Star Hedonist-Chapter 22: Name

The mysterious white-haired man eagerly eats everything Clara offers him.

Each bite of that succulent meat, each taste—an explosion of flavor in his mouth.

He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he tasted it. And now, he feels as if he hasn't eaten anything for a long, long time.

And Clara can see it in his glowing white eyes, shining with happiness.

"It's good, isn't it?" she asks, a bright smile on her face.

"So much." His words still sound awkward, but sincere.

The other crew members in Safira's dining hall glance at the couple with curiosity.

But among them, there are a few friendly faces—especially Matteo, who suddenly bursts into laughter.

"You two are starving, huh?"

Clara nods quickly, and the white-haired man also gives a small, affirmative nod.

"Haha!" Matteo grabs another raw steak from the tray that Jex brings over and tosses it onto the sizzling pan.

"Don't worry, I'll cook a few more for you."

Clara gives him a thumbs-up. "Thanks!"

Then, she grabs a clean plate from the counter and heads toward the stove, scooping up some cooked grains and vegetables.

Matteo uses a long fork to pick up a piece of an orange vegetable—one that resembles a carrot, but is round like a potato.

"Here," he places it on Clara's plate.

She finishes preparing the plate, picks up the other one with the large steak, and then walks toward one of the tables in the corner of the dining hall.

She gestures for the white-haired man to follow her, keeping a little distance from the other crew members.

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Clara sits across from him, setting both plates in the center of the small table before grabbing a pair of silverware—a fork and a knife.

"Oh?" She glances at him in confusion, then holds up the utensils.

"Do you know how to use these?"

"These?" He stares at the utensils, confused.

Clara smiles gently.

"Don't worry, utensils like these are mostly used by humans."

She pauses, looking thoughtful, then shakes her head.

"Well, maybe it used to be that way, but it seems like it's becoming more common among other species nowadays."

"Just another custom that our people have spread across the universe." She smiles proudly.

"..." He still looks a bit lost, not fully grasping her words.

Clara quickly picks up her fork, spears a piece of meat, and then demonstrates—cutting it cleanly with the knife.

"Like this..." She eats a piece, then holds up the utensils again.

"Fork. Knife."

He repeats her words, learning quickly.

Then, she hands the utensils to him. "Try it yourself."

He picks them up, finding the fork unfamiliar in his hand, but the knife—the knife feels natural.

He holds the fork in his right hand as Clara did, but as soon as he grips the knife in his left hand, it moves fluidly—effortlessly twirling between his fingers.

Clara's eyes widen in surprise. "Damn!"

"You're pretty skilled with a blade, aren't you?"

He doesn't answer but focuses on mimicking her actions, cutting the meat—a simple task he executes with rapid and precise movements.

Clara watches closely, her gaze full of curiosity and interest. Each motion of his, the way he cuts, the way his face shifts into a pleased expression when he takes a bite—fascinating.

"Hmm..." He chews the meat slowly, savoring the flavor.

"Delicious." He finishes chewing and, without hesitation, cuts another piece.

But instead of eating it—

He does what Clara did earlier and extends it toward her, offering it to her on the tip of his fork.

Unlike him, who had immediately accepted her offer, Clara hesitates, a shy and uncertain look in her eyes.

He frowns slightly, confused. "Why?"

She glances around, noticing the lingering stares from people in the corners of the dining hall—some watching them, some silently judging.

"We probably shouldn't..."

He turns to look behind him and also notices the gazes being thrown their way.

But he turns his attention back to Clara and smiles at her lovingly.

"Them?" He makes a thoughtful expression. "What's that word you love?"

"Word?" Clara looks confused.

He chuckles.

"Fuck."

"Fuck?"

"Fuck them." He winks at her.

"Hehe~" She giggles adorably.

He laughs too.

"Yeah," she nods. "Fuck them all."

Then, she leans forward and bites the piece of meat off his fork.

Clara uses her own utensils too, but they share the meal together like a couple.

Meanwhile, Matteo continues cooking, and Jex brings more food over for them.

Nyx also enters the dining hall, spotting the trio. She grabs a plate and walks over to their table.

"Hey, you." She nods at Clara and also at the white-haired man.

"Hi you," he greets Nyx with a kind and friendly smile, surprising her.

Clara glances at Jex, and though her expression is entirely friendly, there's a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

So she speaks to Nyx first. "He's recovering quickly and starting to talk more."

"Oh." Nyx looks intrigued but tries to remain as neutral as possible in front of Jex.

"That's good!" Jex smiles warmly at him. "So, where are you from?"

"..." He doesn't understand the question.

Before Jex can ask anything else, Clara jumps in.

"He's still recovering, you know."

Nyx nods and quickly adds, "I also detected some small brain damage—specifically the kind that affects memory."

"Shit!" Jex looks at him with sympathy. "That sucks, man."

"..." He's confused. After all, he feels perfectly fine—despite the memory loss.

He glances at Clara and Nyx, and when they subtly nod at him, he mimics their expression, putting on a fake sad look and nodding to Jex.

"I get it," Jex says, trying to offer a kind, friendly smile. "Don't worry—I won't bother you while you recover."

He simply nods, and Clara smiles at Jex.

"Thanks, Jex."

Then, she glances at him, unable to hide the affectionate yet curious look in her eyes.

"When he's back to normal, we all want to hear his stories—that's for sure."

"Yep!" Jex winks at him.

Then, she stands up and heads toward the kitchen. "I'll grab something for us to drink."

The trio nods, and as soon as Jex is a little further away, Nyx sits beside Clara and leans in, whispering.

"How is he already speaking this well???"

Clara grins. "He learns fast!"

"So that's it?" Nyx gives her a suspicious look, then glances between them.

"Was that all you were doing for the last few hours? Teaching him our language?"

Clara tries to maintain an innocent posture, but her face starts to turn pink when she sees him glancing at her with that affectionate and seductive look.

Nyx shakes her head. "I know I can't stop you, but..."

"But?"

"Nothing." Nyx shakes her head again. "It's your life. Besides..."

Clara looks very curious as Nyx glances at the white-haired man, this time with a friendly smile.

"The initial scans didn't reveal anything harmful to humans in his body."

Nyx notices the instant relief on Clara's face—she even lets out a small sigh.

"I knew it." Clara giggles excitedly.

"Of course," Nyx tries to sound sarcastic but ends up laughing too.

But then—

Her eyes shift back to him, and her expression suddenly becomes stunned.

"But seriously... he's unbelievable."

Clara's curiosity grows. "Tell me, what else did you find out?"

Nyx glances around, but since everyone else is far from their table, she leans in and whispers to Clara without fear of being overheard.

"His body is very similar to ours."

"Really?" Clara looks surprised.

"Yeah," Nyx continues. "But it's also completely different..."

"What do you mean??"

"Apart from the obvious physical resemblances, his blood is also similar to ours."

"The plasma contains water, mineral salts, vitamins..."

"He also has red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Just like us humans."

Clara listens with a look of amazement.

But then Nyx's expression shifts—becoming even more curious and incredulous.

"Yet..."

"Everything is different. Better, actually."

"Better?"

"Yeah. His tissue, his cells... they're superior to ours."

"His tissue is way more resilient, and his cells... two nuclei."

"Two nuclei???"

"Insane, right?" Nyx grins.

"Two fucking nuclei."

"And you know the best part? One regenerates the other."

"Damn!" Clara doesn't know much about biology, but she knows enough to understand how incredible that is.

Nyx nods and continues explaining.

"That's why his tissue regeneration is so fast. Damaged cells regenerate almost instantly because of the two nuclei—without needing any external nutrients."

"His cells still have a structure similar to ours. They use water, oxygen, and everything else. Even the mitochondria generate energy, but..."

"He doesn't need any of it."

"The two nuclei in his cells generate everything they need to sustain and heal themselves."

"Wait!" Clara's eyes widen. "You're saying..."

"Yeah," Nyx nods. "He could be immortal—at least, nutritionally speaking."

"Really?"

"Well..." Nyx looks thoughtful. "I'm only talking about how his cells are self-sufficient."

"But they can still be damaged and destroyed, just like ours."

Clara looks at the mysterious man as he eats the meat and vegetables from his plate.

"So... his cells produce their own energy... but he's also eating like us, and he seems hungry."

Nyx stares at him too, wearing the same thoughtful expression.

"I wonder what will happen when he gives his cells more nutrients..."

He notices both girls looking at him with fascinated, curious expressions, making him confused.

But before he can ask, Nyx looks away, glancing behind him—specifically at Jex, who is approaching with a tray holding a pitcher of purple liquid and four glasses.

Nyx nudges Clara under the table, and both of them stop talking about the white-haired man.

"I'm back!" Jex says cheerfully as she reaches the table and sets the tray down.

"And I brought Vylaris wine!" She quickly starts pouring the fragrant purple liquid into the glasses.

"Clara... Nyx..." Jex hands them each a glass, then pours one for the white-haired man.

As the aromatic wine fills his glass, Jex looks at his face with curiosity.

"I still don't know your name."

"..."

He knows what a name is—but he can't remember his own.

Jex shifts her curious gaze to Clara.

Clara looks intrigued too. She wants to know the name of the man she has completely given herself to.

And while his excuse of being injured and traumatized after being trapped in the pyramid makes sense, not remembering his own name is, at the very least, suspicious.

Clara tries to think quickly.

A name for him... anything.

As she looks at his handsome, pale face, she wonders—what name would suit him best?

Oliver? Luke? Richard?

The human names sound strange in Clara's mind. Nothing mundane or ordinary seems to fit him.

Even for a fake name, calling him something like that feels so... wrong.

As she ponders, Clara remembers something—something she read inside the pyramid. Words written in an ancient language she still doesn't fully understand.

The phrase that had appeared on the surface of the metal box where he was imprisoned—only the first time she touched it.

Noctis Aeternum.

Clara doesn't know exactly what those words mean, but based on another ancient language, Xharythuun, she knows they have something to do with night and darkness.

And even though everything about the mysterious man is pale—except for the dark tattoos on his body—there is something shadowy and enigmatic about him.

"Noctis."

Clara speaks the name out loud, and despite how exotic it sounds, it feels like it belongs to him.

"Noctis?"

Jex, Nyx, and even the white-haired man himself react with surprise.

Jex and Nyx simply find the name unusual and different.

But he—he feels something deeper. A strange familiarity with that name.

As if he's heard it before. As if he knows it.

But at the same time, he has no idea what it means.

Only a feeling.

"Yeah," Clara can see that he likes the name too—she can tell from the way his glowing white eyes soften.

"It's pretty exotic, isn't it? But that's what he told me."

She smiles and winks at him. "Didn't you, Noct?"

He smiles and nods at her.

"Noct?" Jex bursts into laughter. "Come on, Clara! You already gave him a nickname too?"

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Author's note: Thanks for reading! If you want to read more and advanced Chapters, visit my patreon page: patreon. com/lamenthief