The underground chamber fell silent.
Even the monstrous heartbeat beneath the abyss seemed to pause for one terrifying moment.
Nyra stared at the Headmistress in disbelief.
The woman stood motionless beside the broken seal, silver hair flowing softly around her dark robes while ancient runes glowed beneath her feet.
And those golden eyes—
They looked at Nyra like she was both a miracle and a disaster.
“Welcome home, Seraphine.”
The words echoed painfully through the chamber.
Nyra stepped backward instinctively.
“I’m not Seraphine.”
The Headmistress’ expression softened slightly.
“That is what you wish to believe.”
Kael immediately moved protectively in front of Nyra.
“She doesn’t remember enough yet.”
The Headmistress finally looked at him.
Cold tension filled the chamber instantly.
For the first time—
Nyra realized these two hated each other.
Not ordinary hatred.
The kind born from centuries of blame.
The Headmistress’ voice sharpened slightly.
“And whose fault is that?”
Kael’s silver eyes darkened.
“You know exactly why I sealed her memories.”
The chains surrounding the abyss rattled violently below them.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The Vein King was getting closer.
Nyra’s chest tightened painfully.
“Someone explain what’s happening.”
Nobody answered immediately.
Liora stood awkwardly near the chamber entrance looking terrified while silver wolves slowly emerged from the shadows around the room.
Huge creatures.
Silent.
Watching Nyra carefully.
One by one—
They lowered their heads toward her.
The Headmistress noticed.
And grief crossed her face.
“They still recognize you.”
Nyra’s pulse quickened.
“Recognize me as what?”
The Headmistress slowly walked closer.
Silver symbols across the floor glowed brighter beneath her steps.
“As the girl who once saved this world.”
Kael immediately interrupted coldly.
“She also nearly destroyed it.”
Silence.
Nyra looked between them shakily.
The Headmistress sighed softly.
“You deserve the truth.”
Another chain snapped beneath the abyss.
The entire chamber trembled violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Still—
The Headmistress continued.
“Centuries ago, Moonfang Academy was not a prison.”
“It was a sanctuary.”
Images along the walls began glowing faintly.
Nyra watched shadows move across the stone.
Like memories awakening.
“You created this academy, Seraphine.”
Nyra froze.
“No.”
The Headmistress nodded slowly.
“You gathered cursed children abandoned by the outside world.”
The glowing carvings showed a younger Seraphine standing beside silver wolves while frightened children surrounded her.
“She wanted to protect people like herself,” the Headmistress whispered quietly.
Kael’s expression softened painfully hearing that.
The carvings continued shifting.
Moonfang Academy appeared beautiful once.
Alive.
Warm.
Not haunted.
Students laughed beneath silver trees.
Wolves walked peacefully beside them.
And Seraphine—
Smiled.
Nyra’s chest hurt seeing it.
Because somehow…
She missed that life.
The Headmistress continued.
“But the Vein King found her.”
The glowing images darkened instantly.
Black smoke spread through the academy walls.
Students screamed.
The underground seal chamber cracked apart.
And Seraphine’s body slowly became consumed by golden and black flames together.
“The Hollow Flame inside her became unstable.”
Nyra pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
The whispers inside her head grew louder.
“MINE.”
The Headmistress looked directly at her.
“The Vein King cannot exist fully in this world without a vessel.”
Nyra’s blood ran cold.
“…Me.”
“Yes.”
The word shattered through the chamber.
Kael’s jaw tightened painfully.
The Headmistress continued quietly:
“You were never simply cursed.”
Another chain snapped below them.
The abyss shook violently.
“You were born carrying half of the Vein King’s soul.”
Nyra stopped breathing.
“No…”
But deep down—
She already knew.
The whispers.
The visions.
The darkness following her her entire life.
It suddenly made horrifying sense.
The Headmistress’ expression became sorrowful.
“Seraphine tried to destroy herself before the creature could awaken fully.”
“But she failed.”
Kael finally spoke again.
His voice rough.
“The Vein King kept resurrecting through her.”
Nyra looked toward him slowly.
And suddenly remembered fragments again.
Not one death.
Many.
Different centuries.
Different lives.
Always ending in blood.
Always ending with Kael.
The realization made her dizzy.
“You’ve been searching for me this entire time…”
Kael’s silver eyes lowered.
“I promised I would.”
The chamber suddenly shook violently again.
A gigantic roar exploded upward from the abyss.
The silver wolves immediately growled.
The Vein King’s voice thundered through the darkness.
“SHE BELONGS TO ME.”
Black tendrils erupted upward from below.
Teachers upstairs screamed faintly through the ceiling.
The academy was collapsing.
The Headmistress raised one hand sharply.
Golden magic spread across the chamber instantly, forcing the shadows back temporarily.
But Nyra noticed blood running slowly from the Headmistress’ nose now.
Even she was struggling.
Liora looked terrified.
“The seal won’t hold much longer.”
The Headmistress turned toward Nyra again.
And quietly spoke the words Nyra feared most.
“There is only one way to stop him.”
Kael’s expression changed instantly.
“No.”
The Headmistress ignored him.
“The final seal requires the original vessel.”
Nyra’s stomach dropped.
Silence consumed the chamber.
Then Kael stepped between them again.
Absolutely furious now.
“She already died for this world once.”
The silver flames around him exploded violently.
“I won’t let her do it again.”
The Headmistress looked genuinely heartbroken.
“You think I want this?”
The chamber trembled harder.
The abyss below cracked wider open.
And slowly—
A colossal crimson eye opened beneath them again.
Far larger than before.
Watching Nyra lovingly.
Hungrily.
“COME BACK TO ME.”
Nyra’s body froze.
Because this time—
A voice inside her soul whispered back.
“I’m tired…”