PS. Updated today with two chapters, thank you for the support! The ten-thousand reward update will be in the evening.
"Ice Spear!" The magic of the frost gathered around the witch, a swirl of icy magical energy revolving around her.
"Fireball!" A basin-sized orb of fire elemental energy shot towards Theresa first.
Fourth-level magic, Fireball.
The smell of burning sulfur spread through the air. Theresa felt a heavy pressure, knowing her strengths and weaknesses. She was superior in the variety of spells and concentration in casting, but slower in casting speed compared to Veronica.
"Ice Barrier." Realizing Veronica's fireball would hit first, Theresa decisively abandoned casting the ice spear and focused her magical energy to form a transparent barrier in front of her.
Fireball, Amentok's Net, and Arcane Missile were known as three of the most famous spells in the Old World. However, the ignorant public didn't understand that compared to Amentok's Net and Arcane Missile, Fireball was not a beginner's spell.
Many advanced elite fire wizards hadn't even mastered it. The intense fire energy could easily burn the caster if not handled carefully, making the Fireball's destructive power and range considerably large.
"Boom!" The basin-sized fire orb slammed into the transparent ice barrier. The rolling heat wave melted the remaining barrier, and the Fireball, unobstructed, continued towards Theresa's face.
But at that moment, her next spell was ready: "Rapid Freeze!"
Her purple staff extended forward, emitting a burst of frost from its tip. The fire elemental orb, having lost most of its energy breaking through the ice barrier, was frozen into a block of ice by Theresa's frost.
The battle between the two witches didn't continue. In Sky Fortress, casting spells recklessly was strictly prohibited. With similar strengths, Theresa, having just advanced to mid-legendary level, and Veronica, slightly stronger, made it difficult to determine a winner quickly.
The fight paused, leaving Theresa and Veronica in a hostile stare-down.
"Oh? Trovick, why don't you continue? I even thought of a script for you," Veronica withdrew her hand, her tone sarcastic as she raised her chin: "Keep fighting, then Elder Aurora will surely come with her people, and we both will be punished."
"Little Princess Trovick of Galon will be grounded for three days, yes, locked in her house to rest."
"And since our little princess is to be grounded for three days, I, of course, will be punished too, by being confined for three days!"
"Your mother always handles things so 'fairly'!" Veronica couldn't hide her sarcasm.
Theresa frowned and retorted sharply, "That's because you always pick fights!"
"Then don't touch my things!" Veronica's milk-white high heels stomped on the stone floor, her face burning with anger: "Trovick! I don't care whose daughter you are, or how many spells you've learned. Your affairs don't concern me, and I'm not interested. But Ryan, he is mine!"
"Yours? What do you think Ryan is, your pet dog?" Theresa stood her ground, her elegant phoenix eyes fixed on Veronica's sweet face, the tear mole at the corner of her eyes appearing both charming and dangerous: "He's a distinguished knight and my partner. He has never been someone's possession."
"He's my partner! Trovick!!!" Veronica calmed down, her eyes shining with disdain: "I've been Ryan's partner for years. I know what he needs, what he likes. What about you? Apart from causing him trouble and giving him the cold shoulder, what have you learned? Spending so much time together and gaining nothing? Watching him fight the Minotaurs, duel with barbarian chiefs while you just stood by?"
"..." Theresa realized she couldn't out-talk Veronica.
But after traveling with Ryan, the witch had matured a lot, and instead of getting angry, she spoke calmly: "Then what can you offer him? Ryan is now the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, a revered Grail Knight, and a titled baron. Do you think he lacks a caster like you? A witch without her own tower, who can't even produce decent magical scrolls?"
"Yes, you're his partner, but what does that prove? Are you his girlfriend? Engaged to him? Tell me, Miss Veronica, has Ryan ever said he loves you? Have you defined your relationship? It's just a partnership, which can be changed or terminated at any time. Do you really think your position is unshakable? It's just a partnership; you're the only one who takes it so seriously."
Veronica's face turned pale.
She was well aware of her situation and Ryan's. She understood the significance of being a chosen champion who had survived countless battles. And Ryan was now a titled noble, who, if willing, could easily get magical assistance and solutions from the Wizards' Union or the High Elven Magi Council, not to mention the numerous Lake Goddess prophets from the Lady of the Lake's direct order.
The situation had changed. For Ryan, Veronica was no longer the Galon witch who needed mutual support or the young ranger knight of the past. She was no longer indispensable to him.
That was the cause of her anxiety for months. She knew this was a gamble.
Clutching the parchment in her hand, Veronica found some comfort. At least from the letter, Ryan had no intention of leaving her but instead longed to reunite with her.
That was enough.
"As if you are indispensable to him, Trovick. I have no interest in arguing with you. I have an important matter to discuss with the Chair." Veronica didn't want to argue with Theresa anymore. Reaching Ryan's side as soon as possible was the priority.
"Oh? Then I regret to inform you, my mother is discussing matters with the Chair." Theresa sneered: "You might have to wait, as my mother is discussing my assignment with Chair Margaret."
"Assignment?! Ha! Trovick, didn't anyone teach you to respect basic etiquette of first come, first served?" Veronica was truly angry now: "I ask you one last time, Trovick, do you have to compete with me? Must you take what is mine?"
"Everyone wants good things. Ryan doesn't belong to you alone, not in the past, not now, not in the future." Theresa's silver eyes were full of determination: "I am 100% sure, he is the one I want!"
"Fine! Trovick, you just wait..." Veronica wanted to threaten more, but the door of the distant wizard tower opened. Dressed in a white wolf fur coat and a black high-neck knit dress, Elder Aurora, in her thigh-high boots, walked out of the central tower. The mature and dignified archwitch, looking like Theresa's elder sister, joined her daughter: "What happened, my daughter? Did you upset Miss Benadotte again?"
"No, I just had a brief exchange with Veronica. Obviously, we can't agree on certain matters," Theresa suppressed her anger, shrugged, and spoke to her mother: "Other than that, nothing special."
"I see, my daughter. Regardless, Miss Benadotte is a skilled witch and a Galon councillor. Basic etiquette is required." Aurora spoke to her daughter but fixed her gaze on Veronica.
She was reminding the witch: Where is your politeness?
"Hello, Elder Aurora." Even as a councillor, Veronica had to respect Aurora, the archwitch of the Holy Domain, and greeted her with a bow.
"Hello, Miss Benadotte. The Chair is waiting for you inside. Hurry, don't keep her waiting." Aurora's tone was indifferent: "Let's go, my daughter."
"Okay, Mother." Theresa followed her mother.
Veronica watched the mother and daughter, pondered for a moment, shook her head, and headed towards the central tower.
Back in her wizard tower, opening the door to the main bedroom on the fifth floor, Aurora and Theresa sat down. Theresa anxiously asked, "What did the Chair say?"
Aurora sighed gently, holding her daughter's hand: "My daughter, you might not be able to leave for now. I discussed your assignment with Margaret, but she insists you complete your current tasks before discussing your assignment permission. As for Benadotte... Margaret has already signed her assignment order."
"I knew it." This was the outcome Theresa anticipated. She had unfinished tasks, so Margaret's refusal to release her was expected: "Veronica must be packing to leave."
The struggle between the Chair and Elder had never ceased. Previously, Aurora used her influence to prevent Veronica from accompanying Ryan for the Winter Solstice, so Margaret naturally could stop Theresa from going to Ryan now.
"Don't worry, my daughter, seniority doesn't matter among us witches." Aurora smiled, her mature charm evident: "Why do you think Benadotte is so anxious? Because she lacks confidence in herself."
Feeling better, Theresa calculated: "I need to wait until next spring to finish my tasks, then apply for my assignment."
"Yes, I'll find a way for you, my daughter. I'm always on your side." Aurora stroked her daughter's hair, smiling: "I never thought my daughter, always aloof and arrogant, would fall for a man... But Ryan is indeed outstanding. It's no surprise you like him."
"Mother!" The witch blushed, chiding.
"But, my daughter, some things are beyond our expectations." Aurora's face turned serious: "Ryan's rise is too fast. If you were once roughly equal, now your status is far from his. He's a titled baron, a revered Grail Knight, and a chosen champion. You know who holds power in Bretonnia and what it means to be the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion."
"Power, fame, status, Ryan lacks none." Theresa grew serious, aware that Ryan was a different person from the one who had traveled with her: "I understand, Mother."
"Good. And, you must realize one fact."
"The Lady of the Lake is a deity who likes to interfere in the material plane. She might... I mean, it's very likely, she won't tolerate her chosen champion's wife being a Galon councillor, let alone a lover."
"Be prepared, my daughter. Your opponents might be many."
"If necessary, I will intervene for you."
...
While Aurora and Theresa discussed life, Veronica finally received her assignment order with satisfaction. She immediately started packing, planning to use the teleportation circle to Marinburg as a transit point to Ryan's territory.
Margaret instructed her to cozy up to her partner and also suggested Veronica try establishing a teleportation circle between Baron Jean's territory and Sky Fortress.
Veronica packed clothes, various trinkets, and her alchemy workbench, borrowing two storage rings from the Chair.
Catherine also helped: "Councillor, I've packed your clothes and shoes."
"Thank you, Catherine. I didn't expect you to accompany me to find Ryan." Veronica looked at her apprentice, her usually sharp eyes now gentle, as she patted the apprentice's head: "Are you sure you don't regret it?"
"My life was saved by you, Councillor. I don't regret it." Catherine shook her head lightly: "If it wasn't for you, I would've been sold to a lord's house... Councillor, is there anything else to pack?"
"The bed in my bedroom, oh, and the bow on the headboard." Veronica continued packing with her apprentice: "That bed must come along. Not only is it big and soft, but it also holds special meaning for me."
"Special meaning?" Catherine asked curiously.
"The most significant thing is... your tutor, Veronica Benadotte, had her first time on this comfortable four-poster bed. Yes, my first time with Ryan." The councillor rubbed the apprentice's golden hair, smiling: "It's my treasure."
"Let's get ready to leave."
"Okay, Councillor!"
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