Riser poured a glass of Phenex firewine, swirling it absentmindedly as he stared out over the glowing gardens of the estate. He was calm, collected… but inside, he was studying everything—his new body, this new world, and how best to move through it.
Behind him, Rias stood in silence longer than she usually would have.
He finally spoke without turning. "You're still staring, Rias."
She crossed her arms, her voice curious rather than annoyed. "You're not the same."
That made him pause. He turned, one eyebrow raised.
"Oh? How so?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Your aura. It used to be loud, arrogant. Burning all the time—like you were trying to prove something. But now…" She took a step closer, tilting her head ever so slightly. "It's cold. Controlled. Still blazing, but buried deep. Almost… ancient."
For a moment, there was silence between them.
Riser met her gaze without flinching. "Maybe I've finally grown up."
Rias scoffed lightly, but her eyes didn't leave his. "No. It's more than that. You're not hiding something… You are something else."
She didn't say it as an accusation. It was more like an observation that intrigued her.
Riser set the glass down, stepping forward until they were barely a foot apart.
"Maybe you'll find out," he said smoothly, his voice low but relaxed. "Or maybe you'll be the first one to really know me."
Rias blinked, just once, as a slight warmth crept into her cheeks. She quickly looked away. "Hmph. Don't start getting poetic now."
He didn't push it. Just watched her leave, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He wasn't the old Riser.
And she knew it.