what if I'm an undead! then so what?-Chapter 29: E.V.E PROJECT GENESIS

"Who are you?" Akane asked, her voice no longer aggressive but low and cautious. Her red aura still flickered faintly around her like a warning flame, signaling that she was ready to act if the situation escalated.

The girl, seemingly confused by the question, remained silent, her eyes unfocused as if trying to remember who she was exactly. Just then, a sharp pain struck her head, and she let out a scream, clutching her temple as her body twitched unnervingly. For a moment, her form started to glitch, distorting as though she were morphing into something else, but after a few agonizing seconds, she passed out, her body reverting to its normal state.

"That’s Mana, no doubt," Akane murmured, eyes narrowing. "Then she’s gotta be a witch!"

She cautiously approached, placing her hand on the girl’s pulse. Still alive, but unconscious—her mana exhausted, possibly beyond her control.

"She’s a witch, huh?" Masaru thought to himself, staring down at the girl who bore a striking resemblance to Sakura. "But if she’s a witch, then there’s no way it could be Sakura."

Akane turned toward Masaru. "We need to get her back to the mansion," she said, her voice firm. "I’ll try to contact Hinata to help us understand the situation better. You carry her."

"Alright," Masaru replied, lifting the girl’s body carefully. Her skin felt unnaturally cold, almost lifeless, but Akane had assured him it was due to Mana exhaustion. Still, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. There was something deeply unsettling about this girl.

---

Several hours later...

In a spacious, luxurious bedroom, four figures stood gathered around a large bed. One of them was lying unconscious, while the others stood just a few feet away. "She’s a witch, no doubt," Hinata said, her voice grave as she studied the girl lying on the bed. "Her Mana is so potent that she might have been mistaken for a Yaminmosha!"

Akane, her eyes locked on the strange crest under the girl’s eye, continued, "It can’t be a coincidence that she has a crest—and that her Mana is so similar to a Yaminmosha’s. But there’s something off about her. I’m not sure what yet."

At that moment, the girl’s fingers twitched, then her eyes fluttered open. Blinking several times, she looked around the room, disoriented. "Where am I?" she asked, her voice weak and unsure, as she sat up against the pillows. Her gaze fell on the three figures before her, each one waiting for her to speak.

"I... I remember you," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Akane’s brow furrowed. "You remember me?" she asked, her tone cold. "You collapsed when I asked you who you were. Now I want to know: Who are you? What are you?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The girl hesitated, confusion clouding her features. "Me? I... I don’t have a name, at least not that I can remember. But... people call me E.V.E... from where I came from. What I am, I’m not sure. Are you going totry to kill me as well?" Her voice trembled as she spoke, as if the weight of her past hung heavily on her shoulders.

Akane’s eyes softened, but her resolve remained firm. "E.V.E?" Hinata muttered, a flicker of recognition passing across her face. Her expression darkened, the name evidently bringing back memories—bad ones.

Masaru turned to her, noticing the grim look on her face. "Do you know something?" he asked, concerned by the shift in her demeanor.

Hinata didn’t respond immediately. Her mind was racing, the implications of this conversation settling in. "Does the name ’Project Genesis’ ring a bell?" she asked after a long pause.

At the mention of the name, E.V.E’s expression shifted dramatically. Fear flashed in her eyes, and she clenched the sheets tightly, her body visibly shaking.

"Are you with them?" she asked, her voice a mixture of panic and desperation. "Do you want to take me back?" Her words echoed with an unmistakable fear that seemed to hang in the air, thick with memories of trauma.

Hinata’s face hardened, but she stepped forward, her voice gentle yet firm. "Don’t worry, we’re not going to take you back," she said, her tone reassuring. "We’re not your enemies. You can think of us as... your friends."

Masaru added, "Yeah, you’re safe here. Don’t worry about anything Eve." He smiled at E.V.E, but there was an unspoken sadness in his eyes—she looked too much like someone he had lost.

E.V.E blinked, confused. "Eve?" she asked softly, the name unfamiliar yet oddly comforting. Masaru smiled, his eyes warm.

"Yeah, Eve. It’s just easier than calling you ’Letters,’ don’t you think?" he said with a playful grin. "But if you don’t like it, I won’t call you that again."

"No," Eve replied with a small, tentative smile. "I like Eve... It’s... nice."

Akane gave a small nod, but there was still a heaviness in her expression. She could see that Eve was starting to open up, but something was still off but she couldn’t worry too much about the problems of another person. She glanced at Masaru before heading toward the door. "I’ll leave you two alone. I have something I need to handle," she said, closing the door behind her as she left.

Masaru stayed, his eyes lingering on Eve. "So, what exactly is ’Project Genesis’?" he whispered to Hinata, leaning in slightly. He wasn’t sure if Eve had heard him, but he couldn’t risk it. The less she knew about the past, the better.

But it seemed his attempt at whispering was in vain. Eve’s expression shifted at the mention of the project. Despite her silence, her body language spoke volumes—her hands clenched the blanket, her posture stiffened, and a subtle unease settled over her. She hadn’t spoken, but she was listening.

Hinata hesitated before answering. "Project Genesis," she began, her voice lowering, "is an organization that conducts inhumane experiments on individuals with even the faintest traces of Mana. They’re known for creating clones of Yaminmoshas or better known as Sigil bearers. Sigil bearers are marked by a special crest, but only those who can control it can hide it. They undergo cruel experiments, and many don’t survive the process. Some turn out to be artificial Yaminmoshas, but the rest... well, they’re discarded in her case she seemed to be an unsuccessful experiment, I do wonder how she managed to escape though."Hinata said looking at E e as if asink for answers.

Eve’s face grew pale, the memories surfacing once again. "I don’t remember everything," she whispered, her voice shaking. "But I remember someone saving me. I don’t know who. I woke up in a deserted building. It was so unfamiliar, and I was so scared. I just ran, afraid they would find me again." Her voice cracked, and her eyes welled with unshed tears.

Masaru placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer reassurance. "You don’t have to be scared anymore," he said gently. "I can tell you’re strong. You’re a lot stronger than me, for sure. And if anything happens, you’ve got us to back you up. Akane, Hinata, and me—we’re here for you."

"Strong?" Eve blinked, unsure. "I don’t think I’m strong. I’ve never fought anyone. I can only use basic spells and transformation magic... or at least, that’s what they told me." Her voice trailed off as she seemed to withdraw inwardly.

Hinata’s eyes widened. "Did you say... transformation magic?" Her tone was incredulous. Transformation magic was incredibly rare—a lost art among many.

"Yes," Eve nodded. She stood, and in a blink, her form shimmered. She transformed into a perfect replica of Masaru, down to his clothes and even the subtle aura that surrounded him. Masaru stumbled back in surprise, almost unable to believe his own eyes. She had replicated him flawlessly, his every feature, every detail—the transformation was flawless.

Eve returned to her normal form after a few seconds, watching Masaru with a faint smile. "I still don’t get what’s so special about it, though," he murmured. "It’s cool, but... if you ask me, I’d rather have magic that can stop time or control the elements. Like some kind of superhero."Masaru added.

Hinata stepped forward, her eyes intense. "You don’t understand, Masaru. Transformation magic isn’t just about shape-shifting. It’s one of the rarest, most powerful types of magic there is. There are four major subtypes: shape-shifting, transmutation, alchemy, and biomorphosis. When combined, they make someone nearly invincible. I’ve never seen anyone who could use it.

Masaru’s eyes widened in realization. "Wait, are you saying... she could—"

Hinata nodded. "Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If anyone could master all aspects of transformation magic, they’d be a force to be reckoned with."

Eve smiled slightly, though her eyes still held a trace of sadness. "I don’t think I’m anywhere near that level. But... maybe I can learn," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Masaru chuckled, though a hint of envy flickered in his eyes. "I’d love to learn magic like that," he said, thinking of the possibilities.