The water ball that Mother had created shot forward—fast and focused. She had hoped it would interrupt the witch's chant in time.
But the witch was faster.
Her wand flared with dark flames, and in a burst of power, she blasted the water ball apart.
The two spells collided in midair, and the result was a loud hiss as fire and water clashed violently.
A cloud of smoke and hot steam exploded around us.
We flinched and stepped back. The small shockwave pushed at our feet, and for a moment, I could barely see anything but white mist.
When the steam cleared, I looked up—hoping it worked.
But it didn't.
The witch was still there.
Still chanting.
Her wand burned like a torch of dark fire.
We were doomed.
But then I heard Mother begin to chant an incantation—a counter spell, her voice calm yet firm, as if she still had one final move left to stop the witch.
"Shell of the tide, rise and defend!
From ocean's cradle, form the shield—
Enclose us like the pearl within the clam!"
"Water Magic: Clam Embrace!"
Spell Description: Defensive / Barrier-Type / Multi-Capacity / Impact Resistance / Shell-Type / Durable
(Clam Embrace is a powerful defensive water spell that summons a large, protective shell made entirely of swirling water shaped like a clam. When cast, the shell forms instantly around the target—or the caster's allies—swallowing them inside like a pearl in a clam. The watery shell hardens with magical pressure, creating a barrier that blocks incoming physical attacks, magic blasts, and even explosions.)
And then—
BOOM!
A massive explosion of dark flames erupted all around us, shaking the ground and filling the air with heat, light, and thick smoke.
The blast was so strong that it felt like the earth itself was being torn apart.
The witch had used a terrible spell—a self-destruct magic that turned her entire body into a burst of cursed fire.
It was coming straight for us.
We had no time to run.
But just before the flames could reach us…
A giant shell of water formed in the air.
It closed around us like a clam snapping shut—fast and strong—pulling all six of us inside.
The water swirled and hardened into a glowing, magical clam shell. We were safe inside, like a pearl hidden deep in the sea.
Outside, the explosion roared and burned. We could see flashes of black flames through the thin layer of the watery wall, but none of it touched us.
Mother had cast a strong defensive water spell—just in time.
She saved us all.
I looked at her from behind, amusement filling my eyes. I didn't know Mother was a strong Water Mage.
We waited in silence as the smoke slowly began to clear across the field.
The wind blew gently, carrying the thick gray fog away. Bit by bit, the ruined land around us became visible again.
After the smoke was finally gone, we could see what was left behind.
Dark flames still flickered in small patches across the field, burning low but dangerous. The explosion had left a huge, blackened scar on the ground. Cracks ran through the soil, and pieces of scorched debris were scattered everywhere.
The crops on this side of the farm were completely ruined. It made my chest hurt just looking at them. All that effort… all gone in a single blast. Those poor crops never stood a chance.
Then, with a quiet breath, Mother raised her wand.
The glowing, magical clam shell around us began to dissolve into gentle streams of water. It broke apart like mist, disappearing into the air. The protective barrier was gone.
"That was really bad," the Excalibur swordsman said, wiping sweat from his forehead. He let out a breath and rested his glowing sword against his shoulder.
"I thought we were done for," the Axe swordsman exclaimed too.
"Thank you again for saving my companions and me," the Marksman said politely. He stepped forward and bowed his head deeply to my mother with respect.
The others followed his lead and bowed too.
I watched as they looked at her with admiration in their eyes. They praised her for what she had done. They were truly grateful.
"You don't need to thank me," Mother said kindly, a warm smile on her face. "You also saved my stubborn daughter here." She gave a small laugh and glanced at me, her eyes playful as she widened them teasingly.
I blinked in surprise.
Wow… her usual self was back. The calm, cold, serious woman who fought with powerful water magic was now gone. In her place stood the cheerful, motherly woman I had always known.
I felt a bit embarrassed, but also relieved.
"Thank you for saving my life," I said sincerely, bowing to the Adventurers. "You came just in time. If you weren't there, I… I don't know what would've happened."
"The pleasure is mine," the Priestess replied with a soft smile. Her voice was gentle and kind. "I'm just glad you're safe now."
The others nodded in agreement.
For a brief moment, standing in the middle of the burned field, surrounded by fallen enemies and ruined field.
We were hurt, tired, and dirty… but we had survived.
Mother raised her hand again, and her lips began to chant an incantation.
"Clouds of the deep sky, gather and roar—Let the storm weep! Burst forth, and wash away all that is foul!"
"What are you doing, Mother?" I asked.
"Clearing these dark flames," she responded.
"Water Magic: Nimbus Rain!"
Spell Description: Offensive / AoE (Area of Effect) / ExplosiveType / Cleansing Effect / Crowd Control / Splash Damage
(Nimbus Rain is a water spell that summons a dark, swirling nimbus cloud high above. From this enchanted storm, large orbs of dense water fall like raindrops—but these are no ordinary droplets. Each sphere bursts on impact, creating a splash of forceful, cleansing energy that soaks the ground and anything standing on it.)
Her wand glowed with a blue light as she raised her hand to the sky.
A trail of fast-moving water streamed from the tip of her wand, flowing upward through the sky.
Then, suddenly, a dark cloud began to form above us—ready to rain down water spheres from the sky.
We searched the area carefully, hoping to find the witch's body after the massive explosion—but there was nothing.
No sign of her.
No body.
""Let's go before we get wet from my spell," Mother said sharply, her voice serious but calm.
She turned to the Adventurers, who were still mesmerized by what she had just done.
"We should head back to the village," she added.
The Adventurers snapped out of their awe and nodded in agreement.
They agreed, and we all began walking again along the road that led through the farmland.
Now the nimbus cloud began to rain, dropping medium-sized water spheres from the sky.
We kept walking—but myself, along with the Adventurers, couldn't help but look back.
Like curious children, we stared in awe as the glowing blue water balls poured down.
Each one struck the ground with a soft splash, hitting the fading dark flames.
The fire hissed and vanished wherever the water touched.
It was like watching magic clean the world—one drop at a time.
As we neared the edge of the field, we passed by our farm shed—the place where we kept our farm tools and farm supplies. I slowed my steps.
"I'll catch up. Let me just drop off my bow in the shed," I called to the others.
They nodded, and I stepped off the path toward the small wooden building.
But as I got closer, something felt… off.
The shed door was wide open. It creaked slightly in the breeze, and I immediately noticed something strange on the door—red marks appeared on the outside.
Blood.
It was lamb's blood.
And there, just above the door, was the mark: a symbol shaped like a cross drawn with blood.
Every month, during the village's ritual, someone is assigned to draw this protective mark using lamb's blood on the shed. It's a sacred sign meant to protect the storage buildings from monsters during the Blood Moon. The monsters won't destroy anything marked with this symbol.
And the person who always does this task for our shed... is Mother.
So the mark was there—but something didn't feel right.
I walked slowly back to the road, my thoughts spinning like a storm. I caught up with the others, but I stayed close behind Mother this time. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was strange.
Finally, I stepped up beside her.
"Mother," I said, keeping my voice low, "did you put the mark on the shed door?"
"Yes, Klera," she answered quickly, without looking at me.
I paused.
"Then… did you know that I was missing the whole sunset? That I wasn't at the village during the ritual?"
She didn't answer right away.
So I asked the other question.
"Did you also know… that I went to the edge of the field and entered the Forbidden Woods?"
She finally looked at me—but her eyes didn't say much.
And just like that, I knew.
She had known.
"Yes, I know," Mother said, her voice calm but firm. "I know you went into the Forbidden Woods. I also know you didn't get out until it was too late—and that the Blood Moon had already risen into the sky by the time you returned with a trap on your feet."
She looked at me with sharp eyes. "I also know about the battle you and the Adventurers went through. I saw everything."
"What?" I blinked in confusion. "You… saw everything?"
She nodded slowly. "I was hiding in the shed the whole time—watching. I knew where you were. I knew what was happening."
My mouth fell open slightly. "You were there? All along? You saw everything that happened to me? To us? You saw the fight… and you didn't help them from the beginning?"
"I only stepped in when you were about to be defeated by the monsters… and the two witches," she replied without hesitation.
My hands clenched at my sides, my voice rising. "Why? Why wait until then?"
She crossed her arms and sighed. "Because, Klera, you deserved it. You disobeyed me. Again."
Her voice wasn't angry—but it was stern.
"I've warned you again and again," she said.
"Never go into the Forbidden Woods. It's dangerous. You don't know what's out there. But you didn't listen. You thought you could do what you wanted."
She stepped closer and looked me in the eyes. "Maybe this experience will finally teach you something. Maybe this… trauma will lecture you better than I ever could."
"I wasn't wandering around!" I responded back. "I was hunting! I just wanted to bring something home!"
"You were being a glutton," Mother said, her tone sharper now. "Did you know that the monsters and creatures from the Abyss—the witches, the beasts, the cursed spirits—they can sense and smell sin?"
I stared at her, not sure what she meant.
"Yes, sin," she said. "They're drawn to it like flies to rotten food. Maybe they smelled your gluttony and that's what brought the witches here!"
Her words stung. I looked away.
Then she sighed again, and her voice softened just a little. "I'm sorry for not retrieving you when you were in the woods. I was waiting in the shed… but I dozed off while waiting for you."
"I was going to help you when you got out of the woods," Mother said.
"But when the Adventurers showed up, I hid in the shed." she added.
She gave a tired smile.
"I only did that because I wanted you to understand what kind of danger you're putting yourself into. You're growing up, Klera. You need to start thinking before you act."
"I didn't abandon you. I just wanted you to learn something important… in the hardest way."
"But I know you got out of those woods—you have your Father's determination."
Then she walked ahead.
I slowed my steps, thinking about what she had just said.
Her words echoed in my mind, and I couldn't help but reflect on them.
I was really naive.
All this time… she had been waiting for me in the shed, hoping I'd come back from the Forbidden Woods.