IT WAS NIGHT TIME WHEN JOHANN STARTED WAKING UP. 

His arms and feet were tied which explains why he still wore the same clothes he had. He was also lying on the floor of their private library. Spells written on various papers were scattered and white candles are the ones that lit the room. 

The paper with the symbol of a shaman will strengthen the thing where it was attached, so the rope on Johann can prevent anything from moving and if placed on the window bars the room  will act as a shield or a wall. 

“Where—what is going on?!”

A book of spells was slammed hard on a wooden table. Johann flinched while he was still tied up.

“I’m glad you are awake, Johann.”

Selena is still angry as she looks down at Johann on the floor. 

“What should be done to reverse the spell you did to yourself?”

Johann looked in another direction guiltily for he did not know how to undo the spell. Selena is standing behind a study desk while Luzviminda is standing and holding other books related to witchcraft and shamans and demons. His mother was possibly researching while waiting for him to gain consciousness. But he knew those books would not offer the answers they were looking for. As far as Johann knows, the spell is irrevocable.

“Err… there’s no way to reverse it. That’s why I chose it,” Johann confessed knowing that his confession will add fuel to the fire.

“I taught you how to fight not to curse yourself!!!”

I just thought I could use it to our advantage. Because I also learned that we’re good at concealing spirits and demons. 

Don’t switch with me after you tell that to your mother. I can still feel her slap on my face, you idiot, Cassian warned Johann after hearing his thoughts.

Johann sighed and explained his side to his mother.

“We fought, but I lost. If it wasn’t for the spell—

You’ll just end up dead, Cassian added flatly.

“Shut up!” Johann yelled at the voice inside his head that interrupted him.

“What did you say?!” Selena asked loudly.

“Ah, no, Mom! I was talking to him! He can still speak even if he’s inside me.”

“Of course he can! That’s why we need to remove that parasite inside you right at this moment.”

His mother could not hear it but Cassian was responding sarcastically to Selena.

Oh? I’m the parasite? Aren’t you the one who leeches on me after I saved you from being devoured by those demons?

“I’m sorry,” Johann said. “If I am stronger I might be able to think of other ways to prevent this from happening. But even before he appears… I… I just want you to stop worrying about me.”

Selena paused for a moment to ponder on what her son just said.

“That’s a stupid reason. I’m your mother. Of course I’ll worry about you.”

Selena turns her back to Johann and walks away. Luzviminda still carries the books they needed for research but she looks at Johann’s mother with worry. She seemed disheartened.

Luzviminda drops the books she was holding on the table before approaching Johann.

“I expect you to apologize for not being able to protect your mother. But she didn’t expect you to sacrifice yourself just to save her.” 

“My mom sacrifices a lot for me. Why can’t I do the same for her?”

Luzviminda moves to free Johann and sighs. She understood very well how the two care for each other. One only knows how to be protected and now longs to protect someone he cared the most while the other only wanted to keep her son safe from any possible danger. Different views but same goal.

“Like mother, like son,” Luz cannot help but say. 

The next day, around almost 9:00 AM, Johann woke up. And while he wore his pajamas he was about to open the curtain in his room to let the sunshine in.

Johann swiped the curtain of the huge glass window with diamond shaped metal bars and was shocked to see that his room was sealed with a lot of shaman papers.

“What time is it?”

“Aah!”

Johann was surprised to hear Luzviminda speak behind him. She was wiping her left eye because she also just woke up. Luz slept in his room but in the sofa bed area. Luz looks at Johann as if she finds him amusing. She wore an old shirt without a bra, though she was still wearing underwear, it was hidden beneath the long hem making anyone want to guess if she was wearing something beneath the shirt or nada?

“What? It’s not like this is the first time I slept in your room.”

Johann can’t help but blush while he looks away. Meanwhile, Luzviminda walks towards Johann.

“T-The last time we slept together… I mean the last time you slept here was when we were twelve. Are you guarding me the whole night?!”

“Yeah, I was,” Luz admitted. “I wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

Luzviminda stares at his face while letting both their foreheads touch. It was  as if she was checking his temperature to see if he had a fever. It was a casual gesture for Luz but Johann kept blushing. 

“Hmm. I guess you’re still normal.”

She is referring to him being Johann instead of Cassian. Luz may not fully understand about the other realm Johann and his mother were used to seeing but she believes everything that they say or explain. She was there to help them in any way she could. And now, it’s time to make their breakfast. Luzviminda grabs her pillow and blanket and walks out of Johann’s room. 

“I’ll prepare brunch in fifteen minutes,” she said before leaving Johann in his room. She quickly showered and changed her clothes. Luz is tying an apron as she reaches the kitchen area. She now wore a T-shirt with a sweater within and simple cut jeans. But Luz was stunned to see Selena preparing their meal.