As Mara began writing, Helena sat motionless in her chair, staring at nothing. Julian watched her carefully, noting every detail of her despair, her defeat, her broken acceptance.
Mara finished writing and presented the docunts to Helena.
"Here. Read through these carefully. Make sure you understand every clause. This is the debt clearance—it officially transfers ownership of your family’s debt from the bank to . And this is the paynt agreent—five hundred gold, payable imdiately after tomorrow night’s performance."
Helena took the papers with shaking hands and read through them, though Julian doubted she was actually processing the words. She was simply going through the basics, her mind already elsewhere.
"It looks... acceptable," Helena said finally, her voice flat.
"Sign here, then," Mara indicated several places on the docunts.
Helena signed robotically.
Mara signed as well, then rolled up the docunts and sealed them with wax.
"There. It’s official. Tomorrow night, you perform, and the mont it’s over, these docunts beco active. Your debt disappears, and you receive your paynt."
She handed one copy to Helena.
"Keep this safe... And Helena?" Mara’s voice beca almost gentle. "Thank you. I know how hard this is. But you’re doing the right thing for your family."
Helena stood on shaky legs, clutching the docunt to her chest like a lifeline.
"Can I... can I go now? Back to the kitchens?"
"Of course," Mara said. "Take the rest of the day off, actually. You need ti to process this, to prepare yourself ntally. I’ll have soone cover your duties."
Helena nodded numbly and moved toward the door. She paused there, looking back at Julian one more ti.
"Will you be there tomorrow? Watching?"
Julian t her eyes steadily. "Yes. I’ll be there."
Sothing passed between them. Then Helena left, closing the door softly behind her.
Mara turned to Julian with a satisfied smile. "Well. That went better than I expected. I thought she would refuse entirely, or need days of convincing. But you helped move things along nicely."
"I simply presented the reality of her situation," Julian replied neutrally.
"Whatever you did, it worked." Mara moved back to her desk and sat down, taking another uff from her cigarette. "So. Tomorrow night. Kraven arrives at ninth bell. The performance begins shortly after. You will be in the observation room with him—separate from the main chamber, behind one-way glass so the perforrs can’t see you."
She studied Julian carefully.
"Any particular reason you want to watch? Most people are either aroused by this sort of thing or disgusted by it. You seem... neither. Just curious."
Julian smiled slightly. "Let’s just say I have an interest in understanding human nature. In seeing what people are capable of when pushed to their limits."
"Dark interest," Mara observed.
Julian smiled. "Understanding people’s breaking points is useful information."
Mara nodded slowly, accepting this explanation even if she didn’t fully believe it.
"Well, you’ll certainly see breaking points tomorrow. Helena has never done anything like this before. The first ti is always... intense. Traumatic, even. But also fascinating to watch—the mont when soone crosses a line they never thought they could cross."
Her voice carried a disturbing enthusiasm. She genuinely enjoyed watching people’s degradation.
"I look forward to it," Julian said, his tone giving nothing away.
Mara stood and moved toward the door. "I need to make so final preparations. You’re free to return to your room or explore the inn. Just rember—not a word of this to anyone. Discretion is everything in this business."
"Of course," Julian assured her.
Mara left, and Julian was finally alone in the office.
He sat quietly for a mont, thinking through everything he had learned, everything he had witnessed.
Tomorrow night was going to be very interesting.
"It’s finally ti," he said to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Without wasting any more ti, he closed his eyes and channeled his power. Space folded around him as he reappeared in his own room at the Silver Moon Inn. Imdiately, he heard voices from his daughters’ room.
Julian moved to the connecting door and opened it.
All three of his daughters were seated on the beds and chairs, talking to one another. Seraphine was gesturing with her hands while explaining sothing, Lyanna was leaning back against the headboard of the bed, and Cassandra was nodding along.
They all turned as the door opened, their conversation cutting off mid-sentence.
"Father!" Seraphine said with a smile. "We were just discussing the city. We went out this morning and explored the market district. It’s fascinating how different the culture here is from—"
"We’re visiting our ho," Julian interrupted gently.
The three fell silent imdiately, confusion crossing their features.
"Ho?" Lyanna asked. "You an the Throne of Gods? But we just left—"
"No," Julian clarified. "Not the Throne of Gods. My original ho. The place where my father and others live. The Ares Kingdom."
The three sat up straighter, their expressions shifting from confusion to excitent.
Cassandra’s voice was quiet but curious. "But Father... are they still alive? We’ve already lived three hundred plus years in the Throne of Gods. Wouldn’t they all be... gone by now?"
Julian smiled. "Ti is subjective and relative across different worlds and realms. It has probably been around three weeks back in Ares since I died and was reborn. To them, I am just lost."
He could see the realization growing on their faces.
Seraphine’s eyes lit up with understanding. "So we could et your family? Your original family from your first life?"
"Exactly," Julian confird. "They think I’m dead or missing. I want to see them again. And I want you three to et them."
Lyanna was already standing. "When do we leave?"
Julian smiled at her enthusiasm. "Right now."
He stood and gestured for them to gather around him. The three daughters moved quickly, forming a circle with their father at the center.
"Hold onto ," Julian instructed.
All three placed their hands on his shoulders or arms.
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