[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-333":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},1702480,2172,"Chapter 333: Huldra","born-as-a-witch-chapter-333",333,"\u003Cp>The Giant Tree Spirit’s deep voice shook the leaves of the grove. \"Lira... another mission calls. Far to the east, where the forests are dense and the winds whisper through endless pines, lives a creature few have seen—the Huldra. You must find her, for she carries knowledge and magic unlike anything you have yet encountered. From her, you will gain an essence needed for your next elixir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, running her fingers along the orb of balance. \"I understand,\" she said softly. \"Her knowledge will help the grove and the students.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth stretched her wings and flapped once, the sound echoing like a drumbeat of readiness. Renkai’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Thalanir cracked a grin, already imagining the adventure. \"Then we move,\" Lira said, adjusting the straps of her spatial bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She placed the mirror against the Giant Tree Spirit’s bark, and the familiar swirl of liquid light enveloped her. With a gentle tug, the portal pulled her, Renkai, and Thalanir toward the forested lands of the Huldra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they emerged, the forest was unlike anything Lira had seen before. The air was thick with the scent of pine and moss, and a soft golden mist clung to the trunks of trees that rose like cathedral pillars. Birds with iridescent feathers flitted between branches, their calls echoing like chimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai sniffed the air. \"Magic is strong here,\" he murmured. \"The Huldra must be near.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio moved carefully. Lira observed the flora and fauna, noting subtle trails in the moss, footprints larger than deer yet smaller than elk, and the occasional shimmer of light that seemed to move independently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sun dipped behind the tallest pines, a soft voice called from the shadows. \"Who treads so boldly in my forest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira stepped forward, staff in hand, orb of balance faintly glowing at her side. \"I am Lira of the Grove,\" she said. \"I seek the Huldra, to gain her wisdom and learn her secrets. I mean no harm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure emerged slowly from the shadows—a woman of ethereal beauty, her hair cascading like waterfalls of autumn leaves, eyes deep and knowing. A tail, faint and barely visible, swayed behind her, and a crown of forest blossoms adorned her head. \"Few are granted my presence willingly,\" the Huldra said. \"You come with courage, but are you prepared to prove yourself worthy?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira bowed. \"I am ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huldra’s smile was enigmatic. \"Many seek knowledge. Few understand it requires patience, empathy, and balance. Before I grant you the essence you desire, you must undertake a test.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gestured to a glade where the forest seemed alive with motion. Plants shifted subtly, creating obstacles, while shadows moved like sentient beings. \"Retrieve the Silverleaf bloom,\" she instructed, \"and bring it to me without harming any creature, plant, or spirit of the forest. Only then will you demonstrate your respect for all life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded and stepped forward. Every movement required careful observation. She noticed small tunnel creatures—squirrels, glowing insects, and tiny foxes—that cooperated with the plants to guide her path or warn of danger. She adjusted her steps, letting the animals’ guidance help her avoid traps of roots, thorned vines, and illusory pits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai and Thalanir flanked her, helping where necessary. Thalanir gently lifted a fallen branch to clear a path, while Renkai’s sharp eyes caught subtle shifts in the moss that revealed safe footing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours passed, though time felt elastic in the Huldra’s forest. Finally, Lira’s fingers brushed against the Silverleaf bloom. Its petals shimmered like liquid silver, resonating softly with the orb of balance in her bag. She lifted it carefully, exhaling slowly, feeling a profound harmony with the forest around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the Huldra, Lira placed the bloom at her feet. The forest seemed to pause, leaves holding their breath, birds silent. The Huldra stepped forward, touching the bloom with delicate fingers. A soft glow enveloped Lira, filling her with warmth, clarity, and an understanding of the natural flow of magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have done well,\" the Huldra said. \"The essence of the Silverleaf will aid your potions, your grove, and your students. But remember, knowledge without care is as dangerous as ignorance. Carry this with humility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the folds of her cloak, the Huldra produced a small vial of shimmering liquid—golden-green, like sunlight filtering through dew. \"This is the Essence of Harmony. It will guide you in your elixirs. Treat it with respect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira took it carefully, placing it in her spatial bag. Serelyth watched silently, wings folded, while Renkai and Thalanir exchanged awed glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a final nod to the Huldra, Lira and her companions used the mirror portal to return to the grove. The air of their home welcomed them, familiar yet alive with the residual energy of their travels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Giant Tree Spirit’s voice rumbled with approval. \"You have done well, Lira. The essence of harmony will enhance your work. But be ready—your next mission will require all your strength, wisdom, and the cooperation of all your companions. The path grows ever more challenging, yet your roots deepen with each trial.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira placed the Silverleaf bloom and the Essence of Harmony carefully in her workbench area, breathing in the earthy scents of the grove. Renkai and Thalanir began tending to plants, while Serelyth prepared baked fruits with her gentle dragon fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira smiled, feeling the pulse of magic in the grove, her team, and herself. \"We are ready,\" she whispered, \"for whatever comes next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grove was alive with gentle sounds—the rustle of leaves, the murmur of the new pool, and the soft hum of growing plants. Lira stood at her wooden table, her spatial bag at her side, opening the vial of Essence of Harmony she had received from the Huldra. The liquid shimmered with a golden-green glow, faintly warm, as if it carried the sun’s first rays caught in dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Giant Tree Spirit’s voice rumbled softly through the grove, vibrating through every branch and root. \"Lira... your next mission awaits. You must craft one thousand potions from this Essence. Each must be balanced, gentle, and perfectly aligned to nurture the magic in those who drink them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s fingers trembled slightly at the scale of the task. \"One thousand...\" she whispered. But the excitement in her chest was stronger than any hesitation. She set to work immediately, methodically arranging her tools, bowls, and herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first few potions were careful trials—blending the Essence with crushed Moonleaf, sun-kissed Dreamvine petals, and the rare glimmering dust from her orchard’s Apple of Grounding. Each stir of her staff was measured, each breath synchronized with the subtle pulse of magic around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the potions multiplied, Renkai and Thalanir shifted among the plants, humming softly to the rows of herbs, occasionally offering advice or gathering ingredients with precise efficiency. Fluffy padded quietly among the jars, occasionally nudging a bottle with her tiny head, as if reminding Lira not to forget even the smallest details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth perched atop a branch overhead, her dragon fire casting gentle warmth over the table, baking some of the apples and herbs that would go into the potions later. She observed Lira’s movements carefully, noting the perfect rhythm she had developed—the careful inhalation and exhalation, the way her hands never wavered, the pulse of the Essence guiding every stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hours bled into days. Each potion was a labor of devotion. Some glimmered faintly blue, some shimmered golden-green, and some held soft silver threads that danced within the liquid. Lira tested a drop on her own tongue, feeling the subtle currents of calm and clarity flowing through her mind and heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the thousandth potion was completed. Lira placed the last bottle on the shelf, her hands sticky with residual Essence, her robes dusted with powdered herbs. She exhaled slowly, leaning back against Renkai, who crouched nearby, eyes glowing faintly in reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did it,\" he murmured softly, a small smile playing across his lips. \"All thousand... each one perfect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir chuckled from the other side of the table. \"I thought we’d be here forever, but you... you made it look effortless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the gentle warmth of accomplishment. She leaned fully on Renkai now, feeling the strength and steadiness of her companion beneath her. Serelyth drifted down from her perch, curling her wings around her slightly like a protective shroud, and even Fluffy settled at her feet with a soft purr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Giant Tree Spirit’s voice echoed once more, low and approving. \"Well done, Lira. Your hands, your heart, and your mind are in perfect harmony. Rest now. Let the grove and your companions sustain you. Tomorrow, the next mission will find you, as it always does—but for now... savor this calm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while, Lira simply rested. She felt the pulse of the grove through her spine, the steady rhythm of Renkai beneath her, and the warmth of Serelyth’s presence above. The sun dappled through the leaves, golden and soft. The pool of fresh spring water reflected her face, tired but radiant, and the air carried the sweet scent of herbs, apples, and magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, in the heart of her grove, Lira allowed herself a rare moment of stillness. A thousand potions completed, her companions by her side, and the grove alive with gentle energy—she was exactly where she was meant to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Giant Tree Spirit’s deep, resonant voice stirred the leaves of the grove. \"Lira... your next path lies beyond the familiar. Far to the western marshlands, where waters meet mist and old magic lingers, dwells a creature of earth and storm—the Nerthus. She is ancient, older than mountains and rivers, and she holds the secret to stabilizing the surge of multielemental users in ways even the grove cannot teach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes glimmered with determination. \"I understand,\" she whispered, fingers brushing the bark of the great tree. Her companions stirred around her—Renkai and Thalanir adjusting their stance, Serelyth stretching her wings, Fluffy curling around Lira’s feet like a small, purring anchor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will need patience, caution, and humility,\" the tree continued. \"The Nerthus does not reveal herself to the impatient or the unobservant. Your mirror portal will guide you, but the marshlands are treacherous. Trust your companions and your instincts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded, placing the mirror against the bark. The familiar swirl of silver-green light enveloped her, pulling her, Renkai, and Thalanir toward lands uncharted in her memory but vivid in her anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>",1744,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","48d7222e025af240e060dca5698f88fbf049291ebc5f77504d4b04d623d031f1","born-as-a-witch-chapter-334","born-as-a-witch-chapter-332",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]