289: What An Eyesore

What An Eyesore

"There are countless offense spells," Rosetta started, "but the easiest to learn depends on one's racial talent.2

"For witches with the attribute of darkness, I will teach you the simplest attack using our innate attribute—manifestation." 

Oriana thought that Rosetta would teach her that black lightning attack she used to punish her, or the ancient runes that produce attacks, like 'Arrow', 'Sword' or 'Bolt'. 

Rosetta laughed at her confusion. "Do you know why Black Witches have terrible reputations? It is because our magic alone corrodes other magic. The attribute of our magic has the 'destruction' property of darkness. 

"You must have noticed that the shield I created yesterday, your divine power attacks were being swallowed by my shield. All our spells have that additional property latched onto it. That is why if a White Witch forms a magic sword and wields it against a Black Witch casting the same magic sword, the Black Witch will win ten out of ten duels. "Now, do you understand why other races fear us?"

"Is it not mainly because of people with a nasty personality like yours?"

"Oh dear. For you to call your teacher like that. But well, that is part of it." Rosetta replied, her angelic smile seemingly promising Oriana the cost of her snide remark. 

"Watch me, my apprentice."

Oriana watched Rosetta. The woman did not even chant a spell. 

Black fog appeared around Rosetta's fingers and palm. It was Rosetta merely manifesting the energy inside her body.

The fog gave Oriana palpitations, her instincts warning her how dangerous it was, but at the same time, it gave her a sense of familiarity and intimacy. 

The next moment, Oriana watches her teacher move her hands forward in the direction of a huge rock. The darkness around her hand stirred before moving at a lighting speed. It collided with the rock, but instead of being blasted into bits, the rock…turned into dust.

Oriana was shocked as well as amazed. She could not believe that was possible, and at the same time, she was exhilarated to learn such a powerful attack.

"I merely projected the magic inside my body onto a target. It is not even a spell. Even a good-for-nothing like you should be able to do it on the first try," Rosetta said as she found another huge rock in the vicinity.

Oriana narrowed her eyes and focused on her energy core, drawing out the power within. Soon, the back fog surrounded her fingers, but their appearance was fainter than Rosetta's. 

As it was her first attempt, she could barely project it a foot away from her body before dissipating, let alone reach the rock.

Rosetta chuckled. "How pathetic. Something so basic, but you can't even do it? Just a while ago, you must have believed in your imaginary talent, disillusioned by your success yesterday. Perhaps you're even thinking of standing against me and reversing our roles in the future." 

At this, the black-haired witch laughed out loud. 

"Your magic could not reach your target. You are a thousand years too early to think you can show off in front of me.Dreaming is fine, but an untalented good-for-nothing like you should at least know the difference between a dream and an impossible fantasy."

Oriana silently gritted her teeth and manifested the black fog again, which was more solid, and by reason, stronger than her first try, but it still fell short of reaching the rock. 

There was a distance of about four yards between Oriana and the rock. Her third attempt barely crossed half the distance. 

"I knew my useless apprentice would bore me once more so I came prepared." 

As Rosetta uttered those words, she flicked her fingers, and all of a sudden, objects appeared within the meadow. There was a round tea table with a matching outdoor chair, as well as a teapot with a cup and saucer. Rosetta sat in the chair. From the steam emitted by the golden liquid she poured in the cup, it appeared freshly brewed, probably taken off the fire the very second before Rosetta came to fetch Oriana. 

This woman!

Oriana glared at her but said nothing. She continued to try and try, and finally, on her eighth attempt, her manifested magic reached the rock. However, it merely left a crack. After half an hour, she succeeded in pulverizing the rock into the dust. 

"Tsk, what an eyesore." Rosetta commented as she continued to enjoy the tea while sitting in the chair, not showing any happy reaction to her student's successful attempt.

Oriana knew her teacher was not pleased and she herself was not pleased. She needed to try more. She would attack a rock, pause to recall her mistakes, make adjustments, before trying again and again. She targeted all the rocks within the barrier, causing mounds of dust to fill the ground within a barrier. 

Then, there was a mischievous flicker in Oriana's eyes as one corner of her lips raised into a naughty smirk and the next moment…

Whoosh!

Crumble!

The teapot in front of Rosetta turned into fine powder along with the table. Nothing was left behind. 

Oriana gasped, her expression seemingly sincerely ashamed. "Oh, apologies, Teacher. That was not my intention."

"Your intention, hmm?" Rosetta remained unfazed, still sipping the fragrant tea in her cup. She chucked, "Why just a table? Didn't have the guts to destroy the chair as well?"

Oriana raised a brow, as if to say she would not back out from the challenge. Since her teacher did not seem to mind, Oriana was more than happy to destroy her chair and let this woman get the taste of the ground. 

Whoosh!

But the moment Oriana sent out her magic, she found herself thrown backward. When she recovered from her shock, she saw Rosetta acting as if nothing happened. She was still satting on her chair as if she was a noble lady enjoying a garden scenery. 

Oriana understood that the difference between their abilities was vast. It was not time yet to fight with her.

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