The air in the room feels heavy as Jun sets his phone down on the table, the faint glow of its screen casting shadows over the scattered notes and images.
He leans back, his gaze flicking between Kieran and Ace. "So, here's what I've found so far. It's not much, since I was just searching randomly about Werewolves, witches and all that I've come to learn exist lately. This might explain how Lila's been pulling this off."
Ace leans forward, his brows furrowed in concentration.
The tension from earlier still lingers between him and Kieran, but curiosity burns brighter. "What did you find?"
Jun takes a deep breath, his fingers tapping restlessly against the table. "The magic Lila's using isn't just manipulation—it's rooted in something much darker. Based on what I've read, this kind of control where a witch is able to manipulate people isn't possible without a focus, an anchor. Something physical that ties her power to her victims and amplifies it."
"An anchor?" Ace asks, his tone sharp with interest.
Jun nods. "It could be an object, a weapon, or even a place—anything with enough residual energy to act as a conduit. If we can find it and destroy it, we could cut her off from that power."
Kieran leans against the window frame, his golden eyes focused on the darkened sky.
His voice cuts through the silence, low and tense. "If this anchor is the source of her power… how are we supposed to know what it is? It could be anything."
Jun, seated across from Ace, leans back with a frustrated sigh. "He's right. If she's using dark magic, the anchor won't just be out in the open. It's probably something tied to her specifically, hidden away where no one would think to look."
Ace listens quietly, his hands clasped in front of him. Trying to think hard as if he has a solution , but it's not clear. Something stirs in his mind, faint and fleeting. He narrows his eyes, trying to grasp it.
Jun continues, oblivious to Ace's inward struggle. "Even if we knew what it was, we'd have no way of finding it unless she's stupid enough to leave it lying around."
Ace's breath catches. A memory surfaces, sharp and vivid. Marsel's voice, calm and resolute: "Your powers are tied to your mission. When you truly focus on what you need—when your will is clear—you can follow the threads. You can find or know whatever you need. The Moon Goddess doesn't grant strength without reason. Trust yourself. And during those moments , try as much as possible to connect with the Goddess."
His chest tightens as the realization hits. He straightens, his voice breaking into their conversation. "I can try to find out what it is."
Both Kieran and Jun turn toward him, their expressions puzzled.
Jun raises an eyebrow. "You can?"
"Yes," Ace says firmly. "I can try."
Kieran steps closer, his eyes narrowing. "How?"
Ace hesitates, choosing his words carefully. "It's… something I learned. My powers—they're not just for burning. They're connected to the Moon Goddess's will. If I focus hard enough, I can sense things that are tied to my purpose. And right now, stopping Lila is my purpose."
Jun frowns. "You're saying you can just… see it? Like magic?"
"It's not magic," Ace says quickly. "It's more like… instinct. A thread I can follow if I concentrate hard enough."
Kieran watches him closely, his wolf bristling with unease. "And what happens if you're wrong? If this backfires?"
Ace meets his gaze steadily. "Then it backfires. But if there's even a chance this could work, we have to try."
Kieran doesn't respond immediately. He glances at Jun, who looks just as skeptical, before finally nodding. "All right. Let's do it."
-
An hour later, the living room is unrecognizable.
Furniture has been pushed aside, leaving a wide, open space.
The air is heavy with anticipation as Jun sketches out a rough circle on the floor using salt and ash.
Ace sits cross-legged in the center, his hands resting lightly on his knees.
Jun watches Ace warily, arms crossed. "Are you sure you don't need anything else? No chants or… whatever you do?"
"No," Ace says quietly. "This isn't about rituals. It's about focus."
Kieran stands nearby, his arms folded. His wolf is restless, a low growl rumbling in his throat. "Just be careful."
Ace closes his eyes, shutting out their voices and the dim light.
He draws in a deep breath, steadying himself. The world around him fades as he reaches inward, searching for the thread Marsel had spoken of.
At first, there's only silence—a void stretching endlessly.
Ace frowns, focusing harder, his hands gripping his knees.
The faint warmth stirs in his chest, a flicker of light like the first rays of dawn breaking through darkness.
He latches onto it, trying to guide his thoughts toward the anchor. But just as he begins to see something , the connection falters. The thread slips away, and the void returns.
Ace gasps, his chest heaving as he snaps back to the present.
Jun takes a step forward, his expression tense. "What happened? Did it work?"
"No," Ace mutters, frustrated. He rubs his temple, the remnants of the vision fading. "I can try again."
Kieran frowns. "You sure that's a good idea? You're already pushing yourself."
"I can do it," Ace insists. Determination flares in his eyes as he straightens his back. "I just need to focus harder."
Jun opens his mouth to argue but stops when Ace closes his eyes again, drawing in another deep breath.
This time, the warmth ignites more fiercely in his chest, spreading outward in rippling waves.
It's stronger now, a beacon guiding him through the darkness. The flicker of light grows, and Ace's mark—hidden beneath his t shirt—begins to glow faintly.
The warmth shifts, intensifying until it feels as though something inside him is breaking free.
A brilliant blue flame bursts forth from his chest, swirling around him in a protective aura.
It doesn't burn or sear his skin; instead, it feels cool, like the kiss of moonlight on bare flesh.
Jun stumbles back, his eyes wide. "What the—Ace!"
Kieran's wolf growls, uneasy. "Ace, stop! Whatever this is—it's too much!"
But Ace doesn't hear them.
The blue flames dance around him, flickering like living entities.
His focus sharpens, the thread in his mind growing stronger. The void transforms, shifting into a vivid vision.