The moon hung high above Ravenwood Academy.


    Casting silver streaks of light over the secluded courtyard hidden behind the east wing.


    This corner of the academy grounds was known to few—overgrown hedges and towering trees concealed its existence.


    Tonight, it was the perfect location for a deal that no one could afford to witness.


    Can Draemyr, d in his signature ck cloak, leaned against a stone pir, his crimson eyes flickering in the moonlight.


    His breathing was steady, but his mind churned with anticipation.


    The faint sound of footsteps grew louder, and soon, a man emerged from the shadows, a bup sack slung over his shoulder.


    The merchant, dressed in a tattered brown coat, had the air of someone who operated on the fringes of society.


    His eyes darted around nervously, the dim light catching the beads of sweat forming on his brow.


    "You''rete..."


    Can remarked, his voice low and sharp.


    The merchant flinched but quicklyposed himself.


    "Forgive me, Lord Draemyr. These items… they take time to acquire.


    You don''t just stumble upon a grade five artifact every day."


    Can stepped forward, his boots crunching softly against the gravel.


    "You have what I asked for?"


    The merchant hesitated, then nodded, pulling the sack off his shoulder and carefully untying the string.


    From within, he produced a small, ornate box made of ebony wood and engraved with faintly glowing crimson runes.


    The air seemed to grow colder as the artifact was revealed, the runes pulsating like a heartbeat.


    "This," the merchant began, holding the box as if it were a newborn child, "is the artifact you requested.


    Grade five, as per your specifications.


    One use only, but… its effects are unparalleled."


    Can''s eyes locked onto the box.


    "Exin its workings."


    The merchant opened the box, revealing a ck stone amulet nestled in velvet.


    The amulet emanated a faint, eerie hum, as though it were alive.


    "This amulet," the merchant continued, "is infused with ancient necromantic energy.


    Once activated, it calls upon the dead, binding dark spirits to torment your chosen target.


    The curse is inescapable; the spirits will haunt their every moment, driving them to madness..."


    He grinned slyly, his yellowed teeth catching the light.


    Can reached for the box, but the merchant pulled it back slightly.


    "Payment first..."


    He said, his voice trembling but resolute.


    Can smirked, pulling a pouch of gold coins from his cloak and tossing it to the merchant.


    "Half now," he said coldly.


    "You''ll get the rest when I see that it works."


    The merchant hesitated but eventually handed over the box.


    "This is dangerous magic, Lord Draemyr.


    Be sure you know what you''re doing."


    Can inspected the amulet, feeling its dark energy pulse against his skin.


    A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face.


    "That''s none of your concern."


    The merchant''s eyes narrowed.


    "You should be careful, though. These things have a way of… backfiring if misused."


    Can''s gaze snapped to the merchant, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.


    "Are you trying to warn me?"


    His voice carried a menacing edge.


    The merchant raised his hands defensively.


    "No, no, of course not! Just… a word of caution."


    Satisfied, Can slipped the amulet back into the box and secured it within his cloak.


    "Your caution is noted...


    Now leave before I decide you''re no longer useful."


    The merchant hurriedly gathered his belongings, his footsteps fading into the night as he disappeared into the shadows.


    Left alone in the courtyard, Can turned the box over in his hands.


    His thoughts dark and deliberate.


    The amulet would be the key to his revenge, but the n required precision.


    He couldn''t afford any mistakes.


    Revenge would be sweet.


    The amulet would ensure that.


    His thoughts shifted to Leo, the third prince and her ever-vignt protector.


    Leo''s words echoed in his mind, a stern warning that had left a bitter taste in Can''s mouth.


    "If you darey a finger on my sister..."


    Leo had said, his tone deadly serious


    "...you''ll wish you''d never been born."


    Can scoffed at the memory.


    "Empty threats."


    He muttered


    But deep down, he knew that Leo was a formidable opponent.


    The prince''s influence and resources could make thingsplicated, which was why Can needed to deal with him first.


    ---


    Mayas maid, Grace, hurried down the hall with a steady but growing unease tightening in her chest.


    She waste.


    Maya had asked her to Come earlier to help prepare for the week ahead.


    Her footsteps echoed through the corridor of the pristine dormitory, and as she approached Maya''s door.


    She hesitated.


    Something was off.


    The air felt heavy, and when she ced her hand on the doorknob, it was ice cold.


    Steeling herself, she turned the handle and pushed the door open.


    ck blood stained the floor in grotesque smears.


    Dripping from the overturned table and pooling beneath broken ss and shattered flowerpots.


    Books were scattered across the floor, their pages crumpled and stained.


    The air was pungent with the metallic tang of the dark ichor.


    And there, amidst the wreckage, was Maya.


    Grace''s stomach churned as she rushed forward.


    Maya was on the floor, coughing violently, her body convulsing with each hack.


    ck blood trickled from her lips, staining her face and clothing.


    Her usually vibrant aura was dimmed, and her breaths came inbored gasps.


    "Maya!"


    Grace eximed, dropping to her knees beside her mistress.


    "No, no, not again."


    Maya weakly raised her head, her bloodshot eyes meeting Grace''s.


    She tried to smile, but it only made her cough harder.


    L knew exactly what was happening.


    The curse.


    The one Maya had been carrying for years, eating away at her from the inside.


    Despite being a saintess of the Holy Saint Eldred Church, Maya bore a demonic curse that attacked her life force and periodically left her in this state.


    Few knew of this secret


    Only a handful of trusted individuals in the Brenthall family and church were aware, and Grace was one of them


    She had been entrusted with Maya''s care by none other than Maya''s mother, Elizabeth Brenthall.


    "Nobody must know."


    Elizabeth had said.


    "A noble bearing such a curse.. it would ruin her entirely.


    And so, Maya carried this burden in silence, refusing to tell anyone, even the man she was reluctantly engaged to.


    Grace''s hands trembled as she brushed Maya''s blood-soa ked hair away from her face.


    "Why didnt you call for me earlier?


    Why do you always push yourself like this?"


    Maya coughed again but managed a rasped reply.


    "Its.. nothing."


    "Nothing? Look around you!


    Grace gestured to the chaos surrounding them, her voice breaking.


    "You''re killing yourself trying to handle this alone.


    You can''t keep doing this!"


    Grace bit her lip to stifle her tears as she moved to grab the emergency kit she always kept nearby.


    She had memorized the steps to subside the effects of the curse long ago.


    Pulling out holy artifacts and a collection of ingredients, she began her work.


    "Stay still"


    She instructed, her voice soft but firm.


    Mayaplied, her eyes half-lidded as exhaustion overtook her.


    Grace worked quickly, blending the sacred herbs into a steaming tea.


    The smell was bitter and earthy, but it had always been effective at stabilizing Maya''s condition for a few days.


    As she held the cup to Maya''s lips, her frustration bubbled over.


    "Why do you insist on carrying this burden alone?


    You''re not invincible, Maya..."


    Maya sipped the tea slowly, her trembling hands brushing against L''s.


    Once she had taken enough, she leaned back against the wall, her breathing slightly steadie.


    "You know what he said to me?"


    Maya whispered suddenly, her voice hollow.


    Grace frowned, unsure if she should ask.


    "Who?"


    Maya''s gaze dropped.


    "Noah...


    He said, I''m just a seal deal."


    Grace''s heart ached at the defeated tone in Maya''s voice.


    She knew the engagement to Noah Ashbourne was nothing more than a political arrangement.


    But hearing it stated so callously...it hurt.


    Grace wanted to pry further, but the situation wasn''t right.


    Maya was too weak, and thest thing she needed was to dwell on Noah''s indifference.


    Instead, L redirected her frustration


    "You shouldn''t let people like him get under your skin."


    Grace said her voice gentler now.


    "You''re better than that.


    But you won''t prove it if you let yourself fall apart like this."


    Maya chuckled weakly, though it turned into another coughing fit.


    "You sound Iike my mother."


    "Well someone has to knock sense into you. "


    Grace retorted, a tear slipping down her cheek as she fussed over Maya like an older sister.


    "If not for yourself, then for her.


    She entrusted me with your care, Maya.


    Do you think I can face her if something happens to you?"


    Maya didn''t reply, but her silence spoke volumes.


    ---


    For the next few days, Maya was excused from sses under the guise of a minor illness.


    Only L and Professor Sharon, one of the few at Ravenwood aware of her condition, knew the truth.


    They framed her absence carefully, ensuring no suspicion would arise.


    During this time, Maya remained in her dorm, recovering slowly.


    L stayed by her side, preparing meals, ensuring she rested, and scolding her whenever she tried to overexert herself.


    Maya spent most of her time reading, though her thoughts often wandered.


    She had believed, for a fleeting moment, that Noah might be capable of change.


    The brief hug he had given her during their group work had felt genuine.


    For once, he hadn''t been cruel.


    But maybe that had just been wishful thinking.


    She sighed, cing her book down and staring out the window.


    "It was stupid of me to think like that..."


    It was on the third day of her recovery when Maya heard of the incident.


    That the second-year top student''s dorm room...went up in mes


    Maya''s blood ran cold.


    And most importantly news that made her heart sink deeper than it usually was.


    Noah Ashbourne had gone missing.


    For all his ws, for all the frustration and bitterness she felt toward him.


    The thought of him gone was something she wasn''t prepared for.


    She gripped the edge of her bed.


    Her breathing unsteady as a single thought consumed her.


    Why did it feel like the world was copsing all over again?