The attic was alive with sound. Laughter spilled across the wooden beams, giggles bounced off the walls, and even the soft rhythm of snores from Aldi curled into the air like a lullaby. The lanterns flickered warmly, their golden glow spilling across shelves stacked with scrolls and herbs. The scent of ginger porridge lingered faintly, mingling with the earthy fragrance of dried blossoms.
Thimble stirred.
His ears twitched, his cloak bunched awkwardly, his seal pulsed faintly. He rolled over, muttering incoherently, then jolted awake. His eyes widened, his lips parted, his seal flared brightly.
He tumbled down the stairs, cloak flapping, voice high and sharp.
"You're eating without me!" he complained, his tone half outrage, half mischief. His small frame bounced against the wooden floor, his ears twitching wildly.
Orie chuckled, her cloak trailing, her seal pulsing faintly. She leaned against the wall, her braid slipping forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You're quite something," she said, her voice low but playful. "You managed to befriend a centuries-old rabbit fairy."
Tieran's brows lifted, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed steady. He shook his head, his cloak brushing against the floor.
"That was coincidence," he said calmly, his voice steady.
Ivy's eyes widened, her hair swinging, her lips curved into a soft smile. Her seal pulsed faintly, her breath quickened.
"No," she said firmly, her voice trembling with conviction. "It was fate."
Nia scoffed, her cloak flaring, her seal pulsing faintly. She folded her arms, her braid swaying, her lips curved into a sly smile.
"You still believe in those fairytale myths, don't you?" she asked, her voice sharp but edged with affection.
Ivy blinked, her brows furrowed, her lips parted.
"What?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Nia's eyes widened, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly. She sighed, her breath heavy, her cloak trailing.
"Oh, I forgot," she said softly. "You don't have memories."
Her voice trembled, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed faintly.
Tieran's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his seal pulsed steady. He stepped forward, his cloak brushing against Ivy's, his voice low but firm.
"She actually started to recall things," he said.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed brightly. She straightened, her cloak trailing, her eyes wide.
Nia froze.
Her breath caught, her seal flared brightly, her lips parted. She stood suddenly, her cloak flaring, her braid swinging. She darted to Ivy's side, her eyes wide, her voice trembling.
"You… you remember?" she asked, her tone sharp, her breath uneven.
Her hands hovered near Ivy's shoulders, her seal pulsing erratically.
Ivy's cheeks flushed, her hair slipped forward, her lips curved faintly. Her seal pulsed softly, her breath steady.
"I do have some recollections," she said softly, her voice trembling. "But just some memories… with Tieran. And you… planting the Mystic Mellow in me. Nothing much."
Her eyes lowered, her fingers brushed her cloak, her seal flickered faintly.
Orie stepped forward, her cloak trailing, her seal pulsing steady. She placed her hand gently on Nia's shoulder, her voice calm, her eyes steady.
"Nia," she said softly. "Sit."
Nia's breath caught, her seal flickered faintly. She lowered herself slowly, her cloak pooling around her, her braid slipping forward. Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her lips trembling, her seal pulsing faintly.
Orie's voice was calm, steady, alive.
"Well," she said softly. "A little is better than nothing."
Her eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly.
"Nia, don't be sad. She will be able to get all her memories back soon.
The attic exhaled.
The lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. The shelves hummed faintly, their scrolls whispering in the silence. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
Ivy sat quietly, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward. Her eyes lingered on Tieran, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Tieran's gaze met hers, his breath steady, his seal glowing faintly.
Nia's eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Orie's jaw unclenched, her eyes softened, her seal glowed steady.
Thimble crouched nearby, his ears twitching, his lips curved into a grin, his seal pulsed brightly. Aldi muttered incoherently in her sleep, her cloak bunched awkwardly, her seal flickered faintly.
Illan's voice rang faintly from outside, sharp and triumphant, shouting about herbs.
Ivy stepped forward, her cloak trailing, her hair slipping over her shoulder. Her eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. She held the pouch close, her voice trembling with hope.
"Mom, Aunt." she said softly, her tone alive with warmth. "We got Moonroot, Whisperleaf, Embervine, and all the other medicinal herbs you need to recover."
Her fingers brushed the pouch, her eyes lingered on Orie, her breath steady.
Tieran stood beside her, his cloak brushing against hers, his seal pulsing faintly. His jaw tightened, his eyes steady, his voice calm.
"And we've got Illan to do the rest," he said firmly. "His medical skills are no worse than Uncle Annel's."
His hand tightened on the bag of herbs, his seal glowing faintly, his breath steady.
Orie's lips curved faintly, her braid slipping forward, her cloak trailing. Her eyes softened, her seal pulsed warmly.
"I know," she said softly. "Father and son—both are genius physicians."
Her voice trembled with affection, her eyes sparkled with memory.
Nia's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. She folded her arms, her cloak flaring, her braid swaying.
"Yes," she said softly. "I remember when Annel treated me… when I accidentally poisoned myself."
Her voice was sharp but tinged with nostalgia, her eyes sparkled faintly.
Orie's eyes gleamed, her lips curved into a sly smile. "Oh, you mean the Hanging Poison incident?" she teased. "You brewed it thinking it was a tonic, and ended up collapsing in the courtyard."
Nia groaned, her cheeks flushed, her seal flickered faintly. "I thought it was harmless! The leaves looked like Whisperleaf. How was I supposed to know they were toxic?"
Orie laughed, her cloak trailing, her seal pulsed brightly. "You weren't supposed to drink it, Nia. You were supposed to hang it in smoke for fumigation. Instead, you gulped half a vial and nearly fainted."
Nia sighed dramatically, her braid swinging, her lips curved faintly. "I had to drag myself all the way to Iris Valley. Annel looked at me like I was the biggest fool alive. He said, 'You're lucky you didn't turn your seal black.'"
Orie chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "And yet, you still insisted you wanted to be a healer after that."
Nia smirked, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. "I did. Until I realized medicinal books are endless lists of plant properties. I got bored after three chapters."
Orie tilted her head, her braid slipping forward, her lips curved faintly. "Three chapters? Please. I gave up after five pages. I'd rather build castles than count leaves."
Nia laughed, her voice sharp, her seal pulsed warmly. "And yet you still lecture me about herbs whenever I sneeze."
Orie's lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. "Old habits," she said softly. "But I'll leave the real healing to Annel and Illan."
Their voices overlapped, sharp and playful, echoing through the attic. Their seals pulsed brightly, their cloaks swayed, their eyes sparkled. The air was alive with their banter, their laughter carrying across the wooden beams like bells.
Thimble darted forward, his cloak flapping, his ears twitching, his seal pulsed erratically. He grabbed Illan's arm, his voice high and sharp.
"Come inside! Food's waiting!"
Illan stumbled, his cloak bunched awkwardly, his seal flickered faintly. His eyes widened, his lips parted, his breath caught. He darted forward, his boots pressing into the wooden floor, his hands fumbling.
He sat quickly, his cloak pooling around him, his seal pulsed erratically. He grabbed the bowl of porridge, his lips curved faintly, his eyes wide.
He ate quickly, his spoon clattering, his breath sharp, his seal flickering. He feasted as if he hadn't eaten in centuries, his movements frantic, his cloak flaring.
Thimble's ears twitched, his lips curved into a pout, his seal pulsed erratically.
"Leave me some!" he shouted, his voice high, his eyes wide.
He grabbed at the bowl, his cloak flapping, his seal flickering. His lips trembled, his brows furrowed, his breath sharp.
The attic shook suddenly.
A loud thump.
Aldi rolled off the bed, her cloak bunched awkwardly, her braid slipping forward. She hit the floor with a heavy sound, her seal flickered faintly.
But she didn't wake.
Her lips parted, her breath steady, her seal pulsed softly. She muttered incoherently, her cloak trailing, her braid tangled.
The noise echoed through the attic, sharp and sudden, but quickly faded into silence.
Everyone froze for a moment.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Nia's eyes widened, her lips trembled, her seal flickered faintly. Ivy's hand pressed against her chest, her seal pulsed softly, her breath caught. Tieran's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his seal pulsed steady. Thimble's ears twitched, his lips parted, his seal flickered faintly. Illan's spoon froze midair, his seal pulsed erratically, his breath caught.
Then they laughed softly, their seals pulsing faintly, their cloaks swaying.
The attic exhaled.
The lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. The shelves hummed faintly, their scrolls whispering in the silence. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
The air was warm. The laughter was sharp. The bond was alive.
The attic had grown quieter. The echoes of laughter, the clatter of spoons, even Aldi's snores had softened into the background. The lanterns flickered gently, their golden glow spilling across the griefstone walls, painting shadows that swayed like memories. The shelves hummed faintly, scrolls whispering in silence, as if listening.
Ivy stirred, her braid slipping forward, her cloak trailing softly. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the warm light, her seal pulsing faintly. She sat up slowly, her breath steady, her lips curved faintly.
Earlier, when she had still been asleep, Tieran had spoken.
His voice had been low, steady, his seal glowing faintly. He had told Nia and Orie everything—how his emotions had been restored in the Unseen Realm, how the stitch that bound him had vanished, how they had discovered the poison within him. His jaw had tightened, his eyes had narrowed, his breath had caught as he spoke of the cure: Mystic Mellow.
Nia's brows had lifted, her lips parted, her seal pulsed faintly. Orie's eyes had softened, her cloak trailing, her seal glowing warmly. They had listened, their breaths steady, their hearts heavy.
Now Ivy was awake.
Orie stepped forward, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward. Her eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her voice was low, gentle, alive.
"Ivy," she said softly. "I'll teach you how to use the power of Mystic Mellow. And unseal that book… so we can cure Tieran."
Her hand brushed Ivy's shoulder, her seal glowing faintly, her breath steady.
Ivy's brows furrowed, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly.
"How did you know about it?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Nia stepped forward, her cloak flaring, her braid swaying. Her eyes sparkled faintly, her lips curved into a small smile, her seal pulsed softly.
"Tieran told us everything," she said gently. "When you were asleep."
Her voice was calm, her breath steady, her seal glowing faintly.
Ivy's lips curved faintly, her eyes softened, her seal pulsed softly.
"Oh, I see," she whispered.
She tilted her head, her hair slipping forward, her cloak trailing. Her eyes lingered on Orie, her lips parted, her voice trembling.
"Then… can't you take it back from me? Like the way you gave it to Mom, and then Mom planted it on me? You can take it back, right?"
Her voice was soft, pleading, her seal flickered faintly.
Orie's breath caught.
Her eyes lowered, her lips trembled, her seal pulsed faintly. She sighed softly, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
"I'm too weak to do that now," she said gently, her voice trembling. "Besides… the Mystic Mellow can only be transferred between two persons with a deep, heart-to-heart bond."
Her eyes lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Her voice was calm, steady, alive.
Nia's brows furrowed, her lips parted, her seal flickered faintly. She stepped forward, her cloak flaring, her braid swaying. Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her voice trembling.
"And with your memory gone… and us being apart for so long… it's nearly impossible."
Her breath caught, her lips trembled, her seal pulsed faintly.
Ivy sat at the center of the room, her cloak trailing, her hair slipping forward over her shoulder. Her eyes lingered on the pouch of herbs, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Her breath caught, her fingers trembled, her voice broke the silence.
"But… I'm too messy," she whispered, her tone fragile, her eyes wide. Her fingers twisted together, her braid swayed, her seal flickered faintly. "What if I do something wrong?"
Her voice trembled, her lips parted, her breath uneven. Her eyes lowered, her shoulders hunched, her cloak pooled around her like a shield.
Orie stepped forward.
Her cloak trailed softly, her braid slipping forward, her eyes softened. Her seal pulsed warmly, steady, alive. She crouched slightly, her hand brushing Ivy's shoulder, her voice low, gentle, alive.
"We're here, aren't we?" she said softly, her lips curved faintly, her breath steady. Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her seal glowing faintly, her voice calm. "And you're naturally gifted… threadsbound."
Her words hung in the air, warm and steady, weaving into Ivy's heart like silk.
Tieran stood nearby, his cloak brushing against the floor, his seal pulsed steady. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his breath caught. He stepped closer, his hand brushing Ivy's braid, his voice low, calm.
"She's right," he said softly. "You're not alone. Even if you falter, we'll steady you."
His eyes lingered on hers, his seal glowing faintly, his breath steady.
Ivy's lips trembled, her eyes sparkled faintly, her seal pulsed softly. Her breath caught, her fingers brushed her cloak, her braid slipped forward.
"But… what if I break something?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. She shook her head softly, her braid swaying, her cloak trailing.
"Then we'll mend it," she said gently. "That's what threadsbound means. Mistakes don't unravel you—they weave you closer."
Her eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Nia's lips curved faintly, her eyes sparkled softly, her seal pulsed warmly. She stepped closer, her cloak flaring, her braid swaying.
"Besides," she said softly, her voice edged with mischief. "Do you think Orie and I never made mistakes? I once poisoned myself with Hanging Poison, remember? And Orie gave up after five pages of medicinal texts."
Orie laughed softly, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. "And yet here we are," she said gently. "Still standing. Still weaving."
The attic exhaled.
The lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. The shelves hummed faintly, their scrolls whispering in silence. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
Ivy's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her breath steadied, her fingers relaxed, her braid swayed gently. She looked at Orie, her voice trembling but alive.
she whispered softly. "Then… I'll try."
Orie's eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. She nodded gently, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
"That's all we ask," she said softly. "Just try. The rest… we'll weave together."
Nia stepped closer, her cloak flaring, her braid swaying. Her eyes sparkled faintly, her lips curved into a small smile, her seal pulsed softly.
"Besides," she said gently, her voice calm but edged with pride, "we have a former strongest threadsbound in the country."
Her eyes lingered on Orie, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowing warmly.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips curved into a sly smile, her seal pulsed brightly. She straightened, her cloak trailing, her braid slipping forward.
"I still am," she said firmly, her voice alive with conviction. "Just wait till I recover my powers."
Her eyes sparkled, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Illan raised his hand suddenly, his cloak bunched awkwardly, his seal flickered faintly. His eyes widened, his lips parted, his breath caught.
"That's my work," he said sharply, his voice edged with determination. His fingers brushed the pouch of herbs, his seal pulsed erratically, his breath steady.
Thimble darted forward, his cloak flapping, his ears twitching, his seal pulsed erratically. His eyes widened, his lips curved faintly, his voice high and sharp.
"I can't understand what you're talking about," he shouted, his tone half outrage, half mischief. "But I'll help!"
His ears twitched wildly, his cloak flared, his seal flickered brightly.
The door creaked softly.
Aldi stumbled in, her cloak bunched awkwardly, her braid tangled, her seal flickered faintly. Her eyes were half-closed, her lips parted, her breath uneven. She muttered incoherently, her voice low, her steps heavy.
"Count me in too," she said softly, her tone half asleep, her lips curved faintly.
She moved slowly, her cloak trailing, her braid swaying. She sat beside Thimble and Illan, her seal pulsed faintly. Her hand reached for the bowl of porridge, her lips curved faintly, her breath steady.
The room was alive now.
Voices overlapped, seals pulsed brightly, cloaks swayed. The air was thick with warmth, laughter, reassurance. Ivy's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her breath steadied, her fingers relaxed, her hair swayed gently.
She felt assured.
Through the bond, Tieran felt her.
He stood nearby, his cloak brushing against the floor, his seal pulsed faintly. His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his breath caught. His hand brushed his side, his fingers trembled, his seal flickered faintly.
He had taken a dozen pain-suppressing pills.
His breath was shallow, his lips curved faintly, his seal pulsed weakly. He hid it well, his eyes steady, his voice calm. But through the bond, Ivy felt the tremor, the ache, the weight.
Her eyes lingered on him, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly.
The attic was hushed, the air heavy with expectation. Lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the griefstone walls, painting shadows that swayed like threads of memory. The shelves hummed faintly, scrolls whispering in silence, while the faint aroma of herbs lingered in the air. Outside, the forest was still, the beams of sunlight cutting through the high windows, gilding the dust motes that drifted lazily.
Tieran stepped forward.
His cloak brushed against the wooden floor, his seal pulsed faintly, his jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed, his breath caught. Slowly, deliberately, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a book.
The book was heavy, its cover worn, its edges frayed. Dust clung to it, the faint scent of age rising as he held it. The lanternlight caught on its surface, revealing faint runes etched into the leather, pulsing faintly as if alive.
Nia's eyes widened instantly.
Her lips parted, her breath caught, her seal flared brightly. She gasped sharply, her voice trembling.
"This… this book…" she whispered, her tone fragile, her cloak flaring as she stepped back.
Her knees weakened, her braid swayed, her seal flickered erratically.
Orie's brows furrowed, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly. She stepped closer, her cloak trailing, her eyes narrowed. Recognition flickered across her face, her breath steady.
"Yes," she said softly, her voice low, alive. "This book…"
Ivy's eyes widened, her braid slipped forward, her lips parted. Her seal flickered faintly, her breath caught.
"What…?" she whispered, her voice trembling, her tone fragile.
Nia's breath caught, her lips trembled, her seal flickered faintly. She swayed slightly, her cloak trailing, her braid swinging. Her eyes closed briefly, her voice trembling.
She almost fainted.
Illan darted forward, his cloak flapping, his seal pulsed erratically. His hands fumbled with his pouch, his breath sharp. He pulled out a small vial, his fingers trembling, his seal glowing faintly.
"Here," he said sharply, his voice edged with urgency.
He pressed the calming pill into Nia's hand. She swallowed quickly, her breath steadied, her seal pulsed softly. She sat down slowly, her cloak pooling around her, her braid slipping forward.
Orie's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly.
"This book belonged to Jasper," she said softly, her voice trembling. "Ivy's father."
Tieran's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed, his seal pulsed faintly. His breath caught, his voice low.
"It did seem familiar to me," he said softly. "Now I recognize it… when you said it."
Ivy froze.
Her lips parted, her breath caught, her seal flickered faintly. Her hair slipped forward, her cloak trailed softly.
"My… dad," she whispered, her voice trembling, her tone fragile.
Her eyes widened, her lips trembled, her seal pulsed erratically.
Nia's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her voice was low, trembling, alive.
"No one knows what's in it besides him," she said softly. "No one ever touched it. He cherished it so much… he never let me touch it."
Her breath caught, her eyes lowered, her seal flickered faintly.
Orie's brows lifted, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly.
"But I have only seen this book with Ivy," she said gently. "A couple of times. She was the only one who touched it… besides Jasper."
Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Ivy's lips trembled, her eyes widened, her seal flickered faintly.
"Me?" she whispered softly. "I… I can't recall."
Her fingers tightened on her cloak, her hair swayed, her breath caught. She tried to force her memories, her seal flickered erratically, her eyes squeezed shut.
Tieran stepped closer, his cloak brushing against hers, his seal pulsed faintly. His hand brushed her back gently, his breath steady, his voice low.
"Don't force it," he said softly. "You will fall apart."
His eyes lingered on hers, his seal glowed faintly, his breath steady.
Orie's brows furrowed, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed softly.
"As long as I remember," she said softly, her voice calm, her breath steady. "This book can be opened by a special mechanism. I don't know much… but I guess Ivy could open it."
Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Ivy's breath caught, her lips trembled, her seal flickered faintly. She reached out slowly, her fingers brushing the cover. Dust clung to her fingertips, the faint scent of age rising. She brushed it off gently, her hair slipping forward, her cloak trailing softly.
Her eyes lingered on the runes, her lips parted, her seal pulsed faintly.
"Is the book related to Mystic Mellow?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Nia's brows furrowed, her lips curved faintly, her seal flickered softly.
"Not sure," she said gently, her voice low, her breath steady.
A few moments passed.
The attic was silent, the lanterns flickered softly, the shelves hummed faintly. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
Nia's eyes softened, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. She reached forward slowly, her cloak trailing, her braid swaying. She took the book gently from Ivy's hands, her breath steady, her voice calm.
"Let me keep it for a while," she said softly. "We need to cure Tieran first. Let's keep the book quest aside."
Her eyes lingered on Ivy, her lips curved faintly, her seal glowed warmly.
Ivy's breath steadied, her lips curved faintly, her seal pulsed warmly. Her eyes sparkled, her hair swayed gently, her cloak trailed softly. Determination flickered across her face, her voice trembling but alive.
She was ready.Ready to learn the usage of Mystic Mellow.
The attic exhaled.
The lanterns flickered softly, their golden glow spilling across the wooden floor. The shelves hummed faintly, their scrolls whispering in silence. The griefstone walls pulsed with runes, steady, alive, listening.
The air was warm. The silence was heavy. The bond was alive. The path was clear.