"Where are you going?" Ivy paused, squeezing the handrail a little. She slowly turned her head to look at the man standing on the second floor, leaning wearily against the wall and looking at her. Phil. She had thought he was resting upstairs, she wondered if a few hours of rest would be enough to revive the man. His hair is still brown today, and Ivy wonders when it will return to its original black color. "You have been out a lot lately."

"I'm going for a walk." Ivy mechanically answered. She didn't want to have to tell them that she was seeing a friend outside every day. And things would only get worse if they knew who she was meeting. "Robin said I could go out for a walk."

"You want to take a walk?" Phil's eyes widened, and Ivy stopped herself from backing away. She tightened her grip on the handrail of the stairs, watching Phil slowly walk down the steps to her. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. Phil's eyes were scary, they were cold, lifeless. And as Phil approached, she heard the shrill screams coming from his magic. And Ivy felt her head spin. His voice hissed. "You can't go out."

Ivy pursed her lips, her golden eyes wide. The hand gripped her shoulder painfully, her fingers clinging to the handrail of the stairs turned white. Ivy stared at Phil's close-up face, feeling a shiver. Ivy parted her lips, wanting to answer, but Phil's hand tightened around Ivy's, and she thought her shoulder was about to be crushed by him.

"Phil."

Robin shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

Ivy looked at Phil, saw him startled, and jerked his hand away from Ivy's body. She instinctively stepped back, and lost her balance. Ivy was bewildered, she saw the panicked expression on Phil's face as he reached out his hand. But Ivy was so scared, she shied away from his hand, Ivy's wrist made a small crack. She let out a low hiss as if she was still trying to hold on to the handrail of the stairs. A large hand grabbed Ivy's shoulder before she slipped and fell. Ivy fell into Robin's heaving chest.

Ivy tried not to shake when his hand touched her shoulder, which Phil had just squeezed. She felt the pain pass through. Ivy frowned slightly, she quickly grabbed the railing with both hands and stood up straight. Ivy whispered.

"Thank you, Robin."

"Are you okay?" Concerned, Robin pulled out his wand to check if Ivy was injured, but when he saw the way she dodged his wand, he paused. Robin sighed, raised a hand to ruffle Ivy's hair, and whispered. "You can go, it's good to go out for a walk."

"No." Phil screamed and Ivy tried not to startle herself because of his voice. She quietly turned to look at her godfather. He was also clutching the handrail of the stairs, his eyes becoming frantic and out of focus. Phil rushed over, wanting to grab Ivy, but Robin was faster, he took her in his arms and stopped Phil's hand. "She can't go anywhere. She has to stay here. Outside, it's dangerous outside."

Ivy stood motionless, she didn't answer, slowly regulating her breathing. She tried to forget the pain that was coming from her wrist, from her shoulder. Ivy tried to ignore the shouting and arguing between Phil and Robin. Trying to suppress the wailing from the magic of the two of them. She... wanted to get out of here.

"Philip." Robin hissed. "She has the right to go out."

"Robin?" Phil called out bewildered. "No, you know it's dangerous out there..."

"Are you going to lock the girl up?" Robin rolled his eyes. He hugged Ivy tightly. And for the first time, Robin realized how small and frail she looked. Ivy stood there motionless, he was wondering when Ivy had learned to put up with all this. For Merlin's sake, Ivy had to live with Phil who was in this unstable state for a long time. "Ivy has the right to go out, stop it, Phil."

"I... I'm just trying to protect her."

"You're..."

"Robin." Ivy whispered, using her uninjured hand to grab his arm that was hugging her. Ivy gave a small smile, her golden eyes sparkling, shimmering with solf light and full of tolerance. "It's okay."

Ivy looked over at her godfather. She looked at him for a long time, at him sitting down on the steps, at him bewildered, terrified at her in Robin's arms. Ivy walked over, she stood in front of Robin, tilting her head and smiling.

"I won't go out." Ivy whispered, she reached out, hugged Phil, his ear pressed against her chest. Ivy let him hear the sound of her heart still beating in her chest. Ivy stroked her godfather's messy light brown hair, and lowered her head, her golden eyes shining softly. Ivy's fingers, out of sight of the two men, lit up. "I won't go out, I'll stay here, I'll be safe here."

Ivy slowly felt the sharp pain go straight to her brain, but she stood there, stroking Phil's hair, then watched him slowly close his eyes, breathe slowly, and fall asleep. Ivy's fingers stopped emitting light, she felt Robin approaching. Ivy smiled, trying to hide the pain she was feeling, she looked at him.

"Can you take him to his room?"

Robin looked at Ivy confused, but then nodded. Ivy stood there motionless, silently watching her godfather's back rest on Robin's as he carried Phil upstairs and back to his room. Robin looked at her silently, Ivy still smiling, her eyes curved up, so gentle, like nothing had happened.

Robin said quietly. "Go, Ivy. You can still go for a walk."

Ivy smiled faintly, nodded, then watched the two men disappear from her sight.

It will be okay... these pains... she can still endure...

"You're late." Shu didn't even turn his head, he heard the door slam shut behind him. The only person besides him who can enter this warehouse can only be Ivy. And they had met for the past three days, prepared the ingredients together, and had already begun to take the first steps in making the Glamourous Potion. "In the meantime, I prepared some more ingredients..."

Shu turned his head, and he saw Ivy leaning against the door, her face pale. Shu opened his eyes wide, quickly put down the knife in his hand, he hurriedly walked over. Lethifold somehow crawled onto Ivy's body, lying on her chest. Shu watched her gaze slightly out of focus as she stared at the snake. He reached out, but before he could touch Ivy, she slid down, sitting on the ground.

"Ivy? What's wrong?" Shu hastily grabbed Ivy's shoulder, and when she let out a small groan, he quickly withdrew his hand. "You're...injured..."

"It's okay." Ivy weakly replied. She rested her head on the door, cold sweat running down her forehead. Ivy felt her head hurt, the pain kept coming and she felt she could faint at any moment. And Ivy felt so lucky that she got here in time, she couldn't have fainted at home. The cool feeling on her shoulder made Ivy take a deep breath, she caught a glimpse of Shu's hand, the ring on his index finger glowed softly, and the magic was pouring from it into her body. "Shu...?"

"It's my Heir's ring." Shu said softly, he stared at the soft light from the ring reaching Ivy's shoulder, pursed his lips. "It might heal your wounds somewhat."

Ivy nodded. She lowered her head to look at Lethifold, the snake raising its head, to say something to her, and Shu suddenly felt that this conversation was not going well.

"Bleue's wrist."

Bleue, a cute nickname Lethifold called her. Ivy shook her head slightly, letting out a sigh as the pain in her shoulder disappeared somewhat and her mind cleared. Ivy tried not to think about the other injuries, hissing softly at Lethifold.

"It's okay."

"Let Smoke heal it." Lethifold hissed, it propped up on Shu's ringed arm as he dropped his hand of her shoulder. And Ivy could see him staring at it, she sighed. And as Lethifold wraps it around Shu's wrist, its head reaching towards her injured wrist, Shu notices that Ivy's left arm is lying in a very strange position. "You don't have to do it."

Ivy tried to hide her hand. Shu glanced at her, didn't say a word, walked over, he reached out his hand, and Ivy saw underneath the arm that was exposed from Shu's shirt, very thin bruises, like he was hitting by something. She was silent, then watched as he carefully took her hand, unbuttoning Ivy's wrist, revealing her scaly wounds. Shu's hand stopped, then continued to pull up her sleeve, watching her wrist twist to the side.

"What's this?"

"Nothing."

"How's your hand?"

"Nothing."

Ivy smiled softly, saying no more words. She watched Shu carefully support her wrist, his purple eyes showing hesitation. Ivy stared at her hand, said.

"It's okay." Shu looked at her silently, as Ivy's gaze moved from his hand to Shu's face. She said softly. "You...can fix it."

"It's going to be very painful."

Ivy froze. How long has it been since someone told her she was going to be hurt? Ivy can't remember clearly. When she heard those words, she tilted her head to one side and spoke softly.

"It will be okay." Because I have other pain too.

Shu looked at her for a long time, then he placed his ring on her wrist. Ivy felt the slightly cold magic pass straight into her hand. Her wrist ached. She watched the pale white light woven into threads, wrapping around her wrist. Sharp pain hit as the threads pulled hard, and she heard the sound of her wrist being tightened. Ivy lowered her head, parted her lips, gasping for breath. Her chest rose and fell. Ivy felt Shu's cold fingers against her forehead, he whispered.

"You okay?"

Ivy nodded slightly. And she felt Shu sit down beside her, leaning against the door. Lethifold crawled from Shu's wrist to Ivy's body, resting on her chest. Shu watched her blue hair glow slightly under the dim yellow light of the warehouse. He looked down at his arm, Shu's fingers close to Ivy's uninjured hand. His fingers moved slightly, his knuckles brushed the back of Ivy's hand, feeling the coldness of her whole body.

They sat like that, no one said anything, didn't ask anything. Shu doesn't know how long it took, but then Ivy suddenly spoke.

"Thank you."

Shu didn't answer. He looked at the girl who was leaning her head in the door, he couldn't see her face right now. But Shu understands that she also has the same hurt and pain as him. Shu thinks about his family, thinks about his father, thinks about his past. He looked at the ring lying on his finger, moving his index finger slightly, feeling its magic radiating into the back of Ivy's hand, trying to reassure her.

Ivy let out a small laugh. But what Shu heard was like a soft sob. But he knew that she wasn't crying. Ivy had never groaned, screamed in pain. He wondered what pain had taken away her voice. What wounds have left in Ivy's soul and mind a wound and insensitivity. Ivy had forgotten how to show her pain in a normal way. Because of these wounds, don't give her enough pain to scream out loud.

"My father is a Death Eater." Shu said in a low voice. He could feel Ivy's body stiffen slightly as he spoke. But then she relaxed, and she remained motionless, listened to him speak. "My father, could have been the one who participated in your loss."

Family. Ivy thought quietly. Michael.

"The war cost me."

Ivy said.

"But those who engage in war also cause loss."

"And they also lose other things."

Shu was silent.

"Don't you hate me?"

Ivy laughed softly. She moves. Shu watched as Ivy turned her head to look at her, her golden eyes emitting a soft light. He could smell that scent again, the scent of the magic she possessed. Closer, clearer. But Shu still couldn't figure out what the scent was. He just know that the scent is very gentle, and makes others feel secure.

"Are you going to hurt me?"

Shu quietly looked at the girl sitting in front of him. Will he harm her? If... if the war is still going on, maybe one day, Shu will be the one to hurt her. Because he had no choice, because he was an apprentice of the Dark Lord. Because he is the son of a Death Eater. Because Shu was almost wearing Dark Mark on his arm.

But when he looked into those beautiful golden eyes, Shu spoke with difficulty, but his voice is firm. "No... I won't hurt you."

"Then I don't hate you."

"Why?"

Ivy laughed softly. "You don't have to be responsible for what your father did." Because you are hurting yourself too.

And then they fell silent again. Shu felt Ivy resting her head on her shoulder, she wasn't sleeping, but her breathing made him panic. So soft, so weak. Her fingers moved, touching the back of Shu's hand. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against the top of Ivy's head. He listened in the air to her soft breathing, and the sound of his own heart pounding.

"I live with my father."

Ivy whispered. "Is that so? I live with my godfather, and his friend."

Robin is more than a friend. But Ivy didn't want to think about their relationship. To her, it was just her godfather and his friend.

"Ivy." Shu called softly. He moved his fingers, quietly taking her cold, slender hand. Her fingers moved slightly, then slowly, also grasping his hand. "Thank you."

"It's okay." Everything will be fine. "I hope you don't have to be sad anymore."

Ivy spoke softly, and Shu felt a very warm and strange force touch his heart. Its flow was gentle, its touches warm. It was like a gentle hand caressing his heart. Shu didn't answer, he let the magic flow, comforting himself.

"Michael." Ivy whispered. She stood motionless, closing the door to her brother's room. She lowered her head, clenched her fists, and spoke softly. "Please don't go."

She heard her brother's footsteps echo, as he approached her. Michael's warm, life-filled fingers threaded through her hair. Ivy lifted her head to meet those warm, gentle brown eyes. Michael's dark hair fell down, brushing past her nose as he bent down to kiss her forehead.

"I'll be right back, don't worry."

Ivy's eyes widened, her whole body was cold. Ivy stared blankly at the ceiling in her bedroom. She felt her forehead heat up, as if the kisses and caresses in her hair were still present. There still seemed to be a faint scent of Michael in the air. It seems... he's still here.

Ivy closed her eyes tightly, trying to cling to the scent that was still lingering in her mind, in her memory, in her room. Trying not to forget the gentle smile that her brother always gave her. Ivy raised her hand, trembling fingers touching her forehead, she whispered.

"You lied." Because you're not coming back, Michael. You did not return.

Shu stood up straight, when the sound echoed in his ears, Shu strained to endure the pain that hit his body. As the whip kept hitting his bare back, Shu still didn't say anything, still didn't move, still ignoring the crazy man who was his father that was hitting him. The warm liquid ran down Shu's back, the wounds that had not yet healed continued to bleed, and today, he would have new wounds as well.

"You're useless."

Aldophus's voice hissed in his ears, and he hit harder and harder. Shu didn't understand, instead of spending so much effort, why not throw Crucio at him? Just as his venerable Master had always done. It seemed that if that Dark Lord man enjoyed torturing people's minds and bodies with Crucio, his father would have preferred to see his blood run down.

"You can't even cast a summon spell correctly."

Shu heard Aldophus hiss, and then the cold, bony hand touched his shoulder again. Shu ignored the feeling of disgust whenever that thing appeared. The creature lurking behind a black cloak, carrying a cold and deadly breath. Shu hated the feeling, the feeling that the creature kept hovering around him, in his mind, cramming his head with dark thoughts.

It's very easy to hurt him.

Shu seemed to be able to hear the evil laughter of that thing resounding in his mind, as he began to whisper in his ears negative, scary thoughts again. That's right. Harming Aldophus is easy. And then he can escape this torture hell.

But Shu didn't want to, he didn't want to become a monster like the man, the guy who had already turned to dust, wanted.

"My good apprentice, you will be like me, possessing the power to rule this world."

That disgusting voice, his cold hand that was still present, strangled Shu's neck. His heart skipped a beat, and Shu felt the air escaping from his lungs. And as the pain from the wound on his back was engulfing him, Shu's mind went blank. He felt fear, it felt like the bony fingers and terrifying face of the Dark Lord were close to him.

His red eyes looked at Shu with mockery, contempt, and madness.

Crazy for the power Shu possessed.

Shu shivered, and then his chest overflowed with a familiar warmth. Shu felt the gentle caress of the magic overflowing, wrapping around his heart, making it slowly continue to beat. His mind gradually became more alert as his ears filled with the sound of his own heartbeat. Shu's whole body broke out in cold sweat, he heard the sound of whips being thrown to the ground.

Shu stood motionless, his head slightly lowered, his purple eyes almost out of focus. Shu kept aimlessly looking at the floor, he tried to breathe, feeling the air rush into his lungs. And when the door to the room slammed shut behind him and prevented Aldophus' curse from ringing in his ears, Shu collapsed to the floor. His hands trembled on the ground, one hand clutching his chest, where his heart was still struggling to keep beating. Shu felt the warm magic swirl around his body, and the scent wafted through his nose again. Ivy's scent.

"So how's your walks?" Ivy paused, she put down her fork, looked at her plate of half-eaten pancakes. Robin froze, he hurriedly poured her another cup of tea. He had thought he could strike up a conversation with her gently, but perhaps, the subject he had chosen had made Ivy uncomfortable. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Ivy nodded. She really likes Robin. He carried a very warm, very gentle golden light. Sometimes they are mixed with a pale orange color, looking alive like the warm sunlight of a sunset. She... Ivy is happy that Robin got it back and came to live with her and Phil here. Because... Ivy thought her godfather would be better off with his friends around. And she was truly grateful to Robin for agreeing.

When he, he also has his own hurt.

"Can I... can I continue going out?"

"Of course." Robin immediately nodded. He understood what the child sitting in front of him had to endure. When Phil was in an unstable state, when at any moment Phil could hurt her. And if Ivy was out of sight for too long, Phil would go insane. Robin felt that... this place was like hell holding Ivy back. And when he saw her relax more after the walk, Robin was delighted. "You can continue if you want."

"Thank you."

Robin smiled. He said softly. "I 'm the one who should be thanking. Thank you for sending the letter and inviting me over."

Ivy flashed a small smile, nodding at him.

She heard footsteps behind her, and Phil 's arm wrapped around her shoulder. Ivy stiffened, and when his kiss landed on her forehead, Ivy's fingers trembled slightly. Phil's voice rang in her ear.

"Good morning, little one."

Little one. Ivy gets scared every time Phil gets too close. She tried to put on a smile. "Good morning, Phil."

No... he was no better...

When Ivy saw that Phil's hair was still brown, coldness enveloped her body. Ivy looked down at her hands, her strength was no longer enough to continue to endure and help him. Ivy clenched her fingers. She watched silently as Phil sat down next to Robin, mechanically eating his breakfast. Ivy's eyes darkened when she saw Phil's expressionless eyes.

It was as if his soul had disappeared.