Fuka Kingdom, a land ruled by an kind and honest yet weak king who couldn't hold back her greedy nobles from running the economic background and hurting its poor people, and the harsh prices of everything considered necessary.

One of this kingdom's biggest cities is Pero, a city near the borders with Syrana Kingdom, a hostile land with a deep history of hatred toward Fuka Kingdom for one reason: it didn't help her out years ago with an invasion of the goblins, vicious creatures with green and silver skin, differing in size from small yet mischievous monsters that use the bow and poisonous daggers as a quick and deadly way to kill their victims.

The other kind are the more brutal, slow, and stronger kind, taller and more muscular than a warrior, they don't defer to what they kill: deer, humans, weak sorcerers, injured witches, children; anything that leads to fresh meat and hot blood is welcomed.

Fuka Kingdom was from time to time attacked by those abominations; the border cities are the shield that holds the goblins from entering Fuka kingdom, but as any shield, you are bound to get scratches and bruises here and there.

Those three cities, Reno, Guty, and Pero, were the most damaged by the goblin attacks, but because of how normal that had become after years and years of fighting, life looked normal or at least near normal according to the most sober ones in these cities.

In Pero City, the last attack was one year ago. It was a big, lively city with tall stone walls protecting it even from the fire boulders that the goblins loved to send flying onto people's heads. There were three main markets where people could look for the best they could afford with what little they had. A small, well-crafted fountain stood where less knowledgeable people threw their coins for a forgotten wish, while the poorer and homeless extracted them from the fountain at night when no one was watching.

In a very small house near the walls of this city lived Mia, an old woman in her fifties, with her two adopted children, Dam and Lifa, a lively 17-year-old twin with similar black eyes and brown hair yet different personalities. What they agreed on was numerous, yet they protected each other and their adoptive grandma.

Dam had a small scar on his left eye, given to him by a goblin years ago, while his sister was a beautiful girl with a bright smile, caring and lovely to anyone she met, always leaving an impression on her. And Grandma Mia was a lovely old lady with nice smile and green eyes, blonde hair with some white hair here and there, she was a tailor and supported her family as much as she could, it is a hard time the family found their comfort.

Grandma Mia was cooking dinner while the twins were reading. Dam was engrossed in a book about other kingdoms of the south. Despite the cold and harsh weather, these were places Dam wanted to visit, as he loved to journey—a love that blossomed whenever he saw adventurers return from outside the walls, talking and telling their tales of journeying, something that fascinated Dam.

His sister, Lifa, was more practical. She was reading a book about magic, as she was ready to join a witch's school, something she had worked hard to achieve as she was in love with magic and its science and basics.

Dam and Grandma Mia encouraged Lifa and helped her as much as they could. She was grateful, and hard work was her way of showing gratitude as she aimed to become a witch and help her family with what she could offer.

Magic was scarce, not everyone had that talent, and those who possessed this blessing were expensive to hire. But the firepower and how much easier the job would become with a witch or sorcerer nearby made it a necessity to use them.

After a long read, Dam closed his book, wiping his eyes from dizziness as he looked at his sister and said, "Not tired? Dinner is ready."

Lifa closed the book, looked at her brother, and said, "Yes, I am dying here."

At the dinner table, Mia smiled as she looked at the twins eating her food viciously. It was a bit inappropriate, yet seeing them enjoy their food was a good sight to her. Mia then said, "Ready for your entry exams? I heard that it is quite hard."

Lifa nodded and smiled as she answered with confidence, "Of course! It is easy, just need to calm and focus."

Dam then added, "And if anything goes wrong, you can repeat next year."

Lifa responded, "Yes, I am not that worried really. I am excited to meet actual witches teaching me all I can master!"

Dam then said with a greedy smile, "And the money you will get when you become a witch! I mean our money."

Lifa laughed, covering her mouth to prevent spilling the water she had in her mouth. She coughed three times before responding, "You're as greedy as ever, brother. Our money? I haven't even earned it yet!"

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Mia smiled as Dam defended himself, "But you will! You'll be a witch. Not everyone is a magic manipulator, so your services will be costly as per normal. Do you see the witches living here? They live luxurious lives, with money, recognition, and respect! You work less for a lot of money! Why wouldn't I fantasize about how our lives will become easy?"

Lifa then answered, "Because... I never thought about it like that!" She said with confusion, "Yes! I will become rich!"

Dam added with happiness, "We will be rich!"

Mia smiled as she got up, ready to start knitting, while Dam and Lifa began grabbing the plates to start washing them.

After that, the family slept together in a small room, as it was their only room in the tiny house. Dam was sleeping heavily, while Lifa lit a candle and started reading, a bit nervous about her exams tomorrow.

After a long night, it was early in the morning. Lifa was still asleep while Grandma Mia and Dam were near the door. Dam was ready to leave for work, and Grandma Mia had prepared a small meal for him.

Dam hugged Mia before setting off to leave, but a voice stopped him: "Leaving? To that dangerous place again?"

Dam smiled as he turned to face his sister. Lifa was wiping her eyes while waiting for an answer. Dam looked at his sister and responded, "Until you become a witch and help us out, I need to work and earn money."

Lifa then said, "But that place is dangerous. A lot of thieves reside there."

Dam nodded and responded, "The shop owner is lazy and hates hard work, so I work more and earn more money. That place is dangerous, I know, but it pays well for those willing to take the risk. We sell a lot of adventurers' weapons, spells, armor, and potions there, so it's safe most of the time when adventurers are nearby."

Lifa commented, "Most of the time."

Dam nodded apologetically, "Yes, it's the best way to help our family."

Lifa then looked at Mia, who had a sad expression, and said, "But..."

"Please, Lifa!" Dam shouted in anger, "Grandma Mia is already against this job. Please have my back this time, just THIS ONE!"

Lifa looked at her brother, who had a sad yet determined face. She then nodded and said, "But promise to leave the moment you find safer work or the moment I become a witch!"

Dam nodded and forced a smile, "I will try asking around, but I promise."

Mia and Lifa nodded and forced a smile as Dam left the house for work.

After that, Mia sat on her bed, trying to sleep for at least a couple of hours before the entry exams. Meanwhile, Lifa opened another book and started her last review. Determination appeared on her face as she imagined her brother in the morning cold, walking alone in that road, something she wanted to change.

After two hours, the city's center was teeming with people who had gathered to witness the future witches of the city. The crowd was abuzz with conversations, laughter, and chatter about this significant day for the young witches.

The young witches consisted of fourteen girls, with the fifteenth being Lifa, who wore a long blue dress her grandmother Mia had knitted. Unlike the other girls, who donned the most beautiful and expensive magical dresses money could buy, Lifa's dress was simple and handmade. The others appeared affluent, and even the modestly dressed ones came from working families. Lifa, however, was the only one of poor status.

Despite the differences in their backgrounds, family status was unimportant here. All the young witches were nervous, excited, and occasionally scared as they waited for the witch school's doors to open.

Inside the school, Lilithra, a fire witch, was looking at herself in the mirror, preparing for the exams. Jasmine, a light witch, waved her hand and said, "Lilithra! It is time. The young girls are probably pretty nervous by now."

Lilithra nodded and turned to face Jasmine, smiling as she replied, "Tell Jeffrey to open the doors. I am ready."

In front of the school doors, Lifa was very nervous and started shaking. She began breathing slowly to calm herself. Looking behind her, she saw Grandma Mia, who was smiling. Though Lifa couldn't hear her words over the crowd, she understood the message as Grandma Mia mouthed, "Be brave, stay safe, I love you."

Lifa nodded to herself, mustering courage as she turned her face toward the doors. "You can do it! They're just witches! What are you afraid of?" she whispered to herself.

The young girls watched in awe as the doors opened by themselves, bathed in a shimmering blue light. Their fascination turned to curiosity as two witches stepped out from the doorway.

The tall witch, with piercing blue eyes and long black hair, stood regally in a stunning black dress and a large hat—it was Lilithra. Beside her was Jasmine, shorter in stature, wearing a short white dress that showed her knees. Her blonde hair and snow-white eyes complemented her beautiful smile.

The presence of the two witches captivated the young girls, and even the crowd began shouting, cheering, and applauding for the stunning duo.

"Lilithra then whispered to Jasmine: "What are they cheering for?"

"Our dramatic entrance? Our looks? Maybe the dresses?" Jasmine responded with more questions.

Lilithra then looked at the young girls and spoke in a high yet pleasant voice, "My little witches, today we will test your might to decide who will join our prestigious school. We will evaluate your magic capacity, manipulation, and defense. Just the basics, so there's no need to be nervous."

The girls breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing those words. However, one guy from the crowd shouted, "I heard they will fight to the death!"

The crowd started murmuring, and Lilithra looked at them with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "What type of school do you think we are?" she asked.

A bearded guy with big arms, likely a blacksmith, shouted, "Aren't they gonna fight to the death? I was afraid for the lives of those girls!"

Lilithra glanced at the crowd and then back at the nervous faces of the girls. "Don't tell me you thought the same?" she inquired incredulously.

Some girls avoided looking at Lilithra, while Lifa and a noble girl named Risa blatantly nodded in agreement.

Lilithra then spoke in a loud and authoritative voice while hodling a comforting smile, "Please, there has been a misunderstanding. We won't harm them; we're simply testing their abilities. Magic wielders are already rare, so harming them would be a waste. Besides, these are beautiful young girls—let's not make them any more nervous!"

The girls smiled at Lilithra's words. Jasmine then whispered to her, "You calmed the crowd down and more importantly the girls. Nice way to start these exams."

Lilithra then whispered back, "But why all these rumors? I never noticed them before, and why are there so many people here today?"

Jasmine smiled as she replied, "Because this is the first time we've had 15 young witches entering the exams. We are quite rare after all."

Lilithra then asked, "But why are all those people here?"

Jasmine responded while glancing at the girls, "These girls come from different backgrounds, after all. There's Risa and her cousin Kila, who are nobles, and many of their family members are here. Then there's Sysa, the daughter of Jake the merchant, and his employees are here to encourage her. And don't forget the three girls from working families—Mofa, Gyva, and Roxana. Their families are here too. Plus, the crown attracts more people, and you know how gossip spreads."

Lilithra nodded. "And you know their names too?"

Jasmine responded, "You should. Naming a witch anything other than her name is disrespect, after all."

Lilithra smiled mockingly, "That stupid rule, just dusty traditions."

Jasmine responded with a pat on Lilithra's shoulders, "Someone has to keep those traditions alive."

Lilithra then looked at the girls and shouted, "READY, MY LITTLE WITCHES!?"

The young girls nodded in unison. Lifa glanced behind one last time to see Grandma Mia with Dam, who was covered in sweat and breathing heavily, likely from running to get there. Lifa smiled at her brother, who shouted, "YOU CAN DO IT!"

Lifa nodded as she turned to face Lilithra, who chanted a dark fire that appeared on both her hands. With a commanding voice, Lilithra shouted, "WELCOME TO ARGANDIA, OUR HUMBLE HOUSE!"

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