"Also, I'm impressed you managed to get your hands on a Basilisk Heart," Rachel said, her tone half-curious, half-amazed. Her eyes sparkled with genuine admiration as she leaned back slightly in her chair. "That's a truly remarkable Source for a Lich. Honestly, it's priceless. Most necromancers would sell their soul—metaphorically or literally—for one."
"Thanks," I replied, keeping my voice even, though her praise was oddly satisfying.
Her fingers tapped thoughtfully against the edge of her plate. "You're planning to make it evolve into an Arch Lich, aren't you? That must be my father's doing. He wouldn't hand over something like that without a bigger picture in mind."
I fought to keep my expression neutral, though internally, I was floored. 'She's terrifyingly sharp,' I thought. Rachel's mind was like a finely tuned blade, slicing through any pretense I could conjure.
