Later that night, inside Mystica's lavish chamber, Dove reclined lazily on one of the velvet couches, her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle, resting against the armrest. She wore her usual scandalously casual attire—an oversized white long-sleeve shirt draped over her form, barely covering the black panties beneath. A cigar nestled between her fingers, brought to her lips from time to time, its smoke curling lazily into the air.
She lay in silence, eyes half-lidded, watching the slow shimmer of the chandelier above as if trying to piece together a puzzle in her head.
Moments later, Mystica emerged from the rear of the chamber, where the steamy mist of the hot tub still lingered. She was wrapped in a plush white towel that clung to her hourglass figure, one elegant thigh peeking through a parted fold, shoulders glistening with moisture. Another towel was coiled around her dark hair, and she moved with the practiced grace of a queen who didn't need to try to own the room—she simply did.
Gliding over to the minibar, she poured herself a glass of rich, dark wine before speaking with her usual teasing lilt. "You're unusually quiet tonight. What's got your pretty little mind spinning in circles?"
Dove blinked, pulled from her thoughts, and shifted slightly. "W–what?"
Mystica took a sip, smirking knowingly. "You're dragging on your cigar longer than usual before exhaling. That only happens when you're deep in your probability webs." She sat gracefully in a nearby armchair, one leg crossed over the other. "So... what are you calculating, darling?"
Dove's lips parted in a faint smile as she exhaled a trail of smoke. "Of course, my Empress would notice something like that. You always read me too well."
A soft, melodic chuckle escaped Mystica. "It's one of my many irresistible talents. Now come on, share your thoughts. What's that brilliant mind of yours working on?"
Dove shifted upright, resting her elbows on her knees. "I've been thinking about the boy. What's his name again? Liam… yes, Liam."
Mystica raised a brow. "What, don't tell me that brooding little shadow has you questioning your loyalty to women?" she teased with a sly smile.
Dove blinked, then laughed—a rich, unbothered sound. "Please. If anyone was going to tempt me back to men, it wouldn't be some angsty teenager with blood in his eyes and a vendetta in his pocket."
Mystica grinned. "Mm, shame. I had my hopes up for a moment."
"Sorry to disappoint," Dove said with a slow smirk, drawing from her cigar and exhaling a lazy stream of smoke. "But no, it's not that. It's not attraction—it's about his ability to smell the myst of hybrids."
Mystica turned her head slightly, interest flickering in her violet eyes. "Okay, I'm listening."
"I was thinking… what if I could create something—maybe a crystal—that functions like him. Something that can detect hybrids just by sensing that distinct myst signature."
She leaned back against the couch, cigar now resting between two fingers. "You don't want this kid exposed to the Solara or Crescent Kingdoms, right? If he gets discovered, this entire alliance with those two Kingdoms collapses. He's our only tracker unless one of them transforms. So why not reverse-engineer how his senses work?"
Mystica was quiet for a moment, swirling her wine in its glass. "That's… a brilliant idea."
Dove grinned smugly. "Of course it is. I'm a genius, remember?"
"Queen Lucy will love this," Mystica said with a thoughtful nod. "And it keeps Liam's secret safe. Win-win."
"You're welcome," Dove replied, blowing another puff of smoke toward the ceiling.
Mystica tilted her head with a sly grin. "You know, I thought you hated Liam. And yet here you are, protecting his little shadowy ass."
Dove chuckled. "Please. One—I don't hate him. I just don't like him. And two—I'm doing this so I can study a dark magic user up close. The whole hybrid tracking or Sylvathar thing? Doesn't really interest me. But that kid… he does."
"Ohhh," Mystica said with mock realization. "So this is all about killing two birds with one stone. Help the kingdom, get your experiment."
Dove gave a wink. "With you as my Empress, I'm inspired to be clever."
Mystica sipped her wine and smirked. "It's a smart approach. Queen Lucy will probably approve it—but with conditions. And whatever your plan is, make sure nothing happens to Liam. If something does… Lucy herself will make sure your head rolls."
Dove raised both brows in mock offense, her smile widening. "C'mon. Why would I harm him?"
"Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that," Mystica said, setting her glass down. "Besides, Liam isn't some clueless pawn. You'll need to strike a deal with him. He doesn't do anything unless it benefits him."
"Oh, don't worry," Dove said with a mischievous smile. "I know how to negotiate."
"Good. Then tomorrow, you're joining me at the Three Kingdoms Summit. We'll present the proposal to Queen Lucy before the talks begin."
Mystica rose from her seat, and in a smooth ripple of magic, the white towel around her dissolved into a mist, replaced instantly by a dark violet gown that wrapped snugly around her elegant frame. The towel around her hair vanished as well, letting her long, damp locks tumble down her back like liquid midnight.
Dove stood slowly, eyes trailing Mystica with amused admiration. "Okay, but tell me, Empress…" she said as she sauntered forward, stopping just inches away until their chests brushed together, "Where are you going all dressed up and dangerous?"
Mystica smiled coyly, her voice soft but rich. "Just some little business I need to take care of, that's all."
Dove narrowed her eyes playfully. "Ah. Off to see that bastard Galen, huh? Leaving poor me all alone."
Mystica chuckled darkly. "Please. I have nothing to do with Galen—not tonight."
She leaned in close, their lips nearly touching, breath warm between them—then, with a teasing smirk, she brushed past Dove and walked toward the door.
"But you, Dove…" she said over her shoulder, hand on the handle. "Nothing's ever going to happen between us."
And with a wicked laugh, the door shut behind her.
Dove stood where she was, silent for a beat, then drew from her cigar and exhaled slowly.
"Damn… she got me good with that one."
The moment Mystica stepped out of her chamber, she conjured a portal with a simple flick of her fingers, vanishing through its violet shimmer and reappearing inside Sheila's dorm room.
The space was dark, bathed only in the pale glow of moonlight spilling through the window. At the center stood a neatly made bed, flanked by two small drawers. A study desk sat to the side, books aligned in perfect order—just as one would expect from the Crescent Princess.
Without a word, Mystica activated a spell in her mind. Lumenveil Sight.
Light magic laced through her irises like golden threads, causing them to glow faintly. The spell washed the darkness away from her vision, rendering every shadow clear as daylight and illuminating the Myst that clung to the air, objects, and people.
Through that enhanced vision, Mystica saw everything—the shimmer of an enchanted crystal tucked under Sheila's pillow, the faint aura of protective charm on the desk, and of course… Sheila herself, glowing softly with her natural connection to water and light Myst.
"Would you look at her," Mystica murmured with a faint smirk, eyes resting on the peacefully sleeping girl. "Sleeping like a newborn while her life teeters on the edge. Can't blame her for being oblivious."
Her gaze drifted from Sheila to the corners of the room. That's when she saw them—faint remnants of dark Myst woven into the shadows like smoke trailing through cracks.
Thanks to Seraphina's training, Mystica knew how well Liam could cloak himself. He was skilled at masking his presence, wrapping his magic in silence. It wasn't a perfected art—not yet—but it was advanced enough to fool most, especially when he used the bare minimum of dark Myst to move.
She could still see it—the residue of his passage, lingering like footprints in the dark. In the deeper corners of the room, where the shadows pooled thickest, the Myst clung, revealing the subtle traces of Liam's teleportation through the darkness.
"Hopping through the shadows, hmm?" she said quietly, stepping closer to one corner and observing the distortions—tiny, swirling remnants of what once had been miniature portals. "Using the Abyss as a gateway. Clever… but costly."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"No wonder he looked worn out. Passing through that plane repeatedly will shred your body from the inside out. And he's still just five-star. His current body won't keep up for long. But it is Liam after all. He won't stay a five-star forever."
She lingered a moment longer, almost amused by how thorough Liam had been, before sighing softly.
"Still, impressive work by my sweet Liam. Now…" She clapped her hands together softly. "Time to cast those arrays and finally get some sleep."