Chapter 711: Two down, Sending them off... (1/2)

The death of the Forest Witch was silent but it's effects are not.

With her gone, the malicious air within the swamp was halved, the only remaining one was that of Wendy's.

Along with the rotting of the Forest Witch's body thanks to Wendy's string of curses and hexes, the Great Tree that gave birth to the forest witch withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Though she came out as the winner of this battle, Wendy was exhausted. Her energy was drained, she could only stare as the Great Tree withered, holding her sister's body close in her best attempt to prevent her sister's body from withering as well.

Wendy's eyes were dull, she was truly exhausted. In the end, she managed to beat the odds and kill her worst enemy - the Forest Witch. Unfortunately, it would seem that she still failed to achieve her goal of saving her sister.

”This is what you wanted right? I've done it. I killed her.” Wendy uttered softly. She didn't have to speak loud since she knows that the human could hear her. ”With my current state, I'm no longer a threat to you or your kind. Please, just give her back. She suffered enough.”

Moments later, she heard a movement behind her. Wendy didn't need to look back to know who it is. She knows that it was the human boy who used her.

That's right. Wendy knew all along. No, Vendrick never told her the truth, she just realized it on her own. Yet she still went along with his plans. She allowed herself to be used, even at the slightest. Why did she do it? It's simple really.

Even though this human used her, she knew that he's more trustworthy compared to the Forest Witch. Wendy would rather throw her lot to him rather than that witch.

”...”

From the moment Vendrick stepped out of his base, he didn't say a word. There was no need to for now. His face was expressionless, it's hard to tell what exactly he was thinking.

Vendrick remained quiet. Wendy finally looked back and saw that he was holding something. It looked like a lantern that's lit up with blue flames. The moment Wendy saw that blue flame, she could no longer pay any attention to anything else.

Under her gaze, Vendrick lifted the lantern and slowly opened it. The moment he does, the blue flame grew larger, forming a silhouette that Wendy was oh so familiar with.

”Big Sis.” Maria wept.

”Ah! Come, come. Let me see you.” Wendy was weeping as well.

Finally, after all this time. Wendy was finally reunited with her sister. Granted that it wasn't the most optimal state, Wendy still wept tears of joy and relief. Maria was alive, that's what's important. She could hear her voice, her memories are intact, and she could see her clearly. She's there. That's enough.

”It's been hard on you throughout all these years. I'm sorry for being such a burden.” Maria wept, feeling heartbroken upon seeing what Wendy became just to help her. Nobody knows how many nights Maria blamed herself for this situation.

”Shh. It's not your fault. It's not your fault. You're here, alive. That's all that's important.” Wendy said, she wanted to touch Maria but unfortunately she can't. Maria is in her spirit form and Wendy's body wrapped in hexes.

Wendy was afraid that she would hurt Maria so she didn't want to touch her. It was fine like this anyway. So long as she could see her, that's enough.

”...cleaning up this place is going to take a long time. Geez.”

Their little reunion was interrupted by a sudden comment from Vendrick. They both looked at him and saw that he was looking around the swamp with an already exhausted expression. He then looked at them, more specifically, he looked at Wendy.

In the end, he sighed and a bolt of lightning streaked from his finger, piercing Wendy's chest much to the utter horror of Maria.

”W-what...” Maria blanked out. She stared at Wendy's body who's dissipating in ashes. Despair overcome her heart as she cried. ”That was cruel. Can't you have just given us a little more time?”

”Calm down, woman. I didn't kill her. At least not yet.” Vendrick snorted, ”I just made her like you.”

”E-eh!? What do you...”

”W-what's going on?”

It wan Wendy's voice that interrupted her. Maria turned around and saw something shocked her.