Chapter 8: Secrets and Surprises

In the Green Iron Maw

Argon was about to tell Mimic about a way to escape the prison that held many prisoners from the forest—hence the name.

"So what's the plan, Argon?"

"Okay, so the plan is..."

"Yeah, go on."

"Oh wait, the plan wouldn't make any sense if you don't understand the backstory first."

Argon straightened his neck.

"So Mimic, let me tell you real quick."

"Ugh, are you serious!" Mimic replied furiously.

"Sorry, we reptilians are very thorough and procedural when it comes to planning."

"Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, the backstory."

"Okay, go on."

"So, do you know the reason why the king gathered everyone?"

"Not really. Mimic was just wandering around the forest until my friend found me."

"Wait, Mimic has a friend? I thought you were always alone."

"Yeah, it's a long story."

"Okay, so the reason why the king gathered all the creatures of the forest is because of a prophecy."

"Prophecy? A prophecy about what?"

"The prophecy tells that the kingdom will fall because of a witch who will lead a rebellion against the king with an army of forest creatures."

"A witch? But aren't they very rare because of the inquisition?"

"You think an inquisition can defeat real magic? Boy, Mimic, you've got a lot to learn."

"You see, the remaining witches befriended the forest creatures. In return, they help each other—the forest creatures give the witches some of their land, and the witches agree to cast protection spells so humans won't bother them."

"So how is this related to your plan, Argon?"

"Oh yeah, sorry. I'll get to it."

"Listen, the reason I'm here isn't because I got captured—I intentionally got captured."

"I think there's no difference whether you intentionally got captured or were forcefully captured."

"How dare you! I bravely got captured so I can free all the prisoners and gather troops for the witch."

"Wait, you know the witch?"

"Well, not really, but I know a friend who's gathering an army to take down the king."

"Great, so what's actually the escape plan, Argon?"

"Oh yeah, sorry. I got sidetracked again."

"Listen with your two pointy goblin ears, okay?"

"The plan is... we wait."

"What do you mean we wait?"

"Well, sooner or later, my comrades will save us from this prison."

"Ugh, what a letdown. I thought we were going to make tools to escape."

"Sorry, but that's just not practical."

"So Mimic, wanna play cards?"

"Sure, Mimic will play cards with Argon."

"Great! But I'm warning you—I always have a good hand."

Mimic and Argon began playing cards in their cell.

Meanwhile, Back at the Village

Rissete was still asleep in her bed until...

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

"Huh? What's that loud noise?"

Rissete looked out the window to see both Luna and Llyn practicing magic.

"Haha! Looks like my magic is still way stronger than yours, Llynette."

"Tch! It's just because you have high mana."

"Really? Or is it because you're just bad at magic? Hehe."

"Why, you...!"

Llyn threw a potion that made Luna float.

"Wait! Llynette, Llyn, please! What's happening right now? Help!"

"Hehe, well, you underestimated me, Luna. Just because I'm bad at spell magic doesn't mean I don't know other ways to beat you."

"Come on, Llynette! Please let me down—you know I'm afraid of heights!"

Luna continued to float around the village. The slime watched with interest as Luna floated so high that she reached Rissete's window.

"Oh, hi Rissete! Good morning!"

"Good morning, Luna. Are you going to be alright though?"

"I think so."

Luna's stomach grumbled.

"Can you make us breakfast, Rissete?"

"Okay, just don't float too high because I don't know how to get you down."

"I'll just float a little bit longer."

Before leaving the bedroom, Rissete checked on the baby dragon.

"Still sleeping. I guess I'd better not bother the baby dragon."

Rissete left the bedroom.

"Let me check if we still have food."

Rissete opened the cabinet to find nothing. Since Mimic left, Rissete hadn't had a good catch, probably because there was no fish bait as effective as Mimic.

"We miss you, Mimic."

Rissete went outside.

"Oh, sorry! We must have awakened you, Rissete," Llyn said.

"No, it's fine. But since you feel bad, can you help me with something?"

"Sure! How can I help?" Llyn asked eagerly.

"Can you help me fish?" Rissete showed him the bucket and a makeshift fishing rod.

"Well, you see, we witches are vegetarian and tend to avoid looking for meat."

"Really? Well, I guess you'll miss my cooking then."

"My cooking is to die for, especially fresh fish with herbs."

"Hmm... fine, I'll try to help."

"Great! Walk with me."

Rissete led Llyn to the river.

"So what are we supposed to do, Rissete?"

"Well, we could try the traditional way of stabbing fish with sticks, but it ruins the flavor."

"So I assume we're going to use that fishing rod?"

"Exactly! Watch me closely."

Rissete cast the fishing rod.

"Now we just wait patiently until... oh, perfect! Movement."

Rissete pulled the fishing line.

"Look, here it comes!"

A small fish jumped out of the water. Rissete caught it and put it in the bucket.

"Ta-da! That's how you fish."

"Wow, that's amazing! I've never seen anything like that."

"Now you try using the other fishing rod, Llyn."

"It seems fun!"

Llyn tried to cast the line but kept hitting the ground.

"Why is this so hard?"

"You're putting in too much energy, Llyn. You should do it like this—just enough energy."

Rissete cast the line the same as before.

"Let me try... Hyaa!"

"It hit the water, Rissete!"

"Good! Now let's wa—"

"Wait! I think I caught something! Let me pull the fishing line."

Llyn pulled the fishing line as hard as she could.

"Good job, Llyn! Come on!"

Just as the fish was about to surface, a big object—no, a bird—no, it was Luna falling from the sky!

Luna dive-bombed into the river, causing Llyn to fall and all the fish in the river to jump and land on the ground.

"Luna! You always ruin everything! I almost caught a fish!"

"Hehe, sorry! Maybe if you hadn't thrown a floating potion at me, you could have gotten the fish!"

"I hate you, Luna!"

Llyn stormed off, seemingly upset because Luna ruined her first fishing experience.

"So... how about we prepare breakfast?" Luna said jokingly.

"Oh, Luna..."

Rissete ordered Luna to gather some of the fish that were still flapping on the ground into the bucket and return some fish to the water.

Rissete and Luna walked back to the house.

"Are you always like this with Llyn?"

"Yeah, we often clash, but we usually get along afterward."

"Are you both siblings?"

"Yeah, but not blood-related. You see, Llyn and I got adopted by a coven of witches that lived in the forest."

"A coven of witches?"

"Yeah, but not anymore. Since our adopted mother passed away, everyone left. Llyn and I tried to live together and make a coven, but we clashed too often, so we parted ways."

"I don't think it's because you clashed too often. I think you just gave up on trying to find options that both of you could agree with."

"You're right, Rissete." Luna's face saddened.

"Sorry, it's just that I often counsel children who fight."

"That makes sense. Were you a teacher before you lived here, Rissete?"

"Yeah, I was a teacher."

Rissete and Luna continued to chat as they prepared breakfast.

"Bon appétit!"

Rissete served the grilled fish with herbs to Luna and Llyn at the dining table.

"Wow, it looks delicious!" Luna eyed the fish and salivated.

"Eww, gross, Luna! Control yourself!"

Luna and Llyn grabbed plates and ate the grilled fish.

"So how was it?" Rissete asked.

"Delicious! I've never had anything like this," Luna said.

"Luna's right. This fish is really delicious. Thank you, Rissete."

"You're welcome! Just don't forget you have to help me free my friend."

"Yeah, we totally will, right Llyn?"

"Yeah, we're going to help you, Rissete."

"We'll discuss it after we eat."

Everyone started eating the dish, including the blue slime.

Suddenly, Rissete gathered one of the grilled fish and put it on a plate.

"Whoa, Rissete! I didn't think you were such a glutton!"

"I'll be back, okay?"

Rissete brought the food into the house.

"You know, Rissete's acting weird. Should we follow her?" Luna asked.

"No, I don't think Rissete's hiding anything. I trust her more than I trust you."

"Ouch, really?"

"Yeah, unlike you, who's such a bad friend and always ruins everything."

In Rissete and the Baby Dragon's Bedroom

"Hello there, baby dragon. Look, I brought you your favorite food."

The baby dragon awoke, seemingly because of the smell of grilled fish. It looked at Rissete's face.

"Come on, wake up, little one. Don't be lazy."

Rissete grabbed the fish and fed it to the baby dragon's mouth. The baby dragon quickly bit the fish, almost biting Rissete's hand.

"Ouch! Careful there!"

The baby dragon purred, looking like it understood what Rissete was saying.

Rissete patted the baby dragon.

"There you go."

The door creaked.

"Wait, Rissete... is that a baby dragon?!"

To be continued...
See you next Saturday