Chương 99: [2.25] Withering Woes (Part 1/3)

[Summoner Rank: Initiate | Nickname: Adora] So Angelica's ears hadn't been lying to her. This woman really was an Initiate, unless her eyes were lying to her as well. But since there had been no proper summoning, no circle beneath her Demon feet, everything about this was unusual. Like when she'd been summoned by Grahj at the crossroads, it's quite possible this woman wasn't actually a Summoner, but perhaps still had enough Magical Proficiency for the system to note her as one.

"Uhm, hello!" Gelic spoke up, warily introducing herself. She was a lot quieter and more reserved than she usually was when summoned. While talking to strangers was never a thrill, the condescending pretentiousness of most Summoners broke her out of her shell a bit, since she automatically wanted to be combative and dismissive of them. That was likely due to lingering issues with her mother, or authority figures in general. But this woman… this witch. She was everything Angelica had always wanted to be.

Even without exchanging a single word, Adora had already become life goals and a half. The cottage around her was so unbearably cozy that she wished she could move in that very moment. Hell, since she didn't see any animal friends around, she'd be half tempted to somehow bring Cherub to this place and become a cat herself, and then the two of them could be witch familiars, living happy and lazy lives.

"Uhm, Adora! Hi!" Gelic repeated herself a bit louder, waving her claws this time since the woman hadn't noticed her yet.

"Ah!" The older woman turned to her and winced, surprised by the intruder, but the fear lasted only a fleeting moment. Her body relaxed, and the tension faded.

"Oh, it's one of you. My, it's been a long time, hasn't it?" The edges of her mouth raised into the softest smile Angelica had ever seen.

"I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see another Demon. Are you here to spend some time with me? Or… is it then?" Her last words were a little less enthused, almost like she was worried about something, but she still held her smile.

"Uhh, spend time with you, I guess? Yeah." Since Gelic had no clue what she was talking about for the latter part, she went with the first option. [Current Contract: Spend time with her until you are ready to leave | Reward: Essence] Well, that was weird, but this whole thing was weird. So it was up to Gelic when she wanted the Contract to be done? That was a first, and the Essence was unspecified. So she could leave right now if she wanted and still get paid? Not that she would.

A billion questions were bubbling, much like the cauldron in the kitchen area. One of them being her desperate to ask what was brewing. Would it be rude to just blurt it out and ask?

"Make yourself at home," Adora gestured to the dining table.

"I must apologize. If I'd known company was coming, I would have brewed a more proper tea." The witch made her way over to the cauldron and dipped a ladle.

"All I have is a rejuvenation elixir, and it may not be to your tastes."

"Yes, please. I'll take some!" Gelic didn't want to be rude, and no way would she turn down the opportunity to try a witch's brew. It took a bit, since the woman's movements were rather slow, and it looked like she perhaps had a bit of pain with her joints. Really, as her guest, Gelic wanted to get up and help, but Adora pushed through and gingerly set two cups down on the table. Wow, that looks expensive. The drink was served in some absurdly ornate teacups.

They looked small and delicate, made of extremely thin porcelain or some similar material, gilded all along the rim with a lovely design etched along the sides. It felt like they'd chip from even the slightest mishandling, and… she had claws. Gently… It looked like she could slide one of her claws right through the opening of the handle and then pinch the other side with a second claw. That should work.

"And what's your name, dearie?"

"Oh, it's Gelic!" She turned to Adora to greet herself properly, realizing how rude she'd been. But it turned out to be the worst possible moment, and the lack of focus made her hand shift. A single tink was all it took. The tip of her claw dinged the cup, and it punctured, liquid dribbling out until the whole thing shattered a second later.

"Ah, I'm so sorry!" Crap, how would she make up for this?! Since this was undoubtedly a different world, no way did she have its currency to pay for a replacement. And it's not like she could offer to do dishes in lieu of payment like it was some restaurant, because she'd just end up breaking more! Maybe she could offer some help as a witch's assistant? Or maybe Adora wouldn't even want that and just cast a hex on her.

Was she going to be covered in warts, shrunken and stuck in a bottle, turned into a slug until someone fell in love with her in that form?!

"Oh, don't fret, Gelic!" Somehow the woman's smile became even more endearing and radiant. She waved a hand toward the broken up, and it was as if time reversed itself. Piece by piece, the drinkware returned to its original state. The cracks sealed back up, and every drop of loose liquid flowed back until the cup was full and steaming once more.

Gelic didn't know if her glowing mask eyes could sparkle, but they were undoubtedly illuminated to their peak brightness at watching the act, real magic, genuine witchcraft, and it was so wonderful. She desperately wanted to ask about it, but that felt like it would be rude and prying. At the very least, she should be a good guest and try the drink that had been served to her… twice, before they delved into deep conversation. So it was time for round two.

Hmm, maybe she could use her wings instead, but the handle was way too small to get a good grip. She could perhaps wrap one around the whole cup and pick it up that way. Except… she was just overthinking the whole thing, wasn't she? This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Do you mind if I change forms?" Gelic asked her host, not wanting to surprise her again by suddenly morphing.

"Of course, whatever you're most comfortable in," Adora assured her.

"I may look a bit different myself in a moment." She took a swig of the elixir, and set it down before letting her hell fall back a bit while closing her eyes. As the woman foretold, her body began to alter itself. The skin around her face tightened with wrinkles thinning but not vanishing entirely. Her previously boney hands grew a bit more lush. And her hair darkened, color inking itself into the pale white, though still leaving a few silver streaks behind.

The woman was still definitely elderly, but she'd gone from looking old old to just old. Genuinely, liked she'd lost twenty years of age. Would the same thing happen to Gelic when she drank it? Revert into a five year old? Well, since she wasn't human anymore, it wouldn't be a concern in that regard. If she lost a proportional amount of time for her Demon Self, well, she'd only been a Puck for about a day now, so she'd lose just a few hours. But first, Gelic to Angelica!

That was definitely the nice thing about being in another world. There was no way Adora knew who she was, knew any mutual acquaintances, or could trace the face back to any other connection. She was free to be her human self with no alterations or consequences. Except… then why did the woman have such a shocked look in her eyes?

"Uhm, did I startle you again? Sorry," Angelica apologized, really having not expected quite that level of reaction.

"N-no, it's alright." Adora regained her composure.

"I just… wasn't expecting that. Your kind has changed forms a few times in front of me, but never to a creature like myself. Oh, what's the word? I just read it earlier. Human! Yes, it's been so long since I've seen another human. Well… if I ever have. No, I definitely have. Forgive me, I'm rambling. Ignore me." A bit odd, sure, but Angelica had weirder thoughts, so she let it be, finally returning her attention to the cup.

With her much daintier fingers, and one extended of course, she delicately lifted the teacup to her lips and took a sip. Ech. She did her absolute best to not let her face scrunch. The flavor wasn't bad, a bit medicinal, but boy was it bitter. As the liquid slipped down her throat, though, any distaste was gone, her entire body feeling lighter and rejuvenated, like she was a young woman again. Well, wait, she was already a young woman, but it was similar to when her Health was near maxing out.

Which she went ahead and checked. Wow, back up into the nineties from just a sip. This is potent stuff. That said, when she went to take another drink, her lips puckered, as if forming a barrier to prevent more of the draught from assaulting her tastebuds.

"Heh, I was like that too at first." The witch practically giggled.

"Not the most pleasant stuff, but I've been drinking it for years, so I've come accustomed. Here. This helped it go down when I first started." Adora hovered her hand above Angelica's cup and made a motion as if she were sprinkling a pinch of powder. Lo and behold, the powder came to be, though it was more like golden glitter that twinkled into her drink before it dissolved instantly. Just what was that stuff? Fancy sugar? Pixie dust? Some sort of hard drug that'd leave her addicted and/or intoxicated?

"Delicious!" That's what it was, since Angelica took a sip without reservation. Sure, she could be getting somehow bamboozled by a crafty witch, but this experience was so thrilling for her that the rational side of her brain may as well have been left back at her apartment. Actually, the taste wasn't much different than before, nor was it really sweeter. Rather, the sparkly substance had entirely neutralized the bitterness, letting the natural flavors come through much smoother.

It was nice now, like a nectary tea with just a hint of herbal. They continued their drinks in silence for a bit, just relishing in the peace, happy to enjoy the company of another person. Except it didn't take long for Angelica's anxiousness to start making her squirm in her seat again. She really didn't want to come across too strongly, but like an impatient child, she wanted to just start questioning everything around her.

The plants, the cauldron, the cottage, the woman's wardrobe, the age-reducing elixir, and of course, the woman's magic. Ugh, if she didn't get a hold of herself, it was all going to come out as word vomit.

"So were you picking out something new to read?" Yes, that was a good easy first question that could guide them into deeper conversation.

"Or are you in the middle of something? You mentioned reading earlier, and I saw you browsing your bookshelf earlier."

"Oh, yes!" Adora's eyes lit up, "I'm actually between stories right now. But I've read so many, it's hard to keep them all straight. So I was looking for something new, or maybe something old that I've forgotten. Though, the shelf just refreshed rather recently, so it should all be fairly new books that I'm reading through."

"Huh, refreshed?" Angelica didn't quite understand that part.

"Oh, it's a magic bookshelf! It was a gift from, uhh, umm, the first Demon who visited me. Oh, what was their name? They've been back several times, and I just can't quite… It'll come to me. You're welcome to browse if you like. Every so often, the books on the shelf are replaced by new ones, occasionally old ones if I'm in the mood to re-read one. Somehow, it knows just what I want.

"Though it does give me a few oddballs now and again. Maybe it's trying to figure out what I'm into. But after all this time, you'd think it would have learned. Still, occasionally a strange new thing is just what I need, and I learn to love a story I never would have picked up otherwise. And some are still just not for me."

"Okay, I'll take a look!" Angelica just about sprung from her chair, eager to check out what was in a witch's library. Just from a quick glance around, there sure was a lot of variety. There were dusty old tomes that looked like they'd dissolve if mishandled, just like the cup had earlier. And there were ones that looked new, very new, like modern day new, as if they'd been plucked right off the shelf at her local bookstore.

"Ah, right, I remember now. The Demon who gave me that bookshelf, their name was Ferrul."