Ran knew one thing clearly—
He couldn't do this alone.
That night, he stood outside Edward's dormitory door and knocked quietly.
The door opened.
"Edward… I need your help," Ran said, showing him the map. "I found something. A way to get my ward. But I can't do it alone. I need people I can trust."
Edward took the map and studied it carefully.
His eyes widened.
"This… this is the Hallows Halloween Forest area," he said slowly. "That place is dangerous, Ran. People don't go there."
"I have to," Ran replied firmly. "At least… I have to try."
Edward stayed silent for a moment.
Then he looked up and nodded.
"If you're going… I'm coming with you."
Ran blinked.
"We're friends," Edward added simply. "That's what friends do."
Emma found out.
Of course she did.
Ran wasn't good at keeping secrets—especially from his roommate.
At first, she was furious.
"You're both insane!" she snapped.
But a few minutes later, she was already packing a small bag.
"Still," she muttered, "I'm not letting you go without me."
That night, at exactly eleven o'clock, the three of them slipped out of the academy.
The grounds were silent.
Teachers asleep.
No one watching.
Using the map, they carefully made their way toward the forest.
"Look," Edward whispered as they reached a split path.
"Left is Hallows Halloween Forest… right leads to the Demon Temple."
He swallowed.
"We go right."
"Stay close," Ran said, trying to sound braver than he felt. "We have to finish this before morning… or we're done for. Suspended… or worse."
He glanced at Edward.
"And I know your family won't like that."
Edward gave a nervous nod.
"You're right… let's move."
The moment they stepped into the forest…
Something felt wrong.
The air changed.
Strange sounds echoed around them—whispers, distant screams, noises that didn't belong to anything human.
The shadows deepened.
Moved.
Watched.
"What… is that?" Emma whispered, her voice trembling.
Then—
They saw it.
A horse.
But not normal.
Its body was made of bone.
Its eyes burned with unnatural fire.
Flames burst from its mouth as it charged toward them.
"RUN!" Ran screamed.
They bolted.
Branches scratched their arms, roots tried to trip them, darkness surrounded them.
Behind them—
The skeletal horse thundered forward, its hooves shaking the ground.
"Keep running!" Ran shouted. "The temple is ahead!"
Edward surged forward, his wind ward pushing him faster than humanly possible.
Within seconds—
He disappeared into the darkness.
"Edward!" Ran shouted.
No response.
Emma was struggling.
Her shadow ward wrapped around her protectively, but it didn't make her faster.
She was slowing down.
"Emma, listen to me!" Ran gasped. "I have an idea!"
"What?!" she cried.
"Close your eyes. Stand straight."
"Are you serious right now?!"
"Trust me! One… two… three—JUMP!"
They jumped.
And in that moment—
The skeletal horse passed right through them.
Like they weren't even there.
Ran's eyes widened.
"It's an illusion!" he gasped. "This forest… it's all illusions!"
And then—
Through the trees—
He saw it.
The Demon Temple.
Ancient.
Massive.
Covered in strange runes.
Waiting.
"Edward!" Ran called out. "We're here!"
Edward emerged from the darkness, breathing heavily.
"How did you figure out the illusion?" he asked.
Ran looked at the temple.
"Because the ward… it's controlling everything here," he said slowly. "It's protecting itself."
He took a step forward.
"Come on. We're close."
The temple gates opened on their own.
As if inviting them in.
Or warning them to stay out.
Inside, the air was cold… heavy.
Candles lit themselves one by one.
And in the center—
Floating above a pedestal—
Was a glowing orb.
The ward.
"I'll get it," Edward said, stepping forward.
"WAIT!" Ran grabbed his arm.
"Look closely… there's something under it. A button. We need to press that first."
Before they could act—
The ground trembled.
The temple began to shake.
And then—
Ghosts rose from the floor.
Dozens of them.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
They were angry. Violent.
Their hands reached out, trying to drag them down.
"CLIMB!" Ran shouted.
They scrambled up the pedestal as ghostly hands clawed at them.
One spirit grabbed Emma—
"Ran!" she cried.
"I got you!" Ran shouted, pulling her back.
Emma grabbed his arm and helped him up.
They stood together at the top.
Breathing hard.
"Ready?" Ran asked.
Edward nodded.
"Ready."
"Press it!"
Edward reached down and pressed the hidden button.
A crack of energy echoed through the temple.
Blue lightning lines formed a glowing magic circle nearby.
The pedestal shifted.
The ward slowly descended…
Into Edward's hands.
Ran took it.
Something was tied around it.
A piece of ancient parchment.
The words glowed.
Guiding him.
Showing him how to say them.
Ran took a breath.
"Vajra… Noctis!"
Lightning exploded from the ward.
The entire temple shook violently.
Walls cracked.
Ceiling shattered.
And then—
A voice.
Deep.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
"You cannot escape…"
A figure emerged from the shadows.
A demon.
Tall.
Dark red skin.
Burning eyes.
Sharp horns rising from his head.
A dark aura surrounded him.
"I am the one bound to this ward," the demon said. "And now… you will pay."
The temple began collapsing faster.
"RUN!" Ran shouted.
"Jump!"
They sprinted toward the exit.
Debris fell around them.
The ground split beneath their feet.
The world itself seemed to break.
Emma raised her hands.
Clouds formed beneath them.
With all her strength—
She lifted them into the air.
"We're flying!" Edward shouted.
"Hold on!" Emma gasped, struggling.
They rose higher.
Away from the destruction.
Behind them—
The temple collapsed completely.
Vanishing in fire and ruin.
As the sun began to rise…
They saw it.
The academy.
"There!" Ran pointed.
Emma guided the clouds down.
They landed behind the buildings, hidden from sight.
"We… made it," Edward said, collapsing from exhaustion.
"Listen," Ran said quickly, "we need to get back before anyone sees us."
They nodded.
Silently, they returned.
Each to their rooms.
Just in time.
As the morning bells rang.