"Nathaniel!"

Edward's voice is firm, he stays at a safe distance, watching his son's walking on the path of destruction. Nathaniel, broken and devastated, sobs and screams as he continues to lash out at the surroundings, his heart heavy with the unbearable pain and the knowledge that he has lost control.

He has lost it and allows the darkness inside to consume him…

But the older blond doesn't give up, he needs to bring his son back to his senses and ground to his sanity. Watching the time in his hand, only 5 minutes left…

"Nathaniel, you're coming with me, even if it means I have to use force on you."

"Go away…"

Those words coming out of his mouth are broken yet threatening as Nathaniel turns to Don Lothario, who is still frozen on the wall, blood coming out of his lips and eyes pop out of his sockets, fearful for his life. This garbage of a human, Nathaniel will make sure this man pays for everything he did to Ember with his life.

"Enough Nathaniel!"

A strike of lightning lands on the blond as he gasps in pain, slumping down onto the freezing floor. The shock of lightning paralyzes him. Edwards sighs, sad and yet disappointed at the same time. He never wished to use this punishment on his son, but today, the blond has gone too far.

Using magic in front of civilians is already a crime of its own, whether his intention is good or not. In this case, Nathaniel is willing to hurt a mortal, planning to eliminate him. It doesn't matter if Don is a scumbag that needs to be put in jail, or the blond can no longer control his anger, it is not his place to pass judgment and deliver the punishment.

Nathaniel has gone against the teaching of House Emberlynn…

And for that, he must be detained…

A void portal appears in the scene, a group of people wearing robes with the Emberlynn crest bearing on the cloth surrounding them. A man walks to Edward, wearing a complex expression on his face. Closing his eyes, he gives the older blond a sympathy pat on the shoulders before motioning his underlings to take Nathaniel with them.

"I will take care of this the best I can, Edward." sighing, he looks at the young blond who is being dragged on the floor and into the portal "Clean up this mess for me."

Edward looks at his still-unconscious son, sucking at his breathing. There is an invisible hand snatches onto his heart, squeezing it painfully to the point he finds it hard to breathe. He wants none of this to happen, but Nathaniel has gone too far tonight. Punishment shall be served to those who go against the teaching of House Emberlynn and Edward can only hope that his brother, Head of the House, can do something to help his nephew in this messed up situation.

That is all he can hope for, but for now, he must focus on his task…

"Edward!"

Rosalina runs up to him, worried and sad. The defeated look on her husband's face says it all as she holds onto his arms and guides him to the living room, where they are met with Primrose and Ember.

"Dad…" his daughter speaks up, her voice is merely a whisper "Is Nat…?"

"For now, we will have to trust your uncle." that is all Edward can say.

The news don on them, grim and stressful, as they now have to sit back a await the verdict of Nathaniel's punishment. House Emberlynn has strict rules for anyone who dares to commit a crime under their name, while they can be here and acknowledge the blond's action as an act of justice, the same viewpoint can not be applied to the elders of the house.

"Primrose, w-what will happen to Nathaniel?" Ember looks at her, lips quivering and puffy eyes, she has been crying a lot.

The raven head doesn't know how to answer. If her uncle, Alfred Emberlynn, manages to persuade the elders, then Nathaniel will probably be sentenced to doing community service. However, if he can not do it, they will have a big problem. The most severe punishment she can think of right now is how her brother will be stripped of his magic ability, leaving him nothing more than a normal human being.

"B-but he did it for my sake, Nathaniel, he…"

Ember cries, she refuses to believe that this is true. It is all her fault. If she had been stronger and told him everything, if she had the power to get out of her parent's manipulation, then none of this would ever happen.

"Let me talk to them, maybe if they hear my side of the story, they will…"

"No Ember, you can not do that." Rosalina looks at the poor girl, her voice is soft and soothing "No matter how justified his actions are, it doesn't change the fact that Nathaniel did something horrible."

"B-but…"

"Ember! What Nathaniel did was not an act of defense, he wanted to destroy Don Lothario." Edward crosses his legs, sighing "No reason can justify that."

The harsh reality of what will happen to her boyfriend crumbles every hope she has left and Ember, unable to control her emotions, cries in Primrose's arms. Her cries, filled to the brim with pain and agony, is an opera that reflects on her past mistakes, how cruel this world is to her and Nathaniel, how justice has left their side for a bastard of a human, and so many more.

She cries for him, for how brave Nathaniel is and how his actions are now devilized just because he wants to put an end to her pain. She cries for herself, for how cruel her parents are, and how her life will be ruined by their hands.

Unlike Primrose, whose tears reflect on the strength of her heart. Ember's tears serve as the darkness of her life has now consumed her, that light of hope that she has desperately clung to is nothing more than a blow-out candle.

While the Emberlynn's household is mourning for what is about to come, in Willow Creek, the council of elders is assembled. Each one sits on a chair of state, clad with velvety white as the mystical luminescent around them, warm yellow tone. They sit in a circle, with the highest seat belonging to Alfred, reflecting his status as the Head of House Emberlynn. The crest of the family hangs high, shining brightly with a brilliant white hue, a reminder of their house's values and orders.

Despite the warm yellow tone in the chamber, the air is thick around them. Whimsical yet eerie, an ominous atmosphere wraps around the room like a blanket, an aura of solemnity and respect. The elders, guardians of tradition and justice, have gathered to deliberate the fate of one of their own.

This meeting is held to determine the punishment of Nathaniel Emberlynn…

"What he did was unacceptable, our house has never committed such a violent act on a mortal." the first opinion is served, breaking the ominous silence.

"He showed magic in front of civilians and tried to kill one of them. That goes completely against the teaching of House Emberlynn."

"Banish him, he has no right to be an Emberlynn if he chooses to commit those violent acts."

Alfred sits straight up, listening attentively to what the elders have to say. He knows that what Nathaniel did has crossed the line of defense and aggressively defeated a foe, but he is also his nephew, there must be a way to navigate through this meeting without giving the blond severe punishment.

"But we must understand why he did what he did." he speaks up "Don Lothario proves to be a foe the moment he inflicts pain on those around him. Something must have happened that led Nathaniel to react like that."

"I share the same idea as you are, my lord. Nathaniel Emberlynn is a good kid, he is the son of Edward Emberlynn, and we all know that Lord Edward is very strict when it comes to his kids."

"True true, but we can not just let this slide. It may be his first crime, but this is a serious one. He almost ends a life…" another elder points out his actions "If we don't punish him for this, that boy will never learn that his actions have consequences."

"I suggest a year-long community service. Nathaniel still has a bright future ahead and giving up on such a talented individual like him would be a loss to House Emberlynn." Alfred voices his opinion "He can reflect on his mistake with this."

"My lord, you are too kind. He almost killed a man, what would happen if he succeeded in doing so? A year-long community service is way too soft for a murderer like him." another one interjects with harsh words that make Alfred wince.

"Watch your language, Nathaniel is not a murderer," he speaks up firmly at the accusation.

"From what happened, it is safe to say that he is on his way to become one. We must punish him for what he did. He has brought shame to this family!" slamming their hands on the armrest, they insist "He may be your nephew, my lord, but that doesn't exempt him from any form of harsh punishment."

Alfred becomes tense at the change in the air, noticing that his suggestion is being disregarded. The elders want a more severe punishment, not only to preserve the laws and orders of their House but also to serve as a warning to the current and next generation.

"I say locking up his magic. If he is willing to harm those who are weaker than him, then there is no point for Nathaniel Emberlynn to keep and maintain his power."

The opinion is widely praised among the elders, who believe that is the suitable punishment for a man who commits a horrible crime. Nathaniel can still pursue his human career and live the life of a mortal, he may not have magic anymore, but that doesn't affect his future.

Alfred furrows his brows, what they are proposing is even worse than banishment. To keep the name Emberlynn yet strip away Nathaniel's power, what is the point of that? He voices his objection, but the elders are pushing it even more, believing that it is the best outcome for the blond. Some of the elders even state that if Nathaniel becomes successful in the future, it can bring in good words for House Emberlynn's reputation.

"This is the best outcome for him and our House, my lord. We insist that you agree to this verdict."

Edward and Rosalina sit at the coffee table, across from Alfred. Their hearts sink the moment Alfred announces the agreement on Nathaniel's punishment.

"To lock his magic forever?" Rosalina's voice is trembling at the news.

"Brother, is there no other option?" Edward leans onto the table, frantically asking him "There are different methods of punishment, why do they have resolve to this?"

Alfred shakes his head, recalling the meeting with the elders. He tried to persuade them, giving a different perspective on Nathaniel's case and even questioning what Don Lothario had done that pushed his nephew to his breaking point. But all fell on deaf ears as most of the elders unanimously agreed that none of his words mattered when the consequences of Nathaniel's actions had led to Don Lothario being hospitalized.

"It was a good thing that you were there, Edward. No one recalls what they saw that night. If you didn't come to clean up that mess, Nathaniel would be in bigger trouble."

"Bigger trouble? You mean banishing him from the family? Alfred, what they are doing is even worse." Edward protests "There is no point of him carrying his family name if you choose to strip away his magic."

"I know, Edward. But there is nothing I can do, the council has decided on this and they will deliver the punishment tomorrow."

"I won't let them lay a hand on my son." the older blond slams his hand on the coffee table, speaking with full conviction "Rosalina, grab my cloak. I will have to pay them a visit."

His wife speaks up with concern, asking him to calm down and they must assess this situation carefully. She suggests bringing up her side of the family as they need to have a say in this as well, considering how Nathaniel is the only male member of the Minamoto family who can use magic. Edward nods in agreement, believing that it can give his son a way out by involving his mother's family in the meeting.

But Alfred speaks against this, addressing the issue of bringing outsiders into the verdict can cause the elders to become more aggressive with Nathaniel's punishment. He tells his brother to not act hastily, especially when the council has accused him of being biased since the blond is his nephew. He promises to persuade the council, but with little time they have left, Edward and Rosalina's worries increase drastically.

Primrose silently listens to her parents's conversation with Alfred. The punishment, in her opinion, is too severe, considering who Nathaniel was dealing with at the time. If she was in his shoes, the raven head would do the same thing, maybe even worse.

If Primrose gets involved in her father's side of the family more, she might understand where the elders are coming from. But Edward and Rosalina raise them in an environment that stays far away from their influence, and now, she is seeing how House Emberlynn is directly involved in Nathaniel's life, potentially creating a big change in his future. She becomes uneasy knowing that…

She has to do something, she can not let those people decide on her brother's life like that.

Edward while talking to his brother, glances at the hallway leading to the kitchen. He sends Rosalina a knowing look and she nods, understanding what her husband is talking about. Alfred takes his leave, promising to protect Nathaniel at all costs and stating that he will hold another meeting today to persuade the stubborn elders to change their minds.

"Don't worry, Edward. I won't let anything happen to Nathaniel."

"I'm counting on you, Alfred."

Primrose walks to the living room when her uncle leaves, waiting for her parents to break the news to her. The atmosphere in their house is heavy, silence grows louder as the announcement of Nathaniel's punishment still hangs in the air.

"What now?" breaking the ominous silence, she speaks up.

"I know what you are thinking Primrose. No, we're not acting hasty. Any act of protest right now will only hurt your brother more." fixing his glasses, Edward sits back on the chair, resting his chin on top of his hands.

"But Dad, they will deliver the punishment tomorrow. We can't just sit here and do nothing." she exclaims "We need to get him out of there!"

"And go where Primrose? Where can he hide?" the older blond raises his voice, raising an eyebrow at his daughter's unreasonable suggestion "The moment he steps out of that place, House Emberlynn will hunt him down until they get their hands on him again. And what's going to happen after that, I think you understand very well."

The raven head's hand balls into a fist, knowing what her father is talking about. But even with Alfred's promise, she doesn't believe that those people will change their minds.

"Dad, he needs us. He needs our help." she looks at him, onyx eyes pleading "He has done nothing wrong, from start to finish."

"You're condoning his action against Don Lothario?"

"That bastard deserves it! Had he not tried to provoke Nathaniel and laid his hands on Ember, none of this would have happened. And even now, everyone is against my brother, the school, Ember's parents, that sickening scumbag, and now, his entire clan is on his back." Primrose holds one hand to her heart as she confesses "He only has us, Dad. No one else but us…"

Rosalina picks up what she just said and questions Primrose on what she means by everyone being against Nathaniel. Her daughter recalls the story of what happened to the blond, the fake ID and the staged attack that Victor and Lily Feng created to frame a crime on Nathaniel, subsequently pushing Ember to break up with him so they could sell their daughter in an arranged marriage. She mentions Don Lothario and his vile comments about Ember, how he was touching her inappropriately to rile up the blond and Nathaniel, unfortunately, took the bait.

"The rest…well, you all know what happened…"

"Primrose, why didn't you tell us about this?" Rosalina raises her voice, visibly upset at her daughter "You should have told us sooner!"

"I'm sorry, but Emerald and I are trying to bring this to light, but we need concrete evidence to build this case." Primrose feels a pang of guilt, knowing that she should have shared the details with her parents sooner. "From what I know, the Fengs only used this to force Ember into agreeing to marry Don Lothario. No one in the university knows about this."

"So you're telling me that Foxbury's faculties conspired with the Fengs to come up with this accusation against my son?" Edward asks her, blue eyes as cold as ice "I see, so that is what they want to do…"

Rosalina is pacing back and forth, anxiously hitting her palm. This has gone beyond what she can imagine. Ignoring the fact that House Emberlynn's elder council is eyeing her son, the university where he is attending is trying to frame him as a criminal. Edward tousles his hair, trying to come up with any kind of plan to help his son.

Primrose sighs, looking at her parents who are with worries in her eyes. None of them are unsure of what action to take. The raven head rubs the side of her head, trying to stimulate her memories in hopes of catching any piece of information she may have missed amid this chaotic situation. And then, she comes across what Don Lothario said during their confrontation…

You're no match for the power and influence I hold.

What power and influence he was talking about…?

"Actually, come to think of it, have you all heard anything about the recent people missing incidents?" Like a lightbulb just lights up on top of her head, Rosalina questions them.

"You mean the ones that relate to the human trafficking case the police are looking into?" Edward raises a brow.

"Yes, that one. Maybe I'm thinking too much, but…" she stops for a moment, before continuing her theory "Don't you all think that maybe, just maybe, Don Lothario is involved in this?"

Her mom's words strike them as Edward and Primrose stare at her like she is growing a second head. But the more they think about it, the more it makes sense. Is this the power and influence Don Lothario is talking about?

"It makes sense, considering he is a regular at that bar. The Pulse Paradiso Club, right Primrose?" the name earns him a nod from his daughter "On top of that, it is in Evergreen Harbor. The location is too good for those kinds of work…"

"If we can prove that Nathaniel attacked Don Lothario that night to stop him from doing human trafficking, then…" her face lights up at the thought, that is a perfect opportunity.

But her father shakes his head, telling her not to act hasty. Proving Don Lothario to be guilty is a difficult task and this is just a theory they come up with in the midst of desperation. On top of that, they need to make the Fengs pay for what they did to Nathaniel. To put his future and the reputation of their family at stake like that, the Fengs must be exposed for their horrible deeds.

Sighing, there is no going back now…

Edward walks to his office and brings out an amulet, giving it to Primrose.

"Dad, what is this?" she looks at the talisman in her hand, confused.

"We will stay back to buy him some time." with a serious tone in his voice, he looks at her "You, Primrose, will infiltrate the Emberlynn manor and get Nathaniel out of there."