McClart couldn’t shake the memory of Vienny throwing herself into the waterfall – an act driven by her guilt for sparing her half-sibling’s life. It was probably that decision that had finally driven her to jump. She despised her bloodline and the kinship that bound her to it, and often urged McClart to purify every part of her existence.

The High Priest’s demand would be enough to drive Vienny to flee once more. And if she attempted it again, this time she would be more determined—perhaps even capable of succeeding.

The mere thought sent chills down McClart’s spine. Suicide. She might throw herself from some height again, or find another way. If he were to see her attempting to end her life, he knew he wouldn’t be able to bear it this time. Confronting that uncertain possibility made one thing painfully clear—he could not endure watching her fade away before his eyes.

Ironically, his feelings were tangled in an obsession laced with disgust, a nauseating desire, a pity-driven interest, and a purity unlike anything he’d known.

…If all of this could be called affection, then so be it.

***

As soon as they left the cave, they switched to an old carriage. It had been hidden near the entrance, they said.

It was suspicious that such a thing had gone unnoticed until now, but Vienny, who could no longer rely on a handcart forever, got into the carriage without a word.

Just in case, she watched the direction the carriage was headed and confirmed that they were indeed heading toward the Lichiv coastal cliffs.

“Do you know?”

Suddenly, Corsus spoke to her. Vienny, who had been unable to rest properly and was on edge, glanced up, meeting Corsus’s gaze. He had been watching her the entire time.

“Your mother had a child. You have a sibling.”

Vienny’s eyes flickered slightly. She composed herself, pretending it was nothing, and replied calmly.

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, but they were taken by Chiron.”

“Do you know what happened to them?”

“They’re probably dead.”

Of course, death would be the natural outcome. The only reason they were captured was the possibility they had inherited the Great Witch’s power, and when that wasn’t the case…

Hearing it confirmed by someone else made Vienny’s anxious heart feel a little more at ease.

“I see.”

Vienny replied flatly, turning her gaze entirely to the outside. But the persistent stare at her profile didn’t go away.

“Is that all you’re curious about?”

“Is there supposed to be anything else?”

“That child was born with the blood of the Great Witch. Yet, you’re still the only Great Witch.”

Vienny’s eyes narrowed, realizing that Corsus was referring to the power of the Great Witch. She moistened her cracked lips and spoke in a detached tone.

“You said they were probably dead.”

If a newly born Great Witch died, the power would revert to the previous one. So if the child had possessed any power and died, it would have returned to Vienny.

Of course, Vienny knew from the start that the child had no power. Despite her attempt to feign ignorance, Corsus continued in a firm tone.

“That child was born without any power at all. Isn’t that surprising? Until now, a child born without the power of a Great Witch couldn’t survive.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

In the end, Vienny turned to look at Corsus again. He was watching her with a look of certainty.

“You found the beast that will bring about the end, didn’t you?”

“Do you really think I was in a position to be searching for something like that?”

“Then if that’s not the case, why wasn’t the power passed on?”

“I don’t know.”

Vienny’s firm reply made Corsus frown. As he continued to stare at her, Vienny suddenly asked.

“Why did you come looking for me?”

“Because you are the only Great Witch now. Perhaps you’re the last one who can foresee the end.”

It was nonsense. Vienny brushed back her fringe and let out an exhausted sigh. The few remaining witches still clung to their belief in the Apocalypse, clung to a promise that seemed infinitely uncertain.

What was the point of it all now? Vienny couldn’t understand. But at least, through this conversation, she’d come to realize why they had been searching for her. If they believed she was the Great Witch connected to the beast that would bring the end, then their intentions were clear—they intended to prevent the apocalypse by killing her.

The “chance to atone for your sins” that Corsus had mentioned ultimately referred to fulfilling their final duty, grounded in fragile faith.

Even knowing now that this path would lead to her death, Vienny felt neither surprise nor fear.

Tempe had fallen into complete chaos, and only a few witches remained. At this point, granting their final wish and fulfilling that last duty didn’t seem so bad.

For Vienny, who had once considered taking her own life while being pursued in Hellem Forest, the nearness of death no longer held much fear. And with the thought that her half-sibling was likely dead, she felt even less bound to this world.

Whether it truly was the apocalypse or not no longer mattered. Leaning her head against the carriage wall, she closed her eyes. Perhaps it really was time to say goodbye to this wretched fate.

By the time they arrived at the Lichiv coastal cliffs, the sky was entirely blanketed with clouds, not a hint of blue in sight. It felt odd that the rain hadn’t started pouring down already. Vienny stood still, looking up at the sky before slowly lowering her gaze.

The strong wind blowing from the sea whipped her black hair wildly, and the sticky, salty air clung to her skin. The view from the coastal cliffs was more than just decent—it was magnificent, and, for once, Vienny found herself in a good mood.

She had always wanted to die submerged in water. More specifically, she had dreamed of dying in the sea. To leave this wretched land behind, to let her blood flow into the vast ocean and dissolve without a trace.

“You can’t just jump.”

Corsus, leading the witches, was busy preparing something. Simply dying wouldn’t satisfy the requirements; they were meticulously following the necessary procedure.

When she had been the Great Witch, Vienny never imagined she’d be driven to this point, so she had never bothered learning much about these rituals. Not that it mattered now. The end was still the same—death.

“The sword should be buried around here somewhere.”

Vienny cast a brief glance at the witches searching the ground, then returned her gaze to the sea. The waves rolled in from the distant horizon, growing larger until they crashed nearby. White foam swelled and drifted along the surface. As she quietly listened to the sound of the water, a droplet of rain splashed against her cheek.

One drop, then another—soon, the rain began to fall steadily, its sound gradually overtaking the roar of the waves.

A few crows appeared from somewhere and flew in her direction. It was strange, she hadn’t called for them. The birds circled overhead before one landed near Vienny. Another soon settled even closer, flapping its wings a few times before perching quietly, its head tilted as it watched her.

“Vienny, you’re not planning to abandon your duty now, are you?”

Corsus hurried over, looking uneasy at the sight of the crows, clearly assuming Vienny had summoned them.

Vienny saw no need to correct her misunderstanding. Instead, she asked, “What if my death doesn’t stop the apocalypse?”

“…Then you wouldn’t have been the last Great Witch.”

“I am the only Great Witch. If I die and nothing changes, then it’s the end for all of you too.”

Vienny’s words were spoken without much weight, yet Corsus’s expression shifted slightly.

Vienny, who had been accepting everything with near resignation and indifference, narrowed her eyes. The rain, which had begun as a light mist, was now growing heavier.

“It would be the end, wouldn’t it? Isn’t that right?”

“When you die, a new Great Witch will assume the duty. Don’t worry.”

“A new Great Witch? But the bloodline of the Great Witch…”

An unsettling thought crossed Vienny’s mind. Her lips trembled as she bit them, her face paling as she spoke slowly.

“I found it strange. The whole Tempe region is in chaos because of the witch hunts, yet you left a carriage hidden right at the entrance to the lair.”

She couldn’t tell if her fingertips were cold from the rain or from the chilling realization settling in her mind.

“You… Did you make a deal with Chiron?”

Corsus’s face twisted as she quickly glanced around, ensuring no other witches were nearby. She responded in a low voice.

“You’re not the only one who can sell someone out.”

With those words, Vienny felt certain—her half-sibling was alive. She tried to speak, but her throat tightened, rendering her silent. Corsus, observing her stunned expression, looked away and spoke coldly.

“Only those of the Great Witch’s blood can use magic. The other witches are innocent victims, so those who can survive should do so.

“So, if my death stops the apocalypse, that’s ideal, and if not, a new Great Witch will inherit the power—so either way, it doesn’t matter?”

And that half-sibling was just waiting in Chiron’s hands, prepared to inherit the power of the Great Witch. Strangely, as this worst-case scenario unraveled before her, Vienny’s mind grew calm.

Her lips moved a few times, then she let out a long sigh, lowering her gaze. It seemed that it wasn’t McClart but she herself who had underestimated the selfishness of the witches.

How far, to where, must I run to… The thought circled in her mind, but the words dissolved on her tongue, leaving nothing behind.

Corsus’s voice continued saying something, but it barely registered. Vienny ran a trembling hand across her forehead. The oppressive weight of being the Great Witch, which clung to her no matter how she tried to escape, and the relentless way the world seemed to push her toward a predetermined fate, made her shudder.

What was worse was that she no longer knew what to do. No matter how hard she struggled, there seemed to be no escaping it.