Prologue

In the northernmost reaches of Arithea, where the land meets the edge of the Dark Sea, there lived a woman whose name was spoken with reverence and awe—Violet. Known as the Witch of the North, Violet was not merely a figure of magic but an embodiment of mastery and wisdom. Her reputation spanned beyond the northern territories, for she was not only the greatest magician in all of Arithea but also its most accomplished researcher, teacher, and master of all crafts.

Violet's magic was legendary, her command over the arcane arts unparalleled. Her spells were woven with threads of ancient power, and her knowledge of magical lore was profound. From the simplest charms to the most complex rituals, she demonstrated an unrivaled skill that left even the most seasoned sorcerers in awe.

But Violet was more than just a magician. She was the greatest researcher, dedicating her life to unraveling the mysteries of Arithea. Her vast library, nestled in the heart of her northern sanctuary, the Moonpetal Sanctuary, was filled with tomes and scrolls that held the secrets of both the magical and natural worlds. Her curiosity drove her to explore forgotten places and unearth lost knowledge, making her a beacon of wisdom for scholars and seekers alike.

As a teacher, Violet's prowess was equally impressive. She trained apprentices with a blend of patience and strictness, molding them into formidable practitioners of magic. Which led to some becoming famous and honorable, while some are well known professor of magic just like her. The teachings she provided were not about the spells alone but extended to understanding the balance of power, the ethics of magic, and the responsibilities of wielding such power.

Despite her achievements, Violet's greatest role was that of a master—the master of all disciplines she undertook. Her expertise knew no bounds, and she was revered not only for her magical capabilities but for her profound understanding of the world's intricate workings. Her command over the elements, her skill in divination, and her ability to traverse realms were nothing short of divine.

Violet's life took an unexpected turn when she received an invitation from a renowned captain of the Lion's Fang. The ship, celebrated for its daring expeditions and unparalleled crew, was preparing for a voyage into the uncharted territories of the Dark Sea. The captain, Elias Thorne, had heard of Violet's legendary abilities and sought her guidance for their ambitious quest.

"Elias Thorne, I never thought you and your crew are brave enough to come here at Frostgrave Sea"

"Mistress Violet, the Lion's Fang have the most bravest heart among all of the pirate crews, this sea is only a plaything to us." 

The meeting took place in the grand hall of Violet's northern sanctuary, where the captain and his crew were met with the awe-inspiring sight of her magical abode. The walls were lined with ancient manuscripts, and a shimmering aura of enchantment filled the air.

Captain Thorne, a tall man with an air of determination and an infectious charisma, addressed Violet with a respectful bow. "Mistress Violet, it is an honor to finally meet you. I am aware that you knew about me so I don't need to introduce myself. As to why we came all the way here because We seek your expertise for a venture that promises to be the most momentous of our lives."

Violet sat down in her chair and looked at Elias. "Where do you need my expertise for this so-called life-changing venture of yours?"

Elias and his crew hesitated at first but decided to speak. "The Dark Sea, Mistress Violet."

At the mention of the name, Violet's expression turned cold and deadly serious. A dangerous glint sparked in her eyes as a raging aura began to emanate from her—thick, heavy, and suffocating.

"Captain Thorne," she said, her voice low but sharp as a blade, "I never thought you would be this greedy of a pirate. What is it that you seek in the Dark Sea?"

Thorne's eyes flickered with unease, and his voice carried a hint of tension. "We pursue the Eye of Arithea, an artifact of immense power and ancient origins. Legends speak of its location within the Dark Sea, a place few have dared to venture. Your knowledge and magic could guide us through the perils that lie ahead."

Violet's expression grew even more intense, her aura pulsing like a storm about to break. "The Dark Sea is known for its treacherous nature. Its depths harbor forces beyond our comprehension. Why do you seek such a powerful artifact!?"

Thorne's gaze remained steady, though the tension in his voice lingered. "The Eye of Arithea holds the potential to alter the course of history. It could bring prosperity and change to our broken world—but such power demands caution. We believe that with your aid, we can uncover its secrets and ensure it does not fall into the wrong hands."

Violet narrowed her eyes, considering his words, the weight of them settling like iron in her thoughts. "Very well, Captain. I will join you on this expedition. But be warned—the journey ahead will test more than our resolve. It will challenge everything we know about magic, reality… and ourselves."

Violet rose from her seat and extended a small, ornate card. "Take this. We'll be staying in the Empire for a day or two. This will grant you access to any inn in the city—no questions asked."

Captain Thorne accepted the card with a respectful nod. "Thank you, Mistress Violet," he said, before turning and making his way out of the palace.

Night had settled peacefully over the Empire where Violet's castle stands, the moon casting its pale light across the grand towers and bustling streets of city of Merlin. All was still, until the distant echo of hurried footsteps came and a voice that tore through the calm like a blade.

"Duchess Violet!" a royal guard called out, breathless as he arrived at her manor gates. "The king summons you to Brim Palace. Immediately."

Inside her study, Violet exhaled sharply through her nose as she close the book she reads, her brows tightening with irritation. Of course he summons me now… Could the king not wait until sunrise? She stood slowly, her velvet cloak sweeping across the marble floor as she moved. This was not the first time William XIV had disrupted her peace for matters veiled in urgency and layered in self-interest.

Soon, her carriage rolled through the glowing heart of Merlin. Outside the windows, citizens paused in their evening strolls to catch a glimpse of her—Duchess Violet, the Enchantress of the East, the woman whispered about in both reverence and fear. Some bowed. Others simply stared. She paid them no mind.

Her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

How far this city has come... she mused, watching the magic-lit lanterns dance in the night breeze. And how long I've wandered its streets. So much has changed, yet so little has stayed the same. How many lifetimes have I outlived now? She leaned back into her seat, her eyes trailing the towers and spires of the city she once helped build with spells and sacrifice.

When the carriage came to a halt at the towering gates of Brim Palace, she stepped down with poise and grace, her gown flowing like shadow. The grand golden doors opened with ceremonial flourish, and she entered the gilded hall where King William XIV awaited. 

She walked gracefully on the marble floor of the courtroom, bowed respectfully, more out of protocol than genuine deference. "Your Majesty."

But William waved a dismissive hand, his voice sharp with impatience. "Spare me the formalities, Duchess. Why is the Lion Fang here? Why have they come to your castle?" His tone was clipped, with the faintest edge of threat beneath the royal decorum.

Violet's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. So, he's watching more closely than I thought.

Violet's gaze hardened, her lips curling into a thin, displeased line. She hated being questioned—cornered. "They seek the Eye of Arithea," she answered bluntly. "They believe I can guide them into the Dark Sea."

The king's eyes glinted with interest. He rose slowly from the throne, each step toward Violet filled with deliberate, regal weight. "Then betray them," he said coolly. "Take the Eye for yourself and offer it to the Kingdom. With its power, we can change Arithea's future. Imagine me—standing at the top of the world, Duchess. Imagine!"

Violet didn't flinch, but her eyes narrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. The air around her seemed to thrum faintly with suppressed power.

"The audacity," she muttered. "You never change, William."

Her jaw clenched as her voice rose, sharp and unyielding. "And you think I would willingly deceive those people who've placed their trust in me?"

William's expression shifted into one of bored amusement, but the heat behind his eyes betrayed his pride. "Allies?" he scoffed. "They're opportunists, mercenaries. Do you think they wouldn't turn on you the moment they smell power? And wait I bet they we're tasked also by other kingdoms to retrieve it, I have my eyes to the Western Seas"

"I trust them more than I trust a king who treats loyalty like a coin purse," Violet snapped. "And don't delude yourself—where you stand right now, you hold no leash on me. I didn't swear loyalty to you, William. I serve the Empire, not the man sitting on its throne."

At that, William's smile vanished. He stepped back, face tightening, and returned to his throne in one sharp, angry motion.

"Then shall I take that as betrayal since you are trying to help the western seas to have such powerful artifact? " he growled. "You forget who I am Duchess. I am the Empire. The Emperor. The King of the Northern seas. My word shapes law, my will shapes the future. I AM THE EMPIRE, VIOLET!"

"For a Emperor, you're a demon wearing a crown," she hissed. "You inherited a throne but not the wisdom to wield it. Markelle was a true ruler—compassionate, just, strong. I stood beside him with pride."

She took a bold step forward, her voice now shaking with disgust. "I can't believe he chose you as his successor. If I had seen this twisted side of yours… I would've stopped him myself."

The king's face twisted into a mockery of sympathy, but his eyes were cold and venomous.

"Criticize me all you want Duchess. You always pretending to be above the game, yet here you are… still at the table," he said. Then his voice turned to velvet and poison. "Swear your loyalty to me, Duchess. Betray those fools. Help me claim the Eye… and I will reshape the world—with you at my side. Immortal, unmatched, adored."

Violet's magic surged in the room like static before a storm, the temperature dipping a few degrees.

"I would rather walk into the depths of the Dark Sea alone," she said, her voice like iron, "than sell my soul to a deluded tyrant."

William stood again, matching her fury with his own. "You think you're untouchable?" he snarled. "You think your magic makes you above me? I made you a Duchess. One word, and I can get rid of you."

"You can try," she said coldly, her eyes glowing faintly with power. "But you'll find I am not so easily to be killed."

They stood there in tense silence, a storm of old grudges and bitter truths hanging heavy between them.

Then, as if shedding the moment like a snake's skin, William leaned back on his throne and flashed a smile—charming, false, and deadly.

"But of course," he said smoothly. "You'll come around, Violet. Because you want the Heart of Yggdrasil. And I'm the only one who can give it to you."

They argued—words like daggers, sharp and swift. Violet refused, at first. She spoke of honor, of consequence, of the Eye's dangerous allure. But William, ever cunning, had prepared his final move.

He held out a crystalline box, inside it a glowing fragment pulsing with ancient life—The Heart of Yggdrasil.

Violet froze.

Her breath caught in her chest. It was real. And it was whole.

With that artifact, she could complete the long-awaited potion—the one that would finally anchor her existence beyond time. True immortality. A dream nearly a century in the making.

"You will not get a better offer," the king said, his smirk laced with cruelty. "Give me the Eye, and the Heart is yours."

Silence fell.

Then slowly, she nodded. "Very well, Your Majesty. I accept."

The king chuckled darkly as she turned to leave, his voice echoing in the grand hall like a shadow. "Wise choice, Duchess. Very wise indeed."

As she stepped out of the courtroom, her face remained expressionless, but her thoughts swirled like a storm. Damn him. He knows exactly where to strike…

Not long after, in the palace gardens, she crossed paths with Prince Alric—her betrothed.

He saw her expression and knew something had changed. "The king summoned you," he said gently, reaching for her hand. "What did he ask of you?"

She hesitated, then told him everything—the Eye, the betrayal, the Heart of Yggdrasil. They spoke for what felt like hours beneath the starlit canopy, words hushed, but emotions raw.

"I don't trust him," Alric murmured, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But I trust you. Whatever you choose… I'll be at your side."

That night, their conversation slowly dissolved into quiet affection. Lips met. Fingers intertwined. And for a moment—just a brief one—Violet allowed herself to forget the politics, the danger, and the lies.

In his arms, she found the only thing in her long life that ever truly felt eternal.

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With Violet's agreement, preparations began. The Lion's Fang set sail with a renewed sense of purpose, guided by the expertise of the greatest magician Arithea had ever known.

As the Lion's Fang sailed into the Dark Sea, the air buzzed with a charged mixture of excitement and dread. Tension gripped the crew like a second skin, heavy and suffocating. Thunder roared across the heavens, and towering waves crashed against the ship with relentless fury. Waterspouts spiraled in the distance—colossal, deadly, and unpredictable—while the sky above was cloaked in an unnatural darkness that swallowed all light.

At the bow stood Violet, her cloak whipping violently in the wind. She raised her arms, eyes glowing faintly as her magic shimmered around the vessel, forming a radiant barrier. It pulsed with arcane energy, fending off the unseen horrors that stirred beneath the obsidian waters. Her expression was calm, but her focus was absolute—she alone stood between the crew and the wrath of the sea.

Captain Thorne approached her cautiously, his boots creaking against the deck. "You haven't said much since we left port."

Violet didn't look at him at first. Her eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the sea met the swirling darkness like a scar across the world. "The sea is watching us," she said softly. "Waiting."

Thorne gave a nervous chuckle. "That supposed to comfort me?"

She glanced at him now, arching a brow. "If you were looking for comfort, Captain, you chose the wrong sea... and the wrong person to ask it from duh."

He smirked, though there was something wary in his gaze. "Fair enough. Still, I'm glad you're here Mistress. Without you, I doubt we'd have made it this far."

"Stop with that Mistress thing" Violet said smiling

One evening, as the ship approached a particularly ominous area of the sea, Captain Thorne approached Violet with a gleaming golden chest. "Violet," he began, his voice filled with excitement, "we're on the verge of making history. We've navigated the treacherous waters, faced countless perils, and now we stand on the brink of finding the greatest treasure known to Arithea—the Eye of Arithea."

Violet looked at the chest, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. "The Eye of Arithea," she repeated. "An artifact of unimaginable power. Are you sure we're ready for this?"

Thorne's grin widened. "We're as ready as we'll ever be. And with you by our side, I have no doubt we'll succeed. This treasure has been lost for centuries. Its power could change the course of history."

Violet nodded, though a shadow of doubt crossed her features. "Power such as this is not to be taken lightly. The Dark Sea is known to guard its secrets fiercely. We must be cautious."

The crew, gathered around, looked on with eager anticipation. The chest, adorned with intricate carvings, was opened to reveal a radiant gem—the Eye of Arithea. Its surface shimmered with an otherworldly light, casting eerie reflections across the faces of those present.

As Violet examined the gem, the ship lurched violently, and a deafening roar of wind and waves filled the air. The sea's fury was suddenly unleashed, as if awakened by the presence of the artifact.

"What's happening?" Thorne shouted, trying to maintain his balance as the ship rocked uncontrollably.

"It's the sea!" Violet cried out, her voice strained. "The Eye of Arithea—it's drawing the sea's wrath!"

The crew scrambled to secure the ship, but the storm's intensity was beyond their control. Waves crashed over the deck, and the sky turned a menacing shade of black. Violet, her hands glowing with magic, attempted to cast protective wards, but the power of the artifact seemed to feed the storm's rage.

"Hold on!" Violet shouted. "We need to secure the Eye! If it remains exposed, the sea will not relent!"

Captain Thorne, his face now etched with fear, grasped the chest containing the Eye. "Violet, we must get it below deck! It's too dangerous out here!"

As Thorne and his crew fought against the storm, Violet struggled to maintain her spell. The waves surged higher, and the ship's timbers groaned under the pressure. Despite their efforts, the storm was relentless.

In a moment of sheer desperation, Thorne turned to Violet. "We can't keep this up! The sea is claiming us. What do we do?"

Violet, her eyes filled with determination and regret, replied, "I'll attempt one final spell—a barrier to shield us. But it's risky. It may cost me everything."

The Captain nodded, knowing there was no other option. "Do it!"

Violet began to chant an incantation, her voice rising above the roar of the storm. A brilliant light enveloped her and the Eye of Arithea, the 11th tier magic, the magic of the gods as it forms a shimmering shield around them. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the storm was held at bay and she shouted.

"Hear me, gods, as I, Violet, borrow your powers,

By the breath of the stars, and the will of the hours.

Pay heed to me, Eye of Arithea, as I command your flame,

For I, Violet, will forge fate in your name! Athena's Eternal Barrier, rise and reign!"

But the power of the Eye was too great, and the spell began to spiral out of control. Violet's magic clashed with the storm's energy, creating a vortex of light and darkness. The ship was thrown into chaos, and the crew's screams were lost amidst the storm's fury.

As the ship was torn apart, Violet's last sight was of Captain Thorne's desperate face, a silent plea for salvation. The protective barrier shattered, and the Eye of Arithea was lost to the sea. Violet, engulfed by the storm's malevolence, was swept away, her form becoming one with the dark waters.

"Is this... how it ends?" Violet whispered as she was consumed by the sea. "Dra...kan..."

The Lion's Fang was ultimately destroyed, its crew lost to the sea's wrath. Violet, transformed by her final spell, became a spectral presence bound to the Dark Sea. The Eye of Arithea, a relic of unimaginable power, was forever hidden in the abyss, its secrets buried deep beneath the waves.

The tale of the Lion's Fang and its fateful journey became a legend—a story of ambition, tragedy, and the price of seeking forbidden power. Violet's transformation into the Red Witch was a cautionary tale whispered among sailors, a reminder of the Dark Sea's unforgiving nature and the peril that awaits those who dare to defy its mysteries.