Chapter 38: Following Your Footsteps in the Shadows
Valencia, situated in the south-central part of the world map, was known as the land of witches.
Unlike Kellivir, the elf kingdom with its books and tavern culture, Valencia thrived on potion brewing and dark magic.
This made it a magnet for nefarious villains—fugitives and wanted criminals from various nations who flocked here upon exile.
Althea hadn’t planned to attend the auction. Any sensible person would avoid such a dangerous place.
Even with the Great Sage, one of her kingdom’s strongest, by her side, her safety wasn’t guaranteed.
So why come?
Simple: her scouts, gathering intel worldwide, stumbled upon a familiar name.
Tina—that was why Althea made the trip.
Before entering Valencia, she needed to visit a town, find a certain family, and confirm if the person who helped them was truly Tina.
If it was her, where had she gone? How was she now? And how should Althea react upon seeing her?
Nostalgia, anger, or gratitude?
“Your Majesty, you seem tense,” Everett remarked from across the carriage, noticing Althea’s restless fidgeting.
She hadn’t stopped rubbing her hands since leaving the kingdom.
He knew this was her nervous tic, though it clashed with her regal demeanor.
“Still thinking about her? The dead don’t come back. It might just be someone with the same name.”
“I know…”
Althea was well aware that names could coincide, but she hadn’t given up hope after all these years. Even if only a few traits matched, she had to see for herself.
She firmly believed a witch wouldn’t die so easily.
“Speaking of, Everett, why bring that maid on an international trip? What’s she good for?”
“Oh, she’s useless, just insisted on tagging along. Couldn’t talk her out of it.” Everett feigned exasperation, as if truly burdened.
“Get lost.” Isha elbowed him. “Weren’t you worried about me staying alone in the palace, so you dragged me along?”
“Tch, who’d worry about you?”
“Your mouth’s the toughest part of you.”
“Not necessarily.”
Althea snapped, “Enough, you two! Flirt somewhere else. This isn’t fun for me.”
“Sorry.” ×2
“Even your apologies are in sync. Unbelievable.”
After a tense silence, the carriage slowed, and their attention shifted outside.
Althea peered out, spotting a cluster of buildings on a vast grassland—the town she sought.
“Let’s get off. The sooner we finish, the sooner we enter the city. It’s not safe out here.”
According to intel, the family lived in a house with a blue roof at the town’s center, easy to spot.
But after scouring the area, they found no such building.
“This should be the place…” Althea was unconvinced.
“Was it demolished? That’d be too convenient.”
As she debated giving up, a straw-hat-wearing child ran up, voice hoarse from crying:
“Sister, please save us! Bad people came to town—they’re hurting everyone!”
“Calm down.” Althea crouched, her face kind. “I’ll help. Tell me where they are.”
The child, silent, pointed to the east, where thick smoke rose.
“Got it. Hide for now.”
Althea had wondered why the streets were empty upon arrival.
Someone was interfering with her mission. Since she was here, she might as well vent her frustration on them.
“Everett, get ready.”
Their long-standing rapport meant the Great Sage had a spell ready before her command. At her signal, a precise fireball slammed into the center of the black-robed group chasing townsfolk.
Boom— The robed figures couldn’t dodge, sent flying with the ground, scorched and battered.
Althea rushed to the scene, raising ice pillars to shield fleeing residents from the blast’s aftermath, then flung wind blades to finish off the wounded enemies.
After a mindless barrage of magic, only a few foes remained standing.
Yet their eyes held no fear—just hollow, puppet-like stares. After exchanging glances, they pulled black vials from their pockets and downed them.
Their bodies swelled, limbs cracking, ballooning into fleshy orbs teetering on the edge of explosion.
“Everyone, behind us!”
Althea and Everett raised multiple earth walls, reinforced with magic.
A deafening blast followed, shattering the walls into fragments. Buildings beyond were reduced to ash in the lingering flames.
Tattered black robes rained down. Althea recognized their style.
“Mistmoon Cult. After all these years, they’re back?”
But first, the townsfolk’s injuries took priority.
They carried the wounded to the town’s clinic, ensuring none were overlooked before relaxing.
The child from earlier ran up, now beaming.
“Sister, did you drive off the bad guys?”
“Yes, they got what they deserved. They won’t harm you anymore.”
“Yay!”
The child leapt onto a woman on a clinic bed, babbling “Mommy.”
The woman waved to Althea. “Miss, care to join us for a meal as thanks?”
Althea declined. “No need, just a small gesture.”
“So kind. We haven’t seen someone like that since that girl.”
“?!”
Althea, about to leave, froze and grabbed the woman’s hand, eyes alight with hope.
“Wait, that girl you mentioned—who was she?”
The woman, startled by Althea’s fervor, explained, “Back when I lived in the old house, a black-haired girl passed through and helped our town.”
“Black hair?” Althea’s anticipation surged, her voice rising. “Her appearance—do you remember it?”
“It’s been too long, I forgot. But her eyes… purple, very pretty.”
“Ha… haha… hahaha!”
Althea burst into wild laughter, startling everyone.
“It’s you, isn’t it? It has to be you! You’re still alive… I’ve been searching so hard…”
She clutched her chest, her face a mix of ecstasy and madness, a far cry from the composed queen.
How will you repay me, Tina?