The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 32

Elara enjoyed the sunlight for a while before stepping down from the tree house. She wandered outside the Ancient Tomb, plucking black mandalas from the woods as she went. From time to time, deer, wild horses, and other creatures passed by her side. They were not afraid of her at all; even some bold little creatures would come close to greet her.

At that moment, Elara was gentle. Cinderaven flapped his wings and followed behind her. "When do you plan to leave?"

Having personally witnessed the tragedies of her mother and aunt, she had spent the past twenty years almost completely immersed in witchcraft cultivation. Her mind had settled, but her personality had grown increasingly cold. All the tenderness she had left was given to the West Sea Forest.

Sometimes, when he looked at her, he could not help but think of the once supremely powerful witch who had stood at the peak of the Mal Continent—Selah Dessey.

He stared at her straight back, and the strange cultivation technique flashed through his mind. His intuition told him that one day, Elara Dessey would become a powerhouse no less formidable than her ancestor Selah Dessey—perhaps even surpass her. Because…

Cinderaven narrowed his eyes slightly. The emotion in his black bean-like eyes was hard to read. She was even colder than Selah Dessey.

After picking a large bouquet of black mandalas, Elara carried the flowers back to the Ancient Tomb. She placed one flower before each tombstone. Finally, she stopped in front of her grandmother's grave, still holding two black mandalas. She looked quietly at the name carved on the stone, and only after a long while did she place one flower on the tomb.

"Time passes so quickly," Elara smiled faintly. Recalling her grandmother's last words, tiny ripples finally appeared in her calm, clear, light-black eyes. She gently stroked the words on the tombstone. "Seventeen years, Grandma." You don't have to worry about me anymore. I'm strong enough to protect myself now."

She knelt and kissed the tombstone, then stood and walked toward the black mandala bushes. She found the Black-winged Elf Queen wearing the Magic Snake Crown, lying on her back on a silver stamen with her mouth pouted, resting. A smile appeared on Elara's face, and she reached out a finger to gently poke the elf's little belly.

The Black-winged Elf Queen immediately hugged her stomach with both small hands, giggled, rolled over, and pointed her bottom at Elara.

Elara stroked her wings and said softly, "I'm going to travel for a while. The West Sea Forest will be in your care. When I come back, I'll let the Silver-Winged Dragon play with you."

A light kiss landed on her forehead. Elara's lips curved upward. "Thank you for your blessing. Don't worry — I'm going out to collect a debt, not to die."

The Black-winged Elf Queen hovered in the air, flapping her wings, her little mouth moving rapidly as if warning her anxiously.

Although there was no sound, Elara listened carefully, and the smile on her lips grew wider."Alright… alright, I remember. If I can't win, I'll run back to the forest and hide to keep cultivating."

Only when she understood did the Black-winged Elf Queen, her cute little face serious, nod and let her go. She called the other elves in the Ancient Tomb to see Elara off.

After receiving three thousand eight hundred and eighty-two gentle kisses, Elara left the Ancient Tomb with a bright smile, carrying the Moon Dew collected by the Silver-Winged Maiden and leading Cinderaven.

When she returned to the castle, she saw her father weeding the field he had tilled. Elara did not disturb him. She quietly went back inside, placed the last black mandala by her mother's pillow, and bent to kiss the blooming black mandala on her mother's forehead.

"Give me fifteen more years. After fifteen years, we will meet again."From the notes left by the West Sea Witch Ancestor, she could roughly determine the peak realm the ancestor had reached. At her current cultivation speed, fifteen years would be enough.

"As for Father, you don't have to worry. Over the past few years, I've consciously condensed Moon Dew while cultivating in the Ancient Tomb. If he keeps taking it, he will definitely live long enough to see you wake up."

She placed the small bottle of Moon Dew from her hidden skirt pocket into the Nether Box in the wooden cabinet by the bed, then left the room and went to help her father w**d.

Nourished by the Moon Dew, Mond had aged little in seventeen years and remained in high spirits. When he saw his daughter return, he put down his work, stood up, and brushed the dirt from his palms. "It's almost noon. Let's go home and prepare lunch."

Mond knew full well that the time had come. His little Elara was finally going to walk the path she was meant to take. As a father, he was proud and worried, but he would never try to hold her back with family affection. He knew his little Elara was not happy.

“Okay.”

Elara helped her father prepare lunch. After eating, she assisted him with the weeding until dark. She watched as her father carried a copper lamp into his room. Soon, talking came from inside. Even though there was no reply, her father still spoke tirelessly.

She stood quietly in the hall listening for a long time, then took a deep breath and smiled faintly. She walked to the underground chamber, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

After her brothers left the forest, she feared her father would be swallowed by loneliness. He must have noticed her worry, for he had spoken to her about it.

He said that being by his mother's side was the greatest happiness for him. Even in slumber, as long as she was there, he was not lonely.

Elara had not experienced such feelings and could not fully understand them, but she could see that even with her mother asleep, her father was still joyful when he looked at her. She descended into the chamber, took out three Nether Boxes—two long, one short—then left the castle without looking back.

A carriage waited at the gate. Though still pulled by horses, they were not the same two old nags from years ago. Cinderaven stood on the head of a strong stallion.

Elara boarded the carriage and tossed the Nether Boxes under the long table. When she glanced at the two wooden chests on the table, her nose burned.

She lifted the lid. As expected, they were filled with her mother's clothes, prepared by her father. She blinked hard to hold back her tears, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. "We leave now."

At her command, the horses pulled the carriage toward the forest. Cinderaven flew inside, and the door closed.

Elara opened the window, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate. Within five minutes, the bright moonlight around her slowly gathered toward her. Cinderaven was used to this sight, but he was truly curious: could Thea Dessey really return to the path of a witch using this method?

After all, both the Witch Clan and the Andros held a secret delusion. Though it could not be spoken aloud, he was certain neither the witches nor the Andros had ever given it up.

Another sunny day arrived. Under the cloudless blue sky, several children herded a flock of sheep toward lush grasslands, laughing and chasing without neglecting their task.

Polina, her belly huge and her hair tied with a cloth, carried a basin of freshly baked white bread out of the kitchen. Her burly, bearded husband immediately took it from her hands. After seven years together, she still hadn't gotten used to his beard—but the man was perfect in every other way.

"After I have the baby, will you please shave off this beard?" She would never admit she wanted to see his handsome face again. "I'm really afraid the baby will cry when they see you."

The tall, sturdy man held the basin with one hand and supported her with the other. He actually frowned and thought about it, much to Polina's relief. "I'll trim it shorter."

"You promised," Polina said happily, looking toward her mother hanging laundry in the yard. "Mama, you have to witness this. Don't let him go back on his word."

"Alright." With a strong man in the house, Polina's mother, Vihani, was much more relaxed. What pleased her most was how well her son-in-law treated Polina.

The man watched his step carefully. Polina smiled proudly, chin tilted slightly, her gaze drifting into the distance. "When I give birth—" Was that black shape a carriage? She abruptly pushed her husband aside, stepped forward, narrowed her eyes, and stared. After a moment, she exclaimed in surprise, "It's a carriage! A carriage came out of the West Sea Forest!"

Seventeen years. She had thought the West Sea Forest would remain peaceful forever.

Crash. The wooden basin of white bread fell to the ground. Polina jumped in shock. Before she could turn around, a figure rushed past her and bolted west. She hurried after him."David… where are you going… wait…"

David ran toward the moving carriage, shouting at the top of his lungs,"Elara… Elara… stop…"

Inside the carriage, Elara had just finished a night of cultivation and was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. When she heard the faint shouting, her beautiful brows furrowed slightly, but she opened her eyes.

Cinderaven shrank his neck and slowly moved to the farthest corner from Elara, stammering, "I-It sounds like… your older brother — David Hambury." The real problem was: how had David stayed outside the West Sea Forest without him knowing, and without him reporting it?

Elara shot him a cold glance, then flashed out of the carriage. The warm sunlight fell on her. In an instant, she stood before the blond, bearded man. She looked at his face—the same green eyes as her father, filled with sorrow and excitement. Yes, this was her older brother.

"Elara," David gasped, stepped forward, and pulled his sister into a tight embrace. Tears stung his eyes. "Elara, you've grown up." She seemed even a little taller than their mother.

"Brother." Feeling his warm embrace, Elara slowly raised her arms and hugged him back. "All these years… have you been well? Why didn't you leave here?"

"I'm fine. Townsend is fine too," David said, thinking of the day they left the West Sea Forest, holding her even tighter. "What about you, Father, and Mother? Are you all well?"

Elara smiled lightly. "We're all fine." She saw a heavily pregnant woman standing not far away, staring at them with fiery eyes as if catching them in an affair. She understood immediately and patted her brother's back. "You're married, aren't you?"

"Yes," David wiped his tears and let go of his sister. "Your sister-in-law is about to give birth." Perhaps because of the witch blood in his veins, he and Polina had only conceived after seven years of marriage. "Come. I'll take you to my home."

His sister had not left the West Sea Forest for twenty years. She must have business to attend to. He did not want to delay her, but he hoped to see her a little longer.

"Alright," Elara agreed. "But brother, as your sister, I suggest you turn around first." His wife was practically smoking with anger.

David turned and couldn't help but laugh. He took Elara's hand and hurried over to explain.

Polina stood with her hands on her waist, her mouth puckered as if she was about to cry. Her man wasn't having an affair with her idol, was he? This had to be the worst thing in the world.

"Polina," David said, approaching her. He let go of his sister and ran to put his arm around her, pulling her close.

Polina, drowning in sorrow and anger, wanted to push him away, but her belly was too heavy. Her blue-gray eyes fixed on the beautiful girl walking toward her, and she sniffled loudly.

The girl had thick, wavy black hair that fell to her hips. She was tall, with delicate yet noble features. Especially her light-black eyes—calm, mysterious, like a distant black hole, so deep they took one's breath away.

She was not wearing the wide-skirted dresses favored by noblewomen on the Mal Continent, but clothing similar to the traditional attire of women from her past life's Xinjiang, though less colorful. She wore a black-and-gold cloak and the Silver-stamen Black Mandala Crown. Her expression was gentle, with a faint smile.

Yes. Polina was certain—this was her idol. She was not as cold as the book described, but Polina liked this version of Elara Dessey even more."I… I have a suggestion for you." You could loosen the barrier at the edge of the West Sea Forest. Then the forest could expand on its own."

She had thought about this for years. Today, she had finally said it to the lord of the West Sea Forest herself.

Elara raised an eyebrow in surprise. This was also something she planned to do in the future. "Thank you for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."

Her voice was lovely too. Polina felt even more upset. Her idol was perfect in every way—except maybe her eyesight.

"Polina," David said, watching his wife's tearful expression with amusement. "Let me introduce you." He pulled Elara closer with his left hand. "This is my biological sister, Elara Dessey."

Mistress? Polina finally burst into tears. Mistress… the word caught in her throat. She… she must have misunderstood something. She suddenly looked up at her bearded husband and hiccuped. "Biological sister?"

When the man nodded, Polina's eyes widened even further. Her mind went blank. Was there anything more exciting than becoming family with her idol?

Oh my god… oh my god. Her status had just rocketed into outer space. She stiffly turned her neck toward the most powerful witch in Mal Continent history. She… she was now her idol's sister-in-law. So… she looked down, her view blocked by her round belly. She dug her fingers into her husband's flesh."I… I think I'm going into labor." She was too excited.

Elara sensed her water had broken. She immediately used witchcraft to support her weak sister-in-law and nudged her stunned brother. "Where is your house?"

"O-Oh," David was completely dazed. Her words echoed in his head: she's going into labor, she's going into labor. He turned numbly, walking stiffly ahead.

He stopped after only two steps, then suddenly jumped, turned back, lifted Polina—still supported by witchcraft—and charged like a tiger toward a nearby farmhouse.

Elara followed. Her carriage stopped outside Polina's small yard. In her past life, she had studied medicine for ten years but died before performing many surgeries. She never expected to help deliver her sister-in-law in this life.

"Push!" Vihani, Polina's mother, did not hand over the delivery to Elara just because she was a witch. "Breathe in… yes… breathe out… push…"

Polina squeezed Elara's hand with all her strength and pushed in rhythm. As soon as the sky darkened, she gave birth to a small, dark-red baby. But before anyone could relax, her stomach cramped again. Vihani shouted urgently for hot water.

Strangely enough, the first baby girl cried nonstop after birth—until the second little girl was safely delivered. Then she gradually fell silent.

Standing beside the cradle, Elara looked at the two cleaned baby girls curled up together. Her heart was touched. She bent down and gently hooked their little joined hands, releasing a wisp of witchcraft and splitting it in two. She had only meant to try, but then…

"Elara," David walked into the main room carrying a large bowl of broth, looking at her hopefully. Outside, he had seen a faint light enter his daughters' bodies from her fingertips, and his heart had tightened.

Elara knew what her brother was thinking. She stood straight and looked at him. "May I choose their surnames?" The two babies' meridians could hold witchcraft.

"You…" David thought he was dreaming. He stumbled forward, staring at his sister, his voice trembling with fear and longing. "What did you just say?" He dared not speak loudly, afraid he would wake from the dream.

Elara understood his feelings. "They can practice witchcraft." The world was dangerous for ordinary people. "If you agree, talk it over with your sister-in-law. Would you be willing to return to live in the West Sea Forest? I—”

"I will," Polina said from the bed. She had woken up at some point, propping herself up with her hands. David hurried over to place a soft cushion behind her back and sat on the bed to feed her broth, but she gently pushed it away.

Pale, Polina looked at Elara. "Can I bring my mother?" My father died when I was little—he went to sell grain in Anastas City and never came back."

Now that she had a family to protect, nightmares plagued her whenever she slept: countless blood-red eyes staring at them, she and David shielding the two children with their lives. As a mother, she would rather her children live through hardship than become someone's meal because they were weak.

Elara smiled. "Of course." She had her own reasons too. "Father taught me when I was young. When the girls are older, he can help with their initiation. He can't practice witchcraft himself, but he knows the Witchcraft Initiation very well."

"We'll take good care of Father," Polina said, leaning against David, who was already crying again. "Go do what you need to do without worry."

Her guess had been right. The reason this powerful witch treated the Rozin people well was because she had a kind, loving father.

And she thanked the heavens for their mercy. From now on, she would never have to fear that she and her family would suddenly become someone's food.

"B-But," David suddenly remembered something, looking down at his wife. "If we go back to the West Sea Forest, what about Townsend's shop?"

Elara had been meaning to ask about her second brother. She stepped closer to the bed. "What shop?"

David scratched his head. "Townsend and I bought a shop in southern Udara City with help from the Hambury family. We sell farm goods. He runs the shop, and I collect supplies from the Luo River Plains."It was Polina's idea.

Polina sighed helplessly. The world was so dangerous; even running a small business to support her family was extremely hard.

"I see," Elara blinked, already planning. "Is your second brother married?"

David nodded. "Yes. He married Morian Hambury, the granddaughter of the Hambury Clan chief. They don't have children yet."

"You should still return to the West Sea Forest," Elara said to Polina. "The forest is full of natural goods that no one picks or sells. They just grow old or rot into fertilizer."

"Since your brother has a shop, when I take you back, I'll tell the little ones in the forest to pick some every day and leave them outside the castle. You can sort them and load them onto carts. The horses or deer will bring them outside the forest automatically."

It was such a waste to let the forest's resources rot. Now they could be used to support her second brother, making his life easier.

"Won't moving things so often bring trouble to the forest?" Polina had not forgotten what had happened in Anastas City.

Elara shook her head. "No. After I take you back, I'm going to Anastas City."

She was going to settle the score. Polina's mind flashed back to the book's description of Elara. Stars sparkled in her eyes. In her excitement, she promised, "Don't worry. I'll teach my daughters well. I won't let you walk this path alone forever."

For her idol to live more easily, she decided that when the girls were old enough, she would raise them to be strong, smart, and hardworking—no slacking off for a single moment.

"Wonderful," Elara smiled, delighted that the Dessey Clan had new members. Her smile dazzled Polina.

What Elara did not know was that, years later, the two sisters sleeping soundly in the cradle would grow up counting gold and practicing witchcraft with all their might. They dreamed of one day defeating their beloved aunt—just once.

Elara declined her brother's offer to stay the night. She returned to the carriage and began cultivating. When midnight came, she went inside, carried the two baby girls into the yard, and performed the Moonlight Baptism on them according to the Witch Clan ritual.

Since both parents were ordinary people, to make their future cultivation smoother, Elara condensed two Moon Seeds and planted them in their Guanyuan Points. This way, during their initiation, they would sense moonlight more sharply.

Early the next morning, when Vihani heard they were moving to the West Sea Forest, she cried out, "What?!"Polina quickly shushed her."Mama, keep your voice down. You'll disturb others."

"Are you still dreaming?" Vihani did not believe her at all. "What silly dream is this?" She simply could not believe the West Sea Forest would let Rozin people inside.

Polina had known her mother would doubt her.

"It's true. Dada and Xiaoxia can practice witchcraft. We can't hold them back—"

"Wait," Vihani said, cutting her off. She had caught the key point. "You said my granddaughters can practice witchcraft?" That meant they really did need to go to the forest. She sat heavily on the bed. "You're not dreaming this time, are you?"

Outside, sitting in the carriage, Elara lowered her lashes and whispered softly, "Interesting." But no matter where Polina came from, in this life, Elara Dessey was only Elara Dessey. Her past life ended with her death.

Because Elara had left the forest, Polina sensed danger and was in a hurry. Once she convinced her mother, she immediately told David to pack. Elara did not stop them—she truly needed to hurry.

Standing by the yard fence, she looked into the distance at the villages large and small. If the West Sea Forest were ever besieged, the ordinary Rozin people living outside would suffer first.

………………

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

"We've reached Anastas City," Cinderaven said, standing on the long table and looking out the window. "What a coincidence. Both times we came to Anastas City, it was nighttime."

If they hadn't taken time to bring David's family back to the forest, they would have already confronted Ana Stirling. But running into David was a great blessing for the West Sea Forest. Elara was in a good mood, so he was spared punishment for his oversight.

Elara rested her arm against the window, her chin in her hand. "This mistake is the first and last." Don't let it happen again."If she could not even keep track of what happened near the West Sea Forest, how could she plan anything?

"Yes, ma'am," Cinderaven sighed. He had been careless. He had only focused on watching the Andros, Werewolves, and Witch Clans, completely ignoring the weak Rozin People. Who would have thought David had grown a beard and lived right outside the forest all this time?

Elara paid no attention to his lament. She felt lighthearted. Her father would be happiest about the new family members. With her brother and his family with her, she could stay away without worry."Diane Dessey, Dana Dessey."Thinking of the two lovely babies, she smiled."Father chose nice names."

Inside the lord's mansion of Anastas City, Ana Stirling stood by the lighthouse window, holding a cup of blood. Her pale-red hair fell to her ankles. She stared greedily at the dark mass to the west, making no attempt to hide her desire. Alexander had finally returned to the capital. It was time to put her plan into action.

In just twenty years, her great-father could barely stand his daughter, who had lost her only son. What made her even angrier was that because Alexander had delayed his return, he had actually scolded her for being too aggressive?

Those cold, heartless words echoed in her ears. Ana Stirling tilted her head back and drank the sweet blood in one gulp. She slammed the empty glass onto the windowsill, crushing it into powder.

"The West Sea Forest," she hissed. "It's mine."