Chapter 55: The Witch
Disbelief painted Jaden’s face as he looked at everything before him.
He tried to step closer to the now lifeless bodies of Andy and David; however, before he could do so, both of their bodies crumbled into fine white dust, which disappeared as it seeped into the cracks of the stone brick ground.
"What?!" Jaden exclaimed gravely as his head began to spin.
Jaden had known that a few people within the city were already aware that all of this was a game of a nebulous entity; however, he hadn’t expected David to be one of them... Jaden had talked to him before, and David rarely showed any hint of it, which Jaden had failed to glean because of his deep thoughts at that time; he had just found out the map after all.
His breathing turned heavier as David’s words echoed in his mind.
’End... our... suffering.’
"Hah..." he heaved a deep sigh before clenching his fists and biting his lower lip.
A drop of blood seeped out of his lip and fell onto the ground as he mumbled.
"I’ll do it... I will end this treacherous game."
He looked at the ground where the bodies were for a moment before walking towards the others using his [Gale Steps ★★].
He reached the others within a few moments and spoke sombrely.
"It’s clear now. Let’s go."
Everyone could guess that something had gone wrong, but they didn’t know what; however, all of them involuntarily decided to stay silent, except for Selina.
Selina walked towards him with a worried look and touched his face as she questioned.
"Did something go wrong?"
Jaden looked into her eyes and shook his head, forcing himself to smile as he responded.
"No. Everything went right. Let’s move, we don’t have much time."
Just as he spoke, the ground shook and a blue screen appeared before Jaden’s eyes.
[Summon galewolf is in a critical situation]
[Recall?]
[Confirm | Deny]
A grave look appeared on his face as he read the screen and spoke in his mind.
’Confirm.’
"Move," Jaden added heavily as all of them began to walk towards the small pond.
After reaching the point, Jaden looked at Selina as he explained.
"The water within the pond is the key... but I can’t open it as I am not graced by the moon god, but you have the mark of the moon, so there is a high chance that you can open this."
As he finished, everyone turned towards Selina; all of them had decided to stay silent.
Selina gave a short nod and walked near the pond. She looked at herself in the pond and lifted her hand to touch it, but before she could do so, Jaden called out.
"Ah! Wait."
He walked forward and grabbed her left hand as he added solemnly.
"Just in case we need to be in contact with you."
Shelly walked forward and grabbed her other hand.
Arden, Jamie and Navin shook their heads and walked towards Jaden, and each held the other’s hand like a chain locking with each ring.
Selina gave a short glance to everyone before touching the water and flowing her mana into it. Just as she did so, the calm water rippled and the reflection blurred.
At the same time, Jaden recalled all of his galewolves.
’Recall Summon.’
"Nothing?" Arden added with a confused look; however, he had spoken too soon.
Suddenly, heavy white mist seeped out of all the cracks near the pond and began moving towards them. Everyone’s eyes widened in fright as they tried to step away, but to their surprise, they couldn’t move. Their body had frozen in place.
’Blasted hell, not this shit again.’
Jaden cursed as he remembered the Cursedmire, who had frozen his body before.
They could only watch with frightful looks as the mist moved towards them and soon slithered onto their bodies; the place became shrouded in the heavy mist.
A few moments passed, and the mist began to clear... but they were no longer there.
Jaden and the others had horrified looks on their faces as they looked before them.
"W-what is this place?" Arden questioned as he took a few steps back.
Before them stood tall, dark walls full of heavy cracks that gleamed with a strange, dim blue light. At the centre stood a tall gate with a depiction of a beautiful woman whose hair fell like moonlight, a crescent behind her back and a mirror in her hands.
The woman appeared otherworldly... her otherworldly face made them calm, and her eyes were tranquil white; But that wasn’t what horrified them... it was the reflection within the mirror.
Another woman stood there; she had three dark horns forming a crown, her violet eyes enthralled their minds, and her night sky-like hair contrasted with the moonlight hair of the depiction, a devilish grin across her exquisite face.
Looking at the depiction made them feel calm, but at the same time, it made them feel like bowing to it. On the other hand, looking at the reflection made them think of all their immoral and envious desires... it made them think of possibilities that could come true only if they abandoned all reason.
Jaden muttered in awe as he looked at the depiction.
"Moon God of Tranquillity, Illusion, and Reflection."
He then shifted his gaze to the reflection in the mirror and spat with gritted teeth.
"The witch."
His words echoed like a cannon within the massive room, and everyone heard them. Navin turned towards him and pointed at the depiction with a trembling hand as he questioned.
"T-that’s the moon god?"
Jaden nodded solemnly, and Jamie questioned.
"What did you call the reflection? The bitch?"
Jaden looked at him with a deadpan look and responded after heaving a sigh.
"The witch."
An understanding look appeared on Jamie as he asked.
"Oh! Witch, so who is she?"
Jaden lifted his hand and pointed at the reflection within the mirror, and answered gravely.
"She is the one who told the mortals of the impossible wonders... she is the one who made this game."