Finally, Adam's eyes lifted, meeting Nephis' unwavering gaze. "So… you are planning a coup?" His voice was firm, harder than before, though still tempered with gentleness.
Nephis did not flinch. If anything, her gaze sharpened. "I plan to bring salvation to all who deserve it. In this case, those willing to fight for it. And tell me—do you believe Gunlaug does not deserve death? His hands are far bloodier than Tessai's. Why hesitate now?"
Adam stiffened slightly at the mention of Tessai, his fingers tightening minutely over the cross. Sunny felt the shift rather than saw it, his body instinctively lowering and coiling, ready to dodge or react to any sudden aggression. Sasrir, ever silent, had frozen in place; the shadows around his shoulders stopped fidgeting, sculpted into something cold and still. But the worst didn't happen, because Kai intervened.
"Lady Changing Star, please do not be so rash," Kai said firmly, his voice carrying both admiration and reproach. His eyes were no longer bright with curiosity; they were serious, almost grim. "The death of Tessai… though I struggle to find the right word, it was a coincidence."
Sunny repeated the word quietly under his breath, confused. "A coincidence?"
Kai's gaze softened, but his words were precise. "Yes. It occurred without ulterior motive or a broader agenda. It only happened because I requested assistance for a friend. Adam and Sasrir do not condone violence against their fellow man, even if they are men in name only. Furthermore, your plan will inevitably lead to more deaths than just Gunlaug's. How will the Castle respond to the violent demise of its Lord? Can you shoulder the consequences of that chaos?"
Nephis listened without interruption, her posture calm, her expression unreadable. Sunny could not tell whether she was processing, ignoring, or simply planning her next move. Her voice finally cut through the tense air, soft but unyielding. "Who says it needs to be violent?"
She turned her silver-gray gaze toward Adam. "You are close to him, yes? He does not trust you, but he underestimates you. Surely there is a moment when his guard is down—a drink, a meal… some opportunity that requires subtlety, not open conflict."
Adam's frown deepened, his fingers tightening slightly over the cross again. "He has a Transcendent armour and weaponry," he said quietly, but firmly, displeasure evident in his tone. "He never takes it off, and can create any weapon he wants instantly. There is nothing any of us hold that could properly harm him, let alone kill him. It would take a miracle—a literal impossibility."
Nephis' lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze unwavering. "Then I will create that miracle."
Her declaration hung in the air, heavy and defiant. Even Sunny and Cassie were struck silent, staring at her with a mix of awe, disbelief, and apprehension. But Adam, calm and composed as ever, regarded her with a new intensity. His face showed no anger, only something heavier—a combination of disappointment, exasperation, and… caution.
"That is enough, Lady Changing Star." His voice, though still respectful, was curt, leaving no room for argument. "I will not deny your good deeds, and I will be the first to admit I want the people to regain their spark. But if the price is treachery and bloodshed, I am not interested in paying it. Not a word of this conversation will leave our lips. But if you seek co-conspirators for your plan, you will have to find them elsewhere."
With that, Adam stood. His movements were measured, deliberate, as if the weight of his principles guided every step. Sasrir followed immediately, his shadowy form gliding silently behind him like a living darkness. Kai lingered a fraction longer, giving one last look at Nephis—a gaze filled with unspoken regret, disappointment, and a flicker of expectation. Then he too departed, leaving the room empty except for the echo of their footsteps.
Sunny exhaled sharply, the tension in his chest easing slightly though his heart still pounded like a drum. His mind was a storm of furious thoughts. He gave Nephis a dark, accusing look, but said nothing. Without another word, he rose and strode out of the half-ruined house.
Cassie glanced up at his retreating figure, opening her mouth as if to speak, but no words came. Changing Star remained seated, her composure unbroken, chin propped on her hand, eyes distant yet calculating, as though already plotting how to supplement Adam's role in their plan.