The Devil’s Cursed Witch

Leeora sensed the atmosphere growing more tense as the two stubborn beasts glared at each other. ‘Both of you are the same. And why am I always the one stuck between these two?’ Suddenly, Leeora pitied herself and felt how tough her life was.

She cleared her throat. “And what did you tell her, Morph?”

She knew the answer would piss off the King since provoking Draven seemed to be Morpheus’ talent, but still, she had to ask.

“I told her what she needed to know,” he replied blandly.

“How did she react?” Leeora asked.

“Nothing special as if it didn’t hold that much importance,” Morpheus replied as his eyes didn’t move away from the pair of red ones that were planning to kill him. “She was more interested in learning magic.”

“Magic?” Leeora mused. “Did you tell her how to use high-level combustion magic? No, wait–what exactly did you tell her?”

Morpheus explained everything from the start, from how the human girl told him about her shapeshifting spell, to him showing her a basic air magic spell,  and then showing off high-level sound magic that brought butterflies for her entertainment. Of course, he didn’t leave out the accident that happened afterwards.

“I thought a human like her won’t be able to do anything but…” He looked at Draven. “The rest, you know what happened.”

The King and the High Elder listened quietly to his recount and pondered on their own. After a while, Leeora said, “Strange. I also heard from the palace servants how she shapeshifted, but to think she can freely wield the magic inside her core. It’s dangerous to leave her unattended. She needs to be trained.”

“Hey, that’s what you are worried about?” Morpheus couldn’t believe it. “The first human capable of true magic appeared on this continent! Is this not something that goes against the laws of the world? Is she really  human?”

Finally, Morpheus asked what he was seeking to know.

He continued, “At that time, I felt she had really a strong power residing inside her. How can she be human then? How can she hide her true constitution? How come no one had caught a clue when she was standing among all those powerful beings during the council meeting?”

“You don’t need to know,” Draven said coldly, asking him indirectly to get lost. “Your job is done. You can leave.”

“This incident involves me, and I don’t plan to stop till I get answers.” He looked at Leeora. “I need to know–“

“You do not need to know,” Draven cut him off.

“For now, Morph, go back. We will talk later. First, I need to go see Ember. She must still be in great shock,” Leeora said as she stood up. These men were as incompatible as fire and water; she didn’t wish to stay between these two.

She turned towards Draven. “Your Majesty, I shall excuse myself and go see Ember.”

Draven nodded and Leeora left after letting out an inward sigh of relief.

Once she left the study, Morpheus was also preparing to depart when Draven spoke to him.

“Did you truly tell her everything there is to know about being a mate?”

“First, tell me what it is about her that you are hiding,” Morpheus said. “Is she not human?”

Draven didn’t find the need to hide it. “Her body is human, that much I can say, but we are yet to confirm her origins.”

“Yet to confirm. That means you have an idea.” Morpheus recalled that moment when she used her powers and said, “When I sensed that magic power, I can tell it was not something any supernatural being can possess. It felt strange… foreign. It has a similar nature to yours but a different flavour, a higher level, if that makes any sense. If I were to compare with the rest of our kind, her magic is comparably pure, purer than what is in my divine bloodline or yours.”

Draven didn’t deny this claim. Though he had not come across her powers, Morpheus wasn’t the kind of person to lie about serious matters. He could trust his judgment as Morpheus being one of the strongest and most knowledgeable people among the living divine beasts.

Just as Morpheus reached the door, he looked over his shoulder and found Draven staring at the air, seemingly in deep thought.

“Oh, and before I forget, about her question about mates, I did not tell that innocent human anything a child shouldn’t know. She is your mate, so that is your responsibility.”

Morpheus left while Draven looked at the door from where that stubborn eagle left. He knew he had to tell her and he would do it soon once she is out of the shock of the previous incident.

——–

Leeora arrived at Ember’s place where she found a spiritless young lady wrapped in a thin blanket when she went up to Ember’s bedchamber. The human girl was quietly sitting on the wide window sill, looking outside while resting her back against the wall and her head against the glass.

The lonely image overlapped with how Ember looked on her first couple days in Ronan, cooped up inside her tree house without any desire to communicate. The worried servants outside had already told her that Ember was not responding to them, and they were glad that the High Elder, who they knew was the Miss’s friend, came at the right time.

“Ember? It’s me, Leeora,” the elf called out to her in a soft voice as she approached the unusually quiet girl.

Leeora’s voice roused Ember from her absent-minded state, but unlike all other times, the girl didn’t smile the moment their gazes met.

Leeora could understand her feelings. “How are you, Ember? Apologies for not coming to see you in the past few days. I was occupied with work in Ronan.”

Ember gave a light nod, saying she understood.

“Elder, please sit here.” Clio brought a chair which she placed next to the window so Leeora could sit comfortably while talking to Ember.

“Thank you, child. Can you two get us refreshments?” Leeora asked gently.

“Of course, Elder. Miss, we will be back after a while.”

The two elf servants hurried to excuse themselves, aware that Leeora was asking for privacy. The two servants were troubled and worried sick, wondering  what happened to their Miss who refused to tell them why she’s been so down since morning. All they did was take care of her by remaining by her side, hoping that their Miss would eventually open up after some time.

After they left, Leeora uncovered the small bamboo woven basket she had in her arm and held it in front of Ember. “I have brought wild berries for you. They are fresh as it’s the season for them to grow. Try it.”

Ember didn’t deny the kind gesture of the elder and picked up a few from them as she heard Leeora continue speaking in a gentle tone, “Wild berries grow all over the Forest of the Elves, but Ronan has the sweetest kind of berries that’s popular not only to the elves but the other races. They are supplied to everywhere, not just in Agartha but even outside for trading. Aren’t they quite tasty?”

Ember nodded as she chewed on the ones in her hand one after another.

“They are sweet.”

Finally, the girl spoke and Leeora felt relieved.

“Do you want more?”

“Yes, please.”

While Ember enjoyed the sweet treat, her stiff shoulders eventually relaxed. Leeora finally decided to have a proper conversation with her.

“Sire and Morph told me about what happened.”

Ember stopped eating the berries and looked at Leeora with a guilty expression.