Zelyn remained in silence, aware that every one of her movements was being observed by Circe.
This world was not the one she knew. She didn't know if she was in hell, or in some fantasy setting taken from a high-budget game. And, for now, it didn't matter.
The important thing was not to act strange.
Circe's constant gaze, firm and inquisitive, tensed her nerves. It wasn't hostile, but it was attentive. Too attentive.
'That shitty deity didn't just recycle me', she thought, feeling the uncomfortable attire and bandages on her new body, the constant pressure on her chest and the long hair falling in a messy way over her back.
'He installed me like an operating system on waifu hardware.'
"This is an absurd compatibility error...", she murmured.
"Miss Zelyn", Circe finally intervened. "You can't go on like this anymore. Let's go to your room. You must take a bath."
'Bath? With this body?'
She lowered her gaze toward her delicate hands.
'How am I supposed to act like a "young demon girl" if the only thing I know how to do is debug code?'
Circe didn't wait for an answer. She turned with a brief gesture and began to walk, certain that Zelyn would follow her.
Zelyn took a second too long to react. Then she moved after her, unconsciously adjusting her posture and imitating Circe's delicate rhythm.
The hallway was wide and elegant. Walls of smooth black stone reflected the constant light of crimson flames suspended in braseros carved with precision.
'If I am a demon, where am I really?', thought Zelyn.
As they advanced, Zelyn noticed they were not alone. Red, golden, slitted eyes followed her with a mixture of incredulity and suspicion.
The murmurs began almost immediately.
"Is that…?"
"It can't be."
"She survived."
"Impossible."
Circe kept walking, ignoring the murmurs, although she kept her fists clenched.
Zelyn continued following her until they finally stopped in front of a door that Circe opened.
"I'm going to prepare the water, Miss Zelyn. Wait a second", Circe said while closing the door, and headed to the bathroom inside the room.
'She is very attentive. Who is Zelyn really?'
Zelyn nodded her head.
'So this is my room', she sighed, observing the place. 'It's not very different from what mine was.'
After a couple of minutes, Circe returned to the room.
"The bath is ready. Please, go in", pronounced Circe, making a slight bowing pose and pointing to the bathroom door.
Zelyn hesitated for a few seconds, but moved forward. She observed Circe smile and finally entered the bathroom, closing the door. She stopped for a moment in front of the mirror and saw herself completely.
Her body was full of bandages everywhere, although her body was only stained with charcoal, but without visible wounds.
As if she had bathed in ashes left by an intense fire.
She began to remove her bandages. There were no scars or wounds. And when she removed the robe, she couldn't help but see her chest: it wasn't large; natural in size, but firm. White skin stained with charcoal, and almost by inertia she held them with both hands.
"I really became a girl...", she murmured.
Although she only looked for a few seconds, she turned her gaze away, blushing.
'That shitty deity… why on earth did he do this to me?', she thought, bringing her hands to her head and touching the shape of her horns.
'More than once I imagined being a demon while playing or watching some anime, but actually being one is complete madness.'
Zelyn, now completely naked except for her white underwear on the bottom part, entered the shower in the tub covered in water. Upon entering, a bit of water spilled out of the tub, and she sighed.
She had finally relaxed a bit when she heard the door open.
It was Circe, who entered with some towels and clean clothes.
"But what are you doing here?", Zelyn asked her, nervous.
"I just came to wash you, Miss Zelyn. Like always."
"What… what do you mean 'like always'? Are you crazy or what?"
"Yes… what's wrong, Miss Zelyn? You're acting a bit strange… it must be because of the shock of being unconscious, right?"
Zelyn didn't respond, resigned so as not to act strange, if that 'Like always' was real, it would be a problem to keep complaining; she submerged herself totally, leaving only her neck and head visible.
"Do whatever you want." Zelyn said grudgingly.
After a silence, Circe approached, putting her hands in the tub and gently caressing the skin of Zelyn's bare shoulders while washing her.
"H-Hey… careful", Zelyn murmured.
Circe smiled while running her hands along Zelyn's back up to her shoulders. The contact caused her body to vibrate as she felt a shiver…