Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

"You've come."

Daziel's voice, low and resonant, echoed in the stark room, slicing through the suffocating silence.

"Mmm."

Topaz replied, her voice barely a whisper, like the faintest buzz of a mosquito, almost swallowed by the heavy air.

"Come in," Daziel invited, stepping aside, a silent gesture for her to enter.

But Topaz remained frozen at the doorway, her feet seemingly rooted to the threshold, a tangible hesitation radiating from her.

Her head dipped, her bangs falling forward, veiling her eyes in shadow and rendering her expression unreadable.

Seconds stretched into an eternity before she finally shifted, lifting a foot and stepping into the room. Her movements were unnaturally stiff, each step precise and controlled, like a marionette manipulated by unseen strings.

Daziel closed the door with a soft click, turning to face Topaz. He wasted no time, cutting directly to the heart of the matter. "Have you considered it?"

Topaz remained silent, responding only with a slight, almost imperceptible nod.

"Then, let's begin." Daziel's voice, though firm, betrayed a tremor, a subtle vibration that ran through his words.

Topaz drew a deep, shuddering breath, then, with agonizing slowness, began to unbutton her uniform. Beneath, intimate clothing hinted at the vulnerability beneath the rigid facade.

Her movements were deliberate, each button undone, each garment slipped off, as if requiring a monumental effort, a vast reservoir of courage.

Daziel watched her, his gaze intense, filled with a complex tapestry of emotions. He was acutely aware he stood on the precipice of something transformative, something that could reshape Topaz's life, and perhaps even irrevocably alter his own perceptions.

Yet, there was no turning back now. The system's task was paramount; Belobog's salvation, Topaz's safety, hinged on its completion.

"I'm ready," Topaz finally breathed, her voice trembling like a fragile leaf in a storm.

Daziel reached into a prepared bag, retrieving ropes, a whip, delicate lingerie, and other items – the arsenal he had meticulously assembled after his daytime retreat from the battlefield, now repurposed for the night's far different combat.

"No, Mr. Daziel! You... you're going this far? I thought… it was just…" Topaz's face drained of color, fear blooming in her eyes. Her body involuntarily shuddered, a visceral rejection of what was being presented.

"You have no choice," Daziel stated, his tone firm, devoid of apology. "To be honest, I didn't want this either, but I don't know any faster way to reach the goal… so I simply prepared more… thoroughly."

"Then… then be gentle…" Though visibly terrified, Topaz managed to articulate her plea, her voice barely audible, laced with tremor.

"Don't worry, I will," Daziel promised, offering a nod of reassurance. Then, with measured steps, he slowly approached Topaz…

A palpable tension coiled in the room, the air thick with unspoken desire and forced submission. Daziel moved towards Topaz, his steps deliberate, measured, like a predator stalking its prey. She tracked his every move, her breath shallow and ragged, her eyes, wide and luminous, reflecting a turbulent mix of fear and a strange, unsettling anticipation. Her body was already beginning to betray her, responding to his presence, to the raw, dominant energy that radiated from him, even before a single touch.

Daziel's hands settled on Topaz's shoulders, his fingers pressing firmly, almost possessively into her flesh. His gaze, usually bright and clear, had darkened, now holding a shadow that hinted at things Topaz could scarcely imagine. "Let's begin..." His voice dropped, becoming low and husky, heavy with unspoken intentions that sent a shiver tracing down her spine.

Before Topaz could fully register his words, Daziel moved. His hands slid behind her bra, the clasp undone with a swift, practiced motion. Topaz's breasts, full and pale, sprang free, swaying gently with the sudden release. Shame flared, a reflex to cover herself, but Daziel was quicker. He seized her wrists, his grip unyielding, preventing her from shielding herself as his gaze devoured her exposed form.

"Such a breathtaking sight..." Daziel murmured, his voice thick with a mixture of admiration and undisguised desire. Heat flooded Topaz's face, shame and a burgeoning, forbidden excitement warring within her. He wasn't finished. "I'll leave these breasts marked in every way," he promised, each word a brand, deep and resonant.

Without allowing her time to react, Daziel pulled her forcefully, throwing her onto the bed. She landed with a soft bounce on the mattress, a small, involuntary moan escaping her lips as her body trembled from the impact. Her eyes locked with his, and she attempted a protest, her voice shaky and uncertain. "I-I told you to be gentle—"

But gentleness was not on Daziel's agenda. He silenced her with a sudden, intense kiss, his tongue plunging into her mouth with an urgency that stole her breath. Simultaneously, his fingers found her left nipple, pinching it firmly, eliciting a muffled moan that was swallowed by his kiss. Her free hand instinctively reached for Daziel's back, her nails digging into his skin, a desperate attempt to anchor herself in the rising storm of sensation.

[Current Depravity Value: 3%]

Topaz's chest throbbed with escalating sensitivity, her nipples tightening and darkening to a flushed rose against her fair skin. Daziel broke the kiss, pulling back to observe her face – flushed, breathless, and a flicker of something deeper, something beyond embarrassment, sparking in her eyes. He pressed his advantage. With a sharp, resounding slap, he struck her buttock, the sound cracking in the stillness, followed by a startled yelp that escaped Topaz.

Then, he bent and sank his teeth into her right nipple, biting down hard. Topaz arched off the bed, her head thrown back, a guttural moan ripped from her throat. Her tongue flickered between her lips, a fleeting sign of her surrender to the rising tide of pleasure and submission.

[Current Depravity Value: 4%]

Daziel's eyes flickered to the notification that appeared before him, narrowing with a renewed determination. "This won't be enough," he muttered under his breath, as if accepting a personal challenge. He made good on his earlier promise, marking Topaz's right breast with a deep, lingering hickey. She gasped, a shuddering moan escaping as she struggled to draw breath, but Daziel granted her no respite.

His hands began a new exploration, tracing the contours of Topaz's body, mapping every curve, every detail. Her slender waist, the firm swell of her thighs – everything under his touch seemed exquisitely perfect. When his fingers reached the delicate lace of her white panties, already damp and clinging to her skin, a low growl of desire rumbled in his chest. "So beautiful…"

Instinctively, Topaz clamped her legs together, trapping Daziel's face between the warm, yielding pressure of her thighs. He didn't resist. Holding her legs firmly apart, he lowered his head and licked her through the damp fabric, the moisture-laden material amplifying every movement against her exquisitely sensitive flesh. A sharp, keening cry of pleasure tore from Topaz's throat, her back arching as she pressed his face harder against her, seeking deeper contact.

Daziel's tongue was skilled, relentless, mapping every fold, seeking out every pulse point of sensitivity, as Topaz's cries escalated into screams of pure, unadulterated pleasure. "Y-you're… going… too fast!" she gasped, a weak protest, almost lost within the rising tide of moans.

Daziel remained relentless. He exploited Topaz's increasingly vulnerable state, driving her to her first climax of the night with a teasing, insistent bite on her clitoris. She screamed, her hips bucking upwards, almost suffocating Daziel between her legs and the surging wetness that now slicked his face.

[Current Depravity Value: 8%]

Daziel pulled back, his face slick, a look of focused determination hardening his features. "Is that all? I'll have to be more… intense," he murmured to himself, already plotting his next move. Topaz, still trembling from the aftershocks of her orgasm, was barely coherent, but something in the haze of her eyes hinted at a deeper descent into the depravity Daziel so intently sought.

The room crackled with an electric energy, a palpable blend of pleasure and submission that hung heavy in the air like a dense fog. Daziel, his gaze calculating and dominant, moved to the side of the bed, reaching for a bag brimming with implements of pleasure that promised to escalate the night to new heights. The rasp of the zipper opening echoed in the charged silence, snapping Topaz from her post-orgasmic daze.

Her body still trembled with residual shudders, her legs weakened by the recent climax. One arm lay flung across her forehead, her eyes half-lidded as her chest rose and fell in a slow, almost hypnotic rhythm. Until a strange, metallic clinking sound sliced through the quiet. The distinct sound of metal on metal being handled jolted her eyes wide open, her gaze snapping to Daziel's impassive face.

"W-what is that!?" Topaz's voice emerged shaky, laced with fear, her eyes frantically seeking answers in Daziel's unreadable expression. He offered no verbal explanation, responding instead with action. He pushed her panties aside, exposing her already glistening and throbbing pussy, and pressed a Bullet Mini Vibrator against it. The cool, metallic object slid against her swollen labia.

Topaz's fingers clenched around the pillow, digging into the soft fabric as her hips arched involuntarily. "W-WHAT SPEED IS THAT ON?" Her voice was a fractured blend of surprise and burgeoning pleasure, already feeling the insistent buzz of the vibrator against her burning skin.

Daziel remained silent for a moment, adding to the building tension. Instead of answering, he placed his open hand on her stomach, beginning a slow, firm massage. Topaz moaned, a low, guttural sound like a cat in heat, waves of pleasure rippling through her. Then, using his thumb, Daziel pressed the vibrator against the entrance of Topaz's pussy, slowly, deliberately pushing it inside.

"Ahhh…!" Topaz's hips dropped back onto the bed, her body convulsing with the novel sensation. She twisted, bringing a hand down to her pussy, as if attempting to somehow regulate the overwhelming pleasure consuming her. "I-I… I'M GOING TO CUM!" Her moans intensified, growing more ragged, more desperate, until, in an uncontrolled surge, she lifted her hips, pushing herself onto all fours on the bed.

Topaz's pussy was drenched, slick with her own fluids, the intoxicating scent of female arousal filling the air. Daziel didn't hesitate. With a swift, sharp motion, he cracked his hand across her exposed backside, the sound echoing in the confined space. "KYAAAA!" Topaz's scream was muffled by the pillow clutched to her face, her body convulsing as she squirted, completely lost in the escalating waves of pleasure.

But Daziel's onslaught wasn't over. Topaz felt a cold liquid trickle down her buttock, prompting her to turn her head, her movements sluggish, strength fading. "N-no! My butt too!?" Her words were slurred, clumsy, her tongue thick and unresponsive under the weight of mounting sensation.

Daziel held aloft a long, furry object, tipped with small, gleaming balls that caught and refracted the light with hypnotic allure. Topaz gasped, a strangled cry escaping her as she recognized what he held. "W-WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THAT?"

A mischievous glint sparked in Daziel's eyes, his voice dropping to a low, intent murmur. "Here…" It was a cat tail, complete with an anal plug. He slid the first ring of the plug into her anus, eliciting the loudest scream of the night. "KYAAAAAAAAAA!"

Daziel pressed on, relentless, pushing the plug home until the tail seemed to become an extension of her own body. Topaz registered a flicker of pain, quickly overtaken by a pleasure she had never conceived possible. "It's… so deep…" she murmured, lost in the maelstrom of sensations, the vibrator still sending tremors of ecstasy through her core.

Daziel hauled Topaz up, grasping her waist and forcing her to sit upright on the bed. She moaned louder, the shift in position causing the objects inside her to grind against sensitive tissues, unleashing fresh cascades of pleasure. Her eyes rolled back, saliva escaping her parted lips, her tongue lolling loosely.

With a gesture that bordered on tenderness, Daziel placed a kitten tiara upon her head, adjusting it carefully, almost gently. "You're dressed like a kitten, but…" He smirked, a flash of cruel amusement in his eyes, then delivered a light, stinging slap to her cheek. "You're such a pig slut!"

Topaz's eyes, now glistening with tears, rolled back further before she weakly raised her hands, forming peace signs, her voice emerging in a breathy, submissive whisper. "Y-yes, Master… I'm your little piggy!"

At that precise moment, a notification flashed in Daziel's vision: [Current Depravity Value: 15%].

He wasted no time. Seizing Topaz's head, he plunged his member into her mouth in one forceful motion. She gagged, her hands flailing weakly against his chest, attempting to push him away, but he began to thrust his hips, forcing her to swallow him deeper, the unfamiliar taste burning her throat and tongue.

Topaz weakly pounded against Daziel's thigh, but he was unyielding. He continued his assault until he had rammed himself fully into her mouth, his cum overflowing and dribbling from her nose. When he finally withdrew, Topaz collapsed backwards, gasping for air, struggling to maintain consciousness as pleasure and abject submission threatened to consume her entirely.

[Current Depravity Value: 18%]

Daziel seized Topaz with a rough hand, leaving red marks on her plump ass, his nails digging into her soft flesh as he dragged her closer. Topaz was lost, adrift in a sea of sensation, her mind blurred by the madness and depravity Daziel was systematically instilling. Her hand, trembling and instinctive, slid down to her own pussy, parting her swollen, glistening labia to reveal her wet, inviting core. The vibrator still hummed inside her, a persistent thrumming, but it was almost inconsequential now. "M-master! Fill me with your huge cock! I want it!" Her voice was a desperate plea, thick with desire and utter submission, begging for the very act she knew would shatter her.

Daziel, a cruel smile twisting his lips, used his thumb to tease her further, gently circling her throbbing clitoris, watching her every reaction with predatory intensity. Loud, involuntary moans and twitches convulsed her body, but he demanded more. "Beg for it harder!" His voice was sharp, commanding, demanding complete and utter surrender.

Topaz, teetering between tears and overwhelming pleasure, had no choice but to obey. "GIVE IT TO ME! I WANT YOUR COCK! FUCK YOUR LITTLE PIGGY DEEP!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the room, a raw mix of desperation and a perverse excitement. Daziel granted her desperate request without further delay. With a swift, brutal thrust, he drove his member into her like a spear, eliciting a guttural scream from Topaz as her pussy convulsed, unable to contain the tidal wave of sensation.

As her hands and feet clenched the bedsheets, she cried out, "Y-YOU DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THE VIBRATOR OUT!" But Daziel allowed her no space to dwell on it. He sank his teeth into one of her breasts, biting down hard while simultaneously clamping the other nipple with a painful clip, reducing Topaz to a symphony of screams and moans, completely and utterly at his mercy.

Amidst the relentless thrusts and echoing slaps, Daziel systematically corrupted the deepest parts of Topaz's being, each movement driving her further into the abyss of depravity. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she was past the point of resistance, past even the desire to resist. Her breasts bounced in time with his violent rhythm, each impact a chaotic blend of pain and pleasure that left her utterly and willingly submissive.

Daziel then seized her wrists, his grip like steel bands, pulling her upright for the final, brutal surge. "KYAAAAA!" she screamed again, her body shuddering uncontrollably as Daziel emptied himself within her, filling her to the brim with his thick, burning cum. Topaz could only writhe beneath him, feeling the heat spread through her core, a physical manifestation of her complete and utter domination.

Before she could even catch her breath, Daziel hauled her up, settling her on his lap as he thrust into her again, with renewed force, making her bounce violently against him, unleashing another torrent of screams and gasps of pleasure. Her nails dug into his back, a chaotic fusion of pain and pleasure that overwhelmed all other sensations. Until, once more, he drove her to the precipice, emptying another scorching load of cum deep within her.

Topaz slumped back against him, still joined at the hip, until she registered a cold sensation on her thigh. Her blurred vision struggled to focus, finally recognizing Daziel's hand writing on her skin. Utterly dominated, completely submissive, Topaz reached out, taking his hand and guiding it to the apex of her thighs, the very entrance to her pussy, whispering, "M-master, you need to mark your property here too…" Her voice was thready, childlike in its surrender.

Daziel's lips curled into a wicked smile, as he carefully inscribed the words: "Daziel's sex piggy."

A message flashed in his vision.

[Current Depravity Value: 38%]

Daziel's eyes narrowed, irritation coloring his voice as he glanced at the notification. "That's it?"

Topaz's eyes widened, confusion warring with lingering pleasure as she trembled in his arms. "T-that's it what?" she stammered, her voice weak and uncertain, as if unable to comprehend what more he could possibly demand.

The air in the room hung heavy, thick with suffocating heat, punctuated by the muffled sounds of ragged breaths and lingering moans. Daziel, his gaze dominating and ruthless, knelt before Topaz, positioning himself over her face. He offered no preamble, no request. He simply shoved his cock into her mouth, forcing her to swallow every inch in one forceful motion. Tears instantly welled in Topaz's eyes, streaming down her face, mingling with the drool already escaping her lips. She gagged, struggling to swallow around his thick shaft, her body convulsing under Daziel's absolute control.

But Daziel wasn't yet sated. With a swift flick of his wrist, he cranked the vibrator to maximum intensity, the device buzzing with an almost unbearable ferocity. Topaz's hips arched uncontrollably, her body reacting violently to the brutal stimulation, a choked scream trapped within her mouth, muffled by Daziel's invading flesh. He used her ruthlessly, without restraint, as if she were nothing more than a vessel for his gratification.

"Swallow it all," Daziel commanded, his voice laced with cruel amusement and lewd intent, as he released another torrent of his scalding cum directly down her throat. She fought to obey, swallowing with difficulty, but the sheer volume overwhelmed her, causing her to choke, tears now flowing freely down her face. When he finally ripped his cock from her mouth, Topaz erupted in a violent cough, gasping for air, her body shaking with exhaustion and complete surrender.

But Daziel was far from finished. As Topaz rolled onto her stomach, still struggling to recover, he acted with predatory speed. In a fluid motion, he fastened a collar around her neck, yanking it tight as he simultaneously plunged his cock into her in one brutal thrust. Topaz's scream echoed through the room, a raw blend of pain and sharp pleasure, as her upper body slid off the edge of the bed, her arms hanging limp and useless. Daziel, however, held her hips pinned firmly in place, relentlessly fucking her with the mechanical precision of a piston.

"Moan louder, you slut!" Daziel snarled, yanking the collar tighter, forcing Topaz to arch her back even further. He then tugged sharply on the cat tail plugged into her ass, each ring sliding slowly outwards, amplifying her sensations of domination and utter powerlessness. Topaz had no choice but to obey, her moans escalating, becoming more desperate, pain and pleasure intertwining into a dizzying, overwhelming surge.

He didn't cease his assault until he climaxed inside her again, filling her womb with another searing load of his seed. Topaz convulsed in another orgasm, her body trembling violently, but Daziel's mind was already racing ahead, planning his next act of domination. He mentally cataloged another mark upon her body, as if she were a prize, a trophy to be displayed, and began to reinsert the cat tail, each ring sliding back into place with calculated care.

"Well… It seems the Stellaron grants my body enhanced vitality… I can fuck her for days without stopping!" Daziel thought, a predatory smile twisting his lips as he finished re-inserting the fluffy tail.

Then, with a sharp tug on the collar, he forced Topaz to adjust her position on the bed. Without a word, he pointed to his member, still slick with their mingled fluids, and commanded, "Clean it… And drink it all."

Topaz, now utterly broken and submissive, didn't hesitate. She leaned forward, kissing the tip of Daziel's cock with an almost religious reverence, before taking it fully into her mouth, as if it were the most exquisite delicacy she had ever tasted. Her eyes were closed, tears still clinging to her lashes, but she obeyed without question, every movement a testament to the depths of depravity Daziel had plunged her into.

And he watched her, a cold satisfaction hardening his features, knowing she was his, completely, irrevocably his.

It seemed tonight was destined to be sleepless.

…

However, Daziel and Topaz were not the only ones destined for a sleepless night; March 7th also lay restless.

She was curled into a tight ball in bed, the quilt tangled at the foot of the mattress, a blue and pink pillow clutched tightly in her arms, almost crushed against her chest.

Starlight, filtering through the gap in the curtains, cast a narrow, silvery streak across the floor, like a silent, insistent beckoning.

March 7th tossed and turned, the mattress groaning softly beneath her restless movements.

Her fingers unconsciously fretted at the edge of the pillow, the fabric creased and rumpled from her anxious touch.

In the darkness of her mind, Daziel's image lingered, persistent and vivid.

From that night of ambiguous intimacy, to the sight of the soaked stockings beneath Bronya's desk, to the lingering tingle on her feet…

Every scene was etched into her memory, sharp and clear, impossible to escape.

She squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to banish the intrusive images, but Daziel's face only sharpened in her mind's eye.

His gentle gaze, the comforting breadth of his shoulders, even those unsettling, occasionally perverse preferences he revealed that sent a blush creeping across her cheeks…

These fragmented memories coalesced into a damp, rose-colored mist, enveloping her heart, leaving her breathless, yet strangely warm.

"Daziel, where are you…"

The soft murmur escaped her lips, almost swallowed by the pervasive darkness.

Her fingers drifted to the bedside table, brushing against her phone. The screen flared to life, the sudden brightness making her squint against the piercing light.

On the screen, the unanswered messages she had sent to Daziel stretched out endlessly, like stones sinking into a fathomless ocean, yielding no response.

Her fingers swiped down the screen, repeatedly refreshing the chat window, as if this repetitive action could somehow conjure Daziel back into existence.

But the screen remained stubbornly blank, only her own forlorn messages hanging in the digital void.

Daziel had spoken of repaying Belobog's debt, and after mentioning some cryptic request to Topaz, he had simply vanished, leaving without a word, without even a fleeting message…

"Could something really have happened…"

Her heart constricted with sudden fear, as if seized by an unseen hand, and tears welled in her eyes, overflowing and tracing hot paths down her cheeks, soaking into the pillowcase, staining a large patch of fabric a darker hue.

"Wuwuwu… Daziel, you idiot, big jerk, where did you go… Don't you want me anymore…"

March 7th lay prone on the bed, burying her face in the pillow, sobbing, like a vulnerable piggy bank, locked into its own helplessness.

Her tears eventually subsided, her sobs softening, fading into quiet hiccups, particularly poignant in the still, silent room.

Her fingers remained clenched around her phone, as if it were her only tangible link to Daziel.

March 7th lay like this, lost in her silent grief, until the first faint light of a new day crept into the room.

A sleepless night.

…

Early morning light, muted and hazy, filtered through the gap in the curtain, spilling across the floor of the Gothe Hotel room, painting mottled patterns of light and shadow.

"Ding!"

[Target character Topaz's Depravity Value increased by 2%]

[Current Depravity Value: 70%]

[Mission completed, "A Large Sum of Money" reward has been credited, please check]

[New mission: Reach 100% Depravity Value for Topaz]

[Mission Reward: Anime Quantity]

[Anime Quantity: Watermelon Belly, High-Pressure "Water" Gun, Rain of "Water" Flying Across the Sky is No Longer a Dream!]

[Please keep up the good work, Host, you are about to obtain authority that even a Propagation Emenator would envy!]

System prompts echoed in Daziel's mind. He slowly opened his eyes, and the scene that greeted him was one of utter disarray, a tableau of the previous night's excesses.

On the rumpled sheets, stains had already dried and crusted, the mingled fluids now indistinguishable, a testament to the night's chaotic intimacy.

An indescribable, lingering scent hung heavy in the air.

He turned his head, his gaze falling upon Topaz, who lay curled beside him, her body still shuddering faintly.

She was drawn into herself, fetal and vulnerable, tear tracks still staining her pale cheeks.

Her long lashes trembled delicately, her eyes rolled back beneath closed lids, as if she remained adrift, lost in the aftermath of the night's intensity.

Daziel inhaled deeply, steeling himself against the persistent ache throbbing through his body, and pushed himself into a sitting position.

He felt utterly depleted, drained to his core.

Finally, it was over.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, walked to the window, and sharply drew back the heavy curtains.

Warm, cleansing sunlight instantly flooded the room, banishing the lingering shadows, illuminating every detail with harsh clarity.

He gazed out at the familiar cityscape, his heart a churning mix of conflicting emotions.

He knew, with a heavy certainty, that he had transgressed a line, had committed acts that violated his own conscience, but he clung to the justification: he had had no choice.

To save Belobog, to ensure Topaz's survival, this was the path he had been forced to take.

"Topaz, the money is ready, I'll transfer it to you as soon as possible," Daziel said, turning to face her, his voice softer now, the harshness of the previous night absent.

Topaz slowly blinked her eyes open, her gaze heavy with fatigue and a complex, unreadable mixture of emotions.

"Master, you…"

She looked at Daziel, her lips parting as if to speak, to articulate something significant, but in the end, the words remained unspoken.

Seeming to experience a sudden discomfort in her throat, Topaz simply closed her mouth and offered a silent, almost resigned nod.

Then, with deliberate slowness, Topaz pushed herself out of bed, unfastening the collar and detaching the embedded cat tail that had been a symbol of her surrender throughout the night.

Her movements remained slow, almost mechanical, each action requiring visible effort, a weight pressing down upon her.

Daziel watched her, a knot of unease tightening in his chest, a profound sense of internal discord.

He knew, with a chilling certainty, that his actions of the previous night had inflicted deep, perhaps irreparable, damage upon Topaz, but he felt utterly powerless to undo it.

"You don't need to call me master… usually," Daziel offered softly, attempting to bridge the chasm that now stretched between them. "Just call me Daziel, and I won't call you sow either…"

Topaz offered no response, only continuing to silently dress, then turning and disappearing into the shadowed doorway of the washroom.

Daziel watched Topaz's retreating back, a profound helplessness and a bitter taste of regret filling his senses.

He understood, with a sinking heart, that the relationship between them had irrevocably shifted, undergone a subtle but fundamental transformation.

Whether this alteration was for good or ill, and what repercussions it might have for the Astral Express, remained a chilling, unknown quantity in the days to come.

Inside the washroom, Topaz stood before the mirror, her gaze fixed on her own haggard reflection.

Traces of the previous night's fluids still clung to her face, the collar she had worn through the long hours of darkness now removed, but the marks it had left behind were starkly visible—crimson indentations where Daziel had cruelly yanked the chain.

Topaz raised a trembling hand, gently tracing the raw marks, her eyes filled with a deep, unsettling mixture of confusion and aching pain.

Suddenly, the shrill chime of her communicator shattered the uneasy silence.

____________

Hey there! I'm Wallnut-chan! 🌸 I'm translating this fanfic and restoring some +18 scenes that were cut from the original work—since explicit content isn't allowed in China. I went through everything carefully and reinserted the scenes while staying true to the story! Hope you enjoy it!

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