"The Witch’s Redirection"

"The Witch’s Redirection" 5

Chapter 5

Duke Ethereon did not move from his spot, yet the air in the hall grew so heavy that the Imperial Guards took a collective step back. Cassian stared at the blood-stained scarf, his jaw tight, while Leon’s hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes burning with the urge to turn the hall into a battlefield."Seraphina..." Cassian muttered, her name leaving his lips like a jagged blade. "Do you have anything to say before we uphold the law?"Seraphina glanced at the scarf, then raised her eyes to the black crow perched on the balcony, which took flight the moment their gazes met. She offered a provocative, calm smile and held out her wrists."I will go with you," she said, her voice clear and unwavering. "But I do not go as an accused prisoner. I go as a guest, awaiting a formal apology from the Empire.""What are you saying?!" Leon shouted, lunging in front of her. "You’re not going anywhere! Father, say something! Are we really going to let them take her just because Elisia decided to play the martyr?"Duke Ethereon stepped forward slowly. He placed a hand on Leon’s shoulder, gripping it with enough force to silence him instantly. Then, he looked at the Emperor with eyes as cold as death."My daughter will enter the 'Black Tower' dungeon by her own choice. But listen well, Alexander... if a single one of her fingernails is scratched, or if her meals are anything less than what befits a daughter of House Ethereon, I will consider it a formal declaration of war. And the Ethereon army does not know how to sign peace treaties."The Emperor nodded in silence; the Duke's sheer charisma was enough to rattle his throne.Cassian stepped forward to grab Seraphina’s wrist to bind her with mana-suppressing cuffs, but she pulled her hand away sharply, looking at him with pure disdain. "Do not touch me. I can walk on my own."As she was led out of the hall surrounded by guards, she leaned toward the fuming Leon and whispered quickly into his ear, "Leon, stop acting like an i***t and listen. Follow the crow that flew toward the Eastern Forest. Do not kill it; just find where it lands. There, you will find the 'residue' of Elisia’s true mana."She gave him a subtle wink as she walked away, leaving Leon frozen in shock, his eyebrows twitching as he processed the information with a mix of realization and lingering confusion."Oh..." Leon muttered, turning to Cassian with a smug, mocking grin. "Fine then, Your Highness, take her to the dungeon. But remember, she hates salty food. And if you don't provide her with a full-length mirror, she might just burn the prison down with everyone in it... which, frankly, would be quite a show."As Seraphina was led to the Imperial carriage, she felt a strange sense of freedom for the first time. From within the prison walls, she would be able to see the threads of the conspiracy clearly, while everyone else believed she had fallen right into the trap

The "Black Tower" dungeon was not what the guards had imagined; thanks to Duke Ethereon’s threats, the fortified wing had been transformed into something resembling a luxury hotel suite, save for the magical bars pulsing with a faint purple light. Seraphina sat on her plush bed, legs crossed, boredly flipping a silver coin between her fingers until she heard the sound of heavy, rhythmic footsteps.She expected the jailer, but the figure appearing behind the bars was Cassian Valerion.He was still in his military uniform, but his hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes reflected a bitter internal struggle. He stood there in silence for a long time, watching her calm—a calm that made no sense for someone accused of murder."Did you come to check if the cuffs are comfortable? Or to ask me where I buried your lover's body?" Seraphina said without looking at him, her tone dripping with sarcasm.Cassian gripped the cell bars, and a faint magical spark hissed, singeing his glove. "Seraphina, stop this. My father is pressing for a verdict, and all the evidence is against you. If you tell me where Elisia is now... I promise I will convince the Council it was a moment of magical outburst."Seraphina let out a short, dry laugh, then stood up and approached the bars until their breaths met. "Cassian, you aren't looking for the truth; you’re looking for an 'easy exit' for your conscience. You don’t believe I’m innocent, but you’re terrified that I might be—because that would mean you threw an innocent woman in prison twice."She paused for a moment, her eyes glinting with sharp intelligence. "Elisia is not in danger. Elisia is the danger. Go find the 'crow,' Your Highness. Perhaps you’ll find your lost heart there too."Seraphina left him standing in his confusion and returned to her bed. Cassian felt, for the first time, that the woman before him was not the Seraphina he knew, but someone far more powerful and cunning than he could ever be.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Forest, Leon was sprinting through the trees like a madman, fully armored and struggling to keep up with a black crow that was flying at an infuriating speed."You cursed bird! Stop! I am the Commander of the Royal Guard, and I order you to land at once!" Leon shouted, tripping over a tree root and nearly face-planting.The crow perched on a high branch and let out a caw that sounded suspiciously like it was laughing at him."Is it laughing at me? I swear this crow is mocking me!" Leon said, wiping the sweat from his brow. He pulled a piece of "dried meat" from his pocket and waved it in the air. "Look... delicious food! Come, let's talk man-to-bird. Where did you hide that pale-haired girl?"Suddenly, the crow took flight toward a rocky cliff hidden behind a small waterfall. Despite his apparent foolishness, Leon instantly transformed into the "Commander" feared by all. He drew his sword with a lightning-fast motion, the smile vanishing from his face.Following the magical trail left by the crow's wings, he found himself before a cave entrance protected by high-level "camouflage" spells. He placed his hand on the illusion and felt the sting of a very familiar mana."This scent..." Leon muttered, his eyes narrowing with terrifying seriousness. "This isn't just Elisia's scent... there’s someone else with her. Someone who shouldn't be here."Leon prepared to storm the place but remembered Seraphina’s words: (Do not kill it; just find the location). He slowly backed away, pulled out a magical "communication crystal," and whispered into it: "Sera... I found the crow's nest. And things are filthier than we imagined