Mystery: Gray Walker

Chapter 47 Emily's Confession

Time passed quickly. About an hour later, Emily's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were somewhat lost, as if she were still drowning in some abyss.

When she saw Green by the bedside, she was startled at first, and then large tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.

"Grin..." Her voice trembled, "I...I had a terrible dream...I dreamt...I dreamt that I..."

She choked up, barely able to speak, her body trembling slightly with fear and pain.

"I dreamt that I...killed you...with...my hand..."

She jumped out of bed and lunged at Green, grabbing his arm tightly.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Green! I didn't mean to! I couldn't control myself in my dream... I was so scared... there was blood everywhere..."

She sobbed incoherently, her shoulders shaking violently, "Thank goodness it was a dream... thank goodness it was a dream... if I had really killed you, Mom... Mom would never forgive me... and no one... no one would ever argue with me again..."

The anger and rebuke that had been building up in Green's chest—those words about being "stupid," "reckless," and "almost killing himself and dragging his whole family down"—suddenly became powerless in the face of Emily's breakdown and fearful repentance, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

He sat stiffly in the chair, feeling the girl's hot tears and the strength of her hand, a strength that revealed fear and dependence.

In the end, he simply sighed softly, raised his hand, and gently patted Emily's shoulder.

"Alright, Emily, that was a dream. It's all over now, it's good that you're awake."

Emily's sobs gradually subsided. She let go of her hand and hastily wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Is it really... a dream?" she whispered. "But... it feels so real... I feel like my body is undergoing strange changes..."

Green let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed he had successfully been promoted. This was... good news amidst bad news.

Green did not answer directly, but stood up, walked to the dressing table, and opened the drawer.

Under Emily's bewildered gaze, he took out the empty crystal bottle and the notebook with its messy handwriting.

Emily's face turned deathly pale instantly, her lips trembled, and the tears she had just stopped were about to well up again.

"This...this..." She tried to explain in a panic, but didn't know how to begin.

"You picked my lock, took what was inside, and then drank it, didn't you?"

Green's voice was calm, without much reproach, but it was precisely this calmness that made Emily even more uneasy.

"...Yes." She lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

"I... I just noticed you seemed really nervous that day... I was curious about what it was... so I went to the library... and then I saw some records about extraordinary individuals... and... potions..."

"So you mean you blame me? Then I'll leave?"

"No, no! Green, that's not what I meant! It's my fault, I was too curious, too... too eager to know!"

"I saw those records saying that extraordinary people possess incredible power and can change their destiny... I... I got interested... The day I saw you hiding something, I..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, her head bowed even lower, and her shoulders hunched, like a child who had done something wrong and was awaiting judgment.

Green was speechless looking at her, but what was the use of blaming her now? The deed was done.

The allure of the potion, dissatisfaction with the status quo, adolescent rebellion and adventurous spirit, plus a bit of serendipity, all contributed to this outcome.

"The library records?" Green seemed to suddenly grasp a crucial piece of information. "What exactly did you see? Where did you see it?"

Emily began to reminisce.

"In...in a corner of the historical area, there are several very old books that record some...legends, and some strange symbols. They also mention what potions look like, and that extraordinary beings possess mysterious powers..."

That's why she dared to break the lock and steal the potion, thinking that drinking the magic potion would make her an extraordinary being.

Green understood.

What Emily saw were probably historical records kept by historians, and she was aware of the existence of those extraordinary individuals. It's not uncommon for remnants of extraordinary knowledge to appear in libraries, especially in the history section.

Green put the empty bottle and notebook back in the drawer, turned to face her, and said in a deep voice:

"Listen, Emily. What you drank is called the 'Assassin's Potion,' the 'Witch's Path.' It will indeed give you power, but at a price you can't imagine. There's a saying in the occult: 'All power comes at a price.'"

"All power comes at a price..." Emily repeated the words softly.

"The pain and nightmare you just experienced are just the beginning. I don't understand the Witch's Path, but judging from your condition and the name of the potion, it will change your body and affect your mind. You must control it, not let it control you. Otherwise, you will lose control."

"Out of control? What's that?" Emily asked hurriedly, starting to panic.

"Becoming a monster, at least... you're no longer yourself," Green replied calmly.

Upon hearing this, Emily froze on the spot, then immediately covered her face and began to sob softly.

What's the use of crying?

Green's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water, choking Emily's sobs. She looked up at Green with teary eyes, her face filled with fear and helplessness.

"Tears cannot change the fact that you have drunk the potion, nor can they change the reality that you have become an 'assassin.' What you need to do now is not to regret and cry, but to learn how to live and how to control that... 'new thing' inside you."

Emily sniffed hard, trying to stop her sobs, but her shoulders were still trembling slightly.

"What...what should I do? Grimm, I'm scared...I'm so scared of turning into a monster..."

"It's normal to be scared." Green sat down on the edge of the bed, his tone softening. "But being scared won't help. From now on, you must remember a few things, as they concern you and the safety of this family."

He held up one finger:

"First, absolute secrecy. Don't tell anyone—your aunt, uncle, Sura, your friends, classmates, teachers—not a single word. You've just had a sudden illness and need rest. The changes in your body, the extra 'feelings' you have—like perhaps being more agile or even more emotionally volatile—must be kept secret. Don't try to use any abilities beyond what's normal until you've learned to fully control them, especially in front of others. Imagine what would happen if you suddenly jumped higher than anyone else in front of your classmates?"

Emily imagined the scene, her face paled even more, and she nodded quickly.

"Second, learn to observe and control. Carefully feel the changes in your body, but don't actively 'control' it for now. Pay attention to your emotions. When you feel particularly irritable, easily angered, or have a strong urge to hide or attack, that may be the effect of the potion. At this time, take a deep breath, try to calm down, or come to me immediately. Remember, you are Emily Hayes, not a slave to the potion."

"Third," he continued, "forget about those records you saw. At least for now, don't try to find them or investigate them further. There might be dangers lurking in the library, and other eyes might be watching. The last thing you need right now is to attract more attention."

Emily bit her lip and asked softly, "Then... what should I do from now on? Can I still go out with my friends like before?"

"It's okay for now, but you must be more careful than ever before. Observe yourself, adapt to the changes, but don't show it. If you feel you're about to lose control, find an excuse to leave. As for the future..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Let's take it one step at a time. I'll try my best to help you, but I don't know much about the 'witch' path either. We both need time."

"Will you help me?" Emily's eyes seemed to ignite with hope.

"If I don't help you, am I supposed to just watch you lose control and drag your whole family down with you?" Green said irritably, but these words actually reassured Emily a little; at least Green hadn't completely abandoned her.

"Thank you, Green... I'm really... really sorry for stealing your things, and for treating you like that before..." She started to cry again, but this time it was more out of guilt and fear.

"I hope you've truly recognized your problem. Okay, enough of that nonsense."

Green stood up. "Now, lie down and rest. Try to relax, but stay alert."

Emily obediently lay down, pulled the blanket up, but her eyes kept following Green.

"Green..."

"What's wrong now?"

"...Will you tell your mom?"

Green paused for a moment.

"Not for now. But this isn't a permanent secret. If... if your condition worsens, or if a danger arises that we can't control, for the sake of this family, I might have to consider telling your aunt, or even your uncle. So, Emily, for your own sake, and to avoid worrying your aunt, you must try your best to keep it under control."

This answer both relieved Emily and made her feel even more pressured. She nodded vigorously and closed her eyes.

Green gently closed the door and walked into the hallway. Exhaustion washed over him like a tide, but he couldn't rest; he needed to think, he needed to plan.