The shadow lunged. It moved with unnatural speed—so fast that Luna barely registered the attack. A blur of darkness, silent and swift.

  As it crossed into the glow of their Illuminate spell, Elise reacted instantly. She struck the ground with the end of her staff. Flames erupted in a sweeping arc, scorching the air and forcing the figure back. The cavern walls flickered with wild, dancing light, revealing their attacker’s silhouette.

  Luna gasped. The figure was human—or at least, it once was.

  A woman stood before them, her tattered red dress hanging in shreds, stained with dried blood and inky black filth. Her chest bore a deep, gaping wound, as if she had been run through with a blade. Black ooze dripped from her mouth, pooling at her feet and onto the stone floor. Long, unkempt white hair veiled most of her face, but not enough to hide the deep cuts that marred her skin. In her hands, she gripped a weathered wooden staff, its surface inked with filth, blood, and something darker.

  Then, she lifted her head. Eyes—deep, burning red—locked onto them.

  She sneered, her lips curling as if amused. Slowly, she tilted her head, regarding them with cruel, condescending interest.

  "A magic wielder…" Her voice slithered through the air, rasping and hollow. "How… interesting."

  Elise didn’t flinch. Her grip on her staff remained steady, eyes locked on the witch. Calculating. She had to be ready. Eliminate the threat while keeping Luna safe.

  Luna swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who… are you?"

  The woman laughed. A slow, grating sound that sent chills through Luna’s spine.

  Elise didn't break eye contact. "Stay sharp, Luna. Keep your eyes on her."

  The witch’s grin widened, her cracked lips stretching too far. "Yes… do keep watching."

  Shadows twisted. The corpses around them stirred.

  From the bodies strewn across the cavern floor, four figures began to rise—limbs jerking unnaturally, bodies hollowed of life yet filled with something far worse.

  The witch raised a hand, and in her palm, black fire coiled and twisted like a living thing.

  She lowered her head, gazing at the writhing flame with eerie reverence. Then, without warning, she snapped her head up and flung her arm forward.

  "Burn."

  A wave of black fire erupted, surging toward them like a living wall of destruction.

  Elise and Luna leaped back, but the flames tore between them. Cutting them off from one another.

  Luna landed in a crouch, her heart pounding as she spun, eyes wide, searching for Elise on the other side. But she had no time to find her. The creatures closed in. The three shadow figures—horrible, twisted remnants of men— lurched toward her. Their clawed hands scraped across the stone floor, eyes glowing red with malice.

  Luna gritted her teeth, raising her staff defensively. The creatures swiped at her, their movements quick and unpredictable, but Luna was faster, her instincts sharp. She dodged to the side as one of the creatures lunged at her, narrowly avoiding its claws as they raked the air where she had been. Her wooden staff snapped into motion, meeting the next strike—a harsh block that sent a jolt of pain up her arms.

  The third shadow creature attacked from behind. Luna spun, barely managing to parry its clawed hand with a swift strike of her staff, pushing it away. Her breath was ragged, every movement a battle of its own, but she couldn't back down. Her heart pounded as she weaved and ducked, doing everything she could to keep herself alive. Her wooden staff was almost too fragile to defend against their strength, but she used it to her advantage—twisting, striking, blocking, always staying just one step ahead.

  She was learning their rhythm—how they moved, when they attacked. Each attack became clearer, more predictable. Every time they lunged, she was ready to dodge and counter with a small fireball using her left hand, trying to slow them down. But she knew that if she faltered for even a second, she’d be done. Sweat dripped down her face, her body aching with each evasive move.

  Meanwhile, Elise stood her ground on the other side of the flame wall. The shadow creature before her was a twisted, nightmarish form, but Elise was unmoved. Her staff gathering energy, and the wind responded to her call. With a sharp motion, she thrust her staff forward, and a powerful gust of wind burst forth, slamming into the creature and sending it flying backward, crashing into the cavern wall. It staggered, disoriented, but before it could recover, Elise followed up with a swift slash of her staff.

  "Gale Slash!" The air itself seemed to ripple with the force of the slash. The wind gathered around her staff and coiled like a blade, tearing through the creature’s body. The shadow creature’s form was sliced into pieces, its body disintegrating into nothing but black smoke, vanishing with an eerie, gurgling hiss.

  Elise did not falter. She quickly assessed the situation, eyes narrowing as the witch’s twisted figure moved into view. Her staff glowing ominously, pulsed with dark energy, poison coiling at its tip.

  Elise barely had time to react before the witch lunged, her staff, laced with poison, aimed straight for Elise’s heart.

  Elise’s instincts flared. She leaned forward, eyes locked on her opponent, and knelt slightly, preparing for the clash. In one fluid motion, she twisted her body, sweeping her right hand upward while pivoting gracefully. Her left hand gripped her staff with purpose, guiding her just out of the weapon’s deadly path.

  From the ground beneath her, flames erupted in a fierce, twisting column, rising between Elise and the witch’s staff just as the attack came down. The heat was overwhelming, but it blocked the strike, forcing the witch to recoil.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  Before Elise could fully regain her stance, the witch’s eyes flared with fury. She was relentless. Elise barely had time to react as the witch twisted the staff, redirecting the poison into a wave of searing venom. It rushed forward in a torrent of green and black, but Elise’s staff moved faster. As she spun back, with both hands on her staff, she slammed its tip on the ground.

  “Tempest Cleave!” she roared, the wind at her command. A furious gust of air sliced through the poison and black flames with the intensity of a storm, the force of it cutting deep into the darkness. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. The witch’s attack faltered, her power wavered, the black flames danced with the wind, and for a brief moment, she saw Luna and the three shadow creatures in front of her.

  Her heart skipped a beat. Luna was outnumbered, struggling against the three shadow creatures. Elise’s mind raced. She saw their positions behind the flames.

  With a quick motion, she pointed her staff at the wall of black flames between them. Elise called forth a crackling bolt of electricity. “Chain Lightning!” The spell surged from her staff, striking the three shadow creatures, sending arcs of electric energy pulsing through their bodies. They convulsed violently, their forms cracking and twitching as the lightning tore through them.

  The creatures collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain. Luna’s heart stilled for a moment as the oppressive pressure around her began to ease. The creatures were down, but they weren’t completely gone. Yet it gave her the opening she needed.

  She didn’t hesitate. Luna saw the witch staggering on the ground. She leaped in a position to line them up.

  With a focused breath, Luna thrust her staff forward, “Flareburst!” A brilliant arc of fire erupted from her staff, a sweeping wave of flame that burned through the remaining shadows in front of her. The flames crackled and roared, incinerating everything in its path.

  The witch screamed in agony. The fire seared her, forcing her back.

  Elise saw her chance. Her eyes locked onto her, she had no time to waste. The witch was recovering, her staff raised once more, preparing for another attack.

  Quickly, Elise cast an earth wall in front of Luna. “This ends now,” She said with determination, her eyes narrowing with purpose. She couldn’t let the witch regain control.

  Then, with a focused breath, Elise raised her staff high. The wind howled around her, as if responding to her every command. Beneath her, a large glowing sigil began to form, rotating with power. A fierce gust whipped through the air, its fury howling like a storm. Elise's black dress billowed around her, dancing in the tempest. With a single, determined strike, she slammed her staff into the ground.

  "Maelstrom!" The air ripped apart. The wind tore through the cavern with unimaginable force, battering the witch with the storm's sheer intensity. She screamed as her body slammed against the stone wall, cut by the razor-sharp winds. The poison in her staff losing its potency as the gale tore it from her hand, shattering it into pieces.

  The earth wall, however, held firm, shielding Luna from the devastating onslaught.

  Breathless but resolute, Luna seized her chance. She dashed forward, raised her staff, and gathered her energy at its tip.

  The witch howled in agony. With a final, monstrous shriek, she collapsed, motionless.

  Luna lowered her staff, and the energy dissipated. Elise stepped forward to examine the witch's remains, followed closely by Luna.

  A heavy silence filled the cavern.

  "Did we… get her?" Luna asked, voice barely above a whisper.

  Elise didn’t answer immediately. Her grip on her staff tightened as she scanned the witch’s lifeless form. The tattered red dress. The shattered staff. The scorched ground.

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  "I think so…" Elise finally said, though her tone lacked certainty.

  Then, a sickening crack shattered the silence. The witch’s body twitching wildly, her limbs contorted unnaturally, jerking in sharp, unnatural spasms. Her body regenerating, her twisted laugh filling the cavern once more.

  “Did you truly think it would be so easy?” she hissed, her voice slithering like poison through the air.

  Luna’s heart sank. She could see the witch float in air, slowly regaining its strength, her body convulsing as black veins crawled across her skin. Her shattered staff knitting itself back together, pulsing with corrupted magic. Dark energy swirled around her like a living storm.

  Elise’s eyes narrowed. She couldn’t let this continue. With a wave of her hand, she prepared for another strike, but the witch was quicker. The moment her staff reformed, black flames erupted again. She lifted it high, sending a pulse of dark energy through the air, then thrust it toward them.

  "Move!" Elise shouted.

  They barely leapt aside as the blast exploded where they’d stood, scorching the ground.

  “No more tricks,” the witch hissed. She raised her staff high then slammed it into the stone ground. A shockwave rippled outward. The cavern walls trembled, loose rocks shaking free from the ceiling. The force rushed toward them.

  Elise reacted instantly, briefly hovering in the air to dodge the shockwave while Luna had no time to think. She thrust her staff into the ground and used the gust spell, summoning a burst of air beneath her. The gust launched her upward— narrowly avoiding the attack. But in midair, Luna was vulnerable.

  The witch, as if expecting it, saw the opening. She flicked her staff, venomous magic pooling at its tip. With a wicked grin, she aimed at Luna, who was still airborne—defenseless.

  Elise saw it. She didn’t hesitate. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled a frostbolt. The icy projectile struck the witch’s staff mid-spell, knocking her aim off just enough for the attack to miss.

  Luna hit the ground and rolled, shaking off the impact. She immediately realized her mistake, but her focus remained unshaken. She steadied herself, ready for the next move.

  "Root!" she cast, slamming her palm against the ground. Thick vines burst forth, twisting toward the witch’s body.

  But the witch only laughed.

  "Futile!" she sneered, a flick of her wrist igniting the vines in black fire.

  Elise had had enough. With a determined wave of her hand, she summoned a barrage of fire spells in quick succession.

  "Firewall!"

  A wall of roaring flames erupted between them, cutting off the witch’s vision of Luna.

  "Blazing Pillar!"

  A column of fire burst from the ground beneath the witch’s feet. She barely dodged, flipping to the side.

  Then, another Blazing Pillar!

  She twisted away.

  Another. Then another. Elise was relentless.

  The witch scowled, fury twisting her expression. She couldn’t counter. She tried to summon her shadow creatures—but Elise wasn’t giving her the time.

  Luna, watching intently, studied the witch's movements. She waited for the right moment. She looked carefully on where the witch would dodge another attack. Then, she saw it—Earth Spike! Three sharp spikes erupted from the ground. One narrowly missed, but the other two struck true, piercing the witch’s right arm and shoulder.

  Seizing the opportunity, Luna followed with a Firebolt! The bolt flew through the air, piercing the witch’s hand and shattering her staff into pieces.

  Without hesitation, Elise cast another Blazing Pillar! It struck true, engulfing the witch in flames. She screamed in agony, her body writhing as she collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

  Luna didn’t take any chances. She stepped forward and pointed her staff at the witch’s head, gathered a surge of energy at its tip, and released a massive Firebolt. It hit its mark, decapitating the witch in burst of flames and reducing her head to ashes.

  It was over.

  Or so they thought.

  Just then, the witch’s body twitched violently, Black smoke poured from the stab wound in her chest, twisting, writhing.

  A grotesque, clawed hand burst from the corpse. Then another. A head emerged, its deformed face stretching into a monstrous snarl. With a horrific screech, a massive, four-legged shadow creature ripped itself free from the witch’s remains.

  It snarled at them, its eyes burning with rage before it let out a deafening howl.

  Then it ran.

  "It's escaping!" Luna shouted, already moving.

  Luna reacted first. She slammed her staff to the ground—

  "Firewall!" A wall of flames roared up, blocking its escape.

  The dark creature screeched to a halt, realizing it was trapped. It turned, charging directly at Elise. It needed a host to fight back.

  Elise didn’t hesitate. She gathered her energy, her staff hovering, then swiftly released a lighter Prismatic Binding. A brilliant beam shot forth, ensnaring the grotesque creature. It snarled furiously at her before it spoke.

  “You! I know you… You look different, but you move like her! The sorceress!” It growled, the sound thick with fury.

  Elise ignored the creature’s words and turned to Luna. “Luna, will you do the honor?”

  Luna stepped forward, her focus unwavering. The sigil of a powerful spell materialized beneath her, spinning and glowing. Her tunic dress swirled around her as her magic hummed with raw energy.

  The creature snarled again. “No matter how much you resist, you will see your demise! And soon, our lord will rise!”

  Luna’s eyes narrowed with resolve. She raised her staff. “Glacial Storm!”

  A violent blizzard roared to life, a freezing torrent of snow and ice that consumed the dark creature. It writhed and screamed, but the blizzard swallowed it whole, until nothing remained but the echoes of its howls in the storm.

  “Well done, Luna,” Elise said, watching as the last remnants of the creature disappeared into nothingness.

  Then, they walked back toward the remains of the witch, their steps heavy with the weight of the battle.

  Luna glanced at Elise. “What was that? Was that an ancient?”

  Elise shook her head. “No. That was a minion of an ancient. Ancients are much more powerful than that.”

  She knelt beside the witch’s remains, inspecting them closely. “Hmm…” Elise muttered, analyzing the witch’s form.

  She then carefully took a piece of the witch's torn red dress and wrapping it around the broken head of the witch’s staff

  Then she stood.

  "We're done here." Elise glanced at Luna. "Let's go home."

  They retraced their steps back to the cave entrance, swiftly eliminating any remaining threats. Upon reaching the entrance, Elise paused, hands on her hips, and glanced back into the cave. "Hmm… I don’t sense any serious threats anymore."

  Luna exhaled in relief. "That’s good to hear."

  Elise turned to Luna, tapping her on the shoulder with a smile. "You did well, Luna. I’m proud of you."

  Together, they walked westward toward Elise’s home. It was just past midnight. The moon shone brightly, and a multitude of stars dotted the dark sky. The cold wind blew, bringing with it a refreshing chill, allowing them to relax in its embrace.

  Elise felt uneasy, her mind contemplating about something.

  After a moment, Elise stopped and turned to Luna.

  Luna paused, looking at Elise. "Hmm?"

  Elise hesitated, then spoke softly. "Luna, about your question a while ago…"

  A cold gust of wind blew between them, filling the silence.

  "About you being—"

  Luna cut her off, her voice quiet but sincere. "Don’t worry, Elise. It doesn’t matter."

  She added, her words weighted with something deeper. "Deep inside, I already know the answer."

  A brief silence passed before Luna continued, her voice softer. "As long as I have you both with me, I am happy."

  Moved by Luna’s words, Elise stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.

  Meanwhile, at Elise’s home.

  Linda sighed in relief. The oppressive darkness she had sensed earlier had vanished. The danger was gone. She knew now Sivil and Luna had succeeded.

  A few moments later, the door swung open. Luna rushed inside, barely taking the time to put her staff away before throwing herself into her mother’s arms. Linda embraced her tightly, warmth filling her heart. Over Luna’s shoulder, her gaze met Sivil’s. The two exchanged a knowing nod—affection, gratitude, and unspoken relief passing between them. The threat had passed, and peace continued to reign over Karmine.

  Luna, exhausted from battle, soon fell into a deep sleep on Elise’s bed.

  Meanwhile, Sivil and Linda sat at the table, steam curling from their cups of hot tea. Their conversation started lightly, but soon, the weight of unspoken truths settled between them.

  Sivil hesitated before finally voicing her thoughts.

  "She asked me about her identity," she admitted quietly.

  She looked at Linda and said softly, “I… I don’t know what to say…”

  Linda met her gaze, understanding in her eyes. "You have to tell her the truth, sooner or later."

  Sivil closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

  "I’m afraid," she murmured. "I’m afraid she’ll resent me. Afraid she won’t understand why I did it."

  Linda placed a reassuring hand over Sivil’s.

  "You did what you had to, for her safety. You gave her a chance to survive. Your heart is pure… I can see that clearly."

  Sivil let out a small, tired smile.

  "You’re reading my thoughts again."

  Linda chuckled softly but then turned serious.

  "You had no choice but to separate from her. They wouldn’t have stopped hunting you down. It was the right decision, so don’t carry guilt for it." She glanced toward Luna, sleeping soundly. "But she’s old enough now. She needs to know the truth."

  Sivil followed Linda’s gaze. Luna looked peaceful, unaware of the weight of their conversation.

  "She’s strong," Linda continued. "She can defend herself. She can fight those wicked creatures—thanks to you."

  Sivil remained silent, simply watching Luna.

  Linda’s tone grew firm.

  "Sivil, you have to tell her." A pause. "Or I will, when the time comes."

  The two continued their conversation, sipping their tea as the scent of herbs and warmth filled the space. But soon, the discussion turned grim.

  Sivil walked over to a nearby shelf, where she had placed the wrapped remains of the witch’s staff earlier. Retrieving it carefully, she unwrapped the torn red cloth and set both the fabric and the broken staff gently on the table.

  "It wasn’t an Ancient," she said. "It was human—corrupted by them. We took a piece of her staff and her robes."

  Linda ran her fingers over the crimson fabric. A sudden vision—a flood of memories—surged into her mind.

  A noblewoman. From the far west. Beyond the sea. From the land of Vale. A Nephilim—blessed with greater speed, overflowing with energy. Once powerful. Slain by an Ancient. Corrupted into its minion.

  Linda gasped, pulling her hand back slightly.

  Sivil leaned in. "Whose Ancient?"

  Linda steadied herself. "I can’t see clearly… But it's a descendant of Valdis's bloodline."

  Sivil’s fingers curled slightly against the fabric. She whispered the name under her breath.

  "Valdis…"

  Then Linda turned to the remains of the staff. The moment she touched it, a shiver ran down her spine. Something dark stirred inside—an ominous presence lurking beneath the surface.

  A voice. Low. Sinister. Crawling into her mind like a whispering shadow.

  "A Celestial Sight… it still exists? And from a half-blood… How intriguing."

  Linda’s body tensed, pressure pressing down on her like unseen hands. Her brows furrowed, eyes shutting tight in concentration.

  "Are you the one who killed my puppet?"

  The voice slithered through her thoughts, curling with malevolence.

  "I will find you…"

  Linda gasped and tore her hand away from the staff, breathing heavily.

  Sivil’s eyes darkened. "What happened?"

  Linda swallowed, steadying herself. "It spoke to me."

  Sivil’s expression hardened.

  "The owner of this staff… he’s looking for us." Linda’s voice dropped lower. "And he’s not happy we destroyed his puppet."

  Sivil frowned. “Did you see where?”

  “I couldn’t see clearly. He’s blocking me. But I felt it—farther south, on an island. A place devoid of life. And I sensed strong forces gathering there… far greater than what we faced today.”

  She turned to Sivil, her voice low but firm, her gaze unwavering.

  “We’re far from done. Not even close. We need to be ready.”

  Now, far to the south, at the very edge of Terra, a storm was gathering. Dark clouds churned in the sky, thick and heavy, crackling with ominous energy. The land was barren, lifeless—an endless stretch of desolation. Rivers of molten lava churned within the island’s heart, their fiery veins pulsing like a burning lifeblood beneath the jagged cliffs. At the center of this infernal realm, a dark tower loomed, its spire slashing through the obsidian sky.

  Within that tower stood an Ancient. His presence was a force unto itself, commanding and timeless. His voice echoed like a thunderclap through the walls, reverberating with power as he spoke to his four disciples, their faces shrouded in shadow beneath his overwhelming gaze.

  "Find them."

  His words, low and deliberate, each one carrying the weight of an undeniable truth. The wind howled, carrying whispers of forgotten secrets long buried in the depths of time.

  The disciples bowed, their expressions unreadable, yet in the depths of their eyes burned a flicker of fear—or perhaps something far more sinister. The task they had been given was no ordinary one.

  As the storm raged louder, the Ancient’s eyes glinted with something dangerous—something far older than even he. A quiet, unspoken promise hung in the air, one that would unravel the very fabric of Terra itself. His lips curled into a faint, sinister smile.

  And then, with a final, haunting command, he spoke:

  "They will fall.”