Chapter 747 - 748

Evan examined the altar closely. It was a crude construction with a wooden pillar topped by a piece of fabric that formed an abstract portrayal of an owl. The owl depicted was nothing like a real one—it had an unnaturally wide body, enormous eyes, and fiery feathers. A thick rope hung from the pillar, and Evan saw intricate magical runes on the ground beneath it. The design combined nature patterns and hexagons, with ancient magic language interwoven intricately. The magic language shimmered like starlight, emitting a soft, pale blue glow.

Evan felt a strange magical power emanating from the altar. It was gentle and had a soothing sensation.

"Is this the Demon Altar?" Evan wondered aloud as he observed the wooden pillar. "Could it be that by dropping blood on it, we can remove the curse?"

But something didn't quite add up. This altar was unlike the one he had encountered beneath Hogwarts. Evan couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about this place.

Before Evan's eyes, the small blue owl ghost flew toward the altar. It underwent a transformation as it entered the circle of runes. In a matter of seconds, it changed into the appearance of a young girl of around ten years old. She had fair skin, sea-like calm eyes, a small nose, and lips that formed a sorrowful yet content smile. She wore a classical long skirt and a simple wooden ring on her forehead.

"Hello, curious visitor," the girl greeted Evan.

"Who are you?" Evan asked. "And why did you lead me to this place?"

"I am one of the souls trapped here," the girl replied calmly. "You can call me Schwella. I noticed that you used magic to restore the true selves of the souls here, and I overheard your words. You can help me break free from this curse, so I brought you here."

"A curse?" Evan's grip on his wand tightened. "I'm here to help, but I need to know what has happened in this castle first. Let's start with this pillar. I sense a powerful magic from it, but it's a strange kind of magic."

Schwella began to explain, correcting Evan's assumption. "This is not a curse but a form of protection. I created this totem myself. It carries the halidom of our tribe and allows us to communicate with the Spiritual God of owls. It holds a powerful natural energy."

"Wait," Evan interrupted, puzzled. "So, you're saying you transformed all the souls in this castle into owl forms as a form of protection?"

"No, it wasn't a curse," Schwella clarified. "It was a means of safeguarding them. This castle houses a potent evil force. If I hadn't provided sanctuary for these souls, that demon would have mercilessly devoured them."

Evan was still trying to piece it all together. "Can you explain further? I'm not entirely clear on this."

Schwella offered more insight into her abilities. "I'll tell you the whole truth, dear visitor. You can judge for yourself. Long ago, I left my tribe on a solitary journey—a rite of passage that each witch doctor in our clan undergoes. The elders hoped it would cleanse my soul, improve my connection with the elements, and prepare me to return as the new head witch doctor."

She continued, "During my travels, I lost my way and gradually forgot my original purpose. I met a wizard, and we fell in love. He wanted to take me to his family in Paris to marry me."

"We crossed the Mediterranean Sea, heading outside Paris to his family's estate. However, on our way, we decided to stay in this castle, as it was owned by one of his old schoolmates from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic," Schwella explained. "His schoolmate, the mistress of this castle, detained us here, and my love and I were separated. We planned to continue our journey after a few days."

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Evan listened intently to Schwella's story, taking in all the details. The hostess of the castle, Yaliana, was the one who had offered her soul to the demon and was the root cause of the curse. Schwella's tale explained the strange happenings in the castle. Still, it also raised disturbing questions about the depths of darkness that had taken root within these walls.

"The hostess of this castle, Yaliana, is the one who offered her soul to the demon?" Evan sought clarification.

Schwella nodded solemnly. "Yes, she is the one who made the pact with the demon. She is the source of this terrible curse. So, it seems you've encountered her. What does she want from you?"

Evan hesitated before responding. "We met her in a magical mirror, and she told us about the curse on the castle. She wanted us to come here to help her break it."

Schwella's revelation had shaken Evan's trust. He couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of the woman's story. After all, it was doubtful that a ghost would be privy to such detailed information about events from centuries ago.

The actor who had appeared in their story, the wizard from Paris—where was he now? Evan wondered if there was more to this tale than met the eye.

As Schwella continued her story, Evan found himself becoming increasingly suspicious. The narrative included elements of love potions, deception, and manipulation. It was a complex web of relationships and motivations.

"Love potions?" Evan raised an eyebrow. "Did you use a love potion on your lover to make him stay with you?"

Schwella confirmed Evan's suspicion. "Yes, I did. I used a love potion on him to ensure he remained by my side. I am skilled in potion-making, as it is one of the responsibilities of a witch doctor. I thought it would let us stay together and eventually leave this castle. But it was only the beginning of my descent."

Evan listened intently, trying to make sense of the twisted tale. Schwella had taken some drastic measures to keep her lover with her. However, her lover's transformation and his connection to Yaliana remained mysterious.

As Schwella recounted her ordeal, Evan began to grasp the gravity of the situation. Yaliana's actions were far more sinister than initially thought. The castle's inhabitants had fallen prey to her dark machinations.

"You say that Yaliana and these other individuals were transformed into demons? And you tried to purify the castle by poisoning them?" Evan asked, still struggling to come to terms with the horrifying truth.

Schwella nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Yes, I believed that I could cleanse this evil fortress by poisoning them. I used my own blood, harnessed the ancient Shamanic power, and sought the help of natural Spiritual Gods. I used owls, mice, and other creatures to create the poison. I infused it into the castle's water source, hoping to eliminate these demons once and for all."

Evan couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Schwella's actions, while born out of desperation and a desire to rid the castle of evil, had only contributed to more tragedy. The castle had become dark and twisted, where the boundaries between good and evil blurred.

"And did your actions lead to their deaths?" Evan inquired, his voice filled with a mixture of sympathy and apprehension.

Schwella's response revealed the full extent of the horrors that had taken place within the castle. "I believed it would purify the castle, but I was wrong. The poison I created was highly potent. Many people in the castle died, but Yaliana saw it as an opportunity. She had already forsaken her body and offered her soul to the demon. Realizing my mistake, she ruthlessly killed the remaining inhabitants, including her own family, to collect their souls as sacrifices. She intended to summon the demon into the world."

Evan was stunned by the revelation. Schwella's actions, while driven by a desire to save the castle, had only contributed to the darkness that now enveloped it. Yaliana's intentions were even more sinister than he had imagined.

"So, Yaliana is trying to summon the demon into our world," Evan concluded. "We need to stop her. But how can we do that?"

Schwella's gaze remained fixed on Evan. "I have pledged my soul to the dark Spiritual God, but I also hold the power to undo the curse. I can help you break the pact between Yaliana and the demon. But we must act quickly. Yaliana's plan to summon the demon must be thwarted."

Evan listened to Schwella's story with a mix of horror and empathy. While driven to protect her loved one and cleanse the castle of its evil, her actions ultimately lead to tragic consequences. The castle had become a place of darkness and death, and Yaliana's evil pact with the demon threatened to bring even more suffering into the world.

As Schwella confessed her involvement in poisoning the castle's inhabitants, Evan couldn't help but feel conflicted. While he understood her desperation and the depths of her love for her lover, he also recognized the immense harm her actions had caused. The line between right and wrong had become blurred in this tale of revenge and betrayal.

"I understand the choices you made were born out of desperation and a desire to protect," Evan said, his voice filled with compassion. "But we must find a way to break Yaliana's pact with the demon and end this curse. Revenge and further bloodshed won't bring peace to anyone."

Schwella nodded, her eyes showing a mix of regret and determination. "You are right. I have seen the consequences of my actions and wish to make amends. We must stop Yaliana from completing her dark ritual. We need to gather a group of skilled witches and wizards who can perform a counter-ritual to rival the demon's pact."

Evan agreed with Schwella's assessment. "We'll need to find this hidden chamber you mentioned earlier, retrieve the knowledge of the counter-ritual, and seek out those with expertise in dark magic. It won't be easy, but it's the only way to save the castle and its inhabitants."

Schwella's gaze softened with gratitude. "Thank you for understanding and for your willingness to help. Together, we can confront the darkness that has taken hold of this place and end Yaliana's evil plans."

As they prepared to leave the room and search for the hidden chamber, Evan couldn't shake the feeling that their journey would be fraught with danger and difficult choices. But he was determined to break the curse and end the suffering that had plagued the castle for centuries.

With Schwella as their guide and their shared determination, Evan and his newfound ally set out on an uncertain path, hoping to find the means to stop Yaliana and save the souls trapped in the castle.