CHAPTER 1 ( THE UNSEEN DANGER )

Ivana found herself standing alone and confused, surrounded by an endless expanse of nothingness. She looked around, but there was no sign of civilization, no buildings, no trees, no life. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind.

"A person who doesn't know where they're going will never get there," Ivana muttered to herself, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

Just as she was starting to get her bearings, she saw a figure emerging from the distance. As it drew closer, Ivana's heart skipped a beat. It was a demon, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.

Ivana tried to disappear, to vanish into thin air, but her magic wouldn't work. She was trapped.

"A witch who can't control her powers is like a ship without a rudder," Ivana thought to herself, panic rising in her chest.

With no other choice, Ivana decided to run. She took off in a sprint, her feet pounding the ground, but she had no idea where she was going. The demon was closing in on her, its laughter echoing through the air.

Suddenly, Ivana saw the demon standing in front of her, blocking her path. She skidded to a stop, her heart racing.

"Move away, if you don't want to see the other side of me!" Ivana shouted, trying to sound braver than she felt.

But the demon just laughed, its eyes glinting with amusement. And then, in an instant, it transformed into a human being.

"Go ahead, little witch," the demon said, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do your worst."

Ivana's eyes widened in surprise. She had never seen a demon transform into a handsome human before.

She decided to touch her necklace, a family heirloom passed down from her grandmother. The necklace was supposed to protect her from harm and give her the power to fight her enemies.

But instead of feeling a surge of power, Ivana felt herself being pulled back into her body. She opened her eyes to find herself lying in her bed, her grandmother sitting beside her, holding a small pot of fire and muttering incantations.

Ivana sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Grandma, what's going on?" she asked, still feeling a bit dazed.

Her grandmother looked at her with a serious expression. "You've been sleeping for an hour, child. You were having a bad dream."

Ivana's eyes narrowed. "It was more than just a bad dream, Grandma. I saw a demon, and it was trying to attack me."

Her grandmother's expression turned grave. "I don't know who that demon was, child, but I do know that you're in danger. You have to be careful."

Ivana's eyes locked onto her grandmother's. "What do you mean, Grandma? What kind of danger am I in?"

Her grandmother's eyes seemed to cloud over, and she muttered a proverb under her breath. "A snake that is not killed will always come back to bite."

Ivana's heart skipped a beat. What did her grandmother mean? What kind of danger was she in? And who was that demon in her dream?

Ivana's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. "Grandma, where's my mother?" she asked, her voice firm.

Her grandmother's expression turned somber, her eyes clouding over. "Your mother has been taken to exile by the warriors of Ebenebe kingdom, alongside other women."

Ivana's face contorted in anger, her fists clenched. "Why didn't you protect her, Grandma?" she demanded, her voice rising.

Her grandmother sighed, shaking her head. "One of the warriors is too powerful, child. I couldn't fight her alone without the help of other witches."

Ivana's eyes flashed with determination. "I don't care, Grandma. I must go and find my mother. I'll bring her back home."

Her grandmother's expression turned grave, her eyes serious. "Child, listen to me. If you go alone, you'll be like a sheep going to the slaughterhouse. You won't survive."

Ivana's face set in a stubborn expression. "I don't care, Grandma. I'm going tonight."

Her grandmother sighed, shaking her head. "A child who doesn't listen to advice will be devoured by the forest. Mark my words, Ivana."

But Ivana was resolute. She began to prepare for her journey, gathering her things and saying goodbye to her grandmother.

The air was electric with tension as Ivana's grandma used her spiritual powers to drag Ivana back, demanding that she not go anywhere. Ivana's eyes flashed with anger, and she felt a surge of power course through her veins.

"A child who refuses to listen to advice will be forced to listen to regret," her grandma warned, her eyes blazing with determination.

But Ivana was resolute. She raised her sword, its blade shimmering in the moonlight, and commanded it to go and fight her grandma.

The sword shot out of Ivana's hand like a bolt of lightning, striking her grandma with incredible force. But her grandma was no ordinary witch. She summoned a powerful gust of wind, sending the sword flying back at Ivana.

"A snake that is not killed will always come back to bite," Ivana's grandma warned, her eyes glinting with malice.

Ivana dodged the sword by a hair's breadth, her heart racing with excitement. She summoned a wave of fire, sending flames licking at her grandma's feet.

But her grandma was relentless. She conjured up a storm, sending rain pouring down on Ivana like a deluge. Ivana stumbled, her footing unsure, but she refused to give up.

"A river that forgets its source will soon dry up," Ivana's grandma warned, her voice rising above the din of the storm.

But Ivana remembered her roots. She summoned the power of her grandfather who was a wizard, feeling his strength and wisdom coursing through her veins.

With renewed energy, Ivana launched a final attack, striking her grandma with a blast of magical energy. Her grandma stumbled, her powers weakening, and Ivana took advantage of the opening.

With a swift strike, Ivana defeated her grandma, ending the battle. She stood panting, her chest heaving with exertion, as her grandma lay defeated at her feet.

"A child who learns to respect their elders will live long," Ivana's grandma whispered, her voice weak but full of wisdom.

Ivana nodded, feeling a pang of guilt for defeating her grandma. But she knew she had to press on. She had to find her mother.

As she set off on her journey, Ivana's mind kept wandering back to the demon that had attacked her in her dream. Who was it? And what did it want?

"A person who doesn't know where they're going will never get there," Ivana muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the horizon.

But Ivana was determined to find out. She would follow her heart, and her instincts, and see where they led her. Little did she know what dangers lay ahead, waiting to pounce on her like a predator in the night.