"Edward Emberlynn, the audacity of you trying to escape." the elder points a finger at him, furrowing his brows furiously "Stop this nonsense or else…"

"Honorable One, hello there." playing with his pocket watch, the older blond wears a nonchalant smile "You always have your eyes on me, don't you?"

The elder clicks his tongue and the guards behind him step into their fighting position, ready to charge at them when orders arrive.

"Why don't we just end this in a calmer way? You let us go and we promise to not make things more difficult for you?"

"And I will be a gullible fool to believe your words, Edward Emberlynn. You, your wife, and that little girl stay here. I already reported to Glimmerbrook School of Magic about the involvement of Lumera Faba and Marlin Ember."

"Yikes, he sure acts fast for a guy his age…" Marlin's voice is nothing but sarcastic.

Edward sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. This man will never give up, won't he…?

"Had you listened to me years ago and inherited the leadership role, none of this would have happened. You had such a bright future, Edward, yet you chose to throw everything away for a mere woman like her."

Primrose raises a brow at his words, turning to her parents. What is this man talking about?

"And what did that woman do to help you? Nothing! You threw away your future, ran from your duty, and now, your children are troublemakers. This is the kind of children you and your wife raise, Edward." the elder spats out bitterly " You are all nothing but fools!"

"You do not talk about my parents like that!"

The raven head steps up and shouts at him, she refuses to stand on the sideline just to listen to his insults. Rosalina rests a hand on her daughter's shoulder, shaking her head lightly. There is no point arguing with someone who refuses to accept the truth.

This man has opposed their union for many years now, citing that she is the problem that Edward chose to give up his inheritance to his brother. No matter how much she tries to prove herself as a worthy partner, this man refuses to accept her marriage with Edward. Even decades later, he still tries to find ways to insult them, nagging about how House Emberlynn can have a better future under her husband's leadership.

Edward did not choose to give up his heir title just because he wanted to. This man forced him to choose between House Emberlynn and her, refusing to compromise or at least, seeing things from the older blond's perspective. So Edward chose her, he chose to be with the woman he loves…

"Enough with the idle chit-chat. We will get out here, whether you like it or not, Honorable One."

"If that is how you wish, Edward Emberlynn. Guards! Seize them!"

Lumera pulls out a vial tube with purple liquid and throws it at the charging guards. A small explosion, followed by a ghastly purple smoke, her concoction knocks them to the ground in one swift move. She does not need to injure these men, all she needs to do is to put them in a peaceful slumber.

A few are able to dodge her attack and sneak up on her from behind, but before their strike can land on her, a water shield wraps around Lumera, protecting her from harm. Primrose manipulates the water torrents, forming waves of liquid blades blasting at them. Another large body of water is created on the ground, slowing their movements. One guard runs up to her, holding a blade in his hand and strikes down, she nimbly avoids the attack, swirling with a water whip in her hand, catching the blade with one swift move.

"Gotcha!" she giggles and her face lights up, feeling amazing about herself.

"Sweet one, think I can do better than you?" Rosalina teases, swinging her spear with grace.

"Would it be better for both of us to do it?"

A water spear forms on her hand as she leans onto her mother's back, providing support from behind. The two women swing their spears, and water torrents dance around them, deflecting any attacks that land on them. Their movements are swift and agile, and their attacks are precise and deadly. The mother-daughter duo moves in synchronizing, their spears thrust into the air, cutting throw anyone who dares to stand in their way.

"My my, look at them go." Lumera is in awe at the beautiful yet deadly dance Primrose and Rosalina are doing "I can not lose to them…"

A green liquid is thrown at the guards, building a substance that glues their feet on the ground, stopping them from advancing.

"Marlin, now!"

The blond mage conjures his magic on the tip of his fingers, waves of flame hurling at their foes. The scorching heat melts through the guards' robes, making them cry out in pain. Lumera is not willing to let her husband take the stage, with a snap of her fingers, light bullets shoot at the onslaught, knocking them back as the green substance catches their feet, stopping their movements.

Edward is having the best moment in his life, playing with all the guards with his pocket watch. Some of them move incredibly slow and others stop before they can land a hit on him. With one swipe of his finger, thunder strikes them, leaving the men paralyzed under his attack. He calls out his daughter's name and Primrose immediately understands her task, creating another body of water on the ground. The moment the guards step on it, the older blond snaps his fingers, lightning hurling down on his foes, the attack is more intensified due to the liquid under their feet.

"You little…!"

The elder angrily charges at him, hurling energy balls at Edward as he avoids them easily. The older blond smirks, enjoying the fight. That man may be an old geezer but his magic prowess is nothing to look down on, fixing his glass, he knows that he must play this game carefully.

The elder forms another energy ball in his hand and hurls it at him. A vortex appears, swallowing the attack and landing it on the guards, causing them to grunt in pain as they slump on the dirt floor. More foes charge at him and Edward puts them down easily, but the sheer number of guards is disturbing. He feels like he is in some war instead of a small battle between two men. No matter how many attacks he and everyone are throwing out, the guards still come to them.

"Edward, this is…"

Rosalina calls him. She notices it too, the vast number of foes that keep throwing themselves at her and everyone.

"What is this, Honorable One? Did you have the green light to bring this many guards to stop us?" Edward asks him in a mocking tone.

"Are you scared, Edward Emberlynn?" the elder laughs maniacally, his eerie laugh fills the air and Primrose feels uneasy just listening to it "I am the member of the elder council of House Emberlynn. I have the right to bring as many guards as I want."

Marlin steps back and breathes heavily. The fight with Edward's shadow and this one has finally taken a toll on him, his magic becomes weakened and Lumera is patching him up with her healing magic. He looks at Primrose and Rosalina who are also having a hard time knocking down the onslaughting waves of enemy. It almost feels like this elder is not planning to capture them, but instead, he wants to eliminate everyone.

The elder swiftly pulls himself back, letting his underlings attack Edward as he swiftly moves to the other part of the fight, where Rosalina and Primrose are fending off the foes. His main objective is simple, to get rid of Rosalina Emberlynn, the woman who was formerly known as Nobara Minamoto.

This woman is the source of all problems. Had she not existed in this world, then Edward would have taken the leadership role and led House Emberlynn into the brightest, most prosperous future yet. But no, she bewitches the shining star of the family, forcing him to choose her and abandon his duty. Just thinking about how much trouble she has caused them makes the elder's blood boil.

He is a member of the elderly council, what he says is absolute. No one will be able to say otherwise because his words are for the sake of House Emberlynn, everyone knows that. If he laid his hands on Rosalina Emberlynn, it would also be for the sake of their house. For the Emberlynn legacy, this woman must disappear.

"Mom, watch out!"

Primrose jumps in front of her mother, shielding the woman from the incoming attack. The elder is throwing some kind of powder at them and it hits her eyes, causing the raven head to scream in pain. Her eyes sting at the contact, the blend of spice and herbs causing irritation as she fumbles to wipe off the powder. But the more she tries to do it, the more painful it becomes.

Rosalina grits her teeth angrily and swings her spear with one swift attack, knocking down the foes. She doesn't have time for this, she must run to her daughter's side. Primrose is in danger…

"You little brat! Get out of my way!"

An energy ball hurls at her, sending Primrose flying. Her whole body slams against the tree, causing her to cough off blood and slump onto the dirt ground.

"Primrose!"

Lumera runs to her side immediately, checking her injuries. She holds onto her hands, stopping the raven head from rubbing her eyes and further damaging them. Rosalina is also by her side, wiping a small sample of the powder on Primrose's face and bringing it to her lips. The woman immediately notices the tingling sensation, the spicy and bitterness on the tip of her tongue as she spits out the sample.

"Blinding powder infused with false morel mushroom…" she concludes, knitting her brows furiously "But the false morel mushroom are…"

Edward's whole body is shaking at the sight of his daughter getting hurt by that man and what Rosalina just said. Four vortexes form around the elder, hand-shaped projectile grabs onto his limps, stopping the man from moving. With a snap of his fingers, the tentacles twist their hold, causing the elder to cry out in pain. The older blond steps closer to him, blue eyes shining brightly and yet, carrying a murderous intent.

He is angry…

"No one will mourn you…"

"E-Edward Emberlynn…" the man grunts as another tentacle moves up his neck, circling it with a firm hold "Y-you dare to lay your hands on me, on an Elder of House Emberlynn?"

"Oh, your title means nothing to me, Honorable One!" the older blond leans in, staring dead in his eyes "You dare to hurt my daughter, I will make sure you don't get a chance to see tomorrow's sunrise, you old fool…"

The elder struggles to break free, but the more he thrashes his body, the tighter those tentacles hold onto him. Edward keeps a cold and soulless eye on the elder, he does not have the intention to let this man go. The moment the elder is captured in his magic, the guards stop advancing, glancing at each other, unsure what to do. Their leader is at the mercy of Edward Emberlynn.

"Enough, Edward. Let him go right now!"

A firm voice booms in the air, ordering the older blond to stop what he is doing. Alfred steps out of a portal, followed by a few guards draped in robes with the Emberlynn crest embedded in the cloth. The elder's eyes open widely, excited that he is saved. Right now, the Head of House Emberlynn has seen everything in front of him, how Edward is attacking an elder, and the involvement of two faculties at Glimmerbrook School of Magic.

"Edward, don't do this. Let me handle this." Alfred walks to his brother, setting a hand on Edward's tensed shoulders.

"M-my lord, please save me!" the elder thrashes his body, calling out to his lord "He tries to kill me. Please save me!"

"Honorable one…" the moment Edward closes his hand and the tentacles lower the man onto the dirt ground, Alfred flicks his fingers and his underlings immediately seize the man "You have committed a crime…"

Unauthorized usage of guards and unauthorized access into House Emberlynn's poison convoy, on top of that, mocking and smearing Alfred's leadership, the elder is too blinded by the hatred and bitterness he harbors for Edward and his marriage with Rosalina.

"M-my lord, th-that is because I only want the best for H-House Emberlynn…"

"The best or not, you commit a crime. Now, shall I consider the same punishment you are pushing onto Nathaniel Emberlynn for you too?" Alfred glances at the man on the floor who is struggling to find the right word to defend himself "Ah, why would I care about your reasons when Nathaniel did not have such privilege to explain himself for the action he did?"

"Y-you…you both…" the elder stares at them, realizing that Alfred and Edward have been working together this whole time "I-I am the member of the elderly council of House Emberlynn, I have every right to do what must be done to protect this family."

"And by protecting this family, you meant stealing the false morel mushroom from the poison convoy and injuring Primrose Emberlynn with it?" Alfred stands tall, unwavering for whatever reasons the elder is trying to convey.

"You are blinded by the hatred and anger you have for me and my family, Honorable One. Too blinded that you never realize that the person you have laid your hands on is also the Lady of House Vatore."

Alfred and the elder both stare at the older blond, their eyes almost pop out of the socket at the revelation. Edward points out the obvious pendant Primrose is wearing, one that bears the crest of House Vatore. Throughout the long history of the Vatore family, only the Lady of the House is gifted with this pendant, one that is passed down from generation to generation.

"I-it can't be…" the elder fumbles on his words "You're lying! Sh-she…"

"Lying or not, you have made a grave mistake. If something happens to House Emberlynn because of the pain you inflict on my daughter, you realize what it means, right?" crouching down on one knee, he glares at the man "Honorable One?"

Alfred sighs, knowing there will be more trouble ahead if he can not deal with this man and his frantic actions. Ordering the guards to send him back to House Emberlynn's prison, he turns to his brother, asking what the older blond would do next. In the case of Nathaniel, Alfred promises another meeting will be conducted and it will probably lower his punishment, especially with what happened today.

"It hurts!"

Their conversation is cut short by Primrose's cries and Edward walks to his daughter's side immediately. Rosalina wipes off the power with a clean, wet cloth while Lumera soothes the pain with her healing magic. But the damage is already done…

"Hush now, sweet one. Don't cry. It will hurt even more if you cry." Rosalina wraps a white bandage around Primrose's eyes, telling her to stop crying as it will only hurt her even more.

"I can't see anything…" she sobs "Mom, Dad…"

"We're here, Primrose! We're right here by your side." Edwards holds onto her delicate body, using his own body heat to ease her tension.

"It hurts…I can't…"

She sees nothing but vast darkness and for the first time, she becomes afraid of the dark, not used to being blinded like this. Distressed, she seeks out any source of comfort, grabbing onto Lumera and Marlin's hands to chase away the fear that slowly builds in her heart.

It hurts, it's scary…

Caleb…

Primrose calls out his name, wanting to be with him right now. He will chase her fear away, no doubt about it.

Marlin suggests that they should all come to the Vatore estate, especially when their residence needs a lot of fixing. The battle between them and the elder has caused major damage to the Emberlynn's house. While it is fixable, what is more important is to bring Primrose to Caleb, knowing that no one is able to soothe her the way the vampire lord can.

Rosalina and Edward agree, that their daughter's need is the most important thing right now. They turn to Lumera and ask her to cast a sleeping spell on Primrose, hoping to stop her from crying as she has become so frantic that all she can do is cry. When the raven head is falling into a deep slumber, Rosalina retreats a few herbs and medicines in their house, planning to concoct a remedy to fix her daughter's eyesight, before taking their leave.

"Where are you going, Edward?" Alfred asks him, eyeing his niece in her father's arms.

"Somewhere that is safe for Primrose. Contact me when you're done with the meeting, yeah?"

"Of course. I will make sure that justice is served for you and your family this time, brother."