Although Morningstar had turned to the dark side, she hadn’t become utterly twisted—and that didn’t mean she felt no shame over certain past embarrassments.

Even *this* version of Morningstar couldn’t accept what the Little Dragoness had said! She was the mighty Dark Sorceress—how could she possibly enjoy being licked…?

Still… hadn’t she *maybe*… liked the Little Dragoness’s *attentions*… just a tiny bit back then?

“Ahhh! No, no, no! That was absolutely *not* liking it!” Morningstar vehemently denied it. In this regard, she and Freya were surprisingly alike.

“Alright, get up! And from now on—you are *not* allowed to lick me without my explicit permission. Understand!?”

“Yes, Master,” the Little Dragoness pouted slightly, a hint of discontent flickering across her face. But it wasn’t disrespect; thousands of years ago, she’d often acted this way to coax her Master.

“Freya… my apologies for the scene.”

Morningstar turned to Freya, still kneeling on the floor. She closed her eyes. After a brief silence, she opened them again—her gaze now gentle, her voice utterly transformed. “Please, rise. I’m no emperor demanding such formalities.”

Her tone was soft, completely stripped of the Dark Sorceress’s earlier sinister charm. *I’ve played villain long enough,* Morningstar reasoned inwardly. *Time to let my kinder persona step in and win some favor.*

As the old saying goes: one plays the stern role, the other the gentle one.

“I’m truly sorry… for what I did to you. I… sometimes I can’t control my own actions.”

Speaking in that warm, approachable tone, Morningstar gently helped Freya to her feet, recalling the person she’d been before darkness took hold.

“You…” Freya watched Morningstar’s beautiful, wide eyes blink softly. For a fleeting moment, she saw the Dark Sorceress from their first meeting—these eyes held no malice.

They brimmed with pure innocence, radiating steadfast kindness.

*Sigh…* “The Dark Sorceress’s darkness is simply too overwhelming. I can’t resist it. Two personas now share this body: one evil, born of the Dark Sorceress… and one kind—*me*. I’m just an ordinary young person, summoned here against my will.”

Had this happened earlier, Freya wouldn’t have believed a word. But now? She believed every syllable.

She’d witnessed Morningstar’s shift firsthand—from initial kindness, to gradual corruption, and now this return of gentleness. *Why would she lie?* Freya thought. *My life is in her hands… I’m no more than an insect she could crush without a second thought.*

*You must hold on,* Freya silently urged. *Preserve whatever goodness remains.*

Seeing Freya’s softened expression, Morningstar knew the girl had fallen for it. *Tsk, tsk… A little manipulation and her wits dull? If I keep this up… will she turn completely empty-headed?*

*Oops~* she chided herself. *I’m the “kind” persona now. Mustn’t think such wicked thoughts~*

“I wish I could,” Morningstar replied, voice trembling. “But the darkness… it’s too strong. I fear the goodness inside me won’t last much longer.”

Tears welled in her lovely eyes. Her voice hitched into a sob. “I… I’m just… an ordinary person… *sob*… I never wanted to be the Dark Sorceress… I don’t want to do bad things… I don’t want to hurt anyone…”

Watching Morningstar weep so pitifully, a pang of sorrow struck Freya’s heart—a deep sense of shared suffering. *Haven’t I also been touched by darkness? But the shadow she battles… is a thousand times fiercer than mine.*

Truly… the soul within this Dark Sorceress was also a victim.

“*Sob*… I don’t want this power… I just want to go home…”

Flustered and at a loss, Freya gently pulled Morningstar into her arms, stroking her head with tender care.

“Don’t cry. I’ll find a way to help you.”

Though still sobbing in Freya’s embrace, Morningstar’s expression shifted—a sly smile crept across her lips as her eyes slid sideways toward Freya’s head.

“Y-you… do you have a way to save me?”

“I… I don’t really know,” Freya admitted hesitantly.

“Do you not believe *this* version of me?” Morningstar pleaded, voice quivering. “Please… I don’t know how long this state will last. Maybe next time… I’ll be gone forever.”

“Sigh… Even if I say it, it’s futile,” Freya murmured. “The Sacred Water in the Temple can cleanse all darkness. It likely wouldn’t work on the Dark Sorceress herself—her body is a vessel of pure evil. But your soul has only been here two days. If cleansed… it might purge the clinging corruption.”

“Really!? That’s… wonderful!” Morningstar exclaimed.

*Oh? So there’s such a method? Sounds somewhat plausible,* she mused coldly beneath the tears.

“But it’s utterly impossible.”

“Why?”

“Unless you willingly extract your soul—or the War God of a thousand years ago returned—no one could separate the Dark Sorceress’s soul from this body.”

“Then… couldn’t I leave my body willingly and seek the Sacred Water?”

“A disembodied soul has no strength. The dragon beside you would stop you and force your soul back.”

“…I see. And if I went to that so-called Temple… they’d probably just annihilate my soul on sight, right?”

“Mm. If you’re willing to sacrifice yourself… destroying your own soul would be simpler.”

“I… see.” Morningstar nodded slowly. *Even the Divine Maiden of the Divine Clan says so… Truly beyond saving?*

*Should I feel sad… or quietly pleased?*

“If I still had my magic,” Freya added gently, “I could use the Holy Light to soothe the darkness within you—slow the corruption, at least.”

“I’m sorry,” Morningstar replied softly. “I can’t allow that. If the darkness were drawn out… my darker half would consume me instantly.”

Morningstar saw right through Freya’s little scheme and deflected with practiced grace.

“Actually… you could have that dragon do it.”

“Would she agree?”

“You *are* the Dark Sorceress. She can’t defy you.”

“Oh? Then… I’ll give it a try.”