The Dark Corner and the Witch’s Offer

“Why… why do I have to be bullied like this?…”

In a dark corner of the school, a girl sat painfully on the ground, her old, tattered clothes stained with fresh dirt. This was Xiaolan, who had just rushed out of the bathroom.

“Dad and Mom work themselves to the bone for just a little bit of pay, and now they’re even coming after me…”

Xiaolan’s mind flashed back to Sera’s smug, repulsive face. “How about this? I’ll give you a thousand yuan a month to be my assistant, what do you say?”

At first, Xiaolan was tempted. After all, her parents’ salary was only about three thousand yuan, and even with loans, they could barely afford the tuition. An extra thousand yuan a month would significantly ease their financial burden.

But Sera’s next words dashed any hope.

“But you, with your lowly status, aren’t even worthy of being my assistant,” Sera sneered, her face caked with foundation. “Here’s the deal: they call me ‘Miss,’ so you’ll call me ‘Master,’ how’s that?”

Master? Did she think I was a dog that would wag its tail for a bone?

Xiaolan’s stubborn spirit couldn’t accept such conditions. She had seen her parents toil and sacrifice their dignity for meager wages, and she vowed to study hard to change their fate, to give her family a life with dignity.

But when she finally made it to this prestigious school with its sky-high tuition, the reality was crushing. Most of her classmates came from wealthy families, or at least had more than enough to live comfortably. Some were even geniuses, like the blonde girl who had recently transferred in. But many were average, relying on their abundant family resources to achieve what Xiaolan could only reach through relentless study.

Xiaolan didn’t consider herself a genius, so why was it so easy for others like her? And then there were people like Sera, who only got in because of her powerful family background. How could someone like that trample on her with such arrogance?

Some say that’s just how life is, no point in talking about fairness. But Xiaolan wasn’t buying it. She thought of the girl named Night Moon, who didn’t come from a privileged background but had beaten up those rich girls. Why couldn’t that be me?

Xiaolan believed there was something in this world that could defy fate.

A ripple seemed to rise from the shadows, and a black smoke quietly enveloped Xiaolan.

“You who refuse to bow to fate, do you wish for the power to resist everything?”

A seductive female voice echoed in her ears, fanning the flames of her resentment. Black flames burned intensely.

“Yes… Please, give me the power to resist, no matter who stands in my way!”

Xiaolan’s eyes were filled with longing. She knelt on the ground, raising her hands to the sky, pleading desperately for power from this unknown presence.

“Hahaha! No sacrifice needed, your resentment is the perfect ticket! I am the witch Isabella. Become my follower!”

Chaotic black mist quickly condensed into a human form, revealing a sensual and beautiful woman. Her pale skin contrasted with the black mist swirling around her, and her pupils bore strange patterns, with broken lines leaving only black outlines and five barely visible points, like a messenger from the underworld.

Isabella pressed her hand against Xiaolan’s forehead, and lines imbued with despair spread from her palm, converging at the eyes.

Xiaolan felt something within her ignite, and endless energy surged through her body, filling her with a desire to tear everything apart.

“The ritual is complete. Newly born witch, follow your heart’s desires!”

Isabella excitedly stroked the girl’s face with trembling hands.

At that moment, Xiaolan was still recognizable, but every detail had changed dramatically. Her skin became soft, her hair sleek, and her entire aura shifted from timid and dark to strong and invincible.

“…”

She silently gazed at her own hands, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

“Where’s Little Chloe? It’s time for class, and she’s still not back from talking to Tia. What could they possibly have to talk about?”

Night Moon twirled her hair idly in class, her gaze fixed on the doorway, hoping to see the gentle figure of Chloe to liven up her dull school life.

But it wasn’t until after class that Chloe finally rushed back in a hurry.

“What were you and Tia talking about? It took a whole class period!”

Seeing Night Moon’s displeased expression, Chloe sighed helplessly.

“Master… Tia won’t let me say.”

Chloe passed the blame to Tia, unsure of how to explain. In truth, Tia was to blame. If she hadn’t forced Chloe to ingest so much, she wouldn’t have thrown up all over herself. It was a mess, with strange smells everywhere.

But those odors weren’t what Chloe expected; they reminded her of the sweet chamomile scent Tia wore. It was like drinking a porridge flavored with chamomile, not bad at all. But even the best porridge, if consumed in amounts larger than your stomach can handle, will make you sick. And Tia had given her more than she could bear, and Chloe’s small frame couldn’t handle it.

Thinking about having to eat three meals a day like that, Chloe felt life was bleak. Isn’t that how fate works? You can’t resist it, so you just get force-fed porridge.

“So mysterious, and I can’t even know?”

Night Moon’s mood worsened, whether from feeling Tia’s distrust or Chloe’s.

“It’s not that important, really. Don’t worry about it.”

Chloe reassured her, taking Night Moon’s hand.

“Huh? But won’t Tia be upset?”

Night Moon looked surprised at Chloe’s unusually gentle expression.

“What are you thinking? It’s normal for girls to hold hands, right? Tia wouldn’t mind.”

Being normal felt more comforting than being with someone who only knew how to force their way. But if Tia saw me holding hands with another girl, would she get angry? And if she did, she’d find some odd excuse to do all sorts of things to me. Hehehe~ Make her mad!

“Little Chloe, are you feverish? Your face is so red!”

Night Moon checked her own forehead, then felt Chloe’s.

“I don’t think so.”

“Is my face red?”

Chloe tilted her head, unaware that her cheeks were flushed, and her usually pure eyes held a different glint.

“It’s red, almost glowing.”

Night Moon stated matter-of-factly.

“Maybe the classroom is too hot.”

Chloe fanned herself with her sleeve, inadvertently revealing her creamy skin, emitting a tantalizing, milky scent.

Little Chloe isn’t wearing…

Night Moon blushed, matching Chloe’s color.