Chapter 58
“Cast a curse…?”
Luna repeated the butler’s words as if she couldn’t believe them.
Did the magic stone itself use dark magic? How could that be possible when it wasn’t even a mage? And how should she interpret the phrase “protected Bahir” written in the book?
The more she thought about it, the more confused she became. It was clear the magic stone held secrets beyond what the book had described.
When Luna blinked, fixing her gaze on Gérard, he straightened his back and pushed up his glasses.
“There’s only so much I can tell you, my lady. I must be careful. Perhaps I could explain the rest when I deliver the next set of instructions?”
“Please do. And… I’d like to apologize to His Grace. Even if I didn’t know the circumstances, I did stir up painful memories.”
Gérard smiled gently at her kindness.
“His Lordship will come around soon enough. He’s probably gone quite far beyond the castle right now. Why not try speaking with him this evening? In the meantime, my lady might like to look around the estate.”
“Is that all right?”
“Of course, my lady. It will do you good. Tell me anywhere you’d like to go.”
As Khalid’s closest aide and a longtime servant of House Bahir, Gérard held great influence in managing the inner estate during his master’s absences. He hoped the lady would broaden her understanding of the domain.
“If it’s all right, I’d like to visit the northern temple.”
“A wise choice, my lady. It’s a truly beautiful place. I’ll summon an escort knight for you right away.”
Without a trace of suspicion, Gérard nodded warmly.
At his unexpected suggestion, Luna’s gloomy expression brightened. Since the northern lands were larger than the east, the temple there was bound to be impressive.
I should meet a purification mage there. Maybe they’ll know something about curses. And perhaps I can find out what the term “Bahir” from the old book really means… maybe even another clue.
Rising to prepare for her outing, Luna’s heart felt warm and buoyant.
“Goodness. To think there’s no purification mage even in the north… that’s unexpected.”
Luna sighed as she stepped into the temple’s meditation path. She had just finished hearing the same purification policies as in the eastern temple — nothing new or helpful.
She was about to turn back when a priest suggested she take a walk along the temple’s famous garden path. Reluctantly, she agreed.
Maybe I’ll feel better if I walk a bit.
After asking her escort knight to give her some space, Luna began walking alone.
The sun-drenched path was as beautiful as its reputation claimed. Rows of pale stone arches framed bursts of autumn flowers whose sweet fragrance filled the air.
As she strolled peacefully, the crisp autumn breeze brushed her hair, and the fallen leaves whispered cheerfully beneath her feet.
“What a lovely place.”
Luna felt her stifled chest open. How much more beautiful would it look when winter arrived?
This was a place that made one eager to see how the flowers and trees would transform with each passing season.
As she walked briskly, the Grand Duke came to mind. She suddenly wanted to show this place to him. Maybe he’d feel better too, just as she did now.
But then another thought followed — unlike her, it was likely he’d already seen this temple countless times.
“Well, he is the lord of this region after all. He must know every corner of it. Let’s just walk.”
With a faint laugh, Luna resumed her slow steps.
The deeper she went, the more large stone statues appeared — just like the ones she’d seen at the eastern temple. It seemed every regional temple had them.
What stopped her this time was a statue of a woman, from whose arm a great bird spread its wings toward the sky.
“…”
Luna bit her lip as her grandfather’s face came to mind, full of longing. A deep sigh escaped her chest.
What am I doing…? I can’t just stroll around peacefully like this. I need to break this curse and go home.
Luna glanced down at the violet mark branded on her hand, brushing it softly. The faintly glowing sigil made her sigh again.
“Woof.”
“…Woof?”
Then, suddenly, the statue barked.
A sharp animal sound pierced through her gloomy thoughts.
Luna stepped back and looked around carefully.
“The statue can’t be alive… right?”
Thankfully, the statue wasn’t breathing or calling her name. But under it, she noticed a thick silver tail wagging.
“What’s that?”
Holding her breath, Luna watched the tail twitch — wagging cheerfully like a puppy greeting its owner — before drooping weakly.
“Is it a temple dog?”
Her wide eyes gleamed with curiosity. Though she was cautious, she didn’t feel threatened.
On impulse, Luna leaned forward to peek behind the statue.
“Oh my— a wolf? Or a wolfdog?”
Behind the statue lay a beast that looked like a wolf. It was too large to be a normal dog; its muzzle was long, ears sharp, and its fur looked silky and soft.
The only unsettling part was the glint of its fangs and claws as it panted heavily.
And its blue eyes shimmered with a wild, captivating light.
“Definitely a wolf… I think.”
Luna stiffened as she scanned the silver beast. Curiously, dark energy coiled around most of its body.
“A cursed wolf? In a temple?”
Even upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably the aura of corruption.
Instead of retreating, Luna stayed rooted in place, fascinated by the strange encounter. Somehow, she felt she might be able to purify it.
The silver wolf gnawed at the black aura, kicking feebly as if exhausted. Despite feeling sorry for it, Luna couldn’t help finding its struggling adorable.
“Woof.”
The intelligent wolf barked softly at her — almost as if asking for help.
Luna’s heart pounded rhythmically. Could it sense that I’m a purification mage?
It was such a noble and endearing request that she felt her heart melt, as though this meeting were destined.
“How did this happen to you?”
“Whine…”
Without fear, Luna approached and gently stroked its fur.
Oh, it was so soft — luxuriously silky and warm to the touch, the kind you could pet all day. The wolf, as if understanding her words, pulled its ears back and whimpered affectionately.
“Oh my. You’re too cute.”
Luna’s heart trembled. A sense of responsibility surged within her — the certainty that she was the only one who could help this special creature.
“Wait here, okay, Wolfie?”
Giving the wolf a name on a whim, Luna poured her purification magic into it.
She had never heard of purifying an animal before, but it didn’t matter. She only wanted to heal this noble creature before her escort knight arrived.
Fortunately, the magic worked swiftly. The twisting dark aura turned white and vanished from the wolf’s body.
Freed from the curse, the wolf blinked its blue eyes and stood up. Its tail wagged energetically — it was clearly feeling better.
“Try to stay out of trouble next time, all right?”
Luna patted its head with a sweet smile. Strangely, the wolf’s noble demeanor reminded her of the Grand Duke himself. If only purifying that man were this easy…
“Woof!”
The wolf licked her hand in response, and Luna’s lips curved into a soft grin. She decided she’d have to visit the temple often to see this lovely creature again.
She scratched the silver fur on its neck lightly — and suddenly, a faint pattern appeared on the wolf’s forehead, glowing briefly.
“Wow! You have a power like that too? Wolfie, what’s your real name?”
Luna’s excitement grew as she marveled at the mysterious creature. But then, out of nowhere, a wave of drowsiness hit her. Her eyelids grew heavy.
Her body felt sluggish, dizzy for no reason. As she rubbed her eyes to fight the sleep, the wolf placed its front paw gently on her knee and licked her cheek.
“My lady! Are you— all right—!”
Her escort knight’s distant, stretched-out voice echoed as he rushed toward her. Luna wanted to say she was fine, that the wolf wasn’t dangerous — but no words came out.
She blinked one last time—
—and the world plunged into darkness.
Thud.
Luna’s consciousness faded away.
