Evangeline nodded at them in acknowledgment, offering the smallest smile of polite welcome.
Behind the smile, however, her thoughts were far from settled.
Ruby had told her everything she knew.
The story of how she met Riley in the lower realms, how he took her under his wing, how he told her things no master in the immortal realm ever could.
A mortal realm wanderer at first glance—but even then, something about him had defied all common sense.
He moved like a scholar, dressed like a traveler, yet held himself like a monarch of the stars.
Evangeline had been intrigued, even cautious at first.
It wasn't unusual for immortals to descend to lower realms.
But what had truly caught her attention was the rumor—that Riley had faced heavenly tribulation just to ascend to the immortal realm.
That shouldn't have been possible.
Someone of his caliber, someone who could inspire such instinctual awe, should never have needed to face the Heavenly Tribulation at all.
