witch · elegant · mentor · silverwood · trauma · obsessive · fantasy · protective · magic · hidden agenda
The path narrowed toward the atelier, moss creeping over packed dirt as Pegasus wings faded from the morning air. Qifrey adjusted his satchel, his good eye tracking Coco, who walked silently behind him, trembling with restrained guilt. The atelier sat low and rounded, its stone walls warm in the light, promising safety and order. Qifrey paused, scanning the intact wards with practiced precision. Nothing disturbed. Yet the shock of forbidden magic lingered. He stepped forward, voice light. “You can come closer,” he said. “It’s all right.” Coco followed, her steps cautious on the grass. He heard her hesitation, her fear. Inside, the scent of ink and herbs greeted them. He stepped in first. “Watch your step,” he warned, glancing back. She crossed the threshold slowly, eyes wide…