Chapter 6

Xelix and Marva froze the moment they opened the bedroom door. Standing at the threshold was Enver — a figure now seemingly untouchable, even with only three buttons of his white shirt undone, exposing just a hint of his broad chest. His hair was damp, strands clinging to his forehead, droplets falling to the wooden floor below.

No one truly knew Enver's routine: he always swam in his private pool fully clothed — as if water itself was a sacred ritual to silence the madness clawing at him from within.

> "Do your task properly, Marva. I don't want to see you fail."

Enver's voice was soft, yet pierced like a thousand needles under the skin. Anyone who heard it would shiver, as if ice water had been poured down their spine.

Marva merely bowed in silence. Xelix stole a glance, swallowed hard, then looked away before Enver's sheer presence could drain the courage from him.

Without another word, they stepped outside and walked briskly down the narrow path, cutting through the morning air laced with the faint scent of jasmine.

Their destination: the hospital — where two small bodies waited to be returned to sacred ground.

---

The hospital was quiet. But the silence shattered when a heated argument broke out in the administrative office. A plump man in a white coat — who looked more like a warehouse guard than a medical worker — stood with both arms spread, blocking the way.

> "I can't just hand over the children's bodies! There are procedures, paperwork — and you two, who even are you?!"

Marva took a deep breath, restraining her emotions. She'd mentioned Enver's name several times, but the staff member remained stubborn, as if the name meant nothing to him. Xelix grew anxious, his eyes flicking toward the entrance, worried the commotion would attract the wrong kind of attention.

Then came the sound of heavy boots approaching. A tall man appeared, clad in the uniform of the Public Security Division — clean-cut, sharp, with slicked-back hair. A nametag on his chest read: Thadric.

Thadric stopped in front of them, his eyes briefly widening when he saw Xelix. For a moment, his gaze softened — yes, this was the man who once held Xelix during a dark time. Just once — but that touch had branded itself deep into Thadric's heart, burning there to this day.

> "What's the problem here?"

His voice was deep and commanding, laced with authority. The hospital staff member immediately bowed.

> "Sir, they want to claim the bodies of the hit-and-run victims from last week. But… the paperwork, sir…"

Thadric looked at Marva, then turned his eyes to Xelix — sharp and unreadable. The corner of his lips lifted into a half-mocking smile.

> "And if we refuse? What will you do? Run back to your master? Beg him to come down here himself? Or are you planning to beg us for mercy?"

His tone was laced with scorn, even mockery. Marva held herself back, but Xelix stepped forward, clenching his trembling hands.

> "Don't speak as if you know who he is. Enver isn't weak like you think. He — he can banish creatures no human should even be able to touch!"

Xelix's voice trembled, but his eyes remained firm.

Thadric stiffened, jaw clenched. Jealousy flared in his chest, burning through reason. He knew Enver's power — knew the man surpassed human limitations — but his pride refused to bow.

He balled his fist, almost striking the wall. But instead, he turned to the staff member.

> "Give them the children's bodies. Let them leave — now."

The man swallowed hard and obeyed without hesitation.

---

In the morgue, Marva opened two child-sized coffins — small enough to fit in one's hand. With a brief incantation, the two bodies slowly rose and slipped inside, their tiny forms peaceful, as if the pain of the living world had finally been washed away.

Xelix bit his lower lip, struggling to hold back his tears. His vision blurred as droplets rolled down, one by one.

> "I'm sorry… Forgive me for everything I did to you both…"

---

Sometime later, Marva and Xelix stood on sacred ground, at the edge of a pine forest known only to a few Seers. Here, innocent children were laid to rest. The soil was damp, the grass green, wildflowers blooming like a carpet of prayers.

Xelix knelt before two small wooden grave markers. His sobs broke free, shoulders trembling as his mouth repeated endless apologies.

Marva stood silently beside him, exhaling through her nose.

> "There's something you should know. Technically, I'm not allowed to tell you… But seeing you like this, I changed my mind."

Xelix turned to him, eyes swollen, nose red.

> "After this, I'll take you to Prufen. It's a place for patients with curses — just like yours. You were allowed to live… because your master, Enver, made a pact with the entity clinging to you.

If you had died back then… your curse would've moved on to another woman. Maybe your sister, or someone else close to you."

Xelix choked back a sob, looking up at Marva with a gaze filled with both gratitude and horror.

> "So… it's true. He really is that strong. And… you, Marva — do you love your master?"

That question hit Marva harder than any slap could.

He turned away, hiding the red blooming across his cheeks.

Xelix let out a faint chuckle through his tears.

---

They walked down from the burial hill, emotions still in turmoil. Their journey ended at Prufen — an old facility on the city's edge, where Enver kept those who had once been cursed, their souls partially restored.

The halls of Prufen were quiet, save for the ticking of an old clock. Marva led Xelix through a corridor lined with rooms — inside were dozens of people: children, adults, even the elderly.

They were all Enver's patients.

All had come close to destruction by their curses — but now, they breathed again, though their lives could never return to normal.

> "Remember this, Xelix. Once a person is touched by Purificazione, their body is never the same. Living out there only invites more astral parasites… and you know, not all Seers are as strong as Enver."

Xelix bit his lip, sorrow pressing deep into his gut.

He gazed at Prufen — at his final prison and last protection.

And somewhere far away, Enver opened his eyes, staring at the sky through his window.

A business card drifted into the night.

A new sin waited to be purified.