— Kyle Valtier's POV —
At the heart of that rippling purple void, where there was no time and no sky, I sat on the black glass floor.
I swallowed the last piece of grilled meat and drank what remained of the crystal-clear water. Warmth began returning to my frozen limbs, and the faint aether energy started to seep slowly, repairing my shattered cells.
Valisera stood before me, watching with her cold crimson eyes, waiting for me to finish eating so she could begin dictating her terms for using me as a tool in her hands.
She thought she controlled the flow of the game entirely.
But I, having regained part of my awareness, realized that remaining a "ghost" hidden in her pocket dimension wouldn't grant me the access I needed to destroy the network of traitors.
I needed a cover.
I needed authorization to walk in the light while slaughtering in the dark.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, stained with dried blood, and lifted my head to look at her directly.
