https://corvidprompts.tumblr.com/post/190045516647/dont-worry-says-the-witch-im-a-skilled
“Don’t worry,” says the witch “I’m a skilled cursebreaker. You’re going to be fine.” “I thought all those herbs and things that you’re putti
Jisung sighed as another plant withered by his presence, a trail of them behind him, obscuring the snow covered ground with their dead foliage. Luckily it seemed trees were immune to whatever curse had been placed on him - he wouldn’t have heard the end of it from the village elders if the trees started dying as well.
The snow crunched loudly under his heavy boots in a teeth grating, goosebump raising sort of way. Jisung had always hated the sound that snow makes, the feeling of it and even the cold temperatures it brought with it. Yet, he could never deny the beauty of it. The way it blanketed the ground, lush and white. The peaceful serenity that was casted about. Always so beautiful. But nevertheless it was an annoying pain in the ass, especially now as he had to trudge through it in order to get to the local witch.
Though if you ask Jisung, “local” wasn’t the correct term to use. It was more like the “convenient” witch, as she....he?(Jisung wasn’t sure)...was the only one around for miles. Villages were scattered around in what maps showed as some sort of ring with Jisung’s village being in the center. A central hub of sorts, rich with resources that were traded with the other villages. And just on the outskirts of the south village, was a large forest and nestled right in the front of the tree line was the witch’s home. A foreboding abode that had everyone wary since it’s erection. Which was understandable, witches weren’t to be trusted. They used their magic for evil, summoning dark creatures that wiped out civilization faster than any plague or drought could. Stories of such happenings had been passed down for years, eventually becoming bedtime stories and even warnings to children to be good unless they want to be snatched up by a witch.
Jisung had been the most obedient child in the whole village. But as he grew older, he grew more adventurous which lead him into very dangerous situations half the time and one of the reasons he was cursed now and making the day’s trip to the witch to see if maybe he could beg for its removal. He highly doubted it, it’s not like the villages had welcomed the witch with open arms or anything.
It was nightfall when Jisung finally reached the log cabin, smoke pillowing from the chimney as the light of the fire danced from the windows. It looked so welcoming and homey and for a moment, Jisung forgot about the danger that lurked inside.
Knocking on the door, he waited about 3 seconds before knocking again. Another 3 seconds found him knocking again until there was no longer a pause between the rapping a of his knuckles against the oak wood. The door swung open quickly, startling Jisung slightly, and he was greeted to the sight of a very handsome and a very disgruntled young man.
Was this the witch? No surely not. Witches were old hags with warts on their faces, stringy grey hair and a hunched back, or so he had been told. This beautiful man couldn’t possibly be the witch.
“Um, hi?” Jisung wanted to facepalm because what kind of greeting was that?! He was such an idiot, letting a pretty face startled him so much. To be fair though, not even the most beautiful women in his village could make him as speechless as this guy had.
He received no response, just the male stepping aside and motioning for him to walk in. Jisung’s mind instantly screamed ‘it’s a trap!’ and his body refused to move, which seemed to further upset the already irked witch. “Well, are you going to come in or are you going to stand there all night and kill off the rest of my plants?” He snapped and Jisung told himself to swoon later and act now before he got on the witch’s bad side. But boy was his voice just a sweet melody.
Walking inside, he turned as the door was closed, eyes locked on the witch as he moved further inside and to a table, fingers running through the orange fur of a very fat cat. “What’s your name?”
“J-Ji-“ He cleared his throat quickly. “Jisung. Han Jisung.”
“Well, Han Jisung, how exactly did you get cursed?”
Straight to the point, perfect.
“Well, I don’t really know?” The tapered off question had the witch raising a brow before a huffed chuckle left his lips.
“Of course. I’m not surprised.” The witch scoffed. Leaving the cat’s side, he walked back towards Jisung, slowly circling him and Jisung found his head whipping around to keep his eyes on the male at all times. He didn’t need a surprise ambush and knocked out of anything.
“Must have been a nasty little creature to give you this curse?” He mused loudly and sighed. “Alright, I suppose I can help, for a price.”
“P-price?” Jisung fumbled quickly to check his pockets, pulling out what little coin he carried and held it out to the other. “This is all I have. Please, I need this curse gone.” He wasn’t above begging, and if he needed to start now, then he surely would.
Eyeing the money, the witch laughed and pushed the hand away with a shake of his head. “I don’t need nor want your money.”
“I don’t understand. I don’t have anything else to offer.”
The look that crossed the witch’s face had Jisung freezing in confusion. Intense with a hint of curiosity in those unwavering pools of dark brown. Whatever it was the witch was searching for, he must have found as he broke the gaze and turned his back to Jisung.
“This way.” He lead Jisung into a back room, larger than the rest. From the ceiling and walls hung a variety of different plants and herbs, some of which Jisung could recognize and other’s he couldn’t. In the middle of the room was a large cauldron, the fire already lit beneath it and it seemed to be filled with some sort of liquid already. He hoped it was just water.
Jisung watched with great curiosity as the witch gathered different herbs and started tossing them into the bubbling liquid. Each one turned the liquid a different color - green, then red, then yellow, and then pink. And the most foul smelling scent slowly filled the room, leaving Jisung gasping for breath and regretting his choice of coming here. Maybe he could live with the curse after all?
“Don’t worry, I’m a skilled cursebreaker. You’re going to be fine.” Jisung wasn’t too reassured by that as four more herbs were tossed into the pot, all of which he recognized.
“I thought all those herbs and things that you’re putting in that pot are poison.”
“They are.” The witches hummed noncommittally. “Breaks the curse though.”
Jisung swallowed thickly. “And kill me.” He whispered.
“I never said I was a healer.” Looking up from stirring the pot, the witch gave Jisung a once over before continuing. “Do you want the curse gone or not?”
“Yes.” He replied instantly. He wanted the curse gone, he just didn’t want to die in the process.
“Then trust me.” Grabbing a vial, the witch carefully poured the concoction into it, the liquid a beautiful purple and if not for the steam rising out of it and the still horribly offending smell, Jisung might have thought it was grape juice. As it was handed to him, Jisung carefully clutched it tightly and raised it to his lips before stopping.
“Can I at least know your name before I die?” He asked. The witch chuckled and shook his head at the comment.
“Bottoms up, Minho.” Jisung threw his head back and down the potion, missing the way the witch’s eyes seemed to darken at statement. Despite smelling awful, it didn’t taste horrible. There was a hint of sweetness to it that made swallowing it down easier and once the vial was empty, he handed it back to Minho. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Minho hummed and placed the vial back onto a shelf. “The curse will be lifted in three days time.”
“It’s not instant?!? What kind of magic hoax is this?!” Jisung grumbled, angry that the curse wasn’t broken already.
“Magic doesn’t work like that.” Minho laughed. “Such a naive little boy.” He cooed in jest. “Now, run along back home and rest, let the potion do its job.”
“What about your payment?” Jisung asked.
“Oh don’t worry, Sunggie.” Jisung was taken aback by the nickname, though he couldn’t say he hated it. Especially not when it rolled so lovely out of Minho’s mouth. “I’ll come for my payment in three days. Now if you’ll be so kind and see yourself out, I need to clean up.”
Nodding dumbly, Jisung made a quick exit out of the room and out of the cabin. The happiness of being curse free was overridden by the curiosity of what Minho meant by coming to receive his payment. If he didn’t want money, then what else could he possibly want?
It was a question that plagued Jisung’s mind for his entire trip back home. And as dawn broke, he was no closer to figuring out the answer. In the end, all he could do was wait until he could see the beautiful witch once again.