The room was quiet.
Only the faint hum of the suppression runes broke the silence, their glow dim but unyielding.
Milly's breathing was shallow, her eyes half-open.
She had lost count of how long she'd been restrained here minutes, hours, maybe more.
Her body refused to move, her magic was sealed, and even her thoughts felt heavy.
She tried again to pull her hand free, but the runes tightened instantly, sending a burning sensation through her veins.
"Damn it…" she whispered weakly.
The door creaked open.
Soft footsteps echoed across the chamber floor.
The Sage entered, his cloak brushing against the stone as he approached.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
In his right hand, he carried something that shimmered faintly a small pink crystal, glowing with an unnatural light.
Milly's eyes flickered toward it.
That color… that energy… something deep inside her stirred something old, something fearful.
The Sage stopped a few feet away.
"You've been difficult, Miss Mila," he said quietly. "Even my control spells couldn't break through your mind. But perhaps this will."
She frowned weakly. "What… is that…?"
He lifted the crystal, letting it catch the torchlight.
"A relic from a forgotten era," he said. "They say it was once used to suppress divine beings… or command them."
Milly's heart dropped.
A faint ringing filled her ears. "No… don't"
"Enough." The Sage pressed the crystal forward.
The pink light expanded slow at first, then pulsing outward like a heartbeat.
Milly's breath hitched.
Her body froze completely, the air around her shimmering.
"What… what is this feeling…?" she gasped, her golden eyes widening in horror as her chest burned from the inside out.
Her pulse raced, her vision distorted.
The crystal's glow reflected in her pupils and then her irises began to change.
Gold shifted to pink.
Her gaze turned blank.
Her body went still.
The Sage exhaled softly, lowering his hand. "Good," he murmured. "It worked."
He leaned closer, studying her face now emotionless, obedient, quiet.
"Now tell me, Mila," he said calmly, "what are you truly hiding from us?"
Milly's lips parted slightly, her tone hollow and distant.
"I… am… not… human…"
The Sage's eyes widened slightly.
"What are you then?"
She blinked slowly, the crystal's reflection still burning in her eyes.
"I… don't remember…"
The Sage straightened, his expression unreadable.
But behind his calm gaze was a spark of fascination and fear.
He turned away, muttering, "So it's true… there was something buried deep inside you…"
Milly remained motionless, still staring blankly ahead her entire body glowing faintly with pink energy.
When the Sage left the chamber, the door closed behind him with a dull echo.
Silence returned.
Then, deep inside her mind past the layers of control a faint whisper echoed.
"Milly… resist…"
Her pupils flickered pink turning, for just an instant, back to gold.