[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-165":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},1702627,2172,"Chapter 165: Arrived to shimmering lake","born-as-a-witch-chapter-165",165,"\u003Cp>The storm that had raged around them for hours began to thin, the thick sheets of rain breaking into curtains of silver mist that clung to Serelyth’s wings. Lira held tightly, her arms wrapped around the dragon’s scaled neck, her hair plastered to her face. Each breath carried the taste of salt and rain, each heartbeat in her chest quickened by the sheer force of the winds they had flown through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, through the gray veil of storm, a shimmer appeared—at first only a spark, like a sunbeam piercing a crack in the clouds. But as Serelyth angled her wings and descended lower, the spark widened into a vast expanse that made Lira’s heart catch in her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spread out below them like a sapphire jewel carved into the land, glittering with a brilliance that no storm could fully veil. Even with clouds rolling and winds howling, the waters beneath gleamed as if lit from within, their depths glowing with a blue so rich it seemed unearthly. Every wave carried streaks of silver light, ripples chasing one another like living veins of magic flowing across the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the lake’s edges, the trees stood in colors Lira had never seen before. Some wore leaves of emerald so deep they glowed like polished stones; others shimmered in shades of jade and teal, with glints of turquoise flashing in the mist. A few towered with pale trunks, their bark faintly glowing, as if they were guardians channeling the lake’s power. Droplets clung to their leaves and branches like jewels, reflecting rainbow hues that scattered across the fog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira gasped softly, pressing closer against Serelyth’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s... beautiful,\" she whispered, almost afraid to disturb the view with sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth’s voice echoed in her mind, calm and knowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lake is old. Older than the academy, older than the kingdoms you know. It holds secrets from the first age of dragons and the first children of the sea. Few have looked upon it and lived to tell the tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They circled lower, the storm breaking apart as though the lake itself repelled it. The waters below shifted from sapphire to crystalline turquoise near the shores, so clear Lira could see schools of glowing fish darting beneath the surface. They left trails of light behind them, as though painting the water with starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mist rose in delicate veils, carrying scents of fresh rain and wild blossoms. As the haze parted, Lira noticed clusters of water lilies the size of boats, their petals glowing faintly with pearly light. Beyond them, delicate white flowers floated like drifting lanterns, opening and closing as if breathing with the rhythm of the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened as she spotted movement at the edges of the shore. The forest seemed alive, with creatures shaped of bark and moss peeking between glowing trunks. Ethereal birds with feathers like strands of crystal darted overhead, their cries blending with the steady rush of wind. Everywhere she looked, the land radiated a living magic untouched by time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It feels...\" Lira murmured, her voice trembling, \"...like a dream.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth rumbled softly in agreement, her great wings stretching wide as she glided effortlessly above the vast waters. Not a dream, child. This is a place where the veil is thin. Magic is raw here, and the lake guards it well. Do not be fooled by beauty alone—such places hold as much danger as wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Lira couldn’t tear her gaze away. The lake stretched endlessly, its far shore lost in haze, as though the waters went on forever. She saw small islands scattered within, some crowned with twisted silver trees, others covered in moss and wildflowers glowing in soft hues of blue and violet. Streams of light arched across the sky above, faint rainbows clinging to the edges of the storm as though the lake itself called them forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they descended further, Lira caught sight of shimmering figures near the surface. They darted just out of clear view—slender shapes that broke the water like ripples of moonlight, then vanished again. She leaned forward, her pulse racing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mermaids?\" she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth did not answer immediately, her great sapphire eyes narrowing as she scanned the waters. Perhaps. Or perhaps the lake is watching us in its own way. Keep your heart steady, Lira. You will need more than awe to face what lies within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira tightened her hold but kept her eyes wide open, drinking in every detail—the jewel-like waters, the living shimmer of light, the ancient forest that cradled the lake like a crown of emerald and jade. For a moment, despite the warnings, she felt peace. The world below seemed untouched by sorrow, unbroken by wars, as though it belonged to a time when magic and beauty had been one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not just a lake. It was a sanctuary. A secret. A treasure hidden by the ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was waiting for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira and Serelyth slowly descended toward the shimmering shores. The closer they came, the stronger the sense of otherworldly magic grew. The air felt charged, heavy with a sweet scent of blossoms she could not name, and the sound of the water was unlike any river or sea she had known—like crystal chimes echoing in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth landed softly on a grassy clearing at the edge of the lake. Her scales reflected the waters, glowing faintly as though the lake itself was welcoming her. Lira stepped down, her boots sinking into moss so soft it felt like clouds. For a long moment, she just stood there, overwhelmed. The forest around the lake seemed alive, as if each tree leaned closer to see who had come. The leaves bore hues of emerald and jade, some shimmering with golden veins, others glowing faintly as if holding drops of captured starlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lira,\" Serelyth’s voice broke her reverie, low and melodic, \"this place has not changed in centuries. Few have stood here, fewer still have been invited deeper. The merfolk guard their domain with care.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s heart raced. She had heard of the merfolk only in whispered tales. \"Will... they allow us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That depends,\" Serelyth answered, folding her wings. \"They test the hearts of those who enter. Power means little here if one’s spirit falters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira moved to the water’s edge, crouching low. The surface was like a mirror, so clear she could see her reflection perfectly, but not alone—next to her image flickered faint shadows of graceful figures darting beneath the surface. When she blinked, they were gone, leaving only ripples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentle voice carried on the breeze, neither fully from the water nor the air. \"Child of fire... why have you come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira startled, glancing to Serelyth, but the dragon only inclined her head. \"They speak to you. Answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira swallowed and stood tall, her hand unconsciously touching the pouch where the shards rested. \"I seek knowledge. A shard, a piece of something I must gather. My path has led me here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake responded with a soft shimmer, as if approving. Then the waters parted ever so slightly, revealing a faint glow from deep below. It pulsed like a heartbeat, slow and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth lowered her head, whispering only for Lira to hear. \"They will test you. Perhaps not today, perhaps not in ways you expect. Be ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm had passed, leaving the land quiet, damp, and washed clean. The air smelled of rain and wildflowers, and the ground still glistened with beads of water. By the edge of the enchanted trees near the lake, Lira curled herself into the warm embrace of Serelyth’s great body. The dragon’s scales radiated a soothing heat, humming faintly with power, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. Lira pressed her cheek against the pearly sheen, her exhaustion finally catching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest,\" Serelyth murmured, her deep voice rumbling through her chest. \"If danger nears, I will know. Nothing will touch you here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira smiled faintly, her hand clutching the edge of Serelyth’s smooth scale as she closed her eyes. Sleep pulled her quickly into its depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But dreams were waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been many nights since she last saw her other self—the woman of her past lives, the one she had glimpsed in visions before. Tonight, she stood once again on the border of the lake, her form both familiar and strange. She looked older, her features serene, her long hair flowing with a silver glow. She stood barefoot on the moss, gazing across the lake as if she was waiting for someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira stepped forward in her dream, feeling the cold wet moss beneath her own bare feet. \"You again...\" she whispered, almost afraid to break the stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, the older Lira turned her head. Her eyes—calm, gentle, and filled with unspoken knowledge—met hers. A smile spread across her lips, quiet but filled with warmth. For a moment, it was as though the world hushed, the waters holding their breath. No words were spoken, and yet the smile felt like a message, a promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—like ripples on water—the vision faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes snapped open. Night had not yet lifted. The forest lay still in shadows, the lake a dark, shimmering mirror reflecting the pale crescent of the moon. She realized Serelyth was awake too, her great sapphire eyes glimmering faintly, watching the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them moved. The air carried something soft, something ethereal. A song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, Lira thought it was the wind whistling through leaves, but no—it was voices. Gentle, layered, flowing like currents of water. They came from the direction of the lake, weaving together in a serene harmony so beautiful that Lira’s heart ached at the sound. The melody was unlike anything she had heard before—no words, only tone, and yet it stirred her spirit as if speaking to the deepest parts of her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breath caught. She pushed herself up slightly, ready to stand, to follow the song into the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before she could move, Serelyth lowered her massive head, a wing stretching protectively in front of her. \"No, Lira.\" The dragon’s voice was firm, steady, a grounding anchor against the pull of the song. \"Do not go. These waters hide beauty, yes—but also peril. Their voices are sweetest under the moon, when danger is strongest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira hesitated, her heart beating fast, torn between the longing to follow and the warning. \"But... it feels so—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tempting,\" Serelyth finished for her, eyes narrowing at the lake. \"That is their way. Their songs can guide, but they can also ensnare. At night, you do not enter. We wait until dawn. If the merfolk wish to test you, let them come under the light of day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira swallowed hard, finally sinking back against Serelyth’s warm scales. The dragon curled around her once more, keeping her shielded from the chill of the night air. The song continued, carrying across the waters, weaving into her half-waking mind until it blended with her fading dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes closed again, her thoughts lingering on the smiling vision of her older self. She whispered softly, \"I’ll wait... but I will see you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this time, with Serelyth’s steady presence guarding her, she drifted back into a calmer sleep as the night slowly gave way to dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>",1875,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.780Z",1,"novelbin.me","5deec2aa1eddeeab51fcb11efd0f6799884a12c0fde665317ec0aab3050348f2","born-as-a-witch-chapter-367","born-as-a-witch-chapter-219",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]