This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1284: Divine Game: Graveyard of Bones 6

Rita finally understood why Byme’s Vine was called Variational Quicksand.

It was a flower that refused to bend.

Once it chose a direction, it would follow that path no matter what stood in the way. Even if shifting just slightly would open everything up, even if its nature looked fluid and free like drifting sand, it would still press forward along its original route.

It was called Variational Quicksand, but every Vineborne knew the truth. Once it made a decision, there was no variation at all.

Rita stood still, taking a few seconds to steady herself. She let out a slow breath before speaking.

"I want to see your memories from Divine Instruction."

Byme raised her brows slightly, her gaze soft but sharp.

"You really are in a hurry." Even her anger feels like something she refuses to waste time on.

"Yes." Rita’s tone stayed calm. "Byme, Starsea doesn’t have time."

"You’ve got some nerve, calling me by name like that." Byme sounded more amused than offended. Aside from her stubbornness, she had a gentle temperament. "And you’re clever. Planning to learn something before you leave if you can’t find your answer?"

She saw through Rita immediately, but didn’t refuse.

Her hand lifted lightly, fingers coming together before she flicked them forward.

The world shifted.

Rita found herself standing inside what looked like an art studio.

At the front, an owl sat with a brush, calmly painting. Rita had seen this owl fight before at Dustfire’s old table, but never learned their name.

The owl was explaining how altering certain patterns in a magic glyph could temporarily change a skill’s effect, even its cooldown. The explanation was clear, methodical, almost like dismantling a system piece by piece.

Near the window, a cat was curled up on a lounge chair, fast asleep. It looked similar to Sakura Orange White’s kind, but Rita couldn’t tell if it was a deity or just a companion creature.

Rita and Nivalis stood at the very back of the room.

No one noticed them.

The students listened attentively. The owl continued teaching as if nothing had changed.

Byme stood beside Rita, her gaze fixed on one person in the room.

"This was a joint training session," she said quietly. "Deceitful Bloom and I weren’t in the same class."

Rita’s eyes were already on Deceitful Bloom.

Just like the voice she had heard earlier, this version of her felt different.

Her expression was sharper. Her presence carried an edge that hadn’t yet softened. She lacked the calm elegance Rita knew, and she didn’t yet have that quiet, overwhelming pressure that came from experience and control.

But even so, she stood out immediately.

Not because of her appearance.

Because of her presence.

Even here, in a god’s domain, her eyes were filled with tension and intent. Like a bow drawn to its limit. Like a string pulled so tight it might snap.

Anyone she looked at would feel like they were being targeted.

And right now, something changed.

Deceitful Bloom suddenly paused, then turned to look toward the back of the room. Her gaze swept across Byme, Nivalis, and Rita.

All three stiffened instantly.

Nivalis dove straight into Rita’s hood without hesitation.

For a brief second, the air felt tight.

Only when the Byme sitting beside Deceitful Bloom asked her something did she shake her head slightly and turn back to her work.

The tension broke.

Rita let out a quiet breath.

Byme glanced at her, studying her expression from head to toe.

"So you are afraid of her," she said lightly. "Then how did you dare attack her in Quiet Mountain?"

Rita scoffed.

"Afraid? That’s ridiculous. Ask anyone in Starsea. Who else would dare bare their teeth at her?"

Nivalis poked her head out from the hood.

"You only did that once in Quiet Mountain. And is baring your teeth even that impressive?"

Rita didn’t even look at her.

"Say one more word and I’m not playing with you anymore."

"...Fine."

Nivalis slipped back down, quiet at last.

Rita turned to Byme, who was clearly amused.

"What’s special about this moment?"

"Nothing," Byme replied, shaking her head. "I can only show you my memories. I don’t have access to what she learned in her own class.

"If you’re not interested in this, I can take you to the final days of Divine Instruction instead.

"Or if you give up on my question, I can let you sit in on the lessons properly. My teacher was quite good. You might pick up something useful."

She wasn’t trying to make things difficult.

"No. Wait."

Rita stepped forward, ignoring the suggestion.

She walked all the way up behind Deceitful Bloom.

This time, Deceitful Bloom didn’t turn around again.

Rita leaned slightly, focusing on the magic glyph being drawn on the canvas.

Lines intertwined, symbols layered, the structure was complex but deliberate.

Byme followed her and looked at the same drawing she had seen countless times before.

Nothing unusual.

But Rita kept staring.

One minute passed. Then another.

Byme frowned slightly.

"What’s special about that glyph?"

Rita didn’t answer.

Instead, she asked, "At this point, had she already found her divine talent?"

"Probably," Byme said after a moment. "But I can’t be sure."

Rita turned to look at her, brows drawn together.

"Are you sure she was the one who buried you here? Not just passing by and casually tossing your ashes into Graveyard of Bones?"

Byme sighed, a little helpless.

"I only know she changed her divine talent five times. I don’t know whether this was the final one."

Rita’s expression shifted from surprise to understanding.

Byme crossed her arms, nodding slightly.

"See? You understand."

"Of course I do." Rita clicked her tongue. "She tricks even her own skills. It wouldn’t be strange if she tricked herself too.

"Maybe she convinced herself she found it, then didn’t like it and changed it. Then maybe she changed it again. And again.

"And in the end, she might even think the first one was better."

The more she spoke, the more natural it sounded.

Not indecision.

Freedom.

Deception wasn’t a limitation for her. It was a tool. If she wanted to stop, she could stop at any time.

"That really does sound like her," Byme said, nodding with a faint smile. Then she tilted her head. "So what’s wrong with the glyph?"

She repeated it more directly.

"What’s wrong with it? Why aren’t you answering?"