Erika's House
Both women slept peacefully in the hall, the soft glow of dawn spilling across the floor.
The morning chorus of birds stirred Sky awake. She blinked, confusion clouding her eyes, and murmured, "How am I here? I was in the garden last night?"
Erika, just rising herself, smiled knowingly. "Because your man carried you inside."
Sky laughed, shaking her head. "My man? No. He's only a friend of mine."
Erika arched a brow with a teasing smile. "It didn't look that way."
Sky stretched and rose to her feet, her arms reaching toward the ceiling. "Where are the two men?"
Erika's smile faded. "Late last night, something urgent came up. They left, but promised to return this morning."
The air grew heavy, silence pressing between them. Suddenly, a cry shattered the stillness.
"Erika! Erika!"
The two women hurried outside. At the gate stood a woman, breathless and pale, as though she had run all the way there.
Erika stepped forward anxiously. "What happened? Is something wrong?"
The woman nodded, struggling to catch her breath. "Yes! The man you once loved—the one who betrayed you—he's at the port. It looks as though he's trying to flee!"
Erika's expression darkened, her voice sharp. "Are you certain?"
The woman nodded firmly. "I'm certain."
Without another word, Erika and Sky exchanged a quick glance and immediately broke into a run toward the port.
As they rushed down the road, Sky asked, her breath uneven, "Who was that woman?"
Erika's lips curved faintly. "My only friend."
---
Liam and Isak
After vanishing, Isak Raven, and Liam appeared at the entrance gate of Isak's castle.
Liam looked around, bewildered. "Why are we here?"
Isak's voice was brisk. "I have urgent matters. You return alone and watch over the two women, understood?"
Before Liam could respond, Isak strode inside. His guards bowed deeply as he passed, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the vast halls.
Liam let out a quiet sigh before vanishing.
Moments later, he reappeared outside Erika's house.
"Erika?... Sky?" he called, searching each room.
Silence answered him.
After checking the entire house, he stepped outside, worry etched across his face.
If anything happens to them… Isak will kill me.
Just then, a woman approached from the road.
"Are you looking for Erika?"
Liam's face lit with hope. "Yes! Where is she?"
The woman pointed toward the road leading to the harbor. "She and her friend ran toward the port only minutes ago."
Liam didn't wait another second. He vanished in a flash, racing toward the port, his heart pounding with urgency as the morning sun climbed higher over the horizon.
The Port
The port was overflowing with people. Merchants shouted their wares to passing travelers, sailors hurried across the docks, and passengers rushed toward the waiting ships with heavy luggage in their hands. The harbor echoed with voices, footsteps, and the cries of seagulls wheeling above.
Erika and Sky arrived, their eyes scanning the sea of faces.
Sky gently squeezed Erika's hand.
"Don't worry. We'll find him, okay?"
Erika gave a silent nod.
Together, they began searching through the crowd.
Suddenly, Erika froze.
"There…!"
She pointed toward a man carrying a suitcase, one foot already on the boarding ramp of a departing ship.
"That's him!"
Without thinking, Erika broke into a run. Sky hurried after her.
Before the man could react, Erika seized his shoulder and yanked him backward with all her strength. He stumbled, crashing onto the wooden dock as his suitcase rolled across the planks.
The noise drew everyone's attention.
One by one, conversations faded. The bustling harbor fell into uneasy silence as dozens of eyes turned toward them.
The man looked up at Erika, terror spreading across his face.
"Please… let me go. I can't stay here."
Tears shimmered in Erika's eyes.
"How could you do this to me?" she demanded, her voice trembling. "I loved you. I trusted you. Yet you betrayed me, blamed me for everything, and because of you, my entire neighborhood turned against me."
Sky stepped beside her, gently holding her shoulder.
"Erika… calm down."
Then she grabbed the man's collar.
"We'll hand you over to the authorities. Even now, all you think about is saving yourself."
The man shoved Sky away.
"It's none of your business!"
Erika's eyes hardened.
She stepped forward and slapped him once…
Then again…
And a third time.
"How dare you speak to her like that after everything you've done?"
The man lowered his head.
"I… I'm truly sorry. Please… don't send me to prison."
Sky crossed her arms.
"If that's true, then why are you running away? Your wife is here. Your child is here. Isn't this your home?"
A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
"I don't have a family anymore. Years ago, my wife took all my property through false accusations. When she discovered us, she took everything else. I only managed to hide a few gems and pieces of jewelry. I'm leaving to start over somewhere no one knows me."
Erika let out a cold, humorless laugh.
"So this is what fate had waiting for you."
Just then, Liam appeared beside them in a flash, his eyes immediately searching their faces.
"Are you two alright?"
The frightened man stared at him.
"W-Who are you?"
Liam's expression remained calm.
"Someone who's taking you to Isak Raven's prison."
At the mention of Isak Raven's name, every trace of color drained from the man's face. His legs trembled.
"No… please!" he cried. "Kill me here if you want, but don't send me there. He's a monster!"
Sky's gaze turned icy.
"Watch your tongue. I won't hear another word against him."
Liam stepped forward to seize the man.
Suddenly, the man collapsed at Erika's feet, clutching her legs as tears streamed down his face.
"Please… forgive me. Spare me. I beg you."
For several long moments, Erika simply looked at him.
Then she spoke quietly.
"You may go."
Sky and Liam stared at her in disbelief.
Liam frowned.
"Erika… have you lost your mind?"
Sky sighed.
"I was about to ask the same thing."
Erika remained calm.
"He committed a terrible sin. But look at him… his own life has already become his punishment."
Sky shook her head.
"And what if he ruins another woman's life tomorrow?"
Without answering, the man pulled a small knife from his pocket and sliced his own palm.
Blood dripped onto the wooden dock.
Raising his bleeding hand, he declared,
"I swear upon my blood… I will never repeat my mistakes."
Erika studied him for a long moment before giving a single nod.
"Go."
The man didn't wait another second. He snatched up his suitcase and vanished into the crowd.
Sky frowned.
"How can you trust a promise like that?"
Erika watched the drops of blood staining the dock.
"It wasn't an ordinary promise."
She paused before continuing.
"It was a Holy Promise. No one who makes it dares to break it."
Sky fell silent.
So… it's an ancient blood oath, she thought, finally understanding why Erika had let him walk away.
Suddenly, Sky froze.
Her eyes drifted toward the far side of the harbor.
Standing amidst the bustling crowd was Reverie.
A thousand questions flooded Sky's mind. Her watch had stopped working, leaving her stranded in this world far longer than she had ever imagined. And now Reverie—the Fox Queen—was here.
Without a second thought, Sky pushed through the crowd and broke into a run.
"Reverie!" she called.
Meanwhile, Liam and Erika remained occupied with the man, neither of them noticing that Sky had slipped away in the opposite direction.
Whereas Sky kept running, weaving between merchants, travelers, and sailors, never taking her eyes off Reverie's distant figure.
"Reverie! Wait!"
Just as she reached a quieter corner of the port, a shadow moved behind her.
Before she could react, a black cloth clamped tightly over her mouth and nose.
Her eyes widened in alarm.
She struggled with all her strength, but within moments her body grew weak.
The bustling sounds of the harbor faded into silence as darkness clouded her vision.
Before she could utter another word, consciousness slipped away.
The cloaked stranger caught her unconscious body with ease.
Blending seamlessly into the moving crowd, the kidnapper vanished with Sky before anyone realized she was gone.
After a few moments, Liam instinctively looked around. His expression shifted sharply.
"Where's Sky?"
Erika spun from side to side, scanning the crowded harbor.
"I… I don't know. She was right here just a moment ago."
A sudden wave of panic washed over them.
Without another word, they plunged into the crowd.
"Sky!" Liam called, his voice rising above the noise of the harbor.
"Sky! Where are you?" Erika shouted, her eyes desperately searching every passing face.
They ran from one end of the dock to the other, weaving through merchants, sailors, and travelers.
Every corner they searched ended in disappointment.
There was no sign of her.
No answer.
Nothing.
Liam finally stopped, breathing heavily. His eyes swept across the bustling port as a thought crossed his mind.
Maybe… she returned to her own world.
Isak had said she could leave whenever she wished.
The possibility eased the knot in his chest, if only slightly.
He slowly turned toward Erika.
"Maybe… she went home."
Erika looked at him, confused and hurt.
"Without even telling us?"
Liam lowered his eyes.
He had no answer.
Silence settled between them, broken only by the distant waves crashing against the docks and the cries of seagulls overhead.
After a few moments, Liam spoke again.
"Come with me. Let's go to Isak Raven's castle."
Erika immediately shook her head and took a small step back.
"No… I can't go there."
"I know you're afraid," Liam said gently, his voice calm and reassuring. "But remember, I work for Isak. And Isra is there. If anyone can help us find Sky, it's him."
Erika's eyes filled with tears.
"What if something happened to her?"
Liam offered a faint but comforting smile.
"Nothing will happen to her. We'll find her."
He gently guided Erika away from the crowded harbor until they reached a quiet corner where no one else was around.
Erika looked around in confusion.
"But… there aren't even any horses here. How are we supposed to reach the castle? It's miles away."
Liam smiled.
"Do you trust me?"
Without hesitation, Erika nodded.
"Yes."
"Then give me your hand."
She slowly placed her trembling hand into his.
The moment their hands touched, a soft silver light surrounded them, swirling gently around their bodies.
The world around them began to blur.
The sounds of the harbor faded.
The sea breeze disappeared.
In the next heartbeat, both of them vanished without a trace, leaving the bustling harbor behind.
A moment later, they reappeared in the royal gardens of Isak Raven's castle, surrounded by towering trees, blooming flowers, and the quiet elegance of the imperial grounds.