All Hallow's Eve, or more commonly known as Halloween, had always been one of Oz's favorite holidays when he was a child.
Oz remembered running through the streets in his small town, carrying a sack for candy while wearing a costume that he spent weeks preparing.
The anticipation of the holiday, the sights of houses decorated with glowing pumpkins, skeletons, and ghosts, had filled him with joy.
He especially enjoyed the treats, sweet candies, caramel apples, and freshly baked pumpkin pies.
Now, in Stellarkeep, those memories felt distant. The air was heavy with a sense of dread, not excitement.
Standing before the notice board, Oz read the latest announcement with disbelief.
The notice was written in bold letters, warning all residents that for an entire week, starting October 31, all schools and entertainment center would be closed.
"You have to be kidding me!"
Oz exclaimed, his voice echoing in the hallway. He slapped his hand against his forehead and groaned.
"Why are the entertainment centers closed too? Nooo! I had plans to party and visit all the shops in Stellarkeep!"
Other students passing by gave him puzzled looks, but he didn't care. He kept staring at the notice, hoping the words would change if he read them enough times.
Normally, the idea of school being closed would excite him. He would've jumped at the chance to skip classes. But this time was different. Halloween in Stellarkeep wasn't a celebration. It was something else entirely a week of frustation and fear.
The notice didn't just announce the closures. It also contained strict instructions for all students to remain in their dormitories unless there was an emergency.
While Mistheaven students were permitted to visit the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors during All Hallow's Week, all shops except the grocery store were to remain closed.
"Oh Oz, you're just finding out now?" a familiar voice came from behind.
Miranda walked up and patted him on the shoulder.
"In Stellarkeep, All Hallow's Week is the most dangerous time. This is when dark wizards come out to perform their dark arts."
Oz turned around, his expression a mix of confusion and disappointment. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his nose began to run. He sniffled loudly, unable to hide his frustration.
"This is ridiculous!" Oz shouted.
"I've been waiting for this week all year!"
Miranda noticed his condition and reached into her pocket.
"Handkerchief?"
She handed him a neatly folded handkerchief, and Oz took it without hesitation.
"Thanks. Achoo!"
A loud sneeze followed, and Oz blew his nose hard into the handkerchief.
"Here, thanks. I'll give it back."
"Uh… On second thought, just keep it," Miranda said, laughing awkwardly.
"I have plenty of handkerchiefs."
As Oz wiped his face, he muttered under his breath.
—I used to love Halloween. Back in Trismegistus, it was such a fun time. We'd have parties, wizard hunts... Oh no. Don't tell me... Yep, that's it.
He suddenly realized why Stellarkeep treated Halloween with such seriousness. It wasn't just because of traditions or superstitions. It was because of Dark Wizards like him. In the past, he had been one of those who caused terror during this time.
"Is it really that bad here?" he asked Miranda.
"According to my dad, this year is worse," she replied, placing a finger on her chin.
"Followers of the Apocalyptic Dark Lord have been appearing."
Miranda began explaining the situation further. She mentioned how disappearances and murders increased every All Hallow's Week.
"Just you wait," Oz said, clenching his fists.
"I'll tell my master to deal with this Dark Lord!"
"Hahaha, Oz. You're funny," Miranda said, rolling her eyes.
"He's a Dark Lord. You'd need another Dark Lord just to stand a chance against him, let alone defeat him."
Their conversation was interrupted by the dorm bell. A phantom mailman materialized at the entrance, carrying a leather bag.
He opened it, and hundreds of letters flew out, each one heading directly to its recipient. One letter zoomed toward Oz and landed in his hands.
"Ah, speak of the devil," he muttered.
The envelope was plain, with no special markings except the sender and recipient's names typed on it.
"From Daily Food News to Oliver Twist," Oz read aloud.
Miranda peeked over his shoulder as he opened it. Inside were pamphlets and food vouchers.
"Looks like you've been scammed into subscribing to junk mail," Miranda teased.
Oz, however, recognized the stamp on the envelope immediately. This wasn't ordinary mail. It was a hidden message from his master.
"This reminds me of something. I need to go outside," he said hurriedly.
"Be careful," Miranda called after him.
"Oh, and don't forget to check out the bonfire in the plaza. It's huge!"
Oz gave her a quick thumbs-up before rushing to the garden. Once there, he found a secluded spot among the bushes. He placed the contents of the envelope back inside and chanted some spell.
"Transmutare Ultima! Change into crystal ball!"
The envelope transformed into a small crystal ball, no larger than a marble. Holding it close, Oz whispered.
"Master, can you hear me?"
The ball glowed faintly, signaling a connection. Oz waited, knowing that this might bring answers or more trouble.
[*Bzzzt* *Bzzzt*]
Oz had been trying to connect to his mother through the crystal ball for more than 15 minutes.
The faint, static hum of the crystal's failed connection made his nerves worse with every passing second. He was certain he had missed her initial call.
[*Bzzzt* *Bzzzt*]
"Damn it! I'm screwed! Why did Mother send her letter now? She told me she wouldn't contact me until New Year's!"
[Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs!]
Finally, the crystal ball connected. However, instead of relief, a chill ran down Oz's spine.
The voice on the other end was furious while delivering his full name.
"Yes, Master!"
[How many times do I have to tell you? Call me 'Mother'!]
"Yes… yes… Mother!"
[Good. Now, how are you, my little boy? Are the wizards there giving you any trouble?]
The fiery tone instantly softened, transforming into one filled with maternal concern.
"No, no trouble at all! Nobody dares to mess with me! Actually, I'm the one messing them up, hahahaha."
Oz forced a laugh, trying to downplay any issues. If his mother got the impression someone was harassing him, she might decide to obliterate Stellarkeep entirely.
[Ah, you sound like you're having a good time. That's wonderful. Not many people get the chance to enjoy their teenage years twice. Hahaha.]
"Haha, of course. Mother's magic is unrivaled, as always."
[Well, I contacted you earlier because I've heard some disturbing rumors. Apparently, the followers of the new Dark Lord are planning to make a move. They call themselves the 'Armagedon.']
Oz groaned internally at the name. He muttered to himself.
—Armagedon? That's so lame. Why do Dark Lord followers always pick such over-the-top, cringy names?
[Since you've successfully enrolled in Mistheaven, I've already sent a team to open an alchemy shop in the area. Consider it my little contribution to your mission.]
—What? You could set up shop here so easily, but you let me struggle for days? I had to sleep at the train station for two nights!
Oz clenched his teeth, recalling how he hadn't known the train's departure date and spent two miserable nights at the station waiting for it.
[The shop is on 3rd Avenue, number 7, on the 1st floor. Look for the one with the cat logo.]
"You didn't hire non-human staff, did you? Please, tell me you didn't. If you've got homunculi or magical beasts running the shop, the Inquisitors will shut it down in an instant!"
Oz's voice rose in panic. His mother had a reputation for surrounding herself with a diverse array of followers, most of whom were monsters, spirits, or former humans.
[Relax, they're humans. Well… mostly…]
"Mostly? What do you mean, mostly?"
[They're lycanthropes. But don't worry, they won't bite anyone.]
Oz smacked his forehead.
"That's not the issue! Wait… actually, never mind. I've seen lycanthropes living peacefully here. It should be fine."
[See? It's no problem. Hahaha. Oh, by the way, I heard you've got a girlfriend! When can I meet her?]
Oz felt his stomach drop. He braced himself against the wall, muttering.
—Of course, she'd bring that up…
There were two major problems with introducing his girlfriend to his mother. First, his girlfriend, Ophelia, was a Ratking. A literal clone of a dark lord. This might terrify a regular mother, but Oz's mother wasn't normal.
Second, if Ophelia were a regular human, her reaction to finding out her boyfriend's mother was a dark lord could be catastrophic. Thankfully, Ophelia wasn't normal either, so this wasn't a direct issue either.
The "real" problem? If his mother and Ophelia ever met, there was a high chance they'd start fighting. And two Dark Lords battling each other was never good.
"Um… Mother, promise me you won't freak out or get mad, okay?"
[Why would I freak out? I've seen more shocking things than you can imagine. Go ahead, I promise I won't get mad.]
Oz hesitated, gulping nervously.
"Okay, well… my girlfriend is a Ratking. Hehehe."
[…]
The silence on the other end stretched unbearably long.
"Mother?"
Oz brought the crystal closer to his ear, wondering if the connection had dropped.
[WHAT!!! Of all the women in the world, you chose a Dark Lord?!]
Oz winced, pulling the crystal ball away from his ear as her voice blasted through.
"Aaaaah! My ears! But I didn't have a choice, okay? It's complicated. If I killed her, the Rattenfanger would make my life harder."
[Well, you've always been crazy. Fine, I'll handle the Rattenfanger so they will not look into your real identity. But listen, stay far away from any other Dark Lords, like Goldilocks. Got it?]
"Um… about that… It seems Goldilocks and I already know each other… a bit too well."
[Son, dealing with one Dark Lord is risky. Dealing with two is insane. But FOUR? Do you think you have 9 lives? You barely survived that lunatic Anastasia!]
Oz scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah… I can't argue with that."
[As long as you're happy, I won't interfere too much. But be careful. You're my only son, and I'd like to keep it that way. Love you, sweetheart. Byeee! *Muah*]
With that, the crystal ball dimmed, leaving Oz alone in the garden. He slumped against the bushes, sighing in relief. "Why is my life always this chaotic?"
"Fyuh, finally. That was exhausting," Oz muttered, slumping on the ground.
"If anyone else, even my mother's followers had to listen to her with that sugary tone, they'd probably drop dead from shock."
He wasn't exaggerating. His mother was infamous for her fiery temper and stern demeanor.
Smiling was practically a foreign concept to her… Unless she was around him. Only in his presence did she soften, her usual sharpness replaced by a semblance of warmth.
For over 1,300 years, she had been consumed by the desire to create the "perfect son."
Her countless experiments had resulted in failure after failure. Each unsuccessful creation was destroyed and discarded, like broken tools.
"As long as I keep up the image of her perfect son, I'll survive," Oz whispered to himself, staring at the fake sky.
"Otherwise… I don't even want to think about what kind of end she'd have planned for me. Brrr."
Her mere whims could obliterate entire nations in seconds. To her, a single person like Oz was barely worth mentioning.
"I miss Earth," he muttered.
**********
In a dark valley cloaked in the shadows of night, a woman ran desperately, her feet splashing through muddy puddles as she fled.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Her breathing was fast, each inhale and exhale ragged from exertion. The woman was Agnes.
Her footsteps echoed between the tightly packed stone walls of the slum buildings.
The dim, flickering light from scattered lanterns barely illuminated the narrow alleyways.
Each step kicked up filthy water and mud, but she paid no attention to the grime soaking her boots and legs.
The stench of decay and waste hung thick in the air, carried by the breeze that swept through the slums.
Agnes, along with David and a few other members of Theseus, had been investigating strange disappearances among refugees living in the slums of the 2nd floor.
The 2nd floor was a residential area designated for refugees, and its conditions were far from ideal.
Unlike the clean, well-maintained 1st and 3rd floors, the 2nd floor was chaotic and poorly managed.
Its narrow alleys and dilapidated buildings made it the perfect place for criminals to hide.
"I need to warn the others to leave the slums immediately."
She panted, pushing herself to keep running despite the burning in her legs.
*Bzzzzt!*
"Kyaaaaaah!"
A bolt of lightning crackled through the air, narrowly missing Agnes.
She twisted her body, dodging the attack with her agility.
"Two… there are two of them chasing me!"
Agnes glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing but darkness.
Despite her enhanced night vision, she couldn't see her pursuers. But she didn't need to see them to know they were there. She could smell them. The distinct, sickly scent of blood and decay.
"What? A dead end?"
Ahead of her, the alley abruptly ended at a wide drainage ditch.
Agnes didn't hesitate. She quickened her pace, her muscles coiling like springs as she prepared to leap.
"Hah!"
With a burst of strength, she leaped across the ditch, landing on the other side with a heavy thud.
But her relief was short-lived. Two figures, a man and a woman, emerged from the shadows, stepping into the fake sky's moonlight.
The open field beyond the ditch was dotted with patches of grass and scattered weeds. The two figures stood motionless, their eyes locked on Agnes.
"Oh, have you given up, little puppy?"
The man sneered, his sharp fangs glinting as he grinned mockingly.
"How did vampires get into Stellarkeep?"
Agnes demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
Stellarkeep was supposed to be a strict place limited only to human wizards. While some exceptions were made for lycanthropes, as long as they didn't go berserk, vampires were a different story.
"Oh, that? Do you really want to know?"
The male vampire teased, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Cut it out!" the female vampire snapped.
"Vinea Captura!"
The female vampire cast a spell, and bluish-green energy shot out, striking the ground near Agnes.
In an instant, vines erupted from the earth, twisting and writhing as they reached for Agnes.
Agnes jumped, narrowly avoiding the vines' grasp. But a few managed to wrap around her legs, pulling her down.
"Grrr! Lycantropus Partialis: Claw!"
She growled, activating a spell that allowed for partial transformation. Her nails transformed into razor-sharp claws. Slashing furiously, she severed the vines and freed herself.
"Vinculum Vampiris!"
A wave of blue energy shot from the male vampire's hand, striking Agnes squarely. It was a signature vampire spell, designed to hypnotize its target.
"Aaaagh!"
Agnes bit down on her own arm, the sharp pain breaking the spell's weak effects. Hypnotic magic was less effective on lycanthropes, and now its effects was completely dispelled.
"Really? A mind control spell on a non-human? Really? You're not a Ratking. Controlling a magical beast isn't that simple."
The female vampire snapped at her partner with a disbelief tone.
Her expression was a mix of frustration and disdain as she shook her head.
"At least I'm doing something…"
The male vampire shot back, clearly offended. His voice cracked slightly, making him sound more childish than intimidating.
Agnes, crouched and gasping for breath, glanced between the two vampires.
Her legs felt heavy, her lungs burned, and her options were dwindling.
"Should I transform into full form?" she muttered under her breath.
"If I lose control, the Inquisitors will hunt me down without a second thought."
The internal conflict raged within her. On one hand, staying in her human form meant certain death at the hands of these two vampires.
On the other, transforming into her werewolf form could lead her berserk and possibly ended with her own execution.
"To hell with it! Let's go rock and roll!"
Agnes growled, gripping the pendant hanging around her neck. It was a small, dull amulet enchanted specifically to suppress full lycanthropic transformations.
She yanked it off, ready to embrace the beast within, but then froze when the vampires' behavior suddenly changed.
The female vampire touched her temple as if listening to someone. Her posture shifted, and a sharp frown replaced her smug grin.
"Ro-roger that. We're pulling out. Leave the dog. We don't have time for this!"
She said aloud, though it seemed directed at an unseen speaker.
"Aw, come on!" the male vampire whined, stomping his foot like a child denied a treat.
"I was just starting to have fun!"
"Next time, cute doggy," the female vampire said mockingly, glancing at Agnes with a sly grin.
Without another word, both vampires leaped onto the nearest rooftop, their movements smooth and fluid.
They disappeared into the darkness of the slums, leaving Agnes bewildered and alone.
"What the hell just happened?"
Agnes muttered to herself. She looked down at the pendant still clutched in her hand and let out a shaky breath.
"Whatever it was, I'll take it as a stroke of luck."
She collapsed onto the muddy ground, too exhausted to care about the dirt.
*BOOM!*
A sudden explosion rocked the air, the sound reverberating through the slums.
Agnes's head snapped toward the direction of the blast, her eyes widening as a brilliant flash of fire illuminated the distant buildings.
Above her, a brown owl circled a few times before landing on a broken tree nearby. Agnes recognized the bird immediately and smirked.
"You guys are late!"
From across the drainage ditch, she saw figures emerging from the shadows. David and a few other members of the Order of Theseus, along with a handful of police, hurried toward her.
"Agnes! Are you okay?"
David called out, waving his arm. Relief was evident on his face as he spotted her.
"Nice of you to finally show up."
Agnes muttered, but her tone was more tired than angry.
After regrouping, they made their way to a two-story building near the edge of the slums.
The structure, larger than most of the surrounding houses, served as an office for a charity organization affiliated with Theseus.
Upstairs, Agnes, David, Estella, and Nichola gathered around a wooden table. Warm tea and coffee were passed around as they all tried to recover from the chaos.
"You guys are mean! You left me all alone out there!"
Agnes accused, crossing her arms as she leaned back in her chair.
"We didn't leave you!" Nichola shot back, her voice tinged with irritation.
"We got lost because of the fog."
"Fog? What fog? I didn't see any fog," Agnes replied, raising an eyebrow.
David, Estella, and Nichola exchanged uneasy glances. They all remembered the thick fog that had suddenly appeared, obscuring their vision and disorienting them.
"Wait," Estella said, breaking the silence.
"Agnes is a lycanthrope, and vampires were involved. It's possible the fog was an illusion spell."
"That would explain it," Agnes said, nodding slowly.
"Illusion magic doesn't work well on lycanthropes."
David frowned, his expression darkening.
"Still, the bigger question is how those bloodsuckers managed to infiltrate Stellarkeep."
Estella stood and walked toward the window. From the balcony, she could still see the glow of flames and rising smoke in the distance.
"All Hallow's Week is supposed to be a celebration of saints, but dark arts practitioners seem to be more enjoying it."
"Whether they're from Trismegistus, Galvani, or Armageddon, we need answers," David said, his tone grim.
Nichola shivered in his wet clothes.
"Why do dark lord factions always have such ridiculous names? They sound like knockoff of a luxury handbag brands."
Agnes was fortunate enough to know a basic spell for cleaning dirty clothes. However, her knowledge didn't extend to drying wet clothes, leaving Nichola shivering in damp clothes like a drenched kitten.
"I just remembered something! The vampire chasing me smelled like a corpse! Ugh, it was disgusting!"
Agnes suddenly blurted out, pinching her nose as if the memory alone could summon the stench back to her.
"That's not surprising," David replied, setting his mug of black coffee down.
"Vampires are basically dying people who use alchemy to cheat death. Living undead, in a sense."
"Can we not focus on how they smell? The issue at hand is that we still don't know their motives."
Estella snapped, her irritation clear as she glanced between them.
"Eh, wait," Estella said suddenly, her face turning a deep shade of red as realization dawned.
"If your sense of smell is that sharp, then does that mean…"
Agnes raised an eyebrow at Estella, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"Oh, don't worry, I've never told anyone that these past week you never changed your under—"
*MMMPH!*
Before Agnes could finish, Estella clamped her hand over Agnes's mouth and, in one swift motion, dragged her into the next room.
"Don't mind us! Its ladies' talk. No eavesdropping!"
Estella yell loudly as the door slammed shut behind them.
David and Nichola sat in awkward silence, both pretending not to hear the muffled sounds of scolding and protests from the other side of the door.
"You want to play chess?"
David offered, breaking the tension.
Nichola raised an eyebrow at him.
"Seriously? Chess? While those two are probably tearing each other apart in there?"
"Well, it's not like we can interfere."
David said with a shrug.
Meanwhile, in the other room, sound of Agnes begging for her live cannot be heared by David and Nicha
"Kyaaaa! I promise, I promise, I won't tell anyone! Not even to a ghost!" Agnes said.
**********
*Sniff, sniff.*
"Ew," Oz muttered, scrunching his nose as he stood outside the shop.
"Why does a shop with a cat logo smell like wet dog?"
He stared at the sign above the door, reading the name again to make sure he wasn't mistaken.
"Black Cat Alchemy Shop. This is the place, right?"
He muttered, recalling his master's instructions.
"3rd Avenue, number 7, first floor of Stellarkeep," Oz repeated aloud.
The shop looked shady, with its dim lighting and weathered signboard. Oz hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open.
*Cling!*
The sound of the bell echoed, announcing his entrance.
"Sorry! The store is clo—" The woman at the counter, who looked to be in her 30s, froze mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock. "Young master?"
Oz stiffened. He hadn't expected anyone here to recognize him. His master's followers were supposed to never know his identity.
"Lucy! Lucy, come here quickly! The young master is here!"
The clerk shouted toward the back of the shop.
"Hey, you!"
Oz's sharp tone made the clerk flinch, her face going pale.
"Y-yes, young master?"
"How do you know who am I?"
Oz's emerald eyes locked onto hers, his intense gaze unrelenting.
"I-it's the crystal orb in your pocket! It has a distinctive scent, young master!"
The clerk stammered, lowering her head to avoid his glare.
Oz relaxed slightly, leaning against the counter.
"Oh, I see. That explains it."
*Thump, thump, thump.*
"I'll be down in a moment, Mina!" a voice called from upstairs.
A younger woman, about 25 yo, descended the stairs moments later. She bowed deeply upon seeing Oz.
"Good evening, young master."
"Raise your heads, both of you."
Oz said, his tone softer now.
"You don't need to fear me. I'm not like my mother who will turn you into an alchemy materials over a minor mistake."
The two clerks hesitantly lifted their heads, finally daring to meet his gaze. Their tense expressions slowly eased, though they still regarded Oz with a mixture of respect and caution.
"Where are the other staff?"
Oz asked, his sharp gaze scanning the dimly lit alchemy shop.
He turned his head left and right, taking in the empty shelves and sparse decorations.
The place felt lifeless, save for the presence of the two staff members standing nervously before him.
"It's... it's just the two of us."
Mina stammered, her voice trembling.
"Are you dissatisfied, young master? Please, don't dispose of us! We'll work harder, we promise!"
Her eyes were wide with desperation, and she clutched the hem of her apron as if holding onto her life.
"If you keep acting this scared, I will dispose of you. Got it?"
He said with a mischief grin.
Mina's breath hitched, and Lucy, standing beside her, swallowed hard.
"U-understood," they both replied in perfect unison.
"Good," Oz said, crossing his arms.
"Now… Did my mother leave any instructions for me?"
Lucy and Mina exchanged uneasy glances. They seemed to be having a silent conversation, their eyes darting back and forth.
Finally, Lucy sighed and nodded, stepping forward.
"Just a minute young master," she said quietly before disappearing into the back of the shop.
A few moments later, Lucy returned, carefully carrying two wooden boxes.One was noticeably larger than the other.
As Lucy approached, Oz noticed her hands trembling, and her face twisted into a pained expression.
"This is for you, young master," Lucy said, setting the boxes down on the counter.
Her hands twitched violently as she released them, and she immediately stepped back, cradling her fingers as though they had been burned.
Oz's curiosity piqued. He opened the smaller box first. Inside were several pieces of cold silver, their metallic surfaces shimmering faintly in the dim light.
Cold silver, along with other items with magical properties, actually didn't hold any magical power. The truth was, the universe itself used starlight to create phenomena around these objects, making them seem magical.
Oz remembered reading about the effects of cold silver. It was known to reject anything created with starlight other than the universe's own. In simpler terms, it burned anything made by wizardry.
—But there's a catch. If I transmute a cat into a dog, the cold silver won't burn that dog because dogs are one of the universe's creation.
Lucy, being a lycanthrope, seemed to be uncomfortable around the cold silver. She had a human appearance, but the enhanced senses and strength that came with her lycanthropic nature made cold silver reacting reacted to her.
He then noticed a folded letter tucked beneath the cold silver.
Curious, Oz picked it up and unfolded it. As he read, his expression shifted from intrigue to annoyance.
==============
Dear my sweet boy,
Mother has given you some toys. Cold silvers and a few antiques. You can use these toys to hunt those foul beasts.
One of my favorite hobbies when I was young was hunting wild magical beasts. Their screams were music to my ears.
I have another challenge for you.Find out why these beasts are appearing in Stellarkeep. I already know the reason, but solving it will be a fun exercise for you.
P.S.: The beasts in Stellarkeep aren't my doing. Have fun investigating!
—Mother
==============
"Yeah, this is definitely from my mother," Oz muttered, tossing the letter back into the box.
He picked up one of the cold silver pieces, rolling it between his fingers. The metal felt unnaturally cool, and he smirked as an idea formed in his mind.
"Muehehe," Oz chuckled, his voice echoing through the quiet shop.
Lucy and Mina flinched at his ominous laughter, their unease growing as they exchanged worried glances.