Bound by the king of destruction

I was happy to feel Clara's warmth again when she suddenly jumped on me. Her arms locked tightly around my neck, her legs wrapping firmly around my waist like she never wanted to let go. I caught her, steadying myself, and hugged her back. But after a long moment, she still didn't let go. That's when I felt the wet warmth soaking into my shoulder, her tears.

"Hey, Clara, what's wrong?" My voice was soft, but I could already hear the small sobs breaking through her breath.

She pressed her face harder against me, her voice cracking.

"Mistress Elunara and I were so worried about you! You just… vanished. No trace. We thought you'd disappeared forever…"

I sighed and gently rubbed her back, feeling her trembling against me. "Hey, you don't need to cry," I said softly, patting her head. "I'm sorry I made you worry. But I'm fine now."

She pulled back slightly, just enough for me to see her tear-streaked face. Her lips quivered as she shouted,

"No, you're lying! Every time you disappear, you come back hurt. So why are you smiling? Why are you calm? Why don't you ever cry?"

Her voice hit me like a punch, sharper than I expected. She wasn't just speaking, she was hurting for me.

Nellie stood quietly at the door, her expression unreadable, but her thoughts hanging in the air.

There are people who care about Ash just as much as Van and I do.

Clara's sobs grew heavier, her arms tightening around me with an almost desperate strength. I tilted my head slightly to catch her gaze.

"Clara," I said gently. "Look at me."

But she wouldn't. Her face stayed buried in my shoulder, her tears soaking through my shirt as though my arms were the only safe place she had left. I sighed and brushed her damp hair back.

The only way to calm her was to shift the moment.

"Clara," I tried again, my voice firmer yet kind. "Do you see the collar on my neck?"

She froze, blinking up at me, her lashes clumped with tears. "Yeah… why do you have a collar?"

"Can you take it off? It's draining my energy, and I can't remove it myself."

She slid down from me reluctantly, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, her breathing uneven. She studied the collar, her fingers hesitating near my skin. Then she suddenly squinted, her voice sharp but shaky.

"You're wrecked. First, take a shower," she said, her tone half-scolding, half-worried.

I gave her a small smile, relieved that her mood was shifting. "Okay, I will. Just take care of Nellie for me. Oh, this is Nellie, by the way. Nellie, this is Clara."

Before she could ask more questions, I turned and started down the hallway.

"Okayyy…" Clara called after me with a sniff, a faint grin forming. "Is she your girlfriend, Young Master?"

I didn't answer. I was already gone.

Clara puffed her cheeks in frustration but grabbed Nellie's hand, gently tugging her to sit beside her. "You'll tell me later," she muttered under her breath, still sniffling.

---

Somewhere outside, in a home surrounded by endless farmland, a figure stood in the open compound, posture rigid, as if he'd been waiting all evening. The warm light from the house spilled across the yard, casting long shadows. His eyes, sharp and faintly yellow, glimmered in the dim light.

A man approached, boots crunching against the dirt path. "Kuzen," he called, voice careful but stern. "What did you want to talk about?"

Kuzen turned, his golden hair catching the light as his gaze sharpened like a blade.

"I want to join the Hunter's Department," he said firmly.

The man's response was immediate, unyielding. "No. You'll join the Exorcist's Department. We've discussed this already, and my answer won't change."

"But Dad," Kuzen's voice rose, his tone desperate, "I want to be a hunter! I want nothing to do with ghosts or demons or spirits!"

"You can't go into the dungeons," his father snapped. "It's for your own good. You'll take the Exorcist's Department and that's final."

The man turned on his heel and walked away, his silhouette shrinking into the night.

Kuzen stayed rooted, his jaw tightening as he stared at the fading figure. He couldn't wrap his mind around why his father hated the idea of him stepping into the dungeons.

---

Later, as I took a shower, steam curled around me, water trailing down my skin. My gaze shifted to the scar on my chest reflected in the mirror.

Tomorrow, I'm going to the academy… but I feel uneasy. I missed the enrollment days, and Van is gone. I don't even have my spirit anymore.

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist, when a voice startled me.

"So, you disappeared and came back whole… again?"

I spun. "Grandma! When did you come back?"

She leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, her gaze sharp and searching. "I should be asking you that. What happened?"

I exhaled. "I was kidnapped by some scientists. The usual stuff."

Her brows furrowed. "Does it have something to do with the mark?"

"Yeah. This time, they wanted it whole. And Van… he's nowhere."

Her expression stayed calm, but I could sense the quickened beat of her heart even without her showing it. My Grandma was forced to suppress her emotions around me, because mine… mine weren't always stable.

"Grandma," I said quietly, "can I get a temporary pact spirit?"

She paused, her voice low and thoughtful. "Do you think it will work? Van was an exception because he evolved through your emotions. I doubt another spirit would handle it."

So I only have one option… to find Van.

She sighed and turned toward the hallway. "Once you're done, join us for dinner. We'll try, and if that fails, I'll find Van myself. Your friend said she's good at searching, maybe I'll ask her for help."

I blinked. "Friend? What friend?"

"Nellie," she said, already walking away.

I froze for a moment.

Wait… Nellie's presence had gone unnoticed by the old man, the truck driver, by Clara who is a spirit herself, and even Grandma, who's an Exo-hunter. Something about her was off.

"Oh… I forgot to ask Grandma to buy me a new phone," I muttered to myself.

Tomorrow new challenges start. I have to be ready for anything.