Content

The Red Witch steeled herself with determination. Her hand clasped each other, and she nodded for him to continue. “It’s alright. Tell us so we might decide.”

“There is a mana plant that only grows on mana,” the Scholar said. “Mana is intangible. It doesn’t have a physical form. There are only ways to treat any mana sickness. We can let it get better on its own. We can also use someone else’s mana for treatment. Lastly, since the physical body is linked to mana, we can improve our health to cure mana sicknesses indirectly.”

Both witches nodded, and the Fleur listened with curiosity. The Scholar, who had been kneeling the whole time he had examined Blue, slumped into a chair and sipped some tea. He continued.

“The friend found the mana plants and created mana bandages. However, since his cursed friend had passed away, he never tested them. There were no similar cases afterward. Therefore, this is all just theory.”

The Witch of the Red Rose felt like she found some semblance of hope. She wiped away her tears and straightened her back. “I’ve never heard of a mana plant before, but it does sound too obscure for it to appear in any common book about herbs or plants. Where can we find this mana plant?”

“I’ve heard of it, but only in legends and tales,” the Fleur said. “The stories say it only grows in a place where the mana and air are the purest. However, the moment you pluck it, it will wither away.”

“I’ve only read the book in passing, and it didn’t mention where he found the mana plant. Did your legends and stories mention where they might be?” the Scholar asked.

“Some said the mana plants were high up in the mountains, some said they were deep in a cave, and some said they could be found inside the ocean,” the Fleur replied, drooping her head at her lack of information.

“Does the mana plant happen to look almost transparent,” the Witch of the White Rose asked.

“Yes, yes, it does!” the Fleur said. “Have you seen it?”

“As a matter of fact, I have,” the Witch of the White Rose replied.

“You have? Where?” the Scholar said, jumping out of his seating, feeling excited for the second time today.

He wanted to pick up and twirl the White Witch up in the air, but he had a feeling that the Succubus would make off with his head if he did it, so he mustered self-control and rooted himself to his spot.

“There’s a cave not far from here at the end of the forest,” the White Witch said, pointing towards East.

“You mean the cave that leads to the underground labyrinth teeming with deadly monsters?” the Red Witch asked.

“Yes, that’s the one. At the lowest level was where I had seen those transparent plants about 80 years ago. I’m not sure if they’re still there,” the Witch said.

Everyone was shocked that the White Witch knew of a mana plant. It was too much of a coincidence. Some people have never heard of a mana plant, and the other two people who have heard of it knew it from legends and stories.

“That means we have a chance,” the Scholar said. “How did you get to the bottom of the labyrinth and survive?”

The Witch of the White Rose scrunched up her face at the unpleasant memory. “We almost didn’t survive, but we had no choice but to go there at that time.”

“You needed the mana plant as well?” the Fleur asked.

“No, I didn’t know about the mana plants back then. I only saw them in passing and didn’t pay much attention,” the Witch said, shrugging. “They were hardly visible, like a blurry mess on the ground. I happened to fall next to a group of them and realized they were plants.

“We avoided them as we ran. We didn’t know if they would bring us harm or good. Inside the labyrinth, one wrong step could kill you. But after all these years, I’m not sure how much the labyrinth has changed. Perhaps the monsters were still as strong as ever. We won’t know until we scout out the cave.”

“Then there’s still hope,” the Red Witch said. “As long as there’s a chance that we can get the mana plants, we can save Blue.” The Red Witch looked more hopeful and determined. A smile finally returned to her face.

She turned to the Scholar and asked, “How did the person use the mana plants and make them into bandages? If they wither as soon as you pluck them, then there must have been some way he was able to preserve the bandages in their mana form.”

“He didn’t detail how he turned the mana plants into bandages,” the Scholar answered.

He grew frustrated at his lack of knowledge. What a scholar he was. He also became unhappy that he didn’t read more carefully about the production method of the mana bandages.

“It’ll require a very daft hand at processing the mana plant. Our mana channels are very thin. I think it’d be best to figure out what shape the bandages should be, or perhaps it can be some other shape and form that would be the best to fix the torn mana channels.”

With so many problems to tackle, the group decided to split up to conquer the tasks. The Succubus and the White Rose Witch went to the cave for reconnaissance while the Fleur, Scholar, and the Red Rose Witch brainstormed how to use the mana plants.

When the Witch of the White Rose arrived at the cave entrance, she readied her cane in her hand. Even for someone strong like her, the unknown was still dangerous. It was always better to be cautious.

“You said you were in a hurry 80 years ago and had no choice. Was it because the bottom of the labyrinth was where the Gate had opened?” the Succubus asked. “I have some memories of the Guide complaining about a cave full of monsters that almost made you miss the New Year’s Blessings.”

The Witch nodded with a sigh. “We almost died. At one point, we were buried under a pile of bug-like monsters.”

“No wonder you didn’t want to talk about it,” the Succubus said. “This year, I’ll make sure to deliver you in time for the Blessing, even if I die trying.”

The Witch was grateful to the Succubus for her loyalty and gave the demon a pat on the shoulder. “No need to give up your life for that. I won’t die if I don’t get the Blessing.”

The Succubus took the Witch’s hand and gave her a serious look. “With your current condition, I’m not so sure about that.”

Sometimes, the Witch wished that the demon wasn’t so perceptive. She didn’t want to make the demon worry about her. She wanted the demon to prioritize her own demon life instead of her transient human body.

Even though she had been alive for 369 years because she became part demon, the human part of her could only remain alive for so long. The human mind can only handle so much before it wants to fall into oblivion.

The Witch sighed with weariness.

“Let’s go before it’s too late,” the Witch said and headed into the cave, pulling the Succubus along.

At least for now, they were together. The demon’s warm hand was in hers, and she was content.