"And what is that?" Mizar inquired, his curiosity piqued.
The witch's demeanor underwent a notable change, adopting a more serious and intense tone. Seeking a favor, the witch approached Mizar, who patiently awaited her response.
Her attitude toward him shifted, no longer condescending. Instead, she regarded him with a glimmer of acknowledgment.
"Stay away from us, don't get involved," the witch warned, her words now tinged with fatigue as she stumbled through her speech.
"No," Mizar replied without hesitation, immediately refusing to ignore her.
Even before the witch could articulate her reasons, he had already dismissed the idea of not listening. The witch, no longer angry, lacked the energy to direct any animosity towards him. A troubled expression adorned her face.
Whatever was happening to her and Nine had nothing to do with him, and she saw no reason for him to become entangled in their affairs. Communicating her warning proved difficult for the witch, as Mizar had already antagonized her, making it challenging to converse with him.
"Nine! Talk to the boy!" the witch instructed.
Instead of engaging in an argument with Mizar, she opted to let Nine take over the conversation, believing he would listen better to her companion.
Nine quickly glanced at the witch, assessing her reaction. The witch's anger toward her had dissipated, replaced by a softened expression and calm breaths. Her outburst directed at Mizar seemed to have subdued her anger, signaling a newfound reasonableness.
Complying with the witch's request, Nine stepped forward and addressed Mizar.
"Come here, there's something I have to say," Nine beckoned, gently taking Mizar's hand and leading him away.
Nine glanced back at the witch, seeking her approval. She met his gaze and understood that Nine sought her permission.
"I will allow you to take him somewhere. I will wait here," the witch consented.
Resting beneath the shade of a tree, the witch reclined, her anger and the overcast weather on the hill dissipating simultaneously.
As the witch focused on recovering her stamina, the sunny afternoon returned to its former state.
Meanwhile, Mizar followed Nine as they descended the hill together, with the intention of speaking to her in private.
"Thank you for standing up for me," Nine said, walking ahead of him, her back turned towards him.
Mizar could sense that Nine was deeply moved by his actions. The corners of her ears turned a bright shade of red as she tried to conceal her emotions from him.
"It was nothing. I simply couldn't tolerate it. I had to do what I believed was right. Besides, the fight was actually quite fun," Mizar responded.
He was deliberately challenging the Witch, seeking a confrontation with her.
While he did sympathize with how the witch treated Nine, he didn't really care, as his own brother was equally strict. Naturally, he couldn't reveal his true motivations to Nine.
"It meant a lot to me," Nine expressed her gratitude.
As they walked, Nine suddenly stopped and turned to face Mizar. They had ventured quite a distance from the hill, with the peaceful green scenery of the village behind them.
"Why are you so strong? I have never encountered someone your age capable of such feats. You even defeated my mother," she asked, filled with anticipation, awaiting an explanation.
Mizar's abilities seemed almost impossible. Most children would tremble in fear at the mere sight of the witch. Even Nine herself felt afraid. Yet, Mizar showed no fear whatsoever and even dared to challenge her.
He possessed fearlessness and considerable strength. Nine was aware of his Morgan lineage, a family renowned for their expertise in dueling. However, Mizar stood out as exceptionally special. He embraced the truth about his powers and faced the accompanying dangers head-on, unfazed by the risks involved.
"I don't know," he shrugged, uncertain about the answer.
For him, it seemed normal. He had endured far worse experiences in the past. Besides, the poor witch appeared sickly and frail. He saw no reason to fear someone so vulnerable.
However, while he didn't dwell on it, another question nagged at him since the end of the fight.
"Um... I'm sorry, Nine, but is she really your mother? Isn't she too old to be your mom?" he mustered the courage to ask, despite knowing it was impolite.
He couldn't help but wonder if the woman's claim was true.
"No... she adopted me. But I consider her my real mother," Nine responded.
"She took me in when I had no one else to rely on."
Nine explained that the witch had become her guardian when she was just a little child. She couldn't recall who her biological parents were.
Despite the witch's outward appearance, there seemed to be a softer side to her.
Perhaps, her reluctance to let Nine go stemmed from a genuine concern for her well-being.
"My mother is Nihil Nocturne. She used to be a researcher at an institution known for creating the Tulk card. However, due to her rude behavior and constant disagreements with others, she was betrayed and ultimately expelled from her job," Nine explained.
She went on to reveal that her mother had a long-standing grudge against Victor Winhard, who happened to be both the leader of the research and her own relative.
As Mizar listened to Nine's account, he became intrigued. The information held potential significance, especially considering their current quest to uncover the origins of the mysterious book.
Curiosity piqued, Mizar couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened between your mother and Victor Winhard? Why does she hate him so much?"
He hoped that Nine could shed more light on the situation, as it could prove vital in understanding the book and its origins.
"He played a cruel prank on her, giving her an incurable illness as a joke. My mother was furious, as she always is, and that led to her expulsion. She refused to accept his apologies or the cure he offered," Nine explained, recounting the events.
Nine further revealed that the witch adamantly refused to take the medicine and allowed her illness to worsen. According to her, the witch regarded Victor as an exceedingly dangerous individual, citing his unpredictable actions.
"So, you're here to meet Victor?" Mizar inquired, trying to grasp the situation. "But your mother is afraid of him. Yet, you believe he holds the cure for her illness?"
"Yes, that's correct," Nine confirmed. "My mother warned me about his dangerous nature, but I need to obtain the cure from him."
An idea sparked in Mizar's mind, and he spoke with determination, "Instead, how about I go to him? I'll meet Victor on your behalf."
Nine stood there, surprised by Mizar's proposal, unable to find words to respond.
"I won't go there alone; I have friends with me," Mizar declared firmly. With determination in his eyes, he made up his mind to meet the enigmatic creator of the unlimited mana manual. Recognizing the importance of the task ahead, he understood that he would need his friends' support and assistance in confronting Victor.
Nine found herself unable to dissuade Mizar as he had already set off on his journey to meet Victor. Left with no other choice, she returned to the witch, Nihil Nocturne. She had already been waiting for Nine.
Mizar went back after saying his goodbye to Nine and Nihil, he went back to his longue and called his friends.
"I can't wait to tell them what I've discovered," Mizar thought to himself, eagerly awaiting the moment when he could share his findings with his companions.
The anticipation fueled his determination, propelling him forward on his quest to confront Victor and seek answers about the unlimited mana manual.
He dialed Vanta's number using the 'Call' card, eager to reach out and inform him about the situation. As the card vibrated, Mizar anticipated the conversation that was about to unfold, unaware of the events simultaneously unfolding in Vanta's life.
Little did Mizar know, Vanta was immersed in his own predicament. Something unexpected and challenging had befallen him, putting him in a difficult situation.