I Am The Only Witch Hunter-Chapter 311: The Disappearing Act

Siderius’ flashed all kinds of colors as he scanned the woman in the beige dress. She was extremely beautiful with well kept hair on top. Her dress was backless, revealing a smooth white back.

"You’re a performer?" Siderius said without looking at her. He looked at the tombstone on the ground.

’Here lies Victoria De Fanse.’ It said.

"Yes. And you are?" The woman looked up at him. Her eyes widened a little by his presence. White long flowing hair with a tall frame that she never saw before.

"Siderius. Just a traveler."

"You know her? Or are you an admirer?" The woman smiled and said.

"Neither. I want something from her."

The woman smiled. "A lot of people want things from her. She didn’t give them any, however."

"I see. You’re a friend?"

"You could say so."

"I heard that she has been appearing in front of people lately. Even though she’s dead."

The woman nodded. "That is true. Victoria always liked to gossip. Now she showed up to hear the stories of those that have no listener."

"I see." Siderius turned his back and walked away.

"Can I follow you?"

"Yes, you can."

Siderius arrived at the nearest inn and rented a room there. The woman followed him into the room.

"I will be taking a bath soon. You might not want to see." Siderius said.

The woman smiled. "Why wouldn’t I want to see?"

Siderius ignored her and peeled off his clothes. His muscular body was revealed under the moonlight along with a few ugly scars. Flesh Restoration helped him stay healthy but it didn’t remove his scar.

The woman stared at him without blinking and bit her lips. She watched as Siderius entered the tub and leaned his head back in blissfulness.

The woman went behind him and placed her hands on his rough shoulder.

"You like bathing?"

"Yes, I do. It’s one of a few small things I like on the road."

The woman’s soft hand caressed his muscles and massaged them gently.

"I learned to treat a sore body once. When I was still a squire for a knight."

"A female squire? Did that knight treat you well?"

"Yes, he did. He was one of a few kind knights in this kingdom. Unfortunately, he died though." The woman shed a tear.

"You visited him often?"

The woman shook her head. "Unfortunately, that knight has committed an unforgivable crime. The Royal Court didn’t allow him to have a grave."

"What was the crime?"

"He disobeyed a witch."

Siderius stayed silent and enjoyed his bath. Her hands slowly went around his shoulders and forearms. Her touch was kind of sensual. But she didn’t do anything outrageous.

"Is he your lover?" Siderius asked.

"No. Unfortunately, I am a virgin."

"A virgin isn’t that bad. At least you are pure."

"No. Not really. With my age, that can be considered a humiliation."

Siderius chuckled gently. He grabbed a bottle of alcohol and poured it down.

The hunter gave it to the woman. "You drink?"

The woman nodded and chugged the bottle.

"Ah... I miss the taste of booze."

The woman rolled her eyes a few times then said. "Can I ask you a favor, strange man?"

"What do you want?"

"I have a friend. She is being kept somewhere. I don’t know where she is. I want to help her."

Siderius nodded. "I can help you. But in exchange, I want something from you."

"If you can find her and save her, everything I have belongs to you."

"That’s a deal."

The missing friend was last seen in the Apothecary Theater. She was a singer at that theater, but she disappeared after a show without anyone understanding why.

Siderius put on his clothes and armor then visited the Apothecary Theater. The owner was a wealthy merchant. He was never around. The one who managed the building was an old female script writer.

Siderius knocked on the theater. They hadn’t opened yet.

A few moments later, a man opened the door. "How can I help you, sir?"

"I am here to find out what happened with Oriana."

The man widened his eyes and tried to shut the door. Siderius simply pushed and walked inside.

"You can’t be in here?!" The man shouted.

"Where is Isla?"

Isla was the name of the script writer that handled the theater.

"Please! You need to go. We do not want any trouble!"

"Who is it, Hugo?"

An old woman in a black dress with gray hair emerged from the hallway.

"Isla... He wants to see you."

The old woman observed Siderius and his big stature and fully-equipped armor. Her eyes squinted gently.

"You can go, Hugo. I will handle our guest."

"But..."

"Just go."

"Okay..."

Hugo left the area, leaving Isla and Siderius alone.

"Please follow me. We have some tea left in the kitchen."

They arrived at the kitchen. Siderius sat at the table while Isla made some tea for the two of them.

"So. Please tell me what businesses you have with our humble establishment..."

"You can call me Siderius."

"Alright, Siderius. What do you want?"

"I want to ask about Oriana."

"That poor girl."

Isla sat down at the table and pushed a tea cup in front of Siderius.

"Yes. She is missing. We did try to find her but we couldn’t. It is as if she disappeared from this world."

"Can you tell me what happened that night?"

Isla took a huge sip then nodded. She began to tell him about the story of Oriana.

She was an orphan in the North. The girl lived on the street similar to how other orphans did. But she had a talent for singing. That was when Victoria took her in and taught her the way of the theater.

Oriana wasn’t talented like Victoria but she was good. And she was beautiful also.

Many wealthy nobles and merchants went after her. But she refused them all. Some said that she didn’t like men. Others said that she’s married to the stage.

Then. One night. Oriana disappeared. No one saw her leaving her home. There was no letter nor clues. All her clothes and belongings were still at her house when they came looking for her.

"Sounded like a kidnapping."

Isla sighed. "Probably. But we couldn’t figure out how or who."

She actually had some ideas. Only witches could make a person disappear like that. But Isla knew better than to accuse the high lords.

"I need to see her house. Has it been vacated?"

"No. She stayed in one of the houses belonging to the theater. We left it as is. If you want to look, I can give you the key."