The woman streched her limbs. Joseph didn't know what to say at this point.

"Wonderfull! It has been so long that I forgot how strange the world is from up here!"

She tried to step forward and fell face-first to the ground in front of him.

"Hey! Are you ok?"

Joseph leaned forward and helped her stand up.

"Yes! I'm fine! There is no problem at all, I just tripped!"

He held her from the side and they walked to the walk.

"It seems like you can't really walk."

She held out her tongue at him. He felt really awkward.

"You don't have to be like that..."

He leant her to the wall.

"Who are you anyway?"

"You don't even know? Black robes, black cap, cat features? Everyone knows me! I'm the great witch Catherine!"

She held out her hands to her sides and sparkles shot out of them.

"No. Never heared of you."

She seemed down from the comment and sit down.

"It only has been a hundred years and people already forgot about me? What a terrible fate!"

Joseph felt bad for her, but he didn't want to say that he was from the mysterious mountains.

"I'm sorry about that, but I don't know much about these parts."

She didn't look better even after that.

"Anyway I'm Joseph Smith. It is nice to meet you!"

She looked up.

"Yeah, yeah I know. I heard you and the hag speak, or at least a part of it."

She stood up and clumsily walked the the crystal ball she left on the floor.

"Take this. It still has a lot of mana in it."

She throw it to Joseph, who catched it.

"Thanks. But what happened to you, that you ned this much mana?"

She looked angrily at him.

"That cursed hag took all my mana and turned me into a cat. That's why I sneaked in his shack and bite her, to take my mana back. But it wasn't enough... Even after a hundred years. So I'm really thankfull to you for this opportunity. I'll help you with anything you want!"

Joseph looked at her with questioning look.

"Anything?"

She walked closer and leaned to his ear and whispered.

"Anything you desire!"

Joseph thought about it for a second.

"Then... Can you teach me magic?"

She seemed disappointed.

"Magic? Of course! I'm the great witch Catherine afterall!"

'First things first. If she can teach me stuffs I don't know about that would help a lot. I need to have more mana at least.'

She started to walk out the door they came in.

"Though we should leave soon. Withouth the core's magic the place might crumble."

"I see."

They walked back wards in the cave and left the rift. It only took a few minutes, which was really strange, because it took him at least two or three ours to go in. As they got out it was still morning.

"Huh? The time changed back to morning. What happened?"

She shrugged.

"I guess the time flow was different inside. It is not suprising given that the mana was dense inside."

She looked around.

"Do you know any place we should go to?"

"No. Not really. I know a place we can go to, but I don't know where is it."

She looked at him.

"Do you have any items on you from that place?"

Joseph took off his badge.

"I have this thing."

"Cool. Give it to me. I'll locate the place for you."

He gave it to her. She held it in both hands then concentrated on it. A map of the continent showed up, which looked like a 3d hologram. A red dot appeared west to the swamp of Aliandra.

"This is where we are."

A green dot appeared on the south part of the continent north west of the mysterious mountains and a few smaller ones scattered around the continent.

"The big one is where it originates from. The smaller ones are items of similar properties. They are probably made at the same place I guess."

Joseph was happy and sad at once.

"So there are other survivals not just the town. I'm glad."

Catherina laughed.

"They are fine for now, but how do you plan to get to them? The original place is on the other side of the continent and the other ones are scattered."

Joseph didn't hesitate to answer.

"I want to search up the scatered ones and lead them to the town."

She looked up and clicked her tongue.

"You know what. I'll help you in this for a little."

Joseph saw her blush as she turned the otherway.

"I'm really thanfull for that."

"This is nothing for a great witch like me!"

Joseph thought for a moment.

"Can you teleport us to the nearest town?"

She turned around to face him.

"Do you know what you ask of me?"

Joseph was confused.

"I mean these people were teleported all around the continent. I thought it's a common spell."

She laughed.

"Oh boy. You have a lot to learn. First of all. We need all the mana you found in the rift to do that. Second. If we don't know the exact location by imagening it, we would be randomly teleported, like these folks."

Joseph felt bad.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

She pet his shoulder.

"I know. But don't worry I'll teach you everything you need to know from now on. Because you are my apprentice!"

Joseph felt good.

"Thank you!"

She laughed again.

"You will feel sorry for this later! I'm a really harsh teacher! Noone survived the final test so far, or... almost noone. But I think you'll be fine! Hahaha!"

Joseph got goosebumps from hearing this. She started to walk to the east. Meanwhile Joseph looked at the window in the side of his vision.

Congratulations!

You have completed the quest to clear out the rift! You have aquired 100 exp and +1 stat points. Though the one who absorbed the mana core, because your party member did it, you still completed the goal.

'Nice! Stats.'

Name: Joseph Smith

Race: Human

Age: 21 Gender: Male

Job: None

Level: 3

Experience: 0/200

Health: 10/100

Mana: 50/250

Strength: 9

Dexterity: 9

Constitution: 10

Intelligence: 25

Wisdom: 18

Charisma: 10

Stat points: 11

Corruption: 0

State: Manna exhaustion

Abilities: Imaginative Magic C, Examination C, Survival E, Magic infusion B, Meditation D, Wood chopping F, Manna absorption F, Medicine F

Titles: Friend of the elfs, Beginner magician, Apprentice of the Great Witch Catherine!

Apprentice of the Great Witch Catherine!

Catherine has acknowledged you as her apprentice. Every one of her friends are yours and every one of her enemies are yours as well. You will have to learn everything she knows about magic and you'll have to take a test to become her successor. Until then she will protect and teach you.

She turned back and shouted.

"Why are you still staying in one place? We have to reach a safer place before night falls!"

He started to walk after her.