The Witch Queen

After packing their essentials, Kurt decided to explain a couple of details before departing. As he described Mona's power moves and the layout of the lair, Bard was lost in his thoughts. 

Who was that guy in my head? I wonder if that's the voice Iris heard....

Bard rode on Fern as they began to venture into the snowland. It was quiet at first, but Iris broke the silence with questions.

"How did you escape the witches Kurt?"

"I can manifest magic onto inanimate objects at will like my knittings. While fighting, I let my guard down and was bound by blood magic, but mentally formed an invisible cloak over myself, helping me escape."

"Blood magic?!"

"It's said that is one of Saru's created magic sources and one of the hardest elements of dark magic to master. If your body absorbs the witch's blood, you lose control over yourself, but not over your conscience. By casting an invisible cloak over myself, I broke the enchantment since eye contact was disrupted. A witch can't control a body they can't see anymore."

"I see..."

Bard attentively hearing the conversation, asked about what would a witch want with someone like himself. He explained about the note that was accusing him of murdering him and Charles on that night. Kurt was in deep thought about it.

"I hope that didn't stir too much trouble for you, but that is very peculiar... However, you don't seem to be much of a threat. I'm not sure why they would go to such lengths."

Iris and Ryner sighed at the disappointing response as they were hoping for the mystery to be solved, but Kurt nervously laughed and apologized. 

"But we'll be seeing Mona soon...I'm sure she's the one who wrote that note."

After a few hours, the sky dimmed and snow began to slowly fall. The pine trees rustled at the gentle breezes and howls were heard in the distance. The void instead of being white was now black and only illuminated by the lanterns of the group.

Kurt halted at the edge of the cliff and turned to see the trio.

"We're here now."

The three looked at each other confused at the view of the cliff and not a more obvious scene of an entrance. 

"Witches have been in hiding for hundreds of years. What better way to hide than in the most remote area of the world and through a secret entrance..."

Kurt drew a circle in the air with his hand and it illuminated a red symbol that glowed, transporting the group into now the great entrance hall. 

"Sorry Bard, I thought it was best for your horse to stay behind."

Bard nodded and thanked him for the gesture, but a cackle echoed through the halls, causing them to be alert.

"Welcome back Larvin.~ I see you brought some friends. Enjoy your stay if you last!~"

Kurt gritted his teeth at how Mona was very unserious as always and warned them to be careful. A purple gas began to hiss out causing them to cough.

"Don't breathe it in!" 

Kurt quickly knitted thick scarves around each of their necks and it covered their noses. They all stayed close behind Kurt as they made it through the fog. Walking through the hall, the air cleared and there were armored knight statues lined up on each side. They held elongated weapons like axes, swords, and spears.

After passing a few they began to swing their weapons up and down as the group scurried through, trying to dodge the attacks. Mona's laugh echoed through the hall again revealing herself as she walked out of the shadows. 

They stopped after running passed the last soldier, the grand hall had chimera-like statues made out of marble, and at the opposite end stood Mona. 

She waves her white-laced hand fan, the air making her long black hair flow. For a witch, she wore a very extravagant tight navy blue dress with a diamond necklace and earrings. 

"Don't I look fabulous!" Mona exclaimed as she spun around on her matching blue heels.

"Stop with your games Mona..." Kurt muttered as he tried to wrap Mona with a knit, but it was torn apart at contact. 

Mona's demeanor changed as her face cast a shadow, raising her fan in the air, and smacking it to the ground. The gust of air was strong as it pushed everyone to the ground and it began to shake violently like an earthquake. 

"Kurt! What's going on?! You never mentioned that she can do earthquakes!" 

"That's because I didn't know she could Ryner!"

The witch now held her fan up in the air again, obliterating the ceiling with a strong magic beam. Dust and rubble filled the air, and the floor began to crack as it pushed up into the sky. 

The group held on tightly as they were now within the snowy land again. 

"Don't take me so lightly Larvin..." 

Mona's purple eyes glowed as she swatted her fan around, splattering acid.

"Dodge!" Kurt yelled as the trio split up to avoid her attacks. Ryner charges right at her with a beam sword, but she swiftly moves away.

Mona sees Iris, chanting a magic beam, and quickly grips Ryner by the uniform as a shield. He falls over as Iris apologetically comes to his side to help.

Kurt whips out a long knitted cloth, but Mona deflected the hits with her fan. In a split second, she wraps the cloth around her fan and flings Kurt over to Iris and Ryner. 

Bard was stunned like a deer having watched Mona swiftly counter their attacks, but now her view was at him as if she were a hunter. 

She snickered seeing how helpless he looked and summoned an acid wave. He dodged and ran around the best he could, his heart beating a million times per second.

I...need to help.......Bard 

Iris struggled to push Ryner off her and weakly stood up with her arms extended outward. 

"NIVES MOSTRUS!" 

The ground began to shake stronger than the last time and the snow beneath everyone's feet began to collect forming an enormous beast. 

It was like a bear, the snow carved every detail down to its fur and its claws were that of sharp icicles. The beast followed Iris' command to charge Mona for an attack, but she quickly moved out of the way. 

Ryner and Kurt slowly got up as well and were surprised to see the beast fighting against Mona. 

"Kurt, look out for Iris. With a beast like this, she is vulnerable to attacks, I'll go get Bard and try some moves next."

Kurt nodded as Ryner ran after Bard, but Mona saw this and directed another acid wave. Ryner couldn't react in time to deflect and was on the verge of being engulfed by the attack.

Seeing Ryner in danger felt like everything was going in slow motion as Bard began to run and his feet were heavy. 

Without thinking, Bard heard the same voice in his head and yelled out, "Obex!" 

A panel appeared and protected Ryner from being melted away. Mona was stunned to see it as her power could penetrate any kind of barrier. She jumps right in between Ryner and Bard, grinning at Bard's performance.

"You lack class, but you are powerful! Bravo star child~" 

The main wizards looked at each other in confusion by Mona's response. 

Star child?

Bard felt uneasy being so close and stepped back. 

Iris jumps on the beast's head and hovers it over the witch menacingly. 

"Why are you after Bard? What do you mean he's the star child?"

Kurt swiftly bounded Mona's hands with his knit and immediately shouted "Sec Revale Mona!" 

The spell sent a shock wave to Mona as her knees fell to the ground. Even with the pain, she smirked at Kurt.

"What a dirty trick Larvin..." 

"Mona, you either die in the next 20 minutes or tell us the secrets we seek in exchange for your freedom." 

She sighed in defeat as her gaze fell onto the snowy ground.

"It's been discovered that there's a third stone aside from Saru and Taru. However, no human inherited its powers for the rock itself bared a child. We called it the star child, but you may know it as the Hiking Wizard. That boy is the reincarnation of the most powerful magic wielder known to man." 

Ryner was stunned at hearing this and connected in his head the facts. Everyone else was shocked to hear the news.

Cedric was right...

"I was ordered to take of you all and capture the star child. It seems like my little prank note worked in bringing you here instead of going through the trouble of finding you Bard~" 

Mona's body went through another shockwave, but this time her bonded hands managed to rip apart Kurt's knit as she jumped away at a safe distance from everyone. 

"As much as I despise you witches, I'm surprised you're telling the truth," Ryner said as he prepped his blade in a defensive position.

"You do know I'm here right?..." Kurt quietly muttered under his breath but stayed focused summoning enlarged knitting hooks.

The snowy beast growled aggressively as it scrapped the snow, ready to pounce.

Bard was speechless but felt different compared to other moments. As the opposing sides collided in battle, Bard clenched his fists as he angrily looked at the ground.

I'm tired...of being useless! I'm tired of it all!! 

Mona pushed out acid waves and bombarded the area with potion explosives. 

Bard began to run into the field without a second thought with a battle cry, catching the attention of his comrades. 

Iris was trying to telepathically connect with Bard, but he ignored her requests to stay back and kept on charging through the snow. 

"DAMN YOU WITCH!"

He extended his palms out as a strong beam shot out surprising Mona, but she barely dodged. Bard persisted as she kept her distance.

 He's too fast! I need to push back before he catches up...

Mona dropped a glass bomb causing an explosion between her and Bard, obscuring his vision. 

"Right behind you Bard!" Iris yelled seeing Mona's surprise attack from afar. 

Bard summoned his shield right before the contact of her acid wave, irritating Mona. 

"Alright, enough playing around!" 

She slams the ground with her fan rumbling the area, making everyone stumble, but Bard is firm on his feet and swings a swift kick at Mona.

H-How?!

As she flies across the area, her body hits against the barrier.

N-No..

Her eyes were blinded by the light beam striking her. Mona's body taints the snow red with her blood as she painfully coughs. 

"I....thought..you.....were..still......learning.....how to...use........magic.."

"Well, he does have a good teacher..." Ryner says as he extends his blade over Mona's neck.

"Where are the other witches?"

"Heh....you...should've asked.......all your...questions.....before...binding me..."

Ryner frowned at how cheeky she was even on the verge of death.

"Larvin......should..know......" 

She huffed her last breath, before closing her eyes into eternal slumber. The queen of witches had been defeated and Bard fell back onto the snow, shaking in fear.

Did I just...do that?