Eden's legs started to grow weak under the glare of the witch. Eden's eyes traced the witch, she had unblemished pale skin, and her hair was cut short except for two long strands. She wore a simple black dress and held an engraved dragger that had flecks of gold to Eden’s throat.

Her magic felt like death and was as fierce as a raging storm.

The rain and fighting happened around them as they stared at each other.

“Retreat!” The captain of the guards yelled as people fled. Surprisingly, the other witches didn’t follow them.

Eden wanted to sink into the ground and escape. Most of the witches snapped their heads over to the last person. Stumbling back, Eden's eyes darted around to the witches as they all stared at her.

Time seemed to freeze as the staring contest continued.

“I’ll ask again, what are you?”

“And why should I tell you?” Eden had no idea where this confidence came from. But she was a spirit, she could wield magic like another limb.  But Eden had no idea the power of these witches, treating them lightly could get her killed.

The witch seemed to be in thought before opening up her mouth again, “Are you from another witch clan?” Eden blanked at that.

They thought she was a witch. I guess they probably never met a greater spirit before let alone know how to recognize them. But it still stands how did she know that she wasn’t human in the first place? No other witch has before so what makes her so special? Maybe because she isn’t from the witch clan from here?

These witches aren’t from the Jacara Vale’s witches.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes,” Eden looks back at her in horror. Who takes someone’s silence as an answer?

All the other witches seemed to relax. The witch in front of Eden held out her hand. “My name is Nova,” she smiled as the other witches crowded around.

“Eden,” if they were a competition of the stupidest person, Eden would win. Who gives out their name to witches? Eden noticed that most of the witches’ faces had softened. Now Eden was even more confused. Before Eden could ask anything more, Eden was dragged away but Nova was talking about how they shouldn’t stay there any longer.

Eden had no idea why she didn’t refuse or escape but bite her, she was curious. They herded her away from the town and close to the forest. It greeted her quietly knowing she was surrounded by guests.

As soon as they were covered by the forest one of the witches grabbed Eden. She flinched but relaxed when she saw the witch only examining her for any injuries. “Any pain anywhere?” Eden shook her head. “I’m sorry if we knew that you would be there, we would have gotten you away from the fight.” Eden only nodded.

“Is she okay?” Nova asked from behind her.

“She's all right, a bit soaked and scared but she’ll be fine,” One of the witches near her started to blow a warm breeze at her while one lit a fire. Some started to talk out a range for her human ears to hear but not hers.

“She probably thought she was going to be sacrificed next and when she heard about it, they got someone else she probably wanted to see if it was one of her clan members.”

Nova spoke next, “That's probably why she gave a look of dread, she was probably the last of her clan.”

Eden could only huddle herself closer. It seems that Jacara Vale’s witch’s clan is all dead. And she is pretending to be them. After the tenth sacrifice she watched she stopped showing up. It’s better to pretend it doesn’t happen than face it. But this year there was no one to sacrifice so she was surprised when the festival was going the same. And when she saw the witch, she didn’t know how to feel.  

“Your name was Eden, right?” One of the older witches sat next to her. Eden nodded. “Well, my is Bri, I'm sorry that we couldn’t save the rest of your clan members. I can’t even imagine the grief and pain you have been through. I know you won’t trust us right away, but I swear we will protect you.” Bri smiled.

She and the rest of the witches all look similar but have their looks too. They were all raven-like black hair and pale skin. But all their eyes range from forest green to deep lake blues. This clan is the Orchid Ravens.

Jacara Vale’s witches just like the people were from different regions that decided to settle down. They never had a clan name nor had connections to other witches’ clans.

Honestly, witches were just like humans when it came to morality. They both were apex predators who fought for dominance and killed each other’s young to stop them from growing. Eden had met a couple of witches (outside of the sacrifice ceremonies) some of them were nice and others were bloodthirsty. But the Orchid Ravens had a different type of bloodthirsty. Violence was their nature.

They were known to massacre both humans and witches.

Eden had no idea why they were being nice. But she would also feel a protective urge to a creature that was the last of its kind.  

“Eden will be taking you back to our camp, then will decide what we should do with you.” Eden's first thought was to bolt and never look back. But they would probably chase her. Reluctantly, she followed behind them as they moved through the forest.

When Eden heard the flaps of wings it set in that she was surrounded by the Orchid Ravens. When they got further into the more dread Eden felt. Eden started to get sick of the feeling. Who knows that greater spirits could even feel fear?

A raven landed on Nova's shoulder and cuddled into her neck. Nova didn’t react to the bird, but Eden immediately knew what it was. It’s a minor spirit.

Eden had met minor spirits through the Jaraca’s witches. In most cases, one minor spirit will link itself to five-thirty witches. Most clans only have one minor spirit but in other cases, a clan might have a few similar minor spirits. Though a minor spirit might only connect itself to one witch. People dub them, ‘Soul bonded’.

No wonder Nova noticed she wasn’t human. She was a soul bonded.  Why did all the other witches have magic that felt like a rushing river, while Nova felt like an ocean in a storm?

Finally, they exited Eden’s territory. It felt the air got heavier and it took more effort to walk but it wasn’t as bad as she thought it was going to be. Thankfully, the others didn’t pay too much attention to her while she got used to the new atmosphere.

“How are you feeling Eden?” Bri walked beside her as they walked closer to the Raven’s camp.

“I’m all right,” Eden looks over to Bri who looks more open than the others. While all have closed body language, she held herself open and lightly. Even though her face was wrinkled and some of her hair was turning grey she had the energy of a calf.

“This is probably the first time you've been so far from home,” Eden nodded, “I’ve been traveling back and forth to our home since I was five. But some like Nova have been coming and going since birth. Like River over there,” River looked over to us and waved. “I forgot to introductions. You know me already, but I’m the navigator, my magic focuses more on the flow of water and where it leads. River is an attack mage.”

Eden let Bri ramble on.

It wasn’t long until Eden felt the presence of two other minor spirits. The two spirits shared their power with the Orchid Ravens.

They were at the Orchid Ravens base.

Have they always been this close?