Finally, our destination, the Witch's Isle, was within our sight.
"Finally! We're here!" I shouted excitedly, my tail swishing hard against the carriage floor.
Fae and Komraad were equally excited. You could literally see their eyes sparkling in awe.
"Ms. Ina, can you see that? This place is so bright and colorful. It's so pretty!" Fae exclaimed.
"I hope there's lots of food inside!" Komraad said, already drooling and smacking his lips.
"Calm down, you two. Save your excitement for later," I advised them, trying to maintain a semblance of control.
The moment we laid eyes on Witch's Isle, we were in awe of how mesmerizing the place was. I had thought it would be dark and gloomy due to its name, but it was the complete opposite. The place actually had a very bright and welcoming atmosphere.
We were also in shock by the number of people visiting and entering the place. Unlike us, who looked like commoners, most of the people visiting here were rich and powerful nobles, riding in fancy, lavish-looking carriages surrounded by their own personal guards.
"Whoa, there are a lot of people here," Fae brought up, her voice hushed.
"I know, right? I didn't expect this place to be this crowded," I answered.
We were minding our own business when someone from behind shouted.
"Move out of the way! VIP coming through!"
A fancy, lavish-looking carriage surrounded by guards mounted on horses passed through us, nearly side-swiping our worn wooden carriage.
"Move, you peasants!" The person inside the carriage shouted arrogantly. It was a tall, sharp-featured nobleman in his fifties, with slicked-back silver-streaked hair and a long, narrow face marked by a perpetually sneering mouth and cold, half-lidded gray eyes. He wore a deep burgundy velvet coat embroidered with gold filigree, over a ruffled cream shirt fastened with a black opal brooch. A silver-topped cane, more for show than support, completed his ensemble.
At his side was his doll-like little daughter, with pale skin, platinum curls, and icy blue eyes that gleamed with bratty disdain. She wore an elaborate rose-pink dress layered with ivory lace and gold stitching, a fur-trimmed capelet, and custom-made boots. A sapphire-studded bow decorated her hair, and a dainty parasol dangled from her wrist.
"Hey, you! Watch where you're going!" I shouted angrily.
"Daddy! A talking pet! I want one!" His spoiled little brat demanded loudly.
"Oh, sweety, of course, you can get a talking pet," the nobleman sneered down his long nose.
"Hey, you filthy mutt! How much for the talking cat?"
"What did you call me?!? Hey, cat, let's teach them a lesson!" Komraad angrily suggested, gripping the reins tight.
"Don't mind them, Komraad, they're not worth our time. Let's get going, all eyes are already on us," I responded instead, trying to pull him away.
"Tsk, fine," he agreed, though clearly unsatisfied.
We thought they'd finally leave us alone, but the nobleman's little brat started throwing a tantrum.
"Daddy! I want one!!!" She screamed.
Fae finally had enough and chimed in, stepping forward. She defended me fiercely.
"Ms. Ina is not for sale!"
"How dare you talk back to a noble?! My guards! Arrest these peasants!" The nobleman commanded, eyes flashing with indignation.
"Ugh, why do we always encounter such people? I'm getting tired of these scenarios. Just keep going, Komraad," I whispered.
"How dare you ignore me? Wait… Guards! Why did we stop all of a sudden? Follow those peasants and arrest them now!" The nobleman insisted, sputtering.
"I'm sorry, Sire, but our tires are deflated and won't move. We were pretty sure we double-checked them before we left," the lead guard answered, looking utterly confused.
Thankfully, we somehow managed to get out of the sticky situation with the timely intervention of my bad luck powers.
"Thank goodness! I'm glad that fiasco is over," I sighed in relief, leaning back in the seat.
After we managed to shake off the nobleman and his little brat, two women wearing black witch robes and pointed witch hats, who were standing in front of the Witch's Isle entrance, approached and handed us pamphlets while talking in unnerving unison.
"Welcome to the Witch's Isle! Where fun and wonder never end. We have everything you need. Cafes, Inns, Shops, Restaurants, and many more. Please enjoy your stay!"
I was so confused by what they said and how they introduced Witch's Isle at first, but I immediately realized the meaning behind their words the moment we set foot inside. I thought this place was supposed to be the home of real-life witches who could use magic spells and ride flying brooms, but I was completely wrong. Upon gazing at the interior, I immediately realized that this place was actually a witch-inspired theme park instead.
Witch's Isle was a whimsical village built like an elaborate theme park. Perched on a lush land, every structure was designed with a theatrical flair. Buildings boasted rooftops shaped like oversized witch hats, some tilting playfully to one side, while others resembled carved pumpkins with glowing windows for eyes. Chimneys puffed colored, scented smoke: lavender, cinnamon, or rosewood, adding to the dreamy atmosphere.
The streets were cobblestone paths dusted with glittering motes that shimmered under enchanted lanterns shaped like cauldrons and crescent moons. Decorative broomsticks hung over archways, faux spell circles were etched into stone plazas, and eerie, melodic chimes floated in the air.
The people around were staff members who acted the part of witches, dressed in a range of ornate, charming witch-themed outfits. Some wore frilly maid-style dresses with lace-trimmed aprons and pointed hats, while others donned sleek robes adorned with intricate patterns. They spoke in playful, mystical tones and maintained the illusion with graceful gestures and carefully practiced charm.
I think that this place isn't as magical as I imagined it to be, but just a tourist attraction for wealthy customers like the nobles. Though maybe it's too early to make assumptions right away, when it's just the first time we've been here. It's better to give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe if we stay longer and explore deeper, we'd be able to find real witches who can actually use magic.
I thought I'd be disappointed at first because it wasn't what I expected at all, but upon entering, I actually ended up liking it more than expected.
The moment we entered Witch's Isle, we were once again instantly captivated by its beauty.
"Whoa, it's even better on the inside!" Fae said in awe.
Fae and Komraad were literally itching to walk around and have fun.
"Hey, cat, what do we visit first? Let's go find some food!" Komraad suggested, practically vibrating with energy.
I sighed.
All this dog thinks is fighting and food.
"Let's go find an Inn first, then both of you can do anything and go anywhere you want," I suggested, laying down the rules.
We parked our carriage in an open space at the side of the street and walked around to find a place we could stay. Luckily, a witch staff member was advertising their inn outside, and we noticed her, so we approached.
"Hey Komraad, you do the talking this time," I whispered to him. "I know people will start freaking out again when they hear me talk, so I'm going to lessen my interactions with others," I added.
Upon approaching the witch, Komraad immediately started a conversation. "Hey, you! How much for the house?!?" He shouted roughly.
This dumb dog!!!
The witch staff felt instantly intimidated by Komraad's aggressive demeanor.
"S-sorry, sir, the inn is not for sale," the witch responded nervously.
Things were getting very awkward when Fae decided to step in. "I'm sorry about my big brother. We're actually looking for a place to stay, and we heard you said this was an Inn, so we thought we could stay for the night," she explained sweetly.
Nice save, Fae!
The witch finally calmed down after the misunderstanding. "Oh, that's what you meant. Of course, you can stay. It's just two silver coins a night," the witch answered.
"Is that cheap, or are we getting scammed?" I whispered to Fae, trying to figure out the local rates.
"It's actually a pretty decent deal, Ms. Ina," Fae whispered back.
"I see, let's grab it."
We accepted the offer and immediately went to our room in the inn. We took all of our baggage and entered. Upon entering our room, we were met with a wide and comfy space full of witch-related decorations. The room had its own toilet, two soft beds, and a balcony with an overview of the entire Witch's Isle.
Fae lay on the bed the moment we entered. "Wow, our room is so comfy," she said while hugging a pillow.
Komraad, on the other hand, was jumping on the other bed like an ecstatic kid.
"H-hey, stop it! You might end up destroying something!" I shouted at him, worried about the cost.
Fortunately, he listened.
After we rested for an hour and unpacked our baggage, we proceeded outside to walk around and have fun. We visited different facilities such as clothing stores, open parks, flower shops, and many more. We actually managed to buy some witch-themed souvenirs thanks to the silver coins Stephany gave us.
It had been hours since we started looking around the place, and I noticed that the inkling suspicion in my mind was turning out to be right.
I knew this place was a witch-inspired theme park, but I was still hoping that at least one of the witches around here could use real magic. I was starting to think that wasn't the case because the entire time we'd been exploring, I hadn't seen a single witch use any magic.
"Hey, guys? Do you think none of the witches here can actually use magic?" I asked Fae and Komraad.
"You know what, Ms. Ina, you're actually right. Not even one of the witches we encountered ever used magic," Fae noticed, frowning in thought.
I was worried my hunch was correct, that this place was just a tourist attraction. To prove my point, I asked Fae to approach one of the witch staff and ask them about it directly.
"Excuse me, Ms. Witch, I'm actually a big fan of witches. I've always wanted to see a witch use magic up close, but we've been here for hours now, and we've never seen even one witch use magic. Is there a reason for that?" Fae asked sweetly.
Unlike Komraad, Fae is very good at acting. I don't know what to do without her.
"Oh, so you're one of those people who never reads the pamphlet," The witch staff said with a staged sigh.
Ohhh… No one bothered reading the pamphlet.
"If you read the pamphlets we distribute, then you'll know. No one here has ever used magic for almost seven years," the witch staff added, tapping the rolled paper.
I felt frustrated and disappointed hearing what the witch staff said. The entire reason why I came here in the first place was to find someone who could help me regain my memories and control my magic better, but what was the point in going here if the witches couldn't actually use magic?
I was going to have Fae ask the witch staff for the reason why they don't use magic anymore, but we were interrupted by a sudden announcement telling everyone to gather at the center of the village for some important news.
"Oh, just in time, the head witch is about to announce something important. You guys probably want to listen to what she's about to say," the witch staff said, pointing toward the center.
After the announcement, we decided to go to the center of the village to listen to the head witch's important news. Upon arriving, the place was already fully crowded with people. We blended in with the crowd so we could get a better look at things.
Mur Mur Mur Mur
As soon as the head witch stepped foot on the enormous stage in front of us, the crowd started cheering loudly.
The head witch that appeared carried such grace and finesse with the way she moved, and everyone was instantly captivated by her presence. She had long, wavy scarlet hair that flowed down her back like silk, vibrant and elegant, framing her flawless, porcelain skin. Her eyes, the same deep scarlet, gleamed with quiet intensity, sharp and captivating like glowing rubies.
She wore a sleek, form-fitting black witch's gown adorned with silver embroidery in thorn and fire motifs. A crimson silk sash wrapped around her waist, matching the scarlet lining of her flared sleeves. Her tall witch's hat was structured and regal, tipped slightly to the side, with a sheer black veil trailing down her back. High-heeled black boots peeked from a slit in her skirt, and a black lace choker set with a blood-red gem completed her look: refined, commanding, and dangerously elegant.
After the crowd's cheers had settled down, the head witch finally started talking.
"Welcome, everyone! I hope you are all having the time of your life! My name is Helen, the head witch of this wonderful village," she said with regal poise.
Everyone was shouting and cheering loudly, but one person in the crowd suddenly shouted something that caught everyone's attention.
"We thought you people were real witches?!? Where's the magic? We came here to watch a magic show, but all we see are women in hats and robes!"
Everyone went silent for a while, realizing the same thing.
I had the exact same question from the beginning. I thought I was the only one expecting to meet real witches, but I was surprised that others also had the same thoughts as mine.
Helen, the head witch's expression changed immediately. Her commanding and elegant demeanor seemed to have faded, replaced by a look of sadness. She then informed the crowd of the reason behind it.
"About that…"
"We witches used to live our lives full of magic, and we are proud of that. We used our magic to help and support those who are in need, and people loved and adored us for that reason. But seven years ago, a forbidden curse cast by a powerful demon fell upon us, thus resulting in us becoming unable to use magic."
"We've lived a humble life since then. Even without magic, we still want to serve and help people… but fear not, for the child who was born to free us from our curse will finally fulfill her fate!"
After Helen's announcement, a small witch appeared on the stage. It was a little girl, around the age of thirteen, and her presence was gentle and unassuming. Her skin was flawless and pale, and her large, round, orange eyes held a soft, curious glow. Long, smooth green hair fell in low twin ponytails tied with black ribbons, swaying gently with her every step. She wore a simple black witch robe trimmed with silver at the edges, its loose sleeves and flowing hem lending her a delicate silhouette. Atop her head sat a slightly floppy witch hat, its wide brim casting a gentle shadow over her face, with a small seashell-shaped charm hanging from the tip.
The little witch stood still beside Helen, not a single word coming out of her mouth.
"In the upcoming three days, we invite all of you to witness a grand ritual! The uplifting of the demon's curse that was cast upon us! And with our curse lifted, you can finally witness the greatest magic show you've longed for, performed by us, witches!" Helen announced triumphantly.
After her announcement, everyone in the crowd started cheering, clapping, and shouting in joy. They were all excited about the upcoming event the head witch had mentioned.
"Ms. Ina, did you hear that? What great news!" Fae said happily. "Once the curse has been lifted and they regain their magic, you'll finally be able to ask for their help," she added.
What Fae said was true, but I don't know why I didn't feel happy at all. Maybe it was just me, but I felt like the head witch's announcement was staged. I mean, this place was literally a theme park where wealthy nobles visited. Things just seemed to line up extremely well, so things didn't feel real around here.
I know I might just be overthinking things, or it's just my cat instincts acting up again, but for now, I'll just roll with it because the opportunity I've been seeking has finally appeared.
"You're right, Fae. I guess this means we'll have to stay here for another three days," I responded.
"So, what are we going to do for the next three days?" Komraad asked, trying to suppress his excitement, but failing miserably.
It was pretty obvious on his face that the answer he wanted was for us to enjoy our stay here and have fun in the meantime. After the announcement, we continued our fun time until sundown.
"This place is even prettier at night. The lights are very pretty," Fae said in awe.
We rested for a while on a nearby public bench, and soon after, our stomachs started growling.
"I'm hungry, let's go eat," Komraad demanded.
"Yeah, I'm starving too. Let's go find a cafe or restaurant we could eat at," I answered.
We resumed walking around and found a cutesy pumpkin-shaped cafe, and we decided to eat there.
"Ah… finally! Food!" Komraad shouted, already halfway to the door.
Without further ado, Komraad entered the cafe. Fae and I were about to enter when a witch cafe maid suddenly blocked us and stopped us from entering.
"I'm so sorry, little girl, but no pets are allowed inside the restaurant."
Oh, I forgot. I'm just a pet to strangers.
"Fae, it's okay, you can just buy me food inside and bring it to the Inn. I'm going to head there first. You probably should enter now, Komraad might cause a riot inside, or even worse, he might end up losing all our money," I whispered to her.
"Okay, Ms. Ina, take care, and see you later," Fae whispered back, giving me a worried look.
Fae entered the cafe to eat with Komraad and ordered takeout for me, and we split up for a while. I was on my way back to the Inn when I felt something familiar. It was the same sensation I felt with Fae and Nessie. I felt a strong, deep emotion emanating from somewhere, so I followed it. It led me into a dark alley, and I saw someone standing there.
Upon peeking, I noticed immediately that it was the little witch we saw on the stage with the head witch earlier. I was so confused as to why she was inside a dark and gloomy alleyway.
I tried getting closer to her and saw that she was reading a book in the corner, hidden from everyone's sight.
I don't know why, but something about her felt so serene and captivating. I also realized that the strong emotion I was feeling was coming from her, so I ended up staying to observe her.
I was watching her from behind a crate when I accidentally knocked it over, creating a loud sound.
She freaked out when she heard it. She immediately hid the book she was reading behind her back. She was so scared, it was like she didn't want anyone to see her reading a book.
"W-who's there?" She asked. Her whole body was shivering with worry and fear.
I didn't want her to feel scared, so I revealed myself and pretended to be a stray cat.
Meow
She felt relieved when she saw that I wasn't a person at all. "Oh, thank goodness. It's just a cat."
She then resumed reading her book. I approached her, and she gently patted my head. I looked at the book she was reading and noticed it was a book about magic.
She looked distrustful and suspicious of everything. If I started talking now, she might not trust me anymore, and I wouldn't end up getting any information from her.
"Thanks for accompanying me, but I must go now. She's probably already looking for me. I don't want her to get suspicious," she said.
I don't know who she was talking about, but the fact that she was keeping secrets from someone meant something wasn't right. Before leaving, she hid the book she was reading inside one of the crates nearby.
I wanted to read the book for myself, but I couldn't read or understand any of the words written in it. It was in a language unfamiliar to me. I realized that since the book was about magic, she might be able to help me with my problems, so I decided to follow her secretly.
After following her for a while, we finally arrived at her destination. She entered a large, dimly lit warehouse with rows of wooden crates stacked high from floor to ceiling. I wasn't able to follow her inside because she immediately closed the door.
I was thinking of how I could enter without anyone noticing when I suddenly saw a small window above me, so I flew up and entered. Upon entering, I was shocked by what I saw, a lot of witch staff had gathered inside, and the most surprising one was that Helen, the head witch, was present with them as well.
I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I moved a little closer and hid behind a wooden crate to eavesdrop. Something was definitely up with them. All the witch staff were handing the head witch a pouch full of silver coins.
"What a great haul today, everyone," Helen complimented them with a satisfied smirk. "Keep at it and all of you will be free in no time," she added.
What does she mean by them being free? I was confused about what she meant by it.
"So, who's going to report next and give their share of the profit?" Helen asked, leaning back on a lavish throne-like chair.
One witch staff member timidly approached the head witch. "It's me, Head Witch. I'm the one who runs the flower shop."
She approached Helen and gave her a bag of silver coins, but it was visibly smaller compared to what the others were giving.
"What is this?" Helen asked, her voice dropping and laced with disappointment.
"I-It's my share for today. I didn't have enough customers for today so-"
Before the witch staff could even finish talking, Helen interrupted her, her scarlet eyes narrowing. "Are you telling me that this is all your worth?"
"I-it's not like that, Head Witch, it's just that today wasn't that great," the witch staff defended, tears welling up.
Helen stood up and brought out a magic staff. She pointed it at the poor witch staff, and a fireball came out of it, hitting and burning the witch staff's hand.
"Argh… it hurts!"
The poor witch staff was crying out due to the pain inflicted by the head witch. Everyone was instantly frozen in shock and fear.
"Remember, everyone, the moment any of you isn't of use to me anymore, you will all end up like her. Ugh, what a waste of magic. That's it for tonight. Someone, please tend to her wounds. I'm gonna get my beauty sleep," Helen said like a cold-blooded menace.
"Oh, I forgot. Everyone, don't forget to prioritize our upcoming event. It's going to be the biggest one yet. Earn me as much money as you can, and after that, all of you will be one step away from your freedom," she added, her voice sickly sweet.
Wait, what the hell just happened? D-did she just use magic?! She said earlier that they can't use magic because of a demon's curse. Were all of those a lie?
...
I was confused at first, but I suddenly managed to piece everything together. Oh... I think I get it now. I knew it from the start, I should've listened to my gut. The announcement earlier was just a facade for them to earn more money and scam those tourists. They aren't really cursed, but the head witch is just using them at the same time for her own benefit.
All of the witches dispersed and left the room. The only ones remaining were the head witch and the little witch I had followed earlier.
The little girl approached the head witch casually.
"Good Evening, Mother," she greeted.
"Oh, Hi Rein, darling. I've been looking all over for you. Where have you been?" Helen asked, looking at her reflection and putting on some makeup.
I see, so the little girl's name was Rein, and the head witch is her mother. Now that's valuable information.
"I was in my room fixing my hair," Rein answered without emotion.
"Oh, I see, that's good. You have to be perfect inside out. You're going to be the center of attention in our upcoming event, so don't forget to look presentable and act like one, okay?" Helen demanded, her attention still on the mirror.
"Yes, Mother," Rein responded meekly.
"Anyway, Mama's going to be having her beauty sleep. You sleep now, too. You have to preserve your beauty," Helen said. She then left, and soon after, Rein followed her out.
After everyone left and I had gained some valuable information, I proceeded to go back to the inn. I stayed too long, Komraad and Fae are probably worried sick by now.
Earlier, Rein just lied to her mother about being in her room. She didn't want her mother to know that she was reading a book about magic. Why is that? She's probably hiding something, and I ought to find it out!