"Despite the hardships," the witch continued, a hint of defiance in her voice, "I found joy in this place. I discovered new spells, experimented with ancient magic, and felt a sense of freedom I had never known before."

Caitrin, her heart aching for the witch, couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. "It must have been incredibly difficult to be ostracized by your own people."

The witch shrugged, her nonchalance a mask for the pain she undoubtedly felt. "I adapted. I found solace in my work, in the pursuit of knowledge."

As Caitrin examined the spellbook, her eyes were drawn to the intricate descriptions of each spell. The witch pointed out three particularly intriguing entries.

"This one," she said, gesturing towards a spell titled "Carneus," "is an ancient spell, passed down through generations. It allows you to erase a person's memories."

Caitrin's eyes widened in surprise. "That's incredibly powerful."

The witch nodded. "It's a difficult spell to master, even for me. I haven't discovered any side effects yet."

She turned to another spell, "Pheme." "I created this spell to aid the sick and wounded. It allows for the transfer of life energy, potentially saving lives."

Caitrin's hope flared. "That could be incredibly beneficial."

The witch nodded. "But it's not without its risks. It requires a great deal of concentration and can be dangerous if not used correctly."

Finally, the witch pointed to the last spell, "The Rift." "As you know, I created this spell to transport people to different locations. However, its true potential lies beyond that."

Intrigued, Caitrin and Orano leaned forward, eager to hear more.

Caitrin, her curiosity piqued, pressed the question further. "What do you mean by that?"

The witch, her eyes twinkling with amusement, replied, "The answer lies within your own experiences."

Caitrin, her mind racing, recalled the events of their journey. "You're right! When we were in Faye, Tatsumi saw Emperal. And I saw him too. It was strange because we were seeing different things, but as we continued our journey, the visions began to converge."

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The witch nodded, her expression contemplative. "The Rift showed you what you truly desired, deep down in your hearts. Your individual goals, your shared aspirations, intertwined, creating a common destination."

Orano, his mind working overtime, interjected. "That might explain why we kept seeing the same places, but there's something else you're overlooking."

The witch, her curiosity piqued, encouraged him to continue.

"We came here because of a vortex that formed in Lake Rawara," Orano explained. "It was the vortex that brought me to this world."

Caitrin, her voice filled with surprise, confirmed Orano's statement. "He's from another world."

The witch's eyes widened in intrigue. "That adds an interesting layer to this mystery."

Orano, his determination unwavering, pressed on. "I believed the Rift was connected to that vortex, but it wasn't."

The witch, her gaze fixed on Orano, nodded. "I understand your perspective. But is that the only reason you sought the Rift?"

"I don't know," Orano admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of vulnerability and determination. "Maybe I want to go back home."

Orano, his mind racing, sought clarification. "Why do you need reasons? Aren't our actions self-explanatory?"

The witch, a knowing smile playing on her lips, replied, "Your actions, while noble, were driven by a deeper desire. You sought to help others, to make a difference. Your journey through the Rift revealed the true depths of your compassion."

Caitrin, her eyes wide with realization, exclaimed, "That makes perfect sense! No wonder we traveled to so many kingdoms."

Orano, his expression grave, turned to the witch. "I have one final question. Do you know anything about the vortex that appeared four and a half years ago?"

The witch, her brow furrowed in concentration, shook her head. "I'm afraid I don't have any specific information about that."

Caitrin's heart sank. "So we're no closer to understanding it."

Just as they were about to give up, the witch's face lit up with a knowing smile. "I do know one thing."

Caitrin and Orano leaned forward, their curiosity piqued.

"The vortex appears every five years," the witch revealed. "I've witnessed it twice in the last decade."

Orano's eyes widened in disbelief. "Every five years?"

The witch nodded. "It's a recurring phenomenon. If my calculations are correct, the next vortex will appear on April twelfth."

A chill ran down Orano's spine. "April twelfth? That's when Nuzuki Serumu plans his attack."

The witch's expression turned somber. "Nuzuki Serumu, an Orwell. A dangerous man."

Caitrin, her voice filled with concern, asked, "Have you encountered Orwells before?"

The witch nodded. "I met Horus Serumu once. He was a cold, calculating individual. His actions were cruel, even for an Orwell."

She paused for a moment, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Let us hope Nuzuki Serumu doesn't follow in his brother's footsteps. To defeat darkness, you must embrace the light. To stop the darkness, you must confront it head-on."