Chapter One: Shadows on the surface

Gardens, Cape Town

Rain slicked the streets, turning puddles into mirrors that reflected the dim glow of streetlamps. 

A girl of nine sprinted down an alley, her small feet splashing through water as she glanced over her shoulder.

The cursed spirit was close. Its body shimmered with liquid silver, twisting unnaturally. 

From its gaping maw, it spat a high-pressure stream of water. The spray cut through a parked car, split a streetlamp in two, then froze mid-air, as if the world itself obeyed its will.

Panic gripped the little girl. Ice was already crawling up her legs. 

This is it…

Then a shadow fell across her vision.

 Instinctively, she dove into it—and in an instant, the city melted away.

She stumbled out of another shadow on the far side of the street, gasping, hair plastered to her face. 

There she saw her—a girl, seventeen, standing with calm eyes as she faced the spirit.

The cursed spirit lashed again, water slicing like whips. 

The girl didn’t flinch. 

She slipped into the shadow beneath her and vanished. Moments later, she reappeared behind the spirit, yanking it into darkness with a force that made the street tremble.

The spirit let out a gurgling scream before disappearing into mist.

The girl turned to the little girl, brushing water from her hair. She took a slow, steadying breath, letting the adrenaline fade.

“Are you okay?” Her voice was calm but gentle.

The little girl blinked, awe-struck. “Th… thank you… You’re… really strong!”

A faint blush touched her cheeks as she smiled. “I try.”

“What’s your name?”

She paused. Then, with quiet pride: “Cyan Mowbray.”

“Cyan… Are you… a superhero?”

Cyan laughed softly, the sound cutting through the rain. “No,” she said, puffing out her chest with mock seriousness. “I’m a Jujutsu sorcerer.”

The little girl’s jaw dropped. Cyan simply smiled again, letting the rain wash over her as shadows danced at her feet. Somewhere in the darkness, a chill whispered—a hint that this night was only the beginning.

Jujutsu Headquarters — Cape Town CBD

The glass doors of Cape Town Jujutsu HQ swung shut behind Megumi Honda as he stepped into the bustling CBD streets. His dark eyes scanned the city, calculating, always alert.

At seventeen, he was already a semi-first grade sorcerer—capable, but still learning how deep the shadows of the cursed world ran.

He answered his phone. “Honda.”

“Megumi,” came the crisp, slightly irritated voice of Elle Abrahams. “How’s the investigation going?”

“Nothing yet,” he admitted. “Still tracing leads on that special grade cursed object. But… something’s been bugging me. The recent murders—do you think they have anything to do with the fingers?”

Elle sighed. “I’ve been thinking the same. Why are the victims all from the Big 3 families? And why was a finger stolen right from HQ?”

“I’ll ask around, look for clues. Got a tip one might be nearby.”

“Good. If you hear anything, immediately contact me. No mistakes.”

“Roger.”

The streets of Somerset Rd were crowded, but Megumi’s senses were tuned beyond the ordinary.

He paused for a heartbeat, noticing the reflection of neon signs in the rain-slicked asphalt, the distant honk of horns, the way pedestrians unconsciously avoided someone—or something—moving too fast.

A flicker of movement caught his eye—a girl sprinting with impossible speed toward Green Point. Behind her, two men gave chase, almost inhuman in speed.

Eighty kilometres per hour.

Megumi’s instincts flared.

 Cursed energy?

 Trouble was brewing. Without hesitation, he followed, weaving through pedestrians and cars with effortless precision. The city noise faded into a tense rhythm—the chase guiding him forward.

Green Point Stadium, Cape Town CBD

The roar of traffic dimmed as Cyan reached the open space near Green Point Stadium. She stopped when a sharp voice cut through the air.

“Cyan!”

One of the men had pulled ahead—Mael, her older brother, tall and broad-shouldered, his expression as unyielding as stone. At twenty-four, he was poised to lead the Mowbray family.

“Stop this nonsense and come home,” he commanded.

Cyan’s fists clenched. “I’m only coming home after I become a sorcerer at Jujutsu High.”

The second pursuer caught up—Ryan, nineteen, sharp-eyed, restless.

“You know the rules, Cyan,” he sneered. “Women in our family aren’t allowed to be sorcerers. You’re spitting on tradition.”

Cyan’s eyes flared. “I don’t give a damn about rules. I have cursed energy. I inherited Shadow Garden—the only one in our generation to do so. Just because I’m a girl? Forget that. Forget the Mowbray family!”

Ryan lunged, ignoring Mael’s warning. His fist cut the air like a bullet.

Cyan was already ahead. Shadows rippled at Ryan’s feet. His form collapsed inward, swallowed by darkness. Moments later, his body slammed onto the stadium roof with a thunderous crash.

Megumi froze. Shadow Garden. One of the rarest techniques in the Jujutsu world, awakening once every three hundred years—and here it was, wielded by a girl barely seventeen. 

How is she so powerful… and why now?

Cyan smirked. Mael tensed. “I don’t want to fight you.”

“Because I’m a girl?” Cyan shot back, striking at his composure.

Mael’s jaw tightened. He launched forward, cursed energy crackling. But before they could collide, a figure appeared between them—Megumi Honda.

The sudden intrusion caught both Mowbrays off guard. Cyan narrowed her eyes. “You… have no cursed energy.”

“So you’re sorcerers,” Megumi said flatly.

Mael frowned. “And how would you know that?”

“Because only a sorcerer would know that.”

The silence was heavy. Megumi’s eyes flicked between them. “Do you belong to any of the Big 3 families?”

“The Mowbrays,” Mael said, taut.

Megumi’s gaze darkened. “Have you heard the story of the twenty-one fingers?”

Cyan and Mael exchanged uneasy glances.

“Our uncle used to tell us… a boy born half-human, half-curse,” Cyan began slowly.

“He became a monster,” Mael continued grimly.

Megumi nodded. “Then he was sealed. His curse divided into twenty-one fingers.”

“…But that’s just a tale, right?” Cyan asked.

“It’s not.”

Mael’s eyes narrowed. “Why all the questions?”

“I’m investigating the recent murders of Jujutsu sorcerers,” Megumi said.

Mael’s gaze shifted toward Cyan, concern flickering. Anya… Her best friend, another victim of the endless cycle.

Cyan’s fists trembled. “Then let me help. Please. This matters to me.”

“No,” Megumi said firmly. “You just showed that you have personal ties. That makes you reckless.”

“I agree,” Mael added. “This is not your fight.”

Cyan’s eyes burned. “Then I’ll investigate on my own.” 

She let her breath steady for a moment, feeling the darkness beneath her stir like a living thing. Shadows rippled at her feet. She vanished, swallowed by darkness, leaving only silence behind.

Megumi watched the last trace of Cyan’s shadow fade.

This girl is going to get herself killed.

Mowbray Compound — Groot Constantia

The Mowbray compound sat behind high stone walls. Old Cape Dutch architecture, cursed barriers thick as static against Megumi’s skin.

Ryan kicked open the gate. “Why’re we dragging some Jujutsu High pet in here?”

“Because he’s investigating the same murders,” Mael replied.

Ryan smirked. “Wouldn’t surprise me if it was the Liebert freaks. They’ve always looked… wrong.”

Megumi’s eyes narrowed.

“They’ve got a technique that unsettles people,” Mael said sharply. “Unique to their bloodline. You’ll understand if you ever encounter it.”

Inside, they were asked to sit. The air felt heavy, though Megumi sensed no cursed energy. Footsteps echoed. Phillip Mowbray entered—a tall figure in a dark tailored coat, mid-forties, presence bending the atmosphere though his cursed energy was unreadable.

He studied Megumi for a long moment, then smiled faintly.

“No cursed energy… yet you’re clearly a sorcerer. Heavenly Restriction?”

Megumi’s jaw tightened. “How did you—?”

“Simple. You’re Japanese. Only sorcerers from there carry such blessings.”

Phillip leaned back. “So, the murders. Thirty-nine in the last year. All sorcerers. All from the big three families. Each death—a different cursed technique.”

Ryan: “Which means multiple killers.”

Megumi shook his head. 

“No. Someone wants us to think that. The techniques are too precise. The murderer has multiple cursed techniques—and wants us to believe it’s more than one.”

Phillip’s eyes softened briefly. “I hear you’ve met my daughter.”

Megumi blinked. “…Cyan?”

Phillip chuckled low and bitter. 

“She’s… difficult. I’d bring her home if I could, but forcing her would deepen the hatred. If you cross paths with her again… look out for her.”

Megumi shook his head. 

“I can’t promise that. But I will find the one whose responsible.”

Phillip’s smirk returned, eyes unreadable.

 “Good. I’ll hold you to that, Honda.”