The night didn't feel real anymore.
Not because of what had happened—
But because of what hadn't.
No blood.
No pain.
No death.
Just laughter. Music. Celebration.
A lie wrapped in light.
I stood near the edge of the reception hall, half in shadow, watching everything unfold like I'd already seen the ending.
Because I had.
My fingers brushed lightly against my hand.
The ring pulsed.
Steady.
Patient.
Waiting.
"…You feel it too, don't you?" I muttered under my breath.
The answer came instantly.
"…Yes."
Different voice this time.
Not the guiding one.
Her.
Cold.
Sharp.
Interested.
I didn't react outwardly—but inside, something shifted.
"…You're still watching."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…Of course."
There was something in her tone.
Not warmth.
Not kindness.
Expectation.
Like she was waiting to see if I was worth her time.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Then don't blink."
A soft, almost amused breath brushed the edge of my mind.
"…We'll see."
Silence followed.
But it wasn't empty.
She was still there.
Just… observing.
Judging.
Good.
Let her.
---
The pull hit again.
Stronger this time.
Not subtle.
Not distant.
It dragged at my chest like a hook sinking in deep, tugging me toward something I couldn't see—but knew was there.
The crimson sky flashed in my mind.
That world.
That door.
Waiting.
My breath slowed.
"…Not here," I muttered.
The ring pulsed sharply—
Almost like it agreed.
Or maybe…
Like it was reminding me.
Soon.
My eyes scanned the room again.
Her.
Laughing.
Perfect.
Playing her part.
Him.
Watching.
Confident.
Relaxed.
Like nothing could go wrong.
My jaw tightened slightly.
"…Yeah…"
Not here.
Not yet.
I needed space.
Time.
Control.
Without a word, I pushed off the wall and started moving.
Slow.
Natural.
Unnoticed.
Through the crowd.
Past conversations.
Past smiles.
Past everything that didn't matter anymore.
The hallway outside the reception was quiet.
Dim.
Still.
The noise faded behind me the moment the door closed.
And just like that—
It was gone.
The illusion.
The performance.
The lie.
My shoulders dropped slightly as I leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly.
"…Alright," I murmured.
My hand lifted.
The ring gleamed faintly in the low light.
"…Let's see what you really do."
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
The moment I focused—
The page appeared again.
Clearer.
More stable.
Floating just in front of me.
Symbols moving slowly.
Waiting.
[Essence: 0]
My eyes narrowed.
"…Still empty."
"…Of course."
The guiding voice again.
Calm.
Unmoved.
"…You haven't taken anything yet."
I let out a quiet breath.
"…Then we fix that."
My fingers moved forward—
Hovering over the page again.
This time…
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just intent.
"…Show me," I said quietly.
The page reacted instantly.
The symbols shifted.
Faster now.
Images forming—
Clearer than before.
A blade.
The one I already held.
A figure moving through darkness—
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
My pulse quickened slightly.
"…That one…"
The image sharpened.
A silhouette slipping through shadows like they were part of it.
Not running.
Not stepping.
Phasing.
My breath slowed.
"…Movement…"
"…Survival." the voice corrected.
Fair.
My fingers moved closer.
The image pulsed.
Waiting.
"…If I take this…"
A pause.
"…I can use it?"
"…If you survive long enough to learn."
A faint smirk pulled at my lips.
"…Good enough."
My fingers touched the page again—
And this time—
I didn't just pull.
I reached.
The world twisted.
Harder than before.
The hallway flickered—
The walls bending—
The air thickening—
The scent hit first.
Blood.
Stronger now.
Real.
My heart slammed against my chest.
The ground beneath me felt… unstable.
Like it wasn't fully there anymore.
Half here.
Half somewhere else.
My vision split—
The hallway—
And—
That world.
Crimson sky.
Dark ground.
Shadows stretching endlessly.
My breath caught.
"…This is—"
"…The threshold."
Her voice.
Closer.
Clearer.
Right behind me.
Not in my head.
Not entirely.
I didn't turn.
Didn't move.
"…And if I step through?"
A pause.
Then—
Low.
Calm.
Certain.
"…Then you either grow…"
The shadows around me shifted.
Moved.
Watched.
"…or you disappear."
My grip tightened.
My heartbeat steadied.
And slowly—
A smile formed.
Cold.
Sharp.
Ready.
"…Then let's find out."