Warning: disturbing words, sexual solicit words
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There was a cozy gothic plant store which is located on the edge of a forest just opposite the harbor town. The store wasn't looking all luxurious but too glorious for a plant store by taking the appearance of a glass house. Various types of plants were exhibited and ready to offer, each of them had its unique features and functions. Judging from the first impression, the store looked suspicious as same as some spooky houses in possession of witches or devils that no one dared approach. And it didn't help either with the sign of the store told people who passed by that this place sold no ordinary flowers for decorations but for purposes.
As shady as it looked, human curiosity always took the lead. Some of the residents of the town couldn't help but wonder what was inside the store since they saw no one in and out of the place. However, they were too frightened to explore it themselves.
The first customer was a traveler who accidentally took the wrong boat to this town. She was not a modern doctor but a healer from a distant tribe, looking for herbs with special functions that were rarely found in crowded areas. While she was waiting for another boat, she stumbled into the glass house after seeing the sign hanging on the front door. Although she was suspicious about the place looking so isolated but well-looking, a small part of her hoped she could find the necessary herbs.
To her surprise, she did find the herbs and other rare plants as well. The healer couldn't believe her luck. The store had everything she needed and beyond that. This was one hell of a discovery! Perhaps taking that wrong boat was not wrong after all.
There was a cool and comfortable atmosphere inside the store, a little gloomy for people who rarely connected with nature. The healer found a counter at the end of the glass house where it led to another corridor and a call bell on the counter. Besides that, there was no sign of the staff or the owner. Now came the problem, the healer couldn't bring all the needed herbs back with her since they were all planted in the pot. She could take some branches and leaves for samples but since this was a store, she couldn't just take them without paying, right? After a while, the healer went to the counter and pressed the bell.
The soft and clear sound of the metal bell rang the atmosphere, immediately followed by footsteps coming from the corner behind the counter. The healer gasped as she saw a beautiful lady with long silver hair dressed in black encrusted with dangling jewelry around her chest. She wore a black translucent head veil that slightly covered the upper part of her face, but judging by her jawline and swollen red lips, the healer assumed this lady was one of the most gorgeous beings she had ever seen.
"Greetings. How can I help thee?" Even her voice sounded so alluring with the deep tone coming from older women only, perhaps there was something inhuman as well. The healer felt a strange feeling running under her veins as she admired every part of the lady in front of her. Took her minutes to regain her voice after the lady spoke.
"Ah! S-sorry!" She awkwardly answered with flushed cheeks "I-I want to take some plants and herbs b-but since they are too many, c-can I take their leaves and branches only? I-I'll pay, of course!"
"That is alright. Please wait a moment, I shall be back with the required samples. May I see the list of herbs?"
The healer nodded and told the beautiful lady what kind of plants she needed, and then she sat down on the bench near the counter, while she was waiting for her order, she took time to observe the store. Still, her eyes couldn't help but look for the owner of the store.
There was an alluring charisma coming from the silver-haired lady that the healer could not avert her eyes away. She was drawn to the lady like an admirer contemplating a magnificent artwork, so tempting to touch her but yet, afraid that she would ruin the beauty.
"Here is your order."
Out of the blue, the voice of a child rang and woke the healer from her thoughts. She blinked, there was a boy about ten years old standing before her. He wore full black clothes just like the silver-haired lady, he also had black raven hair and a pair of yellow eyes.
Oh.
Those eyes, the eyes of a bird of prey. They were too sharp to appear on a child and somehow they gave her a chill.
"Excuse me, miss." The little boy called her again, his voice was clear but lacked the innocence of a child, not to mention his cold expression. The boy was polite and possessed quite good manners but was not friendly. He was holding an average-sized leather bag and handed it to her "Your order is here."
"Ah! S-sorry!" The healer stammered and took the bag, feeling guilty for letting him wait for her "T-thank you!" Then she realized she hadn't seen the boy when the silver-haired lady appeared. Where did he come from? And who was he?
"Here is your bill."
The healer accepted the paper bill and followed his instructions to pay her order. Once all of the procedures were finished, the healer couldn't help but look for the beautiful lady. Her movements did not escape the boy's eyes, he scowled and spoke with a clear disapproval tone "If you are looking for the lady owner, she has other works to take care of."
"Oh? Is that so?" The healer sounded regretful for she could not at least see the beautiful lady before leaving. However, she quickly got a hold of herself because she knew she would come back for more herbs. This store was definitely going to be her favorite place! "Tell her I send thanks!"
And that was how they got the first customer.
———
If there was a first customer, there would be a second, and the third, and more. Most of them were experts in phytology, folk medicine, horticulture, and generally spiritual. As a result, the gothic plant store was spread among the experts as a trustworthy place that provided various species of botany, as well as a witch house in normal people's point of view.
Another rumor from the plant store was that its owner was a silver-haired lady. The lady left a strong impression on them with her hospitality and of course, her mysterious beauty that people on the contrary declared that she was a witch.
Well, they were not wrong but that was unnecessary to confirm. Although humans from this era were no longer aggressive like their ancestors were to witches in the past, Yidhra didn't feel like wanting to be the center of the crowd and revealed her true identity.
People were here either to buy stuff or to admire her beauty wasn't her concern. However, someone else just couldn't stay chill about the latter.
Mihawk didn't like it when customers drool over Yidhra. He hated the way they looked at his mentor like she was a lustful object on display.
Well, Yidhra was indeed a beautiful woman, a unique artwork. The more people fall under her charisma, the more proof of her grace. Undoubtedly, she wasn't just any mere object, but a precious, forbidden-to-touch gem.
Even so, Mihawk disliked it.
"Is something wrong, dalta?"
The boy's bad temper recently did not escape Yidhra's observation even though his expression never seemed hospitable all the time. The witch found it amusing and wondered what could have made her pupil behave this way. Did he not enjoy other individual's presence? But he was alright with her, was he not?
"There is nothing, mentor." Mihawk simply answered while helping the witch water the plants. Even as a little boy, there was always a scowl on his face and it was not easy to read his emotions. However, that was not the case for Yidhra.
She did not read people through their emotions but by their behaviors and scents. And she could tell her pupil was not happy.
"Do not lie to me, dalta. I only concern for thy well-being and thou art clearly not in a good mood." Yidhra approached her pupil from behind, startled him with her hand gently caressed his soft raven hair "As thy mentor, thou art welcomed to share thy thoughts with me if they happen to trouble thee."
The feeling of her hand gently rubbing his hair was so comfortable that Mihawk never got bored of it. He always enjoyed her affections and never felt shame to ask for more which the witch would happily oblige.
"I... don't like the look of people on you." Mihawk never wanted to let his problems trouble his mentor for she already had lots of matters to take care of. But he couldn't refuse her offer to help him express his distress. He was always grateful for the witch's concerns "They are too vulgar. If they aren't the customer, I will—"
"Thou shall attack them, hm?"
Somehow he felt shameful as the witch stated his thoughts out loud, but he was taught not to lie so he nodded "...Yes."
Mihawk thought Yidhra would scold him for thinking such misbehaviors, however, the witch just chuckled amusingly like she had heard an interesting joke.
It was weird, isn't it? If he actually got in a fight with the customers, the plant store would face serious trouble for his actions. So it was natural that Yidhra was angry with him, but she was not.
As expected of a mysterious witch, should he say?
"I appreciate that thee did not get into a fight, dalta."
Ah. So she was indeed bothered by it.
"It was unnecessary to engage in a nonsense battle. Thou should practice more on keeping thy temper under control."
Mihawk sighed in relief and a bit of disappointment that he had made mistakes in her sight "Yes, mentor. But what should I do if they use that kind of look on you again?"
"Ignore them."
"Ignore them?!" He blinked with confusion "How can I ignore that some vermin—"
"Dalta, language."
"My apology, mentor." He coughed embarrassingly "I can't ignore some people impolite enough to look at you disrespectfully! You are my mentor, the one I respect most! I cannot allow them to treat you like that!"
The witch seemed not to be bothered by his outburst of emotions, she just simply patted his head like she was reassuring a little puppy.
"Thou must not attack the customers, dalta. Whatever the case."
As much as Mihawk went against the idea, he couldn't disobey his mentor's order. But he surely kept in mind the faces of those bastards who dared behave disrespectfully towards her.
———
"And what on earth exactly have thou done, dalta?" The witch asked in a disapproving tone when she took care of Mihawk's injuries. A small hiss of pain came from the little boy as she pressed the grinding herbs on his wounds "Thou still feel pain. Good."
Mihawk's scowl was worse than normal, much to the number of injuries he was having. He was lying on the bed with Yidhra treating him, looking so wretched with no parts of his body being undamaged. The little boy also had an angry and sulking look on his features towards his mentor's displeased attitude.
"I beat those bastards's ass." He blurted out without hesitation, then choked a cry of pain when the witch squeezed the bandages tighter "Mentor—c-can you be more gentle?!"
"Thou have committed two mistakes. One, thy language. Two, got into an unnecessary fight. Do not expect me to treat thee gently."
"But they deserved it! They talk improperly behind your back!"
......Flashback......
Mihawk was on his way back to the plant store after he bought all of the necessary ingredients for dinner. Then he heard a group of uncivil men in the small alley on his right, talking and laughing loudly. Normally, he wouldn't pay much attention to such people, until he heard the mention of his mentor.
"—the plant store at the edge of the forest."
"The owner? Yessss! I've never seen a goddamn fine woman like that! Bet cha no women in this town can match her! I mean look at her body! The curves! The bouncy breasts and damn! Those thick ass!"
"Hey. Be careful with your mouth. She looks too noble for normal standards."
"C'mon, ya thinking too much. What kind of nobles would open a shady plant shop in this suburb harbor? Not to mention, there ain't nobody but her and a kid. Easy targets."
"If she ain't a noble, then she is edible, eh?"
The group bursted into manic laughs, not aware of the mentioned little boy who was eavesdropping on their conversation with his fist coiled angrily.
"As shady as she sounded, I bet she would be a loud whore if we hit her right. Her appearance clearly asked to be ravished."
"Heh. Now that gives me a boner. I can't wait to get my hands on those—ARGHHH!!!"
The man didn't have a chance to finish his sentence as he was hit in the head and passed out. Blood poured from the position of his head where it was hit. The group of uncivil men immediately got alerted at the sudden ambush and readied their weapons.
Mihawk stood behind the fallen man, his wooden sword stained with the blood of his target. His feature was extremely frustrated, sharp yellow eyes glared at the frightened men with pure hatred.
How dare they talk about his dear mentor with such filthy words!
How dare they have such foul thoughts of touching his dear mentor with their feculent hands!!
Unforgivable!!!
He raised his sword and charged at them.
......End flashback......
Thinking of the incident only brought more anger to Mihawk, his emotions were all shown off along with his aura which truly concerned Yidhra.
The witch sighed and put her hand on his head, reassuringly stroking him, and sat down beside him.
Feeling his mentor's warmth wrapped around him, Mihawk's angry aura slowly died down and instinctively leaned against her side. If he wasn't injured so badly, he would hug her for more comfort.
"They deserved it." He insisted on his opinion and buried his face in her abdomen.
Yidhra couldn't keep her serious composure longer, her eyes softened at her pupil's adorable gestures. Of course, she wasn't that heartless not to feel hurt for her pupil's state. However, this consequence wouldn't have happened if he didn't start the fight. Even though the reason behind his action was her.
"Dalta. Even if they talk improperly about me, a child alone cannot defeat a bunch of grown men." The witch spoke sternly, feeling Mihawk's small form tensed "Thy recklessness could have gotten thyself killed. Did thou even think of that?"
"But mentor..."
"No but. Did thou even think how I would feel if thee died and left me?"
Mihawk couldn't argue with that, he kept his head down in her abdomen, trying to hide his shame. If he died, he could no longer be here to protect her.
Yes, he didn't think through the outcome. How foolish of him.
"I'm sorry... Mentor... I-I didn't mean......"
"Speak no more. Save thy breaths and rest, dalta." Yidhra gently pushed him back to the bed and pulled the blanket up to cover him, then she slowly turned her back and walked towards the door.
"Mentor. Where are you going?"
Yidhra didn't turn back or stop her track. Where the boy couldn't see, the witch's smile widened so that it reached her ears, like the mouth of a snake.
"I go hunting."
......
In a narrow alley, a group of uncivil men gathered. They had rugged bandages all over their bodies that barely covered their bruises and wounds. Their angry shouts could be heard from a distance but no one would want to approach them at this late hour.
"Dammit! What's with that freaking crazy kid?! He came out of nowhere and ambushed us!"
"He's freaking strong for a mere kid. He managed to beat us all good."
"Now you're flattering him?? That brat??!! I swear I'll kill 'im if I ever see him again!!"
"Did anyone notice that kid looks familiar? I think I've seen 'm somewhere."
"Hey, quiet! Someone is coming."
The sound of footsteps echoed through the silent atmosphere of the night as if it were breaking a secure barrier, bringing an unknown fear to any living creature that was aware of its existence. The footsteps were approaching close to where the men camped, so slow yet terrifying after what they had been through, and definitely not at this late hour.
The sounds were getting clearer like the sounds of women's high heels, until a slim figure finally appeared at the turning point at the head of the narrow alley.
A woman dressed in black with a translucent head veil which was so unique that everybody in the town would recognize it anywhere.
The owner of the plant store - Yidhra.
Seeing it was just their hallucinations about something scary, the men quickly regained their composure and smiled at the beautiful lady without hiding their filth expressions. They started circling the lady and whistled words that could boil a person's nerves. Yidhra, on the other hand, smiled calmly and asked them "Did ye happen to pick up a fight with a black raven-haired child, gentlemen?"
They laughed when heard her question.
"What? Yer an acquaintance of 'im or something? Yeah. We beat 'im good! But ya pretty lady come here all by yerself eh? Wanna have fun with us?"
"I am not here to have fun. However, I think it should be fun on my part only." The moment Yidhra finished her sentences, she started transforming much to the terrific of those men.
Her body extended slimmer but longer. The corner of her mouth spread into a creepy smile as it opened widely with red blood maw, sharp fangs, and the long split tongue of a serpent. Her long body had blocked the only escape route out of this narrow alley, and the men were now like mice in a cage.
"M-m-m-monster!!!! She's a MONSTER!!!! HELP!!!! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!! ARGHHHH!!!!"
"I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY PLEASE SPARE ME!!! I DON'T WANT TO DIEEEEE!!!!"
"PLEASE BE MERCYYYYY!!!!"
......
In the morning, people discovered the leftovers of what were once the uncivil men who were seen wandering around this alley for a long time. It seemed they had been crushed to pieces by something big and heavy, sharp as well. But eventually, no one ever found out what happened to them and the case remained a mystery.
—----
"Thou must not attack the customers, dalta . Whatever the case."
Unless, they were no longer customers.