Eamon immediately turned to Korran,
"You never mentioned the goddess of the river was a mermaid, Korran?"
Korran blinked in confusion. He looked from Eamon to Roneth and then back again. His face showed nothing but fear and uncertainty.
"A… a mermaid?" Korran asked slowly. "What is a mermaid?"
Eamon stared at him, stunned. "You don't know what a mermaid is?"
Korran shook his head. "All I know is the Goddess of the River. Since I was a child, we were told she lives in the water and protects the town. No one ever said she was… something else."
Felis clutched Orzen's arm tighter. "They only told us to pray and give offerings," he added quietly. "If we didn't, bad things would happen."
Eamon let out a long breath and slammed his hand on his own forehead.
"So all this time," he muttered, "an Obsidian Seraph was near me… and I had no idea at all."
Roneth frowned and tilted his head. "What? What's so special about an Obsidian Seraph?"
Eamon opened his mouth to answer—but stopped. His jaw tightened. His eyes shifted away.
Damien noticed immediately.
"Well," Damien said quickly, forcing a light tone, "it's not like you see beings like that every day, right? That's why Eamon is shocked. Anyone would be."
Roneth narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't sound like the full reason."
Eamon stayed silent, his fists clenched. Damien had covered for him, but the tension still lingered.
Orzen slowly spoke, his voice filled with awe. "So… you really saw the goddess, sir? And you fought her as well?"
Roneth straightened his back slightly. "Yes. She attacked my boat without warning. The water itself moved at her command. Waves rose like walls, and sharp streams cut through wood like blades."
Orzen's eyes widened. "Ever since I was a child, I only heard stories. Songs. Prayers. It's the first time I'm meeting someone who has truly seen her."
Roneth smirked. "I know, old man. I'm the best after all."
Damien sighed loudly. "Arrogant as always."
Eamon barely heard them. His mind was racing.
An Obsidian Seraph. So close. Right here.
For years, he had searched for signs, whispers, traces. And now he knew where one was. But his chest felt heavy.
He looked at Korran. At Felis. At Orzen.
I can't leave them, he thought.
Even if I wanted to… I can't go back into the town. Gorochi will be on high alert now. Guards everywhere. Traps. Spells.
Eamon lowered his gaze. His opportunity was right in front of him… and yet completely out of reach.
As he stood lost in thought, the air above them suddenly shimmered.
A sharp sound echoed, like strings being pulled tight.
Before anyone could react, a cage-like structure formed above their heads.
It dropped.
The glowing structure slammed down around them with a heavy thud, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
The cage was made of countless shining threads, woven together like a net of light. Each string sparkled and hummed softly, pulsing with magic. The air inside felt heavy, suffocating.
Damien's eyes widened. "What is this?!"
Eamon rushed forward and reached out to touch the glowing threads.
The moment his fingers made contact, a violent force blasted him backward.
He flew across the cage and crashed into the ground, sliding several feet before stopping.
"Eamon!" Damien shouted.
Roneth clicked his tongue. "It's a binding spell, you idiot Rank 2. We're trapped now. This kind of spell can only be removed by the one who cast it… or destroyed from the outside."
Korran and Felis screamed and rushed to Orzen, holding him tightly in fear.
Orzen's face turned pale. His voice trembled. "It's… it's Gorochi's magic."
The bushes around them rustled violently.
One by one, soldiers stepped out, weapons raised, surrounding the glowing cage.
At the front stood a large, fat man with a smug grin.
Gorochi.
He slowly clapped his hands as he walked forward.
"Well, well," he said mockingly, "I see you've taken the father and son from my prison."
He stopped right in front of the cage, looking at them like trapped animals.
"I expected something like this," Gorochi continued. "That's why I placed a marker on them long ago. Once you took them, all I had to do… was follow."
His eyes shifted to Eamon and Damien.
"And now," Gorochi sneered, "I want to know who you are. Why are you helping these pathetic insects?"
Damien stepped forward angrily. "Watch your mouth. They are humans. Not insects."
Gorochi burst into loud, mad laughter, his body shaking.
"Humans?" he scoffed. "Very well."
His smile twisted into something cruel.
"Now I will kill these humans in front of you. Let's see how you will save them now."