Harboring a Sorceress

Benita was dragged into court on charges of “harboring a sorceress.” She stood in the courtroom for four hours, not permitted to utter a single word.

Only after her mother threatened her own life to force her father to use the savings meant for her brother's marriage was her death sentence commuted to exile.

Her mother had bundled her into a carriage out of the city in the dead of night, handing her the incessantly crying Phelin and shoving a bundle into her arms.

Those burning, calloused hands had gripped her wrists so tightly, as if trying to melt her back into her own flesh and blood.

The tears in her mother's eyes burned a hole in Benita's heart: “Leave this place. Go somewhere remote and live a good life with Phelin. Never return to the Holy City.”

As the carriage bumped through the gates of the Holy City, Benita peered through a crack in the curtains and saw fire and black smoke rising from the direction of Hilna's house.

It was the people burning her belongings—books, herbs, clothes... Everything that once proved her existence was turning to ash, soon to be scattered by the wind.

From then on, the only thing people would remember was the executed sorceress.

Only she knew that the one executed was her dearest friend, Hilna.

“Mommy, where are we going? Where is Hilna?” Five-year-old Phelin had huddled in her arms, her little face flushed red by the night wind.

She had always liked to call Hilna directly by her name.

Benita hugged her daughter tighter, as if drawing the last ounce of strength to keep living.

Her final choice of a hiding place was Fancao Village, located on the border of the Empire. It was near a corrupted wasteland, with barren soil, where the patrol team only came once a year and tax officials refused to set foot. It was the perfect place to hide her identity.

Though life in Fancao Village was as stagnant as dead water, at least it allowed them to scrape by.

But after Gandy, the daughter of the apothecary owner, left, her medicine supply was cut off.

The cough she could once barely keep under control now gnawed at her vitality like a venomous snake, inch by inch.

Hiding it from Phelin, she swapped out the herbs in her prescription. She gave the saved money to Granny Sima, hoping she would look after Phelin after her death.

She thought she would rot away in the dirt of Fancao Village just like this. She thought she had forgotten Hilna's dying wails. She thought she had accepted her fate.

But heaven had delivered a powerful sorceress right to her.

“I want to learn Herb Gathering and Pharmacy from you. Name your price. Whatever you want.”

The sorceress had said.

Phelin had already told her everything about the sorceress. If Hilna hadn't been burned to death, would she have become someone like this too? Able to make the earth crack at her command, and make flames dance by her side?

Benita's heart pounded violently, a long-dormant emotion surging in her chest.

The hatred that roasted her day and night, keeping her from sleeping, began to burn fiercely. The witch before her was powerful. She didn't care about the Empire's hunt for witches, possessing the strength to do whatever she pleased.

This was perfect.

“My Lady,” Benita heard her own voice, raspy yet calm. “I can teach you.”

Wu Yao blinked, not expecting her to agree so readily. Shouldn't NPCs make players run several rounds of errands before unlocking learning privileges?

“But I have one condition.”

Benita stared intently at Wu Yao's expression, making sure she didn't show any unusual reaction to her words.

“I want you to destroy the Mage Association.”

“The Mage Association?”

Wu Yao felt the name sounded a bit familiar. She seemed to still have their badge in her Inventory, so she asked with great interest, “What kind of 'destroy'? Kill them all?”

Benita was taken aback. She hadn't expected this seemingly gentle witch to talk about wiping out the entire faction the moment she opened her mouth.

Suppressing the strange chill in her heart, she gradually reined in her surging hatred.

“My Lady, I do not want blood. I want the Mage Association to admit that Hilna never harmed anyone, that they framed her. Furthermore, Hilna's final legacy is still in their hands.”

Her voice grew softer as she spoke. “Hilna... her hands were never stained with blood... She saved so many people. Back then, everyone praised her kindness and brilliant medical skills... She was so talented. She said she wanted to cure those terminal illnesses... She—”

Benita suddenly stopped. She realized that the other party neither knew Hilna nor cared about her hatred. Fortunately, she possessed something this sorceress valued.

“In return,” Benita's fingers turned white as she gripped the edge of the bed, “I am willing to teach you everything I know.”

Wu Yao's attention was drawn by a sudden system prompt.

【NPC side quest detected】

【Side Quest: The Name of Hilna】

【Quest Difficulty: Epic】

【Quest Description: Benita's dear friend Hilna was framed as a sorceress by the Mage Association and executed. Benita longs to clear her name and reclaim her final relics. In exchange, she is willing to teach you everything she knows.】

【Quest Objectives: 1. Travel to the Holy City and investigate the truth behind Hilna's case; 2. Return Hilna's relics to Benita; 3. Force the Mage Association to publicly clear Hilna's name and restore her reputation.】

【Quest Rewards: Mastery of all of Benita's skills, Reputation +500, Benita's Affection locked at 100, Random Epic Item x1】

【Accept quest?】

Although Wu Yao had no idea who Hilna was, nor did she know what kind of organization the Mage Association was, that didn't stop her from accepting the quest in a split second.

【Quest accepted. Current progress: 0%】

【Warning: This quest involves faction diplomacy. There is a certain probability of triggering a continent-wide wanted status and encirclement campaign. It is recommended to proceed after reaching Lv.30.】

She was only Level 12 right now. Wu Yao grumbled inwardly at how bizarre this game's quest requirements were.

This quest was actually on the same difficulty tier as purifying an entire forest. But that didn't matter. To a player, there was no such thing as an impossible quest!

The quest wouldn't run away while sitting in her quest log anyway. It wouldn't be too late to complete it whenever she happened to pass by the Holy City.

“Deal,” she said readily, extending a hand to Benita. “But you have to teach me Herb Gathering and Pharmacy first. No problem, right?”

Benita looked at the hand suspended in midair, hesitating for a moment before gently grasping it. The sorceress's fingertips were icy cold, yet they carried a strange sense of stability.

Hilna's hand had been the same. No matter when, holding that hand made her feel as though she possessed the most reassuring strength.

She lowered her head, swallowing back the lump of bitterness rising in her throat. “Of course. I will teach you everything I know.”

Phelin wandered around the yard for three whole laps, poking every ant nest under the fence and flipping the herbs on the bamboo sieve again. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, she stood at the doorway.

“Are you guys done talking yet—?” she drawled, leaning her entire body against the wall.

Benita withdrew her hand, the expression on her face instantly softening as she called out, “Come in, Phelin.”

The door curtain was lifted, and Phelin scurried into the room like a happy puppy, her eyes darting back and forth between her mother and Wu Yao.

Noticing that her mother's face lacked its usual exhaustion and instead held a strange luster, she felt a wave of relief wash over her, and a genuine smile finally appeared on her face.