August 20, afternoon—Cycle 7, the Endless Sea.
Warm wind carried the scent of laurel through the courtyard.
In Baron Warner’s castle in Windrest City’s inner district, Huang Yanyan questioned Qi Heng the moment she had a quiet opening.
“Did the sacrifice work?” she asked. “Did you get the invitation?”
Orton of the Violet Eye had arrived under Archmage Strong Ale’s orders, bringing apprentices Qi Heng and Bonnie for a visit. Huang played the part of a noble young lady curious about the supernatural. Orton, eager to please, had his apprentices share stories.
Huang used food to win Bonnie’s attention, creating a brief window to trade information with Qi Heng.
In a garden pavilion, Qi Heng ate strawberry cake while talking in low voices.
“We got in,” he admitted. “But it isn’t normal.”
Huang kept her tone casual. “Nothing here is.”
Qi Heng explained what they’d learned: the Sorrow Theater didn’t truly accept guests through the front door. At a specific time late at night, it pulled the invited person’s consciousness inside. Once inside, they lost control of their bodies and were forced to watch a performance—and then forced to perform it themselves.
Huang’s smile didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened. “So it’s a trap disguised as a show.”
Qi Heng nodded, then hesitated. “Strong Ale wants the third floor.”
Huang asked what they’d ‘paid.’ Qi Heng only said the archmage handled it.
Huang didn’t press. She only warned him, softly:
“If the theater offers you something that sounds too easy—’just go and it’s all yours’—remember the other half of that sentence. Most of the time, ‘all yours’ means ‘owned by someone else.’”
Qi Heng swallowed, the words hitting too close to home.
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