A man walked with a hood over his head in one direction of the town, his footsteps quiet as he made his way through the empty streets of the town and then heading towards the forest which was cold and dark. He walked deep into the forest until he was met with a fog that started light on the ground and then started to increase in height and density near his legs while covering the ground.
Up in the sky, the clouds had started to clash against each other while thundering amongst them as the person made his way to the heart of the forest before coming to see two people who had arrived at the spot. They had cloaks that covered their face and the clothes that they wore.
"You're late," said a woman out of the two people who were already present.
The man smiled at them, only the below half of his face visible, "My deepest apologies. I was busy with something."
The below half of the woman's face who had spoken appeared to be wrinkled unlike the one who stood next to her who had a firm face. It showcased that the woman was old, "Did you find any information yet about her? All we see are the posters."
"You should have thought about it before having them placed everywhere in Bonelake," said the man to hear the woman tch.
"It wasn't I or anyone I know who placed them around. I don't even know who placed her face like that," huffed the woman.
The smile on the man's lips faltered hearing this and he asked, "It wasn't you? If I am not wrong...I heard there has been a hunt and chase with the hunters and her."
"I don't know who did and I am still trying to figure out who would out Laurae with her pictures when she has been keeping a low profile. For the council to do it, the names and pictures should go through me and my approval. Without it, nothing can happen. It must have been someone else who got it done," said the old woman, pushing her hood away from her face, the woman was nothing other than councilwoman Ava who had visited the head council a few weeks ago before the exam had commenced, "Has she contacted you?"
The man stood quiet for a few seconds before answering, "No."
Her white-gray hair was short that reached until her shoulder which was open right now that she often tied during her work time. Her eyes looked at the person in front of her sharply, "We would need to know if she comes in contact with you and the same holds good for everyone," said Councilwoman Ava.
"Did something happen? It feels like you are hunting her more than reaching out to her," the man commented, a smile back on his face. Receiving no answer to this, the man then said, "I heard the ritual didn't go successfully. What happened? We were close to unlocking the next piece of magic."
The councilwoman twisted her lips, "I don't know. There were only two survivors there. One a white witch and one a boy."
The man titled his head hearing this, "It appears sending Helen was after all a dumb decision," he chuckled at the end of it.
"We had some of the best who were recommended by Sabbi apart from Helen. Most of the white witches have died and most have been transferred to Wovile," the man next to Councilwoman Ava spoke up.
"How interesting. Look's like Sabbi didn't pick good enough people there," upon his comment, the old woman smiled.
"Don't be so bitter just because the great witch didn't pick you to be part of the exam. I am sure the Mistress has something bigger planned out for you, boy."
The man didn't respond to her but continued to smile at her words. A smile of contempt in there as he looked at her. By appearance, the woman might have looked way older than him but by age, he was twice older than what she was but he didn't bother to correct it. A human was an imbecile fool even after they crossed years before their time of death.
"What is the next plan?" he asked, brushing her words away.
"The next will be done by Sabbi herself unless she instructs us. I will contact you if there's a change in plan," the man bowed at her, seeing the woman and her companion who had accompanied her into the forest. The man continued to stare at them, the smile broadening on his face to show his teeth.
"What have you done Laurae that Ava wants to desperately get hold of you," he murmured and turned around to leave in the direction he had entered.
Far away from the forest and a few villages and towns away, Laurae hid behind a wall as she peeked at the empty street. It had been nearly a month since she had been getting chased away and as if that wasn't enough with the posters, she could tell the hunters were trying to get a hold of her.
Right now, she was hiding from a witch hunter she had run past a few hours ago. If the man thought that he was going to hunt her that easily, he was fairly mistaken. Laurae walked around the dark alley in a way that she stood at the top of the building while looking down at the witch hunter who held the crossbow in his hands, looking for her.
She followed him. Every step he took, she took another with him, and just when he came to a corner where she would least expect her, the black witch jumped right at him with a knife in her hand, to stab him. Twisting his hand around, she moved her hand back and forth with the knife until there was nothing left but blood on the man, she and the ground that left the evidence of murder but Laurae didn't stop at it.
It appeared that the humans were being too courageous enough to chase a witch like her. It was time to instill the fear that was lost. With that thought, the black witch dragged the witch hunter by his leg to stick him in the tree with his insides that were torn out.
Before leaving, she looked back at her work, smiling smugly, she started to walk into the darkness. She was going to find out who had smeared her face all over the town and once she would find the person, she would tear the person's body.