Chapter 108
“Give it to Clyde immediately! Right now!”
The witch, Moira, was shouting that the key in Miss Mighty’s hands should be handed over to Clyde, rather than taking it herself.
Isn’t the witch supposed to be stronger than Miss Mighty?
She was believed to be a sacred being who had blessed the Clyde family for generations and protected the West.
Seeing the witch scream like she had lost all reason, completely at a loss, was unfamiliar even to Ann.
“Why doesn’t she take the key herself? And why would the witch try to reclaim an artifact she originally gave as a gift?”
“I don’t know either,” Hannibal sighed in response to Ann’s question.
“The witch actually wants the Clydes to fail, just like me!”
Count Arthur interjected into their conversation. He couldn’t bring himself to confront Miss Mighty directly and could only stamp his feet nervously.
“Father…”
Before Hannibal could voice his lament, Ann stepped forward and shouted.
“The witch has protected the Clydes! She wouldn’t want them to fail!”
As soon as she spoke, Miss Mighty and Witch Moira’s gaze turned toward Ann, as if to silently ask, “What are you talking about?”
Ann was the one who felt embarrassed by their incredulous expressions.
“Th-the witch created an oasis in the West and blessed the land because she loved our ancestor, Asad Clyde—”
“Stop.”
Moira cut her off coldly, a look suggesting a hidden story.
Ann paused, wondering what she had said wrong.
Ancient records might be inaccurate, she thought. But a family that had served the witch for over five hundred years clearly existed.
The Clydes, who had ruled the West since Asad’s time, were granted the forest’s passage and the witch’s appearances. Wasn’t that for their descendants?
“Originally, Asad Clyde was a mediocre magician. He had no talent at all.”
While Ann tilted her head in confusion, Miss Mighty, who had been standing at a distance, suddenly spoke.
“But by the witch’s power, he became a great magician and was able to pioneer the West. Isn’t that right?”
“…Return the golden key to my descendants.”
The witch repeated the same phrase, anxious that Miss Mighty might even destroy the key.
“Witch, can you not share your power like you did with Asad? Many humans in Ruto wish to learn from your abilities.”
“Magic is innate, not something to be shared or taught.”
“If magic cannot be shared, then how did Asad become strong, even passing your power to his descendants?”
“I am not holding back because I can’t kill you, Ruto’s bloodline. Now give the key to Clyde!”
Moira shook her head as if she didn’t want to deal with such troublesome talk, finally showing irritation.
Miss Mighty looked at the witch with regret before levitating the golden key from her hand.
“Very well. So be it.”
Count Arthur tried to step forward happily beside Miss Mighty, but the golden key swiftly passed him by.
“If this golden key is returned to the witch, the family’s prosperity can no longer be guaranteed, Hannibal. Therefore, the choice is yours.”
At last, the golden key was placed into Hannibal’s hand.
“Now, hand over the golden key, Hannibal.”
Witch Moira’s gaze became greedy, as if the moment she had long awaited had finally arrived.
Yet it was strange that she wanted Clyde to return it personally instead of taking it herself.
Come to think of it, all of the witch’s artifacts were enchanted.
Were they truly only blessings for the Clyde family? Or were some simply cruel pranks of the witch?
If so, would giving this away really cause the family’s ruin?
Hannibal opened his palm, then clenched it tightly into a fist.
“Hannibal!”
Moira’s angry voice struck like it could tear the air apart.
“Witch, please tell us. If you wish for the Clydes to fail, if there is a reason, I will give you this key.”
Hannibal was responsible for the West as its lord. Even if his right to rule came from the witch’s blessing and bloodline, he had lived with dignity and effort.
But what if everything he knew was wrong?
What if what Miss Mighty said was true, and Asad Clyde was not the respected ancestor or brilliant magician everyone claimed?
Then all those lies would also be something the Clydes—and the current lord—had to bear.
Even if it meant witnessing the family’s end.
It was a story from over five hundred years ago.
The world was in chaos, and gods, demons, witches, and all manner of monsters were gradually leaving human lands.
“Humans are weak and incapable. That’s why they are pitiful, Moira.”
The witches spoke to Moira, who still had interest in the human world.
“But don’t be overly compassionate. The foolish and weak have mastered hiding their evil while gaining sympathy.”
After passing on their magic to a few wizards, the witches departed, leaving Moira as the last witch in the world.
She could not leave.
Because she had fallen in love with a human—Asad Clyde.
Asad, a wandering nomad, settled on the harsh, barren land with Moira.
The small castle they built, called Tegenes, gradually attracted people due to rumors of a witch and a magician residing there.
Naturally, Asad listened to the people and became their leader, while Moira protected them with her magic.
More people came, bringing more demands and wishes.
Then an unprecedented drought struck.
“The wells have dried. It hasn’t rained for months, and crops have withered.”
“We need water! Lord, Witch, please help us!”
The continent was suffering from famine and disaster. People of Tegenes immediately sought out Asad and Moira.
“Moira. All the wells nearby have dried up. If this continues, everyone will die of thirst.”
People were dying of extreme thirst. Even countries with wizards could not solve the problem, and rumors spread that people were scooping riverbeds to drink wet earth.
Across the mountains, wars raged daily, and people were said to drink blood instead of water.
Asad was deeply troubled.
“Is there no way? Moira, I truly want to save them.”
He was pure, kind, and loved the villagers. Moira performed miracles for him alone with her magic.
She found the place where the most wells converged, and opened a deep, blocked water channel.
The first drop of water created a small pond, which grew into a lake and eventually became an oasis sustaining Tegenes and nearby people.
“You’re amazing, Moira!”
Seeing the man’s happy smile, Moira believed this was love.
From then on, the man became busy.
After resolving the villagers’ concerns, he worked to develop the West further. He studied magic tirelessly at night.
“Moira. I want to be worthy of you too.”
“You are already a perfect lord, Asad.”
“That’s not enough.”
He often visited the palace of the newly established great wizard kingdom of Ruto to conduct research.
“Moira. I don’t think I can do it.”
The man was frustrated and grieved, leaning on Moira.
“What research are you doing? Should I help?”
“I am an incompetent magician, barely a young apprentice in Mana. Meeting you made me a joke to other magicians. How can I be like you, Moira?”
Being a witch, Moira knew it was impossible for him, a human, to become like her.
“If I can’t, then at least half, a quarter of your power. I want to use magic like you.”
At Asad’s plea, Moira finally spoke.
“Then shall I lend you my power?”
Upon hearing this, her lover wiped away tears and smiled lovingly.
Thus, Asad Clyde became a great magician.
Tegenes transformed into a fortress city representing the West, with Asad Clyde as its ruler.
From being the husband of the witch who created the oasis, he became the lord of Tegenes, and the great magician Asad Clyde.
He earned the respect and admiration of all and had three children with Moira.
His older children showed no magical talent, but Moira loved her children resembling Asad, unlike him who felt disappointed.
The only child to inherit magical talent was his youngest daughter’s daughter, Zinnia.
She had silver hair and violet eyes, just like Moira.
“Did you bring both your son-in-law and daughter into the castle?”
“Yes, I want to teach Zinnia magic. Tegenes will be passed to a magician.”
Asad’s plans seemed full of love. Until then, Moira believed they had a happy family.
One day, Zinnia disappeared. The seven-year-old vanished from the castle while her nanny looked away for a moment.
The castle was thrown into chaos, and neither Moira nor Asad could think straight.
Soon, the silver-haired girl returned, a lifeless corpse. Asad wept.
It was understandable, losing his beloved granddaughter and heir.
So traumatized, he locked himself in the magical research lab for over a week.
When Moira, worried, came to him, Asad held her and said,
“Moira, do you know my other worry?”
His fingertips, rough and dry as they brushed her cheek, pained Moira’s heart.
“My only granddaughter who looks like you is gone. I can’t believe those violet eyes, like yours, are closed in death.”
Tears filled his scarlet eyes as he pleaded with Moira.
“Moira. Even imagining you disappearing is unbearable. I can’t live without you.”
His desperate confession was love in its purest form.
“So always let me know where you are and what you’re doing.”
Asad handed her a small anklet he had crafted in his research lab.
“I want to be with you forever.”
Clink.
The clear sound of the bell as it was fastened around Moira’s foot sealed her soul.
