ok so i was trying to post it on ao3 but for some reason my internet is being a bitch so have the first chapter here
CHAPTER 1 (i dont have names for them yet im sorry
Naomi flipped through a recently returned book, checking for missing pages or doodles. The fifth graders always brought them back in terrible shape, but the sound of running interrupted her.
The double doors burst open. Eleanor was dragging him by the arm, awkwardly, both struggling not to fall. Inevitably, they did—crashing to the floor with a noise that echoed through the empty library like an explosion.
“Careful, you two!” Naomi called, half-laughing.
“Good afternoon, ma'am!” Eleanor waved from the floor while Rubens groaned beside her.
“Uh… good afternoon, Naomi,” he muttered, trying to sit up as the room spun around him.
“And what’s the hurry, may I ask?”
“Eleanor’s so desperate to finish that book she forgot I’m not a rag doll!”
Rubens leaned on her and they both stood, grinning sheepishly with messy hair. Naomi chuckled, her voice gentle when she spoke.
“Now go on to your little corner before you break something else!”
Eleanor’s eyes lit up with her smile as she tugged Rubens along again, this time taking care not to leave anything dislocated—which wasn’t all that hard, considering. They passed nearly every shelf, from fiction to biography. They knew the sections almost as well as Naomi herself, who’d worked there for twenty-five years.
Between the oldest bookshelf and the wall sat two beanbags so ancient they could’ve been cousins to the cement bags that built the place. A few stacks of books they’d already read and some stuffed animals softened the space, keeping it from looking too much like an abandoned alley. It wasn’t pretty, but it was theirs.
Eleanor flopped onto the faded pink beanbag—once red—tilted her head back, and played with her hands. Rubens went straight to the shelves, crouching in slow motion.
“So, what happened at school today?” he asked, scanning the shelves and straightening a fallen book.
“Nothing new. Marie-Ann rubbed it in my face that I’m not invited to her birthday party.”
“The party that’s not for another four months?” he said, adding another book to the stack that was emptying fast.
“That one!” Eleanor sat up in a jump. “I think she just likes rubbing it in to everyone who isn’t invited: which means me!”
Rubens rolled his eyes. Ever since the juice-box incident back in second grade, tormenting them had become Marie-Ann’s life goal—and she was very ambitious about it.
Eleanor kept talking, already two subjects ahead, now complaining about exams. She stared at her nails in distraction.
“Dang it, I forgot to grab the notes!” She smacked her forehead and threw herself back again. “So much for my goal of being a model student this year…”
“Where’s that damn book?!” Rubens interrupted, grimacing at the pile beside him. “I’ve looked everywhere—nothing!”
“Maybe someone took it?” she said, getting up from the beanbag and walking toward the shelf.
The space was cramped to begin with, and filling it up didn’t help when they needed to move around. Eleanor nearly slipped on an old sheet, eyes glued to the floor to avoid more disasters.
“I doubt it, nobody else ever comes here…” Rubens muttered, still frowning at the pile. “Naomi must’ve mov—”
The crash cut him off instantly. Rubens turned so fast his neck cracked. Eleanor was on the floor, back against the shelf, rubbing the spot on her head where she’d hit the wood.
“You okay? Did it hurt?” he asked quickly, trying to stand as fast as his frail bones allowed.
“It’s nothing, just bumped my head,” she said with a crooked smile and a thumbs-up, trying to ease the tension. “Guess I’m clumsier than usual today…”
Before she could stand all the way up, a dull thud followed—the shelf decided to finish the job. A book smacked her right on the top of her head. Eleanor winced, whimpering, lips pushed into a trembling pout.
“You’re a disaster magnet today, huh?” Rubens said, half-laughing, half-worried, now standing beside her. “Let me see that…”
He caught the book before it could hit anyone else. A thick layer of dust and cobwebs clung to it like a second cover. One blow sent it all flying, making both of them cough violently.
The leather cover, once blue around the edges, was peeling away. The embossed title seemed to say something like *“Ar…ives of Her…es: 16…7”*, but most of the letters were gone. Where a library label should have been, there was only a sticky trace of dried glue.
“Never heard of this one…” Rubens muttered, and Eleanor snatched it from his hands.
“Looks older than the library itself…” she said, brushing the cover again. “It shouldn’t even be here, there’s no label!”
They struggled to open it. The pages were glued together by time, yellowed like overripe bananas. Most of the letters had suffered the same fate as the title.
Halfway through, one page broke the pattern—still yellow and fragile, but almost readable.
A list of names, dates, and descriptions. Rubens was about to turn the page when Eleanor’s chubby finger stopped him, pointing to one entry.
“Why is this one circled?” she squinted, frowning slightly. “And in red chalk…”
“‘Mellorie V.’” Rubens read slowly, eyes narrowed—maybe from the tiny handwriting, maybe from unease. “‘Spider Enchantress; Execution: 1667.’”
The word *execution* dropped the temperature a few degrees, sending chills through both of them. They should’ve been used to it—the town’s history was basically a collection of unfair trials and alleged witches—but still, something about that “Spider Enchantress” felt different.
“There’s something written in the corner… ‘She some—something,’” Eleanor leaned so close her nose almost touched the page before Rubens pushed her back a little.
“‘She lives.’” They locked eyes in silence.
The quiet that followed tasted of doubt. Rubens still held the book, scanning every margin and corner for more secret notes. Nothing—just those two words.
Then, a different sheet slipped out and drifted down. Eleanor caught it before it hit the floor. It felt tougher than the rest, folded and a bit crumpled, with a moldy smell masked by faint old perfume.
“It smells weird,” she said, grimacing as she sniffed it, like it gave her a headache. “Ugh, spoiled perfume.”
Rubens perked up instantly, watching her unfold the note carefully. The handwriting was elegant in that illegible way, as if the writer couldn’t decide whether they wanted to be understood or not.
“It’s a poem!” he said after a moment spent deciphering the curls and flourishes.
“I can’t make out a thing!” Eleanor groaned, rereading the opening lines through the overly sweet scent.
“Not just you. Whoever wrote this cared more about aesthetics than sense…” He swapped the book for the note, holding it closer. “I think it says—”
“Where the treetops swallow the daylight,
The three centuries guard the trail that strays.
If spiders you see, you must proceed,
A light within the dark—
I wait for thee.”
Rubens held the paper longer than he needed to, biting his lip the way he always did when he was thinking. When his eyes met hers, Eleanor frowned.
“Is it a map?” she whispered, as if afraid Naomi might overhear. “For someone…?”
“Looks like it, but…” Rubens ran his fingers over the words again. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
The last line stared back into his soul. It was too strange to be a joke. If someone really was waiting for them—for him.
“Maybe it was the Spider Enchantress who wrote it?” Eleanor guessed, uncertain, glancing at the book’s cover. “It fell from her chapter, after all…”
“She lives.” they said together, almost entranced.
It wasn’t until a group of old ladies walked in laughing and gossiping that they snapped out of it. The book club was starting, and soon the library would be full for the next hour and a half.
Rubens moved first, slipping the note into his pocket with more care than he’d admit. Eleanor, book tucked under her arm, scratched at the itchy leather cover.
“Let’s get out of here,” She whispered—not that the ladies would’ve heard them anyway.
They didn’t quite know what had made them act that way. It could’ve been a meaningless poem, or a cruel prank. But those looping, tangled letters had planted more than just a seed of curiosity—it felt like an entire farm.
It didn’t end there.
have the first chapter bolitos rahh
summoning the betareaders @addicted2tomura @unlovablelover @bufandaas @elcascameowces @marmota456 @cosmocertainlyveryhuman @painauchocolatlover
Im currently reading the book "Herbal Tea Magic for the Modern Witch. A Practical Guide to Healing Herbs, Tea Leaf Reading and Botanical Spells" by Elsie Wild.
I thought i would share what Wild wrote on tea, spices & herbs, their magical and medical benefits and their warnings.
these entries in this post are from Chapter 2, pages 15-18. i'll make a seperate post or few for more entries!
Teas
While there are hundreds of different kinds of tea in the world, there are four main types of tea: black, green, oolong and white.
Black tea
One of the most versatile teas, black tea is a more oxidised version of green tea, with a stronger flavour and more caffeine (though much less than a cup of coffee). Because of its full flavour, black tea acts as a great base for most tea blends and potions. Black tea originated in China in the seventeenth century when the Chinese started fermenting tea leaves to extend their storage life. Black tea came to Europe in the eighteenth century, charming the British aristocracy and eventually all of England. Black tea is the main ingredient in classic tea blends such as English breakfast tea and Earl Grey tea.
Magical Properties: Strength, stability, endings, finished business, expelling negative energy, energy boost, courage, mental clarity, grounding, cleansing. Associated with the earth element and winter.
Health Properties: Boosts metabolism, boosts immunity, relieves stress, improves bone health, eases asthma, kills bacteria, lowers cholesterol, lowers risk of diabetes, increases energy, decreases digestive activity.
Medical Warnings: Pregnant people should not drink more than two cups of black tea a day
Different Types: English breakfast, Earl Grey, Chai, Assam, Darjeeling.
Brewing tip: For the best taste, brew black tea in about 180-210f (thats 82.2-98.8c) water and let it steep for four to eight minutes, depending on the blend.
Green Tea
A staple for any tea lover, green tea is made from the unoxidized leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. It's called green tea because the leaves are harvested when they are slightly withered and immediately cooked before they can oxidize, thus keeping their green colouring. Camellia sinensis leaves for green tea are harvested three times a year to get the highest quality. Green tea was initially used for medical purposes to treat a range of illnesses. For many decades, green tea was a symbol of status and wealth due to its cost and lengthy preparation time. But today green tea can be enjoyed by anyone. Matcha, green tea's popular cousin, is made from the ground powder of shade-grown green tea leaves, which is whisked together with hot water in a ceramic bowl. Macha was originally used in traditional japanese tea ceremonies but is now popular everywhere.
Magical Properties: Healing, love, mindfulness, passion, cleansing, regulating energy, wealth. Associated with the fire element and spring.
Health Properties: Boosts metabolism, improves brain function, supports sexual health, supports heart health, rich in antioxidants. Could also increase longevity.
Medical Warnings: None.
Different Types: Chunmee green tea, gunpowder green tea, jasmine green tea and matcha.
Brewing Tip: Green tea tastes best when brewed at a mild water temperature (about 180f (which is 82.2c)) and steeped for about three minutes. Water that is too hot could make the tea bitter.
Oolong Tea
While black, green and white tea are easily recognisable to most people, oolong tends to throw people off. Sure, you've heard of it, but what is it? Oolong is a semi-oxidized tea made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. The amount of time the tea is oxidised varies, which makes each oolong flavour unique. Oolong tea gets its name from two Chinese words meaning "black dragon", a reference to the way the leaves are rolled into curly shapes resembling dragons.
Magical Properties: Wisdom, beaty, emotional balance and connection, romance, friendship, serenity, divination, reflection. Associated with the water element and autumn.
Health Properties: Lowers blood pressure, improves sleep, improves gut health, increases bone density, prevents tooth decay. Increases alertness and improves your mood.
Medical Warnings: None.
Brewing Tip: Oolong tastes best when its brewed at a water temp of 185-206f (85-96.9c) and steeped for around four minutes. Oolong tea actually tastes better the more you re-steep it.
White Tea
A highly delicate tea made from the unopened buds of the camellia sinensis plant, white tea is produced with minimal processing during a short harvesting season, creating its unique floral flavour and its expensive price tag. White tea, which originated in the Fujian Province of China during the sixteenth century, has become popular for its taste, health benefits and magical properties.
Magical Properties: Purification, protection, clarity, realization, meditation, cleansing, psychic abilities, youth, blessings, new beginnings, happiness, wisdom. Associated with the air element summer and moon magic.
Health Properties: reduces risk of heart disease, lowers insulin resistance, protects against osteoporosis, helps skin damage, reduces risk of cancer, rich in antioxidants.
Medical Warnings: None.
Different types: Silver Needle (BaiHao YinZhen), White Peony (Bai Mu Dan), Tribute Eyebrow (Gong Mei), Long Life Eyebrow (Shou Mei).
Brewing Tip: Because of its delicate nature, white tea should be made with 175-85f (79.4-85c) water and steeped for one to three minutes maximum or it will turn bitter.
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Sorry for the post being so long, unfortunately the next posts might be longer ^^;
If you'd like to see the next post when it comes out you can follow my blog and/or the tag #Herbal Facts with Koi (wip name)
