Chapter 276: Emily

She seemed to weigh her words carefully before finally speaking.

"If you do, then... when you face Emily’s father and defeat him, you should tell him about it. Let him know you have a skill beyond SSS rank," she said.

Isaac frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

"You’ll understand when the time comes," she said. Her tone made it clear she wouldn’t elaborate further. "Now go. You don’t want to keep Emily waiting."

Isaac stared at her for a few seconds longer.

He knew she wasn’t going to explain, no matter how many times he asked.

Finally, he nodded once, turned, and left the room.

The door shut softly behind him, leaving Eleanor alone with her thoughts.

Outside, the corridor smelled faintly of old paper and oil.

Isaac walked with steady steps until he found Celia and Professor Catherine waiting in a smaller parlor near the governor’s suite.

Celia’s face brightened the moment she saw him.

"You’re going now?" she asked, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Relief and worry fought across her features.

Isaac nodded. "Yeah. I’m going to talk to Emily and start the trial soon."

Celia stood up right away. "I’ll come with you. I can go into the trial with you if we use the Soulbind Pendant."

Her voice had a hopeful edge. She seemed eager, stubborn, and ready to be part of whatever burden he carried.

Isaac smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair as if she were smaller than she was.

He spoke, "I’ll handle it. You don’t have to—"

"I want to help," Celia interrupted, offended and determined at once. "I can’t just sit around while you go into something dangerous."

"You know how the System reacts. If too many people go into Emily’s trial it will raise the difficulty."

Celia’s shoulders deflated.

"It didn’t happen with yours," she protested. "Why is hers different?"

"Because Emily’s a summoner," Isaac answered. "She can bring powerful summons. The System factors that in, and it scales the danger accordingly. More people equals more danger. It’s not the same as my trial."

Celia pouted but didn’t argue further.

Isaac stepped closer, cupped her cheeks with both hands, and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.

"It’s enough that you want to help. Thank you," he said with a smile.

Celia nodded, cheeks flushed, and clung to his arm for a second before letting go.

They both turned to Professor Catherine, who had been watching them with a faint smile.

She gripped a rolled parchment and toyed with the edge of it, as if the paper itself were a talisman.

"This," Professor Catherine said, producing the scroll and unrolling it a fraction, "was intended to let Emily summon a ’helper’ into her trial. It’s an old ritual item. But since you have the Soulbind Pendant, Isaac, you don’t need it."

Isaac nodded.

He took the pendant from around his neck and held it out to Celia. "Keep it with you. I’m going to meet Emily now."

Celia took it eagerly and slipped it around her own neck.

Isaac entered the soulbind pendant.

The world folded around him, and he appeared in the mansion’s living room.

Night hung low outside the windows, and silence pressed against the walls.

He took in the room quickly: tasteful furniture, paintings lined on the wall, a fireplace that had once been lit but now held only cold ashes.

A maid in a modest uniform bowed as he crossed the threshold.

"Welcome, Master," Priscilla, the maid, said.

Isaac managed a short, genuine smile despite the tension pulling at him.

"Priscilla," he said, letting the name sound warmer than he felt. "Have you been waiting here this whole time?"

"Yes, Master," she replied immediately. "It is a maid’s duty to welcome her master. I knew you would arrive here if you were to return, so I remained."

Isaac shook his head slightly, half amused, half helpless. "You don’t need to do this. It’s late. Go rest."

"I do not need to sleep, Master." Priscilla’s expression was earnest, almost proud. "Your return is more important."

"Still, rest at night from now on. Also, I’ll bring some devices next time, something to keep you and others entertained. It will also teach you a little about modern society."

It was a small promise, and one he fully intended to keep.

"Thank you for thinking of us, Master," Priscilla said, and though she agreed to rest, Isaac could tell she would wait here any time he left.

He shook his head and found himself smiling despite the gravity of the night.

"I’m going to meet Emily."

He cut through the room toward the door leading to the sleeping wing.

Priscilla stepped forward to guide him. Her steps were soft on the carpet.

At the same time, somewhere deeper in the mansion, the life-pod containing Emily released its seal.

The pod hissed as frost melted away and the lid cracked open.

Emily crawled out with a slow, stumbling motion.

Her eyes were hollow, and pupils dilated in a way that made her gaze feel far away.

For several long seconds she stared at the night sky through the window, unblinking.

The moonlight cast a thin silver across her face.

Then she looked down at her hands as if seeing them for the first time.

There was a tremor in her fingers; to her mind the sight of blood was vivid though no wound showed.

She remained silent.

Then, she raised her hand and used Spectral Claw skill.

Her mana was shaped into the shape of claws. The claws gleamed with cold light.

She thrust them towards her throat.

It was swift strike with no hesitation.

Isaac reached the doorway at that moment and sensed her movement.

He dropped into a run and burst through the door.

Without thinking, he lunged and grabbed her wrist with an iron-strong grip.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Emily turned her head slowly.

Her eyes were hollow like empty wells that held no warmth.