Chapter 356: Chapter 356 - Break the spell
The tension in the room hung thick in the air for several long seconds after the shaman dropped that bombshell. Seraphine stayed frozen, her mind reeling. A white witch. Black magic. The words kept echoing through her head, sending chills racing down her spine.
White witches were known to be good, using their powers for good, but this one had used her powers for evil.
Before either Seraphine or Voren could fire off another question, the shaman casually glanced around the room, her eyes landing on the beautifully set dining table.
The intense look on her face vanished in an instant. "Are you inviting me to breakfast?" she asked, like they hadn’t just been talking about dark spells.
The abrupt change left both of them stunned. Seraphine blinked a few times, then let out a soft, surprised laugh. "Of course," she said, quickly standing up and pulling out a chair for her. "Please, sit."
The shaman settled into the seat without any hesitation, a pleased little smile spreading across her face. Seraphine felt a touch of nerves as she headed toward the kitchen area. "I’m not exactly an exceptional cook," she admitted with a shy smile, "but I always do my best."
The older woman looked genuinely amused. "Humility is a good trait," she replied warmly.
Seraphine smiled back and started bringing out the dishes. The rich, mouthwatering smell of freshly cooked food soon filled the whole space. She grabbed plates and served everyone, first Voren, then the shaman, and finally herself.
The second she sat down, a comfortable silence fell over the table. Nobody spoke, not because the conversation was dead, but because all three of them were suddenly realizing just how starving they were. The only sounds were the gentle clink of cutlery against plates as they dug in.
The shaman took one bite, then another. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. A third bite followed, then a fourth. By the time she finally looked up, half her plate had already disappeared. "This is good," she said, and the compliment sounded completely sincere.
"I agree," Voren added, his plate almost empty. He was so proud that his woman knew how to do almost everything. Almost.
Seraphine felt her cheeks warm with a mix of shyness and embarrassment, but she couldn’t help smiling. The older woman pointed at the food with her fork. "You are the first Luna who has ever cooked for me."
Seraphine let out a soft laugh. "I’m not a Luna yet."
The shaman shook her head immediately, her voice carrying total certainty, like she was stating an undeniable fact of the universe. "Once a Luna, always a Luna."
Unfortunately, Seraphine didn’t see it that way. A small sigh slipped out, and her smile faded just a little. "It doesn’t apply to me," she said quietly. "I willingly gave up that position."
For a brief moment, a flicker of old sadness crossed her eyes, the painful memories of betrayal, humiliation, and the life she’d walked away from still stung deep down.
The shaman watched her in thoughtful silence for a moment, then set her utensils down.
Her expression grew serious again, very serious. Without warning, she reached across the table and took both of Seraphine’s hands in hers.
The move immediately caught Voren’s full attention. He knew that look. He could tell the shaman had begun her work. Silently, he stood up and started clearing away unnecessary items from the table, giving them more space and letting her focus.
Seraphine glanced between them, confusion written all over her face. The older woman squeezed her hands gently. "Oh, child," she said, her voice softening with kindness. "You can deny it all you want, but destiny doesn’t care what we call ourselves."
A faint smile stretched her lips. "It’s written all over you." Her gaze moved carefully across Seraphine’s face. "You were born carrying responsibilities far greater than your age. Many people would have broken under that kind of burden." Her smile deepened with quiet admiration. "But you have strength."
Seraphine swallowed hard. The words felt incredibly personal, almost too intimate, like the woman was seeing straight into parts of her soul she rarely showed anyone.
The shaman suddenly went quiet. Her eyes narrowed, locking onto Seraphine’s forehead with an intense focus, as if she were staring at something invisible to everyone else. Several long moments passed before she nodded slowly. "I can remove the spell."
Voren straightened up right away, obvious relief flashing in his eyes. But the shaman’s voice grew heavier. "But... I am not authorized to reveal the witch’s identity."
Seraphine’s heart sank a little, but the older woman squeezed her hands again reassuringly. "However, when your memories return, you may remember something yourself."
Hope flooded back into Seraphine’s chest. That was enough. It was more than enough. Voren moved closer, his voice full of fierce determination. "That’s all we need. Break the spell."
The shaman studied him for a second before nodding. "Very well." She released Seraphine’s hands and turned to Voren. "I need a cup of water."
He moved quickly, returning moments later with a glass of fresh water. The shaman took it, then reached into a hidden pocket in her dress.
Seraphine watched curiously as the older woman pulled out a tiny object, something dark and dried. Before either of them could ask what it was, she dropped it into the water.
The reaction was instant. Tiny bubbles rose up, and the water started changing color. Then the shaman began chanting in that same strange, ancient language.
The powerful, mysterious words flowed from her lips, making the room seem to vibrate with energy. Seraphine felt goosebumps prickling across her skin.
The clear water slowly transformed, first turning pink, then red, and finally a deep, ominous crimson that looked more like blood than water. Seraphine stared at it, her confidence draining away fast.
The shaman held out the cup. "Drink."
Seraphine looked horrified. The older woman stayed completely serious. "Drink this and purge your body. It will weaken the spell." Her eyes softened just a touch. "Then, while you sleep, your memories will begin returning."
The room fell into heavy silence. Seraphine stared at the crimson liquid, then glanced at Voren, her face clearly asking if this was really normal. He nodded, trusting the shaman without question. "Go on," he said gently. "You’ll be okay."
Seraphine took a deep breath, then another. Finally, she accepted the cup. The liquid smelled strange, not awful, just really unusual. Her hands trembled slightly as she brought it to her lips. One last look at Voren, and she drank.
The taste wasn’t as bad as she’d feared, but the effect hit her almost immediately. The second the cup left her lips, her stomach twisted violently. Her eyes widened in panic. "Oh no."
She barely got the cup onto the table before she shot to her feet, one hand clamped over her mouth. Then she ran straight for the bathroom. Voren was right behind her in an instant. "Sera!"
The bathroom door had barely stayed open before she dropped to her knees beside the toilet. Everything she’d just eaten came rushing back up.
Voren’s face tightened with pain, not because of the sight, but because he hated seeing her suffer like this. Without a second’s hesitation, he crouched beside her.
One hand rubbed soothing circles across her back while the other carefully gathered her long hair, holding it away from her face so it wouldn’t get messy.
Several rough minutes passed. When the worst finally eased, Seraphine leaned back weakly, breathing hard. Her eyes were watery, her face flushed. Then the realization hit her slowly.
She turned her head and saw Voren still right there, crouched beside her, still holding her hair, still looking deeply concerned.
Seraphine blinked, stunned. "You are literally watching me throw up." The thought seemed to horrify her even more than the vomiting itself. Most men would’ve bolted. Most would’ve waited outside. Most definitely wouldn’t have stayed close enough to risk getting splashed.
Voren looked genuinely confused, his brows pulling together like she’d said something ridiculous. "Is there something wrong with that?" he asked, sounding completely sincere.
Seraphine just stared at him, totally speechless. A dozen responses flew through her mind, but none made it out. Before she could find her voice, the room suddenly spun. The floor seemed to tilt beneath her, and her vision blurred badly. "Oh..."
She reached out for the sink, but it was too late. The dizziness slammed into her hard. Her body swayed. If Voren hadn’t reacted immediately, she would’ve crashed straight onto the bathroom floor. Instead, his strong arms caught her, holding her securely before she could fall.
