Nymphe couldn’t handle just how precious the child was, it only made her excitement to become a mother grow. The witch could already feel maternal instincts welling up inside her, hearing Opacho confirm to the master that she wouldn’t let anyone touch her. The softness a mother felt when her child vowed to protect her.
Yes, it definitely felt a little awkward when Hao, and everyone else left to do who knows what…but it being just the two of them now was something Nymphe grateful for nonetheless, so she could focus her attention on Opacho.
Nodding quietly when the child informed her that she’d be finishing her coloring, and being told to do ‘whatever she wants’… that was something she wasn’t all that used to yet, being free to do as she pleased. Blinking, the witch found a place to sit and pulled an embroidery project from a simple blue tote bag she’d been carrying. Nymphe had taken only a few things from her former home before Hao burnt it to the ground, sewing supplies being among them. Her intent was to make quilts for her future children, and Opacho herself. The current square held in the embroidery hoop was a sheep under a starlit sky, for Opacho’s quilt, since the lord had mentioned Opacho’s partner spirit being a sheep, and the child’s fondness for stars.
Her own spirit, an ascended white rabbit the size of a draft horse, came out and sat behind Nymphe to act as a backrest. As she stitched, and Opacho worked on her drawing, an idea popped into the witch’s head. A damn good one, too. So, she spoke it aloud.
“When you’re done with your pretty picture, Opacho, would you like to go and get some ice cream? Hao-sama did mention that you like it…”
Aside from wanting to make the child happy, she had recalled Hao himself was partial to butter pecan…perhaps she should buy one for him, too.
Opacho returns to her papers and crayons without a word, stepping few paces away before she flops onto her stomach. She kicks her feet lazily in the air, humming a random tuneless melody as she picked up a green crayon.
What was she drawing?
Well, her picture this time was a bit different than her usual scribbles of various members of the group. This time, she was trying to redraw a lake they'd passed when traveling on the Spirit of Fire earlier this week. The water had been so bright and clear, surrounded by lush trees, vibrant bushes, and fluffy-looking grass! There'd even been some deer grazing nearby!
Opacho's brow furrows in concentration, tongue peeking out past the corner of her mouth as she attempts to recreate the image she could recall so vividly in her mind. Focused so intently on the task at hand, she barely manages to acknowledge Nymphe's question. The older girl's idea of course swirls about in the toddler's head, just as the words follow but she really wanted to get this picture just right.
"Okay," she responds softly, a distracted murmur as her arm sweeps across her paper, coloring in the sky with a blue crayon. "Opacho will go, Opacho almost done."
There was relief, when Opacho agreed to the idea of going for ice cream. All Nymphe wanted, was to make the child happy. To earn her trust, at least…was it like this for all stepmothers, the ones that actually tried? There was so much the witch was still unsure of, so much to learn…
…but for Hao-sama and Opacho, it would be worth it all.
Brushing those thoughts deep down where she couldn’t reach them, her mind returned to her needlepoint. Nymphe was quick with her fingers, but there were still many squares left for Opacho’s quilt alone. Aside from the projects for her, the witch also had to speed up making everything for the children she and Hao were planning on…so much to do!!
Once in awhile, she’d glance up from her work to check on Opacho from where she was seated—not wanting to hover, but also wanting to be sure she was okay. Of course, she was curious about what Opacho was drawing. She’d seen flashes of blue and green before she sat down, but nothing concrete. When she was done, she’d ask the toddler if she could see.
Perhaps she should see if she could steal a portfolio, to keep her drawings safe…














