Orion revealed just how manipulative he could be. He could have easily left my name out of his argument, but he chose to drag me through the mud with him. I’d much rather be imprisoned with a chance of escape than be bound by some blood law and lose my freedom. But for now, I’ll play along, as I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“You have intrigued me, white one. What was your name again? Orion, was it?” Lilith asked.

“Yes,” he confirmed.

“And you, I don’t believe I caught your name?” Her manipulative gaze turned to me.

“It’s Valerian,” I replied.

“Well then, Valerian and Orion, you have certainly sparked my curiosity. But I’m afraid I can’t make such a big decision on my own; you’ll need approval from all the council members. What do you say to some diplomatic negotiations?” Lilith suggested.

“We don’t have time for negotiations. Kaela is dying! Every moment we spend talking is a moment that brings her closer to death!” Orion argued, pointing to Kaela, who looked worse by the second.

“Hmm, Poisonvein?” Lilith pondered, inspecting the sprawling green veins across Kaela’s neck. “She has a few hours left; her heartbeat is getting fainter by the minute. I could easily cure her, but then what leverage would I have against you?”

“I offered you a choice: be my ally or my enemy,” Orion reminded her, keeping his rage in check.

“What do you say to an accord? I will stop the Poisonvein from spreading further until our little talk with the council is concluded. And if we reach an agreement, I will heal her completely. This way, her life will be saved, and I would still have leverage against you.”

“Do it,” Orion agreed to her terms.

With a swift and graceful movement, Lilith approached Kaela and knelt beside her. She took hold of Kaela’s hand and murmured an enchantment in an unfamiliar language. The green veins on Kaela’s hand began to spread onto Lilith’s, as if transferring the poison from one body to another. The green veins appeared on Lilith’s hands, while Kaela’s started to fade.

“This should do it. I infused her with some of my blood, which is a natural antidote. It neutralizes the poison and transforms it into healthy blood cells. I gave her just enough to keep her alive. Now, shall we proceed with diplomacy?” Lilith asked with a cold smile.

Orion grunted and nodded in agreement after inspecting Kaela. She appeared more serene as her fever seemed to subside. The pulsating green veins across her flesh had lightened considerably.

“I will have the maids tend to her while we attend to our business. Until I arrange a meeting with all the councilors of the academy, you will be our guests and will be treated as such. Each of you will have a room for the night, and a magic user will be appointed to monitor you. Tomorrow, at dusk, both Orion and Valerian will attend the council meeting, while the bard will remain in his room. And what am I to do with your prisoner?” she asked, glancing at the Talon.

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“Kill him for all I care; I have no use for him,” Orion said coldly.

“Very well then,” she responded cheerfully.

The Talon seemed unfazed by the mention of death, having already encountered it in Buckleberry.

"No, let him live," I interjected.

"Do what you wish," Orion said, indifferent to the Talon's fate.

I walked up to the Talon and knelt beside him. His gaze remained emotionless as it was fixated on the floor. He didn’t even notice me until I placed my hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch as fear flashed across his green-olive eyes.

“You are free,” I said, loosening the rope from his hands.

He stared at me blankly, not fully comprehending what had just transpired. Like Lyra, he had expected certain death and was instead met with an unexpected new beginning. Their lives were not mine to control or decide their fate, for I am not death.

“Set him free; he did not come here of his own free will,” I told Lilith, who looked bored.

“Fine,” she said, uttering an enchantment that formed a green arcane circle beneath the Talon.

“W-wait!” he exclaimed as life returned to his eyes, just before vanishing completely.

“Now that this is over, shall we show you to your lodgings?” Lilith snapped her fingers and called out two names. “Fabian and Forleen?” As she spoke, two figures began to materialize from the wooden floor.

First came a man in a violet suit with a yellow tie and garish red shoes. His slick brown hair, tightly woven into a tiny ponytail, gleamed like a beacon in the night, as if he had doused it in a bucket of slime before styling it.

“It’s like a torch,” Orion remarked, eyeing the man’s hair.

“Ugh, too bright, can’t see!” Silas mocked, shielding his eyes.

“What is that? Do you use snail slime for that?” I chimed in.

“Yeah, I bet he has a bucket of snails beneath his bed,” Silas added.

The man fumed, struggling to maintain his composure. Despite his pride, he couldn’t let these comments slide.

“It’s hair gel, you incompetent, vile, and dirty halfwits!” he screamed, hurling insults.

“Alright, man, relax...” Silas tried to calm him, then added, “All that pressure on your hair will make your skull explode!”

Everyone fell silent except for one unexpected person: Lyra. Her chuckle made the man furious. He yanked her red hair back and thrust his face into hers.

“Slaves should stay quiet,” he warned in a low tone.

Lyra’s cold eyes did not flinch. She wasn’t afraid, but she kept her mouth shut, knowing that a slave’s words held little weight.

Next appeared a little girl with blonde hair in two long braids over her shoulders. Ribbons, silk flowers, and lace adorned her blue and white dress, giving her the appearance of a princess from a fairytale.

Despite her sweet appearance, the sight of the man abusing Lyra turned her gaze murderous.

“Let her go, Fabian,” she commanded in a tiny but authoritative voice.

Fabian sighed in frustration but silently complied, releasing Lyra, whose eyes softened at the sight of the girl.

“Fabian, Forleen, these are our guests, and I expect you to treat them as such,” Lilith said, especially eyeing Fabian. He lowered his head and complied, “Yes, my lady.”

“You are to stay with your assigned partner and look after them. Follow the protocols for Type B guests as outlined in the rulebook. Fabian, you will look after Orion the White, and Forleen, you will attend to the bard,” she commanded, and they obediently stood beside Orion and Silas.

“What about me?” I asked.

“You, I would look after myself if I could; I have many questions I would like to ask,” she said, eyeing me from head to toe. “Lyra, darling, please take care of him.”

“As you wish, my lady.”