The Virtuous Dark Witch

Chapter 52

That was entirely possible. Those Dark Artifacts that had successfully condensed spirits were no longer mere dead objects. They had their own consciousness and largely inherited their master's personality. Just think about Selah. If Austin rambled about her guilt in her tomb every day, the Demon Serpent Staff would surely gather her companions and slice him to pieces.

Cinderaven grew even sadder. But there was another Dessey who had wronged him. He could settle for second best.

"If Selah's tomb is out of the question, then put Austin's body with Lord Vaelena."

He wanted to ask her: Why had he treated West Sea Forest with such courtesy, only for her to abandon him outside the Ancient Tomb, leaving him to the wind and rain? Did she want him to rot with the dead branches and leaves?

Why bring up her great-grandmother now? Elara leaned against the carriage. "What grudge did my great-grandmother have with Austin Corell?"

If she guessed right, Austin Corell should have part of the transcript of Selah Witch Ancestor's notes. She didn't need to guess who had given them—it certainly wasn't Selah. She never had the chance.

"It wasn't exactly a grudge," Cinderaven said. Vaelena had fully taught him what hypocrisy meant. He had originally thought she was the least Dessey-like witch in West Sea Forest history. But reality had proven him naive.

Elara looked at Cinderaven and saw he had no intention of saying more. She understood.

"Stop dreaming at night." Except for Selah Witch Ancestor's, all Dessey witches' Ancient Tombs are sealed from the inside. As the current lord of West Sea Forest, I have a duty to protect them."

After hearing that, Cinderaven was overcome with sorrow. He whined:

"I was only joking."

Death really did solve everything. The biggest mistake of his life was blindly thinking Selah was his soulmate. From then on, he could never escape the Dessey witches.

"Do you think there's a curse in this world that doesn't hurt the victim, but just makes them forever inferior to a certain force?" He strongly suspected he was under more than just the Twin Spirit Curse. Selah would do anything for West Sea Forest.

Was he accusing West Sea Forest of harming him? If she didn't have questions to ask, Elara would have knocked him unconscious with one palm.

"Did Cinderaven merge with Austin Corell's blood?" Mercury was highly toxic. Ordinary birds and beasts could never withstand its erosion.

"Yes," Cinderaven shook his feathers. There was no need to hide this."One drop."Without that drop of blood, he would have rotted away with the dead leaves in West Sea Forest long ago."It wasn't a turning. It was a fusion. Vaelena had put a great deal of effort into merging that blood.

"The Larissa family doesn't know Austin Corell fused with a soul. They put his body in the Mercury Pond because they feared his Andros power would fade without a soul," Elara had just figured this out.

Cinderaven nodded. "They use mercury's poison to constantly stimulate Austin's body, so his healing ability isn't weakened by his soul's absence. When Fisher wakes up and fuses his soul with the body, he will become Austin Corell."

Elara let out a long breath. "If Fisher's soul successfully fuses with Austin's body, what will happen to yours?"

“Sleep. Until Cinderaven's body collapses, then I'll disappear with it."When Vaelena came to Corell Manor and told him about her dream, she made the stakes clear.

It was a heaven-defying gamble. If he won, he might break free of the Twin Spirit Curse and still be himself. If he lost, Fisher Larissa would rule, the Saparaya Mother Tree's Seven-Petaled Blood Core Flower would wither, the Andros would run wild, and all races on the Mal Continent would descend into chaos—until a powerful lord of West Sea Forest rose to power and suppressed them with bloodshed.

Cinderaven looked at Elara. When Vaelena Dessey was on the verge of becoming a Witch Ancestor, Goddess Selena had sent her a dream. For that dream, she resolutely gave up ascending to Witch Ancestor and accepted the goddess's arrangement. She died within a hundred years.

He respected every Dessey witch—not because of his friend Selah, nor because they were powerful. He admired their piety toward nature.

Thinking of the Light Witches, Cinderaven felt anger, but mostly contempt. The Dessey witches were the best at forging Dark Artifacts on the Mal Continent. With their wisdom, extending life by defying nature would not be difficult. But as far as he knew, West Sea Forest had never researched life-extending methods. Why?

Selah had said: Those who recklessly break nature's rules will one day be abandoned by nature. She was the most powerful witch on the Mal Continent. He believed her words and held them as truth.

"That's the right look," Elara said. She didn't know what Cinderaven was thinking, but only now did she see a trace of the clarity a king should have in his eyes.

Huh? Cinderaven blinked, his coldness gone. "What wasn't right? I've always been right."

As soon as he spoke, his kingly aura vanished. Elara laughed. "Your personality is completely different from Austin Corell's." She stared at his tiny head and couldn't help but wonder if it was limited by brain size.

Was it that strange? Cinderaven sighed, speaking pitifully. "Austin Corell is the legendary Son of the Saparaya Mother Tree, the King of Andros. Of course, he can act however he wants."

"But Cinderaven is just a dependent black crow. There are fifty-four thousand six hundred and seventy-two black crows in West Sea Forest—not counting eggs. Can you understand my unease?"

He wasn't the most beautiful bird on the Mal Continent. At best, he was the most handsome among black crows. But a black crow was a black crow; no amount of handsomeness would turn his feathers white. Ugly as he was, if he still acted arrogant, how could he have gotten this far and latched onto her?

So Austin Corell wasn't above worldly desires after all. Elara smiled.

"I understand, I understand. Then why were you brought into West Sea Forest?" Just because it was safe?

He was just trying to catch a break. Another key part of Vaelena's dream was that a powerful lord would come to West Sea Forest. He wasn't stupid—of course he wanted to stay close to power.

Elara saw him playing dumb but wasn't annoyed. She continued:

"Was there a barrier set at the center of the Mercury Pond?"

"Yes," Cinderaven said. He was familiar with witchcraft because of his friendship with Selah."Fisher's twin brother, Fico, hated fighting and only sought self-preservation. He created the barrier at the center of the Mercury Pond. No one from the outside can touch it."

Elara understood. "Unless the life inside the barrier comes out on its own." Incredible, truly incredible."What about the Andros who besieged me? Why did I feel like I couldn't kill them?"

That was indeed a problem. Cinderaven's expression turned grave.

"Didn't I tell you that besides the eight ancestors, the Andros have another branch of power?"

"Are they different from the Andros led by the eight ancestor dukes?" Elara looked down at the black hooded cloak bundled and thrown under the bench. She had brought it out of Sunblight Chasm.

"They were the same once, but not anymore," Cinderaven said, thinking of the bloodline that resembled the Saparaya Mother Tree's seed. "Either they fused Saparaya Mother Tree seeds into their bloodlines, or they drained the life force from the seeds."

Elara listened, her mind racing. "Does that make them immortal?"

"Not immortal—just extremely hard to kill." He never would have imagined the Blood Pact had this ability if they hadn't met today. "The life force contained in Saparaya Mother Tree seeds is beyond ordinary imagination and extremely strange."

"The reason you couldn't kill those Andros today is that every drop of their blood holds an unusual life force. With that life force, their flesh remains alive and can reassemble on its own."

I see. Elara asked next: "This life force comes from Saparaya Mother Tree seeds?" If they weren't truly immortal, then the one-fifth drop in combat power meant that life force was also weakening.

"The aura is the same," Cinderaven did not hide this. "Their bloodlines also closely resemble the seeds. Once we finish our business and return to Andrea Capital, you'd better tell Alexandra Stirling about this."

Elara planned to do exactly that. "I think I know why they wanted to capture me alive." Forest elves. Her aunt had been right.

"Why?" He had been wondering the same thing. The Blood Pact and West Sea Forest had always stayed out of each other's way. They couldn't want West Sea Forest's land.

"Forest elves," Elara said. Since Austin Corell no longer hid things from her, she didn't mind telling him something in return. "Those Andros want to enter West Sea Forest, capture forest elves, revive the Saparaya Mother Tree, eat its fruit, and break free from the bloodline suppression of the eight Andros ancestors."

Cinderaven was stunned. He stared with his black bean eyes.

"Forest elves?" He wouldn't have believed they existed if he hadn't seen them with his own eyes…No, he still didn't really believe they existed. As for the elves in West Sea Forest… were they even elves?

“Yes.”

Elara flicked out a wisp of witch power, picked up the black hooded cloak from under the bench, undid it, and examined it carefully with witch power.

"Heh," Cinderaven sneered. "If the situation weren't so serious, I almost let them have their way." Did they really think the little elves of West Sea Forest would revive the Saparaya Mother Tree without harvesting them in return?

Elara glanced at him. "Do you know why the former chief of the Charlotte Tribe died?"

“Why?”

"Because she couldn't keep her mouth shut."

"What's that got to do with me?"Cinderaven covered his mouth with his wings and spoke muffled."I'm a black crow. Black crows don't talk."And Austin Corell was in her hands right now.

Elara frowned as she examined the black cloak. "This is actually a Light artifact." She recalled the earlier fight. "We missed something."

Yes, they had. Cinderaven thought she wouldn't notice. "Those Andros weren't wearing moonlights." Yet their bloodlines were still cold. That meant they hadn't escaped the erosion of sunlight.

"This cloak doesn't just hide aura—it should also block sunlight." A question arose. Elara's eyes narrowed slightly. Which branch of the Light Witches forged this?

"It seems that during Austin's two thousand years of disappearance, the Light Witches got quite a lot done," Cinderaven said, looking at the cloak with a light sneer. "Using black—planning to frame the Dark Witches again?" When Selah was alive, the entire Light Witch clan had been obedient, at least on the surface. Otherwise, the Twin Witches would never have appeared.

Elara channeled witch power and crushed the black cloak into ash. She would not bring this thing back to West Sea Forest.

"Wendice Larissa escaped. She's probably heading back to the Alsace Mountains. The Larissa family will learn of Austin Corell's awakening soon. I'm worried the Larissa family has ties to Brett Hall."

"Now that Austin Corell is awake, the Larissa family will keep their mouths shut." They won't dare admit they imprisoned him for more than two thousand years," Cinderaven was not worried at all."And no one alive but Austin and Lord Vaelena knows Austin is also cursed with the Twin Spirit Curse."

"You don't get what I mean," Elara said, pressing her tongue against her right cheek. "I'm saying the Larissa family doesn't know Duke Brett Hall has woken up. If they're in contact with Fisher, won't the news reach Brett Hall?"

Cinderaven lowered his head and looked at his own body. "It doesn't matter. We have him. If Brett really comes, I'll let him see Austin."

"Then there's no other problem." Elara sat cross-legged and closed her eyes. "When we return to West Sea Forest, we'll go straight to the Ancient Tombs. I'll build myself an empty tomb. Austin Corell's body will be stored there temporarily."

That worked for Cinderaven. He had no objections.

Just as the carriage from West Sea Forest entered Anastas City, soft sunlight shone deep into Rodley Valley. Benelli, still dressed in white, flashed several times to the edge of Sunblight Chasm. He looked down. As expected, there were no secrets left here.

"Too late."

Benelli closed his eyes and sensed the remaining aura. He followed it to a rocky recess. An Andros woman whose face was unrecognizable lay unconscious like mud. But he knew her.

"Nice to see you, Miss Roxane Mullin."

Benelli raised a hand. A drop of blood flew from Roxane's forehead. He was about to cast a spell when he suddenly froze. His eyes turned sharp. He reached out, pinched the drop of blood in front of him, and twisted his fingers hard.

The blood vanished, leaving only an extremely faint soft white light stuck to his fingers.

Benelli stared at his fingers, his face icy cold.

“Fisher.”

This woman had fused a drop of Fisher's blood. He looked down at Roxane and smiled slightly.

"What should I do with you?" He took a deep breath. "There seems to be something else here too."

He had not been wrong about Elara Dessey. A partner like her was truly satisfying.

Dawn broke. Wendice Larissa, who had cut off her own arm, fled Rodley Valley and headed south. She planned to bypass West Sea Forest and return to the Alsace Mountains. But she was too badly injured. She barely reached the Saharo Valley before collapsing. Her left arm held her now-stopped bleeding wound, and she stumbled to her knees.

"No…… this won't work."

Disheveled, Wendice Larissa looked around. A ray of sunlight slid across her cheek, bringing faint warmth. A sharp light flashed in her bright yellow eyes. She couldn't recover quickly on her own.

If she remembered correctly, there were two Rozin villages nearby. She turned north. She had her family to thank. She pushed herself up with her left hand, turned, and headed north.

In less than an hour, she smelled smoke. A smile appeared on her face. She might have found hope. She picked up speed. But after a few steps, Wendice Larissa suddenly stopped. Her eyes narrowed, and she watched warily as a young man in white walked slowly from the end of the road.

"Benelli?"

Hearing his ancestor call him, Benelli did not dare delay. He flashed three steps away and smiled with concern.

"Are you alright?"

"Can't you see?" Of all the Larissa family, he was the one she understood least. Wendice Larissa did not know why he was there, but she was certain this was no coincidence.

Benelli looked Wendice Larissa up and down. Seeing the bloodstains on her bright yellow robe, he stepped forward, frowning with apparent distress.

"Who hurt you?"

Wendice Larissa stepped back instinctively. "Say what you need to say. I don't like beating around the bush."

Benelli raised an eyebrow and nodded. He dropped his fake kindness and smiled faintly, getting straight to the point.

"Tell me who is behind Ana Stirling." He wanted to ask that person for something.

Wendice Larissa's heart tightened. Her right eyelid twitched uncontrollably. But she showed nothing on her face, pretending confusion.

"What person is behind Ana Stirling? You know I never get involved in family affairs."

"Is that so?"Benelli turned north, looking at the nearby smoke."Then who thought up the spell to steal the life force of other beings? And where did the map of Rozin villages across the Mal Continent come from?"

"What are you talking about?" Wendice Larissa's eyes flickered. "The Rozin village map was ordered drawn by the tribe after Boyle became chief. You should know that."

Benelli scoffed. "You couldn't have devised the life-stealing spell. Who else would think to map the Rozin villages?" She was not innocent. But none of that mattered to him. He only wanted to keep his Mama alive long enough for him to break the Twin Spirit Curse.

"Tell me. Who is behind Ana Stirling?"

Wendice Larissa slowly retreated. "What do you want with him?"

"I've been to Rodley Valley," Benelli turned back to look at her."All the Andros who died at the bottom of Sunblight Chasm had their bloodlines stripped. Elara Dessey couldn't have failed to kill a single one."He lowered his lashes."Ancestor, you know what I want."

"You……"Wendice Larissa could not believe what she was hearing. "Do you realize what you're doing?"

Ancestor Witch Monrali had said Benelli Larissa would become even more powerful than Ancestor Witch Fisher. She agreed, but she was not as optimistic as Monrali. Benelli only cared about Poppy. No one in the Larissa family could control him.

"I know."

Benelli closed his eyes, his mind filled with the sight of his mother's emaciated face. She could not hold on much longer. Yet she refused to be turned into an Andros or drain the life of humans or Andros. He did not want to force her. He raised his right hand and gestured to the sky.

Wendice Larissa instantly lost control, was pulled forward, and fell to her knees. Before she could react, an invisible force lifted her head. Benelli's five fingers formed a claw, gripping the top of her head.

"I don't want to be this rough with you. Tell me what you know."

"It only works on Andros," Wendice Larissa panicked, feeling witchpower coiling above her head. "Poppy is human. She can't absorb the life force from the seed."

"That's not your concern." Benelli felt a flicker of disappointment. "I'll test it myself. Just tell me who has it."

Wendice Larissa shook her head. "I don't know." She felt the pressure on her head tighten and spoke quickly. "You're wasting your time with me. Go to West Sea Forest instead." Thea Dessey's transformation wasn't just incomplete. Your mother was good friends with Merlyn Dessey. If you ask, Elara Dessey will——"

"Shut up!" Benelli accused. "Have you forgotten how Merlyn Dessey died?"

Elara Dessey, like him, had lost the person she loved most at a young age because of these greedy fools. The world called her cruel, but did they know what she had been through? There was only a transaction between Elara Dessey and him, no "begging".

Even if West Sea Forest was the only path left one day, he would only bring enough chips to trade with her.

This trip back to the Alsace Mountains was the first time his mother had told him that she was grateful Merlyn Dessey had rejected her back then. She did not regret giving birth to him. And she hoped he would not make her regret it.

He would not let her down.

Wendice Larissa felt witchcraft touch her scalp. She dared not think anymore and replied shakily:

"The Blood Pact. The other branch of the Andros."

"Thank you."

Benelli smiled. His hand tightened, and the witchpower coiling around his fingers shot downward. Wendice Larissa's eyes widened in terror. Before she could make a sound, she shattered like a beautiful porcelain statue covered in cracks.

Benelli retracted his right hand. He pulled out a clean handkerchief from his left and carefully wiped his right hand. He muttered softly:

"Don't blame me. Blame your own greed."

Wendice, like Talina and Boyle, should have died long ago. She was nothing but trouble alive.

Silently returning to West Sea Forest, Elara went to her grandmother's tombstone, ready to build her own empty tomb.

Cinderaven flew to the Black Mandala Garden and found the resting Darkwing Fairy Queen. Seeing her so relaxed, he felt sour. He poked her awake roughly with his wing.

Annoyed, the Darkwing Fairy Queen pressed her lips, puffed her cheeks, and glared fiercely at Cinderaven. If he didn't have a good reason, she would pluck all his black feathers.

Cinderaven looked coldly at the queen, who bore a strong resemblance to Selah. He sneered just as strongly.

"You're enjoying yourself." Even in death, you get to rule here." Thinking about his own situation made him furious. He grabbed the Darkwing Fairy Queen and flew toward the nearby carriage.

The Darkwing Fairy Queen had a temper. She kicked Cinderaven away, put her hands on her hips, and began berating him soundlessly.

Cinderaven flipped around and darted into the carriage.

"Just you wait."

Elara, digging her own grave, knew Cinderaven would cause a scene with the Darkwing Fairy Queen once he brought back his body. With newfound confidence, there was nothing he wouldn't do.

The Darkwing Fairy Queen could not take the provocation. She immediately flapped her wings upward and summoned her three thousand followers. She would see what that damned black crow was yelling about. She led her followers toward the carriage.

But before she could get close, a bare foot stepped out. When she caught a glimpse of dark blood-tinged hair, the Darkwing Fairy Queen froze. She abandoned her three thousand followers, flashed toward Selah's tomb, and tried to throw herself into it.