"...So this was what happened that day," Zaria spoke, "Even if I had not agreed to help him, he would have searched for some other black witch, though I doubt he would have found one. In the end, he would have done something even more dangerous."
"Coming to you would not be any less dangerous for him either," Oriana commented.
"True, but you came to me as well, knowing it could be dangerous for you since I am, as usual, the bad witch," Zaria countered and asked, "Have you ever wondered why King Drayce or that elf never stopped you from coming to me?"
"Back then, they were not aware that I sought your help," Oriana replied.
Zaria let out a mocking chuckle, "My naive student, you surely do not understand the people around you."
It puzzled Oriana, "What do you mean?"
"They were very well aware that you sought me," Zaria replied. "There is one Dragon and another one is the most knowledgeable elf that nothing could be hidden from his hawk like gaze, and you believe they didn’t know about what you were up to."
"They knew?" Oriana looked at Zaria in disbelief. All along, Oriana thought she was hiding it really well. It was different later when she told them about it, but she never realized they were aware of each of her actions.
"Now the question remains," Zaria continued, "Despite being their mortal enemy who they cannot wait to rid of, why did they allow you to come to me?"
"Why?"
"Because I am the only powerful Black Witch in existence who could teach the Queen of witches, not to forget how stubborn and difficult that queen is; no other witch would be able to teach you," Zaria answered. "If they allowed you to come to me for help, then why can’t Prince Arlan come to me for what he needs? In the end, all of us stand to benefit from each other. He got something from me, and I got something in return."
Oriana felt like she had nothing to say to this woman in front of her. She was well aware of everything and understood things deeply. Even if she was at fault for helping Arlan, Oriana could say nothing in return.
"But still, I will never forgive you for this. You kept me in the dark about Arlan coming to you," Oriana spoke.
"Do I need your forgiveness?" Zaria chuckled. "Do you think you are so important to me that I would even mind if you are upset or angry with me? To tell you the truth, I do not care at all."
Oriana pressed her lips into a thin line, her inner frustration growing towards this woman. She thought this woman was her master and, having spent much time together, this witch would feel at least a little compassion towards her, but she was wrong.
"You are truly as heartless as I had heard about you," Oriana said, concealing her anger and trying to remain calm.
"Glad you understood that now," Zaria said calmly. "Now let’s get to the topic of why I am here."
"What do you need?" Oriana asked coldly.
"I want to meet Evanthe. Tell me where she is," Zaria asked.
"I do not know where she is. She comes and goes at her will," Oriana answered. "Even if I knew, I doubt I would tell you about her."
Zaria smirked wickedly. "Are you worried I will hurt her?"
"You can’t hurt her. She is powerful," Oriana answered.
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