The story begins with Jane seated on the throne in the northern castle, talking with Mahin about the upcoming celebration for Reyanna, the mother of the witches.

"Mahin, I expect you to attend tomorrow," Jane instructs. "Make sure to clean up and wear something practical—comfortable, but easy to move in. Just in case you stir up trouble and need to make a quick exit."

Mahin nods, showing little interest in the event. Jane, noticing his lack of enthusiasm, presses, “Mahin…”

He looks at his sister, sensing something different in her expression—something unfamiliar. She looks sad, more like a concerned sister, or perhaps even a worried mother.

Jane rises from her throne and walks toward Mahin, who remains silent. When she reaches him, she gently places a hand on his left cheek.

Mahin gazes at her with tired eyes. Jane’s expression grows even sadder as she says, "Mahin, you’re my brother. My blood. You’re a part of me! You can’t keep living like this—an empty life, with nothing but taverns and picking fights with strangers on the road! Let me help you. Talk to me, because if you don’t, I’ll never understand."

Mahin looks at her, wanting to speak, but remains silent. He knows, deep down, that no one will ever truly understand—the urge to fight, to kill, to feel alive only in the heat of battle. The battlefield erases his sadness, his emptiness, even the need for purpose. There’s nothing but the fight, the bloodshed, and the thrill of strength without consequence. It’s a feeling he’ll never share with his family.

He steps back, his expression cold, and says calmly, "I don’t need help. I never have."

Hearing this, Jane steps away, her voice steady yet her smile tinged with sorrow. "I hope you never do. But if anything ever happens—anything—I’ll always be here for you."

Mahin keeps his gaze down, while Jane returns to her throne. "You can go now, Mahin," she says.

He nods and exits the room.

Meanwhile, in the southern castle, where preparations for the party are underway, a striking demon enters. His long yellow hair falls elegantly over his shoulders, and he’s dressed in a noble suit. His captivating red eyes draw attention as he strides past, with three guards bowing respectfully as he passes.

In the throne chamber, Reyanna directs the servants and maids as they rush to complete their tasks before tomorrow’s party. She chats with her daughter, Evangra, both smiling warmly—until their conversation abruptly stops.

Reyanna and Evangra both sense a presence entering the castle. Reyanna falls silent, focusing on the unfamiliar energy. After a moment, Evangra narrows her gaze, concentrating. "Mother, he’s on this floor," she says quietly.

Reyanna nods and heads toward the door, but she notices a maid glancing down the hall before bowing. A moment later, the handsome man strides into the throne chamber, exclaiming with a broad grin, "Home sweet home!"

The maids and servants bow respectfully as Reyanna smiles, trying to mask her unease at his unexpected arrival. "It’s been a long time since I last saw you, Lord Aurelius," she says.

The yellow-haired man nods with a chuckle. "Just Aurelius! You know I’m not fond of that ‘lord’ nonsense."

Reyanna smiles at his familiar humour, and Evangra, grinning widely, joins in. "Mother, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this handsome fellow?"

Reyanna laughs softly, and Aurelius gives a slight nod, replying with a playful smile, "Aurelius Gyovani, at your service."

Though Evangra kept a smile on her face, inside she was fuming at this unexpected development. Aurelius Gyovani was supposed to be on a journey to the northern continent, exploring the world as a traveller and adventurer.

Glancing around the chamber, Aurelius asked, "The party’s tomorrow, I assume?"

Reyanna confirmed with a smile, "Yes, and you’re required to attend. Don’t even think about skipping it!"

Aurelius grinned widely. "Never!"

Afterwards, Aurelius made his way into the city to shop for fine suits for his brothers. Meanwhile, Evangra, barely containing her frustration, retreated to her room with Reyanna. Sensing her daughter’s anger, Reyanna gently placed a hand on her shoulder and reassured her, "Daughter, remember, every plan has its flaws, and setbacks happen. We will not fail."

Evangra nodded, forcing herself to calm down. "Of course. I’m just a bit upset, but I’ll manage. I’ll let the sisters know about this... unexpected development."

Reyanna nodded, watching as Evangra stood and left the room. She then turned to the window, staring out over the city, lost in thought as she planned their next steps.

Meanwhile, in the Renolva kingdom, Wav and Yory were making their way from Dyka village toward the site of the recent attack.

After two hours of walking, Wav glanced at Yory and said, "I hadn’t noticed before, but you look pale. Are you feeling alright?"

Yory shook his head. "I’m fine. Just stay alert—not only for the witch but for anything else that could pose a threat."

Wav nodded and kept his focus on the road ahead. "Yes, as a merchant constantly travelling to unknown places, dangers like bandits, monsters, or even bad weather can be just as deadly."

Yory's cold eyes studied Wav for a moment as he silently thought, *Even your comrades can be a threat.*

As the day wore on, Yory and Wav, following Wav's vague recollections, stumbled upon the remains of the carts Wav and his group had used. Nightfall had settled, and the dim light of the moon wasn’t enough to reveal the full extent of the scene.

Yory raised his hand and muttered, "Light magic: işıq."

A glowing orb floated upward, casting light over the grisly aftermath. The sight before them was harrowing—a massacre of four merchants and five guards, all of whom had come to investigate the witch’s attack following Wav's warning before his rescue.

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Wav stood frozen in shock, his eyes wide with horror, reflecting the nightmare he had experienced two days ago. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the faces of his fallen comrades, a wave of sorrow washing over him.

Under the light, the carnage revealed itself fully. The three merchants lay dismembered, their blood painting the nearby trees. Two guards had been burned beyond recognition, their armour and weapons little more than molten scraps. Three others bore brutal wounds as though mauled by a wild beast, their gear scattered around. The final merchant had been shredded by wind magic, his body left in pieces amid the wreckage.

With his voice trembling, a mix of grief and grit surged within him. "Fady, Alip, Yoc, and Dev... it was an honour to travel with you. I swear, I’ll find the witch and end her life."

Wav’s stomach churned as he turned away, retching near a tree, the foul stench overwhelming him. Yory, unfazed, continued his analysis. “The three merchants were killed by wind magic. Look at the trees—those cuts are too clean. Whoever did this was highly skilled, no doubt a master of wind magic.”

Wav, still trying to steady himself, caught his breath as Yory went on. “And the two guards—burned alive by advanced fire magic. If you look closely, their swords are still in their sheaths. It was an ambush. They didn’t stand a chance.”

As Wav wiped his mouth, Yory added, “The last three were mauled by beasts, judging by the state of their bodies. This witch has command over both magic and creatures. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

“Intriguing? Fascinating?” Wav’s voice rose, incredulous. “How can you stay so calm in the middle of this nightmare? I almost lost my lunch!"

Yory looked at him, unbothered. “Did you actually throw up?”

Wav shook his head. “No, nothing came out! But forget that—we need to move! If we don’t hurry, she’ll escape!”

Yory glanced toward the dark forest and spoke evenly. “There’s no rush. She already knows we’re here.”

Wav stared at Yory in shock, struggling to process the words. His voice trembled with fear. “What are you talking about? The witch isn’t here! She’s—”

“She’s watching us,” Yory interrupted, his tone steady. “Through you.”

Wav’s eyes went wide, his heart racing. “What? Are you out of your mind? How could I possibly—I'm here to kill her, to avenge my friends! I brought you here to help me, and now you’re saying I’m working for her?”

Yory's voice remained eerily calm. “I never said you betrayed me, Wav. But the witch is using you, whether you know it or not.”

Wav, trembling with anger and confusion, shouted, “HOW can she use me? That’s impossible!”

Yory met Wav’s frantic gaze, his expression full of quiet sorrow. “Because Wav... you’re already dead.”

The words hit Wav like a physical blow. His fury built up, ready to lash out at Yory, but something stopped him. As their eyes met, Wav saw an unexpected sadness in Yory’s gaze, a deep, painful sorrow he had never seen before. His rage faltered, replaced by confusion. “Yory... I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Yory nodded and replied, "It pains me deeply to see one of my own suffering and to know there’s nothing I can do. I didn’t know about your situation, so I shouldn’t feel responsible… but it still hurts."

Yory, once the demon king, had always loved and protected his people fiercely. Even now, though stripped of his title, that instinct to care for every demon, no matter where they lived, still lived within him. Wav’s fate, one of his own, was a pain in Yory's chest.

Wav stared at Yory in disbelief, then felt something strange—a wetness on his stomach. He touched his shirt, his fingers coming away slick with blood. His heart skipped a beat as he looked down, seeing the large wound, deep and fatal. His head snapped up to Yory, who stood calmly holding a bloodied dagger.

“I stabbed you with this,” Yory said, his voice steady, “but you didn’t feel a thing. That’s the proof of what I’ve been saying.”

The shock hit Wav hard, and his knees gave out beneath him as he sank to the ground. His mind raced, trying to comprehend what was happening. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper, “Yory… am I really dead?”

Yory nodded, his eyes full of regret. “Yes. The witch who ambushed your group cast a barrier to trap you. She killed everyone, including you. Then she used manipulation magic to keep your soul trapped inside your body, controlling you like a puppet. That’s why you can’t vomit, cry, or feel pain—you’re already dead.”

Wav’s face twisted in disbelief. “But… what about the adventurer with the white hair? The one who saved me! He was wearing the clothes of a high-level adventurer from the Guild!”

Yory shook his head. “There was no adventurer. That was an illusion, planted in your mind by the witch.”

Wav’s mouth went dry. “But it felt so real…”

“That’s the danger of facing a high-ranking witch,” Yory explained. “Yesterday morning, I checked at the guild about the adventurer you described. They didn’t recognize him. I sent word to other guilds, and the master guild replied, ‘There is an adventurer matching that description, but he left on a long journey three years ago.’ The merchant must’ve misremembered, or you were mistaken.”

Yory’s gaze fixed on Wav, his tone growing more serious. “You were fleeing in terror, exhausted and bleeding. Your vision was blurred. Yet somehow, you gave me a perfectly clear description of the adventurer who supposedly saved you. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?”

Wav couldn’t believe it. Everything—the adventurer, the escape, the hope—was all just an illusion. His mind struggled to process the truth, grappling with the idea that none of it had been real. How could something that felt so vivid, so convincing, be nothing more than a fabrication?

Wav fell silent, and Yory took the cue to continue. “Remember what you told me when I first saved you? You said you were travelling with five merchants, but when we arrived, there were only four bodies. You didn’t react to the missing fifth. Now, you only recall four, don’t you?”

Wav’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing in confusion. It was like trying to recall a fading dream. He wanted to remember, but nothing clear came to him. “I don’t remember a fifth merchant. It’s strange… I feel like I knew them, but there’s no memory, no face.”

Yory nodded, understanding the turmoil in Wav’s voice. “That’s because I used a spell called ‘cancellation’ to sever the witch’s control over your soul. It disrupted her magic, preventing her from altering your memories further. But I’m not a master of manipulation magic, so I couldn’t restore what she already took.”

Wav looked at Yory, the weight of the truth slowly sinking in. “What’s going to happen to me?”

Yory paused, his face calm but tinged with sorrow. “Once you leave the range of my cancellation spell, the witch will regain control over you. You won’t just be her puppet—you’ll fight for her, kill for her, without any choice in the matter. I’m sorry, Wav.”

Wav’s shoulders slumped, a sad, resigned smile forming on his lips. “So, to stop me from hurting anyone else… you’ll have to kill me, won’t you?”

Yory’s silence was all the answer Wav needed. He nodded grimly, and Wav continued, his voice shaky, “In Arguand Kingdom, my father is Wolv, a well-known merchant. You’ll find him easily—he’s known for his honesty. Please, return my body and belongings to him. And…”

Wav’s voice broke, his breath hitching as he tried to cry, though no tears came. “And tell him… I loved him. And my mother, my brothers, and sisters. Tell them all I loved them.”

Yory’s heart ached as he watched Wav struggle, his words filled with pain and love. He nodded solemnly, his voice soft. “I promise, Wav. I’ll make sure they know.”

Yory nodded with a mournful smile, and Wav’s voice grew urgent. “Promise me, Yory! PROMISE ME YOU’LL KILL THAT WHORE!”

Yory’s expression turned solemn. “Of course! I am Yory the merchant, and I will end the witch’s life, and reduce her to ashes along with her wicked roots!”

Wav managed a smile through his tears, and Yory took his hand gently. “You won’t feel a thing. Light magic: Müqəddəs qılınc.”

A sword of radiant light materialized in Yory’s hand, and with a swift motion, he pierced it into Wav’s chest.

There was no blood, no pain—only a profound sense of calm washed over Wav. The sword illuminated the night, dispelling the shadows that loomed around them.

Moments later, the brilliant light subsided, and the sword vanished. Yory turned his gaze down the road ahead, whispering softly, “Requiescat in Pace.”

In a picturesque field of wheat and barley, beside a grand lake, a gentle breeze rustled through the plants. On a hill overlooking the lake, Wav lay peacefully asleep. His hands were folded across his chest, a wide smile gracing his face as he rested on the soft, green grass, undisturbed.

Wav slumbered deeply, the waters of the lake gently caressing the shore nearby. Birds sang merrily in the distance, and he rested in perfect peace, content with the life he had lived, now moving forward into tranquillity.