The Leopard stepped through the shimmering grey portal, arriving in a massive monochrome marble hall identical to the council chamber he had left earlier. The doors closed silently behind him as he walked down the pristine white corridor. His footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floor. Before he could go far, the Owl intercepted him.

  Owl: "So... you're back. Have you located the boy?"

  Leopard stopped, briefly considering how to frame his report.

  Leopard: "Located? I was with him."

  The Owl's masked head tilted slightly, curiosity piqued.

  Owl: "Oh, with him, you say? Interesting. And...? What is your impression of him?"

  The Leopard hesitated, folding his hands behind his back.

  Leopard: "It's too early to make a definitive judgment, but... I suspect the curse has already begun to manifest."

  The Owl's feathers seemed to metaphorically ruffle as his head jerked toward the Leopard.

  Owl: "Already? That's... concerning. What makes you say that?"

  The Leopard's gaze drifted downward for a moment before locking onto the Owl's piercing mask.

  Leopard: "The boy woke in a panic, shouting about a lake. If the curse is stirring within him, it means the blade is already calling to him."

  The Owl drew in a sharp breath, stepping closer.

  Owl: "Then time is not on our side. How did you come to meet him?"

  Leopard: "He's under the thumb of a local slum lord, forced to fight in an underground arena. On his first day, he shattered half his ribs and collapsed unconscious... yet still managed to end the fight in a draw. By sheer will, he avoided defeat."

  The Owl: "A dangerous path... if this continues, his body will give out before the sword even becomes an option."

  Leopard: "I've already intervened. I ensured the slum lord wouldn't push him into another fight for a few days. I intend to return soon and establish a more direct connection with him. He's not entirely alone; at least one fighter at the arena seems keen on protecting him."

  The two walked in silence for a moment, their footsteps echoing off the walls. However, the stillness didn't last. A booming voice cut through the quiet as a tall figure stepped out of a nearby ivory pillar.

  Dragon: "Well, well... did I hear that right? The boy nearly killed himself going all out in a fight? Now that's a promising omen. Tenacity like that is rare!"

  The Owl's shoulders slumped slightly, visibly displeased by the interruption.

  Owl: "Eavesdropping on passersby, Dragon? Careful, or you might find yourself mistaken for the Snake."

  Dragon: "Tch. I just happened to overhear, is all. Relax, old man."

  He turned to the Leopard with a toothy grin behind his mask.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Dragon: "Leopard, if you need extra hands for this, say the word. I'll be there before you can blink."

  The Leopard shook his head politely.

  Leopard: "I appreciate the offer, but this mission is mine to handle. I know my reputation is precarious thanks to the Puma's betrayal... I intend to prove to everyone here that I am fully loyal to Eclipse."

  The Owl stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on the Leopard's shoulder.

  Owl: "The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on, my boy. Let them doubt. You know your worth, don't you?"

  The Leopard offered a small smile beneath his mask.

  Leopard: "Thank you for the kind words, elder..."

  Dragon: "Hah! You and your proverbs, Owl. You're not the only one who knows them, you know! Leopard, here's one for you: 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the nest.'"

  Both the Leopard and the Owl turned to him, confused.

  Owl: "You mean 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' perhaps?"

  Dragon: "Same thing! The point is -- better safe than sorry!"

  Owl: "Then you could've just said that instead."

  Dragon: "Shut it, old man!"

  Owl: "Yet one could counter your sentiment with 'nothing ventured, nothing gained...'"

  Dragon: "I'll show you where you can venture, you damned feathered fossil --"

  Leopard: "Enough, comrades."

  He raised a hand, his voice calm but firm.

  The Leopard: "I appreciate your concern. But trust me with this -- I'll do everything necessary to prepare the boy for the trials."

  The halls grew quiet. Both the Owl and the Dragon exchanged a worried glance.

  Dragon: "... What exactly do you mean by 'everything necessary'?"

  Leopard: "Nothing that concerns you."

  The Leopard's voice was cold, cutting off any further questions. He changed the subject.

  Leopard: "Elder, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Do you truly believe any wielder of a weapon of sin could be trustworthy? By their nature, aren't they destined to be evil?"

  The Owl's eyes glimmered behind his mask.

  Owl: "A good question. Tell me, Leopard, do you know what it takes to wield a weapon of sin?"

  Leopard: "To embody the sin it represents, correct?"

  Owl: "Good. He who claims a weapon of sin must, within himself, have the ability to fully embody its essence. However..."

  He paused for effect, ensuring their attention.

  Owl: "Do not mistake embodiment for alignment. A wielder may embody greed, but how they channel that greed defines whether they are good, evil, or something in between."

  The Dragon folded his arms.

  Dragon: "How can greed not be evil? By definition, isn't it selfish?"

  The Owl chuckled softly.

  Owl: "Ah, young minds... Greed is not merely selfishness. Greed is desire -- an overpowering, unstoppable desire that consumes everything in its path. That desire can be for wealth, yes, but it could also be for justice, balance, or even peace. Greed itself is not inherently evil; it is what you desire, and how you pursue it, that matters."

  The Leopard frowned behind his mask.

  Leopard: "So if Virno desires to restore balance to the world...?"

  Owl: "... Then we can rest assured the blade will be in good hands. He will embody greed, but it will be greed for a noble end."

  The Dragon, unconvinced, shook his head.

  Dragon: "And what if he isn't noble? What if his greed leads him astray -- makes him selfish, cruel, dangerous...?"

  The Owl sighed, his voice growing heavy.

  Owl: "Then we must bring the matter before the Lion. If it comes to that, I fear the Snake may have been right. The boy would have to be... eliminated."

  The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of their conversation pressing down on them.

  After a long pause, the Leopard spoke again, his tone thoughtful.

  Leopard: "... How likely is it that Virno could claim the sword without any guidance? From what I know, the trials are said to be gruelling."

  Owl: "The trials are unique to each individual, pushing them to their absolute physical and mental limits. Given what the boy has endured already -- his broken family, his relentless determination to use his body beyond what most would dare -- I'd say his odds are better than most."

  He turned to the Leopard, his tone sharpening.

  Owl: "But be careful. Your role is to guide him without breaking him. If he pushes too far before he's ready, his body or mind could fail entirely. The trials alone will take enough from him."

  The Dragon shook his head.

  Dragon: "I don't envy you, Leopard... Your mission sounds like a nightmare."

  The Leopard's voice was calm, resolute.

  Leopard: "Don't worry -- I've faced worse nightmares than this."

  And with that, he turned and continued down the hall, leaving the others in uneasy silence.