Chapter 19: Jekyll or Hyde

"That looks painfully swollen," Yizhuo winced as I slowly removed the ice pack on my forehead, revealing an ugly red lump from where Soyeon kept hitting me during last night's training. I have bruises all over my body, apparently too many for my assimilated healing factor to heal after four hours of sleep.

"Damn it, my head's still ringing," I groaned as I sat up straight. It's our Archives shift again — and I'd rather nest in my bed than sit at this reception desk within this wide and empty halls while counting imaginary clients for hours.

Yizhuo took the pack from my hand and gingerly dabbed it on my swollen forehead. "Ow —" I hissed immediately at the contact.

"Oh, sorry," Yizhuo apologized meekly as her hand retreated.

"It's fine," I said. She handed me the pack back and I placed it back on my forehead, "It's just — ow — I didn't expect it to still be here after I wake up."

"Were the Death Dealers that harsh?" Yizhuo asked, small and soft.

I chuckled in response, "No, I was just that bad."

"At least you learned something. You did learn something right?"

"I surely hope so with injuries like this," I replied, making the chinese girl chuckle hesitantly.

"You should have called in sick," she suggested, "Minjeong could have covered for you, she's coming here today anyway."

I lifted the pack to look curiously at Ning Yizhuo, "She's coming here today? Why?"

Yizhuo shrugged, "Apparently some members of the band wanted to see the Archives so, she's giving them a... tour of sorts."

That seems strange. "Are they sophomores too?"

Yizhuo nodded.

My eyes narrowed, "And they haven't been to the Archives? Like, ever?"

Yizhuo shrugged, "That's what they say."

The hair on my nape stood on edge, and the sensation of Wild Instinct seemed to kick in, reinforcing my doubts. It's definitely strange, every student would have visited the Archives at least once in their freshman year, unless...

No, no, do not jump to conclusions — they could be human. But then again, this was the same thought process I had before we discovered that Yuna was fae — the benefit of the doubt, so to speak.

"Seren?" Yizhuo whispered cautiously, "are you okay? You look like you're deep in thought."

"It's nothing," I lied, "just... thinking about how I could have beaten Soyeon's ass last night."

Yizhuo gave a hesitant giggle. She looked at me, concern etched on her face. She placed a hand on my thigh — too high, I thought. Please don't start anything, not here, not now — then Saerom's words hit me again — "you never mentioned wrong person."

Shit — how am I supposed to talk to Jimin later when I'm still having these thoughts.

Saerom's words echoed again in my throbbing head, that I should start accepting the fact that I'm not entirely human. This was then followed by one of Sakura's remarks that stuck in me — "Guilt is fatal in this world."

Perhaps it is, because it's trying to kill my humanity — and if I'm not careful, probably even Jimin's.

Yizhuo squeezed my thigh gently, pulling me out of my thoughts and sending conflicting signals to my head, "You're definitely thinking about something."

Before I could respond, the Archives doors swing open, bringing in Minjeong's melodic laughter. With her are three silhouettes, and Wild Instinct kicked into overdrive. I sense no danger — yet, but something's definitely amiss, and I can only start to hope that my suspicions are incorrect.

Yizhuo rose, her eyes shifting concern to more of a cheerful and welcoming spark. "Kim Minjeong!" She greeted enthusiastically.

Minjeong led her posse towards the reception desk — three girls. Why does it always have to be girls? And why do they all have to be so pretty?

"Yizhuo!" Minjeong greeted back, then lowered her head to look at me, ice pack pressed on my forehead. "You okay back there, Seren?"

"Yeah, still alive, don't worry," I quipped with a heavy sigh.

"What happened to you anyway?"

"Slipped in the bathroom," I replied, rehearsed, but still a little bit awkward — which I hoped could pass as embarrassment. I'm not going to reveal I'm training with Night Folk in the presence of people I do not know.

I raised the ice pack, giving them a glimpse of the swollen lump on my forehead. All four girls winced.

"Ooh, that looks painfully swollen," one of the girls, with wavy black hair, elegant features, and a sharp gaze, commented.

"Yep, not the first time I heard that today," I replied, making Yizhuo snicker.

"So you slipped, then fell face first?" Another girl commented, also dark haired, with a more playful glint in her eyes, and was trying hard not to snicker.

"Yeah, judge me," I replied, shrugging my shoulders indifferently. I pressed the pack back to my forehead, wincing at the cold sting upon the lump.

"Well, it is kinda funny," the third girl, with short blonde hair, giggled with a heavy Australian accent.

I tilted my head, "Australian?"

And the girl's eyes lit up.

"Oh dear," the first girl muttered, dipping her head and covering her face with a hand.

"Here we go," the second one murmured, more amused than annoyed.

Minjeong mouthed behind the third girl, "You shouldn't have said that!"

My brows furrowed in confusion, then the third girl leaned across the desk and started yapping, "Yeah! Is it that obvious? You know Australia gets a bad rep in this world we live in. You know, the world's capital for cryptids and overgrown beasts. Giant tarantulas, giant scorpions, giant everything, kick boxing kangaroos, bunyips, yowies, an ocean surrounded by sharks the size of cargo planes..." and the girl droned on, oblivious or she just doesn't care.

I shrugged towards Minjeong, a non verbal "How am I supposed to know?"

Minjeong threw her arms in the air in resignation. She then sighed and moved closer towards the reception desk, "before we go through your home country, how about some introductions first," she said, thankfully making the Australian girl stop — well, more like pause, because she opted to introduce her companions herself.

"That's a great idea!" She then pointed to the first girl whose hand still covered her face, "This is Kim Jiwon!"

Kim Jiwon raised the hand covering her face, "Sup. I prefer Liz but, call me whatever you want."

"And this," the Aussie continued without missing a beat, gesturing towards the second girl, "is Oh Haewon."

Haewon grinned and raised her eyebrow in greeting.