Smoke still rose from the ruins of Mirelyn.
The once-proud mansion of House Evress stood like a blackened skeleton.
Slave chains lay broken in the streets—shattered like the order they once enforced.

Satori stood on the balcony, watching the city below.

They were free.
But the blood on her hands… felt heavier than any chain.

“You did what they couldn’t,” Athena said softly beside her.
“You gave them hope.”

“I gave them death,” Satori murmured. “And I felt nothing.”

Athena didn’t answer at first. The silence between them stretched.

“...That scares me,” she admitted.

Down in the square, freed slaves gathered to bury their dead.
Some wept. Some laughed.
Most stood silently, caught between trauma and freedom.

A young boy approached Satori with a torn banner in his hands.
He looked up at her—eyes wide with awe—and offered it to her.

“You were our light in the dark, Lady Witch.”

She took the cloth. It was crude. Red, black, and gold.
A symbol of rebellion.

Another child offered her a flower.
“This flower… it’s beautiful. Like you.”

Satori blinked.
“…Thank you,” she whispered, voice cracking for the first time that day.

“See?” Athena said. “They know what you did for them.”

But peace wouldn’t last.

Athena’s tone darkened. “Other cities will hear of Mirelyn’s fall. When they learn a witch was involved... humanity will declare war.”

“They’ll hunt us down,” Satori said quietly.

“Maybe only the dwarves would side with us. The rest will want our heads.”

Satori turned away, shoulders heavy.

“We need to evacuate the survivors. I won’t let them get dragged into our war.”

Athena nodded. “Let’s finish it.”

Satori raised her hand and began to draw a massive spell circle in the air.
Golden runes spun, humming softly.

“What… what is this?” one of the freed slaves asked, stepping back in awe.

“A way out,” Satori replied.
“This is all I can do for you now.”

Light flared.
The group of survivors vanished—teleported to a safe place far beyond the reach of soldiers or slavers.

“It’s done,” Satori said.

She and Athena vanished next.

In the Sanctuary

Marilee, Dorothy, Cathy, and Sasha were waiting when they returned.

Sasha’s expression was furious.

“You caused a disaster!” she snapped. “You killed a human duke. You freed slaves. Now the entire human empire will call us enemies.”

Satori stood her ground.

“I only fulfilled a request,” she said. “I helped a grieving couple. I served justice.”

“But you destroyed any hope we had of allying with humans,” Sasha said, fists clenched.
“They might not know your name… but they’ll blame all witches.”

Athena scoffed. “Humans are trash. Who cares if they turn on us? You’re all welcome in the beast tribes.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” Dorothy warned. “Humans grow fast. If we don’t take this seriously, they’ll become more dangerous than the demons.”

Satori’s voice was cold.

“I didn’t ask to be a witch.
But if this world is this cruel… then I’ll become the knife that cuts it open.”

Meanwhile, in the Capital

In the golden halls of the Human Empire, the royal court gathered.
Generals. Nobles. Senators. Priests.

All eyes were on the king.

“A witch destroyed Mirelyn,” a senator said. “They must be eradicated.”

“They’re a threat to the realm,” another hissed. “They’ll spark rebellion.”

The king raised his hand.
“I see now. These witches… are no longer myth. They are enemies of the crown.”

He turned to his court.

“Spread the order.
Find the witches.
Burn them to ash.”

The war had begun.