The air in the grand hall grew thick, heavy with an oppressive spiritual pressure and mounting fear. Odesse watched as Azure lay seemingly lifeless on the stone floor, while Cara stood over her with a look of triumphant joy.

But Odesse’s mind raced. "No. Azure is not the type of person to let her guard down so easily." Her fingers clenched into a tight fist as an icy realization washed over her. Her eyes snapped wide, and she cried out, "It’s a trap!"

Valex looked at her instantly as she shouted toward the maid. "Cara, leave her side now! Step away from her this minute!"

Cara turned her head slowly, a look of confusion crossing her face. "Huh?"

"Leave her side this minute, Cara!" Odesse pleaded.

Before Cara could take a single step backward, she froze. A sudden gasp cut through the hallway as every eye widened in horror. Cara desperately clutched at her throat, struggling against an invisible, crushing grip. She thrashed, yet there was no physical hand touching her skin.

From the ground, a chilling laugh rang out. Azure stood up slowly, her movements smooth, precise, and entirely unbothered. She adjusted her posture and walked forward until she was face-to-face with the gasping maid. Cara’s eyes bulged as she choked, fighting fruitlessly for a breath of air.

"No, no, no, no..." Odesse whispered, her voice failing her before she found her strength. "Leave her alone, Azure!"

Valex stepped forward, extending a commanding arm. "Azure, you do not want to do this. Let her go this instant."

Azure snapped her head toward him, her gaze sharp and mocking. "What are you all saying? Are you blind?" She pointed a finger at the struggling maid. "She poisoned me! Look at me—" she tapped her own chest, "—I am the victim here. I have always been the victim, so why should I let her go?"

She looked from Cara back to Valex and Odesse, letting out a hysterical, booming laugh that rattled against the palace walls.

"Did you seriously think I came here thinking I was safe?" She shook her head sideways in sheer amusement. "I knew someone foolish would try to poison me, so I came prepared. Did you really think I couldn’t recognize poison just from its scent? You are as foolish as your queen."

Azure took a few slow, deliberate steps across the floor boards. "All that drama I just performed—my skin turning pale, my eyes bulging—it is called a physical burden spell. I placed it on myself beforehand. When my body comes into contact with a toxin, the spell immediately dissolves it. But I didn’t want the moment to be boring, so I forced the spell to put on a little show for you all."

She clasped her hands together, a bright, manic smile lighting up her face. "How did you all enjoy my performance? It was amazing, right?"

In the background, Calista trembled, whispering beneath her breath, "This woman is a maniac. A complete maniac."

Azure’s eyes darted instantly toward her. Her smile widened. "Oh, dear heavens, I had no idea we had an external guest here. My deepest apologies."

Calista flinched in horror, her entire body shaking under the intense scrutiny. Kael moved a half-step closer to her, offering a firm, reassuring nod.

Azure simply chuckled. "Do not worry, I am not going to hurt you." Her eyes softened into a warm expression, her voice turning sweet and welcoming. "To be very honest, Calista, I am incredibly jealous of your hair. The first day I saw it, I wondered what sort of oil you use to keep it so full and shiny." She reached up to touch her own hair. "That is why we shall become friends. When this whole nonsense is over, we shall become very close."

Calista shook her head in sheer terror, backing away slightly. But Azure’s gaze locked onto her, her teeth gnashing as her tone dropped. "Right? We shall become friends, isn’t that right, Calista? You’ll be my very best friend."

Calista’s head shook even more noticeably, her lips silently mouthing "no, no, no."

"Stop this, Azure!" Odesse interrupted, stepping into her line of sight. "It is enough. I have had entirely enough of your nonsense."

Azure burst into another loud laugh. "Yes, yes, it is enough, Odesse! Even I am tired from the long journey. You must know that."

She turned her back and began to pace. The hall fell dead silent, save for the rhythmic clicking of Azure’s heels and the agonizing, muffled choking sounds coming from Cara.

"Let her go, Azure," Odesse demanded, taking a step forward.

Azure sharply raised her right hand. "No, no, Odesse. Do not take another step." She turned around, tightening her fist.

Instantly, Cara began to struggle even more violently, her feet lifting completely off the stone floor boards as she was hoisted into the air. Odesse’s heart shattered at the sight. "Azure, stop this madness! Please, this is only between you and me."

"No, it’s not anymore, Odesse!" Azure shouted, her temper flaring. "After you decided to return and steal Valex away from me, it stopped being just between the two of us. Now, it is between me and everyone who has ever breathed the same air as you."

Odesse opened her mouth, completely bewildered by the logic. Azure glanced up at the suspended maid, her face twisting into disgust. "You make so much noise it hurts my ears, you fool. Shut up."

With a flick of Azure’s fingers, all sound died out. Cara’s mouth moved frantically, but no noise escaped her lips. Tears spilled from Odesse’s eyes as she shook her head. "Azure, stop this, please."

"Fine, I will let her go..." Azure said smoothly.

Odesse felt a small, desperate wave of relief, but it was instantly crushed by Azure’s next words: "...when I am done telling you about my mission."

Odesse’s expression tightened.

"And I will take my precious time," Azure purred, walking forward slowly. "Because you know why, Odesse? This is my story. The only person who can kill me is me. No one else." She paused, tapping her chin with a thinking face. "Now, where was I?"

Valex glared at her, his voice booming. "Do not be so foolish, Azure! Tell us this instant!"

Azure shot a sharp look at the king, her smile returning. "Ah, yes. Now I remember. So, I went to the historical library—the one only accessible to royal teachers, where not even kings and queens can enter without permission from the high chief. I dug deeper and deeper, trying to find any trace of them. And yes, I found a book. It was only a short statement, and it read: ’A group of people made of color, beauty, and strength, sent out because of it, now live in the eastern region, distant and never to be heard of again. But to find the eastern region was to follow the second golden star clinging to the sun by morning and the moon by night.’"

She smiled widely at Odesse. "I was extremely surprised, but so happy, because it mentioned the eastern region and exactly how to get there. I didn’t waste any time. I rode my horse straight to the last border of your pack, my king, because I knew those soldiers were stationed there foolishly."

She laughed softly under her breath. "I couldn’t just walk into the Hispo region because they wouldn’t grant me access. So, I met with these two soldiers behind me and asked them to take me to their pack. They were stubborn at first and refused. I got a little angry, so I enchanted them with a little magic."

She snapped her fingers, nodding toward the blank-faced guards. "You see, and that was strike four. If they had just decided to take me without any arguments, maybe I would have spared them. But no, I had to waste my magic and my time on them."

She hissed softly, then smiled. "Well, they agreed to take me, and I was really happy. It was a very long journey, but when we got there, I was completely bewildered. I had never seen anything like it before. I realized Odesse was even more foolish than I thought, leaving such an amazing place just to return to more suffering here."

Tears rolled down Odesse’s cheeks as Azure continued to pace, looking around the palace walls with deep disdain.

"They took me to their palace, and it was beautiful," Azure said, turning back to Valex. "It makes your palace and pack look like something drawn out of hell, my king."

Valex’s fists tightened, the veins tracing up his arms.

"The soldiers took me inside, where I met the king and queen," Azure said. "They were beautiful, happy to see me, and so welcoming. But as soon as I introduced myself and said my name, their faces turned blank. Their eyes widened in disbelief. And then it dawned on me..." She locked eyes with Odesse. "...our dear Odesse had already told them all about me. You see, you always talk about me even when I am not present. You are truly obsessed."

She chuckled mockingly. "So I got really angry because of that." She raised all five fingers. "And that was strike five. They could have just accepted me, but they became cold and looked at me like I was disgusting. It pained me even more that a human... a full human, looked at me with disgust!" she shouted loudly. "Strike six! And oh, now I could not spare them."

"They asked me what reason I had come for," Azure whispered, her eyes dancing maniacally. "And I told them my mission."

Odesse listened attentively, her eyes darting between the speaker and the suffocating form of Cara hanging in the air. "What was the deal, Azure?" she demanded out of sheer impatience.

Azure laughed loudly. "Relax, I am getting there! The deal was this: If you, Odesse, decide to give me Valex, then I will spare them. But if you remain adamant about staying with Valex, then every single day that he is with you, one life will be lost in the Hispo region at exactly 12:00 AM."

A collective gasp echoed through the room as everyone’s eyes widened in horror. Azure giggled softly, tilting her head in a terrifying, manic display of victory.

"So... one life for Valex, Odesse. What is your choice?"