Chapter 31: Ashes and Darkness

"Let's dance for a moment". The Ashes Witch dragged Esserine to her dusty dimension. "Don't die too fast".

"Sable: Double Pistols Form". Esserine brought out 2 pistol guns. Depending on the appearance of the Ashes Witch, Esserine has predicted that this entity will be speedy. So she switched out her weapon to more handy form. 

"Take this!"

"Shadow Bullets". Esserine shot several hits at the Ashes Witch.

"Shady". The Ashes Witch used a special skill, it moved mystically around Esserine with an extreme speed to dodge all the bullets.

"I didn't expect to fight an ally". The Ashes Witch chuckled mischiefly. "A being with dark power".

"Elements can't be good or bad, their nature is always neutral". Esserine kept shooting unstoppably. "Only the intention of the caster matters!".

"Keep talking nonsense little girl". The Ashes Witch whispered vilely. "You are nothing different than me". 

"Shut up! Black Hole Bomb". Esserine was tired after a while of shooting to nowhere. 

"Just a toy to me". Seemed like the Ashes Witch was playing around with Esserine. "Your dark ability is still too far away from the true power of negativity". With only 2 fingers, the Ashes Witch erased the mini black hole that Esserine had created. "You should come to the Abyss, it's your original home".

The Ashes Witch turned herself to the human form. "How do I look, Esserine?". 

"What?! No!". Esserine was extremely stupefied, she couldn't believe her eyes any more. "This is not real".

"Yes my dear, I'm home". The Ashes Witch dearly said. 

"No, don't you dare lie to me!". Esserine pointed her guns at the Ashes Witch. "My mother would never be a villain!". Esserine gazed upon the Ashes Witch with adamant eyes. "You are not my mother!".

"Oh my little star, do you still remember that moon and stars necklace?". The Ashes Witch softly spoke. "I have given it to you as a birthday gift, do you still remember?".

BANG!!!

"BACK! OFF!". Esserine aimed and shot right at the Ashes Witch's head. "Stay away from me!". Somehow, the bullet just went straight through the Ashes Witch like nothing had happened. 

"Sweetheart, let me explain". The Ashes Witch slowly pulled out a pendant from nowhere. "Look at this thing, touch it, inspect it, and feel it". 

Esserine was stunned, she didn't know what she should do. "Reperio". With all her courage, she casted the spell. 

Suddenly, a flood of memory flows into her mind. 

"Mother". Esserine uttered melancholy. "What happened? Why are you here? … Like this?".

"Sweetheart, I apologize for hiding everything from you". The Ashes Witch opened her arms widely. "Come Esser, give me a hug".

Esserine hesitated a second, but she has been missing her mother for so long. "Mother!". She ran toward and hugged her tightly. "I miss you so much, I was so lonely all this time!".

"My dear daughter, don't cry". The Ashes Witch tenderly rubbed Esserine's head. "Everything will be alright".

"Mother, who am I?". Esserine questioned seriously. She found out a long time ago that she was different from others, from her father and brother. She has always wanted the truth.

"You are my child, but not your father's child". The Ashes Witch answered heartbrokenly. "You were born from the dark source of the Abyss". 

"Mother, why did you join the Abyssal Lord's army?". Esserine asked deeply. 

"The Abyssal Lord is your grandfather"

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While that, Maria is bolting through hallways to call for help. She literally goes to the Student Council office first to report about everything. Well, because her classmate is the President of the Student Council. 

"ADELPHIA". Maria screamed out loud in front of the office counter.

"Hey Maria, what's wrong?". Everado strolled out of the Student Council room.

"I need to find Adelphia, this is an emergency". Maria was breathing hard because of running. 

"Oh, Adelphia is with everyone decorating the area for the Autumn Festival". Everado handed Maria a map. "Just follow this way and you'll find out".

"The Ashes Witch escaped the book". Maria urgently said.

"How do you know about the Ashes Witch?! And what do you mean by it????". Everado was terribly confused. 

"I was drawn to read the chanting out loud". Maria was acting like she didn't do anything wrong. "And then the Ashes Witch crawled out of the seal, and now Esserine is still there fighting with it".

"How did you get the ancient book?!". Everado furiously questioned Maria. 

"Professor Bailey said that if we clean the Academy's book case, then she'll forgive and forget about the destroyed classroom". Maria explained.

"She allows normal students to step into the most dangerous area of the Academy?!?!?". Everado was stunned. 

"I hope Esserine will not die". Maria innocently talked. 

"You go find Adelphia and everyone, I'll get other professors". Everado ran out of the Student Council Office immediately after he finished the last sentence. 

"Roger!". Maria pulled out her phone, she was about to call her workers to lead her to the working area for the Autumn Festival.