So, I'm a witch, so what?

Chapter 7: Where did they go?



{2 hours later}

Well, while the incident did cause an immense disaster, at least it ended way faster than I had anticipated. Usually, laxatives like that last longer and don't magically stop, which is probably why the lady had a sign in front of her stand.

I can't read the world's language, so I don't know what it said, but if I could, it would probably read "Laxative purple snakes." Talk about a troublesome commercial stand. I'm never repurchasing one of those! Unless I get constipated or something of the sort.

To be fair to the lady, if the intended purpose of her snakes is to cure constipation, then they do an excellent job. Yet judging by how she announced her snakes, you would never catch that you're not supposed to eat them as light snacks. {Sigh} At least I learned something new.

And while I did make a mess of the toilet because it all wanted to come both ways, I have at least finished cleaning everything. However, I'm somewhat concerned my mothers haven't shown up so far since it feels like it's been quite a while since I ran back home. Shouldn't they be here by now?

It took me a couple of seconds to realize that it was probably my fault that my mothers weren't back yet. My mothers assumed I would be waiting for them at the market if I was not there; I have become a lost child to them. Oh no, I messed up.

Alright, I've got to run back to the market, but I also don't want to wear the same pink outfit. It is just not my thing. So before I returned to the market, I went upstairs to change into my first outfit, which was a little more my style. It's not so girlish, but it's not too tomboy, either.

After a few minutes, I return to my blue blouse and overall combo. I quite liked the feel of wearing something that didn't simply show off my entire body. While I know dresses cover a lot, the feeling of having nothing down there but underwear is weird.

It doesn't matter that this land is full of women. It is still quite creepy to be wearing such clothes all the time. But enough of that, let's return to the market before I get into more trouble. I bet my mothers are frantically looking for me.

Once I got all I needed from the bathroom counter, I wasted no more time running straight for the market, hoping to meet with my mothers. Yet, when I eventually returned, I didn't see them near the market. They weren't on their way back home or on the market. Were they still fighting then?

I thought as I walked toward the bottom of the Queen's tree, where they began their fight, but I didn't see them there either. What had happened? Where were they? I panicked as I believed they could be in trouble. Who had been the lady next to me earlier that day? Are my mothers okay?

What else could I do to try and find them? Should I ask the market merchants? It's still the middle of the day, so surely someone saw them vanish. My next move was to ask the merchants while I held my money bag dearly since it would be my only money available if my mothers abandoned me.

The first business I walk to ask about my mothers is a jewelry shop. The lady selling her ornaments was quite lovely to me. The problem was that she hadn't seen anyone like my mother pass near her in the past two hours, and now I grew even more weary.

"Thank you for your help, mam!" I waved at the lady as I left her post just to go on and repeat the process all through the market, asking every single merchant if they had seen my mothers anywhere, but even though they were all nice, it seemed like nobody had seen them.

"Mam, have you seen the two ladies that came with me earlier?" I asked the next lady, who appeared to be working with a hammer in her hand. The lady was striking a piece of bright red metal with her hammer while I stood there, interrupting her work.

"Uh? Who? Sorry, give me a second." The lady soon grabs a big pair of pliers, and with them, she picks the piping hot metal and drops it into what looks like a water bucket. The metal made strange noises as it cooled down, and a massive vapor cloud came from it as the lady approached me.

"What did you say? I couldn't hear you very well." She asks me while I try not to look her in the eye as now I feel like an ass. Yet her glance forces me to answer so as to not seem even more rude.

"H-Have you have seen two ladies about yay height walk by while having a verbal fight?" I asked, thinking my question was better formulated this time, but the girl's answer couldn't have lightened my mood better.

"Well, of course. All the time, it would be a surprising day if I didn't." I don't know why, but I found her answer more comforting than all the others. It felt like she had just got me with my dumb question.

"I didn't mean like that, but like, uhm today. About two hours ago." I ask more cautiously, and the lady catches the tone better this time. She stands, puts her hand on her cheek, and makes a thinking face.

"There was a savage fight just a couple of hours ago, but I think they both got arrested like they should. Only two wild beasts would break the peace like that. Don't be like them, and don't become a savage when you grow up."

There it was. Everybody else could've probably told me about the fight if I had asked about the battle instead of a couple of witches. I felt incredibly dumb.

"Do you know where I could find them?" The blacksmith changes her tone and posture quite quickly once I ask her more details about it, as she probably realized I had some sort of connection to the people she just trash-talked.

"Uh! Uh!! Y-Yeah, y-you can find them at the forest jail. You'll need an adult to accompany you, though you can't go there alone." She apologetically tells me all she knows, and I listen carefully.

"The forest jail? I don't know where that is. Could you point to it?"

"Why do you want to see them? Are they your familiars?" She asked me directly, and I answered right away.

"Yes." A little funny noise leaves the lady's mouth as she tries to look away. She was ashamed for some reason.

"What are they of you?" Was she asking what kind of relationship? Well, that would be easy to answer.

"They're my mothers." Another slight squeal leaves the lady's lips as I try to explain why she is acting strangely. I know that adults hold different views. That's nothing new. She was entitled to her opinion.

"Do you have anyone to go with you if I point you to the jail?" She had a fair point. Besides our neighbor and the Queen, I didn't really know anyone else. I didn't know this new lady, so I should probably ask her name.

"Uhm, no. But I could ask the Queen about it. Although I don't want to bother her."

"I can take you there if you want. You'll just have to forgive what I said earlier about them. I'm sorry." The lady says as she innocently scratches the back of her neck.

"Uh? You said something wrong about them? I didn't notice. Anyhow, my mom told me not to follow strangers around!" My previous experience as a manipulative kid came in handy. I didn't know much, but I had everything written down when it came to manipulation.

"I'm not a stranger! We've been talking for a while! I'm Eris! See? I'm not a stranger anymore! You know my name!"

"You sound even more suspicious! I think I'll call the guards."


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