Chapter 22: Why Reward Her
"Triss, what do you think you are right now?" Nairn suddenly asked, his voice calm, yet it caused Triss to tense up instantly.
She lowered her head and answered respectfully, "I am your servant, my Lord."
"No, I wasn't referring to that. Lift your head and let me look at you."
Nairn's voice was soft, but it carried a command that brooked no argument.
Triss's body trembled as she slowly lifted that face capable of toppling kingdoms. Her eyes were like deep pools, filled with fear, confusion, and a thirst for power that she hadn't even noticed herself.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nairn's fingertips lightly traced across the smooth mahogany tabletop, as if admiring a perfect piece of art. "This is a gift of power, and also the 'costume' for your future acting. But if you treat it merely as a piece of clothing, then you aren't far from losing control."
"What I want to tell you is something the Demoness Sect has always had you do, but never told you the real reason for—"
The "Acting Method."
"If you do not understand its true meaning, then one day—one day you might lose yourself completely and truly become one of those insane 'Demonesses'."
Triss's breath hitched.
"Acting Method..."
Triss's body stiffened; she recalled the "Demoness" curse Nairn had mentioned, the complete change in gender and the even more tragic fate that followed.
"Please... guide me."
Nairn leaned back into the soft sofa, his posture lazy and relaxed, as if he were telling a story that had nothing to do with him.
"The potion you drank is sequence 7, 'Witch'. Remember, the key to digestion lies in thoroughly understanding and practicing the essence contained within this name."
He paused, giving Triss enough time to process this.
"We must act as it, imitate it, experience it, and ultimately allow the state of our body, mind, and soul to infinitely approach that wisp of spiritual imprint remaining within the potion. Just like an actor, to play a role well, one must forget themselves and become the character."
"But there is one crucial difference," Nairn's tone shifted as his gaze became sharp. "An actor's performance eventually ends, but you must always remember that you are 'acting', not 'becoming'. Once you lose yourself completely in the role of a 'Witch', you will no longer be Triss, but merely a mad monster."
These words were like a clap of thunder exploding in Triss's mind.
She had always thought that digesting a potion meant turning oneself completely into that form, but she hadn't expected the true core to be "acting" rather than "assimilation."
Recalling the insane thoughts that had constantly tempted her to stir up trouble and spread chaos while she was digesting the potion, she broke into a cold sweat.
If it hadn't been for Nairn's help, she likely would have lost herself to those temptations.
"Then, my Lord, how should one act correctly?" Triss pressed, her attitude becoming increasingly humble.
"This involves the second core of the 'Acting Method': precisely understanding the symbolic meaning behind the potion's name."
Nairn stopped and looked at Triss.
"Take your previous Sequence 9, 'Assassin', for example. What is the core of its acting?"
Triss thought for a moment and replied, "It is to lurk, observe, and then deliver a fatal blow to the target. To pursue a one-hit kill and then vanish without a trace."
"Correct, that is the most superficial level of acting," Nairn nodded. "But what about the deeper level? The essence of an 'Assassin' is the execution of the concept of 'death'. You are a blade in the shadows, an extension of a certain will; your existence is for the purpose of Ending another existence. Therefore, an excellent 'Assassin' must not only be highly skilled but also cold, decisive, and discard unnecessary emotions."
"And sequence 8, 'Instigator', what is its core?"
"It is... to stir up the emotions of others, to amplify the desires and malice in their hearts, and make them kill each other?" Triss said somewhat uncertainly.
"Right, but not entirely right." Nairn shook his head. "That is 'Positive Acting'. Direct and effective, but not clever enough. A truly clever 'Instigator' never personally utters a single word of incitement."
"What he does is create an environment, design a scene, or inadvertently reveal a bit of information to let the target generate that 'evil' thought themselves, and firmly believe it originated from their own 'wisdom' and 'decision'. This is called 'Reverse Acting'. Achieving the reality of instigation without using one's own hands—that is the art of the 'Instigator'."
Triss listened, dumbfounded; she felt as if a door to a new world was slowly opening before her.
So... there were so many tricks to acting!
She had always thought that as long as she kept sowing discord, she could digest the potion. Now it seemed her thoughts were incredibly crude and dangerous.
"I understand, my Lord." Triss took a deep breath, her eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge. "Then... what about sequence 7, 'Witch'? What is the core of its acting?"
She finally asked the question that had been making her restless.
Nairn looked at her nervous expression, a mysterious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
He didn't answer directly but asked instead, "In your view, what does the word 'Witch' represent?"
Triss hesitated for a moment and said, "Beauty, charm, and... calamity?"
"It seems you aren't too stupid." Nairn nodded approvingly, then his tone suddenly shifted, becoming cold and cruel.
"You are only half right. Beauty and charm have never been the core of a 'Witch'; those are merely their tools."
"The true acting core of a 'Witch' consists of only two words."
Nairn spoke one word at a time, his voice carrying a chill that seemed to come from the Abyss.
"Calamity and suffering."
"To bring calamity and spread suffering."
Calamity, suffering.
Triss's body stiffened slightly.
"You must take the initiative to create disasters—it could be a fire, a plague, or a meticulously planned blizzard. Then, stand at a distance and quietly admire it." Nairn's voice was so flat it was almost cruel. "You must learn to appreciate a unique sense of beauty from those despairing wails, fragile struggles, and scenes of destruction. It is an aesthetic that is detached from humanity and belongs to divinity."
"Your beauty and your charm are merely tools. The purpose of their existence is to allow you to more efficiently lead your targets into a script of destruction. Charm itself has no value; the tragedy it leads to is the essence of your acting."
Is this the fate of a "Demoness"?
But Lord Nairn doesn't seem to like this sort of thing, right?
Triss naturally wanted to be Nairn's most useful subordinate, but she didn't want to do things that would displease her Lord.
Seeing her teetering state, Nairn suddenly laughed.
"Find it hard to accept? Think it's too evil?" he asked softly. "Don't worry, there are shortcuts for everything, or rather, 'Reverse Acting'."
"Reverse Acting?" Triss repeated blankly.
"Following the most intuitive meaning of the potion's name to act—for example, Sequence 9 'Assassin' means going to commit assassinations—that is 'Positive Acting'. It's simple, but inefficient, and easy to get lost in."
"Whereas 'Reverse Acting' involves taking actions that are opposite to the potion's surface but deeply aligned with its essence. For example, with Sequence 8 'Instigator', the most advanced acting isn't you incessantly trying to persuade, but designing an exquisite trap so the target generates a thought themselves and firmly believes it was their own idea. It's still manipulation, but more hidden and high-level."
Nairn stood up, paced over to her, and looked down at her.
"'Witch' brings calamity and suffering; that is its surface. So, what is its essence?"
He extended a finger and lightly tapped Triss between her eyebrows.
"It is 'Ending'. It is putting a period at the end of a life, an order, or a state of peace."
"Therefore, the method of 'Reverse Acting' is—to give 'Ending' a compassionate appearance."
Triss's eyes widened suddenly.
"Go, go to the slums of Tingen City, to those poorest and most desperate corners. You will see many people tormented by disease and hunger, with only their last breath left. For them, living itself is an endless suffering."
"Go and provide them with final end-of-life care. Use your gentlest methods to let them welcome 'liberation' in serenity and peace. On the surface, you are like a saintess bestowing peace; in essence, you are still spreading death, practicing the authority of 'Ending'."
"You are both the 'Witch' who brings calamity and the 'Angel' who ends suffering. Isn't this... interesting?"
This speech completely overturned Triss's understanding.
Cruel slaughter could also become a compassionate salvation?
"I understand, my Master." Triss knelt on one knee, her beautiful face filled with fanatical devotion.
"Very good." Nairn nodded with satisfaction and helped her up.
"Now, here is your task."
He handed Triss a piece of paper.
"First, go and create some effective chaos to make those fat-headed scoundrels show their true colors in panic. Remember, do not involve the innocent; in my script, the audience needs to be protected."
"Second, go and kill those scumbags who deserve to die. When they are at their most self-satisfied, make them fall into hell. You must witness for yourself how ugly and foul those souls are beneath their beauty and power."
"Third, practice your 'Reverse Acting'. Go and bring a 'merciful' end to those struggling on the edge of death. This will keep you sober and prevent you from being completely swallowed by the madness of the 'Witch'."
Triss firmly etched every word into her heart.
"Finally..." Nairn took a yellowed sketch from a drawer. On it was a young woman with a beaming smile, her features carrying a gentle and innocent temperament.
"There is one task that requires you to utilize your full acting skills."
Nairn handed the drawing to her. "Go and imitate her. Imitate her smile, her mannerisms, her tone of voice—imitate everything about her. Then, go and approach a lonely old man."
"This old man is a member of the Nighthawks. He is obsessed with mysticism, yet his talent is mediocre. His only solace is the memory of his late wife."