Aren stared at the talisman near the window before slowly shifting his gaze back to the old man. "That's it?"
Oran looked at him. "That's what he said."
"And you believed him?"
"At first?" Oran shook his head. "No."
Miu glanced at the charm again, her expression uncertain. "I mean…it does sound kind of scammy."
"Then why buy them?" Stella asked.
Oran lowered his eyes to the tea in his cup. "Because they worked all too well to prove otherwise."
Aren furrowed his brows. "Worked how…?"
"One of the first Half-Ascended to return had to be locked away," Oran said. "He couldn't recognize his own mother. He screamed through the night, clawed at the walls, and bit into his own hands until blood soaked the floor."
"We all thought there was no saving him…" his fingers tightened around the hot cup, not letting go. "Amon placed one charm on the door. Then another on the window."
