Noah and his companions approached the dilapidated hut, which loomed like a scene from a nightmare. The door creaked open, and they froze.
At the entrance of the hut stood Galinda, a ghastly figure that seemed to have crawled from the darkest corners of a nightmare. Her hair hung in lifeless, rotting strands, resembling straw that had been left to decay. Her smile was a twisted mockery of warmth, revealing blackened, broken teeth that seemed to snarl more than a smile.
A thin wisp of smoke curled lazily from the chimney, its pungent aroma suggesting the presence of a cauldron brewing some dark concoction within. Her lupine eyes, sharp and predatory, glinted with a malevolent light as she spoke in an eerie, guttural language that seemed to crawl over the air like tendrils of fog. Each syllable dripped with a sinister undertone, adding to the already oppressive atmosphere that clung to the space like a shroud.
"A human?" Galinda's voice slithered through the air, dripping with a sickening anticipation. Her eyes widened, glowing with a predatory gleam that made her intent unmistakable.
Her hooked nose twitched, and a grotesque wart on her face—large and bulbous—seemed almost to pulse in rhythm with her breath, adding an extra layer of repulsiveness to her visage.
"Come in, come in, human..." she cackled, her laughter like the rasping sound of a rusted hinge. Her blackened teeth, crooked and uneven, gleamed menacingly beneath the cruel arch of her eyebrows, which were set in a permanent scowl that deepened her malevolent expression.
"Galinda, we seek to negotiate. Do you have time to speak with us?" Roma's voice was a calm, measured contrast to the witch's eerie, unsettling presence. His composed demeanor cut through the witch's dark enchantment, standing as a beacon of reason amidst the oppressive gloom of her lair.
Galinda's smugness faltered at Roma's presence, replaced by a flicker of fear. "What does the wise man from the north want from me, and why is he accompanied by a human?" she demanded.
Roma did not answer but moved closer to the hut. "Will you admit us into your home, Galinda?" he pressed.
After a moment of hesitation, Galinda reluctantly nodded. As Noah and Kalen followed Roma inside, Galinda leaned in, her rotten breath overwhelming. She sniffed Noah with disturbing intensity.
"I wish I could say dinner is served, but it can wait," she said, her eyes locked on Noah as she licked her lips.
Noah's mind raced with horror. Was she planning to eat him?
Inside, the hut was filled with grotesque artifacts—dead bones, preserved bats, and a dark altar with a cobweb-covered black candle. Kalen's eyes locked on the candle, their prize, but it was clear they couldn't just grab it.
Galinda's unsettling grace added to the tension as she glided across the room. "What brings the prince of Silla and this human to my forest?" she asked.
Roma's voice was icy, cutting through the thick tension. "Curious as always, Galinda. Shall we explain our business so we can leave soon?" His tone held a chilling detachment, reflecting his unyielding resolve.
Galinda's gaze shifted, and with an unnerving grace, she glided closer to Noah. Her bony frame loomed over him, and her breath, fetid and rancid, brushed against his skin. "I sense fear in you, human," she crooned, her voice dripping with malicious delight. A mirthless laugh escaped her cracked lips, sending a shiver down Noah's spine.
Without breaking eye contact, Galinda continued, her voice taking on a matter-of-fact tone. "You want my candle," she declared, her words echoing with an unsettling clarity. The revelation hung in the air, heavy with a sinister implication.
Galinda's gaze shifted, and she flashed a wicked grin, revealing her blackened, jagged teeth. "I'll give it to you in exchange for this mortal," she said, her eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating hunger. Her long, gnarled fingers pointed toward Noah, as though sealing his fate with her gesture.
Panic gripped Noah as he wondered if they were considering sacrificing him.
"Noah, calm down!" Kalen said, tapping his back to keep him composed.
"We don't trade humans, Galinda," Roma said firmly. "We're here to offer you a better deal." He placed a small box on the table.
Galinda's eyes widened with curiosity as she opened the box, revealing green siren scales. Her delight was evident as she examined the scales.
"Where did you get these?" she asked, her greed palpable.
"You don't need to know. Do we have a deal?" Roma pressed.
Galinda, overwhelmed by greed, reluctantly handed over the candle. Roma tucked it into his pocket.
As they prepared to leave, Noah was suddenly yanked back into the hut by two pale hands, and the door slammed shut.
Kalen pounded on the door while Galinda's laughter echoed. "Do you think I'd let this human go? It's been years since I've tasted mortal flesh."
Kalen searched for an escape, but the hut was barricaded with vines. "This is dark magic," Roma said. "You can't penetrate it that way."
"What do we do?" Kalen asked, anxious.
Roma took a deep breath. "We wait. Noah will need to find a way out."
Galinda released Noah, her malevolent grin widening. "I told you... you are my food," she taunted, pressing her long nails against his neck.
Noah tried to reason with her, but she only cackled and licked his cheek, savoring his fear. "You're being greedy," Noah said.
Galinda realized the siren scales were fake, her scream of rage deafening. She levitated in the air, her fury making her even more terrifying.
"Your power is waning, Galinda!" Roma shouted.
"What's happening?" Noah asked, bewildered.
"The scales were fake. Roma tricked her," Kalen explained.
Galinda's anger reached a peak. She sent a powerful force that knocked them down. Kalen challenged her, his sword drawn.
"Fight me, witch!" he shouted.
Galinda's laughter reverberated through the clearing, a chilling sound that seemed to vibrate the very air. "You can't harm me from here, young prince," she sneered, her voice a taunting echo in the oppressive darkness.
Kalen's gaze was steely as he signaled Noah to hand over his other weapon. Without hesitation, Noah passed his sword and quickly seized the bow and arrow from Kalen. With practiced precision, they prepared for the onslaught ahead.
The forest was set ablaze with fireballs as Galinda and Roma unleashed their powerful magic. The sky was filled with streaks of incandescent fire, casting flickering shadows and illuminating the scene in a tumultuous display of light and heat. The intensity of the battle was staggering, each explosion was a violent burst of energy that seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.
"Aim for her head if you see an opportunity!" Kalen shouted over the cacophony, his voice barely audible above the roar of the magical onslaught. Determined, Noah nocked an arrow, steadying his breath as he aimed.
With a swift release, the arrow flew true. Galinda's screams of rage pierced the forest, a deafening cry that echoed with a primal fury. The witch's form was consumed by the fiery chaos, and with one final, thunderous crash, she collapsed. Even in her defeat, she writhed with residual anger, her body still crackling with magical energy as the last remnants of her power flickered out.
As the smoke and debris of the battle slowly drifted away, Noah cautiously approached the fallen witch. Her grotesque form lay motionless amid the smoldering ruins of her hut. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt magic, and the faint glow of residual embers cast eerie shadows over her lifeless body. Noah carefully inspected her, ensuring that she posed no further threat.
The urgency in Kalen's voice broke through the lingering tension. "We need to get out of here," he said, his tone brisk and serious. "The fire will spread."
Noah nodded, his hands shaking slightly as he gathered their belongings. The sense of relief was palpable, mingled with a weary triumph. "Well, that was quite the ordeal," he remarked, his voice a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
Roma, holding the coveted candle tightly, glanced around with a determined expression. "Yes, but we have the candle. Let's go," he urged, leading the way out of the crumbling hut.
The trio moved quickly, their steps quickening as the first hints of fire crept along the edges of the forest. The intense heat grew more oppressive as they made their way through the dense, smoke-filled woods, their path illuminated by the flickering glow of the flames.