Chapter 208 - Magic Finess

The group had set up camp after hours of trudging through the dark forest without an end in sight. 

The witches and Sonder longed to wash away the grime and dirt they had accumulated from the previous day, but they didn't dare. Every stream they had come across smelled foul, its dark, murky waters carrying an unnatural discoloration that none of them had ever seen before. 

With no campfire to warm them, the only source of light came from Vell's staff, planted firmly in the earth, its steady glow pushing back the oppressive darkness.

The witches sat in a tired circle, with Sonder close by. Vell stood at the edge of the camp, arms crossed, staring out into the endless nothingness of the void. 

He had been silent for a long time, but the witches barely had the energy to wonder what he was planning. 

Abruptly, Vell turned back to them. 

"You," he said, pointing at one of the witches. 

The witch looked up at him, startled. "Me?" 

"Stand up." 

The others exchanged wary glances, watching carefully as the witch hesitated before getting to her feet. 

Vell's tone remained level as he said, "Conjure a barrier for me. Like you've done so many times before."

The green witch frowned, shifting as if she was about to rise as well. "What are you doing?" 

"Something like a lesson," Vell replied. "Except this time, there's no danger. I promise." 

The witches were unconvinced, but after a brief moment of silent debate, the chosen witch nodded. She raised her hands, whispering an incantation under her breath, and a faint yellowish barrier flashed to life before her. 

Vell studied it with a critical eye. The light was thin, uneven, flickering at the edges. He exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. 

Without a word, he bent down and picked up a fallen stick from the forest floor. Lifting it like a wand, he pressed the tip gently against the barrier—not channeling magic, not applying real force. Just pushing. 

At first, the barrier resisted, bending slightly inward. But with just a fraction more pressure, the stick punctured through, cracks spreading across the surface like fragile glass. 

Vell sighed. "I hope this isn't your best work." 

The chosen witch looked away, ashamed.

Vell pulled the stick back and turned toward Sonder. "Sonder, would you cast a barrier?" 

Sonder stood, stretching slightly before raising her hands. Her barrier flared to life—a blue more in line with the color of Vell's spells.

Vell repeated the test, pushing the stick forward. This time, the barrier didn't bend as much. He pressed harder, the wood straining against the surface—until the stick snapped clean in two. 

The chosen witch watched in silence before mumbling, defeated, "You must have had a lot of practice…" 

Sonder thought about it and agreed somewhat.

"Not with barriers," she thought, "but with mana and barriers, it was just that: control over mana."

Vell let the broken stick fall to the ground and brushed off his hands. "I take it none of you have ever trained in controlling your mana?" 

The witches exchanged glances, then shook their heads. 

The chosen witch looked down at her hands, frustration plain on her face. "What are we supposed to do?" 

Vell didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Sonder. "Tell them." 

Sonder tilted her head. "What? Why me?" 

"Because," Vell said, gesturing to the shimmer of her still-standing barrier, "you already understand the problem. And you've already solved it." 

Sonder hesitated, then rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean… Controlling mana was the first thing I learned. It's what I've trained in the most. I could teach you what I know. If you want but I'm also just an apprentice, so I don't know how good I am at teaching." 

The witches exchanged a few whispers. 

Then, finally, the green witch nodded. "Fine. Show us." 

Sonder gave a small smile. "I'd be glad to."