Delanzhou: Wolf Blood and Moon Shadow

The forest was eerily quiet, the echoes of their footsteps swallowed by the dense canopy above. William kept his pace brisk but measured, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings for signs of pursuit. Alice followed close behind, her silver hair glinting in the occasional streaks of moonlight that filtered through the leaves.

The encounter with the dark magician had shaken them both, though neither would admit it outright. The acrid tang of magic still clung faintly to the air, a reminder of the power they'd narrowly escaped. William's mind churned as he tried to piece together the implications of what they'd seen.

"Alice," he began, his voice low and cautious, "we need to talk about what happened back there."

She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. "I know what you're going to say, and I don't regret staying to disrupt the ritual."

"It's not about regret," William countered, his tone firm but not unkind. "It's about what's at stake. That magic… it wasn't just random dark energy. It was deliberate, ancient, and it's tied to the vampire clans."

Alice finally stopped, turning to face him. Her silver eyes burned with defiance, but beneath it, William saw a flicker of unease. "Are you saying this is my fault?"

"I'm saying it's bigger than either of us," William replied. "And it's not a fight we're prepared for—not now, maybe not ever."

Alice crossed her arms, the tension in her posture obvious. "So what do you suggest? Running? Hiding? Letting them continue whatever sinister plan they're weaving?"

William hesitated. He didn't want to admit the truth aloud, but it hung heavy in the air between them. "I want to leave," he said finally. "Take you far from here, away from the clans, the magic, all of it."

Her expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and something he couldn't quite place. "And what happens when they catch up to us? Because they will, William. You saw that magician—they weren't working alone."

"I've dealt with their kind before," he said, his voice dropping into a grim whisper. "Destroyed their hideouts, broke their rituals. They're dangerous, yes, but predictable. And I've learned that they thrive on fear and confrontation. If we don't give them either, we stand a chance."

Alice frowned, clearly unconvinced. "So we run? Forever?"

"If it means keeping you safe," William said, stepping closer to her, "then yes. I don't care about their schemes or the clans' politics. I care about you."

For a moment, she said nothing, her silver eyes searching his face. Then she let out a quiet sigh, the defiance in her shoulders softening. "Fine. But if this goes wrong, don't say I didn't warn you."

William nodded, relief flooding through him. "We'll head east, toward the coast. There's a network of islands there—isolated, hard to reach. We can disappear."

As they resumed their journey, the tension between them began to ease, though it never fully disappeared. The forest thinned as they pressed on, the towering trees giving way to rolling hills and open skies. The faint scent of salt in the air told William they were getting closer to their destination.

It was nearly midnight when they heard the first signs of pursuit. The faint rustling of leaves, the snap of a twig—it was subtle but unmistakable. William froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the sword strapped to his back.

"They're here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Alice nodded, already drawing her dagger. "How far?"

"Close," William said. "Too close."

Before they could formulate a plan, a low, guttural laugh echoed through the darkness. The same cloaked figure from the ravine emerged from the shadows, their tattered robes billowing as if caught in an unseen wind.

"You can't run from fate," the figure rasped, their voice dripping with malice. "The girl belongs to us."

Alice stepped forward, her dagger gleaming in the moonlight. "I belong to no one."

The magician raised a hand, dark tendrils of magic spiraling toward them. William acted on instinct, stepping in front of Alice and slashing at the tendrils with his sword. The blade shimmered faintly, repelling the magic with a sharp hiss.

"You've meddled in our plans before, William," the magician sneered. "But this time, you won't escape."

William's grip on his sword tightened. "I'm not the same man I was then."

With a roar, the magician unleashed another wave of dark energy. William dodged, his movements fluid and precise, while Alice darted to the side, her dagger slicing through the air. The fight was chaotic, the forest around them shuddering with the force of their clash.

But even as they fought, William could feel the weight of the magician's power. This wasn't a foe he could defeat with brute strength alone. They needed to end this quickly.

"Alice!" he called, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Go for the source! The amulet!"

She hesitated for only a moment before nodding. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance between herself and the magician, her dagger aimed at the glowing amulet around their neck. The magician snarled, raising a hand to block her, but William was already there, his sword slicing through the tendrils of magic.

Alice's blade struck true, shattering the amulet in a burst of light. The magician let out an ear-piercing scream as their magic imploded, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest.

When the dust settled, the magician was gone, their robes reduced to ash. But the victory came at a cost. Alice staggered, clutching her arm where a dark, pulsating mark had appeared—the remnants of the magician's magic.

"Alice!" William was at her side in an instant, his heart pounding. "What happened?"

She shook her head, her silver eyes clouded with pain. "I… I don't know. It's burning."

William inspected the mark, his jaw tightening. He recognized the taint—it was a curse, one designed to corrupt and consume. He'd seen it before in his previous life, but he'd never witnessed it take hold of someone so quickly.

"We need to find a healer," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "There's no time to lose."

Alice looked at him, her expression wavering between determination and fear. "Will… can this be undone?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'll do whatever it takes to save you."

In the memories of his previous life, black magic was far less abominable. William knew a pharmacist in his previous life who should be able to help them.