"How much do you want to bet that something attacks us in the next ten seconds?"
"...what?"
Naomi couldn’t believe it.
"Ten silver says it comes from the left."
"You became all serious for that?"
"Gambling is serious."
She sounded very convincing.
Naomi, however, noticed something else—
"Wait, we are going to be attacked!?"
And just as she said those words—
"Grrrr..."
A growl echoed through the corridor on their right.
Isolde’s expression fell.
"Tsk, it came from the right."
Naomi looked at her and, seeing her clicking her tongue, she couldn’t help but push her further.
"That means you lost, doesn’t it?"
"No, you hadn’t said your bet yet."
"You said ten silver."
"That was only the opening offer.
You have to accept for the bet to work."
Naomi could not believe this woman.
Just then, heavy footsteps approached from the right corridor and a tall, broad man with long brown hair and yellow eyes appeared around the corner. His nails had already grown into dark claws, and thick hair covered parts of his arms and neck.
"Is that..."
Naomi’s expression changed.
"A werewolf."
Isolde nodded with a serious look on her face.
The werewolf’s eyes immediately moved towards the Waymark glowing on Naomi’s arm, then he turned towards Isolde.
"A witch."
He grinned.
"Bad place for your kind."
Isolde took another drink from her flask.
"That is terribly rude."
The werewolf did not care. Instead of wasting time, he transformed. His shoulders expanded, bones cracked beneath his skin, his face stretched forward slightly as sharp fangs appeared inside his mouth.
"Stay back."
Isolde ordered. Naomi nodded as she quickly moved behind her.
The werewolf charged.
Isolde, with one hand still holding the flask, raised the other dramatically. Her black coat moved even though there was no wind. Glowing cards spread around her and then—
"Witness, O heavens!"
She shouted.
Flicker
A ball of fire appeared above her palm.
"The First Scarlet Bloom!"
The flames shot forward and struck the werewolf directly in the chest.
BOOOOM
The explosion filled the corridor with light.
The werewolf was thrown backwards and crashed into the wall.
Naomi stared.
Then she looked at Isolde.
"That was just a fireball."
Isolde slowly turned towards her.
"There was nothing ’just’ about the First Scarlet Bloom."
"ROOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"
The werewolf roared and pushed himself away from the wall.
The flames had burned his clothes and part of his skin, but the wounds were already beginning to heal.
He rushed forward again.
Isolde sighed.
"Some people have no appreciation for theatre."
She raised two fingers, several silver nails flying beside her.
"Arise, O Silver Fangs of the Fallen Moon!"
The nails moved, striking the floor around the werewolf. Glowing threads appeared between them and wrapped around his legs.
"Grrrrr!!"
The wolf fell forward but then—
"RROOOOAAAAARRRRR!!!"
The werewolf tore through the first set of threads with brute strength.
Isolde narrowed her eyes at that. She waved her hands and more threads wrapped around his wrists, neck, waist, and shoulders.
The wolf struggled.
The stone beneath his feet cracked.
Naomi could see the muscles across his body expanding as he tried to break free. As for Isolde—
She took another sip from her flask as she turned towards Naomi.
"Would you like to bet on how long he lasts?"
Naomi looked at the werewolf fighting against the glowing restraints.
"This is not the time to play such games."
"I’ve told you before, didn’t I? Gambling is not a game, it is serious business."
Naomi stared at the ridiculous woman in disbelief.
Snap Snap
Just then, the werewolf snapped several threads and pushed himself forward.
Isolde looked mildly impressed.
"Five silver says three seconds."
She spoke as she looked at Naomi, waiting for her to bet.
She wasn’t even looking at the enemy and that made it much worse for Naomi.
"I don’t have silver."
"You can owe me."
"Fine. More than three."
Naomi sighed as she decided to play along to save her life.
"Accepted."
Isolde smiled.
The werewolf roared and broke another binding.
Isolde raised her flask towards him.
"One."
More threads appeared from the walls, wrapping around his arms.
"Two."
"RROOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!"
The werewolf bent forward, gathering all his strength, his claws tearing through several glowing lines at once.
Naomi’s eyes widened.
"Three—"
Isolde snapped her fingers.
A large silver symbol appeared beneath the werewolf.
"Grand Binding of the Seven Heavenly Serpents!"
The symbol flashed, dozens of glowing ropes shot out and completely covered the werewolf. He fell face-first onto the floor, unable to move any longer.
Naomi stared at the struggling wolf.
Then at Isolde.
"I’ll tear you apart!"
The werewolf growled.
Isolde stopped.
For a moment, she said nothing. Then, her playful smile disappeared and her eyes became cold and distant.
She walked towards the bound werewolf with slow, controlled steps, drinking from her flask as if his threat meant nothing.
Naomi watched her carefully.
Even the werewolf’s anger weakened slightly.
Isolde stopped in front of him and looked down.
"You still dare threaten me..."
She spoke in a low voice.
"Even after witnessing a fragment of the power I have spent centuries trying to contain?"
Naomi blinked.
Centuries?
Didn’t she say she was twenty-eight?
Isolde raised one trembling hand and stared at it. Her fingers shook dramatically.
"No..."
She whispered.
"I must remain calm."
The cards around her began floating faster.
"If I allow my emotions to control me..."
She clenched her fist.
"...the seal may break."
"What seal?"
The werewolf frowned.
"Do not speak of things your fragile mind cannot understand!"
Isolde’s eyes snapped towards him.
For a moment, the werewolf actually turned silent.
Isolde turned away, her coat moving behind her as she raised her face towards the ceiling.
"For thousands of years, I have carried this curse."
Naomi stared at her.
"Only those below one hundred and fifty can enter thi—"
The werewolf tried to reason, but Isolde only glared at him and he decided to remain silent.
"A power too vast for this mortal vessel."
She continued her monologue as her hand trembled.
And both the werewolf and Naomi could see it—
The Witch was a lost cause.