"Release Reiji, and you might live," the woman behind me growled. The blade at my neck trembled slightly against the shield that stopped it.

I met Amu’s eyes across the room. His expression remained unreadable, though his stance betrayed the tension coiling within him. He stood stoically behind his attendant, a leader scrutinizing the chaos unraveling before him.

“If you don’t offer an explanation within the next five minutes,” Amu began, his voice measured but laced with menace, “I will kill you myself.”

The comment grated on my patience, and I felt the stirrings of anger rise.

“Asuka, lower your blade,” he added, his tone sharp.

I let out a soft, derisive laugh. “Head of the Fujiwara,” I replied, my words biting, “I do not appreciate the way you speak to me. Instead of striking first and startling your entourage, I chose to act with consideration and inform you. And this is how you repay my courtesy? I’ll sure wait for your apology—after the truth reveals itself.”

The woman behind me, Asuka, shifted slightly. “Master,” she protested, her voice a low growl, refusing to lower her weapon after hearing my words.

Amu’s jaw tightened, and his tone carried the weight of command. “Lower your blade, Asuka,” he ordered through clenched teeth.

With visible reluctance, the blade withdrew from my neck. At that moment, I forced Reiji to his knees, his sealed flux reducing him to the frailty of an ordinary man. His struggles were futile; without his abilities, he was as helpless as a moth in a storm.

“Master, why are you letting him do this?” Reiji rasped, his voice tinged with desperation as he turned his pleading eyes to Amu.

“You saved my nephew’s life,” Amu responded with restrained anger. “You are here now because of his recommendation. I hope you won’t betray that trust by doing something unforgivable to Reiji.”

I nudged my sword aside with my foot, creating space. “Head of the Fujiwara,” I barked in frustration. “From the little patience I still have, I’m doing my best to act with reason and take your feelings into account. Trust me, or face your own demise in the coming days. The choice is yours.”

Without awaiting a reply, I summoned my Soulfire. A silver-tinted purple flame burst into existence, swirling with a life and purpose of its own. Its glow cast a ghostly sheen over the room, shadows dancing like restless specters.

The flames entered Reiji’s body through his left ear. Immediately, his screams filled the air, primal and raw, his vocal cords straining to their limits. The sound was piercing, manifesting his agony beyond mortal comprehension. With measured calm, I retrieved a cloth from my storage ring and gagged him, muffling the cries that still reverberated through the room.

“Boy!” Amu snapped like a whip. Before he could issue another order, Asuka lunged, her blade slicing through the air with precision.

A pointless act.

My Astral Triad activated, a spectral hand materializing to intercept the strike. It caught the blade effortlessly, halting it mere inches from my body. The sheer power of the Triad radiated outward, as an ethereal force that silenced any further resistance.

“If you don’t stop this nonsense,” I growled, meeting Amu’s gaze with an icy glare, “I’ll turn your house into a battlefield and still prove I’m right. You’re testing my patience when all I’ve done is help you.”

I tightened my grip on Reiji’s shoulder, leaning closer. “I know the truth, Reiji. All you need to do is confess. The moment you speak, this unbearable pain will cease.”

The Soulfire worked its merciless magic. There was no room for negotiation when subjected to its torment. The agony it inflicted was incomprehensible, beyond what words could express. Reiji’s body convulsed, his eyes wild with desperation.

Finally, his gaze met mine in a fleeting moment of surrender. Just as suddenly as it had begun, the flames dissipated, leaving him slumped and trembling in my grasp.

“If you’re ready to talk,” I said, pulling the gag from his mouth, “do so now. And don’t even think about lying—I’ll know.”

I released his neck, his sweat-soaked form sagging like a broken marionette.

“You’d better be right about this,” Amu warned, his voice low and venomous. “Or, by the heavens, I will rip your limbs off.”

I smirked in provocation, dropping the honorifics. “You want to fight me, old man?”

For the briefest of moments, I released my suppressed aura. The room shifted as an overwhelming force filled the air, dense and suffocating. Every face in the room changed—expressions ranging from shock to alarm as the full weight of my dormant frustration descended upon them.

“A Fourth Sky…” Amu muttered under his breath, his words tinged with disbelief.

Though he was a mancer of equal rank, I had no doubt I could crush him if it came to that. The confidence was mutual but unspoken.

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“Speak,” I ordered Reiji, my voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. My breaths came measured, but the fire within me smoldered, awaiting resolution.

"Head..." Reiji trembled, his voice barely a whisper. "Head, spare my family. Forgive them. They know nothing—nothing of what I’ve done. I had to save my son. I couldn’t lose him... I couldn’t."

Amu took a step forward, his face hardening with confusion and anger. "Reiji, what are you saying? What have you done?"

The man crumpled further to the ground, pressing his forehead to the floor. His voice cracked as he shouted, "I’ve betrayed the clan. I’VE BETRAYED THE CLAN!"

"REIJI!" Amu’s roar shook the room. He lunged forward, seizing the man by the neck and lifting him into the air with a strength born of fury.

“M-My family... let my family live,” Reiji wheezed, struggling for breath.

Amu’s face turned crimson, his head trembling uncontrollably as he fought the urge to crush the life out of the man who had once been his loyal attendant. Rage radiated from him, his grip tightening momentarily before loosening as he wrestled with his emotions.

I turned my attention to the oni-masked woman, her sword still clutched tightly, locked within the grasp of my Astral Triad. With a flicker of thought, I released her blade, stepping forward with calculated precision. My fist shot into her abdomen like a thunderbolt.

She crumbled to her knees, gasping for air, though I felt the faint resistance of hidden armor—or perhaps a protective barrier. The strike hadn’t landed as cleanly as I’d intended. Whether her collapse was genuine or a calculated performance, it didn’t matter. My message was delivered.

"I will find a place to rest for the night," I said coolly, brushing past the stunned figures, retrieving my sword. "In the morning, I’ll return—and I expect your apology, Head of the Fujiwara. Perhaps now you understand: if you want to survive this gathering and claim the position you seek, you need my help. Do not assign me to a fixed role or station. I will move where I must, do what I must, and ensure success in my own way. Be here when the roosters call. Do not make me wait."

Without awaiting a response, I strode forward, vanishing from sight with the grace of a whisper on the wind.

I materialized atop a sturdy tree branch in the garden just outside the house. The night air was cool and carried the faint fragrance of blooming flowers. Not in the mood to wander the estate, I settled into a meditative posture, closing my eyes. My mind’s eye remained fixed on the room I’d left, observing events unfold in eerie clarity.

. . .

With the first warm rays of the morning sun filtering through the leaves, I awoke. After relieving myself in the garden floor below, I prepared for the day ahead.

At the designated hour, I entered the meeting chamber, finding Amu already present. His expression was grim but composed as he sat across the table, mirroring the arrangement of the previous night. His attendant stood silently behind him, his gaze trailing my every move.

"Reiji confessed everything after you left," Amu began, his voice laden with the weight of betrayal. "You were right. There are snakes among my people. They’ve corrupted even my most trusted allies. Last night, I refused to believe your words, like a father unwilling to see the truth of his own son’s actions. As you said, I owe you an apology."

With a deep breath, Amu bowed low before me, his attendant following suit. The gesture carried both humility and sincerity. "I am sorry for offending you last night. My position prevents me from offering a more significant apology, but as a token of appreciation, I would like to give you something. If there’s anything you desire—"

"I have all I need, Head of the Fujiwara," I interrupted, my voice steady. "Except for one thing—but that is something you cannot grant me. Do not misunderstand me; I accept your apology. My only hope is that if I ever come to you in need of aid, I will find your door open."

Amu straightened, his expression solemn. "Depending on the situation, I will treat you as a friend at that time. But only if aiding you does not endanger the safety of my clan. My clan is my responsibility."

I inclined my head in acknowledgment. "Fair enough. Let us turn this somber discussion in another direction."

Before I could continue, Amu interjected. "As a host, I must ask: where did you sleep last night?"

"On a tree branch," I said plainly, "to cool my head."

"And you haven’t eaten," he remarked, a flicker of shame crossing his face. "As host, this neglect deeply shames me. The Fujiwara clan will extend its full hospitality to you. For the duration of your stay, you will dine as I dine and sleep in luxury befitting a guest of honor."

I smirked inwardly. Whether this was genuine remorse or calculated interest, it mattered little—I would have scrutinized my food and accommodations regardless.

"Thank you for your consideration," I replied politely.

"It is only natural," Amu said. "Now, let us settle this matter and discuss what you want."

"I will not join the surveillance team," I declared. "It would be a waste of my time and skills. Instead, I want unrestricted access to roam the estate and the freedom to position myself in the same room with the guests during the gathering."

Amu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered my request. Finally, he nodded. "You are a 4th Sky mancer at such a young age. Your abilities are unpredictable and... extraordinary." He gestured to his attendant. "Masaki, give him Reiji’s token."

Masaki stepped forward, handing me a gleaming golden token shaped like a mountain crowned with a delicate flower. I held it between my fingers, feeling its weight both literal and symbolic.

"With this," Amu said, "you have the freedom you seek."

"This token is a symbol of my trust and recognition of your position," Amu explained, his tone carrying both weight and authority. "With it, you are granted access to nearly all areas within the clan grounds. I will also issue orders for the guards to acknowledge you as acting in the capacity of my personal guard. Furthermore, I’ll have someone bring you a communication device—you’ll be able to coordinate with the other guards and speak directly to me. However, in exchange for these privileges, I require you to keep me informed about your activities."

I grinned, slipping the token into my pocket. "Now this," I quipped, "is the kind of treatment I’m used to. Don’t worry, Head of the Fujiwara, I’ll do my best to drain your coffers with reward claims. Of course, I’ll keep you alive long enough to pay every last one."

For the first time, Amu’s stern demeanor softened into a faint smile. "Good. If there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask."

"I’ll need a list of all participants and the rules for this gathering. I also want dossiers on the other mercenaries you’ve hired and profiles of the guests who’ll be attending. I need to start preparing."

Amu nodded. "Consider it done. Masaki," he ordered, turning to his attendant, "ensure that Azyen receives the requested information before we’ve finished our meal."

"Understood," Masaki replied crisply. He moved to slide open the door, and a servant entered, carrying trays of food.

Amu glanced at me as the fragrant dishes were set before us. "Did you have time to wash your hands?" he asked with a pointed look.

I responded with a curt shake of my head. "No need." Summoning my Soulfire, violet and silver flames surged across my skin, engulfing my face, palms, reaching my feet. For several seconds, I burned like a spectral inferno, the fire purging impurities without so much as singeing my clothing.

As the flames died down, I flexed my fingers and gave Amu a nod. "Clean."

Unfazed, Amu gestured toward the food. "Let’s eat."