Deviant: No Longer Human

May 18th, 2026

After a week in Sylvergard, Wang Xiao had embarked on his return journey to Icevale on the night of May 15th. But what was supposed to be a routine trip had taken a series of unexpected turns.

Now, three days later, an utterly exhausted Wang Xiao emerged on the south coast of Icevale. His appearance was that of a man pushed beyond his limits – drenched, with eyes tired and void, almost zombie-like in their emptiness.

"Yin Yue, next time you want to kill me, just say it directly!" Wang Xiao grumbled aloud, his voice a mix of exhaustion and irritation. With a heavy thud, he collapsed onto the sandy beach, sprawled out and spent.

Behind him lay the foreboding expanse of Whispering Woods, with its tall birch trees standing like sentinels, forming a maze-like barrier.

[Wang Xiao, it was for your own good. You need to improve your control over your psychokinesis,] Yin Yue's voice resonated in his mind, calm and rational. [You won't magically become better just by reading books. You need to push yourself to the limits and use it daily.]

Before departing, Yin Yue had challenged him to cross the sea by himself, without any assistance. The task was to walk on water or swim underwater, covering a distance of 2000 kilometers within two days, all without food and water. It was a grueling test of his abilities and endurance.

Exhausted, Wang Xiao sprawled out on the beach, understanding Yin Yue's rationale but unable to shake off his frustration. "Hah... I'm tired..." he muttered, spreading himself out on the sand.

Rumble!

Suddenly, a rumble of thunder echoed overhead. Wang Xiao looked up, his fatigue momentarily forgotten, "Huh? Is this bastard sky laughing at me now?" he muttered as the sky darkened ominously, and clouds gathered, thundering as if in response to his plight.

Pat-pat-pat!

Within moments, a heavy downpour began, soaking Wang Xiao further. The rain fell relentlessly, as if the elements themselves were adding insult to injury, leaving him lying there, drenched and weary on the beach of Icevale.

Dragging his weary body from the beach, Wang Xiao reconsidered his initial plan to check on Xianthera and collect the essence of poisonous flowers. The relentless rain and his sodden clothes convinced him to postpone that endeavor. After a brief rest to gather his strength, he trudged towards Grayhaven town, intent on checking on Anran.

As he approached the villa, Wang Xiao noticed the armed guards positioned discreetly in the shadows. These were Li Zhiming's precautions to secure Anran during his absence.

Wang Xiao knew well that against a Deviant, these soldiers might stand little chance, but for now, their presence was a necessary precaution.

Thankfully, there had been no signs of Deviant activity targeting Anran.

"Anran! Get me some food and clothes," Wang Xiao called out as he pushed the villa door open, expecting the usual warm welcome.

Instead, he was met with an unexpected silence.

"..."

But it wasn't complete silence. As the door swung open and thunder rumbled ominously outside, a shaft of light illuminated a figure sprawled on the couch.

Wang Xiao's gaze immediately fell on the unexpected figure sprawled on the couch.

The lighting, flickering with the rhythm of the thunderstorm outside, cast a dramatic glow on Aisha's face, highlighting her striking features.

Her long light brown hair was spread out like a fan around her, and her emerald eyes, wide with surprise, met his.

"What are you doing here!?" Wang Xiao blurted out, his surprise evident as he closed the door behind him.

He hadn't expected to find Aisha still here.

Why hadn't she left yet?

His mind raced with questions as he looked at her, waiting for an explanation.

Aisha, caught off guard by his sudden appearance and brusque tone, sat up quickly, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "I... I was just..." she stammered, her eyes darting around as if seeking an escape from the question.

Wang Xiao closed the door with a soft thud, his eyes never leaving Aisha. He was tired, hungry, and now thoroughly confused. 'Why is she still here? What's going on? Where is Anran?' he thought, his frustration mounting. The villa, which he expected to be a refuge, was presenting him with more questions than answers.

Aisha finally found her voice, though it trembled slightly. "Anran let me stay. I had nowhere else to go after... after everything that happened." Her eyes lowered, unable to meet Wang Xiao's piercing gaze.

Wang Xiao's expression softened marginally at her explanation, but his wariness remained.

His gaze lingered over her, a mix of contemplation and caution in his eyes.

Her presence in the villa, far from being a mere coincidence, seemed to hint at a deeper purpose. 'Did Anran ask her to stay here?' he mused internally, pondering the possibility. 'To guard the secrets of the Deviants and what transpired that night?'

He recalled the night he had saved her, the chaos and the danger. It seemed logical at the time that Aisha would leave and move on with her life.

Yet here she was, still in the villa, 'Is Anran waiting for me to decide her fate?' he questioned himself.

The thought that Anran might have left Aisha here as a responsibility for him to deal with was both irksome and puzzling.

'Couldn't Anran have just handled this and disposed of her? Does she expect me to deal with every aftermath? Can't she, for once, do one thing by herself?' Wang Xiao's thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and conjecture. He sighed inwardly, his fatigue from the journey mingling with the weight of this new problem.

He even forgot that he was the one who forbade Anran from taking action by herself, as he deemed her unreliable. She waited for him to decide Aisha's fate.

'So scary...' Aisha sat silently, her discomfort growing under Wang Xiao's intense scrutiny and his shining red eyes.

She seemed unsure of how much to reveal, her fingers still nervously playing with the edge of the blanket.

Wang Xiao leaned back in his chair, his mind working through various scenarios. He knew he needed to get to the bottom of why Aisha was still here, and for that, he needed to first understand the situation.

Breaking the silence, he finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Aisha, where is Anran? Why is she not in the villa? And what exactly did she say to you?" His questions were direct, seeking clarity amidst his confusion.