Krang walked toward the entrance, sensing an energy that was both familiar and strange. Initially, he thought it was the captain of the Black Knights, but the presence was far more powerful.
As Krang raised his own energy as a warning, the other party immediately responded.
What is this?
The sensed energy diminished to exactly one-tenth of its original strength.
This signaled a lack of intent to fight, a form of communication understood among high-ranking mages.
As Krang furrowed his brow, a hooded figure approached.
"Wait, who are you?!"
As the figure drew closer and removed their hood, Krang's eyes widened in shock.
A mixture of joy and confusion washed over him as a middle-aged woman bowed politely.
"Krang Gutra. It's been a long time."
"Rachel… How did you end up here?"
"I came to see my youngest. May I have your permission?"
With her sparkling blonde hair and refined features, Rachel retained the beauty of her youth.
As Krang gaped in astonishment, she smiled pleasantly.
"Wow… it's been so long."
"It's been over twenty years since we last met after your marriage. Have you been well?"
"I'm just the same… You came to see Jed?"
"Yes. I heard you've become his mentor. Are you being as strict with him as you were when you taught me? He's still young; I hope you can be a little lenient."
"Haha… If anything, I'm even tougher than before."
"Still, it seems he's holding up well."
"Very well indeed."
"May I see his face?"
For a moment, Krang's expression hardened. Despite being Jed's mother, she was still the head of the elders.
He couldn't allow them to meet without understanding her intentions first.
"Let's hear your reasons. I care for that boy."
"Thank you for caring for him…"
"Why have you suddenly come to see him after pretending not to know all this time?"
"I know that Jed is the culprit."
"So you want to hold him accountable? He will handle things wisely in his own way. There's no benefit for you in interfering."
"..."
As expected, her reaction was just as he anticipated.
Even meeting her child came with motives and suspicions in her mind—this belief extended to the elders, her children, and even Krang himself.
Rachel steadied her trembling heart.
"I just want to see his face. Please allow me, Master."
"Master? Since you became Arahan's matriarch, our ties have been severed."
"If you hate Arahan so much, why are you teaching Jed?"
"…Hmph! I only lost a bet. A mercenary's life is bound by promises."
"You didn't lose; you chose to let him win."
"You still don't know me. I genuinely wanted to kill that boy."
Rachel flinched at Krang's heavy words.
Knowing his character well, she understood that he spoke truthfully.
With an anxious tremor in her voice, she asked,
"…Do you still hate Arahan?"
"Of course. However, I have no intention of harming Jed, so do not worry. He is very different from the Arahan I once knew."
"Very different… Everyone says that—the guards and the servants too."
"Jed is the only key capable of ending Arahan's filthy history. He must not suffer even a scratch or wound."
"…How could meeting his mother cause him any scars or wounds?"
"Arahan is such a place."
Krang's words struck Rachel deeply instead.
Why was it so difficult and complicated just to see her child's face?
Tears welled in her eyes, shimmering in the moonlight.
"…Just once. Just for one minute—no, even ten seconds would be fine. Please let me stroke his head and caress his cheek. Master, please…"
"I told you no! How can I guarantee you won't cast some spell during that time? Your power is now strong enough to rival mine; if you cast an illusion spell, I won't be able to dispel it."
"…Then block my mana circuits."
"What?!"
It was a sincere resolve.
She was willing to go that far just to meet Jed.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Krang steadied himself again.
"Do you think I can't do that?"
"If it's you, Master, then surely you can. Since you don't trust me otherwise, this is my only way to prove my innocence."
"Hah…"
"Please."
"..."
Krang fell into deep contemplation.
The Rachel he knew was kind and beautiful like an angel.
But that was before she became part of Arahan.
Now Rachel was the head of the elders; knowing their misdeeds made it difficult for Krang to grant permission easily.
"What's going on?"
At that moment, Jed's voice echoed from behind them.
Rachel moved forward in excitement but was immediately stopped by Krang. However, he couldn't prevent Rachel from peeking around his arm.
Jed instantly recognized the woman with captivating blonde hair before him.
"…It's Lady Rachel."
"Ah…"
While Krang felt awkward about the situation, Jed nodded affirmatively.
"It's alright; I wanted to meet her anyway."
"…Jed, this isn't a simple matter."
"I know. But it's essential for resolving issues with the elders."
"Well… if you say so…"
Having confirmed Rachel's sincerity, Krang stepped aside without further argument.
"..."
In a secluded clearing on the mountain,
Rachel approached her youngest son slowly while holding back tears cascading down her cheeks.
I know this woman well.
She is the legendary sorceress known as the Witch of the North and now my mother.
Perhaps it's because of the word "mother," or maybe it's due to faint memories lingering within me—or perhaps it's because I can feel her sincerity.
As Rachel drew closer and embraced me tightly, my heart began to race uncontrollably.
"You must have had such a hard time… Mother is sorry…"
Rachel stroked my head and caressed my cheek before pulling me into another embrace repeatedly.
I stood there motionless as if drawn by some unspoken magic without resisting at all.
How much time passed like this?
The tears flowing like waterfalls eventually began to dry up.
I pondered how I should refer to this woman.
If I called her "Lady Rachel," would it cause her pain? My lips struggled not to part from each other awkwardly.
"…Mother."
"Yes, my son. Wasn't I being foolish? I'm sorry."
She quietly wept softly at those words.
Though my heart stirred at having a mother figure present in my life again—I am not just fifteen-year-old Jed Arahan anymore.
What I needed was clear; thus I tried hard to suppress my swirling emotions within me.
"Now please tell me why you've come here."
"…Why? There's no reason; I just wanted to see your face."
"I have something I wish for."
"…What is it?"
"You know well what kind of situation I'm in now; I'd like us to discuss that."
"Very well…. I understand."
Rachel seemed to grasp my meaning as she stepped back slightly and changed her expression.
Though her face remained wet with tears—her gaze had grown serious.
From here on out would be a conversation between sub-leader and leader of moderates rather than mother and child—a distinction I needed to make clear by adjusting how we addressed one another accordingly.
"Lady Rachel, you know I'm the culprit."
The formal address might have sounded cold at first but caused Rachel to flinch momentarily before she regained composure in her voice again afterward.
"…Yes. What on earth were you thinking? The elders will not let this slide."
"When an incident occurs—it naturally implies there must be someone responsible."
"If that's true then why…. If this was done out of anger then apologize now! If I assist you—it could pass without severe consequences!"
"No; everything was intentional. There's nothing for which I need forgiveness nor any wrongs for which I should repent."
"You did this on purpose? What do you mean by that…?"
I understood well both factions' objectives regarding me:
The immediate threat towards myself comes from hardliners aiming solely at pushing Sub-Leader One forward while simultaneously being restrained by opposing factions alone preventing them from doing so freely without consequences involved whatsoever!
I continued earnestly speaking:
"I will force Martisa into submission; until then—I will never stop."
"That's far too dangerous! The elders possess far greater power than what you're imagining!"
"To ensure they don't touch me—I must see this through till its conclusion! They initiated conflict first—so justification lies with me! The Head of Household will not get involved either!"
"No sub-leader has ever engaged directly against half of our elders before!"
"That's precisely why it holds significance! Because I'll be doing something unprecedented!"
Rachel looked at me incredulously as if struggling internally with disbelief surrounding all these matters unfolding right now before us both presently!
To clarify further—I added:
"It establishes precedent against being manipulated by elders moving forward—thus preventing them from interfering recklessly within future competitions amongst heirs themselves! Wouldn't those elder members desire such an outcome too?"
"...While your reasoning makes sense—your position remains unfavorable! How could Sub-Leader Seven possibly contend against half our elders?"
"If Lady Rachel assists me—it becomes entirely feasible!"
"Assist?"
"My request isn't much; merely act oblivious toward my actions until critical moments arise whereupon siding with me becomes necessary!"
"..."
To put it plainly—I needed help ensuring only hardliners faced off against myself while leaving Martisa free reign over everything else without interference whatsoever!
Martisa could easily deal with anyone unable even guessing who might've committed such acts—but Rachel presented an entirely different challenge altogether!
To reassure hesitant thoughts lingering within mind—I continued speaking confidently:
"I'll only threaten them—not kill anyone outright! Just instilling fear will suffice!"
"Yes—but nothing else matters more than ensuring your safety above all else!"
"But Master—you needn't worry about anything since I've got your guidance backing me up!"
"...Isn't this difficult?"
"It feels wonderful actually! Each day spent feels fulfilling!"
"…You've changed considerably since last time we met! Just like Robin mentioned—you seem entirely different now."
Though our conversation began strictly between sub-leader versus leader—it gradually shifted back toward familial warmth shared between mother-son duo once more instead…
Feeling slightly awkward about reverting back into previous dynamics—I quickly shifted topics away from those lines once again instead now focusing elsewhere instead:
"But there's something I'm curious about…"
"What is it?"
"The Head of Household seems overly tolerant toward elders despite viewing them as thorns in side? Why doesn't he take action against their interference regarding heir competition itself?"
This question had lingered within mind ever since childhood memories surfaced recalling past experiences shared together previously too!
Given Genedine's personality traits, it seemed impossible for moderates alone to thrive, yet hardliners should never exist alongside either faction whatsoever.
Raychel chuckled softly before responding:
"You're misunderstanding things. The Head of Household isn't nearly as cold-hearted as you'd think."
"What? A person who isn't cold-hearted?!"
In all my life, I'd never seen anyone colder than Genedine himself! How could someone remain unmoved while watching their own children kill one another without intervening whatsoever?
As confusion clouded my judgment, Rachel approached closer, gently ruffling my hair once again, reassuringly:
"There exists one secret within Arahan that you'll come across someday when you're qualified enough. So please, don't harbor resentment toward him unnecessarily, okay?"
"I don't quite understand…"
"That may be true right now, but unfortunately, that's all the information available to share between us at this moment."
A secret hidden deep inside Arahan…
What could possibly lie behind such mysteries, waiting patiently beneath the surface, yearning to be discovered?
"No matter what happens next, we'll support each other from afar—just like we always have, ever since childhood."
"Yes…"
"And thank you for growing strong despite everything going on around us."
Rachel embraced me tightly one last time before turning away, nodding respectfully toward Krang, who stood nearby, silently observing.
She wore a faint smile as she walked alone down the mountainside path, appearing lonely yet somehow sorrowful. She glanced back briefly before continuing her descent, disappearing into the distance.
I turned away quickly, trying desperately to soothe the churning in my stomach, overwhelmed by emotions rising high above everything else. The moonlight shone brightly, illuminating the lonely path beneath my feet, casting a silver glow over the landscape. Overhead, the night sky reflected shimmering stars, twinkling like scattered diamonds in the vast darkness.