Ella has been crying in the room ever since she arrived on the mountain. She already told Kate everything.

Kate sighed and rubbed her younger sister's back. "Ella, stop crying. Now that you know who bit you, the next question is...are you willing to reverse the curse? Have you decided yet? If Agran is willing...then what's stopping you?" she asked.

​​

Ella bit her lip. Turning Agran into a beast again doesn't sit well with her conscience. Her heart refused to decide!

A few minutes of silence enveloped them.

"You can't do it, right? Then don't decide hastily or else you might regret it later. Take your time, sister!" Kate said. "But look at the bright side...Agran loves you and I know you also have feelings for Agran....why don't you marry him and raise a family with him? Then the baby will break the curse for you, it's not exactly a bad and hopeless situation. After you get over your initial reaction of anger...analyzed things carefully. Agran is a good guy, handsome, and financially stable to support you for life. The most important thing is that he loves you. What can you ask for? I'm sure you will be happy with him. Don't push him away...think of the positive side...don't dwell too much on the negative side, okay?"

Ella wiped the tears from her eyes "Okay, I'll think things over..." she finally said.

"Good girl," Kate said, she patted her sister's head affectionately. She rose to her feet. "I'm going to the kitchen to prepare food for lunch. Rest here as much as you like," she said and exited the room.

Kate found Ivy sweeping the wooden floor. She proceeds to the kitchen.

~~~

Back at the healer's place.

Zemeth handed a pouch containing silver and gold coins to Ismat. "Grandpa, here's my little gift to you, thank you for accommodating us here. We will continue our journey now. I still need to find a healer that can reverse the memory of my wife that was erased by a vampire. Sad to say, she no longer remembers me, and the one she remembered in her heart right now was her vampire husband," he said sadly.

"Thanks for the gift, lad," Ismat accepted the pouch containing the precious coins. "If you are looking for a healer who can restore your future wife's memory, then look no further. Just follow the stream that you're about to see - a hundred miles from here. At the fifth mountain from here. You will see five wooden houses owned by Norward, The Phantom Healer. His expertise includes deleting, restoring, and planting memory... for the right price," he said.

"Thank you for the information, Grandpa. My entourage and I will resume our journey. I will return here if Ella can finally decide what she really wanted for her life," Zemeth said.

"Okay. Have a safe journey, lad!" Ismat said.

Zemeth exited the house and approached his companions that are waiting outside with their horses ready for travel. "Let's start our journey!" he told them.

"Aye...Sire," the men said.

A few minutes later, Zemeth's entourage was already leaving the healer's property.

They traveled for three days - following the stream, only stopping during the night to camp and retire for the night.

On the fourth day, afternoon, they finally arrived at the 5th mountain and saw the five houses in a row, lining up beside the stream. They saw several men and women tending to the plants in their backyard. There were also some cattle grazing on the grasses nearby.

A man in his early 30's greeted the newcomers. "What can we do for you, gentlemen?" he inquired.

"Good day! I'm looking for Norward, The Phantom Healer," Zemeth answered. "Ismat, the Bright Miracle Preserver, told me about him. I am here to ask his help," he said.

"What is your concern, Sire?" the man asked.

"My beloved woman's memory was erased by the vampire who in turn made her his wife. I want to restore her memory so that she can remember me," Zemeth explains.

"Ah, okay. My master is still resting in his room. He usually wakes up at 3:00. While waiting...you and your companion can take a rest inside that small hut over there..." the man said pointing at the hut near the stream, on the east side.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Zemeth said.

The man smiled. "Don't mention it, follow me!" he said.

The man walked towards the hut, followed by Zemeth and his entourage.

"You are free to let your horses graze on the grasses. You can also take water from the stream," the man said. "I'll inform you if my master already awakened from his afternoon nap," he said and left the visitors to their devices.

Zemeth rested on the hut while his men attend to the horses grazing on the grasses nearby.

One hour later.

The man returned. "Gentleman, my master was already awake. He was waiting for you in the house. Follow me," he informed him.

Zemeth rose to his feet and followed the man.

They went to the biggest house in that area.

The man pushed the door opened, they entered the living room furnished with wooden furniture and table.

There... at the wooden chair sits a man in his 60's. He was a crippled old man, wearing a black robe, looking like a grim reaper. He wore a grim expression on his face. He looked at Zemeth and nods at him.

"Meet my Master Norward, The Phantom Healer," the man introduced his master to the visitor. He looked at his master and bowed. "I'll take my leave," he said and exited the house, waiting outside the door.

Norward looked at the visitor. "Sit on the chair and tell me what is your purpose in coming here," he told him.

Zemeth obeyed and lowered himself on the wooden chair facing the healer.

"State your purpose in visiting my abode," Norward said.

Zemeth cleared his throat. "My beloved woman's memory was deleted by the vampire who has taken a liking on her. He planted another memory into my woman's head, she forgot that she had two sisters and a boyfriend who loves her so much. As of now, she has no memory of her sisters and me. We are strangers to her. That deeply saddened me. The vampire who deleted her memory died already, but she kept grieving for that dead vampire guy whom she fondly called her husband," he explained.

Norward nods his head, he already had a full grasp of the visitor's dilemma. "So...what do you want?" he asked him point-blank.

"I want my beloved woman's old memory fully restored. I want her to remember her sisters and me, and our friends," Zemeth stated what he wants.

Norward smiled. "That's easy to do! I can do the ritual to restore your beloved woman's memory anytime you want...but it comes with a heavy price though. I'm not sure if you can pay the price or...shall we say... are you willing to pay the heavy price?"

"Sure, I can pay any amount, just state your price..." Zemeth said, confidently.

Norward smiled. "I don't need silver, gold, or any treasure in exchange for the ritual that can restore your old woman's memory. I'm asking for something else..." he said mysteriously.

"Oh," Zemeth brows furrowed. "Please... tell me what is it that you want in exchange for the ritual?" he asked in confusion.

Norward looked at the visitor in the eyes, his face turned serious. "I'm going to take your firstborn as my disciple and raised the baby here in my place in exchange for restoring your beloved woman's memory," he said without blinking an eye.

Zemeth was stunned! He stared at the healer's face for a long time, trying to see if he was just joking or not. But the expression on the healer's face didn't change. "A-are you serious?" he asked in disbelief.

Norward breathed deeply. "As you can see I'm getting older. I'm now a crippled old man. What I need right now are disciples, to whom I can teach and leave behind my legacy and also served me until I die. I want loyal disciples who will never leave my side. I never had a family who will take care of me especially now that I'm growing weaker and older. Therefore, I want to surround myself with disciples who are willing to obey me and served me. A baby then turns into a child and grows around me as their grandpa is easy to train. I do hope you understand what I'm trying to tell you here..."

Zemeth was speechless... Can he give up his firstborn with Ivy just for the opportunity to restore her memory? No! his mind and heart don't allow it!

Norward saw the confusion and myriad of emotions flashing on the visitor's face. "Once the baby is already in my jurisdiction, you no longer have any rights to be his father. You give up the rights of the baby so the baby is mine. The child will grow up in this village," he added.

Zemeth was flabbergasted. "So...the men and women I saw outside-? Are they...?"

"Yes, they are my disciples, they grew up with me. They are the children born from those parents who give up their rights in exchange for my services," Norward answered.

Zemeth released a deep sigh, shaking his head in amazement.

Norward can already read the decision on the man's face. "I see... you are not ready to do my bidding. If that is the case...you may leave now and go wherever you want to go. We don't need to waste each other's time. Just leave your consultation fee at my disciple's hand stationed outside the door. Just in case you change your mind, you are always welcome to return here, and don't forget to bring your woman so that I can do the ritual. That's all... you may go now," he dismissed him.

Zemeth rose to his feet and walked out of the house in a daze. He managed to drop five silver coins in the man's hands outside the door for his consultation fee. He walked towards the hut, wearing a problematic expression on his face.

He entered the hut and sat on the wooden chair, pondering what is his next plan.

He looked at the guide. "Our journey has ended here. You are going home," he said.

"Okay, Sire," the guide replied.

"Just in case you hear of any healer that is capable of restoring memory just like my case, take note of it. I will come again to ask you for info," Zemeth said.

"Okay, Sire," the guide replied.

Zemeth reached for the duffel bag made of sheep's skin from his back and opened it. He took out some silver and gold coins and pay the guide and the servant boy with the agreed money for their services for the entire journey.

"Thank you, Sire," the guide and the servant boy said in unison after accepting their monetary compensation for their services.

"I'll take my leave now. Start your journey going home," Zemeth said.

The guide and the servant boy ready their horses.

A few minutes later, they're already leaving the place, returning home.

Zemeth wastes no time and teleported back to the island feeling dispirited and hopeless.