Yuki stood in front of the cracked mirror in Milda's bedroom, trying to make sense of her reflection. The woman staring back at her wore a simple dark green dress with practical pockets and a fitted bodice, her short black hair freshly washed and combed. She looked like she belonged in this world, which was... unsettling.

"You look almost presentable," Milda commented, hovering nearby. "Though in my day, proper witches wore their hair long. More dignified."

"Well, in my day, proper pharmacists wear their hair however they want," Yuki retorted, smoothing the unfamiliar fabric. The dress fit surprisingly well, if a bit snug around the bust. "Are you sure this is appropriate for a village feast?"

"Of course it is. That's my third-best festival dress." The ghost circled Yuki critically. "You should wear the pendant too. In the jewelry box on the dresser."

Yuki sighed but went to look. Inside the dusty wooden box, she found a simple silver pendant shaped like a mortar and pestle. "Really? That's a bit on the nose, isn't it?"

"It's the symbol of your position," Milda insisted. "The Witch of Remedies always wears it at official functions."

Reluctantly, Yuki put on the necklace. It felt unexpectedly warm against her skin.

"Now you're starting to look the part," Milda said with approval.

"Great," Yuki muttered. "All I need now is actual magical knowledge to back up the outfit."

"You did fine yesterday," Fenrir commented from where he lounged on her bed. The wolf had claimed the best spot on the mattress and refused to move, even when Yuki tried to change clothes. She'd eventually given up and used the washroom instead.

"I got lucky with the moonglow cure," Yuki said. "What happens when someone comes in with something that's not in the book?"

"Then you experiment," Fenrir yawned. "That's what witches do."

"Experimenting in pharmacy usually leads to lawsuits or death," Yuki pointed out. "Or both."

"Details, details." The wolf stretched lazily. "Are you going to bring me back anything from this feast? I'm thinking roast lamb. Or venison. Or both."

"I'm not smuggling food out of a celebration in my honor," Yuki said, though the very concept of a feast celebrating her still felt absurd.

A knock at the shop door downstairs interrupted their conversation.

"That'll be your escort," Milda said. "The village elder always accompanies the witch to official functions."

Yuki took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's get this over with."

"Such enthusiasm," Fenrir remarked dryly. "Truly, you embody the dignity of witchcraft."

"You're not helping." Yuki headed for the stairs, then paused. "Are you coming?"

The wolf considered this. "Will there be food scraps thrown my way if I accompany the honored witch?"

"Probably."

"Then yes." Fenrir hopped off the bed and trotted to her side. "I shall grace the villagers with my magnificent presence."

Downstairs, Yuki found Hazel waiting at the door, dressed in what was clearly her finest outfit—a blue dress with embroidered flowers and a matching shawl.

"Oh, my dear!" Hazel exclaimed when she saw Yuki. "You look just like—" She stopped herself. "Well, you look very nice. And you're wearing the pendant! Perfect."

"Thank you for coming to get me," Yuki said. "I'm not sure I could find the feast on my own."

"It's in the village square," Hazel explained. "Everyone's been cooking all day. We haven't had a proper celebration in years—not since Old Milda passed."

As they walked through the village, Yuki tried to ignore the stares and whispers that followed her. Children peeked from behind their parents' legs, pointing at her and especially at Fenrir, who strutted alongside her like royalty.

"Is that a wolf?" Yuki heard someone whisper.

"It's her familiar," another voice replied. "The legends said the Witch's familiar was a creature of the night sky."

Fenrir's ears perked up at this, and he somehow managed to look even more smug.

The village square had been transformed. Long tables formed a U-shape around a central space where a fire pit blazed. Lanterns hung from poles and nearby trees, casting a warm glow over everything. Every villager seemed to be present, dressed in their best clothes, and the tables were loaded with food—roast meats, vegetables, breads, and pies.

"There she is!" someone called as Yuki approached. A cheer went up from the gathered villagers.

Yuki forced a smile, fighting the urge to turn and run back to the shop. This was all too much. She wasn't a witch, she wasn't their savior, and she definitely didn't deserve a feast.

"Just smile and nod," Fenrir murmured. "Humans love that."

Hazel led her to a place of honor at the center table, where the village officials were seated. To Yuki's dismay, Prince Elias was already there, his formal blue and gold attire even more elaborate than yesterday. Next to him sat a portly man with a impressive mustache who wore a chain of office around his neck.

"Witch," the portly man said, standing to bow deeply. "I am Mayor Thistleton. It is my great honor to welcome you to our humble celebration."

"Thank you," Yuki said, taking the seat Hazel indicated. "This is... overwhelming."

"Nonsense!" the mayor boomed. "Nothing is too good for the Witch of Remedies. Your return brings hope to our village." He clapped his hands, and servers began bringing out more dishes. "Let the feast begin!"

The food was simple but delicious—hearty stews, fresh bread, roasted vegetables, and sweet pastries. Yuki found herself genuinely hungry for the first time since arriving in this world. Fenrir settled under the table, where villagers "discreetly" passed him choice bits of meat.

"I must say," Prince Elias said, leaning toward Yuki, "you seem to be adapting remarkably well. Most interdimensional travelers experience severe disorientation for weeks."

"I'm still plenty disoriented," Yuki assured him, taking a sip of what turned out to be surprisingly good apple cider.

"Yet you successfully treated a case of Moonglow Syndrome on your first day." Elias pushed his spectacles up his nose. "Most impressive. The standard treatment takes days, yet yours worked in minutes."

Yuki shifted uncomfortably. "I just followed a recipe."

"Ah, but whose recipe? Old Milda's?" Elias leaned closer, his voice dropping. "The Royal Academy has been trying to obtain her formula for years."

"That's probably why she never shared it," Yuki replied, trying to deflect.

Elias laughed. "Touché! Witches and their secrets, always a fascinating dynamic." He filled her cup with more cider. "Perhaps we could discuss a cultural exchange? Your world's knowledge for ours?"

Before Yuki could answer, a gangly teenage boy approached the table, carrying a silver pitcher. He had the mayor's same round face and prominent nose, though his expression was far less jovial.

"Percy!" Mayor Thistleton said. "Come meet our guest of honor. This is my son, Percival."

The boy gave a stiff bow. "An honor, Witch." His tone suggested it was anything but.

"Percy is apprenticed to our local blacksmith," the mayor explained proudly. "Though he's always been more interested in potions and remedies. Used to hang around Old Milda's shop all the time as a boy."

"Dad," Percy hissed, clearly embarrassed.

"What? It's true! Always mixing things, this one." The mayor turned to Yuki. "Perhaps he could learn from you?"

Yuki noticed Percy's face redden further. "Maybe someday," she said diplomatically. "When I'm more settled."

Percy placed the pitcher on the table with a bit more force than necessary. "I made the cider," he said. "Special recipe."

"It's delicious," Yuki offered.

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Percy just nodded curtly and walked away.

"You'll have to excuse Percy," the mayor said with a sigh. "He's at that difficult age."

"Teenagers are the same in every world, it seems," Yuki remarked, which earned a chuckle from the mayor.

As the feast continued, villagers approached Yuki one by one, introducing themselves and often mentioning ailments they hoped she might treat. Yuki tried to be noncommittal, painfully aware of her limited knowledge. She spotted Thomas, the baker, with his daughter Lily, who waved enthusiastically.

After the main courses were cleared, the mayor rose to make a speech.

"Friends and neighbors," he began, his voice carrying across the square. "Today marks a momentous occasion for Moonflower Hollow. After fifty years without the wisdom and healing of our cherished witch, the prophecy has finally been fulfilled!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Yuki wanted to sink under the table.

"The return of the Witch of Remedies means renewed health and prosperity for our village," the mayor continued. "No longer will we need to travel for days to seek magical healing. No longer will our children suffer from enchanted mishaps without remedy!"

More cheers. Yuki took a large gulp of cider.

"And to commemorate this joyous occasion," the mayor went on, "my son has prepared a special toast. Percy?"

Percy returned, carrying a tray of small cups filled with a silvery liquid that looked disturbingly familiar to Yuki.

"Is that—" she began.

"A variation on your moonglow remedy," Percy announced, not meeting her eyes. "I observed your work yesterday and was... inspired."

Alarm bells rang in Yuki's head. "Wait, you did what?"

But Percy was already distributing the cups to the head table.

"To the Witch of Remedies!" Mayor Thistleton declared, raising his cup. "May her presence bring blessing to Moonflower Hollow!"

"Wait!" Yuki tried to say, but it was too late. The mayor downed his cup in one gulp, as did several others at the table.

For a moment, nothing happened. Yuki began to hope that perhaps Percy had simply made a harmless imitation.

Then the mayor's son collapsed face-first into his soup bowl.

Gasps and cries erupted from the crowd. Yuki jumped to her feet as the mayor's hands, gripping the edge of the table, began to transform before everyone's eyes. His fingers elongated and turned brown, the skin hardening into bark as branches sprouted from his fingertips.

"What's happening?" someone screamed.

Yuki rushed to the mayor, who stared in horror at his transforming arms. "Don't panic," she said, though she was plenty panicked herself. "It's a reaction to the potion."

She spotted a familiar silver potion bottle on the table—identical to the one she'd used for Lily's remedy, but clearly tampered with. And worse, as she surveyed the room, three more villagers who had drunk from the cups began showing similar symptoms—skin turning wooden, fingers extending into branches.

Apparently, someone had sabotaged her remedy—and now everyone was watching to see if the new Witch of Remedies could fix a magical disaster unfolding in front of the entire village.

"Fenrir," Yuki hissed urgently. "Get Milda. Now."

The wolf was already on his feet. "On it." He dashed away toward the potion shop.

"What's happening to them?" Hazel asked, her face pale with fear.

Yuki examined the mayor's transforming arms. Unlike Lily's floral symptoms, this looked more like the villagers were turning into trees. Branches continued to sprout from the mayor's fingers, and his skin had taken on the texture of bark up to his elbows.

"It's a modified version of Moonglow Syndrome," Yuki said, trying to sound confident. "But more aggressive."

Prince Elias appeared at her side, scientific curiosity temporarily overriding his alarm. "Fascinating. A cross-species transformation. The cellular reorganization must be—"

"Not now," Yuki snapped. She turned to Hazel. "I need to get back to my shop for supplies. Can you keep everyone calm?"

"Of course, dear," Hazel said, though she looked anything but calm herself.

"I'll help," Elias offered, his expression becoming serious. "The Royal Academy has documented similar cases. Tree transformations usually spread slowly, so we have time, but we need to act before it reaches their vital organs."

That was the most useful thing he'd said since they'd met. Yuki nodded gratefully.

Percy, who had been pulled from his soup and was coughing on the ground, looked up with horror at what was happening. "I didn't mean—" he sputtered. "It wasn't supposed to—"

"We'll discuss what you meant later," Yuki said firmly. "Right now, I need to know exactly what you put in this potion."

The boy looked terrified. "I just... I wanted to improve it. I added bark from the old oak tree at the forest edge. And... and some silver moss."

Elias inhaled sharply. "Silver moss? From the Twilight Forest? That's a powerful transformation catalyst!"

"I thought it would make the remedy stronger," Percy said miserably.

"Help me get the affected people to the shop," Yuki instructed, taking command of the situation despite her inner turmoil. "I need space to work."

With Elias's help, Yuki organized several strong villagers to carry the mayor and the other affected people toward the potion shop. The victims were conscious but increasingly distressed as the wooden transformation continued to spread up their arms.

By the time they reached the shop, the mayor's arms were completely wooden, branches extending a foot past his fingertips. Leaves were beginning to bud from the smaller twigs. The other victims showed similar symptoms, though not as advanced.

Milda was waiting inside, looking more agitated than Yuki had seen her.

"What in the seven moons happened?" the ghost demanded.

"Percy decided to 'improve' my moonglow remedy," Yuki explained quickly. "Added silver moss and oak bark."

"That foolish boy!" Milda exclaimed. "Silver moss is never used in healing potions! It's for woodland glamours and forest enchantments!"

"How do we reverse it?" Yuki asked desperately.

The villagers had laid the mayor and the others on blankets on the floor. More people crowded at the windows and door, trying to see what was happening.

"You'll need a reversal potion," Milda said, drifting to her recipe book. "Page one hundred and seventeen. Woodland Disentanglement."

Yuki flipped to the page while Elias examined the victims more closely.

"The transformation is accelerating," he reported. "The mayor's chest is beginning to show signs of bark formation."

The recipe for Woodland Disentanglement called for ingredients Yuki had never heard of—dewdrops from a midnight bloom, essence of untransformation, bark of the reversed oak.

"I don't have half these things," she said in a low voice to Milda.

"Check the emergency cabinet," the ghost instructed. "Behind the painting of the forest."

Yuki hurried to the wall where a dusty landscape painting hung. She removed it to reveal a small cabinet built into the wall. Inside were dozens of tiny vials labeled in Milda's neat handwriting. To her relief, she found "Essence of Untransformation" and "Reversed Oak Extract" among them.

"What about dewdrops from a midnight bloom?" she asked Milda.

"Regular dewdrops will work in a pinch," the ghost said. "But the potion won't be as potent. You'll need to strengthen it with your intent."

"My what?"

"Your will, dear. Your desire for the transformation to reverse. Magic responds to intent."

Great. Now she needed to believe in herself, like some children's fairy tale. But with four people turning into trees in her shop, Yuki didn't have time to argue.

She worked as quickly as she could, following Milda's instructions while Elias and Fenrir kept the increasingly panicked villagers at bay. The wolf had positioned himself at the door, growling at anyone who tried to push their way in, while Elias explained the situation with scientific detachment that somehow managed to be reassuring.

"The potion needs to come to a full boil," Milda instructed as Yuki mixed ingredients in the copper cauldron. "And remember to add the moonstone dust last."

"Moonstone dust?" Yuki looked at the recipe. "That's not listed here."

"It's not in the book because it's expensive," Milda explained. "But for a case this severe, you'll need it. Small black jar on the top shelf."

Yuki found the jar and carefully added a pinch of the glittering powder to the bubbling mixture. The potion immediately changed color from murky brown to a clear, vibrant green.

"Perfect," Milda said approvingly. "Now, as you ladle it out, focus your intent. Visualize the wood receding, the human form returning."

Feeling slightly ridiculous but desperate to help, Yuki concentrated as she filled four cups with the green liquid. She thought about the bark smoothing back into skin, branches becoming fingers again. To her surprise, the potion seemed to pulse gently in response.

"How exactly do they drink this?" Yuki asked, looking at the mayor whose mouth was starting to stiffen with wooden transformation.

"They can still drink," Elias said, lifting the mayor's head. "The internal transformation happens last. But we must hurry."

With Elias's help, Yuki administered the potion to all four victims. The mayor went first, choking slightly but managing to swallow the green liquid. The others followed suit.

For a terrifying moment, nothing happened. Then the mayor gasped as the smallest branches on his fingertips began to recede. Slowly, the transformation reversed—branches shrinking, bark softening into skin, leaves withering and falling away.

A collective sigh of relief went through the shop as the victims began to return to normal. It took nearly twenty minutes for the transformation to completely reverse, but eventually, all four were fully human again, albeit exhausted and shaken.

"Thank the Crystal Moon," Mayor Thistleton breathed, examining his now-normal hands. "I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life as a potted plant."

"You might have, if the witch hadn't acted so quickly," Elias said, giving Yuki an appraising look. "That was most impressive spellwork."

Percy pushed his way into the shop, his face streaked with tears. "Dad! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!" He turned to Yuki. "And I'm sorry to you too, Witch. I just... I wanted to show I could do it too."

The mayor's expression softened slightly. "We'll discuss this at home, Percy." He turned to Yuki. "I cannot thank you enough, Witch. You saved us."

"Just doing my job," Yuki said weakly, suddenly feeling the exhaustion of the ordeal.

As the victims were helped to their feet and the crowd began to disperse, Elias lingered behind.

"That was no ordinary reversal potion," he said quietly. "I've studied transformation remedies for years, and I've never seen one work so quickly or completely."

"I just followed a recipe," Yuki said, which was becoming her standard response.

"Perhaps," Elias said, his green eyes studying her intently. "But there's more to magic than just following recipes. There's power and intent." He adjusted his spectacles. "You have both, whether you realize it or not."

After everyone had finally left and Yuki had closed the shop door, she collapsed onto a stool, physically and emotionally drained.

"Well," Fenrir said, sitting beside her, "that was quite a feast."

"I didn't even get dessert," Yuki complained weakly.

Milda drifted over, looking unusually pleased. "You did well, child. Very well indeed. Your instincts are good."

"It wasn't instinct," Yuki protested. "It was panic and your instructions."

"Call it what you will," the ghost said with a knowing smile, "but that potion responded to you. And that, my dear, is the beginning of real witchcraft."

As if to underscore Milda's point, a soft knock came at the door. Yuki groaned but went to answer it. Outside stood Hazel, holding a covered basket.

"I thought you might want this," the village elder said, presenting the basket. "Since you missed dessert."

Inside was an assortment of pastries, still warm, and a jar of honey. But beneath them was something else—a bundle of herbs Yuki didn't recognize.

"What are these?" she asked, lifting the strange plants.

"Midnight blooms," Hazel said with a smile. "For your supplies. They only grow in my garden, and only under the full moon." She patted Yuki's hand. "Every witch needs proper ingredients."

After Hazel left, Yuki stood in the doorway of the shop, looking out at the peaceful village night. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear villagers singing as they cleaned up after the interrupted feast.

"I could have died in my bathroom in Tokyo," she said quietly. "Instead, I'm here, saving people from turning into trees."

"Life is full of surprises," Fenrir agreed, eyeing the pastries in the basket.

Yuki turned back to the shop—her shop now, it seemed—with its mysterious bottles and ancient recipes and impossible magic.

For the first time since arriving, she felt something unexpected. Not confusion or fear or even resignation, but a flicker of something warmer.

Maybe, just maybe, she belonged here after all.