[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-370":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},1702642,2172,"Chapter 370: The Mountain’s Trial and the Escape","born-as-a-witch-chapter-370",370,"\u003Cp>The cavern quaked as the liquid light of the Eternal Ember pulsed in Lira’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The molten veins along the walls began to glow brighter, casting long, flickering shadows that danced across the jagged stone. Dust fell from the ceiling. Rocks tumbled from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Move!\" Serelyth shouted, wings unfurled, heat radiating in a protective aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir leapt ahead, checking ledges and preparing ropes to anchor their way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai froze. His legs trembled. His palms sweated. The abyss below yawned like a hungry mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I can’t—\" he whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira reached for his arm. \"Renkai, please... we need to move now!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" he said suddenly, stepping directly in front of her. His chest heaved. \"I... I don’t like this, Lira. But you... you’re going first. If something comes... I won’t let it—touch—you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira’s eyes widened. \"Renkai—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first shadow lunged. From the molten walls, a creature emerged—a jagged rock elemental shaped like a giant scorpion, eyes glowing like embers. Its claws scraped the stone with metallic shrieks as it advanced toward Lira.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai didn’t hesitate. He shoved Lira behind him and raised his fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I may hate heights... but I do not hate protecting my friends!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elemental swung its claw. Renkai dodged, countering with a burst of Earth magic. A small stone projectile slammed into the creature’s leg, staggering it slightly. Sparks flew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth unleashed a controlled flame, illuminating the cavern with orange light, keeping the elemental at bay. Thalanir used the distraction to anchor ropes and prepare a safe path toward the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira steadied herself behind Renkai. \"You don’t have to do this alone,\" she said softly, seeing his knuckles white around the staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I—\" Renkai gasped, then set his jaw. \"I chose to be here. I’m... staying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elemental lashed its tail, sending a shower of rocks sliding toward them. Renkai shifted, using Earth magic to raise a protective wall, taking the brunt of the strike. Sparks rained around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re insane!\" Thalanir shouted, grinning nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No,\" Lira said, voice firm. \"He’s brave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elemental lunged again. This time, Serelyth dived, wings cutting a path of heat, while Renkai thrust upward with a surge of Earth energy, embedding a jagged stalagmite into the creature’s torso. The elemental shrieked, staggering backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira felt her pulse steady, fear giving way to admiration. Renkai, usually terrified of heights, had stood like a wall, fearless for her sake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We move now!\" Lira said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, they ascended the narrow ledges, navigating the crumbling stone path. Renkai stayed at Lira’s side, still pale but resolute. Serelyth hovered above, flames illuminating the trail, and Thalanir guided the ropes along safe handholds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave trembled violently. Rocks crashed into the abyss below, the molten light pulsing like a heartbeat. Every step was a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, at the final ledge before the exit, the elemental tried a last desperate strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai stepped forward again,braced, summoning a protective dome of earth around the group. Sparks and molten shards bounced off the barrier. The elemental shrieked in frustration and finally retreated into the darkness, beaten but alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira exhaled, relief washing over her. \"We... we did it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s legs shook as he slumped against her, still gripping the wall. \"I... hate cliffs,\" he whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yet,\" Lira said softly, brushing a hand through his hair, \"you saved us all. You were incredible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth landed beside them, tail flicking with satisfaction. \"Not bad for a human afraid of heights.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir smirked. \"You’ve earned your bragging rights, Renkai. Seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai allowed a small, exhausted smile. \"I... guess this mountain didn’t kill us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira held the Eternal Ember carefully. \"And now we return to the Grove. The Fénix will have their energy restored, and the Grove will thrive because of this journey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They navigated the remaining paths with care, the molten veins fading as they descended to calmer ledges. The danger was not gone, but the courage, unity, and trust they had shared had carried them safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As dawn broke over the jagged peaks, the party finally stepped out into the open, the cliffs behind them now glowing faintly in morning light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira turned to Renkai. \"You were amazing. Even though you didn’t want to be here... you were the first line of defense. You protected the Grove, the Fénix, and me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai flushed. \"Yeah... I guess... I just... didn’t want you hurt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira smiled. \"I know. That’s what makes you brave, Renkai.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth extended a wing, brushing it over both of them. \"Let’s get back. The Grove is waiting, and the Fénix are hungry for this Ember.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir laughed. \"Finally! Some less terrifying part of the mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, the group began their careful descent back to the paths leading to the Grove, the first light of day spilling over the cliffs, illuminating their path home and the first sparks of hope for the Fénix that awaited them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon they prepared to go to The Desert of Shifting Light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Grove faded behind them as Lira, Serelyth, Renkai, and Thalanir stepped onto the endless expanse of golden sands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desert shimmered in hues of amber, gold, and faint crimson, as if the sun itself had melted into the dunes. The shifting light made it almost impossible to judge distances—the horizon seemed to dance and ripple, and shadows twisted strangely, forming illusions of moving creatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place... it plays with your eyes,\" Renkai muttered, squinting as a distant dune appeared to roll toward them, only to vanish a moment later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be careful,\" Lira said, her hand hovering near the Book. \"The Solar Resin grows in the heart of this desert, but the environment itself is a guardian. The sand, the light, the heat—they’re all alive in their own way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth’s wings flared lightly, feathers catching the sunlight. \"And we’re not just dealing with heat. Spirits of light roam here. They can confuse travelers... or worse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir adjusted his gear. \"Let’s hope the sun spirits like us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving the Grove, Lira had consulted the Giant Tree. It had provided them with a recipe for a Sunshade Elixir—a potion that shields against extreme heat and light, infused with cooling herbs and a trace of moonwater for balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She distributed the elixirs to the group. Renkai hesitated, sniffing the mixture suspiciously. \"I don’t like deserts... and now I’m supposed to drink this glowing, sweet-smelling liquid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir laughed. \"Better than melting in the sun. Just drink it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth perched on a rock, eyes scanning the horizon. \"We’ll also need to move carefully. The sands shift constantly, hiding quicksands and unstable ground. I suggest we mark our path with small glowing stones. That way, if the desert tries to trick us, we can always find our way back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira nodded and poured small droplets of the potion onto thin strips of enchanted stone, which glimmered faintly in the sunlight. She handed a strip to each companion. \"These will guide us and protect us from the illusions. Follow them closely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, the desert seemed to come alive. Golden waves of heat distorted their forms. Renkai clutched his staff like a lifeline, muttering under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Look!\" Lira exclaimed, pointing ahead. A massive dune rolled toward them—but as it neared, it dissolved into a cascade of light, revealing the hidden entrance to a sunlit cavern carved into the dune itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is it,\" Serelyth said. \"The Solar Resin grows where light touches waterless stone. The desert wants to test us first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cavern glowed faintly with trapped sunlight, filtered through cracks in the ceiling. On the walls, crystalline veins pulsed with warm energy—the source of the resin’s power. But reaching it would not be simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they entered the cavern, a low hum vibrated through the walls. From the golden veins of stone, a creature emerged—a Sand Warden. Its body shimmered with reflective scales, like mirrors, and its many arms glinted in the sunlight. It moved gracefully, each step sending waves of heat that distorted vision further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a guardian,\" Lira whispered. \"It senses intruders and tests intentions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sand Warden swung a massive arm, and a wall of refracted light sprang up, creating illusions of dozens of copies of itself. The group froze, unsure which one was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai panicked. \"I—I can’t—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trust your senses, not your eyes,\" Lira said calmly. She raised her hand and wove a small field of elemental water magic around them. The cool mist bent the light, revealing the Warden’s true form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth roared softly, flames sparking from her wings to blind the mirrored images. Thalanir slashed with precision, creating small disruptions in the Warden’s reflective surface. Together, they managed to corner the creature, showing it they meant no harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the Sand Warden bowed, scattering the illusions into harmless glittering sand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only those who respect the desert may gather the Solar Resin,\" it rumbled. \"Your purpose is true. Proceed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the heart of the cavern, glowing veins of golden resin bled from the stone, pulsing with the warmth of captured sunlight. Lira knelt carefully, pulling out a small crystal vial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is it,\" she whispered. \"The Solar Resin. We only take what we need.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She followed the Giant Tree’s instructions: a delicate combination of elemental fire and water energy, infused into the vial so the resin’s power would remain intact during the journey home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resin glowed brightly, bathing their faces in warm light. Renkai reached out hesitantly, touching the vial. \"It’s... alive,\" he murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It will energize the Fénix,\" Lira explained softly. \"And help them stay strong as they guard the Grove.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the resin secured, the group began the return across the desert. The sands shifted once again, but the glowing markers they left guided them safely. Renkai, still pale, muttered about never liking deserts again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time, we travel somewhere cold,\" he said weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serelyth laughed. \"Don’t tempt fate. The sun will find you anywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thalanir smirked, walking beside Lira. \"And yet we succeeded. Desert of Shifting Light: conquered.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lira held the vial close. She imagined the Fénix receiving this energy, their feathers shimmering, their spirits renewed. The Grove would thrive even more—plants stronger, creatures happier, harmony growing.\u003C\u002Fp>",1687,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.781Z",1,"novelbin.me","ede911e4eb56f7332cf6b240ee031491619b72dc5cc9c873a420962f82e66bd2","born-as-a-witch-chapter-371","born-as-a-witch-chapter-168",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]