Ethan made his way down the stairs.
Francesca looked up from where she had been hovering near the kitchen entrance, and her face broke into a relieved smile the moment she saw him.
"Master Ethan," she called out, walking over to meet him at the base of the stairs. "I'm so glad you're really home safe."
Ethan nodded. "Thank you, Francesca."
"I'll make your favorite pancakes." She said patting him slightly.
Before Ethan could respond, she'd already turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
The moment Francesca disappeared through the doorway, Valerie shot up from her seat in the living room.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, throwing both hands up. "Do you have any idea how long I've been here? I have things to do, you know. A life. Responsibilities. I can't just sit around—"
Ethan cut her off mid-rant. "Has Eduardo not made it worth your time?"
Valerie paused, although her mouth was still open from whatever complaint she'd been about to launch into.
She closed it, then opened it again. "Well, yes, he did, but that's not the point. The point is…"
"Don't dally any further," Ethan said flatly. "I'm told you know of the sealing spells of the Hemilton family and know how to undo any of it."
Valerie blinked at him, clearly taken aback by being cut off so abruptly.
For a moment, she looked like she might protest, but something in Ethan's expression made her think better of it.
Ethan stared at her expectantly. "Yes?"
Valerie cleared her throat, then nodded. "Yes."
"Then let's get right into it," Ethan said, gesturing for her to continue.
Valerie then replied. "Alright, well, what type of sealing are we dealing with exactly?"
Ethan glanced toward Eduardo, who nodded at him.
Valerie noticed the exchange immediately. "Well, you don't have to worry about me running my mouth or anything. My confidentiality has been paid for."
She paused, then glanced over at Eduardo with a nervous laugh. "Moreover, something tells me that old man is pretty much capable of murder if I spill anything, so…"
Eduardo's lips curved into what could only be described as a devious smile, and he looked directly at Valerie without saying a word.
Ethan turned back to her. "It's a type of seal that binds one's true nature."
Valerie looked confused. "What do you mean by one's true nature?"
Ethan sighed. "It keeps one half of who I am locked inside. I'm a hybrid."
Valerie stared at him blankly for a moment. "Why would anyone want to place a seal on someone's hybrid nature? I mean, it's not like hybrids are particularly threatening or…"
She trailed off mid-sentence as her eyes suddenly widened as if the full weight of what he just said had finally hit her.
"I'm sorry," she said slowly, pointing at him as if to make sure she'd heard correctly. "But did you just say a seal restricts your nature as a hybrid?"
"Is there a problem?" Ethan asked.
"Let's take a step back here." Valerie gestured with both hands in a circular motion as if physically trying to rewind the conversation.
Then she pointed directly at Eduardo. "That man came to find me specifically, which means that whatever the original Hemilton caster did with her sealing spell, she used her blood as a binding agent. That much I already figured out."
"But what you just said? I've never heard of anything like that. Is that even possible?"
"What's going on, Eduardo?" Ethan said, turning toward the butler with a puzzled expression.
Eduardo looked just as surprised as Ethan felt.
The butler then stepped forward. "Miss Valerie, you told me you could undo any seal done by a Hemilton."
Valerie shifted nervously but stood her ground. "And I stand by my word. There's no seal done by a Hemilton I cannot undo. But what you're talking about right now? That's… that's unthinkable."
There was a short pause as she seemed to be weighing her options. Then she said. "Okay, you know what? Let me take a look. Come closer."
She gestured for Ethan to approach her.
Ethan looked distinctly uncomfortable but walked over anyway.
Without warning or any sort of preamble, Valerie reached up and undid the tie of his robe like it was the most normal thing.
Ethan's eyes widened. "What the…"
"Relax," Valerie said dismissively. "If this seal is on you like you claim, then I should be able to tell when I place my hand on you."
Before Ethan could protest further, she moved her right palm forward and pressed it against his bare chest.
A glowing magic circle activated beneath her palm the moment she made contact.
Suddenly, different arcane insignias began forming around Ethan's torso, spreading outward in weird patterns.
Ethan groaned in pain, as the symbols glowed with energy.
Eduardo moved in fast. "Master Ethan!"
Valerie yanked her hand back almost immediately, with her face looking shocked and terrified.
The glowing diagrams on Ethan's body had disappeared as well.
Eduardo's expression turned into a full scowl as he advanced toward Valerie, who stumbled backward in fear. "Are you trying to bring him harm right here?!"
"Hold on, Eduardo," Ethan called out.
The butler paused mid-step.
Ethan then stood straight as his breathing slowly returned to normal. "It wasn't her."
Eduardo's eyes narrowed, but he didn't move any closer.
Ethan continued. "It's not her fault. I don't know how, but I could tell it was the seal just reacting to her magic."
He turned toward Valerie, who still looked like she'd just seen a ghost. "And now? Can you do anything about this seal?"
Valerie's voice came out shaky, almost stuttering. "The… the biology of the species in this world is incredibly complex. Hybrids might be weaker, but they're still far more complicated organisms. No sealing spell should be able to bind someone's nature in the first place, let alone someone who's made up of two distinct, complex natures."
She paused, then added. "But after seeing this?" She shook her head slowly. "I really don't think I can help you."
Ethan slammed his palm against his face in frustration, dragging it down slowly.
Eduardo looked visibly distraught.
Valerie grew even more nervous under their combined disappointment and anger. Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Granny Jenner!"
Ethan lowered his hand and looked at her. "What, or who, is that?"
"Jenner Hemilton," Valerie said quickly. "She used to be the family's matriarch, but she's been dead for a decade."
Ethan sighed. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with that, then?"
"Hey!" Valerie snapped. She had taken offence.
But when she turned and saw the cold glare in Eduardo's eyes, her comported herself immediately.
She swallowed hard and hurried to continue. "Granny Jenner was the only one in our family who ever awakened as a Grand Caster. And the Wheel of Fortune blessed her alright. She awakened with sealing magic itself."
There was a pause as she gathered her thoughts.
"Hemiltons have always dabbled in sealing and locks for as long as I can remember, but Granny Jenner was the one who made our name what it is. Most of the unsealing and sealing spells we know today all come from her. There were even rumors she managed to seal her own aging, which is why she lived longer than any of her peers."
"So if there's anyone who could possibly come up with such an absurd spell to seal a hybrid's nature, it's her."
Ethan's patience was hanging by a thread. "Valerie, you're called? Do you take pleasure in wasting my time? This woman has been dead for ten years. Why do you think I need to know all of this?"
Eduardo, however, looked thoughtful, as though trying to piecing things together.
"I was getting somewhere," Valerie said quickly, raising both hands in a calming gesture. "Granny Jenner always documented any new spells she created into her grimoire. Over time, it became our family's heirloom. So maybe, just maybe, if I could get my hands on it, I'm sure the spell is in there. And if it is, then I can study it and figure out both the sealing and unsealing process."
Then her expression changed into looking uncomfortable. "But there's one tiny problem with that too."
Ethan just stared at her, waiting.
Valerie hesitated, then sighed. "That grimoire is currently in the possession of Jamen Le Gris."