Chapter 9

Three Days Later – Serpent Wing, Solvaris Empire

Reth stood on top of a palace tower. The wind pulled at his black coat. Below, the capital city spread out—red roofs, white stone bridges, markets full of color and noise. It was loud and alive.

But his thoughts were far away.

His ribs still hurt under the bandages. The bruises hadn't gone away. One curled under his jaw like a shadow. Another stretched along his side, deep purple fading to yellow.

Today wasn't a normal shift.

Today was part of Asthia's plan.

Seris was being moved to a new cell. She said it was for "better security," but that wasn't the real reason.

It was about timing. About being seen. About making her think.

Asthia had been clear:

"Walk where she can see you. Let her notice the bruises. Let her feel guilty."

Reth didn't like it.

He wasn't sure if it was because the plan was manipulative—or because it might actually work.

A soft chime rang in his head.

[Command Active: Visibility Maneuver]

[Goal: Be seen by Seris Thalren during transfer]

[Reward: +10 EXP | Loyalty Sync +0.5%]

[Risk: Emotional Side Effects – Moderate]

"Emotional side effects," Reth muttered. "Nice way to say 'feel like a jerk.'"

He turned away from the edge and headed down the stairs. The transfer would happen in twenty minutes. He had to walk through the eastern courtyard—just slow enough to be noticed.

Eastern Wing – Transfer Corridor

Two guards walked beside Seris as they led her down a stone hallway. Her new cell was deeper in the wing, harder to reach, harder to escape. She didn't resist. She held her head high, like a noble taking a stroll.

Then she looked up—and paused.

Across the courtyard, Reth was walking slowly, talking to a scribe. His sleeve was rolled up, showing the bruises on his arm. He moved carefully, not with his usual sharpness.

He turned his head, just briefly. Their eyes met.

Seris blinked. Her steps slowed. She stared too long.

A guard nudged her.

"Keep moving."

She did.

But her face had changed.

Later – New Cell, Serpent Wing

Seris sat on the edge of her cot, jaw tight. The new cell was cleaner. The torches burned brighter. Still a prison.

She hadn't touched her food.

She kept seeing Reth—walking in the sun, bruised and quiet, pretending not to see her.

And she remembered what Asthia had told her days ago:

"Say one more thing about him... and I'll show you what happens when I lose patience."

Seris ran a hand through her hair and let out a long breath.

"Stupid," she muttered. "I didn't ask for that."

She looked at the bowl of stew on the table.

For the first time since arriving, she didn't feel hungry.

That Evening – Reth's Quarters

Reth sat on his cot, shirt on the chair, ribs wrapped in bandages. He touched a fresh scar near his collarbone. It still stung.

The system chimed.

[Visibility Maneuver Complete]

[EXP Earned: +10]

[Loyalty Sync: 19.3%]

[Subject Seris Thalren: Emotional Reaction – Conflicted]

He leaned back against the cold wall and closed his eyes.

One breath. Then another.

This wasn't what he wanted.

But what did "want" even mean now?

He sighed. Quiet. Steady.

He was just following the steps. Gaining small bits of EXP. Letting Asthia play her games. If acting like a hurt pawn got him closer to Seris—maybe even earned her trust—then maybe it was worth it.

Maybe something real would come from it. A connection. A reason to hold on when things got worse.

Because one day?

Asthia might be done with him. Might throw him away. Might stop caring.

And if that day came...

It wouldn't be bad to have someone else on his side.

A different ally.

A different kind of loyalty.

He opened one eye. The candle on the wall flickered softly, like it breathed.

"Insurance," he whispered.

A small smile tugged at his mouth.

"Better than nothing."

He closed his eyes again.

And fell asleep.

Serpent Wing, Solvaris Empire – The Next Morning

Reth woke to the faint chime of the system.

His ribs ached less today, the bruises fading to a dull shadow under the bandages. The cot creaked as he sat up, the cold stone floor biting at his bare feet.

Serpent Wing – Asthia's Private Chambers

The door shut behind them with a deep, echoing click.

Reth stood motionless near the entrance, eyes adjusting to the chamber's low light. Velvet curtains muted the moonlight.

A fire crackled in the hearth. The scent of spicewine lingered faintly, though the decanter on the table remained sealed.

Asthia moved without speaking, removing her formal robe and folding it neatly across the back of a chair.

Beneath, she wore simple black silk—nothing ornate, yet still calculated. Everything about her was.

She turned halfway, eyes meeting his.

"Sit. Don't speak. Just listen."

The words pulled at something inside him—not magic, not compulsion. Just pressure. A quiet, psychological knife between his ribs.

Reth sat. Quietly. Slowly. Like a man navigating a minefield.

He kept his hands folded, gaze forward. 

Asthia poured a glass of wine but didn't drink. She stood across from him, watching. Like a tactician watching pieces on a board. Or a woman watching someone she hadn't yet decided whether to trust—or devour.

"You executed the deception well." she said.

Reth gave a slight nod. Still silent.

She circled behind him, slowly. "But you're not invincible. Let's not pretend."

A pause. Then she stopped beside him.

"Take off your coat. I want to see if you're healing… properly."

Reth hesitated—not from pain, but from how close she stood. Close enough to smell the scent of sandalwood and steel. His fingers worked the buttons.

The coat slid from his shoulders.

The bruises were fading—though not entirely. A harsh line marked where a rib had cracked, now bound with fresh wrappings. A few newer scars dotted his side. He kept his eyes forward.

Asthia's hand hovered near the side of his ribs, not touching.

"You heal too fast," she murmured. 

Reth said nothing.

"Is that part of your talent?" she asked, voice casual. "Or part of something else?"