The Most Dangerous Obstacle

"What's your plan for how we should go about this, leader?"

Conrad led a small squad of fellow students from the Magic University of Granmeta deeper into a dense forest neighboring the university. According to their instructor, rumors had been circulating of a witch living nearby that had been causing the staff some headaches. Not dangerous enough that a team of apprentice mages couldn't detain or destroy her, but still enough of a problem that they wanted her removed. Due to being lent the body of a slightly older man in his late 20's this time, as well as his heightened confidence in recent months, Conrad was tasked to lead the group.

Penelope was an energetic and rambunctious young mage of the university that had a proclivity towards water magic. She possessed a very limited ability to focus during class. Her natural talent for utilizing the water around her and even generate her own was exemplary. However, her instructors had criticized her on more than one occasion about her overreliance on the element she had talent with, and her unwillingness to branch out. The element of water provided unparalleled flexibility for both offensive and defensive purposes. However, Penelope's very forward and somewhat aggressive personality made her much more skilled at using the waves offensively than defensively.

Jared was a thoughtful young man who had a knack for fire magic. Dutiful to a fault, his focus for the study of fire and other forms of energy had moved him to also look into how to harness the lightning. While he was far from a master of this new form of sorcery, his efforts had allowed him to learn the basics earlier than his teachers expected. Jared had mentioned to Conrad in confidence that the village he had come from up north was quite poor and lacking in resources. He had arrived here to study in order to be able to help provide heating and warmth to an area with frightfully little of it. While Jared's selflessness was a beautiful thing on its surface, it had unfortunately led him to valuing his own well-being quick little by comparison.

Edward was, if one was to put it politely, a very crafty and resourceful young man with an affinity for earth magic. If one was to put it less politely, they would call him out for using his elemental affinity to enable his own laziness. Conrad had witnessed Edward use his affinity for the earth to make the ground below his feet move him from place to place on his behalf, more than once. It wasn't as if Edward was entirely helpless or anything, though. Conrad had seen him apply himself in order to study different forms of earth manipulation, and also to help his friends around campus. At the end of the day, it remained to be seen if he was willing to study now in order to be lazier down the line, or if he did genuinely enjoy improving at his craft.

Conrad (currently operating in the body of a mage named Galen) felt reasonably well-equipped for combat. He was tall, with cropped brown hair and a decent degree of musculature. He was not quite as physically blessed as he had been in Jeremiah's body, but his current challenges were more tied to the study of magic and leadership. This would serve him fine for what he needed to do this time. He had been given more time in his current body than his previous two so far, with six months as of this moment to become accustomed to the usage of magic. It did strike him as odd that he was able to at least get the fundamentals of magic down after just half a year, but he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Conrad glanced back to address Penelope. "The faculty aren't idiots. We're clearly not masters of our craft yet, but they sent us to handle this witch without their help. So as long as we work as a collective, we'll make it back and prove ourselves. Once we find the witch, I'll manipulate the plant life in the area to restrain her, and Edward will hold her in place further with walls of earth. Penelope, remove the hag's head quickly with a pressurized water attack, and Jared, be ready to assist with further offensive magic in the event she breaks out."

The team nodded, even Penelope, though she did so somewhat apprehensively. Always the rebel, that one. Fortunately, her sense of focus and raw fighting ability helped compensate for her rather difficult personality. Conrad could only hope that the effort he had put in during the last year, growing mentally, spiritually and emotionally here inside the book, would suffice to lead this team.

Further ahead in the forest, a lone witch was muttering to herself in a modest clearing. The witch in question had been living on the continent in isolation for quite some time, and had, for many a year, kept to herself. However, increased activity of Granmeta students had pushed her further and further away from her previous habitat in order to maintain her isolation. In recent months, the witch had been driven to the point that she had begun committing hostile acts to passing mages without warning. No fatalities had been confirmed as of yet, but there had been several reported injuries by a witch in the area operating alone. Granmeta wanted her dealt with, and eliminating the dangerous witch served as a golden opportunity for a squad of young mages to get hands-on experience.

A shadow fell over the witch in her cave. She glanced up sharply, scrambling to her feet to meet the intruder. However, the individual who came to face her did not seem hostile in any capacity. The witch was greeted by a young-looking woman with a staff in hand. Her smile was warm, and with no trace of malevolence in her demeanor whatsoever.

"Hello, miss witch. There are some Granmeta students on their way here who mean to do you harm. I would like to spare you the fate of being killed by them."

Before the witch could respond, the woman gestured towards her casually, and the witch vanished on the spot. She had been instantly relocated to a different spot on the continent, one devoid of human contact for many miles. Smiling, the woman reclined on the ground, taking a moment to have a peaceful nap. She knew it would not be long until it was interrupted. But this was acceptable, as she had business with the approaching party. Or, rather, one member of the party in particular.

Half an hour later, Conrad, Penelope, Jared and Edward arrived at the clearing. Conrad immediately motioned for them to stop, just shy of the range in which he suspected the witch would sense them. He turned to the team and nodded, making it clear he was ready to engage their strategy. Conrad gestured sharply in the direction of the cloaked woman lying on the ground, dozing, and several tree roots in the ground spung to his will and held her limbs. Simultaneously, Edward boxed her in further with barriers of earth, leaving only her neck and head exposed. Quick as a flash, Penelope generated a jet of pressurized water, aimed at the neck of the witch to quickly kill her.

A commendable effort. If the witch they had been dispatched to deal with earlier had been hit by this three-part surprise attack, it almost assuredly would have ended the conflict instantly. Conrad's strategy was certainly impressive. But then, Penelope's spell destroyed the hood of their opponent, and as the fabric fell off, Conrad's stomach turned.

The woman yawned and stirred. She tore off the roots holding her limbs, and turned the earthen barriers around her into dust with a twirl of her finger. Grinning, she turned to the team, spotting young Conrad. He had found himself face-to-face with the last individual he would ever want to entertain the idea of a serious fight with.

"Welcome, Granmeta students. It would certainly appear that you have found your witch, yes? A shame that I am far too hardy to be eliminated with one quick and simple spell."

Penelope tutted. "What's going on here? Galen, did the instructors tell you anything about the witch that you haven't mentioned to us? Shouldn't that have worked? I wasn't aware their skin was too thick to behead them."

Edward frowned. "And how'd she rip through those roots so easily? Since when were witches known for their physical force?"

Jared looked deeply troubled. "I don't like the idea of having to burn someone or something to death, but we can't let this witch kill us either."

The woman laughed freely. "Adorable, talented, and considerate. Such promising youngsters. You have a good team on your hands, Galen."

Conrad clenched his fists as he stared down Nana's smiling face. "Greetings. Mind explaining what's going on here?"