"What!?" Only Lena showed a strong reaction.
Lumi, for his part, already knew this.
As for the other players, they had no idea who this 'Dark One' even was.
Seeing that only she alone gave any reaction, Lena took a nervous step back, looking between the Empress and Lumi. She only knew that the Dark One was some entity that Lumi was working against. That was the entire point of capturing Afton S. Crow.
"Um…"
She turned to the Empress, and bowed apologetically. "Your Majesty, this one gives her greatest apologies for speaking out of turn."
Empress Aria lifted a hand slightly, forestalling any reprimand. "You need not apologize," she said calmly. "Honest reactions are rarely offenses in my court."
Lena straightened again, visibly relieved.
Narinder shifted beneath the Empress, feathers silent despite the weight. The Divine Beast's massive eye blinked once, its attention lingering on the party as it looked over every member once more.
