Chapter 56: Apprentice of the Dark Witch
[Floral Guardian] and [Partial Transfiguration] were both sustained consumption-type witchcrafts, which placed considerable pressure on her magic power.
Therefore, before casting, Janna had already taken out an attribute-less magic stone from her robe—one she had been reluctant to use during previous quests.
The quality of the magic stone was low, and its magic regeneration speed fell far behind the rate of consumption during spellcasting.
Fortunately, they were surrounded by forest, rich in plant elents.
This environntal advantage, combined with the aid of the magic stone, allowed Janna to double her sustained spellcasting ti.
“Up ahead is the heart of the Misty Valley. It lies in the radiation zone beyond the High Tower's barrier coverage. So, we can’t linger here too long, or we risk being corrupted by the chaotic forces of the laws.”
The fog gradually thinned. Morning light poured in, dappling through the trees.
Looking in the direction Lo Silverfox pointed, the scenery appeared lush and vibrant, yet everyone nodded seriously, not daring to relax for even a mont.
“Janna, we’re counting on you to resist the contamination.”
“No problem.”
As planned, the group quickly reached their destination under the cover of Lo Silverfox’s illusion. Once they left the tower's barrier and entered the radiation zone, it was Janna—wielder of purifying power—who protected the team from contamination.
After officially entering the spatial rift, Richard Eva and Soro Flare would team up to collect source energy fragnts, fend off interdinsional creature attacks, and ensure the safety of both Janna and Lo.
“By my will, I command you—Summon: Celestial Finch!”
She swiftly perford the spellcasting gestures and chanted the incantation.
As Janna completed the summoning magic, a complex array quickly ford before them.
Accompanied by a flash of milky white light, the Celestial Finch—with a white jade atop its head—appeared at the center of the contract array.
“Aph, release the purification barrier.”
“As you will, Master.”
At Janna’s ntal command, the Celestial Finch gently landed on her shoulder, closed its eyes, and divine, holy magic radiated from the white jade on its head, spreading into a small barrier that just covered Janna.
“Aph, enlarge the barrier a bit so the others can fit inside too.”
“All right... but Aph’s magic is limited. Enlarging the barrier might not last long—I may not be able to protect Master...”
“Take this light-elent magic stone. It’ll extend your casting ti.”
Anticipating this situation, Janna had purchased a light-elent magic stone before departure, just in case.
Due to budget constraints, the stone was only the size of a fingernail, but it was barely enough for the Celestial Finch.
“Thank you, Master.”
Carefully grasping the fingernail-sized stone in its beak, the Celestial Finch channeled its magic.
A small barrier large enough to fit four people quickly ford with Janna at its center.
“The space inside is tight—everyone, stay close together and don’t spread out too much.”
Watching the Celestial Finch on Janna’s shoulder, gripping the stone and casting with all its might, Richard Eva couldn’t help but chuckle.
“If I’d known, I’d have brought a high-quality light-elent magic stone.”
As a spirit realm creature aligned with divine light, the Celestial Finch could only recharge using corresponding elental stones—not even attribute-less ones would work.
Such elental stones, unless prepared in advance, weren’t typically carried by apprentice witches in Turin, where dark particles dominated cultivation practices.
“This stone should last it a good while. Once we enter the spatial rift, I’ll expand the barrier. Right now, conserving magic is our priority.”
Hearing Janna’s reasoning, Richard Eva added,
“Once we’re back at the academy, we’ll tally everyone’s losses. When distributing the spoils, we’ll make sure this part is accounted for too.”
“Alright.”
Richard Eva’s suggestion aligned with Janna’s thinking.
After all, every penny of hers was spent with precision.
Unnecessary waste or unrewarded spending simply didn’t exist in her world.
As everyone closed ranks, Janna and Richard Eva also retracted their more space-consuming wings.
Positioned at the center of the group, Janna beca the focal point of protection.
…
“This is the spatial rift leading to the Otherworld.”
Unlike the Misty Forest, which remained shrouded in fog year-round, the lower-altitude Misty Valley had thinner mist and abundant sunlight.
Even the valley's vegetation appeared more lush and vibrant.
But the group knew this was rely an illusion under the Darksun Laws—designed to mislead transcendents.
Radioactive substances were everywhere, and the chaotic laws that had invaded the wizarding world for years ant even minimal exposure could risk mutation in apprentice-level transcendents.
Lo Silverfox had led them to a silver-white rift—cracked like a spiderweb—exposed to Darksun contamination.
“Looks like the rift still needs a bit more ti to reach stability.”
With his extensive experience exploring secret realms, Soro Flare made a quick judgnt.
“That just ans we arrived at the perfect ti—not a minute wasted... Who’s there?!”
Just as Richard Eva was admiring his own ti managent skills, a subtle noise nearby made his expression tense with alertness.
“So, it’s the White Coral Academy apprentices. I didn’t expect you to find this place too.”
From behind a tree trunk, a short youth in a black wizard robe slowly walked out.
Black short hair, pale skin, and a childlike face even younger than Janna’s.
Though his smile was dazzling, the aura of death and darkness that clung to him made Janna, a white witch apprentice, instinctively frown.
“An apprentice from Blackbone Grove?”
“That’s right. I’m Padin Green, a Third Tier apprentice from Blackbone Grove.”
“You’re the Ghost Child of Blackbone Grove—Padin Green?”
Upon hearing the na, Soro Flare imdiately identified him.
Janna, who had frequently visited the Turin rcenary Guild, also recognized him.
This seemingly childish dark witch apprentice was none other than “Ghost Child” Padin Green, an A-rank rcenary at the Turin rcenary Guild.
He was also a genius apprentice from Blackbone Grove with A-rank Ghost Perception talent and B-rank Dark Affinity.
“Glad to know I’m famous enough for White Coral Academy to recognize .”
Seeing Padin Green’s smiling face, Janna—who had heard the rumors of his ruthless thods—understood well why he was being so polite.
It was nothing more than a numbers ga. No matter how powerful Padin Green was alone, he couldn’t take on all four of them together.
Otherwise, given Blackbone Grove’s typical behavior, he wouldn’t have walked out so agreeably, much less greeted them so kindly...
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