"Magic is not something just anyone could deal with, why do you think Morgana’s organization had a lot of failures?"

Cindy asked, her voice getting soft as she stayed there unmoving but still talking.

"The system witches use is the same one which was created by Merlin. The system allowed regular humans to use magic but it also had a clear limit on how much could be used."

The young witch repeated the knowledge that Richard already knew of, but given how he acted, Cindy had likely thought that Richard had forgotten or waved it off as he himself used magic in a completely different way.

"That’s why I’m keeping in contact with the yokai, the US also has quite a number of mystical beings, the UK... with Arthur’s help things could be done one way or another and Europe has three main hubs for mystical beings- Sweden, Russia and Germany"

Cindy raised her head and met Richard’s face filled with confidence. Even she did not know about the main hubs for mystical beings in Europe. Hell, the existence of mystical beings in the US... she had long believed that all of them were products of actions done by Salem and Nova Munda.

Seeing the young witches expression, Richard smirked as he answered her doubts.

"Morgana’s like a better version of the Goddess, less powerful but more knowledgeable"

Cindy turned to Nyx who grunted in frustration as she answered.

"Nothing I could do about it, I was sealed for centuries while that wench played around with the power she got being one of the strongest mystics in the world for centuries"

Cindy had been struggling for days now, ever since they escaped from the UK and her identity was leaked, she felt extremely vulnerable.

One of the reasons why she went ahead with Richard’s offer was her worry, the worry of being abandoned given that Yuna, a more reliable and useful witch was in the manor.

Cindy’s greatest asset was the knowledge she had and her own power.

But with the current state of things, Richard did not need Cindy’s power, even the small things she was useful for such as surveillance was taken up by Richard.

While he was still using her own pet’s, there was no stopping him from creating his own monstrosities.

Moreover, it was only a matter of time before Richard started to open up his mind.

Right now, he was still stuck in the thoughts of magic that he had seen with his own eyes.

But Cindy knew that if Richard wanted to, he could likely create fictional monstrosities like the Golems and automatons.

Clockwork soldiers that would be cheaper to make and easier to empower.

The biological monstrosities that Cindy was proud of were strong but also fragile. There’s a reason why she doesn’t act like a twisted necromancer and sic her army of monsters at enemies.

Her more powerful creations are only partially summoned, this prevents them from getting too heavily damaged while at the same time hiding their existence.

But when combat started, Richard was a bigger threat, whether it was a head on confrontation or a silent assassination. Richard had the capabilities to do them with relative ease.

If anything, Richard had, at some point, become the pillar of the group.

Everyone else became extras whose value was to do the mundane, repetitive and clerical task that Richard didn’t want to do.

Cindy already found herself working more like Richard’s secretary than an actual mystic under his employ.

The situation was even more obvious with Hana but unlike Hana who seemed to like doing mundane clerical tasks, Cindy’s whole being revolved around magic.

The reason she was feared by Hana, respected by Yuna and even given a bit of a face by the leaders of the big organizations in the US was because she was a prodigy.

A talented witch who was not only a master of creation but also a "sneaky little bitch" who found a way to sneak herself into multiple systems allowing for her to wield a lot of power at the fraction of the cost.

Yet all that became worthless in the face of Richard’s inherent talents. Talents that became even more disgusting after he nearly died.

Everything nearly broke Cindy but she realized that Richard had lost any reason to care for her yet he still dragged her along wherever he goes.

When he went to London for the task involving Morgana, Richard didn’t leave Cindy with Hana to watch the office. He brought her with him and all that did was start the spark that ignited the fire that was now burning throughout the world.

The only reason why Cindy was not being blamed by the other witches was because of her power AND the close ties she had with Richard.

Remove one of the two and she would find herself in a really uncomfortable position. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

But the fact that Richard still talked to Cindy, actively responded to her words and even called for her at times proves how important she was to him and that... that became key to Cindy’s future- at least, that’s how Cindy saw it.

She clung to Richard and her heart that she closed off, she opened it for the man who could resolve all her worries.

Before all of this, Cindy would have scoffed, joked and teased Richard for his decision but-

Now, her fate was deeply intertwined with his and that made any decision made by Richard to be as important as any decision she made for herself.

This dependence also made Richard get even closer to Cindy.

He didn’t trust anyone, even the Goddess did not escape Richard’s suspicions.

Although they didn’t act like a couple, Richard and Cindy had slowly become dependent on each other and Richard’s actions...

"Don’t worry Cindy, I won’t abandon you, this is part of a plan- trust me"

Richard didn’t explain his plan nor reveal what he was setting up. He only hinted that it had something to do with mystical beings but he ended it at that point as he increased the strength in his embrace.

But his actions did not stop there as he continued to caress Cindy while dragging her onto a nearby sofa.

Their bodies fell softly on the cushions and the two ended up staring at each other as they lay on their side.

Cindy blushed and hid her face in Richard’s chest, hiding her embarrassment but Richard... he found her actions cute and charming.

The prideful and sarcastic goth chick was now blushing in his arms. But instead of wriggling to free herself, she instead clung even more tightly on his body.

Richard could feel the soft body of Cindy press against his own, at this point, he had already savored various types of women.

From petite bodies to thick milfs, the witches all took different forms based on their own perception of "beauty".

But despite his varied experiences, Cindy gave him a different feeling.

Richard raised his eyes to signal everyone else to leave.

The witches who were simply lounging in the room could only give up and quietly leave.

Even Nyx was forced out after a silent exchange with Richard.

The moment everyone left, Richard finally let loose, his hands began to wander around as Cindy’s repressed moans tickled his lust.

She tried desperately to hide but Richard’s relentless assault broke through her nonexistent defenses.

Ignoring the sound of flesh slapping against flesh, Nyx left the room only to be greeted by the only other man in the mansion.

"What is it this time Arthur?"

She asked, already fed up with the man’s advances.

"I... my daughter is truly not in the right state of mind... please- I know that the position of "Main Wife" is already taken by the young witch but-"

"I already told you, even if I couldn’t move Richard, all my actions would do is push Richard even further away from your daughter."

"But Arthuretta won’t-"

"She doesn’t like Richard, that’s it, instead of pushing for your daughter who is more interested in picking flowers than having her own picked"

"..."

"If you truly want to have someone of the Pendragon Line marrying Richard, the reincarnation of Merlin then how about a cousin? They may not be the reincarnation of your ancestor but that idiot only has himself to blame for carrying on his homosexuality into his reincarnation. Just find another Pendragon and offer them the chance to become part of Merlin’s harem"

"Another Pendragon..."

Arthur had a contemplative look on his face, Nyx could have easily read his mind but she doubted if she could hide whatever plot the old bastard was planning from Richard.

She knew that Arthur would not try to kill Richard, whatever plot he had, it only involved his daughter and family.

Nyx could care less what he does and Arthuretta is not part of Richard’s "inner circle".

Moreover, Arthuretta was not particularly close with Cindy, some would even argue that they were enemies.

"Just do what you have to do, live your life, enjoy it, relish it... the world is changing and that is enough- for now"

Nyx muttered to herself as she turned back to look at the room that she had just left before disappearing into the shadows.