The Warlock and the Witch
In a world of spells and mischief, there lies a Boss Monster who works hard as a professor and the tales of Boss Monsters possessing incredible fire magic. He worked hard, trained hard, using most of his childhood to master his magic for good yet this made his social skills come out pretty rough as he seems full of himself and quite strict. Even then there is much warmth to this Boss Monster who was given the title of “Warlock of Flames” teaching creatures how to use fire magic.
In this hour in the middle of the night, he was looking for ingredients for something that may be useful for his cooking. After all, what use of fire magic if one only knows how to use it to bring destruction and mayhem. As fire can be used to help bring warmth in the cold, bring comfort in the dark, and make food all the tastier. That last bit made him giggle and uses one of his paws to fix his hat.
“Ah, cooked mushrooms sounds good right now. Mushroom soup maybe for today's meal...-”
He felt his ears twitch as he heard something moving in the bushes, sounded a little different than what the average creature that one may normally find in the forest. His eyes narrow as he looks upon the bushes.
“Come out from there. I know someone is there!”
There was not a sound, it was as if whatever it is doesn't believe his words, making him bring up a fireball above his paw.
“If you do not come out, then you may face some burning.”
With that threat out of his mouth the sound of the bushes moving about was heard and there his grey eyes saw a small humanoid figure wearing...
“A witch? No, not just that-”
“What do you want? Is it a crime to roam about the forest at night now?!”
There was a loud roar, sounded like it was behind the witch. Most likely they accidentally disturb the creature as they roam about the forest at night or rather, this creature may have thought them as their prey.
“You don't need to tell me that!”
“. . .Get down, right now!”
The witch jumps down out of the way with mushrooms following out of their pockets as the tiger jumps out of the bushes, the Warlock throws the fireball at it. Causing it to be hit by flames directly at its head and it falls in the middle of its jump right behind the witch as it cries in pain, dying as it was consumed up by flames. It was just a snap of a finger where those cries stopped and it's movement ceased. The Warlock slowly walks up to the Witch and bought a paw out to them while the flames themselves died down.
“Are you okay?” He said with a neutral tone and expression.
The witch looks up to him, their red eyes meeting those lifeless grey ones as if telling one that he holds much knowledge but even with knowledge... something was missing that caused those eyes to be what they are. The witch was about to grab his paw but then moves their hand away, picking themselves up as if being stubborn of accepting help. They started to brush the dirt and dust of off them and then pick up their hat.
“I didn't need the help.”
“I was correct, you are also human. It is rare for me to spot a human in this forest.
“What was your first clue?”
“I wasn't being serious with that question! Why do you even care?”
“It's interesting, I thought I knew everything that is about this forest and here you are.” He said as he looks upon the mushrooms that got all dirty up from the ground they landed on.
“Were you looking for ingredients?”
“I wanted to figure something out with them.”
“There are plenty that mushrooms could do. Sadly, all I know to do with them is to make food.
“Food?! You can do more with certain mushrooms! You could even make medicine!”
“. . .Medicine, isn't really my... forte.”
He felt their red eyes looking upon him, his white furry face, and those paws they saw of his reminded them of monsters like Toriel or Asriel.
“Do you know Toriel?” The human asked.
“Ah, I... Do... But, we're not directly related. I'm from a late Dreemurr family that has passed away. I'm the only one left of my “Dreemurr” family. I live alone in these forests, a little cottage that is a little hard to spot. Unless you know the signs.”
“That's weird, you're weird.”
“I could say the same about you, human.”
“Before you say anything dumb. It's Ichi but mom thought it would be cute if it was like wit-chi instead because she was-”
“Your mother was THAT human witch I presume.”
“. . . Gossip has a way of spreading quickly. I only learn of this news once it was too late and when I was of older age. It's not something that people stop talking about. Now, this leads me to ask. Who do you live with?”
“Do you not have someone living with you, what about your fath-”
“Do not even mention him.”
“ . . .Ah, sorry. . .” He spoke softly as he looks upon their red eyes that were staring at him, eyes that hold flames of anger, perhaps of revenge.
“Regardless of your living condition, do you mind coming with me to my cottage?”
“Why should I come with you?”
“Well, I cannot just eat that roasted animal all by myself and cooked lion meat is pretty good therefore it would be a shame to have it go to waste if I cannot finish it.”
As they answered they saw the Warlock pickup the lion using both of his paws. “Stick close.” He said as he started heading to his home.
As the witch followed the Boss Monster they will take notice of them looking at the tree, grass, and other little details while explaining to them why he is doing so. Like the fungi on the tree points to the direction of the cottage, the burn marks around the tree was those he made to help make sure to remind him he was going to the right track and some of the grass was shorter than the ones deeper in the forest telling him home was close by. Soon, it was there the Witch saw the small cottage made out of stone with a single-window and chimney. By the side were a little building, a stump, a stack of wood, and an ax that was used to cut the wood in half.
“We are here, sorry if it wasn't what you expected. I'm a simple creature with a simple life, with simple wants and needs.”
As he walks up to his door he realized it would be rather hard for him to turn the knob of the door to open it.
“Witchi, could you open my door, please. I don't want to drop the animal and it would save us time.”
“Uh, yeah, sure.” They said as they turn the knob and open the door.
“Go ahead, you can enter first.”
As Witchi enters the house, they could see the single large room. It had a fireplace, a round wooden table at the center, a few tool stools which can be used as chairs, a little section for doing laundry, a little section for storing food, a section for cooking which was close to the fireplace, two smaller rooms one of those being a small bedroom. All and all it was a simple home with the basic needs to live.
The Warlock enters his home and spoke. “Sorry if it isn't much, I'm just that simple of a creature.”
With that said he placed the burned creature near the cooking area. Taking out some sharp tools as he starts taking bits and pieces out of the tiger.
“Could you bring me some of my stone bowls, I can place our share into each of them. I know some ways to make it taste even better.”
The witch looks about the food area just to see a few wooden bowls on a counter, grabbing them and passing them to the Warlock who had a sharp fork and knife, pulling out the good meat bits and places them in the bowls. It wasn't a pretty sight but hey, at least the tiger was already dead and cooked. It would be some time until both of their bowls were filled.
“Go ahead and take a seat. I'll bring you your food.”
Taking their bowls he uses his magical flames to heat up the bowls and what was inside them. Going to one of the counters he takes out some spices and starts mixing it with the meat. It would be only a moment until he walks over to the table and places the bowl of meat in front of Witchi while placing one where he was be sitting. A seat across from the witch.
“Why are you doing all this?”
He heard the Witch ask the question. It really had no reason to. Just some company was enough to warrant it.
“I'm just a lonely warlock, all I do is teach students and go back home. Not many people care about my company. After all, my “Dreemurr” family is all but gone. Who wants to spend time with an old creature like me and what's worse is I won't age anymore until I have children. Well, I look slightly young, I'm a young adult at the very least haha.”
He gives a quiet laugh as if to hide his loneliness as he looks upon the human taking a bit out of the tiger meat. Seems like it was pretty good, had a good spice to it. Seems like this Warlock had some experience in cooking.
“This is really good, I didn't expect meat like a tiger could be this tasty.”
“Ah! I'm glad you like it. With spices and the right ingredients you can make something that tastes alright into something that could make one's mouth water.”
“Soooo, You're all alone?”
“For the most part. Just me, the students I see as the academy and whatever lies in the forest until I return to my little cottage here. I don't get many visitors besides the occasion small animal that comes to ask me for some food.”
He took a bite out of the meat, giving a soft sigh with his peaceful life.
“Why did you tell me about how to get to your place?”
“I thought if you want to visit someone you can come to visit me. I'll be happy to have your company once and awhile Witchi.”
“Me, give you company? You are strange. I am no one special especially for some warlock like yourself.”
The Warlock places his bowl down as he looks upon the witch.
“Not true, I see greatness within you. A fire in your eyes that reflects your soul.”
“You may be silent and unaware of your potential but I see it. Even if your eyes show anger, sadness about what has happened in your life. You are strong, strong to keep moving forward, and keeping the flames of your soul lit up bright.”
As he spoke he saw the human standing up from their seat. “Thank you for the food, I-”
“Wait! Hear me out!” He said as he raised his paw up gesturing to hold on. The human just stares at him, keeping still. Watching as the same paw went to his hat.
“I've been looking for someone to be my pupil. Yet, none of those students I have has no fire in their hearts. No passion at all and just content with doing what they have now. You, You want to do something more! You're the only one I have said this to so...”
He slowly takes off his hat, revealing a hornless white goat with grey eyes that seem rather dull. “Would you be my pupil in my arts of flames?”
Witchi stares at him intensely thinking about his proposal. They looked like someone they knew and yet there were differences that were apparent. “I'm not sure fire magic is something I need to know. I don't want to hurt people even if I want-.”
“No, no, no! Understand that fire isn't just about destruction, it can be a source of light as well. It brings warmth, it can help light a dark path to help you or others and most importantly you need a way to defend yourself. What fire is depends on the user, without fire we as a civilization would be nothing and blinded by the darkness.”
“Yes, your name. What is it?”
“. . .My mother named me Asriel. My parents were not very creative with naming. I normally just call myself the Warlock of Flames the title I've earned. I. . . Didn't have many friends, I used up all of my childhood to master my fire magic. . .”
The witch took another moment to think, Asriel... Just like the one they knew. How old was he to share the same name and surname? Yet, his eyes bothered them. . .So dull, was that because of this loneliness. If they become his pupil maybe that would help him. Learn fire while befriending someone who has no friends, no family. Perhaps that was a reason good enough to. Even then, it wasn't something they would admit straight up.
“Asriel, Warlock of flames. I. . . I decided to be your pupil.”
They could see those grey eyes shine just a little as if a flame sparked in them. Then a smile was seen.
“I am happy to hear that, Witchi. My pupil! Tonight, we will have a lovely meal and I will walk you home if you wish. When you visit me, I will be happy to start your lessons.”
With that marked the beginning of their friendship, a lonely mentally old man making his first friend and pupil in the ways of the flame. Now, his future doesn't seem all so lonely anymore. Perhaps because the teachings were of fire perhaps it made the witch think. Maybe in some situations, that fire can help bring others closer like sharing a campfire and telling stories. Regardless. . .Learning fire may be useful during their adventures. Who knows, perhaps even a witch can teach a warlock some new tricks.
The Warlock of flames now has children on his hands.
Again, this story is very good Seth!