Line

After breakfast, Sebastian Novak suggested he and Thomas Light should visit Elena's house to investigate. However, Elena, still deeply shaken, refused to stay alone in the empty bar. To comfort her, Sebastian let his guard down for a moment, and Thomas ended up revealing some of his secrets—secrets he had carefully guarded for years.

Thomas explained that the seemingly ordinary bar was designed using an ancient and long-lost formation. The focal point of the formation lay at the base of the staircase. Sebastian's bedroom, it turned out, was a place of extreme solar energy, while even the three cartoon-shaped candles on his bookshelf were actually powerful spiritual artifacts left behind by his father, disguised to appear ordinary.

This disclosure reassured Elena but infuriated Sebastian. He almost cast a silencing spell on Thomas right then and there. Why would Thomas, usually so trustworthy and steady, act so recklessly? Was Elena truly that reliable, or did she mean something special to Thomas? One thing became clear to Sebastian: the saying "Friends exist to betray you" was annoyingly accurate.

Especially after they left Elena's house.

"She can't stay at my place!" Sebastian protested as Thomas loaded Elena's luggage into the backseat.

"Then what? Let her get strangled to death?"

"She can stay at a motel. Or better yet, your place!"

"How can I guarantee she won't have more nightmares or get attacked again? Your place is the safest."

"No way. I'll help you set up a formation in your house, slap on some talismans, and even lend you some artifacts if you need them. But no strangers at my place. My life runs on order, and I won't have it disturbed."

"Oh, come on, don't be so petty," Thomas replied, refusing to give up. "It's only for a few days, just until we deal with this thing."

Sebastian wasn't falling for it. "I never agreed to deal with it. All I said was I'd ensure Elena West's safety. I have no obligation to worry about anyone else. Don't try to trick me into this."

"Fine, have it your way, you cold-hearted bastard. Don't worry, I'll make sure Elena doesn't interfere with your perfect little life."

"Won't interfere?" Sebastian scoffed. "She already has—big time."

"I'll make her promise to stay upstairs when your bar is open," Thomas added. "As long as you keep your staff and customers downstairs, your little sanctuary will remain untouched."

"Shut up!" Sebastian snapped. He had no energy left to argue. It wasn't about his reputation or his place in the hearts of women. It was the principle of not making exceptions, and Thomas had already forced him to break too many of his rules today.

Seeing Sebastian's silence as he drove, Thomas shifted the topic. "Notice anything?"

Sebastian remained quiet for a moment before replying. "On the surface, nothing. Other than heavy negative energy and a sluggish aura."

"Did it leave? Or is it hiding? Can't you find it?"

"Then what do we do?"

"We wait for it to move at night. If it's attached to something or hiding in a dark corner, it's almost impossible to detect during the day. Besides, my father may have passed down all his knowledge to me, and I supposedly have natural 'talents,' but you know I sealed myself off. I've only used my abilities twice in my life. It's like playing an RPG—if you don't actively level up, your abilities remain mediocre. I'm not even sure I'm strong enough to handle it."

"This one—this thing, I mean—how strong does it seem?"

"Not friendly. If it can conceal all traces of its presence during the day, it's no ordinary spirit. I can't risk tipping it off by casting spells during the day, or it'll become even harder to deal with at night."

"Then I'll come with you tonight," Thomas offered, a pang of guilt hitting him. He'd focused so much on protecting Elena that he hadn't considered the trouble he was causing Sebastian. What seemed simple at first was proving to be much more dangerous. If this was worse than the other times they had faced danger, he might be putting Sebastian's life on the line.

"No. You'll just get in the way," Sebastian said firmly.

"Who says that? We've faced life and death together twice already. Watching each other's backs can only help."

"Not this time. It's different." Sebastian's tone was resolute. "This thing can control Elena's nightmares, make her 'witness' murders in a hospital, and possibly even manipulate Lucas Graves and his son. It attached itself to a medicine bottle to follow you home, trapping you with a demon's wall and trying to harm Elena. Though it failed, it still scared her into unconsciousness. This isn't something an ordinary ghost can do."

"Wait—you're saying the medicine bottle? Which one?"

"The white glass bottle on her bedside table. It had a faint trace of dark energy. That's the only lead I found this morning."

"Damn!" Thomas exclaimed. "That's my fault. I helped Elena pack her things. I didn't even notice it wasn't her medication and wondered why it was there when we got home."

"If it wasn't the bottle, it would've found another way. Did anyone approach her in the hospital besides you?"

"No, I stayed with her the whole time. But—" Thomas paused, recalling something. "After she woke up from her nightmare, I went to get some water. When I came back, she asked if someone had been there. I said no, but actually, there was a nurse in the hallway who seemed to have just left. Thinking back now, her movements were…odd. Almost like she was floating."

"Then she was likely a murdered nurse. Which means this thing can control other spirits too."

"Why would it do that? Does this tie back to the case?"

"Probably, but I'm not sure yet."

"Is it dangerous?" Thomas asked, unease creeping in.

"Doesn't matter. We'll see."

Sebastian's nonchalance only deepened Thomas's guilt. Determined to stick by his friend, Thomas insisted on accompanying him. They ultimately agreed that Sebastian would go up alone while Thomas stayed downstairs, armed with a magical artifact. If the artifact's outer wax layer melted, Thomas would head up immediately to assist.

"The blood dagger is in that bunny-shaped candle, right?"

"Exactly. But be careful not to melt the wax prematurely. It's sealed for a reason." Sebastian's instructions were clear, though he didn't truly expect to need the dagger. It was more to give Thomas peace of mind.

For the first time since opening the "Night Wanderer" bar, the patrons noticed their handsome bartender was absent. Instead of charming smiles behind the counter, Sebastian Novak was about to negotiate with a demon. Cool in theory, but in practice? Dangerous and exasperating.

He placed Thomas near the trash bins, much to the latter's dismay.

"You're just trying to mess with me," Thomas grumbled. "It stinks here. As a respected psychologist, I can't afford to be seen like this—people will think I'm crazy!"

"Eighty percent of people have psychological issues. Why can't you? Stay here or leave, your choice!" Sebastian wasn't messing around. This was the only spot free of spiritual interference.

Sebastian could see things others couldn't, which was why he rarely ventured out at night. Wandering spirits, driven by lingering attachments or intense emotions, often sought out someone like him to fulfill their wishes. The thought of juggling daytime complications with nighttime "requests" from the other side? Too much trouble.

Elena West thought he was indifferent to everything. Perhaps. But it hadn't come naturally. It had taken years of mental torment to forge his cold, unyielding demeanor.

"Don't open the box, you'll ruin the wax seal," Sebastian stopped Thomas's fiddling and turned to leave.

"Be careful!"

Sebastian paused briefly but didn't respond. His actions spoke for themselves.

Sebastian walked deliberately, keeping to the center of the path to avoid the dark corners where spirits loitered. He avoided moving too quickly, lest he collide with slower-reacting spirits. Walking through them wasn't an option—it was uncomfortable for both parties—so he maintained a steady, unhurried pace, avoiding eye contact, and entered the building.

The moment he stepped into the elevator, he felt the oppressive chill of the lingering spirits. Residents might occasionally feel a random cold shiver but quickly dismiss it. For him, the growing intensity of the negative energy made it easy to pinpoint apartment 1205, even without functioning lights on the twelfth floor.

He opened the door.

It slammed shut behind him with a loud bang, as if someone had deliberately flung it closed. A second later, the lights flickered on, blinding him momentarily with their brightness.

Unbothered, Sebastian proceeded toward Elena's bedroom. But as he stepped inside, he froze in place.

He was back in the elevator.

Before he could react, the elevator doors slammed shut, its indicator lights flashing erratically. Suddenly, it jolted to life, lurching unpredictably between floors. A sharp female voice announced each level in a grating, unnatural tone: "First floor—Second floor—Third floor—"

Sebastian stood motionless, waiting to see what other tricks the entity had in store. When the elevator plunged in a stomach-turning freefall, he calmly traced symbols into the air. The elevator shuddered to a halt, but its doors remained sealed. Frowning, Sebastian realized this was no ordinary spirit. Drawing another set of symbols with precision, he plunged the elevator into darkness. When light returned, he was back in Elena's foyer.

"What do you want?" he asked aloud.

The only response was the sudden crash of the living room chandelier, narrowly missing him. He sidestepped, now more focused, and moved again toward Elena's bedroom.

An unnatural darkness, thick like fog, swallowed the room, obscuring everything. When a chilling wind rushed toward him, he barely dodged, only to feel a sharp sting on his right cheek. The sound of shattering glass followed. He knew the spirit lacked physical form, relying on objects to inflict harm. Yet in this manufactured darkness, even his second sight struggled to locate it.

Touching the wet, sticky blood on his face, Sebastian drew his middle finger down his brow, chanting silently to sharpen his vision. The room's murkiness eased just enough for him to discern a humanoid figure of black mist huddled in the corner. Oddly, the figure was incomplete, as though half its form were missing. He had no time to ponder this anomaly as the black mist surged toward him.

Sebastian countered by drawing another symbol in the air, his blood amplifying its power. The crimson glow forced the spirit back into the corner.

A piercing scream, like nails on glass, filled the air. Reflexively, Sebastian turned his head, giving the spirit a chance to swell in size, nearly overwhelming him. Forced to focus every ounce of his strength, he shouted, "Get back to your domain! This isn't your place!"

The black mist didn't reply, pushing against him with relentless force. Objects flew wildly around the room until the spirit, under Sebastian's unyielding efforts, shrank into a quivering mass. The chaos finally subsided.

"Leave!"

At last, the spirit spoke, its voice filled with venom. "Meddlers will die! That woman and you—I'll make sure neither of you rest in peace!"

Sebastian smirked. "You think I'm afraid of you?" He intensified his efforts, driving the spirit to scream once more. Its final words, filled with malice, echoed as it faded: "I'll be back! Watch yourself! I'll be back!"

With the room finally bathed in moonlight, Sebastian let out a long breath. He sat on the edge of the bed for several moments to steady himself before heading downstairs to find Thomas.

"What took you so long?" Thomas sprang to his feet at the sight of Sebastian. "I thought something happened to you—I almost came in."

"Is the wax seal intact?" Sebastian asked as they walked toward the car. He noticed Thomas bumping into a spirit on the way, sending it staggering comically.

"Yes, it's fine," Thomas replied.

"Did you notice or hear anything unusual outside?"

"Nothing. So, I stayed put."

"Congratulations—you avoided collateral damage." Sebastian suppressed a smirk. Others couldn't see or hear what was happening inside because he had sealed the space. Otherwise, in such a densely populated area, people would've come running at the sight of a supernatural battle. That would've been catastrophic.

"So, it was intense in there?"

"You could say that. Take a look at her room sometime—it's like a post-war zone."

As the car started, Thomas noticed the wound on Sebastian's face. "You're bleeding! Did it get you?"

Sebastian checked the rearview mirror. A cut ran from his cheekbone to the corner of his mouth. Though the bleeding had stopped, the wound would take days to heal, leaving him with a rugged, weathered look.

"Nice battle scars. So, did you finish it off?" Thomas asked.

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I couldn't tell if I destroyed its grudge or just sealed it temporarily. It escaped, but how long will the seal hold?"

"Great. We're dealing with a big one, aren't we?"

"Obviously. You think a little kitten could do this?" Sebastian touched his wound absently. "It pushed me to use blood magic just to hold it down. I was lucky to manage even that."

"You should practice more often. Maybe take on jobs like this to keep sharp."

"Shut up. If it weren't for you, this wouldn't even be my problem." Sebastian didn't mention that the spirit was only half-formed. If it had been whole, the fight might have ended very differently. And there were other questions lingering in his mind.

"So, what now?"

"We wait."

"So, Elena stays with you a little longer?"

"Do you think I want that? We need to convince her to drop this case. It'd make everyone's lives easier. Or maybe she could stay with you instead."

"No, no. Your place is definitely safer," Thomas quickly dismissed the idea. "You're not going to turn into a predator, are you?" he joked.

"Relax. I'm too old to handle a thorny little thing like her."