I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of loud gongs, signaling a threat.

"Everyone, run for your lives!" A servant's panicked cry pierced the air as they dashed through the halls. "The Silver Witch is here!"

"The Silver Witch?" I murmured to myself.

I was barely six years old. Confusion gripped me as I quickly got off my bed and ran to the window, hoping to understand what was happening outside. Just then, my father burst into my room, throwing the door open with force.

"Lu, are you all right?!" he exclaimed, hurrying towards me and pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Dad, what's happening?" I asked him, confusion overwhelming me as I looked at his expression. "The Silver Witch is here?"

His face was pale, eyes wide with fear. "Yes, she's here." He lifted me into his arms. "But don't worry, stay calm, and stay with me."

The Silver Witch was infamous, her reputation preceding her wherever she went. Yet, the communis opinio about her couldn't be more scattered. Some people spoke of her like a savior, claiming that being by her side would keep you safe from any harm, while others spoke venom; run if you see her, because if she spots you, you won't need to run anymore, as it wouldn't matter... your fate would already be sealed.

"But why is she here, dad?" I asked, clinging to him. "What does she want from us?"

He looked out the window, his jaw clenched. "I don't know... But we need to get you to safety."

He carried me out of the room, running down the hall as the chaos outside grew louder.

"Young master!" a maid called out as we passed.

"Sir, is it true? The Silver Witch is here?" the butler beside her asked my father.

"Yes, it is true. I will bring Lu to safety. Please... buy us some time," my father asked, his voice shaking like I'd never heard before.

The butler nodded, his expression determined. "Rest assured, sir. We will try our best."

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the air as numerous lancet windows exploded inward, driven by a powerful, chilly wind. A tall, monstrous figure leapt into the room, carrying a woman in its arms.

The woman gracefully hopped off the creature, dusting off her long white dress before fixing her piercing silver eyes on us. She lifted the skirt of her dress, performing a curtsy. "Greetings," she said with a smile, sending shivers down my spine.

"The Silver Witch!" my father gasped, trembling more than ever.

"Sir, go! We will keep her busy!" the butler urged, drawing a pocket knife.

The maid cast an enchantment spell over herself, and both lunged at the woman. With lightning speed, she drew a purple dagger, effortlessly blocking the maid's attack. "Bad choice," she quipped, disarming her and deftly dodging the butler's slash. "Bad move."

In an instant, both the butler and the maid fell to the floor, blood spurting from their throats. The woman stood tall, cleaning her dagger with a swift, fluid motion, letting the blood fall onto the floor, creating a macabre pattern at her feet, before fixing her gaze upon us.

I shivered. "Liora... Sebastian..." I called out their names... but my voice didn't reach them, and my throat felt tight with anguish while tears streamed down my cheeks.

From behind us, loud and heavy footsteps approached. The guards had arrived. "Sir, step back! We'll handle her!" they commanded.

My father's legs were shaking as he gulped and nodded, running past the guards.

"How could they... How did Liora and Sebastian die, dad?!" I cried, punching his shoulder in frustration as I glanced back at the guards in search of answers. "Weren't Liora and Sebastian Triple-S adventurers?! How did they lose so quickly?!"

My father didn't answer, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he kept running, clutching me to his chest.

We hurriedly fled the scene, darting down a corridor as we passed more guards heading in the opposite direction. I fought to control my trembling breaths, attempting to divert my thoughts. "Where's mom, dad?" I asked, desperately seeking a distraction.

"She's safe," he murmured, his voice strained. "She must be outside by now. We'll find her. We'll be safe together."

We emerged from the manor, finding ourselves in the gardens, where more butlers and maids were reunited, panicked and unsure of how to act.

"Sir!"

"Young master!"

"Darling! Lu!" My mother rushed toward us, her face full of relief as she enveloped us in a tight embrace.

The others gathered around us, asking about the situation while explosions continued to reverberate from within the manor.

"Sir, what's the plan?" a butler asked.

"To run away..." he replied through gritted teeth. "We cannot fight her... We can't. Liora and Sebastian already died at her hand..."

"Liora and Sebastian?!" My mother's voice wavered, her eyes widening in horror as she clutched her chest with trembling hands. "How..."

The same horror rippled through the others; their faces mirroring her shock, only to twist into frozen expressions of fear as a blinding white explosion erupted from the manor's entrance. Guards were sent flying, screaming as they scattered across the garden amidst the debris.

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The Silver Witch had spotted us; she slowly advanced, while we stood frozen in terror.

My mother stepped forward, shaking as she confronted the Witch's gaze head-on.

"Darling... please, run away with Lu," she murmured.

"But, Vivienne..." my dad protested.

"Please, just go... I'm a mother, it is my duty to protect you both," she implored, extending her arms as a shield.

The Silver Witch regarded her with a smile. "I appreciate your dedication."

In an instant, my mother's body convulsed as three holes were torn through her abdomen, blood spilling onto the ground as the other servants screamed in horror.

"Mom!" I cried out in confusion. What had happened? What hit her? There was nothing!

Then, a monstrous figure materialized before her, the same creature that had accompanied the Silver Witch. Its claws were what sank deep into my mother's flesh.

"Though, I'm afraid she didn't..." The Silver Witch's voice seemed almost regretful as she glanced at her creature.

The monster withdrew its claws, leaving my mother gasping for breath as she threw up blood, collapsing to her knees.

The Silver Witch's lips curled into a pout as she stared at the monster. "Jeez... I didn't even look into her eyes, you know?"

The monster screeched in response, directing its attention to her.

What was happening? What was I watching?! The Witch was conversing with a monster!

My heart pounded with fear as I clung to my father. "Mom..."

I glared at the Witch, within me, a sense of sadness and anger. I shed tears for my mother, while my fist was clenched in fury, but I couldn't do anything.

Why my mother? Why us? What had we done to deserve such wrath? And why, Deities, would you leave us so defenseless and powerless against such a wretched creature, who smiled at our despair and misery?

... Why?

My father was speechless, silently shedding tears in despair for my mother, his wife... now reduced to a broken shell before us.

The Silver Witch sighed. "Well, whatever... Let's end this, Bianca," she said, raising her dagger into the air. "Lame Fantasma." As she pronounced those words, countless blades came into existence around her.

My father gritted his teeth, glaring at her with murderous eyes. "No," he growled, placing me aside on the grass before standing up, taking his spellbook and wand in hand. "You'll pay for what you've done!" he screamed at her.

The Silver Witch seemed unimpressed, her expression indifferent as she regarded us.

My father opened his spellbook, a yellow light illuminating his determined face. "Light Of The Coming Glory!" he shouted.

At the tip of my father's wand, a massive cross of light formed, illuminating the surroundings and causing the ground to tremble beneath our feet. A powerful wind rose, whipping our hair and clothes. This was it! My father's strongest spell! No enemy had ever withstood it and emerged victorious! Such a spell could have obliterated half the manor had it struck!

The Silver Witch leaped backward. "That is quite the display of mana," she remarked, her tone almost complimentary.

My father released the spell, and the monster charged against it. A tremendous explosion erupted, sending a gust of wind strong enough to knock me into the arms of a maid standing behind.

As the wind subsided, I rushed back to my father's side, looking at the aftermath. The Silver Witch's creature had vanished! The spell had triumphed!

"Impressive," the Silver Witch commented, clapping her hands with a smile. "I hadn't anticipated you to be this strong."

"You're next!" my father shot back.

The Silver Witch's smile turned serious, her spellbook suddenly hovering in front of her. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I imagined things, but the sight remained unchanged. Her spellbook was really flying in front of her.

I stared at the scene, perplexed, as she ran her fingers over its white cover. "Unfortunately for you... I am far stronger," she declared, opening it.

As her spellbook opened, a blinding white light flooded the area before condensing into a focused beam.

"How many..." I stuttered.

Her spellbook was literally on fire; a white flame surrounded it as it kept hovering in front of her.

I didn't have a spellbook yet, but I knew that its brilliance was to be attributed to the number of spells a libromancer possessed. So, how many...

"How many spells are those, dad?" I asked, unable to believe my eyes.

My father fell to his knees, disheartened by the sight, while the Witch pointed her dagger in our direction.

"Replica." And as the Witch intoned the word, in front of her, a colossal white cross took form.

That was my father's spell... but twice the size, twice the strength, twice the destruction...

My father held me close; we surrendered, resigned, awaiting our demise... I squeezed my eyes shut, but even in darkness, the searing brilliance of the light pierced through.

Then, abruptly, it ceased. The spell dissipated completely into nothingness, leaving us bewildered and shaken.

The Silver Witch approached my father with a calm smile, her steps echoing in the eerie silence. She stopped right before us, outstretching her arms as if in invitation. "Your child," she said.

My father stared at her, his eyes a mix of fear and confusion. "W-what?"

"You don't want your child to die, right?" she clarified. "So, I must ask you to give him to me."

My father couldn't believe those words, the way she could say such things, the way she smiled after giving out such suggestions. Her voice didn't sound merciful; it sounded evil.

I didn't want to go with her; I would've preferred to die alongside my mother and father. And my father likely shared that sentiment, but he wanted me to live, though, at the same time, he didn't want to soften his embrace.

"What will you do to him?" he asked

"Hmm? Nothing. I just don't want to kill a child. I will soon have a child of my own, you know..." she said with a cheerful smile. "But whether you like it or not, I will destroy this place and everything around me. So, unless you want your child to die, you must give him to me."

Dad looked at me, his eyes shedding even more tears as he held me tighter. I could feel his beard grazing my cheek, damp with his tears. Then, slowly, he extended his arms towards the Silver Witch.

"Dad?" I choked out, feeling myself being pulled away. "Dad?!"

He averted his gaze, he couldn't meet my eyes. I could see it... he felt ashamed.

"Good choice," the Silver Witch remarked, taking me into her embrace and slowly stepping away. "Come back, Bianca," she then said.

The monstrous creature quickly reappeared beside her, when just a moment before it was annihilated by my father's spell...

I looked at her with fear as I trembled in her grasp. She noticed it, and met my gaze, giving me a smile.

I hated it. I hated her eyes. I hated her smile. I hated her.

Then, at some point, she stopped, raising her dagger to the sky. "Caduta Del Sipario."

A deafening screech filled the air, followed by a blinding light falling from the sky, forcing me to shut my eyes and cover my ears.

After some time, a piercing ring echoed in my ears; I opened my eyes again. All I could see was chaos and destruction. The manor was gone, reduced to nothing but debris consumed by white flames. Nothing, and no one was spared from that spell.

She calmly stepped away from the scene, cradling me in her arms along with her dagger.

"Oh, you like it?" she asked, a giggle escaping her lips. "I called it Purple Night."

I didn't like it. I liked nothing about her. And the way she kept staring at me with those eyes...

Her eyes...

Those eyes!

I loathed those eyes! They seemed to pierce through my very soul! I hated it!

After that, she abandoned me somewhere along the road, disappearing into the night without looking back. I searched for a home, but I had nowhere to go. I felt unsafe everywhere... Her memory haunted me constantly, and the sight of the moon reminded me of her stare. I couldn't sleep, tormented by dreams of that night, and I couldn't stay awake because the moon would remind me of her.

I hated her, I wanted nothing but to make her pay for what she had done. And one day...

"One day... I will make you pay..."