The Forbidden Garden was behind him, but the thorns still clung to his thoughts.
Mirela's kiss. Her sorrow. Her warning.
And the fact that someone—or something—had tried to keep her buried alive in that cursed bloom.
But now wasn't the time to reflect.
Because as soon as Ryon stepped back into the main halls, he wasn't alone.
Sisters of the Second Veil
Three girls stood in the hallway beyond the outer courtyard—each dressed in veils of red silk and armor light as feathers. They were beautiful, poised, and… too silent to be harmless.
> System Alert: Covert Operatives Detected
Identity: Sisters of the Second Veil
Function: Intelligence Network under Matriarchal Control Status: Watching You Motive: Unknown Threat: Moderate Soul Thread: One Detected The tallest of them stepped forward, hand resting casually on a curved dagger.
"You've been somewhere you shouldn't be," she said.
"And you're following someone you shouldn't follow," Ryon shot back.
Her lips curved. "Sharp tongue. Dangerous in a man."
"I'm full of surprises."
The woman motioned for her sisters to stay back and stepped closer.
"Name's Vessa," she said. "And unlike Kaela or Avelyn, I don't need to test you with blades or battles."
Ryon raised a brow. "No?"
She leaned in, her voice brushing his ear like a silk threat.
"I test with secrets."
The Game of Spies
Vessa led him to a quiet alcove in the old eastern wing, where shadows clung like rumors. There, she lit a strange incense that twisted the air.
"Breathe it in," she said. "It'll keep liars honest."
"I'm not a liar," Ryon said.
"No," she whispered. "You're worse. You're honest in all the ways that break people."
> System Prompt: Passive Lie Detection Field Active Bond Target: Vessa of the Second Veil Virgin Soul Status: Sealed (Deep)
Key Emotion: Curiosity
Suggested Path: Win her trust through knowledge exchange Risk of Misinformation Penalty: High She began:
"First question. Who was the first woman you touched in this house?"
Ryon hesitated.
Then answered, "Seyna."
She blinked. "Huh. Not the priestess?"
"She touched me."
That drew a smirk.
"Second question. Why are you really here?"
Ryon's gaze met hers evenly.
"To break the curse. To survive. And maybe…"
He paused.
"…to burn everything down if it lies to me."
Silence.
Then Vessa laughed—softly but honestly.
"I like that answer."
> System Update:
Bond Progress: Vessa – 0% → 6%
Soul Thread Status: Possible Link
Emotion Unlocked: Intrigue
Virgin Soul Seal: Present (95%)
Quest Branch Unlocked: "Web of Whispers"
The Deal
Vessa poured a golden liquid into a small crystal cup and handed it to him.
"This is blood-wine. Rare. Forbidden for men."
Ryon sniffed it. "Is this a trick?"
"No. A symbol," she said. "Of trust. Drink it, and I'll give you a name. A real one. Someone the Matriarch has hidden. One of the Thirty."
Ryon stared at the shimmering liquid.
> [Choice Detected]
A) Drink – Unlock hidden information
B) Refuse – Preserve clarity, miss secret path C) Delay – Gain more information before choosing He drank.
The wine burned sweetly, numbing his tongue and tingling through his veins like liquid starlight.
Vessa's eyes sparkled.
"Very good. You're braver than you look."
She leaned in again.
And whispered:
"Look for the mute girl with iron eyes. Her name is Serei. And she was never supposed to exist."
> System Alert: Hidden Soul Identified – Serei the Silent Location: Unknown Emotion: Locked Virgin Soul Status: Ghosted Thread Search Parameters Enabled Bond Level: ???
Time Remaining: 5 Days, 11 Hours
Ryon left the alcove feeling like he'd traded a piece of himself.
And Vessa's final words rang in his head:
"I don't want to fall for you. But I want to watch you fall for me."
Trouble.
Again.