October 26, 2025

The Viol that managed to survive the massacre was fettered to an old torture chair with the dryad roots. The young face of the just-converted Cursed was divided with purple lines, some of which had already started to fester. Sacred and Haydee bent over him, frowning in displeasure. The captive was finally awakened the day after the attack and stayed in some kind of trance.

“So, what are we gonna do with him?” the archivist sputtered. “Not a single word over the past hour. And I don’t need any extra bodies in my cellar.”

“I believe he’s under a mind-clouding spell.” The Exorcist lifted Viol’s face by his chin and examined it carefully again. “Cursed magic. It acts like alcohol, blocks memories. In this case, you can leave one or two obsessive thoughts for... let’s call it ‘autopilot.’ Judging by cops’ reports, this is a typical story with these disciples. None of them are able to remember who has sent them and why.”

“Hm… guess I’ve got an idea!”

Haydee went to one of her lockers and began rummaging among cones and bottles. Some of them knocked to the floor and crashed. Sacred hoped it wasn’t anything toxic.

“Here it is!”

“What’s that?” The Celestial looked suspiciously at the muddy green liquid in a small flask.

“Oh my—truth serum, of course. Good ol’ classic!”

“But that’s… illegal.”

“Since when has M.A.G.E. cared about whether it’s legal or not?” Haydee’s eyes were lit with the energy of a predator. “As they say… fight fire with fire!”

“Fine, it’s not like we have a choice… I’ll pretend I’ve seen nothing.”

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With a satisfied purr, Haydee sucked the contents into a syringe and immediately thrust it into Violet’s hand. He gasped, twitched, and rolled his eyes, as if disconnected from this world. Jun Miyano tugged at his shoulder.

“Hey. Are you with us?”

The Viol uttered his first words: “Water… I’m thirsty.”

“You tell me everything you know, and in return I will help you with this shit you’ve got into.” Sacred stared at him without the slightest pity.

“O... okay…”

“Who has sent you here?”

“Water...”

Haydee brought another muddy liquid in a glass and poured it into his mouth. The Violet opened his eyes, perked up, and spilled out everything he could. About how he’d seen an ad offering to become a mage. How he had been converted and instructed by the masterminds of the Children. How they had been sent to find an artifact in Fiber’s manor, some kind of a stone or piece of metal—the invaders had been briefed in detail how to get past the protective spells. The victim didn’t know who was in charge, but he remembered where he was supposed to bring the relic to. And Sacred and Haydee got to know it as well.

The guy was completely exhausted after his confession. He was suffering from numerous wounds and the curse that was enslaving his body and soul. The enchanter was standing silently, analyzing the information he’d just obtained.

“So?” the captive moaned. “Will you help me? You're a Celestial, right? Heal me, will you? I don't want to be a mage anymore. Fuck this crap.”

“Yeah, help him as you’ve promised,” Haydee said wiping her glasses with the hem of her white blood-stained coat.

Sacred sighed heavily. Job was a job, after all. He began citing the spell, which had become his very essence. Hearing familiar words, the Viol begged: “No… please, not that..! Don’t banish me!”

The white energy was enveloping the Exorcist more and more, his summoned arcane circle started to buzz. Seized by the chant, Sacred was losing those remnants of pity that he felt for people like this short-sighted youth. There was no turning back. It was impossible to help the Cursed, especially that much corrupted.

“No, no, no!” tears were running through Viol’s face. “You promised to help me, not to kill!”

“Nah, in your case it’s just the same,” the archivist sighed, covering her eyes from the light that filled the basement.

As soon as Sacred completed the procedure, he turned to the ex-Viridian, avoiding the sight of the body crumbling into ashes. “They knew all too well how to get around our defense. This must be one of us, Haydee. Or who used to be.”