Authors Note-
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Ivan found amusement in Morgan's desire to rid himself of the curse. It was akin to being amidst blessings but failing to recognize them. While others dreamt of such abilities, Morgan seemed ready to discard them like an unwanted shoe.
"I can indeed lift this spell, but you must understand that many souls—those of the people who sacrificed themselves—are still bound. Their purpose is to resurrect you repeatedly. If I remove the curse, do you think it's appropriate to disregard their heartfelt gift? They gave you everything, and you're considering discarding it without even a glance."
"Can't you release those souls, allowing them to go to heaven or hell, wherever they should be?" Morgan, with an immortal body but limited knowledge of the fate of souls, could only frame his question in terms of heaven and hell.
Ivan sighed helplessly, "If it were any other witchcraft or magic, I could do it. Unfortunately, this African witchcraft is unique, and regrettably, I cannot release the sealed souls intact."
Puzzled, Morgan inquired, "Why is that? What's special about African witchcraft?"
"Oh! This involves some dark history in the magic world," Ivan said, pondering before launching into an explanation.
"No one can provide a definitive answer on the origin of wizards, but one widely accepted notion is Merlin from British legend. The magical power wielded by wizards is referred to as magic.
Given the mystery and potency of wizards, they were revered by ordinary people. However, their high self-esteem led to merciless killings, as they saw all living beings as beneath them. Countless innocent lives fell victim to their actions."
While Morgan hadn't witnessed such events, he had heard legends of witches committing murders, making this information unsurprising.
"Fearing the formidable power of wizards, ordinary people dared not resist. This persisted until a day when those persecuted by wizards, unable to endure any longer, fought back, killing several wizards with weapons. This revelation— that wizards could be killed—lessened the terror they instilled. People no longer feared them, and an organization known as Witchers was formed. A war between wizards and humans ensued."
"In the initial stages of the war, wizards held the upper hand due to their mysterious methods. Yet, despite the many casualties on the human side, they continued to resist. The advantage lay in their sheer numbers—while wizards might lose a life for each human they killed, ten ordinary people could sacrifice one wizard's life."
"As time passed, the number of wizards dwindled, and the situation turned increasingly dire for them. The surviving wizards chose to conceal themselves, making their existence unknown to humans and eventually turning into legends."
Listening intently, Henry noted that Ivan seemed to deviate from the point. He inquired, "But what does this have to do with the African black witchcraft you mentioned?"
"Don't worry; I'll get to the witchcraft spell next— Dark Magic," Ivan reassured Morgan, waving his hand to signify that the explanation was forthcoming.
"While the wizards remained hidden, they still needed to survive, procure food, develop more potent magic, obtain various magical materials, and even conduct experiments on ordinary people. They set their sights on relatively primitive societies, like the black tribes in Africa."
"What did these wizards do?" Morgan couldn't help but feel concerned for the African blacks at this point.
"That group of wizards introduced magic to Africa."
Dr. Morgan was taken aback, finding it hard to believe his ears. "Is it really that simple? When did they become benevolent?"
"Benevolent intentions? Do you think that's possible? A few wizards proposed a perspective at the time. They believed that contemporary wizards were constrained by their traditional thinking, hindering the creation of more potent magic. In light of this, they suggested teaching simple magic to black people, who had never encountered magic before. The aim was to allow them the freedom to create and innovate, unlocking endless possibilities. However, it turned out to be a disaster for those black people."
"Disaster? How can that be? With magic and enhanced abilities, shouldn't it be a positive outcome?"
Ivan sneered, "Magic is highly perilous. Even the wizards had to exercise caution in its use, as a misstep could lead to irreparable damage. Many wizards perished due to magical backlash. Now, imagine entrusting magic to black people who had never encountered it before. It's akin to giving a child a gun and expecting nothing to go wrong."
"This..." Dr. Morgan grasped the implications. Holding a powerful tool without the knowledge to control it could only lead to disaster.
Ignoring Morgan's troubled expression, Ivan continued, "At that time, black people were awestruck by the magic of the wizards, dubbing it 'witchcraft' since it was bestowed by wizards. Initially unaware of the wizards' motives, they eagerly practiced magic, attempting to create entirely new things as instructed by the wizards. The outcome was predictable. Only one in a thousand succeeded, making that era one of the darkest periods for black people. Many fell victim to magic, with numerous deaths. While some fortunate individuals did create intriguing things, their accomplishments were swiftly seized by the wizards, who then promptly killed them. To the wizards, all black people were mere experimental subjects, and their deaths held no consequence."
"How can this be? Do they lack humanity?" Morgan exclaimed in anger.
"Humanity? The wizards of that era never grasped the concept of humanity," Ivan remarked with a sneer. In the eyes of the wizards, ordinary people were mere ants, and even if they were once defeated by humans, stepping on a few ants wouldn't evoke any sorrow.
"Yet, among the black people, there were individuals with insight. Some discerned the wizards' true motives and secretly united to gather various secret techniques created at the cost of countless lives. They even deceived the wizards. Certain unique secret techniques were passed down among black priests, forming what is now known as black witchcraft. The black witchcraft on you is one of the highest-level secret arts, created through the sacrifice of innumerable black priests, their blood, tears, and sweat beyond your imagination."
"Due to the wizards' machinations, African witchcraft is very unpredictable. Even if a spell is successfully created, users often don't understand how or why it works. There are no fixed rules in witchcraft. You can employ the most violent methods to directly break the item sealing a soul, and the enclosed soul will naturally dissipate."
Morgan found himself torn. While he wished for the liberation of the souls of those black people, he didn't want them to suffer fragmentation.
Ivan, seemingly unwilling to release Morgan from his grip, continued, "In addition to what I mentioned earlier, there's another factor. You must be aware that you've died numerous times, and the reason you're alive now is due to the power of faith and gratitude from those black people. If I break the black magic spell on you, you'll perish instantly. Are you certain you want to forsake your wife and face death alone?"
"No, absolutely not. I can't leave Abigail. I want to spend my life with her" Morgan responded without hesitation, clutching his wife tightly. He might disregard his own life, but he would never disregard how his wife felt.
Ivan nodded approvingly and clapped his hands. "That's the spirit! That's how men should be. Now, let's address the issue of the age gap between you and your wife's appearance. There's an opportunity before you—I want to delve into black witchcraft, and I need your cooperation. Of course, in return, I'll grant you thirty years of vitality to restore your wife to the way she was thirty years ago. However, bear in mind that she will gradually age once again, reliving the aging process."
"Can't we keep her perpetually young? Won't we end up experiencing the same pain sooner or later?"
"Hehe, you're quite ambitious. Well, let's add another element to the deal. My original housekeeper has been overseeing my industrial affairs outside. Since there's usually no one managing things at home, you can take on the role of my housekeeper. You'll also serve as a part-time private doctor, and in return, I'll provide you with life force every year. This way, your wife's body can maintain its youthful appearance."
"I want to be with him. No matter where we are, we'll never be separated." Abigail, seeing her husband's expression and realizing he was moved, joined in.
Ivan didn't object; after all, the farm needed more hands. "Additionally, Mrs. Morgan, being a nurse, can assist in looking after the children. I've never been adept at handling the little ones, and having an extra pair of hands will make caring for Tina much easier."
Hearing that her task was to look after the children, Abigail was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected that the mysterious person in front of her would be troubled by children. However, it added a touch of humanity, which was a positive aspect.
"We agree. When do we start, and where?"
"Before that, you need to sign this contract." Ivan snapped his fingers, and a peculiar piece of paper materialized, covered in dense handwriting.
"This is a contract. You must serve as my housekeeper for 30 years and cooperate with my research. After signing, I'll provide you with 30 years of vitality as a lump sum. When the ten years are up, we'll reassess the situation, and whether you're willing to renew the contract will be entirely up to you.
Review the contract's contents. There are 33 clauses and 106 details in total, with annotations to highlight key points. If everything is in order, sign it."
Henry Morgan and his wife carefully perused the paper. Every clause and detail was scrutinized, as it pertained to their fate for the next thirty years. Fortunately, there were no hidden traps in the contract; the responsibilities of both parties were outlined in meticulous detail. Satisfied that there were no issues, the husband and wife affixed their signatures, officially putting the contract into effect.