Part 1
Kaito and Morgana stepped back through the portal.
Unbeknownst to them, the rest of the group had seen everything through the orb Morgana had left behind.
They simply… chose not to say anything.
Back in the garden, Morgana pulled out an old pocket watch and checked the time.
"Thank you very much for that, ma'am," Kaito said politely.
"Tch… 'Ma'am'?" she snapped, shooting him a deadly glare.
Then she raised a hand to her lips and glanced up at the sky.
"Though now that I think about it… I never told you my name."
She paused, and a soft light shimmered across her hand as she summoned her staff.
An ancient artifact. Powerful. Worthy of legend.
"My name is Morgana… The Witch of the Taboo."
Seri stepped forward, startled.
"The Witch of the Taboo? You're real? I thought you were just a myth."
"According to my database, no such person exists," Eve said flatly.
Ayame, however, lowered her gaze.
"I believe her. I think she's around ten thousand years old… I can feel it in her aura, even though she suppresses her mana."
Morgana smiled, pleased.
"How perceptive. Now I understand why Lady Kaori holds you in such high regard."
Ayame's eyes widened at the mention of her master's name.
Morgana lifted her staff and twirled it slowly.
A cloud of magic formed above them, projecting a living image like an ancient engraving in motion.
"A long time ago, in some forgotten corner of the past… I made a pact with Mizuki."
"She allowed me to study forbidden magic—what many call 'taboo'—in exchange for a promise."
"I was to aid her… whenever she needed me."
The group watched the floating image in silence.
"That's how I achieved immortality."
"I've watched kingdoms fall, empires vanish, generations rise and die…"
"But Mizuki was clear."
"I cannot interfere with the world… unless she asks me to."
She lowered her staff. The projection faded like smoke beneath the moonlight.
"And the reason for my visit… is all of you."
She turned to Kaito and the group.
"The key you have belongs to this house. I'm lending it to you while you study at Aldoria—to keep you protected from… certain issues."
She stepped closer to Seri.
"You, my little elf… you need to learn how to control your powers."
"You never had proper instruction."
"Fire-mage elves are rare—and I'm quite certain that lazy Cherri hasn't taught you anything."
Seri lowered her head and nodded.
"I think Cherri has enough problems already… without having to worry about one more elf."
"My dear Seri… the problem with Cherri is that she wants all the elves."
"She can't be everywhere at once."
"She bears a great duty… but she's always been lazy."
"Even now, she delegates what's really her own responsibility."
Then Morgana turned to Ayame and handed her an envelope.
"This is a student recommendation letter."
"You'll need to learn how to coexist with other beings. The path to enlightenment is long… Kaori knows that better than most."
"If you want that pink hair of yours, you'll have to work for it."
"And maybe one day… you'll become stronger than your master."
Ayame lowered her gaze, uncertain.
"Thank you… but I'm nowhere near her level."
"It's a long road," Morgana replied. "But in time… you'll see what I mean."
Then she walked over to Eve.
"Daughter of Zarakov… I have no gifts for you. But your mother wishes for you to learn from humans."
"Only then will you glimpse your true potential."
She pointed to Eve's chest.
"That's where it all begins."
"I hope so… My dream is for my creator to acknowledge me someday."
The witch nodded, then finally turned to Kaito.
"And you… bearer of Lunaris Edge. Your burden is the most complex of all."
"What do you mean?"
"You're up against everything: the church, the nobility… and the weight of your sword."
"At Aldoria, you'll need to learn many things."
"You can't just rely on luck."
She circled him and started poking his body with her staff.
"A hero needs a strong body, mind, and spirit. Acting on impulse isn't enough."
Kaito winced. Her words stung—
Because they were true.
"Prepare to suffer."
"To train."
"To stand against nobles."
"But above all… to overcome your own limits."
Morgana adjusted her cloak and began walking away.
"Then why don't you train us?" Kaito asked, stepping forward.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I have another hero candidate who interests me more."
Kaito looked down, hurt.
"You mean those other heroes…?"
Morgana hesitated—just for a second.
"No. They're not worth my time."
"Then… who?"
"There's a hero candidate in Mythara."
"Right now, he's with the Wind Elves."
Seri stepped forward, astonished.
"A human in Mythara? Is that even possible?"
"My sweet Seri… that boy will change Mythara forever."
"Then why didn't I see him at the summoning ceremony?" Kaito asked, filled with questions.
Morgana smiled mischievously.
"Ah, young Kaito… that's a secret."
"But who knows… perhaps your paths will cross."
The air grew heavy.
A sixth hero.
A forbidden forest.
A shared destiny.
Morgana spun on her heel.
"Time flies when you're having fun."
She opened a new portal.
"Take care."
"And take care of my house."
"We'll meet again sometime."
She turned back one last time.
"Don't forget to work hard…"
"Bye bye~!" she sang playfully, and vanished into the portal.
And so, the Witch of the Taboo left behind a storm of questions…
But also a single, piercing certainty:
If they wanted to survive in Aldoria, they were going to have to start taking their classes very seriously.
A city that rewarded power and status—
Exactly what they didn't have.