Witches had existed in the world for thousands of years. While few truly understood the depths of their history, the earliest records traced their lineage back long before the Demon Race invasion fifteen hundred years ago.
In those times, magic was considered a domain belonging strictly to deities, and by extension, witches themselves were mostly as such. Back then, mana cores did not exist. Instead, these earliest witches manipulated magic through their veins without even any hindering Mana Cores, treating the flow of power as an intrinsic art form. For this, they were worshipped, standing in contrast to how they were perceived in the present era.
Centuries had passed, forcing much to change, yet the core principles and traditions governing a witch's way of life remained unbroken.
Above all, they lived in Covens, secluded circles where groups of witches resided, learned, and survived together. They would seek out remote, defensible locations, building their homes far from the prying eyes of the ordinary world. Within these hidden sanctuaries, elder witches passed down their knowledge to the next generation.
It was also within these secretive borders that the Blooded Sons were born. These men, the male descendants of witches, were different from their mothers and sisters. They lacked the veins that defined a true witch, possessing instead a distinct magical Core. Because the Covens were strictly matriarchal, men were never treated with the same standing as women. However, as Blooded Sons, they bore an essential duty: they served as the sworn guardians and protectors of the Witches, as such they were also requested.
Moreover, they played a vital role in perpetuating the Coven's lineage.
A traditional Coven worked under a strong hierarchy to ensure its survival against outside threats, a system that had successfully shielded them for thousands years. At the top ruled the Matriarch. Below her sat a ruling council of Elder Mothers, who in turn guided the Daughters. Respect for this structure was given and demanded.
The Crimson Garden was one such Coven. It held a famous reputation among witches as one of the Original Covens, tracing its precise origins back exactly three thousand years when the Triple-Headed Goddess blessed them. To ensure its survival, an Original Coven of this magnitude did not exist in just one location. Instead, it fractured into several secondary branches spread across the lands. This splintering prevented their enemies from wiping them out in a single attack and perfectly concealed the main sanctuary where the Matriarch secretly resided.
It was through one of these secondary branches, hidden within a dense forest south of Skargardia, that Lucida now walked.
High above, the forest canopy wove together in a dense ceiling, splitting the gloomy woods into several branching paths. Around her, witches went about their daily tasks, their long gowns sweeping over the forest floor. Torches clung directly to the thick trunks of the trees, casting a warm glow along the pathways without ever burning the bark.
Here and there, the Blooded Sons stood watch. Clad in light leather armor that contrasted with the elegant dresses of the women, they kept their hands resting casually on the weapons hanging at their waists. It was rare to see them lingering so close to the very center of the camp, yet they maintained a quiet, watchful presence.
Lucida moved past the guards and wandering witches, following the main path until she reached a massive tent-like structure ahead. Reaching up, she lowered her dark hood and stepped inside.
The interior was large and circular, the walls lined with towering wooden shelves. Jars of strange ingredients, bundled herbs, and countless other supplies hung from the woodwork, crowding the space alongside rows upon rows of books.
Standing perfectly still at the center of the room, positioned behind a wide wooden desk, was a beautiful woman. She appeared to be in her early thirties, her long, pitch-black hair tied strictly back to expose sharp features and piercing deep red eyes.
It was Agatha, one of the Elder Mothers of the Crimson Garden Coven.
"Mother," Lucida greeted, immediately lowering herself onto one knee in a respectful bow.
"What is it, Lucida?" Agatha asked, her attention fixed on a small, tightly rolled message in her hands.
After scanning the brief contents, Agatha simply closed her fist. A sudden, bright lick of flame flared in her palm, reducing the letter to ash in an instant.
"It concerns the daughters of Anna-Maria. They are currently residing inside the Rubenhart Estate," Lucida reported, keeping her head bowed.
"Have you seen them?"
"Yes, Mother."
"And how are they?" Agatha asked, her voice calm but probing. She needed to know their exact condition. Given the reputation of Count Ulrich Van Rubenhart, she highly doubted the girls were being treated well. Whispers and rumors had spread through the underground networks claiming that the Count had not only taken them into his household but officially adopted them, a notion that seemed truly unbelievable.
"They are looking… fine," Lucida admitted, a hint of reluctance in her voice.
"Hm." Agatha offered only a small, thoughtful nod. She turned away from the desk, moving gracefully toward a massive, claw-footed bronze cauldron bubbling quietly over a low fire. Bundles of dried plants hung from the rafters above, their sharp, earthy scents mixing with the steam rising from the brew.
"What should we do, Mother?" Lucida asked, finally rising to her feet.
"Nothing," Agatha replied, picking up a wooden stirrer. "We wait. We wait until the Daughters of Anna-Maria prove themselves worthy."
"But Mother, Ulrich has just left for the Capital!" Lucida urged, stepping closer. "There is no better timing than now. We can attack the estate and recover the daughters immediately."
Agatha paused her stirring. "The Count has left?"
"Yes! If we strike now, we can breach his Estate by force. We have the numbers to overwhelm his remaining knights," Lucida said.
"No," Agatha said, not even bothering to turn around. "A man like that would never leave the daughters of Anna-Maria unprotected."
"He doesn't even know who they truly are, Mother! He cannot possibly know how precious their bloodline is," Lucida argued, biting her lower lip.
"Perhaps," Agatha conceded, her red eyes narrowing thoughtfully at the bubbling potion. "But that only raises the question of why he adopted these three girls. It cannot be a mere coincidence."
Agatha doubted that Ulrich knew the truth about Anna-Maria. So why take her children? Was it truly just a random act of charity? No, that was far too strange, no matter how she examined it. He had formally brought them into his Noble House. There was a plan at play.
Lucida raised her chin. "Then that is all the more reason why we must act fast—"
"Lucida," Agatha cut her off. She turned, fixing the younger witch with a freezing, stern glare. "Do not mix your personal vendettas with our Coven's priorities. I know your mother died for us—"
"She was slaughtered by Ulrich's father!" Lucida snapped, her composure shattering. "How many of our sisters were murdered by that man? And Ulrich is no better! He butchered our sisters the moment he claimed his title. Just last month, he wiped out an entire hidden village of your innocent sisters, taking as well the life of our previous Matriarch! They must be avenged—!"
"Lucida." Agatha's voice dropped further silencing her. "The Matriarch does not wish to drag Anna-Maria's daughters into this Coven. We must be silent, and we must be intelligent. Ulrich Van Rubenhart is a dangerous variable who must be handled with care. If he adopted those girls knowing about Anna-Maria, I assure you, he has not left them unguarded."
Lucida opened her mouth, wishing to shout back, to argue, to make her understand. But under her gaze, she bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood. Forcing herself to submit, she lowered her head in a stiff bow, turned on her heel, and marched out of the tent.
Her decision, however, was already made. If Agatha refused to take action to avenge their fallen... then Lucida would simply have to do it herself.
First she will take the Daughters of Anna-Maria.