11 Cold Void

When Isabella next saw the two girls stumbling into her office arm in arm, they were giggling and laughing. What was more confusing she felt like she was looking at two completely different women.

Other then their short height, they appeared to have aged 5 or 6 years. The new robes they wore alone would make a big change, completely leaving behind the image of poor orphans. But something was definitely different. The pendant hung from Wendy's neck but Lissa was holding onto Wendy as if to stay close to the stone.

"Well what brings you two here today?" Isabella asked. Her tone was a little short because she was getting behind on paperwork.

Lissa spoke up first, "We've come to report for duty." she gave a bright smile.

Wendy then added "And to report our growth!" The two of them broke into giggles again barely supporting each other.

Isabella frowned at their levity but shrugged it off. "So how have you improved?" she asked.

Lissa spoke apparently for Wendy, "Wendy has learned to control her power and we discovered the cause of yesterdays near tragedy."

Wendy then quickly inserted, "I powered up Lissa so she can't control her power anymore, and so she needs a stone too." she said grinning and nearly laughing again.

Isabella blinked twice trying to decide which to ask about first. "Alright what was it that almost destroyed all of Hermes?."

Wendy sighed, "It may sound confusing but there are many, many, many little things all around that make up everything, like building blocks. and the smallest of them have incredible energy sealed away in them." Wendy waited for Isabella to digest the information. Isabella finally nodded.

"My power, in part is to control those building blocks. What I almost did was cut apart one of them, and I mustn't do that because splitting these little things has HUGE destructive power."

"Can you demonstrate your power to me? Isabella asked with some confusion.

"Well not with the stone on... " Wendy said trailing off.

Isabella waved her hand in the air. "Go ahead.. I turned it off."

Wendy's eyes widened as she felt her power return.

"Do you want something built? or destroyed?" Wendy asked.

Isabella looked around the room with indecision.

"In the desk!" Lissa called out. "THAT will make her the most happy!"

Wendy looked askance at Isabella who's face darkened. "That's NOT, something I want destroyed."

she said firmly.

Wendy shook her head "You don't understand I'll not destroy it .. I'll just .. build a copy of it."

Isabella looked incredulous, just how many times will these two girls shock me.

doubtfully she opened a drawer and brought out her last bottle of chaos drink.

"Oooh? Lissa there's a trace of magic in it. Can I still copy it?" Wendy looked at Lissa, who shrugged "You can only try", she said grinning.

"Bad girl!" Wendy elbowed at her, "You already know the answer, Oh well here goes..."

Wendy turned around and stared at the bottle intensely. Isabella looked at her searching for some change or movement, and noticed the circling lights in her green eyes. She leaned back a little trying not to show her surprise on her face. A shadow seemed to be cast on the table and a bottle coalesced next to the first one. Isabella's jaw dropped. she snatched the new bottle which felt a little warm. Opening it she poured some into a glass observing it. It seemed identical.

Wendy looked disappointed. "It doesn't have the magic in it."

Lissa laughed "That doesn't matter the flavor is as close as a copy can get."

Isabella looked at Lissa's smiling face and noticed her blue eyes finally.

"Why have your eyes changed?" she asked.

"It happened when Wendy made me more powerful."

Isabella tasted the chaos drink. It didn't have as much of the amazing flavor of the real thing but... with no other alternative it was still wonderful. She nodded in approval and put away the real bottle safe in the desk.

Isabella then looked back at Wendy. "What's this about making Lissa more powerful?"

Wendy blushed a little and then spoke. "Inside of each of us is a small vortex of magic, our power comes from that." Isabella recalled Agatha speaking about this long ago.

Wendy continued, "If that vortex is condensed it forms a stronger version of our power."

"For me it happened when I realized how to use my power, for Lissa it happened after I .. gave it a little nudge." Wendy smiled.

Isabella became lost in thought, "Do you think... You could do that to my power?"

Lissa spoke up, "Yes she can...Wendy just don't do THAT other thing..."

Wendy blushed again. "Oh.. yeah I could probably leave that out now..."

"... so do you want me to help you boost your power Isabella?" Wendy asked looking at her innocently.

"Yes... Though I'm not sure you can, I can't see how my power can even evolve." said Isabella.

Wendy walked over and hesitated looking at Isabella, "Do you mind if I touch your chest?"

Intrigued Isabella nodded, "Go ahead."

Placing her palm between Isabella's breasts she closed her eyes to concentrate.

Isabella felt a warmth that was indescribably hot filling her chest.

Wendy snatched her hand back as if she'd been burned looking at Isabella in wonder.

"Lissa.. can you see it? She's so powerful!"

Lissa nodded. "This is to be expected of her Holiness." she said her eyes glittering.

"I told you not to call me that." Isabella snapped "So what has changed?"

Lissa pulled Wendy farther from the desk even pressing her back against the door.

"Isabella.." Lissa seemed hesitant to speak. "Put out your hand and concentrate your power above it."

"One last thing!" Lissa interrupted "Please have mercy on us before its too late."

Isabella looked at Lissa cautiously, then reached out her right hand. The moment she thought of it a black dot seemed to form above her hand spinning and pulling energy from the surroundings.

Lissa and Wendy became pale and fell to their knees. Seeing this she stopped the object like turning out a light. But she felt the energy she had gathered coating her like an invisible shield.

Lissa's weak voice spoke explaining away her confusion. "You now can create the effect of a gods stone without an actual stone, but more importantly you also now can attack magical creatures by draining away their magic." Isabella was exhilarated, could she have now become an attack witch?? She could now fight demons and demonic beasts?

Lissa and Wendy got back to their feet. Wendy looking the most surprised.

Lissa Patted Wendy's arm, "It makes sense for our boss to be stronger than us."

"Isabella.. can you give me another stone?" Lissa asked

Brought out of her contemplation Isabella opened a drawer and brought out two exquisitely decorated gods stones. These were the ones the Pure Witches had worn. Lissa came forward and took them with a bow then hesitated. "Can I have that stone too? I know who can use it." Lissa said.

Isabella looked back in the drawer, a small red stone sat there. It had been recovered from the belongings of the mad demon in the wall. Isabella shrugged as she had no use for it. The best she could do would be to send it to Agatha to study. She handed over the red stone to Lissa.

With a curtsy she turned and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Isabella asked?

Lissa paused and looked at Isabella with a mischievous grin. "To perform our service" I only just put on the stone so... I already know where you want to send us." Wendy and Lissa then left the room closing the door behind them.

Isabella thought for a bit trying to think about where she could send them. Her eyes fell on one of the papers in front of her, a warning from the garrison troops complaining they would run out of ammo soon. Her eyes nearly bulged as she realized the implications of Wendy's ability.