The silence on the scene stretches on for five minutes. It feels like an eternity. This silence should work in my favor. Yet, what if it doesn't? The spiritual tether seems to be slipping away.

"I believe even your extraordinary intelligence, Annabelle, won't suffice to uncover my Secret."

"You're rather sure of yourself," the witch retorts. "Overly so, I'd argue."

"It's merely confidence, no more. And since you're at an impasse, I'll enlighten you. Indeed, I'm a reincarnate, but that's only part of it. The real mystery is who I was in my past life and, above all, where I lived it!"

No sooner had I spoken these words than a painful spasm grips my throat. The spiritual tether tautens, nearly choking me. Yet, this pales in comparison to what the Master of Secrets is experiencing. She seems to be in true agony...

"And who were you in this past life?" Trench inquires.

"My patriarch!" Annabelle bursts out. "So few things still intrigue me in life; grant me the indulgence to figure it out on my own."

"But he's offering to reveal it himself," Eshin's leader retorts, taken aback.

"I've reconsidered," I interject, regaining some control. "I wouldn't want to deprive such a beautiful lady of her amusement."

Annabelle's response is a light, musical laughter. "You truly are a delight, Izao. How about you join us? Take command of all the raigs in the world! A unified command over the planet's Knights would surely bolster our defense against any Breakthroughs. What do you say?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Choose your words wisely, witch!" Trench warns. "I lead the clan, and only I can make decisions of this magnitude."

"So, should I really consider your offer?" I ask, feigning calm.

"Interested, are you?" Eshin's leader appears curious, though I sense the insincerity in his tone. "If you are, then disable your ability, let Annabelle study your aura. We'll draw some blood and, in return, spare your life."

"Well, I did not expect such a simplistic trick from a master of intrigues of your level," I counter.

"Fine, you yourself made this decision, discarding your chance to live," Trench remarks, his smile reminiscent of a predator's snarl.

"Have you unraveled my Secret yet?" I direct my attention back to the witch.

"Not yet," the blonde murmurs contemplatively.

"In that case, I'll enlighten you."

"You're incredibly persistent. But why? You're clearly no fool," the young woman muses.

"He's anything but," Nicholas chimes in. "I can attest to that."

"Then what drives you, Izao? Why this game? Surely, it's not just to vex us. There's a deeper motive," Annabelle surmises. Suddenly, she springs to her feet, her voice rising in urgency. "Trench! Kill him now!"

"What?!" the elder rat exclaims, visibly taken aback.

"Kill him! Now! He's a threat! I can sense it!"

"If you want him dead, you do it," the head of Eshin retorts with a smirk, clearly reluctant to be ordered around.

"I can't. I'm primed for a ritual. Killing now would compromise my powers," she explains.

"You won't, and I'm not inclined to," the shapeshifter says with a chilling grin. "I require this ritual."

"Listen," the witch urges, regaining her composure. "He's dangerous. We've overlooked something vital. Forget the ritual; our entire Plan is jeopardized!"

"You can't get an Enlightenment. You're a Dark One!" Trench counters.

"But I possess tremendous experience," the witch responds, shaking her head.

"How about a compromise?" I interject. "To demonstrate my sincerity, I'll disclose my Secret. I'm not merely a reincarnate..."