Chapter 18: Unfinished Bonds and Fading Shadows

A blinding white light erupted across the stone roof of the underground room, slowly shifting and condensing until it formed the glowing image of a beautiful woman. Ethan could only stare up at the spirit in absolute awe.

The glowing silhouette floated forward, drifting seamlessly across the space until her ethereal hand gently brushed against Ethan's cheek. "Ethan..." she whispered softly, her eyes filled with an ancient, endless love. "You look so much like this now. Finally... I can finally look at you."

Deep inside his chest, Ethan's heart began to pound violently. A strange, suffocating warmth filled his soul. Why is my heart racing like this? he thought, his eyes stinging with sudden, unexplainable tears. This warmth... it makes me want to hug this spirit so tight and cry.

He swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Who... who are you?"

The woman offered a bittersweet, tender smile. "I can't tell you that right now, my sweet boy."

Ethan tried to move, but his limbs felt like lead. "Why can't I move my body?"

"What is it that you want to do right now, Ethan?" the spirit asked gently.

"I want to save Iris!" Ethan answered instantly, his red eyes flashing with desperation. "Can I save her? Please!"

The woman's smile widened affectionately. "The two of you are permanently imprinted. Why wouldn't you be able to save her? But... there is one thing I must make absolutely clear to you."

"What is it?" Ethan breathed.

"The imprinting bond inside your bloodlines is currently incomplete," she revealed, her voice turning solemn. "Right now, you cannot wield its true power. The bond will only fully mature and complete itself when you both turn thirteen years old. Until then, you are bound together."

Ethan frowned, his childhood innocence pushing back. "How can we be bound like that? We are just kids! I... I only see her as my best friend. I could never see her as anything else!"

The spirit softly cut him off, shaking her head. "Little boy, whether you accept it or not, this is what it is. Your blood is actively running through her veins, and her blood is running through yours. This fate cannot be changed, even if you were only three or four years old when it happened. But you must be cautious. Because the imprint is incomplete, you must not do anything reckless. If you push the magic too far, either of you could easily die, and the seal will shatter forever."

Ethan's gaze hardened, an unyielding determination flaring in his eyes. "I won't let that happen. Even if it's written in stone as our fate, I'll change it. She is my best friend—she's my family. I will never do anything reckless that would make me lose her."

The spirit stared at him, her blue eyes glistening with proud tears. "You really are just like me..."

"How?" Ethan asked, confused.

"Never mind," she whispered softly. "Do you really want to save her right now?"

Ethan's response was pure, passionate fire. "Yes!"

"As you wish," the spirit murmured.

With a final, loving look, the image of the woman dissolved into a sudden swirl of glowing white wind. The magic rushed downward, wrapping tightly around the matching sigils on Ethan and Iris's wrists. With a sharp whoosh, the white wind dove straight into Iris's chest, flowing through her bloodstream.

In an instant, the violent, dark pressure in the room vanished. The suffocating heat of the fever completely receded, and everything returned to normal.

Iris's eyelids fluttered, her chest rising with a deep, healthy breath. "Am... am I alive...?" she mumbled faintly.

Before she could even fully open her eyes or sit up, Ethan completely lost his restraint. He lunged forward, throwing his arms around her and collapsing against her shoulder in a desperate, suffocating hug right on the mattress.

Iris blinked, her vision finally clearing as she looked at the dark hair buried in her shoulder. "Ethi...? What are you doing?"

"I don't know," Ethan choked out, his grip tightening. "I'm just... I'm just so glad you're alive."

Iris blinked, a soft warmth spreading through her chest. She reached up, lightly rubbing the back of her head. "I really thought we died after jumping off that cliff..." She paused, looking down at his shaking shoulders. "Ethi... are you crying?"

"No," Ethan lied instantly, refusing to lift his head.

"You are!" Iris teased, a soft smile breaking across her face. "Stop crying, boy." She gently pushed his shoulders so he would sit up, peering intently into his face. "If you aren't crying, then what is all this moisture in your eyes?"

"It's just water," Ethan muttered, quickly wiping his face and looking away.

"I don't understand you at all, you little liar," Iris giggled, shaking her head.

While the two kids were bickering, the wooden door to the bedroom was suddenly pushed open. Noorin stepped inside carrying a tray, but the moment her eyes landed on the two children sitting up, alive and talking, her jaw dropped.

"AAAAAA!" Noorin shrieked in absolute terror, dropping the tray. "STEEVAN! Steevan, come here right now!"

Steevan came rushing into the room, his hand on his sword. "Why are you screaming, Noorin?! What's—"

He froze mid-sentence, his eyes bulging as he looked at the bed.

Noorin pointed a trembling finger at them. "Look! They're... they're completely fine!"

Steevan stared at Ethan and Iris, his medical logic completely shattered. "How... how are you both alive? I checked your pulses... You weren't breathing!"

Ethan and Iris stiffened, locking eyes with each other before looking back at the strangers. "Who are you, people?" Ethan asked defensively.

"You were practically dead when I pulled you from the river," Steevan breathed, stepping closer to inspect the clean, smooth skin peeking out from their bandages. He looked up, his voice hushed. "Did... did you treat your own wounds?"

"Yes," Iris spoke up softly, pulling the blanket up. "We are so sorry for invading your home and taking up your space. We will leave right away."

"No... this is a miracle," Steevan whispered, shaking his head in awe.

Ethan's crimson eyes narrowed as he studied Steevan's face. A strange spark of memory flickered in his mind from his early childhood before the orphanage. His voice turned deadly cold. "I think... I think I have seen you somewhere before."

Steevan's eyes flashed with sudden, profound shock. The name connected in his brain, and a heavy, disbelieving whisper left his lips. "Look at him... his name is Ethan..."

Steevan took a step back, his breath catching. "Ethan..."

---

Meanwhile, the dark night had fully settled over the Duke's grand estate.

Duchess Betty quietly entered her private bedchamber. The Duke was already lying under the silk sheets, watching her. Betty hesitated at the edge of the room, her expression cold and distant. Refusing to walk toward the bed, she grabbed her velvet pillow, marching over to the long sofa on the opposite side of the room to sleep alone.

The Duke watched her, his patience finally snapping. "How much longer are you going to keep doing this, Betty?"

Betty didn't offer a single word of reply, turning her back to him.

Annoyed, the Duke threw off the blankets, stormed across the room, and forcefully grabbed Betty by her hand, pulling her around to face him. "Are you really planning to act like this for the rest of your life?!"

"Leave me alone," Betty spat, glaring at him with pure disgust.

"Listen to me first!" the Duke growled.

"I don't talk to the murderer of my own child," she replied, her voice cutting like ice.

The Duke let out a harsh, mocking chuckle. "The killer of your child is already resting in the afterlife with Maximilian."

Betty froze, her blue eyes widening. "What... what does that mean?"

"Those two bratty prisoners jumped straight off the mountain cliff," the Duke revealed with a smug, satisfied smirk. "They are dead, Betty. They're gone."

A gasp of pure horror escaped Betty's lips. "Those two... those two innocent kids? You drove them to that?!"

"Whose side are you even on?!" the Duke roared, his grip tightening on her wrist. "Are you on the side of those freaks, or the side of your own dead son?! They brutally murdered Maxi!"

"No! You forced them to do it!" Betty screamed right back into his face, her maternal rage exploding. "You are the main villain here, Duke! You are the monster who caused all of this! They were just the victims!"

"Have you completely lost your mind?!" the Duke sneered, leaning in close. "Stop playing this pathetic sympathy card, Betty! It's enough!"

"At least I actually have a human heart!" she shrieked.

The Duke's expression turned pitch black, a dangerous, predatory energy radiating from his skin. "Oh? Is that so? Fine then."

With a sudden surge of strength, the Duke violently pushed Betty down onto the sofa, pinning her body beneath his as he loomed over her. "Since I am the villain... what exactly do you think you can do to stop me?"

Betty trembled beneath him, her eyes wide with terror as she whispered, "What... what are you going to do to me?"

The Duke leaned down, his cold hand covering her eyes as a sadistic smile crossed his lips. "Whatever I want."

---

[Chapter Ended - To Be Continued]