The Devil’s Cursed Witch

The sky was dyed deep orange, gradually turning purple, by the time Draven returned to his chamber after finishing his work. He was thinking about what to do in the next day’s council meeting, pondering about what decision to make about that human.

Hoot!

With an alarmed cry and the sound of wings flapping, a snowy white owl entered through his open window and circled around him, as if urging Draven to move.

Draven was shocked by the message his pet, Midnight, brought. He raised his arm and the owl landed on his forearm.

“Did she?” he asked with a frown.

The owl nodded with another hoot, and even before he could say more, Draven shrugged him off his arm, causing the owl to land on the window. The King was about ready to use his powers to teleport on his own when—

Thump!

A strong fist landed on his chest, disrupting the process of teleportation. With the magic dissipating due to the disturbance of another magic, the collision of two powers caused strong fluctuations in the air, enough for the ground and walls to vibrate. It caused a not-so-little commotion inside the chamber that Erlos would definitely not like to see.

Draven’s red eyes glared at the man who had his hand placed on his chest to stop Draven from teleporting. In response, the shapeshifter offered a teasing smirk to Draven and patted the King’s chest, cheekily telling him to calm down. He only removed his hand when that pair of red eyes let out a dangerous gleam.

At a speed that rivalled the wind, Morpheus had entered the King’s bedchamber through the window. When he saved Ember, he had already seen Midnight flying away, and Morpheus knew he was going to the palace to inform his master of what he witnessed. Morpheus didn’t care as he knew even if this bulky owl sped with his life on the line, he was merely an intelligent animal—he wouldn’t be faster than a Divine Eagle.

Proving his point, the two of them reached the palace merely several seconds apart though Morpheus spent some time consoling that human female.

“What’s with that glare? What, did Midnight tell you that the human fell from the cliff?” Morpheus grinned as he stood in front of Draven who clearly looked annoyed with his arrival. From the rising magic power in the air, it felt like the King was even contemplating the use of violence for daring to stop him.

The pair of red eyes moved from the winged man to Midnight to which Midnight replied with one more hoot.

Morpheus chuckled at what he heard. Just like Draven, Morpheus could understand Midnight as well. “Your Majesty, you didn’t hear the entire thing and yet you are ready to flash by that human’s side? Is she that important to you?”

Draven clenched his fists, scowling at this daring eagle who didn’t seem to care for his own life. He dared mock a devil? Did he finally lose his sanity after being thrown out the last time?

Morpheus ignored him. “Let me first deal with your pet.” He turned towards Midnight who sank back at the gaze of this eagle warrior who was no less scary than his master. After all, he was a mere owl, and in the hierarchy of the wild where instincts and bloodlines reigned supreme, eagles were top predators.

“Did you tell your master that she fell from a cliff?” Morpheus asked.

Midnight hopped from one claw to another on the window sill, letting out a timid hoot as if it were complaining.  Draven merely stared at the intruder, waiting to hear what Morpheus was up to.

Morpheus sighed. “After spending your time with the devil, you are losing your intelligence, Midnight.” He took a step closer to the owl. “Falling and jumping down from a cliff are different things.”

Draven felt like something tugged his heart, though his expression did not change.

“You go and play with your kind,” Morpheus said to Midnight, and even before the owl could react, there was a soft hitting sound.

Thud!

In less than a fraction of a second, one of the large grey wings behind Morpheus moved to slap the owl out of the bedchamber. It was a light slap, but it sent the poor owl tumbling in the air. Luckily, he somehow managed to open his wings and fly away after letting out a few angry hoots.

Morpheus turned to look at Draven whose red eyes had turned to a considerably darker shade. He realized that this incident had clearly affected Draven more than expected. In his perspective, the King of Agartha had long been an unbreakable iceberg, and given how long he’d live, barely anything could shake his emotions.

The eagle found this discovery fascinating.

“I wonder,” he slyly smiled, “what happened to that human that she decided to jump down the cliff and take her own life? Do you have any idea, Almighty Draven—I mean, Your Majesty?”

Draven did not bother to respond to his question. “Where is she?”

Morpheus tilted his head as if he was seeing a strange being for the first time. “Your Majesty, your powers can track the presence of anyone you’ve met inside this kingdom. Why do you not put your great powers to use instead of asking this lowly subject?”

Morpheus’ playful response was followed by him walking leisurely inside Draven’s chamber, as if he’s admiring the mess inside.

This eagle was among Draven’s closest comrades back in the day, and thus, he was aware of Draven’s powers.  Precisely because he knew him so well, it had become an annoying thing for Draven.

“I will find out for myself. You can leave,” Draven spoke, not willing to have this eagle stay in his presence for another moment.

Not just his powers, Morpheus was also aware of Draven’s personality, easily guessing his thoughts and the meaning behind his gestures and his words.

“Oh, I see. it’s not that you are not putting your powers to use—your powers cannot be used on her. Has the passage of time changed you this much? Are your powers ineffective against humans now?”

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