Mars and Fana

A week had passed since Julian and the others arrived in the Witch Forest.

During this time, Julian and Fanzell gave their complete focus on training Asta in these new powers.

At the same time, Julian continued his research on Abyss.

Increasing his knowledge of Anti Magic gave Julian more insights into his power in the abyss.

In the future, Julian was sure that he could replicate anti-magic as well when his mastery over Abyss reached a level.

Noelle and Secre had a lot of fun in the Witch Forest. Due to their status as Witch Queen's guests, Witches showed them the glory of the Witch Forest.

For Noelle, who had some trauma after the battle with Vetto, and Secre whose mind was a mess after training under Altante, this trip helped them heal.

Vanessa missed a significant part of her childhood so Code helped showed Vanessa every corner of the Witch Forest and introduced Vanessa to her friends.

Vanessa wanted to learn to be able to control her fate powers so she started to train under the Witch Queen.

Although the Witch Queen didn't show it, Vanessa trying to learn from her made her very happy.

During training and spending time with the Witch Queen, Vanessa started to understand the Witch Queen's responsibility.

Vanessa felt Witch Queen's pain after hearing stories about her siblings who passed away due to their short life span.

Some people view a long life span as a blessing while some like the Witch Queen view it as a curse as she has to watch her loved ones die in front of her due to old age.

This is why the Witch Queen avoids trying to make connections and lives alone. That way, she could avoid being heartbroken.

Vanessa didn't really have a dream, for her drinking and having fun is what matters.

But after hearing what the Witch Queen originally planned for her and meeting other witches, she thought if she should consider becoming the next Witch Queen.

"You don't have to become the next queen.

I am sure there are other Witches who would take on my position when I step down.

You don't need to bind yourself to this position.

Alicia, the First Witch Queen, and Julian's mother created the Witch Forest creating a safe place for women.

Before me, it was my mother who was the Witch Queen.

What I mean to say is, no matter who is the queen, this place will remain a safe place for women.

The falling of a ruler doesn't mean an empire will fall.

Knowing that all my children are happy, is all that matters to me.

I wish for you to enjoy your freedom, Vanessa"

This is what the Witch Queen said to Vanessa clearing the doubt in her mind.

************

Outside the Diamond Kingdom:

General Mars of the Diamond Kingdom stood while surrounded by Witches with their wands pointed at him.

"General of Diamond Kingdom or not, you are not allowed here.

LEAVE!"

Mars took out an insignia in the shape of a crow and threw it toward the Witch in front of her.

"I come at peace!!….." Mars said putting his hands up.

This was an important mission and violence was the last thing he wanted.

"I wish to make a deal with the Witch Queen as a diplomat of the King," Mars said out loud.

A crow sat on the Witch's shoulder and whispered, "I am sending Julian to escort him, you can return to your duties "

The Witch nodded and turned towards Mars.

"You are allowed to enter, an escort will be here soon"

One by all the Witches left leaving Mars standing alone.

"Yo~What an unexpected meeting," someone whispered in Mars's ears making him jump forward and activate his magic.

'I didn't sense him at all!!!'

Mars looked toward the owner of the voice and immediately felt like the mission was already over.

[Baha! you made him shit his pants !!!] Kirin felt like rolling on the floor after seeing Mars' reaction.

Mars took a deep breath.

"Julian…"

There was someone standing beside Julian which surprised Mars even more.

"Fanzell Sir?! " Mars exclaimed.

Fanzell was happy to see Mars having natural expressions, unlike the last time he saw him.

"Well….it's a long story.

Due to some strange circumstances, I am here.

And about Julian, this is a neutral ground so he wouldn't attack you, Mars." Fanzell replied.

**************

Mars sat in front of the Witch Queen with an awkward expression.

He heard from Fanzell about how he escaped the assassin trail and about his current situation but it was not the topic of Mars' concern.

The Witch Queen, Julian, his teacher Fanzell and the kid he met at the Dungeon Asta were drinking tea peacefully.

Mars didn't know if he should drink the cup of tea in front of him or not.

Was the really the terrifying Witch Queen that everyone warned him about?

Asta was surprised to see Mars being so different from the dungeon.

"That insignia that you brought with you, I gave it to your last King as a token of appreciation for our deal.

So what deal do you have this time?" The Witch Queen asked.

The Witch Forest is an independent area without the jurisdiction of any nation.

The Witch Queen often makes deals with different kingdoms which include the Diamond Kingdom for technology, the Heart Kingdom for new varieties of fruits and vegetables, etc.

But the influence of the Witch Forest is the largest in the Clover Kingdom due to a lot of the Witches being in the Magic Knights.

The prime example is the captain of the Coral Peacock who is a witch.

"Our King is suffering from an uncurable disease and our Grand Marshal has become crippled due to a certain someone, " Mars said glazing at Julian.

"Due to this, the administration is a mess and the country is falling apart.

The situation with the Spade nation has turned sour and it could lead to a war at any moment.

I request the Witch Queen to heal our King and Grand Marshall. " Mars said.

"What do I get in exchange ?" The Witch Queen asked.

"We have made a lot of technological advancements, we are ready to share them and the way to make them in exchange for your help.

I have brought samples with me for you to assess " Mars replied.

"I will let my daughters evaluate them, till then you can catch up with your teacher " Witch Queen said pointing at Fanzell.

Mars was about to get up when the crows in the chamber started screaming.

"Someone with enormous mana is approaching from above…...someone familiar" the Witch Queen muttered.

Julian closed one of his eyes as a bird with Sharigan looked towards the sky.

"Someone from the Eye of the Midnight Sun is here.

She came for the magic stones it seems" Julian said.

Kirin came out of Julian's body and stood beside him cracking his fingers with a smirk.

"Salamander has matured hehe!

The harvest will be bountiful!!"

The Witch Queen waved her hands as an image of the intruder appeared on the screen.

It was a single pink-haired woman with a purple gem on her forehead.

She wore the robe of the Eye of the Midnight Sun and was riding on an orange Dragon made of flames.

It was the great flame spirit Salamander.

Fazell's eyes widened seeing the woman while Mars fell to his knees gasping for air

"Fana ?!.....how is this possible ?!

I…I thought I killed you…" Mars muttered as tears dropped from his eyes.

Asta remembered the story Julian told Asta after coming back from the Diamond Kingdom.

The way in which the shining generals are selected in the Diamond Kingdom is very cruel.

A group of children with potential are trained till their bodies break till they reach a certain age when they undergo a last test.

In this test, the children are made to kill each other and the only one standing gets selected.

Fanzell was a trainer who trained these children. He couldn't see the children he raised get killed like this so he left the Diamond Kingdom.

Mars was one such survivor and the girl he loved willingly gave her life for Mars to live.

The girl's Grimoire and Mars' Grimoire were combined which gave him some control over fire.

Now the woman from Eye of the Midnight Sun has a gem on her forehead like Generals from Diamond Kingdom and has a similar Grimoire to Mars so Asta connected the dots.

Asta moved forward and put his hand on Mars' shoulder.

"Although that woman appears to be your childhood friend Fana, she is currently working for the Eye of the Midnight Sun.

Let's talk to her and find her intention" Asta said.

"Leave me alone!" Mars slapped away Asta's arms.

"Don't be impulsive Mars!

Let's assess the situation first !" Fanzell said standing in front of Mars.

"You are not my enemy but it doesn't apply to Fana. She tried to kill me the last time we met so if you don't behave I will kill her before you even get to talk to her. Understand ?" Julian said releasing a bit of mana pressure on Mars.

"I….understand"

The Witch Queen snapped her fingers as the bricks that made the walls of the hall slowly started to disappear making an entrance.

Salamander flew todays the Queen's chamber and entered the hall through the entrance as Fana climbed down from Salamander's back.

Fana's Grimoire was exactly the same as Mars confirming that she was the same Fana that Mars knew.

Fana's eyes wandered across the people in the chamber specifically Asta and Julian.

For an instant killing, instant burst out of her targeting Julian and Asta but Fana controlled herself.

Fana looked at Fanzell and Mars as some unexplainable emotions started to bubble up.

She suppressed those emotions and looked towards the Witch Queen as a third eye started to appear on the gem on her forehead.

"Fana….do you remember me? It's me Mars " Mars said making Fana look at him with disgust.

"Don't speak to me human, I will burn you to death" Fana replied to Mars before turning her head towards the Witch queen.

"It's been five hundred years since I last saw you Alice…..do you remember me ?" Fana asked.

"Yes, I remember you Fana….

Licht, Rhya, Vetto and you were the only ones who came to visit my parents after they were exiled.

But you are not the same Fana I know.

She was kind and full of love but you are boiling with hatred "The Witch Queen said.

"You know what being kind and full of love got me….

I lost everything...

The humans took everything away from me!!" Fana screamed as her mana burst out.

"Why do you have the human who killed Vetto again and the boy who stole Licht's Grimoire and Swords under your roof ?!"

"Vetto's death was the consequence of his own actions and Licht's Grimoire choose Asta as its owner so I don't see any problem with them being here.

The times have changed as if now, you are a threat to my children.

So tell me Fana, what do you need ?" The Witch Queen said with a serious tone.

"Give me the magic stone present in Witch Forest, I know you have it. "

"If I had it, I would have given it to you but I don't have it anymore. I have given it to Julian" The Witch Queen replied.

"So you have taken the side of the humans...

Fine then….I will kill every single human in this forest just like the humans did to us!"

"Salamander: Spirit Assimilation!!! "

Salamander broke into fragments of mana and assimilated into Fana's body forming an armor around body body.

Two wings grew behind her back and two horns on her head.

"Prepare to die humans !"