Guilt and regret do not come until after action—or inaction.

~Syn, Goddess of Observance and Truth

Vale launched himself at Crow/Sione, and everyone dove out of the way. However, Crow didn’t flinch, and Zoe could see a faint smirk on his face. She knew her new husband was up to no good, but she felt a little sweet about it. He was defending her, so how could she not feel moved?

The crimson power that coated Vale’s fist came closer and closer to Crow’s face, but to everyone’s surprise, he faded away as if he had never existed. Crow wasn’t as strong with his Ghost Eater abilities, so he avoided the strike using Ghosting. The exciting thing was that the auras he’d created automatically adjusted to the feel of the original ability. It was like some sort of muscle memory, but he’d have to analyze it later.

“That attack failed as badly as your proposal to my wife,” Crow chuckled from behind Scarface. Vale only growled in response and kept attacking, but Crow kept dodging, getting a feel for the ‘ghost’ ratio needed for his new mana-less techniques.

While dodging, he sensed a connection between his ability and Vale. It was at the karmic level, and he didn’t understand at first. Since Vale didn’t have a strong movement technique, he couldn’t do anything to him, so Crow explored this unfamiliar sensation while dodging. He was so focused he didn’t even hear the people taunting him about attacking.

“What’s he doing?” Minnie whispered to Zoe.

“Making a breakthrough?” Zoe replied, but her tone indicated she wasn’t totally sure.

“Death…” Crow muttered, not even realizing his eyes had turned silver, a sign that he was staring at the lines of karma. Malevolent energy swirled around Vale, and Crow finally realized this was the residual energy from the people he’d murdered. It clung to him like ill-fit clothing, corroding his karma and making the universe reject him.

Myriad of the Dead, the last circle of the technique, was the connection he felt. This insight was what he needed to comprehend the most sinister ability of the method. It was an attack that turned all the target’s victims into illusory ghosts that would lacerate their murderer’s Soul until it collapsed.

Suddenly, he stopped evading, but no one understood what happened next. Vale froze mid-strike, and Crow raised his hands to either side of his body before shoving them forward. Only he and Vale could see the hundreds of broken women that surged forward—their hands were like dragon claws trying to shred Vale’s black soul.

Blood leaked from Vale’s eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, silencing the crowd.

“That’s enough!” An elder wearing Ghost Eater robes interrupted, and his voice was a soft attack. It disrupted Crow’s ability and caused him to cough out blood. While upset, he knew the elder didn’t cause any lasting harm. “Did you really perform the marriage ritual with the High Priestess?”

“I did,” Crow stated respectfully. He hated the people here, but that didn’t mean he’d be foolish about it. Vale had crashed to the ground, but Crow sensed Scar-face was alive. Despite that, Soul damage was the hardest to repair, and it’d incapacitate Vale for several months unless he had some rare medicine.

“Did you get permission from her elders?”

“Witches don’t require it,” Zoe said from beside him. “We feel the weavings of karma and fate and choose partners based on that. It isn’t up to our elders to decide our marriage, which means Vale is lying or someone is trying to play tricks on Hex Witches.”

The elder nodded. Crow wasn’t sure who this elder was and was pretty sure Sione never met the man.

“Vale? Who arranged this supposed marriage?”

“My father and Claire of the Hex Witches.”

“And how does Claire have anything to do with my Coven or grandmother? Who gave her that right? We are a matriarchal society, and only my mother or grandmother may influence who I marry. That’s clan law. Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m a High Priestess and know our rules and strictures.”

The elder looked at Crow again. “Who are you?”

“I am Sione, an outer disciple of the Ghost Eaters.”

“Very well, Sione. I recommend you don’t pursue punishment for Vale,” the elder said before turning to Vale, who was watching the exchange while wiping blood from his face. “I suggest you stop coveting what isn’t yours. Your father can only protect you for so long, and you should know the people in this sect very well. Retaliation isn’t uncommon, and your talent is garbage, so most won’t give a shit about your death. Behave before you find your throat cut and have your body dumped in a trash bin. I suggest you realize your worth.”

“Yes, elder. I can let this end here, but if he comes after my wife again…”

“If he attempts to harm your wife again, I give you full authority to kill him and all those that aid him.”

Crow put his fist over his shield and slightly bowed his head. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that this man terrified Crow. The power coming from this elder was stifling, and Crow was pretty sure he was suppressing it.

“Sensible,” the elder said and turned toward Vale. “And you?”

“I hear and obey, elder,” Vale mumbled, but his eyes burned with hatred.

“This is a lesson for everyone here. Elders may agree to marriages and even subject their disciples to slavery, but that is only if the disciple agrees. Sect law states that no one may take away the freedom of another; not even the sect leader may do this. Of course, this is on the premise that the victim speaks up. We won’t pursue it if you don’t report it.”

“Yes, elder!” The crowd shouted out.

The elder turned toward Crow again. “Sione?”

“Yes.”

“You are a promising disciple. Show me something as interesting as you did today, and I’ll take you as my personal disciple.”

“Thank you, elder,” Crow said and bowed again. “May I know elder’s name?”

“No. Impress me again, and then you’ll know it. Was that ability something you created?”

“The original idea is not, but the execution is,” Crow told him honestly because he doubted he’d be able to lie to this man. The elder nodded as if he suspected as much and turned back toward Vale.

“Sione may not be pursuing punishment for trying to steal his bride, but I haven’t punished you for this unregistered event. As per regulations, you are fined three hundred mana crystals which are due by the end of this week. Go to the disciplinary hall and settle your account with them.”

More than a few people hissed in shock. Three hundred crystals weren’t something a typical outer disciple could afford. Vale kicked a metal plate this time, and that wasn’t even mentioning that he still couldn’t stand up after Crow’s unusual attack.

After the elder left, everyone let out their pent-up breath. It was like a collective sigh from the crowd, but Crow didn’t care. He’d already grabbed Zoe by the hand and led her away from that place.