ã€ŠThe World Shifted, Then War Beganã€‹


 CH 1: The World Has Gone Crazy But It Will Have To Wait A Few Hours

    ¡°WE ARE THE CHURCH OF THEOLAS!!!¡±

    The mob of villagers roared in anger as they chant in unison. The torches were raised in the air and embers from the fire danced in the cold night air. The mob surrounded six magical creatures who were tied to stakes. The smell of oil was pungent in the air, almost suffocating to the bystanders but they didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°Today a law has been passed, and it was only through God that we were given this gift!¡± A man garbed in a priest outfit shouted intensely. ¡°He has given us the POWER to burn these creatures behind me.¡±

    ¡°THEOLAS THEOLAS THEOLAS!¡±

    The mob chanted like a mantra, their crazed eyes viciously shooting daggers at the magical creatures. Theolas proudly looked on as the mob chanted his name. He raised his hand and instantly the mob was silent.

    ¡°These creatures are a plague to our way of life. A blight, a stain, upon the earth in which we reside. We shall take no prisoners. The Witches, the Warlocks, the Mermaid, the Werewolf. DEATH is the only option to save us from this blight!¡±

    ¡°BURN THE WITCHES!¡±

    ¡°BURN THEM ALL!¡±

    ¡°DEATH TO THE MERMAID!¡±

    ¡°KILL THE WEREWOLF!¡±

    ¡°Burn them all!¡± Theolas yelled in an assertive tone, commanding the mob.

    The mob complied, throwing their torches on the sticks covered in oil. The fire caught instantly, setting the unconscious creatures alight. Their sudden screams and cries stunned the angry mob but were soon lost in the cheers of delight.

    Theolas relished in the screams, his expression one of relief as he watched them be burned alive.Theolas turned to the people, spread his arms wide and said.

    ¡°GOD has spoken...for it is his wish that we are relieved of this blight. I can assure you that your safety and the safety of all humans are our first priority. Our gracious and benevolent King has research teams building new technology to combat other dangerous beasts. Remember, your loved ones that the beasts took from us. We cannot stain their memory by becoming friends with these beasts. They all¡­.MUST BE ELIMINATED!¡±

    ¡°THEOLAS! THEOLAS! THEOLAS!¡±

    Theolas basked in cheers and smiled. ¡°It has only just begun...I will avenge them!¡± He thought viciously.

    <hr>

    Behind the mob stood a cloaked figure that watched the five magical creatures burn. Vibrant green peaked from under the hood, emanating a coldness that could freeze a lake.

    A villager brushed past her, bumping into her shoulder. Her hood fell off, revealing long brown curly hair, perfect bow lips, and a slightly round face. Her green eyes stared at Theolas with such cold fury that the man in question was looking around cautiously as if he could feel her stare.

    Her fingers danced at her side, making small dazzling lights appear around her hand. Her mind was screaming at her to kill him now and end this madness. But she couldn¡¯t for some reason and she made a fist. The dazzling lights disappeared and she relaxed her hand.

    The world had gone mad.

    She had gone to bed and woke up to madness. The king passed a law to kill all magical creatures and it honestly shocked her. She hadn¡¯t heard of such a law being implemented and it wouldn¡¯t have passed with the number of Warlocks and Witches in political positions.

    Except it did.

    She had no idea who or what the Church of Theolas was but they seemed to be a cultist group intent on killing magical creatures. They rounded up the known magical creatures in the village, who she spotted mingling with the very same villagers and killed them in cold blood.

    She took one last look at the charred bodies before silently excusing herself from the mob. Those magical creatures were unfortunate, unlike her who was fortunate for not being as open about her magical heritage to strangers.

    The woman exited the village and walked down the muddy road that leads to another village. She turned left, veering off the muddy path and into the unnamed woods where her measly hut resided. Her black hooded cloak billowed around her in the howling night wind. She made a series of left and right turns that would confuse a non-magical bystander.

    However, a witch or to be exact; a Cursed Fae Witch, like her knew these woods like the back of her hand. Her name was Primrose Willis, a witch who managed to live for over a thousand years.

    After making a final left turn, Primrose found herself in a small clearing where her wooden hut resided. She stepped over the mushroom circle the encircled her homeand pushed the door open. The brown-haired witch walked into the consuming darkness of her home and raised her hand.

    Her pink lips moved as she whispered, her voice detached. ¡°Dancing Lights.¡±

    She snapped her fingers and a glowing orange flame erupted from her fingers. It floated in the air before jumping towards the nearest candle. She watched as the flame jumped from candle to candle slowly illuminating the hut, giving the inside an ethereal glow.

    She walked over to her bookshelf that held a wealth of knowledge she accumulated over the years. Some books contained spells of her own creation which were sealed with magic. She ran her fingers across the spines of her books, delicately touching them as if they were the most precious things in the world.

    She moved away from her bookshelf and sat down by the fire pit which was lit by the orange flame. The water in her cauldron started boiling within seconds due to the magical flame. The witch basked in the heat of the flame as she got lost in her thoughts.

    She had come to this village ¨C which was called Callesta ¨C several months ago by carriage to find a rare book that she had been looking for. She started collecting rare books over the years as a way to preserve lost history and magic. The book was last seen in this village according to a librarian she met a while back.

    She had tried many scrying spells to locate the book but she had no success.

    Primrose watched the fire, displeasure radiating from her body. She knew it was likely the book had an anti-scrying spell on it or the book was destroyed and found it disheartening. She shook her head, chasing away her depressive thoughts and got to work on another way to find the book.

    Primrose went to her wooden cabinet and grabbed the relevant items she needed. She looked at the items on the table; a wooden oak bowl, paper, quill & inkwell.

    She had one more scrying spell to try before she would move on completely and try to figure out why the world had gone crazy. However, the world could wait for a few hours since this book was important to her.

    This spell was an extremely old scrying spell she had created years ago. It was only recently that she remembered the spell when searching through old tomes of hers.

    She made a cut on her finger and squeezed a drop of blood into the inkwell. She then dipped the quill into the inkwell and wrote cursively on the paper.

    ¡®Curses & How They Work by Muriel Mercer¡¯

    She looked at the name of the book and author she wrote on the paper. The author was long dead so it was impossible to ask her any questions. Folding the paper neatly, she dropped it into the bowl. She moved her hands over the bowl, letting them hover just five inches above the bowl.

    ¡°O tree spirits,¡± she chanted as dazzling green lights dance across her fingers, ¡°heareth my plea and grant me nature¡¯s divine energy, to find for me, my own greatest desire,¡± She looked down in the bowl, ¡°Nature¡¯s Compass.¡± Suddenly, three green lights flew in through the open window and encircled the bowl several times before diving into the bowl.

    The paper burst into bright green flames and she quickly took up the bowl before walking outside. Using one hand, she quickly cast a cloaking spell over herself to hide her form and the magical light that would surely give away her position.

    The way her spell worked, required a good relationship with the tree spirits which she built over the years. The spell would get brighter the closer she got to the target and dim the farther she was away from it. The green flames led her into the middle of the village where the magical creatures were burnt alive. Noticing just a few guards around, she walked towards the well.

    The flame dimmed.

    She made a right turn in the direction of the tavern the flame dimmed further. After going through trial and error, the flame finally got brighter. The flame grew brighter and bright until she found herself behind the local church. She looked down the stairs at the door that led into the Hall of the Dead.

    ¡°The Hall of the Dead?¡± Primrose mused, before stepping down the stairs.

    She pushed open the iron double doors, stepped inside and dropped her cloaking spell. The darkness ran away at the presence of the green flame burning in the oak bowl. The smell of rotting flesh and burning paper invaded her nose but she ignored it in favor of finding the book.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    She walked deep into the hall, passing by corpses, as the fire got brighter. She came upon a wooden door and turned the doorknob using her free hand but it was locked.

    Primrose scoffed and raised her index finger. On the tip of her finger, a green spark appeared and she drew an upside-down triangle around the lock. The door unlocked with a click and she turned the knob once more before pushing the door wide open.She stepped inside and heard the squeaky sound of a bed, indicating someone was inside. She looked to her left and saw the keeper of the hall staring at her wide-eyed.

    ¡°Now who the hell are you?!¡± The old keeper yelled, rushing towards her with his arm raised ready to slap her but she moved quicker.

    The Fae Witchtouched his forehead with her index finger, making the man freeze completely. ¡°Compelling Daze¡± Primrose whispered, her voice gentle. The man relaxed and fell into a blank state with dull eyes. ¡°You will return to your bed and when you wake up, it will be nothing but a dream you can barely recall.¡±

    The keeper complied and nodded his head. He walked back to his bed in an almost robotic way and laid down. Primrose looked around the tiny room and saw a book on his dresser. She walked closer and inspected the book.

    ¡°Now why would this book be in the hands of this old man?¡± Primrose thoughtfully mumbled before glancing back at the old man with curious eyes. The witch ended spell and the room fell into semi-darkness with one lone candle providing the light.

    She placed the oak bowl on the dresser before letting her hands hover over the book. She chanted unintelligible words as her hand dazzled with green sparks. Green lights phased through the walls, coming into the room, and floated around her.

    She looked at the six tree spirits that came to aid her and her eyes followed them as they encircled the black book on the dresser. Primrose closed her eyes while the spirits form a green dome of magical energyaroundthe book. She wanted to check for harmful spells that were laid on the book before she touched it.

    ¡°Hmm, interesting,¡± Primrose ponderedas she inspected the spells on the book. ¡°This book is covered in numerous anti-scrying spells that guard against known scrying spells. The spell I used is one I created centuries ago so that¡¯s why it worked.¡±

    She absorbed the book¡¯s appearance with her green eyes before tucking the book under her arm and leaving the Hall of the Dead. She re-casted her cloaking spell before walking home and once she was inside she delved right into the book.

    She slowly flipped the pages, her green eyes darting from word to word. The book was incredibly detailed on how curses work and the fae witch found herself immersed in the book. In no time, she finished the book since it wasn¡¯t very long.

    She sighed.

    Primrose placed the book among her collection and cast a few protection spells over it. The book didn¡¯t have what she was looking for.  It¡¯s been centuries but she still hasn¡¯t found a thing to cure her. The witch gnashed her teeth and swiped the inkwell off the table in anger. The inkwell smashed onto the wooden floor as the ink seeped beneath the floorboards.

    She stood in the middle of her hut in a daze until the fluttering of wings snapped her out of it. She looked towards the window and a smile slowly formed on her face. A blue butterfly flew in, flapping its beautiful wings with incredible elegance.Primrose held her hand out and the butterfly landed on her pale hand. She lifted the small magical creature towards her face. She looked down at her familiar who sensed her distress and came to comfort her.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only one that I truly enjoy their company, Anastasia.¡± Primrose told the familiar.Anastasia happily flapped her wings, releasing waves of magical energy that caressed her face and soothed her body.

    Primrose chuckled. ¡°Thank you, Anastasia.¡±

    Anastasia flapped her wings trice before taking flight and flying into the small wooden enclave filled with flowers that her master made for her.

    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to figure out why the world has gone crazy.¡±

    <hr>

    A tall man stood on the side of the dirt road in black robes. His black hair was combed back to perfection with strands falling into his face. His blue alluring eyes gleamed in the dark as he hailed down the passing travel carriage. He greeted the passengers with a smile sat in between two burly men.

    ¡°What¡¯s your name stranger?¡± The man on the left of him asked.

    ¡°My name is of no importance to you.¡± He replied in an amused tone. He gripped his Wiccan necklace tightly and he stared straight ahead of him, ignoring the two men.

    ¡°Hey! My brother is talking to you!¡± The man on the right yelled.

    ¡°Tch, annoying,¡± the man said in his velvety voice, ¡°If you must know...my name is William.¡±

    The men chuckled suspiciously. ¡°Great...just great. Where are you going, William?¡±

    William smirked. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this carriage take us to Callesta?¡± He replied playfully.

    ¡°It does but how about you and us get off earlier, right friend?¡±

    ¡°With pleasure, my friends,¡± William replied humbly.

    The two men signaled for the carriage to stop and led William into the forest. William followed the men deep into the forest until they stopped. The two men faced William who kept his head lowered.

    ¡°So this is how it¡¯s going to end Willy. You¡¯re going to take off those expensive clothes you got on and give us all of your money or we kill you right here."

    William chuckled. ¡°What makes you think you can command me?¡± William asked patronizingly before raising his head and sending the men a mocking smile.

    ¡°You-!¡± One of the brothers yelled but was frozen in his tracks.

    ¡°Brother!¡± The other brother tried to move but found himself trapped as well.

    ¡°You know it¡¯s only polite to give your name before asking for someone¡¯s name.¡± William mocked as he walked towards the men.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Warlock!¡±

    ¡°That I am,¡± William admitted, ¡°but you¡¯re not going to live long enough tell anyone.¡±

    William grinned madly before holding out his hand and drawing a dagger from his waist. ¡°The moment I had a drop of your blood you were under my control, you pitiful humans.¡±

    He stabbed the dagger deep into his palm, spilling his deep red, almost black blood on the forest floor. A red light erupted from the wound and tendrils of blood enveloped the dagger, staining it red.

    ¡°What are you going to do?!¡±

    William tilted his head to the side and gripped the dagger with his injured hand. ¡°I¡¯m a Blood Warlock.... who made a pact with a demon. I have a quota to fill and you¡¯re going to be my sacrifices.¡± William told them maliciously before walking towards the brother who was going to attack him.

    ¡°Wha-¡± The brother started but was interrupted by his own gargles.William dragged the blood-stained blade across his neck slowly, savoring in the way the blood gushed and spilled all over his pale hand. Rivulets of blood poured from the fatal wound, decorating the forest floor.

    ¡°BROTHER NO!¡± The other brother screamed.

    ¡°Pitiful,¡± William said, losing interest in the dying man. He turned to the still alive brother. ¡°To think you both would¡¯ve been alive if you left me alone but alas it twas not to be.¡±

    ¡°PLEASE! LET ME GO!¡± The man started crying as William neared him.William pressed his wounded palm on the forehead of the man, smearing the man with his own blood.

    ¡°Devour.¡± he snarled in a voice not his own.

    Tendrils of blood burst from his wounded palm and wrapped around the screaming man. The tendrils dug into his skin and could be seen traveling beneath his skin. The burly man¡¯s body quickly lost its vitality as his skin dried and turned pale.

    William pulled his hand away from the man, leaving an empty husk before him. William smirked and backhanded the husk which burst into a cloud of dust.

    William turned away and began walking back towards the main road. ¡°Now that the quota has been filled, let¡¯s see whether this man called Theolas is worth killing.¡±

 CH 2: The Falsely Accused & The Target

    Primrose wearily roused from her deep sleep as the pounding on her door kept raising her ire. She slowly got out of bed, lifting her white nightgown as her two feet hit the wooden floors. The witch narrowed her eyes at the door, her two feet moving with purpose towards the door. Her fingers kept twitching, conjuring green magical sparks, as her mind prepared for battle. Her hut was perfectly warded and hidden from villagers so it can only mean an intruder breached her wards.

    ¡°Anastasia,¡± Primrose called out to her familiar icily.

    The butterfly familiar fluttered her wings before flying out of her enclave. Anastasia moved through the air elegantly before landing on her master¡¯s shoulder. The familiar flapped her blue wings - that glowed - releasing magical waves that sunk into Primrose¡¯s body.

    Primrose absorbed the energy and the green magical energy her hands emitted surrounded her hand in a green aura. The fae witch raised her left hand, her palm facing towards the door. ¡°Tangling Faerie Vines!¡± She said, her voice forceful. Green bioluminescent vines shot out of her palm, ripping the door open viciously and capturing the intruder.

    ¡°How dare you trespass here?!¡± Primrose shouted, greatly incensed, her green eyes cold as she glared at the figure.

    ¡°STOP PLEASE!¡± A docile voice squeaked.

    Primrose stepped out of her hut, glaring at the creature she captured. ¡°Why would you, a Dryad, seek me out?¡± Primrose asked scathingly.

    She carefully observed the Dryad that was tightly bound in her vines. This was her first time seeing the Dryad of this woodland forest she resided in and felt world-weary.

    The Dryad appeared as a beautiful woman with delicate features seemingly made of soft oak wood. Her hair made of leaves and foliage fell down her back. Her eyes that were currently filled with fear were glowing yellow.

    Primrose tilted her head to the side in thought.

    ¡°I¡¯m s-sorry to have intruded miss!¡± The Dryad stammered, ¡°My name is Alura and I heard about you from Anastasia.¡±

    Primrose glanced at the butterfly on her shoulder with trepidation before fixing her cold eyes back onto Alura. ¡°Speak.¡±

    ¡°That man, Theolas has ordered another execution in the village just this morning,¡± Alura told her, before flinching from the horrible aura Primrose gave off.

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me this because?¡± Primrose questioned, ¡°I have little thought for magical creatures who cannot protect themselves from humans.¡±

    ¡°B-But Miss! It¡¯s not a magical creature but a human!¡± Alura cried out.

    ¡°What?¡± Primrose raised her brows in surprise.

    ¡°Yes, it''s human alright because I sensed no magic from them.¡± Alura continued.

    Primrose looked at Alura skeptically. ¡°Why are you hovering so close to humans?¡±

    ¡°B-Because of the inevitable war,¡± Alura said grimly.

    Primrose sucked in a breath. ¡°What are you talking about?" She said forcefully. "Answer me!¡±

    Alura looked at Primrose with disbelieving eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been told you¡¯re recluse but I didn¡¯t know it was this bad.¡± Alura bluntly said, earning a glare from Primrose.

    ¡°There has been word that the King is gathering forces to attack places that are densely populated with magical creatures. Us Dryads have been spying on human settlements to gather more information so we can prepare preventive measures,¡± Alura told Primrose before looking down sadly, ¡°But with the massive divide in the magical communities it¡¯s unlikely that magical creatures will join forces against the humans.¡±

    Primrose cursed and released Alura from her spell. ¡°Get out,¡± Primrose told her derisively before turning around.

    ¡°What about that human?!¡± Alura implored.

    Primrose stopped and looked over her shoulder. ¡°Why are you so worried about that human? Weren''t you spying on them?

    Alura flinched at Primrose¡¯s cold tone before speaking. ¡°I-I j-just don¡¯t want to see innocent people die...¡± she whispered sadly.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Primrose turned around, fully looking at the dryad. ¡°What about the magical creatures that died yesterday? Weren¡¯t they innocent as well?¡±

    ¡°I-I...yes.¡± Alura glared at the forest floor before looking up at Primrose with eyes filled with determination. ¡°But I wish that humans and magical creatures can live peacefully together. I don¡¯t want war. I-¡±

    ¡°How naive.¡± Primrose mocked, cutting Alura off. ¡°Humans and magical creatures can never live together peacefully. Humans have too much hate and greed in their hearts to accept us. While magical creatures can be inherently vicious, some strive to live together with humans and paid the price for it.¡±

    ¡°DO YOU WANT TO SEE A WAR?!¡± Alura screamed, outraged.

    ¡°No, I do not wish for war and if I could completely avoid the war I would.¡± Primrose turned away, not wishing to converse any longer with the dryad, and walked back into the hut.

    She waved her hand and the door magically fixed itself, putting all of the broken pieces back together. Closing the door behind her, she glared at Anastasia who was strangely quiet on her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t go telling magical creatures about me again.¡± She scolded.

    Anastasia weakly fluttered her wings before flying towards the windowsill and landing on it. Her wings drooped in sadness as her master ignored her.

    Primrose dug into her dresser and pulled out a deep forest green dress before changing into it. She slipped her delicate feet into her brown traveling boots and fastened the laces. She threw on her black hooded coat before she crossed the room and snatched her magical bag from the wall.

    ¡°What do I need?¡± Primrose pondered, tapping her chin with her index finger. The brown-haired witch raised her hand and summoned the important things she would need for her journey.

    Every book she owned, several potions that held different shades of colors, dried and fresh herbs, clothes, cookware, non-perishable foods, and clothes all flew into her bag in a matter of minutes.

    Primrose stood by the front door with her bag fastened across her body. She turned to her familiar that was already flying towards her. ¡°Come, Anastasia,¡± Primrose said as the butterfly landed on her shoulder. She walked out of the hut and crossed over the mushroom circle.

    She looked back at the hut longingly.

    She had grown fond of this little woodland paradise that she shared with Anastasia. She would be hurt to come back after her journey to a burnt down hut. Primrose raised her hand, her palm facing upwards, and released dazzling green sparks.

    ¡°O tree spirits heareth my plea,¡± Primrose whispered, calling upon the tree spirits.

    Several tree spirits burst from the foliage at her call like she was their absolute master. Primrose watched the tree spirits spiral around her palm that dazzled with magical energy.

    ¡°Please protect my home,¡± Primrose said, revealing a tender expression, ¡°That¡¯s all I ask of you and in return, you can inhabit my herb garden as long as you like.¡±

    The tree spirits grew excited, their round glowing bodies getting brighter and brighter. They circled around her several times, brushing up against her skin happily before flying off behind her wooden hut where the garden was.

    Primrose chuckled and disappeared into the woodland.

    A few minutes later Primrose exited the woodland and briskly walked on the muddy path that led into the village. She reached the heart of the village and found the entire village population there.

    ¡°People of Callesta.¡± Theolas began solemnly, ¡°God, has given us another boon.¡±

    Primrose stared at the middle-aged man intently and silently appraised him. She had seen many men like Theolas in her life but none of them came close to him. His way of talking to the people, his words carried power.

    She was itching once more to kill the man right here, right now, but she couldn¡¯t raise her hand toharm him and didn¡¯t know why. She sensed a faint familiarity towards the man and wondered if she met him somewhere.

    ¡°This woman was found by her husband just last night burning herbs saying unintelligible words.¡± Theolas glanced at the woman tied up on the stake before looking at the crowd. ¡°Her husband immediately fell ill afterward.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it.¡± The woman on the stake whimpered. ¡°PLEASE BELIEVE ME!¡±

    ¡°SHUT YOUR MOUTH BEAST!¡± Theolas shouted, his nostrils flaring in anger.

    ¡°Please-¡±

    PAH!

    A guard on standby slapped the woman viscously, her head snapping to the side from the force. The woman started sobbing, her face red and throbbing from the strong slap.

    ¡°That is not all,¡± Theolas told them, ¡°The Muller Brothers have gone missing and it seems to be the work of a Warlock. Those brothers are upstanding and morally righteous carpenters that have helped us all. These acts, these beasts, are still among us. It seems that yesterday wasn¡¯t enough to warn these beasts of our might!¡±

    ¡°THEOLAS!¡± The villagers roared, chanting his name.

    ¡°Burn her,¡± Theolas said passionately, ¡°show the beasts what we humans are capable of and are not to be messed with.¡±

    The guards set the woman alight.

    The woman writhed and thrashed about underneath the tightly wound steel wire that bounded her to the stake. Her screams and pleas echoed throughout the village as the flames ate away at her skin, scorching her flesh and bones.

    Primrose stood silently, watching the burning woman with unbothered eyes. She had seen so much in her life that such scenes desensitized her. Her heart was worn down from years of damage and thus she cared little for humans or any other race.

    The woman¡¯s screams eventually quieted, leaving nothing but a charred corpse. Theolas turned away from the corpse and addressed the people. ¡°We have done a great thing today for humanity,¡± Theolas told the villagers.

    Primrose narrowed her eyes ¨C tuning out Theolas¡¯ speech ¨C and carefully look around at the crowd. She sensed a magical spike from somewhere in the village. Her green eyes wandered over the faces of the people in the village before looking at the local buildings.

    She sucked in a breath.

    There on top of the local tavern was someone dressed in a black cloak with a blood-red crossbow in their hands. She followed their line of sight and her eyes landed on Theolas. She cursed before pushing through the crowd.

    ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Primrose yelled, pushing villagers aside without a care. Her body was moving on its own to get to where Theolas was.

    The cloaked figure fired the arrow, aiming for Theolas'' heart.

    ¡°Anastasia!¡±

 CH 3: Opposites Dont Attract, They Battle Instead

    ¡°Anastasia!¡±

    Anastasia flapped her wings twice and lifted herself into the air as it accepted the magical energy that Primrose pumped through their connection. The familiar dazzled in a cyan light before speeding through the startled villagers with a cyan streak of light trailing behind her. The butterfly startled Theolas as she appeared directly in front of him in a matter of seconds and formed a protective shield around him.

    ¡°What is this witchery?!¡± Theolas shouted, astonished. He stumbled backward, his back pressing against the shield as he stared at the majestic butterfly with wide-eyes.

    The blood-red arrow rammed into the shield causing sparks to fly. The arrow increased it¡¯s intensity and force as black energy flared to life around it. The shield and arrow¡¯s energies collided, causing a massive explosion that sent villagers flying to the ground from the force.

    ¡°THEY¡¯RE ATTACKING US! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!¡±

    It only took one villager to say this before the villagers started to evacuate the village in fear, leaving all of their belongings.

    ¡°WE NEED TO ESCAPE THIS VILLAGE!¡± Another man yelled.

    Primrose finally reached Theolas who was sitting on the ground with disbelieving eyes. She moved to stand in front of him. ¡°Leave human!¡± She snarled, keeping her eyes on the robed person who jumped from the tavern roof and onto the ground.

    Theolas scrambled to stand up. ¡°Y-You beasts will pay for this!¡± He yelled before following the guards to safety.

    Primrose ignored him and called her familiar. ¡°Anastasia!¡±

    A ghost of a smile flitted across her features as the familiar landed on her shoulder. She pulled her hood down and focused her attention on the tall figure walking towards her.

    ¡°Now, why would a witch protect the man who wouldn¡¯t think twice about killing magical creatures?¡± The robed person said, dropping their hood and revealing an unbelievably handsome face. He sent her a mocking smile as he ran a hand through his black silky hair.

    ¡°Call me William, my fair lady.¡± He added, his mocking smile now a full-blown grin.

    Primrose sent William an icy glare. ¡°Enough!,¡± Primrose frankly shouted, ¡°leave this village, now.¡±

    ¡°So cold, a beauty like you,¡± William callously said before releasing his demonic aura to subdue her, ¡°If I don¡¯t leave, what will you do?¡±

    Primrose stared at the man with a slightly shocked expression. ¡°You¡¯re a Blood Warlock.¡± She said directly, as his horrible black aura pressed down all around her. The black demonic aura rolled off him in waves and wilted the grass beneath his feet, turning it pitch black.

    William wore a wicked smile as he licked his lips. ¡°You¡¯ve guessed right,¡± he admitted, ¡°its been so long since I¡¯ve sacrificed a witch.¡±

    Her green eyes landed on the blood-red crossbow in his hand that dripped red blood. Blood Warlocks or Witches specialized in spells that use blood and those spells are dependant on which rank and type of demon they made a pact with.

    The worst part about these types of magical creatures is that with each sacrifice, the strength of the demon grows and thus increasing the Blood Warlock or Witch magical abilities. However¡­.

    Primrose lowered her head and chuckled. ¡°Sacrifice?¡± She released her magical aura that was amplified by Anastasia on her shoulder. ¡°There will be no sacrifice today.¡± She raised her head, a cold glint in her eyes, and said in a scathing voice.

    ¡°Just you bowing at my feet will be enough.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Her magical aura was cyan and swirled around her in a downward spiral. The aura seeped into the earth and around her feet, the ground broke away. Green and blue bioluminescent mushrooms, and flowers bloomed at her feet, forming a mushroom circle.

    The magical auras clashed, causing strong winds to surge in the village. The old tavern nearby suffered damage, as it had its roof blown off by the magical winds.

    William looked at Primrose with a shocked expression before it transformed into one of excitement. ¡°You¡¯re a Fae Witch? You¡¯re Primrose Willis?!¡± He asked joyfully, taking a single step towards her. ¡°The only living Fae Witch in existence who was said to have vanished.¡±

    Primrose gnashed her teeth, her green eyes shooting icy spears at Williams. Her fingers danced playfully at her sides, itching to release a spell. Her own fame among the witch and warlock communities was nothing new, so him knowing her name didn''t phase her but the way he said it, angered her.

    ¡°I can¡¯t kill you,¡± William gleefully said, ¡°you¡¯ll be great for my magical research. I must know everything about you!¡±

    ¡°Disgusting!¡± Primrose snarled before lifting her hand and pointing her open palm at William. ¡°Tangling Faerie Vines!¡± Eight bioluminescent vines shot out of her palm at a frightening speed, twisting together, and forming a sharp tip.

    William dropped his crossbow ¨C which returned to its normal state ¨C on the ground and raised his bleeding palm towards Primrose. ¡°Blood Beast.¡± He said, each word amplified by a demonic voice.

    Blood gushed from the wound on his palm in copious amounts and transformed into a large mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth. The blood beast roared with an unnatural voice before moving towards the incoming attack. with its mouth wide open.

    The vines pierced the blood beast through the roof of its mouth and the beast clamped down on the vines with its sharp teeth causing a deafening explosion.

    Primrose dashed to the side, using the dust cloud as a visual shield, and skidded to a stop before uttering another spell. ¡°Faerie Mushroom Shield!¡± She called out quickly just as thin blood-red tendrils burst through the dust cloud with incredible speed.

    A single green bioluminescent mushroom burst from the ground and rapidly grew to the side of a house in height. Primrose watched as the blood-red tendrils burrowed into the mushroom and turned it pitch black.

    William laughed and walked out of the dust cloud with his hand up and hundreds of tendrils coming from his palm.

    ¡°How unlucky. You would¡¯ve been under my control with my Blood Roots spell.¡± He told her in a playful tone before the blood tendrils went back into his palm making the mushroom wilt and flop to the side with the cap touching the ground.

    Primrose glared at the warlock before taking several steps backward.

    When she didn¡¯t talk, William continued further, walking past the wilted mushroom. ¡°Did you know that you and I are opposites? You, who made a pact with Faeries, beings of light and me, who made a pact with Demons, entities of darkness. I can¡¯t wait to possess you completely and learn all of your secrets. Submit to me, Primrose.¡±

    Primrose smirked, her eyes widening a fraction. ¡°William, was it? The difference between the two of us is that I¡¯ve lived far longer than you.¡±

    William scoffed. ¡°That may be but our magical auras are evenly matched despite you living a much longer life.¡±

    Primrose raised her hand and tapped her temple with her finger. ¡°William, knowledge is power.¡± Primrose spread her arms wide. ¡°Faerie Dream.¡± She said, her voice soft and otherworldly.

    The wilted giant mushroom suddenly burst to life behind William, surprising him and snaring him with bioluminescent vines which bounded him against the mushroom stem. The mushroom released glowing spores that rained down on William, lulling him to sleep.

    ¡°You surprised me¡­.but you will be mine...eventually,¡± William told the brown-haired witch before falling into a dream-filled sleep.

    Primrose walked up to the warlock, gripped his chin with her hand and stared at him with cold eyes. ¡°Disgusting.¡± She scornfully said before removing her hand and wiping it in her black coat.

    ¡°OVER HERE!¡±

    Primrose looked at the village entrance and frowned. She could hear multiple footsteps coming their way. ¡°Theolas sent a mini-army?¡± Primrose mused before looking at William. ¡°Should I bring him with us, Anastasia?¡±

    Anastasia who was supporting her master¡¯s spells the entire time flapped her wings and lifted off of Primrose¡¯s shoulder. She flew towards William and landed on his head, flapping her blue wings twice.

    ¡°Traitor,¡± Primrose grumbled before placing her palm against the mushroom. She channeled her magical energy into the mushroom and looked at William. ¡°You¡¯re in luck, young warlock.¡± She said, casting a cloaking spell on them before walking towards the other village exit.

    The mushroom absorbed the extra magical energy and sprouted two feet on each side at the bottom of its stem. The bioluminescent mushroom stood up, testing it¡¯s two feet before following its creator with William in its grasp.

    When Theolas and the mini army arrived they only found signs of the battle but not the battlers.

    Theolas grimaced. ¡°How dare they?!¡± He spat before remembering the green eyes of the hood figure that saved him.

    ¡°Who are you?¡±

    But the only person who could answer that question was gone.

 CH 4: The Faerie Deal

    When William awoke from his dream induced sleep, there was a massive downpour of rain around him. He didn¡¯t struggle but remained there, pensive. Those dreams he was subjected to were ones he had long forgotten.

    The warlock was broken out of his thoughts by the sight of Primrose sitting by the campfire. She was looking over a map, as steam rose from the boiling pot sitting above the fire.

    The sweet scent of food filled his nostrils and his stomach growled. He ignored the warning calls his stomach sent and briefly wondered how they weren¡¯t getting wet until he looked above him. The glowing mushroom he was tied too, it¡¯s cap had expanded, forming an umbrella above them.

    His blue eyes found the witch once more and he smiled. ¡°I was bested by you, so will you release me, my Rose?¡± William frankly said.

    Primrose looked up from the map and narrowed her eyes, sending him a displeased look. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that name.¡±

    Her reaction made William¡¯s smile wider. ¡°Why does that name trigger such a reaction I wonder¡­.¡± He said curiously.

    He tested the strength of the vines the were binding him. Alarm bells rang in his mind and soon realized he lacked the strength to move. His magic was also moving sluggishly as if it were asleep inside his body.

    ¡°What did you do to me?¡± William asked his tone hard.

    Primrose ignored him and returned to looking at the map. ¡°This is impossible,¡± she mumbled in disbelief before glancing at the forest entrance she had camped by, ¡°this forest isn''t supposed to be there.¡±

    William lost his patience. ¡°What did you do to me, Rose?!¡± He asked once more, outraged by her lack of attention.

    She folded her map neatly and looked at him. The witch stood up and walked towards him with a strange gleam in her eye, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

    ¡°Do you know where this forest came from?¡± She asked irreverently, pointing at the forest behind her.

    William furrowed his brows and glared at her. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± He looked at her like she was crazy. ¡°This the Hallow Grove forest.¡±

    Primrose felt dread creeping into her heart. When she first came upon this forest she was curious and wondered how such a huge forest could grow overnight. But when she went over her travel map several times, she could only conclude something was seriously wrong.

    She unfolded the map and held it in front of William. ¡°What do you think of this map?!¡± She urged.

    William raised an eyebrow at her before looking at the map and with a quick glance he laughed. ¡°Are you joking, Rose? That map is completely wrong.¡± He replied, looking at her with mirth in his eyes. ¡°Were you swindled, my dear Rose?¡±

    Primrose turned away from William and started pacing up and down. The dread in her heart was now a roaring beast as the theory she barely thought of became reality. For some inexplicable reason, she had woken up in another world or some alternate version of her own world. She had heard about powerful witches and warlocks being able to travel to different worlds and dimensions but such powerful magic always had a great price.

    She had many more unanswered questions that she needed answering but there was one that truly played at the forefront of her mind.

    What happened to the Primrose of this world?

    ¡°Are you done with your pacing, Rose?¡± William asked her, snapping her from her thoughts.

    She turned to the blood warlock that was bound to her faerie mushroom. ¡°Does the name Hespith Couver mean anything to you?¡±

    William scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not answering any more questions, Rose.¡± He looked down at the vines that bind him. ¡°Release me, submit to me and I shall answer any question you desire, my fair Rose.¡± He implored.

    ¡°Disgusting,¡± Primrose said caustically and turned away from him.

    ¡°Your choice, milady,¡± William said a dignified tone with a smirk plastered on his face.

    Primrose turned around, facing the warlock once more with a serene smile.

    William¡¯s eyes widen a fraction, his expression one of surprise and he immediately felt uneasy. Primrose took a step closer, leaning closer to his face, her eyes gleaming with mischievousness.

    The warlock quickly schooled his expression with a teasing smile. ¡°You¡¯re finally ready to submit to me? I¡¯ll only put you through various magical experiments...they won¡¯t hurt...much.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Primrose brushed off his words and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal,¡± she whispered, her tone whimsical.

    Despite the downpour of rain, that brought in the coldness, he still shuddered when her hot breath caressed the skin on his face. The heat burning in his body was enough to wade off the cold.

    His eyes darkened and he spoke in obsequious tone. ¡°What¡­... kind of deal?¡±

    ¡°This deal is simple,¡± Primrose said pragmatically, her green eyes locking onto his lips, and slowly moving upwards to meet his intense blue eyes.

    This act didn¡¯t escape William¡¯s notice and his nostrils flared as his breathing became uneven.

    ¡°You will not harm me in any kind of way or subject me...to your...experiments. You will join me on my journey and help me to best of your ability should danger arise. You will not kill senselessly and only in self-defense. You will not force me to do anything I don¡¯t want to do. Do you agree?¡±

    William chuckled. ¡°There is no guarantee that I will follow through on this deal. Even the Vow Ritual is rarely used nowadays due to its glaring loopholes and unreliability. So using human means of a verbal contract is pretty...dumb, Rose.¡±

    Primrose flinched, his words visibly affecting her. ¡°Do you agree?¡± She repeated, glaring at the warlock.

    William smirked, her reaction pleasing to him. ¡°What do I get in return?¡±

    ¡°I will offer knowledge that only I possess on Aerilinth,¡± She whispered with a troubled expression, ¡°knowledge of Faeries and Fae Witches.¡±

    William grinned, showing his perfectly straight white teeth. ¡°That¡¯s rather tempting, Rose.¡±

    Primrose breathed in, holding it before breathing out. ¡°Do you agree?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Primrose smiled cruelly. ¡°Faerie Deal,¡± she whispered and her eyes eerily glowed green for a moment before returning to normal.

    ¡°What did you-¡± William started but doubled over in pain.

    The vines that bonded him snapped and he fell to his knees. He started clawing at his chest, grunting in pain. It was as if something was squeezing his heart.

    He looked up at Primrose with a dark expression and bared his teeth. ¡°What did you do to me?" He spat, before tapping his chest with his left hand.

    Primrose looked down at him with an icy expression. ¡°I just fulfilled part of the deal. You¡¯ve just learned that Fae Witches can perform Faerie Deals as actual Faeries do.¡±

    William cursed. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± William roared as he shot to his feet, raising his hand to cut it but Primrose stopped him with her words.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you,¡± Primrose told him in a patronizing tone, ¡°If you break a faerie deal...the consequences can be devastating¡­.even worse than death.¡±

    William gnashed his teeth and lowered his hand. ¡°How can I be of service to you, milady?¡± William said, his nostrils flaring in anger.

    Not much was known about faeries but their deals were well known. It was next to impossible to go against a faerie deal because the magic would compel you to fulfill the deal no matter what. He knew it would be useless to refuse to help her but he couldn¡¯t help but resist even if only a little bit.

    ¡°Tell me where I can find Hespith Couver.¡± Primrose crossed her arms, staring at William with her usual cold expression.

    ¡°You can find her in Lush Valley in the village; Lostmere.¡± William forcefully said, as if he was fighting the deal, ¡°She¡¯s the leader¡­..of The Twilight Haven magical community hidden in Lostmere.¡±

    The village was a place she was familiar with but she had no clue about Lush Valley. ¡°How do we get there?¡± Primrose asked curiously.

    William remained silent, sweat forming on his forehead.

    Primrose was indignant.¡°How do we get there?¡± She repeated, glaring at the warlock.

    William held out for a few more seconds before the faerie deal made him spill everything. ¡°To get there we have to go through Hallow Grove to reach the main city of Bluc Crein, Gloomgarde and from there we travel to Snowwich. Then from Snowwich we travel through Lush Valley and we¡¯ll reach Lostmere.¡±

    ¡°How long will this take us?¡±

    William raised his head and looked at the cloudy sky with his blue eyes filled with anger.¡°If the rain continues to fall...maybe two weeks on foot and one week by carriage.¡± He bit out, lowering his head and glaring at her.

    Primrose was thoughtful, thinking about what William told her.

    ¡°If we¡¯re planning to travel through Hallow Grove then I suggest we be extremely careful.¡± William angrily said and walked closer to Primrose before stopping in front of her.

    He was enraged that he was caught up in a Faerie Deal that severely crippled him. He looked down at her with a cruel smile. He so wished he could wrap his hands around her pretty neck and watch the life disappear from her eyes. However, his curiosity about her was stronger and he would follow her to learn more of her secrets.

    ¡°The veil between this world and the underworld is at its weakest in this forest,¡± He lowered his head, bringing his face closer to hers, ¡°demons inhabit this forest. I don¡¯t know what will happen if you die.¡±

    Primrose remained unaffected by his closeness and narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here, remember?¡± She said icily.

    The warlock raised his head, a mysterious smile etched on his face. ¡°You¡¯re quite lucky to have me in your presence.¡± He drawled, running a hand through his black hair.

    ¡°Really?¡± Primrose icily said.

    ¡°Of course, Rose,¡± William said ardently.

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Call. Me. That.¡± Primrose said, indignantly.

    She turned away from the warlock and sat back by the campfire. She grabbed a bowl and started to scoop out the contents of the pot into the bowl. She thrust the bowl in William¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Eat.¡± She said, grimly. ¡°We¡¯ll leave as soon as the rain stops.¡±

    William chuckled, took the bowl from her and sat on the opposite side of the campfire. ¡°Did you put some weird faerie ingredient in this to poison me?¡± He asked in a disparaging tone.

    Primrose ignored him and made her own bowl before eating earnestly.

    Her thoughts lingered on what she would say if she met her ex-mentor; Hespith, again. Though she hated Hespith, she had many connections with famous witches and warlocks so her information could be valuable.

    But she still couldn¡¯t get over when Hespith betrayed her and had her almost killed for no reason. She was one the one who taught her about magic The one who taught her many useful spells. Yet, she was betrayed and discarded like garbage.

    Then it hit her.

    If Hespith managed to kill the Primrose of this world then¡­

    Primrose¡¯s lips turned up into a cruel smile.

    She could only repay it ten-fold.

 CH 5: Hallow Grove Forest

    The rain had stopped falling and only the earthy scent from the fresh rainfall had remained. The bushes hum with life, toads coming out to feed on smaller insects. The sun broke through the cracks in the clouds, lighting up the path into Hallow Grove.

    She had once heard a tale of olden witches tying particular herbs together to stop demons from possessing the body. Primrose¡¯s contact with demons in her world was pretty much non-existent since the veil was always strong. Here, in this world, the veil was weakened tremendously in a place she was about to traverse.

    Primrose¡¯s lips were pressed in a thin line as she grimly looked at the forest before her. ¡°How can we protect ourselves from demonic possession?¡± Primrose asked feeling ambivalent.

    ¡°Are you scared?¡± William countered, looking at her critically before the faerie deal made him answer. ¡°The only way to 100% be protected from demonic possession is either by making a pact with a demon or faerie. So, my fair Rose, you should be protected from possession.¡±

    Primrose felt troubled and glanced at the bundle of herbs tied to her bag strap. She wasn¡¯t a Fae Witch any more, instead, she became a Cursed Fae Witch. She had broken the pact and the faerie she was contracted to, cursed her for breaking the pact. She could only hope that the tale told her was true and the bundle of herbs would work.

    She turned glanced at William from the corner of her eye and found him staring at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Primrose informed the warlock before walking down the dirt path.

    Anastasia fluttered her wings before flying over to her master from her perch on the mushroom as it shrunk back to its normal size before disappearing. The familiar landed on her master¡¯s shoulder which earned her a ghost of a smile.

    William chuckled deeply before walking to match her stride, his blue eyes twinkling with mischievousness. ¡°To think the great Primrose Willis is afraid of demons.¡± He said, his tone mocking.

    The fae witch flinched at his usage of her full name before looking at him with a grim look. ¡°What-¡± She started but was interrupted by William¡¯s continued speech.

    ¡°Being apart of magical history as one of the oldest witches, you¡¯re not what I exactly imagined. You were said to have disappeared completely and it was my life¡¯s goal to find you, even if you were already dead. But when I found you I expected to find a flowery, ditzy, and happy witch. Instead, I found a cold, unemotional, and calculated witch.¡±

    Primrose processed the information she had just heard and looked away. ¡°So, the Primrose of this world disappeared...¡± She thought grimly.

    The Primrose of this world disappeared without a trace. She could admit it was something she had thought about a few times but she could never go through with it. Sure, she was a solitudinarian but she still had some interaction with other magical creatures from time to time. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t come to a conclusion without learning more.

    ¡°Why,¡± She paused, hesitation emanating from her body language, ¡°did you want to find me?¡±

    ¡°Magical Research, of course.¡± William ardently exclaimed. ¡°Though I¡¯m a killer at heart when I have an interest in something or someone, I won¡¯t stop until I have them completely figured out. You were such an enigma in the magical communities. The only witch who made a pact with a faerie suddenly disappeared for centuries and the only person who knew about you was pretty tight-lipped for many years.¡±

    Primrose froze, wearing an aggrieved expression. ¡°You knew?¡± Primrose frankly said.

    William smirked. ¡°Knew that the woman you¡¯re looking for was your mentor?¡± He asked coyly, in a teasing manner. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s well-known thanks to your mentor.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Ex.¡± She restrained herself, pushing down her anger.

    ¡°Trouble in paradise I see...my fair Rose¡± William playfully said, his blue eyes gleaming with curiosity.

    ¡°Stop talking and don¡¯t call me that.¡± She replied, ignoring him and allowing herself to fully take in the mysterious forest that surrounded her.

    The forest was vast, foggy, and diverse. Its canopy was contested by massive birch, chestnut, and cedar trees with the occasional beam of sunlight that made its way through the lush leaves. The stray beams of sunlight allowed for a plethora of sprouts to use the rich grounds below and flourish.

    Curving tree limbs suspended from the occasional tree, and a range of flowers, which claimed quiet corners, added a colorful variety to the landscape. The occasional crunching of dead leaves that they stepped on sounded extremely loud in the otherwise quiet forest.

    She felt uneasy in the beautiful forest that gave off an unnatural and mysterious aura. She felt a warmth on her shoulder and glanced at the butterfly who was comforting her. ¡°Thank you, Anastasia.¡± She whispered, so only the familiar could hear.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask.¡± William suddenly said.

    Primrose rolled her eyes and looked at him. ¡°What?¡± She asked frustrated by his chatty nature.

    ¡°Why choose a butterfly as a familiar?¡± He implored, observing the familiar. ¡°Most witches or warlocks choose Owls, Snakes, Crows or Cats. They¡¯re all useful to some extent and yet you choose a butterfly. Why?¡±

    Primrose yielded. ¡°Anastasia is different.¡± She answered truthfully, looking at her familiar with endearing eyes.

    His eyes widen a fraction as the look in her eyes caught him unawares. He didn¡¯t know she could make such a tender expression and towards her familiar no less. The warlock became pensive, looking away from the witch who will probably keep surprising him.

    Primrose, not privy to his thoughts, noticed his silence and felt elated. The pair walked down the dirt path in silence before coming to a crossroads. She looked down each path which was heavy with fog, leaving them unable to see any further.

    ¡°Which way do we go?¡± She asked without looking at the man beside her.

    William licked his lips as a mysterious smile formed. ¡°Right.¡± He replied before walking down the right path.

    Primrose narrowed her eyes, hypercritical of his choice. She closed her eyes, feeling for any spikes of magic but found none. Reluctant, she followed him down the right path with trepidation.

    The faerie deal can compel you to uphold your deal but what he didn¡¯t know was that she could make the compulsion stronger with the right amount of intent. Without the right intent, he could do what he wanted but breaking the deal could still be devastating.

    They walked silently through the thick fog, making sure to keep on the dirt path without veering off. Then, William suddenly stopped, and she ran into his hardback. She took a step backward and glared at the man in front of her.

    ¡°Why did you stop?¡± She asked angrily.

    He held up a hand. ¡°Smell.¡± He said, looking straight ahead with excitement.

    The stench of blood hovered in the air, leaving her with a dreadful feeling. Clutching her fists tightly, she moved forward. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She said icily before walking past William.

    ¡°I suggest we be careful, Rose,¡± William warned with a smile on his face. ¡°We don¡¯t know what we may come across.¡±

    ¡°Anastasia.¡± She said without giving instructions. However, the butterfly clearly understood Primrose and flew off into the canopy with fluttering blue wings.

    Voices could be heard nearer and nearer and they were almost like ghostly whispers to her ears. As the duo got closer, she finds a carriage with six people walking aimlessly and robotically while whispering something under their breath.

    ¡°They¡¯re humans that were possessed.¡± William laughed, ¡°Rather idiotic to come through this forest without magical protec-oh wait, they want to kill magical creatures.¡±

    William raised his hand to his mouth and bit into it viciously. Blood poured from between his lips but he didn¡¯t care. He raised his hand, ready to kill them but was stopped by Primrose.

    ¡°I thought we made a deal.¡± She asked while looking at the people. ¡°No unnecessary killing.¡±

    William cursed, looking at her resentfully. ¡°There¡¯s no other way to remove the demons from their bodies unless you have holy water from the temple?

    ¡°I might be able to-¡±

    Suddenly, a voice interrupted Primrose in mid-sentence.

    It was a woman in an old brown dress with blood splatters. Her hair was haphazardly thrown into a bun and her skin was extremely pales with dark blotches decorating her face. She crookedly walked towards them, her arms bent in awkward positions and her head bent to the side.

    ¡°I¡­..need...¡± she whispered, showing her yellowish teeth.

    Primrose took a step backward, the hairs on her neck standing up and summoned magic to her hands. Her hands dazzled with green lights at her side as she sensed the danger from the woman.

    The woman took two jerky steps forward. ¡°I¡­¡­.need¡­.your...¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just kill them all, Rose,¡± William said in an enthusiastic tone.

    ¡°I¡­.need your...BODY!¡± The woman screamed unnaturally before rushing towards her.

 CH 6: Demonic Uprising Arc: Demonic Possession

    ¡°I¡­.need your...BODY!¡±

    The woman screamed unnaturally, rushing towards her in frantically with arms outstretched. A black magical aura surrounded her as she ran with manic eyes.

    ¡°Tangling Faerie Vines!¡±

    The possessed woman flew back as glowing vines crashed into her and pinned her to the ground with a thump. The woman writhed and screamed, spittle flying everywhere. ¡°Give it to me!¡±

    William observed the possessed woman with fascination. ¡°She was possessed by a lesser demon.¡± He informed Primrose.¡°Lesser demons are mindless and are too weak to jump bodies without skin to skin contact. The moment they possessed those weak human bodies they will continue to crave stronger bodies.¡±

    Primrose cut the vines off at her palm and observed the other possessed humans. They were all standing still, looking in their direction with manic expressions. She had to be careful not to be touched since she couldn¡¯t fully rely on the herbs tied to her bag strap.

    ¡°Capture them, don¡¯t kill them,¡± Primrose said coldly, throwing off her black coat and revealing her green dress.

    ¡°You make it so hard to like you, my fair Rose.¡± William bitterly said, throwing his black hooded coat to the ground. Primrose glanced at his outfit and almost did a double-take.

    He wore a white long-sleeved, silk dress shirt that covers him to just below his waist and was buttoned up half-way, revealing his hard chiseled chest. The loose sleeves of the shirt were buttoned at his wrists with a black and gold button. His black pants were tight - showing off the muscular form of his legs - and went to his black leather boots.

    She quickly looked away, turning her attention back to the demon-possessed humans but William caught it with his keen eyes, unbeknownst to her.

    The five possessed humans began speaking in their broken speech as they take jerky steps towards them. ¡°Body¡­..I want your body¡­.NOW!¡± The demon inflicted humans bolted towards them one after the other

    William scoffed and thrust his palm towards the humans. ¡°Blood Boil.¡± He said coldly.

    Three tendrils of blood came from the wound on his hand and pierced the body of the first three. They stopped in their tracks immediately, falling to the ground as their body starts to convulse.

    Primrose brought her hands together, forming a green ball of magical energy. She brought her cupped hands close to her mouth ¡°Faerie Dust.¡± She whispered before gently blowing on the magical ball of energy at the last two of the demon-possessed.

    The ball of energy instantly broke down into tiny particles that glistened in the air. The possessed humans ran through the cloud of magical dust which clung to their bodies. In seconds, they both fell to the ground, paralysis taking over their body.

    Primrose sighed before turning to William and looking between him and the three bodies with a raised eyebrow. William raised his hands in surrender, a smirk plastered on his face.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t kill them,¡± William said with a wink.

    Primrose ignored him, tapping her fingers against her thigh impatiently. ¡°I know a ritual to remove demons from a body but the preparation is long and difficult. I¡¯ll need to prepare to sever-¡±

    She stopped mid-sentence as a horrible magical aura washed over her making her grit her teeth. She saw that William was fine but the expression on his face was one of delight.

    She started breathing shallow, rapid breaths. ¡°What is that horrible magical aura?¡± Primrose asked urgently.

    William licked his lips in anticipation. ¡°There is something particularly strong in this forest.¡±

    ¡°Bo¡­..dy¡­.give me¡­.your body...¡±

    Broken voices repeated the same sentence until it became insistent. Unable to stand still, Primrose spun around. She kept looking at her surroundings with squinted eyes as the fog got thicker, hindering their eyesight. She stepped backward, her back touching William¡¯s own as the magical aura pressed down on them more before disappearing.

    THUD! CRACK!

    The sound of something hitting the ground reached their ears and several more were heard. She froze as shadows fell from above one by one, hitting the ground hard.

    ¡°I want¡­.give me¡­.your body...¡±

    ¡°You still think we should capture them, Rose?¡± William mocked, his blue eyes looking around excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s either we fight to the death or die.¡±

    Primrose cursed and pursed her lips. She opened her arms with her hands glowing with green energy. Visibility was something they were going to need if they planned on escaping. ¡°Faerie Winds!¡± She roared and her hands flared with magical energy.

    A sparkling wind whipped around the duo before sweeping through the forest, with a melodic sound and pushing the thick fog away. Now that the fog was gone, the shadows were revealed. A great hoard of possessed humans surrounded them, blocking off all exits.

    Primrose crinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°We¡¯re surrounded.¡± She said in a displeased tone

    William parted his lips slightly, his eyes darting side to side. His demonic aura blazed around him, rolling off of him in black waves. ¡°We already have a bond with the creatures we made a pact with so any form of possession won¡¯t work since that bond negates it, so we¡¯re pretty protected. It¡¯s better to kill them all, and I do have a quota to fill. This is self-defense so it counts, my fair Rose¡± William said eagerly.

    ¡°We run,¡± She paused, ¡°kill if you have to.¡±

    William grinned, his eyes manic as the possessed humans moved closer. ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way and clear a path,¡± William said darkly. He pressed his palms together as black and red magical energy escaped from between his fingers.

    ¡°Blood Summoning: Demon Brerkemuul,¡± He said, his voice unfeeling. One single drop of blood fell from his joined hands, hitting the forest floor.

    Primrose sucked in a breath and slowly turned her head to look behind her. She shifted her body so she was fully facing the warlock. She watched as the blood formed a circle on the forest floor.

    There was a wail coming from the blood, a geyser of blood spouted and when it settles, she was suddenly eye to eye with a black child-like being of blood and death. Five red penetrating eyes stared at her with a terrifying grimace, as if trying to skin her alive.

    Two small horns adorned its head, which itself is red and scarred all over. Red smog escapes the demon¡¯s nostrils set within a paltry nose. The demon curled its lip towards her, its dark child-sized body emitting horrible energy. A small tail sweeps behind it, making a swishing sound. Two small black wings extend themselves fully, stretching upward away from the demon.

    It was her first time seeing a demon so close and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little terrified of its appearance. The demon sent her a contemptuous look before looking at William with a condescending look.

    ¡°Brerkemuul, I beseech you,¡± William said respectfully with a smirk.

    Brerkemuul growled. ¡°I¡¯m rather angry at you but since you¡¯re granting me this feast I will help you,¡± Brerkemuul said in a child-like voice. ¡°Demonic Fusion!¡± Brerkemuul dived into William''s body in a flash of light. William tilted his head back as a deep supernatural laugh escaped his lips.

    Primrose watched as William¡¯s eyes turned red, grew blacked wings, and on his head, he grew horns. He looked back at her with a devilish smile.

    ¡°Try to keep up, Rose. For blood will stain the ground today.¡±

    Primrose looked at him grimly, regretting her decision instantly.

 CH 7: Demonic Uprising Arc: The Elven Ruins

    ¡°Try to keep up, Rose. For blood will stain the ground today.¡±

    Primrose looked at him grimly, regretting her decision instantly.

    SWOOSH!

    Without giving Primrose time to react, William tore through the horde with bloody claws that with a single touch turns you into minced meat. Arms, legs, torsos, and heads were flying in the air as screams and groans echoed throughout the forest. Primrose covered her mouth with her hand as an eyeball rolled to her feet, leaving a trail of blood.

    William flapped his wings, holding a possessed woman tightly by the neck. The woman tried scratching at his hand, trying to escape his hold but his strength proved to be too much. ¡°Devour.¡± William cruelly said and slowly drained the blood from the woman until she was simply an empty husk.

    He threw the body to the side and made eye contact with Primrose whose emerald green eyes met his enchanting yet terrifying red eyes. ¡°What are you waiting for Rose?¡± He asked, licking the blood from his lips and sent her a mocking smile. ¡°Even if they can¡¯t possess you they can still kill you.¡±

    Primrose snapped out of her stupor and with a quick look realized the possessed humans were closing in on her. The strong aura washed over the forest once more and the demon-possessed humans blazed with magical energy before running at her madly.

    ¡°Anastasia!¡± Primrose called out, gritting her teeth before lifting her green dress and bolting down the path created by William.

    SWOOSH!

    The familiar flew out of the canopy in a streak of blue light knocking away any demons that came close to touching her master. Sensing the familiar next to her, she began transferring magic into the butterfly and started chanting. ¡°Release all bonds and soar through the sky!¡± Primrose chanted and a bright green light surrounded Anastasia. ¡°Butterfly Morph!¡±

    In seconds, the bright light faded away, revealing a much larger Anatasia. Her body was big enough to support a human with her 20-foot wingspan. Primrose quickly mounted the familiar, escaping the mindless demons and headed to where William was.

    ¡°Took you long enough, my fair Rose,¡± William smirked at the witch flying next to him.

    Primrose ignored him and observed the situation below them. ¡°This is an army,¡± Primrose said grimly as she looked at the demon-possessed humans clamoring up trees to get to them. She couldn¡¯t understand how so many humans were possessed or where they came from.

    ¡°That is what I thought,¡± William replied excitedly. ¡°They were cases of people going missing lately so this must be where they were. Brerkemuul thinks this is the work of a powerful demon. We...can sense its general direction.¡±

    SWOOSH!

    William flew off into the trees with Primrose and Anastasia close behind him. Primrose observed William¡¯s demonic form that was drenched with blood and briefly wondered if he held back when the fought.

    ¡°Your¡­..give me¡­.your body!¡±

    Primrose was broken from her thoughts as familiar voices roared behind her. She looked behind her and gasped. The possessed humans were jumping from branch to branch like shinobi and moving faster than before. Sensing spikes in magical energy, she looked to her left and right, only to find more flanking them from both sides.

    ¡°Why are they getting stronger and faster?!¡± Primrose angrily said as her hands dazzled with magical energy. The fog had suddenly returned and gotten thicker leaving them only able to hear the horde.

    ¡°The powerful demon must be providing them with the magical energy but that¡¯s fine by me!¡± William roared his expression one of delight. ¡°Remove the fog!¡±

    ¡°Faerie Winds!¡± Primrose shouted, thrusting her dazzling hands outwards.

    SWOOSH!

    A sparkling wind swept through the forest, carrying a melodic sound that blew away the heavy fog. The moment the fog disappeared, William moved in the blink of an eye appearing to his left and cleaved the heads right off the bodies possessed with his blade-like claws.

    He laughed darkly before moving to another, forcing his hand into the chest of the possessed man. Hundreds of blood tendrils burst outwards coming out his mouth, eyes, head, hands, feet, and stomach before he exploded in a rain of blood and guts. William basked in the gore before moving to his next victim.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Primrose grimaced at his macabre acts as blood splattered on her face. He admitted that he was a killer at heart but she didn¡¯t know he was this bloodthirsty. She looked away from the warlock and turned her attention to her attackers. Her hands dazzled with magical energy and raised both hands above her head.

    ¡°Carnivorous Flora!¡±

    BOOM! BOOM!

    The magic covering her hands exploded like fireworks continuously as magical particles rained down in the forest. Growls could be heard from below and suddenly a plethora of vines shot from the undergrowth below them, binding the demons and pulling them down.

    ¡°GIVE ME YOUR BODY!¡± Several demons jumped at her, their hands outstretched and mouths wide open.

    Primrose coldly glared at them. ¡°Useless.¡± She uttered and low rumble made the forest tremble.

    A giant yellow flower burst from the foliage below with rows of sharp teeth and acidic saliva. The flower swallowed the demons whole before rushing at the nearest demons with the viciousness of a snake.

    The flower tilted it¡¯s head back before spewing its viscous acidic saliva at the speeding horde behind her. The acid burned through the first wave, melting them down to the bone. The second wave jumped on the flower, attacking it with equal viciousness. Several more flowers emerged from below to help its mother with powerful vine whips and devastating bites.

    She knew that the spell would last about half of an hour before the flowers would revert to their regular states. However, it would keep the horde at bay for now. She turned her attention back to William who was slightly ahead of her.

    ¡°Devour!¡±

    Primrose slightly shuddered as William released countless tendrils of blood from his body that pierced several possessed humans and sucked their blood dry. The warlock dropped their bodies, without care and flew next to her.

    ¡°I¡¯ve filled my quota for several weeks. So, let¡¯s find this demon that¡¯s been unknowingly feeding Brerkemuul and me. Brerkemuul wants to meet the one who dares to attack him.¡± He darkly said before speeding up.

    Primrose nodded. ¡°Anastasia.¡± The familiar immediately increased her speed, following closely behind William. After a series of twists and turns, the duo arrived at an old ruin located deep within the forest.

    Primrose dis-mounted from her familiar and looked up the ruins with curious eyes. ¡°Do you know what this place is?¡± Primrose asked without looking at William.

    Nature claimed the ruins as its own as overgrowth covered the grey stone walls of ancient ruin with. The ruins had broken giant columns that lined the pathway to giant stone doors. If she could guess the ruins probably dated back at least 500 years from the derelict state it was in.

    William retracted his wings and landed on the ground with a thud. He looked up at the ruins with a critical eye. ¡°I don¡¯t know yet but....¡± He trailed off, walking towards the giant stone doors in quick strides with Primrose close behind him.

    He reached the door and began tracing the symbols with his hand. Primrose carefully looked at the symbols and a sense of familiarity filled her and a memory from long ago came to her.

    ¡°That language...its the language of the Elves,¡± Primrose said, recognizing the symbols

    William turned his head to look at her with his red eyes. ¡°The elves huh...their sudden disappearance many years ago shocked the continent. A whole race disappeared overnight and no one knows what happened.¡± He mused before looking at the door.

    The story was the same as the one in her own world. Long before she was born the elves were bountiful in Aerilinth but then they disappeared. Many theories were passed around and many people braved the Glistening Expanse ocean to find what happened to them but none were successful.

    She had even heard that the dwarven continent had dedicated a few years to the search at the request of the King of Aerilinth at that time and wasn¡¯t successful. The disappearance of the elves was one of the biggest mysteries of the world.

    ¡°This door is warded quite heavily and I¡¯m not that good at wards,¡± William said, stepping aside.

    ¡°Let me.¡±

    Primrose placed her palm against the door and felt the pulse of strong magic. ¡°O tree spirits heareth my plea.¡± She whispered with intent and eight tree spirits slowly came from the surrounded flora. Primrose sensed their cautiousness but they still came to her.

    ¡°I thought only Witches or Warlocks who specialized in nature magic can befriend tree spirits.¡± William curiously asked, watching the tree spirits hover around her.

    ¡°Fae Witches are similar to Nature Witches. Nature Witches connect with flora in a deeper and meaningful way almost like druids. They can understand nature in a way I cannot,¡± Primrose said, taking a breath before continuing, ¡°Fae Witches have the exclusivity to faerie spells and ingredients that no one else has. As far as tree spirits go, they¡¯re the only ones to befriend me.

    ¡°I see,¡± William said thoughtfully.

    ¡°Please, I need your help,¡± Primrose asked imploringly while looking at the spirits around her before placing her other hand on the door.

    The brown-haired witch analyzed the ward on the door while tree spirits glowed brightly aiding her with nature magic. ¡°I can remove the ward but it will take some time,¡± Primrose replied, putting her full focus on her door.

    ¡°Well, we have company now.¡± William gleefully said as he stretched his wings.

    ¡°GIVE...ME YOUR BODY!¡± Hundreds of the possessed dropped down from the trees before bolting in their direction.

    ¡°Anastasia, protect me while I work!¡± Primrose coldly ordered. Anastasia flapped her 20-foot wings once, lifting off the ground and landing behind her master, facing the horde. Her blue wings glowed brightly and a shimmering shield covered them quickly, protecting them from the horde.

    ¡°While you work on the door, Brerkemuul and I decided we¡¯ll have another feast.¡± William breathed out, exhaling red smog and narrowed his eyes at the horde running towards him. ¡°Come, let me show you all the might of Brerkemuul, The Devourer.¡±

 CH 8: Demonic Uprising Arc: Demon Brerkemuul and The Fae Witch

    ¡°While you work on the door, Brerkemuul and I decided we¡¯ll have another feast.¡± William breathed out, exhaling red smog and narrowed his eyes at the horde running towards him. ¡°Come, let me show you all the might of Brerkemuul, The Devourer.¡±

    William skilfully pulled out his hidden dagger and swiped it across his palm. His dark blood stained the blade and left a deeper wound on his palm. ¡°Blood Enhance.¡± Tendrils of blood latched onto the blade turning it crimson.

    He spread his feet wide and his black wings snapped open. ¡°DIE!¡± He roared before taking off. His body moved and he didn¡¯t tell it to. William''s black magical aura took over the power the dagger, making the already crimson blade look sinister.

    He swung the dagger horizontally.

    SWOOSH!

    Magical energy exploded from the dagger in the form of a sharp blade and cleaved dozens in half causing spouts of blood to shoot into the air. He dove into the bloody rain with a manic smile. He licked his lips, tasting the blood and stabbed his enhanced blade in the chest of a possessed human male that cut into him like butter.

    BOOM!

    The blade expelled black energy, blowing out the back of the man in a rain of blood and innards. The black energy disintegrated the other possessed humans unlucky enough to be caught in the blast.

    He flew through the horde, draining blood replenish his own and severing appendages with his crimson dagger. Blood stung his eyes like tiny vipers, dripping down from his gore sprayed face. His manic grin with blood-stained teeth made him look even more demonic.

    He loved the feel of battle, the feel of life slipping through his fingers, he loved it ever since that faithful day. His first taste of murder had tainted him and turned him into a monster that only wished to devour. Brerkemuul¡¯s demonic presence only made this feeling stronger as they were one and the same.

    ¡°William!¡±

    Primrose¡¯s cold voice snapped him out of his bloody revel and he quickly looked in her direction. The horde was pounding on her shield with ferocity. ¡°Tut tut tut, Rose I can¡¯t have you dying on me yet.¡± He angrily said before diving towards the ground and vanished into a pool of blood he had spilled.

    ¡°Devour!¡±

    Blood pooled at the feet of the small horde banging on the shield and thin threads shot upwards, impaling the possessed humans. In seconds, the demons were drained of their blood and turned to dust. William rose from the blood pool and stood in front of the shield.

    ¡°Though Brerkemuul and I are enjoying this feast, our time is running out. I won¡¯t be able to hold this form for much longer so I suggest you break those wards, my fair Rose.¡± William playfully said.

    ¡°You can¡¯t handle a few demon-possessed humans?¡± Primrose scoffed. ¡°Some man you are...¡±

    William¡¯s eyes darkened and he smiled.¡°I¡¯ll gladly show you how much of a man I am whenever you want, my fair Rose!¡± He replied before jumping back into the foray.

    All him around was nothing but a whirlwind of blood, limbs, and a blur of color and vicious motion. He could hear his heart beating and Brerkemuul¡¯s voice guiding him. His parched, panting tongue lapped up the blood from every blood splatter that decorated his face.

    The sound of the cries of men, the screams of women, and wails lesser demons was barely enough to contain his blood lust. The sea of scarlet liquid which drained from his foes soaked the once vibrant clearing of flowers and grass.

    Primrose bit her lip as she looked at the ward with a complicated expression. The tree spirits were dancing across the blue barrier at her request, using nature energy to filter out the demonic energy that seeped into the ward. While the tree spirits did that, she analyzed the magical formulas that formed the ward.

    Except, the ward was all in elvish letters and numerals which further complicated things. The only way to assail a magical ward was through the act of "picking" a magical ward, akin to how a thief would pick a lock. She would have to magically un-stitch the wards by piecing apart the magical formulas used to erect them.

    The problem was that her elvish was only so-so and some combinations made no sense. Her only choice was to go into this blindly. She rubbed her sweaty palms in her dress nervously.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do the easier ones first....¡± She said with mixed feelings.

    She raised both her hands that dazzled with magical energy and started un-stitching the ward. She translated the first formula and pinched a blue thread of magic with her fingers, pulling it out of the ward. Instantly, the blue thread disintegrated into blue particles and the magical formula appeared larger in front of her.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°ERTH(MD) = F24(MD) ¡Á WTR26(MP) = LGHT20(MD) / DRK5(MP) = WTR50(MD) - LGHTNG30(MD)¡±

    Primrose was stumped at what she saw as they weren¡¯t regular mathematical wards that witches or warlocks usually used but it was something she hadn¡¯t seen before. She cursed under her breath and broke down the formula piece by piece to understand it.

    ¡°Those acronyms stand for the elements...¡± Primrose mumbled after a minute had passed. She moved her nimble fingers across the ward. ¡°The other acronyms stand for magical defense and magical power. The numbers are the strength of the element.¡±

    ¡°F24(MD) ¡Á WTR26(MP) = WTR624(MP)¡± Primrose calculated with a flash of understanding. ¡°Water is the stronger element of the two so naturally water wins. ¡°LGHT20(MD) / DRK5(MP) =LGHT4(MD)¡± She pulled out another magical thread before she started on the other part of the formula.

    ¡°WTR50(MD) - LGHTNG30(MD) = LGHTNG20(MD)¡±

    She furrowed her brow and brought her answers together.

    ¡°ERTH(MD)=WTR624/LGHT4(MD)+LGHTNG20(MD)=LGHTNG26(MD)¡±

    Sweat dripped from her forehead and she pushed strands of hair behind her ear.

    ¡°Then¡­.ERTH(MD) + LGHTNG26(MD)= ERTH26.¡±

    Primrose stepped away from the ward as the magical formula disappeared. She tentatively probed the ward with her hands and found it had gotten slightly weaker but not by much.

    ¡°What¡¯s taking so long!?¡± William roared, breaking her concentration.

    Primrose looked behind her and was shocked. The ruins were littered with carnage, gore, and destruction. Red was the new color of what was once filled with lush green grass and grey ancient stone. Stray demons were pounding on her shield with bloodied hands. Her emerald green eyes locked onto the injured warlock who was trying his best to defend against the rest of the horde.

    ¡°Give me more time!¡± She yelled before turning back to the ward with urgency.

    ¡°Get it done in five fucking minutes!!!¡± William yelled angrily before knocking away a possessed man with his left-wing.

    Primrose looked at the formulas with a sense of dread. There was no way she could break the ward completely in less than five minutes. She wrung her hands together before placing her palms against the ward. She knew of another way to get through the wards but it was extremely dangerous. She would have to override the ward with sheer magic power alone and make it her own.

    It was considered dangerous because of the backlash that would occur if she couldn¡¯t muster enough magic power to override it. Her breath quickened and she glared at the ward. Her magical aura spiked to high levels and blazed around her.

    ¡°Tree spirits¡­.please lend me your magic power!¡± She pleaded and the tree spirits stopped their dance and flew downwards, landing on her body and started transferring magical energy. ¡°Anastasia, go and help William. I can handle the rest myself!¡±

    Anastasia hesitated before reluctantly dropping the shield. The moment the shimmering shield fell the demon-possessed humans rushed towards them.

    The familiar fluttered her wings and lifted herself from the ground in flew into the sky. She flapped her wings continuously, releasing a freezing breeze that swept the battlefield. The breeze soon turned into a strong wind that slowed the movements of the demons by slowly freezing them.

    ¡°You are useful after all!¡± William complimented as he flew past the familiar and rammed his dagger into the skull of a possessed woman.

    Bioluminescent mushrooms and flowers sprouted at her feet in a half-circle as she poured her magical energy into the ward. The witch gritted her teeth while sweat rolled down her neck as the ward hammered against her magical intrusion.

    ¡°YOUR BODY IS MINE!¡±

    The supernatural voices and footsteps made the hairs on her neck stand up.¡°Carnivorous Flora!¡± She quickly said, her tone cold.

    She felt the drain on her magical pool and her knees trembled but she pushed through powering more energy into the ward. The bioluminescent mushrooms and flowers at her feet grew exponentially and started attacking violently to protect their master.

    Primrose could feel the ward bending to her will and sent one last burst of magic into the ward. Her nose started to bleed as she fought against the ward and instantly, the ward turned from blue to green. Primrose let out a sigh of relief, wiping her nose with her sleeve before rearranging the wards so William could get in.

    After she was done she turned to the warlock. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± She informed before pushed the stone doors open and stumbled across the ward.

    ¡°Finally!¡± William replied before flying towards the entrance along with Anastasia.

    When they crossed the wards and entered the ruins, she was finally able to breathe easy. She sat on the ground and leaned up against the stone door, watching the horde pound against the ward, unable to get in. She felt a warmth on her shoulder and found Anastasia in her regular form.

    ¡°I¡¯m so full...and I¡¯ve grown stronger.¡± William proudly said, stepping in front of her and looking down at her.

    She casually looked at the man who was back in his regular form as well. His clear blue eyes stared at her with an unreadable emotion as he ran a hand through his black hair.

    She stood up and crinkled her nose. ¡°Clean yourself up.¡± She coldly told him, briefly glancing at the demon behind him. ¡°We¡¯ll camp here for a while then we¡¯ll continue on.¡±

    William laughed. ¡°So cold.¡± He teased before waving his hand. ¡°Cleansing Light.¡± In an instant, he was clean of blood and grime. ¡°That was a close call.¡±

    Primrose nodded before observing the dark dungeon for the first time. ¡°Dancing Lights.¡± She whispered and snapped her fingers. The flame lept from her fingers and jumped from torch to torch.

    The duo watched light filled the long hallway in anticipation and found that the hallways were longer than they thought. Suddenly, the horrible aura they felt before washed over them and a sinister deep voice spoke.

    ¡°Welcome to the Restless Chambers, Primrose Willis, and William Vanner. Walk down the hallway and you shall find what you seek.¡±

    Primrose frowned.

    "Who does this demon thinks he''s ordering?"

    Primrose turned to Brerkemuul who spoke up for the first time since entering the ruins.

    "Let''s go, I want to see who this demon really is!" Brekemuul yelled indignantly before floating down the hallway.

    Primrose looked at William with a raised eyebrow and said person raised his hands defensively.

    "He''s always been like that, don''t blame me!"