Just ahead of me was the small cottage that belonged to the witch Rania. Through the branches, I could easily see the wisps of magical smoke coming from the chimney that signified she was home and brewing up an experiment. The cottage looked like it had been built a long time ago; the roof was made of wooden shingles and covered in moss and ivy, while the walls were constructed out of hewn logs. The cottage sat in a forested meadow, which kept it hidden away from prying eyes. It was also surrounded by a number of large trees with low-hanging branches, giving it some measure of protection against the elements.
Rania's cottage was the only dwelling in the area and she relied on me to bring her supplies from the nearest town—perishables, clothes, miscellaneous goods, and the like. As such, we had become good friends over the years; though the dimunitive witch's antics could become overbearing at times, especially when she tested her experiments on me without warning.
Her experiments ranged from harmless to potentially lethal. Most of them involved herbs, potions, and various other things that she would brew up in her cauldron, though sometimes she would try something new—like the time she accidentally turned me into a raven for a while. Having a beak clamped onto her nose had made her change me back really quickly.
Hefting my heavy pack, I knocked on the door, hoping she wasn't too busy to open up for me. "It's unlocked," said a muffled voice from inside the cottage. "Come in."
I opened the door and stepped inside, closing it and slipping my boots off and heavy pack since my visits with Rania were always long. She lived alone; despite being hundreds of years old, she looked to be in her mid-twenties.
As soon as I entered the cottage proper, a wavy haired missle cannoned into me; she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight. "Hello, ${MC}, how are you?" she asked, nuzzling into my chest.
"Fine, Rania, how about yourself?" I replied, reaching down to tousle her auburn waves.
She let go, smiling up at me. "Very well, thank you. I'm always grateful for your company, as well as the supplies you bring."
She gave my hand a friendly squeeze and then led me to the table where she brewed her concoctions and also ate; she placed two mugs of steaming hot tea before me, along with two plates with a sandwich on each. Judging by the hurried preparation of the sandwiches, Rania had been neglecting herself while working again.
"Rania, what have I told you about making sure to take time for meals like this?"
"I know, ${MC}—but it's been so busy lately. There is so much to do, so many experiments to test," the ditzy witch sighed.
"That's fine, but please don't forget to eat properly," I chided while ruffling her wavy hair before sitting down myself to enjoy my share of the meal.
While Rania could be a little bit ditzy, the witch had a heart of gold even if she could be mischievous or teasing. That said, she could be extremely stubborn—which was why she needed me to bring her supplies; she refused to use any magic to get the items she required, insisting that it would interfere with her experiments.
We ate in silence, watching one another as we chewed our food. After a few minutes, Rania pushed her plate away and reached for the mug of tea. "So, you got everything on my list?" she asked, taking a sip of the warm drink.
"Yes, even the tea and...undergarments," you replied hesitantly. You weren't sure why a woman with seemingly no interest in sex would want such racy underwear but you knew better than to question her.
Rania's cheeks flushed, but her smile was sly. She might have bought them on a lark for a chance to tease me, either hoping to goad me into commenting on them or because she knew I'd be uncomfortable buying them for her.
I downed the last of my tea and opened my mouth to suggest unpacking the goods from my pack by the door but I froze—something felt wrong with my body. A sense of dread washed over me; like a cold wind blowing across my skin, chilling me to the bone. Looking up, my gaze fell upon Rania, who was now holding her teacup with both hands and staring at me expectantly—Rania had put one of her experiments in my tea.
I swallowed thickly—not liking the way the liquid felt in my throat, nor the feeling of uneasiness that came over me. "What was in my tea?"
Rania smiled mischievously and I had to remind myself that she would never hurt me—at least, not intentionally—but she could be a ditz at times...especially when she tested her experiments on me without warning. "Well, there isn't much time to explain; let's just say it was something to ${potion_effect}."