Who said physical activity was a requirement for a slim and dainty waist—not I.

I swear the fool who concocted the scheme of workout routines and gyms to sponge money off the populace was a conniving toolbag. Never would I waste cash on developing masculine muscles. I'm a woman for Verdina's sake, I don't lift weights. Instead, I seduce and coerce men into completing my tasks. A rotten woman to the core, whatever.

Tendrils of darkness swooped towards me, attempting to devour my body by force. Nothing more than a pathetic attempt. I waved my hand, releasing bursts of darkness energy to deflect the attack.

"Erwin, do you honestly think that will work?" I laughed and pivoted to stare at his approaching visage.

"I've heard the rumors, never thought I'd see it in the flesh. A Witch capable of fighting on equal grounds against a Wizard," he said before sending another, but stronger wave of energy at my direction.

I subdued the barrage with a seamless transition of bursts. "The skill wasn't worth the training," I drawled. The memories of my mother's terrible and drastic teachings flew to the forefront. "It's become a habit for our family to throw the youngins to the lions. So you must try harder, Erwin dear."

My feet carried me forward without hesitation. Sitting and waiting gave Erwin the opportunity to use his earth attribute against me. I entwined the darkness, threading it into bundles and sent the energy flying towards Erwin like a spear of doom. Yet, the profound and gifted man created a shield with darkness to fend off the straightforward attack.

A single thought and a flick of my wrist caused the spear to mutate and curve upwards. The energy frayed, expanding into individual fibers to surround Erwin. They encircled him, darting inwards from every direction.

Still, the strike failed as he amplified his defenses, his own energy surging forth to create a giant protective dome. My attack bounced off and diminished with the fuel consumed.

Instantly, he dropped the barrier, sending an earthen wave to my right.

I teetered, but regained my footing. The energy created a rigid wall, separating me from his storage device.

A single moment and the battle's flow shifted. Invisible hands grabbed and dragged me down. The force exerted on my spine increased tenfold, pushing me to the ground. I clasped my thighs, using the position to stabilize my body and reduce the stress. The barrier layer dwindled, but I channeled more energy to fight the gravity.

I lost.

He confined my movements, clenching my teeth, I braced for the impact soon to follow. My body flung sideways, a boulder of earth smashing into my stomach.

I rolled across the floor, my lungs squelched and my breathing crippled. My head spun and the dim whiteness that fluctuated around me wavered. The pain crept from my tiptoes to my face, enveloping me in a state far beneath my status.

"Bastard," I wheezed, watching my fingers tremble before my eyes.

Erwin pursued my beaten carcass. His clean brand name shoes eye-level and ever so close. "I'll admit, Lanna. I never took you for a foolish girl. My initial thought was to recruit you and your position. When that went wrong, I needed to remove you from my trail and the case. Instead of pushing you to the side by setting up an ambush, I should have just killed you."

An ambush? Did he mean the Orchard? He used Trevor to coordinate an attack on my heart. This man, I swear I'll stop my attraction to him after this—maybe. I mean yeah, he could kill me, right here right now even. Yet, the allure he oozed buried me deep.

"If I'm foolish." I choked, coughing into the floor for relief. "Why bother with me?"

"Given your background and the stories, I thought you'd be easy." Erwin crouched down and lifted a strand of my hair. "We're alike, Lanna. I hunger for power as it gives me freedom. Who would dare apprehend me? And you, you strive for the same freedom, but achieve it by sacrifice." He dropped his hand to stroke my cheek. "I could have freed you from that loneliness," he murmured.

"You're a sick man."

Erwin smiled. "Looks like our differences are too great."

He stood, towering over me, the energy flowing inside of him shifted and I knew the end was near. Sebastian you dumb cat where are you when I need you? Are those pitiful Wizards and Normals Erwin employed a difficult ordeal for the mighty Leviathan? You mocked and hackled me for my weaknesses. Yet, the grand magnanimous you isn't here when you're needed the most.

Perhaps dying would be better. I'll become a ghost and haunt him. My side will stop throbbing and I'll enjoy the good life of making that furball miserable each day. I can't imagine how deplorable my flattened sprawled out body looks. Thank Verdina's fortunate Gods I'm not wearing a dress.

"What?" Erwin murmured as the floor quivered.

"Took him long enough." I laughed, my cheek flush with the ground, but my gaze was glued to the approaching rumble.

The wall exploded into pieces as Sebastian charged into the room. A high pitched screech filled the area, numbing my eardrums. He soared to life, head elongating over the technology crammed racks. His lean body flowed through the space, knocking and crashing the black boxes.

My breathing halted as I felt Erwin's magic forming above my head.

"Stop!" Erwin yelled. "Or your Master dies."

"You think Seb will listen to you? I'd say, you better run instead."

Sebastian inched forward unfazed by Erwin's looming threat. He made a single miscalculation, believing I controlled Sebastian was a fatal mistake. A Leviathan, a mythical ranked beast. If someone at my level of mastery could chain this beast, I wouldn't have lost the one-on-one fight with a three attribute Wizard.

"Our familiar bond is special," I added. "He doesn't need me alive."

The giant rock above my head dwindled in size. Flecks of falling dust and bits of earth rained on my body as reality and my words dawned on Erwin. His spell was self combusting. Soon, the dramatic ending he created for myself would be destroyed. Only one question remained: would his composure return before the energy dissipated?

Erwin's feet retreated an inch as he stared at my monstrous companion. A step more combined with the pebbles and debris coating my body, and Erwin turned, racing from the room.

I craned my neck to look at Sebastian. "A little late."

"Weak." Sebastian sent the dribble telepathically to my mind. His mammoth size vocal cords would tear my eardrums one step further if he spoke.

"Shut up. Not everyone can transform into a dangerous beast with immense energy pockets. Leave this chick alone." I plopped my head back onto the floor. Ice water caressed my open toes, wetting my legs and spreading to encircle my head. The entire floor was becoming Sebastian's playpen. "Gross. Can you at least control your own excrements?"

"My energy isn't dirty," he hissed. His feet stomped near me, his head hovering over my body. "Shall I chase?"

"Oh for the love of Verdina, are you asking me for an order? Are you okay? Did you hit your head? Seb, I'm worried about you. Tell big sister all of your problems."

The room's temperature plummeted and the water level rose above my mouth. I lifted my chin to avoid in taking his climate control. "Can you please stop that, or do you want me to drown?"

"Drown dumb Witch."

"So cruel," I whimpered and crawled onto my knees. "Anyway, see that green glowing tube. We need to destroy that and skedaddle."

"The collected energy?"

"Yup, looks disgusting, doesn't it?"

"Such is the energy of Witches and Wizards."

"Please, we both know we're a special breed. Still," I paused, my gaze mesmerized by the dangerous fountain before me, "I never knew raw energy would look like that. What do you think will happen to it when it's released? Since the signatures are still attached would the energy return, or dissipate?"

"Energy can't return unless called. There's no instructions attached. With so many attributes intermixed, expect the worst scenario."

"Uh, so an explosion. I'm too young to die."