The yellow flash of jujutsu high

Keitaro could roughly make out that the curse was created from the feeling of hate and injustice that those girls must have felt being wrongfully accused as witches.

They probably had some witches-related skills, the basic stuff like flying, and making potions, translated to curse energy something that twists everything, their potion probably is some horrible stuff like poison that destroys you from the inside out.

He wondered what else could they have, they had 14 abilities, more specifically, 14 curse techniques, and he could probably make a rough lay of their ability without even seeing them.

So using the fact that they were considered witches as a baseline, he would just try and think of the way people who were accused as witches were killed off.

Keitaro narrowed his eyes a bit, if he remembered correctly, witches or people believed to be witched were hunted using multiple methods.

Those people truly were barbaric, he wondered what could possess such a person to kill someone like that.

He was more stunned than anything.

"Let's see," he began, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "They might have powers based on the dark and twisted perceptions people had of witches."

He held up a finger, he would put a finger up for any power they may possess

"Flight—that one's almost a given. Not like traditional flying, but the ability to levitate or move weightlessly through the air. Maybe even displacing gravity within a certain radius around them."

That was a good guess, what else could it be though?

Akane's ears perked up at this, she was intrigued. She could sense her master mind was piecing together a larger picture. Keitaro continued.

"Second, potions. They can likely manipulate curse energy to mimic the effects of potions, like deadly toxins or debilitating poisons. Perhaps one technique could rot a person from within, corroding them bit by bit."

He then raised a third finger. "Third, something like charms or illusions. They might be able to create enchantments or distort reality around them, making their opponents see things that aren't there. It would be a reflection of how people believed witches could manipulate others or induce terrifying visions."

Even saying this, he felt something was off, this seemed too basic, curse energy was creative in the way it twisted stuff.

This explanation is way too fucking basic.

Keitaro's expression darkened as he moved to the possible next ability. "Fourth... fire manipulation. There is a cruel irony in that, considering how witches were often burned at the stake. They might have a technique where they summon cursed flames, flames that burn hotter the more fear and hate they sense from their opponent. Could be their most lethal attack."

As he continued, he felt a chill settle over the room, as if the very spirit before him was responding to his deductions.

No...this felt off, way too fucking off.

"Fifth, curse binding or imprisonment. They could trap a person, maybe in a cursed barrier, or make their body feel as though it's restrained by invisible hands or binds. It'd mirror the shackles and bonds used to restrain 'witches' before trial."

No

Akane not wanting to leave behind decided to chime in, her voice thoughtful but eager. "What about something with animals? Witches were said to have familiars, right?"

Keitaro nodded his head, yeah that was plausible. "Good point. That could be number six—summoning lesser cursed creatures, like birds or wolves that could swarm an enemy. They'd be a bit like curses themselves, attacking anyone who intrudes upon their space."

No, this felt off.

"Akane, when you fought it, did it use any of those abilities" He said looking at Akane.

Akane thought to herself for a bit.

"She could fly, she used some ropes to try and drag me down to some abyss, and she summoned a lot of black cats" Akane seemed to have a thoughtful look on her face as she said those words.

As Keitaro heard those words something seemed to have clicked in his mind.

Yeah, he knew it, curse energy was not so 1 to 1 with the way it gave away abilities, they were usually a bit twisted.

Plus this was a vengeful spirit soo, so its ability to some level should be related to some manner to its death.

Keitaro's eyes widened slightly as the pieces began falling into place in his mind. 'It's not witchcraft they're channeling... it's the trials themselves.'

His mind raced, putting together the twisted logic behind their abilities.

"Akane," he said his voice slowly realising what the curse ability truly was."I don't think their curse techniques are about witchcraft at all. They're based on the Salem Witch Trials. They're using the same brutal methods that were used against them, reenacting the injustices they suffered to trap and torment anyone they deem guilty."

The curse eyes widen a bit....what could have possibly given it away?

What did she do to give away her ability, how was this human able to deduct her ability so easily, no maybe he will get them wrong

Akane's tails flicked with understanding, her ears perked up as she caught on to what her master was putting down. "So... it's not that they're casting spells like witches—they're the persecutors, forcing their enemies into twisted trials?"

"Exactly," Keitaro confirmed with a smile on his face, his brain was out here having an Eureka moment and he was loving it. "Their techniques probably include things like drownings, crushing weights, and ropes dragging their victims down... like their version of 'evidence' used in trials. Maybe even black cats—they could symbolize bad omens, marking someone as guilty."

Akane did remember the curse did someone some black cat, after she had seen the black cat her ability seemed to misfire sometimes and sometimes wouldn't even form.

She thought that her refinement was the problem but it appear like she was wrong, her control wasn't that ass.

It was still ass, but not that ass.

Keitaro paused for a moment he made sure to take a steadying breath as a dark/grim understanding settled over him. "If they have a Domain Expansion, I'd bet it's a recreation of a courtroom, where the opponent is accused of being a witch. And like those trials, the rules would be completely rigged: damned if you do, damned if you don't."

"So their Domain is basically a death sentence... forcing anyone caught in it to 'prove' their innocence, knowing it's a trap. How would they even be able to fight back?" Akane added with a very thoughtful look on her face.

Things were starting to make sense now.

Keitaro clenched his fist, he felt truly sorry for the women trapped inside the curse, "They couldn't—at least not in the traditional sense. I'd wager that anything a person tries would only reinforce their supposed 'guilt.' I bet their domain is just as unjust as their trial was"

The curse in the corner was sweating bullets....the fuck kind of human was she meeting, how the heck could he deduct all of that from one singular sentence.

Little did she know, you could not trick, a professional trickster.