Everyone besides Vaan was shocked to a different extent regarding the Thousand Fog Illusion Dragon being in shambles.
The Thousand Fog Illusion Dragon, said to be immune to both physical and magical attacks, was defeated by the Fallen Witches.
It proved the Fallen Witches’ strength was extraordinary.
“I’m afraid ordinary High Witches won’t be the Fallen Witches’ match, let alone Peak-stage Senior Witches,” Astoria said solemnly.
Nevertheless, Aeliana didn’t listen to her words as she was distracted by another matter.
“I can smell her; that bitch, Fallen Witch Elvira, had been here,” Aeliana’s gaze quickly sharpened upon picking up Elvira’s stench.
She wouldn’t forget the person’s smell, not after she had been tormented, cut up, and experimented on by such a person with a foul body odor for three years.
“Fallen Witch Elvira is with the spatial-attribute High Witch, huh?” Astoria muttered with a frown. “That could be a problem; it means the other Fallen Witch could also be at least Mid-stage High Witch.”
“Worse,” Vaan calmly added while studying the traces left behind in the area. “According to these tracks, there should be around six people in their group.”
“Six people?” Hester furrowed her brows and said, “But according to the townspeople, there were only two Fallen Witches when they arrived.”
“Yes, but that was days ago. Yet, we could still catch up to them despite having such a time gap advantage due to their convenient ability to travel,” Vaan mentioned as he continued to study the area.
“If we consider the spatial lock on this region, the spatial-attribute High Witch must have encountered trouble here. People won’t be able to use Spatial Magic in this place, and their coordinates would also be distorted upon entry.”
“Adding their camp we came across earlier, they must have brought people who could help them tackle the upper regions’ obstacles,” Vaan speculated.
“If spatial-attribute High Witch and a Mid-stage High Witch couldn’t handle the upper regions on their own, then I’m afraid the addition four people could be around their level or even stronger,” Astoria mentioned with a grave look. “As we are now, we won’t be able to handle the Fallen Witches if we encounter them.”
“At the very least, we can expect casualties on our side if we were to fight them,” she added.
“You’re right, Headmaster Astoria,” Vaan agreed with her opinion.
“Although I want to save Eniwse, I can’t risk losing all of you to the Fallen Witches. Thus, if possible, we may have to avoid getting discovered and clashing with the Fallen Witch while carrying out our objective.”
“Let us gather more clues around here, then retreat to revise our plan. At the same time, we will need Lady Hester to ascend to the High Witch rank,” Vaan stated.
Aeliana had no problem with Vaan’s decision. Everything he said was the law.
On the other hand, Astoria and Hester briefly contemplated before they nodded in agreement.
“Alright. Let us do that, Teacher Raphna,” Astoria replied.
Shortly after, the group continued to look around the wreckage of the Thousand Fog Illusion Dragon for clues that may give them a better understanding of the Fallen Witches’ strengths.
Nevertheless, Vaan thought it was strange that a group of two Fallen Witches suddenly increased to six people.
If the Fallen Witches readily had anyone willing to assist them, it would most likely be other Fallen Witches.
However, that in and of itself was a huge problem.
‘Fallen Witches are rare sights in the Black Rose Kingdom, but it might be the complete opposite outside,’ Vaan thought.
A few moments later, Vaan glanced at Astoria’s calm and beautiful face.
“What do you think the chances of the other four people with the two Fallen Witches being Fallen Witches as well, Headmaster Astoria?” Vaan asked.
“Quite high, Teacher Raphna. In fact, I almost certain they are,” Astoria replied before adding, “It’s unlikely for anyone to help Fallen Witches besides Fallen Witches themselves.”
Even outside the seven witch kingdoms, the Fallen Witches were both hated and notorious among many countries.
“I see,” Vaan uttered thoughtfully before asking, “But it also seems that Headmaster Astoria has an idea regarding who they are, right?”
“Oh? What makes you think that, Teacher Raphna?” Astoria responded with a smile.
“Nearly all information regarding other countries outside the seven witch kingdoms has been withheld from the public. But someone with your status would definitely have information to such information, no?” Vaan mentioned.
“If you say you don’t know any large groups of Fallen Witches prospering outside of the kingdom, I would find it very hard to believe, Headmaster Astoria.”
“It doesn’t seem I can hide anything from you, Teacher Raphna.” Astoria wryly smiled before confessing, “I do have a rough idea, but I can’t be sure.”
“Outside the seven witch kingdoms, there are indeed multiple groups of Fallen Witches, both large and small. The most prominent group would be the Black Witch Society, but the most active near us would be the Darkwind Society,” Astoria explained.
“Darkwind Society and Black Witch Society, huh?” Vaan rubbed his chin thoughtfully before he asked, “Which of these two groups do you think the Fallen Witches belong to, Headmaster Astoria?”
“I would say Darkwind Society, but Black Witch Society seems to be the more likely answer,” Astoria replied.
“Although no wonder knows their exact numbers, they have many more members than the other Fallen Witch groups. If they have someone like the spatial-attribute High Witch on their side, increasing their members wouldn’t be difficult.”
“However, Fallen Witch Elvira didn’t escape that long ago, yet she is already a part of a Fallen Witch group. So, unless the Black Witch Society has someone with seer-like abilities to compliment their spatial ability, Elvira is more likely to be a part of Darkwind Society,” Aeliana inputted her opinion.
Astoria immediately lapsed into deep thoughts before she muttered, “That might actually be the case, Lord Aeliana.”
“No, it has to be. Otherwise, there’s no way to explain the Black Witch Society’s swift rise to prominence,” Astoria added, becoming more certain the more she thought about it.
The Black Witch Society wasn’t one earliest Fallen Witch groups to be formed, but it had the most rapid growth.
