, pressing closer for a moment before pulling back just enough to look at him properly.
Just when she was about to dive in for another kiss...
Ding-dong.
The sound echoed through the apartment like a gunshot.
Aria stiffened.
For half a second, neither of them moved.
Then she sighed, leaned in, stole one last quick kiss, and stepped back. "Don’t go anywhere," she said softly, already reaching for a towel.
She slipped out of the bathroom, pulling on a loose top as she went.
West leaned back against the wall, running a hand through his damp hair.
"I don’t think there’s anywhere to go..."
From the living room, voices filtered in.
The door opened.
"Why’d it take you so long?" a familiar male voice asked.
West rolled his eyes when he heard Ross voice.
Aria answered smoothly, unfazed. "Was busy... We just got back from the hospital not too long ago."
There was a pause.
"You okay?" Ross asked.
"I’m fine," she replied. "You have company."
There was a longer pause this time.
Ross’s voice lowered. "Is he here?"
"Yes," Aria said simply. "He’s taking a shower."
West heard footsteps, then more voices—several of them.
Then Ross spoke again with a more serious tone. "Young Lord Timothy wants a word with him."
The words were laced with respect.
"The mafia?" Aria tone sharpened as she questioned.
"Yes," Ross replied. "They want a word."
There was silence.
Then Aria said calmly, "They’ll have to wait until he’s done."
A different voice cut in sharply. "How dare you—"
"Enough."
Another voice cut in before the other could complete their statement.
"We’ll wait."
West didn’t need to see him to know who that was.
Timothy.
Moments later, the living room was filled.
(( Ten Minutes Later ))
West stepped out of the bathroom with a towel draped loosely over his shoulders and hair still wet and clinging to his forehead. Steam followed him into the living room like a fading ghost, and the moment he arrived he felt the strong presences here.
Over ten awakened people gathered in one living room.
The air itself felt denser, like it had been compressed by invisible hands. Every breath carried a subtle resistance, every step felt like it was being measured.
This wasn’t hostility... it was power, raw and unapologetic, sitting casually on couches and leaning against walls as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"What took you so long kid? Were you touching yourself in there?" The mafia spokesman’s questioned while squinting his eyes.
West paused for half a second and then he smiled. "With all the male arrogance and display of masculinity here, I couldn’t possibly acquire a boner even if I wanted to..."
Ross immediately froze upon hearing that. ’This kid is bold... you can’t speak to these kind of people like that...’
He turned to face the spokesman who was middle aged and tier 2 expecting him to turn furious but instead he chuckled.
The other mafia guards also laughed upon hearing West’s response which greatly shocked Ross.
"The mouth on this youngsters," one of them shook their heads while laughing.
"Uh," West said while glancing around the room as if he’d just walked into an unexpected family gathering, "How did things go at the ruins?"
Ross shifted uncomfortably as the laughter immediately stopper.
The scar cutting across the spokesman cheek moved as he answered.
"Nothing," he said flatly. "No artifacts. No intact chambers. Just... destruction."
Another awakened scoffed. "A ridiculous amount of it."