At a tavern, from a town surrounded by the trees of the forest. Up in the second-floor room, a childlike figured amber haired descendant of magic, lie seated with her head burrowed into her shoulders, sleeping soundly as papers and books scour about on the desk she rests on.

Sunlight enters through the wooden window in front of the sleeping lady. Her sleep is undisturbed as she lays a book over her head as she grumbles. Yet can’t be said for her white-furred polecat companion, who before the light of the sun reached her face, was sleeping peacefully while all curled up.

The witch’s companion opens her ruby-like eyes as she looks out the window, hearing the bustle of people outside. The furry ferret-like creature yawns and begins stretching herself out of her sleepy state.

The Witch’s companion looks at the mess of books and papers across the desk. She shakes her head, as she then makes the gem on her forehead glow. In turn, all the mess that seems to have belonged to them started to glow themselves, and within a moment later all of which vanish into the Witch’s companion gem. Even the book that the tiny witch was holding disappeared.

The Witch grumbles as she wakes up, and then raises her head, looking outside the window. She groggily yawns and stretches up her arms. She looks at her companion with a smile, “…Morning, Silfy…” she says with another yawn.

Silfy looks blankly at her frizzy-haired friend, “Sleeping like this doesn’t fit a proper lady as yourself Felice. Any-” before she could continue, Felice yawns loudly and gestures for Silfy to stop.

Felice chuckles as she fixes her hair. “I know, don’t worry about that Sweety!” she says as she snaps her fingers and a mirror appears floating in front of her.

Felice looks at herself in the mirror floating in front of her, “This form wouldn’t need the same care as my other…” She smiles at herself as she unruffles her hair, “With this form, I could afford to slip up my usual routine, don’t you agree?” Felice looks at Silfy with a shrug and a smile.

Silfy casually climbs onto Felice’s shoulder. “Nonetheless, I would still prefer to see you be pristine and clean, rather than a dirty rough rag” she says as she looks at Felice in the Mirror.

Felice laughs, “Even I wouldn’t go that far!” she says as she snaps her fingers making the mirror disappear.

Felice then stands up from her desk and grabs the leather coat of her seat. She puts it on as she proceeds to leave her room with Silfy on her shoulders, all the while carrying a cheerful smile as she hears the sound of a few patrons of the tavern merrily chatting downstairs.

* * * * * * * * *

As Felice walks down the wooden rickety stairs, she is greeted by the patrons down below. “Morning Miss!” some say while raising their wooden mugs with a smile.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Felice smiles cheekily at them, “A good morning to you all as well!” She happily says at the sight of different races mingling with each other. Regardless of who they were, be it furred, scaled, pointy-eared or the likes, she thought to herself.

As Felice reaches the bottom, she shimmies her way towards the wooden board placed on the wall. Where the owner of the tavern, a grey-haired bespectacled four-horned old looking man stands. As he places new notices on the board being carried by a smoke cloud right beside him.

“Good morning to you Vilo! Anything worth my time over there?” Felice says cheekily as she approaches the old man.

Vilo chuckles, “A good morning to you to Felice…” he says as he puts on another notice on the board.

Felice sighs as she looks over the board, “I do prefer that you refrain from calling me by name. If those stubborn fools from the so-called ‘administers of magic’ find me again, they’ll for sure just give me some more tiresome work. Whether to teach or to research some mundane old thing from the past.” Felice sighs, “If that happens, I’ll be sure to drag you back with me…” Felice looks at Vilo with a sinister smile.

Vilo laughs, “What’s there to worry about? Are there not more than a few more dreaming mages out in Niviru adoring and copying the great Felice Noviche? And with that illusion spell of your not suffice to elude them?” Vilo asks as he continues to post notices on the board.

Felice ponders over the notices on the board, “Be that as it may, I can never be too certain with those people. Sadly, I regrettably have given them the means to easily find me. That’s why I went ahead and formed myself a new body just to get away!” Felice sighs.

Vilo chuckles, “And that’s why you’ve been here for over already five or six months? in a town in the middle of the forest where everyone is welcome…” he says as he places the last notice on the board, smiling as he does.

Felice shrugs and smiles, “That, and… because I know a certain pure-blooded Ri’lvelian over here doing the same, and owns a quaint little tavern and makes the most delectable coffee…” Felice hums to herself childishly.

Vilo laughs, “Alright, alright, I’ll see to it you get that delectable coffee!” as Vilo is about to make his way over to the bar. He is stopped by Felice.

“This is interesting…” Felice eyes the warning notice that says a large burst of power was detected not too far from the Village. “When did this happen?” she asks with childish curiosity.

Vilo turns around and looks at the notice Felice was pointing at, “Just a few days ago,” Vilo ponders over the notice. “A group of adventurers was on their way to try and deal with the Viper issue at the temple. From what I’ve heard, they’ve decided to back off as they sensed a powerful burst of power enough to shake the trees and rile up all the beasts nearby…” Vilo explains with a concerned look on his face.

Felice taps on the gem on her wristwatch tool, a circular holographic window appears showing a map of the area. “Is another group of idiots trying to mess with the temple again?” as she says she marks a circle on her map. “I’ll go check this one out, make sure no one goes near this area until I come back alright? and don’t go telling anyone I went there!” Felice looks at Vilo seriously.

Vilo chuckles, “I guess I should put down some of the bounties on the beasts in that area after you return…” he sighs as he faces towards the bar.

Felice follows Vilo, “I wouldn’t be doing much, I’m only curious about the power anomaly. Nothing more!” Felice smiles.

Vilo sighs then looks at Silfy on Felice’s shoulder, “Silfy, do keep watch over her, will you?” Vilo solemnly asks of Silfy.

Silfy nods, “I would see to it Felice wouldn’t burn down the entire forest while we are there”

Felice chuckles, “You guys have little faith! If I need to fight, I’ll for certain stick to the simple spells if that makes you feel any better…” Felice shrugs and laughs.

Vilo sighs, “We’ll see…”

* * * * * * * * *

Days later, Felice is hiding around a tree carrying a large leather backpack on her back. Silfy stands silently on top of Felice’s backpack, as Felice uses her goggles.

Felice smiles excitedly, “Now what do we have here…” she sees a curious shadow and a drone near the temple, seemingly just walking around without much care. “They seem to be able to talk to one another? A talking shadow…” Felice chuckles.

Felice taps on her wristwatch tool, “You can also see as well Silfy, aren’t those two intriguing!” she says as she looks at the holographic projection on her map, with a red dot beeping pointing to the location of the shadow and the drone. “Let’s observe them for now…” Felice giggles with excitement as she and Silfy carefully tail the shadow and his drone.

Silfy nods, “Agreed…”