Witches won't release me! Chapter 2 Alt POV

Anna's entire day could be summed up as riding a horse that seemingly just wanted her to suffer every foot of the way the horse wanted to go.

After all, not only did she see her father be crippled in a mining accident, have to save her father by killing a man who was looting his crippled form by unveiling her witch powers over fire. But then her father, the last member of her family after her mother had passed away had sold her to the Fourth Prince, Roland Wimbledon.

Anna understood all too well 'Why' her father sold her out. He was utterly crippled with a leg that had lost everything below the knee, and thus had no potential for being a miner, he coudn't read, nor could he especially write. So he needed the 25 golden crowns so he didn't starve to death.

Because Anna knew for a fact. That even if her father didn't sell her out... One of the other miners would have for sure. Or it would become a rumor that would spread out and see her hanged regardless.

But now she was just sitting in a chair confused. As Roland seemingly stared past her eyes into her soul as he seemingly considered something.

Until finally Roland spoke out with something in his voice that Anna coudn't make out. "So Anna, as a Prince I have had access to some... Select information about Witches, and that information is stuff you will need to know going forward." 

Anna slowly nodded and taking a breath she said calmly. "I am happy to learn my lord."

Roland instead raised an eyebrow before shaking his head. "Nope, no more of that 'my lord' nonsense. I get that enough from the fools who are following me only due to my bloodline... Anyway listen up because this is important."

The fourth prince brought out a glass cup that she knew was rather valuable as glass was definetly a commodity and he started speaking as he also brought up a jug of water. "A witch has something akin to a magical core within themselves. Or more likely their entire body is a magical core, and that magical core is always producing more magic for you to use." 

He then picked up the water jug and began slowly pouring the water into the glass with Anna watching it fill up ever so slowly. "Now, normally your body can control the amount of magical energy you are accumulating within yourself, whether by simply using it with your abilities, or your body proccessing it much more slowly."

Finally the glass was filled with water and Roland looked directly into Anna's eyes and asked. "So Anna, tell me what happens when your body over flows with magic?" 

Anna's eyes widened at the memory of the nights where she had bottled up her magic out of fear of being caught. Where her body would have sharp pains running through it and Roland nodded.

"That's right Anna, you are the glass right here... Except your magic doesn't overflow when it reach's full. No the entire glass shatters and you die in horrible agony." Roland said deeply.

She was left to consider the little lesson she had just been given and after a moment of digesting it, she felt a bit suprised the at the care the prince was showing her. "Why are you telling me how to protect myself? Isn't this a royal secret?" She asked quietly.

Roland paused and visibly chewed on his thoughts before he answered slowly. "I don't particularly like my family for a variety of reasons... I played at being a prodigal prince to stay out of the spotlight and probably burned a couple bridges in doing so."

There was just something Anna got captured in as she watched the royal doing anything. And she couldn't help but wonder if it was the charisma of a royal that was able to bring a country together and rule it above even the ambitions of their lesser nobles.

"In either case Anna... I am a bit of a special case, I need you to trust me and thus in order to earn your trust. I am giving you my own trust and hoping you will help me in my goals for the future." Roland said firmly with his grey eyes staring in her own and making a slight flush enter her cheeks.

Anna swallowed and she said quietly. "I... I trust you my- Roland, I trust you. So I just need to practice my abilities constantly to keep myself healthy?" She asked at the end with more strength.

Roland nodded though he added on. "Yes, and this is especially important because whenever a witch hits the age of eighteen years old. They have their Adult Awakening, which is a forced evolution of their magical ability, which also brings a massive... A truly massive influx of mana into their body." 

"Thats what the Witches Bite is supposed to be? Is the devil actually involved with witches at all Roland?" Anna asked remembering the old tale about witches who had already sold their soul to the devil, having their soul collected on their birthday leading to true adulthood.

And Anna being a witch herself was very... Curious as to what her prince knew about the connections witches had with the devil.

Roland instead of simply answering gave her a long look before closing his eyes and said. "Anna, that question is very long. Complicated, and without your trust and you knowing me for a long while. I won't bother explaining. But to put simply, no. No witches are not connected to demonic influences." 

Anna in a rather uncustomary manner retorted calmly. "I trust you to keep me alive in your employment as your witch. I have already put my life in your hands, how much more trust do I need?" 

There was a long pause as Roland was silent for a minute before he turned and looked at the door leading to his study. "Fine, Anna. You say your life is mine because you already gave up. Fine, let us put it to the test. I am going to show you one of my greater secrets and we shall see how you do." 

Anna sat there with butterflies rising in her stomach as Roland grabbed a chair and pushed it's back under the hand of the door so no one could come into the room. Then she blinked seeing Roland pull out his signet ring off his finger.

"Anna, will you help me be able to cast magic on my own?" Roland asked drawing her out of her confusion.

For a moment, Anna wanted to say it was impossible. That Roland was lying... But what did it matter if he did lie, it would be quickly proven in any case. And to be frank, Anna didn't mind helping Roland gain the power of magic except for one thing.

"Would it... Would it hurt you Roland?" Anna asked quietly.

And Roland just blinked before smiling wryly and that smile faded as he took a deep breath and said. "Anna, whether it be magic or science. Everything in the world comes with a cost. But magic's cost can be worked around."

Roland then brought a bowl out of a cabinet and she watched as he then took a silver letter opener from his table and after a moment of hesitation, he slit open his palm making Anna shiver as rich life blood fell into the bowl.

"Anna, I understand you may be a bit hesitant, but please slit your own palm and take my hand in turn." Roland said with Anna taking a breath at the request.

But after a moment Anna just took a deep breath as Roland hadn't said anything misleading to her before and with her main hand, she cut her off hand's palm before taking Roland's hand with a hiss at feeling the wounds meet.

And then Anna felt her magic draining as Roland's eyes glowed for some reason and then crimson blood filled the bowl with great speed... But Anna knew down to her soul that, the blood wasn't actually blood but her own magic.

"And let it be said that with a binding of magic and blood, that Anna's magic flows through myself. Flames may touch my form but not find purchase." Roland spoke and the blood magic quickly drained with both of their wounds likewise sealing as Roland pulled his hand back.

And Anna couldn't help but gape at seeing the crimson bloody ring on his finger that was previously silver while all the blood had seemingly merged into the ring and with a snap of Roland's fingers a finger of flame hovered above his hand. 

"So Anna, I showed you an interesting little secret. Now let's get to work. We have much to do before the Months of Demons." Roland said with his hand closing around the flames and extinguishing them.