In his quest for the echo, Cedric, consumed by curiosity, missed the chance to intervene in Sera's machinations. Realizing he was too late, he followed them to uncover their plans. To his dismay, he discovered the target was a woman who eerily resembled a past protagonist he knew, though uncertainty clouded his recognition. The boundaries blurred as Cedric faced a dilemma—unravel the secrets or save the woman.
In the intricate tapestry of his memories, Cedric vividly recalls aiding the protagonists in a bygone era. The daughter of a count, Isabelle, and the crown prince, Raphael, of this world had woven their love story, with Cedric standing by their side. Together, they faced the grand witch, determined to end the imperial bloodline. Cedric played his part in their journey, guiding them through trials and battles.
Returning to the present, Cedric is taken aback. He never anticipated revisiting the old world. The once 6-year-old child, the progeny of the protagonists he helped, has blossomed into a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to her mother. Cedric grapples with the revelation; he was convinced that once the protagonists reached their "ending," it signaled the conclusion of that world. The unexpected continuation unsettles him, yet he can't allow Sera's men to harm the young woman. Determined to protect her, Cedric discreetly lends a helping hand, navigating the shadows to ensure her safety.
As Cedric helps the woman, he senses a familiar connection but refrains from addressing her directly. When she finally utters, "Uncle Cedric?" a revelation sparks in Cedric's eyes. Recognition dawns; the woman is no stranger but Rosalia, daughter of past protagonists. In the grip of surprise, he whispers, "Rosalia?"—this world is indeed the past, reshaped by a decade's passage. Reconnecting with Rosa, he learns that Raphael, once the crown prince, is now the emperor, his demeanor turned harsh and vengeful. Rosa confides in Cedric, revealing the tragic news that her mother, Isabelle, had passed away just weeks after Cedric had departed from their world. The timing of her death, so close to the victory over the grand witch, had led Raphael to conclude that a witch's curse was to blame. His grief had transformed into a vendetta, vowing the annihilation of all witches in the empire to avenge his beloved wife.
Accompanying Rosa back to the palace, Cedric reunites with Raphael. The emperor's changed countenance hints at a darker reality. Raphael, seemingly joyous at first, shifts the conversation to his vendetta against witches. Isabelle's demise fueled his rage, vowing the annihilation of all witches in the empire.
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In a twist of fate, Raphael discovers that a noble, Seraphina Sinclair, is the daughter of the grand witch. Seraphina Sinclair, the noblewoman who had woven her way through the court with the finesse of a shadow, was now exposed. Behind her carefully crafted persona as a country girl, she concealed the lineage of the grand witch, her mother. To the court, she was unremarkable, her occasional temper outbursts dismissed as quirks of a spirited noblewoman. Yet, beneath this facade, she was a master of the arcane, secretly honing her craft and wielding an artifact entwined with her mother's dark legacy. This grand deception, orchestrated by her mother's cunning, had shielded Seraphina from the prying eyes of the empire, allowing her to operate discreetly within the aristocratic circles, her true identity cloaked by the simplicity of her noble guise.
Seeking Cedric's help in hunting down this supposed threat, Raphael's request puts Cedric in a moral quandary. Protective of Sera, Cedric refuses to aid Raphael in the witch hunt. The once-allied guardian and emperor now find themselves on opposing sides.
Tensions escalate as Raphael, fueled by grief and anger, demands Cedric's compliance. But Cedric, bound by a commitment to protect, stands firm, sparking a conflict that transcends the physical realm. The clash between guardian and emperor becomes a battle not only of strength but of conflicting ideals, unraveling a deeper layer of the intricate web of fate.
As the clash intensifies, Cedric, parrying Raphael's strikes, pleads with him to reconsider his vendetta against witches. The words fall on deaf ears as Raphael, consumed by hatred, remains resolute. It was then that Raphael's eyes briefly flickered to the side, giving a subtle, almost imperceptible signal to a shadowy figure at the edge of the fray.
The chancellor, understanding the silent command, retreated into the inner sanctum of the palace. There, secured within a chamber that held the empire's most potent and forbidden relics, lay the artifact—a sinister device that had once been pivotal in the grand witch's defeat. Its dark power was said to suppress the very essence of witchcraft, rendering those of magical blood helpless and exposed. The chancellor's hands were steady as he retrieved the artifact, the weight of history heavy in his grasp. It was a power that had turned the tide in the past, and now it was to be employed once more against the daughter of the grand witch herself.
With the artifact secured, the chancellor's shadow slipped away, intent on finding Seraphina Sinclair. The very air of the palace seemed to grow colder with the artifact's removal from its resting place, as if a premonition of the darkness to come.
Back in the grand chamber, Raphael's voice rose above the clamor, his command echoing with the authority of an emperor and the fury of a bereaved husband, "Kill the guardian and find the Sinclair heiress. Let the artifact that sealed the grand witch's fate now bind her progeny."
Despite Cedric's valiant efforts, the sheer numbers overwhelm him. His resilience crumbles under the onslaught, and he succumbs to unconsciousness. Upon awakening, the familiar cold wind envelops him, signaling his return to the unfamiliar realm. However, this time, he is not alone.