Witch's Daughter And The Devil's Son

At the base of the hill where the old physician Erich Winfield lived,  a strange fluctuation of energy suddenly spread.

Everything around the thatched house froze as if time had stopped. From the movements of the forest animals, to the branches swaying along the wind, even the old physician and his apprentice who were tending to the herbal plants in their backyard, all of them were like life-like statues unable to move in their places.

But there were exceptions.

Out of nowhere, two figures clad in white hooded robes appeared outside the fence of the thatched house.

One figure lifted her hood, exposing her beautiful face with caramel-colored eyes. It was a beautiful woman with honey blond hair, her temperament noble, revealing the fact that she was a lady with an uncommon background.

Meanwhile, her companion was also visibly a woman, but her lowered hood hid her features. Only the back of her palms with snake-like scales were visible through the long sleeves of the white robe she was wearing.

The woman with honey blond hair looked at the thatched house.

"I can sense Celia's energy stronger than before. Seems like she is recovering well."

With their surroundings still as a painting, the two entered the yard and headed for the door without care.

A beautiful, melodic voice came from the woman with snake-like scales.

"I can sense it as well, Evanthe, but it's hard to believe this human physician can find anything to make her better. We know her injury is caused by an offensive divine spell of the highest rank, and nothing in the mortal realm should be capable of healing her."

Evanthe, the woman with honey blond hair, made a gesture in the air and the door to the house was opened by an invisible force. "That I know, Sierra. Wouldn't our doubts be cleared once we see Celia herself?"

The other woman, Sierra, said nothing in response.

The two walked inside the house where they found Celia, the woman with the alias of Martha, lying on the small bed in the first room.

Sensing the arrival of the mysterious guests, Martha opened her eyes and turned her head to look at them. She was about to move so she could sit and greet the two but Evanthe stopped her.

"Stay like that. No need for formality. You are not well," Evanthe said before walking to her side.

"I am well enough to be able to sit, Your Eminence," Martha said as she sat up with a lowered head. "Apologies that this humble servant can only greet both ladies like this."

Evanthe sat at the edge of the bed and looked at the visibly struggling woman. "Your complexion looks better than how we saw you the last time."

While Evanthe spoke, Sierra stood on the side, carefully observing Martha as well.

Martha nodded. "I feel much better."

"Shall I check on you?" Evanthe held her hand in hers before closing her eyes. Martha sat quietly, and for some time, not a single sound could be heard inside the room.

After a while, Evanthe opened her eyes and she looked at Martha with a gaze filled with surprise. She then turned towards her companion. "You should check as well, Sierra."

Sierra sensed Evanthe must have discovered something and approached the injured woman. Evanthe stood up and made space for Sierra to sit. Sierra's scaly hand held Martha's hand as well.

"Another divine power is flowing through your body, and it is helping you heal, Celia," Sierra informed her, which shocked Martha.

"Can the medicine given by Erich have such an effect?" Martha asked.

"It can't be," Evanthe answered. "There must be another source."

"Did you eat or drink something unusual since we last saw you?" Sierra asked.

"Nothing as such," the injured woman replied after some thought.

"Can I check your wound?" Sierra asked.

Martha lifted her top and undid the bandage around it. "Erich did say that it's healing well."

Once she removed the bandage, they found that the burn  truly didn't look as terrible as  before.

"How did this happen? The divine power behind this injury came from a celestial being of a higher class than me—my power is not strong enough to heal it. Only a high-ranking angel or a deity with stronger divinity than that being has an ability to heal your injury, but those kinds of aloof existences would not descend from the divine realm unless…it's her?"

"Who?" Evanthe asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That existence whose power is sealed within Seren's body," Sierra answered.

"But didn't you say that deity no longer exists?"

"She doesn't, but her power does," Sierra looked at Martha. "Seren came to see you?"

Martha realized she didn't inform them about Seren's visit to her and said, "She was indeed here a few days back."

"Did she do something?" Sierra asked.

Martha tried her best to recall the events of that day.

"Apologies, I was not in a good situation that day and could not remember anything. I was unconscious the rest of the day and didn't even get the chance to talk with her. From what Erich told me, she stayed by my side for some time and even fed me medicine. He said the poor girl ended up crying the entire time."

Sierra grasped a clue. 'Tears of a Phoenix.'

"It must be her tears. Seems like having that divine power locked inside her had given her few other abilities as well," Sierra explained.

Evanthe agreed. "It is possible. In fact, I don't think there is another explanation aside from that. That Fire sealed inside her could be said to be the master of all flames, thus an injury caused by an inferior elemental power would be easy for it to deal with. Since it has been residing inside her for so long, it's natural for her body to be able to use it to some extent."

"It should not be this way," Sierra spoke.

"What do you mean?"

Sierra then chose to withhold herself from saying more than she should. "If she is able to use that power then her earth element will clash with the fire element and it will harm her body. Though I am glad she saved Celia, we need to stop it. Till we find the proper vessel for that power, we need to keep it dormant inside Seren."

"But in two days it will be her eighteenth birthday. We are yet to discover how to deal with it despite searching high and low for a solution for years. Can we solve this in just a couple of days?"

A heavy silence enveloped the three women inside the thatched house.

"I think I have a way," Sierra spoke and the hooded woman looked at Evanthe.

"What is it?" Evanthe asked.

"Your son. I didn't raise this before because I was being considerate of you and I was not aware Seren had already started using that dangerous Fire magic but…"

Evanthe closed her eyes at the mention of her son. There were countless debts to be paid, yet she could not even begin to think where to start.

"To prevent that Fire from harming Seren, we need his help… and yours as well," Sierra said, her tone apologetic. "Both of your elements are inferior to that Fire, but together, you two can help suppress its power. His Darkness and your Water must work together to temporarily suppress it until we find a proper new vessel."

After a long pause, Evanthe let out a defeated sigh.

"Seems like the time to face my son has come."

Neither Sierra nor Celia gave a remark on what Evanthe said. They had nothing to say about how complicated her emotions must be as a mother.

Sierra returned her attention to Martha and changed the subject. "You have been enduring such pain for a long time, and your perseverance has been rewarded. If you were a normal human instead of a White Witch, you would have died the same day. You have been a strong woman, Martha."

"It's nothing, Lady Sierra. I am fortunate to be able to be of some help to you."

"Sierra," Evanthe called out, her expression lost in thought, "I've been meaning to ask this since the last time, but isn't it against the laws of this world for the heavenly realm to harm beings in the mortal realm. Won't those who ambushed Celia be punished?"

"The Heavens are impartial, They treat all Children of Creation equally"—Sierra recited the line with a bitter tone, like a mantra she used to hold dear—"but as eyes can be blinded, even the eyes of those above us can be covered if one knows the rules enough.

"The one behind the attack is cunning. The protection is meant to shelter mortals, but it is partial to the weak humankind. For supernatural beings, there are exceptions.

"They can claim a White Witch tried to harm them and they acted in their defense. Celia's situation is difficult to explain without leaking our own secrets so our being elusive is good for them as well."

Evanthe sighed hearing it as there was nothing they could do.

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A/N- Till 28th Jan there might not be any chapter of any as Author is travelling to the other city for important matter.