I passed through the majestic Ranperre Gate and found myself outside, where the densely packed trees of Ronfaure seemed poised to march upon the capital. The spirits of the witches had been seen within this very forest.
I knew not if the rumors were widely known, but as I followed the road south through the towering boughs, I passed many a traveler urging his chocobo on to the safety of the city walls.

Daylight faded into dusk, and a solid mist rose to obscure my vision.
When I strayed from the path into the gloom between the trunks, I felt as if the creatures of the forest had begun to stir all at once.

And then bats filled the air around me, rapidly beating their wings with frantic fury. I swung my wand like a club, scattering the tiny vermin in all directions. They soon returned to renew their assault, but did not seem interested in feasting on blood. I couldn't help but feel I was being herded, and when I quickened my pace I suddenly felt the air grow heavy and suffocating.

A sensed an overpowering aura from up ahead.
Following the supernatural beacon, I found her waiting for me beneath the branches of a huge tree.

A witch.

She wore a pointed hat just as I remembered from childhood stories. Her face retained a trace of innocence and we seemed to be of a similar age.
However, her transparent form left me in no doubt as to her true identity.

I began to softly intone the words to a spell of exorcism, and walked boldly towards the apparition, both arms outstretched.

"Witch of the Dark Lilies...!"

My voice echoed through the silence of the night-cloaked forest.
The witch peered at me from under the brim of her hat, her emotionless eyes glowing faintly.

"I am a disciple of Altana, here to save thy soul...
What dost thou seek here?
What brings thee to the land of the living?"

The spirit opened her mouth slightly and whispered. She spoke no tongue that I could understand... It was more akin to a moan, or a chant...

No matter how practiced the exorcist, if I could not hear and understand the words a spirit spoke, I could not send it to Altana's side--especially if that spirit was a powerful witch.

As I stood there debating my course, the witch suddenly charged forward in eerie silence, her eyes opened wide, and a twisted smile playing about her lips...

I braced myself.
The spirit flowed into my body, and I could feel myself losing control.
My arms and legs grew rigid, and cold beads of sweat ran down my neck and spine...

"Begone!"

In the instant of that single shouted word, the force binding my limbs dissipated, and the presence of the witch melted away into the darkness.

Sighing deeply, I raised my face to the sky and saw how the bats that had tormented me were still fluttering about in agitation.

At that point, I was certain that they had been commanded to lead me to her.

Creatures of the night have an understanding.
Which would mean that those bats would comprehend the unfamiliar words spoken by the witch. How, then, was a flesh-and-blood mortal to learn such a language?

"A mortal must become a monster..."

I shook my head even as I uttered those words.
It was forbidden. A devout student of the Goddess would not be permitted to commit such an act.

I walked back to the road, my mind racing with the events of the evening.
By the time I thought to look again, the bats were gone.