Leena stands utterly still, her eyes locked onto her mother's fingers' slow, rhythmic twitching. Each subtle movement ripples across the tense silence, echoing louder in her heart than any spoken word could.
The witch's eyes glide open—smoothly, effortlessly—and the room fills with a quiet yet unmistakable intensity. Her irises are molten pools of red and gold, swirling together as though ancient fires burn beneath their surfaces. Golden pupils radiate softly at their centers, gradually fading outward into rich, blood-red irises.
Leena releases a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Her heart pounds as a complex tide of emotions swells within her chest—reverence, dread, and a reluctant yet undeniable relief. With a deliberate, measured step, she moves forward, 'Finally...'
Her hands tremble subtly, betraying inner turmoil even as her expression remains composed. From her grasp falls a cloak woven in hues identical to the witch's mesmerizing eyes: rich gold entwined seamlessly with deep crimson, the fabric shimmering gently in the ambient glow.
The witch hovers in silence, her feet still inches from the ground. Droplets continue to slip gracefully from her flawless skin, evaporating soundlessly as they descend.
Leena gently lifts the cloak, her fingers barely brushing the witch's bare shoulders as she sets the garment into place. The fabric settles over the witch's form like liquid silk, fitting perfectly as though tailored by destiny itself.
For a long, tense moment, silence reigns.
Then, without a hint of emotion crossing her calm, pristine features, her mother slowly lifts one slender hand. Her fingertips—perfectly shaped, deceptively delicate—brush lightly beneath Leena's chin, tilting her face upward gently. The contact is neither warm nor harsh; it is simply a quiet acknowledgment, measured and precise.
Leena's breath hitches, just for an instant, eyes searching desperately into the calm, unyielding gaze above her. But there is nothing reflected in those eyes—no warmth, no reassurance—only a serene indifference that cuts deeper than any cruelty could.
She lowers her gaze, a subtle tremor passing through her frame. The witch's hand withdraws silently, and Leena steps back slowly, her posture straight yet strained, eyes now respectfully lowered.
In the stillness that follows, the witch calmly flexes her fingers once more, as though reacquainting herself with the sensations of existence. Her gaze drifts around the chamber, assessing calmly, methodically.
"It is done," Leena whispers quietly, more to herself than to anyone else.
The witch doesn't reply. She merely breathes—soft, even breaths—and in her quiet, unflinching gaze lies the unmistakable promise of power, purpose, and perhaps something far darker.
"Mother... congratulations on your return," Leena speaks quietly, not daring to lift her gaze.
'Oh fuck,' Kael swallows as his eyes fixate on the standing woman. Her golden-red cloak shifts and moves slowly across her body without pause, yet that's not what holds his attention. No, Kael steps back, feeling the unmistakable pressure radiating from her—completely different and profoundly unsettling. Goosebumps rise along his arms. 'Those eyes... that's impossible. There should only be one witch left with that lineage.'
"Mother, please fulfill what you promised. I've done everything you asked for," Leena whispers, her voice cracking as her arms tremble. 'Why am I so afraid?' she wonders, feeling her heartbeat quicken. 'I've waited for this moment for so long—I should be happy.'
With a steady, calm gaze, her mother looks down at her. "You have done well," her voice is soft and soothing, yet the unsettling aura around her never fades. "I will not fulfill my promise, dear. Your fate is far from over, you w—"
"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Leena yells, clenching the grass beneath her. "YOU PROMISED! I DID EVERYTHING YOU WANTED! I KILLED EVERYONE WHO EVER ENTERED THIS PLACE FOR YOU!" Her voice cracks painfully as she slams her fist into the ground. 'Why? Why? Why? Why?' Tears stream down her face as jolts of agony ripple through her. "I just want it to end. I'm tired of this endless pain... you promised! You promised I would die," she grits her teeth, tearing out the grass from the earth.
Her mother calmly regards the child she crafted, her expression unchanged. "You are weak; however, I do owe you an explanation." Her golden pupils briefly glow brighter before dimming again. "When I created you, I foresaw your time of death—today. My power has not fully returned, and there appears to be an interruption. Nonetheless, I am able to see that your future has changed." Slowly, deliberately, she lifts her gaze, tilting her head as her eyes settle on Kael, sending shivers down his spine. "Your life has been extended by this one," she states calmly, pointing directly at him.
"Y-you!" Leena snarls, pivoting toward Kael, her face contorted with frustration and trembling rage. "I should've killed you long ago!" Her flower-shaped eye spins rapidly, veins rupturing and bleeding as her mana surges violently. "If I kill you, I can still change it!" she cries, leaping forward—only to be slammed instantly into the ground.
"That is not how it works, dear," her mother murmurs softly, walking past Leena's crumpled form and stopping mere meters from Kael. Her golden pupils shimmer amidst her glowing red irises. "How beautiful..." she murmurs, raising her hand toward him.
"Thanks...?" Kael steps back, confusion etched on his face. "But I'm not into older women, I don't—ah... ahh... AGGHH!" He suddenly grips his head, collapsing to his knees, fingers digging into his skull as excruciating pain overwhelms him.
"How strange... your future lies beyond my sight," she whispers, stepping closer and placing her palm gently upon his head. "Regardless, you bear no chains. You will be my—" She abruptly stops, her expression turning cold as she looks upward sharply. Her eyes widen, and she retreats swiftly, lifting her arm as thousands of thin crimson threads surge toward the sky, attempting to stabilize it. But space itself begins to twist and fracture, breaking apart. "The dungeon is collapsing... she destroyed the core, I thought we had an agreement," she whispers, allowing the threads to dissolve into nothingness as reality around them shatters.