“The Oracle…” Estella's smile faded slightly. “That’s a tough one. No one has seen her in ages. Almost as if she disappeared.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then her eyes lit up. “Oh, I know. Agatha would know where she is. She keeps to herself, but she knows things.”

“And where might I find Agatha?” Finally, a lead worth following.

"It's difficult to describe..." Estella bit her lip, then suddenly grabbed my hand. Her fingers were warm against my skin, delicate and soft. "Come, I'll show you."

She released my hand once we were outside. I tried to ignore the small pang of disappointment as she darted ahead, full of enthusiasm. "Come on, this way, follow me!"

She guided me through the labyrinth of the Undercity, past crumbling archways and beneath strings of dimming crystal lights, through winding alleys that seemed designed to disorient. I was grateful. I would never have been able to navigate this route without her.

Eventually, the merchants' calls and the general bustle of the markets faded behind us, replaced by the quiet drip of water and the echo of our footsteps. As we pressed deeper, the familiar glow of the Undercity's lights grew distant, until we found ourselves in complete darkness.

"Hold on to me." Her silhouette extended a hand in the darkness. "I used to come here as a kid. It's a maze of pitch-black tunnels. One wrong turn and you'll be lost to the darkness."

I hesitated, grateful that darkness concealed how flustered a simple gesture had made me.

"Trust me," she whispered, her voice soft in a way that made my pulse quicken.

Her fingers intertwined with mine as she led me deeper into the unknown, moving with confident familiarity while I stumbled in the darkness.

"Watch your head here," she warned, tugging my hand downward. Her other hand brushed my chest as she steadied me, lingering just a heartbeat too long. We crouched beneath arches and squeezed through gaps that seemed to defy human passage.

"So, Noctus..." Estella's voice took on a playful lilt. "Do you have a special someone? A girlfriend? Boyfriend, maybe?"

Even in the darkness, I could feel warmth rushing to my face. Her question caught me off guard, especially with her hand still clasped in mine. "Ah, no. No, nothing like that." I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Why do you ask?"

She hummed thoughtfully. "Just curious." Her thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles, sending a tiny shiver up my spine. "Seems like you'd have your pick of partners, being a brave knight and all."

I let out a short laugh, hoping it didn't sound as nervous as I felt. "I think you're overestimating my appeal."

"Or maybe you're underestimating it." Her tone was light, teasing, but with an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite place. Before I could respond, she tugged gently on my hand. "Come on, we're almost there."

After several more minutes of navigating the labyrinthine darkness, Estella came to a halt. "Here we are," she whispered, her breath tickling my ear in a way that made my heart stumble.

I squinted as my eyes adjusted to a faint, otherworldly glow emanating from around a corner. Estella led me forward, and as we rounded the bend, the source of the light came into view: a small grotto, illuminated by bioluminescent fungi clinging to the damp walls.

In the center of the grotto was a small, decrepit shack. The structure looked like it hadn’t seen visitors in years, with dark moss creeping up its weathered walls and gaps between the rotting boards that leaked an unsettling purple light. The door was warped and splintered, hanging crookedly on rusted hinges. Strange talismans hung from it, bones, crystals, and things I couldn't quite identify, all clicking together in a breeze I couldn't feel.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I knocked on the door. Timid at first, then louder when silence answered. Each knock made the talismans sway and chime discordantly. I pushed open the door, wincing at the drawn-out creak that echoed through the grotto.

Inside, the room reeked of odd herbs and spices. Various occult items filled the room. Scribbles of various pentagrams, check. Vials filled with strange glowing liquids, check. Shelves stacked with tattered, dusty books, check. There was even a cauldron bubbling away in the corner, its contents slowly spinning in a swirling blur. Everything about this place screamed witch’s hut and suddenly I wasn’t too keen to meet this Agatha.

Too late though.

An old woman materialised beside the cauldron. She had long grey hair tangled like a web. Her fingers were long and bony, fiddling with something I couldn’t see.

“Aunty Agatha, hello, it’s been so long,” Estella greeted her with an energetic wave.

She glanced up. "Estella, my dear," the old woman said, her voice warm but brittle. "Yes, it's been far too long." Her eyes shifted to me, sharp and appraising. "And who is this you've brought to my doorstep?"

I stepped forward, meeting her gaze. "I'm Noctus. I'm looking for the Oracle."

“And what business do you have with the Oracle?” she asked, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Nothing good ever comes out from those seeking the Oracle”

“I wish to know about the night,”

Her lips curled into a grin and she gave a low and throaty cackle. "Hohoho, you dabble in dangerous topics, boy. The night holds many mysteries, some better left untouched." She gave her cauldron a slow, deliberate swirl. She turned to Estella, shaking her head. "Where do you find these types, my girl?"

Estella blushed. “Please Agatha, could you help us out?” She pleaded.

She paused for a moment, sizing us up. “Well, since it’s my dearest Estella asking…Yes, the Oracle is a good friend of mine." Her voice took on a patronizing tone. "I could tell you where she is…"

“But?” I asked, sensing the catch coming before the words even left her mouth.

Her smile widened, revealing a set of discolored teeth. “You’re a smart boy.” She leaned in and whispered. "But I’ll need something from you first."

I exhaled, already bracing for whatever task she would throw at me. "And what might that be?"

She dipped a finger into the cauldron and tasted a drop of that viscous, foul-smelling liquid. “I’m lacking a key ingredient for my potion. A rat’s tail. Get me one of those, and you shall have the answer you seek.”

"A rat's tail? Where am I supposed to find one of those?"

Agatha blinked at me as if I had just asked the most obvious question in the world. "From a rat, obviously," she mocked. "Surely a smart boy like you could have figured that out."

I clenched my jaw. “Are you seriously asking me to catch a rat? I’m a knight, I slay dragons, not catch rats," I protested.

She laughed again before walking up to me and patting my shoulder. “No one is above rats, not even if you were the Demon King himself, dear.” Her grin widened, revealing more of those unsettling teeth. " Now, run along and bring me what I need." She waved her hand and the room around turned into a blur, the colours of the room replaced with the green glow of fungi. When the motion stopped, we were back outside.

“Damn that witch.” I growled, stomping on the ground. My eyes scanned the surroundings, but the hut was no longer in sight. Still feeling disoriented from her magic, I lowered myself to the ground.

“Don’t be too hard on Agatha.” Estella said as she sat down beside me, the glow from the fungi reflecting off her face. “She was being nice to us.”

“Doesn’t feel like it,” I grumbled. “I mean rats? Honestly, it’s insulting”

“Don’t worry,” Estella patted my arm. “Rats are easy to find, this will be fast,” she assured me.

I sighed, asking reluctantly, “So where do we find rats?”

“In the sewers of course,” Estella replied with a shrug.

“…” I thought silently. This was just getting worse. I could picture it already: wading through filth, surrounded by the stench of waste and decay, all for a single rat's tail.

“Oh, we might also encounter some monsters there,” she added.

"..." Much worse. Why settle for just rats when you could throw in a few abominations as well? "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

She gave me an innocent smile that wasn't innocent at all. "Maybe a little.” She pushed herself to her feet, brushing off her skirt before extending a hand to me. “Come on, Sir Knight, your noble quest awaits!"

Quest Accepted: A Witch's Bargain Objective: Venture into the treacherous sewers and retrieve a rat's tail for Agatha's mysterious potion Reward: Information about the Oracle's whereabouts Progress: 0/1 rat's tail obtained

Difficulty: Unknown

Beware of hidden dangers lurking in the depths