[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-138":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Born as a Witch",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1702657,2172,"Chapter 138: Extraordinary","born-as-a-witch-chapter-138",138,"\u003Cp>The sun had dipped lower, casting golden light across the garden, yet Lira felt no desire to stop. Her hands still hummed with the dual energy of fire and earth, pulsing in rhythm with the hybrid plant she had created earlier. She had a sense that today would bring more than growth, it would bring discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She selected several small sprouts from her spatial bag, each carrying traits of different dragon-land flora she had nurtured at home. Lira laid them carefully in a circular patch of enriched soil, arranging them like a constellation. With a deep breath, she extended her awareness, letting her energy ripple outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the sprouts reacted instantly. Tiny tendrils lifted from the soil, curling in the air as if sensing her touch. Leaves twitched with anticipation, and faint sparks of ember light flickered along their stems. A soft, vibrating hum rose from the ground, almost like the purr of a living creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They... they’re listening,\" Lira whispered, a thrill running down her spine. \"I can feel them... thinking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She experimented with guiding their growth subtly, nudging one sprout toward the warmth of the sunbeam, encouraging another to root deeper. To her astonishment, the plants began to move on their own. A tiny vine stretched upward, then coiled playfully around a flowering shoot, lifting it slightly off the soil. Another sprout extended a leaf like a delicate hand, brushing gently against the edge of her sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes widened. \"It’s... alive in a whole new way. Not just plants... almost like little dragon spirits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She laughed softly, half in disbelief, half in wonder. The hybrid plants pulsed with light and warmth, their movements coordinated as if they were communicating silently. She could sense their awareness, their joy in responding to her energy, and, faintly, their curiosity about the world beyond the greenhouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Encouraged, Lira tried something bolder. She layered her energy into a more complex pattern: fire, earth, and a subtle vibration of dragon magic she felt humming beneath the land. The sprouts shivered and then leapt slightly, roots digging deeper while stems stretched upward with renewed vigor. Sparks of ember floated lazily through the air, dancing among the leaves like tiny fireflies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then she noticed it: one of the sprouts, a tiny vine with silver-tipped leaves, began to pulse in a pattern that mimicked a heartbeat, but slower, deeper, older. Lira knelt closer, placing her palm near the soil. The pulse synchronized with her own heartbeat. A shiver ran through her: this was no ordinary plant. Something ancient, something tied to the dragons, had answered her call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft glow began to ripple across the hybrid circle, and faint, warm air currents brushed against her skin. The sprouts moved with intent now, curling in spirals, lifting leaves as if testing the limits of their newfound vitality. Lira reached out, letting her fingers brush along a glowing vine. Tiny sparks scattered like stars, settling on her hands, then drifting into the soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling was unmistakable: the dragon lands were alive not just in the soil, but in her plants, and somewhere, far below the ground, the stone dragon stirred. The subtle vibration beneath the greenhouse seemed to resonate with the hybrids she had created, almost as if the dragon’s awareness had brushed against her consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s breath quickened. \"This... this is bigger than I thought,\" she whispered. \"They’re not just plants, they’re connected to the dragon itself. Maybe... maybe they can show me the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spent hours experimenting, observing, and guiding the sprouts. Some curled into intricate spirals, others glowed with a faint, fiery pulse. Some even lifted tiny roots from the soil, hovering briefly before anchoring themselves again. Lira realized that if she nurtured them carefully, these hybrid plants could act almost like messengers or guardians, tiny fragments of dragon energy she could carry home, in her grove, or even in her spatial bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the last rays of sunlight, Lira leaned back against the warm soil, her palms still glowing faintly from the energy she had shared. The hybrids had settled into a quiet rhythm, their tiny heartbeats pulsing in harmony with her own. She could sense the dragon stirring deeper in the land, faint but certain, acknowledging her efforts in a way words could never describe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thrill ran through her chest. Today, she had glimpsed something extraordinary: the beginnings of a bond between her, the land, and the ancient dragons. A bond that started small, with fire and earth, with plants that moved and breathed and listened, but that could grow into something far greater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somewhere, beneath the stone and soil of the dragon lands, the first echoes of awakening had begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy’s training grounds stretched wide under the bright midday sun, a patchwork of grass, stone paths, and small groves of enchanted plants. Lira stepped carefully onto the soft earth, the hybrids she had been nurturing safely tucked away in her spatial bag. She wanted to feel the open air, the sun on her face, and the faint hum of dragon magic in the lands surrounding the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost immediately, she sensed it: a ripple in the air, a subtle vibration under her feet, as if the land itself had inhaled. Lira paused, her breath catching. Somewhere nearby, a low, deep sound resonated—a growl, a rumble, faint but undeniably alive. She looked up, heart racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, only a few silhouettes appeared on the distant hills, glinting scales reflecting sunlight. But as Lira walked forward, a warmth bloomed in her palms, the echo of fire and earth mingling with her heartbeat, and the dragons’ attention shifted. One by one, they turned toward her, their sharp eyes glinting with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She froze. The largest of them, a stone-scaled beast with amber eyes, stepped closer, sniffing the air as if tasting the energy around her. Tiny sparks of light danced along its spines, reacting to the faint glow of power in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin just came and seeing this joined Lira. \"Lira...\" Maelin’s voice trembled slightly as she stepped up beside her. \"Do... do you feel that? They’re... watching you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patricia’s eyes widened, scanning the grounds. \"Not just watching... they’re approaching.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, more dragons appeared, slinking gracefully across the fields, wings tucked close, their movements deliberate. Some sniffed the ground near her feet, others tilted their heads to examine her from a distance. The air was thick with curiosity, the faint scent of smoke and earth mingling with the natural fragrance of the land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s hands tingled. Her fire-and-earth energy, once subtle, seemed to hum louder here, responding instinctively to the dragons’ presence. She tried to remain still, letting the warmth flow naturally from her palms, letting the pulse of the earth beneath her feet resonate with her own heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the dragons, smaller but quick, padded closer, circling her with a low, inquisitive growl. Its amber eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, Lira felt a connection that went beyond sight or sound. The dragon wasn’t just observing—it was recognizing her. Recognizing the energy she carried, the elemental signature that was neither fully human nor fully of the land, but something new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin leaned closer, whispering in awe, \"They... they’ve never done that before. Not even during the senior’s dragon-training exercises.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patricia nodded, equally stunned. \"It’s like... they sense her... her influence. Something in her fire and earth magic is... unusual. Powerful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira swallowed, feeling a mixture of fear and exhilaration. She had spent weeks learning to control her hybrid plants, feeling the pulse of dragon energy through the soil, and now it was being acknowledged—directly—by the dragons themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low, vibrating hum passed through the air as the dragons drew nearer, some brushing past her with the tip of a claw, others lifting slightly on their hind legs to sniff at the warmth radiating from her. Sparks of ember-like light flickered faintly along the scales of the nearest dragon, mimicking the glow she felt in her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tentatively, Lira extended her palms, letting her energy ripple outward in small, deliberate waves. The dragons responded immediately: one lowered its head, tail curling as if in greeting; another nudged the ground with a claw, sending a tiny tremor through the earth; and the stone-scaled giant from before exhaled a warm, smoky breath, circling her slowly with deliberate grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin and Patricia exchanged astonished glances. \"I’ve trained here for years,\" Maelin whispered, \"and never have dragons reacted like this. Not even the bond-bonded ones.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patricia nodded, her gaze never leaving Lira. \"They... they’re curious. They know something’s different about her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira felt her chest tighten, a mixture of fear and wonder. The dragons’ attention was not frightening, it was... respectful, almost reverent. She realized that her growing connection to fire and earth, the tiny sparks she had woven into her plants, had announced her to the dragons in a way she hadn’t expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone-scaled dragon circled once more, letting out a deep, rumbling purr, and for a brief moment, Lira thought she felt a whisper in her mind, faint and fleeting, like the first heartbeat of something awakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragons were curious. They had noticed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in their gaze, Lira felt the stirrings of a bond that would change everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning bell rang across the academy, its chime echoing through the hallways and greenhouses. Lira felt a familiar flutter of excitement, though today it was tinged with a new energy, the awareness that the dragons had noticed her. She walked alongside Maelin and Patricia toward the main courtyard, where a crowd of students had already gathered, buzzing with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the courtyard, the headmaster stepped onto a raised platform, his robes glinting faintly in the sunlight. Beside him stood several instructors, and behind them, large wooden panels displayed maps of the surrounding forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Attention, students,\" the headmaster began, his voice carrying over the murmurs. \"Today, you will undertake a test of cooperation. This is not merely a physical or magical challenge, it is designed to measure your ability to work together with your peers, the environment, and the creatures of the forest. This test is crucial for those who wish to advance in the elemental and dragon studies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripple of excitement passed through the crowd. Lira’s heart quickened. She had been practicing her plant magic diligently, but a real test in the forest meant her abilities, and her connection to the dragons, could be observed in a natural setting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maelin nudged her shoulder, whispering, \"This is big... the forest tests are serious. I heard last year, some students couldn’t complete it without help from the dragons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patricia’s eyes gleamed with determination. \"It’s perfect timing for you, Lira. With what’s happening... they’ll notice your abilities even more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headmaster continued, \"Each team will be paired with elemental zones and forest creatures. Cooperation with the environment is key. You must navigate, adapt, and solve tasks that require balance, precision, and creativity. Success will be judged not only on completion but on the harmony you maintain with the forest and its inhabitants.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira felt a thrill, and a twinge of nerves, curling in her stomach. The forest was alive with magic, and she had glimpsed how sensitive the dragons were to her energy. If she could channel that same subtle influence with the plants and the earth beneath her feet, perhaps the forest itself would respond in her favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructors began assigning teams, pairing students with various elemental zones: fire glades, earth ridges, water streams, and air clearings. Each zone had its own challenges, and the students were expected to adapt and cooperate, sometimes across zones, sometimes within the same element.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lira’s name was called, she felt the eyes of many students—and faintly, the dragons she had seen yesterday—turn toward her. She walked forward, her palms tingling as she approached her assigned elemental zone: a mixed patch of earth and fire, where stone-strewn clearings were dotted with patches of glowing flora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instructor for her zone, a tall woman with a cloak embroidered with leafy patterns, smiled warmly. \"You’ll find that the forest responds to energy,\" she said. \"Those who can attune to it will have an advantage. Work with your team, observe carefully, and remember: the forest—and its creatures—will test not only skill, but awareness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira glanced at her team members: Maelin, Patricia, and two other students she had met briefly. She felt her fingers brush the hem of her cloak, letting the residual warmth and grounding from her hybrid plants flow subtly through her. The fire-and-earth energy pulsed faintly in response to the nearby forest, sending tiny vibrations through the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already, she sensed small stirrings in the trees—leaves twitching, roots shifting slightly beneath the soil, and faint glimmers in the shadows, perhaps from forest sprites or hidden creatures curious about the new presence among them. Her pulse quickened. The dragons had noticed her yesterday, but the forest itself seemed poised to observe her now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be ready,\" the instructor said. \"The test begins as soon as you step into the clearing. Remember: cooperation is the key, not force. Listen, respond, and adapt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun, the subtle hum of the forest, and the echo of dragon attention in the distance. This was her moment. The forest, the dragons, and her own growing powers were all converging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was ready to see how far she could go.\u003C\u002Fp>",2249,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","4bdc0e94eea04b77fd8ebba90d2134fed32a65647bf8969a3f9455f9378d9387","born-as-a-witch-chapter-374","born-as-a-witch-chapter-137",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]