Professor Vyrill was having Ronin rehearse a script for the live presentation before. But this time, when he came back to the laboratory, he offered.

“What if we no longer use this script, sir? Let things flow as it was.” Ronin said.

Vyrill furrowed his brows under his bandages. “Let things flow?”

“Just be strapped into the resurrecting machine at the start, and leave all the talking to me.” He grinned.

The professor did not know what this unpredictable boy was up to now, but he had come to trust Ronin’s confidence. If he was certain about something, then he was certain.

When the day came, they were told to go to the Judgement room.

The Judgement room used to be a mini Amphitheater for smaller, more private performances.

It was used so that only a few people can watch and judge and competition performance, having everyone leave the room beside the competitor and the panel of judges.

They loom over at the top, separated by a one-sided glass window. The one being judged cannot see the judges, but the judges can see them.

Ronin very much felt like a competitor at a talent show now. Calla’s example had been useful more than ever, as in talent shows, the presentation was everything.

He went inside quietly with Professor Vyrill already tied to the chair, and with him just pushing it. He was able to easily move it around as it was placed on top of a metal platform with wheels._.

He inhaled, and begun by saying:

“Before I begin, may I ask if any of the audience have strong fear or retaliation towards blood and gore?”

There was no response for a while, but someone went outside the Judge’s Panel.

It was not a Councillor. It was a staff member.

“The Councillor is not afraid of blood and carnage.” The staff told them.

“Alright, then I thank the Councillor, and shall begin the presentation.” Ronin bowed at the mirror high up ahead from a seat of chairs.

“Er…. But I am not fond of those things, Councillor.” The staff raised his hand normally. “May I go?”

He went inside of the panel again, and the Councillor seemed to have allowed him, and soon left the Judgement Room in a hurry.

Ronin grinned. “Now that’s all settled, I must begin with a question that our research had been aiming to answer…..”

“What is the driving force of life? What makes the body move, and become animated?”

SInce he could not have an audience answering for him in this format, he instead asked rhetorical questions by himself, and answered them himself.

“Some say it’s the soul. Once the soul departs, life in this body is no more.” He said while taking out his long knife.

He paced at the small stage while holding this knife. “Some say it must be energy. An essence that can be used up and consumed.”

“Like a flame that makes the candle burn bright, until it all burns out or was forcefully taken away by outside forces.”

He went over to Professor Vyrill’s side. “Being men of science ourselves, Professor Vyrill Krustal and I are more inclined to believe the latter.”

“Like a flame in a candle, energy in the body can be returned. It can be reignited.”

“Now you shall witness what mankind never thought was possible….”

He did not monologue for too long, only leaving this to keep up the suspense. He could hear the Councillor inside move closer in anticipation due to his chair squeaking.

Ronin flashed a wide grin.

And stabbed Professor Vyrill straight to the heart!

The feeling was…. unexplainable.

As the blood splattered onto his face and his clothes, and he felt the professor’s body convulsed on the blade he was still holding…. there was a sense of release on it somehow.

Like something that he had been holding back for too long was finally satisfied.

He had taken a life. And it felt really good.

So good in fact that his heart raced, unbelievably fast, just like Vyrill’s that also beat fast due to panic and adrenaline….

The professor was willing to accept death, but his body was not.

He was screaming in pain and holding onto Ronin’s hand, as if wanting him to pull out.

But he did not want to pull out.

He wanted to push even deeper, to twist the blade until it hit even more spots that will bring more pain, and more shouts.

His breathing became erratic, and he found himself almost like…. Like…..

It felt painful for him too….. as the more he had this feeling, the more he wanted it.

He wanted it more and more until it reaches a climax that will make him ascend greater heights—

But Vyrill’s heart fully stopped, and his head lolled to the side.

That’s it?

That’s all it was? It was too quick!

Ronin soon learned that the feeling only lasts while he was killing, and ends when he had killed.

Once the person was dead, and no longer just dying…. the thrill was gone.

And all that was left was emptiness.

The world was suddenly much clearer, yet bleaker at the same time. He felt so hollow inside, like part of himself also died when this man before him died.

It only feels good if it keeps going. Once it was released, though…

Nothing felt good anymore. It was like it had all been a dream, that kind of ecstasy.

He pulled out his knife, letting even more blood splatter, but did not feel anything from them.

He was completely apathetic as he pulled the lever to bring this man to life.

The dead body convulsed like it did while it was dying. Blue electricity danced over the body and causing lost energy to be sparked once more, and it has a sort of beauty to it.

But Ronin did not care for its beauty.

He sees no beauty in rebirth, only in death. For things to perish.

Once it was over, Professor Vyrill opened his eyes, wildly gasping for breath.

He unstrapped him, and bowed lazily at the glass panel. “Thank you for watching our presentation.”

He was no longer interested in anything that may come next because of this hollow feeling. But then…

“T-That was beautiful! Well done!”

A stuttering voice came out of the panel, and followed by someone running down the stage to hug him.

“You did really well, boy! I f-felt your feelings even behind the glass! So much s-so that it almost felt like I was doing it m-myself!”

Professor Espinella was hugging him, praising him for ‘making his feelings shown’.