𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀 || 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 ||

|| 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 ||

| 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 |

|| 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 ||

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the unrelenting storm covered every inch of the small, forested area in complete darkness. rain pattered furiously onto the soaked soil, softening it. thunder raged overhead, forked lightning flashing down before the sound echoed through the sky.

amidst the tiny clearing that stood lonelily in the rain, yet protected from the lashing winds and pouring water as though contained by an invisible shield, was a little hovel.

a cloaked figure stepped off an unassuming carriage, before swiftly entering the hut that was the only landmark, for miles, in the dense, tropical forest.

the smell of herbs was heady and strong, and with the poor ventilation, all the fumes were still trapped inside the airtight room.

a lumbering old woman sat in the centre of the room, humming a tune an unrecognizable dialect and occasionally dropping in new ingredients into the bubbling cauldron in front of her, stirring and uttering words of a different language.

"you seek the witch of the eastern empire?"

those murky gray eyes were squinty and beady, narrowing at the tall cloaked figure as her voice rasped out from the depths of her throat.

• 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 •

stubby yet clawed fingers pointing towards the mysterious person.

"little emperor...to what do i owe the pleasure of your visit?"

the figure removed the hood of the heavy black cloak, revealing a handsome face with sharp features and silvery gray eyes with a stare like knives. black hair was slicked back, only with the exception of a few stray strands. he was only in his mid twenties, yet his face was one of someone older; a few streaks of gray in the otherwise dark hair.

• 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 •

"as expected of the greatest mage in my empire. nothing can surprise you, witch."

his voice was cool and polite, yet with a slightly hostile and distrustful edge to it.

the old woman cackled, spitting into the cauldron she was stirring, turning the gluggy liquid inside a shade of vomit green, "flattery gets you nowhere with me, little emperor."

"i require your assistance, witch." sovieshu stated boldly, taking a step closer to the wizened woman, "the emperor sovieshu vict requires your assistance."

the witch chuckled again, her eyes almost vanishing as she squinted for a closer look at the bold man, "surely you've heard of the stories of the witch of the eastern empire. what she demands in exchange for her services."

sovieshu hesitated, swallowing.

"don't tell me that the little emperor thought his position was enough to warrant a free favor from me?!" the witch started laughing again, her grating giggles extremely uncomfortable to the ear, "why, even that second empress of yours paid a price for you to fall in love with her!"

"rashta?!" sovieshu froze, his eyes narrowing, "what does rashta have to do with this? she's dead...and i wasn't in love with her..." his voice drifted off as he saw the look on the witch's face.

"at first, you were." the witch's tone took on a more neutral mood, "she came to me asking for a love potion! i gave what she desired...for the promise that if she failed, her soul will become my property!"

a trail of sweat trickled down his temple, and suddenly he could see why his subjects had spoken of her like a revered, yet feared person. this woman was mad; insane.

anger rushed through his veins. forgetting his goal for being here in the first place, there was a flash of silver and the metal blade was placed at witch's neck, the emperor glaring at her with hatred and rage.

"𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞!"