The biting north wind was relentless, freezing the skin of anyone who dared to face it without protection. But Archie hardly noticed the cold as he hurried along the deserted road, his teeth clenched and his hands trembling with nervousness, not just because of the temperature, but because of the fear that consumed him inside. His eyes were red, deep-set, the result of sleepless nights and the increasing pressure Caelan was putting on him.

He looked back, as if he expected to see someone emerging from the shadows at any moment, but the road was empty. However, the feeling that time was running out haunted him like a relentless ghost.

— I have to find her… I have to… — he muttered to himself, his thoughts scrambled, his mind sinking into a state of increasing despair.

Caelan was very clear. Either he found Moon and brought her to the North, or his family would pay the price. Caelan’s sadistic smile still echoed in his mind. Archie knew Caelan wasn’t bluffing. He had seen him do horrible things to anyone who dared to fail him, and Archie couldn’t allow his family to become his next victims.

— If I don’t find her… — his voice faltered, and he clenched his hands into fists, trying to stave off the rising panic.

He knew that Mendraria was the only place where Moon could be hiding, a refuge protected by a stern leader, a powerful guardian and ancient, insurmountable magics. Caelan had said that no one had ever managed to get in uninvited, but Archie couldn’t afford to fail. He had to try, even if it meant facing the impossible.

The road stretched out before him, each step heavier than the last. His mind constantly turned to memories of his family: the smiling face of his younger sister, his mother, always so loving, and his father, already so weak, depending on medication to survive. But no one outside knew about it. They kept it a secret, they couldn’t be seen as weak. If Caelan found them, he knew there would be no mercy. The dread of imagining their terrified expressions, their lives being crushed by his failure, made his stomach turn. He had to be quick.

Time was against him.

As the inhospitable landscapes of the north receded into the distance, Archie began to feel the terrain change. The air, once icy and brutal, was now softer. Archie took a road out of Berkshire; he couldn’t risk it. The trees began to close in around him, their leaves dancing in the breeze as he approached the magical borders of Mendraria.

The heavy mist of Mendraria hung over the winding road that led to the town’s main entrance, drowning out the sounds and creating an almost ghostly scene. Archie dropped the car a kilometer from the gates. He walked erratically, muttering to himself; his eyes were fixed on the distant gate, protected by an invisible magic, impassable to anyone who wasn't welcome.

He tried again, shouting and pushing at the magical barrier, but was repelled by an invisible force that threw him backwards.

— Damn city… — he muttered, with a lopsided grin on his face. — Caelan won’t like this…

As he stood up, shaking the dust from his clothes, Archie began to laugh, a high-pitched, crazed sound that echoed through the trees. His mind was confused, shattered by years of manipulation and empty promises of power. He knew he had to fulfill his mission. He needed Moon. But the city was protecting her, and Archie wasn’t willing to give up.

— So I’ll just have to wait… — he said to himself, straightening his disheveled hair, his wild eyes jumping everywhere.

Little did he know that he wasn't alone.

A few meters away, among the trees, Arthur was watching him carefully. He had followed Archie from the moment he had seen him approach the edge of Berkshire.

— I need to warn G… — Artur muttered to himself, peering out from the shade of a tree. Arthur picked up his phone, speaking quietly. — Hey… Archie’s at the gates of Mendraria… Okay, I’m in the forest, keeping an eye on him… Okay, I’ll keep him busy…

As Archie turned to return to the road, muttering more threats, Arthur finally made up his mind and emerged from the shadows.

— You’re a long way from home, Archie… — he said in a calm but firm voice.

Archie stopped walking and turned around, his eyes blinking as if he didn’t immediately recognize him. But within seconds, his lips curved into a disturbing smile.

— Ah… a guard dog. — he said, tilting his head. — You were here too, protecting that tramp?

— I’m not going to let you in… Or hurt anyone… — replied Arthur, crossing his arms, maintaining a defensive posture, but showing no fear.

Archie let out a laugh, shaking his head from side to side.

— You don’t even know what I’m capable of, do you? — he took a few steps forward, his shoulders tense and his body swaying slightly, as if he was always about to explode on the move. — I could crush you, just for fun…

Before Arthur could react, Archie stepped forward, his face contorting into an insane grin. But Arthur was ready. He sidestepped quickly, causing Archie to lose his balance momentarily.

— You’re going to need more than that to take me down… — Arthur teased.

The fight between them began to intensify rapidly, Archie charging in uncontrollably, while Arthur defended himself skillfully and calmly. But despite his control, Arthur knew he was dealing with a dangerous man.

Archie’s insanity made him unpredictable.

It was then that Gray and Griffin arrived on the scene. When they saw Arthur fighting Archie, they both immediately rushed to his aid. They couldn’t help but help their brother.

— Arthur! — Gray shouted, running to Griffin’s side.

Archie turned towards them, an evil glint in his eyes.

— Ah… more toys for Archie to play with! — he exclaimed, laughing maniacally.

Griffin didn’t hesitate. He lunged at Archie, hitting him in the face with all his might. Archie staggered backwards, but recovered quickly, laughing again.

— Is that all? — Archie sneered. — I expected more from you.

Griffin, his blood boiling, advanced again, but this time Archie was quicker. He pulled out a small, shiny blade hidden in his pocket and pointed it directly at Griffin.

Gray’s heart stopped for a second as he saw the blade gleam.

— Griffin! — Gray shouted, desperate.

But it was too late. Archie attacked with the knife, aiming for Griffin’s chest. Instinctively, Griffin dodged, but the blade grazed his arm, cutting the skin.

Griffin grunted in pain, but his expression hardened. He was tired of playing games. Archie was too dangerous to be underestimated.

Griffin grabbed Archie’s wrist, twisting it until he heard the sound of bones snapping. The knife fell to the floor with a metallic clang. Archie screamed in pain, but his insane laughter continued, as if the physical suffering only fueled his madness.

— You’ll regret this! — Archie spat, his wild eyes fixed on Griffin.

— No, Archie. I won’t… I’ll do humanity a favor by ridding myself of your existence… — Griffin growled. — You think I don’t know what you did to Moon? I know everything. — he gritted his teeth. — I have no problem getting blood on my hands, Archie. You should have remembered that before you did everything you did… — Griffin moved closer to Archie’s face, whispering. — I know everything.

Griffin didn’t hesitate.

In one swift movement, he pulled Archie closer and, in an instant of pure instinct and hatred, struck him hard in the chest with the same blade with which he had been struck earlier.

Archie stumbled backwards, his laughter finally ceasing as he fell to his knees, his eyes wide with shock.

The world seemed to stop for a moment.

Gray and Arthur watched, shocked, as Archie tumbled to the side, his body twitching briefly before going still.

Griffin stood still, breathing heavily, his gaze fixed on Archie’s body, still processing what had just happened. Archie deserved it, but that didn’t make it any less bitter.

Gray approached slowly, putting his hand on Griffin’s shoulder.

— Griffin…

— I don’t regret it. I don’t feel guilty. — Griffin took a deep breath. — If you’d known what he’d done, it would have been worse…

Gray looked at him in confusion.

— What did he do?

— Later… Now I… I need to clean myself up. — Griffin looked down at his hands, dirty with blood.

Gray nodded.

Arthur looked at them both, the tension in the air slowly beginning to dissipate.

Griffin walked slowly back to the gates, leaving the brothers behind. Arthur and Gray watched him.

— What did Archie do?

Arthur shrugged.

— All I know is that he was in cahoots with Caelan… a mere puppet. And he was the one who kidnapped Moon months ago…

— There’s more there… And Griffin knows.