Evelise grip loosened. The pillow hung halfway between them. Evelise’s breathing slowed as she looked down at the pillow in her hands, then at Sid sprawled beneath her. Her brows furrowed, confusion replacing the anger.

"Wait... why am I even holding a pillow?"

Evelise turned around slowly, her eyes widening as she saw the bed behind her. The sheets were clean, the mattress new, the frame fixed. Everything looked soft— warm even. She blinked again, lost for words.

"Why... why is it fixed? And since when do we even have a real mattress?"

Sid couldn’t help a tired grin.

"Guess you could say... I made a little home improvement project while saving your life."

Evelise turned back to him, cheeks burning even brighter.

"Y-you... what?!"

Sid chuckled weakly, leaning against the wall as his exhaustion finally hit him.

"Yeah. The quest said ’A Comforting Bed.’ Guess I took it literally."

Before she could respond, he slumped sideways, his energy completely spent. Evelise caught herself reaching out, her hand hovering over him as his head tilted to the side. His breathing was slow but steady, his face streaked with dried tears.

She stared at him for a long moment, her chest tightening with something she didn’t understand. The anger had faded, replaced by a strange, unspoken warmth that made her ears twitch again.

"Tch... idiot,"

She muttered softly, pulling the pillow to her chest.

"You’re lucky I didn’t actually kill you."

But even as she said it, a faint smile touched her lips.

Evelise stood in front of the bed, arms crossed, eyes squinting like a suspicious inspector. Sid leaned against the wall, still groggy from exhaustion, watching her every move as she began testing the bed with the seriousness of a soldier inspecting a weapon.

She pressed her hand down on the mattress first, bouncing it once. Then she sat on it, shifted her weight, and started rocking it from side to side. The bed creaked faintly, but held strong. Not satisfied, she stood, crouched, and suddenly threw herself onto it like a rabbit sized missile. The whole frame groaned, but didn’t break. Sid couldn’t help but smile through his tiredness.

"You... uh, testing its durability or auditioning for a wrestling show?"

Evelise rolled over and glared at him.

"Just making sure it’s not another one of your traps, human. You tied me once already— who knows what you’re hiding under this mattress."

"Yeah, she’s fine now. Like last night didn’t even happen..."

When she was finally satisfied, Evelise sat cross-legged on the bed, hands on her hips.

"Well. I guess you did... decent. Not that I’m praising you or anything."

"Wow, thanks. I’ll treasure that ’decent’ forever."

She turned her face away, ears twitching.

"Anyway, I’ve decided you’re forgiven for your devious act earlier. For tying me up and staring at me like some kind of lunatic."

"Wait... forgiven? You seriously don’t remember?"

"Remember what?"

Sid hesitated, unsure how to start.

"Evelise... last night, you weren’t yourself. You— you went feral."

Her expression darkened immediately.

"What?"

"You lost control... You attacked me. You were... gone for a while."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, please. Don’t make up excuses for your weird behavior. I’m not stupid, Sid. There’s no way I’d lose my mind like some brainless feral."

Sid didn’t argue. Instead, he rolled up his sleeve and showed her his forearm. Long red scratches ran across his skin, still fresh, some scabbed, others raw.

Evelise’s eyes widened slightly. She stepped closer, staring at his arm in disbelief.

"That... that’s not—"

She reached for his wrist, examining the wounds herself. They were real, and they smelled faintly of iron. Slowly, her gaze dropped to her own hands. Some of her nails were dull and chipped, and faint streaks of dried blood stained her fingers.

"What...?"

Her voice trembled. She brought her hand closer to her face and sniffed it. The metallic scent hit her instantly.

"No... this can’t be..."

Her legs weakened, and she stumbled back onto the edge of the bed, her body trembling.

"I didn’t— I wouldn’t—"

Sid’s voice softened.

"Evelise... it happened. But it’s over now. You’re okay."

She shook her head, stumbling back as her legs gave out. Her eyes distant as pieces of memory flickered back.

"I... I remember... Before I blacked out, I saw something— a deer and then..."

Her voice cracked.

"Oh God... I ate it, didn’t I?"

Sid stepped forward as she pressed her hands to her face, trembling. Her body shook with each breath. The image of her losing control again flickered across his mind, but he pushed it aside and knelt down beside her.

"Hey, hey— look at me,"

He said firmly, reaching out and gripping her shoulders.

"You didn’t mean to. You were starving, hurt, and you lost control for a bit. That doesn’t make you a monster."

Her voice came out small.

"But I... I wanted to eat you too, didn’t I?"

Sid hesitated, then smiled faintly.

"Yeah. But you didn’t. You stopped,"

Evelise looked up at him, her eyes wide, searching.

"How can you be so calm about this? I almost—"

"Because I’ve already lost someone before. And I’m not losing anyone else. Not you."

The tension in her shoulders slowly eased as his words sank in. The trembling in her hands faded. For the first time since she woke up, Evelise’s expression softened—vulnerable, fragile. She exhaled shakily, then glanced away.

"You really are an idiot. Risking your life for someone like me. Like from the start, why would you even revive a girl like me? You could have saved someone prettier, someone who isn’t as bossy as I am, like you said before. And of course... someone human."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly as she forced a faint, bitter laugh.

"You didn’t even know what I was. I could’ve turned on you. I could have killed you in your sleep. But you still looked at me like I was worth saving."

Her eyes flicked to him, uncertain and wet.

"Why, Sid? Why me? You could’ve walked away. You should’ve."

"It’s because... you really reminded me of her. Morgana. Someone who was dear to me, but in the end, she... she died."