The story opens with Monroe in the heart of the witches' land. Despite the late hour, the celebrations were still alive with energy. These festivities, which often stretched over three days, marked important milestones: the coming of age for young girls, the graduation of witches into adept elementals, and special memories such as Reyanna's rise as the Mother of Witches or Evangra’s legendary aid to the former king of the sorcerers' realm, which earned her a cherished place in their hearts.

The young witches, having worked hard, were enjoying the freedom to indulge in food and play, even on the third night. Their youthful energy seemed endless.

Monroe, feeling the weight of exhaustion, sat down to eat. "It’s the third night, and I’m running on fumes," he mused, glancing at the lively scene around him. *But seeing my daughter and wife so happy makes it all worth it. Although they did mention a whole month of this in my honour... I might not survive that!*

His thoughts were interrupted as Cixilia approached with another plate of food and drinks. A striking figure, Cixilia had a captivating presence, her long hair tied in a ponytail draped over her left shoulder. She wore a flowing pink festival dress, her lips painted a striking green. "Lord Monroe," she greeted him warmly, "if there’s anything you need, let me or any of the sisters know. You are, after all, our honoured guest."

Monroe smiled at her with gratitude. "Thank you, Sister Cixilia. Please, just make sure my wife and daughter are well cared for—they are my priority."

With a nod, Cixilia moved on, leaving Monroe to his meal. As he gazed at the horizon, he noticed the first light of dawn beginning to break.

Soon after, his right-hand man hurried over, his face clouded with worry. "Lord Monroe, we still haven’t been able to establish contact with the kingdom, sir."

Monroe took a slow bite of the green cake in front of him, his voice calm but laced with unease. "I had a feeling this might happen. Get some rest, lads. We’re in for a long day."

Meanwhile, inside the castle, Cixilia sat alone, her hand pressed to her face, lost in deep thought. Concern etched across her features. Another witch approached her anxiously. "Sister Cixilia, we can't reach Mother Reyanna or any of the others! What should we do?"

Cixilia paused before replying in a sombre tone, "We wait, and keep a close eye on Monroe, hoping for the best."

The witch nodded and went about her duties, leaving Cixilia alone with her thoughts of the looming war with the demons. After a moment of silence, she whispered, almost as if to herself, "Mother Reyanna, may safety and well-being find you."

Meanwhile, in the demon kingdom, the sun barely pierced through the clamour of steel and the roar of battle. Demons fought ferociously against the onslaught of monsters, and Yoranios bellowed above the noise, "IT’S MORNING, AND STILL THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED THEIR ASSAULT!"

General Kerifan shouted back, "MY LORD, SHALL WE SUMMON THE ARMY?"

Yoranios, undeterred, roared in response, "NO! Keep fighting, lads! The next wave is coming!"

Within the safety of the eastern castle’s barrier, Jasmine slept peacefully on Kunvy’s lap, while Ula poured over a tattered book salvaged from the ruins. Around them, soldiers sat idly, restricted by the confines of the magical barrier.

Kunvy gently toyed with Jasmine’s hair until her instincts kicked in. Sensing something amiss, she carefully laid Jasmine's head down and rose to her feet.

Her sudden movement caught Ula’s attention, and he followed as she walked with purpose toward the southern edge of the barrier. Curious, he trailed after her.

As they reached the boundary, Kunvy’s eyes locked onto something outside the barrier. A small smile curved on her lips. Ula, noticing her expression, looked to see what had drawn her attention—and there stood Lilithra beyond the barrier, a sight that filled him with shock. "WE ARE FREE!" he shouted.

Lilithra, with a knowing grin, began to chant. The dark fog soon materialized, swirling around the barrier. It lashed out in defence, casting protective spells, but it was in vain. The black fog overpowered the barrier, breaking it down into nothingness.

Ula stared at the swiftly advancing fog, alarm rising within him. He turned to Kunvy, who snapped at him, "What are you waiting for? Summon the winds and drive that cursed fog away before it consumes us!"

Ula nodded urgently and called out, "Wind magic: Jinin küləkləri."

A powerful gust of wind materialized, sweeping the dark fog away from the eastern castle grounds and pushing it toward the nearby woods.

Aurola rushed to Ula, throwing her arms around him in relief. "You're safe! I hope the others are unharmed as well!"

Ula smiled and reassured her, "Don't fret, sister. Leave the worrying to me."

Meanwhile, Jasmine stirred from her spot on the ground, lifting her head to find Lilithra standing before her, the familiar smile on her lips. "Even in the face of danger, you manage to sleep, Jasmine. Your resilience never ceases to surprise me after all these years."

Jasmine stood and straightened herself, reporting, "Zephoria has fled, and the city is under siege by witches and monsters."

Lilithra nodded, absorbing the news. "No need to worry. I’ve observed the city’s barrier—it’s holding strong. We must divide our efforts. Jasmine, you and Kunvy will aid the city, and Commander Aurola and Ula will support you. I’ll head to the capital. Rumour has it that the witches are converging there. For political reasons, we cannot afford the castle or city to fall. Other kingdoms will see it as a sign of weakness, and that’s something we cannot allow."

Jasmine and Kunvy gave firm nods, agreeing with the plan. Lilithra continued, "Reyanna has thought through every possible outcome. The kingdom’s fate rests in her hands. This attack won’t just hurt us militarily—it will tarnish our reputation and drive merchants and businessmen away. The economic blow will be severe. And then there’s Queen Jane, who could not protect her kingdom without Yoranios’s intervention."

Aurola spoke up, "But Lady Lilithra, Yoranios and the other Gyovani are here. Surely the people will speak of your family's defence of the kingdom."

Jasmine interjected, answering on Lilithra’s behalf, "Perhaps, but outsiders will spin a different narrative. Monarchs will focus on Yoranios’s role in the defence and emphasize Jane’s inability to secure her own realm without the help of a former king with such high standing."

Aurola pondered this before saying, "But isn’t it a good thing that our kingdom has so many strong defenders, even if the queen’s reputation takes a hit?"

Kunvy shook her head. "Not quite. Yoranios’s legacy as a legendary king has cast a long shadow. Many see his reign as the golden age of the demons, the pinnacle of our kingdom's strength. They believe that without him, the kingdom can never truly thrive. This perception undermines the authority of every ruler who follows him."

Aurola stared at the ground, conflicted about the right course of action in the dire situation. Ula interrupted, "Lady Lilithra, we must focus on helping the people and fighting the witches. The matter of the statue can wait until our lives aren’t in danger."

Lilithra gave a firm nod. "You will come with me to the capital. We must defend it."

Ula agreed, and Kunvy looked at Lilithra, saying, "We’re putting our faith in you, Lilithra."

With that, everyone went their separate ways, each carrying the same weight of uncertainty about what lay ahead.

Meanwhile, in the western castle, within the grim chambers where Reyanna and Jane were held, a memory stirred. A young Reyanna, full of joy, played with her broom, her laughter filling the air until her sister approached. "Reyanna, what are you doing? The teacher is upset because you skipped class. We were learning new spells today."

Reyanna turned, her cheerful face tinged with sadness as if she hadn’t seen her sister in ages. Tears filled her young eyes. "I’ve missed you so much, Lysandra."

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Lysandra blinked, confused. "Sister? We just had breakfast together this morning."

Reyanna dropped her broom and rushed into her sister's arms. Lysandra smiled and said, "It’s alright, I won’t go to class today. Let’s play instead. How does that sound?"

When Reyanna awoke, she found herself back in her cosy, modest home. Her older sister, Evangra, sat in her favourite chair, absorbed in a book on alchemy.

Reyanna, filled with guilt, spoke softly, "I’m so sorry, Evangra, for not being there to protect you that day."

Without looking up, Evangra replied, slightly annoyed, "Why are you apologizing? I’m the older sister—it’s my job to protect you. Now let me read in peace."

But when Evangra glanced up again and saw Reyanna’s tearful face, she set her book aside and smiled warmly. "Come here, let me hold my precious little sister."

Reyanna rushed into her arms, and Evangra grinned. "I’ll find you some fun books to read, alright? Something lighthearted."

Suddenly, Reyanna's eyes fluttered open to see Azravene, attempting an illusion spell on her crow. Upon noticing Reyanna, she smiled and beckoned, "Sister, I am no longer angry with you. Come, let’s cast a spell together."

Tears streamed down Reyanna’s face as she looked at her, "Forgive me, Azravene. I couldn’t stop Taffer from killing you. I’m truly sorry."

Azravene’s smile never wavered as she gently patted Reyanna’s head. "You did everything you could. I’ll always cherish you, and remember, we are bound by love."

Reyanna lifted her gaze to see all her sisters standing there, each one smiling with genuine joy. As they beamed, Reyanna wept in silence. Zephoria embraced her and spoke softly, "Thank you for naming your daughters after us, for always keeping us in your heart. Now, go and do what’s best for the witches, for our precious daughters, dear Reyanna."

Meanwhile, across the shadowed ground, Olwyn peered into the pit and met Jane’s eye, shouting, "My Queen! I’ll save you, just hold on!"

Standing tall, Olwyn began to chant, "Light magic: yüngül qılınc."

A magnificent sword of light materialized in the sky, plunging toward the dark abyss. With a thunderous impact, it began to shatter the ground. Suddenly, dark hands burst forth, seizing Olwyn’s leg. Reacting swiftly, he gripped the radiant sword, severing the grasping limbs, and leapt to safety, putting distance between himself and the perilous pit.

As the ground filled with writhing hands, darkness consumed the hole where Jane's eye had once been.

Back in the shadows with Reyanna, another memory surfaced. She recalled her conversation with her four daughters when she had declared, "We will dismantle their kingdom and forge our own—a realm of witches larger and more powerful than anything before. Our plan is strong, backed by the demons Rolf has provided, and we have every advantage we need, and more."

Evangra's concerned expression didn’t escape Reyanna. She turned to her daughter and asked, "What is it, Evangra? What troubles you?"

After a brief hesitation, Evangra voiced her worry, "Are you absolutely sure about this? If we fail, the demons will erase us from this land."

As Reyanna looked at Evangra, she saw in her daughter’s concern a deep reflection of her love and devotion to their people. With confidence, Reyanna spoke, “Evangra, you are one of the bravest witches in this kingdom. Your worry shows how deeply you care for your sisters and their well-being. But trust in our plan, for we will succeed. And if any unforeseen challenges arise, we have a backup.”

Evangra nodded, reassured, while her sisters—Lysandra, Azravene, and Zephoria—stood in silent support, their faith in Reyanna unwavering.

Lysandra rallied them with passion, declaring, "For the witches! FOR OUR SISTERS!"

Just as they prepared to chant together, a voice pierced the air—Cixilia’s, full of urgency. “SISTERS!”

Reyanna and her daughters turned to find Cixilia standing before them, her eyes red and swollen, likely from tears shed earlier. Her expression was a storm of sorrow and anger. She pleaded, "Mother Reyanna! We have everything we need, so why? Why go to war with the demons? We witches thrive, we flourish. Why fight a battle that leaves no one victorious? Only women left to mourn their fallen kin and children wandering, asking why their loved ones had to die?"

Reyanna’s smile softened, and she opened her arms, welcoming Cixilia into a warm embrace. Cixilia met her halfway, tears brimming in her eyes. As they held each other, Reyanna spoke tenderly, "Cixilia, you are like a daughter to me. Your mother, my sister Azravene, entrusted you to my care, and I am so proud of the fine lady you’ve become."

A tear slipped down Cixilia’s cheek as Reyanna continued, "But we must think about the future—the future of our daughters, of witchhood itself, and the life we aspire to build. It’s essential."

Cixilia stepped back, her expression softening as Reyanna explained, "At first, I was wary of Rolf and his plan to vanquish the demons. His scheme seemed reckless, even to me. But now I fully understand his intentions, my daughters."

All eyes were on Reyanna as her voice gained strength and conviction. "He seeks to erase everything non-human from this world."

The witches exchanged stunned glances as Reyanna pressed on, "The first time we spoke, he spoke only of vengeance against the demons. But why? What happened? When? He never gave me clear answers, only repeating that they were evil, inhuman, and had to be eradicated."

Reyanna turned to Cixilia, voicing her concerns. “Once Rolf eliminates the demons, what’s to stop him from turning on the devils? Aren’t they considered inhuman as well? And what about the ghouls? If he manages to defeat those enemies, it raises the question—when will he start seeing us as inhuman? Tomorrow? Next month? Centuries from now?”

Zephoria pulled up a chair, absorbing the weight of Reyanna’s words, lost in thought.

Lysandra broke the silence with a question heavy with doubt. “But by helping him, aren’t we setting ourselves up for disaster, Mother? Why are we aligning with him in the first place?”

Reyanna's tone shifted, more measured now. “Because the demons are destined to fall, and we need to be on the winning side. Rolf has the power and connections to bring them down. I was astonished when I saw them at the ghouls' castle. When Rolf invited me to meet King Thulgrim the Undying, I was struck by the powerful businessmen and witches from distant lands who supported him. He has the resources and influence to command such alliances.”

Evangra spoke up, adding, “Even though he’s human, he helped the ghouls attack Daekrahm city and devised a strategy to hold off Renolva’s army. It’s clear that influential figures in Renolva have allied themselves with Rolf.”

Reyanna nodded solemnly, finishing her thought. “For now, daughters, we must stand with those poised to win.”

Cixilia leaned forward, her voice sharp with concern. “But for how long? If they can defeat the demons, what chance do we have if Rolf turns against us?”

Reyanna smiled slightly, her confidence unwavering. “I made a condition when Rolf presented his plan—I would become the new queen of the demon kingdom. I played the part of the grieving, outraged mother to make him believe I was just another anger-fueled, naive woman.”

Azravene, puzzled, looked at her mother. “But why?”

Reyanna leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “Do you know why the demon rulers possess such overwhelming power compared to others?”

Azravene shook her head, puzzled. “No, I thought it was due to special training like Yoranios underwent.”

Reyanna smiled knowingly. “No, their strength comes from something else. They have an alternate form—a darker aura infused with powerful magic, crowned by black horns. They only unleash it in times of great need. Yoranios and his father both harnessed it and so can Jane. But I have a way to prevent her from doing so.”

Zephoria, intrigued, asked, “If they have such power, why don’t they use it to conquer the world?”

Reyanna explained, “It’s not a power anyone can wield. It’s exclusive to demon kings and queens. The key to this power lies in entering the Demon's Pool.”

All the witches turned their attention to her, and Cixilia voiced the question on everyone’s mind. “Why is it restricted to them? Why don’t they grant it to everyone in their realm? They’d be unstoppable.”

Reyanna’s expression darkened. “Because of the twins. A brother and sister live in the dungeon beneath the castle in the capital. Their sole purpose is to eliminate anyone who isn’t a demon ruler. They spare no one—not even demons. And their origins remain shrouded in mystery.”

Zephoria spoke quietly, “Mother, you speak of them as if they’re monsters.”

Reyanna nodded solemnly. “They aren’t ordinary beings. They were once demons, but now they’ve become something else—shadowy figures bound by a single purpose: if it’s not a demon ruler, it must be slain.”

The witches fell into a contemplative silence as Reyanna continued. “If we can bring down the Gyovani and take control of the kingdom, I will craft a spell to banish or destroy the twins. Then we will all enter the Demon's Pool, and together, we will become unstoppable. Each of you will have the strength of a hundred devils and humans combined. With that power, we will defeat Rolf and his allies, and build a future of strength and prosperity.”

Cixilia hesitated before speaking, her voice filled with doubt. "But can we truly trust Rolf? Didn't we agree that he's untrustworthy?"

Reyanna’s smile was confident as she replied, “I’ve bound him with a spell before he even had a chance to react. If he doesn’t deliver the soldiers as promised—more than just the traitorous demons he’s sent—he will die. That’s a mother’s wisdom, my dear.”

In the present, the morning light bathed the ground, yet Olwyn’s anger still lingered as he barked, “JUST GO!”

Amid the darkness, shadowy hands continued to shield the earth. Deep within, Jane closed her eyes, her thoughts unwavering: *For my people, for their prosperity and joy, for peace among the elders and the laughter of children, for the strong and the weak, the wealthy and the common, this is my duty and responsibility. They are the essence of my title and legacy, as Yoranios, my father, and his forefathers, like King Rod and Karaban before them, have shown.*

Elsewhere, in another realm of shadow, Reyanna’s words to Cixilia echoed in her mind. “If we fail, you must become the Mother of all witches. Denounce us as traitors to protect yourself and our daughters from the demons’ vengeance. Do you understand, daughter of Azravene?”

Tears glistened in Cixilia’s eyes as she nodded, and Reyanna spoke with a gentle smile. “From that moment, you will be the Mother. You’ll have to choose where your loyalty lies—whether with the demons or with Rolf. But always remember, the witches must be your priority, my dear daughter.”

Back in the present, Olwyn prepared another spell, but before he could act, a dark sword emerged from the shadows, severing his left arm.

Suppressing a cry of pain, Olwyn retreated as Reyanna emerged from the fractured ground, her form cloaked in dark magic. She smirked and taunted him, “Care for a game, boy?”

Far away, on the distant plateaus away from the battle near the western castle, stood Renolva’s hero, Rina. Clad in sacred armour, her holy sword sheathed, she surveyed the battlefield with a stoic expression, betraying no emotion.

After a long silence, she exhaled deeply and murmured to herself, “If not through war, then how?”