The young girl stood there staring at the members of the high council. She could see the shock in her father’s eyes. He had left her for dead in the forest. The disappointment. She was the child who held little to no power what so ever. A disappointment to his line and here she stood years later very much alive. A testament to his failure standing before him like a demon rose out of the pits. Astrea watched them her blue eyes studying each in turn. Mikkel, head of the Paxton clan and member of the tribunal looked at her. “Say that again, girl.’
She straightens her shoulders as she glanced at each of the six in turn holding their gaze for just a moment. “I want to take the test. I want a task. I want to prove I am of age to lead.”
The members of the small council exchanged looks with each other. She could almost read their faults and it mattered not, she would not be deterred. IF her goals were to be achieved she needed this. Her father, Lucien Morgan spoke up as he eyed his children with a weary glance. “You aren’t old enough to take the test.”
Astrea turned her cool gaze back to him. Her eyes studied him as she weighed and measured the man before her. Her father had no more meaning to her than an ant. A slow smiled spread across her face. “There is no law that says I can’t take it at this age. It only says that it isn’t normal. Let me assure you I am far from normal.”
Mikkel shook her head. “I saw if the girl wants to take it let her. It is funeral if she fails.” His words hung in the air. It was clear he thought she would fail. Many people twice her age didn’t return from the forbidden forest and many witches failed their tasks not because the task was difficult but because the forest was full of dangers.
“I care not. I am not afraid. The forest is my domain.” She lived amongst when she had been exiled by her own father from his home. She also knew they didn’t believe her. It was written on their faces. They thought she was a foolish child seeking attention by a bold move. Yet, another witchling trying to prove their worth to those more experienced. However, unlike her peers that had boasted their readiness, Astrea was ready for the test.
Her father spoke up a smile forming on his face.” If my heir apparent wishes I move we let her.” Julian had no qualms with the girl risking her life. He knew she couldn’t pass. She was a no talent witchling. A child he had already cast off as a failure. And while she was now an older girl, tests were test. She couldn’t have become magically capable since then. HE as secure in the knowledge that she would fail and his problem would be over. No one would judge him for a child who had died in the test.
The girl watched her father for a moment gauging his thoughts. He had received criticism when she had gotten lost as he told everyone. Certainly dead in the woods by now they had tried to find her. IT was what he had told his people to explain the disappearance of his child. After all, to destroy your own child would be frowned upon. Children were rare among the witches and valued as such. However, he wouldn’t have a child who couldn’t do magic. She hated to tell him it wasn’t her it was the teacher who was failure she had since found her gifts. A fact she chooses to keep to herself. Let the man believe what he wanted. It mattered not.
Syrina Giese eyed them all for a moment and finally nodded. “Very well girl. If you wish we will allow it. You understand the risk.” Turning towards Lucien, she said, “Since she is your child, it is up to you to decide her task.”
Everyone turned to Lucien waiting for him to pick. It had long since been said the girl had no power. IT was half expected that he would give her an easy task. Something along the lines of picks me a daisy. After all being his only child he would want her to survive. Astrea knew better. She had prepared herself for whatever he would throw at her. “I want you to bring me the head of the Noroci.” He glanced at her as a collective gasp could be heard across the room. The Noroci was one of the so called nightmare creatures of the forest. It was said the creature had lived for countless eons and had never been seen. It was invisible and according to witch lore it hides in the deepest parts of the forest waiting for victim. Those who had encountered it would be found days later wandering without their eyes. The eyes had been removed leaving nothing but sunken sockets where they had been. It was said the creature feed upon them and those who had their eyes removed would be trapped within there own nightmares. It made their minds turn inwards to their own fears.
Astrea smiled at her father and nodded her head. The council expected the young girl to refuse the task and wait till she was older. However, this would not be the case. “Very well. I accept.” With that said, she turned from the council room and left. If the girl was afraid of daunted it didn’t show. Never let them see you sweat she thought to herself. Life was not without risk and if she could do this no one could doubt her powers.
The witchling knew she needed a plan. How does one fight an invisible monster? She did have a few tricks up her sleeve but why take chances with such a thing. After acquiring the items she would need she stuffed them into her bag and made her way into the darkest part of the forest. It was still daylight when she arrived not that anyone could tell. She looked around the tree lines as she began her work. The witchling hung magically bells in the trees. She surveyed the area. She seemed to be doing something as she hung them at different heights blending them into the leaves. She then strapped a metal visor over her eyes. She measured her steps as she moved taking her sword out as she waved her hand the spell causing the blade to glow before returning to its natural color. She was ready to go on the hunt.
She carefully walked with each stepped she spoke the earth beneath her feet. She felt the grass her feet bare. She let the wind whisper in her ear. She was awake with the spirit power that had been her talent all along. Using her other senses to make up for her lost sight. She moved listening carefully when she felt something brush across her face. She whirled as the creature moved past her. She smiled lightly. It would appear that the visor had worked from it taking her eyes. She could hear it’s footsteps as it circled her. “What is the matter, monster? Having problems?” The blonde witch keep following the sound of its steps as she moved darting just out of reach as it tried to grab for her. She jumped backwards and landed carefully counting in her head.
She could hear the laughter ringing around her. “It is alright girl. I do enjoy a challenge.” Its voice boomed above her. She smiled as she keeps moving in that careful circle of hers. Each time the creature moved it set off one of her bells. She had set them so only she could hear them. They were magically bells and each rung with a different tone. She had set each bell at a different height as she nodded her head. So, the bells would measure the creature for her. She smiled as she waved the sword in the air. “Do you think that is going to help? You can’t see me. You can’t strike me.”
A smile curved on her lips as she spoke. “You are already dead you just don’t realize it.” She spun and kicked off the earth using a nearby tree to gain more height as she sliced. The creature’s arm dropped down by her feet. The long gangly arm appearing as the creature howled. It was brown and leathery. It was gangly nothing more than a bone across the brown skin. She smiled at the howl. “Problems?”
The creature moved towards her. And once again she counted its steps. She could feel the vibrations of the earth beneath her as it moved. Hear the bells hidden in the trees marking its location and the various tones helping her to determine its height. She stayed still as she pushed her magic out into the world around her. She moved time for just a few seconds it was all the witch needed. The slight bend in reality was not noticed by the monster. “I can always reattach it later. However, girl you will find it quite hard to live without a head.”
“Same could be said of you. Yours is already gone.” She smiled as the creatures head fell to the ground. She could hear it skittering to find the head. She moved towards the body removing her visor. The headless creature towered over the witchling in the tree line. She smiled as the ball of fire appeared and she moved quickly. It engulfed the body as she weaved another spell calling forth the soul and weaving it into a crystal around her neck. “You see each step I took had a point. To lure you to my trap. The bells were set at different heights to help me measure you. The bare feet so I could feel the earth vibrations to determine your location. The first strike was to gauge further how big you were. I enchanted a blade that was made to cut through your flesh. A visor created to protect my eyes from you striking before I could notice. And lastly, I moved time while you were talking just a small amount to allow me to strike while you were distracted. You lost before this fight even begun. Cause, it took place minutes before you realized it did.” The witch took the crystal and stared at it for a moment.
“And lastly a prison for you soul just in case you can come back.” She shattered the crystal as portals opened up among her and she set the pieces scattering into other worlds and dimensions. “And a million bits to keep you from returning.” She sighed as she glanced at the head and shrunk it to fit in her bag. She wrapped it and carried it back to the council. She still had work to do.
Astrea returned to the council chambers as she walked in. She could hear the whispers as she stroll into the room. Her eyes darted from member to member until they fell finally on her father. That smile of her creeping across her face. Mikkel rose speaking to her. “Did you change your mind, child?”
She shook her head as she flung the head across the table. It rolled coming to a stop in the middle of the table. She could hear the shock as a collective gasp seemed to echo across the room. It was the last sound they would make. As the witchling moved quickly, she shot a small arrow from a wrist crossbow and it hit Mikkel square in the forehead. A second later, she spun and an axe flew towards the member who was at the end of the table. from him catching him in the chest as he crumpled to the floor. She spun again as a sword cut though the one closest to her. His chest was a bloody mess as he dropped at her feet. The spell left her lips as two more members were burst into flame and burned the fire consuming them before they could blink.
She smiled and turned towards her father. “Night poppa.” With those words, she watched his head like the monster’s fall to the ground at her feet. She spun looking out towards the members of the large council. The heads of the six greatest clans lay dead at her feet. “I declare myself queen of the witches.” Queens were normally voted in once someone had reached a certain power level. There was no question she was powerful enough, but, she skipped the vote knowing they would never accept her. “They were a cancer. Eating away at our society. We are plagued by corruption. The strong feeding upon the weak. I will cut that cancer away and make us whole. Sometimes, it is necessary to cut off an arm to keep the body healthy.” She glanced at the bodies. “Does anyone oppose? They can meet their fate.”
It was then she heard the clapping in the background. Her eyes darted towards the sound. She turned seeing the man sitting there. His feet were upon the table as he dropped them and stood moving towards her. Kyrell Giese had once upon a time been strong enough to rule. They had called him crazy. “Brilliant, why didn’t I think of that?” He smiled at her as he moved towards her.
She took a step back reading for a fight. Instead, he bowed before her. “I will support you claim to throne. I swear my allegiance to you. And I will cut down any and all who stand in your way.” He smiled at her. She tilted her head confused by his words.
She nodded. “Very well. We have work to do.”