Germort looked at Siderius' soaking blade. He gulped then stood up. Green magic poured out from under his sleeves and punctured into the ground.

"Oh? Ancient Magic. I haven't seen that for a long time." Siderius said.

"Ancient Magic? What are you saying, young wicca?" Germort tried to form a smile on his face to hide his anxiety. But the beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed him.

"The original dark arts. Or some like to call it, Wicked Magic. The beginning of your witches kind.

Nowadays, witches use all types of magic. Fire, water, wind. Then there are some even obscure ones that become really successful. Lust, Nightmare, Gluttony. But they are simply descendants.

The first one is what you just used, Bailiff. Magic of the trees..."

As Siderius finished his sentences, roots burst out from beneath the ground and shot at his direction. He laughed loud and long.

Siderius retreated Blazing Soul into his scabbard and flipped the fire switch over. Before the roots were able to reach him, he pulled the sword out in a flash. The blade burned fiercely and brightly, much more aggressive than before.

This was the difference between using the slagpaste, a fire enhancement oil, versus using the pure Fire element inside Blazing Soul.

The blade created a lingered flame that stuck onto the root even when it had gone away. The roots were burned and shrunk back to the ground. The remaining parts flopped on the ground like dying fish.

Germort's two hands went numb. Veins bulged on his skin.

"If you already knew how powerful I am, how dare you attack my domain?" Germort shouted.

He didn't understand what Siderius was talking about. But he didn't care. He just played the lying game, hoping Siderius would hesitate.

Germort didn't know that Siderius was talking about an entire different world, one that he would know nothing about.

This made Siderius chuckle. The flaming sword sizzled in his hand. He stepped forward.

Germort lowered his body and plunged his fingers into the ground, using even more magic. The dirt was changed and shaped into roots that were never there.

Siderius flexed his right arm, summoning the silver bracer. He quickly drew three circles with his fingers, activating the <Dispellera> sigil.

Germort's magic squirmed like a worm and lost its potency. The roots under the ground wobbled and then turned back into ordinary dirt.

The Bailiff of Mucktown could feel it all. It made him even more afraid. He fell down on his butt and dragged himself backward.

"How?! How can you affect my spell?!"

Siderius kept approaching him with slow deliberate steps. "Tch. Tch. Tch. You call what you're using a spell? How pathetic."

"I... I..." Germort's lips trembled. He got overwhelmed by power. And now he was humiliated for his crude spell casting. That enraged him.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Germort shouted. "You are no different than me. A pathetic unawaken witch!

What? You think that a flaming sword is a good spell? I saw much better, fiercer fire spells before.

And WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU HERE? I don't even know you. Why are you killing my men? Why are you attacking my manor?"

Siderius stopped in his place. The dark slits in his golden eyes expanded and filled his eyes, bringing back the round dark irises. He slid the blade back into the scabbard with a click, extinguishing the flame.

Siderius pulled down his black scarf, revealing his true face.

"Do you remember this face, Germort De Beauvoir?"

"You... You are?!" Germort widened his eyes, his finger pointing at Siderius in disbelief.

Snow had changed. His expression changed. His entire aura changed. His hair turned white and grew longer. His body was bulkier. And his clothes were now of a warrior. But that angelic face that made every man jealous. Germort couldn't mistake that face anywhere.

"Snow." Germort's voice was low.

There was no need for further explanation. He knew why Snow was here. He knew why the man with white hair wanted him dead.

Suddenly, Germort had a great idea in his mind. He had never shown his face to Snow or blatantly displayed his connection with what Lyara was doing. Maybe... Just maybe... Snow didn't know the truth. Snow was only here because Germort put him in prison.

Germort tried to form a sympathetic face as best as possible.

"Snow, my boy. So it is you. I always knew that you didn't have anything to do with your mother's death."

Siderius smirked. That smirk made Germort think Siderius was thinking positively of him and he continued.

"Forgive me, Snow. I have an order from Lady Lyara herself. And there was a witness saying you did it. For the good of my people, I must sentence you to death."

Siderius stepped closer. Germort jerked back instinctively but he held himself firm. He couldn't show any hesitation. Otherwise Snow might know he's lying.

"Quit lying, Germort. I know. I know everything."

"What are you talking about, Snow?"

Siderius punched right at Germort's nose. It broke. Blood flooded into his nostrils as he yanked himself back in pain.

Siderius pulled out the assassin's knife and pressed it into Germort's skin until it started to bleed.

"I know what you did. Confess to me now. And you may live."

Germort's face lost all of its color. But still, he bit his lips and forced himself to answer. Otherwise, he would be dead. Siderius' dead stare made sure he knew that.

"I… Will you let me go if I tell you the truth?"

"Tell me what I need to know. And you shall live."

Germort nodded in relief.

"What do you want to know, Snow? I will tell you everything."

"Who killed my mother?"

"I don't know who exactly. Thane ordered the assassination. He should know who the assassin is."

Siderius nodded.

"And my crime. Amy the dancer was there to witness everything. Was it arranged?"

Germort nodded again.

"Apart from you, Thane Beaumort, the assassin, and the Starcrow witch, is there anyone else that had their hands in it?"

"The only person I can think of is Gemma."

Siderius let out a soft, whispered laugh. "Gemma, huh?"

He knew a woman named Gemma. She was also a dancer in the circus. An old and experienced dancer that was in the same generation as River. Siderius should have known Amy wouldn't dare to do it herself. She must have gotten an order from someone else.

"Is that everything? Can I go now?" Germort said.

"One final question."

"Yes?"

"How do one become a Bailiff?"

Germort widened his eyes and dragged his body backward. "What do you mean? Why do you want to know?"

"I am curious, that's all."

"You told me you will spare me, Snow! You told me you'll let me live!"

Siderius' opened wide, revealing his perfect white teeth. "I lied."

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