"So, how does the ritual work?"
I knew I shouldn't have asked. The question felt like opening a door that was meant to stay shut. But I said it anyway—and now, the room has fallen silent, as if the entire world is holding its breath.
Selene didn't answer right away. No nod, no shake of the head. Even her expression seemed to freeze. Her face was blank, like a porcelain doll that had suddenly lost its soul.
"You're quite bold, aren't you... asking something like that without a second thought..."
The voice was heavy, cold, and dripped from her lips slowly—as if each word carried the weight of a curse. But that wasn't what made me tense up.
"...Kairi Elysia Veylith."
When my name was spoken—my full name in this world—I could feel my body grow heavy. It was as if an invisible weight was pressing my shoulders to the ground. For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Is this what Selene has been feeling all this time?
