Deep inside Blackbone Shelter...
Far away from the lively streets and noisy marketplace...
A hidden chamber lay beneath the Citadel.
The room was carved directly into the mountain itself.
Thick stone walls prevented sound from escaping.
Several glowing crystals illuminated the chamber with a dim crimson light.
A heavy iron table stood at the center.
Around it sat only two people.
Cynthia.
And Philip.
The moment the stone door slid shut behind them, the cold expression Cynthia had maintained during the meeting completely disappeared.
Hatred replaced it.
Pure hatred.
Philip quietly observed her.
"So..."
"...everything went according to plan?"
Cynthia slowly nodded.
"Better than expected."
Philip smiled faintly.
"Nora accepted."
"Of course she did."
Cynthia's voice remained calm.
"I already knew she would."
Philip folded his arms.
"You seem very confident."
"I am."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then Philip finally asked the question that had been bothering him.
"Do you honestly believe those Awakened from Gold steel Shelter can kill her?"
Cynthia remained silent.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the stone table.
"No."
Philip blinked.
"No?"
She shook her head.
"They're merely insurance."
Philip frowned.
"Then what exactly is your plan?"
A cold smile slowly appeared on Cynthia's face.
"The Gold steel Awakened aren't the real threat."
"They're simply there to create chaos."
"They'll exhaust her."
"Injure her."
"Force her to reveal every ability she possesses."
She leaned back.
"And once she's vulnerable..."
"...I'll finish the job myself."
Philip looked surprised.
"You intend to interfere personally?"
Cynthia nodded without hesitation.
"I've waited an entire year."
"I'm not leaving anything to chance."
Philip sighed.
"I still don't understand."
"What exactly did that girl do to deserve this?"
The question caused Cynthia's expression to harden.
She slowly closed her eyes.
"When I first awakened..."
"...I was supposed to become Father's successor."
"My talent exceeded everyone else's."
"My control over fire and flowers"
"My cultivation."
"My Legacy."
"I surpassed every expectation."
She opened her eyes again.
"Then Rose appeared."
Philip remained silent.
"Everyone praised her."
"They called her a genius."
"They compared us constantly."
Cynthia's fists slowly tightened.
"I endured it."
"I accepted it."
"I even convinced myself it didn't matter."
Her voice became colder.
"Then Nora arrived."
"Within months..."
"...Father smiled more at her than he ever smiled at me."
Philip lowered his head.
"So this is jealousy."
Cynthia laughed.
"No."
"This stopped being jealousy a long time ago."
"It became something much deeper."
Philip didn't interrupt.
Cynthia slowly stood.
"I don't care if Rose becomes stronger."
"I don't care if Nora becomes stronger."
"But I refuse..."
"...to spend my entire life standing in someone else's shadow."
Silence filled the room.
Finally Philip asked quietly,
"And Nora?"
Cynthia looked toward the ceiling.
"Nora is unfortunate."
Philip frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't actually hate her."
Philip looked confused.
"Then why involve her?"
Cynthia sighed softly.
"Because Rose was the one who brought Nora here."
"If Nora dies..."
"...everyone will blame Rose."
Her eyes became frighteningly calm.
"She'll lose Father's trust."
"She'll lose her reputation."
"And eventually..."
"...she'll destroy herself."
Philip stared at her for a long moment.
"You've planned this for a year..."
Cynthia nodded.
"Every possibility."
"Every outcome."
"I've considered all of them."
Philip slowly stood as well.
"There is still one problem."
Cynthia looked toward him.
"Nora is a Seer."
"Her visions make her unpredictable."
"What if she already knows?"
For the first time...
Cynthia smiled confidently.
"I know."
Philip blinked.
"You know?"
"Of course."
"That's why she'll never suspect the true danger."
She walked toward the chamber's only window.
Beyond it, the endless wilderness stretched toward the distant Misty Mountains.
"Seers are strongest when facing certainty."
"They become weakest..."
"...when facing countless possibilities."
Philip slowly understood.
"So the Gold steel Awakened..."
"...are merely distractions."
Cynthia nodded.
"They're pieces on the board."
"The real move comes later."
She looked toward the distant mountains.
"The abyss Nora keeps seeing..."
"...isn't just a vision."
Philip's expression changed.
"You know about that?"
"I overheard her speaking with Rose."
"So..."
"...she's already seen part of it."
A strange smile appeared on Cynthia's face.
"But she doesn't know what waits at the bottom."
Silence followed.
Philip couldn't help asking,
"What exactly is inside that abyss?"
For several seconds...
Cynthia said nothing.
Finally...
She answered.
"Something even I wouldn't dare fight."
Philip felt a chill crawl across his spine.
"And we're sending them there?"
"No."
Cynthia corrected calmly.
"They're choosing to go."
She looked directly at Philip.
"That's the difference."
Philip remained silent.
After a long pause, he nodded.
"I'll inform Gold steel Shelter."
"They already know their role."
Cynthia nodded once.
"Good."
Philip walked toward the exit before suddenly stopping.
He turned around one last time.
"If Rose survives this..."
"...what then?"
Cynthia didn't hesitate.
"Then I'll simply prepare another trap."
"The world is dangerous."
"People die every day."
She smiled.
"And accidents..."
"...are surprisingly common."
Philip stared at her for several moments before leaving the chamber.
The heavy stone door closed behind him.
Cynthia remained alone.
She slowly looked toward the Misty Mountains once more.
Her crimson eyes reflected the distant peaks.
"Enjoy your journey, Rose."
"It'll be your last."
Far away...
Completely unaware of the conspiracy slowly tightening around her...
Nora studied the expedition map beneath the afternoon sun.
The pieces were already moving.
Neither side realized...
That Fate itself had prepared a player neither of them expected.