“SHE’S RUNNING AWAY! WAIT – NO, SHE’S GOING FOR THE BROOM!”

Rum woke up at dawn to the same shouts that most of the elves woke up to. When his very sleepy mind managed to comprehend what was being said however, a jolt of energy shut up inside him, and he rushed to stand up.

“WHITE ROSE!” His voice was quick, but quiet. “Get up! Fast!”

Standing tall, Rum scanned his surroundings, which mostly just consisted of trees and bushes with a few elves running around in the background. Then, with a sudden FOFH!, the form of the young witch shot up from the trees in front of him, heading straight for the sky. It all happened within just a few seconds, but not long after the witch had taken towards the sky, multiple arrows flew towards her. Two arrows hit hit her abdomen and leg almost immediately, and thus, almost as soon as she’d set course for the freedom of the skies, Veish reversed direction, and made a controlled dive towards the ground.

“She’s gonna try to hide her flight within the trees!” Rum whispered, just loud enough for White Rose hear. Ze looked at his excitement, and put zes head to one side. “If we don’t do something fast, we’ll lose her!” Rum’s mind spiralled into thoughts of possible actions. The elves can’t outrun a broom. I have no ranged spells that’ll be useful. And I can’t use self-running legs on her; she’ll be out of sight and in an unknown location before I can lock her in.

Rum glanced over at his skeleton. “White Rose.” Rum spoke, putting speed in his voice. “I have a mission for you. I don’t know if you’ll be able to do it, but it’s going to be a test of your problem-solving skills. I’m giving you permission to punch people again – specifically, the new person here, the witch – I want you to run as fast as you can after her, and when you get close enough, grab her and punch her shoulder like you’ve practiced. Do you understand?”

The skeleton stared back at Rum for a couple of precious seconds, then nodded.

“Good. Okay. Then go! Go White Rose! Go after the witch!”

White Rose simply rotated her position in the direction they’d last seen the witch go, and without a moment to wait, the skeleton took a long step forward. As the skeleton took zes second step however, ze began speeding up. After just 5 steps ze was entering a rapid jog, and after 8 steps ze was sprinting. By the 12th step, White Rose was running faster than Rum himself had ever done in his entire life, and ze disappeared into the forest like a magic arrow let loose.

“I hope that wasn’t stupid of me.” Rum sighed to the nearby air in general. He stood there for a second, looking at the spot where White Rose had vanished. He listened to the sounds of elves shouting in the distance and the noises of twigs being broken and bushes being run into and through by all the elves and White Rose in pursuit. He stroked his beard, calmingly, while breathing out in relaxation. Not much for me to do but wait.

The mage didn’t have to wait long however, after less than 2 minutes, Rum heard the faint noises of somebody crashing into a bush somewhere, and then a woman screaming: “AAAH!” It was a pained voice, and it was soon followed by 3 sentences: “Go away! GO AWAY! STOP!”

“So then.” Rum said to himself, just before mild surprise caught him, as Alkiath stepped forward from the trees to his side. The elf walked over to him, casting glances over at the direction of the chase.

“I think I saw White Rose running.” The sub-committee leader opened.

“Yeah.” Rum responded, still stroking his beard. “And I think ze found her.”

Alkiath eyed Rum. “Seems so...” The elf paused a bit. “I must say though, I’ve never seen anyone run that fast. Again, the exception being high level adventurers, or the oldest most leveled of elves.”

“Enchantments.” Rum responded, volunteering no more info.

After a little while, Alkiath shook his head and went back to the camp. Rum, having nothing better to do, decided to follow. It took a wait of a few minutes before the elves returned, along with a bloodied defeated Veish, and an innocent-looking disguised skeleton. Veish, being carried in arms of Urvanom like a sour-faced bloodied bride, sent vengeful eyes after the skeleton as White Rose walked nonchalantly past the witch and over at Rum; zes wizard-guardian. From what Rum could see, Veish was clearly too messed up to walk properly, her shoulder predictably having been utterly shattered by the power of The White Rose Fist (or at least that’s what Rum nicknamed the phenomenon in his head).

When White Rose over at the witch and saw her hostile expression, along with getting the few non-magical curse words subsequently sent in zes direction, the skeleton couldn’t help but be a little confused. Ze put zes head to the side and stared back at the woman, as if not comprehending what was the big fuzz. Rum, standing next to White Rose, stroked his beard while imagining the skeleton thinking: What’s the big deal? It’s just an arm! You had 2 of them! You still have 1 left, and my wizard daddy fixes arms.

Rum gave his skeleton a slight smile of the lips. “Well, good job I suppose.” White Rose turned and stared back at zes wizard guardian. “You solved the problem. Now, don’t punch anymore people, not even the witch. This time was only an exception. I don’t think she will do much to necessitate a second punch, after all.”

“Aaaah” the witch moaned and complained, staring at her own messed up shoulder and clearly being disturbed by it. Along with pain, her expression also gave of a hint of sorrow, as if mourning it. Rum stepped over to the witch – still carried in Urvanom’s arms – and put a hand gently down on her shoulder, mumbling “Trinity of Healing”. Veish responded with an expression first of plain surprise, and then what could only be described as a half-skeptical, half-relieved look. She knew that she had needed it, but perhaps did not want to risk admitting by expression that she had needed it from her enemy.

“Don’t worry.” Rum said. “My healing spell will make quick work of the damage.”

Urvanom put the witch down next to a tree, and a couple of elves came with ropes, which they immediately tied her up with, though being careful not to disturb the magical healing process.

“What a morning.” Udevi commented, shaking her head and looking down at their prisoner. “Have anyone thought about how we will transport her? Isn’t the point here that we don’t want her to be jailed up down in Andertun? We can’t march a tied up prisoner into the city, and not expect the guards to ask questions. Questions which we don’t have answers for.”

A few elves and Rum gathered about Udevi, making thinking expressions at Veish, and occasionally giving each other thinking glances as well.

“How about we just keep her tied up, but hidden under the equipment on the wagon?” An elf suggested.

“Hm. Could work.” Arrovani commented.

“Probably would work” another elf agreed.

“I could make the spot she’s lying on really soft.” Rum volunteered, putting a hand up and letting a tiny bit of mana leak out into a magical glimmer.

The party did not deliberate much further. They agreed to hiding Veish under the equipment. Or rather, they did so up until Arrovani, standing on top of the equipment wagon and clearing space, lifted up a large, but mostly empty sack. “What about we put her inside the sack?”

“Isn’t that a bit unnecessary?” Urvanom responded from behind the wagon. “Seems a little bit cruel to force her into a sack all that way.”

Arrovani stared at the sack he was holding. “We’ll take out the apples, of course.”

“I was more thinking about how confined and uncomfortable it’ll be. She’ll have poor air and hardly any space to move.”

“We shot her in the stomach earlier this morning!” Arrovani retorted. “How can this be any worse? If she escapes we may have to shoot her again.”

Alkiath, Udevi and another elf walked over to behind the wagon where Urvanom conversed with Arrovani.

“I–“ Alkiath began, “–don’t think she’ll be running away again. We’ll tie rope around her arms and chest tightly, however, we can leave her legs free. If we tie the rope to the wagon, and have a few comrades take turns, say 2 at a time, watching her closely – I think that’d be enough.”

Arrovani looked half-disappointed at the sack.

“Well” Udevi said, “we could perhaps put her in the sack when we get close to Ermos. A few adventurers and merchants catching a glimpse of her on the road won’t be a problem, but covering her under the equipment might not be enough when there are more eyes and more authorities to bother us.”

“She has a point” Arrovani said, and gestured with the sack towards Alkiath.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.” Alkiath relented after a few seconds. “You okay with that Urvanom?” He looked over at the old elf.

“If we must.”

And so they agreed on a plan. The elves continued packing, and finished within 10 minutes. They tied the witch to the spot Arrovani had cleared, and covered her in shields and other sacks. A couple elves were put on prisoner duty, and the rest of the elves got on board the wagons. And thus, with but a gentle poke at their horses, the party began their long trip back home.

And the trip was rather uneventful journey. Veish was untied and allowed to eat with the elves and Rum for meals, and stretch her legs when the party took a break. She slept together with the elves, though with her feet tied up, and was otherwise given a descent level of comfort thanks to Rum’s “Softify” and “Magical Blanket” spells.

Throughout their journey they came across a few parties of dungeoneers. And every time they did come across one, they stopped the wagon and asked for the other party’s heading. Most were headed for Luk’s Twin Dungeons, level 35-50, or The Ormar Dungeons, level 50-60. These were long-standing upper mid-level dungeons that lay much further south and west, on the border of the long wide strip of land called The Wild Corridor, which separated the ocean from The Desolate Lands, and consisted of forests, numerous fishing villages, guild strongholds and small fortified towns, and connected Ermos by land the countries of the far south and south-west.

Only one party of 7 people were heading for Jorteg’s Dungeon. For these people, the elves took a long time explaining all the events they’d been through, minus the unnecessary detail of Veish, and plus what they’d heard from the wrecked double parties they’d met on the road a few days earlier.

“The place is getting more dangerous” Udevi told them.

“They should rethink the 30-40 level recommendation." Arrovani added, continuing: “The level recommendations are based on levels of a party of 5, right? We were 12. Even if some of us were under level, ours was a desperate struggle. Those battles... we might not’ve won them twice.”

Suffice to say, after that when the 2 parties separated, the 7 dungeoneers who’d left Ermos City in high sprits, continued on their way in a new, rather grim mood.

“We’re back. I see the Koro Neighbourhood. Their houses are over there, see?” Urvanom, sitting front seat on the first wagon, pointed for the other elves.

“Aaah!” Arrovani exclaimed, quiet excitement in his voice. “Time to bag the witch then!”

The wagon stopped, Arrovani full of energy got off, and some other elves followed, as they went over the second wagon with their equipment, and bagged Veish, against protests. An hour later they moved into the city. There, nobody looked to be giving them much of an eye. Some did of course, because sure, green-elves are common in this city, but not many of them travel in groups as large as this and armed. Rum reflected. However, no amount of attention gave rise to issues.

“So” Alkiath said, sitting on the wagon with most of the elves, and looking over at Rum, who had the bony bum of White Rose on his lap. “We go home to you first then? You agreed to first custody, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Rum said, and suddenly realized he hadn’t given much thought to where he would place Veish, once she was now in his care.

“Then we just ride to the shop door and drop you 3 off there? Or we’ll help carry the witch wherever you want her.”

Rum stroked his beard. Pondering the problem.

“I think–“ he began, “–we should go in through the backdoor. On the other side. I’m not sure my little brother would appreciate what I’m bringing to his shop today.”

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Alkiath raised an eyebrow. “It won’t be a problem, will it? He won’t stand in the way of our plan?”

“Well...” Rum almost admitted, then stopped himself, and tried again. “I am confident that I can convince my little brother of the merits of granting sanctuary. I mean, he’s already granting sanctuary to one creature, so 2 is basically just a quantitive difference, not a principal one.”

Alkiath raised his eyebrow even higher. “Who else is he giving sanctuary to?”

Rum opened his mouth, and realized he’d almost spilled the beans. He shut it, and then mumbled: “Just a friend.”

Alkiath nodded, then took the hint, lowered his eyebrow, and looked out at the streets where they were driving.

They arrived at dusk on the street behind Amez’ shop. There Rum and White Rose stepped off. Urvanom ran over to the second wagon, took a long step onboard, then gently made his way over to the sack, whereupon he whispered to Veish: “We’ve arrived at the sanctuary. Please keep quiet while we move you inside.” Soon after, 4 elves picked up Veish, a.k.a. The Sack of Witch, and together they carried her towards the door. Udevi stepped over to Rum just as he was about to open the backdoor. “You want these? Magic is your specialty, after all.” In her left- and right hands she held the wand and the broom.

“Hmm.” Rum considered out loud briefly. “Sure, I’ll take them.” He grabbed both, before handing each over to White Rose, which then held them.

Opening the backdoor, Rum waved the elven quartet inside after first waving the skeleton in.

“Where you want her?” Said one of the elves carrying.

“I’ve been thinking about it, but first, let’s dump her out of the sack and onto the bed.”

The elves did as Rum had suggested, and put down the sack on the bed, before opening it up at the top where Veish’s head and tied hands peeked out, before the elves pulled at the sack’s bottom, uncovering in full the woman that’d been hidden within.

“Now, I think the only safe space here would be the closet. We’ll have to start with that.”

“You’re gonna hide her in the closet?” Udevi said, stepping in from behind the other elves.

“Yeah, at least right now. At least before I’ve told my little brother what’s going on.”

Veish just looked on at the conversation with a sour but curious expression. Rum looked at her. “Stand up, Veish.” He said. “This is your last chance to stretch your legs before night.”

“How will you keep her from escaping though?” One of the elves who’d been carrying asked.

“White Rose may not be particularly smart at the moment” Rum explained, “but I have a strong feeling that ze will make the most excellent closet-guard. I think that if I ask ze to: nobody in this world that isn’t a powerful adventurer or high-level mage would get out of that closet. And this young witch seems to fit neither description.”

“Okay.” The elf responded, not really willing to question Rum’s statement.

After the elves left, Veish got up and out of bed. She walked about and forth in an elongated circle next the bed and gave each leg a little shake while she did. Rum and White Rose just stared at her, Rum watchful, White Rose... well... whatever goes on in that magical brain.

“It’s a little uncomfortable being stared at so much, you know.” Veish complained, though quietly.

“I know.” Rum responded, and then pondered for a second. “Or I think I know what you mean. I never thought much about the staring so much when I was a prisoner. Anyways, as a prisoner here, it’s kind-of important that at least some of us do keep an eye on you. Although I’ll give you as much privacy as you can find once you’re inside the closet.”

“Is that really the best place you have for me? Try imaging yourself staying in a closet for gods-know-how-long. Hours? Days? Weeks!?”

“I’ll look for better solutions. But right now, it’s either the closet, or never seeing light again down in Andertun’s prison dungeon. The closet is all that I can provide, for now at least.”

“Are you taking those for yourself?” She nodded at White Rose, which was standing there holding the wand and the broom.

“Hmm.” Rum thought. “Depends whether they were rightfully acquired.”

“They were. Or, rather, the wand’s a gift from Jorteg. They say he makes all our wands himself. The broom is from Grandma Maydee.”

“And she is?”

“One of our 3 elder witches. They guide us younger ones.”

“So origins not fully known. Hmm.” Rum stroked his beard. “I suppose I’ll confiscate them. But they may be returned to you later, if you’d still want them.”

Rum stepped over to White Rose and inspected the wand and the broom with his eyes. “The wand seems a bit cheap...” He gave the wand a long stare. “I’m not a wand-maker, but we could probably make you a new, better one.” He shifted his gaze over to the broom. “Looks like a very basic enchantment here. Of course flight enchantments are rather troublesome I’ve heard, so while it is basic, it’s a very valuable enchantment. However, it doesn’t go very far. If it is your wish to fly – a dangerous lifestyle if you ask me – then I’m sure me and my little brother could make a better enchantment as well as a better wand, and certainly a more comfortable seat would be in order. I mean: sitting on a piece stick, and feeling gravity push your entire body down on your genitals and buttcrack – that must be very uncomfortable.”

The witch looked away, mouth open in a breath, appearing perhaps a bit embarrassed. Rum noticed a faint blush.

“By your reaction I conclude that genital- and buttcrack squeezing is indeed a problem. What this broom needs” Rum tapped at the long hard wood, “before any new enchantments, is an actual seat. You could’ve just taken a chair seat and made it a little smaller, put some tight straps around the wood, and it would already be an improvement.”

Rum continued to study the 2 pieces of magical material for a few seconds, lifting them, rotating them around, putting the broom to the floor and actually trying to sweep with it. He turned back to Veish. “I’ve always wondered this. Do witches actually sweep with their brooms?”

Veish stared back at Rum for a long moment, not saying anything, just trying to get to grips with the situation and with what this wizard in front her was trying to do.

“Well, do you?”

Veish closed her lips and looked to be thinking with her mouth for a bit. “If we need to” she finally responded, “I suppose we do.”

“And why a broom? It’s easy to carry, I get that, but why not a shovel? At least that has a built-in seat-substitute.”

“A shovel?” Veish raised an eyebrow. “No witch rides a shovel. Also that wouldn’t work. When we fly, we have to sit on the middle, or else the broom will tip over.”

“Aaah, yeah of course. Center of gravity issue. But why not ride something like a big pillow? It wouldn’t be much more difficult to carry, and waaay more comfortable.”

“Yeah, well... big pillows are still big!” Veish defended. “Clumsy to carry around. And either way, The Witches of The Dungeon Lords ride brooms, that’s how it’s always been.”

Rum stroked his beard. “Seems like we’ve already established more or less that brooms are uncomfortable though. I’d call it a bad working environment, if they really force you to use this, when the hazards are so obvious.” He knocked on the long hard wood again. Veish rolled her eyes. “But you’re not working there anymore, are you? As of today, you have a choice to make, and you better make it within a few days so this doesn’t drag on. Option 1: you choose to integrate with our society, or option 2: you remain a Witch of The Dungeon Lords, but you do so in Andertun.”

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Rum and Veish both jumped as hard noise came from the workshop door. “Ah!” Rum voiced. “It’s my little brother! He can’t see you – not yet!” Rum’s whole body tensed up and he put his left hand to his lip, tapping it with rapid speed, thinking on overdrive. Veish just looked from the door to Rum, and then back to the door, and then at Rum again, big eyes, tense body, ready to react. “You have to get into the closet” Rum whispered with haste, and gestured hurriedly at the closet, awkwardly positioned right next to the door. Stratching the back of his head for thoughts and not quite knowing what to do himself, Rum stood useless for a brief precious second, before his instincts took over and he jumped at a decision. He bolted for the door, putting his foot down next to it in the nick of time. THUD! complained the door, as whoever tried to open it had failed, blocked by Rum’s foot.

“Rum? You there?” Amez’ voice. “I’m hearing lots of noises from the bedroom. Just wanted to talk to you before I go home for the night.”

Rum continued waving for the closet, gesturing for Veish to hurry. The witch followed him, walked up to the closet, open it and then stared inside. Rum continued gesturing.

“Yeah, but...” she shook her head and looked displeased.

Rum gestured at the door with both hands and big eyes, trying to convey the urgency of the situation. The witch relented and then contorted her body some to make herself smaller, apparently trying to squeeze herself inside.

THUD! Amez tried opening the door again. Veish was having problems closing the closet from inside. Rum took a risk, he stepped with rapid speed away from the door and over to the closet, ever so quietly closing it. And just in time, a second before the door flew open, the wizard managed to turn around, lean against the closet, put a hand to his beard and pretend to be in deep thought.

Amez fast stepped into the bedroom, looked around, found his big brother and eyed him with annoyance. “Rum, you didn’t hear me?”

Rum turned his head slowly over to Amez, raising an eyebrow as if knowing nothing of what was going on. “Hmm?”

“The door was stuck and I asked if you were in here, I got no answers!”

“Oh. Well. Sorry about that. I was just reminiscing about something important. I kinda lost track of everything.”

“Okay? Well, anyways. You’re back! Already? Your dungeon trips are always so short. The adventurers at the bar always go for trips that take weeks, or months at a time.”

“Aaah, yeah. No, Jorteg’s Dungeon is one over the closer dungeons. And the first day of fighting tends to be enough.” Rum relaxed his posture.

Amez looked around and found White Rose, he pointed at ze, curious. “What’s that? Why is White Rose carrying a broom and a stick?”

“Wand.” Rum corrected him.

“Why do you have a wand and a broom?”

“Eeeh. You know, mage stuff. It’s for magical purposes.”

Amez stepped closer to White Rose, took the wand out of zes hand, and inspected it up close. “A magical wand. That’s pretty cool. I’ve never seen one up close before. Where did you get it?”

“We defeated a witch.”

“Cool! Are selling it or keeping it?”

“Keeping.” Rum strode over to Amez, and looked at the wand as Amez slowly rotated it in his fingers.

“What about this though?” Amez put the wand back into White Rose’s hand, and grabbed the broom. “I can sense the enchantments on this one.”

“It’s a flying broom.”

“WOW. Really?” Amez looked at it, fascinated. “I’ve never done a flight enchantment before. Could I study it? You keeping it too?”

“Sure. And yeah, I’m keeping it.”

“Aaah.” Amez produced a brief little sigh. “Really, I’m tired from working all day.” He put the broom back into White Rose’s hand. “So can’t do it now. But, tomorrow? You’re not planning on using it are you?”

“No no. Take a look. Learn what you can.”

“Excellent!” Amez face was tired, and yet, he managed to produce a big excited smile. “But wait, what’s this?” Amez grabbed White Rose’s right gloved hand, and looked its knuckles more closely. “There’s blood on the glove.”

Rum leaned over and looked a little closer. And sure, there was blood.

“Who does it belong to.”

“That, my little brother, is a question with multiple answers. None of which are particularly important.”

“Ooo-kay.” Amez glanced at Rum, a little suspicious.

“Okay.” Rum echoed, innocently.

Amez did not converse much more, but went home. Although, before he did so, he demanded of his big brother that the next day: “I want to hear EVERYTHING. Over drinks at The Minotaur’s Feast. Okay?”

“Sure.”

After Amez left the bedroom, and Rum watching him walk out of the shop’s front door, the mage stepped back over to the closet. He opened the door. “Hey. So. This is where you sleep tonight.”

“What!?” the witch responded, face shocked, dismayed and about to get angry. “I can’t sleep in here!”

“Well. As we talked about, you have to. I’m using the one spare bed, and White Rose... well ze doesn’t need much sleep, or a bed. But you, you have to stay hidden. And until me and the elves can trust you, you have to stay somewhere you can’t easily run away.”

“But have you seen all the stuff inside here!?” And Rum did indeed see all the stuff inside there. There were boxes stacked with what Rum presumed to be old tattoo equipment, there were perfumes, a set of make-up products, a box of what Rum could only presume to be lost-and-found women’s underwear (Amez have had female nighttime companions over here?), cloths for cleaning, shoes and sets of different shirts, jackets, pants and even a couple of robes. The attires seemed to be for all kinds of situations: from work, to ordinary tavern visits, to wealthy people’s parties.

“Don’t worry. Here: Magical Blanket” Rum threw the item of comfort after conjuring it out of thin air. “Use this to keep yourself warm.” Rum then went down on a knee, and stretching out his hand, he started touching the wood everywhere around the witch. “Softify. Softify. Softify. Softify.” After being all done, Rum thought he had made about the softest, most comfy wooden closet in existence, at least when it came to resting against the wooden material. He didn’t think there was much he could do about the tight space though, which didn’t allow for much movement. Taking items out will risk questions from Amez. He stroked his beard for a couple of thoughtful seconds, before giving up on the thought. “And now.” He brought his hands onto Veish’s shoulder. “Mana Requisition.” The witch’s eyes went down and looked at his hand with a weird expression. Then, when she seemed to catch on to what was happening, the weird face turned to disgust, and she violently SMACK! the hand away.

“Auh.” Rum complained, retracting his hand.

“What are you doing to me!?”

“Pacifying you.” Rum responded, as if it was obvious.

“Well, STOP!”

Rum raised an eyebrow. “You’re not really in a position to say no – you’re the dangerous one here, remember.”

“And what are you, then? A hero attacking a prisoner? I thought you were of The Good Guys.”

“Nah.” Rum waved his hand dismissively. “Different book. Different author.”

“So what’re you doing with that spell? You’re just gonna take my essence!? Violate my body like some vampire who’s gone tired of blood and begun a mana diet? How did you even acquire such power? I’ve never heard of anyone who can take another’s mana.”

“I created it to automate enchantment recharging. Now: I don’t trust you with your full mana intact. So either you submit to being drained – I’ve already done it once and you came out fine I believe – or White Rose and I march you to the nearest authority interested in you. And I promise: there are many such authorities – and you know that. Ermos was built by refugees fleeing the dungeon lords’ conquest of The Three Lost Cities. There is no end here to groups that want to punish those who side with the dungeon lords. Do you want to stay in Andertun until you’re old and grey, sacrificing all that’s left of your youth to the pointless ticking away of time?”

“No.” Veish slumped, and took on a defeated face that mixed in anguish, and even depression. “I’d rather die.”

“Then would you rather lose a bit of mana also, temporarily? You and I both would sleep better from this. I feel confident of it.”

Veish pouted. “Fine!”

Rum touched her shoulder again. “Mana Requisition.” The process was slow and carefully carried out. Rum had a theory that any attempt at rapidly draining mana would highly risk damaging a person’s mana integrity, possibly disabling parts of the healthy functioning of their mana threads – permanently. Or at least until somehow healed. And Rum wanted no such damage to befall the young witch, or any prisoner for that matter, while there’s even a sliver of redemption possibility left.

As Veish sat there, and simply endured the drain, she slowly, very slowly, started to lose her expression. Her face going faint as her consciousness faded with the last pieces of her mana. “There. Now go to sleep. And when you regain your mana, please don’t try to break the closet with magic. White Rose will stand guard, and ze WILL know if you try to escape.”

“Whatever.” The witch mumbled, before resting her head to the side. And if not immediately sleeping, then at least she had begun that slow descent down into the world of slumber.

Rum closed the closet. “White Rose. Please stand here and make sure that Veish – our new flatmate inside – does not try to get out.” White Rose stepped over to the closet door, and then just stared at it. And so ze would do for the entire rest of the night.

Rum meanwhile let himself fall backwards onto the bed. He conjured a “Magical Blanket” and draped it over himself, closing his eyes.

He sighed, deeply. Then mumbled: “What responsibilities have I gotten myself into.”