Since witches can sense each other’s presence, Lyr thought he could find Yilu and that guy too.
Previously, his magic power was suppressed, so he couldn’t perceive other witches the way that guy had mentioned.
Now that the mark had appeared on the back of his hand, Lyr believed he could do the same.
Tif stared at the mark on Lyr’s hand in surprise.
That jet-black mark was definitely not simply drawn on.
She had never seen this on Lyr’s hand before.
“This is…” Tif recalled what Lyr had told her about magic power.
That immense magic power definitely wasn’t his.
But remembering what had happened to Yilu, she worried that Lyr might suffer some kind of curse too.
“Can you calm down for a second? Do you really have to do this? Have you thought about what you might be facing?” Tif fired off questions.
If it really was related to the Tazhi Family, Lyr might have to go there.
And more than that, she was afraid of what would happen if Lyr actually used that power.
“I’m calm right now,” Lyr said evenly.
Tif didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
This Lyr was just like when he had decided to leave the Knights and head to the Frontier.
Back then, Tif had tried to persuade him, but once Lyr made up his mind, almost no one could change it.
He usually went along with what his family arranged, without much opinion, but when he suddenly got an idea, he became stubbornly obstinate—no one could talk him out of it.
Seeing Tif fall silent, Lyr let out a slow breath. “What happened to Yilu this time has a lot to do with me, so I can’t just ignore it.”
It all started from when Yilu helped him that time.
Just as that guy had said, if Yilu hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have so many problems.
Rather than saying he had been helping Yilu, it was more like he had caused her a great deal of trouble.
That time, when Yilu grabbed him by the throat, Lyr could clearly feel the pain she was suffering.
“Is it really just that?”
The conversation came back to the earlier question. Tif felt she needed to be more straightforward with Lyr.
“If you only see her as a friend’s little sister, or as someone you owe, then you’re still not treating her as an equal.” Tif paused. “What do you really think of her?”
That single remark hit home. Lyr stood frozen for a long moment, then finally gave a bitter laugh. “Who knows? Let’s talk about it after Yilu comes back.”
Tif didn’t want to say anything more. “Suit yourself.”
She didn’t know what Lyr was planning, but she could feel that whatever came next wouldn’t be small.
“I’ll go inform Yilu’s family about the specifics. But I still hope you’ll be careful and not come back all battered and bruised.”
That was Tif’s final piece of advice.
Yilu had been in an accident in House Geno’s carriage, so House Geno was obligated to take responsibility.
In essence, Lyr’s thinking wasn’t wrong—what problems it would stir up afterward was anyone’s guess.
After all, the Academy and the Royal Family hadn’t announced anything concrete yet, so no one could guarantee anything.
“Got it. I understand,” Lyr said.
He really wasn’t good at handling this kind of thing, so leaving it to Tif was the best option.
Lyr turned around, facing the street. He gripped the Thunder Spirit Sword in one hand and glanced at the mark on his other hand.
Ever since this mark appeared, he could feel an endless stream of magic power inside him, no longer suppressed.
He had only ever seen this in Magical Beasts—those creatures had not only powerful bodies but also inexhaustible magic power, never tiring.
He was starting to develop in that direction too.
Lyr recalled the girl’s final words and expression, muttering to himself, “If this is what you called the Eternal Curse, then I accept this curse.”
He knew that the only reason he had been able to suppress the curse and live like an ordinary person was because of the Thunder Fairy’s Blessing.
Ever since receiving that blessing, Lyr had never felt special—aside from the Thunder Spirit Sword in his hand, he was just like anyone else.
Now he had accepted that curse, and with it, that power.
As if sensing Lyr’s permission, the seal that had been suppressing the witch’s magic power within him completely released.
Instantly, just like at the Academy, a ripple of enormous power spread through the surroundings. Grass and trees swayed without wind, startling the people behind him into a retreat.
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck, streaking across the clear sky like an invisible giant beast roaring in the air.
Teanya shuddered, her whole body shaking. She looked at the sky in fear. “I thought the whole sky was falling.”
Beside her, Tif stared grimly at Lyr.
Now the hand gripping the sword crackled, lightning spreading.
“How is this happening? Did he just get struck by lightning?”
Tif shook her head. “That’s the Thunder Fairy’s power.”
The Thunder Fairy’s power had always been with Lyr, dwelling inside him ever since he received the blessing.
Tif might have known more about that Fairy than Lyr did.
Back then, she had done extensive research and consulted many records in order to gain the Thunder Fairy’s recognition.
Otherwise, the gap wouldn’t have been so huge for her.
The Thunder Fairy was said to be a powerful being born in the lightning—its light could wash away all the filth in the world.
Perhaps that explained why it could suppress the power and curse within Lyr.
This blessing was never the Fairy itself, but more like its will—offering help without any guidance.
That was why Lyr had never changed.
Now, instead of seeking the Thunder Fairy’s power, he wished for its power to recede, making way for another force.
A wilder, crazier power.
This situation lasted only a moment. After the lightning faded, black mist began to seep from Lyr’s fingertips.
Forbidden runes spread along his arm like venomous snakes coiling around him.
Negative emotions surged in like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm Lyr.
Malicious words began to echo in his mind, tearing at his sanity.
Lyr stumbled back a step, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. This power far exceeded his imagination.
Once he steadied himself, he slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, and his arm returned to normal.
“So this is what it feels like.” He looked up at the sky but felt as if he were sinking into a pitch-black swamp.
So this was the situation Yilu had been enduring.
Now that he had stepped into this abyss of a curse himself, he realized just how remarkable it was that Yilu had been able to calm herself down like that.