was morning, and Marina stood in front of the closed office door while Lyceum's voice warmly invited her to enter. She had woken up early, hoping to be the first to arrive so she could convince the man to lessen the likely punishments for Cragar's children.
"Excuse me…" she said.
Marina crossed the office threshold. Dahlia and Shirei were seated in the armchairs. Mr. D'Agostini stood behind the desk, while Aena observed from the window, presumably monitoring the reconstruction of Ognia's house—at least, that was Marina's deduction.
"I'm afraid you'll have to stand and listen until someone brings a chair," Lyceum said.
Marina smiled. "Ah… that's no problem!"
Dahlia shot a glare at Shirei, who stood up shortly after.
"I'll stand," he said, gesturing toward the chair.
Ien's daughter shook her head. "Thank you very much, but there's no need, Specter. Really!"
"You were in the infirmary yesterday. It's better to be cautious with your recovery," he added.
"Yeah…" Marina inadvertently confirmed.
Mr. D'Agostini gestured toward the armchair. "The boy is right, Marina. You should sit."
"Alright…!"
Aena turned to look at them. "We don't have time for theatrics."
"I apologize, divine Aena, it was not my intention."
"My words are not directed at you," the goddess said, shifting her gaze to the two siblings. "Tell me everything that happened."
Shirei closed his eyes, seeming reluctant to speak. Before the founder of the park could grow angrier, Marina decided to step in.
"I held a practical lesson on the children of the six major deities—the Forbidden Heirs—and I asked these two to lend me a hand," she said.
"Go on."
"Dahlia demonstrated the powers of Cragar's children, and Shirei played the 'test subject,'" Marina explained, mimicking air quotes with her fingers. "It seems we underestimated the consequences of that demonstration…"
Ien's daughter lowered her gaze and fell silent.
Dahlia leaned forward with her eyes closed. "It is solely my fault, oh goddess. I beg your forgiveness!"
"Dahlia…"
Marina lifted her azure irises toward the divine Aena, whose emotions remained hidden behind the mask covering her face. The woman placed a hand on her face and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Dahlia Arcesio," she suddenly murmured, "continue the story. What happened next?"
A strange sensation spread through the room. Marina felt a veiled hand covering her mouth, as if someone were squeezing her heart in their palm.
So this is what it feels like to fall victim to Aena's powers—the one who, through love, could end up breaking hearts.
She didn't sense any physical harm, yet the mere awareness of it terrified her to death.
In the literal sense of the word.
Dahlia, Shirei, and Lyceum were also feeling the goddess's grip. Marina saw the rector of the park widen his eyes and shudder in silence. Dahlia remained bent forward, struggling to summon the courage to speak.
"Divine Aena, perhaps—" Lyceum attempted to speak, but the goddess silenced him with a single look.
"I-I…" Cragar's daughter coughed lightly, "I-I used my powers on my kin recklessly. I was immature, childish, and my companions were nothing but victims of this event."
The girl's eyes began to glisten, and soon, salty tears dripped down onto the carpet.
"Shirei was distracted, and I made him lose control, letting madness take hold of him for a few moments. My roommate is usually calm and composed… I was curious to see his wrathful side."
Marina thought that wrathful would have been the right word, but she didn't step in to correct her. Most likely, it was a synonym used in her time that had since fallen out of use.
"Continue. What happened next?"
The tension in the air thickened.
"Shirei changed. He seemed like a completely different person. We tried to stop him, but he summoned a strange creature and fled with the other boy."
Marina shifted her gaze to Aena, who seemed rather dissatisfied.
"I want details. Describe the creature to me."
"It was a Tenebrae," Shirei finally replied.
Everyone turned to look at him. Marina wasn't pleased with the situation they had gotten themselves into, but her insatiable thirst for knowledge made her want to jump for joy.
He's finally going to spill everything.
The Blendbreed simply couldn't contain herself. She had never read or heard about such a creature before.
Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "And what is that?"
"A being of pure darkness… That's how Cragar defines them," the boy cast a glance at his ring. "I was told that over the years, their name has changed several times, but in the books found in his palace, they were called that."
Marina looked from Shirei to Aena. The goddess's lower lip was trembling almost frantically, making the mask covering her expression quiver.
"He told me that I am the only one who can create and control them. This is my true power," said Cragar's son.
"So that angel you summoned… it was a Tenebrae?"
Shirei nodded. "I assume so. However, I can't describe it or summon it again. Until now, I had never seen anything like it."
"And which ones do you control? How does this power work? Do you create them, or do you summo—"
"Enough!"
Aena's furious voice immediately silenced the girl and made Dahlia curl into herself. The young girl was sobbing uncontrollably, covering her ears with her hands.
Marina shut her eyes, terrified of the goddess of love.
Aena walked slowly, almost reaching the doorway. Her hands were clasped together, but it was clear that her fingers were trembling.
"Children of Cragar, it is time to discuss the consequences of your actions."
Lyceum quickly intervened. "Are you sure about this? The boy has been regarded as a hero for standing up to Tefine's son. Some of the other Blendbreeds have even begun to see him with respect."
Aena took a deep breath. "The Blendbreeds present at the lesson fought against the Tenebrae, including you. I have no intention of letting this slide without the necessary precautions."
"S-She's right!" Dalia stammered, trembling. "I will accept any punishment!"
Marina was devastated to see her in such a state. Her best friend had often spoken about the harsh life her adoptive parents had condemned her to—how her father had been violent toward both her and her mother. Ien's daughter had always shown disapproval toward such acts, but Dalia had justified her father, saying that those were different times. The way the girl paled in front of an authoritative figure tied Marina's stomach in knots.
"Curfew at ten in the evening, every day. You will be monitored in your training by Marina. You are forbidden from leaving Lilies Park."
Aena listed the rules as if she were going through a grocery list—she wanted to get rid of Cragar's daughter as quickly as possible.
"If you break these rules, I will find out, and you will lose your place in the park. That is all. You are dismissed."
Dalia nodded and stood up to bow again, but the goddess of love dismissed her with a wave of her hand. The girl glanced at the two Blendbreeds before heading toward the door.
"Goodbye…"
Marina raised her hand discreetly to wave and smiled gently. Cragar's daughter wiped her tears and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"As for you…" the goddess said, turning to Shirei. "The consequences will not be as simple."
"What is my punishment?" the Blendbreed cut to the chase.
Lyceum stood up, raising his palms as if divining the future with a crystal ball. The man seemed troubled by the overwhelming tension in the room and wanted to mediate the discussion between the two before another battle erupted.
"This is not a punishment. You protected the goddess Aena from our enemy in front of everyone. Moreover, we now know you were under a spell for a long time, so we sought to address that."
The rector of Lilies Park felt the goddess's stormy gaze settle on him the moment he uttered the word protected. He swallowed and quickly adjusted the collar of his gray suit.
Marina let out a sigh of relief at the news. There would be no real punishments for him, and with that, her guilt toward the boy could finally ease.
Shirei stared into the void. "What am I supposed to do?"
Aena pointed to a document on the desk. Marina followed her gaze to the page, adorned with golden patterns, and recognized it too late.
"A Lodal Contract!?"
Shirei turned to her with a furrowed brow. "What's that?"
"Oh… It's a contract, exactly that. It contains requests from both parties, followed by signatures and an oath to Fate."
The boy stepped closer to the table and began to read: "Lilies Park grants the BlendbreedShirei, surname absent, permission to remain within its facilities if he agrees to the following terms: immediate enrollment in the Blendbreed recovery program, with the status of 'Equinox Flower' granted; completion of two missions as a member of the elite before resignation; prohibition on summoning Tenebrae within Lilies Park grounds; mandatory attendance in all courses… in the event of refusal, the Blendbreed Shirei will be banished from the Otherworld, and all moral responsibility shall be lifted from Lilies Park staff…"
Shirei paused. "Marina mentioned that the requests come from both parties. What do I receive in return?"
Ien's daughter remained silent. The conditions weren't overly severe, but they significantly restricted Shirei's freedom. The Blendbreed couldn't help but reflect on the contract. The word Tenebrae was already written, meaning Aena must have known what they were.
Why ask about it then? Did she just want confirmation? she wondered, before returning her attention to the conversation.
"Your place here and the favor of the gods, of course," Lyceum replied.
"I don't care about their favor."
Aena didn't respond, but her rage spread through the room like an overflowing river. Marina tried to think, but convincing the boy seemed nearly impossible. She still knew so little about him, despite having spent entire days together.
Shirei grabbed the pen on the desk and quickly signed the contract. The black ink sealed onto the golden paper, irreversible.
Marina's eyes widened. He had done it. He had signed.
"Good. Now, all that remains is the oath, and then you may go to Cragar. We've discussed it and believe you two should speak face to face befo—"
Lyceum didn't get the chance to finish his sentence before darkness began to swirl around the Blendbreed.
"Cragar also said to never swear an oath to Fate under coercion," Shirei responded flatly. "I will keep my word. That should be enough for you."
Aena's divine energy burst forth in an instant, pushing everyone back. Marina tumbled from her chair with a thud and turned toward Shirei in alarm—but the Blendbreed had already vanished into the Interworld.
For a few moments, silence filled the room.
Aena's hair had come undone, and her skin had taken on a rosier hue, matching the red of her anger. The goddess of love stomped her foot and took deep, measured breaths, trying to regain her lost composure.
After a few moments, she turned to Ien's daughter with a forced smile. Marina was captivated as she watched the mask on Aena's face shift, revealing her true expression. It was a unique trait of Thebribe masks, one that could easily terrify the younger or more inexperienced.
"Marina, I would like to hear your version of the events."
"Dahlia… left out a piece of information. Knowing her, I think she simply forgot," the girl replied, still shaken by what had just happened and by the woman's terrifying smile. "There's something else you need to know."
"We're listening," Lyceum replied with a reassuring smile.
"When Tefine's son transformed, I tried to activate the innate technique of Ien's children to identify dangers."
"The all-seeing eye," Lyceum confirmed.
"Ien's sight," Aena added.
"Yes, both are correct," she confirmed. "I saw a golden aura when I looked at him."
The goddess of love grimaced but nodded. "That makes perfect sense. What's the problem?"
"It's a color I had only seen once before, and I was wondering why. I know it belongs to the Forbidden Heirs—Dahlia has part of it too—but I don't understand why Tefine's son would have it," the Blendbreed concluded, expressing her concern.
Aena felt as if the world around her was collapsing. The revelation had shaken the very foundations of divine integrity. While Lyceum and Marina were still present in the office, the goddess of love struggled to contain the panic rising within her.
I am not the only one here.
Observing Lyceum's serious expression and Marina's worried face, she realized she could not afford to waver in their presence. She had to maintain composure, at least outwardly. But inside, chaos raged, and the urgency to act grew stronger. She had to find a way to handle the impending disaster, but she knew she couldn't do it alone. She needed to inform Emion of this discovery and involve the other gods.
It was the only way to face the looming prophecy.
After a long pause, she asked, "What was the other news?"
"While Shirei was not himself, he had a brief conversation with Tefine's son. They mentioned Rakion the Ancient."
Marina saw Lyceum assume a confused expression and turn toward the goddess of love, just as she did. Aena remained motionless, as if frozen. This time, she had failed to hide her concerns. The daughter of Ien clearly saw her emotions, despite the mask concealing her divine face.
Fear.
The queen of the gods was terrified.
"I tried to think about it before coming here, and I thought it might be related to Dahlia's past, but I don't understand how the lord of time could have anything to do with—"
Aena raised a hand to silence her.
The Blendbreed fell silent, noticing a bead of sweat dampening the goddess's forehead.
"Marina, now is not the time."
Strange, coming from her, she thought. It seems like the exact time to discuss it.
"We have already said too much for today," Aena declared. "Return to your house and rest. Lyceum will let you know when you will hold your next lesson—purely theoretical."
She emphasized the last word, pronouncing each letter with deliberate precision.
Marina, worried and confused by her reaction, could only respond, "Alright…"
The Blendbreed gave a polite farewell and stepped out of the office, feeling a mixture of confusion and frustration. She felt as if she couldn't fully grasp the complexity of the situation, and this awareness made her so anxious that she wanted to tear her hair out. Shaking her head to dispel the storm of thoughts, she left the Grand Manor behind and headed toward her home, eager to sink into a hot bath that might help her relax.
Inside the office, Lyceum and Aena remained, waiting for the opportunity to discuss unresolved matters. The goddess of love had noticed an almost imperceptible movement just moments before Cragar's son vanished, and it had made her suspect someone else's presence.
"Rutia… how long do you intend to stay there?" Aena asked the empty air.
As if an invisible veil had been lifted, a female figure appeared, wrapped in a long gray gown with a hood that concealed her face. It was the goddess of the occult, silently observing the two.
"You found me," she replied enigmatically. "I must admit, I didn't expect that."
The mask covering the goddess's face was an intricate weave of dark violet bandages and silver threads, concealing much of her features. Her eyes were hidden behind a broad horizontal blindfold, and the mask ended abruptly at the tip of her nose, leaving only her pale lips visible. Strands of blue hair escaped from beneath the hood, framing her face.
Aena furrowed her brows slightly. "Lyceum, we need to speak in private."
The man understood the message and approached the door. "Of course. If you'll excuse me," he said, offering a slight bow before stepping out of the office.
Once they were alone, Aena fixed her gaze on Rutia. "Why are you here?" she asked, trying to discern the goddess of the occult's intentions.
Rutia maintained her mysterious smile. "I missed you," she replied calmly.
Aena had always found the woman's expressions frustrating. She could never quite grasp their meaning, and that gave her a sense of helplessness. At times, she wondered if Rutia was incapable of changing her expression, but she had noticed that her smiles always carried a hint of melancholy.
"I'm not in the mood for games, Rutia. What do you want?" she asked, trying to keep her irritation in check.
"I am here as a messenger of Fate. I bring news, though I cannot yet say whether it is good or bad," the goddess answered with her usual aura of mystery.
Aena sighed. Just as she had expected. As the goddess of the occult, the deity before her had always had glimpses of future events. Understanding her intentions was often difficult for that very reason. The only certainty was that she always acted in the interest of the greater good.
"Has a new prophecy appeared in the Book of Fate?" she asked, fearing the worst.
"No, you already have enough trouble with the last one—imagine if I recited another,"Rutia replied, reassuring the goddess of love. "Soon, a very important boy will arrive here. I trust you will keep an eye on him."
Aena felt relieved to know that it wasn't a new prophecy, but she remained troubled by what the future might hold.
"Is he one of your offspring?" Aena asked, trying to uncover more information.
"No, I wouldn't say so," the ominous goddess replied with a restrained laugh. "You'll see for yourself—you'll like him."
Aena wasn't convinced in the slightest, but she chose not to press the matter.
"That's all," she concluded, preparing to leave.
"Wait!"
Rutia raised an eyebrow. "Dear, do you have more questions?"
"Dahlia Arcesio… who is she really?" the goddess of love asked, seizing the moment to address her main doubt.
Rutia's response was a laugh that sent a chill through the queen of the gods.
"A young girl who needs to find herself, Aena. Let me remind you of the vow I made at my wedding—'We shall not be the cause of the passing of masks,' remember? She is Cragar's daughter," she answered sarcastically, though the lack of visible eyes made it impossible to discern her true emotions.
Aena swallowed hard. "Then… who?"
The goddess of the occult merely smiled mysteriously.
"I'm not particularly eager to play the informant, but you'll find out soon enough anyway…" she said, waving her hand.
The walls of the office began to warp behind her.
"The name you seek is a short one. Don't trouble yourself too much over it."
Aena remained silent, lost in thought. Her suspicions hadn't been confirmed, but now she faced an even more complicated reality.
Had Salix, Tefine's son, been referring to the girl when he said he wasn't the only one—or had he meant someone else?
"I think I'll take my leave now. Have a lovely day, dear Aena," Rutia said before vanishing completely.