I recently found out that the King of my Awertaton Kingdom sold human organs as a profit. It was especially wicked since he was praying on children. I tried to bring him to justice, but the Witches guild stopped me and even said that they would punish me. They were supposed to be one of the justice pillars of all of our society, but they knew the king's dealings and did nothing to stop him. My faith in them was shaken. I always imagined them as something great, an organization meant to inspire us all and lead us to the right path, but it could actually be the opposite.

I felt regret that I had to leave the king with his dealings, but maybe one day I'll find a way to fix it. Two days after I left the Awertaton Kingdom weren't anything special. I just walked towards the south and rested at inns during the night. Even though it could sound boring it was still fun for me because I've never gone on a trip. Everything was new to me and I liked the feeling of going on an adventure.

Today was sunny and I felt the sun's warmth on my skin. As I walked in the sun, I noticed that it was especially hot today. It was spring, yet the heat felt like it was summer. I even started sweating a little. The unusual heat helped me clear my thoughts a little. Worrying about the king now when I can't do anything won't do any good, but the first time I get the chance I will take some action against his evil.

As I was making my way towards the north, I encountered an unbelievable scene. There was a red-haired guy standing near a pile of junk. He was looking at it and the fire started on its own. It was as though he used magic, but men can't cast magic, only chosen women. I rubbed my eyes to confirm that what I was seeing was right.

People usually burnt junk to get rid of it efficiently and there was nothing strange about it. In my village, it was my duty to get rid of the unnecessary things using my fire spells but others would have to light a flame using tools. Yet this person was standing near a fire that started on its own and it got even stronger while he was looking at it without doing any interventions.

"Excuse me!"I called out to him.

He jumped as though he was in a panic when he saw me.

"Hello lady! It is rare to see people pass by these parts. Are you perhaps lost?" he asked me.

He had very strange eyes. I've never seen such colour. They were a mixture of red and gold and somehow they reminded me of dancing flames.

"No. I'm on a journey through this main road towards north just as I planned," I answered keeping my calm despite his strange appearance.

"A journey, all by yourself?" he looked at me with eyes full of doubt.

"Yes. I am a witch and I just started my journey," I explained.

"A witch on a journey? I heard about it, but I didn't know that the old costume was still upheld. You must have turned 20 recently?" he asked me.

"Yes. My birthday was 3 days ago,"I said.

"Did you perhaps come from Awerataton?" he seemed interested in questioning me.

"Yes, but I am in no way associated with the king there," I guarded myself.

"Is your name Calytrix, perhaps?" he asked.

"...yes"I lost my composure for a second but I quickly got it back. "I see that you heard of my great magical achievements," I said feeling full of myself and explaining that's how he knew my name.

I was the only witch in the larger area so people must have admired my magic and rumors spread so far away. It is true that I didn't yet have a great accomplishment, but simply being a witch could be impressive to others.

"I haven't heard about your achievements, but I was chosen as a fiancée of a witch named Calytrix from Aweratoton," he calmly said.

I felt like lightning struck me. This suspicious man was my fiancé, Leo that never tried to contact me before and now I accidentally found him.

"You never answered any of my letters, why?" he asked me.

"Letters? I never received a letter."

"But I sent many of them,"he tried to justify himself.

It sounded like a lie to me, but I didn't want to dwell on it too much. From the start, I never expected anything from an arranged engagement, especially since the witch's guild messenger told me that costume isn't upheld anymore.

"Anyway, what's the deal with your red hair? People blessed by the fire spirit usually have some red strands of hair, but yours is completely red. It is as if though you were a reincarnation of the fire spirit."It was my turn to ask questions."And I saw that fire started on its own."

"Calytrix, only witches can use magic. There is no way that the fire started on its own," Leo explained.

"You are lying, were are your tools with whom you lit the fire?" I asked.

"I accidentally dropped them in the fire," he said.

"That's also a lie. I am sure there are no tools in the fire,"I said.

He must have thought that his lie was full proof since it would take a long time for the fire to die out, but he didn't take into account the things a witch can do.

"Eautenus extinxisti flammae," I cast a spell that completely extinguished the flames.

"See! There are no tools to be seen," I said.

Leo scratched his head and let out a nervous laugh."Oh, the fire must have been very strong that it melted everything."

As I was looking at Leo with suspicion, I saw a tall shadowy figure walking towards us. The man was dressed a faded black cloak that covered his entire body and face.

"Hello there, fire magic users." The man uncovered his face. He had short wavy black hair and intense blue eyes. His skin complexion was very fair and somehow his face looked handsome. Akios was his name. At that moment I remembered everything.

This was only a dream. I never met the human Leo when I started my journey, but I was glad that I got to see him again, although it was only in a fleeting dream and I wished to dream a little bit longer.

I wasn't actively controlling my dream, but it was a nice dream. This time I didn't make a contract with Akios. Leo's mansion and everyone there was safe. The world was still in danger and of course, I wanted to do something, but making a contract with Akios wasn't a necessary step.

Akios was angry that I refused his offer and teleported us to the lake where we met Rheya. This time we quickly realized her true colors and stopped her from becoming a black magic witch by murder. We also freed her slave girls who came to their senses that what Rheya did to them was wrong.

"I'll remember this,"Rheya and I parted ways the same way we did in reality, but I think she would do much less damage to everyone now that she didn't become a witch.

After Rheya angrily ran away, Leo and almost immediately met count Valerius. He made a contract with Akios and Andrezey and told me that it was a shame I didn't join them. Leo and I agreed that we would look for a way to close the black holes in our own way. Valerius introduced us to the barrel prince, Frederick. Rheya's fiancé was very annoying, but we did talk some sense into him.

As were making our way towards Art town my entire vision went blurry and everything was wrapped in darkness. I was completely alone in a distorted world.

Dark. Darkness was everywhere I looked. I was alone. Leo wasn't by my side anymore. Of course, he wasn't. Leo died and I only dreamt of traveling with a human Leo. That never happened and will never happen. It was only proper for the dead to rest in peace.

I felt a bit lonely, but the biggest problem was the darkness around me. I tried calling forth flames, but my magic wouldn't work. There was no path or anything to be seen, but I walked in the dark hoping I'd see something other than darkness. Suddenly my whole body was shaking and I heard Akios's words. "Calytrix, wake up! Wake up!" My eyelids felt heavy and I couldn't move them.

Some time passed but I manage to open my eyes and saw pitch-black darkness in front of me. Akios dragged me sideways from the bed.

I quickly regained my senses and saw that a black hole spread to the bed I was just recently sleeping on. Blackness consumed everything at that spot, but it luckily stopped.

"That was a close call, but I'm glad you're safe,"Akios sounded like an ally of justice.

Somehow at that moment Akios looked quite dashing and his handsome face was close to mine. I felt like my cheeks were burning.

"Why did a black hole appear?"I asked while creating a distance from his face to calm myself.

"I don't know, the rips in the fabric of time and space appear randomly once a single crack in the world appears," he answered.

I hope they don't show up in my village. As much as I wanted to help there was nothing I could do but to rely on Akios and Andrezey.

"I see that you're worried Calytrix, but don't be. As promised master Andrezey is working on closing the black holes with the elemental spirits and your world should be saved today,"Akios said with a smile."But Calytrix don't you realize there was someone there eager to meet you. It stuck with ever since it managed to materialize," After Akios said it I looked around me.

A small ball of flame was moving in the air around me. It was very weak, but it was a kind flame.

"Fire spirit?"I asked.

It moved around the air like it was dancing. I guess that meant yes. The spirit probably couldn't talk yet because it was recovering its strength. The state it was in now felt like it was at its beginning stage of existence. As though it was a baby fire spirit.

If only I met the spirit in more favorable circumstances. In an ordinary situation, it would bring me extreme joy and it would be a great reason to celebrate, but with everything that was happening, there was no time to relax.

I wondered how much of Leo was left there in the fire spirit. It was difficult to comprehend that Leo was a human reincarnation of the fire spirit.

"Calytrix, fire spirit, let's go and meet up with the others,"Akios suggested.

"Sure,"I answered.

The fire spirit moved in the air mimicking a nod.

Akios teleported us to a dark place where black holes spread all around us. The fire spirit came very close to my face while we looked at the dreadful scenery.

"Where are we?"I asked Akios.

"An underground cave where the rips first appeared,"Akios explained.

"Big sister, Akios, you're here!"Andrezey greeted us from behind."And I see the fire spirit is with you,"Andrezey said with a light smile.

The strange, creepy cave and its eerie atmosphere were similarly uncomfortable to dark magic, yet it felt like a completely different menace. I didn't feel Andrezey's strong magic nor the powers of the elemental spirits because of it.

"The other spirits will be here soon too,"As Andrezey said that I felt a strange breeze of wind pass us by."The air spirit is already here,"Andrezey immediately remarked.

Soon after a rift in the ground appeared from which an earth golem came out. It marked the arrival of the earth spirit.

The elemental spirits were the strongest entities, yet the dark atmosphere of many black holes together made it impossible to notice anything besides them.

"Now that the elemental spirits gathered we can start,"Andrezey announced.

The water spirit didn't come. It stayed true to its words that it wouldn't lend us strength. I looked around for it but there was no trace of it. Our world was in danger and all the other spirits gathered, yet the water spirit was the only one holding a grudge. It wouldn't be a lie to say that I also had a grudge against Akios, but I was still here, trying to do the right thing.

Akios suddenly lightly patted me on the back. "Everything will be fine from now on," he said."We'll have to borrow your strength too. Only with everyone's magic, we'll be able to close the black holes."

I didn't mind lending my strength in order to save my world. In fact, I'd be very proud and I wouldn't mind the pain from extracting my magic.

Andrezey drew a magical pentagram with white chalk on the rock-solid ground. He stood on one of the edges of the star while the wind and the earth spirit also position themselves on the other edges of the drawn star. The fire spirt also left my side to join the others. Its flame got stronger and brighter in preparation for the powerful spell. There was one empty spot for the water spirit.

"Calytrix, Akios, focus your magical energy on the empty spot," Andrezey ordered us.

"Yes, master,"Akios replied and did what he was told.

I wonder if all of our strengths combined would be enough for the menace.

"Calytrix, stop daydreaming and focus your magical energy,"Akios demanded.

I was surprised that he didn't try to extract my magic. It was a pleasant surprise and I also did what I was told. There was no reason to refuse. Doing the opposite would make me a villain of my world.

Preparations for the spell were like a hard endurance game. All of us focused the most we could and had to remain in the same position with the same concentration. I think that a lot of time passed, but I couldn't say for sure because there was no way to measure time in this dark place using any natural method.

"Calytrix, endure a bit longer,"Akios said.

I simply nodded to his words and continued my focus. Andrezey started chanting something in a strange language and the black holes around us started vibrating and shaking. I didn't know whether that was a good or a bad sign. Andrezey didn't let anything bother him and calmly continued his chant. Akios was calm and collected as he waited for the situation to unfold.

During the spell chant, the vibrations got stronger and for a while, I felt like there was an earthquake. The spirits calmly focused on the spell without taking too much note of the surroundings so I also followed their examples.

As the spell got stronger the vibrations also got stronger but everybody tried hard to keep focus. I noticed that the black holes were becoming smaller and some even disappeared. The spell was working. If this continues my world could get rid of all the holes. It'll be safe. Everything should be fine now, but the fire spirit was getting smaller during the spell. It was losing more and more of its leftover strength and I feared it might disappear completely. I didn't want it to go.

"Just a little bit more," Akios told me.

I nodded again feeling a strange mix of feelings. On one hand, I was very happy that it should all be solved now, but on the other hand, I was anxious whether it would work, and the black holes won't appear ever again.

The spirits increased the strength they put in the spell and ground violently shook. I immediately lost balance and fell down. Light also disappeared and got replaced with complete darkness. I lost all of my focus and felt that the spell was broken off. The eerie atmosphere was still present and I felt trapped in it. I didn't know what to do in a situation like this. My automatic reaction was to rub my eyes and I slowly opened them again.

My vision was back again and there were no black holes around us. The strong magic I felt wasn't from the black holes, it was from the spirits, Andrezey and Akios. Such a massive concentration of magical power made me uneasy, but the atmosphere felt better now that there were no black holes around.

Akios and Andrezey were looking at me while the small fire spirit flame rubbed itself on my cheek. It was a nice tickly feeling. The spirit cuddled only a little before it went deeper in the cave.

"This is farewell, big sister," Andrezey said.

"The black holes are completely closed off now and gone from this world," Akios explained.

"It is gone? The black matter menace threatening everything is completely gone now?" I asked still in doubt.

"Yes,"Andrezey smiled at me."Your world is safe from the threat of the Princess of Darkness."

"Isn't that great Calytrix? You should be glad now you lend us your strength," Akios said."Overjoyed even."

I did make a magical contract. Akios borrowed my magic energy twice via extraction, but I don't feel like I really contributed. Most of the time I was left in the dark not knowing anything that was going on and I never got a chance to be really active. At the time when Akios and I went to talk with the water spirit, I wasn't the one negotiating. It was Akios and the negotiation went terrible, but even without it the rest of the spirits had enough power.

"We might meet again, I'll be sure to check on your world after a while," Andrezey said.

"Thank you, Andrezey," I said.

He was a strange kid and a strange powerful existence between a demon and a human, but I got the feeling that he wasn't bad.

"Bye, bye, Calytrix, Akios," Those were Andrezey's last words before he teleported.

The spirits also went their separate ways out of the cave. The menace was bow gone and everything should be fine with my world. Akios and I were the only ones left.

"As Andrezey said this is farewell Calytrix,"Akios said."My dear pupil."

"A pupil and a teacher? I don't think we ever acted like that,"I said.

"There were times I tried to give you advice,"Akios tried to explain himself.

"Why did you decide to call yourself my teacher?"I asked him.

"I was looking for a witch to make a magical contract with and you were the most suitable candidate, an inexperienced magic user. As an older an experienced magic-user it would only be right to call myself a teacher,"Akios said.

"Unexperienced? I was born with magic. I used it my whole life,"I felt offended.

"There is a difference between being self-taught and trained by someone,"Akios said."There was nobody to teach you and although you did a great job at learning by yourself there are still parts about using magic that you need help with to become more powerful,"

"I understand your point and I wouldn't dwell on this too much because but there are still a few unknown points about our meeting I want to ask about," I said.

"Since this is farewell and everything went well ask me anything and I'll answer truthfully," he offered.

"Why did you make a contract with someone like me, whom you consider a novice and not an experienced witch?" I asked.

"Andrezey and I were searching for the fire spirit and a witch ally at the time you started your journey. We came to Leo's mansion when it was too late. The princess of darkness covered the entire mansion in ice and froze Leo who was a human reincarnation of the fire spirit. But you were around at that time and there aren't many witches in your world, so I thought I'd try to make a contract with you," Akios explained.

"I guess I showed up there at the wrong time."

"No, I think you showed up at the exactly right time,"Akios said looking determined that what he said was right.

"You know a lot of facts about my world. How did you learn all of it?" I continued questioning Akios.

"I listened to rumors, all the latest gossip wherever I was and we had the help of one of the founding witches of your world's guild,"Akios said everything in a calm manner.

"A founding witch of the Witches' guild? Who was she? What's her name? I know you cut ties with the Witches' guild, but why?"I asked quickly.

"Calm down, Calytrix. I know you're excited to hear about a powerful witch from your world, but she wasn't anything special." He gestured with his hand while he said it, "She wasn't particularly strong. Only around my strength and she tricked us."

"Tricked you?"

"She used the first chance she got to slip through a portal through another world and stayed there. She abandoned your world, Calytrix. From the moment she heard about the black holes she looked for a way out. For a way to save only herself,"Akios explained.

"I wished my world had better witches,"I said with a sigh.

"There is a good witch I know,"Akios suddenly said something positive.

"Really? Where is she? What is her name?" I asked.

"I'm not telling,"Akios said with a wink.

His wink made me angry but I didn't say anything bad to him because he did help my world. It was rather interesting that someone so sketchy became a savior.

"Do you have any more questions?" he asked me.

"There is still one more thing that needs to be cleared,"I said."The one who invited me to Leo's mansions was you. The letters the postman gave to me were from you?"

"I didn't write any of the letters, it really was Leo when he was alive. I found them in the mansion, but I did give them to Valerius to hand it over to you as an invitation. I cast a charm spell on them so that you'd feel attracted to go to the place specified in them,"

"There was a spell on the letters? I never noticed it," I said as I tried to recollect everything.

"You weren't supposed to notice it, because I'm an excellent mage,"Akios boasted.

"And about Valerius. I can't remember his face at all. Did you also make me forget it by magic?" I said.

Akios laughed a bit before answering."No. I guess Valerius just has a forgettable face."

"But the barrel prince said that Valerius was a very handsome man. When I met him for the second time, which I thought was our first meeting he was dressed in full armor with his helmet on the entire time," I explained.

"I have no idea why Valerius hid his face and I don't really care. But Calytrix are you sure that you can nickname a royal with the word barrel? I guess the time you spend with me had an effect on you after all."Akios said with a strange look on his face.

"The barrel prince is very fat, his personality didn't seem nice and that's how Rheya called him,"

"Rheya?"Akios looked like he was remembering something, "She's your black magic witch friend we met in Firesworth?"

"We're not friends!" I said in a loud voice.

"Don't get angry. I wanted us to part in a happy way,"Akios said.

"You're leaving my world for good now?" When I asked it, I felt a pang of sadness. I think that by now I got used to Akios showing up at all sorts of times and places.

"Yes. Thanks to intervention in your world I found a solution to my problem," he said.

"I don't get it. What does saving or destroying my world mean to you?"I asked.

"You don't need to know everything," he replied as he started ruffling my hair.

As I was fighting back for him to stop messing with my hair Akios said."Calytrix, the witches in your world go on a journey to find a place in the world. Did you already find out what you want to do?"Akios asked.

"About that...I still don't know, but..."I paused.

"I understand it's difficult for a young person to find a path in life, but you should have a general idea. If you still don't have one you should look within yourself and think carefully." For the first time, Akios sounded like a teacher.

"Well...I found a lot of new interesting things and learned a lot during the time I traveled so I thought I want to see and learn more for now," I explained.

"I also heard that it is forbidden for witches to go back home, but considering the new situation in your world the world I'm sure you could go back home,"Akios said.

"I can't go back home, " I said with a downcast look. As much as my house was dear to me and although I loved my parents and the friend I had I couldn't go back, because the only future I could imagine there was sitting there in one place and not doing anything satisfying.

"I also left my home, but one day I'll surely go back,"Akios said with a sad gaze.

"Akios, are you sad?"

"Surely not, it's just the moisture in this cave. We should get going. Let's part our ways outside,"Akios suggested and pushed me forward.

It was raining outside the cave and the sun was shining at the same time. An occurrence like this was rare, but not entirely impossible. I've seen it happen a few times in my village. We were outside in some unfamiliar forest clearing, but there was a familiar, warm spirit waiting there. The fire spirit was again in its small version and it started circling around me.

"Looks like it took a liking to you. You should be safe if you travel with the fire spirit and for your next destination I'd recommend the kingdom just north from here,"Akios suggested.

"Do you want to travel with me?"I asked the fire spirit.

It happily danced around me and I interpreted it as a yes.

"Farewell Calytrix, fire spirit,"Akios said his goodbyes.

"See you later," I said.

Akios gave me a strange look just before he teleported, and I realized I said something very strange. Why did I say something like see you later? This was supposed to be a farewell. I was supposed to greet him and perhaps wish him the best of luck as I'll never see him again. Yet there was a part of me expecting I'd see him soon. I had no idea why I felt this way. I guess I got to used to him.

"Akios suggested we go north, right fire spirit?"I said.

The spirit moved like it was mimicking a nod.

"But we won't go north. We'll go south,"I said."We don't need to listen to Akios and I was never really good with authority. If we really were a student and teacher I wouldn't listen to all of his orders just like I won't know."

The fire spirit listened to me and nodded.

"It's time to start my journey anew,"I said"Thank you for accompanying me."

The fire spirit happily danced around me.

I already spend a lot of time on my journey, but now that Akios, Andrezey, and the black holes are gone it felt like a got a fresh new start. The world isn't in danger anymore and it's in a normal state as it was supposed to be. The witches guild no longer exists and I still haven0t found out what I want to do, but I had a feeling like things should get better from now on.

Akios suggested I think about a general idea and I do agree with whit him, but even that was difficult. As a general idea, I know that I want to become a proper powerful witch and make potions and cast spells that will help others, but I wasn't sure exactly where and how I should do it. So far, I traveled by focusing on one problem at a time. The problem of black holes got solved and now as I journey I'll only focus on finding the stuff I think I would like to do in the future. I'll be able to travel leisurely now.

The fire spirit suddenly levitated fats in front of me and got back to me. It repeated it a few times like it wanted to tell me to follow it.

"I'm coming! I don't think there is a need to hurry, because my journey will probably take a long time,"I said to the fire spirit as he led the way.