Sabrina and Luna were dragged from the scene immediately after the mission, still catching glimpses of the city in disarray. They were restrained and seated before the council, every member’s eyes scrutinizing them like predators measuring prey.

  “Why… why would you save people?” Melisandra’s voice cut through the tense air, laced with incredulity. “Did you even think about the consequences?”

  Zola leaned forward, his gaze sharp. “Do you even realize how reckless that was? The order was clear. This could have ruined everything.”

  Bullseye smirked, fingers tapping a rhythm on his holstered pistols. “I must admit… I didn’t see this coming.”

  Denis, observing from afar in hidden shadows, felt a twinge of anxiety. He knew the girls had acted on instinct, but seeing them face the full scrutiny of the council made his chest tighten.

  Before the council could finalize their decision to send them to discipline prison, a calm, measured voice cut through the room:

  “Don’t forget… they did complete what we asked of them before.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  All heads turned. Mister Zed had appeared, calm yet commanding. “There is something within them that instigated this, something unexpected. But treason must still be punished.”

  He turned to Melisandra with a slight nod. “Assist me.”

  Melisandra’s eyes gleamed. “With pleasure. I’ve been waiting for this.”

  For the next hour, the girls endured the sharp precision of Melisandra’s discipline—each impact measured, each strike leaving only the sting of correction rather than lasting harm. The council watched, silent and calculating, while the sisters remained seated, bracing themselves.

  Finally, Zed’s voice echoed through the chamber. “Enough with the physical. Now, we move to the psychological.”

  The girls felt the weight of a headset press against their heads. Instantly, they were immersed in nightmares—visions orchestrated to make them doubt themselves. One scenario after another played out, each a distorted echo of their father’s disappointment, his voice ringing sharp and accusing. They saw him leaving, shaking his head, turning away from them in anger. The illusions lasted for two full hours, each second stretching longer than the last.

  When the headset lifted, their hearts raced, and their minds spun from the relentless pressure.

  Zed spoke again, measured and final: “You have one week to consider your choices. What you decide in that time will determine what happens next.”

  With a wave of his hand, the girls were released from the council chamber, stumbling into the quiet streets. The city around them hummed, oblivious to the ordeal they had just endured. They glanced at each other, silent but understanding. For the first time, the weight of the system pressed heavily upon their young shoulders.