At the boundary between reality and dreams, deep within a dense forest shrouded in pale mist, the witch who had just finished dealing with her neighbor returned home and apologized to the guest who had been waiting for a long time.
"I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting so long."
Herman felt as though he had been stuffed into some rotating machine and spun day and night for who knew how long, while a swarm of bees and flies buzzed incessantly around him.
It felt as if even his brain had been shaken into a slurry.
Only when the witch's voice rang out did he barely manage to break free of that state.
"...Has your neighbor calmed down?" Herman asked, shaking his head vigorously.
"Mm, for now, you could say he has." The witch nodded as she wiped down her staff.
Herman noticed that it seemed to have been forged from some special metal. The upper portion appeared to be stained with something, bearing a blood-like appearance.
Hmm...
Forget it. Better not ask too much.
The witch wiped the staff clean and casually set it aside.
"Luckily, I made preparations before leaving. Otherwise, I would have had to make it all over again."
She snapped her fingers.
A magical servant with a translucent, jelly-like body emerged from the kitchen, carrying dishes wreathed in a faint white glow in both hands.
It seemed to possess an effect that nearly froze time and space.
Herman clearly noticed that even the drifting vapor had been fixed in place.
It was like the transmission of a magical image had been cut off, leaving behind only a frozen scene.
Was this something a mortal could accomplish?
Herman did not know.
He was beginning to doubt his own knowledge. There was still much in this