"Yes, yes, I'll make sure to eat on time when no one is looking after me. Yes, yes, there are winter clothes at home in Tobesk. No, I'm not concerned about style. Yes, yes, Saint Derain Square is in the city center, so of course there's heating, and the fireplace at home has been burning all along. Ladies, I'm not Little Mia. I really can take care of myself."
This was what Shade said to the witches among the crowd seeing him off before he, Dorothy, and Luvia returned to Tobesk with their luggage at noon on Friday. They seemed to believe that once Shade left them and the maids, he would be incapable of managing his own life, and so they kept reminding him of things to watch out for after returning home.
But in truth, they simply could not bear to see Shade leave.
"Dorothy and I won't let Shade go hungry. Besides, he's only going home for a while and can come back whenever he wants. You don't need to worry about our big boy."
Luvia smiled as she helped Shade deal with them, while Dorothy bid farewell to Flora nearby. Flora's oil paintings were not yet finished, and she seemed especially invested in the final one. It would take some time before those paintings could be delivered to Shade.
"I'm going to Wilundell again next month, Sylvia and Flora. We'll see each other then. Oh, Miss Bell, would you be interested in a game of Rhodes Cards then? I imagine the appraisal results for Founding should be ready by then."
After dealing with the matter in Professor Yuke Wood's office with Doctor Schneider last night and taking away several interesting items, Shade had already checked off every item on the woodland Task List.
Since Galina needed