In the depths of the ghostly forest, among towering trees that whispered ancient secrets, lay a school of magic sponsored by the kingdom of Neval.
There, a group of young girls studied the arts of witchcraft, learning the secrets of energy and wisdom, far from the eyes of the world.
The Grand Mistress, Daria, was an elderly woman who carried the weight of an entire generation of witches. In her hands, she held the key to hope in this changing era.
Daria knew all the secrets of dark magic, but she had not yet mastered it completely.
Nevertheless, she believed that the magic taught within this forest served only one purpose: to be useful, not harmful.
Each student was extraordinarily beautiful, their faces as if painted by a magical artist's touch.
Yet there was one little girl, only seven years old, named Caitlin, whose features were terribly ugly.
She sat apart from the other girls, alone, immersed in her magical studies.
Caitlin wanted just one thing: to enhance her beauty.
But the kind of magic taught at this school did not grant beauty to its practitioners—it strengthened magical abilities for the benefit of others.
Still, Grand Mistress Daria was capable of improving Caitlin's appearance,
but she refused, holding firmly to her deep belief that true beauty comes from within, from the strength of mountains that defy time.
In this forest, where powers and wisdom intertwined,
the lives of the witches were not merely about learning magic, but a journey of self-discovery, growth, and faith in what lies beyond appearances.
The ghostly forest was protected by a deep magical barrier,
a shield that could only be crossed with immense willpower or special knowledge.
This barrier was crafted by the Grand Mistress herself, Daria,
to prevent outsiders from entering and to protect her students and their secrets from prying eyes.
The girls at the school were orphans, with no family or support,
so Daria decided to take them under her wing as a mother,
raising them and teaching them the arts of magic, so they might find value and purpose in this world.
When Daria was a child, she too had been an orphan, alone with no one to care for her.
But one day, a man appeared, wearing a strange cloak, mysterious and enigmatic.
He took her in and taught her the secrets of magic.
People said this man was the greatest sorcerer known across the three continents.
Though he taught Daria, he set strict limits on her use of magic,
for magic comes at a steep price if its boundaries are overstepped, and the consequences are unforgivable.
Daria grew up but found no place among human villages,
for humans could not coexist with witches, especially orphaned ones like her.
So she found this forest—a safe haven—settled in it,
and surrounded it with protective magic,
turning it into a fortress for young witches and a cradle
for new hope in an age darkened by shadows.
As for Caitlin, she was an outcast both inside and out,
not only because of her appearance, which isolated her
from the other girls,
but also because of her sense of difference—alone
in a world where she had no place.
In magical tests among the children, she always
displayed exceptional talent.
She learned healing magic that worked on humans, animals,
and plants,
yet, strangely, she could not use it on herself.
She healed those around her but continued to suffer
within.
She also learned the magic of insight, which allowed her
to see through walls,
yet despite this ability, she could not escape
her loneliness.
Enhancement magic was another art she studied—
magic that could improve anything lacking, even
facial features,
but there were limits she could not cross for personal reasons.
Caitlin begged the other girls to enhance her appearance,
but each time, they refused, mocking and belittling her.
They called her "The Blight,"
named after a mythical little creature known for devouring crops—
ugly and terrifying.
And so, harsh loneliness surrounded Caitlin,
yet she never lost her determination to learn,
searching for herself in a world that showed no mercy except to the strong.
Years passed, and Caitlin grew, her body maturing
side by side with the weight of her suffering.