Chapter Three: The Flameless Makes the Stele Bow

Ysolde merely glanced toward Lain. “Your turn, Flameless,” Mordred said. With each step toward the stele, the voice below grew clearer. 【High-intensity causal anchor detected: remains of the first Dragon Emperor.】 【Imprisoned dragon soul detected.】 【Intermediate deduction available: Blood Trial.】 【Price—one treasured affection.】 The scale appeared. On it burned two memories. Mia, newly recovered from fever, promising to buy her brother a house without a leaking roof. Serena on a snowy night, sewing closed the wounds other royal boys had opened with a riding crop. “They call you Flameless because the only fire they understand is one that destroys.” “Decline.” 【The system will not guarantee an outcome.】