A Deal with a Cold Hearted Sister

This world was once a battlefield, torn apart by the celestial might of gods and the relentless fury of demons. Their war raged for several centuries, shaking the heavens and scorching the earth. In the end, the gods and angels emerged victorious, forcing the demons to retreat into the depths of the underworld.

But victory did not erase their presence. The remnants of their vast power seeped into the world, leaving an indelible mark. From the lingering essence of gods, humans were born, their bodies infused with a divine energy known as mana. Meanwhile, the remnants of demonic power twisted into dark energy, spawning monstrous creatures that lurked in the shadows.

Naturally, these forces clashed, and thus began a new war—this time between humans and the creatures of darkness. For a century, blood was spilled once more until humanity stood triumphant, claiming dominion over the world. The demons, outmatched and hunted, were driven to the world's edge, vanishing into the abyss beyond.

In the wake of victory, the strongest warriors among humans established mighty kingdoms, ruling over a world where magic was the foundation of life. Every human was born with mana, yet not all were equal. Some wielded immense power, while others struggled to even sense it.

As generations passed, mana began to thin, no longer as abundant as in ancient times. To adapt, the strong devised intricate techniques to harness and refine what remained, ensuring that power still dictated one's place in the world.

And me? I was born into nobility, but my resonance with mana was abysmal. In a noble society where magic determined worth, I stood at the bottom.

I stopped my train of thought as I entered Selene's room. The space was dim and orderly, with an air of unsettling stillness. A faint scent of nightshade and dried parchment lingered in the air, blending with the cold, sterile fragrance of untouched silk. I sat opposite to her on the couch.

"How are you, Selene? You look as beautiful as ever," I said, offering a smile I knew would do little to move her.

Selene Stormbane—my half-sister and the third child of our father—was a woman of chilling indifference. She wasn't always like this. Once, she had been just a normal noble girl. But everything changed when she awakened her unique magic—Soul Bind, an eerie power that could manipulate and bind souls. It came at a cost. Her body weakened, and worse, she lost something fundamental to being human: emotion.

Happiness, anger, sadness, jealousy, love, hate—none of it existed for her anymore. She acted purely on logic, driven by nothing but calculation and reason.

The kingdom feared her power. Centuries ago, a witch with the same ability had nearly brought the nation to ruin, leaving destruction in her wake.

To outsiders, she was an unshakable, untouchable noblewoman, free of weakness. But that wasn't true. Her greatest weakness was precisely her lack of human attachment. She didn't care for others, nor did she feel loyalty. Even when she helped, it wasn't out of kindness—it was simply pragmatic. She would abandon or eliminate anything that became a liability. Because of this, she spent most of her time in loneliness—not that it bothered her.

And that was exactly why I came to her.

"What brings you here?" she asked, her voice devoid of warmth.

"I need your help," I stated plainly.

Selene arched a brow, tilting her head slightly. "I am not interested in sating your sexual urges, brother."

I let out a hollow laugh. "Well, I won't deny I have some interest in you, but that's not why I'm here now."

She folded her hands neatly in her lap. "Then, what kind of help do you need?"

"I need you to help me get to Eldermoon Forest."

Silence. Her violet eyes, sharp and piercing, locked onto mine, assessing every flicker of my expression.

"And why would I do that?" she asked at last.

"Because I know where to find the Deathsong Amulet."

That got her attention. Her fingers twitched ever so slightly.

"Why should I believe in what you say?" she said coldly. "You're nothing but a pathetic man, lacking in both power and talent."

Ouch. That hurts. I don't think I'll get used to it anytime soon.

I sighed, shifting my stance. "Alright, you have no reason to trust me. But what if I told you House Valteris is also searching for it?"

That made her frown slightly—a rare sight, and a good sign for me.

House Volteris was one of the strongest noble families, known for their insatiable hunger for power. If they were after the Deathsong Amulet, that meant its existence was more than just a myth.

She leaned back on the couch and started tapping her finger on the armrest. Thinking. Calculating all the possible outcomes.

A minute passed before she spoke again.

"How do you know about the Deathsong Amulet?"

Shit. I knew about it because this world was once a game to me, but I obviously couldn't say that. If I told her it was a 'secret,' she'd only get more suspicious. I needed a plausible lie.

Think. Think.

She was still watching me, her violet eyes dissecting every flicker of hesitation.

"Are you fabricating a lie, brother?" she asked, her voice quiet but pointed.

"What? Of course not," I said quickly. "I was just debating whether to tell you or not."

"You don't need to hesitate..." She paused, peering into my eyes. "Unless you're hiding something," she said flatly.

Damn, she sees through everything.

I exhaled through my nose, deciding on my approach. "Fine, I overheard it when Volteris nobles were talking about it in hushed voices."

Her expression didn't change, but I saw the subtle shift in her posture—a silent cue that I had her interest.

"When did you hear it?"

"A week ago."

"Where did you hear it?"

I hesitated for a second, deliberately.

"In a brothel."

She didn't react, but I knew what she must be thinking—as expected of him.

"And why are you telling me this?" she asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Because you're the only one who will listen to me." That's true. Anyone else would have rejected me immediately. There was also a hidden reason.

"What do you expect to gain from this?" she pressed on.

"I want you to help me when I'm in danger," I said, looking into her sharp eyes, showing I was serious about this.

"What kind of danger? You will—"

Before she could continue, I stood up. If I let her pry further, she'd definitely figure everything out.

"That's all I have to say. I'm expecting a positive response from you." I started walking toward the door.

"Wait, I haven't finished my questions," she said sharply.

"You can continue your questions after you give me a positive response. I have other matters to attend to," I said, taking steady steps toward the exit.

"You know, I could call Edric in, break a couple of your fingers, and get the answer out of you," she said coldly.

A bead of sweat rolled down from my neck.

I turned back, keeping my expression neutral. "If you really wanted to do that, you wouldn't have wasted time asking me all these questions. You know hurting me would do you no good. And you have nothing to lose here."

I said and continue to move.

"Hmm... You are correct. But if I find out you lied to me, I wouldn't hesitate to take your soul out and make it one of my puppet forever."

My steps halted. A cold shiver ran down my spine. She is dangerous.

My hand twitched on the door handle, but I forced myself to push forward. If she saw even a flicker of hesitation, I was done for.

Keep walking. Don't look back.

After I left the mansion, my pace quickened, my heart pounding violently, sweat dripping down my back.

"Hah... Fuck! I almost died twice in there."

---

In the mansion, Selene remained seated on the couch, her gaze lingering on the empty space where he had just stood.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her fingers drummed lazily against the armrest, the rhythmic sound filling the silence. A slow smirk crept onto her lips, eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"Brother has changed so much… and so quickly."

"How interesting"

Her voice, soft yet unsettling, slithered through the empty room like a whisper meant only for the shadows.