In the chilly cellar, the firelight flickered.
The coffin lay right in the center, black lacquer on solid wood, its lid not fully closed.
Inside was the corpse of a young boy, Aik, a twelve-year-old Snow Swearer.
Louis had it shipped back from the Dongxi Territory a few days in advance, with a simple reason: there might be some disease to study.
He had no special feelings toward the corpse itself, mainly bringing it back due to its connection with the Nest.
"Honestly," Louis sniffed lightly twice, turning his head to look at his brother beside him, "Did you fall into the latrine one day and not wash clean? This smell... how is it more complex than a corpse?"
"Because there's a pile of shit next to me." Eduardo glanced at him, voice flat, "If this weren't an inappropriate setting, I'd press you into the wall right now."
"Tsk, you really know how to talk." Louis's lips curled up, not angry at all, but instead turned and sniffed seriously.
