The masked man's words sank deep, like chains wrapping around the room.
No one from New Dawn dared move, though unease rippled in their gazes.
He knew too much.
He didn't just recognize Seraphine—he had torn apart the layers of her life with a precision that made it feel less like discovery, more like omniscience.
"…Test us?" Seraphine repeated, her tone sharpening. She straightened her spine, forcing her calm back into place. "Who appointed you as judge?"
[I need no appointment.]
His reply was immediate, unwavering.
[The weak hide behind titles and associations. The worthy prove themselves without them. And you…]
The oni mask shifted slightly, his gaze falling on her like a physical weight.
[…you've spent too long playing both sides. Villain, hero, hunter, civilian. Masks upon masks. But in the end, only one truth matters: are you strong enough to claim what lies beyond this door?]
