Sid’s eyes snapped open. That familiar tone, the voice behind the system, still echoed in his head. His senses slowly returned, grounding him in the present. He was awake, back in his reality.

Looking up, his gaze widened as the ceiling came into view, a vast cathedral dome painted with intricate mosaics, vibrant scenes of angels, saints, and figures from forgotten myths. Moonlight streamed in through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the floor.

"Ugh... my head. Why does it feel like it’s splitting in two?"

The dream or perhaps memory... still clung to him, a replay of death and life interwoven. Every choice, every moment he had lost, flashed back like fragments of a world both haunting and familiar.

The cold stone of the cathedral floor pressing into his back. His entire body felt like it had been wrung out, every muscle trembling from overuse. He rubbed his temples and let out a bitter laugh.

"Damn... pushing my body too far. Two collapses in less than two days? In a world like this, that’s just asking to die. What the hell am I doing?"

He sat up slowly, each movement feeling like he was moving through water. His hands roamed over his arms and neck, searching desperately for any sign of a bite. Nothing. No marks, no wounds beyond the deep ache of exhaustion. Relief washed through him, but it was cold and fleeting.

"F*ck it... it’s night now."

Sid took a moment to glance around. The cathedral was bathed in pale moonlight filtering through shattered stained glass. The battlefield around him was eerily quiet, the groans and shuffles of zombies absent. The bodies of the undead, including the shredded remains of the groom, littered the floor.

"No way... they’re all gone. Did my fight with that groom actually clear this place out? That big bastard was throwing things like crazy hell, he was even popping the heads off his own guests at that wedding."

Then his gaze landed on her. The bride. She was no longer sprawled lifeless on the altar but kneeling near the ruined corpse of the groom. Her veil hung low over her face, her hands limp on her lap as she stared silently at the remains.

"There she is..."

Sid rose slowly, his legs weak and unsteady, but he forced himself forward. Each step echoed across the cathedral’s hollow expanse until he was just a few feet away from her. He crouched down, careful not to get too close.

"I’m... sorry."

His voice cracked slightly.

"I know what I did. I killed him... your groom. Your husband. It wasn’t some random act. The system gave me the mission. It told me to kill him and revive you. If I didn’t do it, I’d be penalized. That’s how this world works. Orders, penalties... no choices."

The bride didn’t speak. She didn’t even turn her head. Her red eyes were glassy, unfocused, locked onto the shredded body at her knees. She looked like a statue, like grief itself had frozen her in place. Sid stared at her, guilt twisting in his chest.

"I don’t blame you for that slap. Hell, I deserve worse. I killed the only person who ever protected you, and then I dragged you back to life without asking. I forced you to wake up to a world without him."

He sat back on his heels, his voice softening.

"Nobody wants to be brought back just to find everything gone. Not without the one person who made them feel safe."

Her fingers twitched slightly at his words, but she still didn’t look at him. Sid’s shoulders slumped.

"It’s okay if you don’t answer. You don’t owe me anything. You didn’t ask for this, and I didn’t ask to be your executioner. But if nothing else... I swear, you’re not alone now. Not anymore."

For a long moment, the cathedral was silent except for the faint sound of the wind slipping through cracked stained glass. The bride’s head bowed lower, a single tear sliding down her pale cheek. Sid stayed where he was, too drained to do anything but wait for her to breathe, to move, to speak— anything at all.

The silence broke.

[NEW MISSION ACQUIRED!]

[Main Mission: Awakened Her Heart]

[Objective: Make her black heart advance to the next stage by spending time with her beyond issuing commands.]

"So now I’m supposed to be her therapist? Really? I’m pretty sure I’m the one who needs more therapy than she does. And this is a main mission? What the hell does ’awaken her heart’ even mean?"

Before he could curse further, a sharp sound crawled through the cathedral’s hollow belly. A guttural snarl, followed by another. Sid froze. His head tilted toward the broken doors of the cathedral. The sound was heavier than a zombie shuffle, lower than the mindless moans of the dead.

"Ghouls..."

He muttered, a chill running down his spine.

"Just great. Of course they show up now."

He turned quickly toward the bride, still kneeling by her groom’s remains.

"Hey... hey, we need to move. This place isn’t safe anymore. Do you hear me? We have to get out of here."

No answer. Not even a flicker. Her head stayed bowed, her veil shadowing her face. Sid clenched his teeth, frustration bubbling inside him.

"Damn it— what do I even call you? You don’t respond to ’bride.’ You don’t answer to anything."

The snarls were getting closer now. Sid felt the vibration of multiple footsteps against the stone floor. He had no choice. He reached deep inside himself, tapping the same strange power that bound her to him. His voice hardened.

"I command you— tell me your name."

Her head moved slightly, eyes glowing faintly. A ripple passed through her as if the system itself took control. Her lips parted, and her voice, soft and broken, finally emerged.

"...Evelise. Evelise Miravale."

The way she had moved instantly at his command, as if the system had hacked her mind and body, hit him harder than he expected. Guilt stirred in his chest. He hated what the system was doing to her, reducing her to nothing more than a doll.

Then the system’s cold voice rang again:

[New Party Member Added: Evelise Miravale]

[New Quick Menu Feature Added: Party Profile]