The Private Audience
The Holy Church delegation summoning me for a private meeting was, frankly, not welcome news at all. A private meeting. The very words carried an ominous weight. This came right after they had tested Aria. The mark of the Black Moon had been revealed on Professor Beltran’s body, and Priest Rowen had vanished following the Central Sealed Area incident. Under these circumstances, the Holy Church requesting a private audience with me could not possibly be good.
“Denied,” Rhea Silverrian declared first. Her voice was cold, her answer curt. Few people could speak to the Holy Church delegation that way in the middle of the corridor. Without the title of Third Princess of the Empire, those words would have been a direct political provocation. Even now, they were provocation enough.
High Priestess Eline regarded Rhea calmly. “Your Highness. We have no intention of interrogating Kyle Diaren.”
“That’s what people who intend to interrogate someone always say.”
“We must verify the possibility of internal fractures within the Holy Church and the Black Moon’s involvement.”
“Why must that verification be done alone with Kyle?”
Eline’s gaze turned quietly toward me. “Because he knows the term ‘original work.’”
The air in the corridor froze. I swallowed a curse. They were probing directly. I still didn’t know how much the Holy Church delegation truly understood, but it was clear they hadn’t simply overlooked the word “original work.” If the traces left by Priest Rowen, Professor Beltran Ross, and the Black Moon truly connected to the inner circles of the Church, then someone of Eline’s rank could not possibly be ignorant.
Rhea’s eyes grew colder. “Where did you hear that word?”
“The Holy Church’s forbidden archives.” Eline did not hide it. “The Church has long held records concerning the ‘flow of narrative.’ Though not part of official doctrine, the concept repeatedly appears in records of heretical research and sealed documents.”
Noel’s eyes gleamed violet. “Oh, the forbidden archives. How intriguing.”
Siella shot Noel a sidelong glance. “Is this really the time to be intrigued?”
“When else would I be?”
“For the rest of your life, perhaps.”
Noel laughed, though the sound was thinner than usual. Even she was tense. Aria stared silently at High Priestess Eline, her expression complicated. The respected elder of the Holy Church. The examiner who had recognized her as a saintess candidate. And now that same person wished to meet Kyle in private. Caught between them, Aria wavered—yet she did not step back this time either.
“Your Eminence,” Aria said quietly. “If this is to be a private meeting, then I will attend as well.”
Eline’s eyes moved to her. “Why?”
“Kyle has just been targeted by a Black Moon spell. A confirmation of his sacred stability is necessary.”
“As his healer?”
“Yes.” Aria glanced at me for the briefest moment before adding, “And as a saintess candidate.”
Eline’s expression shifted slightly. Aria had placed the title of saintess candidate at the forefront herself—something the old Aria would never have done. She had always been crushed beneath that name, yet now she did not avoid it. After studying Aria for a long while, Eline nodded.
“Very well. Aria Elowen’s attendance is permitted.”
“I will attend as well,” Rhea said immediately.
Eline looked at her. “If Your Highness joins us, the meaning of a private meeting becomes rather diluted.”
“Kyle is under imperial protection.”
“This may involve internal Church information.”
“If it concerns the Black Moon, the imperial family is also a concerned party.”
Their gazes clashed—quiet, yet sharp. Political phrases passed between them. One side invoked the Church’s internal authority; the other asserted the imperial family’s right to protect and investigate. My own position, caught between them, was simple: I wanted to run. But of course, I could not.
Siella tapped her scabbard. “I’ll stand guard outside.”
All eyes turned to her. She spoke briefly. “If everyone goes in, it will only increase the danger. Someone needs to watch the outside.”
Rhea regarded Siella for a moment. “Reasonable.”
“Being praised by Your Highness feels strange.”
“Shall I take it back?”
“I already heard it.”
These two were changing, little by little. They still clashed, yet neither sought to completely push the other away anymore. After B-7, and after the recent clash between crown and sword, they had each begun to acknowledge the other’s vulnerabilities—just a little.
Edan spoke as well. “I will stand guard outside too.”
I looked at him. “You don’t need to come in with us?”
“I would like to, but I think it would be better if I didn’t.” He glanced at High Priestess Eline, then at me, then at Aria. “Confirming what the Church wishes to ask Kyle is important, but there is also the possibility that another spell is already active outside.”
Noel raised her hand. “I want to go in.”
Siella answered at once. “You stay outside.”
“Why?”
“If you go in, this won’t be a meeting—it’ll be a dissection.”
“That’s harsh. Call it observation, at least.”
“Even worse.”
High Priestess Eline looked at Noel and said, “Student Ignis may attend.”
Siella frowned. “Are you certain?”
“We may require interpretation of forbidden texts and spells. Besides, she already seems to know a great deal.”
Noel smiled brightly. “You have a keen eye, Your Eminence.”
“It was not a compliment.”
“How disappointing.”
In the end, the attendees were decided: High Priestess Eline, myself, Aria, Rhea, and Noel. Siella and Edan would stand guard outside. The young priests and holy knights of the delegation secured the corridor beyond. We entered a temporary conference room at the western end of the corridor.
It was a small room with no windows. A single round table stood at its center. White cloth embroidered with the Holy Church’s emblem hung on the walls, and a faint sacred lamp glowed from the ceiling. The moment the door closed, Noel muttered under her breath.
“Hmm. Soundproofing spell, external surveillance blocked, two recording stones, and one hidden detection spell. Nothing suspicious—at least not yet.”
Eline spoke quietly. “Very much like a student of the magic department.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“It is not.”
“Hearing it a second time wounds me.”
Noel did not look wounded in the slightest. I took a seat. Aria sat naturally to my right. Rhea sat to my left—also far too naturally. Noel sat across from me, resting her chin on her hand. High Priestess Eline regarded me from beyond the table.
“Kyle Diaren.”
“Yes.”
“Are you aware that you were originally fated to die?”
The first question struck hard. Aria’s hands twitched on her lap. Rhea stared at Eline without changing expression. Noel’s eyes sparkled. I swallowed a sigh.
“I am aware, to some extent.”
“How did you come to know this?”
“It is difficult to explain.”
“Did you glimpse the future?”
“It is similar, but not entirely accurate.”
“Is it memory?”
I fell silent. This question was difficult to evade. Did Eline also know I was a possessor? Rowen had known. Beltran’s projection had known to some degree. If records existed in the Church’s forbidden archives, then Eline had likely considered the possibility as well. I answered carefully.
“I know the flow of a certain story that this world is meant to follow.”
Eline closed her eyes, then opened them again. “I see.”
She accepted it far too easily. That only made me more uneasy.
“You are not surprised?”
“Similar records exist in the forbidden archives. Heretical interpretations suggesting the world possesses a narrative structure. Key figures are assigned roles, and those who deviate from their roles are corrected.”
Noel cut in. “What is the title of that record?”
“Remnants of a Throne-less Narrative.”
Noel’s eyes gleamed brighter. “I’ve never heard that title before.”
“It is a forbidden text not disclosed outside the Church.”
“Can I borrow it?”
“Impossible.”
“I suppose I’ll have to steal a look, then.”
“Noel, senior,” Aria said softly.
“It was a joke. Mostly.”
Eline ignored Noel and continued to watch me. “According to those records, the world seeks to maintain its flow. Yet those who strive to preserve that flow are not necessarily benevolent.”
“Is that what the Black Moon is?”
“The Black Moon are those who have made the flow into their faith.” Eline’s voice lowered. “They use the term ‘original work.’ However, the original work they speak of is not divine revelation. It is merely a human interpretation of the flow. They have absolutized that interpretation, and as a result, they have come to see people only as roles.”
I regarded her quietly. It was somewhat unexpected. I had thought the Holy Church delegation would brand me a dangerous variable. Instead, Eline was drawing a distinction between the Black Moon and themselves.
“Does that mean the Holy Church is different from the Black Moon?” Rhea asked.
Eline did not answer immediately. “There are fractures within the Church as well.”
At those words, Aria’s expression hardened. Eline looked at her. “Priest Rowen and Beltran Ross are part of those fractures. And deeper still, there are those who have accepted the flow as their faith.”
“Meaning there are more Black Moon collaborators inside the Church,” Rhea said.
“Yes.”
The room fell silent. Aria asked in a low voice, “Did Your Eminence know?”
Eline’s expression wavered for the first time. “I suspected.”
“And confirmation?”
“I obtained it today.”
Aria’s hands clenched into fists. “Then why did you not tell me?”
“To protect you.”
“You hid it to protect me?” Aria’s voice was gentle, yet the pain within it was unmistakable. Eline remained silent. Aria continued, “Everyone hides things to protect me, makes decisions to protect me, tries to keep me ignorant to protect me. Yet I am a saintess candidate. If I remain ignorant of everything, then whenever someone is hurt, I will only be too late again.”
I looked at Aria. This was the first time she had directly questioned a decision of the Holy Church. Eline seemed to understand that as well.
“Aria Elowen.”
“Yes.”
“You have changed.”
“If that is so,” Aria drew a small breath, “then whether this change is for ill or good, I will be the one to judge.”
Eline’s gaze deepened. After a long moment, she nodded. “Very well.”
Aria’s eyes widened slightly. Eline reached into her robes and withdrew a small white envelope bearing the highest seal of the Holy Church. “This is the true purpose of our meeting.” She placed the envelope on the table. “A portion of the forbidden archives has been opened. More precisely, a seal that should never have been broken was undone by someone.”
Noel’s expression grew serious. “Which records are missing?”
“Three volumes,” Eline said, opening the envelope and removing the document within. “First, The Genealogy of the Villain Who Must Die.”
I held my breath.
“Second, The Saintess’s Choice and Collapse.”
Aria’s face turned pale.
“Third.” Eline looked at me. “The Scene Where the Protagonist Breaks.”
Rhea’s eyes turned icy. Noel swore under her breath. I felt the tips of my fingers grow cold. Now I understood what the Black Moon had stolen. They had taken the records concerning my death. The records concerning Aria’s choice. And the records concerning Edan’s downfall. It was the order of their coming attacks.
Eline spoke. “Kyle Diaren. The Black Moon has chosen a method far more dangerous than simply killing you.”
“What do you mean?”
“While you remain alive, they intend to break the major figures of the original work, one by one.”
The air in the room grew heavy. Eline’s voice dropped lower still. “And their first target is likely Edan Gray.”
I clenched my teeth. As expected. The protagonist’s choice. It was not yet over. On the contrary, it was only beginning now.
At that moment, the sound of a sword being drawn came from beyond the door. Siella’s voice followed.
“Step back.”
Then came Edan’s low voice. “Do not approach Kyle.”
We rose from our seats as one. An unfamiliar voice spoke from outside.
“I have merely come to deliver a letter.”
Noel checked the detection spell on the door and said, “No trace of the Black Moon. But… something’s strange.”
“What is it?” I asked.
Noel narrowed her eyes. “That person isn’t an academy student.”
Rhea opened the door. A man in a black courier uniform stood in the corridor. He bowed politely and held out a black envelope bearing my name. Upon the envelope was written a single line:
To Kyle Diaren.
I accepted the envelope. The moment I opened it, a single black rose petal fell out. And the instant I read the first line of the letter, my heart sank.
If you wish to save Edan Gray, come alone to the Rose Garden tonight.
—
I folded the letter. Aria grasped my hand. “Kyle.”
Rhea’s eyes turned cold, and Siella gripped her scabbard tightly. Though Edan had not seen the letter, my expression alone seemed to tell him something was wrong.
“What does it say?”
I could not answer. The Black Moon knew exactly how to isolate me. It was not by summoning me alone—but by making me want to go alone.