Part Two: Supply Run
Rated K+
"And why New Orleans?" Ben asked as they jetted to the aforementioned city.
"New Orleans is most probably the national HQ of real witchcraft," Gwen explained patiently, "And I wanna expand my collection of spellbooks. I need to learn more if I ever wanna rematch Charmcaster and win; if not then I'm a sitting duck to everyone and their brother."
They began their descent and once near enough to the ground Ship, the intelligent creature that had morphed into the jet that was now carrying them, simply morphed around them into a minivan and continued on into the rural areas of the city.
"The owner of the shop is said to be," she looked for a positive word, "a bit eccentric. Be nice."
Her two boys made the classic, "Who? Us?" faces and she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, knowing that if she made them wait in the car they would kill each other. She was crazy for bringing both along without Julie there to keep Ben in line.
The shop, a way out of the way and characterless shop on the outside, was stifling with the fumes of potions mixing with the tangy scent of herbs and spices and the musty odor of old leather and stale parchment.
The entrance bell tinkled and the heavy door sealed itself on impact with it's jam.
"Hello?" she called cautiously and the proprietor appeared out of thin air. She was a young, blond woman. Her eyes were cloudy, indicating her blindness.
"Ahhh, Gwendolyn Tennyson," she guessed and thus put her visitors on guard, "I've been expecting you."
"You've been expecting me?" Gwen questioned uncertainly as the blond grabbed her by the wrist and began dragging her towards the backroom.
"Yes, yes," the blond stated impatiently, "Seers see things, duh; it's in the job description. A blind seer…what a cliché, but what can you do? C'mon I got your things waiting for you."
"My things…?"
"Oh yes, everything that dammed Charmcaster has but better; some of my best work; hand-carved golems, spellbooks that make her charms and hexes look like child's play, a stave, a utility belt and of course a crystal ball and cauldron…"
"You worked with Charmcaster?" Gwen tried to pull herself free but the seer held on tightly sighing, "She was destined to be a very powerful good witch but then that thrice damned uncle of hers warped her mind so her needed good deeds have fallen to you; you and her will forever be locked in battle so I went all out…here we are," she had led them to a small closet and felt around for a very small switch which made the back wall retreat to reveal a small workroom. In the middle of the room was a trunk.
"My name is Orenda by the way," Orenda introduced as she led the witch to the trunk before kneeling, pulling her guest down as well, and opening the trunk. She felt around, "Ahhh," she withdrew a short, polished, piece of wood which she then extended, "Holly and Yew wood staff, to focus and direct your energy to do as you wish; also makes a pretty decent normal weapon. Foldable for easy storage and the ability to carry it concealed on your body," she folded it back up and put it aside to only to reach back into the trunk and withdraw a lavender utility belt, clicking the folded staff into a niche on it before explaining, "Every smart superhero has one of these; it'll hold everything I've made for you except the crystal ball, the books, and the cauldron."
So they went through the items slowly, Orenda explaining each carefully.
As they flew back home Gwen customized what her belt held. She stopped at a tailor's and had a hooded cloak, purple, created. Once it was done and tailored she enchanted it to grow with her.
And so became her new outfit.
