The old witch dangled in midair, her throat strangled tight.
She kicked her legs frantically, struggling with all her might.
She tried to chant a spell to save herself or call for help from the strong warriors of Enderland in the nearby rooms.
But with her windpipe crushed, she couldn't utter a sound.
Ironically, just ten minutes ago, she had remarked that a mage without protection was fragile.
How painfully true those words were now!
After several desperate kicks, the old witch's body twitched one last time before going completely still.
She had been strangled to death.
Rhine and Aurora materialized behind her.
"As expected of my teacher, such a simple and effective way to deal with witches! Stopping them from casting spells is truly a deadly tactic." Aurora marveled at her teacher's wisdom.
"Modern, and even not-so-modern stories, all say the same thing," Rhine thought to himself.
Aurora stared at the lifeless body suspended in the air, ensuring there was no trace of vitality left. Then she asked,
"Is she dead?"
That easily?
She had heard that this was the most powerful witch in Enderland, the strongest mage in the imperial court of a great empire.
Could she have died so simply?
After all, Aurora and Rhine hadn't even used half of their tricks yet.
"According to my supernatural intuition… no," Rhine answered. "In the world of magic, life exists in many strange forms. It does not always reside in the flesh."
Before Aurora could fully grasp his meaning, the corpse hanging in the air suddenly collapsed into dull yellow dust.
The powder dispersed, drifting in the cold night wind until it completely vanished—without leaving a single trace of its former existence.
For some reason, Aurora suddenly thought of something:
"If Ariel never gained an immortal soul, then at dawn on the day Prince Eric marries that Enderland princess… she too will disappear just like this."
"But instead of choking dust, she would turn into something much more beautiful—foam upon the waves. And just like this, the sea breeze would carry her away, the waves would crash, and she would vanish without a single trace."
A deep melancholy filled her heart.
Her determination to help Ariel and Eric be together only grew stronger.
Watching the dust fade away, Aurora turned to her teacher.
"What just happened? Where did the old witch go?"
Rhine explained,
"That wicked witch's physical body is dead. But an ancient dark spell saved her. She used necromancy to remove her own heart and store her life force and soul elsewhere—most likely in Enderland."
"When her body is destroyed, she simply resurrects at the location of her heart, regenerating a brand-new body."
"Many stories speak of similar necromantic rituals."
Rhine sighed.
"A mage or witch without protection may seem fragile—easily slain with a single blade to the heart.
But a true master? They always have a dozen ways to escape death."
Aurora's expression grew serious.
They still had an even more dangerous witch to face in the future.
But then, scanning the now-empty room, with nothing but traces of yellow dust on the floor, a satisfied smile spread across her face.
"Heh. I can't wait to see their reactions tomorrow morning—when the Enderland delegation discovers their 'all-powerful' witch has been killed. Just imagining it is exciting!"
Rhine patted her shoulder lightly.
"Let's go. No need to stay here any longer.
"That old witch is probably already scheming in Enderland, thinking of ways to separate the prince from Ariel.
We need to move as well—we can't afford to slack off."
"It's time to contact the Sea King."
A mysterious glint flashed in Rhine's eyes.
"I've foreseen something very important. If the Sea King acts as planned, the relationship between the Sea Kingdom and the land kingdoms will change forever.
"Tonight, we head to the Sea King's palace."
The next moment, the two figures rapidly faded away—
As if they had never been there at all.
A forgotten room, untouched for years.
Cobwebs draped thick across the ceiling. Dust blanketed every surface.
Then, suddenly—
The dust on the ground stirred.
It twisted, gathering into a shape—
And after a moment of writhing, the form of the old witch reappeared.
"Dmn it, dmn it—"
"That was excruciating, but I'm finally back."
She seethed with rage at the memory of her death.
This forbidden necromantic spell came with a terrible price.
Each time she resurrected, a catastrophic misfortune would befall her at some point.
And until she survived that calamity, she wouldn't be able to revive again.
"I won't forgive you, magician of the Rose Kingdom—Rhine!"
The old witch shrieked in fury.
"Maleficent doesn't even see you as a real threat, but I do!
"Once I join the Coven and learn the most powerful, most ruthless dark magic—
I will rip your soul from your body, and torment you with every imaginable horror!
"You will suffer an eternity of pain!"
She clenched her nearly toothless jaws so hard they almost cracked.
But as her rage subsided, she realized something odd.
"How did that magician kill my precious viper?
His magic shouldn't have had any effect on my pet!"
Closing her eyes, she focused on the magical bond she had with the viper, sensing its final moments.
It had been crushed—
In the grip of an overwhelming force.
"A powerful warrior is protecting him? Who could it be?"
"The Valkyrie who briefly appeared on the battlefield of the Rose Kingdom? Or someone else?"
Deep in thought, the old witch pulled out a mirror and attempted to contact Black Witch Maleficent.
If they had a common enemy, perhaps this legendary witch would lend a hand.
With Maleficent's unfathomable power, who in this world could stand against her?
A dark reflection shimmered on the mirror's surface, and soon, Maleficent's face appeared.
Her expression was impatient.
"What now? Didn't you just contact me yesterday?
I already told you—once you complete your mission, I'll let you join us."
Maleficent stroked the raven perched on her shoulder, clearly displeased.
"I was just discussing with my sisters—
how we should kill that Sea Hag we're about to kick out of the Coven.
We were brainstorming the most exciting, most entertaining way to do it."
"Don't interrupt our fun."
"If you call me again for something useless, I'll kill you first!"
The old witch swallowed nervously before speaking cautiously.
"Respected Lady Maleficent," she said, "I only wanted to remind you about the magician of the Rose Kingdom… and the warrior protecting him.
They are our common enemy.
"I suspect they are planning to come after you—to kill you and lift the kingdom's curse."
Maleficent's expression darkened instantly.
"What did you say?"
"A mere ordinary kingdom?"
"A nameless magician among countless others on this continent?
They think they can kill me?"
Maleficent let out a scornful laugh.
"I couldn't care less about what they're plotting!"
Before the old witch could respond, the dark reflection in the mirror abruptly vanished—
Maleficent had cut the connection.