“Ah, now she wakes,” the voice of a man said. It was smooth, with an odd amount of depth to it. Hearing those words, I forced my eyes open to confirm my situation, yet it took a few moments before my senses responded to me. And when they did answer, they responded on their own, taking their time between each.. From my sense of touch, which came back first, I could tell I was embraced by soft objects, reminiscent of a sheep’s wool. My body was significantly relaxed due to that, even if it tensed up after I woke. Secondly, my hearing returned to me the sounds of shuffling, dulled sounds of movements, and some sort of a clink. The fragrant smells of cooked meat, baked bread, and some sort of spice caused my nose to twitch. It was enough to make my dry mouth water. Finally, my eyes unsealed themselves, revealing the world around me.

What first came to my attention were the two who stood near me, gazing straight into my eyes. To my right stood a man in an expensive suit, pure black with white tracings at certain edges, one I had only seen the likes of before once, that being when the lord had visited my village. If I remembered correctly, it was worn by the servant of that noble, a butler he was called. Regardless, the man who waited seemed different than how I expected. Lightly tanned skin, without a single blemish to be seen. A face that seemed to be in a constant state of annoyance, with glittering yellow eyes, similar to that of a cat. That face was framed with dark-ash colored hair, of which it was pulled into a loose tail in the back. Even though I didn’t have much to reference from, I knew by most people he would be called handsome.

“You know, if you just keep staring at him I would feel jealous~,” A wistful young woman’s voice floated to my ears. It nearly sounded like a melody, all due to how soft and soothing it was. That voice had come from the other of the two who were watching me, a woman who was sitting by my feet. Akin to her companion, she too could only be described as breathtaking, at least for a small girl who had seen little of the world. She wore a flowy deep-violet robe, cutting at the legs to provide ease of movement, even if it was a bit excessive in the sensual department. The skin that could be seen there was flawless as well, a healthy white that would make most feel inadequate. Her face too was without fault, brilliant blue eyes framed by low brimmed glasses, soft rose lips that neither stood out nor blended in, and pastel orange hair, so light that it looked almost a dawn-like pink. That hair draped over her shoulder in a loose drill formation, slight curls and twists scattered throughout. Lying by her waist was a large book with a leather cover, her fingers stuck within to serve as a pseud-bookmark.

“Well, I don’t particularly mind the staring, but if that is all you do we would not be getting anywhere,” She smiled as she studied my actions. It was only then that my mind returned to action, and questions overran my head. “Come, follow me.” She requested. After finding a suitable bookmark, her book was set down upon whatever it was that we were sitting on (It was similar to a long bench, yet it was soft like a bed. Peculiar.) and she stood. In a confused daze, as my mind overburdened with questions, I followed simply when she stepped out of the room. This led to what seemed to be a dining room, which was set for two people it seemed. The plates were a white porcelain, surrounded by cutlery made from metal. I had never before seen such expensive tableware, yet it seemed as though it was completely ordinary to the lady. ‘Maybe she is of high nobility,’ was what I thought.

Before I knew it, I had sat down across from the woman, who had rolled up her sleeves as we waited. It seemed as though the man was in fact a servant, for he soon appeared with a trolly, upon which various foods were laid out. Although I didn’t have an appetite before, upon seeing the mouthwatering dishes, my stomach rumbled, eliciting a small chuckle from the lady as I was embarrassed by it. The dishes included sandwiches filled with various items, such as eggs and vegetables, while omelettes and sausages laid to the side. Regardless of my hunger, however, I did not reach for the food; I was watching to see what she would do.

“Oh, don’t worry, the food is not poisoned, Luther wouldn’t dare such an act. So go ahead!” She smiled while she explained. Although it seemed she had the wrong idea, I accepted the invitation to eat. Rather, I just couldn’t wait any longer. It was mere seconds before I bit into one of the sandwiches, which seemed to be perfectly seasoned. The grease of the eggs perfectly matched with the fresh vegetables, all complemented by the sweet juice left to drink. I… regretfully admit that I didn’t know how much I ate after that, yet I was pained by my stomach afterwards…

“Now that your belly is full, would you mind answering a few questions?” After my stomach started to ache, the woman decided to start speaking once more. To be honest, my mind could barely process anything due to the sheer bliss, so I could only answer honestly it seemed… Was that her plan? Regardless, I shook my head without a single shred of hesitation.

“Alright then, if you don’t mind, could you tell us how you came to be on that wagon? As well as the events upon it if you can.” She placed her elbows upon the table, clasping her hands together as she rested her head upon them. She was staring at me intensely, awaiting my story. Even though I said I wouldn’t mind, that was something I didn’t wish to carelessly reveal. Yet, from how it looks, this woman was the one who saved me, I couldn’t just repay her kindness with distrust!

“Alright…” Sighing, I relinquished my past to her. “Surely you’ve seen this, correct?” I lifted the hair that hovered over one of my eyes, revealing the ocean blue orb that lay beneath. It was a different color from my other eye, which was the color of amber. I had learned this was supposedly a sign of evil soon after I was born, one eye being of the gods, while the other of the devils. The saying goes that the eyes were the windows to the soul, yet my eyes showed two different paths. A majority of the people in my village, including my own parents, believed I must either be possessed, or a demon in disguise. Upon hearing this, the woman who sat across from me frowned, her eyes closed as one of her hands started to fiddle with her hair.

“So you were an outcast then? From what age?” She queried, her eyes still shut. An odd question, one that I couldn’t answer.

“How do I tell what my age is?” I had never been told my birthday, and I only learned to count by myself; They never taught me anything. Why would they, I was a cursed child after all!

“Good grief, they can’t even manage an education with their prejudice…” The man who was quiet till now murmured; Luther was his name, or so I heard. As the room stood silent afterwards, I assumed the woman wanted me to continue.

My mother would constantly berate me, and my father would… well I’d rather not say. My siblings were fine when they were young, but when they grew older they started to act like the adults. I was constantly attacked, lectured, and frightened, to the point where I could barely sleep. Additionally, it seemed I was the shame of my family, and I was never allowed outside. Yet, I thought it must be better out there, so I ran away. That was when I learned what the entire village thought of me. Anything bad that happened was blamed on me. I was a devil, a scoundrel, a girl without a shred of compassion or human decency. That’s what was said. Since I never went outside before, those rumors spread easily among the housewives and men, and were thought of as fact. I hid in the surrounding forest ever since then, at least until they hunted me down. Just the thought of what happened then sent shivers down my spine.

“Oh dear, you need not continue if you don’t wish to,” the woman’s voice cut through my dark reminiscence. Without me noticing, her hand had reached to my face, wiping away tears I did not know were there. Even if I wished to repay her, it seemed I could say no more. “Oh well, why don’t I change the topic. After all, we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet!”

The woman stood from her seat, her robe flowing from the movement. It revealed a small, thin piece of wood strapped to her leg, covered in engravings and letters. “My name is Noelle Deru, it is a pleasure to meet you.” Stepping beside her, the man had taken his place, and gave a bow. “This man is Luther, my servant. Now, could you tell us yours?”

Dumbfounded by the sudden formalities, I had frozen. Normally, that would be a simple task, saying my name that is. Yet… I couldn’t remember it. What was it? Slowly, it dawned on me, the pact with the doll. I no longer had a name, at least that was how it seemed. So why did my lips move?

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“Fina,” I answered, my body not my own for that one moment. It scared me, although the presence I felt within seemed familiar.

“Fina…” Noelle repeated in a hushed tone, “A wonderful name, at least your parents were nice enough to give you one. I have a terrible naming sense, so if you did not have a name you would not like the results.” Noelle promptly sat, a grin across her face. “Now, I believe I have one final question for you. From how it sounds, you have nowhere to go…” I nodded to her statement, although I hadn’t thought about it until that point. Yet it seemed I didn’t need to wonder, as she finished her thoughts with one question.

“How would you like to be my apprentice?”

Chapter 3: Soul

“A-Apprentice?” stammering, it took me a second to process what she said. Anyone like me would feel the same; Apprenticeship is our dream, for it guarantees a place to sleep and food to eat. Yet I was still skeptical. Noelle already had a butler, and since I couldn’t read or count high, I wouldn’t be of much help in a noble's duties. Well, if I was an apprentice, she would probably teach me what I needed to know, but there were likely far more favorable candidates than me…

“You never cease to interest me,” the woman laughed in delight as she watched my solemn attitude, which only worried me even more. Why? Was I mistaken in thinking she was a noble? But she had a butler, and lived in a house filled with expensive articles. Sure, a wealthy merchant could probably achieve the same, but I saw no indication of the characteristic obsession with gold those types have. She sniggered a bit at my wavering eyes before chatting once more, “You still cannot figure it out, huh. Just to be clear, have you heard of witches before?” Her laughing wore away, and she simply stared at me with a smile.

“Do you mean a sandwich?” I asked hesitantly. I knew it must be the wrong answer, but I didn’t understand what she meant.

“At least that answers my question… albeit poorly,” She sulked, her enthusiasm deflated.

Seeing his master appearing so downtrodden already, the butler, Luther, took action, “Remember Ms. Deru, witches are not as widely known as the other types.” With those words, Noelle recovered a bit, while Luther turned to look at me from his master’s side. “Ms. Fina, you do know what magic is, correct? The ability to command the elements and request the aid of nature itself?”

“Magic… I’ve never heard of it. Is it similar to miracles?” I thought about what he said, yet my failure of a brain came up with nothing. I had never heard of such a thing, although Miracles were similar to his description, they could only be used by members of the clergy, or so I had heard. In fact, one such priest was summoned to the house once and asked to perform something called an exorcism on me. Even though I was scared at first, nothing happened except the man throwing salt and water at me, much to my confusion. Even my parents were confused by the result, which made me feel happy on the inside, not that I dared to show that to them.

“”Where did you find this girl again?” Luther whispered to Noelle, although it was loud enough for me to hear, not that I minded.

“That would explain it,” Noelle replied with a sigh. “I found her wrecked wagon near the border of the Holy Dukedom of Ramparc, therefore she has likely only been told of miracles of the clergy.” Luther sighed as well, and backed away since he no longer needed to explain. All the while, I looked on in confusion. Not only did there seem to be something like Miracles, but it seemed I was no longer in my country. Then… where was I?

“Now, I guess a moderate explanation is in order then,” the madam looked bored, seeming to stem from what she had to do. “What I am about to tell you will likely seem absurd to you, as you came from a land without this. Will you listen with an open mind?” I nodded to her question, after all I had already come to trust her. Not even for a second did she appear to be lying, so even if it was weird, it was likely the truth. She smiled at that, happy to be trusted so dearly. That smile made me feel nice as well, as if something missing had come back to make me whole…

“Now.. where do I begin… um… right, there would be good!” She murmured, her hands holding her head above the table. “If you know of miracles, you know gods exist. In general, gods do not come down to this world, so other beings must manage it. These beings are called spirits.” With a clap from her hands, a small lizard appeared upon the table, its coloring black and red. Suddenly, as if it was burping, small flames shot out of its mouth, raising a flinch from me. “This is a Salamander. He controls fire and heat, albeit weakly. Do you understand?” Still frightened, I nodded, the salamander looking at me with questioning eyes. Once the fright was over, it actually looked somewhat cute, and unconsciously I reached my hand out to it. It happily walked over to my outstretched fingers, and climbed on top. “Aw… it took me at least two weeks of snacks to get him to warm up to me…” Noelle pouted, a feeling of guilt taking hold in my chest. Although, that guilt did not outweigh the salamander who had curled up in my palm. Overall, I started feeling cozy, an emotion I had never felt before.

“Regardless… There are countless spirits, controlling every facet of nature. Some are explosive like volcanoes, while others seem to be not but motes of dust. Witches, which is what I am, give offerings to them, and receive their power in turn. That is called a pact.” She paused there, contemplating something as she tapped a finger against the side of her head. “You still understand, correct?” I nod. “Good, now, I hope you do not mind, but I peeked at your soul while you slept. It shone brilliantly, probably the finest soul I have ever seen too!”

“Really?” I asked hesitantly, tears welling in my eyes as my emotions got the better of me. Ever since I was born, I had been told my soul was disgusting, or that I had sold it to a demon. For her to tell me it was wonderful seemed to cut deep into myself. She accepted me, even though I was a cursed child. I was being welcomed even… it hurt, my heart hurt…

“Yes,” she smiled warmly, trying to comfort me it seemed, “the proof is right in your hand. People with good souls are loved by the spirits; they know they are safe around them. Spirits are easily affected by emotions, even if there are some exceptions. If one is near a person who is harboring strong hate or malice, that spirit will be hurt. Additionally, I have always wanted a cute apprentice like you. This is why I am asking you to be my apprentice, for your innate talents as a witch, and for your kindness. Will you accept?”

“Def-definitely!” I exclaimed, my heart reaching a breaking point as tears started pouring out of my eyes. “Thank you!” With my blurred eyes, I was unable to tell that the woman had left her seat, but her warm arms wrapping over my shoulders did as she embraced me. I could feel my mind fading, as a mountain of stress melted away, leaving only peace. I cannot tell you how long I was crying, though I can tell you my brain went dark after a bit, leaving my sleeping form laying at that table.

“You noticed too, right Luth?” Noelle whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping girl up. Her mind was racing with a million thoughts, a rare sight to behold of “Sloth of the Vibrant Woods”. Something unknown to her… was very interesting, filling her with excitement. She stood there tapping her foot and chewing the inside of her cheek while Luther laid a blanket over the dreaming figure.

“Correct, there is not a blemish on her outer soul, yet its core is tainted. In my existence, I have never once seen such a concept before, not even when one of the seven meddled with a soul,” The black clad man murmured, he too was lost in thoughts.

“The weirdest part of it was that her soul, even its core, was pure when I found her. Yet as soon as you brought her to me earlier…”

“Yes, it is as you say. Regardless, her power is stable, and the atrophy on her soul… well there isn’t even a particle of it. In my opinion, it seems that oddity is not corruption, but rather… a bond, a strong one at that. You really are quite the lucky lady… finding such a rare creature.”

“That ‘creature’ is part of the family now, so please treat her well,” the lady sighed, sitting down at the table. Her whole body hurt, even though she had only moved for a small amount of time. That was her burden to bear, one she had grown accustomed to over the years.

“So, are you actually planning on teaching her?” Luther asked promptly, glancing at the small girl. “I do not really see you as that type…”

“I know, but she is so cute!” Noelle said a bit loudly, causing Fina to stir. After a brief silence, waiting for the girl to return to normal, the witch let out a sigh. “Additionally, I just have a feeling about her, just hugging her felt so good~” The woman let out a breath of happiness, although it seemed to disgust Luther.

“Please keep your feelings in check,” so said the breath of an exasperated butler. “My time is almost up for today, so please take care of yourself. I don’t want a repeat of last time…”

“Yes yes, now please take her to bed before you go, I’ve hit my limit for today.”

“That pact really is troublesome,” Luther sighed. “Well, I will do my duty till my time runs out. Please provide ample sustenance this time though, otherwise I may not appear for as long.”

“Yes…” Noelle sighed as Luther whisked Fina out of the room, leaving Noelle alone. As she sat there, she pondered once more before shrugging and heading to her bedroom.

“Magic without a pact or blessing… she really is intriguing…”

“I wish she would think about her actions once in a while,” Luther shook his head. “Sure, this girl may be a blessing, but a curse might be brought forth instead.” He glanced at the girl who was resting in the bed as his body leaned against the door. She was small, frail, and likely had very little stamina. It would be hard to bring her up as a witch, that was for sure, but the madam was excited at the thought, an emotion rarely seen those days.

“Please, for the sake of Noelle and myself, be the former and not the latter,” The man sighed as he left the room, lightly shutting the door behind him.