Amid Helena’s unapologetic, coquettish laughter, Alianna’s indifferent gaze once again became clear in Lyle’s eyes.

The cloying sweetness echoing in his mind dissipated, leaving only the bitter taste of shame for his lack of self-control. And in Alianna’s voice, which contained not a hint of blame, Lyle’s dignity suffered multiple setbacks.

"I failed again..."

"For the fifth time."

Even before half a song could be danced, the sunset had been completely replaced by candlelight, and the hands of Lyle and Alianna, tightly clasped, parted once again.

"It’s okay, you are a human, Lyle. Humanity is the origin of all desires. Souls are born from you, desires are born from you, resisting temptation is no less than a creature overcoming its animal instincts," Alianna’s soft voice soothed Lyle again. Resting her head on Lyle’s shoulder, Alianna’s smooth hair brushed against his cheek, bringing the touch of silk.

"You did better than I expected."

Alianna’s comfort and encouragement made Lyle feel somewhat better, but it was of little use.

Five tests, and he had succumbed to enchantment at the same spot each time, Helena’s actions carried an artist’s obsession, boldly setting the trap of desire at the dance’s first turning point, with no concealment, no variation.

But Lyle had fallen for it, even though he could predict exactly that he would be spiritually charmed at the next third step, even though he was fully prepared to resist, he still fell for it.

That sensation was like shutting the door to withstand a tsunami. A tsunami of charm, Lyle had no doubt that Helena’s allure could sink him at any moment, and this self-awareness sent chills down his spine. Naslan’s elder sister could turn him into a puppet at will.

Fortunately, Alianna was able to bring him back to his senses, though when faced with Lyle’s curiosity, Alianna did not explain the method she used to awaken him.

"If there’s no progress in the lessons, Lyle, you can relax a bit."

"I fear that will be difficult, Anna, soul studies have always been my weak point, especially with Lady Helena’s enchantment, I’m at a complete loss. It’s hard for me to put these setbacks behind me."

Alianna’s soft palm rested firmly against Lyle’s back, and he could clearly feel her limb sliding over his clothing, ripples forming in his heart.

"Maybe you should try to understand my sister, understand Helena, understand what it means to be a Soul Reaver."

The Soul Reaver, a name dreaded by Medusa, had long piqued Lyle’s curiosity. Now that Alianna brought it up, Lyle was naturally very eager to understand what kind of being Soul Reaver Helena really was.

"Naslan, is a family of three sisters. And also, a family that only has three sisters."

Lyle quickly picked up on the implication in her words, his pupils contracting slightly to show his surprise.

"You mean..."

"In the Naslan family, in reality, there are only three members," Alianna said, leaning against him, swaying gently as if telling a bedtime story.

"Beatrice, Alianna, and Helena."

"The Soul Reaver, is an ’entity’."

"Those Specter Maids in the house, those souls you shepherd, they... "

"They are all the ’creations’ of Sister Helena."

Those indifferent ghosts, those beings who can express their own will, they are all just Helena’s creations?! Just like... just like those statues?

"Sister’s statues are actually the dwellings of these Soul Reaver fragments. They must periodically return to these statues to ensure that the ’Personality’ Sister writes for them does not become twisted, which would mean death."

"But why would Helena do such a thing?"

Alianna first looked at Lyle, then her gaze searched among the surrounding statues, as if she saw something, she nodded.

"If sister has no objections, then I will tell you, Lyle, the cause of all this."

"It was a long time ago, shortly after father left, Naslan was in danger of decline. As the new chieftain, Sister Helena invited a group of women to perform a ritual."

"A ritual to garner great power, one that would allow Naslan to prosper forever."

"Those women deceived her, those witches, they didn’t tell us the cost of possessing great power. They wanted to turn sister into a weapon, a Rule Breaker bound by oaths."

"What is a Rule Breaker?"

"An entity that disregards rules, surpasses limitations because they usually possess great macro forces, so..."

"They are also known as gods." Lyle seemed to understand her meaning.

"Rule Breakers are not yet gods, they don’t possess the absolute power of a god."

"Those witches succeeded, but also failed."

"In the last moment, Helena altered the contract, changing the vow of sheltering witches into our childhood promise as three sisters."

"The loophole in the rules caused a horrific surge of energy. With the formation of the Rule Breaker, Naslan too became ruins."

"In order to protect those servants belonging to Naslan, Helena, who had become another form of life, devoured their souls."

"She became the Soul Reaver of Naslan, and Helena, after merging countless memories and emotions, fell into madness."

"She became a shattered whole."

"Until time brought her back to peace, after a really long time." There was sadness in Alianna’s voice, the downfall of their family, the eldest sister transformed into a powerful lunatic, the hardships she faced at that time were self-evident.

"Time is not a panacea, what really woke me up, of course, was the immaculate love of Little Anna and Little Benny." Lyle felt it, something cold and ominous had rested on his shoulders and was conversing with Anna in front of his chest, from behind him.

It was Helena, a Helena detached from the statue. Lyle’s hair stood on end, a shadow of a terrifying entity’s entrance loomed over him, a fear intrinsic to living beings.

"Hurry back, sister, you’re going to scare Lyle to death."

"Tsk." The fear dissipated.

"As the Soul Reaver, as an oddity that this world’s rules cannot accommodate, Sister Helena naturally emits malice." Alianna cradled Lyle’s head, "Don’t stare into sister’s eyes, for that will petrify your soul, turning you into her sculpting material."

"Besides, Sister Helena occasionally can be... quite mad... but she’s been much better recently."

The recent sculptures seemed to respond to Alianna’s words. "Petrification is no big deal, I can definitely recreate the most ideal ’Lyle’ for Anna, one who won’t look at other women, only cherishing my adorable little sister, the perfect Lyle."

"How about it! How about it! Anna, wouldn’t you like to fall in love with your sister? I definitely won’t make you sad again!"

Lyle felt a profound malevolence.