The firelight illuminated the three people seated before the fireplace, as well as the maids bustling about behind them. The Red-haired Witch and the blonde Miss Writer noticed almost simultaneously that Shade had fallen asleep. Miss Galina made a silencing gesture, then cast a Silence Charm beside Shade.
Tifa, standing nearby, fetched a black towel blanket. Seeing Little Mia sprawled across Shade's lap, the maid smiled and poked the cat. Mia, drowsy, wanted to throw a tantrum, but noticed that Shade was asleep as well. She obediently jumped down onto the carpet, then, after Tifa covered Shade with the towel blanket, leaped back onto his lap and settled down to sleep.
"Miss Galina, did you put something in the black tea? Or use some kind of Thaumaturgy?"
Dorothy held her teacup and joked, while the Witch shook her head as she watched the leaping flames.
"So you really do know that I'm a Witch. Did Shade tell you, or did Leisha? No, that isn't important. I did nothing. He is probably simply too tired."
Both turned to look at Shade, asleep in his chair. Dorothy spoke softly.
"He seems to have encountered a very difficult enemy in Randall River Valley City recently, so he has been busy preparing every day."
"I heard from another young girl that the Witches of the Fifth Epoch complained that the Witches of our era had not taken good care of him. It seems those old women were not wrong after all."
Miss Galina sighed softly, then looked at Dorothy.
"You are very close with Leisha, aren't you? You and Shade... I want to speak with Leisha."
Dorothy tilted her head at her.
"You are Leisha's grand-aunt. If you want to discuss something with her, I don't think you need me to pass along a