"He has awakened!"
Inside the garden of hell.
A scream rang out, alerting the others of the success of Xavier's awakening. The women standing far away from the pool fought their way to the front, curious to see the success.
Even the men who had no right to witness it, couldn't help but look for tall spots to stand in order to see what was happening.
Carla was the first to notice the changes in Xavier's body and notify the others.
At first, it was a minor change that no one else could notice, then it was followed by a more visible change that everyone surrounding the pool saw.
Inside the pool, Xavier's body was floating but there was something different.
On his forehead, a faint black symbol of a dark crow appeared. It was proof of his awakening!
"It is a success, we're close to finding the truth of the dark plain now," said one woman.
"The mistress would be very delighted to hear this news," another added.
"We are blessed," a third murmured.
The women rejoiced verbally, but their composure remained calm and composed as though nothing significant had happened. Even the men couldn't help but wonder if the women had emotions or if they were hiding them to appear strong.
The three veiled women by the pool observed the body of Xavier with calmness, after years of futile experiments, they have finally discovered the true one.
They have stopped chanting and the pool has returned to its transparent self.
Carla signaled for two women to jump into the pool and bring out the body of Xavier.
Two women dived into the pool and dragged out Xavier's unconscious body, then placed him close to Carla.
Even after being pulled from the pool, Xavier's body remained unconscious, his eyes closed, and his chest showing no sign of movement. The only indication that he was alive was the crow tattoo on his forehead.
Carla observed his body for a few seconds before squatting beside him.
She was about to take care of this when a strong presence swept across the garden of hell. It was a presence everyone was used to, one they adored.
"The mistress is here!" someone alerted with fear and respect in her voice, before falling to her knees.
The other women did the same, kneeling and bowing their heads until they kissed the surface of the dirty floor.
The men fearfully did the same, even those with ghastly injuries did not dare to use them as an excuse not to bow.
Even the three mysterious women did the same.
Liana flew into the garden on her broom, gracefully flying past the women who bowed to her. She gently landed in front of Carla, who was bowing beside the unconscious body of Xavier.
Her flawless figure highlighted the broom as she approached Xavier. In her eyes, a whirlwind of emotions swirled, difficult to put into words.
She knelt down beside him, her slender hands reaching towards the tattoo on his forehead.
"The mark of a dark monarch," she whispered, her voice as soft as a breeze, as she gently traced the tattoo with her fingertips.
"It has been two hundred years since the witch began searching for the mark. My great-grandmother started the journey, and it was passed down to my grandmother, my mother, and now to me."
"There have been three great generations before me, powerful and virtuous. But who would have thought that in my time, we would find the revelation we seek?"
Her words, though gentle, echoed across the garden, stirring nostalgia in the hearts of the witches.
For two hundred years, their mission had been to uncover the truth of the dark plain, which existed thousands of years ago. The first step was to find a dark monarch, someone with the mark, power, and possibly the secrets of an ancient dark monarch.
Despite their efforts, success eluded them for two centuries. They wasted countless resources and experimented on over ten thousand men, all in vain. Hope and faith dwindled.
Yet now, against all odds, they have succeeded.
Liana looked at Xavier's unconscious body, the dark crow symbol faintly glowing on his forehead. She felt the weight of their history and a newfound hope.
She raised her hand, and a gentle light glowed from her palm, casting a soft radiance over Xavier. Her eyes closed, and her lips murmured soft chants.
As the spell took effect, the black crow tattoo on Xavier's forehead pulsed with light. Liana's magic flowed through him, healing unseen wounds and giving him new strength. His breathing steadied, and his chest rose and fell with newfound vigor.
The onlookers, both men and women, were entranced by Liana's healing power. Whispers of awe spread among them.
Liana focused on her spell. "You will awaken," she said firmly. "You will rise as the Dark Monarch, and together, we will uncover the truths of the dark plain."
With a final surge of energy, light burst forth from Xavier's body, illuminating the entire garden. The witches shielded their eyes from the intense radiance.
As the light faded, Xavier's eyes slowly opened. The symbol of the dark crow shone brightly on his forehead, signifying his newfound power and the awakening of a dark monarch.