The Calamity of a Reborn Witch

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Chapter 14: A Risky Alliance

The moment her body slipped through the icy barrier and entered the Frozen Heart’s cortex, Carina felt her heart skip a beat as relief slipped past her lips in a quiet breath. A surreal ash-white sky overshadowed a barren plain of snow and ice. Waves of icy mist rose and fell across as they spread outward to greet the ice witch, who strode through the inch of snow which gathered in piles around the rough domain of her small island.

As before, Viktor waited at its center. The bright, flickering of the cortex wove around his bones like a beacon. Beneath the dragon, a small garden of vines and flowers had gathered around the immortal’s corpse. The frost-formed leaves had woven themselves together, replicating the scales of the creature’s massive body and filling out his once-proud wings. Carina could feel the rhythmic pulse of cold magic that emanated from Viktor and the cortex beating gently against her as if attempting to brush away the anger and anxiety that had followed the ice witch across the threshold.

“You’re not—angry with me?” Carina murmured cautiously as she followed the narrow path left between the frozen-throne stems of winter roses.

“Do children often confuse worry for anger?”

The ice witch arched a brow and looked away, focusing on the vine of glittering flowers that had coiled its way around the dragon’s giant talon. “I don’t know. It’s been a long time—since I had a parental figure who worried about me.”

“The man on the train.”

Carina sucked in a slow breath and then nodded as she stepped forward to place her hand against the cold, ridged white bone of his snout.

“Is that why you developed such a strong need to protect the people around you, even strangers?”

The ice witch said nothing as she focused on the glowing frost beneath her hand. When she lifted her palm, small buds of flowers bloomed beneath as the glowing white tendrils of the cortex wrapped themselves around her wrist and fingers, filling Carina with even more of Viktor’s power and a comforting sense of security.

The strong desire to claim the lake and prove that she deserved this power filled Carina, but the sting of Viktor’s earlier disappointment was still fresh. That, and the knowledge of how quickly time flew by while training inside the cortex, forced her to pull away and step back.

“I know it hasn’t been that long—but I’ve realized my mistake. I will be more cautious while training in the future, but I must grow stronger.” The ice witch looked up to meet the dragon’s empty eyes. “I have to learn how to fight with magic so that I can protect myself and those who support me.”

‘Ivy, Hana, Gus, Bryson, the members of Cerberus, and even the knights of Bastiallano. I put them all at risk if I continue to remain as weak as I am.’

“I will train at every opportunity, not just when I’m asleep. And—I promise to listen to you and not push myself beyond my mortal limits,” Carina continued determinedly. “But time is not on my side. There is someone I must protect—and others I must destroy. I am tired of being mocked and underestimated. If I could live in peace, I would but—if that is impossible, then I will give them a reason to fear me instead.”

“You mean to use your magic openly?” Viktor replied thoughtfully.

“Does it make sense to hide it? I know that powerful covens exist in Lafeara, Strugna, and especially Ventrayna. We exist but must hide our magic to avoid being persecuted?!” Carina shook her head futilely. “I spent half of my life here running away from this power because I thought it would corrupt me. But I have seen how corrupt those without a drop of magic in their veins can be. Even in a world without magic, people find a way to push their resentments unto others under the blanket of bias, discrimination, and fear.”

The ice witch grimaced and rubbed her neck as her enthusiasm and gaze faltered. “I know it's foolish to think that I can change centuries of bias or make up for generations of cruelty. No, not just foolish, naive. I thought that if I could show witches aren’t to blame for every disaster and calamity that strikes….” Carina dropped her hand with an exasperated sigh as her shoulders slumped forward in defeat. “But now Lafeara is facing a truly horrifying Witch Plague.” The ice witch leaned back to look at the ashen sky and let out a feeble laugh. “So it would appear that the gods themselves have outplayed me.”

“Arachne has certainly played a part,” Viktor agreed with notable resentment.

“If I cannot stop this Witch Plague through mortal measures, then I will stop it with magic. At least that way, I can prove that magic is not inherently evil. That it can be used for good!” The ice witch huffed as she straightened, then folded her arms as she returned her gaze to Viktor. “Is my thinking wrong? Is there no way to exist in this world without hiding who I am?”

“Mortals are not so easily organized under one common belief. Why do you think there are so many gods and witch covens? But what you said before also holds true. If they will not listen to reason, then make them kneel in fear.” The cortex dancing around the dragon’s skeleton flickered as the immortal fell silent for a moment. “As to your desire to grow stronger, there is more than one path to obtain it.”

Carina nodded silently as she waited, hopeful for some useable advice.

“However, in this case, the quicker method does not come without risk.”

“I expected as much.” The ice witch tightened the arms wrapped around her waist. “What sort of risk?”

“Kirsi.”

‘Of course, her name would come up.’ Carina clenched her eyes shut with a heavy sigh and then raised her brows expectantly. “What about Kirsi?”

“All the knowledge you lack, Carina. All the experience you so desperately need—Kirsi can give them to you.”

“Ha! Only if she’s willing!” Carina scoffed and then raised her right hand to rub her tired eyes. “And I don’t see Kirsi handing over that kind of power without demanding something in return.”

‘And I don’t trust her. I warned Kirsi to stay away from Percy, and yet she goes right to him and allows him inside Bastiallano without warning me.’

“You are the same soul, Carina,”

Viktor replied with gentle firmness. “Can you not—as you mortals express it—put yourself in Kirsi’s shoes? Would you really offer up the same advantage without taking something in return?”

Carina sighed against her palm and then dragged her fingers down her face. ‘Is he suggesting that I’m the one who’s being unreasonable? Why does this feel like my deal with Maura all over again? I didn’t ask to be reborn, let alone as some split soul to a cursed ice witch.’

“The quickest way to grow stronger would be if you both worked together as one united soul. Part of that unification comes from sharing each other’s experiences and memories until looking at the other feels like looking in the mirror.”

‘And yet the very thought of being melded into Kirsi completely terrifies me.’

The ice witch clenched and unclenched her jaw while her right hand dropped against the silk cord of the nightgown she wore. “When I woke up in this body, Maura’s body, I felt like a thief. I had stepped into a life that wasn’t mine, and even though I didn’t know what was going on, I knew that I had taken that life from someone—who only wanted a second chance.”

“It was Arachne who carried your soul to this world and that body,” Viktor replied soothingly. “And Maura would not have had a second chance if Viktor hadn’t turned back time to allow Arachne to do so.”

“I didn’t know that then. All I knew—was that I wanted to live. Maura and I had both just died—we both wanted a second chance—and yet I was the outsider who took over her body and stole that opportunity from her. Maura has every right to hate me, but Kirsi? How many second chances has she had?” Carina shook her head and laughed bitterly. “Listen to me. Here I am, doing the exact same thing I did when I woke up in Turnbell eight years ago. Trying to rationalize my existence—and find excuses for my own selfish desire to live.”

“There was nothing you could have done, Carina. Maura’s spirit had already been severed from her body by Arachne’s hand. Your connection to it was no less tenuous. Without the Frozen Heart, the body you feel so guilty about possessing would have rotted away like any other corpse.”

Carina shuddered at the thought even as she rubbed her fingers against her chest. “I knew this heart was—different. Maura was so surprised the first time I used magic.” Her trembling fingers tightened into a fist as familiar guilt clawed its way through her chest and throat. “But every time I hear her name—I feel—rotten.” She blinked as a small tear washed down her cheek and blurred into a snowflake as it fell free. “The only way I could bury this feeling—was by agreeing to help Maura get her revenge. If she could not have a second chance, then the least I could do was punish the people who tormented her in the previous life!”

The tendrils of the cortex reached out towards the ice witch as vines of flowers spiraled and blossomed beneath her feet.

“After living with that—family of hers. Experiencing Maura’s death over and over—every time I closed my eyes—I forgot why it was that I wanted to live so badly. It was easier to accept Maura’s demands as my purpose for being here—but I still feel guilty!” Carina blinked away her tears rapidly, fighting against the bubbling anguish that spilled through her clumsy words. “I thought that if I could save people during the plague, that would make me feel better. But instead, my actions have turned what was already a deadly plague into a truly terrifying Witch Plague.

“I thought that fulfilling Maura’s request to save Hana, someone who didn’t deserve to relive such a horrible fate….” The ice witch hid her face as her voice cracked. After a few steadying breaths, she cleared her throat and brushed the frozen snowflakes away from her cheeks. “But there is more at work here than just fate, isn’t there, Viktor?” Her ice-blue eyes fixed upon the immortal dragon with a note of accusation. “How else did Jade, an old friend from another world, follow me here after all these years? And now, not only is Jade some sort of witch monster, but she’s cursed Ivy of all people with some sort of affliction that appears to be connected to the Witch Plague!”

A long moment of silence followed, broken by Carina’s unsteady breaths as she fought to regain her composure, only to feel her twisting anger and despair erupt. “Why!?”

Remorse and hopelessness surged in to overwhelm the ice witch the moment her chaotic emotions broke free. Carina pressed both hands against her mouth to smother the sob that quickly followed. ‘What good are tears now? I don’t have time to break down and cry. I have to find a way to save Ivy!’

The gentle, glowing tendrils of the cortex draped themselves around the ice witch like a blanket as a blinding god-like figure appeared in front of the skeletal dragon. Long white hair woven from snow fell down over the immortal’s shoulders. Two brows etched from ice and frost rested in a neutral expression above languid, pale-blue eyes, a shade lighter than Carina’s—but infinitely colder. Viktor’s lips, all but invisible, were pressed together in a thin line, their complexion a pale gray hue that melded with the ashen color of his skin. The rest of the immortal’s body, below his shoulders, was little more than clusters of snow that tunneled and flowed between the cortex and this new appearance.

“It is a lesson that Kirsi learned a long time ago,” Viktor explained solemnly. “All those she shared any sort of intimate relationship with were either twisted by Arachne to destroy her or manipulated by Veles to betray her.”

“But Ivy—Ivy wouldn’t do that,” Carina protested as she pried her clenched fingers apart to speak. “She would never!”

“Those they could not corrupt, they ruined as another means to punish Kirsi,” Viktor continued as a swirling arm and hand of snow extended towards her chest. “Because Kirsi’s only weakness—your greatest weakness—is that Frozen Heart.”

“My—heart?” Carina stammered as she rubbed the cold vines of frost that ran down her cheeks. “But it’s your heart, Viktor. The heart of an Immortal—how can that be my weakness?”

“Because the emotions of a mortal have weakened it.” The immortal sighed with apparent frustration as his arm evaporated into a cluster of snow that spiraled back towards the cortex. “Kirsi spent many lifetimes burying her emotions. For her own survival, she learned to remove herself from all forms of emotional attachment. She simplified all decisions by viewing the world as black and white, good and evil. She defined all her relationships as necessary or unnecessary based on the subject’s strength and loyalty.

“Those Kirsi considered weak were discarded, least they become her weakness. Those who did not swear allegiance to her name and her cause could not be trusted and were considered traitors and enemies.

“But Kirsi did not alienate herself out of pure selfishness. She has seen what the gods will do if given a chance to twist the knife further. So she chose to rely on the surviving members of the Ice Coven’s because they had sworn their fealty to her long ago. But even now, she questions their true motive. The weaker I grow, the more their powers wane. They are becoming desperate. And desperate people are dangerous.”

Carina couldn’t help but think of Octavia in that moment, though she couldn’t explain why. She pushed the thought aside as she regarded Viktor incredulously. “And yet—you want me to trust Kirsi? To become one with her?”

“As I said before, you are two halves of the same whole. Arachne split you apart for a reason. You each lack something that the other possesses. Those imperfections can be made whole if you become one again.”

“I doubt the Isbrand Queen would agree with you. She seems to regard herself as perfect already,” Carina growled with unmasked resentment.

“You have both developed into your own separate and unique identities, which, in many telling ways, resemble each other,” Viktor commented. His words held a hint of warmth but also a note of weariness. “You both want the same thing, Carina, more power.” The cortex formed another arm, and a simple glass chalice appeared in the immortal’s hand. “Right now, you are two broken parts of the same vessel. Until that vessel is restored, neither of you can hold the power you seek.”

Carina watched as the cold magic from the cortex flowed down into the cup, only to spill out between the cracks faster than it could fill. “Okay, I get it. Neither of us can get what we want without the other—so we have to work together.” She waved the illusion away with a frustrated sigh and quickly shook her head. “But I still don’t trust Kirsi. Every time she takes over—I feel as if I’m fading away.” She hugged her arms against her side and shook her head. “Like she’s erasing me—somehow.”

“It would be wise to avoid letting Kirsi control this body since that would also grant her access to the Frozen Heart,”

Viktor replied. “She remains tied to it, but your connection to me allows you to control it.”

Carina shook her head. “The only thing Kirsi has asked for is the freedom to use this body. She isn’t used to being subservient to someone else’s will. And until I can properly protect myself—I need her too. So yeah, I don’t see her agreeing to hand over her experience and magical prowess that easily.”

“Perhaps if you offered her another means of freedom. Something she has searched for through many lifetimes without success.”

The ice witch furrowed her brows worriedly as she studied him. “And what—would that be?”

“Me.”

“What? You? You mean—”

“I can allow her to enter here in order to train you properly. The closer you are to the cortex, the faster your rate of improvement. I can also monitor your interactions and keep you safe.”

“But—Kirsi! You can’t let her in here, Viktor. She wants to kill you! Kirsi wants all of your power—to use it against the gods and get her revenge!” The more Carina thought about the idea, the more she dreaded what it could lead to. “No, absolutely not!”

“Carina, Kirsi wants more than just my power,” Viktor replied with a faint chuckle.

The ice witch shook her head, unable to ignore the chill that ran down her spine at the immortal's insinuation.

“Kirsi’s greatest desire has always been to become an immortal herself. Taking my power and killing the gods who stand in her way are just obstacles in the path of her true objective. Why do you think the gods are so desperate to stop her?”

“But then—” Carina forced down a swallow as her voice squeaked slightly, “Why can’t they just kill her? Or both of us.”

“Because without sacrifice, the death of you and Kirsi would bring about my undoing as well,” Viktor replied with cold grimness. “We may be immortals, Carina, but in this universe, we are but lesser gods who answer to a higher being. It is that power that Arachne and Viktor fear.”

The ice witch stared at him blankly. She turned, brushed aside the tendrils of the cortex, and then trudged towards Viktor’s talons. There, the ice witch sank into the pile of snow that formed against the dragon’s bone with a muffled groan as she held her head in her hands.

‘I feel as if my head is about to explode.’

Carina took a moment to collect her thoughts before raising her gaze to meet Viktor’s with an incredulous stare. “And yet, knowing all that, you still want me to let Kirsi have access to you? Are you crazy?!”

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The sight of the Scarlet Witch standing before Viktor’s frost-covered skeleton was just as bone-chilling as Carina had imagined. The Duchess felt inadequate standing beside her veteran counterpart in a flimsy nightgown. As usual, Kirsi appeared dressed in full scarlet armor that resembled blood trapped within layers of ice.

‘I wonder if that’s something I can learn—that is—if Kirsi can be trusted to keep her promise.’

Carina watched her other half closely as the Isbrand Queen stepped towards the silent immortal. The Scarlet Witch’s gaze focused on the blazing power of the cortex itself with flowed around the dragon.

“I admit, I wondered what you would look like after all these years,” Kirsi murmured with a hint of scorn. “But I did not picture you quite so—underwhelming.”

“Kirsi, our agreement,” Carina called out sharply, hoping to return to the discussion that had led to the Scarlet Witch gaining entrance. “You said that you would teach me everything you know about magic and combat.”

“Are you not going to greet me, Viktor?” Kirsi asked, ignoring the Duchess as she lifted a hand towards Viktor’s talons. “Or are you still playing favorites?”

Carina bit down on her lip and resisted the urge to grab the Scarlet Witch’s hand and drag Kirsi away from Viktor. The pair blinked in surprise as the cortex flashed. A thin white veil of frost quickly formed a shell around the immortal, locking Kirsi and Carina on the other side.

“Ha! Still a coward,” Kirsi mocked as she withdrew her hand and studied the barrier. “Do you think this will keep me out forever.?”

“You’re here to help, not bother Viktor,” Carina snapped as she crossed her arms impatiently. “If you can’t hold up your end of the agreement, then he might as well toss you back outside.”

The Scarlet Witch turned to regard the Duchess with a cynical smile and then strode towards her with elegant yet deadly strides. “Oh, forgive me, Duchess. I wasn’t sure if you meant to start right away. It’s hard to take your request seriously when you’re not even dressed appropriately.”

Carina narrowed her eyes and ignored her burning cheeks as she met Kirsi’s gaze. “It sounds as if you spotted a flaw. Since you agreed to be my teacher, perhaps that would be a good place for us to start.”

The Scarlet Witch arched a brow but then shrugged her shoulder with a dismissive sigh. “I suppose it could be worse. You’re not exactly a complete beginner. Hmm, yes, forging armor is as good a place to start as any. And you do like playing with clothes.”

“While you’re at it,” Carina growled as her nails bit into her palms. “You can teach me how to make weapons—and use them.”

“One step at a time, little ice witch,” Kirsi replied with a low chuckle. “No point in trying to run before you learn to walk.” The Scarlet Witch sauntered around Carina and then moved a few feet away before turning to face her. “Let’s start with something simple like shoes and see how it goes from there.”

‘Is it too late to change my mind?’ The Duchess drew in a slow breath, exhaled, and then extended her left foot, mimicking her tutor’s demonstration. “That will have to do. It’s almost time for me to wake up anyway.”

“Oh?” Kirsi’s ice-blue eyes narrowed above a thin smile. “Are you going to be leaving us so soon?”

“We will both be leaving,” Carina replied firmly. “Viktor will bring you back here when I am free to train again.”

The Scarlet Witch’s expression soured as her ice-blue eyes moved past the Duchess towards Viktor. “So be it, let us begin.”

‘The more I think about Viktor’s words earlier, the more I can’t help but wonder if Kirsi sees me as an ally—or enemy.’