The wind howled, carrying whispers that curled into Akari’s ears like ghostly fingers. The mist clung to her, shifting like it was alive, like it recognized her as one of its own.

  > System Update: Veil’s Gaze Upon You.

  Effect: Unknown.

  Her fingers twitched around the hilt of her sword. She wasn’t the same as before. Something had changed.

  The old man studied her in silence, his hollow gaze unreadable. The villagers remained still, their hoods obscuring their faces, as if waiting for something—or someone.

  Akari took a slow breath. “You said I’m a piece of this world now.” Her voice was steady, but inside, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up this fa?ade of control. “What does that mean?”

  The old man tapped his cane against the ground, the sound echoing in the unnatural silence.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “The Veilbound Village does not let outsiders leave. You’ve entered this place, killed one of its guardians, and taken its power.” His voice was grim. “That means the Veil has chosen you.”

  Akari’s stomach tightened. “Chosen me for what?”

  The mist at her feet shifted, spreading like ink on water. The villagers finally moved—just slightly—lifting their heads as one.

  Their faces remained hidden beneath their hoods, but their collective gaze sent a chill through her spine.

  “You are now bound to the Veil,” the old man murmured. “If you try to leave, the world itself will pull you back. The longer you resist, the stronger the pull.”

  A cold weight settled in her chest.

  Trapped.

  Just like that? She clenched her fists. There had to be a way out.

  She glanced at the villagers, their silent presence gnawing at her nerves. “What about them?”

  The old man exhaled. “They tried to resist.”

  Her throat dried.

  Before she could speak, a sharp notification flashed before her eyes.

  > The Veil whispers your name.

  A path has opened.

  A path?

  A moment later, the mist shifted, parting like curtains to reveal a stone archway at the far end of the village.

  It hadn’t been there before.

  The old man’s expression darkened. “The Veil is testing you.”

  Akari swallowed. “Testing me for what?”

  “For something far worse than death.”

  She had a choice. Stay here, bound to a village cursed to exist between realities… or step through the unknown.

  The whispers grew louder, urging her forward.

  She had already stepped onto this path.

  There was no turning back now.

  With a deep breath, Akari took her first step toward the archway.