RAVENNA

Part 37

The street was silent again by the time they found her.

Tae Ho was the first to step into the narrow alley, boots crunching softly over the snow. The faint orange light from the streetlamps flickered over the scene—two figures in the white, one motionless, the other kneeling beside her like a broken statue. The blood had already begun to darken against the frost.

"Nieve..." His voice caught in his throat.

She didn't move. Her head was bowed, her hair falling in tangled strands across her face, her hands still trembling faintly in her lap. The faint glow that lingered under her skin had faded to nothing, leaving only a ghostly pallor. Neith lay beside her, eyes open to the sky, still and pale beneath the falling snow.

The others stopped behind him, the sharp intake of breath from one of the guards breaking the heavy silence. No one spoke. They didn't have to.

Tae Ho took a step forward, his face hardening even as his eyes softened with grief. He knelt beside Nieve, studying the scene—the blood, the dagger, the way her fingers still twitched, as if trying to hold on to something invisible. He understood, though he wished he didn't.

"Retrieve the body," he said quietly, nodding toward Neith. His voice was steady, but his jaw tightened. "Have it sent to the Forensic Division for postmortem examination and identity verification. I want a full report on my desk before dawn. Also, inform headmistress and her highness."

Two of the guards moved forward, lifting Neith's body gently from the snow. The motion stirred the air; flakes scattered, drifting through the lamplight like falling ash.

Tae Ho stayed beside Nieve. He reached out, placing a cautious hand on her shoulder. She didn't react—her eyes were unfocused, glassy, her lips parted as if she were whispering something only she could hear. There was a tremor in her, a faint shiver that wasn't from the cold.

He frowned. "Nieve," he murmured, but she didn't answer.

A sigh escaped him—part sorrow, part understanding. He lifted his other hand, tracing a small circle in the air above her forehead. A faint shimmer of light gathered at his fingertips, blue and soft as moonlight.

"Rest," he whispered.

The spell washed over her like a sigh. Her eyes fluttered once, then closed, her breathing evening out as her body slumped gently into his arms. The glow faded into the snow.

Tae Ho gathered her carefully, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Get the ambulance," he said without looking up. "We're taking her to the infirmary."

As they moved through the empty streets, the wind carried away the last traces of what had happened. Only the red stain on the snow remained—silent, glimmering faintly beneath the pale light of dawn.

The night was still when they placed her in the ambulance. The medical team moved swiftly, voices hushed, faces pale beneath the sterile lights. One of them reached for the bandages, but Tae Ho lifted a hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"I'll handle it," he said.

The medic hesitated. "Sir, she's losing—"

"I said I'll do it myself."

That ended the discussion.

He waited until the doors shut, the clang echoing softly through the alley. "Everyone out," he ordered, his voice low but commanding. "No one else steps inside."

The medics exchanged uneasy glances, but they obeyed, stepping back into the cold. Only one lingered at the door, uncertain.

"Sir," she asked quietly, "why are you covering her like that?"

Tae Ho's hands paused, tucking the white sheet carefully around Nieve's shoulders, then down to her feet. "To keep her warm," he said, his voice even.

The medic nodded and stepped away.

Inside, the world shrank to the hum of the engine and the rhythmic flash of lights outside. Tae Ho worked in silence, his movements deliberate. He bandaged the shallow cuts along her arms and shoulders, then pressed warm pads against her chilled skin, adjusting the sheet to ensure no part of her was exposed. He didn't let his gaze linger too long—there was something sacred, fragile about her stillness.

When everything was secure, he drew in a long breath, steadying himself. Then, with a careful motion, he lifted a corner of the sheet and exposed her arm. He rolled the sleeve of her shirt upward.

What he saw made his pulse hitch.

Her veins glowed faintly beneath her skin—soft, pulsing light like molten amber running through her blood. It wasn't bright, but it was alive, weaving in rhythm with her heartbeat.

He exhaled slowly, the sound quiet in the confined space. Then, as if the sight itself could invite danger, he covered her again, layer by layer, until no trace of the glow remained. He made sure every inch of her skin was hidden, his hands steady despite the weight in his chest.

He leaned back, inhaling deeply before closing his eyes. Mind linking with Micheal. "Son," he said silently.

"Yes, dad," came the reply, a calm, measured voice in his mind.

"I found her," Yes, son said. "I'm taking her to the funeral home." Then came confused, scared voice, "Dad?"

"She's alive," he said quickly, his tone shifting to something colder, quieter. "But vulnerable. Make sure the staff is minimal. No one else knows."

He severed the link before his Son could respond. The silence returned, broken only by the hum of the moving vehicle and the faint, steady rhythm of Nieve's breathing.

Tae Ho looked at her for a long time, his expression unreadable. Finally, he let out a quiet, weary sigh.

"You've always been extraordinary, puffball," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "No wonder you never could control those spells of the witches."

He paused, the weight of understanding settling on his shoulders.

"You'll do better than them," he said softly, almost to himself. "After all... you're their ancestor."

His gaze softened, reverent and mournful.

"—Mage Nieve."

***

the volume one of Ravenna is finished here. 

i have started writing this story years back like 5 years almost but i couldn't complete it.

and today we've finished the very first volume!!! "heart, hearts"

do give it your love and comments whatever you feel about the story (only positive views)

and stay tuned for new stories. I gave it a thought to write indian stories as well. infact few stories are in progress. some rom-com- adventure, some filled with mysteries and mindful games. let me know what kind of stories you like to read. i am good with crime thriller genre and i hope you likes matches mine. byee.