Chapter 86: The Witch
Witchcraft and sorcery—two terms whose distinctions had been blurred and blended long ago.
Sorcery was considered a more sophisticated practice, associated with white magic and the pursuit of light. Witchcraft, by contrast, was rooted in black magic and the casting of curses.
Sorcery was officially taught, revered, and protected by the Holy Temple, while witchcraft remained a hereditary skill, safeguarded by the secretive members of covens and often hidden from the outside world.
Over time, however, magic itself began to fade. Genuine sorcerers became increasingly rare, with fewer and fewer born into each successive generation. Yet, intriguingly, the number of witches did not diminish.
It was during this decline that the distinction between sorcery and witchcraft began to erode. Desperation led to compromise. The Temple needed magic to maintain its influence, while royalty needed magic to ensure their protection. Ultimately, neither cared much about the source of that magic.
As a result, witches began to roam the continent openly, offering their skills to those wealthy enough to afford them—or, on rare occasions, to those who simply needed them, free of charge.
Their offerings included casting powerful spells and curses.
Yet, tragically, few understood a critical truth: only the witch who cast a curse held the power to break it.
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