Chapter Text
The mountains were quiet.
Too quiet.
It had been five peaceful days since Duennao and Suer had arrived at the little wooden house on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Nestled between emerald mountains and ancient pine forests, the home felt untouched by the turmoil slowly brewing beyond its borders.
For the first time in months, Duennao had slept through entire nights. No Witch Council. No emergencies. No cursed artifacts appearing at Moon & Mortar. No frantic knocks at midnight from injured magical creatures seeking help. Only birdsong. The murmur of the creek behind the house. The scent of herbs drying beneath the morning sun.
Even Dan seemed more relaxed. The black familiar spent his afternoons lazily napping atop the porch railing, occasionally opening one eye to judge passing butterflies before deciding they weren’t worth the effort.
Suer, meanwhile, had settled into an unexpected routine. Each morning he helped Nao’s father repair fences, gather vegetables, or split firewood. By afternoon he followed Duennao through the surrounding forests collecting medicinal herbs that didn’t grow anywhere else in Thailand.
It was… Normal.
A kind of normal Suer had never experienced growing up. And it frightened Duennao. Because life had taught him one simple truth.
Peace rarely arrived without demanding something in return.
The sun had barely climbed above the mountains when Duennao found himself sitting alone beneath an enormous camphor tree behind the house.
Several books floated around him. Each turned its own pages. His fingers absentmindedly traced glowing runes in the air as he adjusted the enchantments protecting the charms he had gifted each member of Johan’s pack.
The charms had become something more than protective talismans. Each was connected directly to him. If one of them suffered enough damage, he would know.
It was a spell P’Soul had taught him years ago.
“Protection isn’t about making someone invincible,” his mentor had once said.
“It’s about making sure they’re never truly alone.”
One by one, he inspected every magical thread.
Johan’s.
Steady.
Hill’s.
Calm.
Tonfah’s.
Strong.
Typhoon’s.
Bright as ever.
North’s.
Chaotic.
Naturally.
Arthit’s.
Recovered beautifully after the silver poisoning.
Daotok’s…
Duennao paused.
“…Strange.”
The clairvoyant’s charm pulsed weakly. Almost as though something interfered with it. He frowned.
Maybe distance. Maybe Daotok had been using his ability. Still, something about it bothered him.
Dan, sitting nearby with his tail lazily swishing from side to side, opened one eye. “You’ve been staring at that thread for five minutes.”
“…It feels unstable.”
“The charm?”
“No.”
“The magic around it.”
Dan sat upright. “You think something’s wrong?”
“I…” Duennao hesitated. “…I don’t know.”
It happened without warning.
A deafening crack echoed inside Duennao’s mind. Not through his ears. Through his magic. Every floating book immediately slammed shut. The glowing runes surrounding him exploded into silver sparks.
He gasped sharply as pain shot through his chest. “…No…”
Before him, one of the magical threads snapped. Not frayed. Not weakened. Broken. Completely. The corresponding charm hovering in his spell circle shattered into dozens of glowing fragments.
Daotok.
The clairvoyant’s charm.
Broken.
Duennao stood so abruptly that every chair around the garden toppled over. His breathing became uneven. His pupils narrowed.
“No…”
“No.”
“No.”
Dan was already beside him. “What happened?”
“My charm.” His voice barely came out. “It broke.”
The familiar froze. “…Which one?”
Duennao looked up. Fear filled his usually composed silver eyes. “…Daotok’s.”
Before Dan could answer—
The communication crystal hanging from Duennao’s belt erupted in crimson light.
Emergency. Not blue. Not green. Crimson.
It rang once. Twice. Three times.
Duennao answered before the fourth. “…Johan.”
The Alpha’s breathing was heavy. Calm. But strained.
“Nao.”
“I’m here.”
There was shouting in the background. Furniture scraping, someone crying.
Duennao’s stomach sank. “What happened?”
Johan didn’t waste a second. “…Come home.”
Those two words alone made Duennao’s blood run cold “What happened?”
“…We’re under attack.”
Everything around him seemed to disappear. The mountains, The trees, The birds.
Only Johan’s voice remained. “Daotok…”
A pause. “…He’s alive.”
Duennao finally breathed again. Barely.
“But he’s badly injured.”
His grip tightened around the crystal. “…How bad?”
Silence. Too much silence. Finally—
“I need you here. Immediately.”
Suer appeared beside him almost instantly. He had heard enough. “What happened?”
Duennao looked toward him. His voice was frighteningly quiet. “…Daotok.”
The dragon’s expression changed immediately.
Johan continued. “Leo is here.”
Suer blinked. “…Leo?”
“He arrived with someone named Ben. They interrupted the attack. They helped us repel them. They’ve been asking for you.”
Suer’s confusion only deepened. “Leo came there?”
“Apparently. They were too late to stop Daotok from being injured. But…”
Johan looked toward someone nearby. “They probably saved his life.”
Duennao interrupted. “We’re leaving now.”
“Be careful.” Johan immediately warned. “We don’t know if the attackers expected you to return. There may be people watching the portals.”
Nao closed his eyes. “I understand. I’ll use the hidden routes.”
The call ended. Neither Duennao nor Suer moved for several seconds. Then simultaneously… They did.
————-
“Nao?” His mother’s voice came from the garden.
She immediately stopped walking the moment she saw his face.
Her smile vanished. “My baby… What happened?”
Duennao rarely lied. Not to her.
“…The pack. There was an attack.”
She didn’t ask anything else. Instead, she immediately embraced him. The same way she had when he was fifteen and frightened by powers he couldn’t understand.
“You have to go.”
He nodded. “They need me.”
“I know.” She gently cupped his face. “Then go. They’re your family.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes. “But promise me, you’ll come home.”
He placed one hand over hers. “I promise.”
His father emerged from the workshop carrying a toolbox. One look at the situation told him everything.
“You leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Need a ride?”
Duennao actually smiled despite everything. “…No. I have a faster way.”
His father nodded once. “Then don’t waste another second.”
Suer bowed respectfully. “Thank you… For taking care of me.”
Nao’s mother immediately hugged him too. “You silly boy. You’re welcome back anytime. And next time…”
She smiled through worried eyes.
“You’d better come under happier circumstances.”
“I will.” He hoped.
Dan stretched. “I suppose vacation’s over.”
“No complaints?” Duennao asked.
“I was just getting used to free fish.”
———————
The old portal hidden beneath the house was unlike the elegant moonwood doorway connecting Moon & Mortar and the pack mansion.
This one was ancient.
Carved directly into the mountain itself generations ago by wandering witches. Few knew it existed. Even fewer could activate it.
Duennao knelt before the weathered stone arch. His fingers traced glowing runes across the moss-covered surface. Ancient symbols awakened one by one.
Silver. Gold. Deep blue. The portal hummed softly.
Suer watched quietly. “I’ve never seen this one.”
“I’ve never shown anyone.” Nao admitted.
“It’s connected to forgotten ley lines. They’re difficult to trace. Even the Witch Council avoids using them.”
“Why?”
“They’re unpredictable.”
The air grew colder. The stone doorway slowly filled with swirling silver mist. Unlike ordinary portals, nothing could be seen on the other side. Only endless light.
Duennao looked toward Suer. “Stay close.”
“I will.”
“No matter what happens inside… Don’t let go.”
Suer nodded. “I won’t.”
Without hesitation, he reached for Duennao’s hand. The witch looked momentarily surprised. Then quietly intertwined their fingers. Not because of embarrassment. Because the portal demanded physical contact to keep travelers together.
At least… That was the explanation Duennao gave himself.
The moment they stepped through— The world vanished.
Light. Wind. Countless glowing rivers of mana flowed around them. Ancient voices whispered from somewhere impossibly distant. Time itself seemed to lose meaning.
Suer instinctively tightened his grip. Duennao squeezed back. “We’re almost there.”
Far away, At the pack mansion…
North sat outside the infirmary with tears streaming down his face.
Typhoon cried quietly against Easter’s shoulder.
Tonfah’s hands remained stained with blood despite washing them repeatedly.
Arthit paced like a caged wolf.
Hill stood silently near the window, his crimson eyes fixed on the forest beyond the estate.
Johan remained beside the infirmary door.
Waiting.
Beside him stood two unfamiliar men. One wore elegant black robes embroidered with silver dragons.
Calm. Composed. His golden eyes held unmistakable resemblance to Suer’s.
Leo. The elder son of the Crimson Dragon Household. Beside him stood another dragon-blooded man with sharp amber eyes and a sword strapped across his back. Ben. Leo’s most trusted right-hand man. Neither looked like enemies. Both looked exhausted.
Leo stared toward the front entrance. “They’re coming.”
Johan nodded. “…Good. We’re running out of time.”
Inside the infirmary, Daotok lay unconscious. Both of his eyes remained tightly shut. Dark veins spread beneath his eyelids like ink trapped beneath porcelain skin.
Tonfah had stopped the bleeding. But no medicine, no wolf healing, no vampire blood had been able to dispel the sinister magic lingering inside him.
Only one person might. And everyone in the mansion silently prayed that Nao would arrive before it was too late.
🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄
The moment the hidden mountain portal opened inside the lowest chamber beneath the pack mansion, every enchanted lantern flickered. A rush of ancient mana swept through the underground corridors like a cold wind. Silver mist rolled across the stone floor.
Then…
Duennao stepped out. His dark cloak fluttered behind him, silver eyes already searching for danger before the portal had even finished closing. Suer emerged a heartbeat later. Dan landed gracefully on the floor between them.
No one spoke. They didn’t have to. The silence itself told them everything.
The first person they saw was North. The cheerful Sylph, who usually greeted them with a tackle hug before they could even say hello, was sitting on the cold stone floor. His face was buried in his knees. His shoulders trembled violently.
The moment he looked up—
“Nao…” His voice broke.
He ran. Throwing himself into Duennao’s arms.
“…Daotok…”
“Please…”
“…Please save him.”
The usually composed witch instinctively caught him.
“It’s alright.”
North shook his head violently. “No!”
“It isn’t! There was so much blood…”
“I…”
“I couldn’t…”
His words dissolved into sobs.
Duennao gently placed one hand on the back of North’s head. “I’ll see him. I promise.”
North slowly nodded. Still crying.
Typhoon stood nearby, wings drooping lifelessly. His normally radiant fairy wings had lost much of their glow. He quietly wiped away another tear.
“…I’m sorry.”
Duennao looked confused. “…For what?”
“I couldn’t protect him.” The fairy whispered. “I was too far away.”
Before Duennao could answer—
Easter gently rested one hand on Typhoon’s shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault.”
His own eyes were red. Clearly… He had cried too.
Johan appeared from the corridor. His clothes had already been changed. But faint stains of dried blood remained around the cuffs of his sleeves.
“Nao.”
The Alpha’s voice carried unmistakable relief. “You made it.”
“I came as fast as I could.” Duennao answered. “Where is he?”
Johan looked toward the infirmary. “Inside.”
Suer immediately noticed two unfamiliar figures standing nearby. Or rather, one unfamiliar. The other, impossible to mistake.
“…Leo.”
The older dragon slowly turned. For just a second, neither brother moved. It’s been a few years. That was how long it had been. Then Leo smiled.
The same gentle smile Suer remembered from childhood. “You’ve gotten thinner.”
Suer actually laughed. “…That’s the first thing you say?”
“You still skip meals. And you’re still worrying.”
Leo opened his arms. “Come here.”
Without hesitation, Suer embraced his older brother. For several long moments, neither of them spoke. Ben quietly looked away. Giving the brothers privacy.
When they finally separated, Leo placed one hand on Suer’s shoulder. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
“So am I.” Suer quietly replied.
His expression soon became serious again. “You were there?”
Leo nodded. “We’ll explain. But first…”
He glanced toward the infirmary. “…Help your family.”
Duennao had already entered the room. The atmosphere changed the instant he crossed the doorway.
Tonfah immediately stood. “…Nao.”
The red wolf looked more exhausted than anyone had ever seen him. Dark circles rested beneath his eyes. His usually immaculate sleeves were rolled to his elbows. Blood stained both his hands.
“I’ve stabilized him.” Tonfah whispered. “But…”
His voice faltered. “…I can’t do anything else.”
The room smelled heavily of medicinal herbs. Healing potions. And… Dark magic.
Duennao froze. His eyes slowly lifted toward the bed. Daotok lay frighteningly still. Bandages covered his forehead. His breathing remained steady. His heartbeat, weak but stable. Yet…
Something immediately felt wrong. Very wrong.
He approached slowly. Every instinct screamed at him. The closer he came, The colder the room became. The hairs on the back of his neck stood. He finally reached the bedside.
Then… He saw it. His heart stopped. Daotok’s eyes were open. But they couldn’t see. The once beautiful silver irises that always shimmered whenever he used Clairvoyance…
Had become completely clouded. Dark veins spread beneath both eyelids. Like cracks spreading through glass. Magic twisted unnaturally around them.
Duennao’s breathing caught. “…No…”
He reached forward with trembling fingers. The moment his hand hovered above Daotok’s face— Black mist surged upward. Hissing. Reacting violently against his magic. Duennao immediately withdrew.
His pupils narrowed. “…Forbidden.”
Tonfah looked up. “You know it?”
“I’ve…” His voice barely emerged. “…I’ve only read about it.”
Silence filled the infirmary. Everyone watched him. Waiting. Dreading the answer. Duennao slowly closed his eyes. Then whispered words he had prayed he would never need to say.
“This isn’t merely a curse.” He looked toward Johan. “…Someone attacked his gift.”
The room became deathly still.
North stared. “What does that mean?”
Duennao swallowed. “Daotok is a Clairvoyant. His eyes aren’t simply organs. They’re magical conduits. They’re connected directly to fate.”
He looked back at Daotok. “…Whoever cast this… didn’t want to blind him.”
North frowned. “Then what?”
“They wanted…” His voice trembled. “…to erase his ability.”
Typhoon gasped. “No…”
Easter covered his mouth.
Hill’s crimson eyes darkened.
Arthit’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Johan’s jaw hardened.
North slowly stepped backward. “…No. He can see the future. He always…”
“He always…”
His voice broke again. “He always tells us when something bad is coming… He can’t lose that…”
Duennao immediately began examining the curse. Golden runes spread beneath the bed. His fingers hovered above Daotok’s temples. Silver light gently flowed into the clairvoyant’s body.
For several minutes, no one dared speak. Finally, Duennao lowered his hands. His face had become noticeably paler.
Tonfah immediately recognized the signs. “You spent mana.”
“I needed to confirm.”
“What is it?” Johan asked quietly.
The witch took a slow breath. “The curse is alive.”
Everyone stared.
“It keeps repairing itself.” He continued. “I remove one strand …three more replace it.”
Tonfah looked horrified. “…That’s impossible.”
“It should be.” Duennao answered. “But someone used layered forbidden magic.”
Dan jumped onto the bedside cabinet. His golden eyes narrowed. “I’ve smelled this before.”
Every head turned toward him.
“Where?” Duennao asked immediately.
Dan frowned thoughtfully. “…Years ago. Before we met the pack. There was a witch. A collector. He experimented on magical creatures. He used similar curses. He disappeared.”
Duennao looked uneasy. “…I remember. I thought he died. So did everyone.”
Johan folded his arms. “…Can you save him?”
The room held its breath. Duennao looked at Daotok. Then, he answered honestly.
“…I don’t know.”
North immediately burst into tears. “No…”
Duennao quickly turned toward him. “But.”
The Sylph looked up. “I won’t stop trying.”
Without another word, the witch walked toward the enormous bookshelf lining one side of the infirmary. Ancient grimoires floated down on their own.
One after another. Some were written in forgotten magical languages. Others, were so old their pages had become silver instead of paper.
Tonfah watched in amazement. “I’ve never seen these.”
“I hoped…” Duennao admitted quietly. “…I’d never need them.”
The next several hours became a blur. Book after book. Spell after spell. Ancient diagrams. Protective sigils. Counter-curses. Nothing worked. Each attempt weakened the curse, only for it to rebuild itself moments later.
By evening, Duennao’s hands had begun shaking. Sweat covered his forehead. His breathing had become noticeably uneven.
Tonfah quietly walked over. “That’s enough.”
“No.”
“You’ve been casting continuously for six hours.”
“I know.”
“You need rest.”
“I don’t have time.”
Tonfah placed one hand firmly on his shoulder. “Nao.”
The witch didn’t look up. “If I stop…”
He whispered. “…what if Daotok loses more?”
Silence.
“I can’t risk that.”
Suer quietly approached. He had spent most of the afternoon listening to Leo and Ben explain the attack. Yet the moment he returned, he found Nao exactly where he expected.
Still searching. Still refusing to surrender.
Suer gently rested a hand on his back. “…You’ve done enough for today.”
Nao shook his head. “No.”
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I know.”
“You haven’t rested.”
“I know.”
“You’ve nearly emptied your mana.”
“I know.” His voice finally cracked. “But…”
For the first time… Everyone saw it.
The tears gathering in the corners of Duennao’s eyes.
“I don’t know how to save him.”
Silence fell over the infirmary.
“I’ve always…”
He looked helplessly at the books surrounding him. “…known where to begin. But this…”
He swallowed hard. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
North slowly walked forward.
Instead of asking another question…
He simply hugged Duennao.
“…You’ll figure it out.” The Sylph whispered through his tears. “You always do.”
Typhoon joined the embrace.
Then Easter.
Soon, without a word the entire pack stood around the exhausted witch. Not because they expected miracles. But because none of them wanted him carrying this burden alone.
Duennao closed his eyes. Taking one slow, shaky breath. Then another.
Finally, he opened them again. The fear remained. The exhaustion remained. But so did his resolve. He gently wiped away the tears that had escaped despite his efforts.
Then looked toward Johan. “I need to hear everything. Every detail of the attack. Every spell they used. Every word they spoke. If I’m going to break this curse…”
His emerald eyes hardened with determination. “…I first need to understand the person who created it.”
Across the room, Leo watched the young witch in silence.
He finally understood why his younger brother had chosen this pack. It wasn’t because they were powerful. It wasn’t because they were wealthy. It wasn’t because they could protect him. It was because…
At the center of this family stood a quiet witch who refused to abandon anyone—even when the cost was his own strength.
And Leo couldn’t help but wonder, just what kind of enemy would be willing to challenge someone like Duennao.
🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄🪄
The infirmary remained silent. The only sounds were the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock near the entrance…
And Daotok’s slow breathing.
Moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting pale silver across the room. No one wanted to leave. No one could. North still sat beside Daotok’s bed, absentmindedly holding his hand. Typhoon had fallen asleep against Easter’s shoulder after crying himself into exhaustion. Hill stood by the window like a silent sentinel. Tonfah continued checking Daotok’s pulse every few minutes despite knowing there was little he could do until Duennao found a way to break the curse. Arthit leaned against the wall, his arms crossed so tightly that his muscles trembled.
Johan finally broke the silence. “…Everyone.”
“We need to reconstruct everything. If Nao is going to understand this curse… We can’t miss a single detail.”
Duennao nodded. “Start from the beginning. No assumptions. No shortcuts. I need every second.”
Johan’s Account
The Alpha rested both hands on the table that had been moved into the infirmary.
“It happened shortly after noon. The weather was clear. Normal patrol rotation. Arthit remained inside because Tonfah still hadn’t officially cleared him after the silver wound.”
Arthit muttered quietly, “I still think I could’ve gone.”
Tonfah didn’t even look at him. “No. You couldn’t.”
Nobody argued.
“Daotok had just finished helping North reorganize the library.”
North wiped his eyes. “He complained because I mixed books by color.”
Duennao couldn’t help the tiny smile that appeared. “…That does sound like Daotok.”
North sniffled. “He called me an uncultured pigeon.”
Typhoon quietly laughed through his tears. “…That also sounds like him.”
The brief moment of laughter disappeared almost immediately.
Johan continued. “After lunch, everyone separated. Hill went to inspect the northern barriers. Typhoon was in the greenhouse. Easter accompanied him. Tonfah was preparing medicines. I was in my office.”
Johan continued. “The western barrier triggered. It wasn’t destroyed. It simply …Stopped existing.”
Duennao immediately looked up. “Stopped?”
Johan nodded. “It disappeared. No explosion. No impact. It simply vanished.”
The witch frowned deeply. “…Impossible.”
“Exactly. At first… We thought it malfunctioned. I sent Hill to investigate. But before he reached the gate…”
The Alpha’s eyes hardened. “They attacked.”
“It wasn’t one group. It was three. Simultaneous. They struck from three directions.”
Hill quietly spoke. “They knew where our blind spots were.”
Silence. That wasn’t public information. Only someone familiar with the mansion… Or someone who had been watching could have known.
“They weren’t ordinary wolves.” Arthit added. “They moved like soldiers. No unnecessary movements. No shouting. No panic. They came here to kill.”
“How many?” Duennao asked.
“Twenty-two.” Hill answered. “We captured four. They’re downstairs. Alive.”
Duennao looked surprised. “You kept them alive?”
Johan nodded. “I wanted answers. We all did.”
North slowly raised his head. “…This part… Was my fault.”
Everyone immediately looked toward him.
“It wasn’t.” Johan said firmly.
North ignored him. “I asked Dao …to check something.”
“What?” Duennao asked gently.
“The future.” North whispered.
“I… I had a bad feeling. I couldn’t explain it. So I asked him…” he paused.
“…to look.”
Silence settled over the room. Daotok had always disliked using Clairvoyance casually. Not because he couldn’t. Because every vision demanded a price.
“He agreed.” North continued. “He smiled. He teased me. He said…”
North’s voice trembled. “‘Fine. If it helps you sleep tonight.’”
Tears rolled down his cheeks again. “He activated his gift.”
Duennao quietly listened. Then asked, “What did he see?”
North shook his head. “He never told me.”
“Why?”
“Because…” His voice broke. “He screamed.”
The room grew cold. Even Dan stopped grooming himself. North hugged himself tightly. “I’ve never… I’ve never heard Dao scream before.”
Typhoon slowly spoke. “I heard him. I ran toward the library.”
His tiny wings trembled. “When I arrived… he was clutching his eyes. There was blood.”
Duennao closed his own eyes. “No…”
Typhoon nodded weakly. “He kept saying…”
“‘Something saw me.’”
Silence. Absolute silence.
“He kept repeating it.” Easter whispered.
“‘It saw me.’”
“‘It saw me.’”
“‘Close it.’”
“‘Close it now.’”
Duennao’s stomach twisted. Clairvoyants didn’t merely observe the future. Sometimes, rarely, the future… Observed them back.
Johan continued. “The first wave attacked exactly thirty seconds later. They weren’t trying to enter immediately. They were…”
He looked toward Daotok.
“…Buying time.”
The realization hit everyone simultaneously.
“The attack…” Nao whispered. “…was a distraction.”
Johan nodded. “Their real target …was Daotok.”
“They knew.” Tonfah said quietly. “They knew exactly where he would be.”
Hill nodded. “They ignored everyone else. They pushed straight toward the library.”
Arthit slammed his fist against the wall. “They didn’t even look at me. They walked past. They wanted him.”
Johan’s voice became colder. “There was one more person.”
Everyone looked at him.
“He wasn’t with the others. He wore a hood. No scent. No mana. No footprints.”
Duennao immediately frowned. “…Concealment magic. Advanced.”
“He carried…” Hill hesitated. “…A black blade.”
Duennao immediately stood. “What?”
“It wasn’t metal. It looked…” Hill searched for the right word. “…Like crystallized shadow.”
The witch’s face lost what little color remained. “No…”
Leo, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “I’ve seen that weapon once.”
Everyone turned toward him.
“It belonged …to an executioner.”
Ben nodded grimly. “The old Witch Wars.”
Duennao looked at them. “You know about it?”
Leo answered quietly. “My family fought beside dragon clans against rogue witches centuries ago. There were weapons made specifically to sever magical abilities.”
The room fell silent.
Johan continued. “Fortunately, they never finished.”
North looked confused. “…Why?”
Johan looked toward Leo. “Because someone interrupted.”
Leo folded his arms. “My brother never changes.”
Suer blinked. “…What?”
“You disappeared without leaving an address. I had to find you eventually.”
Ben chuckled softly. “He spent months pretending it wasn’t bothering him.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
Even in such heavy circumstances, Suer smiled. “…Liar.”
Leo continued. “We came because we discovered information regarding the rival pack. We planned to speak privately. But…”
He looked toward the shattered western wall. “We arrived just as the barrier disappeared.”
Ben crossed his arms. “There wasn’t time for introductions. We joined the fight. You should’ve seen your Alpha.”
He nodded toward Johan. “He broke someone’s sword.”
Johan looked mildly embarrassed. “It was necessary.”
“It was impressive.” Ben corrected.
“And Hill.” Leo added. “I’ve never seen a vampire move that quickly.”
Hill merely shrugged. “They were threatening my family.”
“Easter blinded three attackers.”
Typhoon smiled weakly. “He did.”
Easter rubbed the back of his neck. “I just reflected sunlight.”
North immediately protested. “It was amazing.”
“Arthit.” Ben continued. “Fought despite Tonfah yelling at him.”
Tonfah sighed. “I told him to stay inside.”
“I did.” Arthit answered. “Until they got too close.”
“What about Daotok?” Duennao quietly asked.
Leo’s expression darkened. “We were …too late.”
Ben continued the story. “When we reached the library…”
“The hooded man had already struck. He looked directly at us.”
“And?” Suer asked.
“He smiled.” Ben answered. “Even though his face was hidden. I could feel it.”
“He said something.” Leo added.
Everyone immediately leaned forward.
“What?”
Leo repeated the exact words. “The Seer has seen too much. Now let Fate stumble in darkness.”
A chill spread through the room.
“Then?” Duennao asked.
“He disappeared.” Leo answered.
“Not teleported. Vanished. As though…”
“…the shadows swallowed him.”
Johan finally gestured toward the lower levels.
“We caught four. I hoped they’d talk. They didn’t. They couldn’t.”
“Show me.” Nao said quietly.
Moments later, the entire group descended beneath the mansion. The prison cells had been reinforced with silver bars and enchanted stone. Four wolves sat inside separate cells. Their expressions blank.
Emotionless. Almost… Empty.
Duennao approached the first prisoner. “I am Duennao.”
No response.
“Who sent you?”
Silence.
He raised one hand. A gentle truth spell surrounded the prisoner.
Nothing happened. Odd. Very odd.
Duennao frowned. “This should compel an answer.”
He tried again. “Who ordered the attack?”
The prisoner slowly opened his mouth. For one hopeful second, everyone believed they would finally receive answers. Instead, black smoke poured from his throat.
The prisoner screamed. Collapsed. Then began choking violently. Nao immediately dispelled the spell. The smoke disappeared. The wolf survived. Barely.
Silence. Everyone stared. Duennao slowly stepped backward. His expression had become frighteningly serious. “…It’s worse than I thought.”
Johan folded his arms. “What is it?”
“They’ve been bound. Not by loyalty.”
He looked at each prisoner carefully. “…By a Silencing Oath.”
North frowned. “What does that mean?”
Duennao answered quietly. “It means, they physically cannot reveal their master’s identity. If they even attempt to…”
He glanced toward the prisoner still gasping for breath. “…The spell kills them.”
No one spoke.Because everyone understood. The enemy hadn’t merely planned an ambush. They had prepared for capture. Prepared for interrogation. Prepared for every move Johan’s pack would make afterward. And that realization frightened Duennao more than the battle itself. Because it meant they weren’t fighting reckless enemies anymore. They were fighting someone patient. Someone intelligent. Someone who understood both wolves… And witches.
Duennao slowly looked at the four imprisoned wolves. Their eyes were vacant. Not empty because they lacked emotion. Empty because something had been carved away.
“…Johan.”
“Hm?”
“We need to get them upstairs.”
The Alpha frowned. “…Why?”
“I want to examine them properly. They’re victims too.”
Everyone looked at him. Even after everything, even after Daotok nearly lost his gift, Duennao still saw the enemy soldiers as victims.
Suer wasn’t surprised. That was simply who Nao was.
A few minutes later, the four prisoners were moved to another room near the infirmary under Hill’s supervision. Every restraint remained intact. Silver chains. Enchanted cuffs. Three layers of protective seals drawn personally by Duennao. Only after confirming there was no chance of escape did he begin.
Duennao placed his palm gently against the forehead of the first prisoner. A faint silver light spread from his fingertips. The wolf immediately winced.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” Nao spoke calmly. “I only need to see.”
The frightened wolf said nothing. Not because he refused. But because fear itself had frozen him.
The silver light seeped deeper. Past flesh. Past bone. Toward the magical pathways flowing throughout the body.
Minutes passed. Then, Duennao suddenly withdrew his hand.
“…Impossible.”
Tonfah immediately stepped closer. “What did you find?”
The witch stared silently at the wolf. Finally…
“They’re branded.”
North frowned. “Branded? What kind?”
Duennao slowly lifted the prisoner’s hair.
Hidden beneath it… At the base of the neck was a tiny black rune. Almost invisible. If someone hadn’t known where to look, they never would have found it.
Every member leaned closer.
Typhoon covered his mouth. “…It’s moving.”
It was. The symbol wasn’t ink. It writhed beneath the skin like living shadow.
Duennao’s expression became darker. “I’ve only read about this.”
“What is it?” Johan asked.
“A Soul Brand.”
The room fell silent.
Tonfah looked confused. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“You shouldn’t have.” Duennao answered quietly. “The practice has been forbidden for nearly four hundred years.”
Leo folded his arms. “…Explain.”
The witch nodded. “A Soul Brand binds three things.”
“The body. The magic. And…”
He looked at the frightened prisoner. “…Free will.”
North blinked. “…Free will?”
“It doesn’t control every thought.” Nao explained. “But… It creates absolute obedience under specific conditions. It also ensures…”
“…that secrets die with the servant.”
Everyone instinctively looked toward the black rune.
Ben muttered quietly, “Whoever did this… Treats people like tools.”
“No.” Duennao corrected.
His voice had become unusually cold. “Not tools. Ingredients.”
The room grew still. Only Suer recognized that tone. Nao wasn’t simply angry. He was remembering something.
Duennao slowly stood. He walked toward the window without speaking. The moonlight illuminated his face. Suer quietly joined him.
“…Nao.”
The witch didn’t immediately answer. Finally… “I’ve seen something similar.”
“When?”
“My first year at the Academy.”
Everyone turned toward him.
“It wasn’t part of the curriculum. It was…”
He searched for the right word. “…An accident.”
“P’Soul and I stayed late one evening. We were cataloguing confiscated artifacts. There was…”
His breathing slowed. “…A sealed room. No students were supposed to enter. But someone had already broken inside.”
North swallowed. “What happened?”
Duennao’s emerald eyes darkened. “We found a second-year student. He had opened a forbidden grimoire. There was a Soul Brand ritual inside. He tried to replicate it.”
Silence.
“He survived. But… He never remembered his own name again.”
Typhoon’s eyes widened. “…No…”
“The spell devoured part of his soul.” Nao answered softly “P’Soul sealed every copy of that ritual. I believed… They had all been destroyed.”
Leo looked thoughtful. “Apparently not.”
“No.” Duennao whispered. “Apparently not.”
A sudden voice interrupted them.
“…Nao…”
Everyone turned.
Daotok. His eyes remained clouded. But, he was awake.
North reached him first. “Dao!”
The Clairvoyant smiled weakly. “…You’re crying again.”
North laughed despite the tears. “…Shut up.”
“I can’t. I literally can’t see you.”
Despite everything, Daotok still managed to joke. It only made North cry harder.
Tonfah immediately checked his pulse. “How do you feel?”
“…Awful.” Daotok answered honestly. “My head hurts. My eyes feel…”
He hesitated. “…Empty.”
Duennao slowly approached. “…Can you see anything?”
The Clairvoyant remained silent. Several seconds passed. Finally…
“…No.” His answer was calm. Too calm. “Only darkness.”
No one knew what to say.
Duennao sat beside him. “I’m going to examine you again.”
“Alright.”
“If anything hurts…”
“I’ll complain.”
“…Good.”
The witch carefully placed both hands beside Daotok’s temples. This time, instead of forcing healing magic inward, he allowed Daotok’s own mana to flow outward. The room filled with pale silver light. For several long minutes, nobody moved.
Suddenly— Duennao frowned. “…Wait.”
“What?” Tonfah asked.
“There…” His fingers shifted slightly. “…Something’s different.”
He followed the flow of Daotok’s mana. Past the curse. Past the damaged magical pathways. Deeper. Much deeper.
Then…
He felt it. Tiny. Weak. Almost impossible to notice. A single thread of silver. Still alive.
Duennao’s eyes widened. “…It’s still there.”
“What is?” North asked immediately.
“His gift.”
Everyone froze.
“It isn’t gone.” The witch whispered. “It’s sleeping.”
“What?”
“The curse…”
He looked amazed.
“It couldn’t erase Clairvoyance. It only …Locked it away.”
Hope returned to the room. Small. Fragile. But unmistakable.
North grabbed Duennao’s arm. “So he can recover?”
The witch hesitated. “…Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I don’t know how to unlock it yet. But…”
He smiled for the first time since arriving. “…It’s still there.”
Typhoon immediately burst into relieved tears. “I knew it. I knew Dao wouldn’t lose it.”
Hill quietly smiled. The first smile anyone had seen from him all day. Even Johan allowed himself to breathe a little easier.
Daotok chuckled weakly. “So… I’m not completely broken?”
“No.” Duennao answered firmly. “Not while I’m here.”
The smile disappeared from Duennao’s face moments later. Because now, he knew what had to be done. He quietly stood.
“I need my workshop.”
Johan blinked. “Here?”
“No. My shop. I need ingredients, Books, My cauldron. The curse is older than anything I have stored here.”
Suer immediately spoke. “I’ll go with you.”
Nao nodded. “Thank you.”
Before leaving the room, Tonfah gently caught his wrist.
“…Nao.”
“Hm?”
“You’re shaking.”
Only then did everyone notice. His hands had begun trembling uncontrollably. Not from fear. From magical exhaustion.
Tonfah looked directly into his eyes. “When was the last time you ate?”
Every member stared at the witch.
Duennao looked mildly guilty.
“…I forgot.”
“You forgot?”
Tonfah repeated.
“You nearly emptied your mana. You’ve been casting for hours. You haven’t slept properly. And you forgot to eat?”
“I was busy.” He answered quietly.
Tonfah pinched the bridge of his nose. “I cannot believe this.”
Before anyone else could react, Suer walked over. Without saying a word he took Duennao’s hand.
The witch looked up. “…Suer?”
“We’re taking a break.”
“But—”
“No.”
“I need the books.”
“They’ll still be there.”
“I need ingredients.”
“They’ll still be there.”
“Dao—”
“He’ll still be here.”
Suer gently squeezed his hand.
“But if you collapse…”
“…Who’s going to save him?”
Silence. Complete silence. Because everyone knew… Suer was right.
Duennao slowly lowered his head. “…Ten minutes.”
Suer smiled softly. “Good.”
Ten minutes later
North, despite still crying every few minutes, proudly served Duennao a bowl of hot rice porridge prepared by the mansion’s kitchen.
Typhoon insisted on adding fresh herbs.
Tonfah checked that the food contained enough nutrients.
Hill silently placed a cup of warm tea beside it.
Arthit muttered, “You’d better finish everything.”
Leo quietly watched the scene. Then leaned toward Ben. “…Do you understand now?”
Ben nodded slowly. “…Yeah. I do. They don’t protect him because he’s useful. They protect him…”
“…Because they love him.”
Leo looked toward his younger brother, who was sitting beside Duennao, patiently making sure the stubborn witch actually finished every bite.
A small smile crossed his face. “And judging by the way Suer keeps looking at him…”
He whispered. “…One idiot is already hopelessly in love.”
Ben chuckled. “The witch has no idea.”
Leo laughed quietly. “Absolutely none.”
Across the table, Duennao looked up in confusion.
“…Why are you all smiling?”
North immediately covered his face to hide his grin. “N-Nothing.”
Typhoon suddenly became fascinated by his tea. Easter coughed suspiciously. Even Johan looked away.
Suer, meanwhile, turned slightly red.
Only Dan, curled comfortably on the windowsill, lazily opened one eye before muttering to himself,
“My witch can identify twelve hundred herbs by scent, break down ancient forbidden magic, out-argue the Witch Council. And yet…He still couldn’t recognize a confession if someone embroidered it onto a blanket and wrapped him in it.”
The old familiar sighed. “This is going to take a while.”
The room, weighed down by fear only hours earlier, filled with soft laughter.
It didn’t erase the danger. It didn’t cure Daotok. It didn’t solve the mystery surrounding the attack. But for a few precious minutes, it reminded everyone why they were fighting so hard to protect this family.