Chapter 578: The Voice Beneath Silence

Within minutes, the impromptu meeting was over.

"I’ll go check on Jarek," Ronan suggested. "Let’s hope he has something for us regarding the plant."

Sophia remained where she was.

Her fingers rested lightly against the edge of the table, her gaze lowered to the parchments, though her focus shifted between the lines.

"I’ll stay," she said softly, not looking up. "I’ll help Madam Tyler and Eldric with the translations. Maybe we can find out more about the Trine of Ash and Vein."

Orion wasn’t surprised by that because Sophia had already told him she was going to work with them.

"Don’t overwork yourself too much," he told her.

Sophia gave a faint hum in response.

Eldric lingered for a second longer, adjusting his glasses as if debating whether to argue, but in the end, he said nothing. He simply nodded once.

At the end, he had to admit that Sophia would be a great asset in helping him and Madam Tyler in their quest for more information.

Ronan was the first to leave, followed by Lysander, who muttered about going back to Raina first before meeting Jarek.

Annabeth followed shortly after, casting Sophia one last glance before stepping out of the shrine.

Orion pressed a kiss to Sophia’s temple before stepping out. He noticed the change in her mood but said nothing about it yet. He would speak to her, preferably alone.

—

Immediately Orion stepped out, he planned on heading to the dungeons, but first, he searched for a quiet spot where he could have an uninterrupted conversation with Noctis.

Noctis spoke up.

*You have questions for me,* he said.

"I do," Orion said with a nod.

He wasn’t surprised that Noctis already knew.

There was a brief silence between them.

Then Noctis spoke again.

*You know you can ask them, right?*

Orion chuckled. "I know," he said. "I’m sure you already have an idea what I want to ask too. The translations from the rocks... is there any chance we are right regarding what they mean?"

Noctis didn’t answer immediately.

Orion felt it—the hesitation.

Like the wolf was testing something unseen.

Weighing something.

Then, after a while, he spoke.

*You are correct. But not entirely.*

Orion frowned.

"What does that mean?"

Noctis spoke, each word deliberate.

*It is a warning.*

Orion nodded faintly.

"That much we figured."

*Not just of what is,* Noctis continued, *but of what is to come.*

Orion stilled.

His expression darkened slightly.

"...Go on."

Noctis’s voice dipped lower.

*The part about the successor of the night—there is no doubt about that. You are correct. The successor of the night is Victoria.*

Orion exhaled slowly. "At least I wasn’t wrong about that."

*I just told you you were right,* Noctis said with a laugh.

*The part about the wheels turning—I’m sure you already know this too, but it means what is to come has already started taking shape. Things are already in motion.*

"True, I suspected that part," Orion said with a nod.

He let out a quiet breath of disbelief.

"I’m honestly surprised," he muttered. "You’re talking this much. I thought the gag on you would have prevented you from telling me things like this."

*I’m not surprised,* Noctis told him. *I told you before—until you get the answer, or at least close to the answers, I cannot help you. But since you are close to it...*

"You can help me," Orion finished for him.

*That is true,* Noctis said.

"The corpse plant," Orion said. "Do you know anything about it?"

Noctis paused. This time, it was longer—like the wolf was in deep thought.

*No.*

Orion blinked.

"No?"

*I have never heard of it. At least, not by that name. Perhaps I have knowledge of it, but I cannot say for certain.*

"I’m confused."

*A plant named ’corpse plant,’ I have never heard of it. But it could also be that I know it by another name.*

"Ahh," Orion said with a nod. "Madam Tyler did suggest there was a different name. I’ll try to get it. Perhaps that would help."

*And hopefully it’s a name I recognize—one that has remained from long ago.*

Orion shifted his weight slightly, staring ahead at nothing in particular.

"What would it take... for you to tell me everything?"

Once more, he was met with silence.

This one was heavier—more weighted than the others.

*I cannot say. You are not at a place where I can tell you everything. You are close to the answers, but you do not have enough to allow me to give you what you seek.*

"So it’s like a puzzle," Orion said. "If I don’t connect the parts correctly, I won’t get the answers that I seek."

*In a sense, yes,* Noctis told him. *And for what it’s worth, I am sorry. I would rather be in a position where you can get the answers. I want to tell you everything, but I cannot until you are at least halfway there.*

Orion sighed deeply.

*But I will tell you this—you are on the right track. You and Sophia are the pieces to the puzzle, and you are already solving it.*

Noctis paused before continuing.

*I’ll give you some advice, though. Don’t focus only on the translations from the rocks. They may seem urgent, but you should use both the translations from the rocks and the shrine.*

He paused again before he spoke.

*They work hand in hand.*

*And also, regarding the mating mark.* Noctis added. *There is a way to get more information about it.*

Orion straightened slightly.

"What is it?"

Noctis tried to speak.

But nothing came out.

Orion waited but seconds passed, and still nothing.

Then Noctis huffed, a note of frustration slipping through.

"It seems,* he said, *I cannot tell you how to find out more about the mating mark. At least... not yet.*

Orion had to admit he was a bit disappointed at that.

*I’m sorry,* Noctis told him.

"You’re apologizing a lot," Orion said.

*Perhaps it’s because you deserve the apology.*