“Bitch witch? Really?” Fin asked exasperatedly as the mage grinned proudly.

“It suits you.”

“It’s sad that’s the best you can come up with.” The cook retorted derisively.

“You think you can do better?”

“Sure. Though there isn’t much that is worse than being called ‘mage’.”

Lee’s grin turned to a scowl.

The two men then grew quiet as they turned their full attention to the threat before them.

Hilda descended the crest riding atop a waterfall, and as she stormed towards the castle steps, water began seeping up from the ground.

Fin frowned. The higher altitude that was further from the sea meant it would be harder for her to pull water from the ground. The water witch would be using far too much power at the rate she was going...

The cook was in the middle of that thought, when Hilda rounded the statue of the Gods.

“WHERE IS THE GUTTERSNIPE THAT HAD ME CUT OFF?!” She bellowed menacingly.

Mage Lee executed his most useful skill in response; acting.

He appeared completely serene.

“This is far enough Hilda.” He called out softly.

“I should’ve known it’d be one of your kind!” She was now at the foot of the stairs. A wall of water rose up behind her, growing higher and higher until it was beginning to touch the roof of the landing.

“Any time now Lee.” Fin remarked watching the growing wave with his arms crossed over his chest.

The mage chuckled and pounded his staff against the stone landing once, the crystal atop his staff lighting as he uttered the guttural words of magic.

A massive gust of wind propelled forward, and forced the wave to bend back on itself. The cheery garden cushioning the statue was consequently flooded, as the water flowed back to the rushing river in the centre road of Austice.

Hilda let out a hoarse yelp before throwing her right arm up into the air.

“Oh no.” Fin winced. He genuinely began to hope that Lee wasn’t all bluster- otherwise his involvement was going to be imminent. He looked to the roof while wondering how many nobles were watching, and felt his heart skip a beat.

The cook looked back to Hilda anxiously, and was just in time to see her gathering more water.

A curling stream rose up from the pounding flood behind her, snaking itself up high into the air. When she waved her arm downwards, the rope-like stream went to curl itself around Lee’s staff.

The mage responded with a single nonsensical word that had the water dissipate into steam before being able to touch his person or staff.

Hilda’s upper lip curled, which forced the cloud of vapor to rush towards the mage.

Lee shouted another short word, and the steam that would’ve burned him, blew away.

“The Coven is coming Hilda. You’ve gone too far.” Lee announced as he stepped forward, and once again clunked his staff down. The water witch was suddenly hoisted into the air.

A spiral of water rose with her as she was yanked up. The water seemed to be trying to pull her back down by her feet, and was churning ferociously to no avail against Lee’s spell.

Another series of the mage’s incantations drew a ring of fire that blazed a little more than a foot away from the woman, making her scream and curse hysterically.

Fin’s mind went suddenly blank in response to her cries. The sheer terror in her eyes began to look inhuman, and the sight made Fin feel sick to his stomach.

“NO MAMA!” Hilda called out nonsensically as she began convulsing with sobs and shrieks.

Her pleads echoed in Fin’s mind, alongside his own voice from many years ago. His voice the night he confronted his father…

‘No one should feel such horror.’ It was the only clear thought he had before he stepped forward.

Fin crossed the stone landing and descended the stairs without a single thought of who was going to see him. He would deal with the repercussions later, even if it meant having to flee back to the island of Quildon.

All that mattered was making everyone safe again…

Including Hilda.

“MR.ASHOWAN CEASE THIS INSTANT!” Mage Lee roared as swells of water continued splashing upwards towards Hilda in an attempt to extinguish the flames surrounding her.

Fin flexed his hands around the pillar of water, closed his eyes, and pulled.

He drew the water and the witch down towards the ground, while ignoring the blistering heat of the ring of fire as it drew closer and closer. Hilda began howling more furiously than before as she stared down at the redhead.

Ducking underneath the perimeter of the angry flames, Fin gave a final tug and stood face-to-face with her. The flames licked his back, and his eyes consisted of nothing but blue lightening, but he couldn’t think about anything other than reaching Hilda.

“You’re scaring people!” He yelled over the water and flames into the surprised face of the water witch. “There are women and children! Have you no care for them?!” Fin began channeling water to his back to ease some of the stinging pain from the flames.

“YOU…. YOU’RE A TRAITOR TO YOUR OWN KIND!” She bellowed at him as she suddenly drew the pillar of water up, and barricaded herself against the flames and the cook.

The pillar began to whirl and grow, encasing the ring of flames as it did so, and extinguishing it easily. Fin stumbled back, his eyes returned to normal as he eased his way back up onto the landing away from the water logged witch.

Once he was back by Lee’s side, Hilda returned to the ground and stepped forward, raising her arms and drawing two thin streams of water up as she moved closer towards the mage and cook. She flipped up two fingers on her right hand, making the one stream whip forward towards mage Lee’s ankles.

He clunked his staff and dissolved the water into steam again, but hadn’t been quick enough to blow it away. He winced as the vapor bit into his flesh, but didn’t make a sound as he gripped his staff firmly.

“She meant for you to do that.” Fin observed.

“I’m aware.” Mage Lee barked in response.

Hilda then flicked her fingers towards Fin. Instinctively, he immediately made a curved motion with his hand and guided the water to swirl away from himself, and instead splash on the landing.

She raised her hands into the air with her teeth bared, and her fingers splayed. For each finger, a tentacle of water rose up.

Mage Lee began to slowly spin his staff in his hand, the glowing crystal at its top beginning to hum as he did so. The pitch made both Fin and Hilda wince as the frequency squeezed and rattled a corner of their minds to a point of extreme discomfort.

The wind from the staff grew in power as the water fingers bowed backwards away from the castle.

With a shriek, Hilda stomped her foot down and summoned a fresh jet of water to erupt from the flooded front lawn, and catapulted the mage off his feet.

Fin’s hands turned to fists as he felt an unnatural calm settle over himself when he heard mage Lee cough and splutter behind him.

The cook descended the stairs once again and walked towards the woman, his lightning touching down around him as she stood waiting for him while sneering.

“A fire witch.” She hissed.

All ten tentacles of water dove towards him.

Only they were met with sparks of lightning that climbed up and around to create a ball with Fin as its centre.

He stepped forward, his mind blank as he reached through the rapidly shrinking opening of his protective shield, and grabbed Hilda by her upper arms. Fin managed to draw her into his perfect sphere of blue electricity without either of them being harmed, right as the shield completed its growth and encased them both entirely.

The ball surrounding them began to whir and spin, snaps of light appearing all around them.

“I’m not a fire witch.” He spoke softly to Hilda in the sphere that smelled strongly of the metallic fizzle of electricity.

“I am a house witch. I protect my home, and right now, you are threatening it. I don’t like hurting people, but I will not allow you to do more damage.”

The water witch wordlessly summoned more and more water towards them, but every droplet that drew near stopped, hovered, and evaporated towards the sky.

In a matter of minutes, the formerly pristine air, darkened with thunder clouds as the soggy lawn of the castle dried abnormally fast.

“Please don’t make me do worse.” The brokenness in Fin’s voice made the Hilda pause. The mystical swirling blue in her eyes began to clear as she gradually focused on the man in front of her. She could see his unwillingness to do further harm to her.

“Fool.” She rasped as pain began building in her head, warning her that she was beginning to use the energy of her life in her attempts to call her water and override the witch’s powers in front of her. “To survive you have to give back every evil you receive to let your enemy know that you will not suffer their wrong doings.”

There was pain in her face when she snarled the words at him, and she didn’t seem to realize she had started to weep.

Fin did the unexpected.

He hugged her.

“I’m not strong enough to do that. You’ll have to kill me to save me the misery of my impending doom.” He could feel the magnitude of magic she was using and its steady drain on her life. The river that had been rushing down the main road of Austice began to slow. It slowly narrowed itself away from the homes and businesses, though it was still a frothing rush that would sweep anyone that set foot in it down to the sea.

“Stupid boy. You’re as good as dead already. Deficient witches have no place in the world.” She scoffed unable to resist his embrace as she continued to try manipulating the water around her.

“I know.”

“What is worthy in this world anyway?” Her voice had softened, and the waters receded further down the main street of Austice away from the castle.

“Good changes have happened in this Kingdom in the last fifty years. Having hope that it will continue to improve with our King isn’t foolish.”

Hilda snorted bitterly, clearly unconvinced.

“I also happen to know of a good bottle of Troivackian moonshine in the castle that you could-”

The water completely drained back into the ground, sky, and sea.

Fin released his embrace, the electricity dissolving around them, though the thunder above them offered a fair warning of a storm.

“Troivackian moonshine you say? A bottle of that, and I may be willing to forgive the mage that inflicted sobriety on me.” She announced while clapping Fin on the shoulder.

He smiled down at Hilda, who he had to admit was most likely completely insane.

Mage Lee stood drenched to the bone while leaning on his staff at the top of the stairs- for once the action did not look rehearsed.

“Mage Lee, Hilda has conceded to be cooperative in exchange for a bottle of Troivackian moonshine. If we could please send for one from Lady Jenoure, I believe we should all have a cup. Or three.”

The mage looked incensed beyond reason, yet had the good judgment to not to argue the matter.

He turned towards the great front doors, barked the orders to the guards on the other side after issuing a sharp knock, and turned back to the witches that had seated themselves on the landing.

“A house witch hm? Never heard of your type.” Hilda managed while tapping her finger against her hand impatiently- her mind obsessed over the moonshine.

“Well you know how most feel about deficient witches. The records of our magic are quite poor.” Fin offered as he stared thoughtfully up at the dark sky that continued to rumble above them. He stretched his legs before him in false casualness. He was wet, burned, exhausted, and more than slightly concerned that someone could inflict so much damage over being cut off at a tavern. He knew that he had to remain calm however, if they were to keep Hilda pliable.

“How’d you wind up here?” She asked gesturing her thumb towards the doors where mage Lee stood frowning.

“Bigger home, more power.” Fin shrugged simply.

“Ah. Makes sense. I came here for humbler reasons.” She nodded towards Austice. “Nicer taverns and ocean views.”

Tensing slightly, Fin dared a question that could set her off again, while estimating the length of time it would take the moonshine and the Coven to reach them.

“What happened to you? You are clearly a powerful enough witch to be one of the inner members of the Coven.”

The older woman chuckled bitterly for a moment.

“You are too young to remember the days when our kind was hunted.”

Fin leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he listened while ignoring the searing pain in his back from the burns.

“Ever since I could remember, I was moved around and hidden with my father and my twin sister. She was an earth witch, and I a water witch. Our father was a weak earth witch, but did all he could to hide us. When my mother found out what we all were, she went into a rage.” Hilda lifted a trembling hand to her head and touched a scar that Fin hadn’t had a chance to notice before. The mark ran from the beginning of her hairline, well into her thick locks halfway across her scalp.

“She said…” The water witch licked her lips. “My mother said we had some of the blood of the forgotten and rejected son of the Gods. The blood of Satan, the first witch’s twin, the one that was supposed to teach mankind to find balance within themselves. Instead he chose to use his knowledge for his own gains. According to my mother, we were related to him, and therefore evil. She joined the religion of Acker once she found out.”

Fin frowned. He vaguely remembered hearing about the religion from his tutor. However it had been a long time ago. Hilda must’ve seen his bewilderment, because she launched into a rant he didn’t want to risk interrupting.

“A woman named Valerie Acker believed witches were too emboldened by their powers, and started the religion that devoutly worshipped the Gods, and demonized their children- the first witch and Satan. Valerie’s husband had been a witch, and he had left her for a male lover. As a result, she went mad with heartbreak and grief. She prosecuted him, saying he shouldn’t have deigned to behave as a God. The Green Man and Goddess seek both genders only because they are worthy. To crave both genders is a higher calling that neither mankind or witches could understand or deserve.”

At this, Hilda laughed bitterly despite already starting to once again cry.

“Acker was deluded and believed that because Satan and the first witch were twins, they had the same chaotic tendencies.”

Fin’s memory clicked then.

“Ah yes, the first witch was to commune with nature and aid the people of the world in their connection with the elements. When her brother went to help mankind however, he became disgusted. He loathed the barbaric emotions and impulses of man. Instead, he wished to expose their vileness to his parents. It is said he scours the world, corrupting anyone he comes across to convince the Gods that mankind should be eradicated.” The cook finished, his blue eyes with their flecks of gold lost to memory as he recounted the details.

The religion had gained a respectable amount of followers for a century or so, but their numbers had dwindled once the previous King of Daxaria had disbanded the law allowing the hunting of witches.

Fin gazed at the statue in front of them. The Goddess and Green man had their pupils shaped in perfect circles. Their daughter, the first witch, hadn’t any pupils- which was how witches always looked while in full use of their power. Meanwhile, Satan bore menacing slits as pupils that were akin to snakes.

It took Fin several weary minutes to recall all the facts of such an outrageous cult, but once he was certain he had remembered all necessary details, turned to the witch beside him.

“What happened?”

The first drops of rain began to fall as the water witch gripped her dirty dress. As if on cue, Lee appeared holding a clear glass bottle of Troivackian moonshine. Under his left arm were three wooden cups, and once Fin helped him distribute them, the mage seated himself on the other side of the cook.

Hilda hastily poured for herself, leaving Fin to pour the remaining two cups.

He handed one to mage Lee, and sipped his carefully. It still burned like fire down his throat, but he managed to stop himself from vomiting.

“The members of the religion slaughtered my sister and father after my mother turned to them. She even watched as they did it.” Hilda drained the cup and coughed multiple times. When she had settled back down, she immediately reached for the bottle and poured more into the cup until the liquid nearly reached the rim.

“They thought me dead as well. A tavern owner who came after the carnage kept me alive, and I’ve been drinking ever since so that I never have to hear their screams again.”

“Did the Coven not send you teachers?” Fin asked softly as he took another sip and felt his world begin to spin.

“Teachers have only been sent out to young witches in the past thirty or so years. I am turning seventy this year, boy. I was hunted until the age of twenty. I aged out of their bracket.” She spat bitterly.

Fin rested a hand on her back, which she immediately shook off.

“I need no pity.”

It was then that three people drifted down in front of the castle steps from the sky. The storm broke the moment their feet touched the ground, releasing sheets of relentless rain that splattered against the earth with enough force to create a mist along the earth.

The trio of newcomers were all cloaked until they each set foot on the stairs. They then all lowered their hoods, and stared somberly at the soaked and bedraggled sight of the mage, cook, and drunk before them.

In the middle of the strangers was a woman with dark brown hair and wide intense brown eyes who looked to be in her fifties. On her right was a man with snowy white hair and blue eyes so clear, that they almost appeared white. On her left was a woman with copper red hair piled high, and eyes the color of honey.

They were all dressed elegantly, and the middle woman was the first to call out to them.

“We were summoned by the King of Daxaria regarding a threat?”

Hilda turned looking betrayed towards Fin and mage Lee.

The cook reached his arm out and clasped her shoulders maintaining the air of calm and casual.

“Speak with them. If you are reasonable they might respond in kind.” Fin whispered, desperately hoping his words to be true.

The water witch held out her wooden cup.

Fin blinked confused, but mage Lee quickly understood and filled the container hastily.

“Aye, I’m the threat. An idiot mage tried to cut me off after all.” Hilda muttered before taking a deep drink.

“It wasn’t me.” Mage Lee had overheard and raised his hands up innocently.

“Just your son.” Fin retaliated as a sharp clap of thunder echoed above them.

The three witches that were obviously from the Coven of Wittica, moved with an inhuman synchronicity up the steps towards them, and stopped a few steps below so as to be eye level.

“Mr. Finlay Ashowan, are you behind this futile call?” The woman at the centre of the witches bore down on the redhead who immediately bowed his head.

“I did not send for your excellence.” He replied his shoulders hunching forward.

The woman stared down her straight nose at the cook without an ounce of emotion.

“I’m aware. It was your King. What is it you said to him to make him summon us?” Her tone was harsh and accusatory.

Mage Lee began to rise from the stair he was seated upon, when a reply rang out.

“You have been called due to the water witch in front of you threatening my people. Mr. Ashowan was helping to protect the city of Austice, and I will ask you to show him the respect he deserves for his bravery.” The King of Daxaria strolled out the castle doors with his head held high, and his hazel eyes sharp.

The head of the Coven of Wittica gave a respectable curtsey to the ruler of the continent.

“I am witch Eloise Morozov of the inner circle of the Coven of Wittica. Earth magic.” She introduced herself to the King while pointedly ignoring his earlier chastising. She swiftly redirected her attention to Hilda.

“You will come with us. We can discuss your crimes and why you are not registered with our records back on Wittica.”

Hilda turned and gave Fin a slow smile when she sensed him tense.

“Do not fear boy. I’ve faced worse than the likes of these prisses.”

The infamous drunkard stood, and allowed the witches that stood on the other side of the woman who had spoken to step forward and clasp her arms. They guided Hilda down the stairs into the rain. The elderly witch cast one last sad smile at the castle, and then was hauled up into the sky with her guards. They quickly disappeared above the thick clouds in a matter of moments, leaving Fin with a gnawing unease about for their captive.

The remaining Coven witch sighed, ignored mage Lee, and once again addressed Fin.

“I will first ask for my report from you Finlay Ashowan. You have caused enough of a spectacle with revealing yourself to your King than is necessary. He has already requested your file, and I am sure it was you who made him unduly worried about a water witch.” Her bored tone made one of the King’s eyebrows lift, forcing him to step forward.

“Mr. Ashowan is not the one who sent for the Coven. Do I need to repeat myself that you are to show him respect for his efforts?” His voice had an edge Fin had never heard before.

The woman narrowed her eyes at the King for the briefest of moments before turning to the cook again.

“We appreciate your help in containing the damage to your Kingdom.” She managed tightly. Fin bobbed his head awkwardly while keeping his eyes fixed on the ground.

“How is it you plan to keep a powerful witch like Hilda contained?” The King questioned as he carefully studied the woman in front of him. He had never thought he would meet a leader of the Coven, but now that he had, decided he wasn’t any richer from the experience.

“From what I saw she was of mediocre ability. She will be incarcerated in a cell built for her element and her power level.”

“Mediocre ability?! She flooded the main street and nearly drowned the citizens!” Mage Lee burst out angrily.

“Your exaggerations should be saved for works of fiction, mage.” The derision dripped from her voice as she ascended the rest of the stairs and openly glared at both Fin and Lee.

“My mage speaks the truth Ms. Morozov, and you will not address him so rudely. The water witch you just took named Hilda, has swept several citizens into the sea

“I will hear your detailed report now your majesty. I also have Mr. Ashowan’s official records with me should you like to review those while I am here.” Ms. Morozov patted a small bulge in her cloak. While she did so, she cast a quick dismissive glance at the cook that remained seated on the ground. Fin became incredibly interested in sipping his moonshine.

“Very well, after you Ms. Morozov.” The King gestured to the open door behind himself. The witch swept past him with a gracious nod of her head, the silk of her skirts rustling audibly above the rush of the storm.

Fin felt his cheeks burn, and his face lowered beyond his shoulders to hide his shame.

Once the door was closed and it was once again only mage Lee and Fin sitting on the stairs, the elder turned to the cook.

“Good Gods, I didn’t realize you were one of the more tolerable witches!” He exclaimed shaking his head in awe.

“Most of our kind aren’t-”

“The cat piss of personalities?” Lee supplied shaking his head and sipping the liquor.

“-I was going to say offensive. She is a fair leader in the Coven, though is known for being generally unpleasant.”

There were a few more beats of silence as the two sat drinking peacefully while they watched the storm.

“Shouldn’t you be making my dinner?” Mage Lee commented as he took another sip of the Troivackian moonshine that had his eyes watering, yet also numbed his body at the same time.

“It won’t take me long to spit in a bowl and hand it to you.” Fin replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“Mr. Ashowan?”

“Yes Lee?”

“Will our King find anything interesting in your records?”

Fin went still. He had never requested to read his own file, and hadn’t considered it a major issue until that moment. He hadn’t wanted to read what his tutor had said about him, or the Coven’s appraisal for that matter…

It had been a long time ago after all.