Ryan carefully wrapped the celadon vase in his jacket, then slipped the phone containing the photo of the black symbol into an inner pocket. Turning back to Marvin, who was still guarding the doorway, he gave one last firm reminder.
"Mr. Marvin, I'm going to gather the materials needed for the restoration. While I'm gone, you must keep a close eye on the shop. Do not touch the vase again, and don't let anyone near the shelves."
Marvin nodded repeatedly, his face full of awe. "Don't worry, Detective Ryan! I'll stand right here and won't move an inch!" After the fright caused by the elven remnant, he now followed Ryan's instructions without question—he didn't even dare step back inside the shop.
Ryan said nothing more. Holding the vase tightly, he headed for the parking lot. The night had grown deeper, and the streets of the old district were nearly empty. Only scattered streetlights cast dim yellow pools of light, stretching his shadow long across the pavement.
From time to time, Ryan lowered his gaze to the vase in his arms. True Sight activated instinctively. He could clearly see the black symbol at the damaged spot on the porcelain. A faint trace of dark energy clung to it like a parasite, stubbornly attached to the surface. It repelled Leah's pure natural energy inside the vase, producing barely audible ripples of energy collision.
"This symbol is definitely not ordinary. It's most likely connected to the dark forces behind Kallen," Ryan thought, pressing harder on the accelerator.
He knew very well that ordinary restoration methods wouldn't solve this. Worse, tampering with the black symbol carelessly could trigger some kind of taboo and cause far greater consequences. Right now, his only hope was Valentine—the vampire owner of the Blood Moonlight Bar, a mysterious being who had lived for over a century and possessed vast supernatural knowledge.
By the time Ryan arrived at the Blood Moonlight Bar again, it was already late at night. The dark-red neon sign stood out sharply against the darkness. The doorman was still as expressionless as ever. When he saw Ryan return with the vase, the surprise in his eyes deepened, but he still didn't ask any questions and simply stepped aside.
The bar was livelier than it had been earlier. Supernatural beings in strange attire raised their glasses in animated conversation, and the scent of red wine mixed with blood hung heavier in the air. The moment Ryan entered, Valentine's gaze locked onto him with uncanny precision.
Valentine set down his crystal wineglass and gave a casual wave, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light. "Detective Ryan, back again so soon? Looks like you've brought something I'd be interested in."
Ryan walked straight to the bar and placed the jacket-wrapped vase on the counter, getting straight to the point.
"Boss Valentine, I need magic to repair this vase. In exchange, I'll give you all the information about the spirit attached to it—it's the remnant soul of an ancient elf."
"An ancient elven remnant?" Valentine's eyes lit up instantly. His earlier laziness vanished. He reached out and touched the vase again, letting his red energy linger much longer this time.
"No wonder I sensed such pure natural energy," he said softly. "So it's an ancient elf. That's far more interesting than I expected."
He leaned back behind the bar, tapping his fingers lightly against the surface as he thought. Ryan didn't rush him. He knew Valentine never agreed to an exchange without careful calculation.
Sure enough, after a moment, Valentine looked up, a sly smile forming on his lips.
"To restore an antique vessel bound to a spirit, you'll need the Spirit Pact Restoration Spell. It requires a specific incantation, as well as two rare materials: Elven Grass Extract and Moonstone Powder."
He paused, then continued. "I can provide both the spell and the materials—but you'll have to agree to two conditions."
"Name them," Ryan said, his heart tightening.
"First," Valentine raised one finger, his tone serious, "you tell me everything about this ancient elven remnant—her name, the fragments of her memories, and why she bound herself to this vase."
"Second," he raised another finger, "from now on, if you encounter any clues related to ancient natural beings, you inform me immediately. And you do not share my information with the Balance Council."
Ryan frowned. The second condition was harsh. Valentine's relationship with the Balance Council was already delicate, and withholding information could easily bring trouble later. But Leah's energy was fading fast. He didn't have the luxury of hesitation.
"I agree," Ryan said after a deep breath. "But I have one condition of my own. You have to tell me what that black symbol on the vase is. The dark energy attached to it resembles symbols I've seen in Dr. Kallen's experiments."
Valentine's expression shifted slightly. "A black symbol?" He gestured for Ryan to show him.
Ryan pulled out his phone and displayed the photo. Valentine leaned closer, his golden pupils contracting as his relaxed demeanor vanished.
"This symbol… is older than Kallen's experimental markings," he said gravely. "It's a foundational rune of the Shadow Devouring Array."
"The Shadow Devouring Array?" Ryan felt a chill run through him.
"Yes. It's a vicious formation designed specifically to consume spiritual energy," Valentine replied. "Engraved here, its purpose isn't to destroy the vase directly, but to siphon the elf's energy through the damaged point, little by little. Someone has been targeting this elven remnant for a long time."
Ryan's heart sank. Just as he suspected, the damage to the vase hadn't been an accident. Someone had done this deliberately, intending to erase Leah completely. Was it Dr. Kallen—or the dark organization behind him?
"The deal stands," Valentine said, pushing aside the tension. He retrieved a blue-covered booklet, a small bottle filled with pale green liquid, and a box containing silvery powder.
"This is the Spirit Pact Restoration manual. The green liquid is Elven Grass Extract, and the silver powder is Moonstone Powder. Apply the extract to the damaged area first, then sprinkle the powder. Finally, chant the spell and guide your magic to resonate with the elf's energy."
He added calmly, "Be warned—the Shadow Devouring rune may react violently during the process. Prepare your defenses. Also, the person who used this rune likely isn't very strong, or they wouldn't rely on such a slow method."
Ryan accepted the items and nodded. "Thank you. I'll give you the information now."
He explained everything—Leah's name, her identity as an ancient elf, the destruction of her forest a thousand years ago, and why she sealed fragments of her soul inside the vase.
Valentine listened intently, nodding from time to time, excitement flickering in his golden eyes. "The fall of the ancient elven race… as expected, the dark forces were involved. Valuable information, Detective Ryan. You didn't disappoint me."
Ryan didn't linger. After confirming the materials and the spell, he left the bar at once. On the drive back to the antique shop, he carefully studied the manual, memorizing the incantation and each step of the process. According to the text, the spell required a temporary bond of trust between the caster and the spirit—without it, the restoration would fail.
When he arrived, Marvin was still standing guard.
"You're finally back, Detective Ryan!" Marvin rushed over. "The shop shook again just now. I almost called the police!"
Ryan's heart tightened. He hurried inside. The green spiritual energy was weaker than ever. Above the vase, Leah's form was faint and curled in pain, clearly still being drained by the Shadow Devouring rune.
"There's no more time."
Ryan placed the vase down and followed the instructions precisely. He spread the Elven Grass Extract evenly over the damaged area. The moment it touched the porcelain, it resonated with the natural energy inside, emitting a soft green glow. Then he carefully sprinkled the Moonstone Powder. The silver grains melted into the liquid, forming a thin, pale membrane.
Taking a deep breath, Ryan focused his mind and began chanting the Spirit Pact Restoration Spell, channeling his magic into the vase.
"Leah, trust me. I'm here to help you," he projected gently.
A few seconds passed. The green energy inside the vase trembled, and Leah's form grew clearer. Her empty gaze settled on Ryan, hesitant and wary—but she did not reject his magic.
"The bond is formed," Ryan thought, relief surging through him. He increased his output. The spell's light intensified, and the membrane at the damaged spot began to glow as the porcelain slowly restored itself.
Just as the repair neared completion, the black symbol suddenly flared with an eerie red light. A surge of dark energy burst forth, shattering the membrane and lunging toward Ryan and Leah.
"Damn it!"
Ryan instantly raised Old Gray's spirit-suppressing talisman. Golden light clashed with black darkness, producing a harsh sizzling sound. Leah cried out in pain as the dark energy wrapped around her, her green aura destabilizing once more.
Gritting his teeth, Ryan held the talisman in place while continuing the chant. But the dark energy grew more violent, and the talisman's glow began to fade.
At that critical moment, Ryan remembered the Spirit Energy Stabilizer Valentine had given him. He grabbed the crystal vial and dripped three drops onto the vase. The green liquid seeped in instantly, stabilizing Leah's energy. Her glow brightened as she actively pushed back against the darkness.
With Leah's support, Ryan felt the pressure ease. He poured all his remaining magic into the spell. The light surged, and just as the dark energy reached its peak, the damaged area was fully restored. The red glow of the symbol dimmed, then vanished entirely, leaving only a faint residue behind.
Ryan collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. His magic was nearly depleted. The talisman had lost all its light, reduced to an ordinary piece of yellow paper. The vase's green energy steadied, and Leah's form appeared clearly above it. She bowed deeply to Ryan, gratitude overflowing.
At that moment, Ryan's phone rang. It was Ella.
"Ryan, something's wrong!" she said urgently. "We've found new traces of Dr. Kallen in the outskirts, and there are black symbols similar to the ones you described. The Balance Council is ordering immediate backup!"
Ryan's heart sank. He had just dealt with the symbol on the vase, and now Kallen had resurfaced. The attacker was almost certainly tied to the same dark faction.
He looked at Leah, then at the restoration manual in his hand, torn with conflict. The vase still needed further reinforcement—but he couldn't ignore Ella's call.
What troubled him most was the mention of more black symbols. It suggested something far bigger was underway.
Ryan tightened his grip on the phone, making a decision: stabilize Leah's seal for now, then rush to support Ella.
What he didn't know was that after he left the shop, a faint red glow reappeared at the bottom of the newly repaired vase. A thread of dark energy quietly seeped back inside…