Chapter 205 - Blinding Lights

Vell's expression remained calm, his grip on his staff steady but firm. He regarded the weowen with an air of detachment, his eyes scanning over the creature as though studying a particularly stubborn problem. 

"If you'll kill us, why even bother warning us?" he asked, his tone even, almost clinical. 

The weowen's grimace deepened, her voice strained. "Because right now, I can. Her grip isn't constant, and I—" She faltered, her many arms jerking in spasms, her muscles fighting against some unseen puppeteer. "But it won't last. She knows you're here." 

Vell turned slightly, his gaze shifting to the witches. They said nothing and kept themselves at bay from the weowon.

After a moment, Sonder spoke up. "What do we do? We can't just leave her like this." 

"Do we really have a choice?" he asked. "It seems to me that if we don't stop her, she'll attack us whether she wants to or not." 

The weowen's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You're smarter than most," she said. "You know how this ends. You'll have to kill me, or I'll—" Her voice turned into a guttural growl as her body convulsed violently, claws raking the earth. "I'll kill you all."

Vell let the silence stretch as he studied the creature's struggles. Finally, he turned back to the witches. His voice was calm but sharp. "You heard her. She's losing control. I'm sorry to say, but if you want to survive, you'll have to kill her." 

The green witch's eyes widened. "What? But—" 

"You're a coven, aren't you?" Vell's tone turned cold as he wanted to test them himself. "You sought out this place on your own. After I dealt with the wolves and conjured the barrier, I'm spent; I can't fight her for you." 

The weowen's shriek tore through the clearing, her claws smashing into the ground, kicking up dust.

"You can't leave us to this!" the green witch protested. 

"I'm not leaving," Vell reassured.

The witches scrambled, their panic palpable as they formed a shaky defensive circle. Their chanting wavered, magic flickering like an unsteady flame. The green witch stepped forward, her hands alight with energy. "We'll… we'll try." 

Sonder shot Vell a sharp look. "You're just going to stand there?" 

Vell winked, a glimmer of amusement breaking through his stoicism. "Don't worry. I'll step in if absolutely necessary. But I doubt any of you want to fight in pitch darkness." 

The weowen lunged, her claws tearing through the barrier like paper. The witches cried out as their spell shattered, and the creature surged forward. 

Vell remained still, the light on his staff shifting faintly as he observed. 

When a clawed hand shot toward Sonder, a brief flicker of concern crossed his face. But her dagger flashed, severing the limb with practiced precision. 

Black ichor splattered across the ground, but the weowen barely staggered. 

"Focus," Vell called out. "Immobilize her. Your magic isn't strong enough to overpower her, so use strategy. Bind her limbs." 

The green witch nodded, rallying the others. Together, they summoned glowing chains that wrapped around the weowen's many arms. But the creature thrashed, snapping the bonds with ease. 

Vell sighed, his tone laced with quiet disappointment. "Sloppy." 

The witches redoubled their efforts, their chanting growing steadier. This time, the chains held longer, stopping the creature's movements. 

"You fools!" The weowen snarled, her voice thick with malice and pain. "You can't bind me! Only end me!" 

The green witch glanced at Vell, desperation etched in her features. "We need more power! She's too strong!" 

Vell tilted his head, considering. Then he stepped forward, his staff emitting a brighter light. "I've seen enough." 

With a flick of his wrist, the weowen froze mid-lunge, her movements arrested by an invisible force. The witches staggered, their spell unraveling as Vell's power overshadowed theirs completely. 

He turned to the coven, his expression cold. "Survival and failure. You lack focus and coordination. Relying on raw power alone, which you lack. It will get you killed." 

The light from his staff flared, bathing the clearing in brilliance. 

The weowen let out one final, anguished scream as her body dissolved into ash. The dark bindings made of magic that the witch of Targe used to control her were visible in such intense light, evaporating as she died. 

The oppressive shadow over the forest lifted slightly as the glow from Vell's staff dimmed. 

Sonder lowered her dagger, a terrible feeling of guilt washing over her as she knew the pain she had caused the weowen. "Is it… over?" 

"For her, yes," Vell replied grimly. 

The green witch turned to him, her breaths ragged. "You could've ended that sooner." 

Vell's gaze hardened. "Is it my task to protect you? No. It's your own. I've guided you through three encounters. Are you planning to rely on me for a fourth?" 

The green witch flinched, guilt and frustration flashing across her face. "You're stronger than us," she admitted, her voice shaking. "We're doing what we can, but you—" 

"If you're not strong enough, then maybe you shouldn't be here," he interrupted. He gestured toward the pile of ash where the weowen had stood moments ago. "Maybe you'll end up the same as her."