We fooled around a little more before Leon returned to the village. I tried pushing Circe to go looking for a familiar but she said she would wait for me to get some levels in [Witch Apprentice]. With my irregular starting Skills, I might get [Familiar Bond] earlier as well and the first ten levels should not take more than half a year. That was what she stated as her reasons but I knew she was still pushing to bond with me.

For that reason, I would give her the basics of thaumaturgy. A little bit of warp would go a long way in understanding the dangers. Mira allowed me as well. As long as we kept it secret.

For the time being, our Master had another lesson set up. This time, it was mostly for my benefit. Circe already knew about it after all. Rather than making more potions by boiling down essence, we were going for something much more mundane: basic medical care.

Circe served as a training dummy while Mira showed me how to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses on a human body. The main thing was cutting off blood flow with leather straps and disinfecting wounds with alcohol. There was apparently a rather easy way to make brew some very hard stuff in a cauldron. So easy, in fact, that the [Witch] did not even have any put aside. I simply had to boil water with two potatoes thrown inside and activate my [Brewing] Skill to will the compound into the desired shape. The alcohol Mira brewed with that method was so pure it even stung in my underdeveloped nose. And it only took five minutes, after the water was boiling.

Even better, the remaining liquid after scooping off the product was simply hot water. Or so Master told me. She showed me how to use it for washing linen to use as bandages. My [Owl Senses] Skill was able to see what actually happened. The creation of alcohol took all the little particles in the water alongside some of the water essence. What was left was essentially distilled water. Pure Aqua was the name, according to Master. It was no longer potent and could not be used for brewing. No wonder that was such an inconsistent practice if the filth and minerals within were key to the process. The actual water seemed to only serve as a medium to transfer heat and energy.

I was also taught how to make some simple balms for irritated skin, insect bites and other imperfections. Those were entirely non-magical but commonly used for minor issues the villagers brought to the hut. There was even a herbal infusion to act as primitive birth prevention.

All in all, I got one level in [Apprentice Witch] for my efforts. Apparently, that was fast but not extremely so. The guidance of a teacher would make it easier for apprentices to level but with Mira having to spread her attention, half a year for level 10 was still their expectation.

One week later I understood why. I kept learning more recipes while teaching Circe maths. In between were scouring the forest for herbs while looking for any potential threats. Nothing really did anything for me. For my levels, that was. I had a lot of fun just hanging out with my new friends and learning about the human lifestyle.

In between, I spent more time teaching my family. My sister was the first one to visit the witches three days after I had asked her. She was rather reluctant and I had to push to convince her. When she finally relented, the visit ended up being quite short. She kept her distance from the humans, warily eyeing them all the time. Even with me letting her communicate with them, she was not feeling any better about the whole thing. At least she learned about how speaking normally worked. Now her telepathic voice sounded a little more different from mine. She was finding her own identity. At least it looked like that to me.

Three times during that week, someone from the village came to visit. Two of those were patients looking for magical help. Once, we had to use a healing potion for a boy who had cracked his wrist while playing. The other time was just a simple cough that was treated with some herbal infusion. I stayed back and kept silent since the people coming over actively decided to ignore my presence. They were most likely assuming I was Circe’s familiar, or maybe even Mira’s but I had no intention to correct that misunderstanding with how scared they seemed of even Grunk. The toad was simply precious. How could they fear him? He simply sat there and enjoyed his day, observing what everyone did and eating when it was time. Other than that, he only croaked every once in a while. I took a page from his book during those visits and simply stared out the window next to the stove.

The third visit was Leon once again. This time, he had not come to play. Not exclusively. The hunters were the only real local combatants and took care of any threats but most of their time was spent on the edge of the forest or even out on the plains. Traps were their most profitable way of procuring meat.

“Anything dangerous out there?”, the young man asked.

“Not in the last week”, Mira said, “Though we have not been out a lot.”

“No?”

He looked at his sister.

“We’re teaching Fio the basics first”, she elaborated.

“Ah.”

“For what it’s worth, I haven’t seen any threats either”, I said.

“Are you out more?”

“Yes. I hunt for my own food. Human cuisine isn’t tasty to me. I also spend the nights with my family.”

“Ah. Makes sense.”

“Though I wouldn’t quite know what’s a threat to you.”

He rubbed his nose in thought.

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t know how strong you are.”

“Well, I’m a good shot and I know how to use a knife.”

“What about the other hunters? They should be higher level than you, right?”

“Yeah. I’m still learning. Haven’t quite hit my fourth Milestone.”

That was level 75? He was only 16. Was it not supposed to be difficult to get that high?

“That seems good for your age.”

He looked to the side and rubbed the back of his head.

“Yup!”, Circe said, “Brother is really talented!”

“He still has quite a ways to go to catch up with the main [Hunters]. The fourth Milestone is when they are allowed to join the combat groups for real battles.”

“I see. Wait… Does that mean such a small village has every active [Hunter] above level 75?”

“Yes. I expect Circe to reach her third Milestone within four years of getting her proper Class. No more than eight to evolve it.”

I blinked. That was quite a bit slower than my own progress but they had a very relaxed life not needing their Class a whole lot. Comparing the humans to the dwarves, there was quite a disconnect. Even Nymph with over 300 years was not much farther than them.

“That has to be some human speciality, right?”, I asked.

“It is”, Mira said, “We only have one Racial Skill and it helps with levelling Classes while slowing down our race levels. Generally.”

“You have a Skill helping with experience gain? That seems very powerful.”

“Only for Classes. It even makes it more difficult to Breakthrough on Skills unless we alter them at the same time.”

“That is still a good Skill. Breakthroughs are much easier while altering, in my experience.”

“Really?”, Leon asked, “I never knew…”

“They are”, Mira nodded, “but you are unlikely to be successful without vis enrichment. Especially for your non-Class Skills.”

“Man, that sucks. I’m not really looking to join the Church…”

I wanted to ask what he meant by that but Mira motioned me to keep quiet so I only sent my question to her.

“So the Crimson Church takes down nodes to control vis enrichment?”

“Oh, is that what you wanted to say? They do not for that reason but it is an admittedly positive side-effect for them.”

“What did you think I wanted to say?”

“I expected you to offer vis crystals for him. Do not. The Church will find out and investigate.”

“We’ll talk later”, I said after a moment.

Leon left soon after and Mira sent out Circe to get some water. While she was gone, the [Witch] started to prepare dinner.

“You wanted to ask me something?”, she said after a moment.

“Yes. What will the Church do if they find me?”

“Nothing much. Unless you have the [Thaumaturge] Class, you will be left alone as long as you behave as peacefully as you have with us. If they find out you are distributing thaumaturgical resources, though? You will be captured and interrogated or contracted to only sell to them. They will also conscript anyone you gave your resources to.”

“What do they need thaumaturges for, anyway?”

“That, I do not know.”

“What? You’re not all-knowing? I almost expected so.”

She chuckled.

“I know a lot. After all, I grew up in the Crimson Cathedral. And yet, that only shows me how little I understand.”

I bobbed my head.

“I get that feeling.”

At that moment, Circe walked back in and ran over to fill the pot. It seemed today was soup again. The girl looked contemplative and was unusually silent. Until Mira whacked her on the head.

“Ouch! What was that for?”, she complained.

“Quit moping! Go cut the potatoes.”

“Yes, Master.”

It took a few minutes of glances being exchanged before we knew she was really thinking about something.

“What’s going on?”, I asked eventually.

Circe looked up from her half-peeled potato.

“I… you know how I asked if you thought I could come with you?”

I saw how Mira narrowed her eyes but the woman did not interrupt.

“I… Uhm… If I’m your familiar, you could summon me, right?”

The older [Witch] snorted.

“What now? Have you gone from wanting to own Fio to wanting to be hers?”

I shook off a slightly unpleasant feeling.

“Can we drop the marriage analogy for [Familiar Bond]? I feel like I might just drop the Class if I have to marry anyone.”

Circe looked up with play-hurt in her face.

“You don’t want to marry me?”

I whacked her with a wing.

“No. I want to be friends.”

She giggled.

“We are, Fio. Well, can you at least help me learn how to survive in the wilderness? You have to be good at that, right?”

“Are you planning to run away, Circe?”

“No? Not at all! If I want to see the Cathedral, I have to get there somehow, right?”

Mira blinked.

“What do you want at the Cathedral?”

“Get a Core so I can evolve into something that flies and keep up with Fio!”

At that, even the stern expression on Mira’s face evaporated into disbelief.

“You, girl, are insane! Who even put that idea in your head?”

“That might have been my fault?”, I tried.

She tried to smack me on the head. It took quite a bit of willpower not to dodge the slow-moving hand. I retracted my shadows immediately after the soft impact.

“I need to teach you two some manners! And Circe, forget about evolution. Not many humans ever reach major vis enrichment and they are required to choose an Affinity for their first option.”

I blinked.

“First option? When does the second happen?”

“There are larger nodes out there which can enrich an Affinity or a Core. Once reaching a high saturation for the second time, you will be able to choose the other one.”

“Oh. So I’m pretty close.”

“Well, if Fio can do it, so can I!”

Circe did not want to give up.

“You will not leave before reaching your Class evolution. Do you hear me?”

“But, Master!”

“No buts! I will not have you get yourself killed!”

The two humans faced off for a few seconds before Circe reluctantly went back to peeling potatoes. Mira turned to me.

“And you. What to do with you?”

I tilted my head.

“Keep teaching me?”

“Of course, I will do that. But you need to learn more than just witchcraft. You need to learn some common sense.”

“Yes, Master!”

I saluted playfully with a wing.

“Fine. Get out. No more lessons for today. I need to plan out the next few weeks.”

I gave Circe a hoot and shifted outside the house. With a few beats of my wings, I was in the air. That was some interesting information. Maybe I should only skirt the human plains and look for a large node once again? The one in Gobburgh had only been enough to bring my Core to medium enrichment. Something slightly larger would be needed to get me an Affinity.