Chapter 11 | The Seventh Witch

Six days remained before the end of the one-month period.

Shulim began her attempts at light magic.

Since the daytime was filled with light and there were lamps at night, Shulim had initially thought light magic would be the easiest to master.

However, she had miscalculated.

Her experience with the four natural elements proved to be of little use with the light attribute. The difference between light elements and the natural elements was incredibly vast; the feeling was almost comparable to practicing water magic right after learning fire magic.

Shulim continuously practiced light magic, wanting to master it as quickly as possible.

One day passed.

Two days passed.

By the third day...

A trace of anxiety welled up in Shulim's heart. She had already grasped the edges of it; she felt that if she kept going like this, it wouldn't be long before she could master the First-Tier light spell, Illuminate.

But...

Time was running out!

Just as Shulim was fretting over this, her mother, Lilia, approached from behind. Seemingly sensing her youngest daughter's worry, Lilia leaned down and asked softly:

“What's wrong, my Shulim? Is something troubling you?”

Seeing it was her mother, Shulim thought about it for a moment and then voiced her troubles.

“Mother, I feel like I'm always just a tiny bit away from casting the Illuminate spell, but for some reason, I just can't close that last gap.”

Hearing this, Lilia smiled and said softly: “So that's what it is.”

“Come, Shulim, stretch out your hand.”

Shulim looked at Lilia in confusion, but still chose to do as she was told.

Her mother, Lilia, also stretched out her right hand. Her lips parted slightly as she softly chanted a spell, and then a gentle glow radiated from her palm.

Lilia grasped Shulim's small hand with her glowing hand. As the soft light leaked through the gaps between their fingers, Shulim watched this scene, and a strange sensation welled up in her heart.

“Shulim, do you feel it? Light is a gentle and peaceful existence. Approach it with an open, accepting heart, and I believe it will surely respond to you...”

Lilia had left Shulim's side at some point, but her mother's words continuously echoed in Shulim's ears.

Night fell.

The room was pitch-black and dark.

“【ᛏᛃᚪᛖᛚᛜᛏᚠᚪᛡᛃᛋקיᛚᚺᛜᛖᚾהᛤ】”

A burst of soft white light shone from Shulim's fingertip, dispelling the darkness of the room.

...

Three days remained before the end of the one-month period.

Shulim had mastered the First-Tier light spell, Illuminate.

On the second night since she mastered light magic, Shulim used a bedsheet to block out the moonlight from the window and sealed the gaps under the door where light leaked through. Instantly, the entire room plunged into a pitch-black darkness where she could not even see her own hands.

In this darkness, Shulim first lost her sense of direction, then her sense of space, and then the entire world seemed to drift away from her, completely wrapping her in the most ancient loneliness in existence.

Shulim curled her body up, doing her best to suppress the rapidly shaking emotions in her heart, forcing herself to resist the urge to rip down the bedsheet blocking the window.

She just curled up like that, slowly closing her eyes as her heart gradually fell silent.

She did not know how much time had passed.

The darkness around Shulim seemed to grow even denser. Something had arrived by her side; in the darkness that was supposed to be forever lonely, she no longer felt alone...

Two days remained before the end of the one-month period.

It was night, in the same sealed room.

Shulim finally recognized the true identity of the things present by her side.

They were the gathered dark elements.

“【ᛖᚲᛃᛏכᛤᛜᛚᛄᚪᛡᛏᛗᚠᚺᛜᛖᛄᚠᚳ】”

The familiar sensation of mana drainage came. The darkness around Shulim suddenly grew dense, and a veil of shadow like a blanket draped over her body.

First-Tier dark magic: Shadow.

Mastered!

...

Only one day remained before the end of the one-month period.

And Shulim was facing her greatest obstacle yet.

“How on earth am I supposed to master Non-Elemental magic...”

If she could quickly master other elemental magics with the help of the environment, then there was absolutely no shortcut when it came to Non-Elemental magic. This was because, compared to other elements with distinct characteristics, the non-elemental element could only be described as completely lacking in personality!

Although it was the most widespread element, it was so ubiquitous that people would subconsciously ignore its existence.

Just like the air; if not intentionally reminded of it, people would subconsciously overlook the air that surrounded them.

And it was precisely because the non-elemental element lacked any defining traits or descriptive words that it was given the name “Non-Elemental.”

If she really had to find the most suitable target to observe the non-elemental element, then it could only be...

Realizing something, Shulim subconsciously lowered her head.

...

The month was over.

The day of her agreed meeting with Semilis had finally arrived.

“Semilis, I'm here!”

“Ohoho~ I thought you wouldn't show up! You actually didn't run away. How commendable your courage is~!”

Near the lake in the forest,

Semilis was floating leisurely over the water as she teased her.

“Hmph, I would never run away! On the contrary, Semilis, are you ready to accept your defeat?”

Unfazed by Semilis's teasing, Shulim declared directly, without a change in expression.

“Oh...”

Semilis looked at Shulim in surprise.

“I feel like you've changed from a month ago...”

“Of course! I have achieved unprecedented growth. I am now a mature adult!”

“Pfft—!”

Semilis clutched her stomach, doing her best to hold back her laughter as she muttered rapidly:

“Pfft~! A mature adult? You've only grown a tiny bit. Judging by how carried away you are, you're clearly still a little baby~!”

Shulim asked: “Semilis, did you say something?”

“Ahem... nothing at all!”

“Well then! Since you didn't choose to run, it is time to fulfill our contract! Shulim, show me the fruits of your hard work!”

The wings behind Semilis radiated a faint glow as she announced loudly.

However, a sly grin played at the corners of her lips.

How could anyone possibly master all seven basic elements of magic? From the very start, you had no chance of winning this bet, Shulim. I've already seen right through your bluff!

“Suits me perfectly! I will let you witness exactly what my efforts this month have achieved!”

Shulim also assumed her stance and shouted.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the forest grew tense.

“First, the first one!”

Shulim extended her right hand forward.

“First-Tier fire magic: Ignition!”

“【ᛓᚠᛟᚾᚲתᛖᛜᚢᚪᛖᛡᛞᚠᛟᛃᛜᚣᚲ】”

As she chanted the spell, a tiny spark of flame successfully lit up on Shulim's fingertip.

“How's that, Semilis!”

“Uh...”

Semilis's smile stiffened slightly.

“I-I suppose you pass the first one.”

At the same time, she comforted herself inwardly. It was just a single spell. As long as one spent a bit of effort, mastering it within a month was no big deal. No need to worry, no need to worry.

Looking at the next spell, there was no way she could cast it, right?

Semilis thought confidently, her smile returning to her lips.

“Next is the second one!”

Here it comes! Let me see you fail and make a fool of yourself, Shulim!

“【ᛣᛏᚠᚷᛜᛣᛃᛗᛡᛁᚾᛗᛚᚪᛜᛈᛒᚱᚪ】”

“Water Current!”

A stream of clear, flowing water shot out from Shulim's index finger.

Uh... she actually cast it?

Semilis's eyes widened, her smile freezing on her face.

She started to panic a bit in her mind.

Was this kid actually a dual-attribute mage?! To think she had initiated into two attributes in just a single month—she really had worked hard!

“Semilis, how's that?”

“Uh, I... I suppose you pass the second one too! But don't get ahead of yourself. The real show begins now. Don't think you can cast the third spell as well. It would be better for you to give up early; I won't mock you—”