Syllis, Kessiana and Aura all sat around a circular table.

This table sparkled with a crystalline sheen. The small vase in the center that seemed carved from quartz held several different colored flowers within. They were yellow and purple, each complimented each other perfectly while also meshing decently with the table.

‘How did this happen?’ Syllis fought the urge to place her palm against the front of her face.

Aura and Kessiana scrutinized each other, declining to speak. They had not uttered a single word to each other since the three of them arrived at this table.

It had been five minutes of pure, unadulterated silence. Syllis watched as her two companions held each other’s gaze, unwilling to be the first to shatter this uncomfortable atmosphere.

‘I only invited Aura to join us as a courtesy. To think she would take me up on my offer, and then hold the woman I want to talk to—essentially hostage.’ The corners of Syllis’ mouth twitched as she grew more irritated.

Generally, the secare nymph could withstand frustrations, keeping them bottled within. Though, when they built up and she grew distasteful enough… She was known to occasionally erupt.

“Aura!” Syllis snapped, commanding the presence of her companion.

Aura turned to face her, still unwilling to speak. Only a surprised expression loomed over her face.

She had never seen the secare nymph lash out in conversation. Syllis was typically patient outside of battle, where her relentless inner self emerged.

“That’s right! Kneel at the command of your owner.” Kessiana chuckled lightly. “So, Syllis, who’s this character that’s joined us?”

She questioned, not a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Aura shot her a cold glance, the kind of glance that would be able to freeze over the sun. This was not due to the comparison between her and a pet, but also due to her pretending that she had not known who she was.

“Syllis, who’s your new friend?” Aura feigned interest as she sipped on a green drink. She scowled slightly after taking a sip.

Naturally, Aura had to reciprocate the feelings of Kessiana. She knew well who she was, the second oldest of the Boor family, and the daughter of Alushir’s missing concubine. Of course, these were merely myths.

Syllis scoffed at the sheer pettiness between Aura and Kessiana. ‘This is absurd. How can nobles feel the need to act so foolishly? This bickering wastes time and effort.”

Under normal circumstances, Syllis was not under the looming threat of either of these forces in life. She was essentially just biding her time until her expedition into a fable rift, and she had not needed to expend much effort every day, only needing to spar with Clyde. Otherwise, she trained her bond, but not strenuously. It was important for her to maintain her health, breaks were just nice to have.

However, this event was very limited in time. For Syllis—who had no prospects at being invited to any future events before her journey into a fable rift—this was needed time for connecting with successful nobles to learn as much as possible.

One could never learn too much. Knowledge was often the difference between life and death. There were also times where knowledge would be of no benefit, but how could one prepare for such scenarios? One might as well maximize the chance of success ordinarily while hoping for such unlikely scenarios to never arise.

So, the fact that these two were squandering such a valuable commodity of hers agitated the secare nymph.

“Aura Therman, Kessiana Boor.” She then turned to Kessiana. “Kessiana Boor, Aura Therman.”

Syllis gestured and spoke unenthusiastically, effectively displaying her discontent.

“Boor huh…” Aura grew a snide expression on her face. She leaned in close to Kessiana. “So… You heard that this secare nymph tore your brother's limbs? I was there, it was gruesome.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I did.” Kessiana spoke plainly before emulating Aura, leaning in towards her. She diminished her voice to nearly a whisper. “I also heard that he tore your limbs off, sliced open your gut, and made you cry out in pain.”

Aura leaned back, a horrified expression on her face. She rose and circled behind Syllis’ back. She crouched down, meeting with the secare nymph’s ear.

“I don’t like her. What business do you have with this witch?”

‘Ironic for her to use the same nickname I inwardly cursed herself with.’

“This lovely lady was just about to inform me of all the inner workings of her family.”

Syllis did not reciprocate the whispers, instead opting to appease Kessiana. She was not going to let this entire scene be a waste of time, throwing away her chance of learning anything.

Aura huffed slightly before storming off, her emotions seemed somewhat manic.

“So, anywhere you would like to begin?” Syllis spoke courteously.

“Of course.” The pupils in Kessiana’s eyes seemed to burn up in a passionate flame. “I am the second born daughter…”

Kessiana explained all of the ins and outs of the Boor family.

She was the daughter of Alushir’s wife that had tragically passed, so Alushir mostly let her do whatever she wanted.

Alushir had two daughters and three sons. With his first wife, he had both of his daughters. With the second, all three sons. Ansel was the last son that he had.

Alushir favored Ansel due to not only his talent but his quiet personality. The head of the Boor household was work focused, nearly never home, he practically lived in fables. This was why he was so fond of Ansel, because he got in the way the least.

As for Kessiana, she was a needy child. Alushir did not like her, often sending her away to other noble houses to ‘learn from their juvenile kindred’ when in reality—he just wanted to be rid of her.

One winter, he even sent Kessiana all the way to Adelaide. The journey had taken her three months and she was not permitted to return for nearly three years. He had assigned his daughter a horrific task for a woman so young, to transfigure a third anathema. She had been no older than twenty-one by the time she returned.

Once she had, Kessiana forsake her father, moving out of his house. She held onto the name for easy work as a contracted nomad to undergo fable rifts and to be invited to events such as this one. The way she saw it, she might as well benefit from all of the misfortune her father caused her.

Syllis felt a flame of familiarity from Kessiana’s story. It was the same as what she had done herself.

After her father forcefully transfigured an anathema of Coryzan within Syllis, she underwent immense pain. Her father had left and died shortly after, then her mother left. Her bond was a symbol of the entirety of her wasted youth, a tragic reminder that she could never dispel from her body.

Eventually, after being thrust into the wild and abrasive environment that was the outer ring, she decided to use her bond. Why not take advantage of such a tragedy? There was no changing it, so might as well make the best of it.

Syllis thanked Kessiana before rising from her seat and walking away. She had given up on trying to learn for tonight, it was time for her to enjoy herself. Kessiana’s story had reminded her to enjoy the night.

‘You never know when something will go awry!’

She drank a couple glasses of the fruity alcoholic drink that Clyde had ordered back at Jyrid’s tavern. Though she substituted the cherry juice, it was too sweet for her taste. She had tasted cherries and a variety of other fruits at the Boorne estate.

Her stomach ached slightly at the disturbance of the fruity beverages. Syllis had not had any alcoholic drinks before, her stomach was not used to it.

The new sensation felt nice though, so she decided to bring another drink with her. Syllis decided to order the same green drink that Aura had drunk.

Syllis found her way to a balcony, the refreshing midnight air always reinvigorated her which was nice since she was more than a little tired. The event had started late at night. It also had already been active for nearly two hours. Overall, Syllis would have been asleep at least an hour ago on a regular day.

Though, this was not a regular day, and Syllis did not lead a normal life. She was invited to a prestigious event out of curiosity from the heir to Asanoch, her friends—well, she did not quite know if they considered her a friend—were some of the most talented kindred in the great city of Asanoch. She had clawed her way up from the bottom and rose to somewhere close to the top, this was the furthest thing from a normal life.

Syllis was always skeptical over the belief of fate or faith to a god.

‘Why would a god subject me to such a thing? I don’t deserve this.’

Syllis always thought about this on the outer ring, but now, she could not help but wonder if fate was real. She wondered if it had been to prepare her for the future, for her fable rift and everything after.

Maybe fate was a cruel joke designed to effectively strengthen the world. Though, some people would inevitably break under such a cruel joke. They would never flourish to their full potential.

Syllis tried to sip on the green drink that swirled around the circular glass. She lifted the glass to her lips, a pungent scent flooded her nose. She flared her nostrils at the unpleasant scent.

The shiny green liquid felt warm flushing down her throat, then it seared, feeling hot and leaving a burning aftertaste.

“You like it?” Aura called out from behind, Korman stood behind her. A grin spread across her face.

Syllis slowly turned to face her two friends. “It’s bitter.”