When Jae looked at the two of them, the emotions she had believed to have disappeared resurfaced, and she had a hard time keeping a composed expression.

A century had passed, yet they all looked like they hadn’t aged since then; that was one perk of having these powers. However, that wasn’t enough to make Jae forget all the bad that had happened since awakening as a witch: life had had more downs than there had been ups, and if she had the chance, she would give it up.

None of what Jae and Damien had been through since she took up the position of High Witch had been worth it. How different would their life be now, if she had refused when they offered it to her? They most certainly would’ve still been living a happy life together, instead of being separated in a world so different from their own.

Yet, none of it mattered now, and nothing could reverse time and change what had transpired all those years ago. The presence of the man beside her was strong, and although she found it comforting, she still wasn’t ready to be so close to him again. Pain and hurt left to fester had rotted away her former feelings. If there were any left at all. Honestly, all she felt was numb at the thought of being near that man again.

As for the two before her, there were only feelings of resentment and slight fear. As the High Witch, she believed nothing could scare or harm her, but that changed the day they forced her to leave the previous world. Thinking of that day reminded her of the betrayal of the man who remained in a protective stance, but not so close to her that it would disgust her.

The actions of the man brought about the feelings of being protected and cared for that she had lost long ago. Yet, this time, caution and a hint of fear emanated from him that had never been there before. For a moment, Jae felt her heart soften, but it hardened once again as she reined in her wavering emotions.

Softness was something she could no longer afford, not after everything she had endured. Those happy times she once shared with Damien were a thing of the past, and in the future, could never happen again. Besides that, allowing herself even a sliver of vulnerability would risk destroying everything she had built since being sent to this world.

There was also Syl, who relied on her and regarded her as a mother. In the fox clan, he had no one to stand by him and care about his well-being. His family had neglected and despised him since his birth mother’s death.

Ever since Jae had discovered him bruised and battered in the woods, and nursed him back to health, he hadn’t left her side even once. And she had grown fond of him and saw him as her son. If she were to leave the teahouse and rekindle her relationship with Damien, could he accept Syl as she had done?

A guarded look lingered in Damien’s eyes, but beneath it was a flicker of something unidentifiable—a glimmer of emotion she couldn’t name. It unsettled her, and confusion tightened in her chest. His gaze was too much for her, so she turned to the two figures she thought she’d left behind. Seeing them here, standing as if they belonged, sent a fresh wave of disbelief crashing through her.

Jae’s breath hitched as she tried to reconcile the impossible sight before her. The two figures from her past stood with disarming ease, their postures relaxed, yet their very presence felt like a challenge. The image of them now overlapped with the memory of them from the other world—a memory etched into her mind with painful clarity.

They had stood there, smug and self-assured, alongside the one who sought to exile her and Damien. She could still see it: a sword pressed against Damien’s throat, his defiance unwavering even in the face of death. And them - Selene and Hadir - watching it unfold with quiet satisfaction, their expressions betraying no guilt, only the thrill of their apparent victory.

Jae had known Selene coveted the title of High Witch and had seen the ambition in her eyes for years. But betrayal on that scale was something Jae hadn’t anticipated. There had been other ways, honourable ways.

If Selene had called a council and garnered enough votes, Jae would have willingly stepped down. By then, the position had become a burden she longed to shed, its weight suffocating her spirit. But Selene hadn’t wanted fair play. She had wanted power, and she hadn’t cared about the cost.

Now, standing in the clearing, Jae closed her eyes briefly, willing the ghosts of her past to vanish. When she opened them again, the figures remained resolute and unmoving. They made no effort to speak, merely watching her with an unnerving stillness, as though waiting for her to break the silence first.

“What… what are you doing here?” Jae managed, her voice steady despite the chaos churning within her. She fought to keep her tone commanding, though it lacked the sharpness she usually wielded.

Her eyes fell to the pin fastened to Selene’s scarf, and a sharp pang shot through her chest. She recognized it instantly—the ornate crest of the High Witch. A symbol of authority and power, it was a requirement to wear it at all times, a constant reminder of the weight of the position.

So Selene had achieved what she wanted, after all.

Jae’s heart twisted painfully as the realization sank in. Every sacrifice she and Damien had made, every hardship they had endured over the years, now felt utterly meaningless. They had been cast aside, their lives upended, all so Selene could seize what she had coveted.

The betrayal had been a wound, deep and festering, but this… this was something else entirely. It wasn’t just the sting of being wronged; it was the crushing weight of knowing everything they had fought to protect had been taken and torn apart by someone highly unworthy.

Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The ache in her chest was unbearable, a sharp reminder of the countless nights she had replayed that day in her mind, searching for a different outcome. And now, standing before Selene, adorned with the proof of her ill-gotten victory, the pain flared anew.