"May you find success in your mission, Moraine."
Fourteen days had passed since my meeting with Marla.
But those words kept ringing in my head as if I just heard it seconds ago.
For the past two weeks, ever since I left the Tower of Circle, I had been making my way to this remote forest in one of the most remote region in the empire.
Along the way I managed to stop in rural villages and stayed in some small inns, picking up any news that I could scratch up.
Words from Tsahanam were never good.
The monster invasion turned for the worse each time I heard of it.
The empire's southeast border kept being pressured by an ocean of monster, preventing the imperial forces from advancing further into the Great Desert, into Tsahanam.
Tchakran reinforcement from the northeast of the Great Desert was being blocked by another ocean of monsters as well.
And around ten times the number of the monster army were gathered around Fajar, Tsahanam's capital.
People said Fajar had fallen. Some said the Tower of Circle's forces stationed there had abandoned the city. Some said the city was still standing and fighting off the monsters.
Whatever happened, I hoped Marla would be fine.
I could not care less if the rest of the Tower's forces were to be wiped out in Fajar. At least Marla had to survive.
Though I was not sure why I would keep hoping for my former mentor's well-being.
After all, we were enemies now.
The next time we see each other, one of us would likely ended up dead.
This was the consequence of my choice.
I chose to embark on this journey.
I chose this path to save my world.
I had to carry this burden and go all the way to the end.
I needed to see this through.
"Hello there, my dear!"
A warm voice suddenly called out to me.
I quickly formulated a Third Circle killing spell in my head and turned around.
A woman garbed in dark cloak was standing at the side of the dirt path I was treading on.
"Tell me, dear! Are you lost? This forest isn't a place for a beautiful young lady like you to be alone in."
I did not sense her approach despite my detection field.
A cloaking spell. A high level at that.
This woman was a skilled mage.
Seemed like I followed the instructions correctly and made it to the right location.
"My name is Moraine Dazima."
I revealed to the cloaked woman. My killing spell was still ready to be casted.
I went on as I produced a wooden carving of a four-legged serpent.
"I am here to look for my sisters."
Upon the sight of the carving the woman flipped back her hood.
She was quite plump. Had the homely air and warm beauty of a kind farmwife. Or one of those nice and welcoming middle-aged woman you would find in every little village.
At first glance, you would just assume her as an ordinary woman.
But the sight of the silver medallion of a four-legged serpent above her large bosom proved otherwise.
"Finally, child! We've been expecting you!"
The woman said warmly as she twirled her hand.
A distortion appeared in the dense of the forest.
Suddenly another path manifested beside the woman. It was paved with cobblestone unlike the muddy dirt road I was standing on.
The constructed path led to a large clearing with a grand mansion standing at the center of it.
Illusion magic.
It must had been an advanced sorcery for it to be missed by my detection.
"Come now! Mother and the others are waiting!"
The plump woman said as she grabbed my hand gently and escorted me toward the mansion.
I followed the woman to the building standing eerily in the middle of this remote forest.
As I approached the mansion, I could sense several pairs of eyes watching me from its windows.
Observing me. Judging me. Measuring me.
The kind plump woman led me into the mansion and escorted me into a large parlor with a grand burning fireplace inside.
Two women were awaiting us there.
One was a beautiful soft-faced lady. She had the air of a kind-hearted sister that would always help you out.
The other was a timid and short freckled girl who looked barely fifteen. The girl seemed to be the sweet and obedient daughter all parents wanted from their child.
Two women with ordinary appearances you would often see as you lived through life.
But the silver medallion of a four-legged serpent on their chest proved otherwise like before.
"Farahnah, is this the one we've been waiting for?"
The lady with sisterly face asked the plump woman.
I just noticed the necklace of a serpent coiling around a burning torch on her neck. It was previously obscured by her silver medallion.
She was a Healer to the Serpent's Order.
Well, she at least used to be one given her other accessory.
It turned out I was not the only one who betrayed a prestigious organization.
And she was not just any traitor.
She also broke the Eternal Surrender. A great oath taken by the Healers of the Temple.
"She's beautiful. I wish I have soft bright golden hair like hers."
The freckled girl said shyly as she hugged a doll of three-headed animal.
I was not certain where she originated from.
But the eerie air and the density of the mana the girl radiated from her surface were not normal.
"Now, now, sisters! Let her settle down first. She just travelled all this way to meet us, after all!"
The plump woman said clapping her hands.
It was then that another group of woman, each wearing a silver medallion of a four-legged serpent, entered the room.
A hunched old lady was leading the pack.
Differ from the others, the serpent on the old lady's medallion had wings on it.
"Welcome, Moraine! Did you have a safe passage?"
The old lady said with a warm voice of a kind grandmother.
Of everyone here, hers was the face that I recognized.
After I heard from Marla about the magical hotspots and began investigating them, Carlisa reached out to me.
It started when I was asking around the black market of any information around the location where the hotspots were emerging.
Because of my reckless action, rumors spread of a Senior Apprentice of the Tower going around the black market asking odd questions.
It was then that Carlisa discretely contacted me and offered any information I wanted to know.
At first it was just rumors that went around the hotspot locations.
Then Carlisa began pointing out to me of certain records that might contain the clues I had been looking for.
It eventually led to Carlisa revealing herself who she truly was and began helping me with my research into dark arts.
All my discoveries regarding the end of the world was mainly attributed to Carlisa's insight and helping hands.
If I had not met this grandmotherly woman, I would probably still be a Senior Apprentice, and perhaps already got promoted into High Mage right about now.
But I would also regret not knowing the things I learned through Carlisa.
The revelation I received from her was simply too important to be missed. Even if I had to abandon the Tower to gain it.
"The journey was well, Carlisa. I am truly grateful and honored that you would welcome me in your abode."
I said to the old woman.
She reached her wrinkled hands to mine, and caressed my palms gently.
"Our house is always open to the enlightened and those who wishes to be enlightened like you, child."
Carlisa then reached her right hand to the pouch on her hip and pulled out another silver medallion of a four-legged serpent. This one was wingless like the ones worn by the other women.
"But in order for us to welcome you completely into our house, into our family, into our circle, we need you to surrender a part of yourself first."
Carlisa said while holding the silver medallion over my right palm.
The old woman had told me of this previously. Back when she first revealed her true identity to me.
She presented me with this option should I choose to abandon the Tower of Circle.
Should I choose to break free from my shackles and decides to shoulder the true burden a woman must carry.
"What do you say, Moraine Dazima?"
Carlisa asked while handing a dagger to my left palm.
Our world was ending. Dunia was ending.
Something had to be done.
"I humbly present myself, Mother."
I said to Carlisa as I gripped the dagger and used it to slash a bleeding wound on my right palm.
With blood pouring out, I reached my right hand to the silver medallion Carlisa held before me.
The accessory immediately soaked my crimson blood like a sponge.
The group of women around us cheered joyously upon my stunt.
"You are now linked to us, sister!"
Carlisa rapturously announced while raising my bloodied right hand, displaying the magic artifact that I was holding.
I proclaimed to Marla and the other High Mages in the Tower that we needed to do everything we can to face the disastrous time ahead.
We could not spare anything in the face of the end of the world.
We must do everything we can to save our world.
We must be willing to do anything.
Even if we have to embrace the chaos within us and become one with the dark.
"Moraine Dazima, welcome to the Circle of Kali!"