The golden glow of the Mana Oath Contract faded, leaving a heavy silence in the air.
I leaned back in my chair, folding my arms. The contract was active. If I told a direct lie, the mana tied to me would react and expose me. But telling the truth didn't mean I had to reveal every secret I had — I just had to avoid lying.
The Archivist placed both hands flat on the desk, the messenger girl's face wearing a calm, sharp smile.
"Let us start with something simple," the Archivist spoke, their voice echoing through the library.
"You walk into my Shadow Market with High-VIP status from House Celestial, but you act like a trained criminal. You know secrets about my private vaults and the boy inside that even my most officers don't know."
The Archivist leaned forward, locking eyes with me.
"First question," the Archivist said, their voice clear in the quiet library. "Are you here tonight on House Celestial's orders, or are you acting alone for your own reasons?"
