The Great Witch of Magic Academy

Hel had finally returned to her seal as the tattoo markings, long hair, and sharp claws vanished from Elizabeth's body. She fell limp and unconscious, though Grimhild caught her in her grasp, gently setting her down.

A soft footstep behind the witch suddenly came out of nowhere, but it didn't surprise her. She didn't need to look to know who it was.

"...You really brought her back just to kill her again?" Jean's voice cut through the silence like the edge of a dagger. "Killing someone a hundred times is a bit excessive... uhh... even for you."

"I didn't kill just her." Grimhild said calmly, still facing the destroyed ground. "I corrected her."

Jean let out a dry laugh.

"Well, that's one way to put it!"

He stepped beside her, his usual smile remaining until he glanced at Grimhild.

"I'm starting to think you still have your old habits from back then..."

"I simply humbled her," Grimhild said flatly. "Nothing more. She was deserving of it."

Jean didn't respond at first. He only watched her with a cocky grin on her face.

"And did it work?"

Grimhild closed her eyes, and for a moment, she looked tired.

"She kissed my boot." Said the witch. "She'll remember that longer than death."

Jean raised a brow, a faint wince at the edge of his lips.

"You're cruel…"

"She was crueler. I simply returned the favor with interest."

"Spoken like someone who's sadistic... maybe Zarutha was onto something."

That got her to turn. Just slightly.

Her voice came quieter this time. "She reminded me of who I was before the world gave me a reason to change."

Jean widened his eyes at her response, now softening his words.

"Then… maybe the world gave her one too."

Grimhild didn't answer, not because she disagreed, but because she wasn't sure she believed it yet. Who knew if Hel would really change?

From behind them, footsteps approached, but they were more urgent and heavier, signaling Kyto's arrival.

He emerged through a broken brush, looking all around him.

"Where is she?" He asked. "Where is Elizabeth? What happened?!"

"She's sealed." Grimhild replied, expressionless.

"Sealed? Not dead?"

"She'll serve Elizabeth now." Grimhild added, as if that explained everything.

Kyto's expression twisted at her words as he balled his fists, stepping forward.

"You let her live?! After everything she did to Elizabeth? You let her live?!"

Grimhild didn't flinch, but she didn't meet his eyes either.

Jean sighed, watching the commotion with disappointment.

"I spared her because she deserved a second chance. You wouldn't understand, Kyto, but this is for the best interest of Elizabeth, and possibly everyone else."

Kyto glared at her angrily.

"With someone as dangerous as her, you're letting history repeat itself! Didn't you feel her magical power? If someone like her is set free, Yggdrasil will suffer another era like the Mythica Age!"

"That is why I stopped her, Kyto, she now serves under Elizabeth, and me. She will not cause any more harm, I made sure of that." Grimhild said, confidently. "Hel will be given a second chance to do what is good, but if she fails, I'll handle her myself."

Kyto stood still as the anger didn't fade, but it turned into something else; uncertainty, confusion, even feelings of betrayal, but somewhere in the mess of it, there was also something close to understanding.

"I trusted you." Kyto said quietly with a sigh. "Don't make me regret it."

Grimhild nodded once, curt and wordless.

"You can trust me."

From a distance, there was a low groan. All three of them turned as Elizabeth moved her limbs as she lay on the ground.

Her body was weak, and her limbs were heavy, but her eyes opened, and thankfully, they were hers again. She was no longer the Queen of Death. Just Elizabeth.

Kyto widened his eyes and was the first to her side. "Liz!" He crouched beside her, holding her arm.

Elizabeth blinked, visibly confused.

"Kyto...? What... happened? I feel like I've been asleep for years..."

Jean stepped back, watching with a smile.

"It's good to have you back, Elizabeth!"

Grimhild lowered her staff.

"You were possessed, but Hel is now gone."

Elizabeth looked up, squinting at the witch and Ayleon.

"Jean? G-Grimhild? W-Was it you that saved me again?"

Grimhild said nothing. Her gaze drifted toward the burnt forest.

"I only remember fragments," Elizabeth whispered to herself. "I remember pain. And fire. And being trapped—"

"You're safe now." Kyto said, gripping her hand tightly. "You're back to normal."

For a moment, nobody spoke. Just the sound of wind through trees.

Elizabeth looked to Grimhild again.

"Thank you… Grimhild, I'm so glad you came back! I was also worried sick about you!"

Grimhild finally glanced back at her. Her voice came quietly.

"Don't thank me. Not yet."

Elizabeth frowned.

"Why not?"

Grimhild turned, walking away.

"Because I don't know if I deserve it."

Grimhild didn't get far before Elizabeth's voice stopped her again, firmer this time.

"You do deserve it!"

Grimhild paused, her steps halting mid-stride. Her back remained turned.

Elizabeth slowly pushed herself up with Kyto's help, her legs still trembling beneath her. Her dress was singed, hair matted, eyes sunken, but in her voice, there was clarity.

"You brought me back!" Shouted Elizabeth. "When I'd lost everything… when I couldn't even hear myself think, you reached in and pulled me out. Don't walk away from that, Grimhild!"

The Witch of Justice didn't respond immediately.

When she finally turned around, her face remained unreadable, but her gaze was sharp and distant, focusing on Elizabeth.

"I didn't do it for praise." She said.

"I know…" Elizabeth replied, smiling. "That's why it means even more."

Kyto remained beside her, glancing between the two. Something in his chest softened, if only slightly.

"I… remembered things." Elizabeth said with an unsteady voice. "Not clearly, but the things Hel made me feel… the things I did. I was drowning in it. If you hadn't saved me… then…"

"You don't have to explain." Grimhild cut in, stopping her mid-sentence. "You were under her influence. That's not who you are."

Elizabeth swallowed hard.

"And who are you, Grimhild?"

Grimhild widened her eyes and blinked. Before she could answer, a warm voice called through the forest.

"Grimhild!"

The white-haired witch turned toward the sound just as a blur of fur and feathers shot out from the air.

Zarutha barreled into her shoulder like a comet, flapping wildly before perching with frantic urgency.

"You're alive!! I thought you were dead, or in hell, or trapped in some interdimensional prison, or—or—or turned into ash like the trees!"

"I'm not," Grimhild said calmly, patting the owl's head. "But thank you for assuming the worst."

Zarutha deflated slightly, puffing up his feathers.

"You're welcome."

Elizabeth gave a soft, watery laugh. It was the first time she had laughed since regaining herself.

"Oh hey, that's Zarutha, right?"

The owl turned dramatically toward the Rozenheart, and puffed his chest, bowing in midair.

"Zarutha, the Magnificent Delivery Owl, and the Trusted Companion of the Archmage, Slayer of Worms and Snacker of Unattended Pastries."

"He's insufferable…" Grimhild muttered. "But reliable."

"I heard that!"

Before any more banter could unfold, the bushes rustled again.

From the forest emerged Fhiron, the Elf King. "Grimhild." He called out. "I felt the battle, and watched everything from a distance, just where the bloody hell did you learn something like Destruction Magic?"

"That's none of your concern, at least for now."

"Huh? None of my concern?! We've been friends for ages!"

Grimhild turned away, facing the forest.

"Hey, don't ignore me!"

Coming out from the tall bushes was Chroliosa who smiled at reuniting with her master.

"Master Grimhild…" She placed her hand against her chest. "I protected everyone, just as promised. Hel's Death Magic couldn't reach anyone during your battle."

"Thank you, Chroliosa, your defensive spells prove formidable, even against an Alufray."

Zarutha hooted with amusement.

"Grimhild could've just used her own magic to protect us, but she probably wanted to see us go mad from Hel!"

Jean let his shoulders fall, sighing with a grin.

"And now the whole circus is here."

Zarutha flew up to him, inches from his face.

"Say 'circus' again and I'll transmute your boots into ferret skins, human boy!"

Jean leaned back.

"Y-You have some disturbing hobbies...!"

Grimhild, for once, allowed the moment to unfold without interruption. Her eyes wandered across the circle; Elizabeth, now regaining herself; Kyto, brooding but still present; Jean, playful and kind; Zarutha, Fhiron, Chroliosa… all of them getting to know one another.

It struck her then, quietly and unexpectedly.

She wasn't alone.

And they weren't just followers or allies.

They were hers. Broken, chaotic, sometimes maddening, but hers.

And maybe—for the first time in years—that mattered.

She looked toward the rising sun as it fought its way through the thick branches of the forest.

"With all of you here, I suppose I'll be needing a new plan." Said Grimhild, low and monotone.

"Are we going to Mesnil?" Elizabeth asked softly.

Grimhild nodded.

"That kingdom is the next knot to untie."

Kyto nodded at her words, hesitant to speak.

"Then… I guess we'll go together."

"I have no idea what all of you are doing, but I'm up for the ride!" Said Fhiron, adventurous as ever. "I owe the young lad, Jean, for having my back against those Hexbeasts. It's the best I can do."

"Humu…" Grimhild lowered her head, smiling. "Very well, you can come too, Fhiron, but if I see you laying a hand on Elizabeth to flirt, then you'll experience a death far worse than Hel's."

"Oi! What kind of man do you think I am?!"

Everyone burst out laughing as Grimhild smirked.

"Elizabeth, Kyto." Grimhild faced them with a soft look in her eyes. "Mythical Valley will await you in the future, but for now, there are more important things to worry about."

Kyto shook his head.

"No, it's fine, I completely understand…" The Cyrodel lowered his head. "I owe you for everything you've done, Grimhild. It would be wrong not to pay my debt. After all, you saved Elizabeth… my closest friend!"

Liz glanced at Kyto with a smile… now hugging him around the waist.

"Ehehe, it's about time you have a change of heart! I told you Grimhild wasn't the same person as before."

Kyto blushed by the unexpected affection, averting his gaze.

"Uhm… y-yeah, I was just mad at everything… but…" Kyto's flustered expression vanished for a moment. "Now… I'm feeling kind of grateful."

Grimhild smiled, turning to face the other way.

"Let us be off, everyone."