Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

Along with the Angels' disappearance, the protective barrier separating the mountain from the rest of the world also ceased to exist. Sierra hurried towards the people within the destroyed cave.

Seren went unconscious once again after that hellfire disappeared. Drayce carried his wife in his arms, and Sierra landed next to Evanthe.

Sierra went to her knees beside her daughter, and the first thing she did was to check on Seren's body.

Sierra opened her eyes in disbelief and shock. "How can this be?"

"What happened?" Evanthe asked. "Is her life in danger?"

"The seal of her essence is intact, and the energy in her core is dormant. She should not be able to use her innate earth power, much less the Deity of Fire's hellfire," she replied with doubt.

"Then what was that just now? You have witnessed it too, Sierra," Evanthe asked. "Was the curse...?"

Evanthe felt anticipation. Seren used her power to protect Drayce! If that meant one of Seren's curses broke-- then finally, her son wouldn't be the only one in love.

The hood was hiding Sierra's complicated expression, but both Drayce and Evanthe could hear her sigh.

"It's still there. She did not use this power on her own."

"Then?" Evanthe asked.

Drayce felt his worry grow as he looked at Seren's unconscious face. He held her closer.

"She is back. The Deity of Fire," Sierra replied, her tone filled with a mix of complex emotions. "As the true master of hellfire, something must have happened to her, awakening her powers, which made Seren reflect that Deity's actions as the two are connected. It is a fortunate coincidence that the angels thought Seren is the one who caused it."

"If the Deity of Fire awakened, then this is good, is it not? She will surely seek to regain her own power, and Seren will no longer be burdened by the dangers that hellfire will bring her in the future. Those angels would no longer target her too once the hellfire is gone from her body."

Sierra agreed. "Rather than wait for that deity to find us, it is better we actively search for that deity."

As they spoke, Drayce carried Seren in his arms and their group left the ruined cave, heading towards the direction where they felt Yorian's essence.

Due to the earthquake caused by Seren's outburst, Yorian and Martha led their human companions elsewhere on the forest near the foot of the mountain, a distance away from the ice cave where the angels had a confrontation against Drayce and Evanthe.

As it was still within the barrier casted by the angel Petra, Yorian took on the role of protecting the humans from the shockwave caused by the fight.

King Armen was anxiously waiting against a tree. When the earthquake stopped, each passing moment became more and more difficult to bear while wondering what was happening with his daughter and Sierra.

When he saw Drayce carrying the unconscious Seren in his arms, he hurried towards them. The group could see that Drayce was covered in blood, and Evanthe's and Sierra's robes appeared tattered as well, as if they had gone through a terrible fight.

"What happened? Is she hurt?"

"She is fine, just unconscious," Drayce replied.

Martha stepped up. "We have prepared another hidden location nearby. Follow me."

Soon, their group went underground once more, and they found a tunnel of caves in the mountain next to them, only that these stone passages were musty and earthy, the air damp with the smell of bats.

Deeper inside, there were a handful of stone chambers similar to the ones in the underground river. Drayce carried Seren towards one stone chamber so he could make her rest comfortably. Martha followed him to help Seren change into cleaner clothes.

"Are you...fine?" King Armen asked Sierra, his face showing concern.

"The Queen of Megaris is no longer in danger. You can now be rest assured, King Armen," was all Sierra said, ignoring his question.

This was the first time the knights saw these two robed women. At first, they were wary, but they lowered their guards when they realized King Armen and Yorian treated them with respect.

Yorian went to Evanthe to ask her about the situation. Sierra and Evanthe both explained what happened to both King Armen and Yorian.

"Now what?" Armen asked. "We have to find that deity?"

On the other hand, Evanthe excused herself from the group and went to a separate stone chamber. Yorian followed her.

"You should be happy you prevented them from taking Queen Seren away, but you don't look well. Is there a problem?"

Evanthe quietly nodded, allowing herself to put down the strong front she had been putting on since the fight started. Her shoulders sagged as tension left them, and she let out an exhausted sigh.

"What happened?" the elf asked as he sat beside her on the bed.

"The vision, it came true," she answered, and when she looked at him, her eyes were red with tears.

Yorian held his breath. "Who did we lose?"

"Morph," she replied and the tears she was holding back streamed down her pale cheeks.

"Divine Eagle Morpheus?" Yorian said in shock.

Evanthe nodded.

Yorain sighed helplessly. Then, he remembered something. "That child, King Drayce sent that child to Agartha."

"Who?"

"That young golden eagle, Aureus. We sent him there as an envoy of Megaris. To think he lost family as soon as he found them, that child must be devastated."

"Drayce aware of Aureus' identity?" she asked.

"Yes."

Evanthe wiped her tears. "Why did you send him there? Seems like we have so many things to talk about."

Yorian nodded. "There are things you should know. I was waiting for this night to pass by. And after this, I will leave for Agartha. Do you wish to come with me?"

Evanthe nodded as once again tears rolled from her eyes.

"I need to see my friend for the last time," Evanthe replied and then remembered something, "That woman...."

"Who?" Yorian asked.

"That woman I saw along with Morpheus being stabbed, she...Fire...No that was hellfire..." Realization struck Evanthe as she wondered how she could be too slow to get it. Pain of losing her friends blinded her ability to see other things.

"Hellfire?"

"Yes, Yorian, that was hellfire," she looked at him with conflicted gaze, "the deity of fire is in Agartha. She was angry and her powers looked awakened the same time Seren showed the presence of that power. She is the one we have been searching for. We need to go there."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. I will explain it to Sierra and we will soon leave for Agartha once we make sure Seren is fine," she replied with a determined gaze.

"Alright. I will prepare for us to leave," Yorian agreed, as he trusted Evanthe's judgment.