WITCH OF THE END

"Are you enjoying the party?"

Luna glanced around the crowded room, her eyes heavy with disdain. "Len, parties are emotionally draining and a waste of valuable time. All these people could've just sent you a gift, and it would've been the same."

She took a long sip of her red wine, feeling its warmth slide down her throat. Her sister's presence was the only thing keeping her from bolting, despite the sharp, scrutinizing glances their mother cast her way.

Lena stared at the crowd in front of them and said in a formal tone:

"The Feng Clan needs to maintain good relations with the other clans. This is how she does it."

"There you go again…defending mom's actions. Some clans don't need to be here, like the Chau clan. Their leader's Aura is literal eternal flames and a natural counter against Mom's Aura. I bet they're waiting for the right time to take down our clan and become a great clan."

Lena chortled at her sister's claim and sighed. At this point, she was used to Luna's constant pessimism.

"Have you considered becoming a combat professor yet?" she asked, changing the topic completely.

Luna's lips curved upwards then and quickly came down as she remembered the proposal.

The idea of becoming a combat professor had been brought forward by her mother a few months ago. Since she had no divinity in her blood, the least Luna could do was use her natural gifts for some good.

Yes, she was gifted despite being unable to awaken. Luna was a special skilled martial artist to the core thanks to the unique blood in her veins.

So, even though she didn't join the sacred path of ascension, Luna still had all the gifts that came with her blood traits. She was faster than normal humans, too strong to be considered human, and well-versed in the area of martial arts thanks to the memories engraved in the mystical blood.

In short, Luna was a warrior at heart.

Because of that, the Feng clan still wanted her to serve the world by offering her a job at an Academy to train the younger generation.

The academy was obviously for High blood students. Why else would they send someone as skilled as herself there if it wasn't?

A strange expression appeared on her face.

'All those brats will make fun of my inability to use Zenshi. I can feel it.'

She suddenly suppressed a laugh when a strange sense of self-consciousness touched her mind and realized something about herself.

'I am seventeen and this is my life. I wonder what normal girls my age do?'

If Luna were normal she would probably be thinking about mundane things like…what is she wearing in the morning? Or does that cute guy like her?

'I don't even think I have interest in that romantic nonsense—humans are too complicated.'

"I'm still thinking about it. Couldn't they have sent me to some sect in the North Reach and made me a janitor or something…" she replied after a short moment of silence.

Lena didn't respond. Instead, she turned to the crowd. The musicians were playing a symphonic violin tune one that made the atmosphere very calm. She stared at the band with a wistful look and said:

"Dad liked the violin. Did you know I mastered the damn thing so that I could play it for him one day?"

There was a sad nostalgic smile on her gentle face.

Meanwhile, Luna wanted to growl. Len changed topics when they got difficult or when she didn't have a reply.

But why did she have to change to this one? Why did she have to bring up their father?

Feeling pressured to continue the conversation, Luna forced a smile and responded, "He would be proud to hear that one of his daughters is an Ascender. A powerful one."

"I hope to live up to his name. We both should, he was a legend after all—and we're part of his legacy."

Luna stared at her drink blankly, the memories of her father playing in her mind like she had only lost him yesterday. Time moved fast, didn't it?

Would she feel this way if he was still alive?

'I'm sorry I can't live up to your legacy.'

"Failure."

That's what talking about her father reminded her of; her lack of success. The one who was destined to become the next head of the clan was now nothing. No one dared to look at her, and those who did only did so to remind themselves of what she was…

A miscalculation…a mistake…a stain to one of the greatest houses to ever exist.

But…

Was she really going to continue feeling like this for the next years? Lying in her room, playing games, watching clips on the network, and having terrible sleep schedules.

Was that the life she wanted to live?

'Well, that would be sad. I would probably earn the world record for the World's Saddest Human Being before killing myself.'

And Luna wasn't the type to jump to her death. That's if the fall could kill her.

She lingered in thought for a while, the symphony of violin music slowly drowning away. It had been two years since her dreams were crushed. In those two years, she faced doubt, sorrow, and maybe the urge to commit seppuku because of embarrassment.

Deep down, Luna also wanted such parties celebrated in her name. She wanted to elevate her House's name. She wanted to elevate humanity.

That's what her younger self would have wanted. That's what her father would have wanted.

'I won't know what I want if I stay in my room all day with my dark thoughts.'

With that thought, her next words shocked Len.

"I will join the academy as a combat professor on condition that my blood information is retained and kept private. Tell Mother that I will use Mao Feng as a referral to prove that I trained from a Feng Sect and that's it."

Saying those words felt like lifting a heavy load. Luna was self-conflicted.

'My biggest problem is my heritage, so running away may be hard but I know I will make it somehow.'

Lena's eyes widened, she didn't expect her sister to agree after months of trying to convince her to join. This, truly…was a big step for her to make.

"You've made up your mind, I see. My sister, a Hansho Academy professor. I thought I would never see the day."

"And humanity never thought the sky would fall. Never say never, I guess."

Luna shrugged, smiling back at her sister. She was slightly shorter than Len and had to lift her head to stare directly into her grey eyes. They looked different because Luna was more of an embodiment of their father while Lena looked more like their mother.

It was something she took pride in, sometimes.

Feeling overjoyed, Len raised her glass in the air and made a toast:

"To new beginnings, Luna Feng. This may be the last time I see you in a while since I'm getting drafted soon."

Luna frowned and held back on her glass before making a toast.

"You didn't have to say that, you creep."

"Says the girl who plays games day and night. Do you even shower?" Lena snickered at her, mischievously.

Luna gasped, her pale face reddening in an instant before turning away from Len's vulgar gaze.

"…sometimes…" she murmured. Then raised her glass:

"TO NEW BEGINNINGS!"

The music stopped and everyone turned to her as if this was the first time seeing her. Some were shocked by her beauty, and more shocked that she could talk all along.

'Crap. That came out louder than I expected. I drank too much wine.'

Mao Feng turned to her direction and noticed it was. She smiled gently and raised her wine glass:

"To new beginnings!"

Soon, everyone followed Mao Feng's action and joined in on the celebration.

'Alright, it's not as bad as I thought.'