Chapter 219 - Such A Bother

Vell watched as Sonder spoke with one of the witches—a girl slightly older than her, yet the youngest among the witches.

They sat outside in a park in the city of Nelipot, a bustling port town where the academy stood. The fresh sea breeze carried the scent of salt and spices, mixing with the distant hum of merchants and sailors.

He thought it was good for Sonder to spend time with children her age, so he simply observed. He had no idea what they were talking about—music, friends, hobbies, jokes… maybe even boys.

Though he doubted they had much real interest in boys at their age, the thought still made him slightly jealous.

He was her father, after all. How could he not be?

Finding proper accommodations for himself and the witches had been no easy task. An inn was out of the question—there were too many of them.

As their benefactor for the next month at least, he couldn't leave them to fend for themselves.

Instead, he had rented a house spacious enough for nine people: Sonder, himself, and seven young witches. Some shared rooms, but as the only man, Vell had his own.

He was also the master of the house, after all.

Securing the place had taken mere hours—money had a way of speeding things along.

When the young witch finally left Sonder's side, Vell motioned for her to come over. She obeyed, settling beside him on the bench.

"A month," he mused.

"I think they can do it," Sonder said, her voice steady.

Vell studied her face. Determination burned in her eyes, but there was something more—conviction, sharper than before. He wasn't sure if that reassured him or unsettled him.

Leaning back, he exhaled slowly, taking in the city's energy.

"They have potential," Vell admitted. "But can we bring it out before time runs out?"

"They can do it," she repeated.

He glanced at her, amused. "You sound so sure. Where's all this confidence coming from?"

She met his gaze without hesitation. "I trust your judgment. You wouldn't have brought them here if you didn't believe it too."

He looked toward the witches sitting in the grass nearby. Some were chatting, others lost in thought. His gaze lingered on the one always clad in green—she had the look of someone who had fought for everything she had and trusted no one to fight for her.

Tomorrow, they would begin.