The Devil's Cursed Witch

Morpheus was in his human form, sitting leisurely on one of the thick branches of one of the tallest trees on a nearby peak.  His back leaned against the thick tree trunk, one of his arms folded at the back of his head while the other idly played with a leaf. He looked like a wastrel, one leg lazily stretched out with the other folded as he blankly eyed the sky.

His peripheral vision caught movement, and at first, he thought it was some kind of forest animal looking for food. However, he noticed it was a person and an unexpected one at that.

'What is this human doing here?'

He looked at her in amusement, observing her every movement. He saw her trying to reach fruit on tiptoes, but when she could not, he watched her give up.

'What a funny creature,' he thought and then took notice of how small she looked from her physique. A thin, frail body covered in loose clothes, and those two braids made her look even younger than the first time he saw her.

'Is she even an adult? Even the kids of my clan might weigh more than her. But then again, humans are truly smaller, their females weaker,' he concluded. 'You better be an adult, but even if you are a child, it doesn't change the fact I will use you against him. Blame your bad luck that you are tangled with that man.'

Afterwards, Morpheus saw her walking towards the edge of the cliff. "Isn't she scared to come here again after falling that night? I do not know if she is brave or she hasn't learned her lesson.'

The female simply stood at the edge of the cliff, about four or five steps from where she fell the last time, seemingly staring ahead blankly.

Morpheus observed her for a while as he continued to lounge lazily on the branch.

'What is she thinking about? Is she enjoying the view of the forest from the top of the cliff? A little daring, I say.'

An eagle's eyes had an impressive vision to start with, and as the owner of the sharpest eyesight among his kind, it was easy for Morpheus to see the details of her body. Her face was scarred but her eyes were still like water. There was no fear in her eyes, though he also couldn't read the emotions behind them.

Morpheus could not help but nod despite himself. As a warrior, he appreciated people with great composure, as self-control was a quality that warriors needed if they ever needed to face battle.

'Beautiful…'

Though one could not see how exactly she looked due to her burn scars, he found her lovely. Just those eyes were enough to fascinate him.

He could not help but tilt his head, puzzled by his own thoughts. 'I wonder what exactly about those eyes that I find beautiful. I wonder how they look when she is happy…'

Just then, he saw a dainty butterfly flying around her, catching her attention, and she raised her hand to touch it. There was finally a change in her quiet behaviour.

'Does she like butterflies?' he thought and did something with his hand, causing a faint trace of sonic magic to escape his fingertips.

Soon after, various insects nearby became more active, and along with them were colourful butterflies moving here and there. As if attracted to Ember's presence, those butterflies moved towards her and playfully danced around her, as if greeting a friend. Her green eyes brightened up and her lips curved into a small smile, as if she had seen something she longed to see.

It made Morpheus baffled. He could see how her eyes turned moist, and even that smile felt painful, as if she was on the verge of crying.

Seeing her like this, Morpheus sat straight on the tree branch where he was lying, his face pondering. He could not help but study that female once more.

'I expected that she would smile,' he concluded, 'but why does she look like she's crying? A smile filled with pain. Not the pain from her wounds but...looks like the pain from her heart…'

Grief.

Morpheus understood. As someone who had also lost people most precious to him, he felt like he understood her smile.

'Is she remembering someone she lost?'

He shook his head to get rid of all these concerned thoughts about her. 'I can't show sympathy to her. I need her for my own purpose. I am sorry, human, but you might be the only key.'

Grunt! Grunt!

His thoughts were disturbed by the restless grunt made by the stag accompanying her. He understood what the stag was saying. He was anxiously calling for the human to come back.

The harsh wind picked up, causing Morpheus to close his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, Ember was already standing at the edge of the cliff.

'What is this human—-"

Before he could finish his question, Ember had already thrown herself down the cliff.

The next moment, a pair of large wings opened to their fullest behind his strong and muscular back. Without a moment's delay, he swooped down the cliff at a speed that defied common sense, resulting in a strong gust of wind that disturbed everything in his path, from the swaying branches of the trees to the dried leaves and twigs on the forest floor.

-------

After the butterflies flew away from her, Ember felt the weight inside her chest go away with them. It was a symbolic farewell in her mind.

'Gaia, I don't think I can bear it anymore. Our life on the mountain was hard, but it's bearable because I had you. You protected me all my life, and even sacrificed yourself for me. But…'

She remembered the beautiful city, the kind Leeora, the freshly-baked loaf of bread filled with affection.

'...but I am letting you down. It's so lonely without you. All your efforts to protect me are pointless since you are not here by my side. I am sorry, Gaia, I'm sorry…'

She let out a shaky breath as she looked down from the top of the cliff. The dizzying height made her want to step back and run. Her heart shook as she remembered how terrified she was when she fell from this very cliff.

Yet she did not back down.

She had steeled her resolve.

The only regret she had was being unable to fulfil Gaia's words.

'You told me to stay alive whatever it takes, but I cannot do it. It's too painful to remain alive. It's too painful to be alone. I hope you will forgive me when we meet again in another world, in another lifetime.'

She closed her eyes as she put one foot forward, only to let herself plunge down the cliff. Rather than tears, there was a relieved smile, a peaceful smile, on her small face.

'Finally, my suffering will be over—'