The Witch from Another World

Alchemist, individuals who combine magic and knowledge, often specializing in transmutation, potion-making, and the creation of magical objects. They are typically portrayed as curious, morally ambiguous, and driven by a thirst for knowledge, leading to humanity's advancement.

However, some seek forbidden knowledge, such as immortality or immense power, while others conduct dangerous experiments out of curiosity. Some even disregard the limits, tampering with life itself.

Rubielle

In front of me stood the alchemist from the hero's party. His messy hair and dry eyes, paired with his dirty white coat and baggy shirt and pants, made him look like he'd just woke up. His waist was cluttered with various equipment, and he wore a storage ring, probably filled with materials.

In short, he's ugly.

"Hey, I know what you're thinking by the way you're looking at me!"

Gasp! How did he know?

"I'm not ugly, I just don't bother making myself look pretty! Totally useless for a genius like me," he bragged, flashing with confidence. Well, I seriously doubt that...

"For someone as 'smart' as you, your naming ability is pretty stupid," I said, frowning as I glanced at him admiring a horrifying creature he called 'Blacky.'

The alchemist's expression immediately darkened. "Smart? Stupid?..."

"The word you're looking for is GENIUS!" he shouted, glaring at me, as if waiting for me to agree.

He continued, "First, I'll kill you, take the remaining hearts, and then continue my experiments. I wonder what will happen if I mix humans with non-human creatures, then combine them with the darkness I've created kehehehe!"

He laughed, lost in his delusions, a creepy grin spreading across his face.

"Or maybe I'll try something else…"

I flinched at his words, especially when he taunted me showing me three of my sisters' hearts. His smirk widening as he held them up. It seemed like finding them wouldn't take long for me now.

Gathering my thoughts, I tried to figure out what he meant by non-human. Was he referring to the 'supernatural' beings Lillian had mentioned? The darkness... supernatural... magic... 

While lost in thought, he gave a simple command to his pet, accompanied by a small wave pointing directly at me.

"Go,"

*SLASH!*

In a split second, the creature launch toward me in great speed, aiming to crush me on the spot.

"Ack!" I dodged to the left out of instinct. For a creature that size, it was surprisingly fast!

What should I do? To destroy a darkness, you need to completely eliminate the host, but it's usually a living creature! How do I destroy something like thi-

*SSSHHHHH*

*Thwap!*

Suddenly, one of the creature's many arms stretched like a tentacle and grabbed me by the leg, lifting me off the ground in an instant.

*Whoosh!*

"DAMN IT!"

I quickly cast a wind magic above my head, using it as a cushion to soften the impact—

*CRASH!*

I slammed into the ground, my head splitting open slightly, blood trickling down my face. The creature was too fast—it left me no time to think. In a desperate move, I cast a fire magic to create some space between us, but the attack barely made an impact.

"Huff, huff..."

"Ah… marvelous!" the alchemist clapped in excitement, thrilled by the performance.

"This exceeds expectations! Show me more!" He sounded completely delighted by the chaos, and his face really annoying I want to punch it.

I fired a series of small magic blasts to conserve mana while running, hoping to find an opening, dodging its attacks, hoping something would work, but nothing seemed to have any effect!

"Go! Go! Dance! Dance until you die!" the alchemist laughed maniacally.

I was extremely annoyed by how much he was enjoying this.

I quickly ran in front of him, letting the creature attack me. At the last second, I dodged, making the creature's attack head straight for him heh.

Not surprisingly, the alchemist dodged it, shouting at his pet, "Hey! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Bleh serves him right.

But the problem wasn't solved yet. I had stored the darkness I'd caught from possessing people inside my storage bracelet, but that didn't destroyed them..

"destroy..."

An idea suddenly struck me. Darkness and supernatural forces—both could be fought by...

"Lillian!"

I rushed all the way outside, boosting my speed with wind magic to get as far away from the creature as possible.

"Blacky! Don't let her escape!" the alchemist ordered, sending his creature after me.

The creature moved at a terrifying speed, stretching multiple arms to attack me.

I evaded the creature's attacks, blasting some of its arms, but they kept coming.

As I rushed toward the town, I saw Lillian, already finished with her part, heading toward me. From the look on her face, she seemed to understand what was happening. She held a piece of paper with strange symbols on it.

"All evil spirits shall submit, their malevolent force sealed within,"

Lillian began chanting as she held the paper in front of the creature. The paper began to burn as chains extended from it.

"I'm expending the power of the talisman, it won't last much longer! Rubielle!" Lillian shouted.

I flinched at her signal and quickly grabbed her sword, feeling a strange yet natural energy pulse through it.

With a swift motion, I slashed at the creature multiple times, each strike cutting through it until the creature turned to dust. The sword, now drained of energy, reverted back to its short sword form.

"Phew! Thank you, Lillian!" I sighed in relief, wiping blood from my face.

"Haha! I felt a surge of supernatural energy in your direction, so I knew something was happening," she smiled, clearly proud of her instincts.

"Maybe I should come with you this time!" she teased, winking at me.

"Ahahaha, maybe!" I laughed, feeling some relief now that I had an ally by my side.

I returned to the abandoned place with Lillian, determined to challenge the alchemist once more. But as we reached the location, a sense of horror gripped me at what I saw.

"Took you long enough! You're weaker than I expected," the alchemist sneered, his voice in arrogance. Beside him, another creature loomed, its form twisted and unnatural.

"What... what is that?!" Lillian gasped, fear evident in her voice.

"It's not finished properly yet, but here's another one for you!" He proudly displayed his new creation.

"You should cry tears of joy for seeing two of my masterpieces!" the alchemist taunted, his grin widening with delight.

In front of us stood a slender figure, shaped like a woman, its body twisted with dark veins crawling across its skin. Its face was horrifying, yet strangely familiar.

"...S-sis..ter?" I trembled, freezing in place, unable to look away from the twisted creature standing before me.