(Zhenya Pov)

Sailing across seas of golden wheat on our little wagon, the chattering of small animals measured time’s passage. Fall had run its course over our journey. Past ripe fields, plentiful mines, and bustling villages, everyone was busy storing away their last harvests in time for winter.

At least they were until we rode through. These honest folk would drop everything out of veneration and kneel in Junia’s presence. Though I saw tinges of fear in those down-turned eyes.

Expecting the usual Junia response of not caring about how people viewed her, I was treated to something horrifying. Those eyes, devoid of emotion besides the usual emptiness, or should I say boundlessness. Like the person she was looking at was merely a speck on a painting.

Something she always kept in mind but was minor compared to the whole. Now there was disgust, visible above most others. Reminiscent of when I saw her under the moonlight, distant, cold.

Su was out cold, and Rudi’s gaze never strayed from the road. If he knew, the boy remained silent, probably aware how his teacher reacted to these sorts of things.

I don’t even know where to begin. Though discretion is always an option.

Opting to sit next to the witch as she leaned over the wagon’s tailboard, one arm left gently swaying out back. Some creature comfort was better than clueless words.

It was a goddess send that our destination wasn’t the capital. Further into the countryside as villages started appearing few and far between. Junia began to unwind now she wasn’t the center of attention. I shudder to think what she would have done otherwise.

Currently on route for Junia’s home, situated between the Dutchy’s capital city of Zerscheko and the Witch’s Forest. Ancestral home of all witches and a protected landmark. As in, nobody would consider attacking for fear of retaliation. Even the Kingdom steered clear of the area during war times.

The area in between was sort of a no man’s land lush with industries, greenhouses, gardens, and foundries. Pretty much any material one needed was produced here.

There weren’t any houses for miles, only workers who lived near the shoreline. Even then, it was a trek and a half to get here. Another testament to the witch’s sway, although it seems the workers are fairly compensated. These people had some meat on their bones.

Beyond the industrial zone, where the bustle of work failed to reach, stone roads smoothed into pavement leading up to a building most people would describe as a mansion. Though only in word rather than spirit, lacking the grandiose feel. Even if it was well maintained.

Past the beautiful, if utilitarian garden rife with herbs and other exotic ingredients, we pulled into the built-in stables situated just beyond. Finally, putting an end to our long journey.

“Home sweet home, isn’t that right, teacher?” Rudi was the first to touch solid ground, stretching his body. Junia, following his lead, if not with even more gusto, performed a ten-point leap into a roll. Rudi and I gave her a ten, though if Su was conscious she’d probably only give it a nine.

Together the pair unloaded our cargo while I ferried Su to one of the guest rooms. Second-floor right wing, first door on the left. “Alright, big girl. I don’t know what happened, but wake up soon, alright?” Maybe it was because I needed to vent, but I started talking to her like last time she had a breakdown.

Soon came night. I didn’t spend the whole time chatting to Su, probably spit my throat out if I did. No, a good chunk of time was spent helping Rudi and Junia settle in. The mansion was small but only compared to other estates and could probably house eleven people comfortably. Although the place didn't have any live-in servants, not many were jumping at the seams for the opportunity. Instead, Junia explained she had a crew that cleaned the mansion weekly.

Fire crystal lamps lined these cozy halls, emitting warm orange shades. Expensive compared to the alternatives, but a perfect representation of its owner. No expense was spared when it came to anything that had function.

Everything else, on the other hand? Dining chairs, curtains, and rugs were about as cheap as they came.

And nowhere else was this proven than Junia’s personal atelier. The crown jewel of functionality over form and the alchemy duo’s home within a home. At any rate, if you ever need to find the two, they’re here. “How is she?” Through the heavy spell etched doors. Rudi, a crate of potions in hand, was the first to notice my arrival.

“She’s fine, stable. Still responds via twitches and stuff when I talk to her. It’s the usual, ignoring how long she’s been in this state...” Same as the last five times I updated him.

“Oh, is Zenni back already?” Junia poked her head out of cold storage as I filled her in on Su’s condition. “I see, no changes.” She jots it down on a sheet of paper. Since we arrived, Junia insisted on keeping a bi-hourly tab on her patient slash interest. “The subject, Sushila-” I return a shrug. If she had a last name, the orphan never told us.

“- Is currently in a comatose state. Initial and follow-up inspections have shown the subject to be physically healthy, but mentally...” Trailing off, Junia started fiddling with her pencil while cupping her chin. “She is a drowned. Could it be due to a mental switch? Zenni did state that this is a recurring condition. Perhaps, a fail-safe state in case one of their ‘weapons’ goes rogue. Next question is if this is due to internal or external stimulus?-”

The rest of her tirade flies over my head, a little too advance for my blood. But I can safely say this is different from the other times. More akin to the first, whatever happened triggered the same level of trauma as the Flowering Night did. But what could have been on that level?

“Su collapsed either during our spat or shortly after.” I suspect it’s linked to the purple witch’s outb-

*Clunk* “Huh. Must be Su.” That’s good, but why do I feel so uneasy? Another thump of the floorboards kicked my instincts into overdrive.

“Guys! We got to hide! Now!” The pair shot to their feet in a flash, but it was too late. It was Su, after all. Girl was built for speed. A bolt’s click swung the door wide, revealing not the friend I knew but a pale specter of the Archipelagos.

Death’s gaze landed squarely on Junia. Causing a twinge of fear in those ever-so-passive eyes of hers. “Su, calm down. Let’s talk this out. I am sure whatever Junia said, she didn’t mean. Please, Su. This isn’t you.” Dashing between hunter and prey, I try to diffuse the situation. For both of their sakes, Junia’s hand rested resolute on one of her potions.

Catching Su in a bear hug, the drowned thrashed wildly in my arms. As if trying to phase through me. Her dark purple eyes focused on Junia, never once letting her out of sight. Su was terrified, a type of fear I knew all too well. The fear of a beast who's been hunted before.

Wary and all the more dangerous, killing not to feed but to eliminate.

"Junia, run!" I can't hold her much longer. Su's arms were like steel pipes beating against my shoulders and back. I think she would have broken my bones already if I wasn't wearing armor!

“Rudi, contingency 307!” In no time, a needle found itself in Su, injecting some flavor of knock-out juice. Seeing how I just felt a few more pounds of weight in my arms.

“Contingency 307?” How many contingencies does one homemade-lab need? With Rudi’s help, I set our lovely drowned flat on a table.

“Oh. Yes. Incapacitation of a belligerent individual. Threat level five, use of high-grade tranquilizers permitted.” Junia explained, if for nothing else to fill the silence. Still shaken by Su’s mad assault.

How do you process a friend trying to kill you? Hell! How do you process a drowned wanting you dead?

“Voice, that voice.” Su deliriously muttered before the tranqs took her back to dreamland. “Voice? Junia’s voice?”

Rudi was just as baffled. “You don’t suppose Junia’s voice crack was the trigger.” Silence. Nothing but lines connecting. None was as distraught as our resident purple witch.

“That voice... It has to be mother’s.” Junia’s declaration was a whisper. Carrying along disastrous consequences.

Junia’s mother should also be a witch. “Ah. Her...” Rudi added, oozing enmity in each word. “The current Council seat, who represents witches in the Dutchy.”

Okay, ignoring that bomb. A far more pertinent question crossed my mind. “Wait, if that was your mother’s voice, then unless you’re the most talented actor of all time. There’s no way you could sound so mature.” Nor seduc-. Never mind. Point is she couldn’t sound like that even if she tried.

“T-That’s because-” Rudi stammered out, paling like a ghost only to be silenced by Junia. “Zhenya, the reason... No. Let’s wait for Su to wake up before I start explaining. She deserves to hear this more than anyone else.”

Almost an hour passed before Su regained consciousness. We did our due diligence, got Junia to leave the room, tied Su down, and had Rudi ready with more tranquilizers.

“That voice... That Man, it was her.” Su muttered out, regaining her wits. “It’s okay. Su, she’s not here.”

“Zhenya? Is that you?” Good. She’s not lashing out. “Junia. It’s her. I don’t know how but it’s her. She was the one behind That Man’s actions.”

“Shh. I know, I know. Su, do you trust me?” Holding Su’s hands, She looks me dead on and nods. “Please, let Junia explain herself.” After a tense moment, there’s another head shake. “Thank you.”

Calling Junia back in, the first thing she met was Su’s death stare. Taking a seat next to her executioner. None of this deterred her one bit.

“That voice belongs to my mother.” And like that, Su went from pissed to confused. “Yeah, I get the confusion. That voice came out of my mouth after all. Sushila, Zhenya.” She addressed us two, as Rudi already knew what was up. “I am an artificial witch. Created by my ‘mother’, the Council’s current witch representative.

More specifically, her left side. It really does make me ‘The Witch’s Left,’ in a literal sense, doesn’t it?” Junia’s poor attempt at self-deprecating humor wasn’t lost on us. But it did help us swallow everything she just unveiled.

“Also, I have a sister. Made from my mother’s right side.” Now she’s just bullshitting. Jokes aside, all that’s left is if Su accepts the explanation. Her face has been stone-still since.

Rudi had a needle hidden on his person while I was ready to restrain her. But luckily, those precautions were unnecessary. Expelling a breath, Su stared down those wide, empty amethyst eyes for what seemed like hours before accepting her story.

“Whew,” Both Rudi and I felt our bodies slacken. “Damn, that was more intense than any dungeon dive. But seriously, Junia. You need to work on your material. A sister? That’s good for a double take, but it’s not really something that can kill the tension.”

“Uhh, Zhenya. Junia really does have a sister.” Rudi replied bluntly, with Su backing him up. “I felt no falsehoods in her words.”

“Yeppers. Ellie is the complete opposite of me. She can’t make a potion wrong even if her life depended on it. Though I doubt you’ll meet her. She likes to travel a lot and only drops by a few times a year. Mother never sets foot here either, now that I think about it. I guess I’ve always had the place to myself.”

Just then, the door flings open as a flurry of pink? Red? Something came zipping past like a storm sucking things up in a frenzy. “I’ll need this and this and this- Oh. Juni, you’re home. I thought you were visiting your apprentice. Hi, Rudi.” The boy gave a bashful wave back.

Coming to a stop. Clad in a brownish-cream duster and white dress shirt with the most obscene witches cap I’ve seen was Junia’s sister. The Witch’s Right.