The courtyard was chaos wrapped in silence.Gid's fury still smoldered in the air like lightning without thunder.The soldiers stood frozen, waiting for an order that never came.
And then Sephie's voice cut through. Calm. Sharp. Commanding.
"Enough. Everyone—stand down."
Even the King blinked, his rage interrupted. He wanted to roar, to protest, but her tone left no room for it.The soldiers obeyed instantly, lowering their weapons, the hum of their cannons dimming.
But Sephie's gaze wasn't on them.It was on me.
"Lala," she said, not looking at her daughter, "go to your room."
"Mama—"
"Now."
Lala flinched, confused, but obeyed. Haruna followed quickly, dragging her by the wrist. Yami lingered a moment longer, golden eyes narrowing at me, before vanishing in a shimmer of hair-blades.
In seconds, it was only the three of us: Sephie, Gid, and me.
And then—"Gid," Sephie said, her tone edged with steel. "Leave us."
His aura spiked. "What?!"
"Leave."Her eyes didn't waver.
For a moment, it seemed he might defy her. But then, with a snarl that shook the stones, the King vanished in a warp-flash, leaving the soldiers retreating to their ships.
And so, silence.
Just me and the Queen of Deviluke.
She studied me, arms crossed, her aura unreadable."You're fighting something," she said plainly.
I tilted my head. "Am I?"
"You can't mask it from me. Your aura… it shifts. As if two instincts are tearing at you."
She stepped closer, her heels echoing against the courtyard stones. Her voice lowered, not threatening but firm."I've seen beings like you before. Parasites that feed. Predators that consume. But you're not just that, are you?"
I didn't answer.
She leaned in, her eyes like fire."Who are you fighting inside, Scourge?"
For a second, I almost told her. About Aiko. About the other voice. About the mission window still burning crimson in my sight.
Instead, I only smiled."Perhaps I'm fighting the same thing you are, Majesty. A King who thinks force is the answer to everything."
Her lips curved, but it wasn't amusement. It was recognition.
[System Notice – Emotional Link Established: Sephie Michaela Deviluke]Bond Path: Insight → Trust → ???Influence: 4%
Her eyes softened just slightly."I'll give you this chance, Scourge. But know this: if you lose that fight inside you… if you become nothing but hunger…"
Her aura flared, sharp and merciless."I'll end you myself."
She turned, her cape flowing in the starlight, and left me alone in the courtyard.
And though her threat lingered, so did her attention.
For the first time, the Queen of Deviluke had marked me—not just as danger.But as possibility.