1 - Meeting The Transformer Witch

Under the trees, a view of a green village appeared. Finally... I will eat proper food, can't wait for that. 

My steps slowed as I approached the village, just handle it a little bit more. It was my fault that I expected the food for one week would be enough for me. 

I've run out of mana too, probably because I exceeded my limits fighting those monster. 

The vision of the ground is getting hazy... Will I die here? No, I haven't finished my Vinerius's magic research yet. 

"Young girl!" A scream came from an old woman as she ran to me. 

... 

I opened my eyes slowly, is this a ceiling? I looked at the wooden wall then turned my gaze to the coat I'm covered in. 

Seems like a cottage. I propped myself up. The aroma of the soup filled the air. 

"Do you feel alright now?" An old woman entered the room, she's the same from before. What does she want? Of course she saved me for a reason. 

"Yes, what do you want in return?" I asked suspiciously. 

She stared at me confused, then laughed. She gave me the tray she was carrying. 

"I don't need anything young girl, now eat and take a rest" I took the tray, soup and bread, it made my mouth water.

I stared at the food for a minute, is it alright to eat it? 

"Try it, it's delicious" she encouraged me. 

"Itadakimas" 

I held the soft bread and I took a bite. The soft sensation melted in my mouth. I took the spoonful from the vegetable soup. 

"Do you like it?"

"The taste of vegetables were well-balanced, and the bread was pleasantly soft. Which makes it a nutritious meal"

"I see, great to hear that. The crop quality this year is good" 

Did she want me to tell her the vegetables' quality? That's why she made me eat the food, for sure. good for her, she picked the right person. My experience in agriculture can tell soil quality from a single bite. 

"Yes, the quality of the vegetables is very good. It seems the field soil was good and it got fertilisation and water it periodically"

"A- ah... Thanks" she replied, confused. 

I got up from the bed, turned my gaze to my bag on the floor. 

Wait-

My body froze for a moment, this sensation of mana... If my feeling is right then this village wouldn't last much longer. 

"Are you going now? You can stay longer" 

"No need, I'm alright now" I took my bag and walked through the hallway to the door. 

"At least take some food, young girl" she held out some vegetables and bread. 

"Why are you doing all of this for a strange person like me?" 

"When you do nice things for people, you don't need a reason" 

I stayed quiet for a moment, looked at her smile, weird. 

I extended my hand and took the food from her, I still don't understand... 

"Alright, take this in return" I've brought a sack out of my bag and gave it to her. 

"This?" She seemed confused looking at the sack. 

"It's vineria's fertilizer"

"Vineria's..? The magical one?" She asked, amazed "I don't think you should give it to me, it's very expensive". 

"It's alright, I don't need it anyway" 

I put the food in my bag and opened the cottage's door. 

"Take care of yourself, and come back again"

"I will.” 

I walked through the meadows. I need to reach the source of this mana before they arrive at the village. I quickened my steps. 

I looked at the plains. A pack of wargs, monsters that are similar but bigger than wolves, was charging toward the village.

I summoned my staff, prepared to repel their attack. 

They noticed my presence, which made them pause for a moment- They pounced on me.

I pointed my staff at the warg in the front. Then visualize the magic circle, causing it to form instantly.

"Phostrapis" 

A light from the circle appeared, making a hole in the warg's body. I shouldn't have expected much from my Attack Magic, eh.

"I will kill you!" A guttural voice snarled. 

Another warg lunged. He bared his fangs, ready to paunce on me. 

I attacked again. He fell to the ground, half dead. 

The other wargs snarled, they're going to attack me again... All of them. 

I don't like that but maybe I need to repeal the spell. 

They pounced on me, their claws aimed at tearing my body apart. There's no other choice I guess. 

"Lux primo-" 

I stopped. This strong mana behind me- is it one of the strongest five mages? No, I don't remember any of them having this kind of aura. 

Suddenly, the wargs bodies are restricted, flying. Without any resistance, their bones cracked audibly before they collapsed into nothing. 

I turned my head. A tall light blond hair draped over her back. Her eyes held the same shade of blond. I looked at her ears, she's an elf. 

Why didn't I realize before? I'm so close to the border between Orantia kingdom and Willowood, the largest elven forest. 

"A witch, hmm..." She murmured, looking at me as if she was scanning me. 

This blond hair, this powerful mana. If my thoughts are correct then... 

"A- Ae-" I clamped my mouth shut. I don't want to get into any problems on this journey. Sorry my curiosity. 

She smirk. 

"Hi you" she called to me "what do you think of being my student?”

H- HER STUDENT?! Why would she want me to be her student? 

"Why do you want me to be your student?"

"The answer is easy, you love magic" her eyes showed nothing but confidence, as like she is sure I'd accept her offer. 

I love magic? What does she mean? 

"Excuse me, I don't think you really want to be my teacher. I don't love magic after all, I only use it to make my life easier"

She gazed at me surprised then continued:

"No, you DO love magic. If you don't then you wouldn't know my name, which has been forgotten for decades"

The wind played with both her hair and her white dress. She still holding the same smirk. Why is she so confident? 

"Reading about magic doesn't mean that I love it" It was my fault for mentioning her name, She won't leave me peacefully. 

And it's not a lie that I don't love magic. Yes, it's true that the heroine of a magic novel doesn't love magic at all. 

"Well, we won't talk about this for now. Let's say that your skills in magic made me want to make you my student" 

"So you still want to teach me?"

"Of course!" She didn't hesitate. 

"Alright.. Fair" I couldn't escape from her anyway. And thinking about it, it's not that bad to be Aela's student. I'm a bit curious about her magic. 

Maybe my peaceful journey won't be peaceful anymore…