The group came closer, forming a loose half-circle around Jin-Seok.
But the pressure in the air thickened.
Every step they took echoed louder than it should have.
---
Kaleon, peeking from the hallway just beyond the threshold, let out a low mutter:
> Kaleon (wide-eyed, whispering):
"Is that bravery or a death wish?"
"Damn it… if he dies out there, I might lose my future business partner."
He ducked back, eyes darting between the towering presences and the boy standing against them.
---
Zayna, unable to stand the silence, snapped.
Hiding half-behind Zara Malik, her voice cracked somewhere between defensive bark and nervous hiss:
> Zayna:
"Don't act like you don't know who you pissed off!"
The words spilled out before she could stop them.
Truth be told—she still wasn't sure how to feel about the boy who toyed with her like it was a game.
And now Zara stood between them—like a wall she hadn't asked for but wouldn't dare move from.
---
Noah, standing casually with his hands stuffed in his pockets, tilted his head and shrugged:
> Noah (grinning):
"What? I thought we came here to see Jin-Jin before the class awakenings."
"And Didn't you guys say you came after sensing some crazy aura or something?"
---
Lyra, arms crossed, let out a slow, exasperated breath:
> Lyra (deadpan):
"No one's going to mistake you for a mute, Noah. Ever."
"so shut up."
Noah just winked.
---
Finally, Daman Zhokul stepped forward.
His voice was low, gravelly—but every word felt like it carried the weight of a stone pillar:
> Daman:
"I'll make it simple."
He motioned to himself with a single thumb:
> "I'm Daman Zhokul. Uncle of Rokhan. From House Zhokul—one of the Twelve Noble Houses in the Tower."
He nodded toward the woman beside him:
> "That's Lyra Varnok. Sister of Noah. From House Varnok—also one of the Twelve Noble Houses in the Tower."
Then toward the tall, sharp-eyed man standing at the back like a dormant blade:
> "Azhrel Karshem. Uncle of Zephyr. House Karshem. He's also from one of the Twelve Noble Houses."
Finally, his hand rested on the one person no introduction could fully define:
> "And if you're from Bluestar… you should already know her."
"Lady Zara Malik. One of the Seven Sovereigns."
"The Blood Rose Empress."
---
Jin-Seok said nothing.
Not at first.
His gaze stayed steady—not on the names, not on the titles—but on intent.
---
> "So it really is her."
The woman Grandfather spoke of in his stories… scariest of the Seven Sovereigns.
A peer. One of the monsters at the summit.
She hasn't aged a day.
How long has she been watching us?
Zara finally took a single step forward.
Her heels echoed on the polished floor—soft, yet somehow louder than the chaos of the entire Trial before it.
> Zara (softly):
"You don't seem surprised."
"Most tremble. Or kneel."
"You… don't even blink."
---
Jin-Seok, tone calm—but firm, finally answered:
> "Running would be rude."
"And bowing would imply I lost."
---
{Scene: The Collector's Name}
Zara studied him for a long moment… then leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a near-whisper:
> Zara:
"Are you really his grandson?"
---
Jin-Seok blinked, faking confusion:
> Jin-Seok:
"What are you talking about?"
---
Her gaze sharpened:
> Zara:
"Don't act dumb, brat."
"You think I wouldn't recognize that outfit?"
---
In the System Space, Aris froze mid-thought:
> Aris (stunned):
"...Wait. You know her?"
"Since when and why didn't u tell me?!"
But Jin-Seok remained silent, eyes unflinching.
He had kept that part to himself.
---
Still, he tried to deny it again.
But eventually, his voice dropped to a quiet murmur:
> Jin-Seok:
"…Why ask me when you already know?"
---
Zara exhaled slowly, amused:
> Zara:
"You little brat."
"Then why didn't you come see me first?"
---
Jin-Seok cracked a dry smile:
> Jin-Seok (playful):
"What if you didn't recognize me?"
"Or worse—what if you didn't know me at all?"
"After seeing me bully your granddaughter… do you really think you would've let me walk away?"
---
Zara gave a faint smile, her gaze unreadable:
> Zara:
"Aren't u still standing here?"
"What do you think the reason is?"
---
Jin-Seok scratched the back of his neck:
> Jin-Seok:
"Well… after hearing your title..."
"I wouldn't dare get too close."
---
Zara raised a brow, intrigued:
> Zara:
"Which one?"
"I've collected so many."
---
Jin-Seok's grin widened just enough.
He spoke a little louder—just enough for the others to hear:
> Jin-Seok:
"The Collector."
---
A silence heavier than steel slammed into the room.
---
Azhrel, Lyra, and Daman all visibly flinched.
Their thoughts collided in chaotic unison:
> Daman (inner voice):
Brat… do you want to die?
Why mention that now?!
> Azhrel (inner voice):
He's gone mad. No one says that title aloud.
Even hearing it in passing, she never lets it go.
> Lyra (gulping):
Even as a woman, I'm getting nervous.
This brat… he's more troublesome than Noah. I should stay far, far away.
The three nobles glanced at each other with a shared, grim understanding:
> All three, silently:
Even if we wanted to save you... we couldn't.
---
Meanwhile, Rokhan, Zephyr, Noah, and Zayna were just—staring.
they had no idea what it meant.
Just that the air suddenly turned ice cold.
---
Zara's lips curved.
A small chuckle escaped her:
> Zara (smiling):
"You really are that old fool's grandson."
"Only someone raised by him would be bold enough to call me that."
She took a step closer:
> "Maybe I should show you… why I earned that name."
"Wouldn't that be fun?"
---
Aris, watching through the System Space, began to panic:
> Aris (sweating):
"What is happening?!"
"Why is she laughing like that?!"
"Brat! Stop riling her up! That smile isn't normal!!"
---
Jin-Seok gulped.
Hands raised slightly in surrender:
> Jin-Seok (quickly):
"No thanks. I'm good. I'm very good."
---
Just then, Noah, confused, started to whisper to his sister:
> Noah (to Lyra):
"Didn't jin jin say something like 'Col—'"
---
But Lyra slapped a hand over his mouth with lightning speed:
> Lyra (hissing):
"Shut up."
---
Daman and Azhrel both gawked at her in fury:
> Azhrel:
"You let him talk now?!"
> Daman:
"Of all the times to open his mouth—now?!"
---
Zara's head turned slowly.
Eyes narrowed in their direction:
> Zara (soft, dangerous):
"Did I hear something?"
---
> Lyra & Daman (in perfect unison, backs straight):
"No! Nothing at all, Lady Zara!"
---
{Misfires and Theories}
The three nobles—Azhrel, Lyra, and Daman—turned slowly, glaring at Noah like he was a ticking bomb about to go off.
---
Noah, sensing their stares, froze mid-breath—his finger still pointed toward Lyra's hand on his mouth.
He blinked once.
Then twice.
Then gave a wide, innocent smile like a child who had just "accidentally" set the kitchen on fire:
> Noah (muffled through Lyra's hand):
"Mmmph?"
---
Daman leaned closer to Azhrel and Lyra, whispering, tone annoyed:
> Daman:
"Why is she glaring at us...?"
"But laughs when he calls her with that title?"
"She looked like she was about to kill us before Noah even finished his sentence."
---
Lyra whispered right back, eyes narrowing as she side-eyed Zara cautiously:
> Lyra:
"That's what I've been wondering."
"What is he to her?"
---
Daman leaned in, lowering his voice even more:
> Daman (conspiratorial):
"Do you think… he's her secret child or something?"
---
Lyra's face twitched in horror:
> Lyra (hissing):
"Do you want to die?!"
"If she hears you, we're both dead before we blink."
"Stop making up stories and remember why we even came here."
---
Daman blinked.
Then suddenly nodded:
> Daman:
"Oh, right."
"We sensed something strange from this area—some kind of aura spike."
---
Lyra folded her arms, whispering sharply:
> Lyra:
"Exactly. And you're here spinning theories about secret love children."
> Daman:
"Should we ask him about where that aura came from?"
---
Daman hesitated, then glanced toward Zara.
She was still smiling at Jin-Seok, lightly amused.
---
Azhrel, arms crossed, spoke without even looking at them:
> Azhrel:
"Are you sure you want to interrupt her right now?"
---
Both Lyra and Daman stiffened.
Daman cleared his throat, defeated:
> Daman:
"…Well no. We'll ask later."
---
The three of them nodded to themselves.
And took a subtle, synchronized step back.
Just in case.
---
Meanwhile, Noah finally pulled Lyra's hand off his mouth and whispered with a confused pout:
> Noah (whispering):
"…What was that about? Did I do something wrong?"
> Lyra (stone-faced):
"You were born. That's what's wrong."
---
Jin-Seok stood quietly through it all, pretending not to notice the chaos he'd caused behind him.
Aris, in the system space, muttered like a war veteran clinging to sanity:
> Aris (muttering):
"This child… This child will be the death of me."
_______________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}