The Devil's Cursed Witch

The moment Morpheus breathed his last, clarity came back to Ember's eyes, those red fire flames like orbs regained their original emerald green color.

But it was too late.

Half a beat too late.

Because the man embracing her no longer had a heartbeat.

"M-Morph?"

In her shock, something inside her mind seemed to have snapped.

Various images flashed in front of her eyes. Images seemingly belonging to another world.

A sea of fire. A green-eyed woman in a white robe. A man with golden wings wearing a familiar lopsided smile.

"...Don't die, please."

Surrounded by flames, the green-eyed woman was crying while holding the tattered body of a winged man in her arms. Sorrow could be seen on her exquisite face.

The winged man, on the contrary, seemed relieved as he moved his trembling hand to wipe away her tears, "My every lifetime should mean to die for you."

"No, no, I don't want you to die for me! Coward! Live for me! Don't give up! You have to live for me!"

"This is my destiny, my Sovereign..."

"Destiny! Again! This damned destiny! We will change it! So don't die for me anymore, _______!"

But only the sea of fire could witness the deity's sorrow as the body of the winged man scattered into golden sparkles before vanishing into nothingness.

"No!!!"

The green-eyed deity's scream overlapped with Ember's.

With that painful and hurting scream, Ember's powers erupted once more, causing an explosion so powerful it caused the barrier around her to crack and shatter.

She went unconscious the next moment, and before she and Morpheus fell on the ground, Draven had swiftly moved to catch their limp bodies. He then laid them promptly on the ground. The various supernatural beings with healing powers immediately proceeded to cast spells on Ember and Morpheus.

Aureus could not believe what he was seeing. He kneeled next to his uncle and didn't know what to do. He was lost and tears continued to flow his eyes. 'Uncle!' He never called him like that and now he regretted it.

As the most powerful expert of the soul, Cornelia hurried to cast another spell on Morpheus. She wanted to try protecting his soul, keeping it from heading towards the cycle of reincarnation. Even though he was no longer breathing, since his body still retained warmth, as long as his soul remained...

Maybe, maybe there was a chance for them to attempt to revive his heart, right? Right

Cornelia didn't want to give up though she knew it was impossible. Her love towards him, made her lose her reasons.

After checking that she only lost consciousness, Draven handed over Ember to Leeora and kneeled beside Morpheus. He placed his hand over his chest, injecting his own vitality towards him.

"Morph!"

The peaceful smile on Morpheus' lips brought tears to Draven's eyes.

Draven could not say a single word as overwhelming sadness stifled him. He pulled out the divine weapon from the eagle's chest, but the moment it was removed, the dagger disappeared into nothingness.

The weapon had fulfilled its destiny.

A divine beast had been killed by its blade.

He placed his hand on Morpheus' chest and closed his eyes. Tears continued to flow out from them.

Aureus followed Draven as well and tried to inject his powers in his uncle's lifeless body. He was ready to do anything just to save his uncle.

However, despite the numerous supernatural beings attempting to heal Morpheus, the Commander of Warriors no longer responded.

"Why?" was the only word Draven could speak, his voice emotional. "Why are you smiling...?"

The smile on Morpheus' lips felt like a curse to Draven. It was as if everything that happened was within Morpheus' calculations.

As if Morpheus was telling him that he had no regrets. That he had accepted this outcome, welcoming it even.

Morpheus truly had no regrets. He sacrificed his life in order to change Draven's destiny.

'Because you are my most important friend, Draven.'

However, these words, the King of Agartha would never get to hear.

One by one, the healers attempting to save Morpheus lowered their hands. Despite their reluctance, there was no more reason to cast another healing spell. They could only sob, some looking away, others weeping into their hands, when they saw the King of Agartha shedding tears.

The Commander of Warriors...had passed away.

Aureus felt like he had never been this helpless before. Once again he could do nothing to save the one important to him. So Pathetic.

Agraleus held Morpheus' body. Ever since his brother died, he had been like a father figure to Morpheus. He had always nagged his nephew from skipping meetings and lazing around, but the Chief of Shapeshifters had doted on him like he was his real son.

Leeora had already collapsed on her knees. The unconscious Ember was in her arms, and the elderly elf could not help but cry in hatred.

She hated destiny!

She wanted to curse its cruelty!

Why must she keep losing her cherished ones so tragically?

Why couldn't destiny be changed?

Why?!

-----

The Commander of Warriors, Divine Eagle Morpheus... had passed away?

Seeing people in tears, coupled with the strange heavy atmosphere, the newly arrived warriors who shortly came later as reinforcements were in confusion. They even pestered the exhausted first batch of warriors they were acquainted with, asking them what happened, whether there were enemies or such.

However, what they heard instead was absurd.

The Commander died? The human mate of the King went berserk? It was her who caused this phenomenon? There was no enemy attack? She killed three of their people?

Did she... kill the Commander?

None of those at the scene dared believe their own guesses, many wanting to deny Morpheus' death despite seeing his lifeless body with their own eyes.

Some eyes began to show hostility towards the unconscious human girl, growing vigilant against the King. Those belonging to the feathered races had awful expressions on their faces, while those beast clans close to the Divine Fox Clan were visibly angry.

This brewing aggression made many show subtle expressions; however, those intimately acquainted with Morpheus did not notice the change.

For them, it was as if time had stopped. Deadly silence enveloped their grief-stricken figures, the exactly opposite of how chaotic everything was mere moments ago.

Cornelia had cast one spell after another, and her skin had grown deathly pale from the massive loss of blood, wanting to call back his soul, begging his spirit to return...but though she succeeded, she knew she failed.

The taboo weapon had eliminated the vitality of Morpheus' body.

So what if she saved his soul? What was the use of a soul without a body?

Was that not the same as cursing Morpheus to become a wandering ghost?

Wouldn't it be better to simply give up and allow him to move on and rest in peace?

Tears of blood didn't stop flowing from her eyes. She helplessly fell on her knees and continued to silently cry.

Draven simply stared.

He was as still as a statue, unmoving, not even breathing. He sat on the burned ground with a slack expression, eyes fixed on his smiling friend. It was as if he himself had lost his soul.

Even as  Aureus and Agraleus surrounded Morpheus' corpse, even as Agraleus prudently wiped the blood that trickled out of Morpheus' mouth, the King of Agartha did not move.

Draven Aramis was the Black Dragon who always brings death, earning him his moniker of being the Devil. People expected him to be cold and heartless no matter the situation, yet at this moment, the people around him realized that he too was someone who could bleed. He too could be affected by a friend's death.

Seeing him look miserable, no one had a heart to say or ask anything to him.