Flawed

Dion’s face turned a deep shade of red as he stumbled over his words, his eyes widened in disbelief. “W-What… did you just do?” He finally managed, his voice tinged with a mix of confusion and surprise.

Tabitha stared at me, her eyes wide with amazement. "That’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that. Where did you learn that, Valkyrie?"

"You should’ve gone on ahead. I told you, I can handle it." I winced as I gently touched my swollen cheeks. "His slap stings. I should’ve twisted his ankles instead." My voice grew sharp with irritation.

"You’re hurt." Tabitha’s fingers gently brushed against my swollen cheek, her eyes softened with concern.

"I’m fine, Tabitha." I said it quickly, hoping to ease her worries, but my gaze caught the wound on her neck instead.

"You’re hurt too." My words faltered as I instinctively reached for the injury, but I stopped myself. "I’m sorry. Because of me, you got caught up in this." I apologized.

"It’s alright, Valkyrie. It’s nothing." Tabitha shook her head, her smile warm despite the pain.

“Let’s ask the teachers to heal your injuries after this.” Dion suggested, his tone softer than usual. “Can you walk?” He offered his hand to me.

Well, Dion, the one who often spoke of how he loathed humans like me, was offering help without hesitation. The two of them were just an odd witch and wizard.

"Other than the slap, no need to worry," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Let’s get moving. The sun’s almost down."

With that, I took the lead, pushing forward with urgency. The air was growing cooler, and the fading light made every step feel heavier. I could hear the soft protests of my companions behind me, but I didn’t slow down. The path ahead was uncertain, and the shadows lengthening around us only reminded me that we were racing against time. The setting sun cast a golden glow on everything, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before darkness would close in, and we couldn’t afford to be caught in it.

We managed to reach the boundary of the forest in time.

"Finally!" I muttered, sinking to my knees, exhaustion seeping into every bone. Valkyrie, a sheltered princess who’d never known anything beyond her cushioned life, her body was clearly unaccustomed to anything like this.

"Nobody told me the boundary was really that far," I grumbled, casting a glance at Dion. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the tension in the air.

He shot me a sharp look, his eyes narrowing. "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you suggesting it’s my fault?" His tone was defensive, almost as if he was daring me to accuse him.

Only five teams made it to the boundary on time. The barrier shimmered, revealing who had used magic to get there. The moment anyone crossed, the barrier pulsed, exposing whether their orbs had been spent or their powers drained.

After crossing the barrier, our orbs, which had been absorbed during the first phase, materialized, flickering like tiny stars before solidifying in the palms of our hands.

Dion and Tabitha, however, reached the boundary with their orbs still glowing. They hadn’t used any magic, and it showed. Sharing a quiet smile, they knew their hard work had paid off.

My orb flickered as it reappeared, but something about its glow seemed... different. The light was dimmer, less steady than before. I didn’t dwell on it, though. What mattered was that I had crossed the barrier. I had passed—and that was enough for now.

Suddenly, the air grew heavy, crackling with an otherworldly mana. In an instant, Hecate, the Witch Queen herself, appeared before us, flanked by an assembly of witches and wizards. Their presence was commanding, their gazes piercing as if they could see straight through to our souls.

“Congratulations, my young witches and wizards,” Hecate began, her voice silky yet sharp enough to cut through the tension. “You’ve managed to pass the first phase. Though, I must admit,” she added with a smirk, “it pains me to see so many fail at such a simple task.”

Her piercing gaze swept over those left behind, frozen on the wrong side of the barrier. It wasn’t just a look—it was a judgment, cold and unyielding.

“You used the mana orbs entrusted to you,” she said, her voice sharp yet calm, “and some of you even dared to steal them.”

Though her tone remained measured, a faint anger simmered beneath the surface, laced with disappointment. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to send a chill down my spine, making me shiver.

Dion and Tabitha handed their mana orbs to the teachers, but I held mine tightly.

“So… what’s going to happen to them? Those who weren’t able to pass.” I asked, mustering all the courage I could. My voice was steady, though my heart raced. I held Hecate’s gaze, refusing to blink or look away.

“Hey, don’t feel sorry for them,” Dion whispered softly, his words laced with a bitterness I hadn’t expected. “Some of them even tried to hurt us.” He added.

"Are you really going to send them away? They'll die without the forest's protection," I said, my voice steady despite the fear rising in my chest.

In an instant, the space between Hecate and I vanished. She appeared before me, so suddenly that it took me a moment to catch my breath.

"Hmm, then would you sacrifice your chance to pass the first phase just to save their lives?" She gazed at me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. Her green eyes felt like they were piercing into me, searching through every layer of my soul, trying to uncover my deepest thoughts.

"My Queen—!" Winona attempted to interrupt Hecate's words, but it was in vain.

Hecate gestured with a swift wave of her hand, silencing Winona. "Let me ask you one more time," she said, her voice cold and unwavering. "Would you trade your chance for their protection?"

"No," I replied firmly. "I am not a hero. Let them die." I spoke without hesitation.

“Wha—!” Everyone who failed reacted. Did they assume I’ll save them? I’m not Mother Teresa.

"If you can’t pass today, you can just take the test again," I added, my voice steady. “If you die, that’s on you. Life can be harsh sometimes.” Well, I already died once. It’s only a matter of perseverance and determination.

“You won’t trade your chance but you won’t let them die either?” I saw a faint smile on Hecate’s face.

"My Queen, the system is flawed.” I said, gripping the glowing orb tightly in my hand. “If you think outside the box, it’s actually quite simple." Those who heard it were left stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“How dare you insult the Queen like that!” Winona’s voice rang out, sharp with fury, as she took a defiant step toward me.

I didn’t back down. “If the forest is pouring its strength into protecting you, then let it—until it’s drained completely. When that day comes, we’ll offer our mana to the forest and protect each other. You don’t expect to lean on its power forever, do you? If you truly care about protecting it, then stop depending on it blindly. Learn to stand on your own and grow stronger.”

I had realized this after going through the first phase with Dion and Tabitha. They were so determined to protect the forest's mana, but I saw things differently. The Grand High Witch was trying to protect everyone, so setting up this ridiculous façade was an insult to her sacrifice.

Without hesitation, I absorbed the mana orb once more and focused, channeling and feeling the power surge through me.

“οὕτω νικήσαιμί τʼ ἐγὼ καὶ νομιζοίμην” I casted a large-scale earth spell. With that final surge of magic, I had drained the mana orb completely.

"What have you done, Valkyrie?" Tabitha's voice was tight with worry for my mana orb, her words laced with tension.

“I noticed that my mana orb’s light seem a little dimmer than before. Sooner or later, the mana of the Grand High Witch will vanish.” I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply as I concentrated. Slowly but steadily, I channeled my own mana into the orb. Its light began to swell, flickering to life once more, a fragile but growing flame.

Then—smack! Another slap stung my cheek, snapping my eyes open.