Chapter 176: Getting the ring (planning the party)

The old man was put to rest immediately, his casket lowered smoothly into the earth.

Raven and Siwoo stood side by side near the gravesite, dressed in black and holding small bouquets of dark roses. Raven pulled Siwoo close against his side, a faint, melancholic smile resting on their faces as they stared down at the fresh soil.

"I am happy that I finally got to see him again," Raven spoke softly, his voice thick with emotion. "And that he's gone now that I am older. When he left us when I was little... I didn't take it lightly."

He paused, letting out a quiet breath. "Thankfully, the Wizard of Gwi was there."

Siwoos brow furrowed slightly as she looked over at her brother. "The Wizard of Gwi... Father didn't even get to see him before he passed."

Just as they mentioned the title, a deep, raspy voice spoke from directly behind them.

"I am here," the man said, stepping out from the shade of the weeping willow trees. "You two don't have to worry about how wizards connect with one another. I have always been in touch with my Master."

He offered a quiet, respectful smile as he moved forward, holding a single dark red rose in his hand. He stood silently before the grave for a brief moment before gently dropping the flower onto the mound.

He turned toward Raven. "Small Master."

Gently, the Wizard grabbed Raven by the shoulder, guiding the two siblings away from the gravesite and toward his parked car at the edge of the cemetery path.

"I had been in touch with him continuously," the Wizard reassured them. "Don't worry about us. Our minds connected very well."

Raven nodded, exhaling a long, heavy breath as his eyes darkened with lingering grief.

The Wizard of Gwi noticed the shift in Raven's energy and offered a faint smile. "You finally fulfilled the prophecy, Small Master. You don't need to carry this anger within you. If you hadn't fulfilled it by taking her life, it would have surely come to pass another way."

Raven shook his head slowly, his jaw tightening. "I can't find peace. I can't sleep. It feels as though dying is my only remaining portion."

The Wizard raised a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "Two prophecies need to be fulfilled. You have only completed the first. One still remains undone."

Siwoo turned to the Wizard in shock, while Raven stared at the man with a dark, dangerous edge in his eyes. "Am I meant to kill someone else?"

The Wizard almost chuckled, turning around to clap a heavy hand onto Raven's shoulder. "Of course not. You will have to fulfill your destiny by marrying the woman you are meant to make your bride."

Raven scoffed bitterly, pulling his shoulder away. "That prophecy will never be fulfilled, Wizard. Because the only woman who was meant to be my bride was butchered by my own hands."

The Wizard smiled, placing a hand on the car door handle. He looked at Siwoo, and then back to Raven. "Do you really think so?"

Raven scoffed again, shaking his head. "What are you implying?"

The Wizard hesitated for a moment, pausing as something seemed to click in his mind. His expression turned solemn. "That baby... she must not live. If she does, everything that has transpired the hunting, the dark creations, the destructions will repeat itself all over again."

He looked deeply into Raven's eyes. "You don't have to burden yourself with taking her life with your own hands. Just leave the child to me. I will command her spirit to rest using my own powers."

Raven gave a slow, solemn nod. "That is what we have been struggling to carry out."

Siwoo exhaled softly, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Wizard. So... she will pass away peacefully?"

The Wizard gave a brief nod. "She will."

He opened the car door to step inside, but before turning the ignition, he paused and looked back up at Siwoo. "When do you plan on introducing him to your newfound sister?"

Siwoos eyes widened in sudden shock at how the Wizard could possibly possess such knowledge.

The old man chuckled softly, a knowing gleam in his eyes. "Remember... I am a wizard. I know far more than you think."

With that, he started the engine and drove off down the winding cemetery road, his faint laughter echoing through the open window.

Raven turned to Siwoo, his eyebrows raised in suspicion. "You have a newfound friend? Or a sister?"

Siwoo shook her head quickly, dismissing the question. "Don't worry about that right now. Let's just focus on planning a birthday party. Even if she is gone... we still need to celebrate her birthday."

Raven stopped dead in his tracks. "Whose birthday?"

Siwoo turned to him in disbelief. "Have you already forgotten the birthday of the woman you claimed to love?! Her birthday is July 3rd. Today is the 1st, which means in two days' time, we have to host a gathering for her, even if she won't be around to see it."

Raven didn't answer. His eyes turned bloodshot as a cold silence fell between them.

Without another word, they climbed into Raven's car and pulled out onto the main road.

"Hosting a birthday party for someone who is dead?" Raven muttered midway through the drive, breaking the heavy silence after stewing over her words.

Siwoo didn't answer him. She remained focused on her phone, making consecutive calls to coordinate party preparations, completely ignoring her brother's dark mood.

A short while later, the car pulled up outside a massive luxury jewelry boutique.

Siwoo smiled, reaching over to take Raven's hand, pulling him out of the vehicle and through the glass doors.

Inside, the boutique was lined with brilliant displays of high-end diamond jewelry. Siwoo dragged Raven toward the bridal display and turned to him. "Tell me which ring you like best."

Raven scoffed, turning on his heel to leave the shop. "I'm not doing this."

Siwoo quickly grabbed his arm, holding his hand gently. "Please, brother. Just tell me which ring you would choose if you were going to engage someone. I want to help a friend surprise his partner."

Raven's face darkened in utter confusion. "Buying a ring for a man to surprise a girl? Siwoo, have you lost your mind?!"

Siwoo shook her head gently. "Have I ever begged you for anything? Please, just pick your favorite ring. I believe your taste will match his perfectly. He isn't in town, so he sent me to pick out something like this on his behalf."

Raven stared at Siwoo for a long, silent moment. Realizing she wouldn't budge, he reluctantly moved around the glass counters. Finally, his eyes caught a single, stunning diamond ring resting on velvet.

He reached down and lifted the ring. His eyes went dark as a swift, painful memory flashed across his mind. He placed the velvet box into Siwoo's palm.

Siwoo shook her head. "Just hold onto it for me."

Before Raven could argue, Siwoo slipped the ring box straight into Raven's coat pocket.

Raven frowned, stepping toward the exit, but Siwoo yanked his arm back once more.

"Who is going to pay for this?" she asked casually.

Raven's eyes widened in disbelief. "I should pay for a ring you bought for someone else?! The man didn't even give you money?!"

Siwoo didn't bother arguing. She reached her hand straight into Raven's pocket, pulled out his black credit card, and handed it directly to the cashier.

The payment was processed instantly. Raven stood there staring at his sister in absolute shock, but Siwoo completely ignored his expression, grabbing the receipt with a bright, satisfied smile.