NOVPUBLucius leaned back a little, hands resting calmly on the table.
"Okay," he said softly. "Then what about the others?"
"You seemed to know something about the other hybrids."
Fifi blinked, then slowly nodded.
"Y-Yeah… I think so."
Lucius tilted his head.
"How?" he asked. "And also—what about your memory?"
Fifi looked down at her hands again. Her ears drooped slightly.
"…I don't have many memories," she said in a quiet voice.
"Not like normal people."
"I only remember my name."
"Fifi Fluffiel."
She paused.
"And I remember the pain."
Fiona looked over at her, brows drawn.
Lucius stayed still, his expression unreadable.
Fifi went on.
"I remember… flashes. The pain when they forced things into me."
"Beasts, parts, wires… shocks."
"I don't know who I was before. I don't remember my parents or where I was born."
"But I remember screaming."
"I remember being scared."
Lucius frowned slightly now.
"…You still feel it? That pain?"
Fifi nodded slowly, her arms wrapping around herself.
"Yeah."
"It's not in my body anymore, but… in my head."
"Sometimes when I sleep, I feel like I'm still there."
"Still inside the tube. Still being watched. Still being poked with tools and wires."
Fiona gently reached over and placed her hand on Fifi's.
Fifi didn't pull away.
Lucius's voice came quietly.
"And those other hybrids?"
"Scaldrith and Vernyx."
"You recognized them?"
Fifi nodded.
"Yeah… but not from talking to them."
"When I saw them… something just clicked."
"I didn't know their names, but I knew they were like me."
"Different."
"Not normal beasts. Not normal humans."
She looked at Lucius, her eyes a little watery but calm.
"I knew they were made like I was."
Lucius tapped the table lightly with his finger, thinking.
"So… you know about this world?"
Fifi nodded again, more confidently this time.
"Yes."
"I don't remember the small stuff, but I know enough."
"I know what a tamer is. I know about beasts. I know about zones."
"I don't know where I learned it… but it's in there."
She pointed to her head.
"Like someone placed the info directly inside me."
Lucius nodded slowly.
"That means they programmed your brain."
"They gave you basic knowledge, but wiped your past."
Fiona frowned.
"They erased her before she could live."
Lucius glanced at Fifi again.
"Well," he said simply, "you're here now."
"You have a place to rest. And people who won't treat you like a lab tool."
Fifi looked down again.
"…Thank you."
Lucius leaned forward slightly.
"One last thing," he said. "Do you… want to remember your past?"
Fifi blinked.
She looked unsure.
"…I don't know."
"I'm scared of what I'll find."
Lucius nodded with understanding.
"That's fair," he said.
"You're actually a fusion… of many beasts and people."
He leaned back slightly.
"So even we don't really know what your past was."
Fifi looked down at her lap and slowly nodded.
"…I understand."
Lucius turned his head toward the wall and spoke clearly.
"Liline. Please come."
Liline appeared, glowing softly as always.
"Yes, Master Lucius?"
Lucius nodded toward Fifi.
"Bring her something to eat. She's probably hungry."
Liline smiled and bowed her head.
"Of course."
She turned to Fifi.
But Fifi took a step back, clearly nervous.
Lucius noticed and looked at Fiona.
Fiona sighed and stood up.
She walked over to Fifi and knelt beside her.
"Hey, it's okay," she said softly.
"No one here is going to hurt you."
She smiled and patted Fifi's hand.
"Liline is like the heart of the castle. She'll take care of you."
Fifi looked at Fiona… then at Liline… and finally gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
Liline gently gestured.
"Follow me. Your food will be ready soon."
Fifi slowly walked out with her, glancing back at Fiona one more time before disappearing through the hallway.
The room was quiet again.
Lucius turned to Fiona.
"She's an interesting one."
Fiona shrugged. "She's been through too much."
Lucius smirked.
"Which brings us to you."
He folded his arms and looked directly at her.
"What do you think I want to talk about, Fiona?"
Fiona blinked.
"…Something big, huh?"
Lucius smiled again.
"Of course."
Just then, the door opened quietly.
Luna, Loreia, and Liora stepped into the room together.
Luna crossed her arms with a calm smile.
Loreia strolled in, spinning a cookie between her fingers.
Liora was silent, as always, her expression serious.
Lucius nodded toward them.
"Perfect timing."
He looked around at all of them.
"Let's talk about what we should do with this Fifi."
Luna raised an eyebrow. "The bunny hybrid?"
Fiona nodded. "Yep."
"She's sweet. Scared, but kind."
Luna sat down by the wall and tilted her head.
"For now…" she said thoughtfully, "let's just observe her."
"She's still adjusting."
"Pushing her too early might scare her again."
Loreia grinned as she took a seat beside Fiona.
"I mean… we could always make her part of the castle staff."
"She's cute enough," Loreia smirked.
"I could see her working in a maid outfit."
Fiona laughed. "You just want to dress her up!"
Liora spoke up, voice low but clear.
"She has potential."
"She was slow… but her instincts were strong."
"If trained properly, she could become a fighter."
Lucius raised an eyebrow, curious.
"You think so, Liora?"
Liora nodded once.
"She hesitated at first. But when Fiona was in danger, she acted."
"She didn't run. That says enough."
Loreia leaned back.
"Well, fighter or maid, she's soft."
Fiona raised her hand.
"I want her with me."
Everyone looked at her.
Fiona smiled.
"I think she'd be perfect for my stream."
"Like a mascot. An assistant. Or even an idol next to me."
"She deserves to be seen as more than a failed hybrid."
Luna glanced at Lucius.
"You're the one who decides in the end."
Lucius tapped his chin.
"She's Sovereign-tier."
"Mutated. Unstable."
"Half-human, half-beast."
He looked around.
"No one here is afraid of that?"
Liora shook her head.
"She's weak now. But I can train her."
Loreia grinned. "She's adorable. I like her."
Luna nodded. "If she ever becomes a threat, we'll stop her. But right now, she's not."
Fiona leaned forward.
"She's more scared of herself than we are."
Lucius smiled again.
"Good."
He leaned back in his seat.
"Then we welcome her."
