For a heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze.
The robed leader's question still hung in the air.
But Lucien did not flinch.
His heartbeat remained steady. His aura didn't ripple. Not even a twitch betrayed him.
He did not answer.
Because answering was dangerous.
He didn't know whether the robed leader could detect lies… or twist truths… or whether the question itself was a trap.
So instead—
Lucien did something no one anticipated.
He broke eye contact.
And walked past the robed group.
The move stunned them more than any spoken reply ever could.
He stepped through their parted ranks, through the patch where the first Revenant Asphodel had already been plucked…
And continued—
Toward the other blossom.
A second Revenant Asphodel nestled among Lungmirror Moss, glowing faintly like golden dawn smothered beneath midnight ink.
The robed leader's eyes tightened. His group stiffened.
Lucien only smiled.
