Witches' Whimsy

Brimstone and Secrets

By the time Lia got back to the shop, the warm light of the setting sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. The sign on the door had already been flipped to Closed, and inside, the familiar chatter of her friends finishing their day's work greeted her. Jay was wiping down the counter with meticulous care, Evangeline was reorganizing a display of enchanted baubles, and Willow was stacking books on a nearby shelf.

The gentle jingle of the bell as the door opened drew all their attention. Jay straightened immediately, Evangeline paused mid-reach, and Willow turned toward the door, her face breaking into a wide smile.

"Lia!" Willow called, rushing over with a bounce in her step. But the moment she got close, her nose wrinkled, and she froze, arms outstretched. "Oh no. What is that smell? Brimstone?" Her eyes widened, concern flooding her face as she took a small step back. "Lia, what happened?"

Lia raised a hand wearily, her other clutching the strap of her satchel. The events of the day weighed heavily on her shoulders, and the faint, acrid scent of dragonfire clung stubbornly to her clothes. "It's... been a day," she said, her voice low and hoarse. "I'll explain everything, I promise, but right now, I need a second to catch my breath."

Evangeline raised a curious eyebrow, her hands still holding the small enchanted charm she'd been repositioning. "Brimstone? That usually means dragons. Were you near one? Please tell me you weren't fighting one."

Jay set down his cloth and crossed his arms, leaning casually against the counter but clearly studying her with sharp, calculating eyes. "You look like hell, Lia. Did you at least win?"

Lia gave him a tired glare but didn't reply immediately. She set her arse on the nearest chair, letting out a long exhale as she rubbed her temples. "Let's just say we came out alive. I'll count that as a win." Realizing this was about as much of a break as she was going to get. 

Willow, always the most energetic of the group, shook off her initial recoil and stepped closer, her concern overriding her discomfort. "Wait, so you were actually with a dragon?" Her voice was tinged with awe, and her hands fluttered in the air as she gestured. "What happened? Are you okay? Did it, like, breathe fire at you? Oh! Did Shadowpaw fight it? Tell me everything!"

Lia managed a small, wry smile. "Shadowpaw and I did what we could to avoid getting roasted alive, thanks." She shook her head, the memory of the dragon's wrathful fire still vivid in her mind. "Sylvarion wasn't exactly in the mood to chat, but we got through to him. Barely."

Jay frowned. "Sylvarion? As in the Sylvarion? The guardian of the bluff?"

"Yeah," Lia said, her voice flat. "That Sylvarion. Seraphina didn't exactly warn us about how bad things were until it was too late. Turns out, she bound the poor guy and stole his artifact. Shadowpaw and I had to clean up her mess."

Evangeline sighed, setting the charm down with a soft clink. "That sneaky little snake," she muttered. "I assume you sorted it out?"

"For now," Lia said, running a hand through her disheveled hair. "The artifact is back where it belongs, and Sylvarion agreed to work with us to fix the wards. But let's just say he's not happy about it."

Willow tilted her head, her brows furrowed. "You smell like you got singed. Did he actually breathe fire at you?" Bramble squeaked, peeking out from the pocket of Willow's apron, his fur glow dimming. The smell of brimstone in the air even subdued the nymph ferret.

Lia gave her an exasperated look. "It was more of a warning shot. But yes, he's got a temper. And frankly, I can't blame him."

Willow's concern shifted to indignation. "That Seraphina! What was she thinking, messing with a dragon? And dragging you into it without warning? I mean, you're awesome, but you're not dragon-proof."