Seth now had other objectives.

First, find the man named Cedric Laibac and understand the demonic artifact that caused all this trouble.

Second, figure out Phoebe and her true intentions behind his resurrection.

A few days ago, before starting his investigation of Darius, he had already returned the magical parchment paper to Phoebe.

He didn't make contact with her.

He was afraid the unseen manipulator might try to control him again if he got too close.

Instead, while [Null Presence] was active, he had quietly left it in her room.

Now, he wondered if he should get the parchment back...

He could use it to question Phoebe's mentor, Danica, about Phoebe and her hidden affairs.

'No... I shouldn't...' he decided after thinking it over.

'Maybe Danica is in on it, too. Her attachment to Phoebe and her constant guidance... it should not all just be due to her "wanting to help."'

He pondered his next move.

With Rose's information pointing to Phoebe's central role, he needed to know more.

He needed to see the clues himself...

Perhaps the best course of action now was to investigate Phoebe's room.

He hadn't thought to search it thoroughly before.

Back then, he saw her as a simple, troubled ally.

Now, with his deep suspicions, it was necessary.

He might find clues that could explain her actions, the ritual, or her connection to the higher powers manipulating her fate.

He activated [Null Presence] and made his way back to the Linere District.

The trip was quick with his enhanced speed and stealth.

He arrived at the familiar two-story house.

It was quiet due to the time.

He slipped inside, moving past the small white dog, Bella, who was sleeping in the hallway.

He only glanced at the dog before heading up the stairs to Phoebe's room.

He opened her bedroom door slowly.

What greeted his eyes stopped him cold.

Phoebe was on the floor.

A knife was clutched loosely in her hand.

A deep cut ran across her wrist, and blood was steadily dripping from it, forming a dark, wet pool on the wooden floorboards.

Her face was deathly pale.

On the floor beside her, partially in the blood, was a broken toy monkey.

Seth stood in the doorway for a moment, his mind coolly assessing.

He looked around the room, checking the corners, under the bed.

He made sure she was truly alone and that no one else was there.

Then, he deactivated [Null Presence].

His figure and the sound of his breathing became noticeable in the quiet room.

"You..."

His voice made her notice his presence.

Phoebe's eyes, which had been unfocused, drifted up to look at him.

Her pale lips curved into a weak, tired smile.

"I figured out who infected my mother and sister with the supernatural disease..."

She whispered, her voice faint.

Seth was silent.

He looked from her face to the toy monkey.

He remembered that it belonged to the street food vendor they had visited during the Sun Fall festival...

He finally spoke, his tone calm and matter-of-fact.

"He's not the true mastermind. He was most likely manipulated into doing it."

Phoebe smiled again, a sad, knowing expression.

"I know. It was most likely my uncle and his family again... But even still, knowing the vendor agreed to it... it really angers me."

She took a shallow, painful breath.

"Don't worry. I won't die. I'll just be... severely weakened for a while."

Seth was silent for another moment as he pieced it together.

"I'm guessing it was the Coven of Solace who tipped you off about who the 'Puppet of Disease' was?"

Phoebe gave a small, slow nod.

"They're testing you," Seth stated.

"They gave you a target to see if you would exact revenge. And seeing how you did, and with the method you used to kill him, they'll likely find traces of your curse and confirm you're a witch."

Phoebe nodded again, her eyes fluttering closed for a second.

"What about your revenge now?"

Seth asked.

Phoebe was silent for a long time.

When she spoke, her voice was barely audible.

"I am often too blinded by my goals... that I don't realize the things I still have that are important to me."

She took another breath.

"Don't worry. The coven... they won't kill me."

Seth pondered her words.

'It's not that they won't kill you. It's that they probably can't.... well, at least not easily.'

'I'm sure the higher existence tangled in your fate wouldn't allow it.'

'And if you do end up dead by their hands... it will likely still be because that higher power allowed it or planned for it.'

He didn't say it aloud.

Instead, he walked over to her.

He gently pried the knife from her limp fingers and tossed it aside.

Then, he bent down and picked her up.

She was quite light as he carried her to the bed and laid her down carefully.

"Whatever your fate may be after this..."

He said quietly, looking down at her pale face.

"I can only wish you well, Phoebe."

She didn't answer.

Her eyes had drifted shut, and her breathing had evened out into the shallow rhythm of exhausted sleep.

Seth stood by the bed for a moment longer.

Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple black mask, putting it on.

From the same pocket, he took out a small notepad and a pen.

He tore out a page and wrote a single line in clear, neat handwriting:

"When the strong design the world, the only freedom left for the weak is the shape of their compliance."

Beside the sentence, he drew a small, simple grinning face.

Then, without another sound, he reactivated [Null Presence] and slipped out of the room, leaving the sleeping girl and the scent of blood behind.

...

On a street corner in the city, an old man wiped the sweat from his brow.

He had finally sold the last of his skewers.

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