Chapter 20 - Autumn Blackwood

I’ve worked hard to reach my current level of power. Without my effort and dedication to learning, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

You might already know what I’m talking about: Magic.

Magic is a form of spiritual energy that flows through everything—living and non-living alike. It’s the essence of our planet and galaxy.

Unlike most people who face obstacles when advancing in their magical ranks, I’ve never encountered such barriers. Perhaps that’s why I’m one of the most powerful magic users alive.

When I first started, there were no ranks, cities, or civilizations—just lush plants and wild animals.

Now, with the arrival of Wizards and Witches, things have changed completely. We’ve built civilizations, created mythical beings, and evolved.

By evolving, I mean advancing in strength. In the beginning, we were so weak that even a simple twig could have killed us. But now, with our mastery over spiritual energy, or Mana, we’ve risen to the top of the food chain.

Wizards and Witches are ranked by their power. At the bottom are 1-Star magic users. Though they are the weakest in magic society, they are revered as saints by the common folk, who are much weaker than even 1-Star magic users.

The rankings continue from 2-Star to 9-Star. Comparing a 1-Star to a 9-Star magic user is like comparing a speck of dust to a mountain. The difference in strength and Mana is enormous.

There are ranks beyond 9-Star, but no one has ever reached them. I, Autumn Blackwood, am one of the few 9-Star Witches. However, I don’t claim to be the strongest. No Witch or Wizard does, as claiming so would only invite hostility.

This is because of the Ultimate Witch, our revered figure in magic. Wizards seek to understand the world’s truths, while Witches, like me, are more attuned to nature.

A hundred years ago, the first Wizard to understand the Ultimate Witch’s power nearly destroyed himself from the shock. He discovered her level of strength by studying her method of travel, which he called “Space Traveling.” Unlike our short-distance teleportation, Space Traveling allows instant movement across limitless distances. To achieve this, one would need a body as strong as space itself—or even stronger.

When around 2,000 of us first arrived in this place, we saw the Ultimate Witch. Since then, stories of her beauty and mystery have spread among the older generation, leading to countless rumors. Some say her beauty is deadly, others claim she is omnipotent, and some believe she might be a higher lifeform than us. But all these are just rumors. While she is undeniably powerful, no one knows if these stories are true.

The Ultimate Witch is also known as The One. Common folk see her as an omnipotent goddess. Fifty years ago, a religion dedicated to The One emerged and has since dominated most of the galaxy. The Pope of this religion is William Merlin, a 9-Star magic user and my husband.

We met about 20 years after the religion began, and it gained momentum 40 years later with the discovery of the Staff of Ancients. Initially, we didn’t know how to use it, but older Wizards and Witches eventually figured it out. The staff could only be wielded by a loving couple at the peak of 9-Star. That’s when Merlin and I truly fell in love.

Both Merlin and I, along with other senior magic users, felt a connection with the staff, sensing the aura of the Ultimate Witch. This connection is why the religion took off. She’s seen as both mysterious and reliable.

Throughout my long life, I’ve heard countless questions about the Ultimate Witch. Who is she? Is she still alive? Where did she come from? Does she have a family?

No answers have ever been found. Impostors claiming to be the Ultimate Witch have been exposed and hunted down by both common folk and magic users. They are despised, and even men or Wizards claiming to be her reincarnation are not believed.

But there is one question that remains unanswered, and only the Ultimate Witch herself could answer:

“What is the purpose of creating us, the Wizards and Witches?”