Reincarnated as a Background Character — Boss Fell in Love With Me
Chapter 12: A Blood Mask Smiles, and the Trial of Thorns Begins
The invitation was penned in a striking shade of crimson ink — and not in any figurative sense of the phrase. It was, quite literally, a deep, lustrous red that seemed to almost pulse with a life of its own.
To the Honored Empress Velzeria, and her Tether, Raze:
The Court cordially invites you to participate in the Trial of Thorns —
A rigorous test of will, bond, and truth awaits you both.
Failure in this endeavor is not mere death; rather, it is a descent into irrelevance, an erasure from history itself.
Velzeria, the Empress renowned for her strength and determination, crumpled the scroll in her hand, the unfurling parchment wrinkling beneath her fingers. A mixture of consternation and contempt flickered across her regal visage.
Raze, ever the steadfast companion, blinked in disbelief. "That sounds like a death threat cloaked in finery."
Velzeria shook her head, her voice low and fierce. "It's far worse than that," she murmured. "This is nothing less than a ritualized power play, all staged to test the very core of our bond."
As she turned to depart, her cloak billowed behind her, swirling with a gravity that hinted at the tempest of emotions swirling within her.
"The Trial of Thorns has not been invoked since the cataclysmic Fall of the Crimson Saint. It's nothing more than a blatant public trap dressed up as an esteemed ceremony."
"And now we're just supposed to walk right into it?" Raze intoned, a note of incredulity laced in his voice.
She met his gaze with unwavering resolve, her eyes alight with an intensity that seemed to crackle in the charged atmosphere between them.
"If we choose to avoid it, we lose all credibility in the eyes of the Court. They will brand me as 'fractured and unfit.' They've been anticipating this moment, waiting for just the right opportunity to strike."
A noticeable pause hung between them, heavy with the implications of what lay ahead.
Raze exhaled slowly, steeling himself for what was to come. "…Then let's win it."
The Trial Hall unfolded before them as a vast arena, an eerie amalgamation of glass and shadows that danced under the flickering flames of torches lining the walls. The floor was entwined with thorn-laden vines, enchanted by ancient magics to burst into bloom and to life at the lightest tread of those who entered.
The crowd was a cacophony of nobles, warlocks, and opportunists, their eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and malice as they leaned from mirrored balconies, reflections shimmering like echoes of distorted memories.
At the heart of the hall stood the ominous figure of the Trial Mask — a judge shrouded in an aura of neutrality, their features obscured but for a fixed expression carved into the mask, an unsettling smile too wide, and too crimson.
Raze felt a profound distrust wash over him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the Trial Mask's smile concealed a much darker agenda.
[Trial Commencement: Pact Assessment — Stage I: The Thorns of Truth]
Objective: Both participants must answer without the use of spoken words.
Any attempts at deception will trigger dire backlash.
Failure to achieve synchronization will result in pact degradation.
What a brilliant setup, Raze thought with a hint of sarcasm. A psychic lie detector.
Beside him, Velzeria stood poised and impassive, her flawless posture radiating an air of regal authority. Yet he sensed an undercurrent of anxiety pulsating through the tether that bound them; she was prepared for violence.
"First question," intoned the Trial Mask, voice resonating throughout the hall.
"Do you fear the Empress?"
Raze's heart raced within his chest, an echoing drum that seemed to fill the enormous space. He chose silence, knowing words were unnecessary; the tether would convey his truth for him.
[Truth Registered: Yes — But Not in the Way You Expect]
[Sync Stabilized — No Backlash]
Velzeria remained outwardly undisturbed, but a warmth flickered through their bond, a glimmer of understanding that passed between them.
"Second question: Would you betray her to save yourself?"
Raze's fists clenched tightly at his sides, determination surging within him. He felt a sharp pulse of the tether, the emotions flowing freely, expressing his resolve.
[Truth Registered: No]
To his surprise, thorns began to intertwine around his ankles — not as instruments of torture but as vibrant blossoms opened in confirmation of his honesty.
[Trial Progressing — Stage I: Passed]
The crowd below stirred, murmuring among themselves, their reactions a mix of confusion, intrigue, and palpable unease at the proceedings before them.
Then the Trial Mask turned its unyielding gaze toward Velzeria.
"Third question: Would you kill him if the Court demanded it?"
Raze stiffened, tension coiling through him like a spring.
Velzeria stood utterly still, her expression inscrutable; she didn't flinch or show any sign of wavering. However, he could feel the tether quiver, a clear indication of her internal struggle.
[Truth Registered: …Unstable Response]
Calculating...
The moments stretched out, heavy and fraught, each second feeling like an eternity in the suffocating silence that enveloped them.
And then—
[Answer: No. Denial absolute. Emotional override engaged.]
As if in reaction to her resolute refusal, the glass floor beneath her feet splintered with tension, yet paradoxically, no backlash unfolded to punish her.
A ripple of surprise surged through the crowd, their collective astonishment palpable.
Velzeria turned to meet Raze's eyes, her voice a whisper laced with icy resolve and trembling fury: "I would burn this world to ashes before I ever submitted to their will again."
The echoes of the Trial faded into the night, and when the crowd had dispersed and the Trial Mask had retreated back into the obsidian depths from which it emerged, Raze and Velzeria found themselves standing beneath the expansive sky once more.
The stars above the Ash Court felt exaggerated, almost too sharp and too pristine, resembling a carefully orchestrated tapestry that was perpetually in the throes of revision, ever-changing and unfathomable.
Raze broke the stillness that hung between them, a fragile tension that lingered in the air. "You hesitated during the Trial."
Velzeria did not attempt to deny it. Instead, she offered a soft admission that felt heavy with honesty, "I truly didn't know how I would respond, and that frightened me."
He attempted a chuckle, one tinged with understanding. "I find myself scared every single day," he confessed, his gaze steady on her. "But regardless of that fear, I choose to stand beside you."
Velzeria regarded him steadily, truly searching his face as if she were attempting to decipher an unfathomable riddle. "…Why?"
His thoughts drifted back to the poison that threatened to undo them, the powerful pact that intertwined their fates, the intricate mural etched with untold stories, and the moment he had reached into the very fabric of her destiny to hold it steady when she was on the brink of death.
And with profound clarity, he answered, "Because I am eager to witness who you become after the grand narrative fails."
[Trial of Thorns – Stage I: Complete]
Pact Stability: 92%
Next Trial: The Mirror of Intent — Scheduled in 3 days.
Danger Rating: Critical.
To be continued...