Shirei reappeared in Kore’s garden. Every corner of the place was bathed in a white glow, as if purity itself had become landscape. At the heart of the garden, a spiral staircase rose sinuously, its whiteness interrupted only by the shimmering breeze of petals suspended in the air.

Flowers of every kind adorned the garden, a multitude of colors dancing together like a floral symphony. Each seemed to emit its own light, a chromatic enchantment enveloping the surroundings. It was a sacred place, an enchanted domain dedicated to Kore, whose body rested in the modest mausoleum just a few meters away from the boy. He had asked Dahlia for explanations and discovered that the mortal buried there had been Cragar’s first love, whom he had later welcomed into his palace as a spirit. Shirei had wondered why his father hadn’t simply resurrected her, but he had never dared to pose that question to him.

After a moment of admiration, he headed toward his chamber. However, the moment he opened the trapdoor, he sensed a hidden presence. A careful glance revealed a mysterious figure cloaked in the shadow of a corner.

Shirei initially pretended not to notice and continued toward the exit, curious to see what the intruder intended to do.

Now with one hand on the door handle, he stopped and asked, “Who are you?”

“I thought you wouldn’t notice,” the boy commented, stepping out of the shadows.

The young man carried with him a magnetic aura. His silver eyes, bright as the moon on a starry night, ushered in a dreamlike, mysterious atmosphere. However, their brilliance was counterbalanced by a dark soul, one Shirei could easily sense, given the nature of his divine parentage.

His black hair, straight and flowing, fell to partly obscure his eyes, pulling whoever looked at him back to cruel reality. The intense darkness of his hair created a fascinating contrast with the silvery glow of his gaze, evoking a sense of duality, as if the young man were a bridge between their world and a dream. He wore classic black skinny jeans, perfectly fitting his figure. The light pink hoodie he paired with them was unexpected, adding a touch of color that broke through his apparent darkness. The black leather jacket he wore with nonchalance tied the initial impression together flawlessly.

Despite his likely young age, the boy seemed to carry an experience far beyond his years. Shirei mentally braced himself, convinced he was facing an enemy. The dreamlike presence had transformed into a nightmare. Cragar’s son had already begun to suspect who he was.

“You’re mistaken. Now answer the question.”

“My name is Salix. My mother is the goddess of sleep.”

The suspicion of the violet-eyed Blendbreed had just been confirmed.

“You’re the son of Tefine, the one from the cabin.”

“Yes, I’ve been looking for you for quite some time now, Shirei,” he pronounced the name with an odd tone, almost of disgust.

Salix watched Cragar’s son, searching for some sign, but the violet-eyed Blendbreed remained completely still.

With a sigh, he sat down on Dahlia’s bed. “Time is running out. I suspect Aena already knows I’m here.”

“What do you want from me?”

“From you?” the boy shook his head. “Nothing.”

Shirei couldn’t lower his guard. His instinct screamed to keep his focus sharp. Outwardly, he still appeared perfectly calm, but his interlocutor’s aura concerned him. It felt strangely familiar, though he was certain he had never met any mortal with that kind of pressure. He scrutinized the silver-eyed young man cautiously. The aura surrounding him was like a dreamlike vision that shifted into a powerful presence.

Cragar’s son could sense that behind that appearance, something far more complex was hidden. Adding together the information he had gathered with what he was now seeing, the Blendbreed began piecing together something that led to a terrifying truth.

“I was sent here to retrieve an important comrade and cause damage…” Salix continued, watching for his reaction, “At first, I thought it was all a farce, but it seems you really have lost your memory.”

“You know who I am.”

“I knew who you were,” he admitted with a grimace, “and I must admit, I’m very disappointed by who you’ve become.”

Shirei opened his right hand, intending to summon his weapon from the Interworld, but Tefine’s son stopped him with a gesture.

“Don’t. I have no intention of fighting. I only wanted to confirm the rumors were true.”

Saying this, he stepped closer, placing a hand on Shirei’s shoulder before passing him. Salix reached the door and turned to look at the Blendbreed one last time before leaving, his silver eyes gleaming malevolently.

“It was a pleasure seeing you again. Until next time.”