The Witch's Relay

Chapter 4: Spider Stew

"Bang!"

The cast-iron pot slams into the rough wooden table as Heather calls out.

"Time to eat!" It's not like that was necessary, as I already sat right in front of her at the table, but since she seemed in such a good mood I chose to not mention it.

"Since you were the one to gather all the ingredients I would like you to guess the meal." She states happily.

"Some sort of stew?.." I guessed mostly based on the pot rather than what I had gathered.

"Yees.. but what is iin it?" Heather leans in closer.

"Radishes, carrots, dandelions and a bunch of other random herbs?" I look at Master suspiciously since from experience Heather likes to serve some pretty odd dishes, however this time the ingredients seem pretty normal, aside from some weird plants I never even heard of up until this week.

"Yeees.. but what is the main ingredient?" She inquires further.

"Radishes and carrots?" Those were the most substantial things I had collected.

"Wrong!" She opens the lid. "arachnid hatchling!"

I stare blankly at the chunks of meat floating in the pot, the thought of eating monster flesh had never even crossed my mind. All I can express in this moment is;

"Heh?"

The pot looks absolutely revolting to my eyes.

"Hihi!" She rubs her fingernails together in an excited gesture. "I always make sure to take care of every monster that wanders into this part of the forest so that no hunting quests are issued in this area, and so no adventurers come stumbling by across my path, but once I am finished with my terminating, the monsters are never anything more than a pile of ash! But now that you are here, fresh meat is back on the menu!"

"I can understand wanting to eat a giant-boar, or maybe even an enchanted wolf, but an arachnid? That's like a giant bug! Monsters are just.. meant to be killed and disposed of? Isn't it just parts of them that can be used in crafting powerful gear or decorations, the rest is just.. pig food or fertilizer?"

"No!" She takes a step back in horror. "Monster meat is a rare delicacy and all the more exclusive for it!" I swear she had stars in her eyes. "Grown arachnid meat is normally tough, but somehow with the consistency of lard-soaked sponge" she makes a disgusted face. "But the young ones! They have a consistency comparable to a smoked ham and the taste is simply heavenly!"

At that, she dips a large wooden ladle into the pot and dumps a large scoop into the bowl in front of me.

Hesitantly I poke at the meat with the spoon as her eyes watch me filled with anticipation.

Seeing her eyes would make anyone's heart melt and I fill my spoon and while holding my breath shove it in my mouth.

Actually.. its not too bad.. The taste is rather peculiar though. I have to take another bite to better inspect the flavor. And another. And another. And soon the bowl is empty and I stare into it with confusion over the lack of contents, as it appears to have suddenly vanished.

"Oh my, you flatter with your enthusiasm, I didn't suppose you would be THAT big of a fan for my cooking." Is.. that a blush I see?.. No, it can't be.

But it figures, my Master is an expert in whatever she does, cooking is no different.

"More?" The ladle dips into the pot again.

"Yes please." The fact that I am eating a spider never even crosses my mind for the rest of the meal.

...

"So." Heather leans back on the chair putting both hands behind her head. "How has your first week in your new life been my young apprentice?"

This simple question warrants a lot of thought.

"Well, at first I was pretty miserable. Although I guess I still am in a sense, every bit of my body aches with every move." I give her a short glare. "But I have also learned so much that it feels fulfilling. For example, I don't think I have felt so satisfied as when I took down my first arachnid, and then ATE it, since- well, since forever!" I smile at the thought. The feeling of accomplishment is a great one.

"But-" I continue, my smile fading. "I am worried for my people back home. What they will have to do without me."

"You told me before your family is in debt?" Heather in a kind voice mostly states rather than asks me.

"Yea, before we moved in from the countryside we ran a little farm about an hour's walk away from town. As you doubtless know, the drought hit a lot of people pretty hard, among them, us."

"Hmm, yes, I suppose that would be an issue, I never really gave the drought much thought." Her hand touched her chin as she contemplated on what I had just said.

"Wait, what do you mean you never gave it much thought? Surely life out in the forest is affected by it as well?" I was a little surprised, it doesn't work differently in the forest right? No, I would have known.

"No, we are, but you see, normally I just.. sort of create my own water.." She raises her hand and begins to chant. "Mother water who sustains all life and washes away the impurities, grant me your power. Sphere of water!" At the incantation's completion, a ball of water appears floating in her hand. "Eventually this is something you will learn. The size of the sphere is in direct proportion to the amount of mana I choose to release, so watering my garden and the immediate surroundings is never an issue." She tosses the sphere of water into the empty pot with a splash.

I clear my throat. "Aside from the fact I just realized that fetching water thrice a day is a complete waste.. I will finish my story." I get back into my storytelling mode.

"After three years of drought, we lost almost everything. In order to survive we were forced to borrow money from the local nobleman, and eventually even had to sell the farm. But even so, we were in the red, so me and my family moved to the town of Blackwater in order to make money and pay off all our debts." I look down. "Without my steady income from the guild, it is unlikely that my father can meet the deadline."

"Enough of that for now." Heather switches the topic. Probably to save my own feelings of guilt. "The dishes need doing! The longer you wait the harder it gets! Chop chop!"

With a sigh I comply. "Yes Master."

...

Fortunately, since eating dinner the rain has completely stopped and the sun has decided to take a little peek from behind the clouds, too low to give any real warmth, but enough to lighten the mood.

I do feel guilty for leaving my life behind, but on the other hand I do owe Master my life. Had she not stepped in to rescue me I would have been dead. At least this way I get to live, and also someday be able to return.

So until that day, I will do my best to get stronger. This time spent here is NOT a waste.

"And step one!" I grab a handful of sand from the riverbank. "These dishes will learn to shine like mirrors!"