After a brief greeting exchange between William and the priest, we left the cathedral and returned to our carriage. William sat beside the coachman to give directions, while I sat at the back, thinking about the uniqueness of the origin spells I had just witnessed.
"Are there origin spells for death magic?" I asked out of curiosity.
{Of course,} Lin responded. {Origin spells and transcripts exist for all elements, pathways, and powers in existence today.}
"Then I'm looking forward to joining the academy." A tinge of excitement bloomed in my chest.
Destruction and the thrill of power were the only emotions death magic allowed me to indulge in. I looked out the window and frowned when I realized the path we took led to the Blackwood Forest.
Of course, this was her only option since the city gates were closed and Blackwood soldiers were prepared for her. But it was also a risky choice, because the deeper parts of the forest were the territory of a magic beast.
These were extremely territorial beasts.
{It's her only choice of escape regardless. Her chances of sneaking past that magic beast are much higher than escaping thousands of trained soldiers,} Lin said, and I shrugged.
"We'll see."
Twenty minutes later, we reached the edge of Blackwood Forest. I exited the carriage and looked towards the endless trees ahead. Here, resentment, violence, and cruelty existed even among beasts, so it would be hard to tell her apart from the animals. The only way to find this lady was by using the spectral compass.
William got off the carriage with his greatsword strapped to his back and patted my shoulder with a small smile.
"You've done enough. Stay here with the guards where it's safe. I'll handle the rest," he said, and walked away before I could respond.
I blinked in shock, trying to process how I had worked so hard alongside him in this case, only to be sidelined and dumped. Smacking my face left it stinging—but it felt better than the sting of betrayal.
{You're not going to sit back and watch, are you?} Lin asked.
He probably sensed the mischievous thoughts forming in my mind. I simply nodded and stepped back into the carriage. I sat down and crossed my legs, silently counting.
Approximately ten minutes later, I got off the carriage and walked into the forest without saying a word to anyone.
William was a heavy man, and during this journey, he didn't prioritize stealth—only speed. He needed to catch up to Mrs. Lotus, so his messy footprints were easy to follow.
{What do you plan to do when you get there?} Lin asked.
"Watch. If possible, snatch Mrs. Lotus's soul while I'm at it. I want to see what you meant by quality souls." I grinned devilishly.
___ William Blackwood POV ___
Rushing through the forest, my chest heaved rapidly, but I didn't dare stop. No one truly understood the danger the city was in if this wicked woman succeeded in her plans.
When people hear the word "charm," they assume it's an ability that attracts the opposite sex. But that's wrong. Living in Blackwood Thicket all my life exposed me to many supernatural beings with unique abilities—and none were as deadly as vampires and fox spirits.
These two beings possess the ability to control man or beast, regardless of gender. While it was much harder to control magical beasts, it wasn't impossible.
In the realm of magical beasts, there were five levels: common beasts, arcane beasts, greater beasts, mythic beasts, and ancestral beasts.
A common beast was the equivalent of a peak Earth Realm master. At my peak, I was an esteemed Earth Realm master, but with age, my strength had declined to the amateur stage of the Earth Realm. That's why I struggled so much against the fox.
If she successfully controlled Vito, no one would be able to stop her escape—or her retaliation. While I suspected Father Corbin was also a cultivator like me, perhaps even stronger, I knew he wouldn't get involved until the danger reached the church's doorstep.
The compass was the most he was willing to offer. If he truly cared, he would've joined the hunt or sent some of their mages to aid us.
"Come on, Vito. Please hold out," I muttered with a deep frown while following the compass.
Traversing this forest was easy. I'd hunted here during my youth and even met the guardian of the forest—Vito. Just from the general direction shown by the compass, I knew her destination.
The wind brushed past my face as my hair whipped violently. Twigs and weak branches scratched my shoulders. I was sloppy. After sprinting at full speed for thirty minutes, I arrived at a massive clearing with a forked cliff that offered a view of a great waterfall on the other side of the valley.
The river in between had strong currents, causing the wooden bridge that connected both sides to sway precariously. I had never attempted to go beyond this point. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't—everything from this clearing to the other side belonged to Vito, according to the agreement with the founding fathers of House Blackwood.
It was silent. Empty. The compass pointed beyond the bridge. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. I was torn.
I could turn back, hoping Vito would deal with the problem.
Or…
I could cross the bridge and risk incurring Vito's wrath while fighting a fox spirit.
But there was a third option—walk to the other side and slay any fox spirit and anything that stood in my way, for the sake of Robert.
This was the path I chose.
On the other side of the bridge, the lush trees bore the scars of battle—claw marks, shattered branches, uprooted roots, even blood trails. I followed the path of destruction, diving deeper into what felt like an endless forest, until I reached a small clearing—and the first thing I saw was Vito.
Vito was a colossal beast—part tree, part golem. His body was made of thick, bark-like armor reinforced by twisted roots and vines. Large, crystalline emeralds jutted from his shoulders and chest, and his eyes burned with an eerie green fire.
In front of Vito knelt Mrs. Lotus—battered and broken. Her left arm had been snapped like a twig. She gasped and panted heavily, but even in her miserable state, a sinister smile played across her lips.
That smile widened when she glanced my way and muttered something inaudible—but I could read her lips.
"I win," she said.
Ka! Ka!
What followed next horrified me. Bones cracked as her limbs twisted back into place. Her bruises and cuts slowly began to heal. Vito stood beside her, glaring down with his burning eyes, and then—offered her a hand to help her up.
"You have broken our sacred promise and crossed the boundary, little William," Vito's voice rumbled, shaking the entire forest. "You must be punished."
I frowned and instinctively reached for the sword on my back. But I didn't draw it—not yet. It was too early to make assumptions.
"Guardian of the Forest, I came for the fox, fearing she might harm you," I said, but Vito wasn't buying it.
His emerald eyes flared. He looked at Mrs. Lotus, then back at me.
"I have chosen to make her my bride. How can this feeble woman harm the great Vito?" he asked, his tone laced with contempt. "You are the one wielding a weapon in Vito's land. How can I be sure it is not you who wants to harm Vito?"
Before I could respond, Mrs. Lotus's laughter cut in. She rose slowly, her wounds now fully healed.
"It's too late. Talking won't help. He's mine now," she said, her grin widening, her eyes gleaming with cruelty.
Buzz!
I frowned and tightened my grip on [Tyrant], mentally preparing for what was to come.
"Your son killed my mother," Mrs. Lotus said, her smile growing madder. "Now I will kill you—and burn your entire territory to the ground. No one will be spared!"
But her threats didn't move me.
A decade ago, the fox spirit infestation was serious. Blackwood Thicket became the final resting place of the self-proclaimed fox queen—who was only three-tailed at the time.
That period saw a rise in beautiful courtesans—and mysterious murders. All evidence pointed toward the inn.
I personally led my troops, with Robert at my side. We launched a great slaughter. But we quickly lost our advantage. The owner of the inn turned out to be the fox queen herself—equivalent to a peak Earth Realm master.
She escaped with some of her followers. The killings didn't stop. People went missing. We caught and executed some fox spirits, but the queen remained elusive—until a year ago. Five months before I found Derek.
Robert had taken over my duties as Lord and tracked her down. She had settled in a small village at the borders of my territory—married to a human and had a daughter.
Robert attacked with the intent to kill them all: the fox queen, her daughter, and the human traitor. He was only an esteemed Earth Realm master, and his guards were just regular soldiers—but he used the child and husband's vulnerability to gain the upper hand.
It wasn't enough. The battle ended in a draw. Both sides were wiped out.
That girl—she couldn't have been more than five years old—but now she had grown into a beautiful, mature woman. It was a reminder: they weren't human. They age fast and survive only by feeding on others, granting them false immortality.
Any immortality that depends on feeding on others is no true immortality. That's why I'll always look down on vampires and fox spirits.
To think this abomination returned to my territory to seek revenge for her mother—a killer of over fifty humans?
Not just on me—but on the entire city?
This fight had moved beyond personal vengeance. It had become a war for House Blackwood and Blackwood Thicket.
"Be it man or beast. Anything that stands in my way of avenging my son will die today. Even if that person is you, Vito!" I said, eyes hard with resolve.
The first plan was to kill Mrs. Lotus before she could corrupt Vito.
The second?
Kill them both.
"You leave me no choice, Vito," I muttered, and a flicker of sorrow passed through my eyes.