Silverite gates closed with an eerie creak behind them, and Orion had to resist the urge to scoff at how much effort had gone into giving the Sanctum’s embassy a witchy ambiance.

  He could understand why they would build in Silverpeak’s style. Embassies, in general, were meant to represent their state—or faction in this case—and their physical appearance was what most people remember.

  But was there really a need for black cats familiars lurking in every shadow, spiders scurrying beneath the poisonous plants filling the garden, and most importantly, the overall sense of majestic gloom?

  Hell, I’m pretty sure space isn’t exactly as it should be.

  Orion couldn’t precisely observe his surroundings with [Verification Principle] at the moment, due to the risk of worsening his mana burn. However, it was clear that a significant amount of time and effort had gone into transforming the embassy into a proper lair, and even more into building up its intimidating aura.

  Asteria’s lips twitched as she walked through the garden, seemingly amused, but he didn’t particularly enjoy having to watch his step for dangerous critters.

  No wonder everyone seems to view witches as either cultists or madwomen. This isn’t helping our PR.

  Since the embassy's main goal was to build good relations with other factions and promote the Sanctum’s interests in the High Council, Orion was quite sure this effort might have been better spent on more important matters.

  But then again, there was a reason why the coven was situated on top of a frozen mountain. The Sanctum wasn’t recruiting, nor was it interested in expanding its influence beyond its lands.

  Maybe this entire front was meant to show they shouldn't be messed with.

  Once they finally reached the manse, Asteria pressed her hand against the heavy wooden doors and released a faint pulse of Light Mana, which caused a series of creaks and groans until the lock opened and the door swung open.

  A heavy darkness covered the inside, and Orion and Asteria had to step several paces in to finally see anything.

  With a clang, the entrance slammed shut, plunging them into penumbra, and suddenly, the overdone dramatics took on a creepier air that was much less ridiculous.

  Orion swallowed and watched a young woman glide down the staircase, her eyes cold as winter.

  There was something about her that didn’t feel right. Maybe he was letting the atmosphere influence him too much, but Orion couldn’t help but shuffle a bit until he had a clear shot of the woman.

  His magic wouldn’t help him, but at least he could see her hands now.

  Long, painted nails extended several inches, curling downward like talons. Her eyes were midnight black, just like her hair, allowing her to almost blend into the darkness.

  For someone devoted to a goddess of Light, she definitely enjoys her edgy style.

  The thought, an attempt to rid himself of the tension gripping him, didn’t have the desired effect, and he was left unusually tense, watching the woman come closer and closer.

  Her skin was pale and free of blemishes, making the contrast with the black she wore everywhere even more striking. Her footsteps were silent, and only when she stopped a few feet in front of them was he finally able to move again, even though he hadn’t realized he had frozen up at her approach.

  Though she seemed young, there was no doubt in his mind that she was an extremely dangerous witch. The only two people to ever provoke such an instinctive reaction in him were Morliana and the High Priestess herself.

  This meant there was only one possible person this woman could be, regardless of how unlikely it seemed that she would show up so soon—or how impossibly young she looked, for a witch known to be about the same age as Morliana.

  I already know that magic can preserve flesh. Vampires and elves are said to live extremely long, so it shouldn’t be too strange that a witch can do the same, especially one known for her incredible alchemical skill.

  “Elder Yue,” Asteria murmured, sounding strangely subdued and respectful. She bowed her head, not daring to meet the woman's eyes, and Orion quickly followed suit, not wanting to attract her attention.

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  “So you present yourself before me,” came the whisper, as soft as silk and as dangerous as a dagger pressed against their throats.

  Orion wondered whether she had sent everyone else away or if the embassy was usually so bereft of personnel. If it was the latter, Yue’s success as a representative of the Sanctum was even more significant—but that seemed unlikely. If it was the first option, it meant she had known they were coming.

  Word must have spread about the confrontation in front of the Magisterium. City watch officials abusing their power probably get reported to the High Councilors right away.

  “Yes, Elder. I have come with my son to speak with you,” Asteria began, but was suddenly stopped by a raised hand.

  Though it seemed rude to him, his mother didn’t appear bothered and dutifully fell silent.

  Yue’s eyes were dark pools with no end as they fixed on him, and Orion felt as if every part of who he was was laid bare. It was an irrational thought, he knew, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she could see everything about him, right down to his true identity.

  “I see promise, despite his origins," the Veil Priestess whispered softly, knowing more about his birth story than he did. “You have trained him well. At least in that, you haven't failed."

  The backhanded compliment slid off Asteria, who showed a glimpse of her usual warmth as she looked at him. “It was a tough journey for both of us, but I’m very proud of him.”

  Yue nodded to herself before suddenly turning around and walking toward a side door that Orion could swear hadn’t been there before. “Come, we have much to speak of.”

  There was no sign of affection for the one who was supposed to be her only apprentice, but strangely, Asteria seemed encouraged by the cold reception.

  What was she expecting, if this is enough to make her happy?

  Orion knew it was a gamble to come here. It was entirely possible for the Elder to refuse to help them at all, leaving them at Morliana’s mercy.

  But maybe it’s not that simple. She might not like Mom after what happened, but everyone agreed that the feud between the two Veil Priestesses has been ongoing for a long time. Yue can’t completely abandon us without “losing” to Morliana.

  After hearing his mother’s explanation, he had been operating under the assumption that Yue’s anger toward Asteria was strong enough to overcome such a setback, but maybe that wasn’t the case.

  Many years had passed. It was possible that the seething anger that had caused her to leave the Sanctum had cooled into a more reasonable dislike, in which case, Yue was likely to release them from her "protection."

  That would be a good outcome. I’m not ready to call it yet, but since she hasn’t vaporized us on the spot or sent us away immediately, this is already better than the worst-case scenario.

  Walking through the darkened halls, Orion did his best to take in the manse, but the shadows clung to every surface, making it hard to see anything beyond the marble floors and the occasional flicker when the weak light filtering through the closed shutters hit a vein of silverite.

  Worse, space appeared to flow strangely, and each of his steps could span a dozen feet or just one.

  Finally, Yue stopped in front of a wide door, opened it with a gesture, walked inside, and disappeared from sight.

  Orion gulped. If he could cast, he would already have a Torchlight running, but maybe that wasn’t the right move. If Yue was intentionally keeping the embassy so dark, going against that decision could make them even more at odds with her.

  His mother didn’t seem to share his concerns, because she confidently walked into the gaping void with more than a little pep in her step. It seemed that the first contact had already exceeded her expectations.

  With a long-suffering sigh, Orion followed after her.

  As he passed through the wall of shadows, he entered a cozy sitting room illuminated warmly, featuring comfortable furniture that maintained the same silver and black color scheme.

  The feeling of darkness wrapping around him only lasted a moment, but it left him slightly disoriented. Was that a portal? Although much weaker, this feeling closely resembles what blinking feels like.

  The discomfort was not comparable to the vomit-inducing dizziness teleporting had caused him, but considering that this was a static portal cast by a witch much more powerful and experienced than his mother, perhaps that could explain it.

  “Come, sit,” Yue ordered, and they did.

  A long moment of silence passed, during which Orion tried his best not to stare, while the woman who could vaporize him with a glare stared at him.

  Eventually, she turned back to his mother. “Tell me everything.”

  Asteria licked her lips, nodded to herself, and began a detailed retelling of everything that had happened over the past years and led them to flee the Sanctum. She didn’t hold back, even admitting her own mistakes, like giving in to pressure and burning Orion’s journal.

  A good half hour had passed by the time she arrived at what happened when they reached Valderun, but Yue remained silent, only nodding when Asteria revealed that they would have to meet both the city watch and the Minister of Rites in the coming days.

  Once she was done, Orion worriedly watched his mother. She hadn’t pulled any punches, describing Morliana’s actions as clearly politically motivated, and while that could help sway Yue to their side, it was just as likely to annoy her.

  No, I have to trust that she knows what she’s doing. She was the woman’s apprentice for over a decade, so if this is what she believes will work, it must be our best option.

  Surprisingly, Yue didn’t ask her to clarify anything right away, but instead turned to Orion. “Do you have anything you want to add?”

  He hesitated. He was tempted to just shake his head and let his mother lead, but she smiled encouragingly, and he remembered her saying that Elder Yue was the kind of woman who appreciated people speaking candidly, so he threw in his two cents. “I believe Elder Morliana targeted me specifically, not just because of Mother’s relationship with you, but because of who my father is.”

  Asteria drew in a sharp breath, and Orion knew he’d surprised her. They had only ever discussed the bare minimum about his sire, but the more he thought about what he knew of the man, the more certain he became of his judgment.

  “Explain,” Yue commanded.

  “I have never met the man. I don’t know anything about him beyond what I was told. But I know he’s a powerful force in the Arcane Collegium, and his reputation among witches is very low. I believe she decided that targeting me would be seen by others and you as acceptable, given my connection with him. That’s why she didn’t harass Mother directly. Not because she couldn’t, but because she couldn’t have done so without backlash. And while I hate her, I know Elder Morliana to be an intelligent woman.”

  There, he’d said it. It was something he’d been thinking about more lately, but the way Ophelia’s grandfather had immediately recognized him told him enough to be sure in his assessment.

  Of course, that didn’t mean he was correct, or that Elder Yue would accept it even if he was. In fact, she might even agree that he was an acceptable target.

  “I see,” the woman with all the cards in her hands murmured. She gave him one last look before turning back to his mother, who was waiting silently for her judgment.

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