The house stood defiantly amidst the snow-laddened landscape, its dark-oak wooden frame capped off by pristine white. Within its guest room, the air was warm and snug, rather complimentary to the warm atmosphere of two stuffed animal companions awaiting their master before them to awake from his slumber.

Of course, we all know these figures by now: Mumu, Nini, and Dama.

As Dama's chest slowly rose up and down in a healthy rhythm, Mumu and Nini glanced at each other. No words or even the smallest expression was needed in order for Mumu and Nini to agree that this scene was familiar to them. The thought of when Giona first woke up passed through their minds at the same time.

Knowing this, Mumu nodded at Nini with a smile, but Nini only nodded back. Her ears, eyes, tail, and even the corners of her stitched mouth were drooping with concern for Dama.

With his attempt at lightening the tense air crushed, Mumu made another by patting Nini's back like an older brother, showing he also was concerned. Despite trying her hardest, Nini couldn't help the smallest smile tugging at her stitched mouth, of which Mumu saw and copied.

As the seconds ticked by from a wall-mounted clock, the rhythmic sound constantly breaking the quiet ambience, Dama's breath stirred faintly, causing his stitched friends to perk straight up.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, the wooden interior of the roof above him meeting his gaze. Still drunk off of sleep, Dama could feel a sweeping warmth cradling him in the bed, soothing him. It was a sensation he very much was used to, his eyes shutting again.

For a brief moment, Dama waded in the calm as he rolled onto his side, curling his body inward a bit.

At first, he could only remember the fragments of what felt like memories of memories. He remembered running somewhere and being tired, something the ache in his legs and a mysterious dull pain in his ribs would confirm—but why?

Then, total darkness, as if Dama was looking into a void. The more he stared into and questioned it, the more Dama could feel it staring right back into him.

Putting it off as a trick of the mind, he would come to find out, in reality, it really was—there in the endless abyss, stood three lights: two circles and an upside down crescent shape underneath, both were just voids of white.

As Dama continued to stare, still in a sleepy daze, all he could feel was a vague feeling of familiarity, acceptance, and most confusing to him, a primal fear.

Shivering from the memory of the face that seemed to bore into his very soul, the boy snuggled further into the enrapturing warmth of the white blanket that cradled him, giving himself to the oh-so feeling of ecstasy. Getting out of bed would be such a waste after all.

"Just five more minutes..." Dama murmured groggily. The comment basically made Mumu & Nini start shaking on the spot from excitement and relief

Then, only for a moment, the last thing he saw was Giona's smiling face. "Giona..." he murmured her name, his heart pounding.

However, it was the next moment that everything came crashing down. The mere mention of Giona's name sparked muscle memory he had acquired over the past year from taking care of her. Not only reality snapped into focus, but also his memories of his nightmarish experience.

His eyes widened to the point they looked like they were going to pop out. Yet, his gaze was hollow, as his vision wasn't in the real world. No, his vision was in a playback, as if Dama was watching the scariest movie of his life for the second time, only sped up.

"Kaede, the pure lake, the labyrinth of shadows, the men in black robes, Saa'ir, The Curse of Hatred, his declaration, his soul, his mind...!" His head throbbed as each moment he relived was interrupted by the next with a bright flash, barely giving him enough time to register what had happened—and what his mind so desperately tried to block out as a mere dream.

Then, he bolted upright on the bed.

"Giona!" Dama practically screamed as the memory of Giona being captured by the Curse of Hatred played in his head, his voice raw. He gasped and heaved as he took survey of the room he was in

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Two neatly made beds stood side by side, warm blankets folded at their foot. A small table between them held a flickering candle and a pitcher of water. A shelf lined with a few books and trinkets caught the candlelight, casting gentle shadows on the dark oak wooden walls. The window beside him had a velvet red curtain covering it, sunlight still seeping through its edges.

He was back in Briarstone Village—Imke's house.

Panting, Dama's racing heart slowed to confusion as realization dawned, tucked into Imke's guest room. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and spotted his two most trusted companions standing beside his bed, their eyes wide as ovals. Their plush ears drooped, as if they were caught red-handed in a lie, with even their tails reflecting this despite their excitement.

Relief flooded Dama. He stepped toward them, speaking urgently and somewhat erratically, "Mumu! Nini! I'm so glad you're okay! I must have passed out, the last thing I remember being at that...lake?" He said as he grasped his chin, but then shrugged. "Either way, what happened after? What happened to Mr. Saa'ir. What happened to Giona? Is she safe?"

At his questions, Mumu and Nini froze with shocked faces, their eyes widening even more. After a long pause, during of which Dama could swore he saw what seemed to be sweat comically forming on Mumu and Nini's faces, they simply hunched in defeat. Their stitched smiles turned downward, and their ears drooped even more.

Seeing this, Dama's brow furrowed; why were they looking so guilty?

Before he could figure it out, a calm, collected voice spoke from behind. "Mr. Saa'ir? Giona?"

Dama froze, mirrioring what Mumu and Nini did moments ago. He recognized the voice: Liam Leir. And if it was indeed Liam, that meant Liam had just caught him mentioning not only Saa'ir, but even Giona's names aloud.

An awkward hush settled over the room for a moment—a moment that felt like aeons to Dama as his mind raced for an explanation, a stark contrast ot his bodym which remained completely still. After that moment, Dama slowly turned to the origin of the voice, his bones creaking as if he was some door.

In the corner, perched on an armrest chair, sat Liam with a book in hand. Dama's breath hitched as Liam closed the book and set it on the chair's arm. He then locked gazes with the boy and smiled, relief in his eyes.

"Dama," Liam began, voice warm, "I'm so glad you've woken up. You slept for an entire day—that's not like you." He rose from the chair and walked to Dama's bedside, pausing to offer a sympathetic nod. "Seems you're okay though." His face then hardened. "But, I must ask something that's been on my mind lately—and I'm sorry for asking this right after you woke up—Who is Giona?"

Dama's heart swelled, sank, and staggered all at once, pounding as Liam's question hung in the air. He opened his mouth, then closed it, fumbling for words. After another long and awkward silence—broken only by Dama's strained stutters—he could only manage a weak, "H—Huh?"

Liam's steady gaze didn't waver. "Who is Giona?" he repeated.

Heat rose in Dama's cheeks. He laughed hoarsely, rubbing the back of his head. "G-Giona? I—I have no idea who you're talking abo—Oh! You must mean G-Giona Evelyn Tamaki! The first witch in history…and only Giona I know of, yeah!" His forced laughter trailed off in obvious nervousness.

However, Liam's face told Dama he wasn't buying it. With his laugh stopping for a second to think, Dama then whipped toward Mumu and Nini. "Right, Mumu and N-Nini? We don't know of any Gionas other than Giona Evelyn Tamaki, r-right?" He said in a frantic attempt to gain more leverage for his obvious lie.

Exchanging a silent glance between each other, Mumu and Nini then looked at Liam and nodded, agreeing with Dama. Unfortunately, they take after their master, their faces betraying the lie they're desperately trying to uphold.

Liam simply sighed and stood from the chair. "Dama, you know you can trust me," he said gently, "and you're not fooling anyone with that. You two as well, Mumu and Nini."

Dama's nervous chuckle faltered as he realized the truth in Liam's words. Liam continued in a calm manner, "I've noticed you've been—different—for months. Things like staying locked in your cabin for days a year ago. Always bringing only Mumu or Nini with you down into the village, but never both. Mentioning the name 'Giona' from time to time, like when we were in the carriage and just now. All of that among other things..."

Dama's head sank as Liam's observations mounted. "But, what tips me off the most is how you've been spending a lot of time with Chiefess Tsubasa—she's in and out of your cabin, carrying those teaching notes to you. Dama, who do you think helps her with those teaching notes? I know for a fact the lessons on them aren't for a child as bright as you are. Not to mention her requesting custom-made dresses from Alexandra for a girl neither of us have met."

Each revelation weighed on Dama until his bangs shadowed his eyes. Liam paused, gauging Dama's reaction, then added, "Moa Yono came to me with the same worries, so I know I'm not alone on this."

Dama closed his eyes, guilt and a tinge of fear burning in his chest. He didn't want to reveal Giona, not yet, but it seemed like Liam has left him no choice.

Liam then stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on Dama's shoulder. "If you're hiding something, please tell me. I promise I won't tell a soul without your permission. I'm on your side, Dama. I just want to help and keep you safe, no matter what." he said before cocking his head to the side with a grin. "And if you really are, don't worry about Moa, I've already made sure she keeps quiet until I've figured things out."

Hearing this, Dama took a slow breath, then slowly turned to face Liam, his mind already made up. "Alright," he said quietly, "I'll tell you everything..."

-

Next: (Chapter 74) Dama's Secret

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