Chapter 131 - 130. System - Part I

Black was restless and worried. He didn't understand what was happening. Since the day she briefly opened her eyes, Light hadn't woken up at all. He had counted and the sun had risen one hundred and thirty-seven times since that day. He had no explanation for the young witch's condition.

The man had analyzed her body with his magic and done all the experiments possible to find an answer to this sleep which, obviously, had a magic nature. Unfortunately, Black didn't find any reason that could explain why the witch couldn't wake up.

The wizard was even more than sure that this sleep wasn't natural because the young woman's body hadn't withered away. Light's skin had even regained a slight glow, a sign of good health. The bruises had paled then disappeared on her skin. However, she now had hundreds of scars all over her body that would always remind her of what had happened that day.

Black could have made them disappear. It was child's play for a wizard of his level, but it meant allowing the girl to move on if she wanted to and that he wouldn't allow it. His purpose needed anything that could break her. He wanted her to remember the pain she felt before he saved her.

Since too much time had passed and she had healed, he couldn't rely on physical pain.

He would need the slightest psychological trauma and these scars were memos that would help him achieve his goal. He would corner Light so she would see him as her only hope. Her savior.

Inside the shelter, Black was edgy beyond imagination. He took another look at Light's body. Many hours ago, the sun had risen for the hundred and thirty-eighth time since Light had opened her eyes. Nevertheless, there was no sign that today, she would do anything but breathe in and breathe out, until the sun sets behind the horizon.

Black was still confident. Or it would be more accurate to say that he didn't want to back down. He had invested too much in this plan to let it fall through now.

If he gave up, who knows if he would soon have another chance to have at his mercy, a witch on the verge of despair. She just needed to wake up so he could give her the little push she needed to fall down.

The wizard stood up and sighed. Staying here and watching over a woman lying down wasn't anything fun. That's not how he was going to make his plan move forward. Black walked to the entrance of the shelter and went out.

The sun that was still high in the sky forced him to squint. He scanned the camp with his eyes and his irises paused on the werewolf seated in the middle of a large circle of runes.

Because of Light's condition, Black had to make unplanned decisions to imprison him. This caused him a hassle and extra work since he had to feed him and keep him in a state that wouldn't make the young witch believe that he wasn't an enemy of her kind but somebody who can treat even an enemy correctly if he wanted to.

He walked towards the werewolf who straightened up, wary. The werewolf hadn't been harmed or mistreated in all the days he'd been imprisoned. Other than the first day Black had told him of his intentions to use his betrayal to accomplish some dark plan that involved Light, the wizard hadn't spoken to him.

Twice a day, the sorcerer brought the werewolf something to eat. A ration calculated precisely of everything he needed to stay healthy. The circle of runes was even big enough for him to walk away from camp to relieve himself and come back. Everything was under control. At least, on Black's side. Indeed, despite countless attempts, the werewolf could never put a claw outside the circle of runes.

He watched Black walk outside the shelter and he knew it was time for his ration. The wizard stopped near a huge pot set above a weak fire. He lifted the lid and let the overflow of steam escape to sniff the aroma. A smile curved Black's mouth as he dipped a wooden ladle into the container to stir in the stew.

He let go of the ladle for a moment and backed away near a place where some utensils were drying. He grabbed a wooden bowl and came back to the pot, the smile still hanging on his face. Black filled the container with several generous ladles of food and put the lid back on the pot.

When his face lifted to look at the werewolf, his smile was gone, and a shiver made the prisoner's whole body tremble.

Even though the man hadn't lifted a finger on him outside of the day he captured him, he couldn't help the escape signals his instincts were giving him as soon as his gaze met the brown eyes with lighter spots.

The coldness that emanated from this man's look gave the werewolf goosebumps. Nothing about him was normal. Everything about him was oppressive. Frightening. Threatening.

He wasn't a Skinwalker, but the werewolf had seen him take the form of a huge black wolf many times. There was also this black mist that escaped from his body. When it touched his body, the werewolf would eventually lose consciousness, never knowing how much time had passed after he closed his eyes. There was also this weird magic he used. Strange but powerful to the point of being frightening.

He knew powerful wizards as Blue Moon were a tribe of lunar magic wizards. The Luna herself was a fearsome witch. However, he wondered if she would stand a chance against this creature.

Black stopped in front of the man and handed him his bowl of food. The werewolf raised his hand and as usual, grabbed the bowl without a word.

However, unlike usual, Black didn't walk away to return to the shelter. The wizard dropped to the ground, sitting cross-legged. His elbows rested on his knees and he put a fist on either side of his face.

The sulky pout adorning his face gave Black a human appearance that shocked the werewolf so much that he forgot to eat.

"She's not waking up. It's really frustrating. I don't know what's going on and this is the second time in my life that something like this has happened to me. I mean,  I'm a genius. No enigma has ever resisted me and yet... As soon as I try to approach them, as soon as I look for a solution to make their strength mine... I come to an impasse." His expression changed back to the cold, calculating one, and the werewolf's fingers clench around the container.

"It pisses me off."

Around the werewolf, everything was gradually becoming icy cold. The ground disappears under a thin black mist. The feeling of danger was back and the prisoner dared not move. What he felt was beyond description. Black exuded such a murderous aura that he was afraid that his mere breath would upset him and the wizard decide to kill him.

His body started to tremble and the werewolf bit his lower lip. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't control himself. Black terrified him and his body betrayed his emotions. He didn't know when, but tears had started streaming down his cheeks. When a tear fell into the bowl he held between his trembling fingers, he heard the wizard giggle.

"That face! You're a fun one you know?" The fog disappeared. Black raised his hand to the werewolf's face and the latter flinched.

The wizard's hand paused, then rested on the werewolf's hair and ruffled it.

"I knew it was a good idea to come near you to cheer me up. It will be fun to get rid of you."

The werewolf's tears redoubled and Black's smile widened. He withdrew his hand and stood up briskly to walk away with a step lighter than when he had arrived. He went to get a bowl and went back to the pot to help himself. He filled the container to the brim and blew on it several times before taking a sip. A growl of appreciation escaped his mouth.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

Black's body froze as he heard the female voice. He turned around and when he saw that Light was standing in front of him, the wizard dropped the bowl of food. It hadn't touched the ground yet but the wizard was already near Light.

"You're awake! You're awake! I was so afraid that you would never open your eyes. I was so scared!"

Tears streamed down his face and an expression of shock painted the witch's face when she saw this man she didn't know shed tears.

He didn't give her any time to think. Black locked her in an embrace that seemed almost desperate. As a matter of fact, the wizard's tears were sincere, his relieved expression as if he had been lifted from an abyss filled with despair wasn't counterfeit. But the witch would never know why, just as she would never see the evil smile that twisted Black's mouth just before he released his grip.

He pulled away just enough to look at her and put a hand on either side of her face. His palms were cool and the contact did well to the young girl who was still staring at him, not knowing what to say or what to do. She was overwhelmed by his behavior.

Nevertheless, her heart that yearned for that feeling of being cherished, fluttered. She put her hands on Black's and the wizard's smile widened. After a second, Light's mouth curved in a faint smile.

"Yes, I'm awake. I think I have a very long dream."

"A dream?" Black repeated without looking away from the girl's eyes.

She nodded and the movement caused their hands to move along her head.

"I was in a  vast dark room with no light and a will-o'-the-wisp came to me. I think it spoke to me for a very long time but it's strange, I don't remember what it said."

Black frowned when he heard about the will-o'-the-wisp. They were elementary spirits but also messengers from the gods and that fact didn't match with his intentions. Still, he controlled his facial expression perfectly and stroked Light's cheek with each of his thumbs.

"It's ok if you don't remember. For now, all that matters is that you are awake. All this time, I thought my world had crumbled before it even started. But everything can start finally. Now that you have opened your eyes. Light, you have no idea how important you are to me and how much I've waited for this moment."

________

In the White room, Eden watched the effects of the spell cast by the Servant of Talamh. The runes glowed for a long moment. The old woman was kneeling on the ground, her hand pressed on the first rune she had drawn and her eyes, whose irises had turned white, emanated a slight light.

The scene was supernatural and yet, strangely, after everything they had been through, Eden felt like it was completely normal. The thought made the blond chuckle and a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"I didn't know the situation was funny. I'm curious to know what's making you snicker while I…" Alicia moaned and grimaced.

She waved at Eden to beckon him to approach and as soon as he was near, she unceremoniously grabbed his forearm to pull herself up off the ground where she was stuck.

"OK!" She rose to her feet and moved her hips from side to side to ease the stiffness. "Let's get out of here!"

Before Eden could protest, she called her wind spirit and the next moment, Eden's eyelids fluttered and opened. He barely had time to realize he was back when he saw the old woman get up from the floor with Gabriella's help.

"I would like you to leave us, please," Alicia told to her granddaughter. "Don't let anyone near the house for the next hour and Gabriella..."

"It's ok… I know. I know everything. Me too. Me too, Seanmhair."

Gabriella took her grandmother in her arms and hugged her. The old woman also wrapped her in an awkward hug. After a few seconds, Gabriella broke their embrace, her eyes shining with emotion.

A strange tension had arisen between the two women and the two werewolves found it strange that they stared at each other as if they were never going to see each other again.

Gabriella finally left the house and immediately the old witch cast a spell. Caraid fly across the house without missing an inch, every wall, the floor, and even the roof began to glow. To answer Eden and Glen's questioning looks, she explained.

"It's a spell of impermeability. No sound can leave this house. This conversation will never ever be heard by anyone outside of you or me."

"It wasn't necessary." Eden retorted, surprised.

"Yes, it was. I told you. There are magic rules and rituals for a witch to access the knowledge of another clan. Tonight, I just broke these rules. No ears outside of ours should hear this conversation."

Taken aback by her solemnity, Eden nodded. Glen tensed and his hand tighten on the omega's shoulder. He stared at the Servant of Talamh, and unlike the other times she had stared back at him, Alicia averted her eyes and walked over to the table to sit down.

"Shall we start?"