"Adrian!" Selene's voice rang out like a warning bell.

Adrian barely had time to process the shout before he saw a flash of silver dart toward him. His chains snapped reflexively to defend himself, but before he could react, Selene had closed the considerable distance between them in a blur of movement.

Her hand shot out, catching the assassin's wrist mere inches before his blade could find Adrian's chest.

The assassin froze, his mask doing little to hide the shock in his wide eyes. Adrian, too, stared at Selene, his expression showing a mixture of disbelief and alarm.

"Selene…" he began, but she wasn't paying attention.

With a cold, detached motion, Selene twisted the assassin's arm until the blade clattered to the ground. Her grip tightened, and she threw him aside as if he were weightless, her silver eyes glowing faintly as they locked onto Adrian.

"Adrian," she said in a flat and unnervingly calm voice. "Finish him."

Adrian snapped out of his shock, his fiery chains launching forward and impaling the disarmed assassin before he could recover. The body dropped lifelessly to the ground, but Selene's focus was already elsewhere.

She turned to the others; and her demeanour completely changed.

Gone was the shy, uncertain Selene. In her place stood someone icy, calculating, and utterly confident.

Her voice was casual, almost bored, as she surveyed the remaining assassins. "Want me to finish them up for you?"

The group froze for a moment, stunned.

"Is she…" Abyss began, but her words were cut off as Selene moved again.

She was a blur of motion, darting between the assassins with terrifying precision. Her dagger flashed like silver lightning, each strike perfectly timed and placed.

An assassin swung at her, but she sidestepped effortlessly, driving her blade into his side. Another lunged, and she disarmed him with a flick of her wrist before cutting him down.

"What's happening to her?" Ava murmured, her golden staff glowing faintly as she prepared a protective spell.

"Selene?" Lilith called, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Is that you?"

Selene barely glanced back, her expression calm and detached. "Who else would it be?"

Inside, Selene's thoughts were racing, but her body felt unnaturally calm. I'm back in this state again, she thought, each motion flowing with perfect efficiency. Everything's slowing down, like the world is giving me all the time I need to react.

The last assassin fell at her feet, and Selene straightened, brushing her cloak as if nothing had happened.

Adrian stepped forward, his fiery chains retracting as he studied her carefully. "Selene, are you okay?"

She turned to him, her silver eyes still faintly glowing. "I'm fine. Come on, let's go. The Shadow Court doesn't have time for chitchats."

Adrian exchanged a look with Medea and the others, his concern evident. "Why don't you sit this one out?" he suggested cautiously.

Selene's gaze hardened. "Are you coming or not?"

Medea stepped forward, her dark eyes scanning Selene with interest. "She's not wrong. Almost forgot ourselves earlier. This is Hestia's temple, her domain. We can't enter. Only you can…. And well, her."

Lilith crossed her arms with a smirk. "Looks like you've got a new companion for this one."

Adrian hesitated, but Selene had already moved toward the open grate leading into the catacombs. She paused, glancing back at him. "Are you coming?"

With a resigned sigh, Adrian followed her, his thoughts swirling with questions.

The catacombs were dark and damp, the faint smell of mould permeating the air. Narrow stone passages stretched out before them, their surfaces worn smooth by centuries of time.

Selene took the lead without any doubt or hesitation, her actions quick and sure as she made her way through the maze-like tunnels.

Adrian stayed a step behind her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Selene walking ahead of him wasn't the same person he had come to know.

What's happening to her? he thought. And what is she becoming?

Selene's voice broke the silence. "This place is old," she said, her tone flat and observant. "The architecture suggests it was built to confuse intruders. Dead ends. Traps. Narrow spaces that make fighting difficult."

"You've been here before?" Adrian asked.

"No," Selene replied simply, her glowing silver eyes scanning the walls. "But I can see how it's meant to work."

Adrian frowned, his concern deepening. She spoke with a detachment that unnerved him, as if she weren't fully aware of herself.

The faint sound of movement ahead caught their attention. Adrian raised a hand, signaling for Selene to stop.

"Something's coming," he said quietly, drawing his sword.

The sound grew louder—a low, rumbling growl that echoed off the stone walls. From the shadows emerged a massive beast unlike anything Adrian had seen before.

It had the body of a hulking bear, its fur matted and blackened as if scorched by fire. Large, leathery wings protruded from its back, folded tightly against its body. Its face was grotesque, with multiple glowing yellow eyes that blinked independently of one another.

"What the hell is that?" Adrian muttered, gripping his sword tightly.

Selene stepped forward, her dagger glinting faintly in the dim light. Her voice was calm as she spoke. "A Morribane. Rare. Aggressive. It's drawn to heat and sound."

Adrian glanced at her in surprise. "You know this?"

Selene's eyes never left the beast as it lumbered closer, its growl deepening. "I've read about them. Its weak spots are the eyes and the base of its wings. Its fur is resistant to fire, and it's incredibly strong. Our best bet is to keep our distance and go for precision strikes."

Adrian blinked, taken aback by her sudden expertise. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Selene replied firmly, her stance unwavering. "I'll distract it. You aim for the eyes."

Adrian hesitated, his instincts screaming at him to keep her out of harm's way. But the determination in her voice left little room for argument. And a deep part of him wanted to see the side of her that had defeated those assassins in the forest days before.

"Fine," he said, stepping into position. "But be careful."

Selene smirked faintly, the first hint of emotion since they entered the catacombs. "I'm always careful."

As the Morribane roared and charged toward them, Adrian tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. Whatever Selene had become, it was clear she wasn't the same person she had been before.

And as she darted toward the beast with uncanny speed, he couldn't help but wonder—was this the real Selene, or something else entirely?

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