Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 235 - 222: The Disappearing Witch

"So you all did this to yourselves, which is really delightful. It’s been over fifty years since I left the Soul High Tower, and I can imagine what a ghostly spectacle Andrey must be now, with its ever-growing fame as terrifying as the disturbances it causes in the City of Wandering," Dexterous healed each of the three one by one. The bright patches that covered their skeletal surfaces followed Dexterous’s arm as it extended a bright blue glow, leading into his body, where they sparkled and flickered like electricity through his translucent pinkish-purple form.

"That’s not healing, Dexterous," Shiny, the first to regain consciousness, said as he looked at the silently contemplative Dexterous. "You haven’t healed the pain, you’ve just transferred it onto yourself, taking our place in suffering. Dexterous, you..." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Repeat after me, I’m not interested in skeletons. It’s not such a big deal, I’m much stronger than you, and this pain, at most, is just like an itch to me. I’m just used to doing it this way, after all, it’s the boss’s command. As the price for my escape, this bit of sourness is nothing."

Soon, all three were back in optimal condition. Looking back at Dexterous, just as he said, that amount of pain was nothing to him, the patches of soul fissures within his sturdy body only formed a cluster the size of a fingernail, a truly negligible thing for him. Dexterous, lazily limp as a water balloon, watched the three Liches as they stood.

"How is the boss doing now, is she still in pain? Hmm, considering she’s taking the time to take on students, it seems she must be doing better, and finally, the scars have healed. Uh... what are you still doing here? Interested in my Madison?"

"You haven’t told us what you want as a reward."

Dexterous folded his arms, drumming his fingers against his own arm. "Ha, when did Liches become so polite, even adopting that demonic contract spirit. It’s free, little devils, getting a new command from the boss is my reward; at least I won’t have to skulk around in fear anymore. After all, one can’t hide from her."

The three looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, considering it a lucky windfall, and gave the Liches’ unique salute to Dexterous, who was reclining on the flower bed, then headed towards the door.

A lazy voice came from behind, "I don’t know what you Liches have been up to recently, but the growing noise you’re making is surely going to be a clear mark of an era. Remember my words, Andrey’s little devils."

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown."

Dexterous’s incomprehensible words lingered in their ears, that strange sense of heaviness affecting them, not dissipating for a long time.

In the Castle Andrey, the polarized streets in daylight were just as empty as at night, on the surface, it seems like a slumbering building, same by day and night, but not a single spider would dare spin its web here, nor would any dust linger long.

Crumbs fell to the ground.

The crunching sounds of chewing never stopped, Nia floated behind Lyle, relying on gridded tentacles, constantly pulling small cookies out of a pouch with her hands, her mouth never ceasing.

Amidst the rhythmic chewing, Lyle knocked on the stones in front of him.

"Scholar teacher. I need your help." Who better to persuade those Witches than an honorary Witch Mother. Although it was a bit heartless to get Mr. Scholar entangled with the Witches, knowledge was paramount, and Mr. Scholar would surely commend Lyle’s thirst for knowledge.

The familiar dragging sensation enveloped Lyle, the all too familiar sensation made him feel as if the acid level in his stomach had risen by ten centimeters. Reverse teleportation brought with it ten times the nausea, a figure now etched in Lyle’s mind.

Lyle bowed to the scholar sitting behind the desk studying his books, then clutched his chest.

"Teacher, I really can’t stand the nausea from teleportation."

"Then you should get used to it, Plague Doctor, as you are going to deal with it frequently in the future, the Skeleton Gate from Spirit Summoning Studies brings the same effect. Drink some of this, it will make you feel better," the scholar handed over a small vial of pale blue reagent, the rich magical droplets inside possessed an alluring quality.

Lyle took the reagent bottle, his hand holding the reagent hanging in mid-air.

"Teacher, you actually know my identity, don’t you? I remember when Nia became independent, you had seen what I looked like?"

"Yes, my human student, so you may consume the potion here, this place is perhaps one of Andrey’s more hidden locations,"

Lyle slowly lifted his bird-beak mask, smiled at the scholar, and gulped down the liquid.

It was a feeling of abundant power, like the feeling of magic running wild after each promotion, truly wonderful. The dizziness had already disappeared, chased away by the fulfilling sensation within him.

"Thank you, teacher, for everything you’ve done for me."

The book in the scholar’s hands paused for a second. "You’ve said it, Plague Doctor, as a human, Andrey is your home, and you’ve chosen to make enemies of the world for Andrey. I must say, that was a rather erroneous answer. Therefore, my dull student, until you have enough strength, I will hold up your world first."

"The Cassandra dance, the most important part of my life. My Alianna, teacher, she was sent to me by you, right? After all, you are a master of teleportation portals."

"It was Anna’s persistence and her past performance that moved me, making me carry out that now seemingly absurd teleportation. Human and Lich love, fortunately, looking back everything is worth it."

Lyle’s eyes were full of gratitude as he stepped forward quickly and opened his arms wide.

"My gratitude to you is beyond words, please allow me to give you a hug, teacher, a hug represents closeness among humans."

"Of course, I understand the meaning of a hug, my student, I used to be human myself. Gentle, Plague Doctor, you’re going to get a cramp, good lad." Feeling Lyle’s beating heart, the scholar gently patted his back.

"Teacher..."

"What is it, child?"

"Can you help me get in touch with the Witch? I want to ask the Witch to teach me the Soul Scream Spell."

"... I can, but you’ll have to let go, spare these old bones of mine."

Lyle let go, feeling a bit embarrassed, and put his bird-beak mask back on, now feeling a burning shame on his face.

The scholar straightened his linen robe and looked at Lyle with an unconcerned laugh, "The way you ask for help is getting a bit as shameless as your senior, have you recently been in touch with laws?"

"Why don’t you suspect it was Mr. Miracle?"

"Laws would be the one fussing with such trivial matters, while Miracle would have clung to my leg the second he saw me, and of course, if you were Miracle, I wouldn’t have let you in."

"If it’s about learning, I won’t refuse you, Plague Doctor. Even though the Witch Council brings me a bit of annoyance."

"However, child, recently there have been no Witches pestering me anymore, all the Witches of Andrey haven’t been seen lately."

"As if they’ve vanished into thin air."