"..." I’m at the edge of the beach watching the monsters around the island. While Nerina is gone, I tried to occupy my mind to stop thinking about weird things.

And observing monsters is strangely interesting. Maybe because nymphs are monsters, meaning I am a monster? In theory, yes, and that’s why monsters might be something curious to observe.

’I should stop this...’ I’ve been standing here for hours staring fixedly, but as incredible as it seems, the monsters’ behavior is interesting. They aren’t stupid beasts; in fact, they seem quite clever overall.

I managed to pick up on several things: hunting strategies, mating, "social" relations, and even their own rules. And the strangest part, I understood all of it—the purpose behind it, etc.

And it’s completely different from observation to learn patterns. I could genuinely understand the context behind the monsters’ actions, which only solidifies the fact that I am also a monster.

A small part of my mind says I shouldn’t observe this, that I shouldn’t learn and assimilate this information. But another, much larger part says this is useful, that I can learn to become stronger by understanding how I should react and act.

’Weaker monsters aren’t eliminated... they just join the stronger ones in exchange for giving something...’ I walk weakly to the water, touching my feet to the sea and approaching the monsters on purpose. They quickly move away as if I were dangerous.

I grab a kind of monstrous fish. It isn’t very big, but it doesn’t even try to struggle, precisely because it knows it’s weaker than me. So it shows submission in the "hope" that I will let it go.

"..." I try to do what I saw. I lower the "fish" into the water and press its head down. If this is right, it will leave and come back bringing me its "treasure"—usually food it hunted and hid.

"Go." I release it, and it quickly sinks into the water and shoots off. I stay in the same spot, standing still and waiting, watching its position with my line. At first it seems like it just fled, but soon it starts to come back, carrying a small head of another fish-like monster.

The small monster hands the head to me and tries to slip away silently. With that, what I thought is proven: I can truly understand, more or less, the intention of monsters because I am a nymph, which is a category of monster.

"What am I supposed to do knowing this?..." All I take from this information is that I am a top-tier monster, and inferior monsters must fear me or flee from me. Nothing beyond that. It feels kind of cold when I stop to think about it logically.

"Haaa..." I let out an exaggerated sigh as I step out of the seawater. Nerina will probably be back today. I had plenty of time to think about what I want, what I can do, and what I can’t do. And today, observing the monsters, I think I’ve made up my mind.

...

...

...

I enter the simplified domain after having given Evelyn a week alone on the island. From what my eyes observed, Evelyn spent most of her time standing still in random places as if she were thinking deeply about what she feels or what she’s going to do.

And that is exactly what I expected. Now let’s see what Evelyn’s choices will be now that she has the feeling she might lose me and be left alone on this island.

"..." I head straight to Evelyn’s house, where she is waiting at the door. I offer a smile and a gentle nod to her, and she stares back at me with a certain coldness.

"Nerina-sensei, I think I’ve decided." She speaks, addressing me in a way I don’t understand.

"Sensei?"

"It’s what you call a master, a teacher, for example..."

"Oh, okay. But why were you out here? You should be inside, protecting yourself from the hot sun." I gently approach her, crouching down to her eye level since she is sitting.

"Nerina-sensei, what do you want from me? Let’s make a deal. I think a deal is better, isn’t it?" She proposes exactly what I expected after talking with Arial.

’Everything is going according to plan. Evelyn now thinks she has room to choose.’ I take a deep breath.

"Of course, Evelyn. Let’s be honest here. What do you want in order to give me what I want?" She stands up, placing her hands on her hips in a very arrogant pose.

"I want six things."

’Very high demands... but for the reward, it’s worth it.’

"Name them." I give her a generous smile at this demand of hers.

"First, I want a lot of gold. Second, I want you to get me more monsters of different types for me to observe. Third, I want Nerina-sensei to teach me how to use all the nymph powers she knows."

"Fourth, I want Nerina-sensei to stop or pause if I say I’m not feeling well or if I’m uncomfortable. And fifth, I want Nerina-sensei to take me off the island if I ask... I don’t want to leave here yet, but I also don’t want to stay here forever..."

’Apart from the demand to take her away, everything else is acceptable. A bit greedy, but still acceptable enough.’ I wonder what the last demand is.

"What is the sixth demand?"

"...Tell me now, Nerina-sensei, what do you really want from me?"

"Will you fulfill what I want even if the reason isn’t good?"

"...Yes..."

"What made you change your mind?" I ask, curious.

"...It’s because... I feel like I’ve been through something similar before... but I was wrong not to question it from the start? I don’t know... I-I think a deal is more predictable than overthinking or leaving it to emotions?"

"Good answer..."

’This is bad...’ Arial told me that Evelyn and that Esther had several "deals" and a very toxic dynamic covered in layers of manipulation. If I relate to Evelyn the same way she related to her wife, she’ll end up remembering everything.

’A sudden change... one that didn’t exist in her past dynamic... I’ve got it!!’ I face Evelyn with a sweet smile of acceptance.

"Evelyn, I accept all your terms. And the reason I’m strange with you is simple." I move closer to her, hugging her while holding her hips firmly.

"It’s because I want a symbiosis with you."

"Symbiosis?" She looks at me with genuine confusion. She probably never imagined this.

"Nymphs perform symbiosis with each other." Evelyn actually already has a symbiosis with Arial, which stabilizes her emotions in exchange for Arial being able to eat the excess.

"I want you to form a symbiosis with me. I will give you all the gold you want, teach you all the powers I’ve perfected over millennia. I can also capture various monsters for you to study."

"I can also respect your discomfort if you ask me to stop, and if you want to leave, I will never stop you. But in return, I want your share of your magic, your emotions, and I want your obedience regarding what I teach you."

"You’ll give me your magic?"

"Yes, I will also give you my magic and emotions. That’s how symbiosis works. We exchange things we deem essential for each other. I am a water-related nymph; I lack powers linked to the direct solidification of Hikishin."

"You are a nymph linked to solid materials in general. You lack the magical capacity to understand and transform liquids into solids and solids into liquids." She seems enchanted when I say this. Her innocence is so cute.

And I am being truthful. If we share Hikishin, we will gain a light understanding of each other’s domain, so both Evelyn and I will gain something from this.

"O-Okay... then Nerina-sensei... I’ll do what you ask."

’[You are a real son of a bitch, you know that, Nerina? Evelyn doesn’t really have much of a choice. Her choice is to fight the only person she ’knows’ or agree to participate in exchange for some profit, and Evelyn’s greed obviously speaks louder.]’ Arial speaks forcefully in my mind.

’Quiet. She consented on her own. At no point did I threaten her to consent. She herself offered the terms and the proposal.’ All I did was drastically reduce the options for this poor maiden frightened by loneliness.

"Evelyn, to begin, let’s say how this will work. I will give you magic, you will give me magic, and we will analyze that magic in our bodies. That’s how the type of symbiosis we’ll do works, okay?"

"Okay, I’ll pay attention. What do I need to do?"

’I can’t just have sex with her...’ Any sexual activity too similar to the past is a trigger, and I don’t want triggers that could ruin everything.

"Shall we start now? Tomorrow I’ll bring you the various things you asked for."

"Of course, Nerina-sensei." I guide Evelyn inside the house, thinking about what to do until I remember an interesting book I once found a human reading in the past. It was amusing and gives me the perfect idea.

"Evelyn, one of the most efficient ways to give magic to someone is to imbue it in liquids." Arial said that Evelyn did this in the past with her wife, mouth-to-mouth, by converting Hikishin into liquid and delivering it in a kiss.

"So, let’s convert liquids for each other and drink it. It’s the most efficient way."

"Okay?... Th-this... I-I didn’t know you... had that..." She turns red as she stares at my groin where a "penis" is growing. The only way I know that Evelyn has never had sex is with a real "penis," which is why I produce one made of water. It just has the shape, but it already differs completely from any toy Evelyn used with that Esther.

"We can stop if you feel uncomfortable, but first, how about we start with your mouth? You’ll notice after just one time." I can barely contain my smile. I have an unpleasant smell of blood, unlike other nymphs, but my magic, in compensation, is far more addictive.

"I-Is this really the best way to learn?"

"Of course. You knew I wanted this, didn’t you? Or does something about it displease you greatly?" In her eyes, I see a certain disgust and discomfort.

"N-No... Nerina-sensei, it’s just strange... b-but we have a deal, right? Besides... turning solid material into liquid sounds wonderful... metals, fluid puppets, and even my threads..." For a moment, the disgust turns into a calculating look as she notices all the advantages.

"I-If I don’t want to anymore, we’ll stop, right?"

"Yes, of course! I would never force you. We’re friends, aren’t we?"

"..." She seems to be in great internal conflict. However, this world is not merciful, and knowing this, she just gives a nod. Even an Evelyn without memories understands that without strength, she is nothing.

’[Clever strategy. Esther could never have a male organ, only toys. But you, with your fluid body, can simulate genitals! But are you really going to form a symbiosis with Evelyn? She’s still a nymph.]’ When Arial says this, a certain anger arises.

’You think I’ll lose to the powers of a mere novice nymph? Don’t insult me.’ Great displeasure emerges in my tone. It’s one of the most humiliating things anyone could say to me. Me, a millennia-old nymph, being seduced by the magic of a nymph with well under a century of age, would be absurdly ridiculous.

"C-Can I start? Or do I have to do something?" Evelyn timidly asks, averting her gaze completely from my groin. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Just watch carefully. You’ll need to copy the process to give me your magic afterward." Now I am truly curious. Although symbiosis is an excuse, it is a useful excuse for me to become even stronger.

"O-Okay... I’ll start."