Chapter 169 Trapped in glass

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Trapped in glass

Eugene watched Rose disappear between the trees before turning his attention back to the magical circle she had been working on earlier.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to push the unruly strands away from his face. However, his efforts were almost useless. His red hair had grown longer and wilder over the past five months, and he had barely bothered to take care of it.

There was a time when Eugene would never have allowed himself to look like this.

He had always taken pride in his appearance, paying attention to every little detail, from his clothes to the way he styled his hair. As one of the Moonlight Alphas, he had been expected to maintain a certain standard, and he had never found that particularly difficult.

Now, however, he could barely remember the last time he had looked at himself in a mirror.

Since Noah’s disappearance, everything else had become insignificant.

He simply couldn’t bring himself to care about his appearance anymore. Some days, he forgot to eat until his stomach hurt. On other occasions, he would spend hours researching spells and ancient records, hoping to discover something that might help them bring their friends back.

Yet every attempt had ended in disappointment.

And Damian was getting worse.

Eugene had visited him several times, and each visit left him more disturbed than the last.

The first time he had seen Damian after Noah disappeared, he had hoped that the healer might eventually regain control of himself. Perhaps the curse would weaken, or maybe they would find another way to reverse it.

But the Damian Eugene knew was slowly disappearing.

His once-crystalline eyes had become almost unrecognizable, filled with a hatred so intense that it sent chills down Eugene’s spine. The curse had completely taken hold of him, destroying the last remnants of the humanity he had fought so hard to preserve.

He was no longer capable of transforming back into his human form.

The beautiful, silver-haired healer who had once smiled so casually at the people around him was now trapped in the body of a monster, consumed by instincts he could barely control.

And Noah, the one person who might have been able to save him, was gone.

Eugene still remembered Lysander’s words before the demon prince had departed.

"He might remain like this forever. If the curse continues until the next full moon, he may never be able to change back again."

Lysander had delivered the warning with his usual coldness, but Eugene had noticed the tension in his expression.

Even Lysander, who rarely showed concern for anyone outside his immediate circle, understood how serious the situation was.

The curse was not an ordinary spell. It had been triggered by circumstances they still didn’t fully understand, and Noah’s absence had made everything considerably worse.

If Damian remained in that form through another full moon, there might be no way to reverse the transformation.

Eugene had been counting the days ever since.

According to his calculations, the next full moon would fall on Monday night of the following week.

And it wasn’t going to be an ordinary full moon.

A blood moon was expected to rise alongside it.

The thought alone made his stomach tighten.

Blood moons had always been associated with dangerous magical events. Witches performed their most powerful rituals during such nights, and certain supernatural creatures used the unusual alignment to strengthen their abilities.

Sacrifices were also common among those who sought power through forbidden magic.

With the witches of the West Coast already controlling much of the Quintorian Empire, Eugene couldn’t imagine what they might attempt when the blood moon arrived.

He had a terrible feeling that the coming week would bring disasters far worse than anything they had experienced so far.

And they were nowhere near ready.

While Rose had been trying to restore her magic and discover a way to locate Lamia, Eugene had been conducting his own research. He had searched through ancient records, examined forgotten spells, and even attempted to contact supernatural beings who might possess information about the curse.

Nothing had worked.

There was no clear solution for Damian.

No explanation for Lamia’s disappearance.

And no reliable way to reach Noah.

Every path seemed to lead to another dead end.

Eugene stared at the magical circle for a while longer before finally turning away.

He couldn’t remain there.

Not when there was someone else he needed to see.

Without another word, he left the vegetation and began making his way toward Lysander’s secluded cottage.

The journey was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves and the occasional cry of a distant creature accompanying his footsteps.

The supernatural world had changed so much that even familiar places felt different now. The air carried an unsettling heaviness, and the strange fluctuations in magic had become more frequent.

Eugene could feel them everywhere.

It was as though the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.

When he finally arrived at the cottage, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The familiar scent of wood and herbs greeted him.

For a moment, he simply stood there, remembering the times they had gathered in this place before everything fell apart.

Back then, their problems had seemed manageable.

They had argued, fought, and worried about the dangers surrounding them, but they had still believed they could overcome whatever came their way.

Now, the cottage felt like a memorial to everything they had lost.

Eugene walked down the corridor and entered the room where Noah’s body had been kept.

As expected, nothing had changed.

Noah remained suspended inside the enormous glass enclosure Lysander had created with his demonic magic. The transparent barrier surrounded him completely, protecting his body from external forces and preventing other supernatural beings from reaching him.

When the world outside had begun spreading rumors that the Pureblood was dead, Lysander had taken precautions to ensure that no one could find Noah’s resting place.

He had concealed the cottage and hidden Noah’s presence from anyone who might attempt to interfere with him.

Then Lysander had disappeared.

Eugene had no idea where the demon prince was now, though he had heard rumors that Lysander was hunting down the demons responsible for the attack on Noah.

There were also whispers that he intended to confront Lucifer himself.

After what had happened, Eugene couldn’t blame him.

But that didn’t make the situation any easier.

Eugene approached the glass enclosure slowly.

There he was.

The person who had once filled their lives with chaos, laughter, arguments, and feelings none of them had expected to experience.

Noah.

Or Ashton, as they had known him in the supernatural world.

Eugene raised a trembling hand and placed it against the cold glass.

Then, without realizing it, he sank to his knees.

"Please, Ashton."

His voice was barely audible.

"Noah, whoever you are right now, please tell me what to do."

His fingers curled against the surface.

"I don’t know anymore. Everything is falling apart, and we still have no idea how to make things right."

He lowered his head.

"The world isn’t the same anymore. The Quintorian Empire you knew is gone. We have vampires roaming around, dangerous creatures appearing from places they should never have existed, and werewolves fighting for control. Demons are walking freely through territories that once belonged to other races."

His voice grew unsteady.

"Dragons have disappeared, and we can’t find any Phoenix witches. The witches of the West Coast are controlling the empire, and every other race is fighting them for power."

He swallowed painfully.

"I don’t even know whether we can win this battle without you."

For several seconds, Eugene remained on his knees, his forehead almost touching the glass.

He had never imagined that he would find himself begging someone who couldn’t even hear him for guidance.

But desperation had a way of stripping away pride.

And Eugene had very little pride left when it came to Noah.

Eventually, he forced himself to stand.

He moved closer to the enclosure, studying the familiar face within it.

Noah was still as beautiful as ever.

Not a single sign of aging had appeared on his face. His purple hair remained vibrant, although it had grown longer and wilder without anyone to care for it. The strands framed his delicate features, making him look almost unreal.

His skin had become so pale that he seemed fragile, as though the slightest touch might shatter him.

Yet Eugene knew better.

This was the same person who had faced terrifying enemies, unleashed extraordinary power, and fought against forces that should have been beyond his reach.

The person inside the glass was not weak.

He was simply absent.

And Eugene couldn’t bear it.

"I love you so much, Ashton."

The confession escaped him before he could stop it.

"I love you, and I would fight through every obstacle to bring you back."

His eyes burned, but he refused to look away.

"You’re supposed to have a place in this empire. You’re supposed to stand beside us, ruling and driving evil away. That’s who you are."

He pressed his palm more firmly against the glass.

"But we ruined everything, didn’t we?"

His voice broke.

"We should never have allowed ourselves to become so entangled with you if we were only going to fail you in the end."

The words hurt more than he expected.

He knew he wasn’t entirely responsible for what had happened, but guilt had never cared about fairness. It simply found a place to settle and refused to leave.

Eugene closed his eyes, trying to steady himself.

Then he felt it.

The mate bond.

It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was still there.

He reached for it instinctively, searching for that familiar connection that had once made him feel closer to Noah even when they were separated.

For a brief moment, he thought he sensed something.

Then the feeling weakened.

Eugene’s eyes flew open.

"No."

He tried again, desperately reaching for the bond.

Nothing.

The connection was still present, but it felt thinner than before, as though an invisible thread were slowly unraveling between them.

Over the past weeks and months, he had noticed the change. At first, he had dismissed it as the result of distance or the strange magic surrounding Noah’s body.

But now he couldn’t ignore it.

The bond was fading.

And he had no idea what that meant.

Was Noah’s soul growing weaker?

Was the connection being severed by some force beyond their understanding?

Or was Noah slowly slipping away from them?

Eugene shook his head.

"No. You can’t do this to me."

He stared at Noah’s peaceful face, his heart aching with a fear he could barely put into words.

"Not after everything."

Just as he was about to speak again, a hand settled gently on his shoulder.

Eugene turned his head.

Rose stood beside him, looking considerably better after her shower. Her blonde hair was clean and neatly arranged, and she had changed into fresh clothes. Although the redness around her eyes suggested she had been crying earlier, she seemed calmer.

She studied him for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

"You should take a shower, too."

Eugene blinked.

"What?"

"You’re being too hard on yourself." Rose moved her hand from his shoulder and glanced at Noah’s body. "I’m not the only person who needs someone to talk some sense into them."

She looked back at Eugene.

"And I was so caught up in my own misery that I didn’t even stop to ask how you were coping with everything. Especially after what happened to your parents."

Her words silenced him.

Eugene remained perfectly still, his gaze fixed on her face.

His parents.

For a moment, the memories returned with such vividness that he felt sick.

They had found their bodies inside an orb at the imperial palace.

The sight had been horrifying.

Their bodies had been mutilated beyond recognition, their abdomens torn open and their internal organs exposed. Their faces had been distorted by the violence inflicted upon them, leaving Eugene with images he knew he would never completely forget.

It had been one of the most traumatic experiences of his life.

No matter how complicated his relationship with them had been, he had never expected to discover them in such a condition.

He had stood there, staring at the remains of the people who had raised him, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

And yet, somehow, he hadn’t cried.

Not then.

Not afterward.

He had simply continued moving, throwing himself into the search for Noah and the others because there had always been another problem waiting for him to solve.

Rose watched him carefully.

"Eugene?"

He finally turned away from Noah’s enclosure.

"You know, I was never particularly close to them."

His voice sounded dry and detached, as though he were discussing strangers rather than his own parents.

"They were always comparing me to the other Alphas. No matter what I did, it was never enough. They kept telling me I wasn’t the son they wanted."

Rose said nothing, allowing him to continue.

"I was a disaster they couldn’t control. That’s what they thought of me."

Eugene let out a humorless laugh.

"They sent me to that school because they wanted someone to mold me into a perfect prince. I don’t even know what they expected to accomplish, but after what I discovered about the principal and Mrs. Danielle, I don’t think their plans were legal."

Rose’s eyes widened.

"Wait. Are you saying they might have arranged for you to be killed at that school?"

Eugene didn’t answer.

He neither confirmed nor denied it.

He simply turned his back to her, his shoulders tense.

The silence was enough to make Rose’s stomach twist.

How had she never known?

She had seen Eugene’s arrogance, his temper, and the way he sometimes acted as though nothing in the world could touch him. But she had never imagined that the people who were supposed to protect him might have wanted to destroy him.

And if his parents had known what was happening, why hadn’t they stopped it?

More importantly, what had the emperor wanted from them?

Rose remembered the bodies inside the orb and the horrifying state in which they had been discovered.

Who could have done something so cruel?

And why?

A chill passed through her.

"You know," she said slowly, "we could investigate what happened to your parents. We barely examined everything at the palace before the situation became chaotic. Maybe there are clues we missed."

Eugene shook his head.

"Nice try, Rose."

He looked at Noah again.

"But we need to focus on Ashton and the others first. I can manage."

Rose stared at him in disbelief.

"You can manage?"

"Yes."

"Your parents were brutally murdered, and you’re telling me you can manage?"

Eugene’s expression remained unreadable.

"I guess their deaths aren’t as horrible to me as they should be."

Rose gaped at him.

How could he say something like that?

Most people would have been devastated by such a discovery. They would have cried, screamed, or demanded justice until they could barely stand.

But Eugene seemed almost indifferent.

Then he spoke again, and she finally understood where his thoughts had been all along.

"What’s crushing me is losing Ashton."

His eyes returned to the glass enclosure.

"I can live with what happened to my parents. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand it, and perhaps I should care more than I do. But losing Ashton?"

He swallowed.

"That’s something I don’t know how to survive."

Rose fell silent.

She wanted to tell him that everything would be fine, that Noah would return, and that they would find a way to save everyone.

But she couldn’t make promises she wasn’t certain she could keep.

Instead, she gently squeezed his shoulder.

"Come and meet me outside."

Eugene glanced at her.

"Why?"

"I have an idea."

Before he could ask anything else, Rose turned and walked toward the door.

Eugene remained beside Noah’s enclosure for another moment.

He looked at the delicate face behind the glass and tried to summon the warmth of their fading bond.

Then he smiled sadly.

He lifted his hand and pressed a gentle kiss against his fingertips before touching them to the glass.

"Wait for me, Ashton."

His voice was little more than a whisper.

"Before the blood moon arrives, I’ll bring you back here."

He took one final look at Noah’s peaceful face.

"That’s a promise."