Page 8: Assembling the Inner Circle – Vanessa

-Witch's Forest-

Vanessa Enoteca was depressed, sitting in her cage practicing her thread magic to please the witch queen to finally discover the fabled "Red Thread of Fate" ability her grimoire might poses.

Vanessa is a tall young woman with wavy mid-back length pink hair that she keeps loose in a lob hairstyle with bangs swept to the left side, purple eyes, full lips and a voluptuous body. She wore a plain white dress. She resided in what can be described as a large cage in an empty larger person. All dedicated to housing Vanessa. Lucky her.

She has resided here since she was a child, only getting out briefly a couple years ago. When she was a young girl, Vanessa showed the Queen her magic who saw the potential of Vanessa's magic to alter fate so she caged the young girl and demands that she improve her magic. The entire population of the Forest consists of women with special types of magic, like curses and familiars. These women are not allowed to live outside of the forest, and those that choose to are considered fugitives. Men and other non-witches are forbidden from entering the forest.

How Vanessa wanted to go back to the outside world, beyond the Witch's Forest, maybe see Yami again….

A few years ago, a brash Magic Knight named Yami Sukehiro had invaded the Witch's forest and stumbled upon her cage. He gave her advice that she will never forget; to ignore fate and do whatever. She went with him and thought she would finally have her freedom. She listened to Yami's dream of creating a new Magic Knight Squad that would allow the all the oddballs in the world a home to cause trouble but do some good. She hoped to join him. However, the nobility had other plans.

A few weeks after taking up residence in the Royal Capitol, her door was busted down by agents of the monarchy. Apparently, the Witch Queen filed a complaint and raised hell with the Clover Kingdom Government. She threatened to cut off trade of magic items and close her borders, and possibly forcibly recall all witches to the Forest. Despite Yami's protest along with his Knight Captain Julius's help, Vanessa was deported and has been back in her cage ever since.

For giving her hope but then taking it away, she will always hate the Clover Kingdom. And for the Witch Queen, Vanessa will take away all her power that she loved so much for herself and make grovel at her feet.

-Asta's Camp-

Noelle, Mimosa, and Zora were settling in well together and fitting into their new roles as future members of his inner circle. There interests aligned and his Devil's Bargain ability has brought out their hate. Magic from the three was much more savage, with no hesitation at lethal force.

Noelle focused on training her magic, getting a wand from Domina to focus her magic. She was studying her mother's journals to copy and evolve her mother's combat style.

Zora no longer hesitated in execution of Magic Knights when necessary. Asta would send him on espionage missions and used his traps to get through an outpost.

Mimosa has had her self-esteem raised and took her position seriously. She viewed her family with disgust for enabling the corrupt nobility system. She sought to redeem her House Name and create the world Asta envisioned.

All was in place, he only needed two more recruits to be complete and he already had two in mind. Zora had just came back from an outpost on the border of the Witch's Forest. He brought back files and orders, some with blood on it. Besides the usual reports on military numbers and trade missions he could rob, Asta discovered an old deportation order.

Apparently, a witch with Thread Magic had been forcibly deported back to the Forest. It detailed how she was imprisoned by the Witch Queen, was broken out by a Magic Knight, but was deported thanks' to the Queen's lobbying. A spy had also detailed her potential to alter fate with her magic.

"A mage with the ability to change fate will be valuable to us Brother" Liebe said in his head. "If we can break her out and get her to our side, she will be a great asset against the Clover Kingdom and the Devils"

It was time Asta took a trip to the Witch's Forest…

-Witch's Forest: Night Time-

Vanessa heard chaos from outside. It looks like fire had broken out and there was frantic yelling. Then, just like with Yami, the wall exploded with a sword wielding teen looking down at her. Unlike Yami, this stranger had his left arm and face in shadowed energy. He also had wings in addition. The stranger flew to her cage and cut it open.

"Hello Vanessa, name's Asta, I am here to get you out of here" the now identified Asta said as he reached his arm down.

Vanessa smacked it away and said "Forget it and get out of here. You just want me for my magic or I'll get dragged away because your superiors don't want to anger the Witch Queen."

Asta stood there for a few seconds before laughing. Vanessa could not understand what was so funny. When Asta finally stopped laughing he said "Vanessa, I answer to nobody and I want more than your magic. I want you. You have been wronged for just seeking the ability to determine your own fate. I want to raise you up and give you what you rightfully deserve."

Vanessa was shocked at what Asta just said. Why? Why would he care beyond her magic? "What exactly do you seek? Why would you need some locked up witch who has yet to master her magic?" Vanessa asked.

Asta looked at her and gave her a sinister grin, saying "What I seek is LIBERATION. I want to see my people liberated from autocracy. I want to see those who trample on the people to face treatment ten times the treatment they give. I want to see those trampled to rise up and take their rightful place at the top. You ask me what I want Vanessa? I ask you what you want?"

Vanessa sat their wide eyed. Not since Yami had she been so inspired to seek her freedom. She finally answered angrily "I want to take everything away from the people who took away my freedom. The Witch Queen, the nobility, screw them all. I want their power so I can use it over them as they did me. I WANT THIS FOREST!" Vanessa was breathing heavily as she released all her pent-up anger.

Asta lowered his hand to her again and said "Vanessa, if you take my hand, I offer all that and more. I will raise you up on your proper pedestal and give you this forest in time. The nobility who took away your hope will be on their knees begging you for mercy instead of the other way around. Or just stay here and hope the Witch Queen will let you go one day"

Vanessa hesitated for a moment, looking at that shadowed hand. She knew if she accepted there would be know going back. She may have to face against Yami one day. But after years of abuse Vanessa saw only one option and took her second liberator's hand.

"Welcome to liberation Vanessa" Asta said as he activated his Devil's Bargain