(Fantasy short story)

The week flew by quickly. Somehow, even too fast. It was necessary to gather herbs, brew the promised elixirs, and replenish supplies before a new adventure. Vayana was throwing some things in the bank vault so that her favorite glasses did not disappear anywhere…

“Vayana, open it!” there was an impatient knock on the door. Witch waved her hand and the door opened. “Well, come in, Varin, what happened?” The girl sorted the glasses with the remaining things.

“You are really leaving,” the forester smiled sadly, looking around the empty house.

“No one stays forever,” Vayana shrugged her shoulders and handed Varin a pendant. “If something happens and you can’t do anything about it, then hurry up and call me with this.”

“Phew, what do you think could happen? Do you really think I am a child?” grumbled the forester.

“No, I don`t,” the witch crouched in front of him and put one hand on his face so that Varin would look into her eyes. “I just want to be sure that I will hear the creatures that are important to me, wherever I am,” usually, Vayana looked no older than 27 years old, but now her eyes have become incredibly old.

“Okey, I`ll call,” the forester nodded, and the medallion hid under his skin.

“Thank you,” the witch smiled and stood up. “Well, it’s like everything,” she looked around. “If I forgot something it wouldn`t be important. See you soon, Varin,” Vayana picked up her bag over her shoulder. It contained much more than it appeared at first glance. She winked at the forester with her enigmatic eyes covered with haze and went to the wooden door. .

“See you soon, Vayana, and may the stars illuminate your path,” said Varin, watching as the witch was picked up by the vortex of the portal.

“Hey, who do I see!” was the first thing Vayana heard as soon as she left the portal.

“What dwarfs, Grog! And I thought you were locked up in the mines for a few more years!” the witch shook the hand of an old acquaintance.

“Yeah, but Nekron sought something there and I was released earlier,” the stocky dwarf happily scratched his red beard, which was braided into a bunch of pigtails. “Well, don’t look with such envy, I’ll braid your hair too,” Grog noticed Vayana’s look.

“Holy Smokers! I`m happy to see you again,” Nekron entered the room. “Fancy something?” the vampire opened a wall bar.

“At your choice,” Vayana smiled with pleasure, noting that Nekron was without his usual black gloves, allowing her to see his pigmented skin. The dark spots contrasted against the vampire’s pale skin. In childhood, he was even considered cursed for such a feature, but in the witch’s opinion, it looked wonderfully weird. But children’s taunts did their job, and the grown-up man took off his black leather gloves only in front of trusted individuals.

“By the way, what`s up with your work, Nekron?” Vayana took a sip of the white wine offered by the old chap. “Grog and I are free birds, so to speak, but you have a schedule, responsibilities…”

“Consider, I have an unplanned vacation,” answered the vampire.

“We had rumors that in some unit of the Guardians, disputes began, as if some were trying to appoint their own leader,” Grog uttered unobtrusively.

“And where did this information come from? It leaked from prisoners in the remote mines, right?” Nekron was surprised.

“The Earth is full of rumors,” shrugged the dwarf.

“Well, there is some truth here. But it is not only about my subordinates. Management,” the vampire poked a finger up, “is also not very happy with my decisions, or rather their consequences, so I am temporarily suspended.”

‘Something serious?” Vayana asked.

“I do not know yet,” Nekron admitted honestly.

“Well, if anything – just say, we will help to put young brains in their place,” Grog swung his ax. “I think Vayana will also not refuse to curse someone for educational purposes, so to say.”

“And who have you already been cursing? I want to have fun too,” a drow crashed into the door of the living room. Shoulder-length white hair is disheveled, a blush penetrates even through dark skin, and purple eyes sparkle mischievously. It was Lorcan, one of the most virtuoso thieves, in person.

“I see, you are having fun!” snorted Vayana, examining the obliquely buttoned shirt and the sock he was holding in his hand.

“Lorcan decided to combine the pleasant with the useful and seduced the owner of the house, whom he had just robbed. True, the owner`s wife returned early, so he had to scratch quickly,” another personality appeared in the room. A dark green cloak hid his figure, but the vertical pupils in his yellow eyes gave off a dragon’s nature. On the forehead of the newcomer, tattoos stretched in a semicircle, crossing the eyes, like two scars, and black hair was scattered, as if the wind had played with it before.

“Yes, Maesor, I don’t see anything wrong with such a combination,” the drow tucked his hair behind his pointed ear. “How nice to see familiar faces, especially if they are still alive.”

“That’s really the strangest thing,” Vayana laughed, “even this snake still walks,” she nodded at Maesor.

“You will be the first to know about my death, witch, I promised to give you the organs for study,” the dragon smirked.

“An unexpected acquaintance, but it’s for the best that you all know each other,” Nekron shook hands with both men.

“Is that all, or will there be someone else?” Grog shifted on the couch, letting the drow sit down.

“Riaya still has to come.”

“Well, the lady is late as usual,” Maesor huffed.

“Phew, what a stereotype,” Vayana shook her hair in displeasure.

“This boy can,” a succubus appeared in the middle of the room, enveloped in flames. “And my favorite witch is with us, it’s already an amazing day!”

Vayana happily got up and hugged her friend tightly.

“How gorgeous you are!” the witch with burning eyes examined the demoness. Purple skin, sapphire eyes, black curly hair, and neat horns on her forehead. A beautiful body with rounded shapes, “Well, you look just like a goddess!”

“Oh Vayana, I hope that my partner will look at me with the same admiration as you…I would not agree to anything less!”

“I just know how to appreciate beauty!” the witch winked at succubus.

“That`s true. So, who haven’t I hugged yet? And don’t make such faces here, boss, I know that you like it!” Riaya went straight to Nekron…”So why did we get together here and now?”

To be continued.