Why is it still here?
* 2 years later *
A 17-year-old Raine whispers walks home. it's fairly dark out, the streets seemingly naked, well, aside from them and an owl perched on top of a lamp post.
"I know your here," they say not glancing at the owl but just continuing on their path.
A laugh echos through the street, " aww come on Rainestorm," as the words are heard, a poof just a few feet from them reveals a ginger-haired girl with pointy ears.
"Your getting too good at spotting me when i-" she's cut off by arms wrapping around her waist in what she had learned was called a 'hug'.
"I missed you," they said, arms still securely around the witch.
since they first met, the two had instantly become best friends. It was mostly great aside from the fact Eda was a witch and couldn't be seen without an illusion. Along with every once in a while, though rare, she would disappear to do some of her own personal stuff. (Stuff they really would love to learn more about)
She froze before smiling and returning the gesture. " As much as I'd love to stay, I really just came to say hi for now." her smile turns into a smirk as she continues with "Plus if I remember correctly the last time you were out so late without an excuse your parents weren't all to Happy," Eda says holding back a laugh at the memory of Raine being grounded and all the theories their parents had that weren't even close to the Truth.
Raine groaned into her side at the memory " ugh, my mom still thinks I have a secret girlfriend" they let go taking a step back before asking " meet up at the usual spot?"
Eda replied with a wink and finger guns. Just then owlbert landed on Raine's head, and the cute little palismen (as they learned were called ) gave a hoot in Raine's direction.
Raine chuckled "missed ya too buddy"
Suddenly a barely audible group of laughs and footsteps could be Heard, causing Eda's ears to make a flapping motion (Wich they always found cute)
"Welp, I guess that's my cue to beat it," she said as owlbert flew into her hands in his staff form, " see ya rainstorm!"
"See ya," they said waving knowing what was next.
"BYEEEEEEEE!" Eda said laying her head back as her staff took off at record speed.
Raine could only laugh as the air hit their face from her forceful leave.
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They made their way through the path they had walked through a million times by now. The same path they ran all that time ago. Until they reached a multitude of bushes with a moss curtain leading them to the very place they first met the demonically cute Witch they dared call their best friend.
every time they got to this part of the forest, they couldn't help but stare at the scenery. The way the greens of the trees and grass would shine, the safety they felt at any given time, and the calming scent that emitted from everything around them.
They no doubt blamed it on the witch that resided so close by, her energy, magic or not, must have been affecting everything around it. They sure knew it did for them.
As they took one last glance around them, they entered the moss curtain. Only for their eyes and ears to get into a fight as to which was more beautiful. The encapsulating music surrounding them, or the women creating it.
There on the hill she always Sat, was Eda. Playing her lute as her magic warped everything around in synchronized harmony. They felt the short hair they had on their head try and lift itself as the spell released little bits of gravity from the world.
Through the time they had known Eda, they had learned a good amount about magic and its types. Abomination, plant, construction, beast keeping, potions, healing, illusions, oracle, and bard.
They had asked if there was some system where you only had to choose one, and she had just laughed. She explained most witches were pretty free to practice whatever they wanted. Some witches preferred to specialize in a certain type, but that never keeps them from trying something else.
And at least to them, that sounded pretty great.
but without a shadow of a doubt they knew, If they ever were a witch, bard magic would be their specialty.
They sat down next to her peacefully watching with slight disappointment as she calls her magic and music to a stop. Everything once warped up by her magic peacefully makes it's way down. She opens her eyes to look at them.
"Took ya long enough." She said to them,
"Sorry miss calamity, but getting to a forest half a mile away from your house in the middle of nowhere, is a bit harder without magic" they spat back at her
They laughed before they burst into other topics. The two could go on and talk about anything and nothing at the same time for hours.
As Raine watched Eda while she explained another question they gave her about magic. Their eyes caught a glance of her lute, not summoned away as it usually was the other times she used it, but just sitting there a bit someway next to Eda.
"Hey Eda,"
"Yeah?" She turned to them
" I was wondering why your lute's still here? I mean usually, you would summon it away by now, is summon the right word for that?"
Eda turned to her lute before her face warped into a smirk. " Ok, I'll tell you. But," she drew a circle in the air, their violin falling into their lap seconds later.
They looked at her confused,
"But first you have to play me something," she said quickly summoning a pillow for comfort.
" Wh-. what. Eda you know I can't rea-" they stuttered blushing at her random request.
She cut them off " please!! You know you love to play, plus I'll be the only one here" she tried to bargain but her biggest weapon was no doubt the darn adorable face she pleaded at them with.
' How can someone be so adorable!! But also hot at the same time!!!' they mentally screamed as they gave In.
They paused to take a breath before setting the violin in place and starting. They played a familiar tune they had subconsciously memorized the few times they heard it.
The song Eda had written for them the first time she ever showed them bard magic. Raines rhapsody.
Eda seemed to be taken aback by this if the expression she was wearing told them anything.
As the song came to a close, they heard an applause from all around them. It panicked them for just a second before they realized it was just another one of their best friend's antics.
"Eda."They deadpanned not impressed.
She chuckled as the illusion poofed away to her still clapping. "Bravo Rainestorm!!! That was great!!"
They blushed at her praise, " thanks," they sat down before asking her once again. " So, why is your lute still here"
This time it was her turn to take a breath, " ok so you know how you told me you really would love to try bard magic? Well, I wanted to try and give you that experience, but as much as I tried there is no way I could do it. In the human realm at least. So with that in mind I've been working on a little project per se. It's not done yet sadly, but I believe I'm close. Today was actually a practice run of sorts."
They stared at her wide-eyed. " A-are you being serious?" They asked hesitantly.
"Mhm" Eda nodded, "surprise!! Well I guess technically not since it's not done yet and even being done soon could be a few we-" she was cut off as the human tackled her.
" Thank you, thank you, thank you! Even if it's not done yet, even if it doesn't work! The fact that you thought of even trying to do that means so much." The said while hugging her tightly.
Eda blushed this time, thankful Raine couldn't see it from their angle " of course Rainestorm"
They sat there like that for a few minutes before Raine stated " that still doesn't explain why the lutes still here"
"Hmm, oh that" Eda snorted " I just kinda forgot about it, probably wouldn't have even realized if you hadn't pointed it out. Part of me just wanted to tell you that from the get-go, but I decided against it in the end"
" Eda!!" Raine shouted preparing to lecture her about being more careful with her instruments.
Soon they fell back to their usual chatting. Both with goofy smiles that wouldn't be wearing off anytime soon.