The Runesmith

Chapter 443: Witch Hut

As Roland stood there, facing the enigmatic Professor Fortuna and more precisely, her strange spectral manifestations, he couldn\'t shake the feeling of unease. Her presence here was quite unsettling and he couldnt even measure her strength properly as she was nothing more than a conjured phantom made from spiritual energy.

Professor Fortuna, if you intend to intervene, may I ask about your stake in this matter?

He posed his question while the will-o\'-the-wisps around the area increased in numbers. Roland wasnt sure what to think about this old lady\'s involvement. If she witnessed the whole fight from a safe distance, it was probable that she saw his face and knew about his true identity. What she would do with this knowledge was unknown but he wasnt sure if he would be able to stop her if she chose to leak it.

You wish to know my reasoning, young lad? Hm how about we change our location, this isnt really the greatest place to have a chat, would you join me for some tea?

Uh, some tea, Professor?

Thats right, Im sure youll enjoy my special brew young man.

It was quite a surprise that he was invited to go to her abode. Roland knew that the Spiritualist from the Institute lived in the dungeon so this was a chance to get what he came here for. His main goal was to meet this woman and analyze her spells to help him with his phantom rune limb project. Already, as he was looking at the strange energies he was making recordings for future use.

Professor Fortuna was not an ordinary figure and Arion had already informed him about her. Considering that she was left alone to live in this dungeon made her unique and he wasnt sure if he could refuse her request. The magical energies around him were starting to gather but luckily their aim was not him but Professor Ulfine whom he knocked out.

The will-o\'-wisps that had been intensifying in the area gathered around her body and began to lift her up. It looked like she was floating on a cloud made from spiritual energy that pulsated from time to time. It was clear that this woman didnt account for his opinion in this matter and killing Ulfine to tie up this loose end would probably be impossible. Yet, for some reason, he felt like she wouldnt leak any incriminating information.

Special brew? Ill accept the offer then

Wonderful! Please follow me then, it wont take long.

While Roland didnt really want to follow this old woman to her lair, he needed to see what she would do with Ulfine. Considering her reputation it was probably safe but if not, then escaping would probably always be an option. Arion would have not lied to him and she wasnt known for being openly hostile to other institute members. Thus, after considering his options and the possibility of making a breakthrough with his research, he decided to go with her.

With a nod, Roland followed Professor Fortuna as she led the way deeper into the dungeon. The will-o\'-wisps floated around them, casting an eerie light that danced along the swamp water and trees. Roland remained vigilant, his senses on high alert, but the old Spiritualist seemed nonchalant as if they were simply taking a leisurely stroll.

As they walked, Roland couldn\'t help but notice the strange fog gathering around them. It had encompassed them fully and made seeing anything past a few meters impossible. Only thanks to his enhanced mapping device was he able to keep track of his position which his golems that were outside were keeping track of. However, in just a second something happened that jumbled up his entire map.

Dimensional Shift?

Oh, youre quite a perceptive young man, the institute must be glad that such a youngster is one of their professors.

The old lady chuckled as he blurted out the sentence out loud. A dimensional shift had occurred which meant that he had gone through something similar to a teleportation gate. After going through the institute that was filled with dimensional magic, he became quite sensitive to the changes. He had also included sensors in his armor to feel out for such magics.

That was some high-level magic, I only noticed it once I was passing through it I should be really careful here.

All sorts of red flags were going off in his head but he needed to continue. It was now too late to turn back, even more so now that he found himself without his golems that had been left behind on the first floor of this B-rank dungeon.

The signal isnt coming through, either there is a magical barrier around this place or Im really deep underground.

He was certain that he had been brought to one of the lower levels of the dungeon where Professor Fortunas home was. The moment he saw it, he was even more reminded of old fables from his original world. This woman already looked like some type of evil witch but her home also filled the bill. They were still inside of a swampland and before him was something that looked quite interesting.

Shes not going to throw me in the oven and try to eat me, is she?

While having some intrusive thoughts he looked at the hut that was perched on a small island in the middle of a murky swamp. It was surrounded by a large quantity of vines and twisting trees. It exuded a strange aura of ancient magic and had various symbols etched into the wooden walls. Many glowing orbs floated around the water and he could see some strange apparitions within the depths.

Here we are, young man. Welcome to my humble abode

Ah yes it certainly looks welcoming.

Roland hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the rickety wooden bridge that led to the entrance. His armor wasnt the lightest so the wood creaked beneath his weight and added more to the eerie atmosphere. As he approached the hut he couldnt shake the feeling that he was putting himself in danger but at the same time, it was too late to retreat. He could only steel his nerves and try not to offend this witch-like woman.

Professor Fortuna seemed entirely at ease as she opened the door and beckoned him inside. Roland followed with his senses on high alert and ready for any sign of danger. The interior of the hut was dimly lit by flickering candles which cast shadows across the wooden walls.

Please, make yourself comfortable and Ill have that tea ready in no time!

Professor Fortuna said, gesturing to a wooden chair by a small table. Roland nodded warily but before taking the seat he looked at the second guest, Professor Ulfine. She was still being transported by the bunch of glowing orbs and being led to what seemed to be the cellar of this witch-like hut.

What are you going to do with her?

Dont you worry, young man. She will be dealt with according to the institute\'s rules and dont worry, your little secret will be safe with me~

The apparition of the old woman chuckled a bit before vanishing from sight. Roland was skeptical of the whole situation but at the moment the woman had not shown any animosity towards him. It was better to remain a good guest and ask about his research, the only problem was bringing it up. He wasnt really sure why she invited him here in the first place, which made him a little bit nervous.

Once the spirit version of the witch was gone, he was left to his own devices inside of this strange hut. To not push his luck too much, he decided to just take a seat on the chair that was presented to him and wait. The dimly lit interior of the hut, coupled with the strange atmosphere of the swamp outside made him want to leave.

Minutes passed and he could hear some strange creaking sounds of wood below him, probably where Ulfine had been carried out to. Her fate was something he was interested in but the woman already assured him that she would be dealt with. Finally, the sound of footsteps broke the silence as Professor Fortuna returned now in her true corporal form. She carried a tray with a steaming teapot and a couple of cups that were floating around her.

My apologies, these old bones dont move as well as they used to.

The woman looked almost identical to the spectral form she presented herself as. Her skin was wrinkled and weathered but her eyes shone with a sharp intelligence, and her smile held a hint of mischief. Roland couldn\'t help but feel a sense of unease in her presence but he remained composed while trying to think of a way to ask her for some insights into spiritual magics.

No need to apologize, Professor Fortuna. Thank you for the tea.

Roland replied politely, trying to maintain a respectful demeanor despite his reservations. The old woman poured the tea into the cups and handed one to Roland before taking a seat across from him. Instantly, he activated his helmet to make a chemical and magical analysis of the brew. While his system wasnt perfect, it was capable of identifying compounds that could cause harm to his body. Luckily, this brew didnt seem to be anything more than regular green tea so he chose to take a sip.

So, young man, you wish for me to help you with your research?

I that is correct but how did you

Before Roland could finish his question, Professor Fortuna chuckled softly, interrupting him.

My dear boy, I am a Spiritualist of the highest order. I see and understand much more than you may realize but in this case, I had some help. Do you perhaps remember the book that our Headmistress lent you?

That book? Yes?

I was the one that wrote it.

Roland had been given the book by the Institute Headmistress Yavenna Arvandus. The book was quite old but so was this woman, it seemed that she was the author. Sometimes books could have tracking spells placed on them and would inform authors of their location. Perhaps this was the case and when he started his research into spiritual mana, she had been informed about it.

Ah, I see So you wrote that book. It was quite insightful, I must say.

Roland replied, carefully choosing his words but

Indeed, I am glad you found it helpful. But it seems you have questions beyond what the book could offer However, before we go down that road, could you answer one of my questions?

The old womans eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned forward and started performing some type of magical skill. He could tell that she was focusing her mana into her eyes and performing some sort of identification incantation. It was different than a regular analyzing skill and filled with that unique spiritual mana he was trying to research.

A question? Of course, as long as its something I can answer.

Roland responded while trying to keep his tone as polite as possible. He didnt want to reveal any personal information but it seemed that this old woman had something entirely different in mind. After leaning back into her chair she posed her question.

Young man, tell me, how did you end up with a soul like that? How is it devoid of this world\'s blessing? Are you not of this world?

...

This was not something that he had expected, the question took him by surprise. He had no idea what she meant with the worlds blessing but he could somewhat tell what she was implying.

The worlds blessing? Im not sure I understand Professor.

For the time being he decided to feign ignorance as he wasnt sure where this was going. It seemed that something about his soul was indicating that he was not a person from this world. While this was obviously true, he was not expecting anyone to actually be able to see through his origin. He had been transported to this world through strange means and put into the body of a dead Roland Arden. If he was exposed as some type of specter possessing his body, this could very well bode his end.

You dont? Well, thats not surprising, not many mages practice spiritualism nor are even interested in anything besides binding souls to their will. Hm, let me explain then!

The old woman sounded quite cheery but he wasnt sure what her intentions were. The amount of mana permeated the walls in this strange hut and he could feel another shift coming. Before him, space started to vanish and it was replaced by a black void that started to fill out by what seemed to be stars.

Thats

Yes, this is the emptiness that surrounds our whole world. Its filled out by many celestial bodies.

Soon the planet he inhabited had shown itself and it was quite a detailed representation of it. He could even see the continent this Kingdom resided in quite clearly. However, this didnt seem to be the focal point of the presentation as the planet started shrinking down.

Not many know this but our world is protected by the gods and spirits, nothing can slip into it without their knowledge!

Something akin to a forcefield appeared to surround their globe along with the moon surrounding it and moved even further away to engulf the sun. It encompassed the whole solar system along with several other planets that were part of it. At this point, this was nothing that he didnt know as these were all facts documented within scripts. However, the strange barrier was the focal point and he was not sure what it was for.

Our realm isnt the only one, there are also other ones like the spirit realm or the demonic void but Im sure youre aware of this?

Yes, every child knows the legends of how the world was created and how the gods separated our realms.

How wonderful, but did you know that whenever a new soul is born, it receives the blessing of the spirit tree?

A blessing? No, I dont think that such an event was ever mentioned in the texts or legends.

In this world, there were multiple deities like Solaria and even evil gods like the one from the Abyssal cult. After death, it was said that a person would be sent to heaven representing the god that they worshiped. Depending on the god it differed and if a non-believer existed they were said to be reincarnated into another being with their previous memories being erased. Roland wasnt sure if he fit in either category as he was a person from a different world and it seemed that this woman was trying to imply this.

Each of our souls receives the blessing of the spirit tree, imbuing each of us with a unique color. Every living person with a soul possesses one, or at least should it seems that your soul lacks the blessing, quite intriguing

Yes, quite but I dont really have an answer for that question, this is the first time Ive heard of such a thing.

The old woman paused, her gaze glued to Rolands form as if she were trying to decipher something. Roland was unwilling to inform her about his true origins and he wasnt sure if anyone would actually believe him. There was also no way of knowing what would happen if the truth came out, would he be seen as some sort of anomaly and studied in a lab? Or perhaps seen as a demon that needed to be killed?

That was a lie, wasnt it? You do know

Suddenly the candlelight flickered across the old womans face that became more dastardly. The shadows seemed to accentuate her sudden change in demeanor making her features seem more demonic. Roland felt a chill run down his spine, there was something wrong here and perhaps he had made a mistake by coming here. Suddenly, as he tried to stand up he felt himself unable to, it was as if a few tons were weighing him down.

I\'m afraid I don\'t know what you\'re talking about, Professor. It might be better if we postpone this conversation

Oh, but my dear boy I think that we could chat some more. What secrets are you hiding!

The womans voice became more commanding, it was as if the sweet grandma\'s personality was just a facade, hiding something much darker beneath. Roland realized he was in a precarious situation, trapped in this strange hut with a powerful Spiritualist who seemed to be a tier above him. Her mana was suppressing his, to such an extent that he couldnt even budge from this wooden chair. However, just as everything seemed to have gone wrong, something strange occurred. A greenish haze of energy encompassed him and suddenly, he found himself surrounded by a mass of strange vines that were seemingly protecting him