[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-295":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},1702442,2172,"Chapter 295: Relics moved to safety","born-as-a-witch-chapter-295",295,"\u003Cp>The group advanced deeper into the abandoned Kitsune town, following a narrow corridor that twisted downward beneath the ruins. The air grew cooler and carried a faint metallic scent, mingled with the earthy musk of roots that had forced their way through cracks in the stone. Renkai led with careful steps, ears twitching for any sound, while Serelyth hovered near the rear, her eyes flicking to every shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the corridor, Renkai paused. \"There... the floor looks different. Less worn than the rest of the ruins, almost... polished.\" He knelt to brush away a layer of dust, revealing intricate fox-shaped carvings, each entwined with elemental symbols. \"This isn’t just decoration. Someone—or something—maintained this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes widened as she knelt beside him. \"A hidden chamber... perhaps untouched for centuries. This could hold something important.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They carefully pressed against the carved doorway, which shifted slightly with a faint hum under their touch. The portal slid open, revealing a hidden chamber bathed in soft, golden light from cracks in the ceiling above. The walls were lined with shelves, holding objects wrapped in silk and boxes carved with fox emblems. In the center stood a raised dais, atop which rested a crystalline orb, pulsing faintly with a mixture of fire, water, wind, and earth energies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir stepped forward, voice hushed. \"This... this is an heirloom of the Kitsune. The energy—it resonates with multiple elements. Whoever protected this chamber intended for it to be found only by one worthy of its power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth’s wings twitched slightly. \"Scouts might be near. This place... it will attract attention. But it’s also a treasure we cannot leave behind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai approached the dais cautiously, memories stirring again from his childhood—the laughter of siblings, the elders teaching magic, the whispers of secrets passed down through generations. He touched the orb lightly. A warm pulse shot through him, almost like a heartbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb responded to Lira as well. As she stepped closer, her own multielement aura connected with the object, causing the chamber to vibrate softly. Tiny motes of light floated from the orb, hovering around her hands. \"This... it recognizes me,\" Lira whispered. \"It knows who I am—and what I can do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a shelf to the side, she noticed scrolls, small vials, and ancient gemstones, each carefully labeled in faded Kitsune script. Her heart raced—these could be invaluable for potion-making, training, or even fortifying the academy’s defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth gestured toward the entrance. \"We should be careful. This chamber’s protection might extend beyond this door. There could be traps, wards, or guardians still active.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir nodded, crouching to inspect the floor. \"Yes. The magic is subtle but alive. We cannot remove anything hastily; the chamber might respond violently if disturbed incorrectly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira carefully lifted one of the smaller orbs, letting her elemental powers harmonize with it. She felt knowledge, almost like a whispering guide, streaming into her mind—how it could be used in potions, how its energy could strengthen her multielement flow, and even hints of spells that could shield the academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai glanced at her, voice low. \"Be mindful, Lira. This power... it’s tempting. But its weight might test us all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spent hours cataloging, taking what they could safely carry, and harmonizing with the chamber’s magic. Every item they touched seemed to respond to Lira’s aura, vibrating faintly with encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they packed the relics into Serelyth’s satchel, ready to transport them back to the grove for study. As they stepped toward the corridor leading out, a low rumble echoed through the ruins, and faint shadows shifted along the walls outside the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth’s wings flared. \"We have company. Scouts or worse. Be ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai drew his daggers, Thalanir readied a spell, and Lira felt the familiar pulse of her multielement powers steadying her heartbeat. The chamber behind them glowed softly one last time, almost as if bidding them luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s move quietly,\" Lira whispered. \"We carry what could save many... and we cannot let it fall into the wrong hands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They slipped into the shadows, disappearing into the ruins, carrying not just ancient Kitsune heirlooms but the weight of knowledge, power, and responsibility that would guide them in the battles to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ruins faded behind them, the group moved cautiously, Serelyth gliding a few steps above, her dragon eyes scanning for any movement. The air carried a faint chill, and the forest around the forgotten Kitsune town seemed unusually still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s ears twitched. \"Someone’s coming. From the east ridge—small party, moving fast, trying to avoid notice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, signaling the others to spread into formation. Thalanir whispered an elven spell that cloaked their presence, blending their auras with the shadows of trees and moss. Serelyth lowered herself closer to the ground, her claws silently brushing the forest floor as she stalked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, a lone figure emerged—a scout dressed in dark, nondescript clothes, his face partially masked. He paused, scanning the surroundings, unaware that he was being watched from multiple angles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira gestured to Renkai and Thalanir. \"Now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In perfect coordination, they surrounded him. Renkai leapt forward with inhuman swiftness, his daggers poised to cut off escape. Thalanir’s hands glowed with elemental energy, wind whipping around the scout to pin him in place. Serelyth lunged from above, her humanoid form slamming into the enemy with a soft thud, careful not to harm him permanently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scout struggled briefly, but the combined restraint of the multielement users was overwhelming. Within moments, he collapsed, bound in magical vines that pulsed lightly with elemental energy, rendering him immobile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira stepped closer, eyes narrowed. \"Talk. Who is your leader? Where do they operate from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scout glared at her but said nothing. His lips were sealed, teeth clenched. He refused even a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai knelt beside him, voice low but sharp. \"You’re going to tell us, or you’ll regret it. These aren’t threats, these are facts. Your masters... they hunt people like us. If we don’t find them, they’ll keep killing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scout remained silent, but Lira felt a flicker of his elemental resistance. He wasn’t ordinary—he had trained to resist mental probing and elemental influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir stepped closer, speaking softly. \"The longer you resist, the more certain it becomes that we’ll have to find other means. But your silence only tells us one thing: your leaders are cautious and cruel. They fear what we represent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira clenched her fists, looking at him with calm determination. \"Then we’ll find them ourselves. One way or another.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth hovered slightly behind, wings tensed. \"Should I—?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Lira said firmly. \"We need information alive if possible. We’ll find it ourselves. But he’s coming with us to the academy. Grandmaster Elion will know what to do. He can... persuade him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai glanced at her. \"You’re not worried he’ll resist in the dungeons again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira shook her head. \"No. He’s a scout. He will talk if given the right guidance. And if not, we’ll learn what we can from his movements. This is just the first step. The mastermind won’t hide forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quickly prepared to move. Lira and Serelyth carried the scout carefully, while Renkai and Thalanir scouted the path ahead. Shadows of trees loomed as they made their way back to the grove, knowing that with each passing hour, the mastermind and their forces could be moving closer—but now, they had the advantage of knowledge, and Lira’s team was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest seemed to hum around them as if sensing the tension. Every rustle, every whisper of wind, reminded them that this was only the beginning. The hunt for the enemy who sought to destroy multielemental users had truly begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth shifted smoothly into her dragon form, scales glinting in the dim forest light. Her wings stretched wide, powerful and silent in their controlled tension. The scout, still bound in magical vines that pulsed faintly with elemental energy, was carefully secured onto her back. His eyes darted nervously, realizing the full reach of Lira’s team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hold him steady,\" Lira instructed, her hands glowing faintly as she reinforced the bonds with a delicate water-and-wind weave. \"We need him alive, and he needs to remain exactly where he is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth flexed her wings, lifting smoothly into the air, leaving the forest floor behind. \"He won’t escape me. The academy awaits, and he will answer only to Grandmaster Elion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, turning to Renkai and Thalanir. \"We continue on foot. We need to trace the other scouts and see where the main enemy may be hiding. Serelyth has this one—he will get him to safety.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai and Thalanir melted into the shadows of the forest, moving like phantoms. Every rustle of leaves, every subtle distortion in the mist became a clue. They were tracking not just bodies but intent—silent, cautious, deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above, Serelyth glided effortlessly, her powerful wings cutting through the cool evening air. The scout beneath her stiffened, trying in vain to break free from the elemental bindings. She could feel the tension in his magical aura, fear mingled with stubborn resistance. \"Relax,\" she rumbled in her deep voice. \"You will live if you speak only what is needed. Otherwise...\" Her eyes flicked briefly to the horizon, a silent warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy courtyard emerged in the distance, softly lit by protective wards and lanterns floating in the night air. Grandmaster Elion awaited, his presence calm and commanding. As Serelyth descended, the scout was lifted carefully from her back and placed before Elion, still bound but unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have done well,\" Lira said quietly. \"He won’t talk willingly, but you might have ways to persuade him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elion nodded. \"Indeed. Your vigilance brought him here safely. That is already a victory. Now, focus—others are still out there, and you must continue your work. I will handle this one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a final glance back at the forest, Lira turned to Renkai and Thalanir, who had paused to observe from the tree line. \"We’ll find the rest. One by one, we’ll uncover their numbers and their plans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They continued into the shadows, feet silent on the forest floor, while Serelyth vanished into the night sky, carrying her captive safely toward the academy. The hunt was far from over, but with every step, every flight, the multielemental users were proving they would not cower.\u003C\u002Fp>",1711,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","86c8ca915345ab3ead81d39476ff0820e6c77c7843a1f91df5c1815371e500ee","born-as-a-witch-chapter-296","born-as-a-witch-chapter-294",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]