Vione’s footsteps stopped instantly. She blinked, looked around, and found herself in the presence of an old man whose face seemed familiar.
“I’ll ask you again. Who are you?”
Vione swallowed. “I am Vione,” she replied as she stepped forward again. She approached the old man and asked him in return. “And who are you?”
“I am Ignatius.”
Between her still labored breaths, Vione tried to smile. She put on a calm face, even though her mind was now in a panic. She hadn’t expected anyone to see her emerge from the time portal. As a result, she was now confused. There was no way she could explain the situation to just anyone.
“Tell me, Vione. Why did you come out of the time portal?”
Vione froze. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Her mind went blank. She couldn’t hide the shock that hit her when Ignatius, the old man she thought was just a random person, turned out to know about the time portal.
“You…” Vione wiped the water from her eyes. She didn’t answer Ignatius’ question because her curiosity was aroused. “How do you know about the time portal?”
Ignatius stared at Vione intently. His gaze was unreadable as he answered her question directly. “Of course, I know about the time portal. That’s because I created it.” He glanced at the moon necklace around Vione’s neck. “Now answer my question. Why did you come out of the time portal? Why is the moon necklace on you?”
Ignatius’ answer shocked Vione even more. She was frozen for a moment. She returned Ignatius’ gaze, trying to test the truth of his words. Moments passed and she found no trace of deception in his eyes.
Vione exhaled deeply. “This moon necklace.” She briefly touched the pendant around her neck. “I borrowed it from Mama and used it to pass through the time portal.” She held back a painful grimace. “I have to go back to the past to change the destruction in the future.”
Ignatius’ eyes closed dramatically. His shoulders slumped weakly. Then, whether consciously or not, he muttered, “It turns out that destruction really can’t be avoided.”
Vione felt a strong premonition, especially since she clearly remembered the hope she had prayed for while inside the time portal. She had wished to be brought to a time when she could change everything, and now, by chance, she had met Ignatius. Several suspicions came to her mind. Maybe Ignatius was the answer to her prayer.
“You…” Vione found the courage to speak again. This time her voice was more careful. “Is it true what you said before? That you created the time portal?”
Ignatius didn’t answer right away. Instead, he watched Vione closely as she approached him, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
Vione stopped when she felt she was close enough. “You said earlier that you created the time portal.”
“Yes,” Ignatius replied with a single nod. He glanced briefly at the waterfall before focusing on Vione again. “I am the one who created the time portal as well as the moon necklace you’re wearing.” His gaze remained on Vione as he realized something from the beginning. “You went through the time portal and wear the moon necklace.” His expression softened. “That means you must be my descendant from the future.”
Vione was speechless for a moment. Ignatius’ words had shaken her, and she stood frozen, before something else he said brought her back to reality.
“You are my descendant, but you are not entirely of witch’s blood.” This time Ignatius approached Vione. His gaze grew more intense, as if trying to pierce the depths of her soul. Then a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “You have the wolf spirit. So, you are of witch and werewolf blood.”
Vione didn’t deny it. On the contrary, she nodded proudly. “Yes, I’m a hybrid. My mother is a witch named Rowena, and my father is a werewolf named Ivan.”
Ignatius nodded repeatedly. His questioning look finally softened. “I understand.” He exhaled before asking, “So tell me, what kind of destruction is happening in the future that makes you dare to cross the time portal? Because I can tell from your condition that you’ve crossed it many times.”
Vione hid nothing. She answered Ignatius’ curiosity with the grim story that reopened her wounds. She told him everything-about betrayal, greed, and the innocent souls who had been sacrificed.
Ignatius could only hold his breath as he listened to Vione’s explanation. He, who had just erased the darkness in human hearts with his magic, was now stunned by the harsh reality. Human desire would always be a temptation. As a result, humans lacked compassion and had no qualms about hurting each other for their own satisfaction.
“That’s why I crossed the time portal,” Vione continued after recounting everything that had happened, explaining over and over again the reason for her reckless journey through the time portal. “I just want to save the pack from destruction. I want to protect them, but no matter how much I try to change the past, the future remains the same.”
“That’s fate.” Ignatius stood up slightly to look at the full moon hidden by the clouds. “There are some things we simply cannot force. No matter how hard we try, some things remain beyond our control.”
Vione closed her eyes in frustration. This wasn’t what she had hoped to hear from Ignatius. She had traveled far into the past to find a solution to her problem, not to hear words of resignation.
Ignatius turned away, looking at the desperation in Vione’s eyes. “Want to hear something funny?” he asked, not waiting for her answer. A second later, he continued, “A short time ago, I cast a spell to erase the darkness in human hearts. Not long ago, I transferred my magic power and bound it to the full moon. Recently, I created the moon necklace. I did all this not long ago. And here you are, telling me that all I’ve done is in vain.” There was a distinct sadness in his eyes. “I created the time portal and made the moon necklace, but deep down I hoped my descendants would never have to use it.”
Hope was just that-hope. Ignatius had done all he could, but fate remained unmoved. Destruction still loomed, waiting around every corner.
“It’s not your fault,” Vione said quietly. As someone who had endured much grief and loss, she could feel Ignatius’ disappointment. “You’ve done your best, and now let me continue what you’ve started.”
Ignatius furrowed his brow in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Vione paused for a moment and took a deep breath to steel himself. “Earlier you mentioned that you transferred your magical power and bound it to the moon. Isn’t that right?”
Ignatius nodded. “Then?”
“Can you do the same with me?”
Ignatius’ eyes widened. “You-”
“I am a powerful hybrid. Unsurpassed. I will do anything to protect my pack,” Vione interrupted quickly, her voice breathless with determination. “Please, take my power, transfer it, and bind it to this forest.” Her gaze was unwavering as she locked eyes with Ignatius, her resolve clear and unwavering. “Transfer my power. Bind it to the Amerotha Forest.”
*