Fate's Gambit: A Half-Blood's Odyssey

Chapter VII: The Strange Witch

I've been staying with Cota for a while now. Naturally, my room became a mess within weeks of moving in and, of course, Cota has been asking me to clean my room. I follow the rules, I promise, but it just doesn't seem like it since my room gets messy within the next two days. If I can still find everything I need then it's not really messy is it? That's my logic and I'm taking it to the grave with me.

At some point recently, Cota offered to get me a job at the tavern with her, in which case I declined, noting that thieving pays better. Jokingly, I offered to take her when I went off to do thieving stuff at night and she declined. She was, however, able to meet me halfway, settling on the fact that I still do something with my time and can make money off of it instead of staying home and mooching the entire time.

While on the topic of Cota, I should mention that her efforts to ease my self-consciousness have not been working for me at all. There was a point where she had me hold a staring contest with my reflection, which ended in a breakdown. Another time, she dressed me up with bows and ribbons, telling me that the accessories would take my attention off of my body, but I ended up feeling stupid, looked in a mirror, confirmed my feelings, and proceeded to have another breakdown. Then there was that time she paid someone to draw a portrait of me so I could see how others see me and, well, you guessed it: I had another breakdown. All of this occurred within a week.

I love her for trying, but she's not great at this kind of thing. She's better at consoling and comforting me so I can calm down and talk about my feelings, but actually helping cure me of those feelings is where she lacks. I've talked to Allura about my feelings as well and, she's more or less the same. She lets me vent, she comforts me, but she does not propose an actual cure for what I feel. However, whenever she goes out to do her thief work and I don't go with her, she'll bring back some shiny objects for me. I think that's rad.

Today, Cota invited me to the Magic Department of the underground, where the mages, and witches, and wizards offer their services and cast spells for the benefit of their clientele. The magic arts have been in Sidor history for centuries, but it wasn't until a decade ago that black magic, the magic used by the outlaws in The Underground, was criminalized. Not everyone learns magic and not everyone can learn magic, but those that do are sometimes considered among the most powerful of citizens in Sidor. It takes a lot, and I mean A LOT, of focus, power, concentration, and training to master magic. There are stories of people starting as children and finally mastering magic by the time they're old and gray. Contrarily, some can master it within a few years up to 10 years or so.

The smell of incense floods the air. I can smell lavender from one way, eucalyptus from another way, and sage coming from somewhere else. I tolerate it but I'm really not a fan.

Also, somewhere along the way, before Cota and I reached the Magic Department, Allura had run into us and joined us, claiming there was nothing better for her to be doing today. Cota, not being one to put people down, accepted her.

The Magic Department is noticeably smaller than every other department in The Underground. There are only a few small shops before the area becomes a dead end.

"This place blows," Allura crosses her arms.

"Don't be so quick to judge, I'm sure there's more than meets the eye," Cota looks around the small area and frowns. "Or maybe not..."

"Why did we come out here anyway?" I sigh, thinking about being at home wrapped up in a blanket in my bed.

"I thought it would be nice to explore someplace new," Cota's innocence is adorable.

"Hey, check out that place," Allura points over at one of the shops nearby. A simple, house-shaped building stands neatly, its front porch lights are on and they flicker gently.