I was so long in Seclusion that everyone forgot about me

I watched the freed slaves hurry off in the same direction I had sent Deidre earlier, hoping they could figure out how to use the magivator on their own—which, honestly, shouldn't be that difficult. They were kind of self-explanatory, after all.

So, without further ado, I moved on, shifting back into my smaller bird form as I flew towards the third complex. With the second one empty, there was no point in checking it again. I doubted Deidre had missed anything.

Midflight, I caught a subtle shift in the light wind sweeping through the underground belly of this place. It came from farther to the right—somewhere between the high-stacked crates and their narrow paths, forming a small labyrinth along that side of the warehouse. I couldn't quite name what I felt, only that something had changed. I banked hard and curved toward it to investigate.

As I approached, the air grew strange—warm, but laced with something sharper. Not a threat to me exactly, but the kind of presence that would naturally steer others away without them realizing it. Interesting.

When I reached the source, I cast a sound barrier, landed atop a crate, and looked down. Two women were speaking below. Lena—the lamia girl—and another woman I didn't recognize, red-haired and visibly irritated.

"You're very late, Thessa," Lena said sternly. "This wasn't what we agreed upon. Did you forget?"

Thessa clicked her tongue. "Not my fault, prin-cess. There was a freaking monster in the lobby. I'm happy I'm still alive, so I'd rather you didn't breathe down my neck for being a tad late."

"Pshaw. You're one of the top S-rank adventurers in the Human Empire. What kind of monster could stop you without destroying the whole place?" Lena replied, clearly unsatisfied.

Thessa's face darkened. "You really don't wanna know. I still feel like puking from what she made me do. And no, I won't tell you. Now—how did you manage to leave the cage?"

Lena looked like she wanted to press further but decided against it. "A demoness and an elemental broke me out. Why those two were even here in the first place, I have no idea. I just took my chances when the opportunity offered itself."

"Demoness, huh? Makes sense with that thing upstairs. I guess they're together. But why would they free slaves?" Thessa muttered more to herself than to Lena.

"Beats me. But I think I fooled them pretty well. Sprinkled in some truth with a few lies. Imagine me getting caught by humans and elves—laughable! My acting was on point. Especially with those stretched 'sss'," the lying bitch added with amusement.

Thessa sighed. "Did you get the information we came here for?"

"I did, but you won't li—"

She didn't finish. I dropped the barrier and shifted into my harpyja-form, unfurled in silence, the air rippling hard enough to draw their eyes.

Both women froze, their bodies tensing as they moved into defensive stances. I just sat on the crate, watching their eyes flood with panic. Delightful.

Eventually, I spoke—and they flinched at the sound of my voice.

"So, you lied to us, Lena? I must say, I'm disappointed. Though, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You are a noble, after all."

Her eyes narrowed. "You were that elemental wolf girl with the demoness."

"Wait—wait. Elemental girl? Are you sure she was a girl?" Thessa asked, suddenly panicked.

Lena gave her a confused look. "Yes? She was a wolf beast-kin before."

Thessa immediately dropped to one knee. "I'm sorry that my associate deceived you, oh Princess of the Fae."

Now it was Lena's turn to panic. She stared at me wide-eyed, her mouth opening and closing in stunned silence. Goddess, just what kind of status did a high elemental hold these days? They hadn't been anything special back then.

Of course, that was before the Mother of Origins grew more powerful. Back then, even those obnoxious Valkyries from the Raugreif family had made her retreat… or maybe that was just how I remembered it. Were they ever really that powerful? I wasn't sure anymore. They'd always seemed so weak to me.

'Real quick—could I defeat the Mother of Origins or not?' I asked through the link.

'No,' came the flat reply.

'B-But she ran away from the Raugreifs!'

'That she did, but not because they were stronger, but because she had a fight with the Xiezhi the day before and was still recovering,' she explained nonchalantly as if mentioning this four-legged monstrum of a judge was just something normal. But I guessed her being her, it actually was.

'So they just got lucky?'

'Yeah, basically. They've been bragging about it ever since. She acted like it was beneath her to correct them.'

'...Thanks. I might have something interesting to tell you later,' I said, then cut the link myself this time. Heh—that felt good.

Mental detour over, I turned my attention back to the women. They hadn't moved.

Thessa, apparently taking my silence for dissatisfaction, forced Lena to bow rather low—as it was customary for a noble lamia to show respect in the presence of someone with greater standing.

They remained frozen, eyes cast down, awaiting permission to speak.

Oops. That wasn't quite my intent, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it just a little. I shook my head. She was definitely rubbing off on me.

"You may rise," I said with a smug grin. "Now, will you explain why you deceived the benevolent me in the first place, snake?"

Ironically, Lena slipped back into her accent for real.

"I-I can't sssaa—" she covered her mouth the instant the syllable left her lips.

Goddess, I must really scare her.

Fortunately, Thessa spoke up for her, "Princess Lena is on a Queste. A difficult rite—meant to prove her worthiness as heir to her clan. She's supposed to retrieve a stolen item hidden somewhere in this place."

"And you, human? What's your role in all this?" I pressed.

"Well… I guess I might be her lover?" she said, slow and deliberate.

Lena stared at her, half angry, half blushing. The end of her long scaly tail twitched and coiled back and forth. Clearly, she hadn't expected that admission.

Thessa looked over with a smirk. "What? It's true, isn't it?"

"Could we maybe not discuss this in enemy territory—and in front of fae royalty?" Lena hissed, curling her tail around the woman's leg and trying to trip her.

Thessa didn't flinch. She just smiled, with a curl of mischief. "We'll talk about this back at our place, prin-cesss~"

Lena's face went pale.

Okay, yeah, those two were kind of adorable. And by now, I was fairly certain Lena hadn't lied out of malice. Whatever they were after, it mattered to her.

I trilled loudly to snap them out of it—they stiffened instantly, reminded of who still stood before them.

"This item seems important to you," I said. "So I'll let this go. You amuse me—and I'm curious. I'd like to hear the details later… somewhere more private. Find me and my mistress when you're done with your little adventure. I hope I won't have to come find you myself."

I was about to take off when Thessa called out, "If you're working with that demoness, does that mean you're also working with that mon—"

She didn't get to finish. A razor-thin windblade sliced past her, taking a streak of red hair with it.

The color drained from both their faces.

"Don't ask unnecessary questions, human. Your kind runs this place. Don't test the line I'm letting you walk."

I gave them no more time for words. I left.

I didn't want to be here any longer than necessary. I just wanted to be close to her. And I didn't like how familiar the girl the Vetala was carrying felt...

I shook my head. Time for the last two complexes.

╭══◞ Zary POV ◟══╮

"When do you think they'll be back up?" asked my mother as we watched the entrance from the rooftop.

I scanned the entryway, but there was still no movement. "They've been down there for what—two hours? I think they should be coming back up by now. Maybe something happened? But with that thing inside, I doubt the mission failed …By the way, where did the secret guards' bodies disappear to?"

She shrugged. "Marika must have done something with them. You know she always needs new bodies for her... urg, I still have no idea what she does with them, but it creeps me out. Bodies go in, but nothing ever comes out. As a mage, I'm curious. But as a devout believer of our cause... I sometimes question whether the moons are truly okay with what she's doing. She might be our Elder, but she was also trained by Ithy."

I patted her back. I knew how torn she was about Marika's methods, but so far, she hadn't broken any of the doctrines—which, honestly, was surprising. She had been a witch apprentice of Ithy, who didn't believe in the divine at all. But unlike her master, Marika was a complete nutcase—and that was coming from a paladin.

Ever since that monster saved us, she'd grown increasingly obsessed with her. It bordered on fanaticism at this point, and yet the goddesses hadn't given me any sign that something was wrong. Then again, the fact that they hadn't given me anything at all for so long couldn't be called normal either. I couldn't shake the suspicion that my connection to them had been cut off—by her, or worse, by something else.

I sighed. This wasn't the time to think about that. For now, we had to focus on—

"People are coming out," my mother hissed.

And indeed, they were. But something was off. There were too many at once. It was like a constant current—and what worried me more was the aura they carried. Something dark. Something utterly sinister.

Like a thick, heavy blanket of miasma, it jumped from person to person, draining... essence. I shuddered. This felt just like that dungeon with those flesh-abominations all over again. Everyone came out changed. Twisted, touched, or simply... not quite right.

"No sign of the girls yet," I muttered.

"Should we intercept someone and ask what happened? They don't look well…"

I shook my head. "It's better if we don't come into contact with them at all."

Looking at the adjacent rooftop, I signaled Ilune to stand down, and she passed it onto the others. So we waited. And waited. Even after another thirty minutes, and with the flow of people finally slowing, there was still no sign our plan had worked.

Eventually, no one else came out.

"That doesn't seem right. You'd think they'd walk out with at least a slave or two, but nothing. I think we should go down," said Mom.

"I agree. We can't wait any longer. I'm afraid they'll raise the alarm when the goons we killed don't report back after the auction. We have to take the risk."

With that, we jumped down from the rooftop, cushioned by a dandelion spell from my mother that let us drift gently to the ground. Like a breeze in the wind—I'd always loved that spell when I was a child.

I knocked.

"You're late!" bellowed a voice through the door as footsteps approached.

A small hatch slid open. The eyes on the other side barely had time to widen before a golden, glowing sword pierced through his face. With a deep, cracking boom, the door exploded, wooden shrapnel scattering and bouncing off my [Moon Dome] towards the other guards inside.

Before the dust could settle, I dashed in and cut down the two remaining guards, their screams mixing with the hiss of disturbed air and blood. My movements were swift and light, precise enough to keep my blade from glancing off the narrow walls.

It took less than seven seconds.

I would've been proud of the efficiency—if it didn't feel so wrong. The guards here shouldn't have gone down so easily. I crouched by one of the corpses. That same sickening miasma clung to them.

"Let silver light pierce the rot and still the breath of blight—[Lunar Rite]!" I chanted, activating the skill. A silvery aura radiated from my body, saturating the room. When it faded, the miasma was gone.

Terrifying, what it could do. And if I wasn't mistaken, the priests in the capital would be dealing with a wave of cases like this… spiritual erosion, in the coming days. What a powerful debuff, passed on by nothing more than close contact. Had she caused this?

I didn't have time to dwell on it. A low, mechanical rumble echoed from the corridor that stretched deeper under the city. That sound was unmistakable: a magivator.

"Wait here," I ordered, and followed the sound.

The corridor was old—older than the rest of the structure. And at its end, I saw it: a magivator slowly rising from the depths, groaning under its weight. I readied myself as it reached the top. The doors slid open with a whisper of exhausted voices.

I exhaled in relief when Aska's wolf-kin face came into view, but I kept my stance. Just in case.

She raised an eyebrow. "Everything okay, Zary?"

They felt… normal. No miasma. But why?

I nodded and lowered my blade. "Yes."

Aska smiled. "Great! We had a change of plans. Basically freed every damn slave in there."

"Wh-What?! That doesn't mak—"

She lifted a finger. "Don't question it. Really. Saves us the trouble. Kila and the girls will come up next. I brought her up first because... logistics."

She pointed behind her, and only now did I notice the arachne. What in the divines' names was one of them doing here? The last time I'd seen one was at the temple, when an emissary from their kind had visited.

My mood darkened when I saw how she looked at me—afraid. And I could guess why.

I pulled out a communication crystal from the satchel at my side. "Marika, we have more people to transport than expected. I think we'll need extra carriages."

The Elder's voice crackled through. "She freed the slaves, didn't she? The goddesses clearly have a great plan for us. And I will act accordingly!"

…

I shivered. That wasn't right. She shouldn't be acting like that. There was no sign from the goddesses that this was their will. In fact, I hadn't heard that monster speak their names even once.

Suddenly, my thoughts turned muddy. Like a memory was trying to surface—one that shouldn't. It scraped at the edges of my awareness, too blurred to grasp but sharp enough to sting. Something about Marika... no, someone. The more I reached for it, the more the thought slipped through, like it was being pushed back down. By force. My stomach turned. Was it a seal? A curse? Or…

"You okay?" Aska asked, suddenly right in front of me.

Startled, I stepped back. When had she gotten so close?

"Um, yeah. It's just been a long night. I'm tired," I lied.

She eyed me, but didn't press. "If that's all. Let's get everyone safe—and maybe get them some proper clothes and food."

"By the way... where is she?"

"Already out. I'll explain on the way. I don't want Deidre waiting too long," she said, walking past me.

I took a deep breath and followed her, the countless freed slaves trailing behind.

This was going to be a much longer night.

╭══◞ Teade POV ◟══╮

When I regained consciousness, the dizziness still lingered. I slowly opened my eyes, trying to orient myself—until I noticed a womanly face above me. Her mouth moved gently, forming words in the same alluring voice I'd heard before.

"Good morning, my dear Teade," she said, cupping my cheek. Her hand emitted a comfortably cold aura and yet, somehow, it radiated the warmth of tender love.

I tried to focus, but my mind slipped again.

"It's okay," my savior whispered. "You must still be exhausted after everything that happened. But don't worry, you're safe now. It's okay to sleep a bit longer."

I wanted to protest, but I couldn't. The tiredness embraced me again—but this time, there was no dread. She was here. Everything would be fine.

Something in her presence quieted the fear I hadn't realized I was still clinging to. Maybe it was mind magic—or maybe I just wanted to believe in someone again.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The gentle rays of sunlight woke me once more. I didn't know how long I'd slept, but judging by the sun's position, it had to be midday. Only now did I notice the room around me. I had never seen such luxury before.

The bed's frame was made of some dark, elegant wood, and the blanket and pillows were so soft they might as well have been clouds. I'd forgotten how nice a real bed could feel. A wave of nostalgia washed over me—reminding me of the stories Mum used to tell, with haughty princesses lazing around in beds like this all day.

A quiet giggle escaped my mouth. Just being in one of those beds was a dream come true. And to my delight, the rest of the room turned out to be even more impressive.

I pinched my arm just to check if I was dead or hallucinating. Nothing. So this was real. Warm, wonderful curiosity overtook me. I leapt from my soft haven onto the stone floor and paused—no icy shock. It was warm underfoot, almost tender. Magic, perhaps?

I looked around.

The room was a bit too big for my taste. One absurdly large makeup table caught my eye, topped with a mirror rimmed by gaudy, oversized gems. Who in the world needed something like that—

My thoughts cut short. I knew who. Happy people. Free people. Rich people. The kind who lived off others and looked down on everyone else.

So many things came to mind—about waste, vanity, and power—but I hadn't even gotten to the ridiculous closet yet. One of the doors was half open, revealing a chaotic array of frilly, stiff, overly girly dresses.

I groaned.

I hated that style. All fluff, no function. They looked like wearable prisons. Beautiful, sure, but designed to dictate how you moved, sat, breathed. Another polished cage behind a stone-cold curtain.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

I mean, standard dresses were fine. But this? No thanks.

They couldn't be for me, right? Nah, this would be ridiculous.

Pfft, just the thought of myself in one of those things actually made me chuckle. It didn't feel like me at all. I needed clothes I could move in—clothes that didn't shackle me to some aristocratic ideal. I craved freedom. A future of dressing up for fancy balls? Not mine.

Since meeting my new mistress, my dream had changed: I would fight injustice. I would fight those who killed my mother.

I didn't fully understand why, but something inside me had changed the moment I met her. Since then, I had a new dream—to fight injustice, to fight the people who caused my mother's death. I knew I had every right to seek revenge, but I also knew how pointless it would be. My enemies weren't some thugs or common criminals. They were the Jaeger Families.

I wasn't sure which was stronger: my hunger for justice, or my aching need to believe that something good might still come for me.

So I let myself fall back onto the clouds, wondering why I'd been freed at all. Secretly, I hoped the answer would ease the weight in my chest—just enough to stop thinking about today... and maybe see a future for myself again.

As I lay there, I noticed that someone had changed my revealing auction clothes, probably while I slept, into a long black nightgown. Thankfully, it wasn't too extravagant. My attention drifted to the mirror beside the bed, and I immediately checked my reflection.

The collar was gone.

A silly smile spread across my face, and I prayed to the goddess that this really, really wasn't just a dream. I wouldn't be able to bear it if none of this was real. I didn't even dare look out the window; if the illusion shattered, I might break with it. So instead, I pushed myself upright and walked towards the door.

Moments before my hand reached the doorknob, I heard voices.

"Why is she still asleep at this hour?" one woman complained.

"Why ask me? She's a lowly beast-kin; they don't make any sense," another answered, instantly promoted to bitch in my head.

"Shhh! Are you insane? Have you forgotten what our new Lady said?"

"Um, yeah, sorry. My thoughts were still with all the things Josh did to me this morning before she showed up. I'm still kind of groggy. I nearly climaxed, you know, before the head maid stormed in. So don't expect me to be sweet to anyone now—especially not to mutts. I mean, seriously, did you see that weird harpy she brought with her? Looked like a cheap whore. Honestly, our new Lady has some peculiar tastes."

"You think maybe she's one of those ladies who like other women?"

"Ohh, that sounds wild, doesn't it?" the bitch snickered.

"Yeah. Still, we shouldn't stick our noses where they don't belong. That only makes life harder. Don't forget what Bernardo told us."

"You mean the part about how dangerous she's supposed to be? What was it again?"

"Something about her being the last heir of an old Jaeger family—one that uses some kind of unique original magic. Don't you think it's kind of scary that someone that young can cast spells like that?"

My heart stopped.

Jaeger Family?

I froze. My breath caught in my throat. The name clung to my chest like a curse. After everything—after what they did to us—how could I be back in their hands?

"Yeah. It's kind of sad though. Someone that beautiful, but with such a cold aura. At least that weird girl from yesterday isn't here anymore. She only told us to bring the beast into the bedroom, change her into something comfortable, and let her sleep. After that, she had the head maid show her the office. But goddess, she gave me the creeps. Thankfully, she left right after inspecting everything."

"Yeah, poor Klara. Her face looked like her soul had left her body. Oh, hey—do you think it is going to wake up soon? If not, we could just head to the kitchen and grab a quick snack."

"Umm... dunno. What if she leaves the room while we're gone? I really don't want to piss off our new Mistress."

"Don't worry. She looks young. She's probably nothing like those other Matriarchs. I bet all those scary tales are just to frighten the lower folk. I know girls like her. Even if she looks icy, I doubt she'd hurt a servant—probably more bark than bite."

"Okay, maybe you're right. But let's still be quick—no need to tempt fate," the bitch agreed.

The other woman made a humming noise, and a few seconds later, I heard their footsteps grow fainter as they moved away from the door.

I waited a moment longer, just to be sure.

Then, heart pounding, I rushed out of the room.

I had to leave.

A Jaeger had found me.

I should have run. Every instinct told me to. But just as I was about to bolt, the air shifted. That sweet scent—faint but unmistakable—drifted in from down the hall. I knew it belonged to her. My beautiful savior.

Against my better judgment, I followed it. Followed her.

Everything else faded. I blocked it out without even trying.

All I could think about was finally meeting her. I needed to understand why she seemed to recognize me. Was I truly free now… or a slave to the Jaegers? But if she was one of them... no, that couldn't be true. Could it?

And yet, even if she was one of them, serving her didn't sound that bad.

Had the collar warped my mind so deeply that I wanted to belong to someone? Or was it something else entirely?

After wandering a while, I came to a large, imposing door. The scent was overwhelming now. I had the creeping feeling she already knew I was here.

Following the customs, I knocked against the door.

"You may enter," came the reply, with an amused voice.

I felt heat spread through my body, and my heart began to beat faster and faster.

Finally.

╭══◞ MC POV ◟══╮

I had to stifle my laughter. I'd been here for less than half a day, and the servants already thought they could ignore my orders. Did I test them? Of course. Soon, I'd have far better candidates anyway—once Asche finally arrived with the freed slaves I'd rebranded as servants.

Handling the logistics of that little plan change had turned out far more cumbersome than I anticipated. After some intense debate—mostly her whining about how unfun it was—I convinced her to follow through by promising a decadent meal. Said chef was already on their way. Supposedly.

But what truly lingered, like a hairline crack in a mirror, was how little respect the current staff gave me. The moment I took on Aska's younger form, their reverence vanished.

Yes, they still knew I was a Matriarch. Technically. But for them, the title seemed more folklore than fact. A shadow used to scare misbehaving children: "Be good or the Jaeger will come."

Ridiculous. Especially considering how many others had trembled in my presence. Maybe my name only carried weight with those connected to real power.

I mean, even the students of the Royal Academy, even the commoners among them, knew what a Jaeger was. So I suppose ordinary folk, those outside the spheres of power and knowledge, never had to bother with them. Never had to be afraid of meeting one.

Still, would I make a grand show of punishing their little insubordination later?

Absolutely~.

I mean, I could hear the maids chattering away in the kitchen yet—so busy spreading rumors about my 'tastes', and ironically unable to follow a simple directive. It was oddly nostalgic. A low murmur of decadence and disregard. So much noise. So little competence. Just because I wasn't in the room didn't mean I lacked ears. Or fangs.

But all of that shrank to nothing the moment I realized my sweet Teade knew exactly where to find me. She hadn't even hesitated. She came straight to me, ignoring everything else, just following my scent.

It was as charming as it was worrying. I never created them that way.

Well... I also certainly never made them to resemble her.

But after probing her soul—without breaking anything important—I was sure it was a mere coincidence. A cruel, bitter joke of fate. Or the System. The lines blurred at this point.

So when she knocked, I kept my composure—or tried to. I was far too eager to talk to her properly.

"You may enter!"

The door creaked open. The vixen stepped in on unsteady feet. Her earlier spark had vanished, replaced by uncertainty. Her expression twisted when her gaze met mine—not in anticipation, but fear.

She closed the door slowly behind her. Her ears and tail drooped. She stood there, frozen, unsure whether to bow or run or fall to her knees.

"Sit down; I don't bite. At least not yet," I said with a cheeky smirk, trying to lighten the mood.

Unfortunately, it only made her pale even more.

She obeyed slowly, settling into the chair in front of my desk. Her eyes avoided mine. She fidgeted, hands clenched in her lap. Trying to build courage she didn't have.

Eventually, she peeked up, trying to hold my gaze. But her trembling fingers betrayed her—her posture, her expression, everything about her screamed fear.

And somehow, it saddened me.

"Don't worry, hon," I said softly. "I have no intention of harming you, or locking you up, or making you a mere servant. You're far too special for that."

She blinked. Her mouth opened. Her whole face changed—as if something terrible had just clicked into place.

"Y-You know wh-what I am?"

Of course I did. She'd been hiding it—probably with a unique System-based ability. One of those special talents Alicia had mentioned. Speaking of, I was supposed to meet her later.

But that didn't matter now.

The Teade had realized I knew not only who—but what she was. And her entire soul recoiled. Quivered.

She looked at me as if I were a soul-eater. Which... wasn't wrong. Just not in the way she feared.

But the words left my lips before I even understood why I wanted to say them: "Why are you so afraid?"

"I…" she began, clearly surprised by my question. But so was I—or at least I pretended to be, because deep down, I already knew the answer: I didn't want to be feared by this face.

By her face.

Then something shifted in her. A deeper instinct flared in her eyes. "I'm afraid of the person you look like. Of the name you hold. You don't look like her, but your scent, your aura... they're the same as the one who freed me."

"Is it the Jaeger you fear?"

She gave a small nod. "Yes. The Jaeger Families hunted us. Until only my mother and her wife were left. But even that…"

Her voice faltered. She didn't need to say more. I saw it in the way her fingers clenched. What remained of her family had vanished too, ripped away. And now she sat here, across from a monster wearing the same face.

I wanted to say something—anything—to promise her that things would change, that everything would be fine now.

But the words never came. They felt too heavy, too false.

Because I knew the truth.

In the end, she was always meant to be a stepping stone. A piece I had carved, placed, and shaped to serve a purpose a long time ago. That was why I made them. Why they existed.

And yet, the System had touched her. Altered her in ways I hadn't intended. And through her, it was trying to influence me.

Honestly, I was irritated. I kept wagering with myself whether I should end this little experiment before it pulled me in any deeper—before Greed twisted that flicker of fascination into something needier than I was ready to admit.

So many calculations, unseen and collapsing under instinct. Yet something in me itched to let it be, to stop trying to control every variable. Let Chaos run its course.

The truth was: the endlessness would be unbearable without the few lovely mistakes I chose not to stop, even knowing they might bite back and sour the soil in my garden.

Still, with the seals cracking and the System digging deeper by the day, I couldn't rule out the possibility that it was all part of some quiet agenda.

But in the end, it was her eerie resemblance to Eve that tipped the scale. That was the reason I listened to that irrational pull instead of cutting her loose.

I shifted my attention to something else she'd said earlier. She used the phrase "my mother and her wife"—not "my mothers."

Weren't they close? Did her mother remarry?

"M-Mistress?" my Teade asked unsure, still waiting for my response.

I cleared my throat, "I'm sorry, hon. I was just asking myself some things. But that can wait for later. On the other hand, I also don't want to keep you guessing as to why your eyes are playing a trick on your instincts."

With that said, I detached—like so often lately—the amulet. Instantly, I resumed the form that had been corrupted by Greed.

As quickly as my mirage shifted, the young vixen's face lit up in turn. It was as if a switch had flipped. The dark-muddy stricken soul full of past regrets, fear, and sorrow turned into the turquoise water of a sunny ocean—it was heartwarming to watch.

Like a wave, her demeanor became confident and calm, as if my true form was something she needed dearly. Her fluffy tail wagged slightly back and forth—it was hypnotizing.

"U-Um... Mistress? Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"No, no, go ahead," I smiled.

"Why do you assume the look of a Jaeger-girl? N-Not that I'm trying to say that you were ugly or something like that in that form. I-I mean, the ashen hair is magnificent. And your bust is really... oh my goddess, what am I saying?! I'm so sorry!" She jumped up and bowed forward, slamming her forehead onto the tabletop with full force.

"Oww!" she wailed, patting the now red spot on her forehead "I only—" she began anew but bit her tongue. A whimper came out of her mouth.

A heartfelt laugh escaped me. I had seen my Teaden act in many ways before, but this? This was simply adorable. Maybe I should appoint her as my jester instead. Another laugh bubbled up at the thought, tickled by another, darker thread: that this delightful little critter was entirely MINE.

Ahh, I wanted to hug and cuddle her all day lo—

Okay, stop. Composure. Composure.

I had to restrain myself. The last thing I needed was to put another strain on my already-unraveling seals, which were influencing me rather obviously now. But did I really think it was a bad thing? I couldn't remember the last time I felt this fre—

My mood grimmed as a flash of truth surfaced—a truth I kept buried deep. I was never free. Not truly. Always caged.

I sighed and let go of the thought, turning back to the worrisome girl in front of me before she started hurting herself again.

"Are you... alright?" I eventually asked.

She nodded, flashing a shy smile, and slowly sat down again. "I-I think so. I am deeply sorry for my poor behavior, my Dame. I don't know wh—"

I raised my hand and interrupted her. "Don't be sorry about it; it can happen to anyone!"

"R-Really? Has something like that ever happened to you?"

I considered humoring her—but no, I shook my head, blocking out the thought of Aska who would totally mention my poor navigation skills. "Never."

Her look only turned more ashamed in response. Oops.

"A-As I said, it's alright," I added with a smile to comfort her.

It didn't help.

So I stood, walked around the desk, and gently patted her head. Ah, so soft. I really was a fool for these kinds of things.

After a few seconds, she began making a noise—a strange blend between a purr and a growl. I didn't know why, but it was incredibly soothing.

"Better?"

"Yes."

As I touched her head, something settled—a quiet, aching fernweh. It felt like home, but not one I remembered. Just one I missed. One I'd never reach again. Startled by the emotion rising inside me—which I loathed because it brought back things that should remain forgotten in the endless void of myself—I let go.

Just what was so special about her, more than the other Teaden I had created, that made me feel so drawn to her? What change had they undergone during my seclusion?

I could investigate it later, maybe in the forbidden wing of the Academy's library. For now, one thing was clear: I had to be careful. As soon as I had the chance, the seals had to be strengthened again.

I immediately heard the protests.

No.

NOO.

Don't do it.

Free us.

FrEe Us.

Do it.

DO IT.

Do It!

Free... YOURSELF.

Free... the darkness.

END THIS CYCLE.

Nah, that wasn't going to happen. So hush, you stupid echoes of beings that were supposed to be—

"My Mistress. Are you okay?"

Snapped back to reality, I noticed the Teade looking at me with concern in those strange, familiar eyes. I turned away, trying to break free from this never-settling guilt. Ava whispered that I should embrace her, embrace the shadow, surrender to the haze.

I groaned—these stupid side effects.

As I slumped back into my seat, I started answering her earlier question.

I pointed at my necklace. "This little piece of jewelry makes people perceive me as a Jaeger. It grants me the status of a Matriarch from that extinct family—along with all the benefits. It's a neat little tool that helps with my current goals here in the capital. People won't bother me as much. They respect me just enough and open certain doors. You must admit, it has its uses."

I gestured vaguely towards the kitchen. "And those foolish maids? They think I'm just some harmless girl. Quite convenient, isn't it?"

She looked at me skeptically but said nothing. Odd.

"Also," I added with a smirk, "to be clear: I'll grant you all the freedom you want—under one condition. Serve me. Be my sword. My shield. Or..." I lowered my voice, just enough that only I could truly hear it. "My jester."

Her eyes sparkled, as if the last part had flown right past her. "May I ask some more questions?"

I nodded. "Go ahead."

She took a deep breath.

"How do you know what I am? Is that why you saved me?
Am I really allowed to do whatever I want, as long as I come back?

"And um... could you tell me what you are? You feel familiar, yet somehow different. At first I thought you were like my mother and me—a Teade—but your aura, your scent, it's nobler. Purer.

"Ever since I saw you in the hall, something in me has changed. At first, I thought it was the collar, but this—this is something else.

"It scares me. I feel like I'm changing, and I can't stop it."

Wow. That was a lot at once.

But the last part worried me. Because I felt it too.

I could already see the changes in her soul. Not bad ones, just... brighter. Fuller. The complete opposite of mine.

I paused for a moment, then gave her a shard of the truth.

"Alright. I'll answer you. But you must never speak of this without my permission. Understand?"

"Absolutely!" she said, practically bouncing in her chair—buzzing with unrestrained curiosity.

It saddened me that she was robbed of a normal life by those obnoxious humans. What had she endured, locked in chains for so long?

"Alright," I said, leaning forward. Her soul was open, honest—I saw no guile. "To break the ice: I designed you. All the Teaden. I am your creator."

Her jaw dropped. She looked ready to shout, but I raised my hand again.

"More questions at the end."

She pouted.

Oh, Mother of Void, give me strength, I thought as I cleared my throat and spun a little tale.

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. The reason I saved you was because you felt worthy enough to serve me. The fact that you belonged to a race I created played a big part in that, of course. It was also something like instinct—and the fact that you are not just a normal Teade, but also of royal lineage. Besides, I hate humans, and never ever will someone as lowly as them get their hands on one of my greatest creations as long as I live. I don't understand how this happened anyway. But we can sort that out another time.

"The question of why I feel so familiar is also because the Teaden were created out of elements of me. You recognize me as well as I recognize you. Unless you make an effort not to be known—but when you are in my immediate environment, nothing should actually hide your scent from me."

Or at least, that should have been the case. With the System's meddling, I only noticed her when she was basically standing before me. It worried me. And it was definitely something I would have to do some more research about. It also chipped at my pride in ways I didn't want to admit.

I was about to raise my voice again; however, this time, she blurted in between with big, round eyes: "Are you a goddess?"

…

If I hadn't developed a soft spot for her already, she would be groveling on the floor right about now for that impertinence. But then again, I guessed Teaden simply couldn't help themselves.

"No. And you are never to call me that again. The construct of what others and I see as divines just differs too much for it to be a compliment to me.

"Although, I'll tell you what I am—a Neade. What that race is, I won't tell you, but I am old. Very old. And whether there are more of me in this world? No. I am the only one who ever existed—at least in this realm. Let's not go further into detail, but to keep it in the simplest terms: I'm an aspect of reality," I explained without much emotion, and moved straight to the next point as if I'd just stated common knowledge.

"My only condition is that you serve me—as sword and shield. You have to fulfill your duties and obey my orders, of course. But within that framework, you're free to do whatever you want. How you do things, in the end, is also up to you. Learn magic, archery, swordsmanship, or whatever else comes to mind and is fun for you. And let me get this clear: if you turn out reliable, you will become my left-hand woman in our new upcoming uuh… gardening club. So train and learn hard."

She tried to suppress a silly chortling laugh.

She beamed so brightly that I somehow became afraid of turning into dust. The fact that she didn't was even more impressive. Moreover, she seemed to be in some kind of trance. A flickering stillness, strange and reverent, that made me look away.

I coughed politely to get her attention back.

"Let's move on to the last question—one I'm afraid I have to answer with a simple truth: I don't really know. I suspect my closeness to you, and the fact that I created the Teaden, brings a sense of security. It may be easing the long-standing distress your soul has endured, trying to repair it within the funky framework of the System. Only time will tell how much it will actually change you."

"But those are the effects that I can observe. You are not being manipulated or anything, but instead becoming the person you should have been if you had developed normally—at least towards me. How you behave towards others, I can't tell you. You might become rather prideful, though."

I narrowed my eyes. "But now I have a question. What's your name?"

My inquiry brought her back from the little sunshine world she'd wandered off into.

"N-Nyriel, my Mistress. Nyriel von Nymie."

…What? Nymie?

That was the name of a main Jaeger Family house. By the stars, her other mother was one of them.

I faked a smile.

From what I'd heard from the students, the Nymies had secluded themselves on Tiefaltara after a fallout with the other families. And now I knew what that fallout had been—her. The hidden daughter of a traitor and a dreamer.

Although, I finally had a name. So I said with a gentle smile, "Pleased to meet you, Nyriel. And I hope you live up to my expectations."

"N-No, it's my pleasure, Mistress. C-Could I possibly ask one more q-question after all?"

I raised a brow. "Yes?"

"May I know your name?" she asked innocently.

For a brief moment, I didn't know what to say. As with Asla, Tulsi, and Deidre… there was only a hollow space where my name used to be.

I shook my head.

"I do not possess a name," I said tonelessly.

Completely unexpectedly, Nyriel jumped up. "May I call you Maera?"

I blinked. Once. Twice. Then asked, completely flabbergasted, "Huh? How did you come up with that now?"

I had expected anything but that.

Suddenly, Nyriel's expression darkened. She whispered softly, "My other mother… whom I never met… was called this. Mama told me she was dragged off. I-I—"

I intervened before she could completely burst into tears. I blinked next to Nyriel and embraced her in my arms.

Her sudden shift shocked me. Her soul trembled with a volatility that should've been impossible for her kind—like the flicker of a firefly in the dark, alive one moment, then caught in a web spun by a spider as inevitable as fate itself.

As Maera.

It was a name that felt familiar, like a forgotten wisp in the depths of my starless skies. In the mist of the countless puppets that looked at me from the cage I had built myself. Broken wings, deformed into a ghoul-like charade of parts so foreign they couldn't be called a self. Just the memory of one—so twisted, so wronged, beyond the recognition of what once was. Merged endlessly into what I am today…

Aska wasn't so wrong after all, was she? I really was a Chimaera by design—my design. The first of its kind.

A slight chuckle escaped my throat, which suddenly felt so dry. This name, this offer… it encapsulated the irony of what I'd become—an empty vessel, trying to fill itself with anything at all just to escape the curse. To escape the wandering. The stalling. The hiding.

Yes. Maybe the time had come. Maybe I should take this chance. Maybe—with all these new things unfolding, with the divine and the System lurking—I owed it to myself to be open for another round.

Another little spiel of my eternal urge.

Not for victory.

Not for truth.

Just to remember what it felt like to break the dread—long enough to burn the board the divines thought they ruled.

A dark grin spread across my face as I announced, with more ice in my voice than I intended: "You may use the name, if it brings you comfort. But make no mistake—I am not your mother. I do not wear that title. And I never shall."

The only response was a small whimper of approval.

Gosh. This was why I hated emotions. They made you unpredictable. They made you malleable. They made you crave.

Well—whatevs. It wouldn't hurt me to humor her. Or… humor myself.

I shall wear this name as if it was mine from the beginning. It might even be the case.

After a pause that grew too long—too awkward, even for me—I eventually said, "You must be hungry. Go find the head maid and tell her to bring you something to eat. If she refuses, tell her I know exactly who else is sleeping with Josh. Understood?"

This time she nodded.

Without much more reaction—clearly still dazed by my stern approval of the name, but not her wishful sense of kinship—she rose and walked out the door.

Aska would say that what I just did was heartless. But that was simply who I am.

I absolutely had to overcome the side effects of the seals and the System. Even if it was by force. Emotions were, after all, the most dangerous weakness. The one that clawed deepest. The one no living being could survive long enough to truly master… or turn into a seal, for that matter.

The feeling I got around Nyriel was too dangerous. As were those emotions for Aska, drifting to the surface like wilted flowers after rain—fragile, half-forgotten, yet somehow still reaching for the light.

I already started to like the name my Teade gave me. Almost as much as I looked forward to the conversation I would have with Asche about it.

My hand stretched out, imagining cupping her face. Her breath against mine. Her fingers in my hair. But just as easily, the wilted flowers had already turned to dust, and I crushed the image with my hand.

And in the fading shimmer I saw hers.
And the ring on my hand felt heavier than ever.

I wasn't allowed such happiness.
Not now. Not ever.

Not until he was dead—
—not until Anasi's weasel-like face was crushed by the very being he banished.

And a devilish grin curled on my lips.

"And who would be better test subjects than those so-called divines?"

╭══◞ In the Forest before King's Garden ◟══╮

The air grew thinner the closer they came. Even Oryl, whose lungs had tasted miasma and storm, felt its pressure—not just in their chest but deep in their soul.

Azmael didn't speak, but the way their eyes narrowed said enough. They were near.

Too near.

The divine energy ahead did more than radiate; it burned through the very weave of the world. A holy pulse that scalded the forest's memory, leaving behind scorched bark, sunken moss, and a silence—not the peaceful kind, but the kind that meant the birds had fled in terror.

A mortal wasn't meant to hold this much power—certainly not the power of the Goddess of Light. And yet, someone had. They had become a torch. A walking pyre. And wherever they passed, the world recoiled.

Even worse, the anomaly was somehow linked in a rebound effect with whatever was wrong in King's Garden. The resonance was terrifying.

And the already disturbing trail became even clearer: scorched footprints—too precise to be feral, too heavy to be sane. At least one human had passed through. But the other presence that walked beside them… was unclear.

Was it the same creature? A shadow cast by the holy light? Or something else entirely, drawn to the flare of divine energy like flies to meat?

Oryl's frown deepened. "Whatever it is… it's warping. It's either unraveling beneath the pressure or learning how to control it."

Azmael said nothing. To find it was inevitable. But to correct it… That could cause a tragedy.

There were rules. Old ones. Ones that had to be obeyed if the System was to remain stable. Anomalies that outgrew containment had to be erased. Willingly or not.

That was the cost of divine bugs.

And the last time such a mistake occurred…

Oryl flinched. The memory had been a black smear they'd never quite scrubbed away—of twisted angels that were pierced by roots.

The System had nearly collapsed. They couldn't let that happen again.

"We're close," Azmael murmured. Their voice was calm, but their aura flared sharp, like a blade sensing blood.

One final step, and they emerged into a clearing.

A meadow lay ahead—holy-lit, wrong, humming with too much grace.

Oryl exhaled slowly. "This… won't be easy."

[System Notification: Error //"&"?"!§!$/" Secret Quest Triggered: The Holy Torch.]