The Witch at Moore Manor and Sophia’s Reckoning

This seemingly ordinary morning, the Sword Saint Sorold arrived at the city’s central council hall, weariness etched upon his face. Among those present were the empire’s legendary Mage God and God of War.

“Is the source of this information reliable?” Sorold cut straight to the point. “Moore Manor?”

“Reliable, absolutely certain. She is at Moore Manor.”

Even with such assurances, Sorold cautiously pressed, “Is there no possibility of a misjudgment…?”

“Impossible,” the legendary Mage God stated firmly. “’The Witch has made no attempt to conceal her tracks.’”

The God of War on the other side rose. “The information is confirmed. There is no need to debate its veracity. Our task is to temporarily keep this news under wraps to prevent widespread panic.”

The Mage God waved a hand, conjuring a map in the air. “The teleportation array at Moore Manor is under the Witch’s control. If we were to teleport directly, it would be tantamount to walking straight into our deaths. Therefore, we must teleport to the town behind the mountain and proceed on foot.”

“Factoring in potential confrontations and combat, we will require at least several days,” Sorold remarked, a frown creasing his brow. “Will there be any issues?”

“It is the Witch we speak of,” the God of War retorted, their gaze cold. “Or are you afraid, unwilling to go?”

“Ridiculous! How could I possibly be afraid?” Sorold scoffed. ‘I just feel as though something is amiss… Should we leave someone behind in Saroyan?’

The Mage God chuckled. “Cease your fretting, Sorold. The four district governors in the city are all above Rank 60. What trouble could possibly arise? Besides, we can always teleport back at any moment.”

They harbored no concerns about the Witch infiltrating the city, for theoretically, a teleportation array requires coordination from both sides. Unless there was a traitor, she could not simply teleport in.

Moreover, even if she did manage to arrive, it would be futile. The moment Saroyan’s containment array activated, the Witch would find herself utterly trapped.

Sorold considered this, realizing the truth in their words. “In that case, when do we depart?”

“Immediately. The sooner, the better.”

****

**[Natural Restoration (80%)]**: Allows your next attack to ignore all armor and resistance. For one hour after striking the target, it prevents any form of restorative ability. Cooldown: Three natural days.

To ignore all defenses and suppress healing for an entire hour—such was the power of unlocking eighty percent of the Natural Order.

****

“Help you with what? You wish to go again?” Sophia exclaimed, unable to contain herself. “Don’t go, you’ll lose your life!”

“Allow me to try one more time, just one,” Iordera pleaded, her gaze fixed on Sophia. “Help me. If I return alive this time, I will accompany you to uncover the truth of Rockflower Town.”

Sophia gritted her teeth, a fierce resolve hardening her expression. “One time, and one last time,” she stated gravely. “You don’t need to accompany me to such a place. I have only one demand: you must return alive!”

‘If Iordera were to die, no one would ever know her true form again.’

“I will do my best,” Iordera replied with a faint smile. “Sophia, please help me. At the break of dawn tomorrow, send Busius to the academy.”

Sophia was taken aback. “How could that possibly be accomplished?”

“It can be done,” Iordera stated, uttering a single name. “Augustus.”

****

Busius now commanded his own personal guard, a unit that lay dormant by day and scoured Saroyan by night. As time wore on, rumors began to swirl, with everyone speculating about the true nature of their mission.

During this period, Busius also found time to grant an interview to the “Saroyan Night Market News.”

“I cannot disclose the specific details, but I can assure everyone that this is an endeavor essential for Saroyan’s well-being.”

“Some things must remain carefully hidden in the darkness. Once they cross a certain boundary, they will be utterly consumed by the light of day.”

Having left these two ambiguous yet highly menacing statements in the newspaper, Busius departed with an air of aloofness.

Iordera had also seen news of Busius’s departure in the papers, a single line stating that his operations in Saroyan would be temporarily suspended. Yet, she knew this was far from the truth.

Iordera set down the newspaper, her gaze lifting to the night sky.

The time was almost upon them.

****

“Sister Sophia! Sister Sophia!”

The blonde girl startled awake from her slumber, still heavy with sleep. “Lillian, I’ve told you countless times to just call me Sophia. No strange honorifics are necessary.”

“Understood, Sister Sophia,” her roommate, Lillian, replied, handing her a towel. “You asked me to wake you at five in the morning, and the time has come.”

Sophia immediately felt a surge of alertness, her sleepiness vanishing entirely. She took the towel, quickly tidied herself, dressed, and then, grasping her long sword, prepared to leave.

“Sister Sophia, what are you going to do?” Lillian inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.

“Something momentous.”

She descended from the girls’ dormitory, following the cobblestone path. After rounding three corners, she arrived before another building—the boys’ dormitory.

It was just past five in the morning, still predawn. The night sky hung dense and black as ink.

Sophia suddenly recalled the fireworks festival from a few nights prior, that dazzling night sky—brief, yet incomparably brilliant.

The dormitory supervisor for the boys’ building had just woken up and was performing morning exercises outside. Suddenly, he noticed a beautiful girl standing resolutely at the main entrance.

“Hey, girl over there! What do you think you’re doing? Girls are not allowed in the boys’ dormitory.”

“Don’t think that just because you’re pretty, you’ll get special treatment.”

Sophia remained silent, instead plunging her sword forcefully into the ground.

Zing—!

Patterns of brilliant platinum light spread across the floor, radiating outwards like a magic circle.

The supervisor, startled, retreated several steps, scurrying back into the security office.

“What do you want? I advise you not to cause trouble. Behave yourself, the teachers will be here soon!”

With that, he pressed the alarm, and a piercing siren blared throughout the entire building.

Sophia looked up at the tall building, her eyes burning with intensity.

“Augustus! You conspired with the East District Governor, sending men to collude in wicked deeds and disregard human life, even going so far as to murder my friend. Now, I demand you show yourself and offer an explanation!”

The girl’s clear voice, amplified by an unseen power, completely drowned out the blaring alarm. The boys in the dormitory, awakened by the commotion, had no time to express their morning grumbles before hearing her declaration, instantly shaking off their sleep.

“Holy shit.”

“What, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Who’s that girl down there?”

“It sounds like Sophia, the first-year prodigy.”

“Holy shit, isn’t that the goddess our entire dorm next door has a crush on?”

“Don’t pretend otherwise. Your dorm has a crush on her too.”

Excitedly, these boys leaned over the balconies on every floor, straining to look down. Others peered up at the room belonging to Augustus, the Little Prince.

Several tall, burly boys hurried downstairs, grabbing their weapons and rushing towards the main entrance.

“How arrogant! This little wretch dares to challenge our Little Prince?”

“Does she think she can walk all over the school just because she’s a bit stronger?”

“Does she truly believe she can take all of us on by herself?”

“She’s gotten too cocky!”

They aggressively stepped into the sword array marked by platinum light on the ground. Instantly, they were thrown back by a sudden surge of sword energy, pinned against the wall so tightly they couldn’t break free.

“I’m hurt! Help me!”

“How dare you hit me? My father has never laid a hand on me… Ah!”

“It hurts so much, Mama, it hurts.”

Sophia cast a faint glance at them, then silently invoked her skill:

**[Heart Sword: Acalanatha]**