After setting her hostage free, Syllis sighed. She watched as Lerane scurried back into Mr. Harfell’s room, though his class was pretty much over at that point.

Syllis lingered outside the classroom for a while until the professor signaled the end of class.

Groups of students mingled and spoke about their next classes. Other students merged into the hallway from their own classrooms causing the serene hallway to transform into a chaotic scene.

It was a beautiful chaos though, most notably because of the woman that approached Syllis.

Aura Therman awkwardly shifted towards Syllis. The human was off her game recently. After her loss against Syllis, she was not herself. Instead, she was fearful, spending every moment thinking about how she could bring that secare nymph to her knees the next time they fought.

“Spar with me tomorrow!” Aura demanded, emerging from beyond Korman’s figure, she found a newfound confidence as more of her class flooded towards them.

‘Does she not think I have better things to do? Or does she think I would not be able to refuse in front of so many people?’ Syllis stood still for a second, thinking through an answer.

“No.”

Aura seemed taken aback. This was unusual for her, the dismissal over a sparring invitation. She took a couple steps back, no longer standing so valiantly in front of Korman.

‘I guess her usual opponents can’t really say no to the ‘most talented kindred’ in Asanoch. They would be driven by their desire to defeat such a monstrous foe. Unfortunately for her, I’ve already braved this storm.’

‘In fact.’ Syllis’ lips curved, forming a smirk. ‘I’ve actually dragged the ‘storm’ across the dirt.’

Syllis remembered the faces of the entire spectator booth when she emerged from the misty battlefield, after dismissing the solid ice room she had manifested.

They were shocked and afraid for the noble girl. She had been battered and several tendons in her legs had been severed. Syllis might have even slashed her achilles, she did not quite remember.

Perhaps even more overbearing than their fear of that sight though, was their reverence afterwards. At the time, they tried to cover it under their horror, but each and every spectator was secretly in awe. They revered the nymph’s power.

‘So what need do I have for another spar with her if I already have the house’s reverence?’

“What do you mean no!?” Aura exclaimed, as if the fact that anyone could refuse her challenge was preposterous.

Her fellow students crowded around the three of them, worried of a fight breaking out.

‘A caveat of being an ignorant brat.’ Syllis rolled her eyes before speaking.

“What? Can’t you comprehend the fact that I have no business with someone like you? I have already conquered your bond. There is nothing you could show me that stands a chance at overcoming my superiority.”

Syllis spoke coldly, like winter was hidden behind her voice, unable to be melted by even the false sun that loomed above.

Inwardly, Syllis was less fond of how she spoke. ‘Sorry Aura!’

There was a need to instill a fear of her in the students. Only then would the talented kindred be forced to challenge her. This was the quickest way to not only gather the attention of them but more specifically Ansel Boor.

‘Yes, that immobile boy would certainly need a strong motivation to spar with me. In fact, even this might not even be enough for a person like him. I should know, it would have taken a lot for me back then as well.’

Still, she felt bad for humiliating Aura in front of her class. They were her comrades, her friends, maybe there was even a boyfriend among them. Even an arrogant jerk like her did not deserve this kind of public shaming in front of her dearest companions.

Aura’s tan face grew rosy after Syllis spoke. Maybe she had expected the nymph to accept after her outrage.

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Unfortunately, she could not accept, no matter the circumstances. If Syllis accepted after some bickering then her image would be ruined before it was even entirely established.

‘Better you than me…’

Aura looked around at the faces of her fellow students. They were an expression of worry and unease. She then looked at Korman, he wore one of embarrassment and perhaps a slight bit of pity shone through his eyes. Finally, she looked towards the secare nymph that made a fool out of her.

This nymph’s look was one of condescension. Their gaze intertwined once they locked eyes. This was also a sort of battle in some way, the attempt to glean the entirety of one's character.

Lights seemed to flicker in Aura’s emerald eyes as she finally broke away from the nymph’s seafoam eyes.

Despite the fact that Aura’s were sharper, and undeniably more beautiful. Syllis’ held an indescribable sympathy. Their light green color seemed to waver, as though they had shed tears for Aura despite failing to actually drip.

Unable, or perhaps unwilling to move because that would be the same as defeat, Korman had to step in. He placed a hand on Aura’s shoulder before leaning in and urging her to follow him.

Aura refused, instead opting to storm out the opposite direction of Syllis.

Korman then approached the nymph. “How’s it going, Syllis? Are you really going to attend? I thought that somebody of your skill would just immediately look abroad, or perhaps to nomads that have relocated to Asanoch?.”

‘Trying to act friendly so people assume it’s just a minor scuffle between companions… Maybe I owe Aura this mercy?’

“Ah, Veria already got me to sign the papers. All that’s left is for me to show up tomorrow, so I am on my way back for today.” Syllis spoke in a friendly manner, contrasting her earlier, colder tone.

“That’s great. If there’s one class I recommend, it’s certainly ritualistic practices. You never know when it can be useful.” Korman leaned in at the latter half of that sentence.

‘Oh believe me, I know.’ Syllis thought back to her previous interaction with Ansel. Actually, it was not even a true interaction. It was only one sided!

‘That boy could have been fast asleep and that would have panned out the same way. Actually, what if he already was…’ Syllis mused before growing irritated at the crimson-haired kindred again.

“I’ll be sure to take it. Anathema are unpredictable after all. It’s better to have the necessary precautions ready for them.”

Syllis and Korman exchanged a few more sentences of superficial dialogue before the latter decided it was time to chase down Aura.

Then, Syllis shook off the glances of a couple groups of students before heading home for the day.

Inside the Boorne household, Syllis flopped down on top of her bed, which was freshly re-made by a servant. Speaking off, they seemed to have already grown used to Syllis. They did not scowl when the poor girl entered the house, or bar her from entry.

‘I wonder if they’ll start doing that after my next stunt?’

Syllis could not help but wonder. She was about to betray the trust of the Boorne family.

The room with no light was peculiar compared to the surrounding rooms. Nearly every room in the manor had a window, the lightless room did not. Every single other room upstairs had a switch, the lightless room did not.

Regardless, there was a reason for the lack of light. Whether that was a sensitive plant or perhaps truly just something that was not meant to be seen—it was assuredly interesting either way.

‘I just can’t help myself!’ Syllis’ curiosity got the better of her as she prepared to head over to the cellars.

She wrapped herself in a dark colored cloak that bordered on the edge of black and brown.

As the nymph stepped out of her room, she realized a critical flaw in her plan or rather, a flaw in how to begin.

For the most part, the plan was simple. It was to fetch a brazier from the cellar walls before evading sight and bringing it up to the lightless room and gleaning its contents.

The only problem was that Syllis did not quite know how to find the cellars. Edward had not told her which side of the manor they located. The only information he gave her was the time they were lit as well as an ominous message.

“Make sure not to stray far from the staircase…” Syllis muttered the bad omen underneath her breath as she began walking.

It was assuredly going to take her a while to find her destination, and it was going to take longer to find a short path without servants roaming.

The prospect of a servant seeing her holding a brazier was humiliating. Not only would she fail at unraveling the mystery of the lightless room, but she would also most likely face punishment.

‘At least they can’t get rid of me. I am the most suitable sparring partner for Clyde after all! And will be an equally competent guard within the fable rift!’

After nearly an hour of wandering and retracing steps. Syllis had found a path that was mostly hidden from view.

The secare nymph found herself overcome with a cold sensation as she gazed down the stone staircase. It was odd, Syllis never felt shivers, an odd side effect of her enhanced resistance to the cold. Despite this, it seemed to be happening more lately. Aura’s tenebrous dragon, Clyde’s peculiar bond, and now this staircase.

It was even weirder to get shivers from a staircase, lined with braziers that emanated pure warmth.

It seemed as though an unnatural force was pulling her in, enticing her with riches or something of the like.

Going against the advice of Edward, Syllis began descending the stone staircase.