I Reincarnated as an NPC Witch

Almost Caught

Teria just looks at her as Abigail sighs, “If this is what needs to be done, then I think I should do it.” She looks at the door and to the books in front of her. “To lower their suspicions, I need to act like I brew something.” She looks at Teria, “We’re going shopping today, Teria.” She grabbed her potion book and switched her position to the desk nearby. She grabbed the ink and quill on it and some parchment papers she has in the handkerchieves. She browse the book, looking back at the potion that gave her false hope earlier. “I need authentic brewing ingredients. Making it up will just make things harder for me. I am sure they will trust me about this. No one knows my potion but me. I can slip out of this situation.” She smiles at Teria as she starts listing certain ingredients that her potion candidates have. She also considered what their common uses are and what ingredients they are incompatible to be brewed with.

As soon as she finishes, Abigail closed her book and grabbed her sling bag on the bed. She tucks the folded paper on it and looks at her companion. “Come on, we got to get some of these things real quick.” Teria squeaks, “I know it doesn’t matter. But, we don’t know if those two are watching over us. They can’t know that I have this ability or I know that I have the capability to do so. We can’t be so sure that I can already control everything in here.” She opens the door, only to find Keeana on the other side.

“Gah!” She exclaimed, slightly walking back in shock. Abigail looks at her in horror, her heart starts pounding even before she realizes she was there. “K-keeana?” She muttered, confused and slightly sweaty, “What are you doing here?” She looks at the cheerful lady in front of her who seems unfazed with her reaction. “I am just checking on you! The owner of the inn offered food for us. They were so observant to see that we are incredibly tired. Not the usual tired tired, but the immensely painful one.” Keeana giggles, “Lavena sent me here to tell you. Honestly, she doesn’t need to.” She crosses her arms and giggles, “It’s honestly a tradition for me now to knock on your door if we needed you, either in celebration or in war. She doesn’t need to remind me.” Keeana holds her shoulder which strangely, made Abigail flinch a bit and back away.

“Oh, I am sorry. Is that shoulder of yours painful?” Abigail gulps as she was surprisingly nervous right now. It might have been with her talking to herself and to Teria who she knows doesn’t have a clue of what’s happening to her. She shakes her head, “No! No. I am perfectly fine. I am just tired and all that. But, nothing hurts, gladly. I am just a bit paranoid right now.” Keeana looks at her with concern, “Why, what happened again?” Abigail shrugs and she feels like she’s being pressured right now.  “Nothing really of a big deal. It’s just that… The Dark Wizard isn’t appearing these days. It’s just quite strange.” She laughs awkwardly, “Or, just as I said, I am being paranoid with everything again. Maybe it’s just the lack of proper sleep and consecutive days of pure tiredness and restlessness. It’s taking a toll on me.” She sighs, “I guess that must not surprise me now. This is one of the consequences when I signed up with all of these adventures.”

Suddenly, she realized something. Her eyes widen as she looks at Keeana, “We are at… Pacuvinium, right?” The latter nods, “Uhuh, and…?” Abigail grabs her shoulder and pulls her closer to her, “Garett. We forgot about Garett!” Keeana’s eyes widen too, “Oh my heavens! You’re right! Supposedly, Garett is here.” She giggles and sighs, “Oh, the issue about the Count has wiped us with our true goal of even trying to get to the center of the continent again. I am not saying he’s a distraction but I guess our focus shifted.”

“I think Garett can wait, the Count’s situation doesn’t. Which, speaking of, I need to go and find some of these ingredients I listed for the potion.” Keeana’s eyes sparkle, “You got the potion to heal him!? No way!” Her ‘no way’ hits different to Abigail as she appears more shocked and nervous. She calms herself inside, ‘No, don’t take it differently, Abby.’ She looks at Keeana and forces a smile, “Yep! I am glad that I found something that could potentially help him.” Keeana’s mood went down a bit, “Potentially? What do you mean? This isn’t certain?” Abigail shakes her head, “I am afraid I am not sure about that. I don’t want to say that this could certainly get rid of the curse because that will be just a big jump. I know this isn’t the news you want to hear for a situation that literally spells life or death, but I am helpless as well.”

Keeana gave her a big smile, “That’s fine, Crocus! A potential to help the count is certain progress on our side. Instead of making none at all, that’s a better option. Besides, there’s nothing wrong at trying, right?” Abigail smiles, “That’s true, Keeana. Now, if you may excuse me—“ “You must go to the dining room first. Don’t go out there with your stomach empty!” The witch insisted, “I really need to go now. You could reserve something for me, anything would do. The shops might temporarily close at lunch, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to buy some of these things if I can. And… By the way…” Keeana looks at her with curiosity, “Hmmm…?”

“Since you guys are the only one that has some sort of money, could I borrow some to fund me—“ “Do you need to even ask that? Of course, you can! Although, asking to them might force you to eat, which you don’t want right now—“ Abigail sighs, “Maybe I could eat. I’ll go, I guess.” Keeana was glad to hear this, so much so that she drags her downstairs. Abigail lets it as Teria followed them. She can see the others already starting to fill themselves up. But, the most notable one was Yris, who seems uninterested in even taking a bite off the food on her plate. Abigail was greeted by her friends. She decided to take some food before asking the question, “Could I borrow some of the daria you guys have?”

“For what?” Lavena looks at her, “For the ingredients, I need to buy. I have found something that could potentially, well, remember that word, help us to cure the Count.” Yris suddenly looks at her with a bit more light in her face, much brighter than the grim one before. “Really!? You found a potion to heal my father!?” She exclaimed in happiness. She was delighted by this simple news that she managed to slam her palm on the table, making some of the dishes shake. Her mannerisms kicked in as she shyly turns back to her seat. Yris looks back at Abigail, “You found something to help my father, Miss Crocus?” Abigail nods, “I found something interesting. But, I haven’t used such a potion yet, so I am not certain that it would work for your dad a hundred percent. But, I am certain that it would work some way to help him.”

“A small help is a great one, Miss Crocus. I understand that no one can’t help us right now to a certain degree. Because, I too, someone who has studied the history of magic in this continent, don’t know that there’s existing magic as such.” She sighs, “I am planning to rent some carriage here in town to get us back in the city. The council that my dad appointed could help us get to another continent and help us with such a problem. Particularly in a quick manner, the Festival of Light is already tomorrow and I can’t afford to celebrate it without him. Even the city won’t take it if the Count doesn’t show up at all. I can handle things by myself, I hope. But, we need him back urgently.”

“I understand that, Yris. That’s why I need to search for these ingredients now. I will go on after this lunch and after I get the money I need.” Yris looks at them, “If you could lend her some, please do. I and my father will pay you back once everything is okay.” Lavena smiles, “I wouldn’t deny such a request. Especially if it’s to get everything settled and done.” Catrina reaches for another pouch of daria and tosses it at Abigail. Teria suddenly jumps and caught it. She landed on the table which created a big mess. Abigail’s eyes widen as she immediately holds Teria and puts her down on the table. “What was that?” Winsel said as Keeana checked what Abigail decided to set aside. “What’s that, Crocus?” She asked as she tries to look under her chair.

Abigail’s heart is pounding as she tries to hide Teria. Keeana stands in her seat and takes a closer look on her own. In a panic, she quietly screamed under the table, “Teria, hide!” The fox’s disobedience didn’t help her as Teria tried to give her the pouch. She immediately grabbed it in urgency. Keeana kneels on the floor and sets aside the table cloth that hides the area underneath the table. Abigail immediately tried to close it and prevent her from looking, “Nothing’s there, Keeana, What are you doing?”

“I swear I saw you hide whatever the thing that just landed on our meal. You don’t need to hide it. It’s not your fault in the first place.” Keeana insisted on taking a peek. Before Abigail could even stop her from doing so, it was too late.

“Oooh!” Keeana said with a hint of a strong interest in her voice, something that Abigail doesn’t want to hear from her. “What’s this?” She pulls something out under the table. As she shows it to them, Abigail feels she was poured in cold water. Her fear suddenly subsides and her mind was suddenly in tranquility. She looks at the stick of wax that Keeana is holding. “A candle? Oh god, it’s covered with the gooey soup as well!” Keeana looks at her, “Why do you need to hide this, Abigail?” She giggles, “You silly goose!”

“I guess the soup isn’t edible now.” Edsel sadly protested. “You got a good amount in your bowl, Ed. That’s even an understatement.” Winsel looks at him with a big bowl of soup in front of his brother. “Throw that out and place this aside,” Lavena said as they cleaned up the mess they got on the table. They reported the incident to the inn owners, which they are sorry for.

After a nerve-racking meal, Abigail went her way to go around the town and do some unnecessary shopping. She looks at Teria, “They almost got you there, Teria. What on earth did you just do? I know they don’t know that you exist yet, but it’s safer not to reveal you until there’s the right timing.” Teria sadly squeaks as Abigail sighs and pets her. “I am just worried about you. Don’t be sad now, I could buy you some things you would like to play. Maybe materials to get you another flower ball.” Teria happily squeaks as Abigail bought things. Some were the ones she needed for the potion and some that she might need in the future.

They went home with a few things but it was enough just to convince the others she bought something for the potion she’s trying to brew. She went to her room and prepared her potion-making materials. She placed them on the ground and with everything she needs. Abigail looks at Teria with determination in her face, “Let’s do this.”