Mr. F had a few ideas about where to start his search for Betty and Albert, but as he focused, he could still sense a faint trace of the dandelion's magic lingering within the city. Without wasting any time, he passed through one of the merchant gates without issue and followed the fading magical signature.

The trace of magic eventually led him to a medium-sized mansion, significantly smaller than Gustav's estate but still exuding an air of wealth. Above the door, an elegant sign read: Fireclaw Manor.

He had never heard of the Fireclaw family. With determination, he knocked firmly on the door. When no one answered, he knocked again, harder this time, but still, there was no response. Mr. F channeled his magic into his fist, striking the door twice. The force left two fist-shaped dents on the wood.

"If they don't open now, I'll tear this place apart," he thought, his patience wearing thin.

Finally, a butler opened the door, his face twisted with irritation as he let out a surge of Rank 5 magic. "Who do you think you are, making such a racket at this hour? Shall I call the guards—"

Before the butler could finish his sentence, Mr. F unleashed a sliver of his own magic, just enough to make it clear he was a Rank 6 mage. "You should take me to your master unless you want this manor reduced to splinters."

The butler's eyes widened in alarm, though he quickly masked his fear. "Wait until my master gets hold of you, fool," he thought to himself, leading Mr. F deeper into the manor. They soon reached a large office, where the manor's master was sitting, signing a few documents. The butler knocked.

"Master, you have... a visitor," the butler said, emphasizing the last word in a way that signaled trouble.

Within moments, the master of the house emerged, accompanied by a handful of guards who surrounded Mr. F, their weapons drawn.

The man, clearly the head of the family, looked annoyed. "Who are you, and what do you want, barging into my home like this?"

Mr. F remained calm, his voice steady. "I'm looking for a young girl and a boy who disappeared outside the city. Do you know anything about them?"

The man exchanged a glance with the guards before signaling them. Without hesitation, they brandished their weapons, encircling Mr. F more tightly.

"And if I say I don't know anything about them?" the master sneered.

Mr. F's eyes darkened. "Then you'll wish you had never crossed me."

—

Meanwhile, Betty was locked in a room, her heart heavy with fear. She had never expected her own family would ambush her, trailing her out of the city. When they demanded she return with them to the family estate, Albert had bravely stepped between them, using the dandelion for protection.

The last thing she saw was Albert being beaten and the dandelion cleaved in two. She could only pray Albert was still alive.

Suddenly, she heard muffled noises outside her door. Panic welled inside her as she tried to figure out what was happening, but the door remained firmly locked.

Just then, the butler from before entered the room, locking the door behind him. He grabbed Betty's arm with a rough grip. "We need to leave, Miss Betty. I'll take you to the Douglas estate."

Horror filled her chest at the mention of the Douglas name. She struggled against him, but he was far stronger than she was, being a Rank 5 mage.

Before the butler could drag her any further, the door exploded off its hinges with a deafening crash, flying across the room and embedding itself in the opposite wall. Mr. F stood there, his hands wrapped in chunks of marble like makeshift gauntlets.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The butler tried to pull Betty toward the window, but one of Mr. F's marble gauntlets flew off, striking the butler and pinning him against the wall.

"Master!" Betty cried, rushing to Mr. F's side.

"Where's Albert?" Mr. F asked, his voice low and urgent.

"In the dungeon, I think. Follow me!"

Though Betty hadn't lived in this house for years, she still remembered its layout. Together, they descended into the dungeon, where they found Albert in a cell, his face bloodied and bruised.

Mr. F handed Albert a healing pill, and as the wounds began to heal, Albert slowly regained consciousness.

"Master..." Albert's voice was weak but filled with relief.

"Everything's all right now, Albert. I'm here to get you both out."

Albert smiled faintly, struggling to his feet. With Betty's help, they started up the stairs, making their way back to the surface.

At the top of the stairs, however, stood Betty's father, flanked by several guards. His face was stern and unyielding. "Betty, why can't you understand this is what's best for you? Why can't you do what I ask, just this once?"

Betty clenched her fists. "I've told you, Father. I want to make my own decisions!"

"You have no right!" her father bellowed. "I raised you, I have the right to make decisions for you!"

Mr. F, seeing that no amount of reasoning would work, decided to intervene. "Betty, Albert," he said quietly as his magic began to swell. "Let me show you what a soul mage is truly capable of."

In an instant, a powerful shockwave rippled outward from Mr. F, knocking all but Betty and Albert unconscious.

Betty gasped. "Are... are they dead?"

"No," Mr. F replied, snapping his fingers. At once, the guards and her father stood up, their eyes glassy and vacant.

"They're alive, but their wills are no longer their own. This is the power of soul magic. I can make them do whatever I want."

As he spoke, the guards began to dance and sing in unison, their movements awkward and unnatural. Betty's father, too, was among them, flailing his arms and clucking like a chicken. Betty's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She stumbled backward, her face pale. Albert, meanwhile, burst into uncontrollable laughter at the absurd sight.

"It's enough, Master! Please, stop!" Betty cried, her voice trembling.

With a sigh, Mr. F nodded. "Very well, Betty." He snapped his fingers again, and the guards fell silent, standing still as statues.

"What now?" Albert asked, his voice serious again.

Mr. F glanced at Betty. "That depends on her. Betty, remember when I asked you what you truly wanted? Now is the time to say it."

Betty hesitated, her eyes flicking to her father, who stood with a blank expression. "W-What do you mean, Master?"

"Tell your father what you really want," Mr. F urged her.

Taking a deep breath, Betty stepped forward, her voice shaking with emotion. "I want you to leave me alone," she began, her voice growing stronger with each word. "I am not an object for you to control and use! I will live my life how I choose!"

Mr. F smiled. "Well said."

He turned to the guards and her father. "You heard her. From now on, you will follow her wishes. And remember—we were never here."

"Yes, Master," they all replied in unison before collapsing unconscious once again.

Without wasting any more time, Mr. F, Betty, and Albert left the manor, making their way out of the city. Once they were clear of the walls, Mr. F placed a hand on their shoulders, and together they flew into the night sky.

"I hope you now understand," Mr. F said quietly, "why the Church of Light fears soul mages. As long as we are more powerful than our enemies, we can control them, turn them into allies—or force them to destroy themselves."

His words echoed in their minds, leaving Betty and Albert to reflect on the true power and danger of soul magic.

"Master, how did you find us?" Albert suddenly asked.

Mr. F replied calmly, One of you released a small trace of magic from the dandelion right after you were taken. Although that magic dissipated quickly after I entered the city, I was able to track the general location where you were being held."

Betty looked down at her fingers, realizing they were still tinged yellow, covered in dandelion pollen. It made sense. When the butler had tried to drag her away, she had instinctively grabbed onto the dandelion, clinging to its protection. It must have transferred some of its magic to her, leaving behind a faint signature that Mr. F could follow.

"This is the second time something like this has happened," Mr. F said.

"As soon as we get back, I'm going to place a tracking spell on each of you. It will allow me to locate you anywhere, no matter where you are." His tone was firm, brooking no argument.

"And," Mr. F continued, "it's time we invest in communication crystals. That way, we can stay in contact, even if we're not nearby."

Both of his students nodded in agreement. The weight of their near capture and the gravity of Mr. F's words left little room for doubt. These precautions weren't just necessary; they were long overdue.

The rest of the flight was quiet, tension still lingering in the air. After about 25 minutes, they reached the mountain again.

"You two go inside. I'll follow shortly," Mr. F said.

Betty and Albert entered the house, while Mr. F turned toward the vineyard. His heart raced with anticipation, eager to see the results of his experiment.