Occulus: Tale of the First Blood Witch

Chapter 20

Trent, filled with curiosity and concern, turned to his aunts and asked, "Who is he?"

It was his first encounter with the mysterious being before them.

Sora replied, "He's one of the messengers of Occulus," her tone holding a hint of reverence. "Ah, great messenger, what news do you bring?"

The messenger, enigmatic in his demeanor, responded, "All witches are summoned to Occulus. You need to go to the spiritual world as soon as possible."

Their faces registered surprise and apprehension at the sudden call from the Occulus. Trent's throat tightened as he considered the possibility that the Occulus had discovered his actions and intended to punish him.

Aunt Melissa questioned the messenger, "Why?"

"You will find out when you arrive at Occulus," the messenger replied cryptically, then proceeded to leave the room without opening the door; it simply vanished.

Melissa turned to them, concern etched across her face, and asked, "What's happening?"

Trent couldn't help but voice his fear, "Could it be that the Headmaster has found out about what I did?"

Sora dismissed the idea, saying, "No, no. I don't think that's the situation. If they knew you had broken our laws, the prosecutors should have come here. But they haven't... it just means—"

Melissa finished her sentence, "The ancient witches have not awakened yet."

Sora decided to put an end to speculation, declaring, "Enough with the guesses. It's better for all of us to go to Occulus."

They all nodded in agreement, and Aunt Sora made her way toward the wardrobe door. Trent and the others followed her, and the door led them to the hall of the Occulus Academy, where many witches had already gathered. Their attention was immediately drawn to a radiant light at the front of the hall. Trent couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Is that the Great Eye?"

Trent's relief at seeing Zarian quickly turned to concern as they moved away from the others, seeking privacy. "What's happening?" Trent asked, a mixture of anxiety and curiosity in his voice.

Zarian, his expression grave, responded, "As you can see, the light from the Great Eye hasn't disappeared yet. In fact, it's shining even brighter. I think... it's because the ritual to break your twin's curse didn't work."

Trent corrected him, his voice filled with certainty, "Zarian, the ritual worked. I spoke with Xavier just this morning. They've returned to their original bodies."

Zarian furrowed his brows, deep in thought. "If that's the case... why is the Great Eye's light still shining?" he wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on the radiant source of light.

"I don't know, Zarian," Trent replied, equally puzzled.

Their speculations were cut short as the surroundings abruptly turned icy cold. Trent instinctively hugged himself against the chill. "Why did the temperature drop suddenly?" he questioned aloud.

The answer to his question came swiftly. The massive doors of the hall creaked open, releasing a misty, frigid wind. The windows began to frost over, and their eyes were drawn to the mysterious being entering the hall. This being had striking white hair and trent eyes, reminiscent of Zarian's. Their elongated ears marked them as distinct, and they held a long staff. Their skin displayed intricate web-like patterns.

The room fell into a hushed tension as everyone in the hall observed this enigmatic arrival, unsure of the significance of this being's presence and the continued brilliance of the Great Eye.

Trent's voice trembled as he asked, "Who is he?" while keeping a cautious eye on the enigmatic being.

Zarian replied, equally uncertain, "I don't know him either." Together, they observed as the being approached the Great Eye. Headmaster of the Occulus and Graet Leader of the Covenants, Ivan Ivanov, hesitantly addressed the newcomer, "Are you... one of the prosecutors? The great witch of the East? Zephyro?"

Zephyro turned to Ivan and replied, "Not two decades have passed, yet I have awakened once again from my slumber. We meet again, Headmaster." Their attention then returned to the Great Eye. "My siblings will be arriving soon."

With those words, the torches hanging around the hall suddenly ignited, especially the largest one at the front. The flames transformed into a human-like figure that slowly took the shape of a woman. She descended from the torch and approached Zephyro.

"Ah, Zula," Zephyro greeted her. "The witch from the South. I'm delighted to see you again."

Zula responded, her tone less enthusiastic, "I'm not sure if I can say the same," casting a wary glance at the Great Eye. "While I may want to see you again, it only means we'll have to take another witch's life."

Trent was left in shock by what he heard, unable to grasp the unfolding events. He whispered to Zarian, "Has the curse lost its effect, but the Great Eye hasn't changed?"

"I can only think of one possibility," Zarian replied with a grave expression. "You might not be the only one who broke the laws."

Trent's eyes widened at the implication. Could it be true that he wasn't solely responsible for the continued glow of the Great Eye? He scanned the hall, filled with witches from the four covenants, wondering who else could have resorted to dark magic.

The arrival of the third enforcer added to the mystique of the situation. Vines extended into the hall, and a massive flower blossomed, revealing one of the prosecutors named Ahsia, the great witch of the West. The final ancient witch, Njord, arrived using water magic, representing the great witch of the North. They engaged in conversation, but despite their proximity, Trent and the others couldn't hear what was being said. After a lengthy discussion, they turned their attention toward the gathered witches, their expressions unreadable.

"Attention, esteemed witches," Njord announced. Everyone fell silent and turned their attention to her. "We know you have many questions in your minds right now. That's correct. Someone has violated the laws we, the ancient witches, have set. But it doesn't end there. There's a danger looming, and... we need to prepare."

"W-what kind of danger?" one of them asked.

"For now, we don't have answers to that question," Ahsia replied. "Our suspicions may be wrong. They might also be right. What we can say is that the danger could lead to a war."

Gasps filled the hall. "A war?" Adair exclaimed. "What kind of war?" he asked, looking at them.

"Silence!" Zephyro ordered. "This is not the right time to be alarmed and create chaos over something that is not certain."

"Leaders of the Covenant," Ivan called. They looked at him. "Forgive me, but... what should we do?"

"For now... all Occulus students should stay here in the academy to ensure their safety," Njord said. "The elders are expected to keep watch. Anything suspicious should be reported to us as soon as possible. If there are no further questions, you may return to your homes. Except for the Occulus students."

They, friends, exchanged glances. "It looks like we have no choice but to stay here," Zarian said. Trent returned to Melissa and Sora.

"We need to go back now, Trent," Sora said.

"Are you sure you'll be okay in the Mortal World?" Trent asked, worried.

"Don't worry," Melissa said. "Sora and I have decided to stay with the other members of the Covenant of the Creeping Ravine here in the spiritual world for now. It will also keep us close to Occulus and allow us to receive updates quickly."

"That's good then," Trent replied before they bid farewell. He rejoined his friends, and Adair was still enthusiastically sharing information.

"You've been quiet for a while," Zarian remarked to him. "What's bothering you, Trent?"

"It's just strange," Trent explained. "I heard what the ancient witches told us, but... I still don't understand their reasons. What are we supposed to be safe from?"

"They're not sure themselves."

"I feel like something is wrong, and they're hiding something," Trent said, glancing at the prosecutors, especially Ivan Kondakov.