The grand room was a stark contrast to the cold, foreboding hallways that wound beneath the massive structure. Shadows clung to every corner, stretching in unnatural angles. A large, dark window framed the sky above, casting a muted light across the room’s dark stone floors. The scent of metal lingered in the air, thick and oppressive, as though the very walls had been forged in a furnace.

At the center of the room, a figure stood still, her back straight, her gaze distant. Her body seemed almost ethereal, an enigma wrapped in shadows. Shadows that followed her every movement as if alive, as if they too were part of her very being. The girl’s eyes flickered with confusion, her mind clouded in a haze as she struggled to piece together her new reality. She was a Homunculus. A creation. But her purpose? That remained unclear.

“You’re awake,” came a cold voice from the shadows, breaking her reverie.

She turned, her sharp gaze landing on the source of the voice—a figure cloaked in darkness, his long, greenish hair cascading over his shoulders. His eyes glowed an eerie yellow, sharp and calculating. It was Father, the creator of all Homunculi. The very embodiment of their master.

The girl’s chest tightened as she tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. She felt a chill run through her—an unfamiliar sensation that left her disoriented. Shadows shifted beneath her feet, as if reacting to her inner turmoil.

Father stepped closer, his expression unreadable. “You are one of my creations, one of my perfect beings. Your name... you will discover it in time. But for now, focus. Envy will guide you.”

Envy. The name echoed in her mind, and she felt a flicker of recognition. But before she could process it further, a voice broke in.

“Guide her? Why do I have to babysit the new one?” The voice was dripping with sarcasm and disdain. From the corner of the room, a figure stepped forward, his slender form almost gliding across the floor. His eyes, like green flames, burned with annoyance.

The girl’s gaze met his, and for a moment, she could almost feel the weight of his presence before he even spoke. His face was a strange mixture of beauty and malice—Envy, the embodiment of jealousy.

Envy huffed and crossed his arms, his lips curling into a sneer. “Great. Another creation. As if I don’t have enough to deal with already.” His eyes flicked over to Father, then back to the girl. “Fine. I’ll respond for her, Father. But don’t expect me to be happy about it.”

Father’s lips curled in what could almost be called a smile. “Of course, Envy. You know what must be done. But remember, she is part of our family now.”

Before Envy could retort, there was a sudden noise at the door—a creak that echoed across the stone room. Lust and Gluttony stepped in, their presence commanding attention as they made their way toward the center of the room. Lust’s sharp eyes flicked over the girl, while Gluttony gave a wide, toothy grin, licking his lips.

“Is this her?” Lust asked, her voice smooth and calculating. “Another one of Father’s toys?”

“Another creation, yes,” Father replied coolly. “She has yet to find her place, but she will be an asset.”

The girl stood silent, the shadows at her feet swirling in response to the rising tension in the room. It felt as though they were reacting to something deeper inside her, some primal need to protect herself, to fight back.

But she remained still, her mind racing.

“Keep an eye on her, Envy,” Lust said, her eyes narrowing. “And don’t let her get in the way.”

Envy sighed heavily, his gaze flicking to Lust before returning to the girl. “As if I’d let a new creation get in my way,” he muttered. “But don’t get too attached. We’re Homunculi. There’s no room for weakness.”

Father’s cold gaze lingered on her, his voice cutting through the room. “You may not know it yet, but you have a purpose. You will find it. But for now, trust Envy."

“You better not slow me down,” Envy growled, his voice low and threatening. “You’re one of us now. So act like it.”