Despite Veronica leaving Sky Fortress a day or two early and using a teleportation array to reach Marienburg, she didn't rush back to Bretonnia. Instead, she, along with a few Garland Council members, decided to indulge in some heavy shopping. Veronica, now the Elder of the Garland Council, had gained substantial wealth from the Eight Peaks Mountain expedition. With Belegar's gifts and the resources from the Dawn Wizard Tower, she had plenty of funds and magical reserves at her disposal.
As Ryan's chief court sorceress, Veronica was warmly welcomed by Marienburg's Grand Duke, Van de Gupert-Schultz. Meanwhile, the Marienburg merchants who had clashed with Ryan during the expedition were filled with dread, realizing that they had forgotten about the impending retribution from both the Dwarves and the Knight Kingdom.
The wealthy merchants of Marienburg, knowing that Dwarves were not easily bribed or appeased, grew increasingly anxious. Their only hope was to curry favor with Veronica, Ryan's most favored sorceress, to gauge the situation.
During her stay in Marienburg, Veronica was showered with hospitality from the wealthy merchants. Her magical scrolls and enchanted accessories, known for their high quality and practicality, became highly sought after. However, Veronica remained grounded, knowing full well that her influence came from her association with Ryan. Otherwise, she might have let the attention go to her head.
For some time, Veronica stayed in Marienburg, buying large quantities of magical ores, alchemical materials, and luxury goods favored by the witches, while selling her magical potions, enchanted equipment, and accessories.
Then, a fast ship from Ostermark arrived in Marienburg, having sailed swiftly down the Talabec and Reik Rivers. Aurora and Teresa brought shocking news: the Garland Council was almost entirely wiped out. Sky Fortress had fallen, Elder Karelorna had betrayed them, the High Witch Hunter Ernst was dead, Chairwoman Margarita was dead, and out of more than a thousand witches, only around 200 remained, including those with Veronica.
Veronica quickly realized she could no longer delay in Marienburg. She announced to the witches that their only option now was to immediately swear allegiance to Ryan and become a part of Bretonnia's magical community.
Aurora's faction had reluctantly agreed to this plan earlier, but disagreements remained about who would lead the remaining forces of the Garland Council. Aurora sought to unite more of the witches behind her, hoping her seniority would persuade Veronica to submit to her leadership.
Another unresolved issue was who should manage the valuable relics, magical books, and ancient tomes saved from the council's remnants.
Veronica's response was direct: "We shouldn't be debating who listens to whom; we should all listen to Ryan."
With that, Veronica ended her argument with Aurora. She gathered her supporters and hired a large Marienburg ship, setting sail immediately for Bordeleaux. Aurora and Teresa did the same, leading their group aboard another ship bound for Bordeleaux.
After three weeks at sea, by late April, both ships finally arrived at the port of Bordeleaux, with the Bretonnian spring in full bloom. As the ships docked at the Mannan Dry Docks, Veronica, dressed in a noble white court gown, felt the weight of the situation on her. The devastating news of the Garland Council's near annihilation had left her deeply saddened. She had wept bitterly upon hearing of her mentor Margarita's death. Despite their differences, Margarita had ultimately accepted her as a true apprentice, sharing her deepest magical secrets and life lessons. Veronica mourned her mentor's death with sincere grief.
However, Veronica was a resilient woman. She quickly regained her composure, though her mood remained somber. Forcing a smile, she turned to her personal apprentice, Catherine. "Look, Catherine, Lord Calard has come to welcome you at the docks."
"Teacher!" Catherine blushed deeply at Veronica's teasing. Embarrassed, she replied, "It's probably just a coincidence that Lord Calard is here."
"Don't be silly, Catherine. We know where Calard's territory is. There's no way he just 'happened' to be here," Veronica teased again but quickly noticed something unusual.
The docks had been cleared. Morgiana, the Fay Enchantress, appeared riding her unicorn, Silfann, accompanied by eighteen fully armed Grail Guards. Behind them were over a hundred Sea God Knights and the elite Mannan Guards of Bordeleaux, battle-hardened men who had fought in the Eight Peaks Mountain expedition.
Sensing something was off, Veronica hurried down the plank after her ship docked, lifting her skirts to avoid tripping. Morgiana's expression was calm, tinged with slight sympathy. "You've been through a lot, Veronica. I've heard everything."
"Thank you for personally welcoming me, Lady Morgiana," Veronica sighed softly. "Where's Ryan?"
"Ryan and Sulia are on their way back from Mousillon," Morgiana replied. Though her relationship with Veronica wasn't particularly warm, it wasn't hostile either. Both women placed Ryan's interests above their own, and while Veronica worked to maintain a cordial relationship, Morgiana recognized Veronica's favored position in the court. "As King, Ryan has many matters to attend to. He just finished handling things in Mousillon and is heading here as we speak."
"I see." Veronica was slightly disappointed. She had hoped to see Ryan immediately upon arrival, to vent her frustrations and seek his comfort. "I don't want to linger in Bordeleaux. I'll head to Gisoreux and settle the witches, then think about the future of the Garland Council."
"You'll have plenty of time to do that," Morgiana said coldly, her gaze shifting to the other ship where Aurora and Teresa were disembarking. A glint of anger flickered in the Fay Enchantress's eyes. "I told you before, I would take action. The time is now."
"Knights of the Lady!" Morgiana raised the Holy Grail of Potions, pointing toward Aurora and Teresa's ship. "Soldiers of Bordeleaux, follow my command!"
"Yes!" The Grail Guards, led by Calard, shouted in unison. The Lady's knights always obeyed her will.
"Arrest everyone on that ship!" Morgiana suddenly ordered.
"What?" Calard and Veronica were both startled by Morgiana's command. Everyone hesitated, unsure of what was happening. Before Veronica could ask for an explanation, Morgiana repeated herself. "Calard, didn't you hear my command?"
"Yes!" For a Grail Knight, the Fay Enchantress's orders were absolute, as she embodied the Lady of the Lake's will in the mortal world. Only Ryan, as the Lady's champion, could rival her authority. Calard, hearing Morgiana's insistence, wasted no time. He led the Grail Knights forward, charging toward the witches disembarking from Aurora's ship.
"Raise your hands!"
"Drop your weapons, drop your staves!"
"Anyone who resists will be executed on the spot!"
Led by Calard, the Grail Knights, along with a large contingent of Sea God Knights and Mannan Guards, surged toward Aurora and Teresa's group. Aurora barely had time to react before Calard reached her. Instinctively, the sorceress cast an ice shield, only for Calard to shatter it with a single swing of his sword.
The next moment, the blade of Calard's legendary sword, Durandal, was pressed against Aurora's throat. "Forgive me, Lady Aurora, and Lady Teresa!"
Caught off guard, the surviving witches from Sky Fortress were all subdued, their hands bound by the knights. Aurora's face turned pale as the sword's edge rested against her neck, her expression filled with shock and disbelief.
Within minutes, the scene was quiet. Dozens of witches knelt on the ground, surrounded by armed knights, unable to move. It was clear that Morgiana was serious.
"You are under arrest, witches," Morgiana declared, riding her unicorn forward. "Now, kneel, relax, and don't resist. I cannot guarantee what will happen if you do."
Understanding the Grail Knights' magical resistance and superior skills, the Supreme Sorceress Aurora had no choice but to tell her group not to resist. She then angrily shouted toward Morgiana, "Morgiana! Have you lost your mind? What are you doing? We've come to seek refuge with Ryan! You have no right to arrest or judge a King's appointed Head of the Intelligence Division! Who gave you this authority? I demand to see Ryan! I want to see Ryan!"
"Morgiana, there must be some mistake!" Teresa, also restrained by two Grail Knights, did not resist but spoke with equal anger. "We've brought the last survivors of the Garland Council and its treasures to pledge our loyalty to Ryan. You have no right to treat us this way! You must be mistaken!"
"No, I have no right to arrest the Head of the Intelligence Division or one of Ryan's courtiers," Morgiana's green eyes blazed with cold fury. "But I do have the right to judge traitors! And those corrupted by Chaos!"
"Traitors? When did we ever betray anyone?" Aurora, looking disheveled, raised her head sharply. "Where's your proof? If we're traitors, show us the evidence! Otherwise, I'll sue you in the royal court!"
"Proof?" Morgiana scoffed. "In this country, I don't need proof. But since you want to see it, I'll show you. Here's a letter written by Count Elector Hertwig of Ostermark to Ryan. Do you want to hear what it says, Lady Aurora, Lady Teresa? Shall I read it to you
?"
Mother and daughter's faces turned ashen. Teresa shot a reproachful glance at her mother, while Aurora's expression grew pale. The Supreme Sorceress quickly tried to explain. "I only went to Hertwig for help… to return here as quickly as possible!"
"Help?" Morgiana laughed coldly. "Whether it was for help or something else, it's not up to you or me to decide. Ryan will make that judgment when he returns. But until then, both of you are traitors under suspicion, and you'll answer for it. If you have grievances, take them up with Ryan. For now, you're all under arrest, and all of your assets are confiscated. Send them to the Duke's treasury in Gisoreux."
"Yes!" Calard, relieved that Morgiana hadn't ordered an immediate execution, obeyed. If Morgiana had commanded the witches' execution on the spot, Calard would have had to step in to stop her. "Lady Aurora, this way."
"Wait!" Teresa interjected, standing up defiantly. "If you suspect us, fine. But why involve everyone else?"
"I suspect you've all been corrupted by Chaos." Morgiana's voice was icy. "Yes, Sky Fortress was destroyed, and your headquarters were overrun by Tzeentch's army. But how can I be sure there wasn't an inside job? How can I be sure there's no traitor among you? No one else knows what truly happened at Sky Fortress except for you. Until we can confirm there's no corruption, you must all be quarantined and tested with holy water and divine magic. If there's an incident, it could be a disaster. Ryan might trust you, but I'm the one willing to be the villain."
"Morgiana, you're doing this on purpose!" Aurora, now bound with anti-magic chains soaked in holy water, screamed in protest. "You're abusing your power! You're despicable! Shameless! Vile!"
"I told you before, Lady Aurora," Morgiana whispered as she leaned in close. "Don't give me an opportunity."
Aurora's face turned pale as she realized that Morgiana's words at the coronation feast had not been a joke.
Without giving Aurora another chance to respond, Morgiana ordered that all the witches under Aurora, except for Teresa, be taken away to the Lady's Convent near Gisoreux, where they would be quarantined and tested.
"Morgiana, isn't this a bit much?" Veronica hurried over, trying to reason with the Fay Enchantress. "Isn't this a bit too harsh?"
"I'm doing this for the safety of the entire kingdom," Morgiana sighed. "Veronica, do you truly know what happened at Sky Fortress? Are you sure you can believe everything they say?"
"I…" Veronica hesitated, unable to answer.
"I've been deceived before. The last time it was by Drycha's servant, Branchwraith Deretha, who lured me into an ambush in the Forest of Chalons," Morgiana recalled darkly. "I was nearly sacrificed to Nagash by Mannfred because of that deception."
"But…" Veronica paused for a few seconds, then asked reluctantly, "But surely you trust Teresa, right? You know her character. She's like us, carrying the same... burden."
"That's why I didn't send her to the convent," Morgiana replied, glancing at Teresa, who was glaring at her. "From Teresa, we'll find out if Aurora and her witches are truly loyal and whether the contents of Hertwig's letter are true."
"Alright." Veronica's eyes shifted, and she whispered, "What about our previous plan?"
"It proceeds as planned. That Dark Elf knows what to do," Morgiana said as she raised the Grail of Potions. "She has many ways. All we need to do is stall Ryan long enough for Olica to complete Aurora's magical branding and brainwashing."
"Smart choice." Veronica exchanged a knowing smile with Morgiana.
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