Part 46: The forest of witches
While Vanessa had just vanished into the forest of witches, back in Fanzell, Domina and Mariellas home where they were still still talking with Finral and Noelle, "Domina what exactly is the forest of witches like?" Noelle asked.
"Its kind of an independent area in the east of the clover kingdom and close to the border to the diamond kingdom," said Domina as she began to explain, "The people there spend their lives studying item and hex magic, so in general everyone who lives there are witches," she said while Finral looked excited.
"A place filled with magical beauties sounds like heaven," he said before he remembered something, "Wait remember when Vanessa took off before everyone else did, maybe she went to go see the queen the witches to ask her to heal Astas arms," he said.
"Well that wouldn't be good, you see the people there see me and Vanessa as fugitives," said Domina making the two black bulls look surprised.
"Wait fugitives," said Noelle.
"The witches are suppose to live in the forest for all their lives and Vanessa was special case to the queen herself, which means if she went back there it's not going to turn out well and so she must been really determined to go back there," she said.
"Well going there sounds exciting I cant wait," said Finral until Domina spoke up again.
"I wouldn't be so sure, I heard that all the men who go there end up being turned into toads or bugs," she said while laughing while Finral looked down.
"Oh I see," he said looking defeated while Domina went up to Fanzell and hugged him smiling.
"Of course I left for a good reason because I couldn't see myself living without Zell," she said happily as Fanzell wrapped his right arm around her smiling.
"That's true, when we met we both fell into a deep amount of devotion," said Fanzell.
"I love you Fanzell," said Domina.
"I love you too, Domina," he said before two of them kissed while Finral cried tears of jealousy.
"That's true love I'm so jealous," said Finral.
"They should really do stuff like this when no one else is around, are you and Asta like this all the time," said Mariella looking at Noelle who blushed as she remembered the way Asta kissed her after the battle in the underwater temple.
"Absolutely not," said Noelle while still blushing, "Thought it would be nice to hear him say, wait what I'm thinking," she thought as she put her hands on her cheeks as her facee got even redder until a punch was heard.
"Of course I didn't think I would end up in a place like this, when are we going to somewhere nice you deadbeat," said Domina as she began to punch her Fiancé who was lying on the ground.
"Interesting, she always goes for the vital points, she would have made a good assassin" said Mariella as she watched her teacher get beaten up.
"The Queen is dangerous herself as well, and shes so powerful that not even the diamond kingdom interferes with her," said Domina as she sat back in her seat.
"Even if that's true I have to get her to heal Astas arms, after all I'm going to make sure he becomes the wizard king," she said looking determined which made Domina smile.
"Well I'm going with you to," she said surprising Noelle.
"Wait are you sure, you just said," said Noelle until Domina interrupted her.
"It will be much better if you go with someone who once lived there," she said as Fanzell stood behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm going to, it wouldn't be right if I let my fiancé go to a dangerous place all alone and plus it wouldn't feel right to leave my last student out to dry," he said as his mind flashed back to when he trained Asta how to use a sword.
"Plus I owe him one for helping me out," said Fanzell as Mariella got up from where she was sitting.
"It wouldn't be a good idea to have our debt with him be raised so I will go along to," said Mariella as she looked towards the black bulls who smiled.
Back in the forest of witches itself, their homes seemed to become part of the forest itself and as Domina said the only people living there were witches. Some of them riding on brooms or some sitting at a table drinking tea while talking about the outside world.
"I saw this man outside the forest the other day and for some reason he kept going ha ha," said a witch who was flying on a broom with another witch.
"That sounds terrible, hope he learned never to come back here," the other witch said as the two of them laughed.
"You know I heard Vanessa came back," said one of two witches that were sitting at a table.
"Really, I hope she doesn't see the queen because its not going to be good if she finds out that shes back," said the other witch.
In another part of the forest, was a large tree with houses that were put tougher to form one large home. Inside one of its rooms lanterns began to light up as a sphere of crows flew above the carpet. The crows vanished revealing Vanessa as she looked up at the queen of witches.
The queen of witches was dressed in a green dress that had a large skirt. There was a gem hanging from her left ear and under each of her eyes were three blue marking in the shape of tears. The green witches hat she wore was also large, "Imperfect and I don't mean just you, but my own abilities to keep you here," she said with a bored look on her face while Vanessa looked determined.
"If you stayed and followed my training like I told you, your thread magic would be able to control destiny itself," she said, "But you let that man lead you away from here and they used your ability's,".
"Imperfect," the queen of witches said angrily as a blast of her magic power was sent out and ended up destroying the wall behind Vanessa who didn't even look shaken by her outburst, "Oh my, what an imperfect wall,".
"Listen ill stay here for the rest of my life if you want me to and all you have to do is teach me how to dispel ancient hex magic," said Vanessa, "If you don't I will never come back here again,".
"It seems you don't remember your place here, so allow me to show you," the queen said as her grimoire floated in front of her.
Meanwhile outside the black bulls hide out Asta screamed as he continued doing squats, "If I cant fight with my arms then ill just train my legs, their gonna look real buff after I'm done," he said as an image of himself standing taller with his legs that had a lot of muscle falshed through his mind. He stopped however when he looked to be in pain as he fell on his back to the ground, "Ow ow ow, I got a cramp," he said moving his leg around while Nero watched him from above on a tree branch.
Asta then looked up into the sky as a spacial portal opened up revealing Noelle who was on a broom with Domina, Finral who was on a broom with wings made out of wind attached to it, Mariella who was on her own broom while Fanzell was falling towards Asta.
"Hey there Asta," said Fanzell.
"Old man Zell, what are you doing here," said Asta before he was picked up by Fanzells wind magic and was flying next to the broom Fanzell landed on.
"Alright we got him now," said Fanzell.
"Wait hang on whats going on here," said Asta looking confused.
"Just be quiet for now Asta," said Noelle looking serious, "We cant tell him where were going or else," she thought as image of Asta flashed through her mind.
"Theres no way I'm letting you go somewhere that dangerous just for me," he said.
"Will just have to keep it from him for now," she thought before looking forward, "Alright were off to the forest of W," she said pointing forward.
"Wait what's the W stand for, I hope it means wonderful," said Asta before his mouth was covered by a mask made out of wind, which muffled his voice as he tired to speak up.
"Excellent thinking master, if it was me I would have silenced him with this," she said pulling out an ice dagger which made Fanzell look nervous at the way his former student thought.
"Yeah, alright everyone lets going," said Fanzell as they flew towards the witches forest. During the flight Asta was brought onto one of the wings attached to Fanzells broom while Finral stood on the other wing.
After sometime flying they stopped flying as they reached their destination, "There it is, the forest of witches," said Domina.
"Wait the forest of witches what are we doing out here," said Asta looking surprised.
"Not now Asta," said Noelle.
"Forest full of beauty's here I come," said Finral looking excited.
"Not so fast, the forest has sensors that can detect a persons magic, if we go in there now will be filled with holes before we can even reach the queen of witches," said Domina.
"Well I don't have any magic so I should be fine and is this some kind of secret mission because I'm starting to get really confused," said Asta.
"That's one thing but what about the rest of us, its not like we can turn invisible," said Finral sighing before everyone looked towards Domina who was laughing.
"Well then I got just the thing, the vanish all," she said pulling out what looked cloak with a red line surrounding it, "This item helps you turn completely invisible and that's not all it also hides your magic and presence,".
"Its only thirty thousand Yule and if you buy one today you get get a second one free," she said taking out a second vanish all as she began to talk like she was trying to sell it.
"There she goes," said Fanzell until Noelle took out her money pouch.
"Here will this cover it," she said making Domina look at the large bag of money in her hand with a surprised look on her face.
"Yeah and then some," said Domina before shaking her head, "But this time its for free," she said smiling.
"Just face it you were going to grab that money," said Mariella with a calm look on her face.
"Will someone just please tell me what's going on," said Asta.
"Quiet Asta," they all said making him look down as they flew closer to the forest of witches.
But watching them from down below as a man in a white robe who jumped down from a tree. Inside a cave Fana the hateful from the third eye was petting a large red creature with wings, "Will make them pay, all of them," she said when the man that had watched Asta and the others earlier walked into the cave as he pulled his hood down.
"Excuse me mistress Fana, but the black bulls are there now as well," he said smiling.
"The black bulls, we will move now then," said Fana as the creature in front of her growled, "I will make them pay for killing Veto and for what they did to Licht, they will not be forgiven" she said looking angry.
Meanwhile Asta and the others were now flying through the forest of witches completely invisible to the witches around them, but there is one problem, "Does it have to be so small," said Noelle who was under a vanish all with Mariella and Domina.
"Sorry the Vanish all is only meant for one person," said Domina.
"Well it could be worse," said Mariella looking towards the direction where Asta, Fanzell and Finral were in the same situation. Accept Finral was stuck between Fanzell and Asta, "Why am I stuck between you two while I'm surrounded by magical beauty's," said Finral looking annoyed.
"Well at least we made it in," said Fanzell.
"Okay I think I should know whats going on by now," said Asta calmly as the their group flew over a store.
"Are you sure you cant sell these love potions cheaper?" the witch standing in front of the store asked the old witch who just smiled.
"Sorry no can do," she said.
"Love potions," said Finral looking shocked as Fanzell covered his mouth while the two witches looked around confused.
"Was that a mans voice,?" Asked one of them.
"Ridiculous, the queen wouldn't allow a man in the forest," the older witch said while Asta and Fanzell sighed in relief.
"Sorry guys but love potions are something ive only heard about in my dreams," said Finral apologizing.
Over with Noelle, Domina and Mariella. Noelle looked up to see a small clay person with holes for its mouth and eyes. It had no hands or feet and there was small plant growing out of the top of its head as it flew around, "What is that thing and it looks kind of cute?" Noelle asked.
"It's a security golem, they act as guards for the forest and can fill with you enough holes before you have the chance to fire off one spell," said Domina as the golem slowly flew by them making them sigh in relief until it was Asta, Finral and Fanzells turn.
"Uh," said Fanzell noticing the vanish all had been caught in a branch and it didn't just pull off the cloak, but also the clothes covering his top half and his pants.
"Really old man," said Asta before noticing the small golem flying in front of them, "Uh hey there little guy," he said smiling nervously before a loud alarm went off from its mouth and a few moments later more golems appeared looking down at three of them.
"Well this isnt good," said Fanzell as all of the golems began to fire balls of fire down at them as Finral made the broom fly forward. When they passed Noelle, Domina and Mariella and ended up pulling off their vanish all. The golems began firing on them as well as they catched up with the other three.
"So this is what you meant by being filled with holes," said Noelle.
"You really done it this time Zell," said Domina looking annoyed.
"Sorry," said Fanzell.
"We need to get to the queen of witches home now," said Domina.
"Don't worry ill create a shortcut with my magic," said Finral opening two portals ahead of them with each group flying through one. When Noelle, Domina and Mariella made it through their one they noticed Asta, Finral and Fanzell werent flying next to them. Making them look confused wondering where Finral opened the other portal to.
"How about we got get tea some time," said Finral handing over a card to a witch as he flew the broom next to her.
"Ahh, naked old man," said the witch pointing at Fanzel before screaming and flying away.
"This isn't really the time for flirting Finral," said Asta looking annoyed but Finral tried again and only stopped after one witch sent the three of them flying with wind magic.
"Maybe we should get going now," said Asta.
"Yeah this isn't helping at all," said Fanzell before the golems began firing on them again as they caught up to Noelle, Domina and Mariella. They then noticed the queens home was straight ahead of them.
"There it is," said Domina.
"You see that hole in the wall, someone should really get to fixing that," said Asta before they all crashed into the building from dodging the golems fire balls.
"Up to your old habits again," said Mariella looking at Fanzell who had his pants back on.
"Its not my fault," said Fanzell before they all stood up and looking ahead of them to see the queen of the witches standing over a defeated Vanessa. The queen had foot on top of her head.
"Hey you get your foot off her," said Asta angrily.
"Vanessa," said Noelle and Domina.
"Imperfect, seems some intruders have made it past my security and one of them I recognize," the queen said making Domina look worried.
"You get away from her right now," said Asta stepping forward.
"The witches in the forest are basically my descendants, I have more daughters then you could imagine and so why shouldn't I be allowed to teach one of my children a lesson," she said moving Vanessas head under her foot.
"It doesn't matter who you are, that doesn't mean you get to step on her like that," said Asta jumping towards the witch queen as she held her right hand up. But Finral made a portal appear in front of Asta who went through it. He appeared out of another portal behind the witch queen and aimed his feet at her only for a large hand made out of crows grab him in the air.
"What is this," said Asta trying to get out of the crows grip.
"There doesn't seem to be a drop of magic power in you, this must mean your that upstart Vanessa was telling me about, you know she was willing to become my slave if I taught her how to heal your arms," she said making Asta look surprised.
"She said that, wait does that mean you guys," he said looking towards the others, now realizing why they brought him to the forest of witches. But they just smiled smiled.
"You helped me a while back it only makes it right that I help you now," said Fanzell.
"When you have others around you you have to think about them to, isnt that right Noelle," said Mariella smiling as she stood in front of the group.
"Yes," said Noelle before Mariella tossed an dagger made out of ice towards the queen who made a group crows block the attack.
"Impressive, I was hiding my intent to attack you the whole time," said Mariella before multiple wind slashes struck the hand made out of crows that was holding up Asta. Asta fell to the ground and looked towards his teacher who was smiling as wind moved around him.
"Old man," he said as Fanzell stepped forward.
"Wind creation magic, emperor of slashing wind," he said as he was now holding a sword made out of his wind magic. The others had their grimoires floating in front of them as Noelle pointed her wand at the queen of witches.
"Do you all intend to fight me, as imperfect as you all are?" The queen asked calmly.
"That's right and were going to make you let Vanessa go," said Asta looking determined as a small ball floated in front of the queen, displaying an image of all of them defeated lying on the ground.
"This shows the outcome of this battle, you will not be able to win," she said before looking surprised as she sensed something, "Their here now, I knew they would show up eventually but I didn't think it would be now," she said grabbing the ball from the air as the image changed. Showing multiple eye of the midnight sun mages with their grimoires glowing with magic power. Fana leading them as she stood on a large red creature with wings.
"Things just became more complicated," she said. Members from the eye of the midnight sun along with one of their strongest, had come to to the forest of witches.