The moon hung low over the forest as Rosina crouched in the shadows near Ruprecht’s cottage. The candy-coated dust bomb in her hand shimmered faintly under the silver light, its sugary surface infused with pounds of powdered mica. Inside her own cottage, Hansel, Gretel, and Ruprecht slept soundly, protected by Rosina’s magic, which obscured them from sight and shielded the house from outside interference.

Across the clearing, Adelheid strode toward the cottage. Her plum cloak billowed around her, and cold mist swirled at her feet. Her hands glowed faintly with black energy, and a sharp, cruel smile curved her lips.

Rosina’s grip tightened on the bomb. You abandoned them to die, she thought, fury bubbling inside her.

With a flick of her wrist, Rosina sent the candy-coated bomb hurtling toward Adelheid. It struck the ground in front of her, exploding in a blinding cloud of shimmering dust. The air thickened with the cloying scent of caramel and the glitter of mica, choking and disorienting the sorceress.

Adelheid staggered back, coughing and clawing at the air. Her cold mist surged forward instinctively, trying to clear the cloud, but the dust clung to her skin and hair, its magical properties amplifying her confusion. “Who dares?” she hissed, her voice muffled by the thick haze.

Rosina stepped into the clearing, her oakwood cane tapping against the ground.

Adelheid’s eyes narrowed, and her hands flared with black magic. “An old woman playing witch?”

Rosina’s expression hardened. “I am the one who took in the children you abandoned.”

Adelheid’s laughter was sharp and mocking. “Good. That means I don’t have to deal with them anymore.”

Rosina’s rage ignited, her silver curls seeming to glow in the moonlight. “You don’t deserve to speak their names.”

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Adelheid recovered quickly, summoning iron spikes from the ground to surge toward Rosina. Rosina countered with a burst of white light, the energy smashing into the spikes and scattering them into molten fragments. Shadows swirled around Adelheid, forming into raven-like shapes that dove toward Rosina, their beaks gleaming like daggers.

Rosina raised her cane, summoning a swarm of butterflies that intercepted the ravens. The clearing erupted in a clash of wings and magic, the air alive with energy.

“You think you can stand against me?” Adelheid snarled, her voice venomous. “You’re nothing but an old crone.”

Rosina’s lips curled into a cold smile. “An old crone who’s about to teach you a lesson.”

Adelheid lunged, transmuting the shadows around her into wolves that snapped and snarled as they charged. Rosina exhaled sharply, releasing a thick, warm fog that enveloped the clearing, confusing the wolves and neutralizing Adelheid’s cold mist. Her cane glowed faintly as she summoned a beam of white light, scattering the wolves back into the shadows.

Adelheid growled, her hands crackling with black magic. The sharp, stabbing energy surged toward Rosina like a swarm of daggers. Rosina twisted her cane, summoning a wall of light to deflect the attack, but the force sent her stumbling back.

Adelheid’s smirk returned as she transmuted her shadows into iron blades that floated around her like a deadly halo. “You’re outmatched, old woman,” she sneered. “Your tricks won’t save you.”

Rosina straightened, her breath coming in sharp gasps. Her energy was waning, but she refused to falter. She gripped her cane tightly, channeling every ounce of her remaining strength into it. The silver inlay began to glow brighter, the light pulsating with raw power.

“I don’t need tricks,” Rosina said, her voice steady. “I have justice.”

With a roar of effort, Rosina unleashed a massive burst of white magic. The energy coalesced into a glowing hammer, its surface radiant and solid. She swung it toward Adelheid, the force shattering the iron blades and slamming into Adelheid’s chest.

Adelheid cried out, her body crumpling to the ground. The shadows around her dissolved, and the cold mist evaporated into the night. She gasped for breath, her voice faint and trembling. “You… think you’ve won?”

Rosina stood over her, the hammer shimmering in her hands. “This isn’t about winning,” she said, her voice cold. “It’s about protecting the children you threw away.”

Adelheid’s defiance flickered one last time, but Rosina raised the hammer high and brought it down with all her strength. The clearing fell silent as Adelheid’s struggles ceased.

Rosina stood over Adelheid’s lifeless body, her chest heaving with the effort of the battle. The glowing hammer faded, leaving only the quiet hum of the forest around her. She leaned on her cane, her legs trembling as the weight of what she had done settled over her.

“You’ll never hurt them again,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

The mist cleared, revealing the stars above, and the forest seemed to exhale, its tension dissipating. Rosina turned back toward the candy cottage, her resolve firm. She had protected Hansel and Gretel tonight.