"Come one, come all! Witness the mystical might of a real witch!" Malia called out to the crowds of Greymont as attracted the attention of the commoners. Frankly, Greymont was a pretty boring place in her opinion; the people here had no taste. However, they were about as sharp as a dulled butter knife and that was where Malia could have her fun. As folks gather around the oddly dressed girl and all her noise, she watched with glee as she had an audience worthy of her talent.
"I'm sure you must be wondering what mystical wonders await! Fear not! For I, Malia the greatest witch of all time shall guide you through the otherworldly display you are about to see! Women! If you have children, avert their gaze now or they may be forever lost to the arcane. Please note that Malia takes no responsibility for the injury, death, possession, form changing, soul destruction, lost love, obsession, depression or mind control to any of those who witness the show! Now, let us BEGIN!"
Suddenly screams rang out throughout the nearby people and Malia's crowd started to disperse in a blind panic.
"Run for your lives!"
"We're all going to die!"
"H-hey wait a minute! You haven't even seen the show! The warning was kind of a joke....nothing bad will really happen to you! Probably." Malia called after the crowd of screaming commoners, but not a single one of the took heed of her words. "God's how rude! A proper curse unto all of you! May your children all be born ugly! And your baking recipes always go astray!"
"Hand over all your money little girl, and you ain't gotta get cleaved in two." Commanded a gruff sounding voice. As Malia turned around she saw a lone brigand wielding an axe. Suddenly it occurred to Malia what the people had been running from, a lone brigand could not have made it this far into Greymont - which meant there were more. As she actually listened to her surroundings she could hear nearby shops being ransacked and peoples screams. Interesting. It appeared that Malia was currently being held at axe point.
Immediately in a dramatic flair, she draped her arm over her face. "Oh but good sir! I am but a lowly witch girl travelling to try to make ends meet. I have nothing of value except the very magic I perform! Please, do not cut down this virgin maiden before she has had a chance to make her mark on the world! I'll cause you no bother, I swear it!"
The brigand licked his lips before taking a step towards Malia. "Hehe, a virgin maiden eh...then you do have some value. I'll take you back to the ship and a beauty like you will fetch a pretty penny. Although maybe I'll keep you to myself...don't resist girl. I don't wanna to damage the merchandise." The crude man ran his tongue over the metal back of his axe.
"O-oh my! You though I said virgin! I said sea urchin! You see when I was but a sweet babe I was cursed by an awful witch of the sea who de-- Oh forget it, you're not even listening. But still, fine sir! Allow me to perform for you but once before we go! My hands are empty but with a simple flick of the wrist a gift unto you!" As soon as Malia flicked her wrist, a white rose seemed to just appear in her hand. The brigand looked truly confused as to how the girl did, but Malia wasted no time in taking a bow.
"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. And now for my next trick, I'll make you disappear." In the same breath Malia spun around, tome now in hand, and with the venom in her words making her intent clear she launched a searing fireball toward the brigand striking him directly at such short distance. The man recoiled back having taken the full might of Malia's spell and Malia watched as the fire burned his newly dead flesh. She walked up to the corpse and threw the flower onto the burning brigand.
"Thank you, you've been the best audience a witch could ask for, but unfortunately that's all the tricks we have time for. I hope you found the show to as exhilarating as I did. Take care now." And with that Malia headed through a nearby alleyway away from the brigand before his friends showed up - it didn't take a genius witch to figure out where her own band of slaves comrades would be. No doubt they were headed straight into the foray of all this chaos, and that suited Malia just fine. As she made her way down the alleyway and to the port where she could hear the most amount of commotion she could hear the soft sobs of what definitely sounded, and smelled, like a child. Malia looked around a bit before spotting a poorly hidden boy; he could be no older than ten. If a brigand came this way they'd be certain to spot him and he'd definitely be killed or captured. Malia thought about it for a moment before realizing she didn't care and carrying on her way when out of the corner of her eye she saw the unmistakable glimpse of a strawberry lollipop clutched in the boy's hand. This changed everything.
"You there! Boy. Present yourself to me if you wish to go home."
"A-are you a pirate?"
"A-am I a pirate? FOOL! Have you never opened a storybook? Are you ignorant to tales of lore? Do you NOT carry with you a lunchbox? I am clearly a WITCH."
"A WITCH?!"
"That's right you foul miscreation! I am witch borne of evil and despair, a temptress for the depths of the hottest hells, a sorceress who manipulates men as easily as she does the fabrics of the universe. Why I am so evil the infernos of hell themselves sent me back. But it is your lucky day! I happen to be in need of no extra children to boil today, so I shall make you a deal. In exchange for that delicious lollipop you have there, I shall grant you a spell to see you home safely."
"R-really? O-okay! Here you can have all my candy!"
"My, what a good minion you are. Perhaps some day, you may make a fine witch's apprentice. Now... avte, darte, noct, illseum, homeward bound, ward this boy of all harm, safely home with a witch's charm. There. It is done. Now go to, and when you reach your friends be sure to warn them of Malia! The cruellest witch, who sneaks into boys and girls rooms at night to take their candy!"
"Y-yes Miss Malia, you're the best witch ever!" And with that the boy went darting off. Malia nodded in agreement that she was in fact, the best witch ever, before sticking her newly acquired candy in her pockets and the lollipop in her mouth and skipping her way back to her friends. Once Malia actually made it to where she was headed, she arrived in time to see little Eli arrive, aide in tow. She could always count on the motley crew to be predictable if nothing else. She skipped her way over to them, dashing from brigand to guard as she did.
"Excuse me, pardon me. Witch coming through. Oh be careful Mr Guardsman! Generally it better not to take the axe to face! Oh dear, looks like he's already dead....Pardon me Mr Brigand, just passing through. I'd take one myself but wouldn't you know I just started my steel diet yesterday? Rotten luck, I know." She reunited with Eli, just as he finished casting a fireball of his own towards a group of ruffians. Not bad. Not Malia, but acceptable none the less.
"Oh my darling prince! That wasn't half bad! I do love cooking scum. But what's with the face? Foolish boy! How many times must I alay onto you this lesson? A witch's apprentice must always smile in the face of chaos. It is where we are at our most powerful! Now let me see those lovely royal teeth! Yes, yes, that's good. You know what happens to good boys who please witches don't you?" As much as Malia would have loved to continue talking all day. The sound of brigands, now angry that Eli's group was clearly on the offensive, gearing up a counterattack swayed her judgement into getting ready to fight. "Shall we dance? I have some wonderful recipes for cooked human flesh you know, and I'm sure I can boil a brigand alive for a spell or two! Fear not everyone, your favourite witch is on the case."
"I'm sure you must be wondering what mystical wonders await! Fear not! For I, Malia the greatest witch of all time shall guide you through the otherworldly display you are about to see! Women! If you have children, avert their gaze now or they may be forever lost to the arcane. Please note that Malia takes no responsibility for the injury, death, possession, form changing, soul destruction, lost love, obsession, depression or mind control to any of those who witness the show! Now, let us BEGIN!"
Suddenly screams rang out throughout the nearby people and Malia's crowd started to disperse in a blind panic.
"Run for your lives!"
"We're all going to die!"
"H-hey wait a minute! You haven't even seen the show! The warning was kind of a joke....nothing bad will really happen to you! Probably." Malia called after the crowd of screaming commoners, but not a single one of the took heed of her words. "God's how rude! A proper curse unto all of you! May your children all be born ugly! And your baking recipes always go astray!"
"Hand over all your money little girl, and you ain't gotta get cleaved in two." Commanded a gruff sounding voice. As Malia turned around she saw a lone brigand wielding an axe. Suddenly it occurred to Malia what the people had been running from, a lone brigand could not have made it this far into Greymont - which meant there were more. As she actually listened to her surroundings she could hear nearby shops being ransacked and peoples screams. Interesting. It appeared that Malia was currently being held at axe point.
Immediately in a dramatic flair, she draped her arm over her face. "Oh but good sir! I am but a lowly witch girl travelling to try to make ends meet. I have nothing of value except the very magic I perform! Please, do not cut down this virgin maiden before she has had a chance to make her mark on the world! I'll cause you no bother, I swear it!"
The brigand licked his lips before taking a step towards Malia. "Hehe, a virgin maiden eh...then you do have some value. I'll take you back to the ship and a beauty like you will fetch a pretty penny. Although maybe I'll keep you to myself...don't resist girl. I don't wanna to damage the merchandise." The crude man ran his tongue over the metal back of his axe.
"O-oh my! You though I said virgin! I said sea urchin! You see when I was but a sweet babe I was cursed by an awful witch of the sea who de-- Oh forget it, you're not even listening. But still, fine sir! Allow me to perform for you but once before we go! My hands are empty but with a simple flick of the wrist a gift unto you!" As soon as Malia flicked her wrist, a white rose seemed to just appear in her hand. The brigand looked truly confused as to how the girl did, but Malia wasted no time in taking a bow.
"Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. And now for my next trick, I'll make you disappear." In the same breath Malia spun around, tome now in hand, and with the venom in her words making her intent clear she launched a searing fireball toward the brigand striking him directly at such short distance. The man recoiled back having taken the full might of Malia's spell and Malia watched as the fire burned his newly dead flesh. She walked up to the corpse and threw the flower onto the burning brigand.
"Thank you, you've been the best audience a witch could ask for, but unfortunately that's all the tricks we have time for. I hope you found the show to as exhilarating as I did. Take care now." And with that Malia headed through a nearby alleyway away from the brigand before his friends showed up - it didn't take a genius witch to figure out where her own band of slaves comrades would be. No doubt they were headed straight into the foray of all this chaos, and that suited Malia just fine. As she made her way down the alleyway and to the port where she could hear the most amount of commotion she could hear the soft sobs of what definitely sounded, and smelled, like a child. Malia looked around a bit before spotting a poorly hidden boy; he could be no older than ten. If a brigand came this way they'd be certain to spot him and he'd definitely be killed or captured. Malia thought about it for a moment before realizing she didn't care and carrying on her way when out of the corner of her eye she saw the unmistakable glimpse of a strawberry lollipop clutched in the boy's hand. This changed everything.
"You there! Boy. Present yourself to me if you wish to go home."
"A-are you a pirate?"
"A-am I a pirate? FOOL! Have you never opened a storybook? Are you ignorant to tales of lore? Do you NOT carry with you a lunchbox? I am clearly a WITCH."
"A WITCH?!"
"That's right you foul miscreation! I am witch borne of evil and despair, a temptress for the depths of the hottest hells, a sorceress who manipulates men as easily as she does the fabrics of the universe. Why I am so evil the infernos of hell themselves sent me back. But it is your lucky day! I happen to be in need of no extra children to boil today, so I shall make you a deal. In exchange for that delicious lollipop you have there, I shall grant you a spell to see you home safely."
"R-really? O-okay! Here you can have all my candy!"
"My, what a good minion you are. Perhaps some day, you may make a fine witch's apprentice. Now... avte, darte, noct, illseum, homeward bound, ward this boy of all harm, safely home with a witch's charm. There. It is done. Now go to, and when you reach your friends be sure to warn them of Malia! The cruellest witch, who sneaks into boys and girls rooms at night to take their candy!"
"Y-yes Miss Malia, you're the best witch ever!" And with that the boy went darting off. Malia nodded in agreement that she was in fact, the best witch ever, before sticking her newly acquired candy in her pockets and the lollipop in her mouth and skipping her way back to her friends. Once Malia actually made it to where she was headed, she arrived in time to see little Eli arrive, aide in tow. She could always count on the motley crew to be predictable if nothing else. She skipped her way over to them, dashing from brigand to guard as she did.
"Excuse me, pardon me. Witch coming through. Oh be careful Mr Guardsman! Generally it better not to take the axe to face! Oh dear, looks like he's already dead....Pardon me Mr Brigand, just passing through. I'd take one myself but wouldn't you know I just started my steel diet yesterday? Rotten luck, I know." She reunited with Eli, just as he finished casting a fireball of his own towards a group of ruffians. Not bad. Not Malia, but acceptable none the less.
"Oh my darling prince! That wasn't half bad! I do love cooking scum. But what's with the face? Foolish boy! How many times must I alay onto you this lesson? A witch's apprentice must always smile in the face of chaos. It is where we are at our most powerful! Now let me see those lovely royal teeth! Yes, yes, that's good. You know what happens to good boys who please witches don't you?" As much as Malia would have loved to continue talking all day. The sound of brigands, now angry that Eli's group was clearly on the offensive, gearing up a counterattack swayed her judgement into getting ready to fight. "Shall we dance? I have some wonderful recipes for cooked human flesh you know, and I'm sure I can boil a brigand alive for a spell or two! Fear not everyone, your favourite witch is on the case."