Breeding Season - Chapter 44
They pierced through her pale skin, emerging as though they had always been there. Down her neck, the scales spread in waves.
They extended over her arms, legs, and the backs of her hands. At their tips, sharp claws protruded.
Her pupils stretched into vertical slits, and the scales creeping up her cheeks devoured the light, dark and glistening.
When a tail finally unfurled behind her, Siren had become—quite literally—a member of the Siren race.
If she cast aside her silken robes and ventured into the sea, no one would recognize her as the princess of Wilkeron.
The secret Siren had hidden so desperately had been exposed in the most meaningless of ways.
A single spell, attempted experimentally. The result it had brought was far beyond what she could handle.
“A… ah…”
A rough sound tore from her throat.
They say the true voices of the Siren race are beautiful, but from her lips came only a hoarse, grotesque noise.
‘No. Don’t look. Don’t look at me like this!’
Her whole body trembled.
Unable to bear looking at Yasamin, Siren shut her eyes tightly and stumbled backward.
Even though she knew there was no escape—this was merely a garden, not a real forest.
‘What do I do? What do I do?’
She had only wanted to make a little water. She never thought it would turn into a downpour.
If she had known, she wouldn’t have done it.
It was better than letting fire spread and consuming this precious forest, but still—this… this was…
She should have created wind instead.
Why did she do this?
Why?
She had never known she possessed such a power.
Why now?
Why—why—why now…!
“Siren.”
“Aaaaaah! Aaaaaah!”
“Sei!”
Yasamin gripped her shoulders firmly.
Only then did Siren realize she had been screaming.
She hadn’t even noticed.
Unintelligible cries had been pouring from her mouth.
Thrashing, she tore at her own hair.
Her body twisted violently.
Her tail coiled.
Her legs buckled.
Foam bubbled at her lips.
No. Let me go.
Don’t look at me.
Don’t look at me.
Don’t—
You’re going to look at me with those eyes!
“Sei. Look at me.”
“……”
“Sei. I said look.”
His firm, commanding voice seeped into her.
She was not bold enough to disobey.
In the end, Siren slowly lifted her head.
Her stubbornly shut eyelids gradually rose.
And then, for a few seconds—
Siren couldn’t hold back her tears.
Because in those calm eyes gazing at her, there wasn’t a trace of contempt.
There was no disgust in Yasamin’s deep green eyes. If anything, the name of that emotion was concern.
“I’m going to take a step closer now to check your condition. Is that okay?”
His voice had softened compared to before, and she slowly nodded.
She was still afraid, but Yasamin’s words from earlier seemed to soothe her.
Though she harbored a deep distrust of people, she somehow felt that Yasamin was an exception.
There was no logical reason, yet she felt like she could rely on him… That kind of feeling.
Even as she floundered in fear, Siren held on, grasping for him like a lifeline.
Just like that first day, when she had begged to be spared because she didn’t want to die.
“These really are Siren scales. And the tail as well… From the outside, you look perfectly like a Siren. Have you had these symptoms since childhood?”
“Y-yes, I… have…”
“Gills… They don’t hurt? You can still breathe?”
“I… can…”
Siren’s voice barely crawled out.
Her wavering gaze rested on him, but Yasamin’s face still held no curiosity, no amusement, no ridicule, no hatred.
Nothing. A void.
Expressionless, he didn’t even blink as he traced his fingers over her gills and the scales on her nape.
“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this. Does it happen with any water, or only rain?”
“A-any water…”
“And singing?”
“I… I don’t know how to sing.”
“Hm.”
The rain gradually weakened.
Yasamin wiped the water running down his high-bridged nose with an air of mild annoyance, then flicked his fingers, scattering the storm clouds.
“So that’s why you insisted on washing alone. Then, once the water dries, do you return to normal?”
“It doesn’t have to be completely dry… Just wiping it off is enough.”
Her vision blurred with tears. Her nose was stuffy, her head hazy. Sniffling, Siren eventually lowered her head.
He continued scrutinizing her, unfazed, then reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Honestly. What’s there to cry about?”
“…Because I’m hideous.”
“Hideous?”
At her impulsive outburst, he responded with genuine confusion, leaving her at a loss for words.
She was hideous. Strange, monstrous.
That was only natural… Yet, he seemed to think otherwise.
What was she supposed to say?
“In case you didn’t know, you’re one of the beautiful ones among the Siren race.”
“……”
“I’m not just saying that to comfort you. It’s a fact.”
As if stating an undeniable truth, Yasamin spoke in an even tone.
“Of course, humans wouldn’t have been able to accept the idea of someone transforming into a Siren when they touched water. But that’s just humans.
Jin, Pamilla, and I don’t particularly care what you are, human or not.”
