Chapter 61: You want to monopolize the Saint, right?
“These children by the saintess’s side aren’t like those dustfolk outside.”
Therilens summed it up.
“Looks like I can’t rush—if I want Liang Lai all to myself… gotta grow strong first…”
Therilens’s gaze hollowed gradual, drifting to far, far thoughts.
Time ticked on; Duoluosa stewed too riled for sleep, while Asteris and Delucia—as shadowkin—needed scant shut-eye.
Only poor little Iluci bobbed her head drowsy, nodding off.
Liang Lai drew Iluci close.
“If you’re beat, head back to bed.”
Iluci shook stubborn, prying eyes wide. “No… Wanna stay with Mom, uh, and… and sisters.”
Seeing Iluci’s mulish, pitiable face, Liang Lai sighed—guiding the girl’s head to her lap.
“Then pillow on my thigh—looks like you’re zonked. Nap a bit; we’ll rouse for your shift? We set rotations to watch Therilens from the start.”
“Mm… I…”
Iluci meant to demur a touch—but one sink into the saintess’s plush thigh, and lids drooped heavy.
Saintess smells so sweet, thigh so soft—by her side feels so safe… Hee hee~ Kneepillow from saintess today—bliss day~
Iluci smiled in slumber; likely the night’s biggest winner amid the squall.
“Time she crashed.”
Duoluosa fidgeted irked, jabbing at ice-clutching Therilens cold: “Your cheek looks near-down; that pack’s melting out? No need dragging—bed now. Don’t tell me nerves keep you up.”
She glared Therilens venom.
She’d bet against true walking— even if, wake her endless, grind to breakdown, forced crash… see if she “walked” then!
But plain: Duoluosa missed the catch—if Therilens dared the method, she held cards.
Right—Therilens knew her sleep brought walks, but mostly just bolt-up, stare blank—sit a spell, flop back.
Floor-pacing? Rare.
And not every doze triggered—mostly, sure, but ninety percent odds.
So plan: fake first two sleeps, sham-walk; third? Real doze—see if walks.
If yes? Better.
No? Explain: not every sleep walks—beg one more shot.
With that, Therilens set her melt-pack on the table.
“Mm, big sis Duoluosa—bed now to prove it.”
No more chatter; she lay straight, eyes shut—feigning sleep.
Not real, though.
Duoluosa bored holes in Therilens.
Liang Lai, Asteris, Delucia—all locked on her too.
Hush blanketed; none dared stir—fearing to jar her from “sleep.”
Minutes crawled; ten-ish in, Therilens’s breaths evened—sounding crashed.
All held breath, eyes glued to bed-Therilens.
Another twenty ticked; just as Liang Lai’s face slackened—near-disappoint—bed-Therilens sat bolt-up.
But just sat—blank stare, like no task, or lost in haze.
“What’s she doing?” Delucia breathed to sis’s ear.
Asteris frowned. “Acting… But could be real walk-syndrome. Not sure. Mm… Her daring the fix? Probably walks true.”
Asteris nailed it.
After Therilens paced a loop, she halted stock at window—just stood stock-still, still, for a full hour.
“Wake her,” Liang Lai rose, sidling to Therilens—patting her shoulder light.
“Alright, Therilens—wrap for tonight.”
Therilens blinked awake-like.
“I-I…”
She twisted her head fogged, like piecing now from then.
Body jolted sudden; head drooped sad.
“Thought… all that was a dream. Thought I just woke.”
Liang Lai eyed the pitiable girl, true ache in her gaze.
But ache aside: sans full clear, no comfort words—lest Duoluosa hurt, or she’d cosset a killer.
“Asteris, Delucia—you two watch Therilens first—no sleep for her. We rotate; two hours doze max per day. Tonight yours; tomorrow Duoluosa and Iluci; day after me—loop till six days out, see the end.”
Liang Lai’d bet: six days’ crush, sleep-capped—sixth crash? No sham-walk left.
The other kids chorused yes; Therilens just head-down, playing stoic-grieved.
Liang Lai shot Therilens a deep look—then scooped dozing Iluci, calling Duoluosa along—quitting the room.
Left: Asteris, Delucia, Therilens trio.
Therilens said zilch—just claimed a sofa, sitting statue-still.
“Got anything to say to us?” Asteris broke hush first, prodding Therilens direct.
“Like… you tried killing Duoluosa ’cause you like Liang Lai too, right?”
“Not family-like~ Right?”
The words landed; Therilens’s cool cracked—body stiffening sharp.“These children by the saintess’s side aren’t like those dustfolk outside.”
Therilens summed it up.
“Looks like I can’t rush—if I want Liang Lai all to myself… gotta grow strong first…”
Therilens’s gaze hollowed gradual, drifting to far, far thoughts.
Time ticked on; Duoluosa stewed too riled for sleep, while Asteris and Delucia—as shadowkin—needed scant shut-eye.
Only poor little Iluci bobbed her head drowsy, nodding off.
Liang Lai drew Iluci close.
“If you’re beat, head back to bed.”
Iluci shook stubborn, prying eyes wide.
“No… Wanna stay with Mom, uh, and… and sisters.”
Seeing Iluci’s mulish, pitiable face, Liang Lai sighed—guiding the girl’s head to her lap.
“Then pillow on my thigh—looks like you’re zonked. Nap a bit; we’ll rouse for your shift? We set rotations to watch Therilens from the start.”
“Mm… I…”
Iluci meant to demur a touch—but one sink into the saintess’s plush thigh, and lids drooped heavy.
Saintess smells so sweet, thigh so soft—by her side feels so safe… Hee hee~ Kneepillow from saintess today—bliss day~
Iluci smiled in slumber; likely the night’s biggest winner amid the squall.
“Time she crashed.”
Duoluosa fidgeted irked, jabbing at ice-clutching Therilens cold.
“Your cheek looks near-down; that pack’s melting out? No need dragging—bed now. Don’t tell me nerves keep you up.”
She glared Therilens venom.
She’d bet against true walking—even if, wake her endless, grind to breakdown, forced crash… see if she “walked” then!
But plain: Duoluosa missed the catch—if Therilens dared the method, she held cards.
Right—Therilens knew her sleep brought walks, but mostly just bolt-up, stare blank—sit a spell, flop back.
Floor-pacing?