"Of course that's not all. It's just part of the process," Ethan said, his voice steady and calculated. He nodded to himself, completely focused as he stripped Charlotte's sister of her clothes before methodically applying the herbs he'd mixed. His movements were quick, yet precise—his mind constantly working through the next steps.
Charlotte's glare was sharp enough to cut through steel. She gripped the dagger at her side, but she was careful not to act too hastily. It took every ounce of willpower not to lash out at him. Her sister was still in peril, and though she loathed the idea of entrusting Ethan with this delicate task, she had no other choice. If he was right, if he could really save her sister, then perhaps this awful situation could be turned around.
Charlotte's breath hitched as she watched Ethan's hands work, though she told herself to calm down. She could do this. She could handle this as long as he didn't do anything inappropriate with her sister.
But still, the room felt colder as he continued his work.
Ethan paused for a moment, his expression shifting as he remembered something. "I need a full-length mirror," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "It's crucial to the process."
Charlotte didn't ask questions; she just grabbed the nearest mirror she could find, glaring at Ethan all the while. She wasn't about to let him take advantage of the situation. But if he could truly save her sister, then she'd do whatever it took to make that happen.
When the mirror was set in place, Ethan began muttering something under his breath. His eyes were locked on the reflection of Charlotte's sister, still lying motionless on the bed.
"Place the mirror above her," he instructed, his voice soft yet commanding, "so that it reflects her entire body."
Charlotte hesitated but did as he asked. The mirror was heavy, but she managed to position it just right, the glass now reflecting her sister's pale face, her body splayed out on the bed.
Then, a shift in the air—a sudden change in the atmosphere that even Charlotte, a Level 2 Awakened, could feel. It was strange, unsettling, like a crack in reality itself. Charlotte tightened her grip on the mirror, bracing herself. She had no idea what was about to happen, but she could feel the weight of the moment pressing on her chest.
Before she could blink, her sister jerked upwards, her body convulsing as she shot into the mirror. It was like watching someone be sucked into a vortex. Charlotte's breath caught in her throat, her eyes wide with horror as her sister's figure appeared in the corner of the glass.
Her sister's eyes were wide, full of fear, her small fists pounding against the glass from the inside.
"What did you do?!" Charlotte screamed, her voice full of panic as she stepped forward, reaching out for her sister. The mirror seemed so fragile, yet she knew better than to touch it. Something about this felt wrong.
Ethan didn't even flinch. He stood up from the bed, his expression cold. He barely seemed to notice the chaos unfolding in front of him. "Calm down. She's alive, isn't she?" he said nonchalantly, his hand resting casually on the bedpost.
Charlotte turned to him, rage bubbling up inside her. "What kind of sick joke is this?" Her voice was raw with fury.
But before she could take another step toward him, a dagger whizzed past her, narrowly missing Ethan's neck. He froze mid-step, the suddenness of the threat causing his eyes to narrow dangerously.
"Move, and I will kill you," Charlotte growled, her voice sharp with determination.
Ethan remained unphased, a mocking smile curling on his lips as he looked back at Charlotte. His voice was calm, almost bored. "She'll be trapped forever if the mirror breaks. She'll die if you shatter it."
Charlotte's face twisted in fury. "You bastard! You're using my sister as leverage! You think you can—"
"Shut up," Ethan interrupted, his gaze piercing as he stepped closer, the weight of his presence pressing down on Charlotte. "Do you think I'm afraid of you? No. If you break the contract or try to harm me, both you and your sister will pay the price. And you know what that price will be." His tone was icy, unyielding.
Charlotte's chest tightened. She could feel her rage boiling over, but there was something else—a gnawing sensation deep inside her that told her Ethan was telling the truth. The restriction on the mana contract was real.
The pain in her soul flared up suddenly, a sharp and blinding agony that made her knees buckle. Her vision blurred, and her grip on the dagger faltered.
A blood-curdling scream tore from Charlotte's throat as the soul-crushing pain wracked her body. She fell to the ground, her hands clutching at her chest, trying desperately to alleviate the torture. But it was no use. The pain was endless, unforgiving. The mana contract had activated.
"What the hell did you do?!" Charlotte gasped, tears streaming down her face as the pain slowly subsided, leaving a cold, hollow feeling in its wake. She was no longer able to focus on the world around her. She could only focus on Ethan, who stood there without an ounce of remorse in his eyes.
Ethan's face was unreadable, but his eyes glinted with something dark—something she hadn't seen before. "I did nothing," he said, his voice still calm. "You wanted to know what happened, Charlotte? You wanted to know what's going on? I'll tell you. Your sister's life—your future—it all depends on how well you serve me now."
Charlotte's heart pounded in her chest, the anger and betrayal overwhelming. "You... you're going to use me? Just to save her?"
"Yes," Ethan said, his gaze cold and calculating. "And if you don't, then you and your sister will suffer. The terms of the contract are clear. You agreed to protect me during my expedition. And as for this... This is just the beginning."
Charlotte gritted her teeth. "You've won, Ethan. I'll do whatever you want. But mark my words—once my sister is free, this is over. I won't serve you forever."
Ethan smirked, unfazed by her words. "You don't have a choice, Charlotte. You promised."
His words hung in the air as Charlotte stood there, seething with helplessness. The road ahead of her seemed darker than she ever imagined. She had no choice but to comply—for now.
But one thing was certain: Ethan hadn't heard the last of her.