Vese: “Good, you almost have the hang of this! Let’s try it one more time just to be sure though.”

The week of training had flown by, and with the help of Vese, Lona had learned natural magic along with using her divine skill. While her knowledge in natural magic was basic, it became a unique and powerful combo with her divine ability.

Lona: “Alright. Should I use wind or earth?”

Vese gave the usual smile she had already given to her many times.

Vese: “ Let’s use a mixture of the two for this final test. I want you to slow down a ball of earth you make and launch it in the air with the help of your wind magic.”

Lona: “That sounds tough… But I’ll try.”

She stood still, taking a deep breath.

Lona: “Pedortuim”

Using the energy flowing through her she made a mound of dirt form in front of her. With one hand below it, she then readied her wind magic, and with the other, she prepared to dispel the mound of dirt.

Lona: “Nomosaritt”

She then focused on the ball enough to lock it in place after dispelling it. With one fluid motion, she used the wind magic to hit the bottom of the mound, and then stopped focusing on it, which caused it to soar far away from the two.

Vese: “Nicely done. Not only can you use two different forms of natural magic at one time, but you were able to use your divine skill with it. However, bear in mind that what you know is only basic magic. There is still much for you to learn.”

Lona nodded in excitement, but only for her smile to fade as a mass of figures started appearing over the hill. The sound of metal clanging was getting louder as they approached, and in the forefront of this was Erris and the knight that showed up at their home.

Lona: “Erris, what’re you doing here?”

Erris: “Sorry Lona, but we have to detain Vese.”

Lona: “What? Why? She didn’t do anything wrong!”

Knight: “Silence! Vese, you are hereby under arrest for the mass genocide of Dinia. Lona, was it? I suggest you step away from the witch now. If you decide to comply with her instead of us any longer, you will be faced with criminal charges as well.”

Lona: “I… I…”

Vese: “I believe it’s considered rude to make such a young girl scared talking about unproven accusations.”

Genocide of Dinia? Accusations? Lona didn’t know what to think of this. Before she could get too deep into thought however.

Knight: “Fum-”

Before the knight could finish, Vese had raised her hand towards the knight, sending a blade of wind that connected with her arm. In the blink of an eye, the knight’s arm had ripped off of her body, causing her to writhe in agony.

Vese: “I don’t mind people wishing to attack me, but I have a strong dislike for those who attack others without reason.”

Erris: “Sophia!”

Erris had rushed to the knight’s aid, attempting to prevent too much blood loss. After a few moments she stood up.

Erris: “Lona. Please. Come with us. I promise you’ll be safe here.”

The knights had readied their weapons, but only stood there, awaiting orders. The injured knight was behind Erris, and was presumed to have fainted due to the immense pain, leaving Erris the captain of the group of soldiers now. On the opposite end, stood Lona, hiding behind Vese.

Erris: “If you don’t, then I can’t promise your safety.”

Vese: “You may be able to promise her safety, but I can promise the knowledge she desires. Like her lost memories for instance.”

Erris paused.

Erris: “So, Lona, what will it be?”

Lona: I… Uhm… I’m… Sorry, Erris. But I have learned so much from Vese this past week.”

Erris: “... Soldiers, attack.”

She frowned and faced away, picking up the injured knight and walking away.

Lona: “... Erris?”

Immediately Vese had put a protective bubble around Lona, and at that moment, Vese had shown just what a witch could do. With a slight movement of her hand, blades of metal had flung out of the ground, decommissioning many men. One knight had gotten close enough, and swung his blade. What looked to be a lethal blow had turned into Vese sending all the metal she had pulled out of the ground into him. Two more had gone for the kill, one from the front and one from the back. She danced around the blade of the first one before blasting boiling water at his face. Grabbing the blade, she parried the other knight’s attack and sliced his exposed neck. She then plunged it into the other knight’s chest. Seeing all this bloodshed happen in front of them in mere seconds, the few uninjured knights had fled.

Vese: “Well, can’t say they won’t come back, so I believe it’s safe to say that we should get going.”

Lona: “Hey, Vese?”

Vese glanced at Lona, who had now stood up.

Lona: “What allegations were they talking about?”

She stopped and smiled halfheartedly.

Vese: “It’s… a bit of a long story. I’ll tell you about it after we reach shelter.”

She rummaged through the battlefield a bit before taking a sword off of one of the fallen soldiers. She then picked up a firearm off of an injured soldier.

Soldier: “H-hey, give that back!”

Vese: “Why would I? You’re in no condition to use it anyways. Hey, Lona. Do you know anything about these types of weapons?”

Lona: “If I remember correctly, they use the wielder’s magic power to shoot projectiles.”

Vese: “Good job Lona! Here you go. To get you more used to magic, you should be the one using this for self defense.”

She handed Lona the firearm. It was a small weapon with a chamber in the middle. This meant that it could use either magical energy from the wielder, or loaded with physical bullets. Before she could get too distracted with it however, Vese interrupted her focus.

Vese: “Come on, Lona. We’re going to be headed eastward. And don’t worry about the injured here. Even if they tell them which location we’re at, we’d be too far gone for them to catch us on foot.”

Lona: “Oh, right!”

Without looking back, the two headed east, towards Vis. It wasn’t as if Lona had guilt hanging over her, but Vese was right. Since they’ve attacked knights of the capitol, even if they weren’t before, they were now seen as criminals in the eyes of the country. Even if Lona didn’t kill anyone, she had sided with Vese.

The two had been walking for a while, and night was approaching. According to Vese, the town of Vis had been where she’s been staying for a while since they were in bad relations with the kingdom. At least, with the current king. However, it would still take another full day of travel to reach the town.

Vese: “Alright, I think we should set our camp somewhere close to here.”

Lona nodded, although she wasn’t in a good mood to talk. The person she’s with is accused of committing some type of heinous crime. Erris, who was her caretaker, ordered knights to kill her, and they had been walking for hours now. She sat down on the ground exhausted.

Lona: “I know we’ve been following the edge of the forest for a little while now, but I think we should set up camp in the forest.”

Vese: “That’s a good idea. Maybe we can share the spot that those travellers are at.”

Travellers? Surprised, what was drowned out, she could now hear some travellers speaking in the distance. Before anything could be said, Vese had grabbed her hand and together the two had gone to the source of the chatter. Soon, they had found a small clearing in the forest, with three people and a wagon with horses to go with it.

The one traveller facing their direction was a well built woman wearing a leather robe. Across her cheek was a scar, and upon noticing the two, smiled and waved.

Traveller 1: “Hey! You two looking for a place to rest?”

At this time, the other two travellers had turned around. One was a scrawny woman in an expensive merchant’s outfit, and the third was a man who wore armor, possibly a mercenary hired by the other two.

Vese: “Indeed. Do you mind if we join you in this spot?”

Traveller 3: “Not at all.”

Vese and Lona walked towards the group, and then set their bags down before taking a seat. The presumed mercenary glanced at Lona, which after a bit started making her feel uncomfortable. Before either the mercenary or Lona could say anything, the well built woman spoke.

Traveller 1: ”My name is Elisa, and these are Albree and Guille.”

Vese: “Nice to meet you, Elisa. My name is Vese, and my companion here is Lona.”

Guille: “Say, where did you get that gun?”

Guille, the presumed mercenary, took a closer look at the gun attached to Lona’s hip, before speaking again, which caught the interest of his companions.

Vese: “We were attacked by royal soldiers near Imum this morning.

Guille: “Royal soldiers, eh? I thought the engraving looked familiar. Well, lucky for you, we aren’t too fond of them.”

Elisa: “So what did they try to get you for anyways?”

Vese smiled and stood up. She turned around and pointed her arm to the sky. Suddenly, a huge burst of wind shot through. She then turned back around and sat down.

Vese: “I’m a very powerful magic user accused of a mass murder. My friend here is wanted by association.”

Elisa: “Well, then it’s a good thing you two are headed to Vis. I heard that place is planning on breaking the pact and freeing themselves from the rest of the country.”

Lona and Vese both nodded.

Albree: “If I may.”

The merchant woman, Albree, finally spoke.

Albree: “Vese. Are you perhaps the same Vese of Dinia?”

Vese nodded with her uncanny emotionless expression.

Albree: “Then, would you mind if you and your partner joins our small party and our travels for a while?”