Some time later…
The day continued, and the store opened along the side of the road.
After turning away yet another visitor who came to probe for information about this strange store, its master, and its origins, Petra took a short break to eat.
This was the second day that Poppy's Potions had been opened.
After returning, Petra sat behind the medicine counter while resting her head on the table.
She spent a while listening to the quiet voices of their sparse customers, while the bunny girls served them in turn. Adventurers would occasionally stop to eat and fill up on medicine, which was a convenient way to get gossip and better understand the current situation outside.
The vibrant planes, like many other places, had begun a large-scale extermination of the remaining ice demons. Petra would not participate, but she would clear any of them that she saw. Unlike the Ice Elementals, Petra had no interest in the Ice Demons.
-
Following the crisp ring of a bell, the door was pushed open, and a new group of adventurers entered.
Petra looked over.
These four people were a Warrior, Guardian, Mage, and female Rogue.
Petra's little eyes turned. She actually recognised these poor fellows. If these weren't the four people who she had stolen the Golden Crested Wolf King's pelt from, then who else could they be?
Petra hummed.
It seemed like they were doing quite well...
Like many others, they entered with vigilant eyes.
Such caution didn't bother Petra at all, because it was normal not to trust a mysterious moving tower that would appear one day and disappear the next, right? The rumours of Poppy's Potions had already started to spread, so it was understandable that they would attract a variety of people.
They walked in, debating whether to stay or leave.
"I told you that it was real, how could something like this be just a rumor?" The guardian said, taking off his shield. He was a big man with a large build.
The swordsmen grumbled. "It's still weird..."
The nose of the mage twitched. "I smell something good."
The guardian sniffed, then rubbed his nose. "That's a lot of garlic. I thought you hated garlic?"
"Look, it's a medicinal shop. Why don't we try some?" The swordsmen pointed out.
"Wait, look!" the Mage pointed to the half-sleeping little girl.
"Huh, what's wrong?" Asked the guardian.
"Isn't that the little girl who stole our kill?"
"Hey, you're right!" the man with the sword exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
They had looked all around the north to no avail.
The trio ran over, leaving the rogue to slowly follow behind. Her brows furrowed, feeling an unusual aura in this building.
When the swordsmen, guardian, and mage arrived at the counter, the swordsmen slammed his hand down on the countertop and roared. "Brat! Give us back our pelt!"
Petra tilted her head. "Grandpa, I don't know you."
"Grandpa!?"
"Pfft hahaha!"
"He hahaha!"
"You you you! You took our golden pelt, give it back!"
Petra leaned back, 'seriously scared'.
The four bunny girls around the room looked over and narrowed their eyes. The room became quiet, too quiet.
The party of four could feel many eyes suddenly looking at them, more than just the immediate staff, making their skin crawl and their nerves tense.
The sudden shift in atmosphere froze the swordsman. "I uh, uhh. M-my, uh..."
The rogue put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.
"Just forget about it."
She looked at Petra and forced a gentle smile. "Little girl, do you work here? What happened to your centipede?"
Petra rolled her eyes cutely. "I do work here, big sister, and I left him at home."
"It is her!" The swordsmen roared. "How many little green haired girls riding a centipede can there be!"
"Calm down, we don't know that for sure." The mage held him back again, whispering quietly.
The guardian suddenly turned. "Uhh, look at that." He pointed to the wall behind them.
The party turned to look at the golden pelt mounted on the wall beside the stairs. That was the Golden Created Wolf King that they were looking for...
It was being used as a wall lamp…
Warrior: "..."
Guardian: "...'
Mage: "..."
Rogue: "..."
Petra: "..."
Petra liked it so much that she decided to keep it, but she had forgotten that she had hung it there…
After a slow turn towards the pelt, there was an even slower turn back to Petra.
All eyes looked at Petra with a heavy sense of judgment, even those in the dark.
Petra shrank her neck, her face turning red. 'Oopsie whoopsie, did I leave that out? Ah hahaha! How embarrassing!'
"Damn it!"
"On purpose!"
"Get her!"
Wack! Wack! Wack!
"Calm down you two!" The Rogue roared. "I don't think any-"
The Rogue shut her mouth, her sharp eyes suddenly widening.
At this time, Soryn and Wind walked down from the second floor.
The Swordsmen exclaimed. "Oh, isn't that!"
The Guardian laughed. "Soryn, long time no see!"
The Mage grinned. Instead of Soryn, he looked at Wind. "Ah, if it isn't the little whit-"
Glare!
Wind shut him up with a glare.
He covered his mouth, chuckling. "Sorry, sorry, I forgot."
The Rogue walked over. "Sister Soryn, why are you here? I heard that you disappeared in that disaster up north?"
Soryn hummed, her face a bit cold. "I was rescued by a benefactor." She pulled at the hem of her skirt. "I work as a maid now." Her pale cheeks were slightly red.
The Swordsmen burst out laughing. "Hah! You work as a maid! Who's so crazy to accept you!"
Soryn looked over to Petra.
The swordsmen followed her gaze, meeting Petra's eyes.
Petra's eyes sparkled.
Swordsmen: "Uh...?"
Guardian: "Seriously?"
Mage: "What the hell?"
Wind shook her head.
Soryn asked, "Why are you guys here? Going to the Sky Tower?"
"Of course! Who isn't!"
"There are so many treasures to win!"
"I want to become famous!"
Petra: "Trash."
"What was that!?"
"Little girl!"
"Don't make me eat you!"
Smack.
Wind slapped Petra on the back of the head.
Soryn looked at the only woman, the Rogue, and the Rogue explained. "We want to join the fun, but we don't expect to win anything. There are rumours that there will be a big announcement about the second calamity at the end of the gathering."
Soryn nodded.
That alone was enough to go...
After that, the Swordsmen and the Guardian sat down to eat, the Mage refilled their supplies, and the Rogue continued to talk to Wind and Soryn.
Petra moved from behind the counter and squatted in front of the Golden Pelt. Her little eyes darted around like a gremlin, seemingly ready to attack anyone who dared to steal from her.
* * *
Later that night, after the sun had set and a chill crept in, Petra was called to the rooftop garden by Levy. She was followed by Bell, Luna, Poya, and Dorthy, an unusual cast.
When they arrived, Levy sat in the center of the pavilion and called the children over.
She explained that from now on, these five would be taking special lessons from her once a week.
Petra raised her hand like an obedient student.
Levy pointed, allowing her to answer.
"Miss teacher, why us five?"
Levy nodded at the question, then flicked a golden star towards Petra's head. "The reason is simple! Because you five aren't human, you're Witches!"
Levy received silence.
"Uhh, no?" Petra squeezed out a strange sound from her throat. She looked at the confused Poya and the disbelieving Dorthy, and was sure that these two were definitely not witches.
"And, if Luna's a witch, then why isn't Lilly?" Petra asked again.
Luna nodded, not understanding it either.
Dorthy was silent, not believing it either, while Poya just played in the mud to the side.
Levy nodded to herself, already expecting the confusion.
"Let's start with the question of 'what 'is a Witch'? A Witch isn't a special bloodline, it's a metaphysical connection to something greater. Being a Witch is something that transcends time, space, fate, and bloodlines, it basically has nothing to do with your physical body."
Levy pointed directly at Luna.
Her voice was raised. "You are fated to be the Witch of Silence! This should have begun after Lilly's death, but something changed!" Levy grinned, letting that sink in.
Luna's eyes widened.
Such words were unreasonable, but something deep within her soul told her that it was true.
A sharp pain shot through her mind, making Luna reach up and clutch her head. She briefly convulsed, then Images, no, memories that didn't belong to her started to flash past like a flickering candlelight.
Death, torture, pain, and loneliness, all things she knew, but nothing she could remember.
Tears unconsciously flowed down her cheeks.
"Ah..."
Luna wanted to talk, she wanted to ask, she wanted to know, but without a voice, she was unable to seek her answers.
Levy let her be, waiting for her to calm down before continuing.
When Luna relaxed, she sat back down, her eyes red and her attention much more focused. Although only a moment had passed, Petra and Dorthy could feel that something had changed. It was almost like there was an extra burden pressing down on her. Her childish eyes had grown up.
Levy nodded.
"It seems like you saw something. Good. For those who have deviated from their paths, receiving memories of what should have been, isn't uncommon. Remember that, because there's a price to pay for fighting fate."
She turned to Dorthy next.
"And you, you don't seem to believe that you're not a human, right? Do you really believe that? Don't you already have suspicions?"
Dorthy was quiet.
Levy turned back to Petra.
"Lastly, you have to understand that you're not a 'Witch', you're a 'Primordial Witch'. These are completely different. The Witches in Pillomal are our distant descendants. It's like how a garden snake is the descendant of a dragon, they can't be compared."
Petra nodded.
She still didn't understand.
She wouldn't ask.
She didn't care.
She was too embarrassed.
It was one of these.
"Ok, Forsit-"
Petra stood up, interrupting the teacher. "Wait, teacher Levy, what about Poya? How is she a Witch? I'm not even sure what she is, but it seems closer to a plant, no?"
Levy nodded, then flicked her wrist and drew out a ruler stick, then wacked Petra on the head.
Wack!
"Correct! Poya is a special case! As for how and why, I'll let you figure that out! It's related to your mother! Think of it as a side quest!'
Petra's eyes widened.
Huh??
'This mushroom baby is related to my mother?'
'How was that possible!'
Levy continued. "Don't underestimate little Poya! She's a lot smarter than you or I! Otherwise, your mother wouldn't have done 'that'."
Dorthy and Bell looked over to the baby playing in the dirt.
Why couldn't they see it?
Levy shook her head. They would understand when the time came. For now, they just had to focus on getting stronger. Pillomal seemed to be some kind of test from the master, so she just had to do her job and enjoy the show.
She then began her first of many lessons on the concept of 'Willpower'.
* * *