Chương 14: [BL] 14. The Bright Light [1]

One thing Willow'd learn from her lich fight was that balance in swordsmanship was as important as swinging the sword itself. One moment, they were separated by five meters, standing upon a stone disc inside a barracks. Spectators watched beneath the elevated arena, where weapons lined the walls. Raven held her sword—a thin sword, its blade shielding one of her closed eyes. Then she opened her eyes. She bent her body and, in a blur, closed the distance, swinging down right at Willow.

Willow pushed with her left leg, lowering her stance, gathering her balance, and blocked Raven's strike. The force reverberated through her sword and into her arm. Raven quickly backed away a step and jabbed forward. Seeing the movement and recognizing it was better not to attempt a parry, Willow backed away, keeping her sword in front of her. She deflected one jab, then another. Raven's strikes lacked strength—each forced Willow onto the defensive. Okay, what am I supposed to do in this situation?

After another clang, Willow decided to take a risk. She pivoted, whirling her sword in a wide arc to fake a swing at Raven, while her left leg lurched to hook the redhair's legs. That worked in Willow's head. In reality, she found the sharp rapier threatened to impale her throat.

"I—I give up," Willow said, dropping her sword.

"What's the big idea?" The other girl asked in a calm voice, once again showing a passive face.

"Not even a child wastes so much movement."

"It's my first time—well, second day holding a sword. Can you put it down?" Willow glanced downward at the gleaming steel. Slowly, Raven did, though not before throwing her a judging look.

"She needs the basics," a voice said. The rogue—Tela—had her hair down and wore a comfy brown tunic, fitted to her lithe figure. She had just entered the barracks door, ignoring the spectators.

"It's ridiculous to jump straight to a duel."

"How we train our own is no concern of yours," someone said. A bulky man crossed his metallic gauntlet and faced down Tela with two of his friends.

"One of your own?" Tela's lips pursed, then she threw a glance at Willow.

"You accept them, then? Can we talk? I believe it's for your own benefit." They'd been sparring for twenty bouts, and Willow had gotten her ass kicked in every single one. She clicked her tongue, hoping that last attempt would throw Raven off, but no, the redhead's fighting style was to keep her distance, dodge every single one of Willow's attacks, and then swoop in when she overextended.

"Go," Raven said, wiping her neck with a cloth someone had given her.

"Raven!" The group of burly men turned on her, and the man in the forefront said, "We can't let her go with her! What if—""Alfred already gave his permission. The Witch Doctor can help her with her power. And you," she addressed Willow, "badly need to train. Tomorrow, two hours before breakfast, come find me. Dio and I don't want to die from your incompetence." The words cut into her.

Willow stood frozen for a brief moment; Raven's impassive face and chilly stare got to her as Raven gave her a last look before turning away. -- that little… She huffed, shaking her head, deciding to forget Raven for a while. Outside the training hall, Willow hesitated to step into the open ground. Around them, stone barracks rose three stories up. An impregnable fortress sternly stared at the courtyard, which served as a killing box.

The balcony ran through both stories upward, and each space was mounted with Ballistas. Each of them aimed toward where another vaulting stone rampart with two giant gates opened, revealing a dark portal just as expansive as both gates. It was smaller than the Lich portal. Rolling through the gates were wagons filled with dark plates and arms. Alongside them were guards escorting, bringing the wagons through the grounds and toward another gate that opened after a brief conversation with the gatekeeper.

"Come on, we're going out," Tela said. Before Willow could speak, the Rogue was already on her way, forcing Willow to follow. She had to bear the stares and some whispers as well. Not just from the base ground, but also from above, where younger unclassed soldiers manned the mounted ballistas and pointed them, not bothering to keep their voices down.

"Look! I tell you, it's Mera—" The boy's mouth was clamped shut by his friend, as Willow glared at him from below.

"Ignore them," Tela said, turning to Willow with a small smile.

"Mark my words, before long they will be happy you took over that girl's body."

"Not sure how I feel about that," Willow replied and followed Tela as she waved a friendly greeting to the gatekeeper, who nodded and let them out into another fortification. This time, instead of ragged barracks, chiming steels or stern guards—life bloomed. The wagon was pushed into what looked like a mining base camp with three large huts. Below them, different wagons filled with ore rested. The fortification's wooden wall stood just twice the size of the barracks.

They appeared unimpressive and barely had enough room for guards to walk on. From the mountain, the wall built against the cave entry and into another, a triangle of various market shops, and bustling homes built atop one another, making use of a ledge-like wooden ramp to reach upward into three tiers of walkway. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Wagons rolled through the streets, and kids laughed and ran around.

Some eagerly helped to push the wagons, earning pats on the head from the adults. Willow moved backward, against the rift wall, to let the wagons pass. It's sure busy here.

"Food?" She'd almost yelped. Tela suddenly was beside her, holding up a square of juicy meat, perfectly cooked with golden brown—Willow took it and ate it. The taste of the red sauce made her eyes go wide, and she gave a thumbs-up, eagerly ripping away the meat.

"Hm, not bad. Taste a bit like spicy seaweed, which is weird."

"They've been feeding you well?" They? Willow let that pass. She had a feeling where this would go.

"Yep, bread and soup."

"I see. Their rations are doing well, then. Well, this is just the start, I suppose. Who knows what might happen when the cycle starts in earnest," She said, munching as she leaned back.

"Where are you taking me?" Willow asked.

"Straight to the point, aren't you? Well, I'm supposed to take you to Curiosity, the guy—the Witch doctor I come with. But I like to talk more to you first. Y'know, just to know where you're standing."

"I'm staying here."

"Heard that earlier. What I want to know is why? You have options, and Curiosity and I will gladly—""Escort me to a city with better defenses? So you two can be rewarded."

"That part of it," Tela said with a grin.

"Four days… Well, about to be three. With me, Curiosity at top speed, we can carry you to Crystal Bridge. Based on the commander letting you walk around like this with no guards, does that mean he has already explained everything? And you agreed to stay? So? Why?"

"It makes no difference to me. And I'm not sure who to trust anyway." Tela skeptically blinked at her, then she sighed.

"Well. I guess, being in a new world, your first instinct is to stay where people are." True, being carried away by two strangers through the dangerous forest did not exactly sound like a better option to her.

"Fine, guess Curiosity and I will stay here too," Tela groaned, pushing herself off and motioning for Willow to follow her. They crossed the ground, having to wait between each crossing.

"You guys are deciding based on me? Who is that doctor? Why was his class called Witchdoctor?

"Hm? Well, some classes are ascendant classes. Meaning they're awakened with a Special Class Stone. Those tend to come from Dungeon Core, Horned monsters, and relics. They can either grant a unique Class, Rune, or, more sweetly, both." Huh, so that was how she got Dark Wind?

"How do classes evolve? Is it just levels?" Willow asked. They made their way to the walkway. People bustled in around them. Miners and Guards. Most had classes ranging from level five to nineteen.

"Level twenty. The evolution also depends on what your rune dictates," Tela said. She led them to housing parts where families gathered. The wooden walkways were large enough for tables and chairs. Willow followed Tela to ascend the ramp, and they passed the second gallery where the smell of food and its steam rose upward to Willow's mouth. Her stomach grumbled a bit. Despite what she said to Tela before, she was still a bit hungry. Why though?

Before she came here, that bread and soup would last her until the night. The third gallery was devoid of warm, loving families. Beneath them, the chatter was loud, but ahead, class holders walked through with stern faces. Tela and Willow made way for a group of guards, each of them level ten. A young man glanced at Willow. His eyes widened, and he stopped for a moment before his friends pulled him. When they were about to cross further, a door opened suddenly, blocking Tela.

"Oh! Sorry," a woman dressed in a mage's cloak that extended to her feet said. The woman had her dark hair tied in a bun, and she covered it with a brimmed hat. A witch, an actual witch. She even carried a staff that curled just near her ear. [Spirit Witch—Level 43]"Mistress Alyn! You're right on time," Tela said, rushing to the witch and squeezing her free hand.

"Oh Tela! I haven't thanked you for this staff. It's very kind of you. Please tell that Doctor I owe him one." Tela smiled.

"Don't worry about that," she reassured her.

"Actually, Curiosity will need your help now. Just that…" Tela leaned in to the witch's ear.

"Of course I shall do that. It's for our benefit," the [Spirit Witch] said and gave Willow a motherly smile.

"You must be the girl who took over the village lass's body!"

"I guess I am." Willow tried to smile back, but her smile wavered.

"How exciting." How exciting?

"Oh, dear, don't worry about it. By tomorrow, everyone in this backwater village will be glad you did that," Alyn said as she reached Willow's shoulder and squeezed it.

"I did not do—""Come on, let's unlock your true potential. You will not waste away under my watch." She tugged at her and walked further into the gallery. Tela gave Willow a small grin and tugged her left hand.

"Will you tell me what's going to happen?" She complained, but the strength of the two was too powerful for her to resist. She briefly considered putting on her guard outfit or mage outfit, but decided against it when they finished a curve into a wide, rectangular building. Tela knocked on the door, and the eloquent, resonant voice of the doctor chimed.

"Ah, they arrive. You! Yes, you! Get the door!" Alfred, the commander, grumbled and welcomed them in. Inside was an open wooden cabin where tables, chairs, and even bookshelves had been pushed to the absolute corners. Sister Elvere stood beside the door and glided forward to reassure Willow. But she was anything but calm.

"Mistress! I hear we're doing a live experiment! With proper sacrifice!" A lively girl with dark, bobbed hair stepped from the corner to Alyn. She, along with twelve other girls all the same age, wore simple grey dresses, eerily similar.

"Please tell me we're not doing toads."

"I like toads! We can connect to Mana World more easily with them."

"But they're disgusting."

"My dear students. No, we're not using toads. We're using actual human."

"Someone volunteers!" The first girl cheered. Volunteer? Sacrifice? Also, occupying the majority of the room were circles being drawn. An interconnected circle with thirteen surrounding the main one that was drawn large, where inside the witch doctor furiously scribbled strange lettering, scraping the wood with whatever metallic object he was using. They placed an orb of white pearls inside each circle. Willow shook her head to register everything, and she sputtered a laugh.

"I'm leaving."

"What?" Tela had the gall to be surprised. She held Willow's wrist in time before she fully turned.

"Let go!"

"Hold on here. Why are you leaving?"

"That's right, dear," Sister Elvere said softly, her hand on Willow's back.

"What is it? Everything will be fine."

"Ritual circle? Thirteen circles? Volunteer? Who volunteers? Also, sacrifice?" She pointed out the perfect recipe for a sacrifice ritual, just like what the Lich did.

"I saw Lich doing weird shit like this. They stab a dagger into someone's chest and remove—""Their core," the girl added.

"Flo! Be quiet for a moment," Mistress Elvere warned.

"Did none of you explain anything to her before bringing her here?" Alfred said, glaring at the women with crossed hands. When everyone in the room glared back at him, the Commander did not back down; instead, he went on explaining.

"Don't worry, Willow. Well, actually, I'm worried for you." This guy might be too honest for his own good.

"The Witch Doctor here is called Curiosity," Alfred said, emphasizing how ridiculous it was.

"Claim he could awaken your Bright Rune when night arrives."

"Why! I sure can!" Curiosity shouted suddenly, startling Willow. The doctor opened his arm wide, craning his thin neck, and his beaked mask faced upward.

"By night, commander. This village of yours shall have its own bright star. I have everything I need. A witch coven, Star Eyes, Spirit Witch with Moon Rune—""Dear doctor, please do not reveal my rune so casually," Mistress Alyn said with a pissed-off look.

"—and of course, you, the outworlder!" The doctor opened his arms to Willow.