"I remember why we're here," she said coolly. "I don't need reminders."
The gates opened, and a figure emerged from the gardens.
Lord Caelum approached along the terraced path, and Brynn found herself struck again by how perfectly he belonged here.
Tall and classically handsome, he moved with grace that seemed native to this realm. His hair caught the light like spun bronze, his robes woven from soft clouds.
His smile reached his eyes.
"Lord Reaper," he said, extending both hands. "And Lady Brynn. Welcome to my domain. I only wish your visit came under better circumstances."
"Caelum." Dante's nod barely qualified as acknowledgment.
Caelum's smile never wavered. "The ward failures have been devastating. I've lost three boundary stones just this week." He turned to Brynn, eyes holding genuine interest. "But you're the one everyone's been talking about. The one who can actually read the damage patterns."
"I'm still learning," she said, though pride warmed in her chest at the recognition.
"Modest as well as skilled." He gestured toward the palace. "Come, we shouldn't conduct serious business standing in the gardens. I have refreshments prepared, and a workspace where you can examine what I've gathered."
He led them through gates that opened at their approach. They passed souls engaged in peaceful activities. An old man teaching children to paint with glowing colors, a woman tending flowers that sang softly when touched.
"Your domain is remarkable," Brynn found herself saying.
"Thank you. It's taken ages to achieve this level of harmony." His pride carried satisfaction without arrogance. "When souls arrive here, they've earned their rest. My role is simply to provide the environment where they can find it."
The words found the wound she’d been protecting.
"Death doesn't have to be an ending," Caelum continued gently. "For those who lived with love and kindness, it can be a beginning."
She blinked hard, forcing the grief back down.
Dante's gaze cut to her.
She didn't look at him.
He remained silent during the walk, but she caught him watching Caelum with an intensity that seemed misplaced. His jaw was tight, his shoulders rigid even in the realm's tranquility.
They entered the palace, and the interior was as flawless as everything else. Marble that seemed to glow from within. Chambers that felt exactly the right size. Furniture that invited relaxation.
Caelum led them to a study lined with books and scrolls, where a table held extensive research materials.
"Please, sit," he said.
The chair adjusted as she settled, perfectly supporting her back. After weeks of threatening furniture in Dante's realm, the comfort was almost shocking.
"I've prepared refreshments, but first, let me show you what I've discovered. You're not the only ones who've noticed the pattern. These aren't random failures. Someone is targeting the wards.” Caelum moved to the table, sorting through documents. "The pattern is quite clear once you know what to look for."
"I've documented over twenty separate incidents of ward damage across the death realm." He spread out a detailed map marked with notations. "When you plot them geographically and temporally, a pattern emerges."
Brynn leaned over the map, her abilities immediately recognizing the significance. Incidents scattered across domains, but clusters appeared near boundary points exactly where the ward network was most vulnerable.
"These here," she said, pointing. "They're all within days of each other."
“Yes.” Caelum's expression held approval that made her sit straighter. "And if you look at the timing..." He produced a scroll with meticulously recorded dates and times. "Someone with knowledge ofour diplomatic schedules would know when defenses might be distracted."
Dante leaned forward, studying the map. "Explain the border incidents."
Caelum hesitated, seeming reluctant. "I've been tracking diplomatic visits, trying to understand if there's a correlation. The pattern that emerged is... troubling."
