The words that came out of her mouth instantly made them all tense up. A witch. That was always a grey area—witches could be good or evil depending on countless circumstances. However, what mattered now was whether she meant them harm. She slowly walked in, her steps soft, almost hesitant, before she sighed. "I'm sorry," she whispered, lowering her head with deliberate slowness. "I did not mean to hide this from you..." Still, they remained in a battle-ready stance, weapons and magic at the ready. "Please do not be wary… I can explain everything," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "so long as you give me a chance to." Evangeline gave Sylvia a side glance. She had expected Bel to attack them the moment her identity was revealed—but the woman did no such thing. She didn't even raise her hands. Instead, Bel slowly bowed her head, her guard completely down. "If you wish to kill me or do me harm… that is fine. I only ask that you hear my side first." Evangeline bit her lip. She was at a loss. If she didn't listen to this woman, would that make her cruel? Tyrannical? Her class—Dawnseeker—was all about seeking justice, not judgment. Xander took a slow step forward, still carrying the sleeping Damon on his back. "We will listen to your side," he said calmly, though his gaze remained cautious. "How do you intend to explain all this?" Bel nodded slowly, her smile faint but sincere. "Thank you…" she murmured, barely audible. "I don't often get a chance… most persecute me before I can speak." She glanced around the room, her expression distant, almost melancholic. "I can understand your doubt… This forest is an evil place. I should know—I had a hard time surviving its horrors when I first came here." "Then why are you here?" Sylvia asked sharply. Though blinded by the side effect of her skill, she tried to look at her—at least tried to aim her face in Bel's direction. Bel nodded, her lips curling into a sad smile. "I was exiled…" she said softly. She slowly reached for one of the books nearby and picked it up, her fingers brushing gently over its worn cover. She sighed. "I love children. That has always been… I've always dreamt of being a mother. Sadly, I am barren. So to cure my predicament… I became an alchemist." Xander narrowed his eyes. Behind him, Damon stirred slightly. He felt lighter on his back. "What does that have to do with you being here?" he asked. "I studied for years," she continued, "but no potion worked. Eventually, I gave up on natural birth. War was always perpetual in this world, and I traveled all around it. I saw the precious lives of children wasted, forgotten…" "So you turned to dark arts," Evangeline accused, her eyes narrowing. Bel quickly shook her head. "Goodness no..." she paused, steadying her breath. "I became a healer. I joined the Temple, hoping to stop the wars, but—" "The Temple glorifies war," Sylvia interrupted, her voice colder now. Bel nodded solemnly. "Yes, they do. So I found a new faith—in the Unknown God. At least there, I did not have to wage war, kill, or bring suffering to children." "I quit the Temple and became a head matron for an orphanage I founded." She looked at them, her eyes glistening. "It was only then I learned just how horrible war was on children. So I took to raising them the right way. However… the Temple didn't like my philosophies." She smiled again—but it was the smile of a mother who had lost everything. "Nor did they like that I was spreading them. And so… on one dark night, they came into my home and slaughtered my children." A single tear slipped down her cheek. "They called them demon spawn… heretics." She clutched her head, her voice trembling. "It should have been me… It should have been me…" Sylvia bit her lip. It sounded horrible—but the Temple had done worse. "Somehow… I alone survived. I was left to bury my children… but they didn't even give me that chance. So I took their remains as I was hunted and labeled a witch. I eventually ended up here… in the Whispering Forest." Leona looked at her, her voice soft and confused. "Then why didn't you bury them… after all these years?" Bel sniffled, her nose red. "I couldn't. This land is cursed. I couldn't allow them to become undead… or worse. I just wanted them to rest." Matia looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Why didn't you cremate them?" Sylvia shook her head slowly. "Faith in the Unknown God does not accept cremation as a burial rite. Even in the Temple of the Goddess… it's not always acceptable." "I was happy seeing you all," Bel said softly. "I… I've been so lonely over the years…" Evangeline bit her lip again. If all that was true… then they had truly wronged her—dug up her past, opened old wounds. Her voice came out weaker than she expected. "Then… what about the mirror?" Bel let out a bitter scoff. "A cursed artifact I found in the forest… It sometimes shows me images of my children. I don't really know what else it does, so I covered it." "What about the books on memory root and mind potions?" Sylvia asked sharply. Bel looked toward Damon, whose eyes flickered—as though he were waking. "I used them to make cures for mental contamination… like the one I gave your friend." They all went quiet, a deep sense of shame washing over them. This woman had helped them. Fed them. Given them a safe place to rest in this cursed forest… and this was how they repaid her. For a few long moments, no one spoke. Bel gently wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "If there's anything else you want to ask… please do. And if you still wish to condemn me… you are free to do so." She stepped forward, walking slowly toward Evangeline. "As those who worship the Goddess… if you wish to kill me, I won't fault you. And if you wish to leave—I wouldn't stop you. Although I wouldn't advise it." Evangeline bit her lip, her heart twisting in her chest. "I… I… we… this…" "We apologize for any trouble we may have caused you…" a weak voice suddenly spoke from Xander's back. Damon's dark eyes were open now, staring straight at Bel. He slowly pushed himself off Xander's back, wobbling with every step as he approached—half-staggering, barely conscious. "I apologize… on behalf of my friends…" he mumbled. He placed a hand on his head, clearly dizzy. "Allow me to apologize… my name is…" Before he could finish, Damon's eyes slowly fluttered shut—and he fell forward, straight toward Bel. The beautiful, dark-haired woman quickly caught him, cradling the boy against her chest, gently nestling his head against her. The others rushed over with anxious expressions, but Damon was already unconscious—his ear resting softly over her heart.