"So, how does the ritual work?"

I knew I shouldn’t have asked. The question felt like opening a door that was meant to stay shut. But I said it anyway—and now, the room has fallen silent, as if the entire world is holding its breath.

Selene didn’t answer right away. No nod, no shake of the head. Even her expression seemed to freeze. Her face was blank, like a porcelain doll that had suddenly lost its soul.

"You’re quite bold, aren’t you... asking something like that without a second thought..."

The voice was heavy, cold, and dripped from her lips slowly—as if each word carried the weight of a curse. But that wasn’t what made me tense up.

"...Kairi Elysia Veylith."

When my name was spoken—my full name in this world—I could feel my body grow heavy. It was as if an invisible weight was pressing my shoulders to the ground. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

Is this what Selene has been feeling all this time?

Somehow, I realized instantly—that question wasn’t a light one. And their reaction now was proof that I had just touched something sacred... or deadly.

"Is it wrong for me to want to know what really happened? Or is it something only a monster can understand?"

The words slipped out of my mouth before I could think. And by the time I realized what I had just said, it was too late.

Selene stiffened. Her eyes, usually sharp and calculating, widened as if in disbelief at what she had just heard. Her hands trembled. Not from anger—but from fear. And that made me panic even more.

On the other hand, Milena—who had seemed passive until now—was smiling. Sweetly. Too sweetly. A smile that sent a cold sweat down my back.

"Heh... curious, are we? You’ve got some nerve."

I didn’t know whether to feel proud or foolish. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Then Selene’s voice entered my mind. Literally.

"Kairi, are you an idiot?! She could kill us one by one if she wanted to, you know?!"

The voice echoed in my head, panicked, uncensored. And in that instant, the hairs on my neck stood straight up.

At the same time, Milena spoke again—as if she had also heard what Selene said.

"Relax... I’m not going to kill you. At least, not yet."

Her voice... it didn’t sound explicitly threatening. But that’s precisely why it sounded far more dangerous. Too calm. Too aware of her position.

Is she reading minds? No... probably just guessing. Or, more logically, reading expressions. Yes, that must be it. But for some reason, my instincts rejected all those explanations.

And in the midst of all this chaos, Selene remained still as a stone. Unmoving. Not explaining. Just staring at Milena as if she had lost all control.

"To answer your question... I need to check something."

Without warning, Milena stepped closer. And before I could back away, she kissed me.

The kiss was cold. Literally cold, like touching ice. I froze. Even Azalea—I don’t know when she got here—held her breath. But I knew why I hadn’t noticed her.

Isolation. Her skill. Her ability to erase her presence until she nearly vanished. She had mentioned it before.

After the kiss, Milena pulled back calmly, as if nothing had happened.

"Hmm... still perfectly sealed."

I frowned. "Sealed? What’s sealed?"

Without answering, she took my hand and examined it. And at that moment, a strange mark began to appear on the back of my hand. A faint light, in the shape of a small circle, glowed softly.

"Wait... three times already?" Milena looked shocked. Her face was pale, as if she were seeing a monster before her.

"That’s..." Selene finally spoke, but her voice was faint. Hesitant. Broken.

"Selene, you still remember the consequences I set as compensation for this ritual, don’t you?"

Selene just nodded. Slowly. Helpless, like a child being scolded by her mother.

Milena looked at me with a piercing gaze.

"So, you really want to know?"

I just swallowed and nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I truly wanted to know... or if I was just in too deep to back out now.

"Is the ritual dangerous?"

Milena didn’t answer directly. She turned to Selene.

"You fool. You haven’t explained anything to her?"

Her glare was like a knife. Selene just stood there, trying to speak, but the words caught in her throat.

"I... I didn’t want to—"

"Enough, no need to explain. I’ve known how your mind works from the start."

"Protecting someone by hiding crucial information only makes things worse."

"I even pretended to be your friend, and all of this... for nothing."

I was silent. Those words echoed in my mind.

Pretended to be a friend?

I immediately remembered. Before Selene went into the treatment room... I heard a woman’s voice. A voice I didn’t recognize. They spoke, then parted ways.

So that was Milena?

"Confused, are you? This is my ’friend,’ Selene."

Her tone was light. As if she were introducing a new mascot to a club.

"I was just pretending to be her friend as part of a contract to protect her. As collateral—because you summoned her, Kairi."

Collateral? A contract?

Too fast. Too much.

"Yep, that’s enough explaining from you, my dear Selene~"

That teasing tone... I just realized. So that’s where it came from?

Selene just smiled awkwardly, clearly nervous.

But me... I wasn’t surprised about her tone, but the source of it.

I was just confused as to why I didn’t feel shocked about the way she addressed her.

Instead, I was shocked about Selene borrowing that manner of speaking from her.

"Surprised, are you? Well... she borrowed my manner of speaking. Because a monster like me isn’t an elf like you."

"We monsters, wandering creatures, are used to changing our colors."

There is always a sky above the sky. And if I thought Selene was the highest sky, it turns out I had never witnessed a fallen star like Milena.

"Let me continue. About that ritual..."

"Kairi, are you ready to hear something that might change the way you see Selene... forever?"

I didn’t answer.

"Selene has signed an agreement with me. And in return... she has renounced the teachings of the Mal’as faith."

This time, I truly froze.

I didn’t know what to say.

And I was sure Azalea’s expression was now growing paler, shifting into genuine shock and horror.

Selene just lowered her head. Not defending herself. Not denying it. Not speaking.

She clearly knew... it was all true.