Not long after Soren left—a guard marching him out—he saw the man with the yellowed teeth.

He was being dragged by the Red Swords.

"I wasn't going to do it. I swear." He screamed. "Please forgive me. It's them. The damn nobles. They paid me to do it. It's them. Please. They said they would hurt my family. Please..."

His voice faded away as he was pulled into a corner.

Soren only looked his way and looked away.

While he did pity the man's family, he had no pity for the man. He had no pity for anyone trying to hurt him.

After all, being pitiful was not the excuse to step on him.

He was taken back to the underground. The prisoners had already entered the Glass.

The guard came handed him his Glassheart and dagger and then he was allowed to go in.

Unlike before, there was no fighting of antibodies. Instead, prisoners formed their own small cliques here and there.

This surprised him.

Only now did he notice that there were no Eldritch whales.

Then again, there were no Soul Mechas either.

That made sense.

After discovering that there was actually something wrong with his sister's Soul Mecha, Edward had entered a rage.

People were whispering about it.

At least a dozen people, including guards and mechanics, had received slaps from him.

He also made sure his Soul Mecha was thoroughly checked.

For this reason, today's mining session was effectively delayed.

"Soren!!!" A familiar voice called his name.

He turned.

Vinegar.

Soren walked her way. He had repeated this day many times, and not one time had he tired of seeing her.

She had that wide smile on her face as she waved enthusiastically at him.

He walked over.

"Come," she pulled him by the arm—again, like the first time.

"Let me introduce you."

At a corner, resting on a rock, were her three daddies.

In the days Soren had looped. He had come to realize that they were not her real fathers.

Also, the three men were not in that kind of relationship.

Figures.

They took her in a few years ago when they came to this prison.

They taught her a lot and were quite tight with her.

However, when she introduced him to them.

Again. Today. For the thousandth time, they did not welcome him with enthusiasm.

Handler looked at him and grunted a bit before he looked away.

Ratler paused. Then he shook his head and continued working on the grappling rig.

Slacker had his hands behind his head as a pillow. He opened an eye but shut it back.

The atmosphere was not only different. It was rude.

Soren did not know what to say, subconsciously turning to Vinegar. From the look of things, she was also surprised by their reaction.

But she did not give up. She pushed him forward, whispering, "Just say hi."

Soren staggered forward a bit.

What to say? What to say?

Soren turned to Slacker. In all his loops, he was closest to this man. Slacker had even taught him Blackfield.

"Hi." He waved.

No response.

Then Soren saw a squeezed paper by his side.

"I see you are not reading maps today." He smiled sheepishly.

But Slacker only peeped at him a bit and continued his nap.

The awkwardness was starting to build a little too much.

Vinegar noticed. She took Soren by the arm. "Urh... I am just going to take him for a walk a bit. Okay?" She smiled, pulling him away.

"Map? Really? Slacker doesn't read maps." She added as she led him.

"But I thought he was..." Soren pointed at the squeezed paper he had always seen Slacker read in the other loops.

"Oh...that. It's nothing. Just an old habit. I heard he used to be a Neuralink designer in the underworld outside prison. He just draws those whenever he is bored."

Soren nodded in realization.

Vinegar walked forward, hands resting behind her back as she turned to him. "I'm sorry I put you in such an awkward situation.

An hour ago, they were thrilled to meet you, I promise. But then..." she looked away.

"Then what?" Soren frowned.

"You went and busted the entire prison." She replied.

"Oh..." He nodded. That made sense. Billy was their prime for bribery and corruption-related matters.

Not to talk about the rest of the prison. It was no wonder they were all pissed at him.

He sighed to himself. It was not as if he did it intentionally; things just kind of happened that way.

"But oh my God, you were so cool." Vinegar mused, leaning in. "You were like whoosh... then you just kept punching again and again. And then you..."

For a moment, Soren found himself lost... staring.

As if on cue. The wind blew, carrying her scent into his nose.

His eyes fell on that scar she always hid behind her orange hair.

She noticed. Stopped. Turned around. self-conscious.

Soren quickly realized what he had done. She had always been sensitive about people staring at her scar.

"Wait..." He reached for her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I just thought you were...

...really beautiful." The words came out in a whisper.

She paused. "What did you say?"

Soren realized his tongue had moved faster than his mind could filter. But he did not regret the things he said.

"I... I said I think you are beautiful."

"Really?" She asked, combing her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah."

For a moment, even the eldritch around them seemed quiet.

And then she looked at him, avoided his eyes, but looked again. She swayed a bit.

"Come, I want to show you something." She took his hand again.

But this time, her fingers sank into his own. Maybe it was because he had Blackfield on from the moment he entered the Glass.

But her hand.

It felt... good.

She led him along, and they went a good distance from the campsite.

The eldritch around them barely gave them any attention. And then after a while, they reached a hole in the ground.

"Do you trust me?" She asked, looking into his eyes.

He gave half a nod.

"Good." She pushed into the hole...

(Author's note: Now I know some of you guys are flashing back to that first crush...sighs. If only you know.)

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