The next day Lox was awakened by a girl with her soft voice:
- Get up, Mr. Poof!
Lox, who had tried not to look at the girl's bed all night but pretended to be asleep, thought, "What do you want, human woman."
He was a demon, and his nature and desires were quite different from the average cat.
It wasn't easy for him to adapt to his new shell, but he realized it was necessary to achieve his goals.
The girl, waiting for Mr. Poof to get up and start a new day, walked over to the bed and stroked his soft fur.
- Time to wake up, my sweet," she said, smiling.
"Annoying," he sighed heavily.
Lox, still in his cat form, opened his eyes slightly and looked at her.
His gaze was sly, as if he was penetrating her thoughts. He couldn't speak to her, but his eyes expressed a kind of mysterious understanding.
The girl smiled at him and lifted him into her arms.
- You're so sweet, Mr. Poof. Let's go eat.
She carried Mr. Poof towards the kitchen and served him fresh food. Lox, who was a demon but in the body of a cat, licked a little, happy to be able to satiate his new appetite again.
- 'I hope you slept well, little one,' she said, catching his ear.
- 'Meow,' Lox replied, continuing to play the part of a normal cat.
He knew he would have to pretend for a long time to keep his secret and not arouse suspicion.
She put Mr. Poof in the kitty, getting ready to head to the royal city for shopping and healing herbs.
- 'We will go to the royal city, my dear,' said the girl, smiling at the cat.
- It has everything we need, and I'm sure you'll enjoy visiting a new place too.
Lox, who was pretending to be Mr. Poof, collapsed in the kitty cat. He was uncomfortable sleeping in that koshik, especially with the girl walking non-stop.
He could feel how his new cat shell was unaccustomed to such an active ride.
But out of anger at himself, Lox poked his head out of the koshik to observe where she was headed.
- Well, how are you doing there, Mr. Poof? - She asked, ignoring his strange behavior.
Lox continued to observe his surroundings when suddenly he closed his eyes with fright. He saw that they were flying on a broomstick!
"What the hell!" - thought Lox, experiencing an eerie fright.
The girl, unsuspecting, continued to move among the trees and forest paths on her broom.
Lox realized that he was in an even more mysterious and mysterious situation than he had anticipated.
He tried to keep his cat shell and not attract attention, so that he could continue his exploration of the world.
But there were many feelings simmering inside him - fear, excitement, and interest in what lay ahead.
When Lox noticed the inscription "To My Little Witch - Viola", he realized the name of this female he was currently with.
"So your name is Viola?" - he thought, surprised to realize that he was managing to recognize the name of his new mistress.
Soon after, Viola flew in on her strange broomstick and silently climbed out of the saddle, which also hovered magically in the air.
The broom seemed to follow her commands without needing to touch or move.
Lox watched Viola cautiously, trying to understand more about her and what she was doing.
He realized that she clearly had magical powers, able to control a broom and possibly other magical powers.
"I wonder what else she can do?" wondered Lox.
He realized that knowing how she controlled the broom could be valuable to him.
It could help him understand the magic of this world better and use his own abilities more effectively.
Viola, ignoring the curious cat, headed off somewhere ahead.
Lox decided to follow her at a safe distance so as not to arouse suspicion.
In the central city of Varion.
Lox, pretending to be Mr. Poof, found himself in a whole new and interesting situation. Viola asked him if he wanted to eat, and Lox meowed approvingly in response.
- So, my sweet Mr. Poof, are you hungry? - Viola smiled, extending her hand with a small balloon.
Lox nodded his head in the affirmative and watched what she was doing with interest.
Viola tossed the balloon and Lox caught it deftly, cracking it open with magical dexterity.
- 'Such a good little kitty,' Viola praised him, 'how glad I am that you decided to stay with me.
Lox continued to play the part of the cat, even though the demon's feelings and thoughts were simmering inside him.
He was evaluating his new shell, which seemed to really appeal to him and inspire confidence.
Along with Viola, Lox made his way to the central city of Varion, where he saw busy streets filled with people and a variety of creatures.
The architecture of the city was impressive, the streets decorated with beautiful vegetation and unique buildings.
- Welcome to Varion, my dear, – Viola said as she walked beside the market stalls and houses.
- Here you will find everything you need and more. This place is full of mysteries and wonders.
Lox watched the city with fascination, feeling that every corner hid its secrets.
The kingdom of Varion was a mysterious and diverse world, divided into two levels.
The lower level, where people without magic lived, was a dark and dim place filled with simple villages and lifeless fields. Here, the inhabitants lived their ordinary lives devoid of magic and mystery.
The lower level of the Kingdom of Varion was an ordinary everyday world where people fought for their lives, modest land holdings, and the best pieces of bread.
Everything was familiar and ordinary, but at the same time, it was also gloomy. It felt like homeless people living here, struggling to survive.
However, on the second level of the Varion Kingdom was the royal city, which stood in stark contrast to the lower level.
Here dwelt the highest people in the hierarchy who possessed the elemental gift.
Each of them possessed the magical power of one of the elements - fire, water, earth, or air.
The royal city was colorful and exquisite, decorated with beautiful palaces, magical lanterns, amazing gardens and magnificent fountains.
Magic permeated every corner of this level, giving it a mysterious and mystical hue.
The highest people of this level possessed incredible beauty and refinement, their clothes were decorated with embroidered symbols of the elements, and magical amulets and jewelry emphasized their status.
But despite their power and beauty, intrigue and intense struggles for power and influence also reigned at this level.
After all, power over the elements gave the ability to control the world around them, and not every possessor of magical power used it for good.
Thus, the Kingdom of Varion was a unique world divided into two contrasting levels.
The upper level was the place of magic and power, where people with the elemental gift dwelled, and the lower level was the world of ordinary people, devoid of magic but struggling for their place in the sun.
Viola, a witch with an unassuming elemental gift for water, decided to travel to the lower level of the Kingdom of Varion to shop for healing herbs and other important ingredients for her magical potions.
She was a master of potions and medicines, and her small hut was located in the forest, she was an outcast.
Landing on the lower level, Viola entered the world of ordinary people who did not yet know magic.
Her long black hair was hidden under a dark cap.
Viola entered the small shop of Karina, another witch who was known for her fiery temper and unpredictable moods.
However, when Carina saw Viola, her face brightened with joy and she approached her excitedly.
- Viola! What an unexpected meeting! - Carina said with a smile.
- Come on, come on, tell me, what brings you to my humble shop?
Viola also smiled, knowing that despite Carina's character, she was always happy to see her and ready to help.
- 'Hello, Carina,' Viola replied.
- I need new herbs and ingredients for my potions.
- You always know where to find the most interesting and rare specimens.
Carina frowned, but immediately her mood changed and she began to guide Viola through the shelves, showing her a variety of herbs and ingredients.
- These rare snake roots are a great choice for your potions," Carina said, "and don't forget the violets from the distant marshes, they will add a unique flavor to your potions.
- Viola! What an unexpected meeting! - said Carina with a smile.
- Come on, come on, tell me, what brings you to my humble shop?
Viola also smiled, knowing that despite Carina's character, she was always happy to see her and ready to help.
- 'Hello, Carina,' Viola replied.
- I need new herbs and ingredients for my potions.
- You always know where to find the most interesting and rare specimens.
Carina frowned, but immediately her mood changed and she began to guide Viola through the shelves, showing her a variety of herbs and ingredients.
- These rare snake roots are a great choice for your potions," Carina said, "and don't forget the violets from the distant marshes, they will add a unique flavor to your potions.
Viola looked at the ingredients with interest and asked questions about their properties and uses.
Carina, in turn, was happy to share her experience and knowledge with Viola.
- Thank you, Carina, you are always helpful," said Viola, selecting a few herbs and ingredients she liked.
- Glad to help, dear," Karina smiled, "if you need anything else, know that you can always come to me.
Viola and Carina sat around a round table in Carina's thoughtful little hut, surrounded by shelves of herbs and spell scrolls. Viola began the conversation:
- Carina, I've heard recent rumors about the king's politics. It seems to me that he is becoming increasingly cruel and indifferent to the needs of the common people.
- Every day there are more and more hungry and homeless people in the streets, and the magical knights of his retinue are only increasing their power over the people.
Carina frowned, her eyes sparkling with discontent, and she nodded in agreement.
- Yes, Viola, I've noticed that trend too. The king is increasingly focused on his personal power and wants to hold on to it at all costs, even if it affects the well-being of the people.
- The magic knights become his tools, they use their gifts to suppress the innocent and subjugate even those who wish to resist tyranny.
- Such behavior is simply disgusting," Viola said forcefully, "We witches know the power of magic and how it can be used for good or evil.
-But the king and his knights have clearly forgotten that they are supposed to serve and protect the people, not cramp them into a corner.
Carina nodded again, as if supporting Viola's words, and continued:
- The magic knights are becoming more and more ruthless and power-hungry. They persecute those who show magical abilities but don't want to serve the king.
- Such people are outlawed, persecuted and punished without mercy.
- It's terrible," Viola said sadly, "magic should be a force that can do good and help, not fear and suppression.
- I have always believed that our gifts should be used responsibly and wisely.
Carina nodded again, and there was joy in her eyes.
Suddenly, the door of the shop opened abruptly, and several dirty and drunken bandits flew in.
They were laughing and swearing loudly, spilling empty bottles of alcohol out of their hands.
Carina and Viola looked at each other, feeling the tension that filled the room.
- What kind of pretty ladies do we have here? - one of the thugs, tall and dirty, his eyes burning with alcohol, his voice rough.
- I own this store, too," added the other, broad and with a bag over his shoulders, clearly out of his mind.
Viola stood up slowly, her hand sliding easily to the pocket where her amulet was kept.
Carina was not far behind either, dark lights flickering in her hands, ready to respond to any aggression.
- You have no right to barge in here," Viola said calmly, but with a hint of hysteria in her voice.
- We don't care whose store it is! - shouted one of the bandits, moving closer to the merchandise counter.
- We just want to have fun!
Carina glanced at her herbs and scrolls, preparing herself for decisive action.
She knew these bandits could be dangerous and aggressive, and they wouldn't need much of a reason to start a fight.
- 'Last warning, leave,' Carina said, but her voice trembled with rage and helplessness in front of these rampaging criminals.
The leader of the bandits, standing out from the rest with his confident and charismatic appearance, slowly approached Karina.
His black hair was not neatly slicked back and a careless smirk played across his face.
He was a rude and arrogant type, clearly used to getting what he wanted.
- Well, well, we got real beauty here," he said with a wry smile, stepping closer to Carina.
Carina remained calm, but a warning flashed in her eyes.
She didn't trust this man and sensed his malevolent intentions.
- Leave us alone," she replied firmly, in a voice that allowed no objection.
The bandit leader only hummed and took a few more steps to be at arm's length from Karina.
- Honey, you don't have to be so serious," he said with a provocative smirk.
- We just want to have fun, what's wrong with that?
Karina was not going to give in to his tricks. She clearly assessed the situation and prepared for action if the bandit leader tried to harm her.