With this dagger, I divorce thee.

~Aine, Goddess of Love and Vengeance

Qigong was especially rough the following day. His steps were wooden, and his breathing technique wouldn’t align with his movements. More than once, he growled at himself.

“That’s enough,” Song Lin admonished. “No more cultivating today. We both know you are suffering, do not add frustration to it. Instead… I task you with creating a Soul Carving.”

Song Lin did the only thing she could think to do. Crow’s growth was incredible, all things considered. Still, she found that his mind unburdened itself whenever he created a Soul Carving.

“I can—”

“No. That is an order from your teacher, not your friend. I forbid you from training anymore today. It’ll do you more harm than good.”

Crow’s shoulders sagged, but he nodded. He left the private courtyard and didn’t hear Song Lin’s heavy sigh behind him. Once he stepped out of the lodge itself, Aine was waiting.

“It was all true?” She asked, her eyes watery.

“It was. Every time I draw on my Source, it burns my soul. The little you saw yesterday was the most I’ve been able to draw recently. Since yesterday, I’m struggling to find my center again,” Crow told her honestly.

“But—but I don’t understand,” Aine’s voice cracked as if she was trying to contain herself.

“It is like I told you a few days ago. No point speculating. It happened. This is my truth—I am crippled. While Mother Danu gives no absolutes, the chances of me overcoming this are low slim.” Others were guessing at who could have done it, but it was only speculation in the end. Had they known it was his own grandpa that sought to harm him, they’d want to burn the man alive. Crow stared into Aine’s wide-set eyes. “Listen, don’t think so much, and thank you for trying. I’m a victim of powerful people—a pawn in a bigger game. Getting involved is dangerous, understand?”

She nodded.

“Thank you for visiting me,” Crow relented. “I count you as a friend, and I’m glad that you’re my cousin.”

“Crow, you have a guest in the main courtyard,” Elder Quinn called out, and Crow remembered what Song Xue had told him. The odd thing was, the main courtyard was open to the public. Usually, guests were brought into the lobby of the main lodge.

He left but not before he saw the glittering tears in the corners of Aine’s eyes. Brian looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he closed his mouth and followed her. None of the others looked at him, and even if they did, Crow didn’t want to see their pity.

“Coming.”

Otto appeared at his shoulder because he no longer strayed far from Crow—hovered like a mama bear. An epiphany struck Crow this morning, and he realized that Otto’s change happened during the fight a few days back.

Otto’s body vibrated or hummed that day when Crow grabbed his arm to calm him down. It was very noticeable when the big guy was given permission to break other people’s arms. At the time, he dismissed it, but the changes were still ongoing. The increased intelligence while out of combat might not be noticeable to others, but it was apparent to those who spent a lot of time around the giant.

The recent antics and pranks pulled by Otto had left Crow laughing until his stomach hurt. The giant seemed to have a mischievous streak in him that made Crow treasure his presence. The big guy’s empathy was beyond natural. Every time Crow felt negative emotions, Otto managed to step in and wash them away.

Entering the courtyard, he saw Luthais, Quinn, and Gavin turn to look at him with odd looks on their faces.

“Elders? Why are—” Crow’s words died in his mouth as he saw another ensemble of people present. Teonet clan head, his wife, and two daughters were there. Munro was also standing nearby, not even hiding the sneer on his face. Crow knew this was bad when his grandpa suddenly appeared. Mara warned him, but he hadn’t expected something of this level.

Crow’s heart thundered in his chest.

“What nonsense are you saying, Malcolm? A Druid’s honor is sacred, and you dare come to our manor to cause trouble?” Niall growled.

“Be at peace, clan head,” Malcolm Teonet said. “Our honor is indeed sacred, and we believe an appropriate compensation can be reached that benefits all parties.”

“Grandfather, what is happening?” Crow asked and saw Mara staring at her sister, anger burning in her eyes and posture—it felt unreal.

“The cripple of Maddox clan appears,” Munro Duncan spat.

“Hold your tongue,” Malcolm barked, his eyes burned into Munro. The old man doted on his youngest daughter, Esme, but he had no idea what she saw in the arrogant brat from the Duncan clan. It didn’t matter. This had to be done. “Crow, you should understand why we are here. My daughter wishes to annul the marriage agreement between our clans, but we did not wish to harm your clan’s honor. We can provide techniques, pills, weapons, and plenty more as compensation.”

Crow felt the rage sparking to life within him. It was one thing to call him trash, to pity him, but this? He never wanted this marriage. It was arranged by their elders, and it was a duty and responsibility that the clans should uphold. Arranged marriages were rare, but they happened if all parties felt it would benefit the Druid Order. As bloodlines go, the Maddox and Teonet clan boasted strong lineages, even if Maddox was on a decline. This arrangement wasn’t made for the sake of two clans, but for the order itself.

His breathing grew ragged as he tried to control the rising temperature in his body, something most Druids wouldn’t understand. It was a tempest of emotions brought about by the fires in his soul. These fires refined his tragedies and grievances into fuel for his anger. He knew it was the leftover rage left by the Sluagh, but he didn’t care.

It was a dangerous moment because he was angry enough to let himself die to burn that smug man alive. If his clan hadn’t been standing there, he might have unleashed it all and let the world burn around him. The problem is this kind of tempest did not distinguish between friend or foe. Sacrificing his Source to unleash a blast of Soul Energy was not something that most people could avoid.

Crow gained control before nodding towards his grandpa Niall. Instead of answering Malcolm directly, he turned to Esme.

“Is this what you want? Or is it the barking dog next to you?”

“Who are you calling a bark—” Munro tried to retort.

“Shut up or leave,” Malcolm stopped him. “This is our affair, not yours. You will hold your tongue, or you’ll be banned from seeing my daughter.”

Everyone could hear Munro’s grinding teeth. Crow knew the pretty boy was staring daggers at him, but he ignored him as if he didn’t exist. It didn’t make the situation any better, and Crow knew his actions would return to him several-fold.

Instead, everyone turned to stare at Esme, whose flame-red hair was loosely tied back behind her head. She wore a simple dress, but her face and body could make a burlap sack look fashionable. Her cold eyes were more than enough to give him a clue about what was coming next.

“Is that even a question? You are a cripple. You have no future, and you’d only hold me back. This marriage was grandfather’s wish, not mine.”

“I see. So your father lied to you. Our grandfathers agreed to this, but it was at the behest of the council. It was an arrangement made to bring back the power of the Druid bloodline. It makes sense that your clan’s greed stands above the honor of our grandfathers and the Druid Order,” Crow reprimanded her and the Teonet clan. By the inhalations of some elders, he could tell the mark struck a nerve. He knew the comment was vicious, but he didn’t give an inch. Munro’s heavy breathing was even more incentive.

Esme’s eyes turned ice cold. “Honor? You damned cripple! If you were honorable, you’d let me go free. You lack any credibility in recovering the bloodline—”

“Shut up,” Crow said sharply. “I activated my bloodline at birth. In all the clans, its procreating value is unrivaled. Don’t act high and mighty in front of me with your lame excuses. You greedy bitch.”

Mara covered her mouth, but the snort that escaped caused her mother to stare at her angrily.

“Hmph. You lack the right to speak to me. You are a broken cultivator from a broken clan. Although you will have a brief life, your clan may have a shorter one. At the very least, our benevolence will allow you to live out your mundane life never wanting a thing.”

“Daughter, enough,” Malcolm spoke up. It wasn’t right for him to interfere, but some of what they’d both said left him startled. “Do not harm our clan with your words. Crow’s words are expected. While hurtful, you must bear it.”

“Hmph, says who? I will not marry trash. How will someone like him bring honor to our clan? A stain is temporary, and in the bigger scheme of things, it will be as forgotten as he is.” Her words were as cold as her visage.

Crow’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched.

“This is our marriage agreement. I’ve already smeared my blood onto it. All you have to do is destroy it to end this farce,” Esme said, her face was flushed with anger. “Do so, and you can keep this storage item filled with treasure.”

Her pale little hand threw a ring which bounced off Crow’s chest and fell to the ground. He could have easily caught it but wasn’t about to touch any tainted compensation.

“Keep your junk,” Crow said mildly but couldn’t help glance at Mara. She stared back at him, but in the depths of her anger, he could see her concern, so he smiled at her. It was only because of her that he hesitated.

“What are you planning?” Niall whispered. He’d felt something was wrong, and he was sensitive to the pulling of fate.

It was ultimately Crow’s decision, and his mind kept focusing on an old Druid custom he’d read about called Three for Seven. It was found in one of the oldest books in the hidden library, and it was expressly noted it was a form of keeping one’s honor. A stained honor wasn’t expunged as simply as this foolish girl naively thought. Only through an equally overpowering response would the balance be maintained.

“Agree or not, this marriage ends today,” Esme’s voice was like winter. Her father also said nothing because inwardly, he didn’t want his daughter married to a cripple either. It was selfish but honest. Those words were enough to tip the scales.

Crow looked down at the scars on the palm of his hands. The ragged marks were fading with time, but even if they disappeared, they’d remain on his soul for the rest of his life. In the end, those scars gave him the resolve to protect him and his clan.

“Remember, this is your doing,” Crow hollowly intoned.

Stepping forward so he was in front of his elders, he raised his arms toward the sky.

“Father Oak, please bear witness,” Crow called out, his voice echoing strangely in the courtyard, and all the elders felt something strange and oppressive settling over the area. Before long, it was attracting elders all the way at the aptitude testing. “By root and limb, I freely make this vow. A Druid’s honor demands justice because it is as sacred as truth. I do not want compensation for myself but demand that my clan remain free of this dishonor. This is my first of three agreements. I will agree to the cessation of this contract.”

Crow’s voice attracted more and more elders. They all felt something strange, and the pull of karma was something the old monsters had sensed more clearly as their lives were ending. Those elders that had just arrived saw Crow rip the marriage contract and then burned it with black fire.

“This is my second of three agreements. I sever all fate between Esme Teonet, who I find as repulsive as her black heart. This is my third of three agreements. I sever all fate with the Teonet clan and offer them no aid or succor in the future. I name these three agreements so that when the Whore of Teonet looks back on this moment, she’ll only know regret. I have invoked Three for Seven and engrave these agreements onto my soul. I want nothing in return,” Crow’s voice picked up power and momentum, and strong wind tore through the courtyard. Power gathered around them, enough that the Druid Council had arrived and watched with awed faces. “The seven curses that follow, I leave to the machinations of karma. May it be fair in its assessment, and may this incident cause me and mine no more trouble. By root and limb, I freely make this vow.”

“You foolish boy, stop this nonsense! You dare call my daughter a whore?” Malcolm growled and rushed towards Crow, but Gavin stepped in to block him. Even distracted and awed, the old man could easily handle the Teonet clan head. “Gavin, move. He is cursing my clan. I will not permit this to happen.”

“I will not. This is the karma your clan has sown. Can you not feel it? The boy is reversing this dishonor.” Gavin asked, and at that precise moment, the ground started shaking. A thunderous sound echoed across all of Oiche.

“Wh-what is this?” Malcolm asked, and for the first time since he came here, he questioned whether his actions were correct.

“Father Oak! Bear witness,” Mara frantically shouted over the wind. “By limb and root, I make this vow. I sever my connection with the Teonet clan. Their actions have ruined my honor as a Druid, and I seek my own path to make things right. By root and limb, I freely make this vow.”

“You damned girl, open your mouth again, and you won’t—”

“SILENCE!” A voice boomed across Oiche. “I’ve borne witness. Three for Seven is both a blessing and curse, and it seems that karma has allowed its invocation. It was done without malice, and the only askance was to protect the Maddox clan’s honor. Malcolm Teonet, you were in the wrong. It is obvious you lack foresight and understanding of truth. Truth is one of the three profundities of the Druid Order—our way of pushing back evil and corruption! That you fail to understand why honor is the essence of truth means that you fail to understand your heritage. This is a greater sin than the dishonor itself. You got what you wanted, the marriage agreement is now void, but the enmity you’ve earned you must resolve on your own. The Druid Council is forbidden to aid you.”

Seven large oak leaves fell to the ground, surrounding Esme. Each was about a half-meter in size, and on each was a glowing sigil that no one understood. Everyone knew what they represented and subconsciously stepped away, including Munro. The Duncan boy had lost his earlier arrogance and now stared at the leaves with awe and fear.

“Mara, Daughter of Teonet, leaving a clan carries its own dishonor. Why do you wish to leave?”

“I was wronged by my clan. In doing so, I accept my responsibility for the events that led up to Crow being harmed. My clan used me as a tool to harm an innocent. My clan is here, again, seeking to harm the same boy. A boy who saved my life many times during the Hunt and to whom I am indebted. My honor? If I have any left, this is the only way I can think to redeem it.”

The Teonet elders winced at her words, and Malcolm’s face turned apocalyptic. However, not one of them uttered a peep.

A sigil on one of the seven leaves flared up in front of everyone before the leaf’s vitality drained out. Once drained of life, the leaf turned brittle and turned to dust as a breeze rushed through, leaving nothing behind.

“Teonet clan, it appears karma has accepted her vow as well and struck one of your curses away as recompense. I, too, have heard and felt the truth of her words. Today forward, she shall be known as Mara of the Maddox clan, and as penance for her honor’s sake, she shall serve Crow until she feels her honor is redeemed. Does anyone disagree? Niall, you may object to this. You have this right as Maddox clan head.”

“Crow?” Niall asked, already knowing the boy was going to agree.

“I accept,” Crow said with no hesitation.

“I accept,” Mara said, walking forward and standing behind Crow.

“I do not accept!” Malcolm finally burst out.

“I can grant you one other option,” Father Oak’s deep voice caused the ground to rumble. “You will give up your clan manor within inner Oiche and gift it to Mara. She will then be known as Mara the clanless.”

“Th-that is out—”

“Shut up, clan head. You’ve done enough damage.” One of the other elders said. “We agree to the first option. Mara is no longer part of our clan and will serve Crow Maddox from this day forward.”

“One reminder, people of Teonet and allies,” Father Oak’s voice turned solemn. “The six curses are real and are a debt owed to the Maddox clan. A debt that you cannot avoid. The Maddox clan, as the guarantor, puts you at their mercy. The larger the enmity when the curse falls, the worse you’ll suffer. Do you understand my words?”

The Teonet elder that reprimanded Malcolm could only shudder. A curse like this couldn’t be used by just anyone, and the smarter clans feared Crow now more than ever. They absolutely would not make an enemy of him. Teonet cornered a wounded dragon, and its counterattack was more vicious than the initial assault. Any plotting, ideas of revenge, or negative dealings with the Maddox clan could utterly destroy the Teonet clan.

“We understand,” the elder sighed, and there was finally some anger in his voice, but he did not direct it at Father Oak.

“How can this be?” Malcolm complained. “Everyone knows you favor the boy. What fairness is there in this?”

“Shut your damned mouth,” the elder said and slapped Malcolm across the face. It startled everyone, including the Maddox clan, but the most comical expression in Crow’s eyes was Esme’s look of dismay. “That was a curse attached to our clan’s karma, and our very fate hangs in the balance. Not even Father Oak has that kind of power, you damned fool. That curse is as ancient as our people, and it only works if we built enough of a one-sided grievance. You gave them that power. Open your mouth again, and the destruction of our clan is on your head. You dote on that foolish girl too much and have nearly brought our clan to ruin over her. Whore of Teonet indeed,” the elder snorted and left in a huff.

“Ahem,” Gavin coughed. “If that is all, you’ve caused a scene at our expense. Please take your cursed leaves and go.”

There was nothing else to be said at this point. Even if the Teonet clan wanted to retaliate, it was far too late to do so. Esme picked up the leaves around her and turned, giving Mara a confused and hurt look before leaving. Once they all left, Gavin started laughing. Niall joined him, and before long, they laughed so hard they had to hold each other up.

“Dammit, boy, I leave for a month and come back to this. You just gave our clan the biggest boon it’s had in centuries.” Gavin said after catching his breath.

“I don’t understand…” Crow said and looked at all the elders who were grinning ear to ear.

“Karma boy. You called upon karma, which is damn near unfathomable. Anyone plotting against us has to consider the Teonet clan before acting. Teonet clan will stand against them, even if they don’t want to, you’ve forced them to be our staunchest ally.” Niall laughed. “Whore of Teonet? Where did that even come from? You might have ruined her reputation—err. Sorry, girl.”

Mara nodded but said nothing. She was still coming to terms with her own actions. No matter what, she felt it was the right one. Just because she was no longer part of the clan didn’t mean she was forbidden from helping them.

“Alright,” Niall called out. “Back to it, everyone. Song Lin, can you take Mara in?”

“Yes, clan head.” Song Lin quickly agreed. She trusted Mara on an instinctive level, and it helped that she stood by Crow time and time again. It was enough for Song Lin to take in this wayward stray. The problem is, she knew their place was about to become noisy. Two women already dedicated their hearts to Crow, even if they hadn’t realized it yet. It was troublesome.

Seeing her worried face, Niall barely held in his laughter. This grandson of his was really extraordinary.