Chapter 67 - 66 - A Red That Lies
After the laughter and embraces faded, the warmth still lingered in the air.
But now... it was Riven’s turn.
He took a deep breath, gently releasing his hold on his sister. Though his expression remained calm, there was a flicker of hesitation behind his gaze. Seeing Mira’s exceptional talent had made his heart race—not out of jealousy, but because of the invisible pressure now weighing on his back.
All eyes were on him.
His footsteps echoed lightly on the stone floor as he slowly approached the obsidian table where the floating dodecahedral prism hovered, now silent and still.
Riven stopped just a breath away from the crystal’s surface. He glanced at Lyrienne, who stood quietly beside him. Without saying a word, he raised his palm, offering it in silent readiness.
Lyrienne looked at him for a moment, then exhaled softly before drawing a small engraved knife from her sleeve. With practiced precision, she made a shallow cut across his palm. Warm blood began to trickle from the fresh wound.
But within her, a silent question stirred.
"After his sister... what kind of surprise will this man reveal?"
Riven didn’t wait. The moment the blood began to flow, he placed his hand upon the surface of the prism.
And just like what had happened with Mira, as if the object had a will of its own, the floating dodecahedral prism began to throb gently, pulsing with faint light.
At first, the light was dim, but it soon intensified as Riven’s blood was absorbed. Glowing veins lit up along the crystal’s edges, forming lines of deep crimson that looked like living arteries.