The seeds we plant

Erick's POV:

- Are you sure it's here?

- Yes sir, there's no doubt about it.

A group of 5 elite soldiers and I approach a ramshackle hut in the middle of a swamp. The whole place seems infested with insects and some crocodiles watch us from a distance.

- Again I can't help but show my admiration for your protection or great Vulk spirit.

A little girl the size of my arm sits on my shoulder. The girl is white as snow with deep red hair and irises. Her dark red dress simply highlights her image as a fire spirit.

- Come on, you don't have to be so formal, you know? Besides, I'd like to tell you that flattery won't get you very far with me, young man.

- Yes...

I didn't know how to respond to that answer, as she dug her little elbow into my cheek. She smiled warmly at me as if she was watching her little son calling his mom cute. I really don't understand the great Vulk fire spirit. Despite the stories I was told as a child about these fearsome spirits who razed entire countries to cleanse them of the corruption that rotted them from within, I cannot see Vulk as one of these all-powerful beings. Ever since we signed the contract so I could obtain a fragment of Vulk's powers, she has behaved very familiarly with me. Despite her insistent requests that I drop the formality with her, I cannot allow myself to do that. I feel that the moment I give in on that front, I will totally forget that Vulk is currently a divine entity in this world that deserves worship and respect.

- Sir, we are close to the witch's lair, I advise you not to let your guard down or it could be dangerous.

- U-understood.

Glancing sideways at Vulk, she makes a sign and turns into a flame that after touching my hand turns into a pale red rapier covered in fire. Even though I know this is the so-called "Camael's great fire sword" I can't help but be disappointed when I see the thin blade of the rapier I hold. Even though I feel its power in my hand, I can't help but ask myself the same question.

- Why a rapier?

"Why? Obviously because the rapier is the most elegant weapon there is! Someone as beau… worthy as you can't wield anything other than a rapier."

- I feel that there is at least a great prejudice in your judgment, great Vulk spirit.

"Forget about the details!"

- Understood, great spirit.

While that conversation happens inside my head we continue moving forward until we are at the entrance of that cabin. The 3 knights in full armor who are in front of me look at each other and finally one decides to open the door. Seeing that nothing has happened after opening the door, the knights begin to enter.

- Wow, it was easier than I… Huh?

Before I could finish my sentence, the head of one of the 3 knights flies off his body and is suddenly grabbed by a dirty hand with long nails. The other 2 knights step back and stand on guard against his arrival.

- I thought I had warned the Ignus kingdom that as long as they did not touch my place, I would not kill its inhabitants.

The soldiers, now terrified, take a few steps back, observing the Witch who still holds the head of their comrade. Despite the clear fear they feel, they stand firm to all the witch's movements.

- This is my last warning, leave or I will kill you all.

I take a few steps forward until I am in front of the knights and face the witch.

- It's a pleasure, Witch of the shadows, I am Erick, hero of fire and the Ignus country.

- Huh?... ahh, nice to meet you, I am the witch of the shadows Dolla.

An odd silence arose from the sudden introduction, it seemed that neither of the two expected the other to introduce themselves.

- Dolla?

- Yes, my name is Dolla.

- … I didn't know witches had proper names.

- Of course we do, it would be depressing if witches called each other by our titles.

- Y-yes…

The conversation died again. It seemed that neither of the two knew how to continue.

- A, right, take this, I'll give it back to you. Give him a proper burial or something and get out of here.

She threw the knight's head towards me, in panic I caught the head, before throwing it back again in disgust.

- I-I won't leave here until I kill you.

Was the only thing that came out of my mouth in the face of the confusing situation that presented itself before me. She simply sighed, seeming fed up with the whole situation.

- Why? Did I kill a loved one and you want revenge?

- N-not really, my family is in good health.

- So? Listen kid, I have neither the desire nor the energy for these useless fights, so get out.

- D-don't ignore me.

I impulsively launched myself at her with a rapier in hand, aiming at her back, but before I could hit, a huge wolf jumped out of its shadow and bit my arm.

- Uggg

Another huge wolf came out of his shadow and jumped towards my neck, when I thought I would die, the knights that had been behind me protected me with a sturdy shield while the other one launched a sword blow against the wolf that bit me. The huge wolves took distance and stood next to the witch.

- I guess I owe Judith a favor now.

The 2 remaining knights entered and fiercely observed the witch while I remained kneeling on the ground. The pain and burning I felt in the wound clouded my mind.

"Are you okay?"

- Yes, somehow. Could you cauterize my wound?

"But that will hurt a lot, you know?"

- Please do it, great spirit.

"… Fine, just don't blame me if you faint afterwards."

Immediately a scorching heat flooded my arm, cauterizing the wound in a matter of seconds.

- Ugghhhh

Those 10 seconds that the treatment lasted felt like hours, but when it finally ended I could move again. Still panting I headed towards the knights surrounding me.

- Thanks for the support, it won't happen again.

When I looked at the witch, her gaze was tense for some reason. She looked worriedly at the wolves that accompanied her.

- Guys, come here for a moment.

Bending down to the wolves' level, she whispered something in their ears, one of my knights tried to attack her while she was talking to the wolves, but I stopped him.

- Don't attack her now, she waited for me to heal, let's give her the same respect she gave us.

At my words, the knight lowered his weapons and waited. A few moments later the wolves went back into the witch's shadow and faced us again.

- That you have there, is that Camael's holy sword?

Looking at my rapier out of reflex, I returned the determined look.

- I can't tell you.

- …I see

A listless smile appeared on her face. Moments later she disappeared into nothingness. My confusion was only momentary before I realized that she appeared behind us attacking one of the knights at the back, thanks to his reflexes, he avoided being pierced through the chest, but lost his entire right arm. Blood gushed out accompanied by a painful moan. When we got back on guard, she had already appeared behind us again. In that exchange she took the lives of the knights again. The desperate situation only got worse. While I was desperately thinking about what to do a voice put my thoughts in order.

"Erick, it's the shadows, it's moving between the shadows of the room"

When she mentioned it, I immediately tried to take countermeasures. With the help of Vulk, I threw floating flames all over the room to concentrate the shadows in specific points. After a while, the witch who was fighting and tore apart the last of my knights disappeared again and launched herself at my blind spot, but thanks to the fact that I had reduced the shadows around me, I was able to predict where she would come from and launch a counterattack.

A thrust from the rapier took the entire left arm of the witch, who moaned in pain.

- Uggg... I knew that sword was bad news for me.

- Give up witch and I will give you a quick death.

- I'm sorry boy, but you're not the only one who has something to protect.

After finishing the sentence, she disappeared again. Knowing that she would appear again from one of the 3 places that had a shadow, including mine. I concentrated to the maximum to be able to catch her next movement. She and I knew that the next clash would be the last. Those moments that seemed eternal finally came to an end, I moved the rapier as fast as my arm allowed me towards my own shadow. The witch who came out of there suffered a deep cut in the chest while she almost tore off my left arm. The witch covered in blood fell to the ground. Despite the training I did to qualify as a hero, I couldn't ignore the pain that assaulted my arm. Thanks to that, I couldn't kill the witch instantly.

- I'm sorry... Judith, it seems I won't be able to return that favor.

As she spat out those words, a huge amount of blood came out of her mouth. Slowly, her breathing faded as tears came out of her eyes that had already lost their focus.

- I'm sorry... I can't... kill this... monster.

Finally, her breathing ceased and the shadow witch died in a pool of her own blood. I, who could only observe the scene from the side, couldn't do anything but squeeze out a question.

- ...Great Vulk spirit... I have a question.

"What's on?"

- Witches, those grotesque beings that kill humans for pleasure... Can they cry?