Old Friends

The new city’s Merchant’s Guild was near where the post office and government offices were located. Overall, there were a lot more stones used in the houses of this city. The last time the Witch had been there was about one hundred years before, and nothing much seemed to have changed. The people still wore thick, colorful garments because of the color weather, and they still liked to eat a lot of grilled meat.

At the Merchant’s Guild, a clerk came to greet them as soon as they entered the door.

“Looks like the merchants here are still as welcome as they were a hundred years ago,” the Witch said.

The clerk laughed at the Witch’s joke. “We northerners are used to living in the cold, but our hearts are always warm and welcoming,” he said. He wore a colorful knitted hat that covered his curly black hair. Even though it wasn’t that cold, the people of that region still liked to wear their colorful hats.

“We’re just here to look at the maps,” the Succubus said in his male voice.

“Certainly. Are you looking for a regional map or something bigger?” the clerk asked, eager to help.

“A map that shows all the surrounding areas and at least two cities away from all around,” the Succubus replied.

“Yes, we have such a map. This way, please,” the clerk said, and led them through the lobby and up the stairs.

This Merchant’s Guild had a double height ceiling open-air lobby where the second floor offered a seating area with a small tea shop for weary travelers and merchants.

The clerk escorted them to a map that covered half the height of the wall. It showed a large plain to the west, with roads that connected to cities. In the north sprawled mountains where a river flowed down through the city they were currently in, and the river bent slightly, exiting the city in a southwesterly direction. To the south of the city were farmlands and villages. To the west, a large forest stretched out until it reached almost the end of the map, where it was stopped by a mountain range.

“I would caution against going into the forest in the west,” the clerk warned. “A witch lives there, and it’d be best not to bother her. While she’s mostly harmless, there have been times when people wandered in there accidentally and never made it out.”

“A witch, you say…?” the Witch said, pondering. “Is she perhaps the Witch of the Red Rose?”

The clerk started slightly at the mention of the name but recovered quickly. His eyes narrowed slightly at the Witch, observing her. She hadn’t been wearing her pointy hat, and her cane had been stored in the void space with the Succubus. In a new country, sometimes they didn’t welcome arcane artificers. That’s why the Witch had always dressed like a regular traveler whenever she headed into a new place.

“Indeed, it is the Witch of the Red Rose who resides in the forest. If you wish to visit her, a letter will need to be sent ahead of time. She very much dislikes being surprised,” the clerk said.

“There’s no need, thank you,” the Witch said. “How does this country treat their arcane artificers? It seems a bit unclear since you don’t exactly hate the Witch of the Red Rose, nor do you embrace her.”

The clerk replied with a polite and standard response. “Our city is, in a sense, overseen by the Witch of the Red Rose, and she helps out on her whim. While we respect her and are grateful for her wisdom, we are also cautious not to offend her. In cities where no arcane artificers oversee them, their attitude is generally neutral.

“In some areas of this country, families of arcane artificers ruled over the city. Arcane artificers are powerful, and we have no unified law, like some countries, that governs and regulates their actions and behaviors.”

Although the clerk’s expression and attitude didn’t change, a hint of unease flickered in his eyes. He continued, “The people’s attitude can range from greatly respectful to outright contemptuous, depending on how generous or terrible the ruling families are. As default, no matter where you travel, it is always safe to be respectful and not antagonize them.”

The Witch sighed. Having lived in the Eastern country for so long, where arcane artificers were embraced and welcomed and treated as equals to everyone else, it felt a bit stifling here. The Witch didn’t want others to view her as good or evil. She wanted to be normal.

“Thank you,” the Witch said. She looked to the Succubus to see if he had anything more to ask.

“That’ll be all,” the Succubus said.

“If you need tea, please feel free to help yourself to the self-service station. We will be downstairs if you need any more help.” The clerk bowed and returned to his place near the entrance, where he approached another traveler who’d just entered.

Even though no one was nearby, the Succubus spoke in quiet whispers. “The Gate, which is closing right now, is around here.”

He pointed to an area northeast of the map. It was close to the Red Witch’s forest but still in the mountains that stretched up north.

“It is gravitating to the east. The Gate should reappear somewhere in the forest in a week or so. As for its exact location, I won’t be able to tell until it starts to manifest. We should have plenty of time to find it because it’ll take another few days from the manifestation of the Gate for it to be big enough for us to enter.”

“I had almost forgotten that the Witch of the Red Rose was here. We’re old friends,” the Witch said. “Let’s go crash at her place for a few days.”

The Witch made a flourish with her hands. The rings, which she used to replace the cane as the magical conductor, glimmered, and she spoke into her hand. When she finished, she opened her hand, and a small, white cockatiel flapped its tiny wings and disappeared through the roof.

That afternoon, they entered the Red Witch’s forest. A red sparrow flew ahead of them, guiding their way. The trees were so tall that barely any light reached the forest floor. It almost felt like night had fallen in some parts of the forest.

The red bird meandered through the trees, turning in certain areas and circling others, no doubt avoiding traps or devices to deter unwanted travelers.

The Witch of the Red Rose was a woman who liked quiet. She was kind and gentle-hearted, but the traps didn’t look like anything a gentle-hearted person would have laid out.

“What’s the matter, My Lady?” the Succubus said, noticing the Witch frowning in deep thought. From some point on, he’d started holding on to her arm.

“It’s too early to tell,” the Witch said. “We’ll see soon, but I hope not.” The Witch sighed in defeat.

“Yes, My Lady,” the Succubus said, and increased his alert level as they walked through the forest.

He, too, saw the traps. He was not concerned since the traps were nothing he and the Witch couldn’t handle. They were several hundred years old and powerful with knowledge and skill.

However, if his mistress had cause for concern, he would be cautious as well. Although, he might have an inkling of what her concern might be, and he didn’t like it one bit.

Finally, after walking around for about an hour, the Witch and the Succubus arrived at a clearing.

In the center of the clearing stood a large and squat house, its moss-covered roof curved down on its sides as though it were an upside-down bowl. The walls, green and soft looking, were covered with climbing foliage that sprouted little flowers all around the house’s exterior. Small vegetable gardens littered around the house haphazardly, as if someone had just thrown them there, but the vegetables shined with vibrancy and life.

The red sparrow entered through the wall of the house. Moments later, the door opened, and a glowing and happy lady in a red dress pounced out the door with a big smile.