[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-169":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},1702646,2172,"Chapter 169: Upper part of lake","born-as-a-witch-chapter-169",169,"\u003Cp>Lira adjusted her underwater goggles, feeling the familiar tingling from her potion still hum in her lungs. Beside her, Serelyth’s human form glided effortlessly, her long, pure white hair flowing like silk in the currents. Porcelain skin shimmered faintly, and her piercing ruby-red eyes observed every motion, every ripple of water, exuding quiet authority and grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s explore the upper reaches first,\" Serelyth murmured, her voice carrying clearly underwater. \"The council wants to see your adaptability. If you can navigate here, they will judge you ready for deeper waters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, a mixture of nerves and excitement rippling through her. She had already felt the lake’s magic pressing against her senses—its currents soft yet persistent, its creatures watching, curious and cautious. She kicked gently with her legs, feeling the water part smoothly around her. A shoal of glittering fish darted past, swirling in a shimmering tornado, reflecting sunlight like fragments of crystal. She had to tilt her head and follow them, marveling at the grace of their movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth glided beside her, human form moving with surprising elegance. Her eyes never left Lira, her long limbs slicing through the water as effortlessly as a dragon’s fins, her presence commanding the currents around her. Lira realized how different it felt to swim alongside Serelyth in this form—less imposing than the massive dragon, yet infinitely more graceful and precise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The upper part of the lake was alive with wonders Lira had not seen before. Trees and plants reaching into the water created tunnels of emerald and turquoise. Their leaves shimmered with dew-like bubbles that floated lazily toward the surface. Tiny luminescent insects danced around them, leaving trails of light that glowed faintly, illuminating hidden paths. Coral-like structures of deep sapphire and violet twisted around stone pillars, some pulsating faintly as if breathing with the lake itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From above, mermaids watched, their eyes glittering like gemstones. Occasionally, one would swim closer, trailing fingers through the water, sending currents swirling toward Lira in playful spirals. Others kept their distance, observing quietly, whispering to one another in musical tones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the younger mermaids darted forward suddenly, forming a playful whirlpool around Lira. \"Test,\" Lira heard in her mind, a faint echo of the mermaid’s thoughts. The whirlpool was gentle but persistent, spinning her around, testing her control. Lira clenched her fists, letting the potion’s effects flow through her. She spread her arms slightly, blending her fire and air elements, and felt her body stabilize, the currents responding to her newfound control. Slowly, she guided herself out of the swirl, leaving the young mermaid blinking in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well done,\" Serelyth murmured, her voice a calm current against the lake’s hum. \"They are testing more than your endurance. They are testing your harmony with the water itself. You are learning to communicate, not just survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira continued, swimming past clusters of coral and swaying plants, her eyes wide with wonder. She noticed a cave entrance, partially hidden by a curtain of seaweed. Light filtered through the cracks in the rocks, illuminating strange runes carved into the stone. Lira reached out, fingertips brushing the etched symbols. They hummed faintly under her touch, reacting to the heat of her fire and the flow of air within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mermaids’ whispers reached her ears, melodic and soft, guiding her gaze upward. A school of fish formed patterns in the water, directing her path through the upper lake. Each movement was precise, as if choreographed to test her attentiveness, her ability to read currents, shapes, and signals from the environment. She felt her heart race with exhilaration, a mixture of awe and determination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth glided closer, her hair swirling around her like a halo. \"You see now,\" she said softly. \"The lake is alive, not just with water, but with awareness. Every creature, every current... it senses you. You are not intruding. You are being observed and tested.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, feeling a swell of confidence. She had passed the initial trials of the upper lake. The tests of currents, illusions, and mermaid play had not broken her composure; rather, they had strengthened her understanding, teaching her to adapt, anticipate, and harmonize her elemental powers with her environment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mermaids began to signal in unison, their voices intertwining into a soft, ethereal melody. \"We will allow passage to deeper waters,\" the eldest said, voice like liquid sunlight. \"But remember, child... the shard does not yield easily. The currents grow stronger, the magic more ancient. Trust only your heart, your instincts, and your companion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira glanced at Serelyth, who lowered her head, ruby eyes glowing with pride. \"We move together, little flame. The lake itself acknowledges you. Let it guide us now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one final glance at the upper lake, sparkling with playful currents, luminous creatures, and dancing mermaids, Lira felt a thrill of anticipation. The deeper waters awaited, and with Serelyth at her side in her human form, she was ready to dive into the mysteries hidden beneath the sapphire surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth stretched her slender limbs gracefully, coiling around Lira in a protective arc, and together they descended toward the depths where the true test—and the shard—lay waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water around Lira was alive, shimmering with soft sapphire light that danced along the rippling surface and reflected in her goggles. She could feel every current brushing against her skin, subtle waves nudging her forward, teasing her, testing her control. Serelyth followed close in human form, her porcelain skin glowing faintly in the filtered light, white hair floating around her shoulders like silk in slow motion, and her ruby-red eyes scanning every shadow with vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Keep your balance,\" Serelyth murmured, voice echoing softly through the water, steadying Lira’s own racing heartbeat. \"The currents here are alive, little flame. They will challenge you, but you must harmonize, not fight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, tensing and relaxing her fingers as she felt the potion’s airy essence flowing through her lungs. Each breath felt like inhaling both air and magic, a strange symphony of fire warmth and wind-lightness that made her body buoyant yet anchored. She flexed her legs, pushing against the subtle currents, and felt them respond, swirling gently to guide her rather than resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above them, sunlight filtered in, scattering like tiny diamonds across the lake floor, illuminating the vibrant upper regions of the water. Coral towers stretched upward, their shapes twisting in improbable curves, and delicate, glowing plants waved like dancers in slow rhythm. Lira’s eyes widened as a school of tiny, luminescent fish flitted past, scattering in sparkling arcs. She giggled quietly at their playful formations, feeling the magic of this world seep into her bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you see it?\" Serelyth asked, floating beside her in elegant poise. \"These are not just creatures. They are guardians, minor spirits of the lake. Observe them, learn their rhythm. The council watches how you respond to everything, not just the currents.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira inhaled slowly and exhaled, feeling the combined pulse of fire and air inside her. She extended a hand gently, and a faint warmth trailed from her fingers, interacting with the water currents in subtle ways. The tiny fish danced around the edges of her glow, shimmering brighter, and she realized she could influence more than just herself—she could guide the environment with her elemental resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sudden flicker of movement caught her eye. Shadows darted across the kelp forests, illusions forming like twisting shapes of gigantic sea serpents, their scales dark as midnight and eyes glowing faintly. Lira froze, fear blooming in her chest. Her fingers tensed, instincts screaming to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not panic,\" Serelyth whispered, her voice a calm anchor. \"They are tests, not threats. Focus on your rhythm. Feel the currents, your fire, and your air as one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira closed her eyes, letting the potion’s essence flow fully through her. A warmth spread from her chest, fire mingling with the airy lightness, and the shadows hesitated, curling and twisting. She let her hands drift in gentle arcs, sending tiny pulses of energy that illuminated the illusions without breaking the currents entirely. The serpents shimmered, twisted, and dissolved into sparkling bubbles that floated away, leaving Lira breathless but exhilarated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did well,\" Serelyth said, a faint smile curving her lips. \"Control and patience—those are as important as strength. You must guide, not fight. Now, deeper currents await. Are you ready?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, excitement and nervousness coiling together. \"I... I think so. I want to see more. I want to understand this lake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they swam forward, the water shifted, forming gentle eddies and whirlpools that tested Lira’s ability to harmonize her elements. She navigated through twisting kelp, her fire illuminating hidden paths and her airy breaths allowing her to twist and turn fluidly. Tiny creatures peeked from the coral towers, curious but cautious, observing her every move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good,\" a musical voice rang through the water. Lira’s eyes widened. A group of mermaids emerged from behind a coral arch, their tails shimmering in emerald, sapphire, and gold. They circled her, eyes narrowed in playful suspicion. \"Little flame, do you understand our waters? Can you move as one with them, or will you disturb the balance?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira swallowed, taking a deep, steadying breath. She extended her arms, letting her elemental fire glow faintly in pulses, while her air essence lifted her slightly, allowing delicate, precise movements. The mermaids’ eyes widened. One laughed softly, flicking water at her in a teasing arc, but Lira remained steady, letting the currents carry her. She was aware of every pull and tug, every swirl around her fingertips, every flicker of magic in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are... interesting,\" a voice whispered, musical and cautious. \"Perhaps you are the one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth glanced at her, human eyes glowing warmly. \"They are curious. This is good. They test patience as much as skill. Observe, learn, and respect. You are not just moving; you are reading the lake, and that is what matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, feeling a quiet thrill at the subtle praise. She swam deeper into the upper lake, exploring alcoves filled with glowing plants and twisting coral formations. Tiny, magical currents danced along her arms as she extended her fingers, guiding the energy gently to see how far she could control it. She experimented with small, flickering sparks of fire underwater, noting how it interacted with air and water. Bubbles and gentle glows spiraled around her, illuminating hidden pathways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed like seconds and hours blended together. Every corner revealed small wonders: floating jelly-like plants that sang faint melodies when brushed, miniature glowing water serpents that darted around in playful loops, and curious schools of fish that mimicked her elemental pulses. Lira began to understand the language of the lake—the tiny gestures, the subtle movements, and the magic flowing like veins through the water itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several cycles of exploration, the mermaids approached more directly. One of the eldest, tall and regal, her tail a shifting gradient of sapphire and pearl, swam to Lira’s side. \"You move with courage and understanding,\" she said. \"But courage alone is not enough. The lake tests hearts as much as bodies. You must show harmony, respect, and patience before you may see the deeper waters. Are you willing to learn more, little flame?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s fingers tightened around her goggles. Her voice was firm, though her chest fluttered with excitement. \"Yes. I want to learn. I want to understand this lake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mermaid nodded and twirled gracefully, signaling others. Currents shifted around Lira, forming shapes and minor illusions: glowing tunnels, swirling lights, and faint shapes that seemed like miniature dragons gliding through water. Lira guided herself carefully, merging her fire and air, keeping balance and harmony, responding to every ripple, every test. Each success was met with faint musical laughter or soft approval from the mermaids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth’s hand brushed hers, reassuring, firm. \"You are ready to explore further, little flame. But remember... the shard lies beyond these currents. Patience. Observation. Understanding. Everything here is a lesson for what awaits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, eyes shining with determination. Though she had not reached the shard, she felt a deep thrill: she was learning, growing, and stepping closer to the hidden truths of the lake. The upper waters had been tamed, explored, and understood. Now the next stage awaited, deeper, darker, and far more wondrous. And when the time came, she would be ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above, sunlight reflected faintly through the rippling surface. Below, currents whispered and shimmered with anticipation, as if the lake itself waited for her next step.\u003C\u002Fp>",2078,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.780Z",1,"novelbin.me","b31480d6d14039146e51fa5bea8b4cd29a1e43ac3cce7cc1ab5cbb934e9b4860","born-as-a-witch-chapter-170","born-as-a-witch-chapter-135",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]