The Local Witch

Wiximina was humming a tune as she skipped down the dusty street to the blacksmith shop.

As she passed by the shops and homes of the people of the town of Airayah, many of the residents would give her odd looks sometimes even a few screams of terror. Wiximina didn't mind, she was just in costume after all.

She chuckled at the thought. How weird are the people? It's just a hat. She paused to see her reflection in a nearby window, her bright blue eyes and braided auburn hair shown back at her most prominently, she was wearing a simple navy blue dress with a lime green sash covered in various potions, a small brown bag slung around her left shoulder, and a ginormous navy blue witch hat with a seven pointed star charm dangling from the end of its point.

Psh- she looked completely normal. The people must be crazy.

Wiximina shrugged and continued down her path, ignoring the surprised onlookers.

Eventually she arrived at the blacksmith's shop, she looked up at the small stone building, two small windows on the main and top floors, a sign in one of the window displays sating the 40% discount for heroes, cheerfully she opened the door and walked through.

Inside was a room full of weapons, utility items, and tools being displayed across every available surface, the smell of sulfur and coals made Wiximina smile, near the back of the building's main floor room was a short steel table covered in metalworking tools next to a large anvil where a bearded man was working on a long thin sword.

"Hello Henry!" Wiximina waved to the shopkeeper.

The blacksmith slowly looked up from his work and jumped back in surprise, "Oh! U-um hello, witch, what- how can I help you?" he said nervously, stepping away from the anvil.

Wiximina grinned, "Just the usual, a few steel plates and metal reinforces, for my new broom," she said as she looked around the shop with curious eyes, each time she reached out to touch something the shopkeeper would flinch.

The blacksmith nodded, "Yes of course," he responded, keeping his eyes glued to her just in case she 'cursed' anything.

Cautiously the man stepped over to Wiximina and handed her the bag full of her requested items.

"Thank you!" she smiled, the shopkeeper flinched backwards as she skipped back out the door.

Today was turning out to be really great, only four people had screamed and ran away when she walked into town, the blacksmith had accidentally given her the items for free because he was so scared, and no one had called the dragon wielder force on her... well, yet.

Maybe she could even go turn the royal dragon stables into parsnips again, she laughed out loud at the thought of one of the princes going tack up his dragon for an afternoon ride then realizing the drakes had eaten through the stable bars.

As Wiximina walked through the streets she noticed that no one was out anymore. Hm, how peculiar, I wonder where everyone is. She thought, even more strange was that all of the windows were shut, curtains closed.

It was a very nice day today, not to warm, the sky nothing but blue, and she sun smiling happy rays down on the town. Why was everybody suddenly in lock down? Surely it wasn't her, people were afraid of her, but not this afraid.

"Hello? Why are you al-"that's when she saw it, heard it, smelled it. About twenty yards away was a large purple dragon. Its breath was ragged, puffing out clouds of black smoke with each huff. Its rank scent of rotting foliage was strong enough for Wiximina to smell from where she was standing.

The creature's long scaly tail whipped around itself impatiently, it's golden under scales shown through the gaps in its wings, and a pair of pitch black twisted horns perched on the top of its head.

This was no ordinary drake, it was a Winged Blight. One tiny nip from its strong scalding hot jaw could melt you into nothing but a purple puddle.

Wiximina froze, the dragon had its back turned to her as it sniffed a nearby tree, the leaves of the plant curling and turning black as the dragon did so.

Frantic thoughts shot through her head as she stood in the street, what would become of her? Would she sneeze and the dragon would come charging at her? Would she become a simple stain on the pavement? No. Not today. Thought Wiximina. There was no way she was going to let some big bumbling monster ruin her day.

Planting her hands on her hips Wiximina put on the bravest face she could muster, "Hey! Big snout! What do you think you're doing?" she said simply.

Slowly the drake turned its head around to look at her; it didn't even bother to move its legs. The creature studied her for a moment before opening its mouth to growl, steam rising up from its throat and clouding the air around it as it did so.

A bead of nervous sweat trickled down Wiximina's forehead but she ignored it, "Yeah I'm talking to you googly eyes!" she shouted to the monster.

The dragon spat out a puff of smoke and started to turn the rest of its body towards her, it oddly looked almost confused.

Wiximina pulled a device out of her pocket and held it tightly behind her back as the creature stalked over to her.

"You really shouldn't be in town! I might have to call the dragon wielder force on you!" She threatened showing the dragon her request device; the monster simply snorted and continued walking towards her.

Taking a step back Wiximina punched in the request code for the dragon wielder force. No answer. She didn't have time to wait, but she had already gotten herself into deep trouble with this creature. She had only one choice.

Fight.

Wiximina pulled a potion out of her pocket, threw it at the monster, and ran as fast as she could down the street behind her.

A small explosion of white smoke and freezing air whooshed over the dragon.

The creature roared in anger and clawed at its snout, desperately trying to get rid of the hunk of ice that was now cemented to its face.

Wiximina pulled out as many potions as she could, frantically reading the label on each one in search of the portal summon. She didn't want to hurt the creature, just relocate it. Unlike the brutish Dragon Wielders, she liked to keep wildlife safe. No matter how monstrous.

Finally she found it, Wiximina skidded to a halt and whipped around to face the now furious monster, "Over here!" she shouted to it.

The dragon screeched and bounded towards her at an alarming speed.

It was now or never. Wiximina chucked the potion at the floor before her, a mere three feet away from her.

The drake launched itself forward with its claws outstretched; Wiximina screamed and fell to the floor. But before the dragon could grab her, it was gone.

The portal had worked and sent the creature back to the forest where it belonged.

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Henry the blacksmith sat in his shop reading the paper when he heard the door to his shop open, his eyes looked up to see- Oh, it's that blasted witch girl again. He thought. She better not curse any of my merchandise.

"Hello Henry!" The witch grinned, skipping over to his desk, "I'll take that pickaxe up there," the girl pointed to the gigantic dragon scale steel tool hanging above the wall behind him.

"You want that axe?" Henry asked, "I doubt you have the money for it."

"Oh yeah? But I thought you gave a discount to heroes?" The Witch smiled.

Henry was in for the story of the century.