Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 279: Witch’s Bane

Chapter 279: Witch’s Bane

Douglas sat in a lotus position, his breathing measured as he performed deep meditation with silence keeping him company.

Time slowly ticked by before he finally opened his eyes, a complicated expression etched on his unblemished visage.

"It’s difficult."

"What is?" A voice suddenly inquired causing Douglas to snap his neck toward the room door where Victoria stood, her gaze zeroed on his figure.

"Master." He immediately greeted her as he got to his feet to pay homage only for Victoria to stop him.

"There’s no longer a need for that. I am not your master, we are subordinates now, serving the Dark Lord."

"... I understand."

"Speaking of the Dark Lord, I am here at his behest. He wishes to know how far you’ve gone in your enlightenment."

"It’s as you heard, ma... Lady Victoria. It’s difficult."

"I had thought you gained some insight during your battle with the oversized dog?"

Douglas shook his head. "I think it’s because I was near death so it was a spur-of-the-moment action and even then, it wasn’t a perfect merger. The act leaned more towards frost than psionics."

"Perhaps the issue is that the domains don’t have a clear connection that can be exploited."

"I don’t understand."

"For example, a shared domain of earth and fire would surely yield magma. Your domains have no clear connection but that doesn’t mean you can’t make one. Think about what happened during your battle with the dogs, and what had spurred you into action. Use that as a foundation to build up your shared domain."

"... I understand, master."

Victoria nodded before turning to take her leave.

"Are you returning to the battlefield, Lady Victoria?"

"I must, the Dark Lord requires assistance. We have allied with the oversized dogs of Aragon to destroy the source of corruption within the Wandering Forest."

"... I wish I could join the march."

"Complete the merger of your domains and you might as well." Leaving those words behind, Victoria went on her way with Douglas left to ponder his thoughts.

***

"You are leaving?" Arthur inquired while seated in the living room with a newspaper in his grasp.

Standing a few meters away, Nadia slowly nodded. "I have a lot to do so as much as I’d like to spend some more time here, I have to return."

Arthur sighed, his expression complicated as he regarded Nadia.

He wouldn’t lie that he wished for her to stay even longer.

Perhaps an old man’s yearnings for familiar company in his old age, but he knew she couldn’t stay forever.

Nadia was destined to be out there, facing off against the world while trying to forge her path away from the way she’d been brought up.

It would be difficult but at least, Arthur would rest easy knowing she was trying her best.

So managing a slight smile, Arthur softly intoned. "You take care now, okay?"

Nadia hesitated as she met his gaze, taking some time before inquiring. "You’ll be fine, right?"

"You’ve been asking me that a lot, Nadia. Tell me, do you think that something would happen to me?"

"I’m a Witch now, uncle."

"I’m well aware."

"And... Witches in Judah have been known to avoid having close connections with people."

"Why is that?"

"The Witch’s Bane. It is a curse that befalls those closest to a Witch."

"And you fear that this bane might befall me?"

"... I have seen it occur with my own eyes..."

"Is that why you have been avoiding seeing me?"

"...Yes."

"Hah, my dear Nadia," Arthur muttered softly as he got to his feet and closed the distance to embrace her. "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Nadia’s lips quivered but eventually she hugged him as well and for a moment, none said a word, silently saying their goodbyes.

It was almost a minute before Arthur ended the hug. "You should get going, don’t let this old man keep you any longer."

"Mn." Nadia nodded and turned to leave only for Arthur to call out.

"Ah yes, before you go through, this Witch’s Bane you speak of... aren’t you worried it would affect Alex?"

Nadia pursed her lips before shaking her head. "It won’t. And even if it does, at least I know I’ll be there to face it with him."

"I see."

With that, Nadia disappeared in a flash of black and white, leaving Arthur to let out a sigh, his thoughts a mess as he pondered the implications of Nadia’s words.

***

Nadia returned to the underground city in Thebes, her figure emerging from black and white light.

Feeling a strange sense of loss, she paused in her steps, taking the time to reminisce on the days she spent with Arthur.

Before now, she’d been terrified of what would happen considering she was now a Witch of the Devil Wheel.

She’d seen women who ignored the Bane ending up losing someone important to them.

Nadia didn’t want to end up the same way so she subconsciously pushed Arthur away, opting to stay with Alex since at least, she’d be able to face the Bane with him.

Now, she realized she’d been focused on the wrong thing.

The bane never ended, only until she completed the trial of the second Lock could she be free of the curse.

With a new target in mind, Nadia took a deep breath and began her move again, her steps with an added spring to them.

As she walked, she soon happened upon Elena seated at a corner, her gaze trained on the city, leaving her unaware of her surroundings.

Slowly approaching, she came to sit beside the latter before Elena finally reacted as she turned to face Nadia, clearly spooked by her sudden appearance.

"... When did you arrive?" Elena inquired after barely recovering from the shock.

Nadia replied. "Just now. You seemed to be in deep thought."

"... I was."

Noting the complicated expression she held, Nadia decided against asking further though she had an idea of what was bothering Elena.

"What about Arwen?... I’d think she would be with you." Nadia asked as she looked about for her bubbly ’sister’.

Elena sighed. "She is asleep. She exhausted herself while meditating."

"You must be glad to have some alone time."

"... I won’t lie and say that I didn’t enjoy her company but... I also need some time to myself... to think, to understand my purpose in this world."

"Isn’t it to free the lost people of Thebes?" Nadia inquired.

"... Perhaps," Elena replied, unwilling to say more as she mulled over her thoughts.