꧁༺ 𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭 ༻꧂

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 18

The days flickered by, and the pirate crew worked hard under the witch's command. Little did they know, though, that all this work and effort they were putting in for Ada wasn't at all valid to the task at hand. The ritual to get to the Hall of ᚷᛟᛞᛞᛖᛋᛋ Íᛚᛁᚨ was actually quite simple, at least it was very easy for Ada, as an experienced witch herself. She just wanted to see if the pirates were lying to her, to see if they were truly as dedicated as they said they were.

Leon and the witch had grown a little closer to each other, but that didn't affect his feelings for you. No, not at all. He only saw her as a friend, though Ada didn't. Not a big surprise, considering she was a secret simp from the start.

As Quin and Winchester brought in the few herbs they'd been sent off to find with a handy basket, they noticed the fellow witch gazing out of the small, square window above the kitchen. The strange woman appeared to be thinking hard about something, her eyes continuing to stray from the set point her head was facing.

The two walked inside the mage's hut with the bundles of herbs in the petite basket. Quin set the herbs on the kitchen counter and turned her attention back to the witch by the window. With a small smile on her face, she approached the woman.

"Is something the matter?" Quin asked, her hands folded over her long skirt. Ada hummed in response, her eyes flickering down to the kitchen counter she was leaning on.

"I suppose," The witch sighed, "there is something to discuss."

"If you don't mind me asking, what is there to discuss?"

"Well, the first thing I'd say is that I lied."

Quin's expression faltered. "You lied? About what?"

"About the requirements of the ritual." The witch replied bluntly. "The ritual isn't actually that hard. In fact, it's quite easy to perform."

"Really? Then why'd you have us do all this work then?"

"To test you. To see if you were really telling me the truth, testing if you were lying. I can't just trust a strangers word and take it for my own. I've never met you people, and not to mention you're pirates. No offense, by the way."

"None taken," the other woman smiled, "I perfectly understand your suspicions. I thought you meant you were lying about yourself."

"I could be. You never know." The witch said.

Again, Quin faltered, but the witch only laughed. "I'm just messing with you," Ada teased, "don't look so frightened. Have some courage when you talk to me." Quin chuckled weakly, feeling unsure about the witch now.

They were disturbed when Winchester coughed to get the women's attention. The young man was quietly standing behind them this whole time, listening in to their conversation as he waited for further instructions.

"What do we do now then?" Chester asked. "If it's so easy to perform, and if we've gained your trust, why don't you just start the ritual already?"

"Well," Ada began, "one, the rest of your crew isn't here, and two, we need help from the fellow faeries."

"F-Faeries?" Chester's eyes dilated, his heart stopping. Faeries? Faeries? She had to be kidding, right? Chester couldn't go near those viscous things, not after he'd stepped on one of their sacred leaf rings. They probably hated him. Despised him. Loathed him. The boy shook his head, taking a step back.

"Oh, you'll be fine," the witch assured, "don't worry. I'm sure your captain will look after you."

---

Carlos sat on the dry, mud-like dirt next to the disgusting, murky lake by himself. The smell of the bog didn't bother him in that moment, as he felt a little down. He felt down because of the recent argument he had with Dianè.