Writing Prompts and Junk

Prompt #3: The Witch's Acolyte

Image by Gary Vanaka
https://twitter.com/GVanaka/status/1450274616409300996?s=20

Picture a witch of such immense power that her name is known by all. There are whispers that she serves the elder gods, entities so formidable that even the mention of their names can invite their ruin upon a civilization. Legend has it that the witch's power knows no bounds and even the gods themselves would cower in her presence if they were to manifest in the mortal realm. But what makes her truly fearsome is the price she paid for such omnipotence. It's whispered that she traded her own vision to gain the ability to see deep into the human soul, tempting them to do her bidding with wicked ease. Some say she can even hear the whispers of the dead, using their secrets to bend the world to her will. It's no wonder that even the bravest of knights would think twice before crossing her path.

Everyone has a different tale to tell about this enigmatic woman, but it remains unclear who among them has truly encountered her and who is merely perpetuating hearsay. Except, that is, for you. You seek the knowledge of magic but have no interest in the conventional methods. You crave true power, not the trivial incantations taught to the pious. Thus, you set out to find her. Remarkably, it doesn't take long to locate her. It appears that those who seek her will always be drawn to her abode - a hut that exists in every place and yet nowhere at the same time.

As you approach the meeting place, you begin to feel a sense of anticipation mixed with apprehension. You have heard stories about The Witch and her supernatural powers, but you have no choice but to seek her out for help. As you enter the dimly lit room, you see her sitting on a throne made of human bones. She is blind, but you sense that she can see more than any ordinary person. You notice that she has eyes everywhere - on her skin, in her hat, even in her shadow. It's as if she is aware of everything that is happening around her.

You gather your courage and approach her, explaining your plight and why you need her help. But she shakes her head, telling you that the Elder Gods are not looking for new servants, and that you should leave before it's too late.

That's good because you weren't looking to serve them. You need their power to enact revenger upon the people who have wronged you, but most importantly you need her help, and you plead your case with all the passion and desperation that you can muster. You tell her that you will do whatever it takes to prove your worth, but you are not looking to serve any god, new or old.

She looks at you for a long moment, her eyes seeming to pierce through your very soul. Finally, she nods, and you know that you have won her over. But as she offers her help, you wonder what price you will have to pay for her assistance.

1.) "Teach me magic."
"Go teach yourself. I better things to do."
2.) "All magic comes with a price, dear one. You must simply be willing to pay it."
3.) "There are no masters of magic. Just fools who know a little more than the rest."
4.) "Did you think the Fates brought you here so that I could teach you magic? Why would they want more competition?"
5.) "You're insane."
"Live for as long as I have, and you will be too."
6.) "You're asking me for my advice? I'd say go ahead. Travel. Fall in love. Go to war. See where it takes you. It'll probably end in a gruesome death, but it'll definitely be fun along the way. It almost always is."
7.) "Oh, you don't want me as your teacher. I never had one myself and never thought I'd have a student."
8.) "Hey, kiddo, let me set the record straight. Just because I'm immortal doesn't mean I'm indestructible. There's still a possibility that I could meet my end, but so far, though so far, I haven't met my match."
9.) "Magic is present all around us, kiddo. It's not within my authority to instruct you on how to find it. Take a seat outside and consult with the forest. Study the bees and see what they can show you. Ask the trees if they have any knowledge to impart.
10.) "I accepted you because I knew you'd be the one to save us all. Maybe not in this life, but still."
11.) "All those stories about witches eating little babies aren't lies. They just drastically overblow the reason why we need children for our spells."
12.) "Good and evil are two halves of the same coin. The same people who tell you that I'm an evil witch who must be burned at the stake are the same people who'd crucify you just for refusing to pay taxes to a king you've never seen."
13.) "We're playing at being God. When the creator died, he left his seat vacant. Magic is our way of sitting in the chair."
14.) "There is no such thing as a soul. ."
15.) "I keep you around because you make a mean mushroom soup, not because I like you."
16.) "I can see your future. Shall I tell you how you die?"
17.) "There is no future in the world that I'm creating. All of time and space will blend into a perfect present."
18.) "Don't pay attention to the eyes, trust me."
19.) "We've had this conversation a thousand times in a thousand different worlds. I'm curious to see what excuses you'll make this time."
20.) "We've fallen in love a thousand times in a thousand different worlds."
"Somehow, I doubt that. You're not even my type."
21.) "What happened here?"
"What does it look like? The forces of good lost and chaos took over."
22.) "You may not see it, but there is a method to the madness."
23.) "Knell before (Insert Elder God)."
24.) "Believe me when I say that I am an idiot. I've only survived for so long because of dumb luck."
25.) "My magic is not the type of magic you survive witnessing with your sanity intact, so how about we leave this little venture for you good guy types instead?"
26.) "I'm not asking for forever," the MC said. "Just one more chance."