Within the large sequoia tree lies the witch city of New Fullsborough. Many witches came out of the woodworks to meet the special guests.

They mainly went to greet and gawk at Mavis who in their eyes is a new recruit all the while disregarding Lowell the skeleton.

Alexis stood atop an elevated branch to grab the attention of her subordinates. The numerous witches out-and-about stood and watch their leader.

“Everyone! I’d like you to meet this lovely, young girl. Mavis Grand!” Alexis introduced Mavis to the rest of the coven.

The witches whispered amongst themselves in glee. Mavis took note of this so she asked Alexis about it.

“What’s going on?” Mavis asked in a soft whisper.

“Oh don’t mind them, darling. It’s been a while since we last had a visitor as cute as you!” Alexis answered playfully as she booped Mavis’s nose.

Alexis continued her address.

“And this walking heap of a skeleton is an old friend of mine, Lowell Necros.” Alexis declared scornfully.

The witches all stopped with their gossip. The silence was almost deafening until Alexis spoke up once more.

“The both of them are my guests. I expect that no harm will come to them as they seek refuge within our city.” Alexis announced in a serious manner.

The witches remained quiet although they bowed their heads in unison to show their agreement.

After the announcement, a third of the witches present went back to their abodes. There are wooden doors carved along the tree’s intertwined branches. Despite not having space for anything, logically speaking, a quick glance inside reveals that it is quite spacious, almost like it’s a different plane of existence.

Mavis decides to ask Alexis about it but she got cut-off by the witches, barraging her with questions of the outside world. Alexis and Lowell proceeded within the sequoia tree to Alexis’s abode.

With the numerous witches hounding her with no signs of budging, she just gives up in the meantime and entertain their questions.

“Hey, hey, how’s the outside world?” asked by one of the witches.

“Hey, hey, you got a man?” asked a fairly glamorous witch.

“Hey, hey, are you joining the coven?” asked another witch.

“U-um…. one at a time please.” Mavis said nervously, just wanting to get back with Lowell and Alexis.

The witches still showed no signs of letting her go. Mavis is going to be occupied for a while.

Meanwhile, in Alexis’s abode.

The high priestess brought her skeletal friend to the most grand-looking door within New Fullsborough. The door is quite tall, standing at 8 feet tall and as wide an ogre.

Just like the other doors in the area, there’s nothing behind it and yet when the door is opened, another area is revealed. Alexis’s house isn’t quite like the rest. She’s the high priestess so it was only natural that her house is filled with expensive furniture.

Alexis led Lowell to her study. Its design is breathtaking, a circular room filled with books that go all the way up. A staircase in the middle of the room spiraling around an exposed tree branch to access the levels above.

Lowell sat on a chair while Mavis sat opposite him. Inanimate objects spring to life as it tries to make refreshments for its master and her guest.

The whole room was busy with all the objects moving about. Once they’ve done their instruction, the objects lost all semblance of life. Peace came to the room as abruptly as all the commotion.

The eeriness didn’t disappear though as while all this was happening, Alexis never broke eye contact with Lowell. Trying to get out of this awkward situation, Lowell strikes a conversation with the witch.

“How did you find us?” Lowell asked Alexis, trying to get a conversation going, unable to look her in the eyes.

“I can sense every living soul within this forest. When I sensed the girl at the chimera’s cave, I immediately went over to check out what’s happening. That’s when I found you.” Alexis replied with an eerie tone, still maintaining eye contact all throughout her spiel.

Before Lowell could say anything back though, Alexis continued to talk.

“So, is it true you don’t remember anything?” Alexis asked with an irritated tone in her voice.

“Only bits and pieces. Like your name, how we’re acquainted and how I’m a magician.” Lowell answered forlorn.

“But now you’re here. You’ll be able to help me find out who I am.” Lowell continues, finally looking at Alexis.

“And what makes you think I’ll help you? Oh Lowell, you’ve always been ignorant.” Alexis exclaimed as she stood up from her chair to start pacing around the room.

“You’ve only brought us ruin in the past and now you’re back for more? Why didn’t you just stayed dead.” Alexis cried, her voice echoing around the room.

Lowell stayed quiet. He was unsure on how to act around Alexis. Based on how she acted towards him during their first time meeting together again, it heavily suggested that he did horrible things to her.

Alexis, who had been pacing the room all this time, went to sit back on her chair, seemingly deep in thought.

“That girl… Why is she with you?” Alexis asked concerned.

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“Mavis? It’s a long story.”

Lowell told Alexis the whole story about how he met Mavis in the graveyard by using a necromancy spell. About how she died but by using a spell and with the power within his gem, was able to resurrect her. He also told her about going to Malefis Forest to seek her out for help and refuge.

“I see…” Alexis processed all the information she’s given.

Alexis having thought deeply of everything stood from her chair and approached Lowell.

“Very well. I can grant you what you wish for… but not to the lengths that you want.” Alexis proclaimed.

“What do you mean by that?” Lowell asked curiously.

“I cannot bring back your memories. That kind of magic is not my expertise. What I can do for you instead is to share my own, memories from when we were still adventurers.” Alexis stated.

“That will do. Thank you.” Lowell responded, content with the offer.

“I will have to make preparations for the spell. It will take me a few days at the least. In the meantime, feel free to laze around here, the girl too.” Alexis said calmly, slowly returning to the cheerful witch that she was before.

Alexis exited the room while Lowell stayed, interested with the books lying around. After a short moment, he heard a loud commotion outside and shortly heard the front door open once more.

This time, Alexis goes in with Mavis who’s visibly confused and tired. Alexis directed the both of them to a spare room within her home.

As it is late and they’re all tired, they decided to just take a bath then go to bed. Since Lowell is a skeleton, he doesn’t need to practice hygiene and have no need for sleep so he just continued with his reading in the library.

Mavis got ready for her bath but Alexis had other plans. The witch went inside the bathroom as Mavis was bathing. Mavis was flustered at first but as she was tired and Alexis helped her tend to her hair, she quickly stopped caring despite the touchy nature of the high priestess.

Bed time came and Mavis had the bed all to herself. Lowell was in the same room reading his books, completely oblivious to the literal goddess he calls his master. Mavis tried a lot of things to get Lowell’s attention to no avail. She just went to sleep, concluding their first night.

Their first day in New Fullsborough include touring around the area and getting acquainted with the local witches, who were mostly kind towards them. There were some who didn’t take kindly to the new visitors in town but their animosity is mainly directed at their high priestess whom they did not like. It had something to do with Alexis refusing to raid nearby villagers for supplies and abducting female infants instead opting to protect the villagers from pillagers in exchange for goods.

This decision from Alexis led the witches to have a more positive reputation towards the nearby villagers. Unfortunately, big cities like Sanctus Terra still view them with disdain and will not waver if given the chance to eradicate them.

Every now and then, some witches would have romantic flings with men from these villages and end up getting pregnant. If they give birth to a girl, the kid stays within the witch city eventually joining their ranks. If it’s a boy though, the kid is sent back to the father. Some men take and raise them hoping for a day when their family would be complete while most men just ditch their kid in the wilderness hoping that mother nature would do its thing.

There were several artisans at New Fullsborough. There were those who specialized in making witches’ clothing. They’re responsible for dressing the whole city, free of charge. There were also those who made witches’ brooms and there were those who baked pastries.

There was no currency in the city. Exchange of goods is the norm instead of using money. This led the witches to be equal amongst themselves though they still recognize Alexis as their high priestess.

Mavis and Lowell went to an apothecary just to check things out. One thing led to another and they end up testing the apothecary’s newly developed drugs which are herbs soaked in water. It was basically tea.

During their tea “date”, Mavis tried her best to flirt with Lowell.

“Hey Sweetheart! Don’t see you ‘round here that often.” Mavis said flirtatiously as she sips her tea. It was sweet which really put her in a playful mood.

“What?” Lowell said quizzically.

“Just play along.” Mavis retorted monotonously.

“Ah yes. I’m in town for a few days.” Lowell declared in a higher pitch than normal.

“I see. Why don’t you tell me about yourself.” Mavis asked confidently.

“Oh, right. About that, Alexis said she’ll help me recover my memories in a few days.” Lowell revealed some of the conversation him and Alexis had yesterday.

“Seriously? Good for you.” Mavis congratulated Lowell with a genuine smile.

“Thank you. She said it’ll take a couple days to prepare though so we’ll be here for a while.” Lowell continued.

“That’s fine with me. I’d like to see this week-long ritual they’re doing as well anyway, so I guess it worked out it the end.” Mavis said looking out the window at the witches preparing for the ritual.

With no other plans to visit the other artisans, the”date” went on for a while until they retire back to Alexis’s house to rest, ending their first day at the city.

Nothing much happened at night. They’ve barely seen their host all day and it’s supper time. The inanimate objects began moving again, preparing their dinner. After that, Mavis took a bath and went to bed, wherein she tried to get Lowell’s attention once again to no avail.

The second day promised to be a more exciting time as some of the witches brought them along during a foraging trip to the forest below.

There they familiarize themselves with the local flora and fauna. Interestingly, all the wild beasts within the forest are tame when around the witches, some even going so close so that the two could pet them.

The main objective is to gather herbs and other plants needed by the witches for the ritual. It wasn’t much of a hassle, in fact, great progress was made, so much so that the witches even let them keep some of the herbs they foraged.

Back at the city, the apothecary taught Mavis how to make potions with the herbs she procured. A useful skill to learn especially for an adventurer like her.

Nighttime came once more, Alexis still nowhere to be seen. The inanimate objects came to life once more to serve its master’s guests. Mavis took a relaxing bath after their supper and got ready for bed.

As Mavis entered her room, she sees Lowell laying on the bed. Surprised and flustered, she decides to prod.

“S-so.. finally d-decide to sleep w-with m-me?” Mavis asked nervously.

“Yes.” Lowell replied promptly.

This made Mavis more nervous. Nevertheless, she joins him on the bed with both on their respective sides of the bed.

“This bed is really comfortable. No wonder you slept so slovenly.” Lowell muttered yet it still reached Mavis’s ear.

Mavis’s anxiousness immediately disappeared leading her to pull on the blanket leaving Lowell without cover.

The night passed and the sun came up just as quickly.

The third day arrived and surprisingly, Alexis is back. The two asks her about her whereabouts but she just told them about the preparation for Lowell’s memory spell. Alexis goads the two to go outside to help with the ritual.

Mavis had already asked about the ritual in their first night arriving at the city. Apparently it’s similar to a harvest ritual. The witches are doing this ritual not for them, but for the nearby villages in their protection. The ritual started under Alexis’s orders in order to convince the villagers for their cooperation.

Helping out with the ritual was tedious work. It mostly involved carrying tools and ritual equipment from one place to another. One thing that stood out to Mavis though was the lack of bullying from the other witches, the ones who dislike Alexis.

In the past few days that they’ve been here, those witches would usually give them the cold shoulder, some even threatening Mavis and Lowell. They were harmless though, not wanting to anger Alexis despite their clear disdain for her.

Without any disturbance, the ritual soon began as twilight came. A group of witches form a large circle wherein they started to chant a spell. Mavis and Lowell weren’t able to watch ‘till the end though as Alexis soon came for them and invited them back to her home.

Alexis led the two to her study as she brought out the materials needed for the spell. The materials were organic in nature and had to be crushed on a mortar. After, Alexis brushed the crushed powder onto her forehead and started chanting.

Everyone in the room started getting dizzy, eventually leading all of them to doze off. Now in this trance state, they were able to freely glide through Alexis’s memories, focusing solely on memories of Lowell.

The first memory starts with a young lady looking at a mirror. She kept on styling her hair in all different ways despite the first style, a princess-like curly style, being the best. This young lady looked so much like Alexis; still looking like the same as she does now. Was this memory recent? It couldn’t have been.

As she exited her room, she was met by another young lady who looked like a pilgrim. She was sporting a priest’s outfit but she’s donning armor on vulnerable areas of her body.

They went down the stairs of the inn they were staying at. They were then called to a nearby table by a tall, dark figure. The figure was at least eight feet tall and fully donned with heavy plate armor.

Coming from outside the inn was a well built man wearing leather armor. He meets the group as he puts his foot on the table. He hollered at the direction of the entrance.

At the entrance of the inn comes a slender young man. He was wearing a scholar’s robes. Without even introducing himself, he began talking to the group.

“Well met great adventurers! My good friend here told me you’d be able to help me with my predicament. It’s quite simple really. I need you all to accompany me to the Necropolis. My research led me to believe that there is an artifact in the area. Help me get it and you can keep everything else. All of you agree? Great! I’ll make sure to keep myself useful as a mage. Huh? My name? That’s right. I haven’t introduced myself, huh. Nice to meet you! I’m Lowell Hertia!”