Roseiral awoke in a grand, yet haunting hall. Towering marble pillars lined either side of a pathway, leading up to an immense, throne-like seat on a raised platform. The throne, though regal, appeared abandoned—its armrests chipped and tarnished, as if untouched for countless years. Each pillar was adorned with statues of fierce warriors, each one carved in a sword-wielding stance, as though they guarded the forgotten throne. A chilling stillness filled the air, and the faint sound of her breath echoed against the cold stone.
In a panic, Roseiral reached down, searching for Godless, only to find "him" bundled cozily in the woven scarf she had wrapped him in. His presence brought a brief wave of comfort, though, it quickly faded as an angelic voice whispered into her ear.
"So, it seems she truly cannot see us."
Suddenly, a cacophony of voices followed, overlapping in intense debate.
"She's just a regular citizen. Perhaps we should erase her memories of the village and let her live in the kingdom."
"She could be a spy from the Dark Star Kingdom. We must test her, see if her soul has been manipulated."
"Dammit, he always gives us the most complicated stuff that we don't know about"
The voices rose in argument, each one debating what fate should befall her. Then, as if a signal had been given, silence swept over the hall. A new voice, aged and gentle yet authoritative, spoke softly.
"I think we should hear it from her first."
As the words echoed, the darkness that veiled the hall lifted, revealing the council members surrounding her. Each figure descended from the shadows with an aura of authority and mystique. Roseiral felt as though she was staring into the faces of legends.
On the left stood a towering man, muscles straining against his armor as he gripped two massive blades, his gaze steely and unyielding. Beside him, a scrawny child with a shock of blond hair under a cap clutched a firearm, his expression gloomy, yet piercing. A young woman with long, flowing black hair stood nearby—her calm presence somehow the most unsettling of all, with eyes that seemed to look through her. On the far right, an excitable figure in a tight, red suit and a flamboyant top hat grinned with gleeful intensity, his red hair flaring like a torch.
In the center of them all was an older man, his short gray hair framed a rugged face marked by years of battle. A scar crossed his face, leading to an eyepatch covering his left eye, and his right arm was absent, leaving only the empty sleeve of his tunic. His stance was one of authority and calm, and his single eye observed her with a mixture of curiosity and restraint.
Roseiral felt the weight of their gaze as she stood in silence, awe-struck by their powerful presence. Each of these figures seemed to embody stories she couldn't yet fathom.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves, I am Ryker de Fall. You may have heard it from Liliac but what you experienced was supernatural powers that are meant to be hidden from the public world.
Roseiral was appalled at the information
"Can I take some time to digest this?
Ryker's gaze softened slightly, his single eye glinting with a hint of understanding.
"Of course," he replied, his voice steady but edged with a quiet gravity. "Though I warn you, time is a luxury we cannot grant freely. This world you've glimpsed has rules that must remain unbroken, for your sake and ours."
As he spoke, Roseiral felt an uneasy pressure in the air, like a tightening noose. She took a trembling breath, stealing a glance at each council member, each gaze as fierce as the last. The red-haired figure in the flamboyant top hat chuckled, leaning closer as if inspecting her.
"Does she look like a spy to you?" he drawled, his voice oozing amusement. "She can barely stand without shaking like a leaf!"
The woman with flowing black hair shot him a sharp look. "Mockery isn't useful here, Sylvain," she said, her tone icy. "You know the stakes if we're wrong."
The scrawny child with the firearm glanced at Roseiral, his youthful face betraying a wary curiosity. "What's your name?" he asked quietly, his voice soft but firm.
She swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Roseiral… my name is Roseiral."
The child nodded, then looked back to Ryker, who seemed to be weighing his next words carefully.
"Roseiral," Ryker began, "you may not know it yet, but you've stepped into a world governed by ancient agreements and powerful forces. What you saw in the village—and what you may see in the days to come—is hidden knowledge that should never reach the common ear. You're… in a delicate position."
He took a step closer, his gaze intent. "Tell us, do you understand what that means?"
Roseiral looked down, feeling the weight of his question settle like a stone in her chest. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely holding on. "But if there are things I shouldn't know, then maybe… maybe it's better if I don't."
Ryker considered this, nodding slowly. "Perhaps. But knowledge, once touched, rarely leaves without a mark."
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. A tall, imposing figure emerged from the shadows behind her, cloaked in midnight blue with a hood obscuring their face. An unmistakable aura of authority radiated from them, silencing the murmurs of the council as they moved forward.
"Ryker," the figure's voice was rich and measured, "this child has seen too much."
Ryker's face tightened. "She is still deciding her path, Elias. She deserves a chance to choose."
The figure, Elias paused, and Roseiral could feel their unseen gaze piercing through her. "Then let her decide with clarity," Elias replied, turning to her. "You have two choices, Roseiral. We can erase your memory, and let you return to your life untouched. Or, you may stay—but know that once you step into this world, you can't return. No safety."
Her heart pounded as she weighed the impossible choices before her. To return to the familiar, knowing some part of her would always feel incomplete, or to stay in this haunting hall, joining a world she could hardly comprehend.
She looked down at Godless, bundled in her scarf, and felt his familiar warmth, a reminder of why she'd come this far in the first place. A spark of determination flickered within her.
As Roseiral stood there, grappling with the weight of their offer, another thought nagged at her. She took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak.
"What happened to my village?" she asked, her voice soft but resolute. "If you all have these… powers, surely you can go there and find out what happened. I just need to know."
The council members exchanged a series of glances, their true expressions unreadable. A tense silence settled over the hall, stretching unbearably long. Sylvain's grin faded, replaced with a frown, and even the child's gaze darkened. It was Ryker who finally broke the silence.
"We can't give you details," he said slowly, his tone almost apologetic. "Your village is… inaccessible. It is protected by an invisible barrier in simple terms, strong enough that not one of us can get in. Seeking answers comes with a cost."
"A cost?" Roseiral repeated, her heart sinking. She had expected secrecy, maybe even reluctance, but not this—this impenetrable wall between her and the truth.
"Yes," the woman with flowing black hair replied, her voice as smooth and unyielding as stone. "In our world, information is never given freely. The truth is a currency, and only those willing to pay truly understand its value."
Roseiral's stomach churned. "And what would I have to give? What could be worth it?"
Elias, the cloaked figure, stepped closer, his presence looming. "That depends," he replied, his voice steady, almost curious. "What are you willing to offer for such knowledge? Memories, trust, freedom—these are not things taken lightly, yet they may be required if you seek the truth."
Roseiral's mouth went dry, her thoughts racing. The enormity of the decision hung before her, like a shadow that could either swallow her whole or lead her to the answers she so desperately wanted. She clutched Godless tighter, feeling the familiar weight and warmth of him grounding her as she faced the council's challenge.
"What… what would it cost to find out?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ryker's gaze softened, but his expression remained firm. "Are you willing to risk a piece of yourself for the answers you seek, Roseiral?"
As their words sank in, she realized the answer would change everything.
Looking up, she met Elias' shadowed gaze and spoke, her voice trembling but resolute. "I… I choose to stay. I don't want to forget."
The council members exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and approval.
Ryker stepped forward, his voice steady. "Then you are one of us now. Welcome, Roseiral, to the hidden world."
A chill ran down her spine, mingling with a strange thrill, as she took her first step into the unknown.