Viu recovered from his injuries, then with Beatrice, Bilma, and Alba, he went to the grave of Echidna who had now lost her glow. Indeed, during the healing time and after the discussion with Beatrice, Emilia had succeeded in the last trial. When Viu was taken to the castle of dreams, he arranged via Wlan that Beatrice was with him too, as a sign of trust. He found himself facing an Emilia making a big face, then Minerva, Sekmeth, Daphne, Typhon, and Carmilla.

- Looks like I won the fight. Beatrice, here are all the witches in their younger versions.... and the younger version of your mother.

Beatrice's eyes widened at Vui's words, her heart pounding in her chest. She had heard tales of the witches of old, but never thought she would see them in person. When her eyes fell on the young version of her mother, her expression softened, mixed with a hint of sadness and longing.

- My... my mother, she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and nostalgia.

- So Echidna, how does it feel to have been beaten by a newcomer and a half-elf?

Echidna, the Witch of Greed, let out a scoff, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement.

- Please, she replied, her voice dripping with arrogance. This was merely a momentary setback. Fate will prevail, and my plans will not be thwarted so easily.

- Say it's your simp disciple who ruined everything. But hey, considering the big trap of the second trial that you prepared for me, I'm glad that Emilia succeeded in the three trials before me.

Echidna's eyes flickered with irritation at Vui's words, but she couldn't deny the truth in them.

- Yes... my disciple,"she repeated, her voice tinged with displeasure. And yes, it seems that your little companion managed to surpass my trials with unexpected ease. But don't boast too much, boy. This is merely a temporary victory. My plans and my destiny are bigger than mere trials or obstacles.

He stared at the other witches.

- Is she like that when she loses?

Minerva and Sekhmet exchanged a glance, rolling their eyes in mutual agreement.

Minerva spoke up, her voice laced with sarcasm.

- Oh, absolutely. Echidna can't handle losing to save her life. She'll pout and sulk for days, at the very least.

Sekhmet chuckled, adding her own comment.

- She's always been a sore loser. It's quite entertaining, really.

Viu laughed even harder.

Echidna's eyes narrowed further in annoyance as Vui and the other witches laughed at her expense. She was not used to being the butt of the joke and certainly not in front of her own familiars.

- Hmph, she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. You think this is funny, do you? Mark my words, boy. Your victory may be temporary, but I will not forget this insult. You and your pesky companion may have won this round, but the game is far from over.

-.... Are you talking about Beatrice or Emilia?

Echidna's expression flickered with surprise, her arrogant veneer faltering slightly at Vui's words.

- What... what do you mean? she retorted, her voice suddenly taking on a defensive tone. Of course I meant the half-elf. She's the one who completed the trials, isn't she?

- Emilia. She has a name. E M I L I A. Do you understand?

He then spoke to Daphne:

- Know that the Mabeasts have caused too much trouble in the world but since my daughter controls some of them I forgive you.

Echidna's expression turned even more sour at Vui's firm tone and correction. She loathed being corrected by anyone, let alone a boy.

Daphne, who had been silently observing the exchange, was surprised by Vui's words. She hadn't expected anything but hatred or fear from him.

- Your... your daughter? she repeated, her eyes widening in disbelief. You... you forgive me?

- Oh you know, each of you here... even Echidna... have caused some serious trouble but with good intentions. And honestly if I have to hate you or my village, the logical choice would be my village. Which I would say before but now neither. And since you are dead there is no point in blaming you for that...

He stared at Echidna before saying.

- Some more than others.

Echidna's expression darkened at Vui's words, a flicker of anger in her eyes.

- Oh, so you judge me more harshly than the rest, do you? she replied, her voice laced with venom. I see. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You clearly have no appreciation for someone who sees the bigger picture and makes difficult decisions for the sake of progress.

- Echidna we have the same level of information so your excuse doesn't hold up.

Echidna's eyes flared with irritation as Vui challenged her justification.

- What do you mean 'the same level of information'? she retorted, her voice almost a hiss. I am the Witch of Greed. I have knowledge and understanding that you can only dream of.

- And I know exactly that you're going to say that I would have had more by accepting your contract blah blah blah, while omitting that I'm going to suffer for your curiosity.

He pointed at Beatrice.

- Like my Great Spirit ? Your daughter who you hurt?

Echidna's expression flickered with annoyance at Vui's mention of Beatrice.

- Don't you dare compare my plans to mere curiosity, she snapped back. Everything I do is for the greater good, for progress. And as for your spirit, she was destined for-

Beatrice's voice came suddenly, cutting across Echidna's words, cold and firm.

- Your plans and your greed nearly cost me my life, she interjected, her voice full of anger and hurt.

Echidna's eyes widened at Beatrice's outburst, her arrogant demeanor faltering. She hadn't expected her daughter to speak up against her.

- Beatrice, I-

But Beatrice didn't give her a chance to speak, her eyes blazing with anger as she continued.

- No, I'm speaking now, she said, her voice firm. You used me for your experiments, you manipulated me, you made me suffer. And for what? Your endless thirst for knowledge and power?

- Beatrice, child, Echidna began, her voice wavering, You don't understand. What I did-

Again, Beatrice cut her off, her voice growing louder with pent-up anger and hurt.

- I understand perfectly well. I understand that you saw me as nothing more than a tool, a research subject, a pawn in your game, i suppose. You never saw me as your daughter, only your creation.

Viu doesn't say anything at all, letting Beatrice finish. Echidna's expression flickered with a mix of pain and defensiveness at Beatrice's words. She opened her mouth several times, as if to protest, but nothing came out. It was as if the truth of her actions was finally sinking in, but pride refused to let her admit it.

Beatrice's voice quivered with emotion as she continued.

- You may have created me, but you never loved me. You didn't care about my pain, my fear, my suffering. You only cared about satisfying your own curiosity, no matter who you hurt in the process, in fact.

Viu dried his tears with pride. Echidna's eyes widened as Vui's tears began to fall, but she was too lost in her own turmoil to react.

Beatrice, however, noticed Vui's tears and felt a pang of realization. Her anger and hurt were still there, but there was another feeling growing in her heart - gratitude.

She glanced at Vui, her eyes softer than they had been before. Then she turned back to Echidna, her voice quieter but filled with a sense of certainty.

- And it took Vui to show me that I deserved more than that. Someone who truly cares and cares for me.

He felt touched. Now he knew that someone appreciated him at his true worth.

( This is your moment, bro ! )

Echidna's expression tightened at Beatrice's words, a flicker of jealousy creeping into her eyes.

- So it's true, then, she said, her voice dripping with bitterness. You have found someone who values you more than I ever did. What a fool I was to believe that-

Echidna's words were abruptly cut off as Beatrice spoke up again.

- No, she interrupted, her voice firm. You were the fool to ever think that treating me solely as a tool would yield a different result. Vui understands me, he cares for me. That's the difference.

The other witches, who had been quietly observing the exchange between Echidna, Beatrice, and Vui, were taken aback by the intensity of the emotions and words being spoken.

Minerva shared a look with Sekhmet and Daphne, a mix of shock and sadness on her face. Sekhmet's expression was almost solemn, her usually nonchalant demeanor replaced with a rare show of empathy. Daphne, meanwhile, seemed conflicted, her eyes flickering between Echidna and Beatrice with a mix of guilt and confusion.

- And you know the worst Echidna? The fact that I can show so much humanity while I am at the same level of information and knowledge makes me sick when I see you because I know by looking at you that I could have done the same things as you more than ever. You are affected by the fact that you are incapable of understanding and feeling other emotions and the feelings of others. And I would have been sad if you had not hurt Beatrice so much.

( Viu is telling the truth. Normally if he hadn't been saved by Felt and Rom, this is what would have happened.)

Echidna's eyes widened at Vui's words, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. She had never been spoken to in such a way before, and the truth in his words stung deeply.

- You... you don't understand, she protested weakly. It's not that simple. I... I have my reasons-

Beatrice, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward, her voice firm and resolute.

- Reasons? she interrupted. Reasons for treating me like a thing to be used? For disregarding my feelings, my pain, my will, i suppose ?

- Admit your weakness, you are as flawed as everyone here, even me.

(Here, Viu does not show himself superior to Echidna, it is even quite the opposite, at least with the real Echidna, not the young version which is here. He is just outraged and angry that the one who is supposed to have all the knowledge just as they are at the same level of information... well that she did what she did. People would judge her a thousand times worse without having a lower level of understanding. Viu understands Echidna and Viu is one of the rare people Echidna understands perfectly; hence their reactions.)

Echidna's eyes flicked between Vui and Beatrice, a mix of defiance and defensiveness still on her face. But there was also a hint of hesitation, as if Vui’s words had struck a chord deep within her.

- Admit my weakness? she repeated, her voice almost a whisper.  I... I am not weak. I am the Witch of Greed, the most knowledgeable and cunning witch-

(Here normally she would have looked for an argument or a weakness in her opponent to take him down. But she doesn't do it with Viu. Why? Beyond that, this sentence clearly says that she doesn't want to be seen as inferior by her equal; without understanding that Viu simply said that everyone makes mistakes.)

Beatrice cut her off, her voice firmer now.

- You are weak. Weak in your greed, your thirst for knowledge, your inability to see beyond your own desires.

He then turned to Carmilla and Typhoon.

- Typhoon, I'll be honest, you ended badly because you had a child's pride and children at that age have a crude thought even when it comes to justice. You lacked the humility of the ages but I don't blame you. You were a child when you received your authority.

He then looked at Carmilla and knowing her shyness, he decided to speak in the same way as her.

- I... Your love ..... It must have been complicated.... In fact.... it's horrible to have everyone attracted to you then.... when you haven't done anything special..... you don't know... not if it's true or it's... well.... I was already betrayed by my first love ... but our impulsive reactions ruined everything and you.... all that to say that I don't blame you, not that I accept your actions or those of Typhoon.

He then turned to Sekmeth. He just yawned and looked at her. Knowing her personality, their looks were enough.

He came to Minerva:

-.... Sometimes we want to do well but we destroy everything in our path except that our anger against this world prevents us from backing down. We have seen the injustice and we move forward until justice is done but actions carried out by anger are always ruin, eh?

Then he stared at Echidna:

- You know, I don't even blame you, because we are similar and especially that's why I hate it when the person who is supposedly the most intelligent turns out to be the stupidest.

(Here Viu considers himself not the most capable, remember his past. So now that he had information, he was disappointed or even he took a high kick of reality facing the behavior of Echidna and everything that tells him: You are not shit! You have great quality; something he has never heard from others before these two months. )

Then he looked tenderly at Beatrice.

The witches listened to Vui's words in silence, each of them touched in some way by his understanding and empathetic approach.

Minerva's expression darkened at the truth in his words, her eyes flickering with unspoken guilt. Sekhmet remained as nonchalant as ever, but her eyes held a silent appreciation in them.

Echidna, on the other hand, was almost stunned by the stark contrast between Vui and herself. His compassion and understanding, coupled with his refusal to condemn her outright, were foreign concepts for her. And yet, they hit her in her core.

Suddenly, a person appeared in front of them: the one who was missing among the 7. The tension reached its peak but Viu smiled at this newcomer. He knew that it was not Envy but Satella.

- Hey, Satella! Oh and next time you teleport someone into this world, please be careful....

( He would have spoken like this to Satella when they first met if he hadn't read her mind)

Satella, the Witch of Envy, materialized in front of them amidst a shower of glittering particles. Her ominous aura was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead with a more gentle presence.

Seeing Vui greet her with a smile, she smiled back, her eyes crinkling in amusement.

- My apologies,.she teased, her voice soft. I'll try to be more careful next time.

The other witches, especially Echidna, stared at the newcomer with a mixture of surprise, confusion, and wariness.

- Anyway, I guess you were watching me. What did you want to talk to me about?

Satella chuckled, her eyes flickering with a knowing look.

- Oh, you caught me, she confessed, her voice still soft. You're as perceptive as always. I did want to talk to you, actually.

She then glanced at the other witches, her eyes narrowing slightly.

- Privately, she added, a silent hint in her words.