The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 64: At the table. (Part 2)

"The real question is, why does Endithalia have Mana Decay in the first place," Arvel spoke, pointing his words at the Maiden.

The Maiden partially covered her face with her fan, "My dear boy, do you want me to confess to everyone here right now?"

"I just want to know what you've done to my wi- girlfriend."

Articus latched on, "Maiden, please tell me you didn't do something to her?"

She sighed a long and tired sigh, "Please, we've all done our own experiments. Kazu has so many skeletons in his closet that they're almost bursting."

"I'm not asking about Kazu," Articus grew madder for the both of us. "What did you do?"

The Maiden tapped the table with her finger, "Architects below class 1 are dismissed." Immediately the five other Architects, Sevelli included, stood and departed from the room. It was only the leaders of the Areithia's people left. The true top dogs who ran the world.

Articus's expression grew deeper with concern, "The fact you had them leave, Maiden just what have you done?"

My mother was the one who answered, and bluntly at that, "We aimed to create a Witch."

Artcius immediately showed shock, Kazu excitement and even the Dwarven Lord who had been silent till now and near motionless reacted.

"By the Great Spirit," Articus cursed. "How?"

"How, it matters little," my mother continued. "The experiment failed. Endithalia was indeed talented but compared to a true Witch she is little more than a regular person."

"At least the experiment on Titania's end did not progress well," the Maiden smiled, her eyes gradually sparkling red. "My daughter Mia however, she has shown some interesting abilities. Though her power is small, there is hope."

"Hope?" Arvel finally couldn't hold it in. "You talk about hope? You ruined her life, implanted the fragment of a Witch in her and just watched as she died!"

"She's not dead yet," the Maiden flicked her fan at him. "Don't be in such a rush to kill her off. Besides, from what we spoke of before, perhaps Endithalia does have deeper connections to the blessed than we believed."

Arvel grit his teeth, I put a hand on his shoulder, calming him down before I spoke, "Are you going to help us or not?"

Articus spoke for them, "Yes we'll help." He sighed and pressed a hand against his forehead, shaking his head due to the two women, "The two of you went too far. While it's true we have been pressed since their absence, to try and create one... you are going against the world's decree."

"I disagree," the Maiden said pointedly, her eyes turning crimson. "What you call Witches, the blessed individuals also known as Saints, they are fundamental to our world. We exist in broken times and thus, it is our responsibility to push forward the world's demands!" She stood up, eyes flaring, "My daughters will be instrumental to saving Areithia."

Arvel stood as well, his eyes pressing heavily to the Maiden, "Daughters? You use that word as if you were a mother. You don't care about them. You just care if they're useful!"

The Maiden simply waved her fan, "I have cared as is needed."

"Enough!" Articus shouted, silencing the room, and sighed, "We'll speak on the issue of the potential Witches another day. Today we were to celebrate our Champion. Please sit back down."