Atraeya awoke to the most rancid, putrid stretch she had ever had the displeasure of smelling. It wasn't even dawn, yet the odor was so strong as to wake her from her sleep. Something of a mix between a dead animal and food that had been moldy for a few weeks. Except worse. She gagged and covered her nose as she sat up. It was a truly awful stench that permeated the entire house. Just where was it coming from?

Just then, gramps came out in his pajamas, a candle in one hand and clutching his nose in the other. "What's going on out here?"

Atraeya shrugged. "It stinks so bad it woke me up. I've never smelled something this awful before." Not even the city smelled that bad. Together they searched around the house for a few minutes, but nothing was out of place, nor had anything snuck in. "Maybe it's coming from outside?"

"I sure hope nothing died on our doorstep…" Gramps mumbled, and made his way to the front. He cracked the door open, wary to find anything strange. Nothing seemed wrong, so he opened the door a little more, and stuck his candle out. Atraeya peeked from behind. At first glance she didn't see anything, but somehow, someway, the stench was even worse outside. She nearly gagged, and covered her entire lower face with her hands. It didn't help, of course.

They continued their search, carefully investigating the edges around the house for anything that tried to sneak in or had died. They couldn't find anything. "I feel it," gramps said. Atraeya stopped and looked at him, her face puzzled. "That same feeling as before. I thought I told you to toss out that potion in the woods."

He felt the mana? "But I did! I went all the way to the cottage out there before I dumped it."

Just then, shouts came from the distance, and footsteps raced up to them. A boy, a little older than Poe, came over. "Trina thinks it's a witch. Town meeting in the square," the boy said before rushing off to the next neighbor.

Cold sweat trickled down Atraeya's neck. Things had gone from bad to worse. Gramps will surely kick her out now. No one liked a trouble maker like her, so he would definitely point fingers at her to save his own skin. She dared to spare a glance at him. He looked… defeated. Her own body slumped over as the realization hit her. Where would they take her? Would they even keep her alive? "Wh-who's Trina?" She dared to ask.

"Trina's the chief. She handles most of our problems, and the ones she can't she asks our Lady. She's probably already called for her. Come now, let's hurry up and change." Gramps headed back inside. Should she pack? She wanted to grab her wand and book, but that could only implicate her even more. It would need to be left behind. And she didn't even have a bag to pack things in. Would she need to run off with nothing again? Gramps shouted for her to hurry up, snapping her out of her thoughts.

The two of them quickly got dressed, and headed toward the town square. Or, what could be called as such for a small village in the middle of nowhere. Really it was just a big space of compacted dirt in front of someone's house. Possibly the person in charge of the place. Streaks of light had crested the horizon by the time most folks showed up. Some even covered their nose with handkerchiefs. Atraeya had grown used to the smell, but judging by people's faces, most hadn't.

"It's a witch! I feel the mana in the air!" someone said.

"One of those children must've been playing around and cursed our air," someone else said.

"Calm down, Trina. How do we know the old witch hasn't come back?"

"It's been a dozen years Ricky, she must be in a different country by now. But there are a number of children of awakening age here in this village," a fourth person said.

"Don't you be putting my children up to blame! My Poe wouldn't dare make any of that witch brew nonsense." Atraeya recognized Mira's voice. She was a couple of feet away, arms crossed and glaring at the one who had spoken before. Poe stood beside her, clutching to her skirt and eyes wide, taking in all the people talking over each other.

Atraeya couldn't do so though. Any minute they might find out it was her. Gramps might decide to put the blame all on her and end this whole scene. She didn't dare look at him though.

"I've never seen you before…" a voice said. Suddenly eyes all around turned toward her, downcast. Staring. Judging. They seemed to close in around her, accusations just at the tip of their tongue.

"She's my granddaughter. Her mother sent her over to help me out."

If they heard gramps over all the ruckus they didn't say anything. Their eyes squinted, as if they tried to feel for any mana around her. She was glad she left her wand at home.

"What's all this?" A voice cut through the crowd like a knife. Everyone turned to see a woman on a horse approach, wavy blond hair down to her back, clad in a loose orange dress. Her face was half covered by her draping sleeves, evidently surprised by the smell of the area. A second woman sat on horseback to the side and slightly behind. She took out a book and quill, ready to write at a moment's notice. As well as two guards that flanked the rear, also on horseback, clad in chainmail armor and a spear in hand. The crowd kneeled for her, as Trina made her way to their Lady.

"My Lady, it's a witch! One has come to our village and poisoned our air. We beg you to save us." Trina kneeled.

"Has the old bat come back? When did this foul air begin?"

"We have not seen hide nor hair of the witch we have previously run out. But there are a number of children around awakening age. And this stench had arrived at some point in the night, My Lady."

"Round them up," the Lady said. She hopped off her horse, prompting the others to follow her lead. Quickly the children were brought to her, and forced to kneel. Poe was one of them. Atraeya had tried to sneak back, but one person noticed and grabbed her arm, yanking her forward.

Poe looked at her with wide, scared eyes. He must be trying to figure it out as well. A new girl arrives, they find a book, and now suddenly the neighbors start throwing witch accusations. If gramps didn't rat her out, surely Poe and Mira would. Atraeya focused her attention back to the Lady that approached them.

She looked beautiful, though her face was still scrunched up at the smell. All the kids were placed in a line in front of her. She stopped in front of each one, and studied them. The guards behind her glared much more fiercely. Atraeya was trembling by the time the Lady stopped in front. Her eyes squinted, and she stood by her just a little longer than she did the others. Time ground to a halt. Silence so loud she could hear the grass across the bridge rustling in the wind. Atraeya shut her eyes for the moment her world would come crashing down.

But it never did. The Lady continued down the line and observed a few other kids, one of which was on the younger side and lost control of their bladder. "There are no witches among these children." The crowd became uneasy at that statement. She held up her hand to silence them. "This foul air does not seem to be harmful except on one's sense of smell. Do not bother me again with such trivialities, especially at the break of dawn." The Lady of Verdantvale spared one last glance toward Atraeya before mounting her horse and heading back home.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Once she was sufficient distance away, the folks around Atraeya began to grumble their discontent with their Lady.

"I can't believe she would just ignore us like that!"

"I wish the Lord were here. He would have found the witch and gotten rid of it."

"Yeah! What kind of investigation was that?"

"Trina, how could you accuse our own children of being a witch right on front of our Lady?"

Atraeya listened as all manner of arguments broke out, with Trina mostly being on the defensive. They seemed upset that any one of their children could be a witch, but also didn't want to believe a witch moved back in. Just what was it were they looking for then?

Gramps had put his hand on her shoulder before long, and nodded for them to go back home. "Before anyone starts pointing fingers at you," he had said some ways away from the crowd.

She followed after him in a daze. She was still alive? Nobody found out? It was only when they were both safely inside did she speak up. "You… didn't tell them I was a witch. Why?"

Gramps slowly turned to face her. Sadness etched into his wrinkles, for just a moment, before his face morphed into annoyance. "If I did that then I'd have to let everyone search my house, and I'd be arrested for harboring a witch," he said matter-of-factually. Atraeya's shoulders slumped. "You made a mistake, but you're just learning. That's expected, so no need to twist your stomach in a knot over it." Gramps shook his head and headed for his room, mumbling to himself.

Gramps had stood up for her, in his own way. But the lesson she learned was that potions were dangerous, to herself and those around her. Especially if she didn't know what she was doing. Gramps could have died, and the mess she made practically dug her an early grave. Atraeya glanced at the book and wand she hid under her bidding. No magic. Not right now, at least. It was too scary. She didn't want to hurt gramps again. No, instead she will try to learn how to read. Once she could read the recipes in the book, then she would make something simple.

Atraeya nodded to herself. It was a solid plan. One that she hated, since reading and studying were so boring. But it had to be done. First she would need to figure out all the letters, and find a way to memorize them and their sounds. She didn't have any ink and paper, but gramps carved wood. Maybe she could carve out the letters instead? She would need to find some wood for that though.

It had been a few days since she went to the forest with the rest of the kids. They should all be awake after experiencing that crowd. And this time she could get actual food, instead of just a stick. "Gramps! I'm going out!" Atraeya shouted. She began rummaging around for a basket she could take. The memory of everyone swapping various food had left an impression on her, and she didn't want to be left out again.

Before gramps could say anything, she had found a suitable basket and rushed out the door. Dawn had peeked over the horizon, giving way to light yellows and pale blues. It was mostly bright out by now, but the cool night air still brushed past her face as she dashed to Poe's house.

Mira opened the door. "Oh! Atraeya," she smiled. "It's nice to see you, dearie. What brings you here?"

"Can Poe come out? I wanted to go the forest with everyone."

Mira turned around for a moment, but now her smile was a bit awkward. "Poe is still eating. But you can come in and wait if you'd like." Oh. That's what she forgot. As if on cue, her stomach growled. Mira laughed as she ushered her inside. "I'll get you a bowl as well. I see you were so excited you forgot to eat, hm?"

Atraeya blushed and took a seat beside Poe. He had been shoveling food in his mouth, with barely any time at all to chew or swallow. "You're gonna choke like that one day."

As his mouth was too full to speak, his mother spoke for him. "That's what I keep telling him, but he never listens." Mira shook her head as a bowl of oatmeal was placed in front of Atraeya. Poe did the only thing he could do. He glared at her, continuing to shovel food in his mouth.

"Atraeya do you… know how to read?" Mira asked. She wrung her nervous hands together. It's clear she didn't want to ask this, but with what happened this morning, her curiosity about the book she saw must've been too great.

"Um. No… My parents didn't think I would be running the shop so they didn't want to teach me."

Mira slumped, her eyes wide at how openly Atraeya spoke. "I see. That's too bad. Knowing how to read would give you far more opportunities than this backwater village could. I'm sorry your parents didn't think so."

Poe snorted. "You grabbed that book and you don't even know how to read?"

"Stop it Poe. Lots of folks around here can't read."

"Do you know how to read?" Atraeya asked.

"Oh, no, not really. I can sign my name but that's it."

Atraeya gasped. That's it! That's how she can start to learn the sounds of letters. Well, some of them. "Can you teach me?!" she blurted out.

Mira rapidly blinked for a few moments. "Me? But I just said I don't know how to read."

"I just want to know your name! Please?" she pleaded. Poe looked at her weirdly and Mira looked about ready to give in. Eventually she sighed.

"Fine. But only if you can find something to write on that isn't paper. I don't have any ink."

Atraeya cheered and hollered. She was now desperate to go in that forest. Maybe there were other folks in town who knew their name. It would make learning to read much easier. She began to eat as fast as she could, but Poe had a sizable head start on her. It was no surprise he was done first. Mira made him do the dishes while she finished, and then they were both out of there.

They went around to other houses and got the other kids, who were all too desperate to get away from the village that was eager to turn on them. This time, Atraeya was able to run all the way from the river to the forest. She still couldn't keep up, but at least no one had to stop on her account.

A shiver passed through her as she entered the shade. Inside the forest was much cooler than out. The morning dew caught the few rays of sun that managed to pass through the canopy. The birds had awoken and sung their morning songs. Atraeya had never been here so early in the morning. There was a certain peacefulness among the trees. She could feel herself calming down and all of her distressed thoughts from this morning melted away.