The moment Raven stepped aside, the boy broke free from his grip and ran forward.
"Father!"
His small voice echoed as he ran,
The man turned at the sound.
For a second, disbelief crossed his face—then his eyes widened, and his breath hitched. He dropped everything he was holding and rushed forward, catching the boy mid-run.
"My son…
He hugged him tightly, His hands trembled as he pressed the boy's head to his chest, holding him as if the world might try to steal him away once more.
"I thought I lost you," the man whispered, his voice breaking. "I thought I would never see you again."
The boy clung to him, nodding into his chest.
Raven stood a short distance away, silent, his dark coat swaying slightly in the wind. His face held no pride, no expectation of thanks—only a calm, distant expression.
Raven gently turned to leave but stopped instantly as he turned back and looked at the man
Raven's gaze sharpened.
The man held his son and was about to go inside
"Wait."
The man froze.
He took two steps, then stopped completely.
Raven spoke again, his tone calm but heavy.
"Can I ask you something?"
The man slowly turned back to face him.
He didn't speak.
Raven stepped closer.
"What is the secret," Raven asked, "that woman is holding over you?"
The man's face drained of color.
His knees buckled.
He fell to the ground hard, palms hitting the earth as his body shook violently. For a moment, he tried to rise, failed, then finally managed to stand again—but he could barely keep himself upright.
Raven watched him closely, eyes narrowing.
"What's wrong?" Raven asked.
The man's mouth trembled uncontrollably. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
"Is there something I should know?" Raven pressed.
The man staggered again, clutching his chest as tears poured freely down his face.
Raven crouched in front of him.
"What's wrong?" he asked again, slower this time. "Tell me."
The man collapsed to his knees.
"I didn't do it," he cried. "I swear—I didn't!"
Raven's expression hardened.
"Didn't do what?"
The man looked up at him, eyes red, filled with terror.
"Your… your father."
Raven's breath stopped.
For a fraction of a second, the world seemed to go silent.
"I didn't do it," the man repeated, shaking his head violently. "I swear on everything I have left."
Raven stepped forward in one swift movement and grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.
The man gasped.
Raven's eyes burned darkly.
Then—he noticed movement.
The boy stood at the doorway, eyes wide with fear.
Raven released the man instantly.
He stepped back, allowing the man to fall to the ground, coughing.
Raven turned his head slightly toward the doorway.
"Go inside," he said calmly.
The boy hesitated, then nodded and disappeared into the house again.
Only then did Raven turn back.
"Now," Raven said, voice low and controlled, "tell me everything. And tell me now."
The man wiped his face, hands trembling.
"That day," he whispered, "I was bringing food to your father."
Raven said nothing.
"I was his only trusted messenger," the man continued. "No one else was allowed near him. I was the only one who carried his meals."
Raven's fists clenched at his sides.
"I took the food to him," the man said. "He ate it. And then—his body froze. He couldn't move. He couldn't speak."
The man broke down again.
"I panicked," he cried. "I ran. I didn't know what to do."
Raven's voice cut through sharply.
"You ran."
"Yes," the man sobbed. "But I came back. When I returned… he was dead."
Raven took a step back, disbelief flashing across his face.
"Who gave you the food?" Raven asked slowly.
"The same place as always," the man replied. "They prepared it and left it there for me to collect."
"You're saying it was already prepared when you arrived?"
"Yes."
"And you were alone with him?"
"Yes."
"And when you returned," Raven said quietly, "he was dead."
The man nodded, tears falling freely.
"I was terrified," he said. "I cleaned him. I laid him on the bed. I made it look like he had fallen asleep and never woke up."
Raven let out a slow, hollow laugh.
"And the woman?" Raven asked. "How did she know he was poisoned?"
"I don't know!" the man cried. "When I received her message, I was shocked. She knew things no one else should have known."
Raven straightened.
"I need to know who she is."
The man wiped his face and nodded weakly.
"There's something else," he said. "Something you must know."
Raven's eyes sharpened.
"It's about the girl you brought here," the man said.
Raven stiffened.
"Her bloodline is powerful," the man continued. "Ancient. She must be protected."
Raven said nothing.
"The enemies want her dead," the man said. "If anything happens to her, the things roaming that school—those creatures—will spread beyond it."
Raven's jaw tightened.
"The battles won't end just by restoring her powers," the man went on. "Something else must be done."
Raven finally spoke.
"What is it?"
"There is an ancient cup," the man said. "Hidden somewhere within the school grounds."
Raven listened carefully.
"A drop of her blood in that cup," the man continued, "would seal everything. It would destroy the creatures permanently."
"That school," the man added, "was never meant to exist. It was recreated against ancient law."
Raven's eyes darkened.
"How can the cup be found?"
"It cannot be found by just anyone," the man replied. "Only the Seer can see it."
Raven's heart sank.
"And who has the gift of the Seer?"
"The girl," the man said softly. "Her powers are ancient—but deeply asleep."
Raven looked away.
"She doesn't trust me," Raven said quietly. "She sees me as her enemy."
The man stood slowly.
"You must make her see you as a friend," he said. "By any means necessary."
"I've tried," Raven replied. "It's not working."
The man turned away, trembling.
Raven studied him for a long moment.
"You don't have to be afraid," Raven said finally. "You didn't kill my father."
The man turned sharply.
"H-how do you know?"
Raven's gaze darkened.
"That woman," Raven said. "When I saw her today… I perceived it."
The man's eyes widened.
"She is hiding under another shadow," Raven continued. "And that is why I need to know who she really is."
The man stared at him in shock.
"How do you mean?" he whispered.
Raven smiled.