>>1666143
"Let's just get it done, right?" She declares with hastily conjured resolution behind her words and hops down the narrow hatch. Not so eager to accidentally hurt myself I quickly check that I haven't left anything behind and climb down the steps like a normal person.

As soon as my feet hit the ground, Camille takes a single quick spring back up the steps carved into the wall, and almost silently shuts the hatch. I think I was supposed to do that, but she does not seem to have minded as she simply hops back down and gives me a quick nod that I take to mean "Go." We did agree that I would stay in front while she makes sure nothing gets behind us in the darkness.

From here, there appears to be only one way to go, and that is further down the corridor that appears to have been dug right out of the ground and occasionally reinforced with wood beams. I was half expecting the walls to be lined with carved stone like the church above, but it seems these tunnels were never intended to look pretty. A slight orange glistens as the light from the lanterns Camille brought, one for each of us thankfully, flickers across the uneven surface, briefly catching my fascination before I remind myself that we're here to do a job.

With only one way to go, I am not really left with any kind of choi-

Wait, did she say an apprentice's wage? Am I supposed to get paid?

>This is important! I need to learn more about this wage, right now so I don't forget about it!
>Stay quiet, focus on the mission, everything else can wait. Proceed.. [Choose below]
>.. with determination. Camille has my back, so I just need to focus on what's in front of us and on finding the -hopefully- sleeping werewolf as quickly as possible.
>.. with extra wariness, because I have a nagging suspicion that Mistress is planning yet another annoying test somewhere, as if dealing with the werewolf wasn't enough to worry about.

>Per the standard, first vote time is extended to a full hour, after that which the normal, slightly less glacial pace resumes.

File: Nadja Stuff.png (44 KB, 701x500)

44 KB PNG

>OP Paste of excessive extra explanatory information:

>Seal Value: 70/100

>Nadja's Seniors:
>Mistress' current opinion: 45/100
>Lily's current opinion: 25/100
>Camille's current opinion: 20/100

--

>Nadja's Witchy Skills:

>Core Skills:
>Herbalism : Initiated (Potions and such!)
>Pencraft: Fledgling* (Hexes and wards!)
>Infusion: Uninitiated (Making things be magic/enchanting!)
>*Nadja has proven to be naturally talented at this set of skills. She learns more quickly and has a chance to intuitively understand this type of magic simply by looking at it.

--

>Communication:
>Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriendQM

--

>Archives:
>4plebs archive (thread 1-24): http://archive.4plebs.org/tg/search/subject/Witch%20Apprentice%20Quest/order/asc/
>moe archive (threads 25+): http://archived.moe/qst/search/subject/Witch%20Apprentice%20Quest/type/op/order/asc/
>Suptg archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=witch+apprentice+quest

--

>Resources:

>Summaries. Brief descriptions of the most important events in the quest, enough to give you a rough idea of what's going on:
>Chapter 1 (Threads 1-31) Summary: http://pastebin.com/g3i9AMgP

>Timeline. A much more detailed day-by-day account of previous events. Not mandatory reading by any means.
http://pastebin.com/xMiP9nYf

>Nadja's Notebook is intended to serve as your reference material for witchy things and other stuff related to the quest. REMEMBER: YOU CAN ALWAYS REQUEST TO HAVE SOMETHING ADDED TO THE NOTEBOOK. It's divided into the following categories:
>1. General Witchcraft: Intro to Nadja's Notebook as well as any witch-related topics outside of the three major arts will go here when Nadja learns about them:
http://pastebin.com/FvemAzKN
>2. Herbalism: Everything about herbs and how to use them to make potions:
http://pastebin.com/vMWeFhd0
>3. Pencraft: Hexes and wards that Nadja knows of and how to make them:
http://pastebin.com/BTUR8F94
>4. Infusion: The art of bestowing magical properties to items that otherwise had none. For example, the creation of wands or flying brooms. Pastebin will be added once Nadja actually learns about any of this.
>5. Nadja's Notes: Where Nadja writes her notes about various things.
http://pastebin.com/76btWGte
>6. Characters: Nadja doesn't actually keep a written list of people she knows, but you may find it useful to have:
http://pastebin.com/GbRsNuw3

>TO-DO LIST:
>Tullian Fire
>Enlarging Potion
>Shrinking Potion
>Add Unbreakable Staff to inventory

>>1666144
>Stay quiet, focus on the mission, everything else can wait. Proceed.. [Choose below]
>.. with determination. Camille has my back, so I just need to focus on what's in front of us and on finding the -hopefully- sleeping werewolf as quickly as possible.
Eyes on the prize! Questions and paranoia later!

>>1666144
>Stay quiet, focus on the mission, everything else can wait. Proceed.. [Choose below]
>.. with extra wariness, because I have a nagging suspicion that Mistress is planning yet another annoying test somewhere, as if dealing with the werewolf wasn't enough to worry about.
Pay? But that would make this child labour
Also, good to see you again Friend

>>1666144
>Stay quiet, focus on the mission, everything else can wait. Proceed.. [Choose below]
>.. with determination. Camille has my back, so I just need to focus on what's in front of us and on finding the -hopefully- sleeping werewolf as quickly as possible.

>>1666146
>Stay quiet, focus on the mission, everything else can wait. Proceed.. [Choose below]
>.. with determination. Camille has my back, so I just need to focus on what's in front of us and on finding the -hopefully- sleeping werewolf as quickly as possible.
>But don't forget about the wage abd bring it up in front of your Mistress superiors when you can!

>>1666144
>But don't forget about the wage and bring it up in front of your Mistress superiors when you can!

This is what is clearly important. We are not even getting paid for this job after all.

>>1666144
>But don't forget about the wage and bring it up in front of your Mistress superiors when you can!

Is the Witch thing to do. Mistress is the one at fault in the first place for getting us in this whole mess. And we are even getting punished for helping. But we wouldn't be helping us misstress had not sent us to that fairy WITHOUT MAKING SURE WE KNEW ABOUT FAIRIES IN THE FIRST PLACE!

Also she not only almost killed us, she is not even paying us. And because of her stupid fight with her daughter this whole job has caused us NOTHING BUT TROUBLE!

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Never forget!

>>1666144
>>This is important! I need to learn more about this wage, right now so I don't forget about it!

Surely we won't forget about the wage! Even Nadja should be able to remember it, right?

...I mean, I guess it can't hurt to specify it.

These are the tunnels Camille checked previously right? Can she point us in any particular direction? Or maybe wolfy moves too much

File: ec71b719bdbb287f0e9d5700a(...).png (834 KB, 1056x1624)

834 KB PNG

>let's use the laptop for writing today, it'll be comfy and relaxing!
>laptop promptly gets hijacked by some ransomware calling itself "windows 10"

Welp, back to the desktop then! Good thing my lovely players decided to bless me with a crystal clear vote while I was eating. Witches proceed with deliberate determination!

>>1666162
>Pay? But that would make this child labour

Pretty sure by most legal definitions we've also seen a few instances of child abuse, so that's nothing to be too worried about!

>>1666188
>Surely we won't forget about the wage! Even Nadja should be able to remember it, right?

Yes, Shirley will remind her so she doesn't have to worry about remembering!

>>1666203
>These are the tunnels Camille checked previously right? Can she point us in any particular direction? Or maybe wolfy moves too much

You're right, she won't have any idea where it has moved to since last. She can however make sure Nadja doesn't lead herself down a dead end!

>>1666227
I'm sure Camille will take good care of us!

>Windows 10
Might as well throw your laptop in the trash Friend!

Jokes aside I've actually never had W10 itself interfere with anything. Now the W10 updater while I was still on W7 on the other hand...

>>1666144
No no, worry about that later, Nadja! This is not the time to get distracted! Focus! Don't think about all the soft and puffy dresses at the market! Or the glittery ones! And definitely not about the shiny necklaces...

FOCUS!

Right right, serious witch time now, pretty witch time later. Let's recap!

What we need to do: Somewhere down here is the baddy werewolf and we need to turn it back to normal, while hurting it as little as possible because the poor guy.. or girl? They never told me who it is, but I'm pretty sure Camille said "he".. or did she say "it"? Anyway, it's a real person and everything, so we have to be extra careful not to hurt them!

To dewolfify the wolfy, I have the dramatically named "Thorn from the Wilting Willow" that the Daemon Vanda gave me. Apparently you can't normally turn someone back from a werewolf once they've been fully transformed after.. I forgot how long it takes. A month I think? Point is, the normal remedies that Camille has won't help any longer, but if one of us got bit or scratched by wolfy, they should work just fine, which is great!

We shouldn't need those though, because I already made a powerful sleeping poison that we applied to some deliciously fresh bait for wolfy to slurp up, so as long as that worked this shouldn't be dangerous at all!

Should isn't quite good enough though, which is why I'm proceeding with absolute focus and determination. I take the time to look very carefully before each step to make sure I don't accidentally step on a mischievously placed dry branch or some other noisy thing. I'm not entirely certain why I think anyone would ever go around putting dry branches in a place like this, but something tells me it definitely happens. I wouldn't though!

All the while I keep my eyes peeled for anything that may be hiding in the shadows ahead, and my ears just as alert for any sounds of activity other than our own steps.

The tunnels turn out to be a lot more extensive than I thought as we pass through turn after turn, corridor after corridor. My sense of time is probably not worth much at all down here, but judging by how exhausted I am from just walking and keeping an eye out, we've been down here for a while now.

Camille has been even more active than me though. Sometimes she's right behind me, just looking out for activity like I am, yet other times she let's herself fall behind to check any of the paths we've passed by, only to moments later return to my side and, with a soft tap on my shoulder and a silent hand gesture, direct me when the path splits in two or three. All of this she's been doing so quietly that I almost did not even notice that she went anywhere, and certainly wouldn't have if I specifically hadn't been listening for even the slightest disturbance.

A few turns later I notice the exhaustion really getting to me as I only just barely react in time to silence a yawn with my hand. I pause momentarily to rub my eyes and then-

>>1666325
It's quiet. Or distant, perhaps. Soft and rhythmic, like breathing. But definitely not mine! I quickly glance back just to make sure, but it is definitely not Camille making any sound either, she's still several paces behind double-checking a side passage. She hasn't breathing heavily enough for me to even hear her all this time anyway, but..

I raise my hand and gesture for Camille to come up here. Several very long moments pass as she returns to my side, upon which I hold a hand to my ear to indicate that she needs to listen.

Maybe we should have agreed on some handsigns before going down here.

She does understand without any trouble though, and spends a few moments just waiting with her eyes closed. Maybe that helps her listen?

Her eyes spring open again and she turns to me with determined eyes and gives me a single nod. She hears it too. Then, in a gesture I do not recognize she points to herself with a questioning look.

This is why we should have coordinated these signs first!

She tries again, this time pointing to herself again, then in the direction the sound is coming from. But what does..

Oh! I get it now! She's asking if she should go first to check it out! I suppose now that we're certain that something is right there she'd rather go first. That does probably make the most sense since she's way more experienced than I am, but still.. She did give me something to defend myself with, the staff that (supposedly) is impossible to break, so it's not like I'm completely helpless!

>Let Camille go first. This is HER job. And she's the oldest too, it's only fair that she handles the dangerous part!
>I'm not a baby that she needs to look after. Witches aren't afraid of anything, so I'm not afraid either! I'll go first!
>Try to tell her to circle around so we'll be coming from two directions and wolfy can't escape. We would be separated though..
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1666329
>I'm not a baby that she needs to look after. Witches aren't afraid of anything, so I'm not afraid either! I'll go first!
Focused Nadja is cute

>>1666329
>>I'm not a baby that she needs to look after. Witches aren't afraid of anything, so I'm not afraid either! I'll go first!

>>1666329
>Try to tell her to circle around so we'll be coming from two directions and wolfy can't escape. We would be separated though..
I'm sure we can handle it. We've got a stick and everything!

>>1666348
Although, on second thought this doesn't seem to make that much sense does it? How would Nadja know A: that there's a way to loop around quickly, B: that it's not a dead end and this is the only entrance, and C: that it's not a junction with MORE than two entrances leaving the wolfy at least one exit anyway?

So let's just go together anyway!
>I'm not a baby that she needs to look after. Witches aren't afraid of anything, so I'm not afraid either! I'll go first!

File: 2e8bf2bcda8208c88691bb267(...).jpg (407 KB, 1000x1310)

407 KB JPG

There may only be three of them, but the votes are in agreement. Nadja leads the charge!

>I've only just returned from the battle to reclaim my laptop, so writing begins now!

>>1666341
>Focused Nadja is cute
Wrong! Focused Nadja is focused! EXTREMELY focused and nothing but 100% focused!

>>1666384
Hopefully the other anons decide to come back, but at least we aren't two voters in complete disagreement I suppose

Cutest and best

File: 0d3b948495911dbe1973f9a71(...).png (1.77 MB, 965x992)

1.77 MB PNG

Ah! I almost forgot this! We need rolls! Please provide me with d20s! Lots of them!

Or just three. Three will do just fine.

Also forgot my trip it seems.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>1666455
Here goes

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>1666455

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>1666455

>>1666471
Nice job anon!

>>1666471
>Rolled 20 (1d20)

Kay!

>>1666471
Aww yiss

>>1666329
Not only am I not helpless, I'm also a witch now! And witches aren't afraid of anything! I read that in one of Kerstin's books, without help, so it must be true! And I'm going to start by showing Camille how unafraid I am!

I point to myself to tell her that I'll go first. Promptly, she grabs my hand, forcefully, and makes a face that screams "NO" so loudly I can almost hear her voice in my head. She does not like the idea. But why did she ask me at all if she had already decided what she wants to happen? She may be my senior, but she is not my boss!

With (almost) equal force I wrest my hand free of hers and give her my absolute sternest face, the one that makes even Big Sis think twice! Usually it's a very quick think, but she definitely does it twice, I'm sure! And Camille is definitely not a Big Sis!

>Rolled 20 (1d20)

I am going!

Camille doesn't fight it again. She didn't really need to go falling backwards just to prove the point, but I appreciate the vote of confidence. I don't spend too much time wondering why she's looking like she had just seen a ghost or something like that. She clearly agrees that I'm cool enough to do this and that's it! Hopefully she didn't make so much noise that she woke wolfy.

Doesn't sound like he's awake though.

Still, I don't take any chances. Witches aren't afraid, but they're also not careless. That was in the book too! With renewed energy from winning that little staring contest I proceed with firm but soft strides, clenching my brand new superstick tightly in my right hand and the lantern in my left, sticking close to the wall all the way.

With every step the breathing grows louder, closer, until every doubt is erased that it was ever anything but a snore. I had imagined it would be loud and all growl-like when asleep, but it actually sounds a lot like a regular person, but somewhat louder. It's so close now, I can almost feel its breath in the air.

Unfortunately I can also smell it. Comparing the stench to that of a wet dog would be incredibly generous. If the dog had some kind of stomach disease, had just had a giant filling of rotten meat, and just farted, that would be more like it.

A careful peek around the corner confirms what the rest of my senses were already telling me. Sprawled across the dirt floor, at first looking a bit like a very poorly made rug, is it.

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

>>1666639
I've never actually seen a wolf before, but the drawings in the books were definitely not this big! In fact, Amalia's suggestion to use a bear for testing was spot on, at least with regard to size! Covered from head to toe in black and grey fur, wild, unkempt and probably ridden with all kinds of nasty parasites too. If I had a doggy I would definitely not let it look this awful!

The bait is nowhere to be seen, probably in an entirely different section of the tunnels, but the pool of saliva still dripping from between its razor-sharp fangs confirms that it must have eaten up the entire thing. It's fast asleep. Which means I did the poison just right! Yay!

A moment later, Camille joins up with me again. Even as we both give it a thorough look over, making sure it is as fast asleep as I think it is, wolfy does not stir even once, a fact that seems to give Camille great relief. Or maybe she's happy to see the werewolf while it's not eagerly trying to kill her.

Before I've even thought to proceed to the next step, she pulls me close and whispers into my ear.

"I'll be ready to distract it in case it wakes up when you do your thing. If it does wake, you run."

I don't argue with her. Witches aren't afraid of anything, but this wolfy easily weighs at least ten times as much as me. Fighting would be very stupid!

As for my thing.. I remember Vanda specifically said to stab the wolfy with the thorn, which I guess means jam it in there as hard as I can. But that leaves the question of where?

If it's anything like a poison, I'd want it as close to the heart as possible, right? Somewhere in the chest? But that would be a very dangerous place to be if it does wake up.

I don't know if it works like a poison, either. It might not, and then it wouldn't matter where. So somewhere like the feet would be safest for me. Easier to run away from there, and it's less likely to notice me at all with Camille drawing its attention.

Buuut, I also have to think about trying not to hurt the person who became the wolf. The wound might still be there after dewolfication. But what part of the body would it be least bad to get stabbed? I don't really know that... maybe the thigh?

>Go for the chest, hoping the thorn works faster that way. Means less time for it to do bad things if it wakes up!
>Go for the feet, where it's easiest for me to run away if anything goes bad!
>Go for the thigh, because maybe that'll cause the least damage to the person. Though I'm not sure I have that right..
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1666642
Hmm, this is tough. If we stab somewhere close to major arteries then it might work faster, but it could also kill. If we play it safe, it might take a while before it really shows any effect. I assume we don't HAVE to hit anywhere super vulnerable or Vanda would have specified I imagine.
>Go for the thigh, because maybe that'll cause the least damage to the person. Though I'm not sure I have that right..
Assuming it's the outside of the thigh anyway.

>>1666642
>Go for the chest, hoping the thorn works faster that way. Means less time for it to do bad things if it wakes up!

>>1666642
>Go for the feet, where it's easiest for me to run away if anything goes bad!
Thorn in its paw, I think

>>1666642
>Go for the thigh, because maybe that'll cause the least damage to the person. Though I'm not sure I have that right..
The thigh will probably work in any case, and hopefully fast enough.

>>1666642
>>Go for the thigh, because maybe that'll cause the least damage to the person. Though I'm not sure I have that right..

File: 4bad39bef0794b9b9e91d122d(...).png (1.67 MB, 1000x1414)

1.67 MB PNG

3 out of 5 in favor of the thigh!

Roll some d20s for this part as well!

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>1666694

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>1666694

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>1666694

>>1666698
>Rolled 12 (1d20)

Average-ish it is!

Posting my favorite image from my witches folder doesn't seem to have helped you out a lot. I thought it would. Weird.

>>1666698
Ouch, guess 12 will have to do.
Could have been worse!

>>1666708
It's a pretty cute image indeed

I'm sure we'll be fine with this roll

>>1666642
I guess thigh is the best idea? Probably? I really wish I knew more about anatomy right now, but Kerstin never taught us about how and where to stab people at Sunday School! So that means I'll just have to trust my instinct and hope that I don't hurt the person too badly. Or that he hurts us too badly.

I could ask Camille what she thinks, but she's already made herself busy drawing a certain circle that, even half-finished, I'm very certain that I've seen before. It's not very subtle, but it might work just fine on a werewolf that's only just woken up and probably quite rattled. IF it comes to that.

I don't really want to admit to her that I'm feeling uncertain of myself anyway.

I give her a few more moments to finish up the hex before getting myself in position to.. stab, the wolfy. She does work amazingly quick, considering just how detailed the shape she's drawing is. Maybe hexes are actually her specialty? She's not that much older than me, not even a real adult yet I'm pretty sure, but she clearly has a lot of practice with this. Maybe in the future I could actually learn something from her?

Putting the final details on the hex she looks up and, upon noticing that I've been watching her work the entire time, gives me a surprisingly shy smile. Camille hasn't at all appeared to me as the kind of person who's shy about anything. Being shy about her work makes even less sense, because even I can tell she did a good job, especially at that speed.

She hurriedly picks up her things, grabs a green-colored flask from her bag, and then gives me a nod. She's ready.

I suppose I am to.

In my mind, I try to imagine this being just like when I had to test the poison on the bear that Amalia captured. I wasn't afraid then. Or, I was definitely less afraid. So if I can just pretend this is the same, then..

I don't like the "Thorn". Thorn is definitely the best word to describe it, but it's much larger than any I've seen before, and all twisted and gnarled, as if a tree somewhere had decided to grow knives instead of leaves. But that's not all, there's something else. The way it feels in my hand, the feeling of its surface, it all just feels wrong.

Even so, it is still our best best, and so prepared to strike with all of strength I lift the Thorn above my head, I count down from three, and...

>Rolled 12 (1d20)

File: werewolf.jpg (78 KB, 564x846)

78 KB JPG

>>1666842
Everything becomes noise.

I felt the hide break under the force, the Thorn digging deep into the flesh, as I had commanded it to.

I felt myself pushed backwards, the Thorn slipping from my hand to remain buried into the right thigh of the werewolf. I watched as it rose to tower above the both of us. It would have towered over even Papa, had he been here. Right then, I missed Papa a lot.

I felt the air around me explode with sound as the werewolf howled, standing on its hind legs with far more ease than even the best trained circus dogs. In the tunnels, the sound has nowhere to go so it just kept going, back and forth, back and forth, making my entire world wobble.

I saw its eyes meet with Camille's. She was glaring menacingly, her teeth bared and arms spread wide.

I saw it fall back down on all four of its legs, slowly moving toward her.

Then I ran. Camille had told me to run, so I ran. It was looking at her, not me, just like she promised. So I ran.

Did it see me at all? I don't know, just as I don't know where this tunnel is even going to lead me. There are still many noises. Roaring, crashing, glass shattering. But no screams. That's good, right?

I turned every time I had the chance. Right, right, left, right, left. Remember that, it's important. My breath is staggering. The noise is so far away now.

I pause, try to collect my thoughts. What now? I don't hear anything anymore. Only my breath. Did the Thorn do its work yet? Did Camille lead it somewhere so far away I can't hear them anymore? Or did she.. No, no, that didn't happen. I am sure it didn't.

What do I do? Go back? I don't hear anything, does that mean it's safe? Or do I wait here? If it really was safe, wouldn't Camille tell me? Unless she needs help? Or maybe I need to keep going, just to be safe? I don't know!

Tell me what to do!

>Go back, very slowly. The only exit I know how to find is that way, even if the wolf is too.
>Stay put, stay very quiet. Don't move a muscle until I hear any reason to do otherwise.
>Keep going. If Camille thought it was safe yet, she'd let me know. Best to stay as safe as possible.
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1666849
Hmmm...tough to say. I feel like staying put is a bit silly, Keep going is basically that option but better. Even if we got lost I bet Mistress could find us easily before we'd get in danger of coming to harm from that. Going back has its own appeal, but if we can't do much against the werewolf it might be more stupid than brave. Still, it's also tempting to not lose track of what's going on. Either we help out, we get ourselves attacked or we get to snoop on Camille and Mistress or something I bet.
>Go back, very slowly. The only exit I know how to find is that way, even if the wolf is too.

>>1666849
>>Go back, very slowly. The only exit I know how to find is that way, even if the wolf is too.

>>1666849
>Go back, very slowly. The only exit I know how to find is that way, even if the wolf is too.
I feel like speed or noise is gonna be less of an issue than smell, but I also think the glass shattering from potions getting thrown means there are probably a lot of strong smells there that might overpower Nadja anyway

Or it could just be handled already of course

>>1666849
>Stay put, stay very quiet. Don't move a muscle until I hear any reason to do otherwise.
It's the best way of avoiding an ambush.

File: 3383922c5288652dadb7a4e83(...).png (1 MB, 700x1000)

1 MB PNG

Rolled 9 (1d20)

Now that the votes are locked (go back!), let's roll for Camille too. Good luck Camille!

>>1666908
Ruh roh...

>>1666908
We'll save you Camille

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>1666908

I uh, didn't really mean for you guys to roll for this one. You guys roll for Nadja, my roll was for Camille. I'll try to remember to be more clear about that in the future.

Nadja doesn't need to roll for this part, she knows what to do.

>>1666849
>>1666908
Go back? I.. Okay. Yes. I can do that. That's smartest.

The trip down here had me tense. At least I thought I was tense, but now I know that's not really true. NOW, I am tense. I want to hear something. Anything that could tell me what happened.

RIGHT!

I hate that I ran. I know it was right, and it was what Camille told me to do. Definitely the right thing to do. But now I hate it, because I know nothing. Did something bad happen? Is Camille hurt? Could I have helped if I didn't run? I hate all of the things I don't know! I want the unknown to go away!

LEFT!

I hear my footsteps, so much louder than before. No, it's not the footsteps that are louder, it's just that they matter so much more now. Every single step could be a step closer to something very bad, but now that I've started walking I can't seem to stop.

RIGHT!

I hear my breathing, but only just barely beneath the booming of my heart.

I hate not knowing!

I hope I won't hate knowing.

LEFT!

Something else. A voice. Camille?!

I quicken my pace. Maybe that's a bad idea. I do it anyway.

Closer now, so close. Her voice is weak. What is she saying? I can't tell. I need to know.

LEFT!

There's blood.

I run. I run past a man. Lying on his front. Not wearing clothes. The Thorn is still lodged into his thigh. He's not important.

Camille is hurt. She's resting against the wall. Her chest is red.

I call to her. She smiles. Why is she smiling? What's to be happy about?

She leans close. Her hand is on my cheek. Her hand is red.

"I trust you."

>Camille's opinion of Nadja is now ??/100

[END OF SESSION]

File: Goodnight Witch.png (505 KB, 650x750)

505 KB PNG

>>1667047
That's all for tonight! We continue same time tomorrow!

Good night, and hope to see you all again tomorrow!

As always, questions are very welcome and I'll answer or clarify as much as I can some time tomorrow. Until then, good night!

>>1667047
Nooo, that's mean! That's a cliffhanger! Boo!

>>1667052
You better run again tomorrow then!

>>1667052
Thanks for running

Hope Camille isn't hurt too bad, or at least that we can help her in time, looks like wolfy is cured and out of commission at least

>>1667052
Good night.

>>1667052
As for questions.
1: Would Nadja have been of any use actually staying and trying to stop the werewolf, or would she just have been a liability?
2: What roll did Camille need to not get injured on this one? Just decent or super high?
3: How angry will Mistress be and how much of it will be at Nadja?
4: Technically 'spoilers' I suppose but not for long: does Camille still have any potions left? Does it look like she's taken any already?

Also I suppose Nadja probably wouldn't have looked close but I hope the guy isn't bleeding out as well.

>>1667052
Thank you friend!

File: 3bcd5f6e3bf067da6d76f4cdf(...).jpg (175 KB, 573x806)

175 KB JPG

>>1667092

>1: Would Nadja have been of any use actually staying and trying to stop the werewolf, or would she just have been a liability?

Nadja is a child. As a result, no matter how well she'd have handled herself, Camille would instinctively put herself in even more danger to place herself in the way of anything trying to harm Nadja. She just can't help it, hasn't learned to shut out that instinct.

Sure, she was the one trying to harm Nadja a few hours ago, but that's when she was convinced Nadja wasn't a child at all. Very different!

>2: What roll did Camille need to not get injured on this one? Just decent or super high?

9 is a very average roll, considering she doesn't get to roll best of three like you do. The difficulty was simply very high. The enemy was dangerous and she was specifically restricting herself to avoid harming the subject.

>3: How angry will Mistress be and how much of it will be at Nadja?

You'll have to wait and see!

>4: Technically 'spoilers' I suppose but not for long: does Camille still have any potions left? Does it look like she's taken any already?

Nadja is very certain she has many more left, based on having previously had a peek at how Camille prefers to pack.

Overkill is her preferred tactic and, unfortunately, the one tactic that she definitely couldn't apply to this situation. In any other situation, her solution would have looked a lot like a Michael Bay scene, except there would be witches.

>>1669219
You know if Mistress had helped to segure the Werewolf Carmine wouldn't have got injured.

In fact this whole thing could have been essily solved if the two witches just restrained the werewolf and let Nadja stab it.

No matter how angry Mistress gets, she can't punish Nadja because Carmine got injured.

The risks Nadja had been taking seem quite hard considering how little she has been taught.

Can we get Nadja family to yell at these two idiot witches, pretty please?

>>1669241
W-why do you always call her Carmine anon?

Unless there's more of you...

File: 008558250d2e288e831059c07(...).png (1.21 MB, 846x1200)

1.21 MB PNG

>>1669241
>Can we get Nadja family to yell at these two idiot witches, pretty please?

SPOILER:

Camille's fate rests in your hands in more than one way.

>>1669256
It's a conspiracy!

A conspiracy of phoneposters.

[RESUME SESSION]

>>1667047
"Camille! You're-"

"-going to be fine," she says before I have a chance to finish, her tone surprisingly calm. "After all, I brought backup."

"Huh? Backup?"

I didn't see anyone else down here? I look left, then right, but I still don't see anybody. Just the two of us and a whole lot of darkness. Oh, and the now-ex werewolf, who I am just noticing is lying right in the middle of the ward that Camille had previously prepared, confirming my suspicion that it's the exact same as the one that knocked out both Amalia and myself when we found Camille's hidden room. He's not going to wake up until we say so.

Looking again, he's also a lot scrawnier than I expected from such a big wolfy. I don't know about his face, but a skinny guy like that, I'd bet with a wig and a puffy dress you could totally-

FOCUS!

Right, not the time! Not the time at all! But.. But I still don't see the help Camille is talking about anywhere.

"Uhm, Camille where is..?"

"Go get my pack already, dummy." She says, pointing to the far wall.

Her pack? Oh, she must have dropped it in the fight. I'm not sure what kind of backup she could be hiding in there, but I go and pick it up from the opposite wall regardless.

"Rear pocket." She instructs with a slight wince while clutching her chest.

I flip the pack around, unbutton the pocket she must have meant and find.. a box? Is the backup inside the box? Maybe some kind of magical item that she uses to call for backup? With the flip of a finger the hinge on the box pops open to reveal..

Bandage, scissors, a small flask with a clear liquid inside, and in the corner a small metallic a case. This is.. She expects me to.. But.. But!

"You know what to do, right?"

"I.. I've taken care of small scratches and bruises, but this is-"

My eyes fall again on her chest, the three large rips through her coat, and the darkened red still seeping from underneath..

"- just a bigger scratch. Basically," her face curls up in another wince, followed by her taking a deep breath to calm herself. "Basically the same thing."

>First Aid! Roll d20s and...

>Say nothing. This is important, gotta stay super-focused.
>Think of something to talk to her about to keep her distracted, such as.. [Choose below!]
>.. what kind of fun places she's going to take me to tomorrow!
>.. she mentioned earlier tonight that she wanted to talk to me about Sis, so..
>.. seriously, what was that about getting paid?

>Something else? [Write-in!]

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>1669610
>Say nothing. This is important, gotta stay super-focused.

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>1669610
We're the firstest aid!
>Think of something to talk to her about to keep her distracted, such as.. [Choose below!]
>.. what kind of fun places she's going to take me to tomorrow!

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>1669610
>Say nothing. This is important, gotta stay super-focused.

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>1669610
>Say nothing. This is important, gotta stay super-focused.
>Only cry a little.

I miss one thread and you kill someone! Your a bad person! Even If I don't like her at all!

>>1669629
Finally I roll well when it matters, Nadja is a doctor now!

>>1669610
>>.. seriously, what was that about getting paid?

>>1669610
We should probably talk to her about something to keep her awake and focused.
>Ask her if this guy is gonna be okay, and how we're gonna get him out of here. How long will he be out anyway?

File: 04dd4656d216de522d2bd3d83(...).png (542 KB, 660x706)

542 KB PNG

Rolled 12 (1d20)

3 for talking, 3 for super-focused super-doctor. That means I'm rolling to decide. Odds for talking, evens for focusing on the job.

>>1669629
>Rolled 20 (1d20)
>>1669635
A witch... and a doctor? That's ridiculous, it'd never work!

>>1669634
>I miss one thread and you kill someone!
How can you have missed the thread if you're here right now? Are you a spooky ghost?

>>1669660
I missed the first part! Where you mauled a little girl with a werewolf!

>>1669634
I'm sure they'll both be fine anon! Don't mind!

>>1669660
Not giving it an hour this time around eh

File: The Sparrow.jpg (249 KB, 600x800)

249 KB JPG

>>1669661
She may not be very big compared to her mother, but she's at least average for a 17 year old!

>>1669666
I was 40 minutes late so I decided to take it out of your vote time because reasons.

>>1669664
Until she turns into a werewolf too! And mauls some other little girl! it's a vicious fuzzy cycle!

>>1669676
She's a little girl!

>>1669679
But we have a potion for that anon! It'll be fine!

>>1669687
Nothing is fine! You can't un-maul someone!

>>1669688
Well, I mean, with that roll...

I suppose it is a little mean to maul cute witches though.

>>1669679
>She's a little girl!
17's basically an adult at that general time period.

>>1669735
Look at her! >>1669676 she's tiny!

>>1669610
Big scratch.

Just a big scratch. Nothing more than a big scratch. Camille is right, I can do this. Juuust a big scratch!

"I need to see." I inform her, making sure to keep my voice as calm and steady as I can. To assure her, and probably to assure me as well.

She obligingly lifts her hand from the wound across her chest, and I take a deep breath to prepare myself for the sight. As expected, with the pressure removed from the wound the bleeding only gets worse, now speedily trickling down to her abdomen.

But I can do this. I can.

Three cuts. Clawed, obviously, almost horizontally right across the upper breast. But..

"Looks like it didn't cut too deep."

She just nods. She's keeping amazingly calm, all things considered. I wonder if she's tried something like this before or if she really does just trust me. Either way, it'll make this easier.

I can do this.

...

>Rolled 20 (1d20)
>Critical success!

I..

I can't believe I really did that. Camille wasn't completely wrong, mostly it was just like treating a really big scratch. Stop the bleeding, clean the wound, I already knew how to do that, it was mostly just the same. Except bigger.

The bleeding has stopped now. Camille is looking really tired, but she stayed awake through the whole thing. I held her hand while cleaning the wound, but she didn't cry. I don't know how. Even the tiny cuts I got from flying practice earlier today almost made me cry. But she didn't. Maybe it was actually her holding my hand.

But we didn't stop there. I'd never seen anything like it before, but she told me to get the small metal case from the box as well. Inside it was.. I really still don't know, it didn't seem like the time to ask. A strange kind of greenish-brown chunky paste, thick and sticky like nothing I'd seen before. She said it helps the wound heal faster and close up more neatly. Better than stitches, she claimed.

"A VERY thin layer, just along the edge."

That's what she said, and moments later I'd know why she stressed that it be a very thin layer.

This time she cried. I almost panicked when I heard her scream, but she said not to stop.

Whatever that paste was, it did work quickly. I could see the wound shrinking before my eyes as I continued to gently brush the paste along it and watched the paste slowly seep into her skin. The wound didn't quite close just like, not anything close to that of course, but still I had just watched what should have taken days, maybe even a week, of healing happen in just a few moments.

Finally, I wrapped up the entire thing for good measure and, before either of us could forget, I dug through her pack for one of the potions I knew for a fact she had brought. The same that I found that time she was lying unconscious in Mistress' bed. She did get cut after all, and we don't need yet another werewolf.

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

>>1669927
"You're going to be okay." I finally declared, confident in my conclusion. I hadn't thought so at first, but she's looking a lot better than I expected. I thought she had lost a lot of blood, but she's healthy-ish. Tired, exhausted even, but I'm very certain she would've been turning pale if the blood loss was critical. The wound is cleaned up, and I know I did it thoroughly, and thanks to the potion she's definitely not going to turn. To think, this entire mess could've been avoid if that guy over there had just had one of these before it was too late..

Speaking of that..

"What are we going to do about him?" I ask. After all, I don't even know who he is, nobody ever told me, and he's just lying there asleep, all naked and such.

I do reclaim the Thorn from his thigh with surprising ease. I thought it would be stuck and I'd have to pull it out by force but instead it just slips right out with almost no resistance. Even more surprising, when I look again the only trace that the Thorn had ever been anywhere near him is a small pink spot. No wound or anything. Another property of the Thorn that the Daemon didn't tell me about, maybe..?

"Give me a few more minutes." Camille says, her voice reflecting the strain of her situation in full honesty. "Then, I guess we'd better carry him out of here."

"Wha-wha? Wait a minute! We can't do that! You should be resting, not carrying strange men! And besides he's uh.. he's ah, you know.."

"HE'S-NAKED-AND-A-BOY-AND-WE-DON'T-HAVE-ANY-CLOTHES-FOR-HIM!"

"Pffha-" She barely manages to contain a laugh, then winces in pain from the very same laugh. "That's what you're worried about?"

"Wh-why's that funny?! Do YOU want to see a boy naked?!"

She's laughing again. I don't get it! What's so funny? This is very serious!

"Look.." she begins to explain as she finally manages to contain herself again. "It's either that, or one of us goes back to get help while the other watches him. Do you remember the way?"

"Uhm.. Sooort of? A little? Maybe? I'm not sure!"

>"I don't like it, but I think it's even worse if we get separated down here. Let's carry him out of here when you're ready.."
>"Maybe it's best you go, if you're okay with walking? I'm not sure I'd find my way back any time soon."
>"I'm not completely sure I remember the way back, but it's important that you get rest! I'll go!"
>Something else..? [Write-in!]

>>1669928
>"I'm not completely sure I remember the way back, but it's important that you get rest! I'll go!"

>>1669928
>"I'm not completely sure I remember the way back, but it's important that you get rest! I'll go!"
Doesn't sound like there's a risk of not-wolfy-any-more waking up any time soon, so.

>>1669928
>"Maybe it's best you go, if you're okay with walking? I'm not sure I'd find my way back any time soon."

>>1669928
>>"I'm not completely sure I remember the way back, but it's important that you get rest! I'll go!"

>>1669928
>>"I don't like it, but I think it's even worse if we get separated down here. Let's carry him out of here when you're ready.."
Rest together.

>>1669928
>"I don't like it, but I think it's even worse if we get separated down here. Let's carry him out of here when you're ready.."

File: 52e847fb1f4dc9c3bd627d92a(...).jpg (652 KB, 980x895)

652 KB JPG

Rolled 5 (1d20)

Looks like a majority in favor of going alone. Which I think means you're going to need to roll some more d20s, this time for finding the way in the dark!

I'll roll a d20 too, but that's for something completely else. Don't worry about it! Nothing bad is out there!

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>1669979

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>1669979
Here we go! You better be telling the truth! Nothing bad!

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>1669979
No werewolves! Cats would be acceptable however. Or bunnies.

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1669979
Alright

>>1670005
That's a pretty decent roll anon!

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>1669984
And now there IS something bad out there.

>>1670009
Thank you! Do.. ones crit?

>>1670015
I hope not!

File: 60201bf52f620ab08a6b040be(...).png (722 KB, 700x800)

722 KB PNG

>>1670010
>And now there IS something bad out there.

There are no less than TWO witches in these tunnels. What could possibly be scarier than a witch?

Well, I guess we'll know soon!

>>1670025
Is it an angry witch?

File: faries.png (472 KB, 600x1023)

472 KB PNG

>>1670025
fairies

>>1669928
"I'm not completely sure I remember the way back, but it's important that you get rest! I'll go!"

It's easy to tell that she's not particularly happy about that decision, and for a moment it looks like she's about to object before deciding that she is just too tired to even try.

"Alright.. Just remember, if you get turned around out there, look for the path that slopes upward. It's usually the right way."

"Usually?"

"Usually." She repeats.

Well. That's better than nothing, isn't it?

"I'll be back very soon!" I assure her before setting out. She's already painted away any trace of worry from her face again, though I'm not completely certain how honest her face is being right now. She did trust me to patch her up, so why not this as well?

Fortunately, the lantern still has plenty of fuel. I don't completely remember how long it took us to make our way through the tunnels, but at least this time I can walk at a normal pace, not having to worry about any creepy-nasties lurking in the shadows. Which means this should be way easy!

>Rolled 1 (1d20)

Why does the tunnel end here? This isn't the exit! This corridor wasn't supposed to be a dead end! Why is it a dead end now?!

I don't remember the way back at all, do I?

Okay, no panic! Just remember what Camille said, look for the path that slopes upward. That's usually the right one!

...

Shouldn't I be there yet? I feel like I should be, but I've just been walking and walking and it doesn't stop. Why am I not there yet? Well, there's nothing for it except to keep going!

...

I see something! A light, down there, somewhere around the next corner!

Wait, why is there a light? We didn't leave a light at the exit, and there's no way I managed to get turned completely around and ended up back with Camille. But then, if it's not my light, and it's not Camille's then..

"I heart that.." A girl's voice calls out from the unknown, taunting yet playful. In a place like this, with a tone like this, it can only be...

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

>>1670201
Heart that? IS that supposed to be hear or is she txting out loud?

File: Spoiler Image (382 KB, 850x1202)

382 KB JPG

>>1670201
"Hello, Naddie."

Why.. Why is SHE here? Why now?

"Uhm, hi Sis..?" How is she making my confidence melt like that with just a single look? "What are you-"

"You're going home." She commands with not even a trace of the playfulness I usually expect from her. "Now."

"Bu- but I can't go yet! We're not done yet, Camille and I still need to-"

"She's still out there?" She demands, rudely interrupting me.

"Uhh.. Yes, but she's-"

"Good. I need to have a few words with her.." She says with a grin so sharp it almost seems to glisten in the dark. What.. What kind of words are she talking about?!

"Wa-wait! Wait!" I call out twice before she finally stops to hear what I have to say. "Camille is hurt. We cured the werewolf, but he's unconscious and uhm, needs clothes, and-and-and I was just going to go get help for that so that's why I can't go home yet!"

She looks me up and down, with steely eyes that make me feel like as small as a doll. She looks angry. Scary.

I am scared.

"I will handle that. All of it. YOU are going home. NOW."

"Bu-"

"I said NOW." She repeats, and I feel my feet instinctively trying to obey her. What should I..

>"No! I am not done! So either help, or YOU go home!" [Attempt to disobey Big Sis. Difficulty: High.]
>"Fine.. But please don't be too hard on Camille? Please?" [Obey Big Sis, but attempt to spare Camille. Difficulty: Medium.]
>"Okay Sis, if you say so" [Obey Big Sis, like a good girl would! No roll required.]
>Something else? [Write-in! Difficulty: Unknown.]

>Regardless of your choice, rolls for this one will only be counted AFTER the votes have been locked.

>>1670212
>"No! I am not done! So either help, or YOU go home!" [Attempt to disobey Big Sis. Difficulty: High.]
Nadja is doing her witchy duty! She can't leave or she'll have failed!

>>1670212
>"Okay Sis, if you say so" [Obey Big Sis, like a good girl would! No roll required.]

>>1670212
>>"No! I am not done! So either help, or YOU go home!" [Attempt to disobey Big Sis. Difficulty: High.]

>>1670212
>"No! I am not done! So either help, or YOU go home!" [Attempt to disobey Big Sis. Difficulty: High.]
This is Nadja's job! Well, technically it's Camille's, but Nadja agreed to help out, so there!

>>1670212
>"Fine.. But please don't be too hard on Camille? Please?" [Obey Big Sis, but attempt to spare Camille. Difficulty: Medium.]
Oh dear

>>1670267
We also told Amelia we could do it.

File: Flimflam.jpg (564 KB, 676x1000)

564 KB JPG

A majority of 3 is in favor of trying to stand up to Big Sis. You may now roll to beat a DC of 17. Good luck!

>>1670032
That's not a fairy! This is a fairy!

>>1669770
Okay, fine, you called my bluff, she's not average-sized at all. Just DON'T ever tell her that! She's not going to like it if you do..

>>1670209
>Heart that? IS that supposed to be hear or is she txting out loud?
She might just be crazy enough to do that.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>1670278
That's right. We can't have Nadja fail to complete this mission properly!

>>1670283
Please dice, have mercy!

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>1670283
Yeah well it's what a fairy looks like on the inside that counts!

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>1670283

Damn. Why this DC have to be so high, stupid sis. Now it feels like we failed even though wolf was neutralized and we got a 20 on patching Camille up

>>1670310
Technically Nadja went to get help right? She just got sis! She succeeded!

>>1670325
I like your optimism, anon. Who needs to succeed on rolls anyway? This is Fine.

File: a5f66454f126382bdd8e7f18a(...).jpg (165 KB, 800x1120)

165 KB JPG

>>1670288
>Rolled 15 (1d20)

A worthy attempt. I'm sure Sis will at least take notice, so don't feel too bad!

After all, she IS invincible.

Or is she?

>>1670310
>Damn. Why this DC have to be so high, stupid sis. Now it feels like we failed even though wolf was neutralized and we got a 20 on patching Camille up

Because Sis is what's scarier than a witch. Maybe one day, a witch willl be scarier than Sis, but it seems today won't be that day.

>>1670336
If she is so scary, how does she have friends?

>>1670336
If she's so invincible why didn't she fight the werewolf? Check mate! Nadja's tougher!

>>1670212
"No!" I scream at her, so loud I hurt even my own ears. "I am not done! So.. So either you help or.. Or yo-yo-YOU go home!"

That sounded SO much better in my head.. How is she making my voice quake like that before I can even finish speaking? Why can't I just..

"All right."

Wha-.. What did she just say? She's goint to let me-

"I'll take you back upstairs, and then I'll let you fetch some clothes for this werewolf of yours."

I follow. I don't want to, I want to finish the job. I don't want to let her take this from me, but as she starts walking I immediately follow as if she had been pulling at some invisible leash tied to my neck.

I hate this! I hate being weak!

She doesn't talk to me along the way. She doesn't lecture me, like Mistress would have. But she also doesn't comfort me, or hug me, or tickle me, or cuddle, or any of the things she usually would do. I don't remember when she was last this serious. She seemed to be really excited about my apprenticeship, so why is she so angry now?

As it turns out, I really was very close to the exit. A single left turn instead of a right and I would have avoided her entirely.. But it's no use worrying about that. This is how the night ends for me, and I can't change that now. I'm just not strong enough..

Yet.

As the hatch I originally entered through slides open I can't help feeling a little bit of relief. I had almost forgotten how much cleaner the air is outside of these tunnels, how much easier it is to breathe up here. Outside the windows, the first signs of the approaching dawn are already apparent. We were down there for quite a while! Outside..

"Wait!" The thought suddenly strikes me. "What about the guards outside!? How did you-"

"I told them to leave, so they did."

Just like that..? It was that easy for her?

"I guess.. I'm going home now then."

"Already?" She calls from behind me. "You haven't fetched those clothes yet."

I stop, but I do not turn to look at her. And I don't turn to go fetch some stupid clothes either. That wasn't what I wanted! Maybe, just maybe, in her head that was meant to be something nice, but it's not.

"I don't like being treated this way, Sis." I tell her, before continuing on my way home.

I don't say good night.

[END OF SESSION 2]

File: Happy.jpg (134 KB, 383x617)

134 KB JPG

That'll be it for tonight! Bit of a short session, I know, but we will continue tomorrow, returning to the (hopefully) one-update-per-day schedule.

I hope you've enjoyed the thread so far, and I hope you'll look forward to more over the coming days. Good night!

>>1670452
Thanks for writing Friend! It was fun. I hope sis reflects on her behavior!

Thanks for writing
Wonder whether Mistress was keeping watch on things or not

>>1670452
Thanks for running.

>>1670452
Thanks for running!

>>1670482
Of course she was keeping Watch, but she is an idiot.

File: Papa.jpg (64 KB, 600x849)

64 KB JPG

>>1670448
"Morning, sleepyhead!"

A set of three quick thumps accompany the muffled voice calling from beyond the door, demanding my return to the waking world.

"Five more minutes, Papa.." I hear my voice replying entirely of its own accord. I try not to think further of that, more than happy to let it handle the negotiations while I go back to sleep.

Immediately, the all-too-familiar slow creaking of my bedroom door swinging open says it all: The negotiations have failed. Heavy feet march past my bedside with determined steps. Desperately, blindly, I reach out to halt their progress but it is no use.

Moments later, a sea of light falls mercilessly upon my eyelids, steadily but ruthlessly pushing, pushing and forcing its way until they have no choice but to slide open.

Another battle lost..

"This isn't like you at all, Nadja. Sleeping in is your sister's job, you know that." Papa's voice is heavy, worried, despite the joke. I'm worrying Papa.

"Sorry, Papa.." I try to say, though my voice doesn't manage to push out much more than a whisper. "I just want.."

A sudden tremor waves through my bed as Papa takes a seat at the end, shaking me properly awake. At least, awake enough to rise as far as a seated position leaning against Papa's strong arm.

"Amalia came to visit you. She seemed even more surprised than me when I told her you were still sleeping."

Amalia.. Suddenly, the memory of yesterday's events come rushing back to me. What she said to me, and what I said to her..

"She also told me that Sunday School is cancelled today. I suppose poor Kerstin had her hands full as it is, and now with the funeral preparations.. It's a good thing that Father Solsten finally returned."

"Eh?! Klemens' and Kerstin's dad is back? When did that happen?"

"Apparently last night." He explains with a frustrated sigh. "He's a fool to go travelling at night, but at least the town finally has a priest again, and not a moment too late, I'd say."

But.. but I was AT the church last night! All night! When could he have..? Surely he couldn't..?

"So it looks like the day is all yours, Sunshine." He declares and, with a 'gentle' pat on the back, forces me up on my feet. "Go say hello to it!"

And with that, content that he has thoroughly stripped me of any chance of going back to sleep, he leaves me to get started on the day. And if last night's stress is any indication, there will be a lot of freshening up to get through.

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

>>1674192
"I should go talk to Amalia" is the first thought to enter my mind, but it would soon have company. Maybe Papa didn't notice or maybe he just chose not to comment, but two things in my bedroom are not as they usually would be.

First is the staff that Camille gave me last night, which I hadn't the energy to find a better place for last night so I simply left it in the corner of the room, resting against the wall. It definitely looks more like something that belongs in Big Sis' room..

The other thing is a surprise to me. A letter left on my dresser. Was it there when I came home last night? For all I know it could have been, I was both tired and angry at the time so I could have missed it. Either way, whether it was while I slept or while I was away, someone has been in my room. And that's reason enough to drop everything else to read the letter.

"Robin

Please meet me in front of Hinde's town hall tomorrow morning

Raven"

Raven. I'm not sure I've even used that name yet, but it belongs to Mistre.. Mist.. Wh-why can't I say that word anymore? And what does she want anyway? She's the one who came up with the no-witch-business-on-sundays rule, so why is she breaking it now? Hopefully not another punishment..

With breakfast out of the way, my face freshly washed, and my hair neatly brushed and braided, that last one took a while today by the way, and all of these thankfully sister-free, it's time to decide how to spend the Sunday.

>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!
>I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!
>Papa said Kerstin's and Klemens' dad came back, last night, but that doesn't make sense! I want to know what's going on!
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1674195
>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!

>>1674195
>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!
Better be obedient, besides we might find out something about Camille's condition!

>>1674195
>I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!

>>1674195
>Papa said Kerstin's and Klemens' dad came back, last night, but that doesn't make sense! I want to know what's going on!
No sense at all

>>1674195
>>I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!

K&K's dad was the wolf

>>1674195
>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!
>>1674442
Uh, no he's a priest, duh.

>>1674195
>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!
It does seem a bit strange that she would wait in front of town hall. She'll probably know what happened last night.

>>1674195
>I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!

After this whole mess she can punish us when is not our rest day!

>>1674195

I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!

We are tired and is her darn fault, she can wait.

File: 78cf379bd9591cefac619f4e2(...).jpg (445 KB, 700x982)

445 KB JPG

>Meeting with kind and loving teacher: 4
>Funfun times with best friend: 4
>A thorough investigation into matters of the local clergy: 1

Anyone care to break this tie before I leave it in the hands of the dice?

I'll give it a few more hours before I have to close this one.

>>1676851
I'm sure anons are all dedicated to their favorite! I suppose more anons will simply have to check back in.

>>1676851
>Funfun times with best friend

>I should go find Amalia. After yesterday, we definitely need to talk!

>>1674270
>>1674442
>>1675221
>>1675230

So that's 5.

>>1674195
>If Mistre- if Raven wants to see me, I'd better go right away or she might get mad!

Impressive, anons!

File: dual witch.jpg (182 KB, 635x895)

182 KB JPG

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>1676925
>>1676926
The effort is appreciated, for what it's worth. Looks like this one goes to the dice as well.

Odds: Amalia
Evens: Raven

File: The Raven.png (1.31 MB, 1200x1697)

1.31 MB PNG

>>1674195
Hrmph! I really don't want to see her at all right now, but..

But she is still my teacher, the only one I have and the only one I will ever get. It would probably not be very smart to leave her waiting for nothing, even if I'm not very happy with her right now. I don't really want to leave Amalia waiting either, but I'm sure she'll understand, won't she? Of course she will!

One more time, I look over the letter. Not because I forgot what's in it, after all how could I with how short it is? That's just the thing though.. Isn't it awfully short for her? I mean, she always leaves out a lot of important things, sure, but this is definitely out of the ordinary for her! And why does she want to meet me in front of the town hall instead of making me go to her house as usual? Something really feels off about all of this.

It's not far at all, it's just opposite from the church. In fact, I'm pretty sure if I looked up and to the right I could probably see-

There she is! Even from down here, and with her back turned, AND without her hat, she is still incredibly easy to spot and recognize. It makes me wonder why it is I don't remember ever seeing her in town before I began my apprenticeship. Surely she must have come into town at least once in a while to buy food and such?

Ah well, no point worrying about that now, I'm sure I'll learn in time. For now, let's go see what it is she wants!

...

Uh-oh. She does not look happy. Did I make a mistake by coming..?

"Robin." She quickly greets me with my witch name instead of using my real name, then silently leads me to a bench overlooking the rest of the town, right from the inn and stables at the ground level, through both of the market squares already bustling with the promise of another day full of exciting discoveries. It kind of makes me miss the times when I'd spend all of the day in the markets..

"I realize this is supposed to be your day off," she begins to explain before I have a chance to go further down that nostalgic path. "And I do appreciate that you were willing to meet me regardless."

"You.. You're welcome?" I reply, more than a little confused. When I saw the look on her face I was almost certain this was going to be another punishment.

"And now, I would like you to tell me where my daughter is."

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

>>1677376
"What? What do you mean?"

"I see you are well and healthy." She pauses for a moment and looks me up and down several times before continuing. "Well, I suppose you could be healthier.."

What's that supposed to mean?!

"But that's for another time. I was convinced to leave an apprentice and a former apprentice to handle a situation by themselves and neither returns to report their success. Can you explain that to me, Robin?"

"Wha-? What do you mean? Has something happened to Camille?! Is she-"

"I do not know!" She snaps at me, vicious enough that I feel myself instinctively backing away from her. Noticing this, she takes a moment to recompose herself. "I apologize. Just.. tell me what you know. Please."

"Okay.. But I'm not sure I understand what you want to know.."

I recount the events of last night as best I can, though more than a little nervous under her intense stares, and even more confused about what happened. I tell her about locating the werewolf, about what happened when we tried to un-transform it, including my running away, and about how Camille did get hurt but when I left she was definitely doing okay. When I tell her about running into Big Sis however, is when I really get her attention.

"And I assume you haven't seen your sister since then?" She asks, now taking a far more calm and calculated tone.

"Actually, she wasn't there for breakfast but that's-"

"Thank you." She stands back up, declaring the conversation to be over. "Enjoy the rest of your Sunday."

"Wait!" I call to her before she can just up and walk away like that. "Is that all? Do you need me to help wi-"

"No." She cuts me off with a biting tone, then takes a deep sigh. "You handled yourself well, at least by your own account, so don't mistake this for a punishment. You are simply not needed and should enjoy your day of rest. So yes, that is all."

She glances back at me over her shoulder. "Unless there was something you wished of me?"

Actually, there was something I meant to talk to her about, wasn't there? What was it again..?

>I know there was something I wanted to ask her! What was it..? [Write-in!]
>If she doesn't want my help, then I'll go look for Big Sis and Camille on my own!
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]
>Something entirely else? [Write-in!]

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]
She can probably help find out what's going, as well.

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]
>A hug? (she looks like she needs a hug.)

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]
Almost want to be there when she finds them

>>1677378
>If she doesn't want my help, then I'll go look for Big Sis and Camille on my own!
>>A hug? (she looks like she needs a hug.)

>>1677378
>I know there was something I wanted to ask her! What was it..? [Write-in!]
Apprentice pay! Camille said we would get paid.

>>1677378
...Is friendo dead?

>>1677634
It's an update a day now anon, forever! Or until next weekend at the very least.

>>1677595
Is it smart to bring that up when she's stressed though?

File: 0a2b48b9b2903eee872afa5da(...).png (1.27 MB, 810x1100)

1.27 MB PNG

>>1677595
>>1677640
And here I was starting to wonder if everyone really did forget and it turns out they were just trying to be timely!

>>1677634
Turns out I was a ghost all along! And now that you've discovered my secret, things are about to get real spooky. Bwahaha!

But yeah no, one update per day mode is still active.

File: e718e7323c39eab6d9b1ae1a7(...).png (966 KB, 808x1200)

966 KB PNG

Quick notice to let you guys know that today's update is going to be delayed until tomorrow. Not dead yet!

>>1680731
That's alright Friend, looking forward to it!

>>1677378
>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]

>"No, I guess that's all." [Time to go look for Amalia so I can talk to her too!]
I don't want to ask about wages when she's this pissed.

I bet Amalia sicced Sis on us. She probably wanted to apologize this morning if we were alive.

>>1677378
Oh, that's right! Pay! Camille mentioned apprentices' wages, which means that apprentices are supposed to get paid. But I'm not getting paid at all, so that's not right at all!

"Actually, there was one thing.."

Then again, maaaybe- maybe just now isn't the best time to bring that up? If I'm understanding her right, Camille is missing now -even though that makes no sense!- and she thinks Big Sis has something to do with it. Not just any Big Sis but my Big Sis. So even if she's not showing it right now, she might not be too happy about me either just because Sis is being crazy again.

Plus, she's looking kind of stressed out in general. So maybe what she really needs is...

"Umph!" She lets out in surprise. Then, in a hushed grumble, whispers: "Should've seen that coming.."

"Eheh.. I thought maybe you needed a little cheering up!"

She lets out one of those sighs people always make when I ask them to explain something, then slowly pushes me away from her. "You do realize that not every problem can be solved with a hug, don't you?"

"I.. I know that! I'm not stupid or anything!!"

Flashing a mischievous and crooked smile she adds: "And do you also not realize..."

"Waah?!" Suddenly I find myself soaring towards the heavens with great speed. Well, actually just as far as her eye level, but sometimes it is a little difficult to tell the difference. Just the right height to be fully engulfed by those hungry, predatory eyes, ready to swallow you up with no chance of escape..

Then, with the same great force I feel myself pulled forward. With one arm she locks me tightly against her chest and with the other she gently strokes a hand across the back of my head, softly whispering into my ear: "You need to be at least this tall to hug the Raven."

It only lasts for a moment, but in that brief moment I feel so.. safe. As if the entire world, as if my entire life until this moment had been nothing more than a dream; a prelude to her world, one without any pain, sorrow, or longing. An almost perfect peace, disturbed only by the tingling suspicion that someone else's name is written on the door.

Then it fades, and once again I am left with nothing to carry my weight except for my own feet, a weight that I have only just now become aware of after having felt its absence.

"Now, go enjoy the rest of your day off. I promise you, I will not go easy on you tomorrow."

In my mind I had a reply but my body does not move. I only watch as she fades from view until I am left with only a single thought:

"I need to learn everything she knows about hugging!"

>-+-+-
>1/2
>-+-+-

File: Amalia.jpg (264 KB, 500x700)

264 KB JPG

>>1682461
What was I doing again..?

Oh! Right! Gotta find Amalia! Of course, experience says that might not be quite as easy it sounds.

I can't help letting out a sigh of self-pity as I look down on the rest of the town. Amalia could be almost anywhere, in town or outside town, and everybody knows the only way to find her is if she wants to be found. In fact, the only place I know that she definitely will not be at is right where I'm looking now, in the mar.. ket?

What?!

No way! That can't be, it's got to be someone else! It's got to be!

But it is. I lean over the railing to get a closer look, but the more I look I can't deny it. The clothes, the hair, and obviously the ears, there's no mistaking her, not even at a distance.

Amalia is in the market. The market that's full of other people. And she's not even trying to hide behind something, she's right there in the open where everyone can see her! And she's..

I simply cannot help letting out a gasp as the realization sets in. It's.. It's impossible!

She's talking to someone! I have to get down there! I have to see this up close, make sure it's really happening!

-

"Thank you kindly for your business, young lady."

Running my legs off I arrive just in time to overhear the ending of the conversation, the foreigner who's manning the stall handing her a small leather pouch. And then it happens.

"Thank you, and have a lovely day."

I saw it, saw it with my own eyes. I cannot possibly deny that the voice is hers, just like I can't deny that it's her face making the polite but not too friendly smile. In every way a textbook social exchange. But.. but it's Amalia? Or at least, it's...

"Amalia!" I call and quickly grab hold of both her shoulders, just to be sure. "Are you okay?! Did.. did Lily get to you again, did you hit your head?"

I look her up and down, searching for any sign of injury but all I see is the increasing embarrassment on her face.

"No wait, if Lily got you then you wouldn't tell me because you'd be-"

"Get off me!" She yells and then within the blink of an eye frees herself from my grasp. "Was jus' bein' polite.."

Oh.. That sounds a lot more like Amalia! Phew! "But.. but I thought you hated being in the-"

"Was jus' buyin' something." She grunts back at me.

"Oh.. Hey! What'd you get? Let me see!"

"No."

"Wha-? Why not?!"

"'Cos."

>"Come on, please? Pleeeease?" [Beg! Difficulty: Hard. Meanness: Low.]
>Try to distract her and catch a look at what she bought. [Sneaky! Difficulty: Easy. Meanness: High.]
>"Well okay then.. Hey, you won't believe what happened last night! [Tell her about the mission!]
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1682462
>"Come on, please? Pleeeease?" [Beg! Difficulty: Hard. Meanness: Low.]

File: sample_75c28be65f2d9f3bb2(...).jpg (305 KB, 850x973)

305 KB JPG

>hey qm, please give hug too!
"Yeah yeah, I'll throw in a quick line for you hug addicts-"
>suddenly have an entire post dedicated entirely to a single hug
I think I might have a problem.

So! Seeing as two of these options require a roll I'll be checking in a few hours from now to see if there are enough votes to justify locking the votes early and then maybe get back to you with a new update tonight (european tonight).

Otherwise, it'll be business as usual with one update per day.

So, maybe see you later, otherwise see you tomorrow!

>>1682462
>"Come on, please? Pleeeease?" [Beg! Difficulty: Hard. Meanness: Low.]

>>1682462
>"Come on, please? Pleeeease?" [Beg! Difficulty: Hard. Meanness: Low.]

>>1682462
"Do you like me more than a friend? Like, I don't know... best friends ever?"

>>1682758
Now that's just mean.

File: sample_07e5d38c624be2c3c4(...).jpg (419 KB, 850x1190)

419 KB JPG

>>1682468
>>1682554
>>1682631

That's three votes for begging with no opposition whatsoever.

>>1682758
And one vote to unwittingly torture Amalia, which I will consider to be an additional, separate option up for vote.

So, first of all I'm going to need some d20s for begging.
>Roll d20. The DC to beat is 15 (it should be 16, but Amalia is extra weak to Nadja), best of three.

In addition, I want to a check to see if >>1682758 has support, so I'm going to ask for an additional, quicker vote from anyone still present.

EITHER
>Yes, Nadja should unwittingly torture Amalia by asking very unfortunately phrased questions.
OR
>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.

>>1682462

>"Come on, please? Pleeeease?" [Beg! Difficulty: Hard. Meanness: Low.]

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1682801
I'm for it if we can say something nice. Like I do no she's our favorite person to spend time with or...Her being around makes Nadia happy

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>1682801
>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>1682801
>>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.

…Finally I’m ready for the session and now the internet is playing difficult…

>>1682801
>>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.

File: rainy bunny.png (1017 KB, 700x875)

1017 KB PNG

Those are some impressively poor rolls.
>Rolled 8 (1d20)
Puppy eyes this dry are not going to convince anyone!

I'll leave the bonus vote open for a while longer since I don't need it determined quite yet to begin writing. Hopefully, I'll have another update ready for you guys later tonight.

>>1682847
>…Finally I’m ready for the session and now the internet is playing difficult…
No session going on right now, just the slow burning 1-update-per-day part of the week. You won't miss anything as long as you can check in once per day.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>1682801
>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.

>>1682882
Oh bunny is a good witch look.

Aww man, I am too late to vote. But anons picked well, if rolled badly!

>>1682801
>No, Amalia has suffered enough. Spare the poor girl.
Let's leave it for a more organic opportunity. Nadja might still be smarting from their disagreement even!

>>1682462
"Come oooon. Show me!"

"No!" She clutches the small pouch close to her chest.

"Pleeeeease?" I ask again, to no avail as she doesn't even bother answering. Time to bring out the big guns! Eyes open wide, knees slightly bent for the optimal angle, and the most important part..

Wait.

It's not working! Why isn't it working? If my eyes aren't watering then they're not going to sparkle and if they don't sparkle then..

Oh no! She's completely ignoring me! Why is this happening?! Why can't I..

That hug! That must be it! The hug was so powerful, now I can't even cry!

"Why're you makin' that face? You okay?"

Defeated, I have no choice but to face the consequences of my own hubris. I underestimated Mistre.. Mist..? Miss Raven? Miss Julie? What's the word I'm looking for..? Oh well, the point is I thought that just because she was kind of a meanface sometimes that she wouldn't know about hugging, but in fact she was just holding back all this time. She's like some kind of hug guru!

I really hope I can learn her secret some day, maybe with that kind of power I could hug the unhappy out of Amalia, permanently! One day...

"Nadja? Hello..?"

"Wuh-? Oh, sorry!" I say as I scratch the back of my head in embarrassment. "Eheh, I guess I kinda faded out there."

"Riiight." She speeds up, suddenly seeming a lot more anxious to get away from the crowds. I suddenly wonder when we even started walking and why I only just noticed now. And then I remember that it's way more important to wonder about what it is that she bought!

"Why can't I see what you bought?! Even if it's a secret, we're supposed to be bestest friends! And bestest friends share secrets with each other! So why can't I see it?!"

"'Cos.." She tries to explain, fidgeting slightly as she does so. "'Cos it's a secret until it's ready!"

"Huh? You mean.. You're making something?"

She turns away, refusing to answer.

"Maybe.. Heehee, maybe for your secret crush?"

"I DON'T HAVE A-" She gives off a pained groan. "Just.. forget it, okay?"

Heehee.. I like it when she gets all flustered like this! Though I do wish I knew who her secret crush is, this is fun too! And I guess maybe bestest friends should also trust each other to share their secrets when they're ready. Right? I think that makes sense.

"So uh.." She finally looks my way, even though her face is still fiery red! "We still.. we're still friends?"

"Heehee, of course dummy! Bestest friends!"

She doesn't say anything else, instead just looking down at the ground with the tiniest of smiles on her lips.

This is going to get really awkward if I don't say anything soon.

>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]
>"Oh, do you remember the maid, Angeline? Because she kinda asked about you and was kind of weird about it.."
>"You won't believe what I did yesterday!" [Tell her about flying and being awesome!]
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]
Forgot to mention that Mistress hugs were very cute too.

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]

>>1683289
>"You won't believe what I did yesterday!" [Tell her about flying and being awesome!]
Flying is the most important thing

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]

File: sunny bunny.png (1.12 MB, 700x875)

1.12 MB PNG

Oh, and just for clarity, remember we are still operating on one-post-per-day because the one earlier today totally counts for yesterday instead and that is not cheating or breaking my own rules! Even if it was completely off my usual hours and almost nobody was even around to hear the tree fall in the woods! Because reasons, that's why!

Anyway, expect the next update some time tomorrow!

>>1683307
Thank you! I'm glad someone ended up enjoying it so I can mentally justify spending so much effort on something that should have been a sidenote.

>>1682917
The world does definitely need bunny witches!

>>1683364
I'm sure anons are just exited to get the maximum amount of Nadja.

>>1683289
>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]

>>1683289
>>"Oh, do you remember the maid, Angeline? Because she kinda asked about you and was kind of weird about it.."

>>1683289
>Have you seen Camille?

>>1683289
>>"Hey, you won't believe what happened last night!" [Tell her about the mission!]
>>"Oh, do you remember the maid, Angeline? Because she kinda asked about you and was kind of weird about it.."
>>"You won't believe what I did yesterday!" [Tell her about flying and being awesome!]

I am voting for all of these and you can't stop me.

>>1683289
"Oh hey! Listen!"

She looks up for a moment, relieved by the changing of topics, only for her to immediately turn her head away after meeting my eyes with hers. I cannot help myself from giggling a little at how shy she gets when talking about friendship or feelings, compared to how cool and aloof she was acting just a few minutes ago. It just makes me want to..

But I won't! A bestest friend wouldn't do that, even if it would be fun.. But no, I meant to tell her about last night and that's what I'm going to do.

"You won't believe what happened last night!"

No sooner have I said the words than I feel her eyes weighing heavily upon the still visible scratches on my arms and legs.

"Oh don't worry, I didn't get hurt! I mean, not last night. This is all from flying practice."

For some reason that doesn't seem to put her at ease at all, and suddenly I find myself becoming awfully conscious of those as well. I barely noticed them this morning, but now they seem clear as day. Have other people been noticing too? Did they think it made me look clumsy and careless? Or maybe.. maybe something worse? I hope not!

"Uh, so anyway, let me tell you all about it!"

The story hasn't changed much from when I told it earlier today, though the audience definitely has. When I tell about changing the plan to using bait instead of direct injection she immediately voices her objection, despite being an entire day too late.

It was definitely not as effective, but it still worked so she's only half-right. Besides, we got the job done and that's the most important! Camille did end up paying the price for that, which Amalia doesn't seem at all worried about. The time those two met didn't go very well, so it makes sense. She does, at least, keep herself from smiling too widely.

The part that seems to end up interesting her the most is the one that ended up making no difference to the mission at all. The -supposedly- Unbreakable Staff. I was hoping she'd more interested in how super-awesomely I fixed Camille up after she got hurt. She did still listen, but I wanted her to be really impressed with me!

"Can I try it? The staff?" She asks as soon as I finish the story. No congratulations or anything like, she just wants to know about the staff? It's just a weapon, how can that be so interesting..?

>"Uhm, okay? But it's in my room so we'll have to go get it." [Let her play with the stick if it's so important to her]
>"That's all you care about?! You were supposed to tell me how cool I am how sorry you are for underestimating me!" [Offended!]
>"Maybe later, there was something else I wanted to talk about.." [Choose below!]
>.. About how Camille and maybe also Sis are missing and if she has any idea where they might be?
>.. About the maid, Angeline, asking questions about her and being kinda weird?
>.. About something else? [Write-in!]
>Do something completely else? [Write-in!]

>>1689416
>"That's all you care about?! You were supposed to tell me how cool I am how sorry you are for underestimating me!" [Offended!]
>And I was worried about the maid, Angeline, asking questions about her and being kinda weird!
>But I guess you just want stick go play with it if it's so important!

I mad. and offended!

>>1689416
>"Uhm, okay? But it's in my room so we'll have to go get it." [Let her play with the stick if it's so important to her]
>Ask if she's seen Camille on the way there

>>1689416
>"That's all you care about?! You were supposed to tell me how cool I am how sorry you are for underestimating me!" [Offended!]
Amalia doesn't know the way to a girl's heart at all, come on girl

>>1689416
>"Maybe later, there was something else I wanted to talk about.." [Choose below!]
>.. About how Camille and maybe also Sis are missing and if she has any idea where they might be?
Seems pretty important! We should talk about the maid later.

File: da2ca92093510dba8fbebc1f1(...).jpg (327 KB, 572x800)

327 KB JPG

Just noticed that I misnumbered this thread on the suptg archive. Very embarrassing! But hey, there may be two threads that are #6 now, but at least they're still sorted by date so I'm sure it'll be alright.

The next update is due tomorrow (thread should still be alive by then unless /qst/ suddenly decides to revive itself) and we are absolutely going to pretend that yesterday never happened and that I definitely posted this update on time. After all, believing is magic, so if we all believe hard enough it should become true!

Belief actually has nothing to do with magic and only very, very dumb witches-in-training actually think that.

>>1689437
All roads lead to Rome, or so they say.

>>1689468
But some are slower and full of potholes and makes your crush grumpy

>>1689416
>"Maybe later, there was something else I wanted to talk about.." [Choose below!]
>"Maybe later, there was something else I wanted to talk about.." [Choose below!]
>.. About how Camille and maybe also Sis are missing and if she has any idea where they might be?

>>1689416
>>1689433
Seconded

I want be mad but give her what she wants at the same time.

>>1689416
>>"That's all you care about?! You were supposed to tell me how cool I am how sorry you are for underestimating me!" [Offended!]

>>1683364
>>1689468
Nadja should be a bunny witch. Just.. you know. Cuz floppy ears.

>>1690099
She is more like a cute kitten.

>>1690424
But Amalia already has monopoly on kitten branding, anon!

>>1689416
>"That's all you care about?! You were supposed to tell me how cool I am how sorry you are for underestimating me!" [Offended!]
>"Uhm, okay? But it's in my room so we'll have to go get it." [Let her play with the stick if it's so important to her]

Nadja wouldn't turn down the opportunity to complain about being bullied, but also would probably be curious about the staff and what Amalia thinks of it.

>>1689416
>"Maybe later, there was something else I wanted to talk about.." [Choose below!]
>.. About how Camille and maybe also Sis are missing and if she has any idea where they might be?

>>1690461
A wolf pup then. Acts like a doggie but really isn't and when she grows up she will be strong.

>>1689416
>"Uhm, okay? But it's in my room so we'll have to go get it." [Let her play with the stick if it's so important to her]

>>1689416
"THAT is all you care about?!" I cry out and push her away by her shoulders, causing her to let out a surprised gasp and stumble backwards about a tenth of the distance I hoped she would. And now she just stands there with a dumb look on her face, as if she couldn't possibly imagine why I'm upset.

"You're supposed to tell me how cool and awesome I am for going on the mission without you! That was the entire point of doing it without you!"

She tilts her head in confusion, still pretending not to understand. "But you didn't-"

"I was so scared the entire time!" I scream at her, feeling my own voice begin to tremble. "I could have died! And I was missing you badly all of the time!"

"But that wasn't-"

"So why don't you care at all? Why?!"

She glances nervously to both sides, pauses for a few moments, then suddenly grabs me by the wrist and forcefully leads me away, towards her house, with nothing more than the single word: "Come."

For anyone else, I would object, be frightened, maybe even scream. But with Amalia, I'm completely used to that. Sometimes, you just have to be patient with her, even though I'm upset with her. Because sometimes, she doesn't talk with words.

Finally, after locking the both of us inside her room and checking twice to make sure the window is shut too, she speaks.

"I hunted a witch, once." She says in a dull and flat tone, in a voice that I'd almost not recognize as hers if I didn't see her mouth moving. "You know the one. Weeping Lily."

"Wha-?" Why? Why is she telling me that now? And why.. why did she need to lock the door first?

"I failed. Obviously." She pauses, then suddenly turns to look right at me with still, emotionless eyes. "Do you know why?"

She doesn't wait even a moment before answering her own question: "She was always where I wasn't."

I don't like this Amalia. She scares me, even though I've seen her before.

"If I found any tracks or clues, they would lead away from her. If I laid a trap, someone else would fall in it for her. If I saw her face, she would change her face."

"But.. but what does this have to do with anything?"

She takes a deep breath, looks away as the life begins to return in her eyes. And then she says it. "You're witching wrong."

"Witches aren't s'posed to be brave. Or strong, or risk their lives. That's stupid! YOU were stupid and YOU should be sorry! Not me!"

She turns her back to me and stomps her feet in anger.

"You were afraid? I had to wonder all night if you were dead or not! It was awful! SO DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! EVER!"

>Nuh-uh, she's wrong! I am a witch and the bravest, so that means witches are brave! And I know way more about witches than she does! [Fight!]
>Shrink her with a potion and don't turn her back until she apologizes! [Witch!]
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]
>Something else? [Write-in!]

>>1693896
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]

>>1693896
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]

>>1693896
>Nuh-uh, she's wrong! Coz it was a witch that asked me to help, and Mistress didn't mind it and she's definitely a witch! And it was totally a witchy plan too! Amalia can't decide what's witchy on her own! And everything totally worked out in the end! And it's her own fault if the plan was stupid anyway since she could have been there and come up with another one if she wasn't being stupid about everything!
NUH-UH!
cute

>>1693896
>Nuh-uh, she's wrong! I am a witch and the bravest, so that means witches are brave! And I know way more about witches than she does! [Fight!]
I think our plan was plenty sneaky given the situation we had to work with. Sometimes you do need to be a little brave
I'm sure Amalia understands, she's just worried

>>1693896
>Nuh-uh, she's wrong! I am a witch and the bravest, so that means witches are brave! And I know way more about witches than she does! [Fight!]
>>1693927
YEAH!
>>1693966
Yeah!

>>1693896
>I'm not stupid! I'm trying to be a good person and a good witch!(sad)

Doesn't Nadja have a weakspot for being called stupid?

>>1694087
That's a fair point anon.

I feel like whatever we end up responding with, Amalia won't be proud about this outburst once she's cooled down!

>>1693896
>>1694087
Point. Maybe a sniffle or two is in order. She isn't stupid she's just a very sweet girl. And just because some people were awful to Amalia doesn't mean Nadja should be mean to other people.

>>1693896
>I'm not stupid! I'm trying to be a good person and a good witch!(sad)
>I'm not Lily. She has her own way of witching; don't expect me to be like her. [Stubborn]

>>1693896
>>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]
Going off on Amalia like she did and insisting on doing it without her help was stupid, full stop. Everyone who knows about the situation thinks so. Especially the witches.

>>1693896
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]

>>1693896
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]

"No wonder my sister was that angry... we both were idiots."

>>1693896
>Maybe.. maybe she's right? Camille did get hurt really badly. Maybe we WERE being stupid? [Submit!]
Well, at least Nadja did get what she wanted, which was evidence that Amalia cared about her.

>>1693896
>>Nuh-uh, she's wrong! I am a witch and the bravest, so that means witches are brave! And I know way more about witches than she does! [Fight!]

>>1693896
>"You were afraid? I had to wonder all night if you were dead or not! It was awful! SO DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! EVER!"

>Apologize for worrying her. Hug and all that.
>But witches can totally be brave too, if they have to!

>>1693896
"I'm not stupid.." I grumble in response, feeling the anger rising from deep in my belly, upwards and up, all the way to my throat, until there is nowhere left to go.

"I AM NOT STUPID!" I scream with all the volume my lungs will allow. But even that is not enough to stop the heat from rising to the rest of my head.

"I came up with both the old plan and the backup plan! I saved you from Lily's craziness, and I even negotiated with a Daemon!"

The heat reaches all the way to my eyes, pushing and searing, forcing out warm tears to slowly trickle down my face.

"I can do addition, subtraction, multiplication AND division! Even fractions! I can read and write long words without help AND use commas! So don't say I'm stupid! Because I'm not!"

Still unable to get rid of the heat, I frantically throw myself against the wall, punching and kicking and sobbing and screeching. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm NOT!"

And then at last the heat begins to fade and I feel my body begin to go limp, my back sliding down the wall until, powerless, I find myself firmly seated on the floor, completely and utterly spent. "I'm not.."

For what feels like many long hours, she keeps just standing there, staring blankly at me as if I was some puzzle to be solved. Why can't she just understand..?

Finally, after far too long and more than a few pleading glances, she picks up on the hint and sits down beside me, even letting me rest my head against hers. For the briefest of moments, I could have sworn I even felt one her ears rub against the top of my head, but that may have just been my imagination. I'm sure if it really did happen, she would already be at the opposite side of the room, hissing.

"Sorry I called you stupid.." She whispers, so quiet if she hadn't been sitting right next to me her words would not even have been a breath of air.

"Then.. then you don't think I'm stupid?"

"I was angry." She says, meekly letting the back of her hand glide over mine. "Because you aren't stupid. So why.. why'd you do somethin' so stupid? You could've.. could've.."

"I could have died." I finish the sentence for her and, always happy to correct her mistakes, quickly takes her hand in mind before she has time to get all nervous and pull away. Surprisingly, she doesn't even try. "I know that. I get it."

"I guess maybe I.." I suddenly feel her tighten her grip around my hand, and as I look to her I see she's begun to hold her breath. "Maybe I was angry too. But.. but I wasn't just angry at you, I was angry at everybody. I think that was it. I was angry, so I needed to prove that I-"

Suddenly, she lets go of my hand and lunges forward, wrapping both her arms around me and leaving me utterly speechless. Is this really Amalia, or has Lily been taking acting classes?

"We both got angry." She says with a slight sniffle. "Next time, let's get angry at someone else."

>-+-+-
>1/3
>-+-+-

>>1698020
The rest of the day ends up being spent in the woods, as is to be expected in Amalia's company. After laughing off the entire fight with the mutual feeling of having learned a great deal about each other, of course, and retrieving the staff from my room.

Amalia was still more than a little eager to test just how unbreakable it really was, joking that I should never ever let Papa see it, for fear of how a smith would react on learning that mere wood could be made to be harder than the strongest steel.

The poor staff goes through several tests before she is satisfied. From simply trying to break it over her leg, to repeatedly smashing it against a tree until it has dug deep into its stem, and even trying to light it on fire. The staff bends freely but it does not break and the flames happily dance around its surface without leaving a single mark.

I had thought that would be all she wanted of the staff, but I was to be proven terribly wrong as she finally handed the staff back to me with an intense look in her eyes. "Self-defense, right?"

It doesn't take a genius to realize what was on her mind, and a single moment later I had barely raised the staff in time to block a blow from her fist. Then another, and another, and another.

She was clearly holding back, giving me plenty of time to react to her movements. I would have thought that she would slow down as we kept on, if nothing else then from the pain of striking her bare fists against the staff again and again. But she did not. Instead, she kept gradually increasing the pace, as if testing to see just how far she could push me.

The only times she stopped her onslaught were to briefly give me advice. Coming from Amalia that advice was of course not in the form of words but instead by snatching the staff from my hands and demonstrating the pose she wanted me to assume.

I did not at any time ask where she learnt to fight like that, knowing that she would be about as happy to talk about it as I would be to hear it. Besides, I got the sense that this exercise WAS, in a way, a means for her to tell that story without words.

This went on and on until suddenly, without warning, she just stopped and said: "That'll do." By then, the sun was already setting, reminding me that it was time to go home and have dinner with Papa.

>Nadja has learned very basic self-defense from Amalia!
>Nadja's skill with a staff is now "That'll do". Apparently.

>-+-+-
>2/3
>-+-+-

>>1698028
Dinner with Papa was.. quiet. Tense.

Sis wasn't there. I didn't really expect her to be. I still had no idea where she was, and over the day the thought of it had seemed to become completely irrelevant. If she had gotten some crazy idea into her head again, maybe I should just be glad not to be on the receiving end of it. I was still annoyed by what she did, but Amalia had taught me that choosing to go on that mission had never been just my business. I'm glad that Papa doesn't know about it. If he knew how close I came to..

But Papa IS worried about something. It's easy to tell. Is it about Sis? Or about me? Or maybe about his work? I don't ask him. He doesn't want me to, not tonight. I'm not.. not that daughter anymore. Something has changed between us. But into what? I don't know, not yet. So I don't say anything, and he doesn't either.

I hate that. I hate it so much, I can't even finish dinner. I tell him I'm tired and I'd like to go to bed early, which is so incredibly true today. He lets me go, and I return to my room, feeling unsatisfied with myself. But I just don't know what to do, what to change.

Even as I creep into my bed and try to make myself comfortable, sleep doesn't come to me. Night comes, but not sleep.

The same familiar creak from this morning, as someone slides open my bedroom door.

"Papa?" I call out, despite being able to recognize his shape even through the darkness.

"Ah, you're still awake." He says, stepping closer to my bed. "Good. We need to talk, don't we?"

"Mhm.." Is this it? Has he solved it? Has Papa figured out what we need to do go back to normal?

He sits down at the end of my bed and takes a deep breath before finally speaking.

"I am not very good at this part of fatherhood. I cannot stand the thought of letting my little girl face the world. It doesn't deserve her, she's too good for this world! But.."

He turns his head to face me, looking down at me with the strangest smile, somehow both happy and in pain.

"I'm not angry at you. Going off and starting your apprenticeship without even talking to me, that was irresponsible, but I can tell you already figured that out. So, that's fine. You're just.. growing up. So don't ever think I love you any less, because nothing could ever make me do that. Anything you do, as long as you do your best, I will be proud of you."

"I just want to ask one thing. Whatever it is that you will learn, and do, please don't be like your sister. Stay out of danger. Whatever else you do, just stay out of danger. Because if something ever did happen to you, then.. Please, just promise me that."

But.. but I can't do that! There probably WILL be dangers, just like there was last night! But.. But I also don't want to worry Papa. But good girls don't lie! And saying it without meaning it is lying. But.. but if it means Papa won't have to worry..?

>"I can't promise that. Sorry Papa, but I can't." [Honesty.]
>"I promise." [Lie.]

File: e367d6ca5564b1f26ac9b99ba(...).jpg (2.54 MB, 1600x2240)

2.54 MB JPG

That's definitely going to be the last one for this thread, so I decided to make it a big one. The voting period is however long it takes for the thread to drop off the board. Unless I severely overestimated its lifetime to the point that almost nobody gets a chance to respond, but I think it should be fine.

So, think carefully about what you want, vote, and if you want to, discuss.

Questions are also welcome, but the thread may be dead before I can answer.

Good night, and thanks for playing!

>>1698035
>"I can't promise that. Sorry Papa, but I can't." [Honesty.]

>>1698062
Will Amalia let Nadja scritch her ears?

>>1698035
>"I can't promise that. Sorry Papa, but I can't." [Honesty.]
I mean it shouldn't be as bad as sis, but it'll still happen
We shouldn't lie to papa

>>1698062
Thamks for writing, I like how you handled the close vote