"You were very impressive out there, Lady Morrigan," Aeltor said calmly. He looked into Morrigan’s emotionless eyes. "I haven’t seen anything like it in 700 years."
Morrigan frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Aeltor ignored Morrigan’s harsh tone, still gazing at her with sharp eyes. "Even though it’s only been 10 minutes, the King has already made his move. You could be executed within 10 days."
Morrigan’s eyes widened. Why was she being sentenced to death? Though she understood, she strangely didn’t feel anxious. "Why are you so certain of this?"
"It’s simple," Aeltor said. "Never before has there been a Dark Magic user as powerful as you."
"The Church doesn’t want a second Age of Chaos, and in their eyes, you’re a threat."
Morrigan’s eyes widened, her fists clenched in anger. "I’ve never committed any evil! Why are they doing this to me?"
Aeltor’s violet eyes closed as he fell into thought. "Don’t worry, as long as you’re at the Academy, you’re safe."
Morrigan’s anger subsided, and she slumped into her chair in disappointment. Aeltor opened his eyes, showing a hint of pity and kindness. "This is all I can do for now; the rest depends on your father and the King’s decision."
Morrigan nodded, stood up from her chair, and left without asking for permission.
"How sad," Aeltor said, "for the same thing to happen after all these years."
"Is this truly fate?" Aeltor calmed his turbulent emotions.
As Morrigan walked down the corridor, she ignored the stares of the students, her emotions more chaotic than ever.
A short while later, Morrigan arrived at the Academy’s garden. It was empty after most of the nobles had left. She moved under the shade of a tree, her breath quickened, and she felt dizzy.
Feeling her nausea return, Morrigan finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and vomited. Afterward, she sat down, exhausted.
"Why do I feel this way? Why can’t I just erase these emotions?" Morrigan felt all the painful memories inside her erupting like a volcano.
Clenching her fists, Morrigan’s stoic expression cracked for the first time. Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. She felt her chest tighten.
"Caw!!"
A crow’s caw caught Morrigan’s attention. She looked up to see a strange crow with red eyes.
Aside from its red eyes, the crow appeared normal. Morrigan waved the crow away with her hand. "Go away."
Nevertheless, the crow stubbornly stayed by her side, cawing and looking at her. Realizing the strange crow wouldn’t leave, Morrigan picked it up. "You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?"
The crow nodded as if it understood what Morrigan was saying. Morrigan was a bit surprised by this. "You seem smarter than other crows."
The crow lifted its head proudly, and Morrigan’s expression softened slightly. "If you understand what I’m saying, raise your right wing."
Morrigan doubted the crow would understand her, but there was a small part of her that still had a sliver of hope.
When the crow raised its right wing, Morrigan thought the crow was as intelligent as a human. "Now turn around four times."
Morrigan watched the crow, her face showing curiosity. Although the crow didn’t want to, it turned around four times.
"You really are a special crow." Morrigan picked up the crow and looked into its red eyes. "Would you like me to take you in?"
The crow eagerly nodded its head in agreement. Morrigan took the crow and hugged it, stroking its feathery head, feeling better already.
The crow allowed Morrigan to pet its head, feeling relaxed. The crow was actually Jack himself.
After the incident in the conference room, Jack had nearly leveled up twice. His level reached 10, and Revelation, Shadow Manipulation, Karma Eye, and Shield all reached level 5.
What pleased Jack the most was the skill called Dark Transformation. It allowed him to merge with darkness and turn into a shadow.
It eased her worries about the future, even if just a little. "My Lady, a letter also arrived from the Hall of Justice."
Morrigan’s eyes sharpened upon hearing this, and she requested the letter from Thomas. "Give me the letter."
Thomas obeyed, handing the letter to his Lady. Morrigan’s heart raced as she took the elegantly packaged letter.
Opening it, Morrigan was greeted by a lawsuit written in beautiful script.
(Morrigan Thornvile, you have been sued by High Priest Alaric Vespain of Saint Amarath Cathedral for the possession of Dark Magic. Please present yourself at the Hall of Justice as soon as possible.
Plaintiff = High Priest Alaric Vespain
Defendant = Morrigan Thornvile
This lawsuit has been approved by King Henry.)
Morrigan’s expression did not change upon seeing the letter. She had been trying to get used to it for the past hour, controlling the emotions rising within her. She looked at Thomas. "Do you know who High Priest Alaric Vespain is?"
Recognition flashed in Thomas’s eyes at Morrigan’s question. "Yes, the famous High Priest of Saint Amarath Cathedral."
"It seems you’re having issues with him?" Thomas said with a slight smile. Morrigan nodded and handed the letter to him.
Meanwhile, Jack and Maria also paid attention to this. When Jack heard the priest’s name, caution and concern appeared in his eyes.
High Priest Alaric was one of the characters who supported Alice. He also worshiped the Goddess of Light fanatically.
He had a deep obsession with hunting down Dark Magic users. Many Dark Magic users had been executed by him.
"It seems you’ll be visiting the Hall of Justice?" Morrigan nodded. Thomas then handed the lawsuit back. "Your father could resolve this issue, but-"
Morrigan cut him off. "I’m expected there today. My father won’t make it in time."
Thomas nodded. "The Academy will support you, My Lady. Director Aeltor is a very impartial and powerful individual."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Morrigan’s eyes. "Can Aeltor really protect me?"
"You’re underestimating Aeltor, My Lady," Thomas said with a hint of a smirk on his face. "Besides, I don’t think the King wants to confront your father?"
"If the case is undertaken by a fair judge, the trial can be postponed to another time under the best circumstances," Thomas said. "This would give your father time to leverage his political power."
Morrigan nodded. She no longer wanted to think about it. "Then let’s go. Seth, you stay here."
Jack nodded, but as Morrigan left with Thomas, a flash of concern involuntarily appeared in his eyes.
After Morrigan left, Jack fled from Maria and deactivated the Avatar Creation skill. Feeling his consciousness fade, Jack woke up.
Jack’s eyes shot open in shock, and he looked at the clock. Seeing that only 2 minutes had passed, he breathed a sigh of relief. "That was... unbelievable..."
Remembering turning into a Crow and flying, Jack took a deep breath. He lit a cigarette to calm himself. Inhaling the smoke, Jack felt a wave of anxiety and fear.
"Isn’t this just a game?" Jack could only muster a half-hearted smile. "Do people really die when they die here?"
For Jack, who had grown up in a modern society, killing was a difficult action. He felt comfortable earlier because he perceived it as a game; now, he was tense.
"What if Morrigan dies because of me?" Jack grimaced at the thought of Morrigan dying with a face full of pain. "No, I can’t let that happen."
Lost in deep thought, Jack analyzed every possible course of action. "I need to get stronger, then. For Morrigan."
Jack remembered the days when people criticized him for obsessing over a game character. A sarcastic expression appeared on his lips. "She’s no longer just a game character."
Amused, Jack managed to get through the crisis of the game turning into reality. Although there were still concerns in the back of his mind, he forced himself to focus on the game.