Morning—Departure for Northwood
The sun barely rose, but Jessica Ironheart was already shouting commands.
"PACK! MOVE! GO! IF YOU ARE SLOW, I'LL DRAG YOU BY YOUR HAIR!"
Regis yawned with dead eyes.
"Why do I feel like my life expectancy drops every time she opens her mouth…"
SMACK.
Another punch from Jessica.
"Stop complaining! You're the one who vanished for a year!"
Regis rubbed his head.
"Lady, I'm not iron… actually wait—MY SURNAME IS WALTER, STOP HITTING ME LIKE YOUR PROPERTY!"
Jessica ignored him and summoned her personal carriage—a gigantic platinum carriage covered in ancient sigils.
Alex whispered, "W–Where did that even come from…?"
Jessica proudly put her hands on her waist.
"Space magic storage! Only nobles can afford it! Get in!"
Regis muttered, "And here I thought we were poor…"
Jessica kicked him inside.
---
Inside the Carriage
Jessica sat beside Alex, hugging him like a possessive mother bear.
"My sweet little boy… are you comfortable? Are you hungry? Do you want candy? A blanket? Ten more blankets?"
Alex was dying inside.
Regis pointed.
"Oh look. The real madhouse is right here."
SMACK.
"OW! WOMAN!"
Alex whispered, "Regis… you really should stop talking."
Regis: "No. It is my destiny to suffer."
---
Discussing the Ritual
Jessica leaned forward, serious.
"Regis, report. How was Alex's training?"
Regis scratched his neck.
"That kid… learns way too fast. Spirit circle? Perfect. Spirit balancing? Perfect. Spirit sense? Sharper than mine."
Jessica nodded.
"…Unusual?"
Regis lowered his voice.
"That boy's spiritual energy… is wrong. Not pure. Not dark. Not human. Something is… mixed."
Jessica stiffened.
"So the ritual is necessary."
Alex blinked. "R-Ritual?"
Jessica turned to him sweetly.
"We need the Blood Re-Shifting Ritual, darling."
Regis explained:
"The Church uses a Blood Stone. If your blood doesn't match Ironheart, they'll know you're fake. We need to rewrite your blood temporarily."
Jessica added:
"And only a Walter witch can do it. That is why we must meet Regis's sister."
Regis collapsed in dread.
"Kill me now… please… anything but her…"
Alex asked, "Is she… dangerous?"
Jessica answered:
"She has violet hair, speaks to skulls, threatens priests, and worships her brother too much."
Regis screamed, "SHE TRIED TO MARRY ME TO KEEP ME IN HER HOUSE!!"
Alex: "...What?"
Jessica: "Don't worry. She can't marry her own brother."
Regis: "THAT DIDN'T STOP HER FROM TRYING."
---
⭐ Arriving at Northwood
Northwood was covered in purple mist, floating candles, and random laughing ravens.
Regis's face turned pale.
"Yep. She's awake. Gods save us."
The front gate exploded open.
A young woman with long violet hair rushed out, eyes sparkling like a psycho who found her favorite toy.
"REGIIEEEESSSSS!!!"
Regis: "NOPE. NOPE. NOPE."
She tackled him, hugging him with inhuman strength.
"My precious brother! You finally returned to me! Did you miss your Tabitha?! Huh?! HUH?! SAY IT!"
Regis screamed, "LET ME GO, YOU LUNATIC!"
Jessica coughed politely.
"Tabitha Walter, we need your help."
Tabitha glared.
"If this is about your fake son—NO."
Jessica sighed.
"I thought you'd say that."
Regis put on the fakest dramatic act ever.
He threw his arms around Alex.
"Oh, my sweet child… my adorable son… my poor little boy… if only someone could help us…"
Tabitha froze.
Her face turned bright red.
Then she screamed:
"IF MY BROTHER CALLS A BOY HIS SON—THEN I WILL HELP! I WILL DO ANYTHING! BRING THE RITUAL ROOM!"
Jessica blinked.
"…That worked?"
Regis smirked.
"I know how her brain works."
Tabitha: "SHUT UP BROTHER, I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU!"
---
🌑 Inside the Ritual Room
The ritual chamber was a giant lake of blood-like magical liquid.
The sky above was pitch black—no stars, no moon.
Tabitha floated above the blood river, eyes glowing violet.
"Place the boy."
Alex stepped forward nervously.
Jessica held his hand. "It's okay, son. I'm here."
Regis simply said, "Don't die. That's an order."
The ritual began.
Blood symbols lit up.
The air cracked.
The floor split.
Alex screamed as a tidal wave of dark spiritual energy burst out of him.
Tabitha's voice shook.
"What… WHAT IS THIS?! This spiritual force… it's not human… not spirit… not demon…"
Jessica shouted, "TABITHA! CAN YOU HANDLE IT?!"
Tabitha was sweating like crazy.
"This kid's power… it's connected to the Underworld!"
Regis looked shocked for the first time in his life.
"Sis… what does that mean?"
Tabitha swallowed hard.
"It means the boy has something sealed inside him. Something ancient. Something… watching."
Alex collapsed unconscious.
Jessica caught him.
Regis whispered:
"…Who are you really, kid?"
Tabitha knelt, exhausted.
"The ritual worked… he is now officially Alex Ironheart… but…"
She stared into the darkness.
"That thing inside him… whatever it is… hasn't awakened yet."
---
🌘 DARK CASTLE
A black hooded figure sat chained to a throne.
A woman knelt before him.
"My lord… the boy… he's still alive."
The hooded man laughed.
A deep, echoing laugh.
"So… the child survived the awakening ritual."
He leaned forward, eyes glowing crimson.
"Interesting."