The Witch Hunt
Quiet forest path where Linda walked.
Sunlight filtered through towering trees, and the cheerful chirps of birds filled the air, making the woods feel serene and peaceful.
Ducking through bushes heavy with green foliage, she admired the plump, vibrant plants before gently placing them into her woven basket.
As she scanned the area for more to collect, a distant howl echoed through the trees.
Linda's mysterious dark eyes narrowed toward the forest beyond, haunted by the sound of a wolf threatening its prey.
The village near the fort had reported wolves killing livestock, and this was clearly one of the beasts.
Deep in the forest, no villagers would be around, but Linda thought, 'Just in case,' and headed toward the source of the howl.
Not far away, she spotted a fierce wolf cornering a young girl.
Red hair and red eyes.
The appearance was enough to remind her of the Devil of All Nations that the Bel Federation despised without hesitation.
The ragged clothes hanging off a body that looked weeks unwashed and covered in grime suggested she was a war orphan.
'If only the Ten Thousand Evils had been wiped out quickly and the war ended, these kids wouldn't be suffering like this...'
Cursing the Devil of All Nations that had dragged out the Era of Strife for so long, Linda quickened her steps and opened her mouth.
"Waaah!!"
The girl's scream and the wolf's sudden leap startled them both.
The wolf hunched its shoulders in fear, baring its teeth at Linda before turning to flee.
The girl, tears streaming down her face, stared blankly at Linda without answering.
Linda smiled gently at the frightened child who couldn't speak and set her basket down calmly.
"Cruel...!"
The wolf lowered its stance, ready to pounce at any moment.
Linda grinned, reached into her sleeve, and pulled out a small stick.
The girl had survived in the wilds but recognized the stick immediately.
It was the same one the Pure Mage had used to create flames in her village long ago.
Memories of that wonder flooded back, and the girl's eyes sparkled with hope as Linda's hand moved slowly.
"You damn dog!"
-Poof!!
"Hyaaak!"
The girl's mouth fell open.
Linda swung the stick wildly, beating the wolf like a stray dog.
The wolf tried to fight back, but the thin stick struck its head and back with surprising force, producing a rhythmic cracking sound far louder than any whip.
After pummeling it mercilessly, the wolf fled with its tail between its legs.
Linda wiped sweat from her forehead with a satisfied smile and looked at the girl.
"Haah... who are you shouting at?"
Linda offered a bright, cheerful smile, but the girl's eyes were wide with terror, and she shrank back.
At the girl's trembling expression, Linda shrugged and sat beside her, basket tucked under one arm, eye level now matching the girl's.
"Hello, I'm Linda. What's your name?"
"... ... Ab... Abigail..."
"Abigail? What a pretty name."
As Linda's hand drew close to the girl's face, Abigail squeezed her eyes shut and trembled.
But the gentle strokes on her hair slowly eased her fear, and she opened her eyes again.
"Hungry?"
Abigail nodded.
Linda took a piece of bread from the basket and gave it to her.
The starving girl choked on it but forced the bread into her mouth.
Linda watched with sympathy yet smiled only, then pulled out a small water flask from the basket.
Abigail, still gulping down the bread, looked up in surprise at the flask and handed the half-eaten bread back hesitantly.
"I'm sorry..."
"Sorry? It's yours. Eat as much as you want."
Seeing Linda's sincerity, Abigail's eyes widened before she took the bread back and slowly bit into it.
The messy little mouth looked adorable to Linda, though her heart ached at the same time.
These children should have grown up surrounded by good things, but the prolonged war had brought them nothing but pain.
"Where did you come from? Do you have somewhere to go?"
"... ..."
Abigail lowered her head at Linda's question.
A lock of red hair hid the sadness in her eyes.
Linda's expression turned bitter for a moment before brightening into a warm smile.
"Then come home with me."
Abigail looked up, and Linda spoke quickly.
"No, it's not kidnapping. You can take a bath, eat a meal, rest a little, whatever you need. I'll take you back anytime you want."
Linda waved her hands in a hurry, and a tiny smile appeared on Abigail's face.
"Eh? She smiled. You look so cute when you smile. Let's go, let's go."
Abigail took Linda's outstretched hand, and their lives began together.
Contrary to first impressions, Abigail was a chatty, affectionate girl full of love, always following Linda around.
What Linda saw in Abigail was a truly special child.
She lived alone in a remote house on the village edge, growing herbs and selling medicines to the few travelers who came.
"Are you a witch?"
"Huh? Yeah, I am a witch. But... do I look like one? Too dignified?"
Linda played along with a playful smile, crossing her arms as if deep in thought.
The tiny Abigail looked up at her with innocent eyes.
"Witch, but why don't you use magic? Can you not use it?"
"Not at all. I can use magic really well. Actually, I'm not that good at it. There are too many amazing people in this world now, so I can't even chant properly."
"Show me magic. I want to see."
Seeing Abigail's eager eyes, Linda smiled softly and created a small flame in her palm.
"Wow! That's amazing! But why didn't you use magic on the wolf? Or when treating people?"
Linda hugged the excited girl and sat her on her knee, speaking as if telling a story.
"Magic isn't for hurting anyone. And while it's convenient, you shouldn't rely on it too much."
"Why? People use it a lot."
"Mana is the power of nature. There needs to be harmony."
Abigail tilted her head at the difficult words, but tried to understand with a nod.
Linda pinched her cheek affectionately and continued.
"So we witches offer gifts to nature, thanking her for lending us mana. Like this: Thank you for letting us borrow your power. Since we're borrowing, we mustn't use it recklessly, or nature will be angry."
"If nature gets angry, is it scary?"
"Very scary. That's why magic should only be used when necessary."
Linda stroked Abigail's hair, and the girl leaned into her embrace with a happy look.
"Can I learn magic too?"
"Yes, you can. Just promise not to use it recklessly."
Abigail held up her pinky finger, and the innocent girl, full of expectation, hooked it without a second thought.
"This kid... you promised. Break it and I'll howl."
"Yeah, yeah. I like Linda, so I won't break our promise."
"Awww, you're so cute."
Linda hugged Abigail and rubbed her cheek.
Thus, Abigail began learning magic from Linda.
She would doze off while reading books filled with difficult words and accidentally burned Linda's favorite hat once.
But she grew slowly.
Just as Linda had said, magic wasn't something to be used carelessly, so Linda was more like an apothecary than a true witch.
She collected herbs to make potions and wrapped medicines in cloth for villagers with back pain who came seeking help.
As Abigail learned more about magic, she helped Linda make more potions.
Once, she put the wrong ingredient and the house exploded, but Linda didn't scold her.
"As long as we're both safe."
Instead, Linda made her promise not to do it again, and they cleaned up the mess together.
Even though using magic could have made cleaning easier, Linda worked diligently, and Abigail followed, both sweating and tidying up.
The cleaning was hard, but drawing pictures on the soot-blackened walls with charcoal was pure joy.
Years passed, and the Era of Strife came to an end.
The Empire conquered the Keilen Kingdom, and news of the Devil of All Nations being imprisoned spread.
By then, Abigail was watering herbs in the garden.
Even though she was a war orphan, Abigail had grown up loved by Linda and felt no effect from the outside world.
It was an ordinary day, and Abigail was watering in the garden as usual when she noticed a group approaching.
"Is your mother home?"
A white-haired old man, escorted by burly men, smiled at Abigail.
"Mother isn't here, but Linda is."
Abigail's answer made the old man frown slightly and give a bitter smile.
"I must have mistaken the little lady. This is my apology."
The old man took a box from a man beside him and gave it to Abigail.
Inside were piles of muffins.
"Thank you."
Abigail quickly bowed, eyes wide with surprise, and the old man chuckled, patted her head, and headed to Linda's house.
Watching the respectful old man enter, Abigail sat down and sneaked a muffin.
The blueberries on top were sweet, and the muffin was so soft it could be chewed forever.
She was happily eating when a loud commotion erupted from inside the house.
Startled, Abigail tried to stand, but the door burst open and big men came running out, grabbing their heads.
The old man followed, and finally Linda emerged, swinging her stick wildly.
"Hey, wait, listen to us..."
"Listen to what? Do you have a curse that makes livestock sick? I'll curse your eyes."
Linda's stick struck the old man's and the men's eyes.
The people couldn't fight back and ran away with bruises on their eyes.
"Tsk, those brats..."
"Linda, what's wrong?"
"Huh? The Ten Thousand Evils are gone, so the bad guys are slithering out. I gave them a good scare, so they'll be quieter now."
"Those people... are bad?"
Abigail's hesitant question made Linda look at her with a questioning gaze, then at the box in her hand.
Assuming it was from the beating, Abigail bowed her head, and Linda chuckled and stroked her hair.
"The muffins aren't guilty. Well, they're too delicious, so they're guilty. I'll have to eat them all."
"No, I want some too!"
Linda and Abigail played with the muffins, eating them happily.
The strange visitors never came back, and their peaceful days continued.
Ordinary days. But most of all, a happy life.
If warm tea and sweet cookies were added, it was perfect.
Linda watched Abigail gobble up the cookies while ignoring the tea she had offered, smiling warmly.
She had tried to show the appeal of tea, but Abigail preferred the sweet cookies far more, only sipping tea when needed.
Linda hoped to enjoy tea together once Abigail grew old enough.
At first, it had been out of pity, but Abigail had become an irreplaceable treasure to Linda.
It was fortunate to meet such a lovely child.
The Era of Strife had ended, and people said the Era of Peace had begun.
When little Abigail grew up, evil would dwindle and a happy world would emerge.
Thinking about the future with her, Linda's heart filled with joy, and she gazed out the window with a warm smile.
Clear sky, blue meadow, and...
Linda's eyes widened at the landscape.
"Those bastards... in the end..."
Even though they lived far from the village, Linda recognized every face among the approaching villagers.
From Grandfather George, who praised her for her good back, to Billy, who prescribed medicine for his twisted ankle during a hunt...
All familiar faces, but their expressions were twisted with rage, looking at others with murderous intent.
Their eyes lost all reason, like demons, and the farm tools in their hands looked terrifying.
Linda's expression softened as she looked at Abigail.
Watching the girl gnawing on cookies, Linda opened her mouth.
"Abigail, let's play hide and seek."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Abigail asked in surprise, but Linda stood up, took her hand, and led her to a large box.
After removing the contents, Linda lifted Abigail inside.
"You must hide well. Don't answer if anyone calls, and hide perfectly."
"Hide and seek with who?"
"Everyone! We have so much fun, and the people want to join too."
"Grandpa George?"
"Yes, Grandpa George, Billy, Rahidi... all the hiders. Abigail is too good at hiding, so they'll try to find you. Can you hide well?"
Abigail's eyes were sad, but seeing Linda smile, she nodded.
"Yeah, I can hide really well."
"Good, since you're good at hiding, you'll be fine."
As Linda stroked Abigail's head, she hugged her tightly.
"Linda... are you crying?"
Abigail felt the tremor in the close embrace and asked in confusion.
Linda pulled away slightly and laughed playfully.
"I want to hide too, but Abigail hid first."
"Then let's hide together."
"No. It's Abigail's turn to hide now. Instead, I'll hide next time."
"Yeah, if Linda hides, I'll find her first."
Linda nodded vigorously at Abigail's cheerful reply, then slowly closed the box lid.
Inside the dark box, Abigail saw Linda walk out of the house.
The noisy sounds outside made Abigail cover her mouth and shrink.
The thought of hide and seek with so many people made her heart race.
While imagining where Linda would hide next, Abigail slowly opened the box and peeked outside.
The house was silent, no one around.
Abigail slowly opened the box and looked out the window, but no one was there.
"Linda...?"
She called, but no answer came.
"Linda..."
When she called the second time, her voice cracked with tears.
Abigail repeated Linda's name in a trembling voice while sobbing, searching for her.
"Lindaaa... Linda!"
No one answered her desperate cries.
Abigail sat down and cried bitterly, then stood to find Linda.
Not knowing where she was, Abigail walked on with small legs.
Her throat hurt from crying too much, and her eyes burned, but she still only looked for Linda's figure.
As daylight faded, Abigail's steps finally reached the village square.
The villagers gathered there.
Abigail remembered Linda's words to hide and not get caught, but hide and seek no longer mattered to her.
As long as Linda was there, nothing else did.
Abigail's steps halted.
There she was, the one she had searched for.
Tied to a post, covered in dirt, Linda's eyes were downcast in defeat.
But something made her look up.
Their eyes met.
And beneath Abigail's foot, a fire ignited.
A blazing flame engulfed Linda's body, black smoke rising.
Tears poured from Abigail's eyes as she tried to reach her.
But Linda shook her head with a smile.
Abigail, who always obeyed Linda, didn't listen this time.
Her beautiful face was ruined, and as she approached again, Linda spoke silently.
'Go.'
The soundless words were clear to Abigail.
She flinched and turned away, sobbing.
Linda smiled at the back she had finally heard.
Abigail walked away with a broken voice, not knowing where to go.
She only walked forward, without purpose.
Every time she looked back, she expected Linda to be laughing, saying it was a joke.
Abigail fell exhausted from crying and lay unconscious.
She woke again, alone, and cried beside where Linda should have been before standing and walking again.
Abigail didn't eat or drink as she walked until she collapsed.
When she woke, strangers surrounded her.
"Brother, she's awake."
A rough-looking man spoke, and the large man called brother approached.
"Are you feeling better, little one? Where's your home?"
Abigail, silent, looked at the people around her.
Old armor, weapons at their waists, and countless scars on their faces and bodies.
"We're not bandits. Don't worry. We're mercenaries. The only difference from bandits is we get paid first."
The man laughed boisterously.
Abigail didn't laugh, just stared blankly at the man, or rather the sword at his waist.
Her innocent eyes now filled with curse and poison.
The man tilted his head, not understanding the sudden change.