Why did I wake up? Let me live in the dream more rather than living here. I will find Yuri there and we will not separate ever again.

Since morning, Yena had been crying quietly after she woke up from her dream. But in the middle of the day, there was nothing to do beside of regretting in her room alone, she felt so useless. Suddenly she remembered of Chris who gave her the potion, so Yena stepped out and decided to look for her. She wandered through the corridor on second floor, to the east side of the castle. During her walk, something caught her ears vaguely. There were beautiful melodies in symphony, causing her to look for the place where it came from.

She proceeded through another corridor that led her legs entering into another hall. And there was a stage, with a group of four people, performing a song Yena has never heard of. One plays double bass, one plays acoustic guitar, one plays piano, and the last one sings. There were bunch of people enjoying the stage performance as well. The music and song was very relaxing, so Yena took a seat on a chair available. The song allowed Yena to calm the exhausted mind of hers. It worked like a magic, causing her face to soften by the soothing melody as she listen more and more.

Now that she’s a lot calmer, Yena thinks to herself. The fact that everyone in the castle is also a lycanthrope amazes her because they all look like just an ordinary human, a civil one, even. It just dawned on her that this is actually her first time to see–and to live with–so many other lycanthropes in one place.

“My Lady, may I ask you something?” one of the men near Yena asked.

Yena nodded, permitting. “Yeah. Why?”

“How do you deal with the full moon? Pardon me if I sound rude, I’m just curious how does a lycanthrope lives outside the pack.”

“Ohh, we locked ourselves in a room. Soundproof,” she explained flatly.

The man gave her a face. “That sounds… like a hassle.”

Yena chuckled by the honest reply. “Well, don’t want to start unnecessary ruckus in the town because of our nature’s force, do we?” she defended.

The man hummed, understanding how hard it’d be for lycanthropes who lives outside the pack. “I guess you’re right, My Lady. Thank God I’ve been living here with the pack and not wander around. Our pack’s practitioners found Elixir of Virtues, way back then. I can’t really explain how this potion works scientifically, but it suppresses our body, resisting the driving force to transform during full moon,” he tried his best in explaining sincerely although Yena only nods nonchalantly.

Somehow along the line, Yena’s mind was itching to where those practitioners are. She never sees them in the castle, although that might be more because Yena kept on locking herself in her room after that day. “Can you tell me where the practitioners in the castle are?”

“I believe they are at Nightthorn Lair.”

The place’s name made Yena’s curiosity arises instantly. “Where is that place?”

“Southeast of here, My Lady,” the man answered earnestly.

Out of nowhere, Yena remembered the last sentence before Yuri truly fades away in her dream.

“There are things you should know and remember… I want you to go to Nightthorn Lair, southeast from the castle. Please go, Yena…”

Yena’s eyes widen in shock as to how did she not remembers that sooner. Soon she left the hall, coincidentally bumped to Hitomi and Chaewon by the corridor, much to Yena’s convenience. “Perfect timing! Chaewon, let me borrow Hitomi for a walk,” she said quickly.

“Wha– I mean, why?”

“And I want you to watch the castle, I’m counting on you!” rather than answering the question, Yena yelled as she drags Hitomi away.

“Return Hitomi in one piece