Chapter 203 - Covenly

The whispering voice returned, faint and mocking. "So quick to lead, mage. Do you know where you're going? Or are you as lost as the rest?" 

"I've been lost before," Vell muttered under his breath, "and I've come out fine. You'll have to try harder than whispers and winding paths." 

Sonder glanced back at the witches trailing behind. Their faces were pale, their steps hesitant, and their whispered spell wards barely audible over the soft crunch of leaves underfoot. 

She wondered if the situation was truly as frightening as it seemed or if the witches were simply more easily scared. 

 Maybe it was because she knew that Vell was by her side?

Slowing her pace, Sonder let the witches catch up. 

Addressing the tall one in green, she asked gently but curiously, "If you don't mind me asking, who are you? I mean, where did your coven come from?" 

The witch in green hesitated, her wary eyes meeting Sonder's. "Why do you want to know?" 

Sonder shrugged lightly. "If we're all trying to meet the same witch, it seems fair to know who I'm traveling with." 

The witch's posture relaxed slightly, and she nodded. "We're a coven, but we're new. Unproven." 

"Unproven?" Sonder repeated. 

The witch sighed, her gaze shifting to the younger witches behind her. "Most of us were outcasts. Unwanted apprentices, cast-offs from older covens. Some of us barely even knew magic before finding each other. Even I... My mistress expelled me for failing her tests. She called me a waste of talent." 

One of the younger witches, a girl with short hair and soot-smudged robes, spoke up. "But you found us. You gave us a place to belong." 

The witch in green shook her head. "We gave that to each other. I just... showed them where to start." 

The green witch's expression hardened. "Then we'll figure it out ourselves, like we always did." 

"Then we'll figure it out ourselves, like we always did."

Sonder tilted her head. "So, you're self-taught? You must be pretty resourceful to make it this far." 

She gave a rueful smile. "Resourceful, yes. Skilled? That's another matter entirely. We learned by trial and error. Some of those errors nearly killed us. But we refused to give up. And when we heard about the Witch of Targe..." 

"You thought she could help?" Sonder asked.

"We began noticing signs—omens, dreams. Then, we turned to the stars. We took them as confirmation. If we can reach her, maybe she'll teach us, guide us. Or… at least tell us if we have a future at all." 

Sonder glanced at Vell, who walked ahead, his staff glowing faintly to illuminate their path. "What do you think she'll say?" 

The witch hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know. But it feels like this is our last chance. If she won't help us..." She trailed off, her expression darkening. 

The short-haired witch from earlier spoke again, her voice trembling. "If she won't help us, we'll still try. We'll make our own way." 

Sonder smiled softly. "That's brave. But you don't have to do it alone, you know." 

She thought of her own journey, how often she had relied on Vell and his guidance. These witches had no one like him—only each other.

"What do you mean?" 

Sonder glanced at Vell again. "Maybe Vell could help? Or at least point you in the right direction, like you did for your coven. He knows a lot more about magic than he lets on." 

The green witch gave Vell a skeptical look. "You think he'd teach us? He doesn't exactly seem… approachable." 

Sonder chuckled. "He's friendlier than he looks. And you're not as unproven as you think. You made it this far, didn't you?" 

"Maybe. But let's see if we survive the forest first." 

Ahead, Vell glanced back, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Are you all done bonding back there? The forest isn't going to wait for us, and talking won't get us any closer." 

Sonder shook her lightly. "He means well," she said quietly.