" What happened?" I asked.
Yami replied, "A few months ago, I was gambling in the black market and met a witch who creates a lot of magic items."
I tried to recall if I knew who he was talking about.
Yami continued, "Recently, I lost 40,000 to her in gambling, and she asked me to complete a request."
"40,000!!! If you're so bad at gambling, why do you even do it?" I said, annoyed.
"Don't worry about the small details. Listen, she wanted me to save a witch from the Witch Forest with unique magic, who is trapped by the queen. She also said that if I feel like it, I could recruit her to my squad."
"So you want me to help you?" I asked.
"I want you as a distraction. Luck and Magna will come with us, and you can get field experience," he said.
If the news is correct, the woman in the black market should be Dominante, wife of Franzel Kruger, the ex-general of the Diamond Kingdom. If I remember correctly, he will defect around the coming year, and the girl to be rescued should be Vanessa. I agreed to go with him. I should be able to handle the normal witches, but the golems would be a problem. If the Witch Queen comes, without Yami's support, I am dead.
---
The Witch Forest was deep within a Grand Magic Zone, so it took us about three days to reach there. From afar, some characteristics of the Witch Forest could be seen. The entire place was surrounded by dense forest with only the top of a castle, which should belong to the Witch Queen, visible.
As we got near the vicinity, alarms rang and many golems came in our direction. This caused chaos in the forest as men had tried to enter. I didn't enter the forest in fear of taking on more than I could handle as the sky was already filled with witches and golems.
"Do your part," said Yami and took off towards a tall building. I took out a dagger and slashed in the direction of the nearest golem, dividing it in two, but to my surprise, it absorbed mana from the surroundings and repaired itself. Luck and Magna were doing their part, but Luck's laugh made it look like we were here to destroy the forest.
The same thing happened with others too, and the number of golems increased. I dodged several projectiles with the help of ki and concluded that to destroy them, I had to break them beyond repair.
---
Vanessa Enoteca's POV
From the moment my magic awakened, I was told that I was special. When I turned 11, all my freedom was taken away. I was made to sit in a cage all day to unlock something I had no idea or concept of. Almost six years have passed since I was trapped here. Mother talks to me about different things but says I can't leave the cage, saying it's not time yet.
I managed to make a few friends by talking to those passing through the windows. I learned about most of the outside world by listening. The more I heard, the more I wanted to escape, but I was powerless to do so. Today, my magic was restless as if something big was about to happen.
I heard screams all around and finally saw the walls of my place and my cage breaking. I saw a man in a black robe standing with sunlight behind him, giving an appearance no less than an angel to me. He said the words I always wanted to hear, "Do you want to be free?"
For some reason, my magic told me to go with him.
"I can't go unless I learn to control my fate," I repeated the words of my mother.
"Fate? Forget about that. Join me, and I will help you make your own path you call fate." Those words made me forget everything I had suffered. My desperation for freedom, my cherish for something to call a true family, my fascination for the outside world—all forced me to take the man's hand and make a decision I will be forever grateful for.
---
Julian's POV
While Yami was having his protagonist moment, I was attacking the Witch Queen and the golems. After I destroyed all the golems, I flew towards Yami and found him fighting against the Witch Queen. I hit her body with slashes and flame bullets, but every time her body reformed by crows—how annoying. Luck and Magna were busy fighting the golems and witches, so I was alone against the Witch Queen. I was amazed that she didn't kill me yet.
I saw a dark slash attack and understood that Yami was successful. I flew with my fastest speed outside the forest, same with Luck and Magna. But contrary to my expectations, the Witch Queen did not follow me.
During the fight, she only dodged or used defensive magic and never used offensive magic, always eyeing me. I found this suspicious. At the end, she said the following words which made no sense to me, "Your fate of blood linked with me will bring you back here, descendant of the greater." And she gave a gentle smile, which I never knew was possible.
I ignored her, always thinking she was insane, and went towards Yami. There was a beautiful girl with pink hair sitting behind his broom with a face of fascination.
"Welcome to the outside world," I said to Vanessa, and she nodded happily.
We took her to the base and told everyone to update her with everything. They gave her some space and let her adjust first. I stayed there for some days before returning to the church.
I asked Sister for a spar, and she was surprised that I was able to dodge all of her normal attacks. I told her about my adventures with Yami but didn't mention the Witch Queen, just that I helped Yami recruit a new member. I know that Yami has an eye for talent, and he must have felt something from Vanessa, or else he would not have recruited her after rescuing her.