Anya: "I don’t care if he killed himself because of you or not... the Charles I knew died long before that. And that Charles... that one, you murdered. You, and you alone! Ever since you showed up for the first time... he changed."

  She started tearing up, her voice breaking as she pointed an accusatory finger at him.

  Anya: "And yet you tell me you aren’t to blame...? FUCK YOU!"

  The Leopard raised a hand to his mask, his expression unreadable. With a single wave, the mask dissolved into glowing gray particles, revealing his face -- sharply cut and lined with years of regret.

  Sadduccee: "... I know nothing I say will truly help. The Charles you loved did change... but not because of us. Not because of you, or your son. He changed because of something he did, long before wealth ever entered his life. Do you remember those times, Anya?"

  Anya wiped her tears with the heel of her palm, staring at the floor.

  Anya: "Of course I do. Those were the best times of my life. We were poor -- dirt poor -- but what we lacked in coin, we made up for with... wonder. Adventure. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish it had stayed that way."

  Her head lifted, her eyes narrowing into sharp points of accusation.

  Anya: "But it didn’t stay that way. It changed. So tell me, then... If it wasn’t you, what was it?"

  Sadduccee drew in a deep, steadying breath, his voice low and weighted with purpose.

  Sadduccee: "Back then, you and Charles roamed the continent exploring ruins together, uncovering artifacts long buried by time. But you remember how he would sometimes insist certain places were too dangerous for you? How he would venture into them alone?"

  Anya’s fists clenched as a shiver ran down her spine. She interrupted him, her voice trembling.

  Anya: " ... Yes. He’d tie a rope around his waist so he could give it a tug now and then, to let me know he was still alive. I held the other end... praying. If the rope ever stopped moving... I knew it was time to call for help."

  Her gaze softened as the memory clawed at her heart.

  Anya: "I hated those expeditions. Sitting there... waiting. Feeling useless. I was always on edge, terrified."

  Sadduccee: "Do you remember the last expedition like that...? The one at the lake?"

  Her eyes widened at the mention.

  Anya: "How could I forget? That was the day I told him I’d never let him go into another ruin like that again. He was gone for so long, I thought he’d truly died. I wanted to run in after him so many times, but... what good would it have done? If he was dead, I’d be following him to the same fate..."

  She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper.

  Anya: "That was the last time we ventured into ruins so dangerous."

  Sadduccee nodded solemnly, his voice steady but tinged with regret.

  Sadduccee: "Did you notice anything strange after he returned?"

  Anya’s brow furrowed as she searched her memory, her voice thoughtful.

  Anya: "He was completely drained -- more than I’d ever seen him. He said, for the first time, that he didn’t want to dig up relics anymore. I thought it was because that expedition had been so rough on him. But then, after a few days, he was eager again. Only..."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Sadduccee: "Only...?"

  Anya: "It wasn’t the same. I could tell he wasn’t enjoying it anymore. The spark in him was gone. We only did a few more expeditions before he quit entirely. That’s when he started talking about... other ways to make money. He told me we’d be rich, that we’d have a mansion so grand we’d need servants to maintain it."

  She let out a bitter laugh, her voice wavering.

  Anya: "I didn’t believe him. Not until you showed up."

  Her gaze locked on his, sharp and accusing.

  Anya: "One of you -- wearing one of those masks -- came to him one day. I don’t even remember what animal it was. After you left, he was colder than I’d ever seen him. It was like something inside him had shifted. From that day on, he started chasing wealth with an obsession that terrified me. And every time you came back... he slipped further and further away. More distant. More ruthless. I don’t know what you did to him."

  Her voice trembled, twisting with fury.

  Anya: "... But I’ll never forgive you. You took the man I loved and turned him into a stranger -- a hollow shell obsessed with gold."

  Rel approached the door just as Anya’s voice spiked in anger. He froze, lowering his hand mid-knock. Hearing Sadduccee’s voice inside, he stepped back, pressing himself against the wall to listen.

  Sadduccee: "Anya... What if I told you it wasn’t us who changed Charles, but something he disturbed in the ruins? Something buried in the lake, waiting to be found. Something he awoke."

  Anya’s jaw tightened, her expression fierce.

  Anya: "Then why did he get worse every time you showed up?"

  Sadduccee: "Because every time we came back, it was to check on him. Time and time again, to warn him and keep him from straying -- to tell him not to listen to the voice, not to let it in. But the more we tried, the louder the voice became. It mocked us. Taunted him. We were fools..."

  Anya: "Voice? What voice?"

  Sadduccee: "In those ruins, Anya, there was a blade. A cursed weapon, dormant for centuries. Your husband was the first in generations to disturb it. Though he couldn’t claim it, the sword latched onto him. It whispered to him -- called to him -- even after he left. The longer he resisted, the stronger its pull became. It poisoned his mind, pushed him to chase riches and power, and twisted his ambitions into something darker."

  Anya’s breath hitched, her hands trembling.

  Sadduccee: "Charles couldn’t stay home because his schemes grew more dangerous. He had to stay ahead of the law. And when he finally chose his family over his obsession... his crimes caught up to him. The rest, you know."

  Anya’s voice wavered, caught between disbelief and something deeper.

  Anya: "... Even if all of that’s true, Charles is gone now. So why are you here? What do you want from us?!"

  Sadduccee hesitated, his voice heavy.

  Sadduccee: "When Charles died, the curse didn’t die with him. It transferred to your son."

  Anya staggered back, her face pale.

  Anya: "No... No..."

  Outside, Rel’s stomach twisted as he leaned closer, trying to make sense of what he was hearing.

  Sadduccee: "But Virno is young and, with proper guidance, he can break the curse..."

  There was a brief and sudden glimmer of hope in Anya's eyes.

  Sadduccee: "... by succeeding where Charles failed. If he ventures into the ruins and claims the sword, his torment will cease. "

  Anya’s eyes filled with panic, her voice rising.

  Anya: "NEVER! I WON’T LET HIM GO INTO THAT PLACE!"

  Sadduccee raised his hands in a calming gesture.

  Sadduccee: "Please, listen to my words! It’s the only way. Otherwise, the curse will haunt him for the rest of his life -- and if he has children, so too will it haunt them...!"

  Anya: "I don’t care! Virno is all I have left... I’m not sending him into a place that practically killed his father!"

  Sadduccee: "That’s why I’m here -- I’ll train him. Prepare him. I swear I’ll do everything to keep him safe, you have my word!"

  Anya scoffed, her fury hardening into resolve.

  Anya: "Your word...? I might already be giving that far too much faith...!"

  Sadduccee’s voice cracked with desperation.

  Sadduccee: "You don't understand. If he doesn’t lift the curse, it will destroy him. Should he be lured into going in the ruins alone -- unprepared--he won’t survive. Please, let us help!"

  Anya’s gaze burned with defiance.

  Anya: "Then all I must do is make sure he doesn’t go... Not unless it’s over my dead body."

  She fearlessly strides towards the table, clutching the knife once again.

  Anya: "I've heard enough... more than enough. This is the last time I'm telling you --"

  Sadduccee stared at her, crushed.

  Anya: "Leave. Us. Alone."

  Slowly, he placed his mask back on.

  Sadduccee: "... I understand. But should you change your mind -- "

  Anya: "I won’t."

  She pointed toward the door.

  Anya: "Don't come back... ever again."

  Sadduccee walked out, his shoulders heavy with defeat. Rel watched him vanish into the shadows, before stepping forward to knock on the door -- he kept the conversation with Anya brief, so as not to betray how much he learned from the heated exchange.

  As soon as he confirmed Virno's safety, he said his goodbyes and left, his mind overburdened with the knowledge of the shadow looming over Virno...