I Would Rather Be a Rogue [BL]
Chapter 47: Gift from the Witch

Chapter 47: Gift from the Witch

A thing about living in a small town? You sometimes bump into people, without meaning to. It wasn’t something that happened often, especially to Felix, who hardly knew anyone in Silverfall, but it did nonetheless. Getting his groceries, he bumped into Brielle.

They haven’t seen each other ever since that night Brielle gave Felix the blood. They had no reason to - they weren’t friends or anything, they had only met each other twice and had no connection besides Kade’s issue (and maybe that mysterious favor Felix still knew nothing about) - and Felix doubted the mermaid would be excited to meet him again, considering their circumstances. So, when they ran into each other in the local supermarket, he only gave they a light nod as a greeting, and was about to walk away...

But, to his surprise, Brielle stopped him.

"Wait!" she called. "Are you in a rush now?"

"Uh... No, not really?" He had just finished his shift, and was just getting some groceries on his way home. After that, only his pottery wheel awaited him (and maybe Remi, who didn’t share Felix’s interest in clay, and had been trying to drag the Omega to bed for some cuddles every evening).

"Great! I have something for you. I left it at home, though, so we will need to stop by my place."

Felix blinked a few times, confused. "Ah... Okay?"

Had he missed something? Did they suddenly become friends?

Soon, he got his answer though, as Brielle shifted closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "It’s from the witch. Some herbal tonics, good for your pregnancy."

So it was the witch again. Which wasn’t exactly any less confusing, but Felix had more or less learned to accept it. He was still looking for answers, yes... But since it benefited him, he didn’t want to complain.

"Thank you very much," he bowed his head politely.

"Ah, no problem," Brielle waved her hand dismissively in response. "Let’s meet up at the front once we’re both done, alright?"

Having said that, she went on her way, placing various items in her cart.

Felix also got back to the shopping, quickly picking everything he needed. He didn’t want to make the mermaid wait, when she was doing him a favor, kind of. In ten minutes or so, he was waiting by the exit, and Brielle joined him not much later.

"Let’s go, my car is parked on the left," she said, carrying grocery bags. They looked heavy, so Felix reached out his hand to help her, but she just shook her head, switching all of the heavy-looking bags to one hand as she took out the car keys from her purse.

It seemed that the mermaids also had... above-average strength.

As they both got into the car, and Brielle started driving, Felix finally couldn’t take it anymore. "Um... Brielle? Can I ask you something?" he started, still with a bit of hesitation left.

"What is it?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Brielle gave him a sideways glance. "The witch asked me to."

Well, that much Felix had already guessed himself. "But why did she do it?"

"...She?" Brielle couldn’t help but steal a glance at Felix again. "Say, have you met... the witch yet?"

"No, not yet. I’ve been to her house several times before, but there was never anyone in."

"Hmm." The corner of Brielle’s lips lifted slightly, as she tapped her fingers on the wheel. "Yes, well... They can be pretty elusive. If you want to meet them though, you should try around the new moon."

"The new moon?"

"Yeah. There’s no guarantee, but that’s when you have the best chances."

"Why the new moon, though?" Now that he had already started digging, Felix wanted to find as much as he could. "Does it have anything to do with her... their? power?"

But Brielle just shook her head. "Hm. I can’t tell you that."

It seemed the witch had their own circumstances. Well, at least Felix had some sort of clue now? Too bad he didn’t know about it earlier. It was only the first quarter now, so he would have to wait a bit for his chance...

"Oh, and don’t tell anyone about it, or that you’ve heard anything from me, okay?" Brielle added, parking her car in front of the house.

"Ah, yeah, sure," Felix agreed. He wasn’t planning to tell anyone anyway, he didn’t want to get Brielle in trouble, when she was helping him!

The pregnancy tonics the mermaid mentioned were a whole large box full of enchanted vials. With instructions written on an old, distressed piece of paper. In a very ornamental writing. Very... witchy.

Seeing Felix’s expression, Brielle let out a short chuckle. "You might have already noticed since you’ve been at the house, but the witch is very dedicated to maintaining their image. And, well... They have an... odd sense of humor."

Felix raised his brows, looking at her questioningly, so she added, "You’ll know what I mean once you meet them. Just, you don’t need to take everything they do or say too seriously. Unless..."

"Unless?"

"Ah, it’s nothing." Brielle waved her hand. "You’re so cute, so I’m sure you have nothing to worry about!"

That wasn’t exactly reassuring. If there was something Felix needed to watch out for, he wanted to know! But, Brielle seemed to be already done with their conversation, and was slowly leading Felix back to the door. "Come, I’ll give you a ride home!"

"There’s no need..."

"I insist!"

"..."

Felix let out a sigh. Well, if she really wanted to give him a ride so much, then there was no reason to refuse, no? It saved him time, and spared him from dragging his groceries and the box - which was quite heavy. The witch had put the preservation spells on the vials, but no weight-reducing ones! - through half the town.

They arrived at Felix’s house shortly. Brielle watched Felix as he went up the porch, and when he was already at the door, she called through the lowered window, "Say hi to your fox from me!"

Felix glanced back, only to see the mermaid with her mouth curved up, unable to hide her smile.

"...Did you hear that, Remi?" he asked, as he opened the door to the fox already waiting for him.

To which Remi scoffed, and rubbed against Felix’s legs, nudging him in the direction of the bed. Before Felix could even get changed, or put down the groceries!

His fox had really become extremely cuddle-addicted!