CHAPTER 303: DAY OF JUDGEMENT-II

Judging by the flow of the woman’s speech, the one Morpheus had addressed so reverently, Ariel soon caught her name: Alice.

And judging by the way she spoke of covens, "It’s my first time stepping foot in another’s coven," she had said, Ariel’s breath stilled. That could only mean one thing.

She’s a witch.

Not just any guests stepping into the palace to take a look, but a powerful one, someone with her own coven, her own following. Witches never crossed into another’s domain without cause. That kind of intrusion wasn’t just rude, it was dangerous.

So why would Alice be here? Why would Morpheus receive her like royalty, and in secret?

A goal... a goal...

Her thoughts turned in circles, but the truth was sharp and simple: no two powerful people joined hands unless something lay at the center worth having.

Whatever this goal was, it had to benefit both of them and that was what frightened her most as Morpheus’s goal was always centered around Arabella, her younger sister.

Ariel pressed her ear harder against the cold bricks. The rough stone bit into her skin, but she didn’t care. Their voices had softened, now drifting farther from the throne. But if she strained, if she held her breath, she could still catch the murmurs.

"I know she did you dirty," Alice said, curling a lock of her long hair around her finger, her voice lilting with amusement. "Left you to tend the coven alone, shackled you to this palace with her little oath to a human... And now, centuries later, here you are. Still cleaning up after her."

She tilted her head, eyes glittering. "But tell me, Morphy, do you really have it in you to hate her?"

Morpheus’s green eyes stilled. His jaw tightened. Silence stretched, heavy and sharp.

"You," she sighed, almost fondly, "have always been so loyal. You never once defied her. Never raised your voice. Even when she hurt you. And now you claim you want to sever your ties by destroying what she cherished most— humans

?"

His fists clenched at his sides. His whole body trembled with a rage so fierce it seemed to shake the air itself.

"She didn’t just abandon me," he said, voice low and brittle with fury. "She abandoned all of us. This coven. The sorcerers who trusted her. Left us to rot in this cursed castle, locked away from the world for so long we’ve forgotten the taste of freedom. No one can leave. No one can breathe. And all because she chose him over her duty."

A beat passed.

Then Alice murmured, almost lazily, "Or perhaps you’re only angry because you weren’t the man she chose."

Morpheus’s eyes blazed. Emerald light flared, bright and furious, and the ground beneath him cracked.

Ariel stumbled back, heart pounding. Through the small opening in the wall, she watched in horror as the marble floor of the throne room split open, dark thorned vines erupting from the stone like serpents, writhing and deadly.

They surged toward Alice’s head, aiming to pierce—

But she stood perfectly still, smiling calmly, as if the thorns were nothing more than a tantrum she’d seen before.

Alice reached out and dragged a finger along the thorn, letting its wicked point slice through her pale skin. Blood welled instantly, sliding down her fingertip in a slow crimson drop.

She let it fall to the broken ground.

"Calm down, Morphy," she murmured with a smirk. "It was just a joke. I did poke the wound a little too hard, but really, was all that drama necessary?"

Morpheus squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched as he resisted the urge to rise to her bait. She always knew just where to dig, and delighted in it.

"Enough," he said tightly, striding back toward the throne. With a weary sigh, he sank into it, as though even standing in her presence had become a burden. "Let’s finish what you came here for."

Alice pouted, clearly displeased that her fun had ended so quickly. But she didn’t protest. Instead, she extended a hand and snapped her fingers.

One of her masked servants darted forward, clutching a leather-bound case.

Alice took it with a flourish, unlocked the clasps, and set the case open on the ground between them. "Ta da," she chimed, almost theatrically. "The remnant potion. Our finest yet."

Morpheus eyed the vials inside with a flicker of disinterest. "Another one of those?" he asked, unimpressed. "You’ve already brought three. What’s the point of giving me the same potion in different glass?"

Alice rolled her eyes dramatically. "You are so not fun," she huffed. "This one’s different, obviously. This one enhances you. Turns you into a remnant, but lets you keep your mind. No more decaying thoughts, no more blind rage. You get the power without the madness."

At that, Morpheus finally sat up straighter, eyebrows lifting with reluctant interest.

"Oh?" he said. "Now that... is new."

"So this means," Alice sang, licking her teeth, "That now your sorcerers, those with weaker body but strong magical power could simply take a lick of this potion and have a body as strong as a vampire- no even stronger. You don’t have to be scared no more of losing limbs because as long as you have this, regeneration is possible, your body is quicker, your senses will be sharper, and best of all? You won’t feel the slightest pain."

"And the side effects?" Morpheus questioned as Alice looked away with a hum.

"Best not to consume it too often as it could cause a slight addiction."

"Slight," repeated Morpheus and seeing his disagreeable expression, Alice sighed and raised her hand for her servant to pass another leather case.

She then placed it in front of Morpheus again, "This one is the potion to stop remnant’s potion for good. The antidote. It can also be used so the sorcerer with addiction to slowly lose their need for always having to take the potion. See? I took care of the side effect for you. So now, give me what you promised me."

Morpheus stared at the potions, as if he was trying to weigh whether this was worth it.

After a while, he finally rummage through his pocket and threw toward Alice the a flask of red liquid.

Blood.

Morpheus then said, "That’s the sister’s blood, it should give you the same effect, right?"

Alice’s eyes glittered as she raised the flask with a grin, "Ah, you mean the one who is now staying inside your castle? The one whose name similar to a poison flower? Ariella?"