The night had already settled when they crossed the limits of the county. The main street was illuminated by stones embedded along the path, emitting a constant and soft glow. For them, it was something unprecedented — they had never seen such an artifice before. The slightly bluish light reflected on the stone ground, guiding them to the inn, an old wooden building that exuded the smell of smoke, beer, and roasted meat, a typical refuge for travelers and mercenaries.
Upon pushing the door, they were received by the bustle. Men and women drank at oak tables stained by time; mugs clinked in noisy toasts, while some badly tuned bards risked a melody in the corner. Near the fireplace, a group of mercenaries rested after the journey, their weapons leaning against the wall, eyes evaluating every new face that entered.
It was then that the gate guard, seated among the customers, spotted Bríanna. Recognizing her immediately, he raised his hand in a flashy wave, inviting her, along with her companions, to join the table where he was.
Karna, noticing the gesture, frowned in disapproval, her lips curving into a half skeptical smile — not of amusement, but of silent alert. The others said nothing, just went ahead, indifferent to the tension that began to form in the air.
The guard opened a half embarrassed smile as Bríanna and the others approached. "Good that you made it… I forgot to mention where the meeting point would be, but luckily everything worked out."
Bríanna let slip a seductive smile, leaning slightly toward him. "I think it was fate trying to give us a chance. After the whole way here… because, just when we were heading toward the marquisate, we found a guard standing in the forest."
The man placed his hands over hers, a suggestive sparkle in his eyes. "Your brothers must be tired. Why don't they go up first? I already rented a room for them. Meanwhile, the two of us can continue the party upstairs… ah, but…" — his expression narrowed a bit — "last time, weren't there four?"
Bríanna averted her gaze toward the table. Her heart tightened. Ereon was not there. "Damn…" — she murmured, turning quickly to Kael. "It's impossible that you didn't notice where he went."
While Bríanna and the others were still adjusting to the situation in the inn… outside, Ereon was already moving away, leaving the group behind. The shadows stretched around him, as if obeying a silent call. He kept his steps firm. From the penumbra around his feet, dark rats emerged — creatures with vivid eyes, directly linked to his soul. "Spread out." — He ordered quietly.
The creatures obeyed immediately, sliding through the darkness, infiltrating the cracks of houses, alleys, and narrow passages. Their hurried steps traveled the underground, mapping every hidden corner of the county, until all converged on the same point: Brisa Dourada.
Ereon followed the call of his creations until reaching the most illuminated district of the city. There, a three-story mansion rose imposing, bathed in soft lights that tinged the walls in shades of amber and gold. Translucent silk curtains hung from the balconies, swaying like veils in the night wind. From the interior escaped a sweet melody of strings, mixed with contained laughter and soft voices that were lost in the night.
At the door, women in elegant and provocative attire — satin dresses fitted to the body, subtle necklines, jewelry that reflected the glow of the magical lamps — watched the street like hosts of a secret palace. Their gazes were silent promises, their postures rehearsed to seduce and enchant.
Brisa Dourada was not just a brothel, but a temple of temptation. Every detail, from the sweet perfume escaping through the windows to the gold of the letters on the delicately carved sign, conveyed the feeling of a luxurious refuge, where desires and secrets mingled in the shadow of the night.
Before approaching, Ereon remained motionless in the shadow of an alley. His eyes closed for a moment while waiting for the return of his creatures. One by one, the dark rats returned, dissolving into his cloak like fragments of the night itself, bringing with them the silent map of every corner of the brothel: corridors, halls, hidden doors.
Only when the last shadow had withdrawn, Ereon began to walk. The black cloak covered his face, and his steps were so light they seemed not to touch the ground.
The maids at the door, dressed in shimmering silks, noticed his approach. Their trained smiles faltered, surprised by the hooded figure. One of them opened her mouth to speak, but Ereon passed by them without a look, like a shadow that imposed itself alone.
At the instant the doors opened slightly, his voice sounded low and firm: "Inverted world."
The lights flickered immediately, blinking in an irregular rhythm. A shiver ran through the room, silencing conversations and laughter for an eternal second. Then everything returned to normal — except the atmosphere, which now seemed charged, as if the night itself had entered with him.
Ereon ascended silently through Brisa Dourada, his steps almost inaudible on the polished wooden floor. The lobby seemed smaller viewed from above, with amber lights reflecting on the walls and mirrors that multiplied the presence of customers and maids. Narrow stairs led to the upper floors, short corridors with reinforced wooden doors at regular intervals, some with small plaques or engraved names.
On the third floor, the corridor was silent. The air carried the subtle perfume of candles and night flowers. Ereon stopped before a solid door, of dark wood with simple black fittings, but well maintained. He heard a sweet voice from inside, calling someone, and remained still, absorbing every detail.
Selina heard a knock on the door and, assuming it was her maid, approached quickly and opened. "Nana!" — she called, expecting to find her there.
But, in front of her… there was no one. Turning to go to her table, a moment of confusion passed over her face. Then, her eyes caught the still figure by the window: silent, the cloak partially covering his face. Shock ran through her eyes; she didn't expect to find someone there.
In Ereon's perception, she stood out immediately: young, with a bold attitude, short black hair, expressive and lined eyes, firm and provocative body, dressed in a tight black dress that accentuated her silhouette. He absorbed just enough to register her presence.
The silence weighed on the corridor. The air seemed still, while her surprise grew — without realizing the threat approaching.
Ereon remained still, his eyes fixed on her. "It's been a year… how long, Selina?"
She stepped back, surprised, her breathing quickened. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
He took a step forward, almost silent. "Currently, I know the names of all the brothels… and that they act as an information guild. A year ago, Nika made a point of showing me all of them, the codes, the names used."
His face contorted in surprise. "Ereon? What are you doing here? I heard you were dead…"
Ereon remained still, absorbing the surrounding environment. "Selina… I am not here to recall the past. From now on, remember: I will be your judge, lawyer, and executioner. I am beginning your trial."
Selina stepped back, stumbling down the corridor, but Ereon followed slowly, unhurried, each step consuming the light around him. Upon reaching the hall, he noticed the customers acting normally, asking for help in vain — no one saw or heard her. She fell to her knees, terrified, realizing there was no escape.
From the second floor, Ereon spoke, firm and authoritative: "You must have realized… no one will listen to you. Everything that resides on this side is under my control. So tell me: what was the reason for your betrayal? And how many are there?"
A bitter laugh escaped Selina, trying to maintain a defiant posture. "Like mother, like son… speaking this way, It seems like I'm in front of Nika. You were there, saw how frightening an imperial archduke can be. When it was decided that he would participate in the war, we had already lost. I was going to join Nika that day, but Phoebrus came to me. He said it wouldn't make sense… our defeat was already guaranteed, and all the archduke wanted was the Nordic priestess."
Ereon interrupted, firm, stepping closer: "So it was Phoebrus… who told the count about Edda."
Selina averted her gaze for a moment, took a deep breath, and faced him again, head held high. "That… I don't know. There is much more than one can imagine."
She paused, as if to reveal something important. "Have you ever thought about it? You were left at Diana's house with this sword — and as you can see it's not at all common — and the priestess remained hidden all this time. When they entered the cabin, there were ancient inscriptions… that's how the girl managed to go unnoticed by Od's eyes…"
Ereon took another step, interrupting her, keeping his gaze firm. "It was Phoebrus who told you all of that."
Selina swallowed, but still kept a bitter smile. "Allow me to ask one last question before your verdict… do you remember how you escaped the archduke's pursuit?"
Ereon walked silently toward her, like a shadow approaching.
She stepped back, laughing nervously, almost hysterically. "The whole county can see the snow that fell to cover your tracks… and gained time for the priestess to be killed."
She paused, taking a deep breath, and the tone changed to something more serious, almost confessional. "And… there's more. Four pavilions betrayed Nika… and the woman who betrayed Diana is currently in the county. She is the countess. Be careful with her… she is a dangerous woman."
For a moment, her eyes shone with provocation. "I wonder: who really is yo…
Before she could finish, Ereon advanced with silent precision. A single strike. Her head rolled.
He spoke, cold and firm: "For the betrayal, I declare you guilty… and your sentence is death."
Then, in an almost inaudible tone, he said: "Puppet of the shadows… full moon."
His katana rose, as if cutting invisible threads in the air. Before sheathing it, he declared firmly: "Sudden death."
He walked slowly to the main door and, with a cutting voice, hissed: "Kai."
With this word, the inverted world that kept everything hidden dissolved. When this happened, only the heads of the customers and maids scattered on the floor were visible. The two women waiting at the door were terrified. Looking at Ereon, they realized they could not see his face — a shadow completely concealed him.
As he walked toward the darkness of the alleys, his low and firm voice completed: "When they ask what happened here, tell them the South remembers."
On the other side of the city, at the county mansion, darkness dominated everything. Sitting in his chair, only the red eye glowing in the dark revealed his presence. A dark force began to move around him, as if sensing imminent danger.
An authoritative voice cut the silence: "Looks like we have a rat among us."
A hesitant servant replied: "I don't understand… what do you mean by that? I didn't notice anything different in any of the districts."
The voice returned, firm and threatening: "That's exactly what makes him dangerous. Early tomorrow, send guards to the lower district, where the candidates are. If anyone seems suspicious… kill him."
Silence fell again in the room, heavy. The red eyes remained fixed in the darkness, attentive to every movement. A sense of imminent danger hung in the air, making the entire room seem enveloped by a silent shadow