Aubrey felt like she needed a drink after Cedric's history lesson, so she decided to take a break for the day and relax.

In her bedroom in the attic, Aubrey sprawled across her bed, one arm tucked under her head. She stared at the ceiling, thinking. Her mind kept replaying the story Cedric told, his words sinking in more and more as time passed.

The sound of Liza's violin echoed faintly throughout the cathedral, adding a melancholic layer to the still atmosphere. She must have been practicing downstairs.

Aubrey smiled at the thought.

She really liked Liza. There was an innocence to her that Aubrey found endearing. But at the same time, she couldn't deny there was also something dark and mysterious about her, too. The way she kept to herself most of the time made her seem like some kind of shy recluse.

But she knew better now. She saw the subtle hints of trauma lurking behind those expressive eyes despite the unkempt appearance. Her disheveled hair and clothing were just a facade to hide what lay beneath.

Aubrey's smile faltered.

She'd seen those eyes before. Not on Liza, no. But back in her original world. In the eyes of a few girls from her past—girls who had been hurt by others who held power over them. Abused. Neglected. Tormented.

And, in some cases, worse.

Aubrey had come to recognize those eyes all too well.

The way Liza would flinch at sudden movements, or how she'd sometimes hesitate to speak up when spoken to... It all added up. But, the violinist always seemed to perk up whenever Aubrey gave her attention. Like a flower seeking out the sun.

Liza had become dependent on Aubrey in a way. Not in an unhealthy manner, at least Aubrey hoped so. But enough to notice the shift in the girl's behavior whenever Aubrey would leave the cathedral or even just disappear into the attic for too long.

Liza had grown attached. And honestly? Aubrey couldn't blame her. If their situations were reversed, she'd probably do the same thing.

The experience of being betrayed, killed, and resurrected as a monster? Yeah. That's bound to mess with someone's mind. The only reason Aubrey seemed to have maintained her sanity thus far, relatively speaking, was her sheer stubbornness, resilience, and an almost pathological inability to let someone get one over her without repercussions.

The fact that she has memories of two lives in her head helped keep her grounded somewhat, too—despite how fragmented and blurry those memories could get at times.

Her rockstar self—her 'real' self—would never have dreamed of killing anyone. She wasn't a violent person, not really. Oh sure, she got into her fair share of fights back when she ran with a rougher crowd. But those were always defensive or reactionary, never something she sought out herself. She never started the fight, but she always made damn sure she finished them.

But her current self? This Aubrey was a killer. A murderer. A creature who thrived off the emotions of others. She didn't like to admit it, but there was something deeply satisfying about watching the fear and panic in her victim's eyes before she killed them.

A part of her craved it.

Not just the fear, though that was certainly part of it. No, what truly got her going was the feeling of being in control. Of having power over someone else. It filled her with a sense of euphoria unlike anything else she'd ever experienced. A rush that made her feel invincible.

And that terrified her.

Not the sensation itself, but what it might mean.

Was this a side effect of being revived as a banshee? Some kind of twisted, dark impulse ingrained into her very core? Or was this something more primal, something that had always been lurking deep within her and had finally found an outlet?

What about her 'other' self? The Aubrey from this world? The one who had been killed and betrayed?

All the negative feelings fueling her aggression, anger, and bitterness—was that really all just the 'other' Aubrey's emotions bleeding through? Or were they Aubrey's own, and she's simply using the 'other' Aubrey's circumstances to justify her own actions?

How much of this Aubrey Sinclair was really her?

These questions gnawed at the back of her mind constantly. And the worst part? She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answers. Because once she did... What then? Where would that leave her?

And then there was this System of hers, whatever that truly was. What it entailed or implied for her situation, she didn't know. Nor did she really understand how or why she had it. Was this a result of the Incantatrix's blessing? Or maybe it's related to her unique existence? She had no way of knowing for sure.

With a thought, Aubrey opened her status screen.

[Name] Aubrey

[Race] Revenant

[Variant] Banshee

[Rank] Vivace

[Attribute] Grade

[Tempo] C

[Dynamics] B

[Timbre] D

[Pitch] C

[Harmony] E

[Resonance] D

[Cadence] D

[Riff] C ⇧

The System, whatever it might be, didn't give her much in the way of actual guidance. Just cryptic ratings and musical terms that seemed to correlate with her actions and behavior.

She had already reached Vivace Rank, whatever that meant. A part of her felt a tinge of pride at the notion that her 'level' had gone up. But then again, did that mean anything at all? Was she growing stronger? Was this System some kind of tool she could use to better herself? To gain more power?

Or... Was she being judged in some way? Evaluated based on some arbitrary metric set by an unknown entity or force?

No. That probably wasn't the case. She had agency on what attributes to increase and what abilities to take.

Her gaze flickered over the numbers and ratings on the translucent pane.

Tempo. The speed of her life's song.

Dynamics. How strong or soft she lived.

Timbre. The quality of her soul's tune.

Pitch. How high or low she reached.

Harmony. Her alignment with others.

Resonance. How well she synchronized with the world's rhythm.

Cadence. Her sense of balance.

Riff. A combination of her improvisational skills and her capacity for independent action.

She could sense it in her very being that these ratings were quantifications of herself and her current state. And from what she gathered, they seemed to align with her actions and behavior.

But... what did any of that mean in the grand scheme of things? And why did it use music terminology for everything?

If this world operated under a 'System,' and she happened to have access to it, did that mean there were others out there like her? People or beings who could manipulate the System? Or interact with it somehow? Could there be others with similar interfaces?

So many questions.

So few answers.

And honestly, at the end of the day, she wasn't sure she'd even like the answers she got. It could end up being something she'd rather not know. Better to stay ignorant and blissful than find out something horrible, right?

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That thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

With a frustrated groan, she rolled over onto her side and curled up into a ball. She needed to get these thoughts out of her head. She needed something else to focus on.

Anything.

Aubrey took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She closed her eyes and focused on the sounds around her. The faint melody of Liza's violin practice echoed throughout the cathedral.

After a few moments, she found her thoughts beginning to drift away from the darker paths they had been treading towards. Instead, her mind began to wander to places far less ominous. Places filled with memories from her former life as a rockstar.

A small smile crept onto her lips as the melody reminded her of one of her favorite songs. Without even realizing it, she began to hum along quietly to herself.

Eventually, Aubrey opened her eyes once again, feeling somewhat refreshed. She sat upright, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up with a stretch. Time to find something else to occupy her mind.

----------------------------------------

Aubrey wandered downstairs into the nave of the cathedral, following the soft, melancholic tune of the violin. She found Liza seated in the chancel area, lost in her own little world. Her long, inky black hair fell like a waterfall down her back and shoulders as she played.

Aubrey's lips quirked up slightly at the sight. Liza seemed so focused on her playing, so immersed in the music, that Aubrey couldn't bring herself to disturb her right away.

She leaned against one of the nearby stone pillars, arms folded across her chest. For a while, she simply watched and listened.

Liza's technique was flawless. Every note rang true, every movement precise. Her talent was undeniable, especially considering the violin's notoriously difficult learning curve. But beyond that, there was also a certain warmth to her music that made Aubrey feel almost nostalgic, in a way. As if she could sense a bit of Liza's heartache within her song.

As the last lingering notes faded into the air, Aubrey clapped softly. The sound startled Liza out of her reverie, making her jump slightly and glance around in confusion before spotting Aubrey.

Aubrey gave her a grin and a small wave. "Hey."

"O-oh! Um... hi?" Liza stammered nervously, a faint blush tinging her cheeks as she stood up, brushing her dark bangs away from her face with a graceful flick of her hand. "I didn't realize you were there... watching..."

"Sorry. I didn't want to interrupt your playing," Aubrey said apologetically. She pushed away from the pillar and sauntered closer, stopping only when she stood directly next to her.

Liza dipped her head, staring down at the floor for a moment before looking back up at her. "D-Did you need something?"

"Nah, just felt like taking a break from, you know..." Aubrey gestured vaguely at the attic. "Thinking too much, I guess."

Liza tilted her head curiously.

"Anyways..." Aubrey continued, taking a quick step forward and wrapping an arm around Liza's shoulders. "I was thinking of going out on a night stroll. Maybe hit up a few bars for a drink. You wanna come?"

"E-Eh?!" Liza squeaked. "M-Me? Go out? With you?"

"Sure. Why not? It'll be fun!" Aubrey smiled at her reassuringly. "Come on, I promise it'll help clear our heads."

"B-But... aren't you worried about the Hunters or the constables?"

"Don't worry about them," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "As long as we don't do anything conspicuous, we should be fine. Just a pair of young women enjoying a night out on the town. Who's gonna suspect anything?"

"W-Well..."

Aubrey patted her lightly on the back, nodding towards the door. "Great! Let's get going then!"

Liza gaped at her. "W-Wha—Right now? But I still need to..."

"C'mon, c'mon! Time's a-wasting!" Aubrey chirped, nudging her along.

"O-Okay, okay!" Liza finally relented with a small sigh. She let Aubrey guide her towards the exit, stumbling a little as she tried to keep up with the eager banshee's brisk pace.

----------------------------------------

The night air caressed her skin as they stepped through the fog, emerging into Thornhaven's streets with nary a sound beyond the soft rustling of her coat. She led the way, with Liza trailing behind her.

The cobbled streets glistened beneath their feet as the light of the streetlamps cast long, flickering shadows across the cityscape. The pale moon overhead bathed everything in an ethereal silver hue.

Everything seemed so much more vibrant in the darkness—almost surreal. Even the sound of the distant carriages' hooves on stone echoed louder somehow in the night, each clip and clop reverberating like a drumbeat in her ears.

Aubrey inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of the city's nocturnal atmosphere. A mélange of smoke, moisture, and something else... something like the lingering aroma of an incense that had burned out hours earlier.

As they made their way down the sidewalk, the streetlamps above flickered in turn as if to mark their passage through the night. A gentle breeze swept past them, stirring the misty air. It carried with it the faint, unmistakable smell of rain—not yet fallen, but imminent nonetheless.

In the distance, a stray dog barked at shadows unseen.

She could hear the muffled voices of people talking in their homes behind closed doors and shuttered windows. But otherwise, the streets were mostly empty at this late hour, save for the occasional passerby. Those few souls who ventured out during these odd times paid no heed to the two girls who walked among them.

All of them had their own secrets to hide. So what if there were two more figures amidst the fog?

"That place looks nice," Aubrey murmured as she pointed to an ornate, yet disheveled inn off to their right. A sign hung outside, bearing the name 'The Prancing Bovine.'

Liza glanced over at the building hesitantly, but then nodded. "I-If you think so...?"

Aubrey chuckled and gave her a playful wink. "Hey, don't worry. Stick close to me. We're just two friends spending a cozy evening out on the town. Nobody will be any the wiser."

"O-Okay... If you say so..."

Together, they approached the double doors of The Prancing Bovine and pushed them open.

The interior of the establishment opened up into a large, welcoming common room filled with round tables surrounded by chairs. Tapestries adorned the walls in intricate patterns and motifs. Lamps illuminated every corner of the common room, bathing all within in a warm, inviting glow. To the left of the entrance sat a grand wooden bar, behind which stood a man who had an impressive array of bottles lined upon the shelves behind him. There was also a staircase off to the side of the bar that led upward towards the inn proper.

A few patrons sat scattered throughout the common room; some huddled together in small groups while others kept to themselves. Murmurs filled the air as the visitors discussed their affairs among themselves.

After closing the door behind them, Aubrey glanced around before she moved forward.

"Alright. I'll go and order us some drinks," she said. "Wait for me there," she added, gesturing at an empty spot in the corner of the room. Liza followed obediently, taking a seat at one of the tables near the window.

Aubrey approached the bar and placed her hand on the polished, dark brown surface. "Hey, bartender. We'd like to order."

As the proprietor turned around, Aubrey noticed that he was a somewhat older man with long white hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Despite his age, his face showed only the faintest hint of wrinkles, suggesting that he might not have been quite as old as his snowy locks suggested.

Aubrey squinted at him.

She could have sworn there was something familiar about the way his ice-blue eyes gleamed beneath bushy, slightly furrowed brows.

"Hmm..." The innkeeper tilted his head to one side, his gaze piercingly locked with hers. He stroked his beard thoughtfully as his mouth thinned into a tight line.

"Yes?" Aubrey pressed.

Those eyes narrowed at her in contemplation, but finally relaxed moments later.

The old man cleared his throat. His voice had a deep richness to it that belied his years, carrying a certain gravitas. "Sorry, lassie. Didn't mean to stare. It just seems like ye've grown taller since the last time I saw you, is all."

His words caught Aubrey by surprise, and she looked at him blankly before the connection suddenly clicked in her head.

She's heard him before... Somewhere... No, no, not her. The other her. Her counterpart in this world.

There's that rich voice, and those fierce, sky-blue eyes. She'd seen him plenty of times in the memories that had been slowly returning to her throughout the past few weeks. It was clear to her now. This man... he was...

"Hmm..." Aubrey stammered as the revelation sank in.

After she had fled that asylum, the first person the other her had stumbled onto had been this very man.

An eccentric tavern owner who happened upon her writhing, broken body at the cusp of dawn, seemingly half-dazed and malnourished to the point of emaciation. He'd taken her in, and over time, his hospitality gave the 'other' her the stability to manage her budding madness. The fond memories of him teaching her how to prepare brews, meats, and spirits behind this very counter returned to her, bit by bit.

She remembered watching as his large, callused hands expertly sliced cuts of raw flesh and dipped them into various simmering pots and pans, imparting all sorts of flavors on the ingredients within. All the while, he regaled her of tales, both near and far, spinning the mundane into myth.

His name... if she recalled correctly, was... Was... Gran—Grantham... Grantham Caelore. His name is Grantham Caelore. Yes, that's right. Grantham...

She blinked, realizing what this must seem like to him. "O-Oh! I-I mean... Um, yeah, right." A quick lie tumbled forth from her mouth. "Growing up does that to you, old man, in more ways than one."

"That so? Well, the passage of time tends to sneak up on us, eh?" He leaned forward with his arms crossed across his chest. "Must say, yer a sight for sore eyes. How long has it been? Ten years or so?"

Aubrey closed her eyes, letting out a sharp breath through her nose. "Somewhere around there, I guess."

"The bloody 'ell happened to ya? Ya disappear right under my nose after leaving this place to those men in cloaks. Almost got my arse thrown into the slammer, they did!"

His sudden, interrogative tone immediately caught her off guard. She raised her hands in mock surrender and tried to hide her confusion with an apologetic smile. "Hey, it's not my fault the law hates free spirits like us."

"Bollocks to that!" He slammed his hand down on the counter hard enough to make the glasses nearby rattle. His expression softened as he continued, though the gruffness in his voice remained. "Tell me where the 'ell ye've run off to. Y'think I haven't been worried? Out of all the rotten timing to drop off the face o' the bloody realm..."

Aubrey winced slightly at the question. Of course, he would want to know something. Given what she knew of her history with him, it wouldn't make sense for her to simply walk back into his life without providing some explanation as to why or how she disappeared.

She glanced back at Liza, who sat patiently waiting for her at their table, seemingly oblivious to her current predicament.

Crap... So much for a girl's night out…