Then, in a low croak, he said,
"Belladonna's Embrace destroyed this vase."
Nila's breath hitched slightly.
Yvonne—the thing in her—noticed immediately.
What is this old fool jabbering on about? she wondered.
The cloaked figure did not move.
Neither did his shadow.
For a moment, even the air seemed unsure whether to continue.
Then the croaking voice returned—lower this time, almost reluctant.
"Belladonna's Embrace… destroyed this vase."
A pause followed.
Not silence.
Something heavier than silence.
Something shifted.
Not in the room.
In the people.
Eyes that had been aimless a second ago began to settle.
Not on the vase. Not on the cloaked figure.
On Nila.
Slowly.
Unwillingly.
Like recognition dragged them by the throat.
No one spoke.
No one dared to confirm it first.
But the thought had already arrived in every mind:
That name… so that was the true nature of Nila's power.
They had known she broke the vase—had nearly killed Yvonne.
They thought it a harmless use of nightmare. A taunt.
But Belladonna's Embrace was magic not seen in ages.
Very dangerous.
Very sinister.
It weaponized fears, phobias, and nightmares—
turning them into poisonous energy that tortured before the kill,
draining the life force from its victims with their own fears.
They were looking at Nila
like she had just been correctly identified as something dangerous.
Something known.
Something unfortunate.
Her posture did not change.
But the space around her did.
A long beat passed.
No one moved to fill it.
Even Lord Idano hesitated longer than expected before speaking again.
"Thank you, Wise One. You may leave now," Lord Idano said. Even he was confused, but a second question was not worth the risk.
"So eager you are for me to leave."
The cloaked figure's shadow hovered close to Lord Idano's own.
"Do you now recognize whom you seek?" he asked, his voice echoing like a thousand whispers.
Lord Idano raised his chin slightly.
"Of course not, Wise One. I don't mean to trouble you fu—"
"Foolish boy! You could've asked!"
The croak came out patchy, like speaking through a sore throat.
Idano is definitely pissed, damn,
Yvonne thought, subduing her laughter.
She bowed her head to hide her expression.
When she looked up, Idano was glaring at her.
Well, what is he looking at me for? she wondered.
Oh.
I get it now.
"O Wise One, pray tell—who is Belladonna's Embrace?"
She dropped to her knees, her head bowed low.
Her body grew cold suddenly, as though she stood near ice.
As she turned, a gasp escaped her lips—her eyes widening.
The cloaked figure had appeared behind her.
How did he move so quickly?
But something felt off.
No one reacted.
No one even seemed to notice.
She glanced around—the others still faced the vase, occasionally glancing at Nila.
She looked again.
Behind her. In front. Behind again.
No one reacted.
They can't see him.
Her heart raced.
Her body grew colder with fear.
The second cloaked figure beside her was more expressive.
It stared at her—watching.
Its breath smelled like orchids—sweet, almost gentle… but wrong in a way she couldn't place.
Its skin sagged with age.
"The coals of truce will reveal the truth."
Both figures—the one before the vase and the one beside her—spoke in unison.
Even Lord Idano could not see the second figure.
A beat of silence followed—too short, too wrong.
What could this mean? Is it because—
"Very well. Bring the coals forward."
The order snapped her from her thoughts.
Lord Idano gestured to the guards, and they set the rectangular object before the kneeling Yvonne.
"Since both of you were involved with my vase, both of you must walk on the coals…"
He stared again—this time with anticipation.
This had been his handmaid's idea.
The cloth was removed.
Red, ghoulish coals sat on a metal platform, pulsing with energy.
Menacing.
The air filled instantly with the smell of decaying flesh.
The maids gagged.
Yvonne didn't hesitate.
She had suggested this in the first place.
Though the real Yvonne would be furious when she woke to find burnt flesh.
Nila stepped forward too—undeterred.
Not reacting.
Not denying.
Just waiting.
She's really determined to push through this, huh?
The first step from both women drew gasps.
A sharp sizzle followed.
The coals pulsed—swelling slightly.
Feeding on more than flesh.
The burns paled in comparison to what lay beneath.
Yvonne yelped.
The heat was worse than she had expected.
Then, to everyone's surprise, she hurried across—
hopping from one foot to the other.
Almost running.
It looked almost comical.
But no one laughed.
They only stared as she reached the other end, panting, clutching her charred feet.
The cloaked figure watched her.
The second one moved closer—sitting beside her.
She pretended not to notice.
Things were strange enough already.
All heads turned to Nila.
Yvonne couldn't help but admire her grit.
Nila hadn't screamed.
Not once.
But her steps were slow.
Each one slower than the last.
She used her Malo to heal the burns—
but it drained her life force faster.
No one spoke.
There was nothing left to fear. Nothing for her powers to use.
No phobias.
No nightmares.
Only her own.
And they were draining her.
The coals fed on her life force too—
growing larger with every pause.
She didn't know how long she could endure.
She had wanted to conserve energy—for what came next. The truce.
Another step.
Sizzle.
It healed—slower this time.
Her face flushed. Sweat gathered along her neck and chin.
Another step.
The air grew thick—damp with unnatural heat.
This is it, Nila thought.
The true trial has begun… and I haven't even finished the first.
Only three more steps.
Everyone watched.
Their breaths grew heavy. The air thickened.
The next step—
Something went wrong.
The coals burst—
a violent pulse of green light.
Nila screamed.
Loud. Raw.
She collapsed onto the burning coals,
unable to hold herself up.
The sizzling intensified.
The coals swelled greedily.
Above her, a green light began to form.
Nila felt it before she saw it.
She closed her eyes.
And surrendered.
Completely.
Nothing but surrender.
Total surrender.