I Would Rather Be a Rogue [BL]
Chapter 52: Witch Hunt

Chapter 52: Witch Hunt

Luckily, Kade really did leave the town immediately, driving somewhere (hopefully far, far away), because Felix needed to be left alone. Well, that was the norm, of course, but now even more so - the new moon was finally there, in just two days! It was time for Felix’s witch hunt to start in earnest.

Brielle said ’around new moon’, and that there was no guarantee. So, to increase his chances, Felix started stopping by the witch’s house several times a day. He lived so close that it wasn’t a problem - he just went on short walks to get some fresh air and stretch his legs, knocked on the door, and after confirming there was no one in, returned home. Then wait a few hours, and repeat again.

But the new moon had passed, and Felix still hasn’t met her... Them?

It was a bit frustrating, and disappointing, but above all, suspicious! The witch gave him a whole box of pregnancy tonics (that worked wonders!) for free, when he hadn’t even asked for it, and yet they were unwilling to meet Felix? Yes, they were supposed to be elusive, but Brielle clearly knew them, and Eden met them as well! So why couldn’t Felix? Was it just because he hadn’t been trying for long enough... Or because the witch had something to hide from him?

Either way, Felix was feeling a bit sour because of his failed witch hunt. Especially when the morning after the new moon, Eden told him as they chatted in the kitchen,

"By the way, I met with the witch yesterday."

Felix’s hand slipped, and the knife he used to chop the carrots ended up slashing his fingers.

"Ah?! Are you okay?" Eden exclaimed, seeing the blood pouring out of the cut. "Wait a second, I’m gonna grab the first aid kit! No, don’t put that in your mouth!"

"Ah, right." Felix quickly put his hand down. Of course, he knew that he shouldn’t lick it, that was just an instinctive response. He made sure to move away from the cutting board, though, and toward the sink, as to not contaminate anything and ruin any more vegetables.

Eden was back in a minute, and quickly started disinfecting and bandaging Felix’s finger. Luckily, the cut wasn’t as bad as it looked at first, it just stung a bit, that’s all. Felix only let out a soft hiss, but hardly felt the pain, too focused on something else.

"You met the witch?" he asked Eden. "Where? At the house?"

"The witch’s house? No, ehm, she... appeared in front of me as I was passing by the cemetery. It’s about time I needed to restock the medicine I use for my heat, so, uh, she delivered it."

By the cemetery? How eerie! Well, Brielle did say that the witch cared about the appearances...

Felix glanced at Eden, who was busy trying to wrap a bandaid around his bleeding finger. Putting aside the fact that the witch showed up to Eden but refused to Felix... There was something else that has been bothering him.

"What kind of person is the witch?"

"E-eh?" Eden flinched, accidentally dropping the bandaid. He looked at the sad piece of plaster lying on the dirty kitchen floor, sighed, and opened another one. He made sure to wrap it tightly around Felix’s wound, before he answered, "Uh, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not answer this question..."

"Why?"

"Ugh," Eden groaned, as he bent down to pick up the fallen bandaid and toss it out. "Well, it’s just... It’s the witch we’re talking about, you know? A real one, that can use spells. I don’t want to end up cursed because I said something wrong!"

Felix went silent. What Eden said made sense - he himself was also wary of the witch, despite all the help he received, and even Brielle, who seemed far more relaxed - her relationship with the witch was probably closer, maybe they knew each other on a personal level - avoided saying too much, only giving Felix a little bit of advice. And asking him not to tell anyone!

So, he let go of the subject, not wanting to get Eden in trouble.

He spent the rest of his shift struggling to focus, his thoughts all consumed by the witch. Because of that, he made a good few more mistakes. Although thankfully no more bloody ones! And as he was off, he rushed to the witch’s house...

Only to find it empty again.

Disappointed, he returned home, and plopped down by the pottery wheel, to relieve his frustration somehow. He spent most of the day just working on a new vase, until it got dark outside...

As his stomach growled, demanding a dinner break, long overdue, Felix let out a sigh and wiped his hands. He stretched his back, looking out of the window at the dark sky...

Should he try one more time?

He for up, and quickly heated up the meal, for himself and Remi... But his little ’pet’ was nowhere to be found. Felix ate in silence, just glancing at the bed, where the fox would usually lay curled up at this time...

And by the time he finished eating, he had already made up his mind. He wasn’t sleepy yet, he could very well go for a short evening walk. Worst-case scenario, he would just end up disappointed, nothing new.

So, he got dressed and stepped out, going the same way he had walked way too many times the past three days. He pushed the crooked gate open and walked down the needlessly winding path...

Even before he knocked, he already knew. The house wasn’t empty this time.

Finally, his luck had turned... Or so it seemed. He gulped loudly, feeling nervous all of a sudden, and lifted his hand, knocking three times with the black cat-shaped knocker.

The door opened almost immediately after he let go, on their own, with a loud creaking sound. Revealing the dark interior, shrouded in dark purple mist, swirling in the air. With sweet, intense jasmine fragrance, that instantly helped Felix relax. He stepped inside, the door closing behind his back, and slowly wandered deeper, his eyes carefully observing his surroundings, piercing through the darkness.

The house was bigger than it seemed looking from the outside, and built like a maze, with countless door and corridors. Probably some sort of enchantment. Felix could only hope that the spell was placed on the house, and not on him, causing him to hallucinate, but it’s not like he had a way to tell. And he wouldn’t back down anyway. He just kept on walking, step by step, following the direction the swirling of the smoke seemed to indicate...

Until he arrived in a square room, with a round table with a crystal ball standing right in the middle, and with some sort of magic circle drawn on the floor with white paint or chalk. It was lit by a few candles set around the room, which didn’t give much light, especially not with the mist hanging in the air. There were two chairs opposite from each other...

And on one of them, the one facing the entrance, sat the witch.

"...Ah."

All of a sudden, Felix understood everything.