Ethan clenched his fists, his anger simring just beneath the surface.
"Here..." Evelyn, standing beside him, handed him a small wooden box.
Ethan paused for a mont, then quickly understood. Evelyn was giving him sothing to bribe the gatekeepers with.
They had just witnessed the group ahead of them being forced to hand over their belongings. Everyone had to pay up, no exceptions.
One group, traveling together, had tried to negotiate, but even their leader's offerings weren't enough. If you didn't pay, you weren't getting past the iron gate.
Ethan knew his backpack only had basic supplies—nothing of value. But the three of them had co prepared.
Originally, these items were ant to grease the wheels, to help them gain entry into one of the powerful families. But now, before they'd even set foot inside, they had to hand them over to these thugs.
It stung, but there was no other choice.
Ethan took the box, feeling a pang of gratitude. The Chase siblings had ended up in this ss partly because of him.
He glanced at the smug faces of the gatekeepers, then at Evelyn and her brothers. Fine, he'd swallow his pride this ti.
He wasn't one to back down from a fight, but he didn't want to drag the Chases into any trouble. Still, that so-called second son of the house of Zane—daring to make a move on Lyla, if Ethan ever ran into him, he'd make sure the guy regretted ever being born.
Fuming internally, Ethan followed Evelyn, lining up to pay the toll.
As he handed over the box, one of the gatekeepers sneered at him. "What are you looking at?"
Ethan's first instinct was to snap back, but Evelyn quickly intervened. "He was just admiring how handso you are!"
The gatekeeper, with his beady eyes, flared nostrils, buck teeth, and a misshapen ear, puffed up with pride. "Well, of course! I am the epito of charm and grace. Go on, then."
Ethan nearly gagged at the man's delusional self-praise. Evelyn, barely keeping a straight face, tugged at Ethan's arm, urging him to move on.
They stepped onto the iron chain bridge, the world around them shrouded in thick mist. Ethan could barely make out Evelyn's silhouette ahead of him.
After a few dozen steps, the mist cleared, and the landscape shifted.
Ethan found himself standing on solid ground. The sky above was a brilliant blue, the sun warm and inviting. Birds chirped, flowers blood, and the air was filled with the scent of nature. Everyone, still bundled in winter clothes, began shedding their layers.
Ethan looked around, taking it all in. So this was the hidden territory? It had a sky, a sun—just like the outside world.
There were no welcoming parties, no guides. Just a single stone path leading forward.
"Sothing's off," Leeroy muttered, but no one paid him any mind.
They followed the path until they reached the gates of the Silverwood estate. The buildings were nestled into the mountainside, sprawling and majestic.
Finally, they encountered soone from the Silverwood family. As they approached, they overheard a man complaining to the receptionist about the extortion at the gate.
"What? This happened? I'll report it to the family head imdiately," the receptionist replied.
The young man from the Silverwood family nodded politely, finished his registration duties, and then moved on as if nothing had happened.
The man who had complained stood there, stunned by the indifferent response. His face twisted with regret as he glanced around, then quickly pushed his way through the crowd and hurried back the way he had co. Clearly, he had decided to leave.
The Silverwood family's reaction made it obvious they were well aware of what was happening outside. In fact, it was likely that the house of Zane's extortion sche had been tacitly approved by soone high up in the Silverwood hierarchy. By speaking up, the man had inadvertently made himself a target. Staying here would be far too dangerous—this was Silverwood territory, and if they decided to silence him, no one would bat an eye.
Everyone pretended not to notice the man's departure, but his exit served as a stark warning. This so-called Decennial Ranking Tournant and the accompanying marriage alliance weren't going to be as straightforward as they seed. The question now was whether coming here had been the right decision—was this an opportunity or a trap?
Ethan and the Chase siblings followed the crowd into the Silverwood estate. The atmosphere was heavy, and no one spoke. It felt as though they were walking into a storm, the tension palpable.
They were shown to their quarters and told they were free to explore the grounds, with one exception: the back mountain was off-limits. It was a restricted area, and even Silverwood family mbers who ventured there without permission would be executed on the spot.
Once they were alone, Ethan noticed the worried expressions on the Chase siblings' faces.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Evelyn glanced outside before turning to him with a frown. "Sothing feels off about all of this. I'm not sure if coming here was the right move."
Leeroy nodded in agreent. "Yeah, I rember when I ca here with grandfather ten years ago. You guys were still kids, but I was seventeen. I rember it clearly—the Silverwoods were welcoming, and the stone path was lined with stalls.
People from all over ca to trade goods and share knowledge. Grandfather said it was always like that—a gathering not just for the eight families, but for everyone in the supernatural world. It was a chance to exchange ideas, materials, and reconnect with old friends. But this ti… we got robbed on the way in, and the Silverwoods' attitude…"
He trailed off, his face clouded with confusion.
Ryan, anwhile, had been peering out the window. He suddenly closed the wooden shutters and latched them. The buildings here were all ancient style, with paper-covered windows and no glass. Outside, it was November, and winter had started, but inside the hidden territory, it was perpetually spring—warm and comfortable year-round. The architecture didn't need to account for insulation.
Ryan's actions drew curious looks from the others. After closing the windows, he took off his coat and gave it a sharp shake.
Clink, clink, clink…
Over a dozen wooden charms flew out, landing in specific spots around the room.
Snap, snap, snap…
Each charm adhered to the walls, floor, and ceiling, forming a precise pattern.
A faint hum filled the air, and Ethan felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere before everything settled back to normal.
"Alright," Ryan said, turning to the group. "There's sothing I need to tell you."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Ryan? And why did you bring grandfather's protective wards from the house?"
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