I slowly opened my eyes and pulled Moka closer, letting out a long yawn.
"Good morning, Moka."
A soft smile formed on my lips.
Carefully, I got out of bed. For some reason, my whole body ached. Every movement felt heavy, stiff… wrong.
I stepped into the hallway and walked downstairs.
That's when I saw her.
Alya had just walked in.
There was something in her eyes.
Contained fury.
"Good morning…" I whispered.
She walked toward me.
"Dark… I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
I frowned, confused.
"Huh—?"
That was all I managed to say before—
SMACK
A sharp удар struck my left cheek, sending me straight to the floor.
"Ow! What was that for?!" I asked, rubbing my face as I looked up at her.
"For cheating!"
Her voice burned with anger.
My eyes widened.
"But I didn't do anything!"
Alya exhaled, then suddenly dropped down and wrapped her arms around me.
"I know… It's just… Kim showed me a video yesterday. Your teacher kissed you and…"
My eyes widened even more.
Those four idiots were spying on me?! They're dead.
I hugged her back.
"Well… according to her, it was to keep a monster away from me."
Alya went silent.
Then she grabbed my shoulders and looked straight at me.
"I wouldn't be surprised if next time she tries to take you to bed and says it's to keep another monster away… or a god."
I burst out laughing.
"Relax, she wouldn't do something like that… I think."
Alya narrowed her eyes.
"You're defending her a lot… do you like her?!"
"No! Of course not. She's like a mother to me. And she's older."
"So am I… and look at us."
I smiled faintly.
"Oh? Then by your logic, I should get a girlfriend my age, right?"
Alya's eyes snapped open.
"No, no, no, no! That's not what I meant!"
I laughed again.
"Then don't say things like that."
I gently patted her head.
"Good girl."
She puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"I'm not a dog!"
I laughed harder.
"Petting isn't just for dogs. If you want to feel like one, that's your problem."
Her cheeks turned red.
"I-I didn't mean it like that! You know what I meant!"
I leaned into her, resting my head against her chest and closing my eyes.
"I know…"
I sighed softly.
Her hand gently brushed through my hair.
"Shouldn't you be going to school?"
My eyes snapped open.
Right… I completely forgot.
I jumped up and rushed upstairs to change. Moments later, I came back down in uniform.
"Don't worry, I'll take you like always," Alya said with a smile.
I served food and water for Moka, grabbed Alya's hand, and rushed outside. I locked the door behind us and got into her car.
"Let's go."
She nodded, started the engine, and we drove toward school.
At school…
Professor Eclipse walked through a second-floor hallway, eyes closed, head slightly lowered.
Then—
"What you did yesterday was unacceptable."
A deep, mature male voice stopped her.
She opened her eyes and raised her head.
In front of her stood a tall man with jet-black hair, neatly styled. He wore a teacher's suit, and his eyes resembled the ocean—calm, deep, and endless.
She looked at him, confused.
"What are you referring to, Professor Adermat?"
Adermat's gaze pierced through her.
"You know exactly what I mean. Yesterday, in the abandoned park."
He stepped closer.
"I was investigating something for my students… and I witnessed something that should be reported immediately."
His voice hardened.
"A teacher marking a student's neck. More specifically—one of my students."
Eclipse's eyes widened.
Her hands trembled.
Her breathing grew uneven.
"I will only say this once," Adermat continued.
"Stay away from Dark."
He turned his back on her.
"I don't know what organization you belong to, or what kind of witch you are… but I will protect my students from you. And from anything else in this world."
He walked away.
Eclipse bit her lip so hard it bled.
For a moment—her gaze trembled.
Then it hardened.
Filled with rage.
"I won't let anyone take him away from me."
She turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Adermat's path was bathed in sunlight.
Hers… swallowed by shadow.
Elsewhere…
The four idiots walked along a park path.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Xia asked, sitting on a bench.
"I already told you I am," Minho replied, sitting beside her.
"And after what you told me… I need to protect Dark. He's my friend. He saved me twice. I owe him."
"He's right!" Won Ho added. "Let's help Dark!"
Airi nodded silently.
The four looked at each other.
Then, at the same time—
"Alright! Operation 'Protect Dark from the Witch' begins now!"
Xia and Minho stood up, and they continued walking.
At the library…
Miriam was reading a book on arcane magic.
"Ughhh! This is so boring!" Kim groaned, lying across the table.
"If you're going to complain, you shouldn't have come," Miriam replied, annoyed.
"Why are we even reading this?"
Miriam glanced at her over the book.
"To identify what kind of witch she is."
Kim frowned.
"What do you mean what kind?"
Miriam continued reading.
"There are two types of witches. Human witches, who use dark magic… and Arcane Witches—Witches of Sin."
She turned a page.
"These are born from humans and primordial or outer gods. Or from contracts with them. Their powers are tied to a specific sin."
She looked at Kim.
"Eclipse is likely one of them."
Kim fell silent, thinking.
Then her phone lit up.
"Dark and Alya are almost here."
Miriam closed her book and put it in her bag.
"Good. Let's go. I hope your friends are ready."
"They're already in the back garden."
"Then let's move."
Back Garden
Everyone was gathered.
Alya stood among them.
"Alright. We're all here. Let's begin."
Xia's voice was firm.
Then—
Footsteps.
"I didn't know I'd be receiving such a warm welcome."
Professor Eclipse.
Smiling.
Mocking.
Alya clenched her fists.
"I won't let you get near him again."
Eclipse smiled wider.
"That's unfortunate. His fate is already sealed."
Alya trembled with rage.
Kim stepped forward.
"I'll burn your soul to ashes."
"Try it, little flame. My darkness will extinguish you."
Won Ho lunged first.
"Enough talking—attack!"
He struck her.
Nothing.
He unleashed a barrage of punches.
Nothing.
"Is that all?" Eclipse said calmly.
One punch.
Won Ho was sent flying through trees.
Kim fired a massive wave of flames.
Eclipse pulled out a mirror.
It absorbed everything.
"Damn witch!"
Kim fired again—stronger.
Airi joined with twin laser blasts.
Impact.
Smoke.
"I think we—"
"That was nothing."
Alya healed Won Ho.
Minho and Won Ho charged again.
"Explosion!"
A massive blast.
Minho trapped her in a sphere of earth.
Seconds later—
It shattered.
"Who's next?"
A vortex descended from the sky.
"Won Ho! Hit her left shoulder with everything you've got!"
"Destroyer!"
Impact.
"That hurt… a little."
She placed her hand on her shoulder.
"But not much."
She opened her eyes—
An invisible force slammed Xia out of the sky.
Minho caught her—
They crashed.
Won Ho fell unconscious.
Then—
She looked at Airi, Kim, and Alya.
They staggered.
Held their heads.
She clenched her hand.
They vomited massive amounts of crimson liquid.
Collapsed.
"That was quick."
She jumped—
Spikes erupted from the ground.
Miriam.
"You're strong," Eclipse said.
A shadow formed behind Miriam—
A spike pierced through it instantly.
"You're the Witch of Greed," Miriam said coldly.
Eclipse smiled.
"You're clever."
Miriam smiled back.
"That just confirms I can't beat you."
She stepped forward.
"But I'll fight you anyway."
"Then entertain me."
Hundreds of spikes launched—
Gone.
Erased.
"You're the last one—"
"Mind if I join?"
Professor Adermat emerged.
Eyes shining.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to be one of them too."
"I am. Like Miriam… I'm a Guardian."
"And your LC?"
"Chrono. Level 5."
"Then let's begin."
He moved instantly.
Miriam attacked—
He rewound time—
Impact.
Explosion.
Meanwhile…
I dropped my pencil.
"Ow…"
My hand went to my neck.
The mark burned.
"What the hell was that…?"
I rubbed it and kept writing.
Probably construction…
Back Garden
A black arrow pierced Adermat's chest.
Blood.
Miriam's defenses shattered.
She was struck too.
"It was fun… but I'm bored now."
Eclipse turned away.
"Let's continue another time."
She left.
"We were humiliated…" Miriam whispered before collapsing.
Later…
Classes ended.
I walked home, confused.
Why didn't those idiots show up today…?
Back Garden
All eight woke up, gasping.
"What time is it?" Alya asked.
"School's over… we were out for a while," Kim replied.
Alya gathered them.
A healing field surrounded them.
"Thank you," they all said.
"It's nothing."
Won Ho stretched.
"Alright, let's go eat."
"Coming, Kim?"
"Of course."
"What about you?" he asked Alya, Miriam, and Adermat.
They all refused.
"I need to report," said Adermat.
"I have work," said Alya.
"I have… something to handle," said Miriam.
"Then it's just us five. Call Dark later. I have something to tell you."
Rooftop
Wind moved her hair.
Crows circled.
Professor Eclipse smiled.
"It's starting."
Her eyes flashed.