Layla’s expression hardened. “The side effects come from misuse. The gel is a catalyst, not a permanent change. When people rely on it, they stop practicing the skill it amplifies. That’s why you see the hollowed-out husks.”
Layla called it —after the mythic figure of a shepherd who could hear the thoughts of his flock. She uploaded the data to a secure server, encrypting it with a code that read “HA.23.10.30,” the date she first tested the gel on herself. KarupsHA.23.10.30.Layla.Jenner.Secret.To.Men.XX...
Meanwhile, the vial in Maya’s pocket remained untouched. She kept it as a reminder that true empathy cannot be bottled, and that every “secret to men” is, at its core, a secret to humanity. Layla’s expression hardened