CHOCOLATE,CHAOS AND BLOOD

Liliana was still blushing, her breaths coming in uneven gasps, each inhale feeling like a battle against her chest. Her lips trembled, and her eyes sparkled with something wild, almost unhinged.

Then, in a voice so soft it seemed to blend with the night air, she whispered:

“…How cute.”

The words quivered, sounding more like a confession than a mere thought.

But then her head snapped back, her lungs bursting as her voice erupted into the stillness.

“HOW CUTE!”

The scream sliced through the courtyard, sharp and frantic—echoing off the dorm walls like a twisted hymn. Windows rattled, a startled crow took flight into the night sky, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world itself flinched.

Her laughter followed right after, jagged and fractured, twisting the phrase into something sharp enough to cut.

“How cute… how cute… how cute!” she repeated, each word climbing higher, her voice cracking between joy and madness.

I didn’t move. Didn’t flinch.

I just watched.

Because beneath the chaos, I could hear the rhythm of her breathing, the pulse in her throat. It wasn’t random. It was deliberate. A performance.

She wanted me to witness her unraveling.

Or maybe… she wanted me to believe she was unraveling.

Her body shook, her hands clutching her chest as if she were barely holding herself together. Yet through it all, those burning, predatory eyes of hers—never left mine.

Not once.

That was the dangerous part.

The scream was for show. The blush, the trembling it was all just noise. But her gaze… that was the truth.
Liliana’s scream cut off abruptly as she took a sharp breath.

Then she lunged.

Her foot crashed down onto the stone path, cracking it under her weight as she propelled herself forward, her fist slicing through the air like a spear.

I tilted my head.

The strike barely missed, her knuckles brushing against the spot where my cheek had just been. The wind rushed past my ear as I stepped back, my expression remaining blank.

She didn’t hesitate.

Her other hand shot up, claws of raw energy forming at her fingertips. A fierce arc aimed straight for my throat.

I leaned. Just a single step to the right, my body gliding past her strike as if she were swinging at nothing.

Her grin widened, breathless. “Yesss…”

Next came a kick, sharp and merciless, spinning with enough force to shatter bone.

I raised my forearm—not to block, but to redirect. Her leg slid off mine, her momentum carrying her past me. She stumbled slightly, then pivoted on her heel, her eyes gleaming.

“Stop running!” she snarled, driving her knee toward my ribs.

I shifted. Just enough. Her strike sliced through the air again.

Not a word. Not a sound. My eyes remained locked on hers, cold and unyielding.

Liliana’s breathing grew ragged, her strikes faster, sharper—like a storm trying to break stone. Punches blurred into a flurry, each one a whipcrack of speed and violence.

But every time, I was gone.

A tilt. A step. A turn.

To her, it must’ve felt like chasing a ghost.

Her fists slammed against walls, cracked the ground, sent shards flying—but never touched me. Not once.

And through it all, I didn’t raise a hand. Didn’t strike back.

Her frustration boiled over, her voice breaking into a scream. “LOOK AT ME!!”

She spun into a backfist, raw energy exploding from her arm like a blade of light. The strike carved a line through the courtyard wall, stone crumbling in a burst of dust—

But I was already behind her. Close enough that she could feel my breath against her ear.

Still expressionless. Still empty.



“Done yet?”

I let out a breath. And with that exhale, the mask fell away. The killing intent I’d been holding back surged forth like a tidal wave. It was heavy, suffocating, sharp enough to slice through the very air.

In an instant, the courtyard transformed. The night turned colder. The lamps flickered ominously. Even the shadows seemed to pull back. Liliana froze mid-motion, her pupils dilating, breath catching in her throat. Her hands shook, her knees wobbled—her instincts were screaming at her to flee, to submit, to hide.

Because around me, countless blades appeared to shimmer into being.

Not real steel. Not magic.

But the sheer weight of my killing intent carved an illusion in her mind—edges glinting, tips trembling, each one aimed straight at her throat.

Her body understood it wasn’t just a trick. Her skin prickled. Her lungs constricted. Every nerve screamed of impending death.

But instead… she smiled.

Her lips twisted into something jagged, broken, too wide to be human. She shook not with fear—
but with ecstasy.

Her voice emerged as a strangled moan, laced with hysteria.

“Yesss… break me… tear me apart… make me scream—ahh, God, I crave it… I want you to ruin me!”

Her eyes sparkled with madness. She pressed a hand to her chest, breathless, shivering as if my bloodlust was the sweetest sensation she’d ever experienced.

“No one’s ever looked at me like prey before… no one’s ever made me feel alive like this!” she cried, her voice cracking between laughter and desperation.

Then her grin snapped back into place—predatory, feral.

“Now FIGHT ME!”

She lunged, claws of energy bursting from her hands, slashing down in a storm of light.

This time—I didn’t dodge.

My arm shot up, intercepting her strike. The ground beneath us cracked from the impact, shockwaves rippling through the courtyard.

Her eyes widened in delight.

“YESSSS!!”

I pivoted, my elbow crashing toward her jaw. She twisted, blocking with her forearm, sparks flying on impact. Her knee shot up—

I caught it, twisting, and slammed her down onto the stone floor.

The ground cracked open, sending dust spiraling into the air. Even while pinned down, she just laughed, blood trickling from her lip. Her body shook, but it wasn’t out of fear. It was pure bliss.
She looked up at me through the thick haze of bloodlust that hung in the air, every imagined blade pressing closer against her skin.

And she whispered, almost with affection—

“…More.”

Liliana’s laughter echoed through the shattered courtyard as we collided again and again—fist against fist, strike against strike.

Each blow sent shockwaves through the stone, cracks spiderwebbing beneath our feet. Her claws grazed my sleeve, slicing through the fabric, while my counter-punch slammed into her ribs with bone-cracking force.

Any ordinary person would’ve crumpled.

But she just grinned wider. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet her eyes burned brighter than ever.

“Finally…” she panted, swinging another vicious hook that I narrowly dodged. “…finally someone I can fight without worrying about killing them!”

Her voice was manic, gleeful, raw. She launched another kick, and I blocked it with my shin—the impact ringing out like steel on steel.

And that’s when it hit me. She wasn’t just fast. She wasn’t just skilled. Her body was unnatural.

Every strike I landed should’ve broken something—dislocated a shoulder, cracked a jaw, fractured ribs. But her frame absorbed it all. She was built to endure, to take hits that would’ve taken anyone else down.

She laughed through the pain, relishing it even. Each drop of blood only fueled her frenzy.

“…Tch.” My eyes narrowed.

If brute strength couldn’t take her down… then I had no choice. I adjusted my stance. No wasted motion. No excess force. Just pure calculation. She lunged, wild and hungry, claws aimed for my throat. I let her get close.

Then I moved.

My palm snapped against her wrist, twisting it aside. My knee drove into her stomach, stealing her breath. In one fluid motion, I spun behind her, hooking my arm around her neck.

A choke. Not for show. For finality.

Her claws slashed blindly, sparks flying through the night, but her strength began to wane as I tightened my grip. Her body thrashed, desperate, powerful—yet every movement only sealed her fate.

Her smile never faded. Her knees buckled. Her vision blurred. And as she began to slip into unconsciousness, her lips brushed against my ear.

Her voice was broken, breathless.

“Mmm… push me harder… ahh~ this feels… amazing…”

A shuddering moan escaped her lips, filled with a mix of pleasure and intensity.

Then her body went slack. I let her go, watching as she crumpled into the debris. The courtyard was still—save for the faint echo of her final words, hanging in the air like a haunting whisper in the night.

Liliana’s eyes fluttered open, her head pounding like a drum. She let out a soft groan, running her fingers through her messy hair, only to freeze as her surroundings came into focus.

This wasn’t her dorm room. The walls were too bare, the air carried a faint scent of iron and tea, and the gentle hiss of a kettle boiling broke the silence.

Her heart raced. She sat up, scanning the small space, trying to piece together fragments of memory—the fight, the deadly intent in his eyes, the darkness that had swallowed her whole.

A sharp clink of a spoon against porcelain echoed from the corner.

“You’re finally awake, I see,” a calm, steady voice said.

She turned her head quickly.

I was standing by a small table, steam rising from the cup in my hand. My face was as unreadable as ever, showing no sign of fatigue or regret after our confrontation.

Liliana’s mouth fell open, her cheeks flushing once more. For a split second, her body tensed, ready to spring at him—but then something else took over. A smile began to creep back onto her lips.

Liliana blinked rapidly, her vision finally coming into focus as she watched Sylvester approach with a tray in hand. He set a steaming cup of coffee on the nightstand next to her bed, doing it with the precision of a surgeon.

She tilted her head, eyeing the cup with suspicion.

“…Did you poison this?”

“No.”

“...Lace it with drugs?”

“No.”

Leaning in closer, she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “…A love potion?”

I didn’t even flinch. “Drink it before it gets cold.”

Liliana, her cheeks flushed to the point of nearly steaming, eagerly grabbed the cup and took a long sip, only to recoil as she nearly burned her tongue. She hissed and fanned her mouth.

“Hot! Hot! Hooooot—” Then she suddenly froze, a manic smile spreading across her face. “Ahh… you like it hot, don’t you?”

I measly sighed, taking a seat across from her and placing my own cup down before folding my hands together like an interrogator. “I’m going to ask you a few questions. Answer them properly.”

“Oooh, interrogation roleplay?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Do I get handcuffs? Chains? A safe word?”

“No.” my tone remained unchanged, my expression flat.

“Fine, fine,” she giggled, taking another sip. “But don’t blame me if I get a little turned on.”

“…Why did you attack me?” I asked bluntly.

She grinned, swirling her coffee as if it were fine wine. “Because you’re cute.”

My eye twitched. “That’s not an answer.”

“Oh, it absolutely is. You don’t get it, Sylvie—can I call you Sylvie?—most people are just so boring. Weak. Fragile. They break too easily. But you…” She leaned in, her eyes sparkling, “you didn’t break. You made me feel alive.”

I just ignored the flush on her cheeks and pressed on: “Who sent you?”

Liliana paused for a moment, then smirked. “…Cupid.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and asked, “Do you ever say anything normal?”

“Normal is just so boring! Boring people end up in shallow graves. I prefer deep graves—cozy ones, where you can snuggle with the corpses…” She trailed off, lost in her thoughts, hugging her pillow tightly.

I took a sip of my coffee, maintaining a facade of stoic patience.

“…So, no sugar?” she suddenly inquired.

“You didn’t earn any sugar.”

She gasped, feigning shock. “How could you! You knock me out, kidnap me, strip me of my sugar rights, and expect me to answer your questions?”

“Exactly.”

She erupted into laughter, rolling onto her side, her legs kicking in the air like a playful child. “Ahahaha! This is amazing! You’re so cold, so cruel! You’d make the perfect future husband.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Oh, you will be.” She pointed her cup at me, still giggling like a maniac. “You just don’t realize it yet.”

I stared at her for a long moment before muttering under my breath, “…This was a mistake.”

Liliana’s laughter finally faded, but a sly smirk crept onto her lips.

“You know…” she started, her voice sweet but her teeth hidden behind that grin, “…I don’t like the way you’re looking at me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “…Excuse me?”

She leaned back, crossing her legs on the bed like a queen surveying her kingdom. “You’re… too calm. Too cold. It makes me feel…” She paused for dramatic effect, tilting her head, “…a little… annoyed.”

I clenched my jaw slightly. “…Annoyed me?”

Her grin widened, and she leaned forward, her fingertips brushing against her shirt. Slowly, deliberately, she began tugging at the buttons, loosening her collar, twisting the sleeves—making her outfit a mess. Her skirt slid a bit askew, and her hair tumbled wildly over one shoulder.

Then she tilted her head, eyes wide as if she’d just realized something catastrophic. “Oh no…” she whispered, her voice trembling in mock horror. “…Did you do this to me?”

I froze. “…Do what?”

She raised her hands as if to plead her case, her shoulders lifting in a shrug. “My clothes! They’re all… ruined. You… did something to them, didn’t you?”

I let out a slow breath. “…You brought this on yourself.”

“…Me?” she gasped, her lips forming a playful pout. “…Really? Are you absolutely sure? Hm… maybe it’s that cold, terrifying aura of yours that got to me again. That must be it…”

Her smile was infuriatingly sweet, like a child who just found a shiny new toy, and I had to resist the urge to scowl.

She flopped back onto the bed, tossing the now-ruined sleeve over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Anyway… enough about clothes. Let’s chat.”

“…You mentioned something about Ellie,” I said, keeping my voice flat, trying to regain some control. “What’s your connection with her?”

Liliana’s grin flickered for a moment, and she tapped her chin as if deep in thought. “…Connection? Huh… not much, really. We’ve… crossed paths. That’s about it.”

“Crossed paths?” I repeated, my voice sharp. “Don’t play games with me. I need some clarity.”

Her eyes sparkled like a cat ready to pounce on a laser dot. “…I said not much.” She leaned in closer, whispering like we were sharing a secret, “…but maybe she’s a bit interesting.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, letting out a sigh. “…Alright. Then what about you? What’s your purpose in this school?”

Her grin widened, a dangerous, thrilling smile that sent shivers down my spine.

“My purpose?” she echoed, tilting her head. “…Oh, Sylvie, I’m here for fun. Chaos. Learning. And maybe… a little bit of hunting.”

I let her words linger in the air, feeling flat and cold. “…Hunting?”

She nodded, her eyes glinting with excitement. “You’ll see. It’s… thrilling. But don’t worry. I won’t bite… too hard.”

And just like that, the chaotic, unhinged energy she radiated filled the room, leaving me caught between irritation, fascination, and a hint of… worry.

Liliana reclined on the bed, absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Then, all of a sudden, she froze. Her eyes sharpened, and her usual grin faded just a bit.

“I guess… it’s time I share the real reason I’m here,” she said, her voice low but steady.

I tilted my head, keeping my expression neutral. “…Go on.”

She let out a sharp breath, as if she’d been holding it for ages. “I was sent here… to confront the people who made Ellie—” Her voice wavered just a touch. “…take her own life.”

The words lingered in the air.

I didn’t flinch. Didn’t gasp. Didn’t even move a muscle. My hands remained folded in my lap, my face calm, my eyes locked on her as if this revelation was just another puzzle to piece together.

Liliana’s pupils widened slightly, bracing for anger, shock, maybe even outrage.

Nothing.

“…You’re so calm,” she whispered, disbelief creeping into her tone. “Most people would’ve… blown up by now. You… you really are something else.”

I leaned back a bit, my expression still unreadable. “…That’s because staying calm helps solve problems. Not shouting.”

Her lips trembled, a mix of admiration and frustration flickering across her face. “…Hmph. You’re impossible. But… I think I like it.”

She shifted, folding her hands over her knees, gazing at me with something hard to read—part curiosity, part calculation. “So now you know. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I came for you first… you just happened to be in the way.”

“…I see,” I replied evenly. “Then your goal is clear.”

Liliana tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief once more, though this time her voice carried a darker undertone. “…Clear, yes. But fun, too. Very, very fun.”

The room fell silent, with only the soft hiss of the kettle and the lingering aroma of coffee filling the air.

Yet, beneath that calm surface, I could feel it—the subtle thrill of danger that only someone like Liliana could inject into a space like this.

She had a mission. She had a fire in her.

And she was still completely unhinged.

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, watching her with that same inscrutable calm.

“So…” I started, my voice flat, as steady as ever. “That’s why you chose Amara as your first target.”

Liliana blinked, then flashed a smirk. “Bingo. You’re sharp, Sylvie. Did you always know everything, or are you just that brilliantly clever?”

“Just that brilliantly clever,” I replied, my expression remaining unchanged.

She gasped theatrically, placing a hand over her heart. “Ooooh, brilliantly clever! How romantic. Do you always intimidate people like this? Or am I just special?”

“…You’re special,” I said flatly.

Her grin grew wider. “…I knew it!” She bounced a little on the bed, clapping her hands like a child. “Yes, yes, yes! I’m special! Finally, someone who gets me!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “…Focus. We’re discussing Amara.”

“Oh, right,” she said, rolling her eyes but still smirking. “Amara. Big meanie number one. Target locked.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “…So what if I decided to join your… operation?”

Her head tilted, eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing the options. “…Hmmm…”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “…Sylvie, if you join, you might actually make this too easy for me. And I do enjoy a challenge.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you’re saying you want me to be a challenge?”

She gasped, clutching her chest again. “Of course not! I’m just saying… I like to have fun. And fun comes with a bit of chaos, danger… and maybe a little pain.” She wagged her finger at me. “But mostly fun!”

I let out a slow breath. “So?”

“So…” she leaned back, hands behind her head, her eyes sparkling like a mischievous fox. “Fine. You can join. But only on one condition.”

I tilted my head. “One condition?”

“Yesss,” she said, bouncing slightly on the bed. “One little, teeny-tiny, harmless, completely insignificant condition.”

“What is it?” I asked flatly, already sensing I might regret this.

She leaned forward, her eyes shining with a kind of manic energy that should probably be illegal. “Don’t worry, don’t worry! You’ll love it! I promise it’s… a surprise!”

“A surprise?” I echoed, my tone flat and my expression unchanged.

“Exactly!” she squealed. “It’s mysterious, thrilling, maybe a little scary… ohhh, I hope you scream a little! Or at least flinch. Flinching is fun too!”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You do realize I have zero interest in screaming or flinching, right?”

She pouted. “That’s the point! You’ll try, but you won’t. And I’ll laugh anyway. It’ll be amazing! You don’t even know. Sylvie, this is going to be epic!”

“I’m already regretting this,” I muttered under my breath.

Her grin widened impossibly. “Regret is just another form of excitement! Think of it like… an appetizer before the main course of chaos!”

“You really are impossible,” I said, shaking my head.

“And that, my dear Sylvie,” she said, leaning in like she was about to share the secrets of the universe, “is why you’ll love being part of this operation. I’m like… a tornado wrapped in chocolate, sprinkled with blood, and topped with… oh!… a dash of absolute terror!”

I blinked once. “Chocolate?”

“Don’t question it!” she yelled, spinning on the bed with her arms flailing. “…It’s symbolic!”

“…Right,” I muttered, already dreading the number of headaches this “one condition” was bound to bring me.

Liliana’s laughter filled the room, bouncing off the walls like a burst of fireworks. She flopped back onto the bed, arms crossed behind her head, her eyes sparkling with joy.

“See? This is going to be a blast! The absolute best fun! You’re going to love it, Sylvie. I just know it. And if you don’t… I’ll make sure you do!”

I let out a long, exasperated sigh. “…I hate this already.”

Her grin only widened. “Good. That’s the spirit!”