Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Monster of the North (11)

The Priest raised three fingers. “You’re aware of the three types of Witches, yes?”

Aurora answered him. “Elemental…Reinforcer…and…Perception.”

“That’s right.” He nodded his head. “Then, what about a Gifter Witch?”

A…Gifter Witch?

Aurora tilted her head to the right.

The Priest smiled when seeing her confusion. “Well, it’s not strange that you don’t know. After all, this type of Witch is rare, and only a very few are aware of their existence. We call it the Gift system. After a Witch awakens as a Gifter, they can favor a person or persons of their choice with a gift.”

Aurora blinked her eyes in bewilderment.

Say what now?

“Of course, there are limits. They are only given a single blessing, which can be offered. For example, a Gifter Witch might be able to give the gift of speed to a limited number of people or maybe an unlimited number of people. The last Witch born in our Empire was a Witch who gifted a single person. That is, the gift of immortality.”

Say what now?! "Are you...joking with me?"

“Hahahaha! I joke you not!"

....Aurora was starting to find this Priest more shocking than the revelation of a human having immortality.

"Hehe, it’s the truth, and I have even met her personally.” Priest Abel smirked as he thought about his reaction when he confirmed her gift.

“She gave her gift to the current Emperor. As long as she lives, the Emperor will not die. Their lives are linked. Ah, but he might die if he’s beheaded or his heart is stabbed. It hasn’t been tested though, since if we test it and he does die, what’s the point? Ahahahahaha!” He threw his head back and laughed.

“……” Aurora was speechless. Was it okay for a Priest to say something like that? She pretended she didn’t hear the last part. At first, she really didn't want to talk with someone connected to the Holy Temple, but she found his voice relaxing. Of course, she was still wary of him. “Is she immortal as well?”

“Yes! Now you understand why there aren't many who know of Witches with the gift system? It's only right that they keep silent about their ability to protect themselves."

Aurora found it hard to grasp. The races closest to immortality in the past were Elves. But even they, and all the other species besides humans, have gone extinct. Then...then...if there's a Witch who can give the gift of immortality...What's the probability of a Witch who can travel through time?

“Let’s get back to the main story. Back then, even though Witches were protected, some still harbored fear and hatred against them…” He paused. “Hmm, I’ll spare you the small details since it’s bothersome!”

Aurora didn’t know what to say. All she could do was crack a wry smile. Again, was this person really a Priest??

The Rune Mage Dorsen, who sat next to Priest, looked as if he was ready to explode in anger. “Old man, hurry up and get back on point!!”

Priest Abel glared at Dorsen. “Tsk. Alright, alright. Don’t rush me!”

Did he just click his tongue?? The interaction between the two was like that of children.

He sighed as though he lost his inspiration to continue. “Long story short, a young man saved a Witch from being executed by her village. He was eventually able to marry her. She had the ability to gift an entire bloodline with mana blessing."

“Mana…blessing?”

“Yes. Any person with this blessing would have a mana core as powerful as a Witch without actually becoming a Witch themselves. It even heightened their senses. The best part of the blessing was that it could break the Black Witch’s curse, allowing them to use magic.”

“Wh…at?? Are you saying…she…she broke my…I mean, the Black Witch’s…curse?!!”

“Wellllll…you can say she did…" He moved both his hands to the right as he said this. "And you can say she didn’t…” This time he moved them to the left.

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Which was it?!

Priest Abel cleared his throat when Dorsen was about to snap again. “A-anyways, while all direct descendants of the Rizar bloodline can use their mana, it comes with a price. That woman never thought that the Black Witch’s curse, which was still in effect, would twist the blessing into a curse. It changed the essence of the mana into something demonic.”

The Black Witch’s curse…Aurora clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Without noticing Aurora's expression, the Priest continued. “The negative energy from the Black Witch’s curse mixed with the blessing and penetrated their mana core. It ate away at their body. Every time they use their mana, the negative energy goes out of control and doesn’t settle until spilling blood or finding another outlet. Understand?” Priest Abel pointed at Aurora. “What you saw earlier was Lucius without his conscious. What was left of him was all instinct."

Priest Abel sat back in his chair, his expressing turning into one of worry. “Losing control of oneself is very dangerous. Not only to those around you but to yourself as well. No matter how hurt or tired he gets, he won’t stop until he's had enough. The last time this happened, he almost died.”

Dorsen watched the flash of guilt on Aurora’s face. “Miss, it’s not your fault.”

Aurora lowered her head.

How was it not her fault? He wouldn’t have used his mana if it wasn’t to save her. If that wasn’t enough, the reason he and his family was cursed in the first place was because of her Mother.

Aurora wasn't a saint. It wasn’t the first time she came across someone who was affected by the Black Witch’s curse. But her shoulder wasn’t strong enough to carry the blame for that many people. She wouldn’t have survived those 15 years if she always let it get to her. And although her Mother caused a great tragedy to occur, she could never bring herself to hate her. After all, she was her one and only Mother.

If they didn't scheme against her parents, nothing would have changed. Aurora blamed those selfish people for taking away the two most important people from her. And she also blamed herself for not being able to do anything to stop it.

But why?

Even though so much time has passed…even though Witches are not persecuted as evil beings anymore...no longer hunted...why are there still people suffering from her curse?

Dorsen smiled. “You see, all Rizar members go through special training from a young age to shut off their emotions. Lucius was always a kind, cheerful child, but because of this, he was too expressive. He would easily get angry or cry on behalf of others. That’s why his training started at a young age and was…very strict and harsh. Despite this, Lucius didn’t show any signs of changing.” Dorsen laughed. His friend, Alphonse Rizar, had trouble restraining his son's behavior. He would often complain about his son being too innocent.

“That is, until that day…” The Rune Mage's body stiffened. He didn't know how to put what happened on that day in words. The day Lucius lost his will to truly live.

Abel patted Dorsen’s shoulder, warning him not to say more. The Rune Mage frowned but didn’t argue back. After all, it wasn’t a story he had the right to talk about.

Aurora saw the exchange between the two but didn’t ask. If they decided not to say anymore, then it meant it wasn't something for her to hear.

“What you need to know is that the fault lies entirely in the Duke. He wasn’t able to restrain himself and made a decision.” The Priest stood up, with his hands clasped behind his back.

“There are two different actions that can agitate the negative energy inside him. One is when he uses his mana. His affinity for ice is abnormal, which in turn makes it difficult for him to use other types of magic. This also makes it hard for him to control.”

Aurora knew some people in her past life whose attribute was also ice. However, the difference between them and Lucius was like day and night.

The Duke’s ice reached a far distance, covering everything in its path.

She had never felt such coldness before.

“Two is when he loses complete control of his emotions.” Priest Abel raised his eyebrows. “This has only happened a total of four times so far. The fourth being what you saw.”

The ‘Monster of the North’ the people know of is coldblooded, emotionless man on the battlefield. But the true ‘Monster of the North’ wasn’t like that all.

The true ‘Monster of the North’ is a beast free from all restraints.

And there isn't a single person who can stop him when it happens.

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