The Wandering Witch

He began collecting the crystalline fragments that had scattered from the wyvern's core. The shimmering pieces would be valuable crafting materials, and his inventory automatically sorted them by quality and elemental affinity.

"My my, how efficient."

The voice came from above, melodic and tinged with amusement. Itsuki looked up to see a figure descending slowly through the air, seated sidesaddle on what appeared to be a floating broomstick.

A witch.

She had aqua-green hair that caught the light beautifully, and wore a pointed hat with elegant curves. Her outfit was a mix of practical and stylish - a dark blue coat over lighter clothing, with brown boots that looked well-traveled. But what caught Itsuki's attention most were her eyes: bright blue and sparkling with mischief and intelligence.

"That was quite the performance," she continued, touching down on the rocky ledge with practiced grace. "Most adventurers would have spent at least an hour wearing that poor creature down. You made it look positively trivial."

There was something in her tone - not quite condescending, but definitely smug. Like she knew more than she was letting on.

"It's a standard technique," Itsuki replied carefully, studying this new arrival. Her equipment looked high-quality, and there was something about her posture that suggested confidence born from experience.

"Standard?" She tilted her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "Perhaps for someone of your caliber, Monochrome Knight. Though I do wonder... how many others would think to layer elemental traps in that particular configuration?"

She knows my title. And she was watching the fight.

"You seem to know a lot about me," he said.

"Oh, I know lots of things," she replied with a wave of her hand, as if dismissing the very concept of ignorance. "It's what I do. I'm Olivia, by the way. Professional wanderer, amateur scholar, and occasional dabbler in the arcane arts."

She gestured to the dissipating magical residue from his trap sequence. "That fire-ice-lightning combination, for instance. Most people would assume the conflicting elements would cancel each other out. But you knew they'd create a cascade resonance effect instead. Fascinating theory."

The way she talks about it... she understands the mechanics but calls it theory rather than practice. Maybe she studied it rather than experienced it?

"You sound like you've researched elemental magic extensively," he observed, still trying to gauge whether she was another transported player.

Olivia's smile widened. "Research is one way to put it. I've always been curious about the underlying principles that govern our world. Magic, combat, the nature of reality itself." She tapped her broomstick against the ground, and the air around them shimmered briefly with what looked like wind currents. "Knowledge is power, as they say."

She stepped closer, studying him with undisguised curiosity. "But I'm more interested in you. It's not every day you encounter someone with such... systematic approach to monster hunting."

Systematic. Not the word most natives would use.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Itsuki asked.

"Oh, nothing too complicated," Olivia replied with a laugh. "Just that you have the look of someone who approaches challenges like they're puzzles to be solved rather than battles to be fought. It's a refreshing perspective."

She gestured broadly at the landscape around them. "Most warriors in these parts rely on brute force or inherited techniques. But you... you clearly understand the underlying systems at work."

She keeps using words like 'systems' and talking about theory. She's either another player or she's incredibly well-educated about game mechanics. But something feels different.

"You speak like you've encountered others with similar approaches," Itsuki said.

"Indeed I have." Olivia began walking along the ledge, her broomstick floating alongside her. "I've been traveling these realms for most of my life, studying the various schools of combat and magic. You'd be surprised how many different philosophies exist regarding the 'optimal' way to handle challenges."

Most of her life? That doesn't sound like a player.

"Born to the wandering life?" he asked.

"More or less. My mother was a scholar, my father a traveling merchant. I inherited curiosity from one and wanderlust from the other." She paused and looked back at him with that knowing smile. "Though I suspect your own background is considerably more... unique."

She's definitely not a player. The way she talks about her parents, growing up here... she's a native. But then how does she know so much about optimal strategies?

"What makes you say that?" Itsuki asked.

"Call it intuition," Olivia replied, settling onto her floating broomstick as if it were a comfortable chair. "I've met enough travelers to recognize when someone is experiencing their first taste of the wider world. You have that particular combination of competence and confusion that comes from discovering your assumptions were incomplete."

She tilted her head, studying him. "Plus, you keep looking at me like you're trying to solve a puzzle. Most people just see 'annoying know-it-all witch' and move on."

Despite himself, Itsuki found her directness refreshing. "You're certainly confident in your observations."

"Confidence comes with experience," Olivia said with a shrug. "I've been studying people almost as long as I've been studying magic. Both involve understanding patterns and underlying structures."

She's sharp. Really sharp. But she's definitely not a transported player. This is her world, her reality. Yet she seems to understand things about combat optimization that even some players missed.

"So what brings a wandering scholar to this particular corner of the realm?" Itsuki asked.

"Curiosity, mostly." Olivia's expression grew more serious. "I've been hearing interesting reports lately. Stories about travelers asking unusual questions, demonstrating techniques that don't match any known schools, displaying knowledge that seems both comprehensive and oddly specific."

She leaned forward slightly. "Put that together with some other odd phenomena I've been investigating, and well... I simply had to see for myself what was happening."

"What kind of odd phenomena?"

"People appearing in places they shouldn't be. Individuals with no traceable history yet possessing skills that would take decades to master. Warriors who fight like they've studied every possible scenario yet seem surprised by basic geographical facts."

Olivia's smile turned more genuine. "The kind of mysteries that make a scholar's heart sing."

She knows. Maybe not the full truth, but she's aware that something unusual is happening. And she's been investigating it.

"And what have your investigations revealed?" Itsuki asked.

"That whatever is happening, it's bigger than just a few confused travelers," Olivia replied. "But perhaps most importantly, I've learned that some of these mysterious individuals might benefit from a guide who understands both the academic and practical sides of this world."

She gestured to herself with theatrical flair. "Enter one extremely knowledgeable and modestly attractive wandering scholar."

"Modestly attractive?" Itsuki couldn't help but ask.

"Well, I could have said 'devastatingly beautiful,' but I try to maintain some humility." Olivia's grin was absolutely shameless.

Then her expression shifted, becoming more serious and competitive. "But before we discuss any consultations, I have a proposition. How about we settle this properly?"

"Settle what?"

"Whether you're as skilled as your reputation suggests." Olivia stood up from her broomstick, which continued floating beside her. "I challenge you to a battle, Monochrome Knight. Just a friendly spar, of course."

She tapped her staff against the rocky ground, and magical energy began to swirl around her. "I've been studying advanced magic for years, but there's nothing quite like testing it against a true master. What do you say?"

A challenge? Right after I just finished with the wyvern? Itsuki studied her confident stance, the way magical power seemed to flow naturally around her. She's serious about this.

"And if I win?" he asked.

"Then I'll provide you with all the consultation you could possibly need, free of charge." Olivia's smile turned predatory. "Maps, local knowledge, insights into recent phenomena, the works."

"And if you win?"

"Then you'll have to admit that scholarly study can match practical experience." She laughed. "Plus, I'll get to say I defeated the legendary Monochrome Knight. Think of the bragging rights!"

Itsuki couldn't help but smile at her audacity. She's either incredibly confident or completely reckless. Either way, this should be interesting.

"Alright," he said, drawing his blade. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Olivia replied, raising her staff. "Show me what makes you so legendary."