Dorothy, Tired at Heart 2

Euphilia did just that, and eventually she found Adam, this genius Human Mage who was traveling through the witches' world.

And that's where the divergence from Dorothy's memory begins.

Her father Adam had once told her this story, saying that his looks had instantly charmed her mother, and the two quickly fell in love and eventually had him, the classic and prototypical love story of a poor boy and a wealthy beauty.

But the reality now revealed was that there had been no affection between them from the start, only a cold transaction.

Besides, with Mother Euphilia's aloof and majestic queenly demeanor, it was hard to see her as the lovesick girl in Father's story, Dorothy had always wanted to criticize this, but she had never thought much about it. Now it seemed, all of Father's words were lies.

The truth was that Euphilia had found Adam and, very directly, said to him, "Give me your seed, and I will make you the head steward of my territory."

For a mere Mortal Mage to become the steward of a powerful witch's territory was a tremendous temptation, irresistible to most.

As a scholar Mage, Adam's pride made him feel insulted at the moment, he stood up in outrage, ready to rebuke Euphilia for her excessive bullying, thinking that just because she was a witch it didn't make her incredible or anything.

But before he could protest, Euphilia simply raised the offer.

"My family's library will also be open to you."

So, Adam immediately nodded in agreement.

No way around it, she offered too much. At that time, Adam, as a young man, had only two pursuits: to stand out and to chase knowledge. Now the wealthy and beautiful witch laid everything he dreamt of before him, and all he had to give was a bit of essence, which to a man was inconsequential. Only a fool would pass up such a lucrative deal.

Of course, the more important truth was he had no power to resist; after all, the Dragon Witch's firm and domineering gaze clearly conveyed her irrefutable decision, and even if Adam disagreed, he would only end up complying involuntarily.

What was there to hesitate about? Since he could not resist, he might as well enjoy it. After all, Euphilia was a rare beauty, and he, Adam, would lose nothing either way.

However, what happened later was not as beautiful as Adam had imagined.

Moments of passion were non-existent; the rate of conception through human intercourse was too low, and the method too ineffective for Euphilia's acceptance. Therefore, the moment Adam nodded his agreement, he felt an overwhelming sensation of being drained.

Nobody knows what kind of Magic it was, but in a snap, in less than a second, Adam was completely exhausted without a drop left.

Afterward, the indifferent witch took away an entire test tube filled with seeds and left without compassion, leaving behind the young Human Mage who was nearly desiccated, lying on the ground clutching his waist, too weak to stand, and it took him months to recover.

Being treated as a mere tool, Adam was very angry, but before he had time to be angry with Euphilia, the agreed-upon terms of the deal were delivered.

This once humble Human Mage suddenly became the influential steward just below one and above tens of thousands in Witch Territory, and the vast library of the ancient witch families made the knowledge-chasing Mage indulge in his studies, forgetting his dignity, the insult, the beauty, everything. He only knew to spend his days in the library, immersing himself in academics and Magic.

Until one day, as the head steward, he accompanied Euphilia to the battlefield, and the young Human Mage witnessed firsthand the madness and cruelty of the witches.

It was a peaceful realm, where the people lived in tranquility, and the nation thrived in harmony. But on that day, the witches set their eyes on this beautiful and fertile land, and so Calamity struck.

The Human Mage, who had only studied and researched, had never seen such atrocious scenes; everything he had come across in books praised the witches' strength and glory. He had always believed the witches were as peaceful and graceful as their beautiful exteriors.

But witnessing those gorgeous human-like beings mercilessly riding their Brooms and indiscriminately raining down death and fear upon the world, his former beliefs collapsed.

At this moment, the romantically idealistic Human Mage profoundly understood the terror of the witches. They were colder than Angels, more cunning than Demons, and crueler than Great Dragons. No matter how much the books glossed over the facts or legends beautified them, nothing could change the reality of them being a cruelly invasive Race.

Indeed, they were more gentle in their methods than the other three Calamity Races, not truly annihilating everything in their path, but just because I am a tad kinder than a psychopathic killer, do not enjoy dismemberment, and leave an intact corpse, do you think I am a good person?

No, I am still a Wicked person.

Whether others could accept this cruel reality or not, Adam simply couldn't bear it at that moment. The young Mage, filled with thoughts of equality and beautiful romance, could not accept it all.

He even began to despise and resent the witches he once revered so much.

To his greater dismay, an event he could not accept soon occurred. Euphilia became pregnant, and Adam was the father. The seeds he once traded, thinking them insignificant, were soon to become a living being and, if things went as expected, would be raised by his cruel mother into a new Warmonger, a ruthless Executioner on the battlefield.