Amaya, Luna, and Tana

They used magic earlier than expected. To be fair, they didn't tell them that it was prohibited. West and the others just assumed that magic would be the last thing in their mind since there were humans with them, just as they had expected Evelina to not tell the new recruits who she really was.

"So Freeda is a witch of Luna," Leila said, nodding her head. "I was asking it before, but the only thing she told me was that she serves the light. I should've known by then."

"I feel like they didn't trust us, though," Hellen sighed. Her voice was soft, making sure that they wouldn't be heard from the back. "I mean, we should've provided it if they needed light, right? That's why we're there as their coaches?"

The challenge ended quite well for West. But he might be a little disappointed when he saw how out of it Evelina was. It wasn't a first that someone was assigned to him and he knew that he was pretty good himself, so to see a student lose passion for something he taught the whole day brought him displeasure. Or did passion truly exist there?

Of course, he understood that the group was still new. And maybe, the others do, too. But that wouldn't stop them from feeling a bit of gloom.

"But have you seen Sybil?" Nelle sounded excited.

West nodded. It was as if the child was born to perform.

"She needs to work on her posture, though. It was noticeable how she didn't know where to place her hands while acting."

"Well, she was really shy when it's just us two," said Hellen.

It was amazing how one could be a different person on stage. As an artist, it was one of the things he adores. To give life to characters who deserve to tell their stories out loud.

"Speaking of shy," Giles glanced towards Nelle, a sly smile on his lips. "Guess who got asked out by a townsman!"

Nelle blushed a bright shade of red, before shooting Giles a glare that perhaps meant that she would bury him ten feet under the ground.

"Oh, do tell!" Leila squealed.

"He's a merchant, actually." She tucked a strand of hair behind an ear, shrugging. "Ah don't worry, I wouldn't leave the troupe for a man. But-" Nelle gave West a slightly smug smile. "I told you I attract attention."

West laughed.

The tightness of their bond was something he truly cherished. They were, after all, almost siblings. That's why it was with great relief that Nelle did not completely avoid him when he went against her.

The ladies continued their conversation while West's mind wandered towards Evelina. Despite how she was on stage, he thought of her cooperation when they were together. Well, so much for cooperation when she did run away. Yet after that, she tried her best to assume her role, and she was already getting there if Nelle hadn't called them. The shock of shifting from intimate to stage must have got her.

He glanced back. His breath was caught in his throat when he saw how her eyes gleamed in the darkness, vigilant.

Something was wrong.

The vampiress seemed to have noticed him. Evelina shook her head, sending him a look of warning. He tilted his head, puzzled, at whatever she must mean- but then he saw him.

The man was wearing a cloak, his eyes tired behind the red mask. He was carrying the box that was trusted on Patrick, confident on his stride as if he was trying to blend in with the actors. Regardless, he didn't seem to notice West looking back at him for he was distracted by his surroundings, looking back at his sides every now and then.

The witch returned his gaze forward. One more block and they're at the inn.

He continued walking, throwing a quick side-glance to the unsuspecting witches. He tapped Leila's shoulder, his eyes travelling from hers to the feather on her belt.

"Get ready," he whispered.

The woman was confused but she reached for her black feather, just as he commanded.

"What is it?"

"We wouldn't be entering at the front."

Since a part of the inn was built to shelter beings apart from humans, Miss Delphine and her husband had a backdoor entrance, quickly leading down to the room they were currently staying in. It was a handy entrance as there were days when the inn had tons of travellers at the lobby, waiting for a room to be emptied..

It was also a handy entrance to use especially if they plan to wield their powers without watchful eyes.

West's steps hastened, being the one who leads the group towards the backdoor. The others didn't seem to mind as they were still engaged in their own world.

The moment West entered the place, he quickly grabbed a candle beside the stairs. There was no room for the stranger to escape there, and he doubts that Evelina would just let him go either. No, if the outsider remained quiet, thinking that he had infiltrated their troupe, they would remain quiet, too. The only difference is that they had a trap prepared for him.

He heard the door closed.

"Dear Fire, we utter our prayer," he started.

At the same time, Leila did. "Dear wind, hear our hopes-"

Their eyes met, leaving the others confused of what the goal of their chanting may be. But not all, for there was another voice coming from behind.

"Dear Moon, gather our aim-"

The three voices connected, one objective in mind. The energy in the room changed, as the other witches stepped back. Though bewildered, West saw Giles hurriedly walking towards the human child who decided to wait for their arrival.

That's right. Ruben didn't need to witness this.

West returned his focus to the two other witches, nodding his head as a signal of continuation.

"Through the door walks a mystery,"

"A being whom trouble may carry,"

"We call upon the protection of Amaya,"

"Luna."

"Tana."

The goddesses of their power. Their voices grew louder as their energies became one, the balled up to strike their surprised victim.

"Wrap this deviant in your glory."

At their final words, the energy crashed to the ground, a barrier appearing to knock the stranger unconscious inside of it. The room grew dark, the only light was the one radiating from the force. Until it decreased and decreased, the power reducing itself into a glowing bind around the stupefied outsider.

The room was silent, except for the heaving breaths of those who performed the magic.

West knew how it wasn't that powerful. The words weren't meant to attack, anyway. It was meant to protect them from him. But since there were three of them who released their power, the magic went from beyond just binding.

"Get him a seat," said Leila. "We'll be questioning him when he rouses. Nelle, call Sir Duncan while you're at it."

"You did good, Freeda," West told the new recruit.

"Thank you."

The lady smiled at him before walking towards where Evelina's at. He frowned when he saw her just standing there, her reaction easily read.

The vampiress' eyes were wide, face contorted into a grimace of shock and pain. West couldn't quite see it from a far but the lady looked trembling.

It was then that he remembered how the vampiress, herself, were once trapped inside a powerful barrier. Only, it wasn't caused by him but by a witch more powerful.

Sir Duncan.

And he couldn't imagine how she might have felt while inside it.

"How did you even know that there was someone who was following us?" Giles questioned.

Evelina.

But West didn't answer.

He decided to go to her, perhaps comfort the lady. But before he could, the stranger, now seated on one of their stool chairs, let out a roused groan. West turned away from the vampiress, preparing himself to question the man with the blood red mask.

"Who are you?"

Both voices echoed across the room. West blinked in surprise, a response to the interrogation that was supposed to come from the witch, not the stranger.

But the way the man asked was just as disoriented as his.