Far away, in a realm untouched by mortals, the air trembled beneath a suffocating pressure.

A vast, sprawling domain of ancient forests stretched endlessly beneath a silver-lit sky. The faint howls of wolves echoed through the dense woods — low, fearful, and restless.

At the heart of it all stood a towering figure, her long, flowing hair like strands of moonlight, her aura sharp enough to cut through the very air around her.

The Wolf Goddess.

Her breath came in slow, controlled exhales, but the fury radiating from her was palpable — an unyielding storm of restrained violence.

Her clawed fingers flexed at her sides, trembling faintly as her divine senses traced the remnants of a bond she had carefully woven over time… only to feel it break.

Shattered. Interrupted. Stolen.

Her golden eyes burned with cold fury, and the earth beneath her feet cracked as her divine power surged outward in an uncontrolled wave.

All around her, wolves — massive, ethereal beasts bound to her domain — lowered themselves to the ground, ears flattened and tails tucked, trembling beneath the weight of her anger.

But she neither noticed nor cared.

Her sharp nails dug into her palm, drawing faint trails of divine ichor as her expression twisted into something dark and resolute.

"…Someone interfered. Someone dares."

She hissed under her breath, her voice carrying the low, resonant growl of a predator denied its prey.

The seal. That faint, alien magic she sensed clinging to the mortal girl — it wasn't her own. Another goddess had interfered, severing her carefully nurtured claim.

Unforgivable.

The wolves whimpered lowly, their heads bowing further as her killing intent bled into the air, but she remained unmoving for a long moment, her rage coiling tightly beneath her calm surface.

Finally, she opened her golden eyes fully, a dangerous gleam flickering within them.

"If they think they can take her from me…"

Her voice was soft now, chillingly so.

"…then they are mistaken."

She turned, her divine cloak of shadows unfurling behind her, and with one fluid step, her form began dissolving into silver threads of light.

"I will reclaim what is mine."

And with that, the Wolf Goddess left her domain, the forest falling into an oppressive silence in her wake — her wolves still cowering, their trembling bodies pressed low against the earth, knowing the hunt had begun.

______

High Priestess Jenna sat silently for a long moment, her sharp gaze fixed on Kana as if searching for traces of something unseen.

The soft glow of the temple's wards reflected faintly in her golden eyes, but her frown deepened the longer she examined Kana.

When Evaya finished giving her account and stepped aside, Jenna finally reached forward, placing her cool fingers lightly against Kana's wrist.

A pulse of magic rippled faintly through the air — subtle but potent — before the high priestess's brows furrowed even further.

"…What happened to you?"

Jenna's voice was calm, but there was a subtle weight behind it, an authority that made Kana's throat tighten.

"Yesterday, your soul was on the verge of being overtaken. Now, the corruption is gone — completely. And the mark…"

Her hand hovered briefly over Kana's chest, her expression hardening.

"Even the mark binding you has disappeared."

Kana hesitated, her lips parting slightly, unsure of what to say. Her mind immediately flickered back to Ruby — the secret garden, the burning pain of mana tearing through her body, the soft press of lips against her wrist as a seal was placed upon her.

She wanted to explain, to share what happened, but the moment the thought surfaced, her instincts screamed no.

Her gut twisted, warning her to stay silent, and though she didn't fully understand why, she trusted that feeling. She forced a small, awkward smile instead.

"I… I'm not sure. I must have gotten lucky somehow."

Kana said carefully, lowering her gaze. Jenna's frown deepened at her vague answer, her sharp eyes lingering on Kana for several long seconds as if silently weighing her words.

But eventually, she sighed softly and leaned back, withdrawing her hand.

"Whatever miracle occurred, it purged the foreign magic that was trying to claim your soul. For now, your condition has stabilized. The binding has been erased… at least temporarily."

The high priestess murmured, her voice carrying a mix of resignation and curiosity.

Kana blinked at her, a flicker of confusion running through her chest.

"Temporarily…?"

"Yes," Jenna said evenly, clasping her hands together.

"It's gone for now, but don't mistake this as permanent. If someone — or something — placed that claim on you, it will not simply give up. This… reprieve won't last forever."

Before Kana could respond, Lysera's voice cut in sharply from beside her, tension lacing every syllable.

"Then that's all the more reason for us to leave now. We've entertained enough risks staying here this long. If the temple wants to observe Kana any longer, they'll have to do it from afar."

Lysera stepped forward, placing a hand protectively on Kana's shoulder as if to shield her.

Irielle nodded quickly in agreement, her expression set in a rare scowl.

"Exactly. I don't trust this place anymore. We're taking Kana home."

Jenna arched an elegant brow at their abruptness but made no move to stop them. Instead, she regarded Kana for a long moment before finally nodding slowly.

"Very well!"

The high priestess said quietly.

"But Kana — be cautious. Your soul may seem unmarked now, but whatever force tried to claim you has not vanished. Should anything unusual occur, you must return here immediately. Do you understand?"

Kana hesitated, then nodded firmly.

"I understand."

That was enough for Lysera, who wasted no time taking Kana's hand and pulling her gently toward the exit.

Irielle moved quickly to Kana's other side, practically flanking her like a guard. It wasn't until they stepped outside the temple gates that Kana finally allowed herself a small sigh of relief.

The crisp breeze brushed against her face, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe again.

No chants, no tension-filled air, no watchful stares — just the quiet road back home.

She glanced at Lysera and Irielle, both of whom looked far more relieved than they were willing to admit, and her lips curved into a faint, tired smile.

Once they arrived home, Kana sat by the window of her room, fingers brushing lightly over the faint warmth of the invisible seal Ruby had left on her wrist.

The high priestess's words echoed in her mind, mingling with Ruby's warning and the lingering image of the dream's strange pull.

She couldn't afford to stay ignorant any longer.

If she truly wanted to protect herself — and the people around her — she needed to become stronger.

Kana clenched her hand into a fist, determination flickering in her gaze as the sun dipped lower outside.

"…I need to train. My mind… my body… and whatever this power is."

She whispered softly to herself.

Her thoughts drifted to the system she had barely begun to understand, its strange abilities lying dormant, waiting for her to take control. She refused to remain helpless any longer.

This time, she would learn to wield it — and on her own terms.

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