The next day, the atmosphere in Stonehelm felt heavy.
Oppressive.
Whispers traveled through the streets as people gathered along the main road.
Then—
A woman walked into town.
The moment people saw her, they recognized her immediately.
Morgana.
The Witch of the East.
Her long black hair flowed down her back, small mushrooms intertwined within the strands like strange ornaments. Her deep blue eyes glowed faintly, almost like embers hidden beneath the surface.
A cross-shaped scar marked her cheek.
Her clothing was simple.
A plain white shirt.
Black pants.
Yet her presence alone commanded attention.
Her hands were stained with gray ash, and a dark robe flowed behind her as the wind stirred around her.
Even the bravest adventurers stepped aside as she walked through the street.
Friedrich approached her quickly.
He bowed deeply.
"Lady Morgana."
His voice carried genuine respect.
"I thank you for coming to assist us."
Morgana glanced around the town calmly.
"I haven't visited this part of the world in quite some time."
Her voice was soft, yet everyone nearby could hear it clearly.
"There has been far too much war to properly explore it."
She was referring to the Great Elven Massacre.
Four years ago, the seventy-two dungeons had appeared across the world.
One of them had manifested directly inside the capital of the elven kingdom.
Instead of uniting to deal with the crisis—
Human nations saw opportunity.
The countries of Drosvania, Myrelith, and Thornevalis launched a coordinated invasion of Eldoria.
The elves were already struggling with the sudden appearance of the dungeon.
They stood no chance.
The three nations quickly conquered the entire kingdom.
But instead of dividing the land among themselves—
They declared Eldoria neutral territory.
A lawless land.
A place where adventurers from any nation could attempt to conquer the dungeons scattered across the ruined elven homeland.
Meanwhile, the three countries focused on the dungeons that had appeared within their own borders.
And what happened in Eldoria—
Was left entirely to fate.
"I assume the crime scene hasn't been touched yet?" Morgana asked calmly.
Friedrich shook his head.
"No."
"I preserved everything exactly as it was."
He gestured down the street.
"I'll lead you to my father's office."
High above the street—
River stood at the window of the inn, watching the scene unfold below.
His eyes followed Morgana as she walked through town.
The moment he saw her—
His heart skipped.
It felt like the world slowed.
For a brief moment—
Morgana stopped walking.
Her head turned slowly.
Her glowing blue eyes locked directly onto River.
River froze.
In the next instant—
Her hand moved.
Ash and smoke gathered together, forming a massive skeletal claw in the air.
CRASH.
The claw tore straight through the inn window.
Glass exploded inward.
Before River could react—
The skeletal hand grabbed him.
And the Onyx January.
He was yanked violently through the broken window and dragged outside.
Morgana's expression was filled with pure hatred.
"My lady—!"
Friedrich stepped forward quickly.
"I have already investigated him!"
"I am certain he is innocent!"
"Silence."
Morgana's voice carried no anger.
But the moment she spoke—
Her mana exploded outward.
The pressure spread across the entire town.
People collapsed to their knees.
Adventurers struggled to breathe.
Even the air itself felt heavy.
"Get away from him!"
Celestia's voice rang out.
She forced herself to stand and leapt from the inn balcony.
Azura followed close behind her.
Celestia's blades ignited with roaring flames as she rushed toward Morgana.
Azura's ears twitched sharply.
Her eyes widened.
She immediately moved in front of Celestia.
"Water Barrier!"
A shield of swirling water formed around her.
At that same moment—
Another skeletal ash arm erupted from the ground.
It struck.
The barrier shattered instantly.
The claw punched straight through Azura's shield—
Through the metal itself.
The skeletal fingers stopped one inch from her throat.
Azura froze.
Behind her, Celestia's eyes burned with fury.
She lunged forward—
Then suddenly stopped.
Her body collapsed to her knees.
She clutched her throat.
Her breathing turned ragged.
"Ghk—!"
Celestia began coughing violently.
Dark spores filled the air.
Then—
She vomited.
A mass of mushrooms spilled onto the ground.
Her eyes rolled back.
And she collapsed unconscious.
This—
Was the power of a Witch.
A living calamity that stood far above the level of ordinary adventurers.
If a witch killed you—
It was not considered murder.
It was simply misfortune.
Like being struck by a tornado.
Or swept away by a storm.
You were merely unlucky—
To exist in the same world as her.
Morgana glanced down at River as the skeletal claw began dragging him through the street.
He struggled uselessly against the ash construct.
Around them, people were too terrified to move.
Friedrich forced himself to stand.
His legs trembled under the oppressive weight of Morgana's mana, but he still raised his sword.
Fear was written across his face—
Yet he refused to back down.
"What crime has he committed for you to act this way?" Friedrich demanded.
His voice shook slightly, but he still spoke.
"I believe I told you to be silent."
Morgana didn't even turn around.
"Must I repeat myself?"
Friedrich tightened his grip on his sword.
"My father is dead."
His voice hardened.
"That makes me the lord of this city now."
Cold air slowly began spreading around him.
Frost crept across the ground beneath his boots.
"I cannot allow a brave adventurer who protects this city to be killed without reason."
Morgana didn't even acknowledge him.
Without looking back—
She raised a finger slightly.
Another skeletal arm erupted from the ground.
CRACK.
The claw drove straight through Friedrich's leg.
He collapsed to the ground instantly.
"Gah—!"
Blood spread across the stone street.
Morgana finally spoke again.
"I will deal with your issue later."
Her tone was completely indifferent.
"I have business with this boy."
She began dragging River away again.
"Business that makes your mere father's death… insignificant."
River struggled desperately as he was pulled along the street.
They soon reached an empty section of town.
Morgana stopped walking.
Ash and smoke began swirling around them.
Then—
A barrier formed.
A massive dome of gray ash sealed the entire area off from the rest of the world.
Inside the barrier—
Only two people remained.
The Witch.
And River.
Morgana threw River onto the ground.
Dust scattered as he hit the stone street.
She picked up the Onyx January, holding the staff in both hands as she examined it closely.
"How old are you, boy?" Morgana asked.
River slowly forced himself onto one knee—
Thud.
Her boot slammed into him, knocking him flat again.
"Do not stand," Morgana said coldly.
"You are only permitted to breathe and answer my questions."
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"Anything beyond that… and you will suffer."
She looked down at him.
"Now answer."
River swallowed.
"…I'm twenty-one."
"Twenty-one…"
Morgana murmured quietly.
Her grip on the staff tightened.
"Then you cannot be her killer."
She spoke the words almost to herself.
"You would have been nothing more than a baby when she died."
River blinked.
"…What is this about?"
Before he could say anything else—
Morgana's boot slammed down onto his chest.
The impact forced the air out of his lungs.
"You do not get to ask questions."
Her voice was sharp.
"Now answer mine."
She lifted the staff slightly.
"What is this weapon?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"And where did you obtain it?"
River struggled to breathe.
"It's… the Onyx January…"
He coughed.
"I found it in the dungeon. The first floor guardian was wielding it."
Morgana froze.
"The Onyx January…"
Her voice softened slightly.
"Yes… that would make sense."
Her eyes lowered.
"The weapon first appeared twenty-one years ago."
Her expression twisted.
"…Of course it was him."
Tears began forming in her eyes.
Slowly—
Her foot lifted off River's chest.
"Selene…" she whispered hoarsely.
She pulled the weapon close, hugging it tightly.
River slowly pushed himself up again.
"Miss Morgana…"
His voice was careful.
"Please talk to me."
Morgana stared down at the staff.
"This is the first time I've seen the Onyx January in person," she said quietly.
"But even from a glance…"
Her hands trembled.
"…I can tell what was used to create it."
Her voice cracked.
"My sister…"
She lowered her head.
"Selene…"
"…is truly dead."
River's eyes widened.
"You don't mean…"
His voice trailed off.
He knew exactly how Pharos created his weapons.
They weren't forged from metal.
They were made from people.
Pharos broke down living beings—
Their flesh.
Their magic.
Their very souls.
And used them as ingredients.
The unknown material used to create the masterpiece known as the Onyx January—
Was the Witch of the South.
Selene.
Morgana hugged the staff tighter.
"Selene…"
Her voice shook.
"Are you still in there?"
She closed her eyes.
"…If you are… then let me wield you."
Tears ran down her face.
"Even if you're gone… let me at least keep you close."
For a moment—
Silence filled the ash barrier.
Morgana suddenly paused.
She looked down at the weapon.
"…You want to stay with this boy?"
Her voice softened.
"Sister… are you sure?"
Another long pause.
Then slowly—
Morgana handed the staff back to River.
Before he could react—
She stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.
River froze.
"I'm sorry for my outburst," Morgana said quietly.
Her voice still trembled.
"But thanks to you…"
She took a slow breath.
"I finally understand why my sister disappeared."
Her eyes hardened.
"And I now know who killed her."
River already knew the answer.
"…Pharos," he muttered.
"How could he even kill her?" River asked quietly.
"I was told she was the third strongest mortal in the world."
He frowned.
"If the two of them fought, the world itself should have shaken."
"Yet she just… disappeared."
Morgana's expression darkened.
"I don't know."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"But I doubt he poisoned her."
She shook her head.
"That would have ruined the ingredient."
"Pharos would never contaminate his materials."
Her voice was cold with fury.
"I fear there is nothing I can give you that would truly repay what you've given me today."
She reached into the bag of holding at her side.
After a moment, she pulled out a cloak.
It was a deep ocean blue, with delicate white patterns along the edges.
The cloth seemed to ripple like gentle waves when it moved.
Even without magic sight, River could feel the power flowing through it.
It was beautiful.
"I can sense that you have the potential for water magic," Morgana said.
"My sister used to wear this."
Her voice softened slightly.
"It was left behind in her cabin."
She held the cloak out to him.
"I would like you to have it."
River blinked in surprise.
"M-me?"
"Yes."
Morgana nodded.
"If you ever need help in the future, call upon me."
She studied him for a moment.
"May I know your name?"
River straightened.
"My name is River."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"I'm a cleric."
"And the leader of Team Phoenix."
"That's who I am."
Morgana smiled faintly.
"Well then, young River…"
She turned toward the town.
"I should probably attend to the task I was originally summoned for."
With a flick of her hand—
The ash barrier dissolved.
The oppressive mana that had weighed down the entire city vanished instantly.
People slowly began standing again.
When the townspeople saw River standing there—
Alive—
Their expressions turned to shock.
But what stunned them even more—
Was the fact that Morgana was smiling.
She walked calmly back toward Friedrich.
"I apologize for the destruction I caused."
She reached into her bag again.
"Will this be sufficient to cover the repairs and medical expenses?"
She pulled out a massive diamond.
It was nearly the size of River's head.
Friedrich stared in disbelief.
A nearby cleric had already healed his leg.
Celestia and Azura had also recovered.
"Y-yes…"
Friedrich stammered.
"That will be enough."
He looked at the gem again.
"…More than enough, actually."
Morgana smiled politely.
"Consider it a commission payment."
She gestured lightly toward River.
"For introducing me to such a lovely young man."
Friedrich stood there, completely stunned.
Morgana turned back toward him.
"Now then."
Her voice returned to business.
"Please take me to the crime scene."
"Of course," Friedrich said quickly.
And together—
They began walking toward the lord's office.