The black feather glowed faintly in the dark.

Aria twirled it between her fingers, seated in her rosewood vanity chair like a queen contemplating war—and eyeliner.

System Alert: Unknown Magical Marker Detected

Origin: [The Blackwing Society]

Status: Hostile

Intent: Surveillance. Possibly Assassination. Definitely Rude.

“Elin,” Aria said calmly, “what do you know about crows that send notes?”

Elin, who was sharpening a dagger on her knee, didn’t look up.

“They like shiny things. And murder.”

Aria tossed the feather on the vanity.

“Perfect. New friends.”

She picked up the small note again. Just one sentence:

“The crows remember you.”

Crows.

As in them?

A name echoed in her mind—Yvonne.

Her once-best friend. Her betrayer. The person who pushed her into the water in one world… and now might be part of some secret death cult in this one.

Of course.

System Ping: Primary Target “Yvonne” may be connected to Blackwing Society

Side Quest Unlocked: Trace the Crows

Reward: Map Fragment + 1 Curse Resistance + Unnerving Smile Buff

Meanwhile, Elin stood and said casually,

“Someone broke into the west tower last night. Left behind a melted shoe and a dead rat.”

“Was it a message?”

“No, I think it was a failed spell. Possibly an idiot.”

“Still suspicious. Keep watching.”

Elin nodded and left.

Aria opened her wardrobe. Inside: dozens of outfits, all tragic, dark, and noble-approved.

She chose none of them.

Instead, she pulled out something new—the gown she wore when she died.

Still wet. Still torn. Still slightly bloodstained.

Outfit Equipped: Ghost Queen’s Remnant

+5 Fear Aura

+1 Drama

-2 Practicality (but who needs to run anyway?)

She added a crimson ring she’d “borrowed” from her aunt’s jewelry box—one with a forgotten family crest and faint magical hum.

Artifact Acquired: Crimson Ring of Rothblood

Status: Locked

Curse Level: Unknown

Coolness: 11/10

Later that evening, she stood on the castle’s tallest balcony, staring down into the forest where the crows had once flown.

Wind whipped her hair. Moonlight cut across her pale face.

She raised the feather.

“Find her,” she whispered.

The wind carried it away.

Message Sent: Tracking Spell Initiated

Estimated Return: 3 Days

Success Rate: 74%

Side Effect: Nightmares involving feathers may occur

Aria turned away, but as she stepped inside, she stopped.

There, on her bed, sat a book she did not own.

It was bound in black leather. Unlabeled. Slightly warm.

She opened it.

Inside were dozens—no, hundreds—of names.

Her name was first.

Cassian’s name was second.

At the very bottom, a fresh name was written in blood:

Kael Thorne.

The crown prince.

System Message:

You have unlocked “The List.”

This world has its own system.

And it just noticed you.

Chapter 6: The Prince, the Pact, and the Poisoned Tea