Chapter 1-The Secret Dungeon of the Grim Witch

Chapter 1

The Secret Dungeon of the Grim Witch

Ariadne

On the land of Samdiperove there lies boundaries among powerful witches, beasts, mages, necromancers, wizards, cursed beings and mere mortals-the powerless beings. Incidentally, these beings were not immortal. There were also unidentified beings that lurk the land in disguise.

Witches and wizards were the ones in dominion, mages follow second. On the third row follows the beasts, the necromancers are on fourth, unidentified beings and the cursed ones were placed on the fifth and at the bottom and lowest part was the ordinary humans known as Mundane. The Mundane and beasts have the greatest in number, wizards, mages and witches were dense and lying next with the least in numbers were the cursed-unidentified beings and the necromancers.

Samdiperove was theorized to be divided into four regions. The north, which was ruled by an unidentified being, the west, which was under the reign of the black witch by the name Josephine, the east, which was under the rule of the Grim Witch, and the south, of which there stood the castle of Regality and there lived the evil white witch whom is the Queen of the land.

The search for the writer is no good. The witches traveled and almost covered the country of Samdiperove and still got nothing, not even a bit of single information about the writer, just a meet with scoundrels and hoodlums, and ending up killing them.

"I'm tired, Master. We'd slain more than thirty men already. Why can't we just stop and,"

"Are you complaining?" Colleen snapped her obvious whine of complaint. The witches are walking on a narrow alley, heading towards Hunchester. The hard bumpy ground made Ariadne walk uncomfortably, worse-she keeps on stumbling over the pile of mounds while Colleen on the other hand walks gracefully and not even stepping into a single one.

"No, but it seems like that! I'd rather sleep a thousand years like a cursed maiden on an eternal slumber...than venture a pointless journey." Ariadne admitted bitterly, her voice rose and fell.

"Pointless?! Or would you like to become one among those mongrels and hybrid cats we just killed." Colleen threatened while turning her back to glare at her. "And for your information, if ever you were to be put under a long sleep, you would never be awoken, why?" Her fierce piercing black eyes made Ariadne feel sad and even more uncomfortable.

"Because I'm a witch," a hint of sadness trailed off of her voice, "it would be better if I were not to wake up, I'd prefer to live that way." Pure sadness and a slight look of regret began creeping on her face. Colleen glared at her even more with eyes flaring in anger and a mix of annoyance.

"No one will come kissing you, fool!"

She doesn't understand why she needs to suffer that bad, is it because of the debt she owes to her witch, or was it because she had fallen in love with her that she is eager to be a slave who could be ordered anything? Freedom? Is she really free from the grasps of her witch?

The memory is still fresh. Young Ariadne hugged her knees while sobbing in the midst of the foggy forest. Her long auburn hair was tangled. She was all alone in the forest until luckily she was found by Colleen that time, whom she first thought was a good Samaritan but all of a sudden turned out to be an evil witch. She was still lucky for she wasn't made to become an ingredient for the "Beauty Potion," which restores her youth, nearly though, instead, she became the witch's eternal source of beauty. With her alongside Colleen, the witch would not grow old. Colleen discovered this when she was about to kill her making her a subject to the next potion she was about to make.

"A drop of blood is a beauty of eternal." Colleen often states whenever she's doing the ritual of beautification.

"I can't stand this anymore!" She cried in the depth of her thoughts, "I need to stop this craziness." The fuzziness of her thoughts shouted in agreement.

"Someone's coming," Colleen snapped, pulling her back to reality.

In front of them were the creeping shadows of the two hooded men moving closer to them. The shadows are moving closer and closer until they corner the witches on the edge of the corridor. The witches leaned their backs on the wall. The shadows revealed a bespectacled hooded man who advances and fixes his eyes on the book Colleen was holding in her hands while the other one was shorter and slimmer. These hooded men held wooden canes in their hands.

"Colleen," the bespectacled guy spoke. His voice was deep and manly, almost sounding bass. He squatted his cane and send a mass of white ropes towards the witches who have stood beside the huge walls frozen. Colleen hastily unfreezes and pushed the aghast Ariadne towards the trash bins. Ariadne somersaulted over the bins spluttering the goat skins and corroded tins inside them. Colleen waved her hand and vanished before the ropes can catch her. Adrenaline rushes through Ariadne's blood as she stood up and ran as far as her feet can take her. The green hooded cloak she wore is now covered in dirt and stains. The hooded men ran in pursuit. Colleen appeared next to her side, shrieking in a high pitched voice, "It is Josephine's Cult!" They stopped and faced their pursuers, Colleen waved her hand and sent a stunning spell to the hooded man in spectacles. The spectacled guy barely misses the bolt of prismatic light by moving his head on the other side in just the nick of time, missing a hit angered Colleen and thus drove her to go frenzy, her black eyes set aflame. She gritted her teeth as she keeps glaring into the eyes of the bespectacled man, the two fierce looking opponents stared into each others eyes and both transported above the roofs to fight, this leaves Ariadne alone with the thin hooded man who is standing in average height. Ariadne who was still wide-eyed and unable to think properly. She positioned herself battle ready carelessly. Filled with bravado, the thin wizard shoots green flashes of light from the tip of his cane sending off white ropes directing towards her. With carelessness, Ariadne countered the binding spell with a knocking spell. The ropes ricocheted back to their summoner, the thin man glided left evading the counter attack, the ropes vanished in a poof. Raising cane versus waving of hand. Green and red flashes of light rays flashed at the very tips of the cane and through her palm. She summoned her willpower and waved her hand sending red beacon of light to the ground spluttering tennis-ball size stones to her opponent, the guy stumbled over the dirt road. His hood was removed to show his innocent-looking pale face and his red hair. The red-headed guy groaned as he gripped hi twelve-inches long cane in his hand, he stood up putting his left hand on his aching hip. She lowered her guard simply to simper from her short victory while her battler found his chance and sent another binding spell. A flash of green light hit Ariadne's chest knocking her as white ropes began binding her. Ariadne was shell-shocked as the white ropes continue to tether her, almost choking her from the firm bound. She squirmed, wiggled and tried getting out. She's thinking of how to untether herself. What would her witch think of her again? A big piece of disappointment and a grumbling weak? From above the roofs, the duel between Colleen and the spectacled guy grew intense. Colleen dodged hastily, evading a stunning spell from the black-wooden cane in the grip of her battler, she countered it by waving her hand flawlessly, she then sent another stunning spell, a prismatic ray hit her target's head, knocking the agape guy in spectacles as he falls down on the mound of earth.

"Amateurs," Colleen laughed as she descended on the ground knocking the busy red-headed guy who battled Ariadne at the same time.

Colleen untethered Ariadne and eyed her. Her black eyes flared in disappointment. "I'm sorry Master. It won't happen again," Ariadne apologized.

On the dirt road, the hooded men groaned, their canes were laid on the ground. The spectacles of the tall guy with a broad shoulder and a clean-shaven face lays broken at the near tennis-ball sized round stones. The two witches cleaned themselves and fled to Hunchester in their brooms. They entered the city of the famous writers.

"Magic and lots and lots of mana, and lots of honey, cucumbers, and chances to find the writer." Collen muses as they wandered the alley of Hunchester. Bulky vendors of muttons, ewe meat and odd-shapen vegetables were in their stalls brushing off the nuisance flies that buzzed on the coppery red meats. The vendors seem to wait for customers, who seemed none.

The witches wandered the narrow alley and are now entering a green colored pathway which was tiled with green cobblestones. A rusty gate was viewed ahead and it glimmers in rusts. A rusty castle made out of scrap metals and rusty iron scaffoldings was crookedly erected on the small hill of Hunchester. The weather was nice.

"I sense danger Master," Ariadne warned. She was now ambling weakly.

"Oh! slay that omen Ariadne, I need to relax and enjoy, I haven't had the time in making fun, and I need to restore my power. I need to see Enchantress." Colleen blabbered, and by the look on her face, the fight they fought a while ago was just a piece of cake.

They were now standing and facing the closed iron gates. "Enchantress," Colleen hissed. The word Enchantress echoed like the beating of chimes as the surrounding was devoured by darkness, the witches were devoured with it and transported them both into the dungeon of the notorious charm conjurer, known by the name Enchantress. A pale beautiful young woman sat on a golden chair, two ferocious jaguars were on her side, both sitting idly in their mats as their glaring golden eyes shone.

"It is nice to behold the lovely witch of Feesh, Oh! witches." Enchantress corrected as soon as her dark tinted grey eyes laid on Ariadne. She wore a white gown with its fabrics knitted from the intricate fibers.

"Long time no see Enchantress. You have looked more beautiful than the last time we met," Colleen glared at the unreadable grey eyes of the so-called charm conjurer.

"Oh, thank you." She smiled appreciatively.

"So this is Ariadne," Enchantress shifted her gaze to Ariadne who seemed to pay a bit of attention. "O, well yes. She is."

"Where had you found this gal? She seems...wonderful." Ariadne cowered upon hearing the word "wonderful", there is something with the enchantress' voice, her words are bewitchingly evil.

"Oh, don't frighten my loyal apprentice, Enchantress. You still don't know her capabilities."

Enchantress eyed them. "Don't know? Have you forgotten what I can do, my dear?" Enchantress' eyes flared in anger that it caused Colleen to step back and look so frighten.

"My apologies." Enchantress straightened her pace, her pets' eyes glowed even redder.

"Don't, don't you e-ever dare to do that again!" Colleen stammered as fear creeps into her voice. Ariadne had been with her master's side since she was seven and she'd never seen her cower at a glare of anybody. Not now, at the gaze of Enchantress.

"So, what brought my competent witch here?"

"We're here to bargain," Colleen replied reluctantly, there's still fear in her voice. She brought out two vials of brown goo potion from her shabby satchel.

"What would you like to ask of me then?" Enchantress asked, eyeing the identical vials that Colleen held in her hands.

"Maidens' souls, wonderful," Ariadne shivered from hearing the word again, like the word "wonderful" is a naturally bewitching in the Enchantress' tongue, "but not as wonderful as this beautiful gal here." Enchantress grimaced and glanced at Ariadne's direction. This time Ariadne met the gaze of the enchantress.

Ariadne stared into Enchantress' eyes curiously, probing each grey irises with her eyes, their eyes met and glued. Ariadne shivered, like chimes of the sounds wonderful kept echoing in her ears, she felt a bit dizzy. The Enchantress' glare sends her into a trance, but Ariadne didn't back off, she strengthened her gaze. They looked like cobras waiting for who will bite who first. Ariadne began feeling uneasy like her power force is being sucked out of her, the staring contest made her nose bleeds. Ariadne felt her feet growing feeble. Wholeheartedly, she summoned all her willpower and send waves after waves of dazzling magical energy to repel the enchantress' glare.

"Wonderful," Enchantress mused. The word wonderful is now ineffective to her ears. "You're lucky to have this gal riding on your cocktail my dear. You're right, I still don't know her capabilities. Train this little witch well, like what I did to you. Now, what is your request?"

"Oh, what have you done to my apprentice?!" Colleen bewildered, looking at the dazed Ariadne whose nose is still bleeding.

"Nothing. It was just a brief sneak," Enchantress let out a giggle. "What was your request again?"

"Yes, I want you to find the location of the writer..."

"The writer who can open the place of Barnania? Oh, that's easy my dear. But,"

"But, what?" Colleen tensed.

"That place was captivating. The world of modernization and enthralling civilization." Enchantress looks like caught in her own enchantment.

"You mean, the world of the unenlightened?"

"No, don't call it unenlightened, they use more powerful magic without using manas."

"But, they're dependent on their inventions and ignorant on witchcraft and wizardry, they're still unenlightened." Colleen retorted with uneasiness.

"What is the writer doing in the world of the unenlightened anyway?" Ariadne asked curiously, wiping her nose with her velvety kerchief. Now fully awoken from being dazed.

"Decisive question, my dear," Enchantress said and chanted an ancient chant, she then waved her hand. Her eyes flickered, she paced and stood from her chair. Her eyes are returning to their usual colors.

"Follow me," she said.

The metallic floors are agitatedly frigid. They made Ariadne shivered, the seeping coldness is as chilling as the enchantress' malevolent glares. Rust filled the air like the air was composed of fifty percent oxygen and fifty percent iron, the air smelled rusty the kind of rustiness that smelled of blood. Enchantress moves left to a narrow corridor towards a door at the edge of the hallway. Portraits were hanging on the cobwebbed metallic walls. The portraits' faces were stern and fierce-looking. The faces wore the same face, the face of the grim enchantress on different timelines.

"How old are you exactly?" Ariadne broke the silence as Enchantress opened the door. The creaking sounds from the door were eerily discomforting.

"That's a rude question dear," Enchantress grinned. "We're here." She moved inside, the witches followed. Warm air comforted Ariadne from the coldness. The room was small, a ten-by-ten-meter-squared room. In the middle of the room stood a four-foot tall whole antique mirror.

"The mirror of, Enthral, Enthrallment? Impossible." Colleen was agape.

"Yes my dear, the mirror that let you see what you most crave in life."

"That mirror is cursed, it only shows lies... But it was discovered eight years ago, why is it here with you?" Ariadne looked into the eyes of the enchantress but moved away quickly.

The mirror stood in the midst of the storeroom, cobwebs covered its glimmering golden glass. Ariadne edged near the mirror then she noticed that it is broken. A missing piece of a triangularly shaped shard was definitely missing. The mirror looked like an incomplete puzzle and there is a missing part. The missing piece should be placed in the center of the mirror.

"So, what are we doing here exactly?" Ariadne asked again, her voice was a bit shaky.

Enchantress edged near her. She noticed that the enchantress wore sandals, sandals made of some wild beasts' leathers. She looked up, met the gaze of the Enchantress and once again she moves away quickly. Enchantress touched the mirror, caressing the fragile glass in her soft long fingers. "You seek the writer right?" She asked glumly.

"If that's the case then, you need to find the missing part of this mirror first, the missing shard." She concluded, her tone sounds distressed.

"How does finding the missing part of this mirror related to finding the writer?" Colleen retorted in tones of bewilderment and annoyance.

The enchantress looks reluctant, "So that I could free Aishah. The Babe of the future. She's an oracle, a fortune-teller. My once was charm bearer." Enchantress said, sadness creeping on her pale face, her mouth twitched and her brows furrowed.

"So, where do we find this missing piece of the shard, glass?" Colleen gritted her teeth, her black robe and black curly hair matched the fiery black eyes of hers.

"The book." Enchantress moved in circles around the mirror, probing its features.

"The book?" Colleen repeated obliviously.

"Give me the book, then return here with the missing glass piece of the Mirror of Enthrallment then you'll get your reward. I myself will help you open the gates to Barnania, the place you longed to go and rule."

Colleen tensed, she looked shocked like she's beginning to process the words slowly like chewing a very long gummy worm.

"No. I can't, I know you. This is one of your mischiefs. I can't be fooled again. Deceived and played again." She strengthened her gaze afraid of the enchantress' glare.

"I don't play games, my dear, I swear to the holy and unholy witches and beasts of your land," Enchantress swore. She even crossed her heart seriously.

"I accept that oath." Colleen brought out the book in golden coverings from her satchel. She passed it hesitantly to Enchantress' awaiting hand.

"Wait," Ariadne interrupted. "You said the writer is in the world of the unenlightened, then you asked us of finding this missing piece of broken shard glass. Did they happen to be in the same place?"

"Exactly." Enchantress gripped the book in her hands.

"The mirror always shows what I desire, and it often shows the face of Aishah the Babe. She said she is on the other side of the world in the hands of a boy named Walter...Walter Dan." Enchantress finished, her eyes were glum for longing.

"Who is this Aishah the Babe by the way? And how does she know that this Walter is the writer?" Ariadne asked curiously.