Chapter 41: Dagger Beneath the Pillow

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Dagger Beneath the Pillow Night returned to Arkveil like a lover with a knife in her hand. After the oath, after the promises, after the silence — everyone slept a little too easily. Except Kai. Because he knew better. He knew that love didn’t cancel betrayal. It simply postponed it. So, when he finally allowed himself to rest, he did it fully clothed, a warded dagger under his pillow, and a heartbeat trained to wake at the sound of intent. He didn’t sleep long. He didn’t need to. Because just after midnight— The dagger vanished. [System Alert – Intrusion Detected] Identity Mask: Active Lethal Intent: 64% Proximity: 1.2m Status: Kai’s Room Breached Kai’s eyes snapped open. No breath. No movement. Just awareness. He rolled sideways — fast. A blade sliced through the space where his neck had been. The attacker didn’t scream. Didn’t curse. Just vanished. "Coward," Kai whispered. He reached into the shadows and threw a talisman to the far wall. It exploded in light. Silhouetting a figure dressed in black — someone he recognized instantly. "Seris?" he breathed. She froze mid-step, half her face masked. The other half — unmistakable. Crimson eyes. And a tear falling down one cheek. "I’m sorry," she said. Kai felt his stomach twist. "Why?" Seris didn’t answer. But she lunged again. Their blades met with a scream of steel. Kai deflected. Sidestepped. Grabbed her wrist and twisted. She didn’t cry out. She only fought harder. "You swore," Kai growled. "You took the Oath!" "I know!" she choked, slashing again. "I—I didn’t want to—but..." She pulled back. Hand shaking. Then dropped the dagger. And fell to her knees. [System Breach Recorded – Oath Violation Attempted] Name: Seris Nightflame Loyalty Sync: Critical Status: Oath-Shattered Memory Wipe: Pending Override? [Y/N] Kai’s fingers hovered above the command rune etched into his bracer. The option was simple: Wipe her memories. Sever the bond. But nothing about this moment was simple. Not when Seris looked at him like that. Like she wanted him to end her pain. "I was approached," she whispered. "Two days ago. Something in the shadows. Not System. Not human. It promised me..." She clenched her fists. "My brother’s soul." Kai froze. "Your brother died during the first siege." "I thought he was gone. But they said he’s trapped. In the Rift." She looked up. "And the only way to free him... was to kill you." The truth hit like a hammer. Because he believed her. And it wasn’t fair. But betrayal never asked for fairness. Only timing. "I fought it," she said, breath hitching. "I told myself I wouldn’t. I swore I wouldn’t." Her voice cracked. "But tonight... I woke up. And my dagger was already in my hand. And my body moved before my heart could catch up." She looked at him with blood in her eyes. "Do it, Kai. End it." [System Override Triggered – Memory Wipe Ready] Kai has 30 seconds to decide. "Forget me," or "Forgive me." Kai stared at her. His hand hovered over the rune. Then he closed his eyes. And disabled the override. [System Override: Denied] Seris retains memory, bond, and guilt. Penalty: Emotional Instability Status: Loyalty Reset – Level 1 Trait Lost: "Mercy in Flames" Kai knelt beside her. "You get one." She blinked. "One what?" "One betrayal," he said softly. "You just used it." Her body shook with silent sobs. Kai didn’t touch her. Didn’t offer comfort. He just stood. And walked to the door. She didn’t follow. She couldn’t. Hours later... The others were assembled again. No ceremony. No lies. Just hard eyes, cold air, and one truth that could not be undone. "She tried to kill you?" Yuri asked, trembling with restrained fury. "She stopped herself," Kai replied. "That counts for something." "Does it?" Astra asked, blade resting across her lap. "Because next time, she might not." Liora said nothing. Nyx? She smiled. "I told you," she said. "The first dagger always comes from the one closest to your chest." Kai didn’t flinch. "She was manipulated. Something outside the System." Liora finally spoke. "There’s only one thing that can do that." They all turned. Liora’s voice dropped to a whisper. "The Author Protocol." Everyone went still. Even Nyx’s smile faded. "That’s just a myth," Yuri said. "It was," Liora replied. "Until tonight." [System Prompt – New Thread Unlocked: "The Hand Behind the Curtain"] Author Protocol Identified Status: Watching Target: Kai Veyron "The story ends when the protagonist breaks their script." —Unknown Kai looked around at the women in his life. All powerful. All broken. All teetering between love and blood. And he realized something. This was no longer his story. It was everyone’s. And maybe that’s why the Author wanted him dead. Because he refused to play his role. He dodged death, got kissed by a psycho, and tripped into a dungeon. ???? Just another Tuesday for Kai. ???? 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