The ceiling above was nothing but a hazy, colorless blur. With a heavy breath, Lian struggled to peel his eyelids open.
"This room..."
Lian turned his head to find Outer looming motionless by the bedside. Its vacant, milky white eyes seemed to pierce through his very soul.
"Outer..."
Outer pressed a hand to Lian's forehead.
"Lian... does it still feel heavy?"
"No."
Lian struggled to sit up, his gaze wandering across the familiar walls.
"Outer, how did I end up here?"
"It was the symbol on Lian's hand."
He immediately checked his palm.
"Serenity..."
At the mention of her name, Outer turned away.
Lian caught the subtle tremor shaking Outer.
"Outer..."
Outer remained still, like a statue carved from shadows.
"I'm sorry, Outer... Is the octagonal symbol the only reason I'm here?"
"The Champ is the one who brought Lian here."
A bitter frost crept from Outer's lips, weaving a shiver through the silent room.
"Lian endures too much."
"What do you mean?"
Outer turned and knelt beside the bed, resting its head upon Lian's legs in a gesture of strange, somber devotion.
"Why did Lian always refuse? Why not... eliminate them?"
Lian's hand flew to his throat, his breath hitching as his body began to tremble.
"Eliminate them? Why?"
"They caused harm."
Lian bit his lip hard, fighting back the constriction in his chest and the tears threatening to fall.
"Lian... Outer erases them all, at Lian's leave."
He stroked Outer's head, a single tear finally escaping.
"And then what, Outer?"
Outer rose, cupping Lian's cheek with a cold hand.
"No more pain. Not for Lian."
Lian flung his arms around Outer.
"Thank you... for my sake."
Outer smoothed Lian's hair.
"Lian's happiness is Outer's."
Soft sobs surged through the room. Once the storm of emotion passed, Lian pulled back, wiping his eyes.
"I'm alright now."
Outer glanced toward the door, leaning close to Lian's ear.
"The Champ is outside."
Lian gripped his blanket tight.
"Outer... I want to rest."
Outer offered a thin smile.
"Yes. Outer will keep watch."
While Lian was drifting into a deep sleep, Outer approached the wall.
On the opposite side, Nox slumped against the cold stone.
Outer stepped through the threshold.
"Regret it?"
Nox remained silent, though his cheeks were wet.
"Want to apologize?"
Nox clenched his fists.
"Shut up…"
"So?"
"You talk too much."
"Fine, then."
Outer vanished back to Lian's side.
Nox's outburst faded into the frost, leaving him pinned by a leaden ache.
Damn it. Why am I like this?
He walked away, his steps heavy and stumbling.
***
On the stairs, Nox ran into Lena, who was carrying a steaming bowl of soup.
"Lena... Lian is sleeping."
"Ah... Sir Nox,"
"Don't forget, you're expected in the drawing room."
"Of course. I'll leave this in the kitchen and join you later."
Nox nodded and headed toward the drawing room.
***
Inside, Ashil, Vashil, Rhea, and Ron were already seated in a tense circle.
Nox broke the silence as he entered.
"Lian is asleep," he said, taking a seat on the sofa next to Ron.
"I see..." Ron muttered.
Rhea took her place at the far end.
"We wait for Lena," Nox said, leaning back.
Rhea gave a faint smile.
"Yes. She deserves to know the truth."
The scent of tea grew sharp in the quiet room. No one spoke until a soft knock echoed.
"Come in," Rhea called.
Lena entered, her eyes darting between Ashil and Vashil. She stood by Rhea's side, her shoulders pulled back and her chin tucked tight.
"Lena, why don't you sit?"
"I am fine here, Lady Rhea."
Vashil tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Can we start?"
Rhea took a deep breath. "Ashil, Vashil. What now?"
Vashil let out a sharp whistle. Ashil, however, stared at Rhea with piercing intensity.
"Our mission is to capture you, Rhea."
Nox's jaw tightened.
Ron's grip on his own knees was so tight that the veins in his hands bulged.
Rhea sighed.
"And how do you plan to bring me to Ipsix?"
Ashil pointed to the orb Honest had given her.
"With that. We take you to Young Master Honest."
Lena began to tremble.
Rhea reached out, offering a reassuring smile.
"Lady Rhea..."
"Do not worry."
Rhea turned back to Ashil.
"Carry out your duty, then."
The twins remained motionless.
"See? You cannot use the orb, can you?" Rhea noted.
Vashil clicked his tongue.
"You know the answer, don't you?" Rhea continued.
Ashil's brow furrowed. "Master Leuliang—"
Ron cut in, "Why Lian?"
Rhea's eyes became hollow.
"Because Miss Serenity gave her octagonal sigil to Master Lian."
Ron loosened his grip.
"You mean the light that transported us from Syntax to Echo?"
Rhea nodded.
"What does that mean Lady—"
"Low maid," Vashil interrupted, curling his lip in a sneer.
Lena flinched, stepping back.
Nox surged to his feet.
"You really don't know when to keep your mouth shut!"
Vashil stood to meet him.
"Wanna fight, Champ?"
"VASHIL!"
SHATTER!!
The force of Ashil's voice caused the teacups and pot to explode. Cracks spider-webbed across the window panes.
Rhea raised her voice.
"ENOUGH!"
Vashil sat down again, looking away.
Ron sighed.
"Nox, sit."
Nox hissed through his teeth and sat down, his face flushed with crimson.
Tea dripped from the table onto the floor.
"Let me clean that up," Lena said, moving toward the mess.
Rhea caught her hand.
"No need."
Rhea's peridot eyes began to glow.
Slowly, the shards of porcelain flew back together, the cracks in the glass sealed themselves, and the room was restored—save for the wet floor.
"Vashil! If you find this company beneath you, my door is wide open!"
Vashil remained silent.
As Rhea's eyes returned to normal, she looked at Nox. "Sir Nox, how is it that you can see Outer?"
"I don't know."
Ron's expression softened.
"Nox, talk to us."
Nox looked at the ceiling, his shoulders sagging.
"I don't understand it myself... but..."
Ron placed a steadying hand on Nox's shoulder. Nox looked at him, seeing a faint smile on Ron's face.
"You don't have to speak if it's too difficult."
"Sorry."
Ron shook his head.
"Don't mind."
Rhea turned back to Ashil.
"Anything else?"
"Ron, right?" Ashil said, his eyes shifting to Nox. "But the one next to him... he isn't an Eosvile—"
"Stop!"
Vashil grinned. Nox dropped his head. Rhea's eyes widened, and Lena gasped, covering her mouth.
Ron's eyes turned a chilling, icy blue.
"Silence, Ashil Eosvile!"
"It's a fact," Vashil interjected.
Ron glared at Vashil, his aura freezing.
"You truly have an acid tongue, Vashil!"
Nox reached out, grabbing Ron's wrist.
"He's right."
Ron's jaw worked, the muscles corded like strained steel under his skin.
"Nox..."
The room grew so quiet, stifling the very air they struggled to swallow.
Lena clenched her skirts.
"Why is no one talking about what happened at the bridge? We blacked out and woke up here at the Edelweiss estate."
Rhea's eyes grew misty.
"That was Master Lian's doing."
Lena smiled.
"Then… he was the one who moved us when we passed out."
Rhea nodded.
Vashil snorted. "He's the one who knocked us out in the first place. Don't be naive."
Lena glared at him.
"We're alive because of him. Isn't that enough?"
Vashil blinked, surprised by her fire. Ashil remained stoic.
Ron stared at the swelling on his brother's face.
"Yet the bruise on Nox's jaw... that was Lian's doing, wasn't it?"
Lena looked at the floor.
Nox winced.
"It's just a scratch."
Ron's eyes softened. "What actually happened?"
Nox rubbed his jaw. "I... I told him to hit me."
Ashil and Vashil riveted their attention on him.
Ron squeezed his eyes shut, massaging his forehead.
"Nox... not again..."
"I'll explain later, Ron."
After a long pause, Rhea stood up.
"Ron, I think you need to speak with Ashil and Vashil privately regarding Eosvile matters."
Lena bowed respectfully. Rhea exited, with Lena following close behind.
A moment later, Nox sprang up too.
"Ron, you handle them."
Nox walked out, leaving Ron alone with the twins.
To be continued…