One-Eyed Monster

Biggs nervously looked at Bigas, unable to tell if she was excited or terrified. Unnaturally, she stammered out a terribly soft-spoken sentence, so quiet that probably only Bigas could hear.

The words from her mouth were a greeting. Specifically, she asked, ”Is the Teacher doing well?”

Bigas picked up the deep affection tinged with shame in this greeting.

”The Teacher often mentions you, senior sister. She always says she doesn’t know how her special disciple is doing these days.”

...The Great Witch swallowed nervously, feeling greatly flattered.

”I truly don’t understand why the Teacher favors you so much, senior sister. I truly don’t.” Bigas’s words were immediately filled with indignation and a hint of resentment.

Biggs herself didn’t understand either.

She recalled that it had been nearly fifteen years since she left the Sanctuary.

Over these fifteen years, she had slowly forgotten her original reason for leaving. Her spirit was gradually worn down by reality, and she had become content to be an ordinary witch. Being hailed as the ”Great All-Capable Witch of Gaga County” was enough to make her abandon her once immense pride and fawn over low-ranking politicians of the Empire... A pang of pain shot through the Great Witch’s heart at these thoughts. She felt she no longer had the face to confront the fact that she was once Teacher Vivian’s disciple.

”The Teacher often uses the Crystal Ball for Divination, and she is very eager to know your whereabouts. But she always comes up empty-handed. I am also confused, senior sister. Have you learned the Hunter’s skills and hidden yourself from the world?” Bigas’s tone was warmer than before, like a cold piece of ice melting into water. Though there was some warmth, it was still chilling to the bone.

This wave of coldness seeped into the heart of the Great Witch Biggs. Teacher Vivian’s concern made her feel deeply ashamed. She had long forgotten her initial resolve and had cast herself aside long ago. But in reality, the Teacher still held expectations for her. Even though the Teacher had been cold when she left, thinking back now, she realized it had been the Teacher’s decisiveness.

She faintly remembered what Great Mentor Vivian had said then. That day was serene, the wind gentle, the clouds thin, and the sky a vast expanse of blue.

Teacher Vivian said there was nothing left she could teach her there.

Those words—that there was nothing more to teach her—hadn’t deeply affected Witch Biggs at the time. Now, however, she was filled with complex emotions. The passage of time had made her forget many things, and momentary comfort had made her lose her drive for knowledge. She became more concerned about her influence. Even for a small, insignificant county, she spared no effort to shape her image.

It was rather strange; she was clearly avoiding something, avoiding a reality. As Teacher Vivian’s disciple, she had been unable to comprehend the breakthroughs for Wizard advancement for a long time. This reality had always made her feel guilty. It was a joke, and she couldn’t let this joke spread throughout the Empire, no matter what. Hence, after careful consideration, she chose to leave the Sanctuary. Firstly, she felt she needed to go out and see the world to understand the mysteries of Wizards and nature. Secondly, she wanted to keep the joke that was herself far away from the Sanctuary and Teacher Vivian.

This way, it’s better for both of us, she would always tell herself whenever she thought about it. Of course, each time, she would feel ashamed for a long while.

Perhaps this shame had made her lose her original ambition, changing her original plans. She no longer cared about advancing, only about influence. She discovered in Gaga County that influence could also allow a nameless person to advance to become a high-level Adventurer with Class. Not to mention, the former mayor of Liuli City, to which Gaga County was subordinate, was a classic example...

The secular world’s gaze had robbed the Great Witch Biggs of the sharpness she possessed in the Sanctuary. She took a winding path and gradually forgot herself completely. She dared not write to her mentor, nor speak to anyone of her youthful experiences. She spent her days circling the Crystal Ball and Spirit Book, slowly becoming hunched. Due to Equivalent Exchange, her face also aged. Though only middle-aged, she gradually began to look like an elderly person nearing her twilight years...

”Senior sister, I’m also perplexed. Why are you on this mountain? Do you also know what secrets this mountain holds?” Bigas’s words pulled Biggs back from her endless contemplation, and she could no longer bear to reminisce about those tedious memories.

”I... I don’t know what happened.” The Great Witch spoke truthfully but still concealed some things—things too difficult to voice, things she felt were better left unsaid to Bigas. After all, word of her being ordered about by a lowly Politician like Rostellum would tarnish the Sanctuary’s reputation...

”This mountain, seemingly ordinary and weather-beaten, is now on the verge of collapse. Bigas, you know what we should and shouldn’t do. Don’t forget who we are,” Estev tried to remind Bigas of their current predicament, although he inwardly felt his efforts were futile.

”I told you, don’t speak unless I ask you to. Considering your severed arm, I’ll let it slide this time, Estev!” At Estev’s words, the aloof Bigas became as frigid as a mountaintop again. The ice in her demeanor, which had begun to thaw, instantly refroze with a sharp CRACKLE.

Milo silently watched all of this unfold. He was not good at verbal arguments and had never had a positive impression of Bigas. They had a brief, exploratory skirmish at the tavern entrance before, where he found that the title of Six-Element Sage was indeed well-deserved, though it wasn’t enough to instill fear in him.

At this moment, he glanced at his nearby companions and saw they had all clenched their fists. Wizards and Alchemists had always been at odds. Now, the holders of the Alchemy Workshop’s Golden Seats were also eager for action. They wanted to know what kind of prowess this arrogant Wizard, one of the Six-Element Sages, possessed.

Milo said, ”We can’t waste precious time!” He felt they could delay no longer. Previously, he had respected Estev’s persistence, but now that Estev had a reinforcement, there was no need for Milo’s group to wait any longer.

”Did I permit you mongrels to speak?” Bigas’s voice rose sharply, an intimidating aura rushing towards them.

Accompanying this aura was a wave of ice that raced across the ground.

Seeing this, Brad, without a word, infused his arm with Berserk energy. With a dull THUD, he shattered the rapidly approaching ice wall.

After Brad’s attack, Joela stepped forward. He flicked his palm, and in an instant, numerous stones shot up into the air before him, flying straight towards Bigas and Biggs.

”How dare you be so disrespectful to my junior sister!” This time, the one who shouted first was not any Witch Spirit, but the Great Witch Biggs. She lifted both hands, and instantly a whirlwind formed, sweeping Joela’s stones into the sky...

Biggs herself didn’t know how she had summoned this wind elemental, but she unexpectedly discovered that she had inadvertently mastered some wind skills...

”So, senior sister has advanced to become a wind-type...” There was a hint of a smile in Bigas’s words, as if she was quite appreciative of Witch Biggs.

Finally, Biggs felt a wave of gratification in her heart. Thank goodness, I’m still somewhat useful. I haven’t disgraced the Sanctuary!

She even felt an impulse to declare to everyone on the mountaintop, ”Yes, I am Bigas’s senior sister!”