The vitality drain worsened.
By the end of the second week, more than half the family could not leave their beds. The children were the first to fall, their small bodies too weak to fight the invisible force that sapped their strength. The elders followed, then the warriors, then the servants.
Ethan felt it too—a constant, gnawing weakness that never faded. He could barely walk from his room to the main hall without stopping to rest. His hands trembled. His vision blurred. Even breathing felt like a battle.
『 Warning: Vitality Drain intensifying 』
『 Current Vitality: 35% of normal 』
『 At 0%, all family members will perish 』
『 Source: Morgause 』
He called an emergency meeting in the main hall.
Only a handful could attend—Eleanor, leaning on a cane; Thomas, his face pale; Vivienne, who seemed unaffected; and a few elders who could still stand.
"We’re dying," Ethan said. "Slowly, but surely. If we don’t find a way to stop this, the family will be wiped out."
Thomas slammed his fist on the table.
"Then we find Morgause and we kill her."
Vivienne shook her head.
"It’s not that simple."
"Then explain it."
She stepped forward.
"Morgause is not a physical being. She exists in the spaces between worlds. She cannot be killed by normal means."
"Then how do we stop her?"
Vivienne’s expression was grim.
"We need to understand how she was sealed in the first place. The seal was created by her own children—Arthur, Silas, and Eleanor. They used a ritual that bound her to the spaces between. But the ritual required a sacrifice."
She paused.
"Eleanor’s sacrifice."
Ethan turned to Eleanor.
"You sealed her."
"I did."
"You gave your life force to create the seal."
"I did."
"And now she’s using that same connection to drain us."
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"The seal was never meant to last forever. It was a temporary solution. But my children—our ancestors—never found a permanent one."
She looked at Ethan.
"Until now."
Ethan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"The Ancestral Awakening. It can sever Morgause’s connection permanently. But it requires the combined belief of the entire Eastern Wilds."
"We’re at ninety-six percent. The final four percent is the hardest."
"Then we need to find a way to reach it."
Vivienne spoke.
"The final believers are the ones who have the most reason to doubt. The Ashford Family. The Langley Family. The Crawford Family."
"They hate us."
"They fear you. There is a difference."
She paused.
"If you can make them believe—truly believe—the Awakening will be complete. And Morgause will be severed forever."
That night, Ethan sat beside Eleanor’s bed.
She was weaker than ever, her skin pale and translucent. Her breathing was shallow.
"You should rest," she whispered.
"So should you."
She smiled faintly.
"I’ve rested enough for a lifetime."
Ethan took her hand.
"The Awakening... it can save you. It can save all of us."
"Only if you can unite the Eastern Wilds."
"I will."
"How?"
Ethan was silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"I’ll go to them. The Ashfords. The Langleys. The Crawfords. I’ll make them see."
Eleanor’s eyes widened.
"That’s suicide."
"Maybe. But if I don’t try, we all die."
He looked at her.
"I have to try."
The next morning, Ethan prepared to leave.
Thomas would accompany him. Vivienne would remain on the mountain to protect the family.
Lily stood at the gates, her journal clutched against her chest.
"You’re leaving again."
"I have to."
"You always have to."
Ethan knelt beside her.
"I’m sorry."
She looked at him.
"Don’t be sorry. Just come back."
She pressed the journal into his hands.
"Write everything down. The whole story. So even if something happens, we’ll remember."
Ethan nodded.
"I will."
The journey to the Ashford estate took two days.
Ethan and Thomas rode hard, stopping only to rest the horses. The roads were empty—the villages they passed were silent, their doors shuttered.
"They’re afraid," Thomas said.
"They have reason to be."
They reached the estate at dusk.
It was not what Ethan expected. The Ashford estate had been grand once—a sprawling complex of buildings surrounded by walls. Now, it was a ruin. The walls were cracked. The buildings were burned. Demons patrolled the grounds.
"What happened here?" Thomas whispered.
"Victor. He destroyed his own home to summon the demons."
Ethan dismounted.
"Stay here. I’ll go alone."
"Ethan—"
"I’ll go alone."
He walked through the gates.
The demons did not attack. They simply watched, their black eyes following his every move.
Victor Ashford stood in the center of the courtyard, his arms crossed.
"Ethan Blackwood. I was wondering when you would come."
"I’m here to talk."
"Talk?" Victor laughed. "You came to talk?"
"I came to make you an offer."
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
"What kind of offer?"
"Join us. Help us complete the Ancestral Awakening. And in return, I will spare your life."
Victor stared at him.
"You’re serious."
"I am."
Victor laughed again—a cold, bitter sound.
"You think I would betray Morgause? You think I would side with the family that destroyed mine?"
"Your family destroyed itself. You made a deal with demons. You murdered innocent people. You brought this on yourself."
Victor’s face twisted.
"I did what I had to do. To survive. To protect my family."
"Your family is dead, Victor. You killed them when you summoned the demons."
Victor was silent.
Then he spoke.
"Morgause has promised me power. She has promised me immortality. What can you offer?"
"Redemption."
Victor froze.
"What?"
"Redemption. A chance to make things right. A chance to be remembered not as a villain, but as a man who saw the error of his ways and chose to change."
Ethan stepped closer.
"I know what it’s like to be forgotten, Victor. I know what it’s like to be hated. But I also know that it’s never too late to change."
Victor was silent for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"You’re a fool."
"Maybe."
"Morgause will destroy you."
"Maybe."
"And I will be there to watch."
Victor turned away.
"Leave. Now. Before I change my mind and kill you."
Ethan stood there for a moment.
Then he turned and walked away.
That night, Ethan sat alone in a small inn.
Thomas had found them a room—a place to rest before the journey home. But Ethan could not sleep.
He thought of Eleanor. Of her pale face. Of her shallow breathing.
He thought of Lily. Of her journal. Of her faith.
He thought of the family. Of everything they had sacrificed.
He opened the journal and wrote.
"Day 12. The Ashford Family refused our offer. Morgause’s hold on them is too strong. But I will not give up. I will find another way. I will save my family."
He paused.
Then he wrote one more line.
"Even if it costs me everything."
A knock on the door drew his attention.
"Come in."
The door opened.
A woman stepped inside.
Silver hair. Cold eyes. A smile that did not reach her lips.
Morgause.
"Hello, Ethan," she said. "I’ve been waiting to meet you."
『 Morgause has appeared 』
『 The First Blackwood 』
『 Her intentions are unknown 』
『 But she is here 』
『 Warning: Ethan is defenseless 』
『 Next Milestone: Survive Morgause 』