“More witches…” Mudrock’s words came out wrought with nerves, “Here?!”
“It makes sense, doesn’t it?” Cira leaned back and chatted with the novice witch, keeping an eye on the unfamiliar ones from afar. “They sent you down below with the intention of gathering materials, but they had to have foreseen the island getting obliterated by a rock like this morning. If it fell to the sea, all these materials would as well.”
She looked saddened to hear it put into words. Not only was Mudrock sent to the village because no one would care if she died, but to hear there were other witches dispatched to actually solve the problem must have hurt.
“I… I see.” She cast her eyes down, but the endless cloudy abyss struck fear into her heart, and she went back to looking over the island. “They never wanted me to help, did they?”
They slowly approached the island from above now and Cira twisted around to meet her averted gaze, “Who cares about what they want? You didn’t plead to join me here because some old lady in the sky wanted you to, right? If anything, I’m glad to have more manpower on hand. Let’s go meet them.”
“W-wait! Now?” Mudrock had no choice but to follow Cira at whatever pace was chosen for her.
As the island got closer, they could better see the extent of the damage. Cira had never known erosion to act so quickly and for this island to start falling suddenly yet so slowly was even more puzzling. She didn’t want to say anything out loud, but there was a chance these two new witches would know more about what was happening, not that she held out much hope.
As if it were sandstone, this hard stone was just falling apart. Seemingly softer in areas, but it ran like streams to form crevices throughout the island with holes poking through inside the cracks. There were more waterfalls of loose dirt than there were of water. On that note, there were precious few actual streams originating from the spring, and they seemed as weak and brittle as this whole island.
Two women seemed to notice someone approaching. Cira did not intend to hide, so this was only natural. One was dressed in robes the color of golden sands that seemed to flow like them too, while the other had a much more dull robe of a lighter brown than Mudrock’s. Noticably lower quality. They each brandished their staves and channeled mana when they saw two people approaching from the sky.
“No, wait!” Mudrock cried in fear as they fired off opaque crystal shards and rock chunks respectively.
Cira just let it come and collected it overhead in an orb. “Ladies, relax. I am here to—”
“Mudrock, is that you?!” One witch spat, glaring between her and Cira, “Who the hell is this?”
“M-Madam Quartz!” She threw herself to her knees as the little disc of stone hit the ground.
“Huh?” Cira said, making herself comfortable floating before them, “That’s not who I am.”
“Wha—” A vein burst in the gold-robed woman’s forehead, “You ingrate, I am the Quartz Witch! Now who are you?!”
A trifle of mana puffed out of her staff as the look in her eyes grew more and more threatening.
“I was trying to tell you,” Cira took the mana away, “I am the Hidden Witch, and I have come to help. So, quit wasting your mana.”
“The Hidden Witch?” She snarled. The other girl must have been an assistant or something, because she stood behind the quartz lady in fear. “Mudrock, explain this! Have you defected?! Just what—”
A rumbling distracted them and a nearby piece of island tried to fall away. The orichalcum appeared in a flash and exploded the earthen fragment, then allowed the resulting shrapnel to rejoin the island.
“Hmm… It appears this won’t be as simple as piecing earth back together.” Cira noted thoughtfully, watching some of the rejoined pieces start to break up. “You two have been here for a bit, right? It’s clear you made no progress, but surely you have uncovered some clues as to what’s causing this.”
“What… is that staff? Just who are you?” Quartz shot daggers at Cira from below.
“I already told you my name and purpose, now I would prefer not to catch another island like this morning. The faster you tell me what you know, the faster we can fix this rock.”
“Just who do you think you’re speaking to?” Her face was turning red now, “I will have you know I am a member of the High Coven, and I work directly beneath the Adjutant herself!”
Cira did not care about her fancy club, but one thing caught her attention. And as the Hidden Witch, she did not necessarily need to avoid talking about it.
“So, you work for that reprehensible silver woman, do you?” Cira clicked her tongue as the witch went pale in shock. “You can’t be much stronger than Estelle, and you should know I pride myself as a practiced geomancer.”
She gestured her head to the clump of earth mana she kept stealing and condensing. For the first time, it seemed the witch was starting to get apprehensive. This was unfortunately short-lived as she waved her staff around looking serious.
“You think I’m as weak as that wretched whelp?” She cackled, “I’ve heard the rumors about you. It’s the Saint who has all the power, and I only see one sun today.”
What the hell is she talking about? There’s two if you count the earth one, but I shouldn’t make any more, I suppose.
“Quartz Titan!” She shouted, “Rise!”
Cira watched as crystals rose from the earth, forming a jagged torso of quartz that clawed its way out from the ground. The aether shivered as it put two feet on the ground, glaring now at her from above. This thing was like a goliath made of cloudy crystal shards.
With two fists clenched, Cira stop her eyes from growing wide, “That golem…”
“Ahaha, speechless in fear, are you?!” The Quartz Witch taunted as the golem picked her up in one hand. “That is a common reaction.”
“It’s so cool! Why didn’t I think of a crystal titan!” With a hand on her head and her jaw hung slack in a guileless smile, Cira sent mana to the orichalcum.
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She was about to summon a way cooler crystal golem, then sit upon its shoulder as large-scale physical combat ensued, but then the Quartz Which had to open her mouth again while her golem raised its fist. She no longer seemed pleased with Cira’s reaction.
“Lady Silver Witch needn’t sully her hands with you.” She even raised her staff like she was going to do something with it, “I will kill you today for ruining everything on Fount Salt and leading her halfwit daughter astray!”
Cira let out a sigh, mulling over her words. And I was really trying to be nice here. It’s not good to needlessly make enemies, but it was about time I met another bad witch, I suppose. Did she really call Nanri a halfwit, though? It would only cause her trouble to mention her name, but… this woman has succeeded in angering me.
Mudrock and the other girl shared a look of fear and uncertainty in silence.
“Wh-what?” The Quartz Witch muttered, swinging her staff down and receiving no response. She looked across to her golem’s other arm to find it no longer heeded her command, “What have you done?!”
The golem clenched a fist around its own creator as she screamed.
“I was trying to be polite,” Cira’s cold words pressurized the air, “But you have quickly worn out my patience, so consider this time out.”
A barrier formed around the witch from which no sound waves could escape.
“You.” Cira zeroed in on the dark brown robed apprentice. She had eyes like a calf at the slaughter. “What is your name?”
“I…” Her knees quivered in place, “I am the Shale Witch!”
She took a knee in self-defense.
“Don’t disgrace yourself,” Cira pulled her back to her feet from a distance, “You two are stationed here in order to investigate the cause of this island’s rapid dilapidation, correct?”
“…” She nervously looked between Cira and a raging but silent Quartz Witch up above, “W-will you kill me if I don’t tell you?!”
“Tch.” Cira laughed, “Of course not. I am here to fix this island, but you will get no credit if I do your job for you. If you tell me what you have discovered thus far, then I can hopefully wrap this up by evening.”
There was a long awkward moment while the head witch writhed unheard in the quartz golem’s grasp.
“No, no, look at me. I am a witch of far greater stature than some mere ‘High Coven’.” Cira made sure to keep her eyes on the Shale Witch, but this revelation apparently threw Mudrock into shock, despite the hint of realization in her eye. “Indeed… and my lineage runs far deeper than Nightwing. Regardless of my alignment with some silver hag, I need you to help me fix this island. Is this agreeable?”
“Y-yes, Madam Witch!” Apparently, witches too used this term to refer to their superiors, “We were sent here three weeks ago… They told us to just put the island back together… but it never sticks. It’s like we’re running in circles. We have no idea why this island is falling apart.”
“Is that so…?” I guess Earth Vein is useless when it comes to investigating the earth. All they care for is profit. How deplorable. “I never imagined Earth Vein would be so ignorant. Even the high coven can’t find a clue in three weeks?”
Cira stifled a laugh looking at the silenced witch who kicked and struggled, failing to break out of her own golem’s grasp.
“You seem upset.” Cira continued, “If you would like to participate in the conversation, I’m going to need you to calm down. Can you do that for me?”
This infuriated her and she desperately tried to break the golem down, but it was for naught. It was one thing to watch her struggle in futility, but somehow it was still surprising when she couldn’t hold out. After a few moments of useless rage, she actually gave up, looking down at Cira with defeated eyes. Her violent legs went limp as she put her all into a frail attempt not to let her expression break.
After a short moment of deliberation, Cira let her down and asked a question, “What do you know of this place, Quartz Witch?”
She needed a moment to process the golem fist dispersing around her, “You… Who are you—” A pointed glare from Cira hurried her along, “All we can figure out is that this island’s too old… The Riptide Witch already declared its spring is reaching the end of its life. It’s only a matter of time now. Our job here is to salvage what we can before it’s too late, extending that deadline if possible. No more, no less.”
Mudrock and the new girl were in shock. It seemed even Shale had been kept in the dark to some degree.
“How shameful.” Cira mulled it about, “You mean to say the Silver Witch had decided not to concern herself with this island’s impending doom, or is fixing it beyond Earth Vein’s current power?”
“Are… are you not listening to me?” Her obstinance could not be quelled, but there was little gusto behind her words. “Most islands will one day fall, and some sooner than others. This just happens to be one that will fall soon.”
“I understand completely… Nanri’s foolish mother lacks wisdom and determination—blinded by power and arrogance. That tracks.” At this point I’m kind of nervous to meet her. I’m sure it will happen one of these days, but she seems like real trouble. All present reeled in shock at her casually venomous words. “I think I’ve heard enough. It’s time to begin.”
“Second Pillar.” Until she spent the time to come up with a good name, this worked better, for Cira needed the orichalcum to pick up a little more slack than usual. It appeared in her hand, and she stabbed it into the ground, “Swallow the Earth.”
Nothing happened, but that didn’t stop the three witches from looking around in horror. It sounded bad, but this just turned whatever stone her staff stabbed into its own domain. It was too soon to put all her braincells in one basket, so Cira did not use this sorcery to ‘see’ or ‘feel’ the entire island like she tended to do. This was to allow the earth to become an extension of her staff, like the water held within Aquon’s gem.
Nothing outwardly happened, no, but the thrum of mana only increased. This caused concern for the three earth witches, but Cira was just getting started.
“Okay, novice geomancers, listen closely.” Rarely did Cira have the opportunity to flex her wisdom about a very specific thing to three who devoted their life to that same field, and she took full advantage of it, “While my staff rests here, this island will not degrade, and your efforts may become more effective. This is only a temporary measure, but it should give me plenty of time to get to the bottom of this.”
“What is this witchcraft?” Quartz cried while Shale echoed her wonder. Mudrock had admittedly already been impressed, but she seemed to enjoy her humbled superior. “Is that solid orichalcum?!”
“Don’t get too impressed,” Cira laughed, “This is merely a means to an end. Now onto how you all can help.”
An array of three magic circles crystallized in the earth below each witch. They stumbled back only to find the circles followed them wherever they went.
“What is this…?” Mudrock tried not to sound worried.
“Each of you are here for a reason, no matter how grand or drab.” Cira again rose to the air with a parting wave, “I am not deficient in mana, but willpower is always stronger in packs. Desire to restore this island and your wishes may affirm its form.”
They would help hold the island together, and possibly fight back its withering while Cira performed her investigations. Mudrock got started right away and her will was already flowing into the orichalcum.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Quartz was baffled, “Just where do you think you’re going?”
“I intend to investigate the spring myself. I cannot blindly trust this Riptide person’s word.” She waved them farewell and slowly faded away in the light. That was a great exit. They’re all blinking in confusion wondering if I had ever even been there in the first place.
She wanted to ask them about the third member of Earth Vein’s retinue, but it didn’t appear the person in the lighthouse was connected to them. So, Cira decided it was best not to mention it for now. Instead, she left the witches with a noble task and went to check off some boxes.
In seconds, Cira was standing in front of the door at the base of the decrepit tower. A stone archway encased a shabby wooden door. She was a little nervous for some reason, but formed a fist and knocked on the door nonetheless.
“Hello?” she called, “Is anyone home?”
She knew the answer because of Spatial Sight, but a few moments passed in silence before a stirring finally came from the other side of the door. As it unsealed from its frame, a shower of dust blew away in the breeze. Through the threshold stood an old man of stout build. His tired face betrayed a resilient life behind his eyes.
“Oh my. I was wondering when you would finally show up.” It felt strangely infectious as he let out a light chuckle, but the sorcerer paused at his next words. “Please, come inside, Cirrus. I just put on a pot of tea.”