Chapter 313: A Golden Mystery



In an empty void where darkness reigned supreme, an eerie silence blanketed the realm, broken only by the faint, almost imperceptible hum of the abyss.

A woman sat upon a dark throne, her figure draped in an ethereal shadow that seemed to meld with the surrounding void.

Her posture was one of casual dominance, her legs elegantly crossed as her head rested slightly to the side.

Her pale white hands, so unnaturally devoid of life they appeared almost translucent, slumped lazily over the throne’s armrests.

A tired sigh escaped her lips-not a sound, but an echo that rippled unnaturally through the void, warping the fabric of existence itself.

It was a sigh that shouldn’t have belonged to a being such as her.

Below her throne stretched an endless ocean of cold, inky black waters.

The surface shimmered faintly with distorted reflections, and the depths were alive with movement.

Abysmal creatures, their forms monstrous and incomprehensible, stirred restlessly beneath the surface.

Their growls and hisses reverberated in the stillness, yet no true sound could ever escape. Instead, their emotions rippled through the void in a symphony of empathic dread, their collective unease resonating with their creator’s dismay.

Despite this unsettling chorus, the darkness remained unbroken.

It was an endless abyss, an eternal night devoid of stars-except for one.

Before the woman, suspended in the air like a fragile hope against the overwhelming void, floated a solitary orb of light.

Its soft radiance was an affront to the oppressive darkness, a beacon of defiance that dared to shine where nothing else could.

[…Well played…]

The woman’s voice shattered the silence, her words fractured and distorted, as if reality itself struggled to contain her presence.

The space around her twisted with each syllable, trembling beneath the weight of her power.

[…Your spark may have been accepted… but his soul will eventually give in to the darkness….]

Her words hung in the air, an ominous proclamation that reverberated deep into the void.

The orb of light pulsed gently, its glow intensifying for a fleeting moment, as if it sought to respond.

But no voice followed.

It remained silent, resolute, refusing to give the woman the satisfaction of acknowledgment.

A faint smirk tugged at the corners of her lips, though it was more bitter than amused. Her pale hand rose, long, delicate fingers reaching toward the light.

With an almost casual flick of her wrist, the light began to fade, its brilliance consumed by the all-encompassing darkness.

The orb flickered once, twice, before it was snuffed out entirely, leaving no trace of its existence.

And then, as if nothing had ever disturbed the void, silence returned.

Her black eyes, deep and endless, like twin abysses threatening to swallow the light itself, narrowed slightly.

They flickered with an otherworldly gleam as she tilted her head ever so faintly upward. With a subtle gesture of her pale fingers, a holographic projection materialized before her, cutting through the oppressive darkness that surrounded her.

The display rippled and shimmered before solidifying into the sharp, youthful features of a young man—a face she had come to know well, one that had piqued her interest beyond her initial expectations.

‘Riley Hell.’

The anomaly she had marked.

The one she needed.

Her gaze lingered on the projection, taking in every detail of his expression.

The faint traces of determination in his eyes, the subtle creases of thought etched on his face – these were the qualities that had drawn her to him.

He was unlike any other, a disruption in the careful order of existence, a variable that even she, in her unfathomable wisdom, could not fully predict.

But now, there was a complication.

He had been blessed.

By her sister, no less-her absolute opposite, the embodiment of everything she despised.

The seed of light her sister had planted within him was already beginning to take root, its faint glow a taunting presence that threatened to bloom into a radiance she detested with every fiber of her being.

That light, that maddening authority she sought to twist and claim for herself, would slip further from her grasp with every moment it grew.

It should have enraged her.

The realization should have ignited a fury within her vast and incomprehensible soul, enough

to shake the very foundations of her dark domain.

And yet, as she stared at his image, the corner of her lips twitched.

Slowly, deliberately, the motion grew into a creeping smile-one that stretched unnaturally wide, curving from ear to ear.

Her razor-sharp teeth, formed from the essence of pure darkness, glinted faintly in the projection’s light.

It was a grotesque and predatory grin, one that held no warmth, only a chilling, boundless

hunger.

Despite her initial failure, a twisted sense of excitement swelled within her.

The thought that the light within him would grow stronger, brighter, until it became

something she could no longer ignore, was intoxicating.

She could already envision it-the day when that pure, unyielding light would reach its apex, standing in defiance of her darkness.

And that would be the moment she would savor most.

For when that time came, when his radiance was at its peak, she would delight in snuffing it

out.

To extinguish such brilliance with her own hands, to watch it crumble and succumb to her eternal void that would be the ultimate victory.

And when it all ends…. Her prize shall be claimed…

[You will be mine…]

Sophiel wandered aimlessly through the castle’s grand halls, her steps uncharacteristically

uncertain.

Her usual poise and calculated grace were nowhere to be seen as she paced back and forth, circling the same perimeter over and over.

The polished marble floors echoed softly beneath her boots, her movement a repetitive, restless rhythm that drew more attention than she likely intended.

This was not like her.

Sophiel prided herself on control-on maintaining a perfect, composed image for the world

to see.

Yet now, that carefully constructed facade was unraveling, her demeanor far too distracted,

even reckless.

The reason for her uncharacteristic behavior was simple, yet vexing.

“Riley Hell…”

The name slipped softly from her lips, almost like a secret she wasn’t quite ready to admit.

Her voice carried a faint edge of frustration, as though just saying his name was enough to unsettle her further.

Trailing silently behind her, Lumia, her ever-loyal maid and confidant, let out a quiet sigh.

Unlike her mistress, Lumia retained her composure, though a flicker of concern crossed her

face as she observed Sophiel’s behavior.

This wasn’t the Sophiel she knew.

Normally, Sophiel was deliberate with every move, every word-a masterful tactician who could balance the weight of her ambitions with the mask of an innocent noblewoman.

She had spent years honing that image, ensuring no one could see the sharp mind and calculated determination hidden beneath her gentle exterior.

But today, all of that seemed to crumble.

Not only was Sophiel acting strangely, but she was doing so publicly.

For someone who prided herself on maintaining a spotless reputation, this lapse in

composure was risky-dangerous, even.

Lumia’s sharp eyes scanned the hall as they walked.

The bustling palace was far from empty.

Servants bustled to and fro, their hurried steps and whispers filling the air.

A handful of high-ranking officials moved through the corridors, their sharp gazes flickering

toward Sophiel as they passed.

Though Lumia was a highly trained Shadow Knight, capable of masking her presence with an expertise few could rival, even she could not fully erase herself and her master in a setting like

this.

Using her abilities to remain unnoticed 24/7 was simply not practical, and in her current state, she wasn’t even allowed to try less she wants to attract the attention of the other shadow

knight’s around the palace.

The result? A number of people had already noticed her strange behavior.

From the way her pacing disrupted the natural flow of the corridor, to the faint crease of worry on her otherwise serene face, Sophiel was drawing attention.

While the sight of her acting so differently might make her appear naïve or overly pensive to

the casual observer, Lumia knew better.

Although Lumia had already failed to dissuade Sophiel earlier, she knew she had to remind

her mistress of what was at stake.

No matter how whimsical Sophiel had become, this behavior was dangerous, especially with

the many eyes and ears lurking within the palace walls.

“Y-Your Highness…” Lumia called hesitantly, her voice soft but firm.

However, before she could continue, Sophiel suddenly stopped pacing and stood upright, her

posture stiffening as if she had reached a silent decision.

“Lumia…”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Sir Riley. Where is he right now?”

Lumia blinked, startled by the sudden question.

“If he hasn’t left yet, he should still be in his room,” she replied after a moment, her tone

careful. “It’s still fairly early in the morning, so the chances of him being there are quite high -unless, of course, he’s gone out to train or has other duties. But considering the emperor personally asked him to rest and relax during his stay here at the imperial palace…” She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

Sophiel’s dark eyes narrowed slightly as she raised a hand to her chin, her fingers brushing

against her lips in thought.

Lumia’s nervousness grew as she watched her mistress quietly deliberate.

Ever since Riley had arrived at the palace-especially following his return from the Trials of Light-Sophiel’s behavior had grown increasingly erratic.

“Take me there, Lumia,”

Lumia tensed, her mind racing. Sophiel already knew where Riley’s room was, so there was no

need for her to request Lumia’s assistance.

Clearly, her mistress wasn’t planning to walk there directly but intended for Lumia to teleport

her using the shadows instead.

“I’m sorry, but that would be too dangerous, Your Highness,” Lumia protested gently.

“Didn’t Princess Snow already warn us last time not to-“

“Then just take me there silently,” Sophiel interrupted, her tone brooking no argument. “You

can still use stealth, can’t you?”

“That’s…” Lumia hesitated, torn between her duty to obey and her concern for the potential consequences.

Sophiel’s gaze locked onto her, steady and unyielding.

It wasn’t the gaze of someone whimsical or indecisive but of someone who had already made

up her mind. The weight of her orderly, commanding presence left Lumia with no room to argue further.

With a quiet sigh, Lumia gave in. Internally, she braced herself for whatever trouble this might lead to as she raised her hands, shadows swirling around her fingertips.

In an instant, the two of them were enveloped in darkness, the world around them melting

away into silence as Lumia activated her abilities.

…

As their surroundings shifted and solidified into the familiar sight of the hallway, they found themselves standing before Riley’s door.

Beads of sweat formed on Lumia’s forehead as she strained to maintain the shadows that

cloaked their presence.

Sophiel glanced at her maid, silently acknowledging the effort it took. Unlike the sanctuary’s entrance, where shadows naturally thrived, the outer palace was fortified with layers upon layers of protective magic.

It was a place designed to detect even the faintest disturbances.

Shadow Knights like Lumia were accustomed to these challenges, rotating shifts every few

hours to maintain their guises in such high-security areas.

Still, the limitations were clear-Lumia could only sustain their concealment for a few

precious minutes in such conditions. Sophiel, however, needed no more than that.

Her purpose here was singular: to confront Riley.

She needed answers to the questions that loomed in her mind and heart, the ones that refused

to let her rest.

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the master key she’d been entrusted with.

The key was technically Princess Snow’s, meant to be returned once Snow was back in the

palace.

But since Snow and Riley would soon be returning to the academy, she reasoned there was no

harm in keeping it to herself.

With a decisive click, she inserted the key into the lock.

But as she pushed on the door, her movements froze. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s… not locked?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

The door creaked open effortlessly.

That was strange.

Whether Riley was inside or not, the door was enchanted to automatically lock itself when

closed-a standard security measure in the imperial palace.

Behind her, Lumia’s eyes widened as well, her unease evident. “Your Highness, this is…

unusual,” she whispered, her voice laced with caution. Sophiel nodded, a flicker of impatience in her expression.

She understood the need for caution, but the growing tension gnawed at her.

Every second felt wasted, and she moved to push the door open immediately.

However, Lumia’s firm grip caught her right arm.

“Hm? What’s wrong, Lumia?” “Your Highness…. I think it’s best to remain vigilant.”

Sophiel furrowed her brow at the sudden shift in Lumia’s tone. “What do you mean?” she

asked, her gaze following Lumia’s line of sight to the door.

“The protection magic laid upon the door is gone…” Lumia said gravely, her narrowed eyes

scanning the faint magical traces around it.

Sophiel’s breath caught in her throat as her own senses confirmed Lumia’s claim. “What?” she

whispered, her expression tightening.

Layers upon layers of protective magic were etched into every part of the imperial palace,

especially doors leading to guest quarters.

These enchantments were designed to deter intrusions, detect intruders, and maintain

absolute security.

For the magic to be gone could mean only one thing: someone or something-powerful

enough had tampered with it.

Sophiel’s heartbeat quickened, her mind racing with possibilities. Who could have done this?

And why?

Filled with renewed caution, Sophiel slowly pushed the door open, her other hand already brimming with mana.

A chill emanated from her, and cold, purplish frost began to trail from her fingertips.

The air around her grew heavier, her mana spreading like a silent warning to anything within

the room.

The door creaked as it swung open, revealing the dim interior.

But before Sophiel could fully assess the situation, her gaze locked onto something-or

someone.

Her violet eyes widened in shock as they met another pair of eyes, glowing brightly with

golden light.

A shiver ran down her spine.

The golden gaze seemed to pierce through the darkness of the room, brimming with energy

and

intensity.

Sophiel’s breath hitched as a sense of overwhelming familiarity struck her. In that moment, the cold frost of her mana faltered slightly, melting into the air as she stood

frozen in place.

Lumia, sensing the sudden tension, took a step closer, her shadows still flickering around

them protectively.

In the center of the room, standing amidst the chaos near the large bedframe, was a girl whose beauty rivaled both Sophiel’s and her sister’s-an otherworldly and unnatural allure. Her golden eyes shimmered apathetically, carrying a faint glow that seemed to pierce

through Sophiel’s very being.

Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, catching the sunlight that spilled through the open balcony, creating an ethereal halo effect around her.

The room itself was in utter disarray, as if a violent explosion had erupted with the

mysterious girl at its epicenter.

Furniture was overturned, shards of glass glinted on the floor, and the once-pristine sheets of

the bed were now tangled and singed.

The air was thick with residual mana, crackling faintly as it lingered in the aftermath of

whatever had occurred.

“Who are you?”

She didn’t recognize the figure, and every alarm in her mind blared at the presence of this uninvited stranger.

Her instincts screamed danger.

The mana leaking from the girl was unlike anything she had encountered before.

It wasn’t just immense-it was oppressive, suffocating, and primal, as though the very air around the intruder bent to her will.

Sophiel’s fingers twitched slightly, ready to unleash her magic if needed.

But instead of offering the kind of reply Sophiel expected, the young woman seemed almost

disconnected from the confrontation.

She glanced around the room, her golden eyes sweeping over the destruction with a hint of

disinterest, as if she was only vaguely aware of the chaos surrounding her. Finally, her gaze returned to Sophiel, and she spoke, her voice soft yet chillingly direct.

“Where is Riley?”

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