Gehenna's Gate

Eden

Vena hadn't spoken much after that, especially considering Mona had joined them shortly after and whisked Vena away to the complex's gym.

Mona was an excellent mage, but she wasn't as comfortable with her physical body as she wanted to be, so Vena had agreed to be her gym buddy from now on and show her a good routine for both cardio and muscle training.

Most of the angels had always been impressed by Vena's endurance and speed even before she'd supposedly "unlocked some form of magic" if the words of Dante were true, and that only seemed to intensify as time went on.

That wasn't exactly the type of ability she'd wanted to be known for, but she'd take it for now as it was better than nothing at all. While her heart seemed like it was set on this path, sometimes her head didn't always feel aligned. Maybe that's what Skirk had been talking about all along. She couldn't help but compare herself to others, even though she still wasn't quite like them. While they were full blooded angels through and through, she only had about half that same magical blood coursing through her veins, yet she didn't even truly know what that meant for her. If it aided her in any way, or maybe even hindered her. There was still so much she didn't know, and unknowns were terrifying. What if she'd never equal up to any of the others? While they all had a niche or talent, she felt as if she had known. Mona- the most skilled mage, Xiao and Scara known for both their speed and lethality, Kazuha for his keen senses and affinity with nature, Skirk with raw power and limitless potential... Yet there she was.

Fast for a human.

Impressive, right?

"Are you tired? We can head to bed early if you'd like." Right on time, Xiao's voice came from over her shoulder, coming over to stand beside her in the kitchen after she'd gotten dressed from her shower.

"Oh- no, I'm fine." The girl was quick to reply- too quick, Xiao's intuition almost immediately set off.

"I'm sorry about earlier, if that upset you. I'm not... I haven't experienced that feeling often, and that felt like the best way to quell the emotion at the time." Xiao's gaze drifted down to his feet, yet immediately yanked back up as the sound of Vena's giggling reached his ears.

"I didn't complain." The girl smiled widely, recalling the memory with a fondness, her tone teasing.

"I just didn't take you for the jealous type is all." She shot him a sly look, half lidded eyes and all, obviously wanting to rub it in a little.

"I wouldn't call it jealousy, per se..." The man's voice drifted as he leaned a hip into the counter nearby, trying to play it off smoothly as a hand rubbed at his chin.

"What did you say before..? 'Jealously implies you have something I want?' I have to agree with that. I'd say I'm protective of what's mine." Xiao sent the girl a cheeky wink, unable to contain his chuckle once her previously playful expression melted away at the mention of what she'd said to Maya.

"Who told you about that?! It was Scara, wasn't it? I'll wring his neck-" Vena only made it a few steps toward the door before two strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into the kitchen before she went and got herself into a fight, all while Xiao continued to laugh devilishly as if he'd won.

"But seriously," Xiao's tone softened, growing a little more serious as he turned her back around to face him.

"If I ever do anything that crosses a line for you, please tell me." Golden hues searched her own for any hint of hidden emotion or doubt, yet he only receieved a sassy eye roll in return.

"I would tell you," Vena promised, a hint of playful attitude still decorating her tone.

"You didn't." She simply admitted with a shrug of her shoulders.