"Simple," Vale said. "They asked to remain anonymous."
"So who was it—Lional Ota or Marcelo Bordeaux?" Iris asked, crossing her legs and leaning in.
Vale winced, nearly choking on her tea as she coughed. "What? How do you know those names?"
"It's no secret. The names of the contestants are public knowledge," Iris replied. "But I couldn't help noticing—every contestant showed up on the broadcast at least once, except for those two. Surely, it had to be one of them who won. The broadcast cut out, but I doubt that stopped the trials from continuing."
Vale sat silently as the events of that night played out once more in her mind. She was the only one who had witnessed the final battle between Lionel and Marcelo. She could still hear the sinister laughter echoing behind Marcelo as he was chased through the swamp by shadows. The cadence of water splashing and rustling leaves almost suppressed his heavy breaths.
And then, silence.
That eerie, suspended moment when both men stood facing each other. And then—light. Their powers had erupted with such intensity, it was like staring straight into the rising sun.
"Nevertheless," Vale finally said, her voice composed but firm, "as I stated, the winner asked to remain anonymous. And I will uphold that request."
Iris clicked her pen closed. "I see. Well, if you're not allowed to tell me, that's perfectly fine. I can respect tasteful discretion." She set her notepad aside and leaned back in her chair. "Now that the headline's out of the way… just how well did you know the Bordeauxs?" Uncrossing her legs, she settled into a more relaxed position.
Vale raised an eyebrow, her expression cool. "Ah, yes. Your true line of inquiry. She paused for a beat. "How is it you know of the Bordeauxs specifically?"
"As I said, they're one of the oldest families in the kingdom," Iris answered. "Maybe not the wealthiest, but certainly one of the most storied. And I take pride in knowing my history."
Without a word, Vale cast a glance toward Callum. He gave a small nod before quietly excusing himself, leaving the two women alone.
"Good day, Ms. St. Claire," Callum said as he walked to the door. "I'll be outside."
Waiting until he crossed the threshold of her home, Iris replied, "Good day to you as well, Mr. Callum."
As the door shut behind him, something struck Callum—he'd never told her his name. Only Vale and a few of those in the need-to-know knew that information.
"Who told you his name?" Vale asked, masking her suspicion behind a calm tone.
Iris smiled smugly.
"What's your real angle? What are you after?"
"The truth," Iris said simply, disarming Vale's growing unease. "The Underground Parish is dedicated to uncovering the unspoken truths of Meteor Kingdom. My readers and I don't care for whatever's spoon-fed to the public because an entire ladle of the truth would be too much for them to swallow. We want the whole pitcher—so we can pour it out at our own pace and savor knowing that we, a niche community, see more than most."
Vale took a moment to process things. Then, she crossed her arms, her stress giving way to a smile. "I get it. You and your readers are just conspiracists chasing the next fantasy. I've heard about people like that, but this is the first I've ever met one."
"We prefer the term gatekeepers," Iris said matter-of-factly. "Conspiracists make us all sound a little… not right in the head—like a cult."
Vale's demeanor shifted, finally allowing herself to relax. While her guard remained, she seemed more open now, more willing to share—at least, the non-confidential bits.
"I knew the Bordeauxs," she began in a contemplative tone. "Mona Bordeaux, along with another close friend of ours and her father, brought me to the kingdom when I was still just a little girl. Of course, Mona wasn't a Bordeaux at the time. We all met Marcelo in our teenage years, and she and Marcelo only grew closer from there."
Vale's tone shifted slightly, quieter.
"I, on the other hand, started living a very different life. The government saw fit to have what they called a special entity like myself enrolled in private education once the public became aware of my abilities. From that point on, my life grew far too busy, and my interactions with the group grew few and far between."
She paused, her tongue brushing briefly across the inside of her cheek as she searched for the right words.
"I never even got to meet their son. Bless his soul."