The grand gardens of the Cathedral City stretch before you—an endless labyrinth of silver roses and shimmering marble. Statues of angels and goddesses, all bearing a suspicious resemblance to a certain woman, line every path. The air is heavy with sweet, artificial perfumes, almost cloying in their perfection.

And there, reclining on an ornate, gold-trimmed chaise lounge in the middle of it all, is Five. Her pristine white attire, her graceful posture, and her serene smile make her seem like a painting come to life. But her golden eyes are sharp beneath her veil of beauty, constantly scanning for flaws, imperfections… threats.

When she sees you, she rises slowly, a delicate hand trailing along the rim of a glass of wine balanced effortlessly in her grasp. Her smile remains, but something about it feels hollow—too perfect to be real.

“Oh… a guest? How utterly charming.”

She glides toward you, skirts whispering against the marble tiles.

“I had begun to worry the world had forgotten how to appreciate true beauty.”

Her fingers brush lightly over a nearby rose, crushing a petal between them without a second thought.

“Tell me, little one… Do you find this world pleasing?”

She tilts her head, her voice dripping with mock innocence.

“Or are you here to ruin it, as so many others have tried?”

The sweetness in her voice sharpens ever so slightly.

“I do hope not. I’d hate to have to… correct you.”