The woman who was apparently an undine mentioned something about a gift and the Hidden Witch fell into thought. In just over two centuries of my roaming the skies pursuing witchcraft, never had I seen a true greater spirit. I was in a state of shock and awe watching the two casually argue

  Who knew they could take human form…? Does that make this one particularly strong? So, what does that mean of the dual-element spirit child? More importantly… how could it possibly be the Hidden Witch’s offspring? None of this makes any sense! She herself said it was the island we stand upon, as if that made any more sense.

  “E-excuse me,” The three illogical creatures turned their eyes to me at the same time, “I’m not sure I understand what’s happen—”

  With a sharp inhale, I could no longer speak. The aether shook and my aura froze. A cold sweat appeared on my arms and my long-honed survival instincts started ringing like alarm bells, echoing through my mind.

  No… Something’s coming. But what is it…?

  All I could do was shudder and wait for this being to reveal itself. Despite the danger that rose goosebumps on my flesh challenging these three absurdities without having even revealed itself, those three hadn’t seemed to notice it yet. Or do they not care…? That can’t be. Its presence will only grow stronger as it manifests.

  I wanted to shout, to do something—anything! But it was as if the pressure held me in place. Before I could manage to so much as blink, space started to ripple and fill out like a painting. Breath caught in my chest. Soon the shape of a man formed and I instinctually knew I could never hope to touch this person.

  “Two hours…” He was clearly infuriated, and his rage caused the clouds above to shake and disperse as if taking the brunt of the tension he held from his tone. “It has been a mere two hours, and what you’ve done with that time is produce this abomination?!”

  Impossible… I had heard that if a witch were to carelessly break the rules of this world, ‘something’ would come looking. Is… is this it?

  While they almost seemed my peers in the face of this newcomer, even the strongest of the bunch who the Hidden Witch called in reeled back in fear. The young girl visibly shook as she hid behind the reliable shield of robes, but could even the Hidden Witch stand up against this person?

  It was clearly a mage who had transcended life, death, space, or all of them together. I could see centuries of wisdom behind his eyes—someone who had seen more than he ever wished for. It was clear this man’s will was indomitable. I was glad he didn’t look at me, but a certain dread filled my body as his gaze was focused on the Hidden Witch.

  To my surprise, the rage in the sky seemed to quell as she stepped forward, puffing out her chest, “Abomination?! How dare you?”

  No, you can’t! I wanted to cry out, but I wasn’t even sure if I could draw breath, let alone expel it. I noticed the girl clutch her supposed mother tighter and it only seemed to stoke the Hidden Witch’s arrogant rage. She was centuries if not millennia beyond me, but even she had to realize now and again not to cross those clearly more powerful.

  The man’s eyebrow twitched as he clenched his fist, and I thought for certain he was going to smite our savior—our savior… The woman who had reminded me why I was here in the first place—

  I gasped as she leaned forward with an open palm, and it landed squarely in the old man’s chest. Earth shattered at his feet, but he didn’t move from the spot. However, he hunched over and spit up blood. Fear buckled my knees, but the legendary witch continued by grabbing the collar of his shirt.

  “You are not my father, and you have no right to speak to me that way. I granted you new life, so don’t dare judge me when I do so for another.” Surprisingly, this new mage didn’t turn her to dust instantly. His eyes widened, and it seemed he actively held his tongue. Why would she clarify that he’s not her father… Does she know this man? She granted life to this strange spirit who was considerably weaker than herself, but how could it be she did the same for this monstrous mage? How does that make any sense?

  “And if… if you don’t—” The Hidden Witch continued, but she looked strangely flustered and more conflicted with each word coming from her mouth. If I didn’t know any better, I would think she was a young girl around Mudrock’s age. Her cheeks seemed to flush uncharacteristically, and she turned a little bit away so as not to look at the old mage still in her clutches, “If you don’t apologize to my daughter, I will have no choice but to fight you.”

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  “You… can’t be serious.” The old mage spoke again, and I had to admit I was lost. There was no way I could decipher the situation before me so I had no choice but to wait until I could ask about it. I was no better than Mudrock before the High Coven. He slapped her hand away and stood back on his own two feet.

  “Do it.” The Hidden Witch stood her ground, and the sun seemed to form rings of light as the sky cleared while the stormy sea below rumbled dull and distant thunder.

  He sighed deeply, “You stupid, stupid girl… Again, I suppose I would be disappointed if you were any less. Not even the Archon of Divination could foresee the trouble you stir in a single afternoon.”

  The Hidden Witch seemed to relax, but her gaze sharpened expectantly.

  “Fine… You, little girl…” The old mage crouched down and put on a strained smile, but Lazulei didn’t move a muscle, only looking up to her mother in fear and uncertaintly. The Hidden Witch, of course, gave him a meaningful nod. “I apologize for acting so brash. Truth is, I was only a little startled by your sudden appearance, is all… I’ve never seen such striking eyes so full of ambition… and mana…”

  The young girl seemed at least less scared of him, but rubbed her eyes, as if trying to figure out something wrong with them.

  “Oh please, you’re only troubling her further.” The Hidden Witch gave her a couple pats on the head, and she seemed to calm down, now comfortably to her side. “Don’t listen to that old man. You have your grandfather’s eyes.”

  For someone so flustered about apparently giving birth twenty minutes ago, I had to admit, this ancient witch was adjusting well. In that moment, I couldn’t believe I never bothered starting a family myself in all those years I was throwing myself away for the Adjutant’s greed.

  “Do I really?!” The girl’s smile was just as bright as before. Literally effulgent as the elements radiated from her. She looked from her mother to the man I just couldn’t figure out and, while her smile dwindled, she didn’t let up. “I guess I can forgive you, but if you’re mean to Mama again… I will have no choice but to fight you.”

  The Hidden Witch’s eyes flew open as if she was startled by the young girl’s words, spoken with her translucent little blue fists up. A grin wide enough to eclipse her daughter’s previous smile broached her cheeks and it seemed she couldn’t control her laughter. As impossible to figure out as this ancient witch was, seeing her hold her belly cackling as the tips of her ears turned red was heartening. She wiped away a tear as she collapsed into a stone chair that appeared from nothing right in the nick of time.

  “We humbly accept your apology!” The Hidden Witch roared, slamming her fist against her knee. She seemed in a great mood, ecstatic even, but there was something in her eyes that looked like she was backed into a corner or otherwise at the end of her rope. “But I really… really don’t know what to do here.”

  They were just butting heads, on the verge of a sky-crushing battle to be told about in folk tales for generations to come. Now all of a sudden, the Hidden Witch looked at him with pleading eyes. It almost looked like she was beckoning for the same wisdom I saw behind his eyes.

  He let out another long sigh, then his eyes turned soft, looking at the young Lazulei. “Girl… I can take you somewhere, and there will be many who can take care of you. But you have to know… if you stay here—”

  “Shuddup!” The girl cried, leaning back into her mother and wrapping the front of her robes around her like a cloak, “You’re not my dad!”

  I thought she seemed like a brat, but the Hidden Witch was trying her best to stifle a laugh. It was one thing to throw someone’s words in their face, but to throw one’s mother’s previously effective words in the same person’s face was downright disrespect. I couldn’t be sure if this child had even an inkling of such nuance, but she would probably do well in noble society were it not for her unrefined diction.

  “N-no, it’s not like that…” Now the man too looked up at the Hidden Witch expecting something, “But you see, your mother…”

  “I already know Mama has to go. She has to!” Lazulei cried with baffling resolve. “But you can’t take me away! I won’t let you!”

  Mana flared up only to be quelled by the Hidden Witch’s hand on her shoulder, “Dear… but it’s dangerous—”

  “All I ever wanted…” The girl looked up at her mother with teary eyes, looking out over the restored landscape, “Was to live, and grow up and be a big island one day. One with lots of happy people on it. Mama, you won’t… you won’t make me leave, will you?”

  Now tears welled up in the Hidden Witches eyes too. She seemed to take in a sharp breath and crouched down to eye level, “No, my dear… If you want to stay here, Mama has lots of friends that can come help you out. I’ll miss you, but… I could never hold you back.”

  The two shared a heartwarming smile that lasted a few minutes and I felt that finally all of this was somehow over, then, the air grew cold. The Hidden Witch’s smile faded slightly, and her gaze fell squarely in mine.

  “Quartz Witch… This now involves you.” I regretted being so obstinate towards her and was hoping to mend that relationship, but it was clear that now she had come to some understanding of her own priorities, “Perhaps I could petition Empress Dreadheart to expand the storm, but I do not wish to deprive my daughter of the sunlight. I am going to need you to assure me that your witches will not disturb her peace in my absence.”