"Are you done yet dear?", the soft voice belonging to the old woman asked, standing behind the door. She could hear an answer of approval, then she slightly opened the door leaving a pair of fresh robes on the small stool.
Grandma Ellen had set up the bath for Misa earlier when she had asked. Which she had been extremely glad about. She felt fresh for the first time in this unfamiliar body. The girl got out of the bath and put on the robes which Ellen had left for her.
After leaving the bathing room, she could hear voices coming from outside.
"The demons have been active lately.."
"Really? Haven't they been laying low after the last crowned demon was banished 200 years ago?"
"That's what is strange about it… The kingdom of… Attacked.."
"Is that why… Left town?"
"Seems that way, but… Coming back tonight."
Misa wasn't able to hear anything from the conversation anymore. It seemed like the guards that were looking out for her were talking about something important. 200 years? What kingdom? Attack?
She could go ask, but..
Demons?
A realization came into her mind. Were there really such creatures? If she stayed in that forest for a while longer would she have possibly bumped into one. It could have happened to her and the thought made her slightly afraid even if she didn't have a clear understanding of creatures like demons.
The only person she could trust to ask so far is Ellen or that guy Cole. Thinking of Cole she wondered what he had been up to lately. It's possible she could see him tomorrow, since she would go buy ingredients from the market with Ellen.
She took a step forward and started climbing up the narrow stairs, entering the room which she would call home from now on. A word she should get used to if she wanted to fit in this life.
Looking into the mirror again, she could start noticing small things she hadn't before.
"Do I really look like this?"
Mumbling things to herself again she started tying her hair with a grey thread. Proud of her hair skills improvement she got up and went to open the window a bit. Refreshing air could help her sleep better tonight. "It's not that bad after all..", she thought to herself. Going to lay on the bed.
Just as she was about to close her eyes she noticed an intruder.. A small eight legged creature that had blue fur and black stripes all over its legs.. Crawling in from the window with adorable six glowing eyes.
Misa couldn't catch her breath as the creature crawled over the wall starting to put web in a corner. Quickly she grabbed onto the pillow wondering if it would be better to hide herself or to throw the pillow at full speed.. That thing was as big as her palm!
The creature started coming down with its web onto Misa's bed. She could only lean against the wall for support. It was a matter of life or death…!
It finally got down onto her bed and as if reassuring Misa that the creature wasn't dangerous it walked with its 8 legs up to her legs and stopped. Then it nudged its small head onto her leg.
"Uh.."
Misa didn't know how to react. Her hold on the pillow loosened as she looked down at the small creature. "Maybe it isn't that dangerous", a small trust for this thing started to form in her. So she moved to sit on her knees and looked down at the creature.
"Is this a spider?"
It was in fact a spider, but clearly not a regular one since Misa could feel a weird kind of power coming from this guy. Besides, the spiders she had seen in the field weren't as big as this one.
She reached her hand out to it, the "spider" looked at her with curiosity.
"Was this room your lair before?"
Misa wondered, a possibility was that the spider had been living in the attic before her arrival. Though it just looked at her with curiosity. A small sigh came from her mouth in defeat knowing it wouldn't answer her.
Her hand finally reached the body of it. A flush creeped on her face from a slight excitement. It was soft and so cute!
Before she knew it she kept petting the spider-like creature as long as it let her. It didn't seem to mind and just stood there continuing to stare at Misa with six eyes.
"I won't stop you from coming here, you are welcome to stay"
She said to the creature and as if understanding her it left the bed and climbed the wall starting to create its own territory with web.
Though Misa was still a bit overwhelmed from the exchange she had with it. Now she felt as if she had found a trustworthy companion besides Ellen. A friend wouldn't be so bad..
She closed her eyes, her mind filled with the strangest dreams.
During this, she couldn't have possibly noticed the small friend that climbed back to the bed.
…
The spider was threading the girls hair and then it noticed she was starting to wake up.
Misa opened her eyes and felt as if her hair had changed style overnight. She didn't think much of it at first until she picked up the mirror and looked at herself surprised. Her hair.. It had been put into a half up twist hair knot.
"How is this possible?"
She turned to look at the small friend on the bed looking at her innocently. Maybe a spider friend wasn't so bad, this little one had turned into her hair stylist. Then Misa put on the dress she wore and a grey cloak.
Her new friend seemed eager to join wherever she was going. Misa lent the spider her hand and let it climb onto her shoulder up inside her hood.
Now that they were done, she started mentally preparing for the day in the market. From the last time she was in the village of Viapro she could remember seeing lots of people and guards.
"Very fun.."
The weather should be great today though.
The spider slightly tugged her hood and she sighed. It was time to go face society!.. The first impression that she had made wasn't so great. Walking to the village with a bunch of guards - Now she would be walking with a spider and Ellen.
During breakfast Misa sadly had to explain why there was a huge spider on her shoulder. Grandma Ellen took it surprisingly well and the only thing that bothered her was the fact that Misa hadn't named it yet.
…
A child with brown braided hair held the hand of her mother and saw a beautiful girl and grandma Ellen entering the village. She then started tugging on the hand.
"Look, it's grandma Ellen! Mommy look!"
The mother looked ahead and indeed saw grandma Ellen. The girl next to her looked surprisingly familiar though. Could it be that girl?
…
Misa had finally entered the village of Viapro with Ellen and saw a girl and her mother approaching them. The little girl excitedly went to grandma Ellen then Ellen picked the girl up to her arms.
"Little Yvonne! You have grown so much again"
After spinning Yvonne a round Ellen set her down. Misa couldn't help but wonder how close they were though so far it seemed Ellen had close connections with most of the residents from Viapro.
Yvonne smiled excitedly and then looked at Misa again. A curious look on her face.
"Grandma, is that a princess?"
Misa couldn't help, but chuckle at the suggestion. She crouched down and looked at the girl.
"I'm not a princess, my name is Misa"
The girl looked at her in awe and then noticed the little spider friend on her shoulder. Yvonne pointed at it extremely curious now.
"Is that your familiar? Can I please pet it! I've always wanted one.."
Misa noticed how Yvonne looked at her and gave in. The spider started walking down her arm into her palm and Yvonne continued admiring it. Though Misa was curious about one thing.
"What is a familiar?"
Yvonne as if not hearing the question pet the spider happily, but her mom looked at Misa surprised as if that was one of the strangest things she had heard that day. Grandma Ellen quickly cut into the conversation not wanting to make things awkward for Misa.
"A familiar is usually a creature that has the form of an animal with a few magical features. Familiars usually look for an owner that they think is fit for them and form a bond with that person."
Ellen explained and then continued.
"It is believed that familiars are like guardians that protect you loyally to the end, even if you go down a dark path."
Thanks to the short explanation Misa started understanding the meaning. Yvonne stopped petting the spider and Misa could notice the shift in the mood of the little girl. Yvonnes face had a hint of sadness.
"I wish for a guardian for that reason"
The girl then felt determinated.
"A familiar could then protect me so my mommy doesn't have to"
The mother looked down at her child with a warm feeling in her heart. She chuckled looking down at Yvonne picking her up.
"Even if you have a familiar, I won't stop looking after you dear"
Misa felt a comfortable flutter in her heart looking at the mother and child. She then smiled too and spoke to Yvonne.
"I don't know if my spider is a familiar, but I'm sure you will have one some day"
"I'm sure of that too! Miss, me and my mom have to go now.. I'll come play with you at grandma Ellens place sometime!"
Yvonne and the mother waved at them walking away.
After that conversation Misa continued walking with grandma Ellen at the market. The other people of the village were more quiet, some even seemed mysterious.
While grandma Ellen was picking out tomatoes, Misa could hear some of the villagers talking about something similar to what the guards were saying last night.
"Are they really back?"
"First they attack the kingdom of Lumar, then they go after the village of Kiwi?"
"It seems they are going after known places.."
"But wont that mean?.."
"Yes, Viapro might be next"
Misa froze in place, a weird feeling coming to her. Her spider friend tried to wake her up as a voice spoke to the villagers.
"Don't worry, Viapro won't be in any danger under my watch"
It was Cole Kiha, he was here.