#Qifrey x reader

[saturvn]

i saw u doing witch hat atelier in ur fandoms list so if it’s alright with u can i have hcs on what it's like dating Qifrey?

 ♡𓈒 ˙ ｡ WHAT' IT'S LIKE DATING QIFREY , HEADCANONS 𓈒 ˙ ｡  ♡

dating qifrey means having deep, thoughtful conversations about magic, philosophy, and the nature of the world. he's incredibly knowledgeable and loves to share his insights with you.

you'll often find yourselves staying up late, discussing various topics over a cup of tea in his cozy atelier.

qifrey is exceptionally gentle and caring. he's always attentive to your needs and makes sure you're comfortable and happy.

he has a knack for noticing when something is bothering you and will do his best to help you feel better, whether it's through kind words or a comforting gesture.

your dates with qifrey are nothing short of magical. he loves taking you on enchanting adventures, showing you hidden places filled with wonder and beauty.

qifrey has a protective side, especially given his past and the dangers that can arise in the world of magic. he's always looking out for you, ensuring you're safe from any harm.

he might be a bit overprotective at times, but it's only because he cares deeply about you.

if you're a witch or aspiring to learn magic, qifrey is an incredibly supportive mentor. he's patient and encouraging, always ready to help you improve your skills.

while qifrey is open and loving, he has a mysterious side that occasionally surfaces. there are parts of his past he keeps hidden, and you might catch glimpses of a more troubled aspect of his personality.

qifrey has a flair for the romantic. he'll surprise you with beautifully crafted magical gifts, like enchanted flowers that never wilt or shimmering lights that dance in the air.

he loves creating intimate, magical moments that make you feel cherished and adored.

being with qifrey brings a sense of calm and tranquility. his composed demeanor and soothing voice have a way of making you feel at ease, no matter how stressful the situation.

[xreaderanonaccount]

Interrupted (Qifrey x Reader)

Tags: Suggestive slight NSFW

Qifrey let out a deep deep sigh as he entered his room. The girls were so excited to learn a new glyph that Qifrey and Olruggio had to help them out, a lot. By the time they were done the sun had set. You on the other hand did the small chores around the atelier. Doing laundry, whipping up some lunch, or whatever needed to be done. The girls helped out here and there whenever they got a chance but you were content with how life was. The best part of the day is when Qifrey comes back to your shared room. You had already completed the task you set for yourself today and now you were relaxing on the bed with a cozy book in your hand. You heard a soft groan from the bottom of the steps. Looking over the loft you spot Qifrey walking up the stairs. Stripping his outer coat till he was just in his black turtleneck and his loose pants. He flopped down on the bed, making your body slightly jump off the bed by the sheer force.

“How was today dear?” You asked, smiling as you set the book down. Qifrey didn’t say anything but just a muffled groan. You run your hand through his curly white hair. You smiled as you could see Qifrey’s shoulder slump as his body ease. You thought that this night was going to be like this until you felt a strong hand grab your ankles pulling you down on the bed. You were pinned as Qifrey hovered over you. 

“Qifrey?” You asked looking up at him, his face unreadable as he leaned down capturing your lips with his. His lips were soft and warm as you felt his lips trailed down your body. 

“I’ve waited so long to do this.” You heard him mumble against your skin, his breath fanned your exposed skin as continued his trail of kisses. You felt his hand play with the belt around your waist. You drape your arms around his shoulder as you pull him closer. Taking in his scent of soft floral and wood. As he started to unbuckle your belt, soft raps on the door made you two paused. It was late, no one except maybe Olruggio would be up at this hour. You felt Qifrey heaved a deep sigh before getting off of you. He muttered an apology before telling the person on the other side of the door to come in. You peered over the loft seeing little coco coming inside. She seemed a little sleepy but still determined. 

“Professor, I was trying to work on the glyph we did earlier the day but it seems like it didn’t work.” Coco sounded defeated as she sat on the steps of the loft. Qifrey glanced at you as you gave a soft smile. Silently telling him to deal with his student’s question. Qifrey smiled as he slowly slid down the stairs sitting a couple stairs above Coco. You leaned against your arm as you watched Qifrey expertly explained the glyph again to Coco. It only took minutes after Coco entered the room for her to be out thanking her professor for helping her. When you heard the door close with a soft click, Qifrey was immediately back on you. This time more passionate as he cupped your cheeks, giving you a passionate kiss. He muffled a moan as he silently asked permission to access your mouth. You opened your mouth slightly giving him a silent agreement. You thought Qifrey would go nice and slow but Qifrey quickly shoved his tongue down your throat. You bit back a moan as Qifrey continued his relentless attack on your mouth. He trailed his hands down your sides cupping your bottom as he gently set you down on the plus mattress. Qifrey pulled away from you, you watched as he crossed his arms grabbing the hem of his turtleneck. As he pulled his shirt halfway over his body, getting a sneak peak of his tone chest, another soft rap against his door. Qifrey let out an annoyed sigh as he pulled his shirt back down before telling the person to come in. You could hear Olruggio come in to complain about something. Qifrey tried his best, you can really see, but his face did show some signs of annoyance. 

“Alright I’m heading to bed, Goodnight Qifrey,” Olruggio said before leaving, but he stopped before and said goodnight to you. Which made the two of you face flush a bit. Olruggio isn’t dumb, he knows that you're there. Even though you had your own room, ever since you and Qifrey made it “official” you’ve been staying with him. After hearing another soft click of the door you looked up to Qifrey who just sighed settling down on the bed. You watched as Qifrey laid down next to you. You smiled to yourself as you climbed on top of him. Settling on his lap you can feel his bulge against you. 

“We’ll try to make this quick.” You mumbled as you slipped your shirt off, Qifrey gently placed his hands against your hips drawing small circles with his thumbs. 

“Please.” Qifrey whispered, rocking your hips back and forth, you muffled your moans as you connected your lips with his. The muffled moans filled the quiet room as Qifrey continued to guide your hips against his hard bulge. You sighed as you  pulled away. Whispering sweet nothing to Qifrey you moved to remove your bottoms. As you started to slip it off the door swung open. You couldn’t react quick enough but Qifrey did. You let out a small yelp as you were flipped, now your back against the plush mattress and covered by the soft blanket. Qifrey looked down at you with a now annoyed expression. You can tell Qifrey wanted to just spend a nice moment with you. Nice is putting it lightly. 

“Richeh is everything okay?” You heard Qifrey asked, a mask of worry was heard from Qifrey.

“Richeh had a nightmare.” You heard Richeh mumble. You frowned slightly, feeling bad for the little witch. Discreetly slipping your shirt back on you sat up and patted on the bed.

“Aw don’t worry Richeh we’re here come on up.” You smiled, Qifrey glared at you, quietly asking you what you were doing. You heard Richeh’s foot softly thumb up the stairs. You watched as the little witch climbed up the bed b lining to you engulfing you in a hug. You quietly stroke Richeh’s head as you lower the both of you back on the bed. Cuddling into her. You glanced at Qifrey who had an not amused look. You smiled at him patting at the open area next to you. You heard Qifrey sighed as he moved next to you. Slipping his arms around your waist. You felt him pull you closer still reminding you that there was still something that you guys were doing. 

“Richeh where are you?” You heard another voice called up. Before you two can say anything you spotted Tetia ascending up the stairs. 

“What! No fair you get to cuddle with the professor and miss (name)!” Tetia complained, but before anyone can say something Tetia climbed up the bed settling next to Richeh. 

“If you guys are gonna have a sleepover then Tetia should be invited!” She exclaimed, You chuckled at how Tetia is. But you felt Qifrey heaved a deep sigh into your back. You can tell he’s trying his best. He loves his students, he truly does, but sometimes he just wants peace and quiet. And some time alone with just you. 

Sooner than you thought, somehow some way you had all four girls snuggled up with you and Olruggio sleeping near the foot of the bed. Everyone was fast asleep leaving just you and Qifrey alone…ish. 

“I’m sorry things didn’t go as planned.” You whispered to Qifrey, turning to him to play with his hair. Qifrey just sighed into your neck pulling you closer.

“It’s…fine.” Qifrey said but you can tell it still bothered him. 

“We’ll get back to it someday.” You whispered, Qifrey just nodded his head as sleep finally took over you both. The soft crickets in the night lure you into a peaceful sleep.

[petrichorium]

qifrey doesn't mean to lurk. really, he doesn’t—he came to speak with oru, not creepily linger at a cracked door watching a clearly private moment—but he can hardly be blamed, he thinks, when you have a blade so close to the throat of his oldest and closest friend.

you sit perched on a stool at the base of the large stone archway. oru sits before you, settled between your legs; he’s leaned forward while you stare down with your fingers on his jaw.

your other thumb rests on the sharp edge of a metal razor. qifrey can’t look away as you guide oru’s face upward and to the side with a gentle hand, watching his friend’s eyes flutter closed and his shoulders slump in something like bliss.

you shift closer. the skirt you wear—a pretty blue and short enough to only just cover your knees with how you sit—falls gently open at a slit up your thigh, leaving the expanse of your leg open to the air. your stocking ends at mid-thigh, the slit so high it reveals even a three finger wide band of bare skin up above it.

qifrey’s mouth goes dry. oru eases further into you, all but laid in your lap. you tilt his head the other way, lifting your arm to get a better angle at the comparatively more awkward side. each time you move him is accompanied with a breathy word of praise which eases the tension on his face. now it’s your shirt which draws qifrey’s eye—white linen, tucked beneath the band of your skirt, gathered at the collar with a ribbon which you’ve loosened entirely to drape brazenly around your shoulders. it’s one of oru’s, qifrey realizes with a start as you move your elbow and he catches sight of the embroidery on the sleeves. something settles deep in his stomach.

you pull away briefly to examine your work. the little hum that you give out is only just loud enough to hear from where qifrey stands; he watches oru’s chest rise and fall with a returning sigh. he’s all but melted into your hold, like an attention-starved pup nosing for more pets. your finger finds his chin, lifting upward until you can run the blade you hold in your deft fingers across his throat.

his adam’s apple bobs in a swallow. you chide him gently, voice laced with warm humor, lifting the blade from his skin long enough for your free hand to find the back of his hair and tug in playful chastisement before returning to the task at hand.

finally you pull back for good. somehow it’s the little smile on your face—a languidly half-lidded look, lips soft, utterly enamored as oru blinks open his eyes—that has qifrey most abundantly aware that he’s trespassing. and yet he can’t pull away when you reach out with your free hand and stroke your thumb against oru’s cheek, giving a final little word of praise and then quietly ordering him to go rinse off.

he remains peeking through the door as oru obediently disappears into the washroom; hears you sigh lightly, watches you straighten upon your stool perch and raise an elegant hand to massage at your shoulder. the motion has you lifting your head towards the ceiling, exposing the slope of your neck; the loosened collar of oru’s stolen shirt shifts, falling lower until your cleavage nearly spills out, but you don’t bother to adjust it. why would you? you think you’re alone.

qifrey lunges back. now the shame settles in, hot and heavy deep in his chest. he’s careful not to close the door too quickly, but in his haste slams his knee directly into a pile of smooth river stones (surely part of whatever magic the pair of you have been working on) and sends them clattering to the ground. the curse that falls from his lips is involuntary; he’s glad his students aren’t nearby to overhear.

for a moment all is still. he feels his heart in his chest, rapid, as if it will flee and leave him behind. then your voice calls out, “qifrey?”

he supposes the word he’d just said must have solidly ruled out any of the girls.

he clears his throat. slowly, he opens the door—further than before, wider than his shoulders, revealing the full picture of the room to him.

you’ve fixed the shirt. its opened collar has been tied shut in a pretty bow, up over your shoulders. your leg, too, has fallen to tuck up against the stool with its twin; the drape of your skirt has settled over the bare skin of your thigh.

you tilt your head. “how long have you been waiting? did we miss your knock?”

“no, i hadn’t knocked yet.”

nodding, you finally stand from your position, reaching up and stretching easily. your back arches, arms thrust to the sky, a little noise passing your lips that has qifrey’s breath hitching. the glint of the razor still in your hand catches his eye—he can’t look away, enraptured by the sight of your fingers on the handle. it’s even more distracting up close.

“oru will be out in a moment. you can wait here for now. unless…” the tease in your tone has qifrey’s gaze jumping up to meet yours. you’re grinning, lifting up that blade in an offer. “you’re looking for a shave, too. you were awfully curious, hmm?”

[wintrsss]

Do you still write for witch hat atelier? If so, I wanted to know if you'd write qifrey taking care of his partner when they're sick?

『Sick S/O』

Fandom: Witch Hat Atelier.

Character: Qifrey.

Genre: Fluff.

Warnings: None, reader is gender neutral!

A/N: Reqs. are always open for witch hat atelier! ❤️

Requests open!

.ೃ࿐

-

Qifrey

There isn't much he can do considering that he's a witch, but it doesn't mean he won't at least try to take care of you!

He does scold you lightly if it were due to something he warned you of previously, as he tends to be a mother hen at times

He values your comfort a lot during this time, so expect him to constantly be at your side asking if you're alright or if you'd like him to fetch something for you

He lets his culinary side shine just for you, making you warm meals or soups to ease your suffering

Makes you soup and tea to keep you fed and hydrated, but also to help with any congestion you may have

More often than not is checking your forehead with the back of his hand, even if you don't have a fever

If you did have one, however, he'd use his water spells to helps cool you down

Affection is something he'll miss during this time. To sate this yearning, he opts to lightly pats the top of your head in order to avoid getting sick as well

If your sickness escalates to a worrying degree, he'll take you to the medical spire in no time. There are boundaries between what Witches can't do and what Unknowings can, and the last thing he wants is for this to become serious

But know that he'll be by your side as much as he can, along with his apprentices on occasion when they're not studying

[mywifealhaitham]

◟✶◝ general qifrey dating headcanons

◟a/n◝ posting this in hopes that more people read and write for witch hat atelier... it's such a good series and I hope that the anime adaptation help boost its popularity 😞

• first of all, dating him means you also get four kids and one tired uncle. qifrey and the kids + Olruggio are one huge package deal but by know you probably already know.

• you two would have to have known eachother for awhile for any type of romantic relationship to blossom. Qifrey is already a mysterious man and keeps almost everyone far away from his actual self, going as far as erasing his best friends memories when he learned the truth.

• with you however he's nicer and gentler. you can see how his mask drops and cracks ever so slightly when you're alone with him asking about his magic and updates about the brimhats and surprising he'll tell you snippets of his progress though not enough for his true intentions to shine through but enough to bring you both closer.

• during the day he's practically clinging onto you whenever your near. If you live with him in his atelier then goodluck because you'll need every lucky item for him to leave your side even for a few hours. if you live farther away then you bet he'll visit you everyday when he's free, often bringing a new magical item Olruggio made or bringing along coco and the others for some training with you.

• speaking of his apprentices they love you alot, they love their professor so naturally that love pours onto you. often times they'll ask you to help or hang out with them if you're free. Riche will ask you to help clean brushbug, she loves observing how you work with or without magic. she loves how every move you make your personality shines through and she aspires to have that ability. Tetia often asks you things about fashion and what types of clothes look the best and what styles compliment the types of magic. sometimes she'll doodle new magic ideas or outfits to show too you and when you tell her that you're proud of her and her ideas are splendid her face shines so bright and she gives you a smile that melts everything around you.

• Agott really only asks you your opinion on new magic she made and if there's any improvements needed. you always tell her the truth while reassuring her that she's doing good and that her magic is something she should be very proud of. Coco is often by qifreys side when he visits you but sometimes she'll come alone and when she does she begs you to tell her anything that she doesn't know about magic. even if you tell her a basic fact about magic that every witch in the land knows her face will light up with excitement and she'll beg for more and sometimes to the point where qifrey or agott has to drag her away from you.

• qifrey is a huge sap, to the point he gets corny. when he does everyone, including you, groans loudly and looks away from him. he always brings you fresh flowers for your nightstand and always invites you over for dinner (if you live separately from him). on some nights where it's quiet and everyone has gone to bed he teaches you magic and sometimes you two learn something new together.

• moments like these are so important to qifrey, he adores magic and spending time improving it with someone he also adores is practically heaven for him. despite all the struggles he deals with and the despair that lingers in his mind, he always finds solace in you and he hopes if there's ever a time where he forgets who he is and what's important to him that you're there to guide him home.

[owlespresso]

wip. qifrey.

“If you knew what I wanted to do to you, you’d crawl out of your own skin just to get away from me.” you say, voice somber in the chill of the night. The autumn moon, fulsom and orange, hangs above the pines. Wispy strands of fog linger close to the dew-slick grass, strands bent under the weight of the moisture.. Warm, yellow lights shone through the fog—lanterns from the village only a field away. How fast can Qifrey run? You wonder, staring into the forest’s gaping maw, over the patches of deadened brown which litter the path to the treeline.

“What?” he asks, voice stuttering over itself, breathless.

“And who knows? Maybe it would work. I just—I just want to do things to you,” you say, eyes wide and manic like a moorland hare’s. “And I hate myself for it, and you should too.”

“Well…” he seems to take a step back, quieting as he evaluates you. His gaze silently tracks the curl of your fingers around the familiar shape of your blade’s sheath. “What kind of things would you want to do?” A silence hangs between you both. You shut your mouth tight, teeth grinding together. Qifrey notices the tick of your jaw and continues. “It’s perfectly normal to… desire other people.” he says, comforting, carefully explaining the concept like you’re yet another one of his students, lamb-legged and new to the ways of the world. “It’s only human. To want to be loved.”

You laugh, the sound so violent and sudden that it jolts him. 

“You just don’t get it, do you?” you say, shoulders slumping. Malignant, marcid despair settles over your entire body, thoughts twisting and curling with frantic jolts of emotion you were never meant to feel. Your hands twitch, tongue heavy as that strange, restless energy pulses underneath the surface of your skin, jumping from nerve to nerve. You feel bared to the cold moonlight, dredged in embarrassment thick and cloying like thick swampland mud. “Ugh, forget it. It’s—I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s better that you just leave me alone.” 

Your lips contort with a snarl, space between your brows crumpling as you struggle to pull together the ramshod rusty remnants of your composure, the gelid front you’ve upkept for so long. Only to lose it now, in front of him,

“Wait!” he calls, a desperation in his voice that gives you pause. The withered grass crunched under his feet. And—you hate it—you so easily recognize the telltale sounds of someone about to chase you. A seasoned professional in being hunted.

You whip around with immediate intensity, eyes blowing wide. His hand awkwardly hovers hardly an inch away from you, positioned to pull at where your sleeve had been. His wide-eyed countenance melts with guilt as he takes in your reaction, makes his own assumptions about what it means. Whatever he’s thinking, it’s probably right. Qifrey who is so deeply rooted with his own traumas, likely knows you better than most of the villagers, at this point. Sees underneath your hardened lacquer.

You glance down at his hand, take in the delicate curve of his artist’s fingers, the way the sleeves slutty black turtleneck hug tight up half his palms. The white fabric of his coat bunched ‘round his elbow, letting you see the delicate bend of his wrist. The bones would give so easily if you grabbed him there.

Oh, you hate him. How easily he commandeers your attention. Does he know the control he has? Has he been playing dumb this entire time, for the lone purpose of driving you insane? Pushing you to your limit?

[linkemon]

Forgetful (Qifrey x Reader)

Friendly reminder that English is not my first language. You can check my Masterlists both in English and Polish here. Consider supporting me on Ko-fi. You can also check out my commissions if you’re interested.

Other oneshots can be found here.

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ʀᴇᴘᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ ꜱᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀʙʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪʀʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱɪʙʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ. ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ꜱʜᴇ ʀᴜɴꜱ ɪɴᴛᴏ ǫɪꜰʀᴇʏ'ꜱ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀʀᴇ. ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ꜱʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴏᴜʀ ɢɪʀʟꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇ?

Coco ran down the stairs, admiring more and more colourful vials. They had come to buy ink but she couldn't get enough of the view around her. The shop was, as always, full of unusual tools, herbs, and instruments. Tetia tugged on her arm, almost making her fall off the last step. 

— Follow me. Professor [Reader] is here! — Her friend called out cheerfully. 

Her eyes seemed to glow. She must have really liked this person. 

— Who is Professor [Read…]? — Coco didn’t have time to finish her question.

The girl peered out from behind a large tree. There was indeed a woman standing in the doorway, about the same age as Professor Qifrey. A pointed hat rested on her head but the marking on the headdress meant nothing to her. Her clothes fluttered behind her with every step, even though the windows were closed. When the woman stood closer to the light, Coco could examine her more closely. She had been through a lot. Her coat was muddy and there were a few leaves in her hair. She tapped her boots against the floor a few times, trying to get rid of what was stuck to the soles of her shoes. 

— Not her... — Agott sighed. She frowned and turned on her heel to leave. 

— Don't talk about the professor's girlfriend like that — Riche appeared out of nowhere. The youngest adept still had no idea how she did it. 

Coco glanced at the woman again. The professor had a girlfriend? She had never heard of it before but she had just recently come to his atelier. She didn't really have time to think about something like that. She couldn't describe it but somehow she couldn't imagine him next to someone like that.

— We know very well that she is irresponsible. She always gets into trouble. — With these words, the oldest adept quickly walked away to another part of the shop. She wanted to get as far away as possible. 

— Hello, girls! — A loud voice echoed off the stone walls. 

— Good morning! — Tetia shouted louder than her friends and ran up, smiling broadly. 

— Thank you for the welcome — [Reader] tapped her on the nose. The little girl brightened even more, if that was even possible. 

She must have known her well to know how much she liked being thanked. 

— Should I show you professor how I improved my cloud? 

Coco was happy for her friend. Their last adventure, which had led to the improvement of the novelty circle, had not been a happy one. If there was one good thing that had come out of all this, it was this. 

— Maybe later. I need to buy some paper before I forget I came for it. — She pulled her pouch out of her bag, almost knocking over the nearest vial. Luckily, Riche caught it just in time. 

— You have something in your hair… — The youngest student removed a twig tangled in her hair. 

— Thank you very much, ummm... Coco? It's you, isn't it? — She looked at her curiously, counting out the money. 

— Yes. 

She was afraid of being looked at or, worse, accused. Most adult witches treated her that way. She was something of a sensation and an unpleasant one at that. Everyone had heard of her by now. Word spread quickly. 

— It's nice to meet you. Qifrey has told me a lot about you. Where is Agott? Isn't she with you? — The woman began her journey in search of the paper. 

— She’s… ummm… busy… with something — Coco finished awkwardly. 

The teacher, however, was already elsewhere in her thoughts. Coco was pleased. [Reader] seemed like the kind of person who could really care that Agott didn't like her. Coco knew that feeling herself. No pair of repaired shoes could help her get along with her. Even if they improved the situation a little, their relationship was still far from friendship. 

A loud bang interrupted her thoughts. The professor and Coco's teacher were sprawled on the floor. Mr. Nolnoa was standing over them, complaining about the mess they had made. Old books, previously sorted, lay in disarray around them. Dust flew around the room, making Coco's nose twitch. She sneezed loudly. 

Professor Qifrey was gently checking on [Reader], unconcerned by the chatter of the old man or his assistant. Tartah began to clean up the mess, glaring at the pair. There was something in the teacher's gaze that hadn't been there before. His white hair was a mess and his glasses was almost falling off his nose but he didn't seem to care. Coco smiled to herself. 

The woman stood up, apologizing to the owner who was threatening to withdraw her discount. 

— [Reader], you're sent from heaven! — Qifrey grabbed her by the shoulders, not caring about the muddy cloak. 

— I've never heard that from you before — she laughed. 

— Please take care of them until the evening! — He pointed to the students. 

— What? 

Before she knew it, the man was already at the door. He slammed it loudly. She had no idea where he was in such a hurry. She only hoped he was okay. After all, he was the responsible one out of the two of them. If he had left his duties so suddenly, it suggested something unpleasant. 

— I guess we’re stuck with each other. — She scratched the back of her neck. 

The cleaning went quite smoothly. Especially when Agott stopped hiding and with a dissatisfied face, decided to help the group. Or at least that's what Coco thought. In reality, Tartah forced her to do it, after he accidentally found her near the broom closet. 

The group was quickly ushered out. Mr. Nolnoa did not want to risk any more accidents. 

— So what do you all want to do now? — [Reader] put her hands on her hips. 

— Go back to the atelier — Agott said with a murderous look.

— What are you going to do at home? Study? Sometimes you just need to have a break. 

— How about boat? — Riche suggested in a quiet voice. — Coco hasn't been there yet.

Tetia applauded the idea and happily began leading the group through the city, ignoring the protests. 

This was a place that Coco had only heard about. One where you can sail on waters surrounding the city. Several hundred years ago, a witch had built a vehicle modeled after an enchanted sky carriage. The method of creating these self-propelled boats had disappeared over time. Although the manuscripts of their creation were kept in the Tower of Tomes, few witches knew how to use them. You had to know exactly which parts went with which spells and few people had any idea about that in those days. Many rare, ornate models were gathered around Kalhn. Some were rented out at high prices, while others became tourist attractions. 

The young adept had to admit that the view was incredible. The water reflected the colours of the rainbow leaves, creating a picturesque image. The rays of the autumn sun shone directly on the boat they had chosen. A golden swan lazily glided across the surface. On one side they had the forest and on the other, the peaceful Kalhn. Riche seemed particularly pleased. Probably because it was her idea. Besides, she valued the silence. Tetia showed the professor sketches of her glyphs, clearly happy with her attention. Agott, on the other hand, ran her fingers along the river from time to time. She was probably still thinking about what had happened a moment ago. The boat was for children only. At least that's what the man renting it had said. However, the adult witch insisted that she absolutely had to sail with the students. She argued with the owner for a long time to let her get on, although Agott insisted on choosing something else or letting them go alone. Now, from time to time, she looked at the teacher dissatisfied, narrowing her eyes. 

Coco looked at her reflection. Besides the golden hair, there seemed to be something else there. Like an image that didn't resemble anything around it at all. 

— You have to see this! 

She leaned down to take a closer look. Before she knew it, everyone else had done the same thing she had. She hadn't even noticed the boat tilt. She had only managed to squeak before it plunged into the icy water. Panic gripped her as she surfaced again. It was dark. Stars twinkled in the sky. To her surprise, she was in very shallow water. A few strokes were enough for her to feel solid ground beneath her feet. She swam to what looked like a bank. She only saw it because it shimmered with a greenish glow. The sand gleamed in the darkness. Someone coughed and she was happy to see it was Riche. The other students and Professor [Reader] followed her. 

— I have no idea what happened but we need to look around here. Can you draw a fire glyph in the dark? — [Reader] asked, holding out a small bottle of glowing ink. Luckily, the bottle didn’t float away somewhere along the way. 

Only Agott volunteered. She pulled out the wand from her belt and began working without a word. Soon, two flames were rising above them — a larger one and a smaller one. 

— This isn't the first time something like this has happened, Professor — Coco confessed, feeling the weight of guilt seem to be weighing her down. — Not long ago, I ran after a masked witch. Professor Qifrey said he must be Brimmed Hat Witch. Then we all ended up in this strange, magical labyrinth from the city and there was no way out.

It was strange that their guardian had never mentioned it to her. They saw each other rarely but they exchanged letters quite often. Considering how little he talked about himself and how much about them, she should have learned the story long ago. She had not heard of such an incident in the Great Hall either and she had visited it recently. And yet the Knights Moralis had to know something since the matter concerned outlaw witches.

— How did you get out then? — [Reader] asked, still looking around, trying to see in the dim light. 

— There was a dragon in the labyrinth. We put him to sleep with my signature cloud. It was so soft he fell asleep — Tetia chimed in — and then we destroyed the labyrinth glyph and everything fell apart. Luckily, Professor Qifrey got us out of there just in time.

— Just as I thought. Well... We have no choice. We have to do exactly what you did last time. I'm afraid it won't be so easy to find anything in the dark, though. Let's rest here for a moment. Unfortunately, I can't teach you how to draw a glyph from memory right now. I don't have enough fluorescent ink for practice but you can watch. Then we'll try to search this place together.

— Wouldn't it be better to split up? — Agott asked. — I passed the test. I can now assist. If we split up, it will definitely go faster. — She furiously drew another circle. 

— I understand you but assisting isn't the same. We're in a dangerous situation and you're not even my student.

Coco didn't need to see Agott clearly to know she wasn't happy with the answer. Of the four of them, she was the one who tried the hardest. She spent her nights devoting herself to her magic. She studied hard, even when she should have been taking breaks. She wanted to get started as soon as possible and was annoyed when Qifrey denied her the chance to prove herself. 

— Exactly. You're not my teacher. And you're the one who's hell-bent on that damned boat, even though I told you it was a bad idea...

— Agott! — Tetia stood in front of her, hands on hips. — You're being rude. Stop it!

This was heading in a very bad direction. 

— You're her pupil, no wonder you defend her — Agott retorted. After these words, she quickly walked away with her light source. 

— Oh no — [Reader] groaned. — Wait here a minute, girls. I have to get her back. Don’t go anywhere, okay?

For lack of anything better to do, they began to try drawing glyphs in the poor light. A bottle of ordinary ink and two wands survived. Everything else must now be floating somewhere at the bottom of the roaring sea. 

Luckily, the offended girl didn't get very far before [Reader] found her. 

— Agott! — The professor gasped for air. She wasn't used to running. — We can't split up. Maybe you expect me to apologize but I couldn't have known what would happen. Please come back. It'll be safer for all of us.

— If you thought I was offended, you're wrong — said the dark-haired girl, stubbornly pushing her way through the rocks. 

The truth was that she was a little offended. She had passed the second test. In the meantime, they continued to treat her as before. Now, however, when she saw something that interested her, she did not have to admit it. Several small, white brushbuddys were quickly crawling in one direction. They had clearly smelled the magic ink. 

— There might be a glyph in there somewhere. — She pointed to a rock formation in the distance. 

— You have a good eye. We'll check it out but togethe...— [Reader] acted on instinct, tapping her shoes. The connected circle on the soles allowed her to take the protesting Agott with her. She took to the air at the last moment. 

The rocks in the middle of the beach moved. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Lightning flashed with purple hue, revealing the truth for a moment. They weren’t rocks. They were four hooves. And above them, enormous legs. Another flash revealed a pegasus. The creature flapped its wings and the wind picked up the glowing sand from the beach and scattered it around. She had never seen such a large animal. Whatever it was, Brimmed Hats had certainly had a hand in it. Using magic like that on living creatures was forbidden. [Reader] couldn’t use many of the spells she had stored in her notebook. All the ones she had kept in her notebook had gotten wet. She managed to cast one of the ones she carried with her as a necklace, just in case. The pegasus howled at the sight of the massive column of fire fanned by the wind. It stamped a few times and neighed. It quickly realized that it could be extinguished with sand. It began to flap its wings incessantly. Harder and harder. Each thud on the ground sent shockwaves. 

— If this keeps up, he’ll kill us! — [Reader] shouted over the wind. — I’ll keep him occupied! You have to find the circle!

— Fine! — Agott ran towards her friends. 

The woman sincerely hoped that the praise Qifrey had written about his students was not just empty talk. She didn't want to leave them but she had no choice. 

She stepped around the wing, trying to distract the pegasus. The tiny flame disappeared from her sight and she hoped that the apprentices would actually find the spell. At that moment, she had no other ideas. The responsibility she felt was overwhelming. Maybe that was why she had never taken on an apprentice, even after passing her last exam. Otherwise, she would have to feel like she did now for the rest of her life. 

She tugged on the strap, pulling off another glyph burned into the wood. She finished the spell with her wand. She had to keep the flame smoldering under hooves. She had never had the talent for water spells like Qifrey. Fire itself wasn't as good as Olruggio's either. But wind was a field she loved. Her old mentor used to say it was because of her absent-mindedness. He thought her personality reflected that perfectly. Maybe he was right. After all, she had never founded her own atelier. And she only visited the Great Hall when she had to. She lived on the road and one of the few constants in her life was Qifrey. A man with blue eyes and a smile as warm as home. He always made sure to send her a letter on time. Even when others forgot her birthday after years, he was one of the few who always found her to give her a present. He also invited her to all the important holidays. She knew she could always come and he would welcome her with open arms but he also respected how much she valued traveling, so he never pressured her to live with him. And neither did her family. 

The pegasus grew increasingly furious. When he extinguished the flame, darkness fell. This time, she couldn't avoid the gust of wind. Her boots slowed her fall but the impact with the rock took her breath away for a moment. She touched her ribcage. She must have broken a few ribs. [Reader] reluctantly rose to her feet. She threw another wind glyph at the faintly smoldering embers. She clicked her heels to rise into the air. The necklace was empty. There was nothing she could do now. 

Suddenly, lightning appeared in the dark sky again. The sand seemed to be soaking into the sea. It was as if the water was swallowing the beach. The woman realized that the island was sinking. She looked around. In the distance, she saw a bright spot. It had to be a circle. So the girls had found a way out. Just in time. She wanted to turn back towards it but the pegasus had no intention of letting her go so easily. She was pushed away again. This time the pain was terrible. She had no idea where it came from but blood appeared on her hands. She shook her head. She didn't have time. She was going down with her enemy. A piece of land was disappearing with every second. With the last of her strength, she lifted herself up. This was the moment when the hours spent flying paid off. She glanced back, trying to judge the distance. This time, she let herself be carried away by the force of the wind. Accompanied by a loud neighing, she soared into the darkness. 

— Professor! — loudly sobbing Tetia was the first thing [Reader] saw after waking up. 

— I told you she would wake up — Agott said, looking away. 

She stared stubbornly out the window. Perhaps so no one would notice how relieved she felt. 

— If you were so sure, why did you wait here with us? — Riche asked. She couldn't help but make that quiet remark. 

She knew perfectly well why Agott had never liked [Reader]. The witch also came from one of the three famous families. Unlike the girl, however, her family was very proud of her. Although their only representative had passed all five exams with flying colours, she had not made a name for herself. She had not taken on a single student. She had not created any innovative spells either. She had difficulty with some elements and had clung to the wind to solve all problems. [Reader] had turned down several great jobs to travel. In her environment, she had gained a reputation of a carefree person, as well as someone who was not very responsible. Despite this, her family loved her very much, agreeing to her constant wandering around the world and waving her hand in response to teasing. She was the exact opposite of Agott, who had not been able to forgive her for that since she had set foot in the atelier. Now, however, she had probably changed her mind a bit about the traveling teacher. 

Coco smiled broadly. The woman lying in the hospital bed still seemed slightly confused. However, she patiently listened to the entire story from the liveliest student. When they saw the hole closing, they panicked. Fortunately, Professor [Reader] managed to fly through it at the last moment. She fell into the water with great force. Together, they pulled her onto the boat. She was unconscious and there was no way to wake her up. Even the screams of the panicking Tetia could not do it. However, they helped to alert one of the wizards who was heading towards Kalhn. As it turned out, it was Professor Qifrey, who rushed the injured woman to the hospital. The medic diagnosed several broken ribs and loss of consciousness but reassured everyone that it was nothing serious. The cut on her forehead was probably supposed to leave a scar. For now, however, it was tightly bandaged. 

— Can you leave us alone for a moment? — the man asked, taking off his hat. 

He was answered by the clatter of four pairs of shoes. 

— Professor Qifrey? — Coco stopped. 

— Yes? 

— You have a great girlfriend! — She ran off after her friends. 

Laughter came from behind Qifrey, interrupted by occasional coughing fits. [Reader] put a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a giggle but quickly lost all trace of it. 

— Who... told her... that we were a couple? — She laughed heartily. — Not you, I presume?

— I suspect the girls. And they probably heard it from Olruggio. — Qifrey sat down on the bed. — You should think about it.

— That’s a terrible way to ask someone out — [Reader] sighed. 

The man's head rested in the crook of her neck. He must have been tired too. She stroked his white hair. He smelled like his atelier. Maybe she should consider his proposal. After all, they were acting like they were in a relationship anyway. Could she even stay in one place for too long? She wasn't sure but she could try. 

— Have you notified the Knights Moralis about Brimmed Hats yet? — she asked, trying to loosen her grip. 

Qifrey froze for a moment. Something in his posture changed. As if the question had surprised him. He pulled her closer than before. She hugged him back, wanting to ask something. She didn't even notice him closing the circle in the glyph. The ring on his finger flashed. Black background and white signs. The man sighed. He didn't like doing this. Until now it was just Olruggio. Then Mr. Nolnoa too. And now [Reader]. Her body went limp for a moment. Wiping her memory was necessary. He believed it was a sacrifice for the greater good. She would definitely forgive him if she knew. Maybe he would tell her someday. When it was all over. He couldn't do that now. He had to find out what happened all those years ago. Reclaim what had been taken from him.

[what-the-dark-has-foretold]

‘Bout to be horny in main because I love this man!!!

Can we get some soft smut with Qifrey? I don’t care if it’s just headcanons or a fic… I just need to fulfill my obsession!

I just wrote a lazy and sleepy little session. It´s only some fingering, I hope you don´t mind <3

Quiffrey x fem!reader

Navi

Warnings: mdni, smut, fingering

He sighed as you gently ran your fingers through his hair. His head laid comfortingly heavy on your chest, warm breath caressing your exposed skin. He drew lines over your stomach, slowly trailing downwards. His hand paused on your lower stomach, his palm gently pressing down to make a gasp leave your lips.

"You´re so cute," he murmured against your skin as his fingers ventured down and parted your lower lips to prot at your clit. He hummed when he already felt slick around your hole. Gently, he dipped down to coat his fingers with your essence, before returning to your clit. "Why didn´t you say anything? Would have taken care of you earlier," he said against your skin, pressing a soft kiss to your chest.

"You were so tired..."

"Don´t care. You know I don´t."

You leaned down and placed a kiss to the top of your head. Suddenly, Quiffrey pushed his finger into you, a breathy laugh escaping him at your surprised moan.

"You´re the love of my life, you know?" he murmured, thumb playing with your clit and making your back arch. He turned his head to smile at you. "And I´ll make you cum for me so pretty."

[rikiflowers]

lost times

chapter 3, words: 2685

warnings: just smut and angst sprinkled in here

chapter 1

chapter 2

All the distance between you is based on a misunderstanding. It seems almost ridiculous. You now wanted to cross it in an unconventional way. Lips crash together. Your bodies press against each other, literally sink into each other. Years of attempted oblivion were forgotten at that moment. Your fingers literally claw into his hair, trying to pull him even further towards you. You let out a moan as his lips let go of yours and find their way to your neck. Everything seems too much. Like a starving woman, it drives you to take everything from the white-haired man. You've had to do without it for too long.

He lightly slips your dress off your shoulders to kiss the heated skin there. You feel the cold metal of his glasses pressing against your skin. You reach for his face so that he has to look at you. For a moment, worry is reflected in his beautiful eye. Very carefully you reach for his self-protection and he looks at you uncertainly. You put the glasses behind you on the bedside table before turning back to him. Your fingers gently brush back his hair, exposing his missing eye. His weak point. "Don't look."

To hell with this. Your fingertips gently stroke the area. You put all your feelings into this gesture. You don't see this missing eye as something weak that needs to be hidden. It is a sign that he is alive; that he survived. Your fingers are exchanged with your lips. You kiss the spot, the young man sucks in the air sharply. There is too much emotion in this gesture. Even if a part of you loathes him for his ignorance, you don't forget his love.  Everything that has happened between you, you want to forget at this moment.

Qifrey grabs you harshly under the thighs, lifting you up, only to throw you onto the bed. You gasp as you are thrown backward and immediately have the white-haired man on top of you. Your hands reach for his blouse, helping him to slip the annoying piece of cloth over his head.

Your feelings are overflowing. Fingertips stroke the free skin that he so gratefully makes available to you. Qifrey guides his heated palms under your dress, and runs it over your thighs to grab into the flesh heartily. Your panting is reaction enough to dance back and forth between your slightly open thighs, to tease you even more. In his presence, you're almost shy, even though you have experience with men. Now everything seems to be forgotten. Your impatience is clearly noticeable as you press your hip against him. He laughs.

"It can't happen fast enough for someone..." You missed his cheeky personality.

You press your foot lightly against his bulge, which is held in check by his pants. "If it goes slower, I can leave you hanging."

Qifrey pulls in sharply the ones at your touch. "How heartless you are" His finger brushes over your wet folds, making you whine in surprise. "Damn..."

Qifrey has you in his hand. His fingers start playing with your pussy, exploring you and looking for the points that will send you into raptures. He notices that your dress bothers him. The white-haired man pulls it up, over your breasts, to be able to see you clearly. This sight alone almost makes him come into his pants. He hasn't seen your body for so many years. It feels different, more grown-up, more beautiful than he could ever have imagined. The scars, and little wrinkles he wants to worship. You, too, are busy exploring the witch's skin that has eluded you for so many years.

Slowly and with relish, he thrusts two fingers into you. Your walls pulsate around him. His dick presses himself agonizingly against the prison.  "You're doing so well," he breathes at you as he maltreats you with relish. He literally takes his time to feel everything very intensively. Too intense for you. You literally claw at his arm while he hits exactly the right spots. "Qifrey... I... I can’t hold on…."  You desperately mutter, thrusting your hip into his hand. He strokes over your throbbing clit. You’re moaning against his open mouth, while the sounds of his fingers in your cunt echo.

"Then come"

As if his words were the final trigger, your orgasm breaks over you like a storm. You would literally collapse if it weren't for the white-haired man who holds you tightly in his arms and looks down at you with lust-veiled eyes. In your intoxication, you literally reach for him and pull him towards you. He lets you, sinks deeper into your body. His lips draw a deep red because you take over his beautiful lips. Your legs push further apart so that he can find space between them. His excitement presses against your wetness, pulsating and ready. His crystal-blue eye meets your eyes and you nod, giving consent. You can already feel him penetrating you and moaning deeply. He moves slowly inside you to seem to get you used to it. You want more. You harshly thrust your hip at him, which upsets him. "You're really impatient..." he mumbles against your lips and you can only twist your lips into a half-smile. I've waited a long time, haven't I?"

Your fingers scratch his back, making him whimper. "More of these sounds," you bubble towards him, which seems uncomfortable for him for a short moment, but shortly after he thrusts into you and complies with your request. Qifrey's hand grabs your sweaty cheek so you have to look at him. His eye flickers with feelings you can't interpret. Everything is too much; His body on yours, he is in you and that burning feeling inside you is trying to break out. At that moment you yearn for his lips and when you press your lips on his you bring everything into this kiss and let yourself be carried away by him. His thrusts are getting harsher and even deeper. You can feel him deep inside you. Your arms sling around his torso and with a swift motion you switch positions with him, straddling his hips now. You move on his cock, your hips bounce on him like your life depends on it. Qifrey grabs your hips, helping you to make yourself feel good. You don’t care anymore, feeling him throbbing inside of you. “Oh my…”, whispers the white-haired man, while looking up to you, staring into your face which is filled with pleasure. He wants to see more. Pure bliss draws your face and he couldn’t get enough of it. He moans your name, sitting up so he could ravish your breasts with his lips. You let him, throwing your head back, when his lips suck on your nipple. Your trembling hands find his sweaty white locks, pulling on them to get some kind of hold. Your emotions are overflowing. He whispers something you couldn’t quite understand, between his kisses on your sensitive skin. You’re a whimpering mess in Qifrey's hold.  “I’m close…”, murmurs the man breathless and you just nod, not being capable of doing anything. Your second orgasm is close too so you want to chase that high. “Me too…”

Qifrey grips at your hip, helping you go faster with your moves. Your second orgasm washes over you, while you feel Qifrey pulling out of you. His semen spurts over both of your bodies, while you both hold onto each other. Your name moaned by him tingles in your ear. His lips press passionately on you, taking your breath away. You let him consume you in this moment when you try to calm down. Slowly you stand up, holding his semen on your legs and stomach. You don’t want it to drip on your bed. The moment between you two is over. Reality settles in, while you try to find a cloth. You must look totally stupid, running around naked on the search for it.

You found some in your bathroom, cleaning yourself just a little and bringing a second one to him. He takes it thankfully and rubs himself clean. You both are quiet, too quiet.

You can see his healing injuries and countless other scars in this moment. He slept with you, although he still needed rest. Remorse eats through your skin, because you should’ve said something.

Now that the sexual arousal has subsided, a bitter aftertaste remains. Qifrey sat next to you and you have to consider whether you want him to leave or stay. You're already wondering if sleeping with him is a mistake. But your heart beats uncomfortably at the thought of having him lying next to you. You decide in this millisecond for the choice of your heart.

"You can stay if you want"

Qifrey looks at you with his tousled hair in front of his eyes, which he wipes out of his face more badly than well. "Are you sure?"

"We slept together. The night after really doesn't matter anymore." Your sarcastic tone brings a wry smile to his lips.

"okay, then I'll stay" He carefully lies down next to you, his shoulder touches yours only very slightly. That makes me restless. You have just been as close as possible and now you keep a safe distance from each other. It's abstruse and yet you don't dare to take the first step to address the problem.

-

again countless years ago

"A political marriage?"

Beldaruit nods heavily. His look reveals that he also does not welcome wanting to marry his daughter off soon.

"You are that age and there have been wedding offers since the beginning of your birth. I can no longer ignore them."

"Why can't you do that, father?"

He sighs theatrically. You hate it when it starts to become dramatic.

"You are the daughter of one of the wise three witches. You also have a task and that is to make alliances possible through marriage."

Everything inside you freezes to ice. Everything in you resists being sold off to the highest bidder. You are a talented witch and have never imagined a life as an appendage of a man.

"You, as a sage, can suspend this ancient tradition. I don't want to get married. At least not someone who doesn't love me and whom I don't love."

"Daughter... You can also learn to love someone"

"Did you do the same after mother?"

Your father closes his eyes when you bring up his sore spot. He has loved only one person in his life more than others. Your mother.

"It would have been her wish that you get married, too."

You shake your head. "I don't think so."

Beldaruit sighs heavily again, leans back in his chair. "I don't have the nerve to argue with you. Be reasonable, my little one. You can also choose one of them."

"I'm not going to do this, father"

"Are you already in love?"

He can tell from your facial expressions that he hits the bull's eye with his question. "Who?"

You don't answer. You can't.

"Who?" he asks again more insistently. He suddenly slaps his hands in front of his head. "I don't even want to know how far you went with this Casanova."

Casanaova, you have to grin. Qifrey the Casanova. 

Beldaruit now floats right in front of you. "You think that's funny?"

"If you've already slept with him, I can't marry you. You know the system."

"I slept with him."

Many negative feelings are reflected in his gaze. You disappointed him. More than just disappointed. He looks at you as if he was wrong about you. He's never looked at you like that before. It hurts.

In a flash, he turns his back on you. "You can go."

"Father...", you try, but nothing you say could change anything. Excuse me? You're not sorry. Every word from your mouth would be a lie. He doesn't answer you. Your father wants you to leave and you do him the favor, even if it hurts you that he was wrong about his daughter.

"Easthies"

The name coming out of your father's mouth throws you off your game. The black-haired man emerges from the shadows. His gaze is fixed on Beldaruit. Not on you. You continuously avoided him. He apparently watched the argument in silence and heard everything. Irritation is literally written all over your face.

"You will follow her every step of the way for the rest of her life. If she should defend herself, then she can enjoy house arrest."

His personality instantly shifted. It seems your bubbly cheeky father was never here in the first place. He’s cold as ice, indifferent to you.

"Father, what?" you interrupt, but you can't be heard. You are in the room, you are being talked about without your opinion seeming important in any way.

Easthies nods and walks towards you. Its gaze is cold too, resembling your father’s in this moment, so it sends shivers down your spine. "Father... You can't do that."

The black-haired man suddenly grabs you by the arm and drags you with him. You try to wriggle out of his grip. "Don't touch me!" you poison as you feel his iron grip put you in your place. He means it. Really serious. "Then you should just do what you're told. Beldaruit-sama wants you to go."

"Let go of me and I'll go," you hiss at him, waiting for him to let go of you. After what feels like an eternity, he takes his hand away and lets you sprint out of the room. He, of course, followed suit. Will this be your life now? Endless anger spreads through your body that you don't want to curb in any way. "Why didn't you blow the whistle on him right away, huh?" you spit at Easthies as you make your way to your chambers. He knows about Qifrey. Why didn't he tell Beldaruit? He could have gotten rid of him with this information.

He doesn't answer you. Of course. Why should they?

How are you supposed to say that to Qifrey now? You must not see him. Easthies will follow you wherever you go, thwarting everything. "Will you follow me to the toilet now - or better yet... standing next to me while I bathe?"

You see a red blush on his cheeks. "You disgust me," you throw at him full of hatred before you go into your chambers and slam the door behind you. With a beating heart, you get a parchment out of your desk and start putting your words for Qifrey on paper. You will first inform him about the situation with a letter spell. You can't take the risk of the "secret" coming out, even if it means not being able to see him.

You roll up the finished message before you start drawing the appropriate characters. With its image in front of your eyes, the letter disappears. Now you have to wait and see what the white-haired witch will say about it.

-

"Why didn't you reply to my message back then?"

You don't get a response. Qifrey dozed off peacefully next to you. His white curls are scattered on the white pillow while you look at his blissful features. The long eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks. It's beautiful. You've always felt that way. He literally robs you of sleep, as often as you have dreamed of him.  Sleep doesn't catch up with you anymore. So many things are on your lips that you want to say. But you want to let him sleep. Your thoughts have the opportunity to be said another time. Quietly, you try to sneak out of bed, after all, the paperwork is still waiting for you, which you quickly forgot during Qifrey's surprise visit.  With a robe around your body, you sit back down at your desk and start processing the rest of the applications, while your gaze keeps wandering to the man on your bed. You'll have one ahead of you for a long time because sleep doesn't catch up with you.

[marisramblings]

hello! can I request headcanons of qifrey and how he would act in a relationship?

I am so sorry that it took me this long to finish. I had reread the manga first and went back and forth on his characterization. I hope you like it 🙏🏾

Qifrey x witch!reader (slight spoilers!)

-Whoo boy this man needs several years of therapy and that doesn’t exist. He has high walls that few can climb over.

-You guys start off as friends.

-Qifrey drifted into your orbit because he thought you had a connection to the brim hats.

-you don’t, probably

-Despite his cheery demeanor, the darkness within and keep a little distance. He has to change tactics and be a little more open.

-You visit the atelier regularly, and keep mum when Qifrey appears with a random girl.

-You guys have similar interests, geeking out over spells and spending hours practicing and refining new ones. late night cooking sessions. Qifrey starts to like, first as a friend. Someone else can handle his excitement and creative meals? His moodiness? Olruggio sighs in relief

-He drops the mask around you. He’s more touchy and has a harder time looking you in the eye. He’ll reveal his more serious and sad self.

-He’s hesitant when it comes to physical affection. You’ll have to grab his hand first a few times. Once he’s over the fear, he’ll never let you go, metaphorically

-He’s a worrier, big dad energy, and if you’re sick he’ll drop everything and bring you food. If you were hurt by someone…well, rip to them.

Here’s more angsty stuff you can ignore

-you’ve become friends with Olruggio too and he confides in you about his worries. Qifrey is hiding something and he has some suspicions.

-yet, a few weeks later, Olruggio remembers nothing of your conversation.

-You snoop around and find the memory erasing sigil and confront Qifrey. You swear not to tell and promise to help him catch the brim hats who stole his memories and eye. t’s like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

-With no secrets between you guys, the relationship truly blossoms.

[magicians-abode]

Reaaaaally want to write for Qifrey, but damn I'm still doubting my writing skills and if I would be able to get his personality right (one of my biggest fears is to write for a character and make it completely ooc)

Perhaps later, when I've read a bit more of the manga, I'll feel confident enough to analyze his personality and write something. For now... we dream

[jollywizardwitch]

Qifrey x reader: "I do."

Hey, this is my first fanfic, so please be kind! I will be taking requests later in time! Hope you like it!

(not my art)

I could see the devine wisteria trees from the tainted window of the chapels dressing room.

"Professor (y/n), can you help me figure out how to get this spell to tie this ribbon please?"

Suddenly snapped back into reality, I realized that Riche was holding her little spell book out to me.

"Oh! Riche, I thought it was Tetia who was talking to me!" I say as I scratch the back of my head and giggled a bit.

"Of course I can." "Look, if you want the spell to move a certain way, you have to make the arrows move in chronological order. Top, to bottom."

"oh, I thought the arrow movements were left to right."

I chuckled, and pointed at the paper and was about to speak when there was a knock at the door.

"(Y/N) ? Are you in here?"

Agate and Tetia ran to the door and put their whole bodies up against it.

"professor Oru! You can't see her until she's ready!"

They said in EXACT sync. "Oru, you can't see me yet!" I said, barely concealing my giggles .

"I know, just I was making sure you were okay."

The voice behind the door said. I sighed, and smiled to myself. One of the boys I grew up with, acts so protective over me, yet always shuts himself away in his room.

The girls eventually gave In and let him go.

"OH MY LITERAL GOD! YOU SHAVED!"

" Yeah, it's a magic tool called a cosmetic mask. " He grinned.

"Miraculous, isn't it?" A soft tone said from behind the oak wood door. Tetia, Coco, Agate, and Riche all ran to the door and yelled....

"PROFESSOR QIFREY! GET OUT! GET OUT!"

I couldn't hide my laughter by any means.

"I'm sorry, but I recall certain little girls thinking me and Qifrey together was gross and mushy." I said with a smirk.

Tetia and Coco tried to put the most injured look on their faces. "I THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE!" Tetia yelled.

"Qifrey, you can't see me before the wedding! It's bad luck!"

A soft chuckle came from behind the door. "Okay, okay. I'll leave."

*later...*

After everyone was ready, everyone but me got together to take a group photo.

(looks something like this)

(besides Oru, of course)

The dress would look something like this👇

You were nervous, and you felt like crying. What if Qifrey changed his mind? What if it doesn't work out?

Then, out of the blue, Coco appeared behind you and hugged you.

"It will be okay professor (Y/N). It will all be alright.'

You could barely contain your tears, but for the sake of the 30 minute makeup sesh, you kept your cool.

"Thank you Coco. That means a lot to me."

I walked down the aisle with the girls ahead tossing pedals. There he was, with Olruoggio, up at the front .

All of our eyes shining 🌟 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🌟

[harmeu]

HOW DO THEY REACT TO YOU BEING OVERWORKED?

(GN!READER)

(Wriothesley, Welt, Qifrey)

WRIOTHESLEY:

Wriothesley being an overworked man himself due to being the ‘Duke’ of the Fortress of Meropide’ wouldn’t exactly hold it against you if you’re dived deep in paperwork Though when he sees you chugging your seventh coffee of the day he has to speak up.

“Dear?” Wriothesley said making you look up from your paperwork with a hazy look, eyelids barely hanging open as they twitched with each movement you made.

“Yes.?” 

“I think you should get some rest. You’re overworking yourself.” Wriothesley rubbed his temples, sighing going behind you to rub your head affectionately.

“Hypocrite.” *You murmured out going back to stare at the work in front of you. 

Wriothesley chuckled and pulled your head up from your work by kissing your cheek. 

“C’mon before I drag you.” He smirked and knowing he would follow it you sigh and stood up as your boyfriend held your hand to your room.

WELT YANG:

Welt a wise old man who is beyond sophisticated. As well with him being an overworking person himself he worries when you show the slightest bit of exhaustion. Be it in your facial features or mannerisms that go slouchy.

“Darling you’re dragging your pen against the paper rather lazily.” Welt said knowing you were barely running and just awake from all the energy drinks you chugged earlier.

“Mmph. I’m not done with my work.” You continue writing and reading through pages of work till smacked into reality by Welts cane smacking against the ground harshly.

“I suggest you sleep. Or would you rather I drag you to the bed?” He fixed his glasses, sighing at your stubbornness.

“I need to fini-” You get cut off by you magically getting thrown to the bed with Welts brute strength surprised he didn’t break his back doing it.

“Now you must rest,” Welt murmured, patting your head and placing a delicate kiss on your forehead.

QIFREY:

Qifrey being a patient and caring man would worry the instant seeing you face flat staring at the work in front of you with a dazed expression. A sigh escaped his lips at the display as he walked in front of you placing his hand on the work to block your view.

“Qifrey..I’m busy.” You say trying to move his hand off but he just intensified his grip on it.

“You’re tired.” He whispered out fixing his glasses as you noticed his eyebrows furrowed in worry which you frowned at.

“I’m fine. I need to finish this.” You wobbly picked up your pen just for it to be snatched by Qifrey and he grabbed you by the shoulders pushing you onto your bed with crossed arms.

“Rest. I can’t have you acting grouchy for the next week just because you overworked yourself.” Qifrey rubbed your head while you smiled at the sweet gesture.

[niilue]

ෆ ִ ׁ sub quifrey

(name) chokes qifrey during sex. orgasm denied. whinny qifrey

qifrey is so damn dirty and erotic when they're in bed. who knew the kind and charismatic professor could let out such whimpering and vulgar words when you touched him.

the man's unnecessary whining would not go unnoticed by anyone, good thing there was no one in the house, because it was too loud.

"shut your mouth, qifrey." you hiss as you parcimoniously run your hands up and down his hard, throbbing member.

"i… can't… can't… very good" he couldn't even compose a sentence because he was so excited and lost.

you squeezed his cock in your hands and watched as pre-seminal fluid slowly gushed from the tip of his reddish member.

he stirred violently, his legs flapping as he sought to ease the pain of not being able to come. his skin glistened with sweat and his breathing was erratic.

qifrey choked on his own saliva as he screamed and cursed because you wouldn't let him come. "hold still, hahahaha…look how nice your cock looks, all red and wet…" you teased, running your fingernail over his tip and spreading his fluids.

"ughh! I'm going to die (name)" he said almost convulsing and taking your hands to move them quickly so he could reach the acclaimed climax. "don't stop, don't.. AHH! let me aa…" he whined biting his lips and looking at you with teary eyes.

he formed a tantrum for not being able to take control of his body and free himself from the knot in his belly that was burning inside him and making him squirm like a caged animal.

you grabbed him by the neck without warning and pushed him back onto the bed. "I want to see you try again" you exerted more pressure as you watched his mouth open like a fish looking for oxygen and strips of saliva escaped from the corner of his lips.

qifrey grinned like a maniac as he felt the air escaping from his lungs. it turned him on so much and you knew it.

"you like it like that, don't you? what a dirty boy." you crooned.

the man just nodded frantically. loving the sensation of running out of air and you still pumping his poor cock. he felt it was too much and could only laugh and roll his eyes because the excitement and the arousal he was feeling was so much.

it felt so dirty, vulgar and erotic. to have you take him in such a degrading way and make him look so pathetic, to cry because he wanted to cum. it was too exciting.

[badass-queer-couples-battle]

Propaganda:

For Orufrey: "They're tragic wlw who have devoted their lives to each other since they were kids. They live together, they cook together, they're raising four girls together and they're doing the best they can. Olruggio would do anything for Qifrey if Qifrey would just Let Him 😭 but Qifrey is dead-set on protecting Olruggio and keeping him safe and in the dark no matter what it costs... i cant 😭..."

"Man I don't know they just have the vibes. They have toxic yuri energy but they are two grown men. They've known each other since their apprentice days and have stuck together ever since. Qifrey's main magic type was something he took up because Olruggio proposed that he learned to control the water he feared. They live together away from most of society with Qifrey's four apprentices, living the sapphic cottagecore (ateliercore???) dream. Qifrey, due to the fact that his eyesight is very much failing, something which is very problematic when it comes to witches, who need their eyesight more than most, is getting very desperate to get all he lost to the Brimhats, the witches who took one of his eyes and his memories, and Olruggio ends up noticing this pursuit and is implied to have done this more than once. Qifrey does not want Olruggio to know about both his failing eyesight and his goals, so he ends up completely wiping Olruggio's memory of those things, and laments that Olruggio is a kind person, and one who would most likely forgive him again, but also one who would try to save him, even when he didn't want to be saved. He also apologized right up until the moment Olruggio's memories of his secret were gone. In general I think chapter 40 is the somewhat toxic guy yuri chapter ever. I'm very tired so I do not know how to explain any of this, I just thought "wow Orufrey reminds me of this one poll I saw on Tumblr" and then spent three days straight hunting for your blog before completely forgetting my reasoning for Orufrey being yuri right before I submitted this."

For Joongdok: "Well first of all Yoo Joonghyuk has a whole arc that is transfem coded as hell (has a power/technique that can technically only be used by women but somehow he can also use it, for a time he even turns into a woman to wield it and it's. Actually just let me get the quote "The ines of the face had changed but it was clearly Yoo Joonghyuk. No, it was even more than before.") that just kinda happens,, and doesn't get brought up again but anyway. Second of all just look at them. You see the vision. Also a bonus observation is that these two often get shipped in a poly ship with Han Sooyoung and whenever I see people make a "regular couple, yaoi couple, yuri couple, I see no difference love is love" meme with them the combination of which pair among these three is which of the categories is always different"

Note: This submission also mentions Han Sooyoung, but I decided to count this polyship submission as guy yuri as well.

"They love each other, they pretend they don't care for each other but all their actions prove they care too much, if you remove someone from the trio then the resulting duo is extremely dysfunctional, as evidenced by more than a million words of canon. Is it technically guy yuri? Well, Han Sooyoung is a woman, but in a way she's one of the guys. Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk are men, but the text heavily hints that Yoo Joonghyuk is a trans woman who's just too busy and stressed out to transition yet, and Kim Dokja has just never thought about his own gender a single day in his life. They made the world for each other, they went back in time countless times and waged countless wars for each other, they wrote and read and lived a story, their story, for each other and that's what saved them all. The way Han Sooyoung writes Yoo Joonghyuk's story to save Kim Dokja and loses herself in the process, the way Yoo Joonghyuk voluntarily lives the story to the point of losing himself too and even forgetting why he originally decided to do it, the way Kim Dokja read Han Sooyoung's story which was Yoo Joonghyuk's life and that's how he found himself, they all took so much from each other and gave so much of themselves to each other, this is all very yuri."

"they're so yuri you have no idea. they have every staple of a yuri ship. unwavering devotion. waiting dozens or thousands of years for each other. dooming themselves and the world for each other. so much yearning. i also see them genderbent a lot (including inn canon in the case of yjh) and they're right both of these people are women. i genuinely can't even see them strictly as men at this point they're just yjh and kdj and they are yuri do you understand."

"they're so yuri. the abscense of yuri is the presence of yuri etc etc. these two guys are all ABOUT abscenses. also one of them is a part time woman. the other guy is a guy but like in the same way a square is a rectangle. anyway they're so guyyuri to me. bonus points also because they have a mutual girlfriend and when she's present they're girlyaoi but that's not relevant to this specifically"

[linkemon]

Qifrey x Reader

Resztę oneshotów z tej i innych serii możesz przeczytać tutaj. Zajrzyj też na moje Ko-fi.

Some of these oneshots are already translated into English. You can find them here.

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ᴍᴀ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴇ̨ ʀᴏᴢᴛʀᴢᴇᴘᴀɴᴇᴊ ɪ ɴɪᴇᴏᴅᴘᴏᴡɪᴇᴅᴢɪᴀʟɴᴇᴊ ᴄᴢᴀʀᴏᴡɴɪᴄʏ. ᴘᴇᴡɴᴇɢᴏ ᴅɴɪᴀ ᴡᴘᴀᴅᴀ ɴᴀ ᴜᴄᴢᴇɴɴɪᴄᴇ ǫɪғʀᴇʏᴀ, ᴋᴛᴏ́ʀʏ ᴢᴏsᴛᴀᴡɪᴀ ᴊᴇ ᴘᴏᴅ ᴊᴇᴊ ᴏᴘɪᴇᴋᴀ̨. ᴊᴀᴋ ᴢᴀᴊᴀ̨ᴄ́ sɪᴇ̨ ᴄᴢᴡᴏ́ʀᴋᴀ̨ ᴅᴢɪᴇᴡᴄᴢᴀ̨ᴛ ɪ ɴɪᴇ ᴡᴘᴀśᴄ́ ᴡ ᴋᴌᴏᴘᴏᴛʏ?

ᴅᴏᴅᴀᴛᴋᴏᴡᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴄᴊᴇ:

ʀᴏ́ᴢ̇ɴᴇ ᴡʏᴅᴀɴɪᴀ ᴍᴀɴɢɪ ᴍᴀᴊᴀ̨ ʀᴏ́ᴢ̇ɴᴇ ғᴏʀᴍʏ ɴᴀᴢᴡ ᴡᴌᴀsɴʏᴄʜ ɪ ɪᴍɪᴏɴ ʙᴏʜᴀᴛᴇʀᴏ́ᴡ (ɴɪᴇ sᴀ̨ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴜᴢ̇ᴇ ʀᴏ́ᴢ̇ɴɪᴄᴇ, ᴀʟᴇ ᴊᴇᴅɴᴀᴋ ɪsᴛɴɪᴇᴊᴀ̨). ᴍᴏᴢ̇ʟɪᴡᴇ ᴡɪᴇ̨ᴄ, ᴢ̇ᴇ ᴢɴᴀᴄɪᴇ ɪɴɴᴀ̨ ᴡᴇʀsᴊᴇ̨ ᴊᴇśʟɪ ᴄᴢʏᴛᴀᴄɪᴇ ᴘᴏ ᴀɴɢɪᴇʟsᴋᴜ ʟᴜʙ ᴡ ᴘʀᴢʏsᴢᴌᴏśᴄɪ, ɢᴅʏ ᴡʏᴊᴅᴢɪᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴇ.

sʜᴏᴛ ᴊᴇsᴛ ᴘɪsᴀɴʏ ᴡ ᴏᴘᴀʀᴄɪᴜ ᴏ 3 ᴛᴏᴍʏ ᴍᴀɴɢɪ ɪ ᴘᴇᴡɪᴇɴ ᴅʀᴏʙɴʏ sᴘᴏɪʟᴇʀ ᴢ ᴊᴇᴅɴᴇɢᴏ ᴢ ᴘᴏ́ᴢ́ɴɪᴇᴊsᴢʏᴄʜ, ᴀʟᴇ ɴɪᴇ sᴀ̨ᴅᴢᴇ̨, ᴢ̇ᴇ ᴢᴇᴘsᴜᴊᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴏᴍᴜś ᴢᴀʙᴀᴡᴇ̨.

Koko zbiegła po schodach, podziwiając coraz więcej i więcej kolorowych fiolek. Przylecieli na zakupy po zapas atramentu, ale nie mogła się nacieszyć widokiem dookoła. Sklep jak zawsze pełen był niezwykłych przyborów, ziół i przyrządów. Tetia pociągnęła ją za ramię, przez co nieomal spadła z ostatniego stopnia. 

— Chodź za mną. Przyszła profesor [Reader]! — zawołała wesoło koleżanka. 

Jej oczy zdawały się świecić. Musiała naprawdę lubić tę osobę. 

— Kim jest profesor [Read…]? — Koko nie zdążyła skończyć pytania. 

Dziewczynka wyjrzała zza wielkiego drzewa. W progu rzeczywiście stała kobieta, na oko w wieku profesora Qifrey. Na jej głowie spoczywał spiczasty kapelusz, jednak znak na nakryciu głowy nic jej nie mówił. Ubranie powiewało za nią przy każdym kroku, choć okna były zamknięte. Kiedy stanęła bliżej światła, mogła się jej przyjrzeć dokładniej. Musiała wiele przejść. Płaszcz był zabłocony, a we włosach miała kilka liści. Kilka razy stuknęła kozaczkami o podłogę, chcąc pozbyć się tego, co przykleiło się do jej podeszwy. 

— Tylko nie ona… — westchnęła Agata. Zmarszczyła brwi i odwróciła się na pięcie z zamiarem odejścia. 

— Nie mów tak o dziewczynie profesora. — Riche pojawiła się jakby znikąd. Najmłodsza adeptka nadal nie miała pojęcia, jak to robiła. 

Koko spojrzała jeszcze raz w stronę kobiety. Profesor miał dziewczynę? Nigdy wcześniej o tym nie słyszała, ale do jego atelier trafiła niedawno. Nie za bardzo miała czas się nad czymś takim zastanawiać. Nie potrafiła tego opisać, ale jakoś nie potrafiła sobie wyobrazić go obok kogoś takiego. 

— Przecież dobrze wiemy, że jest nieodpowiedzialna. Zawsze pakuje się w kłopoty. — Z tymi słowami najstarsza adeptka odeszła szybkim krokiem do innego działu. Chciała się znaleźć jak najdalej. 

— Cześć, dziewczynki! — Donośny głos poniósł się echem po kamiennych ścianach. 

— Dzień dobry! — Tetia krzyknęła głośniej niż koleżanki i podbiegła, szeroko się uśmiechając. 

— Dziękuję za powitanie. — [Reader] pstryknęła ją w nos. Mała rozpromieniła się jeszcze bardziej, o ile to w ogóle możliwe. 

Musiała dobrze ją znać, skoro wiedziała, jak bardzo lubi, gdy się jej dziękuje. 

— Pokazać pani profesor, jak ulepszyłam moją chmurę? 

Koko cieszyła się szczęściem przyjaciółki. Ostatnia ich przygoda, która doprowadziła do ulepszenia nowatorskiego kręgu, nie była zbyt szczęśliwa. Jeśli istniała choć jedna dobra rzecz, która wyniknęła z tego wszystkiego, to było właśnie to. 

— Może później. Muszę kupić papier, zanim zapomnę, że po niego przyszłam. — Wyjęła z torebki portmonetkę, nieomal strącając najbliżej stojącą fiolkę. Na szczęście Riche w porę ją złapała. 

— Ma pani coś na głowie… — Najmłodsza uczennica zdjęła gałązkę zaplątaną w jej włosach. 

— Dziękuję bardzo, emmm… Koko? To ty, prawda? — Przyjrzała się jej z zaciekawieniem, odliczając pieniądze. 

— Tak. 

Obawiała się oceniającego ją wzroku albo co gorsza oskarżeń. Większość dorosłych czarodziejów tak się właśnie do niej odnosiła. Była czymś w rodzaju sensacji i to z rodzaju tych niemiłych. Właściwie każdy już o niej słyszał. Wieści szybko się roznosiły. 

— Miło mi cię poznać. Qifrey dużo mi o tobie opowiadał. Gdzie się podziała Agata? Nie ma jej z wami? — Kobieta rozpoczęła wędrówkę w poszukiwaniu papieru. 

— Ona… emmm… jest zajęta… czymś — niezgrabnie zakończyła Koko. 

Nauczycielka była już jednak myślami gdzie indziej. Ucieszyło ją to. Wyglądała na osobę, która naprawdę mogłaby się przejąć tym, że Agata za nią nie przepada. Ona sama znała to uczucie. Żadna para naprawionych butów nie pomogła jej się z nią dogadać. Nawet jeśli trochę polepszyły sytuację, to ich relacji wciąż daleko było do przyjaźni. 

Głośny huk przerwał jej rozmyślania. Na podłodze leżała jak długa pani profesor wraz z jej nauczycielem. Nad wszystkim stał pan Nornoa, narzekając na to, jaki bałagan zrobili. Stare książki, dotąd posortowane, leżały w bezładzie wokół nich. Kurz unosił się w pomieszczeniu, sprawiając, że Koko poczuła wiercenie w nosie. Kichnęła głośno. 

Profesor Qifrey delikatnie sprawdzał, czy wszystko w porządku z [Reader], nie przejmując się gadaniem staruszka ani jego pomocnika. Tartar zaczął porządkować bałagan, gniewnie patrząc w kierunku pary. We wzroku nauczyciela dało się dostrzec coś, czego nie było tam wcześniej. Białe włosy były w nieładzie, a okulary prawie spadały mu z nosa, ale wydawał się tym nie przejmować. Koko uśmiechnęła się sama do siebie. 

Kobieta wstała, przepraszając właściciela wygrażającego cofnięciem jej zniżki. 

— [Reader], spadłaś mi z nieba! — Qifrey złapał ją za ramiona, nie przejmując się ubłoconym płaszczem. 

— Tego jeszcze od ciebie nie słyszałam — zaśmiała się. 

— Proszę cię, zajmij się nimi do wieczora! — Wskazał na uczennice. 

— Co? 

Zanim się obejrzała, mężczyzna już był przy drzwiach. Trzasnął nimi głośno. Nie miała pojęcia, gdzie tak mu się spieszyło. Miała tylko nadzieję, że wszystko było z nim w porządku. W końcu z ich dwójki to on był tym odpowiedzialnym. Jeśli tak nagle zostawił podopieczne, sugerowało to raczej coś niemiłego. 

— Chyba jesteśmy na siebie skazane. — Podrapała się po karku. 

*** 

Sprzątanie poszło dość sprawnie. Szczególnie gdy Agata przestała się chować i z niezadowoloną miną, postanowiła jednak pomóc grupie. A przynajmniej tak się Koko wydawało. W rzeczywistości to Tartar ją do tego zmusił, po tym, jak przypadkiem zastał ją w okolicach schowka na szczotki. 

Grupka dość szybko została wyproszona na zewnątrz. Pan Nornoa nie chciał ryzykować kolejnych wypadków. 

— To co chcecie teraz robić? — [Reader] położyła dłonie na biodrach. 

— Wrócić do atelier — stwierdziła Agata z morderczym wzrokiem. 

— Co będziecie robić w domu? Uczyć się? Przyda wam się przerwa. Czasem trzeba się rozerwać. 

— To może łódki? — Zaproponowała cichym głosem Riche. — Koko jeszcze tam nie była. 

Tetia przyklasnęła temu pomysłowi i zadowolona zaczęła prowadzić grupę przez miasto, nie zważając na protesty. 

To było miejsce, o którym Koko do tej pory jedynie słyszała. Chodziło o pływanie po otaczających miasto wodach. Kilkaset lat temu pewien czarodziej zbudował pojazd na wzór zaczarowanej, podniebnej karocy. Sposób na tworzenie tych samonapędzających się łodzi z czasem zanikł. Choć manuskrypty ich tworzenia znajdowały się w Wieży Woluminów, niewielu czarodziejów potrafiło z nich skorzystać. Należało dokładnie wiedzieć, do jakich części pasują jakie zaklęcia, a o tym mało kto miał w tych czasach pojęcie. Wiele rzadkich, zdobnych modeli zgromadzono wokół Karn. Część wynajmowano po wysokich cenach, a inne stały się atrakcją turystyczną. 

Młoda adeptka musiała przyznać, że widok był niesamowity. Woda odbijała kolory tęczowych liści, tworząc malowniczy obraz. Promienie jesiennego słońca świeciły wprost na łódkę, którą wybrały. Złoty łabędź leniwie sunął po tafli. Z jednej strony miały las, a z drugiej spokojny Karn. Riche wydawała się szczególnie zadowolona. Pewnie dlatego, że był to jej pomysł. Poza tym ceniła sobie ciszę. Tetia pokazywała pani profesor szkice swoich glifów, wyraźnie szczęśliwa z jej uwagi. Agata zaś co jakiś czas wodziła palcami po rzece. Pewnie wciąż rozpamiętywała to, co się stało chwilę temu. Łódka była tylko i wyłącznie dla dzieci. Tak przynajmniej powiedział wynajmujący ją człowiek. Dorosła wiedźma uparła się jednak, że koniecznie musi płynąć z uczennicami. Długo wykłócała się z właścicielem, by pozwolił jej wsiąść, choć Agata nalegała, by wybrać coś innego albo żeby puściła je same. Teraz od czasu do czasu spoglądała niezadowolona na nauczycielkę, mrużąc oczy. 

Koko przyjrzała się swojemu odbiciu. Oprócz złotych włosów zdawało się w nim tkwić coś jeszcze. Jakby obraz, który w ogóle nie przypominał tego, co było dookoła. 

— Musicie to zobaczyć! 

Pochyliła się, by dokładniej się przyjrzeć. Zanim się zorientowała, wszyscy zrobili to, co ona. Nawet nie zauważyła, kiedy łódź się przechyliła. Zdążyła jedynie pisnąć, zanim runęła do lodowatej wody. Gdy ponownie wypłynęła na powierzchnię, ogarnęła ją panika. Było ciemno. Na firmamencie migotały gwiazdy. Ku jej zdziwieniu znajdowała się w bardzo płytkiej wodzie. Kilka machnięć wystarczyło, by poczuła grunt pod nogami. Podpłynęła do czegoś, co wyglądało jak brzeg. Ujrzała go jedynie dlatego, że migotał zielonkawą poświatą. Piasek błyszczał w ciemnościach. Ktoś zakaszlał i z radością stwierdziła, że to Riche. Za nią podążały pozostałe uczennice i profesor [Reader]. 

— Nie mam pojęcia co się stało, ale musimy się tu rozejrzeć. Potraficie narysować glif ognia w ciemności? — spytała [Reader], wyciągając małą flaszeczkę świecącego atramentu. Na szczęście buteleczka nie odpłynęła gdzieś po drodze. 

Jedynie Agata się zgłosiła. Wyjęła przytroczoną do pasa różdżkę i bez słowa zaczęła działać. Wkrótce nad nimi unosiły się dwa płomienie — większy i mniejszy. 

— To nie pierwszy raz, jak coś takiego się dzieje, pani profesor — wyznała Koko, czując, jak ciężar winy zdaje się przytłaczać ją do ziemi. — Nie tak dawno temu pobiegłam za czarodziejem w masce. Profesor Qifrey mówił, że pewnie należy do Rond. Wtedy wszystkie trafiłyśmy z miasta do dziwnego, magicznego labiryntu, z którego nie dało się wydostać. 

Dziwne, że ich opiekun nigdy jej o tym nie wspomniał. Widywali się rzadko, ale dosyć często wymieniali listy. Biorąc pod uwagę, ile miejsca w nich zajmował on sam, a ile one, powinna już dawno poznać tę historię. W Wielkim Audytorium też nie słyszała o takim incydencie, a odwiedziła je niedawno. A przecież Zakon Ładu magicznego musiał coś wiedzieć, skoro sprawa dotyczyła wyjętych spod prawa czarodziejów. 

— Jak się wtedy wydostałyście? — spytała [Reader]. Nieustannie rozglądała się, próbując coś dojrzeć w mdłym świetle. 

— W labiryncie był smok. Uśpiłyśmy go moją autorską chmurką. Była tak mięciutka, że zasnął — wtrąciła się Tetia. — A potem zniszczyłyśmy glif labiryntu i wszystko się rozpadło. Na szczęście profesor Qifrey zabrał nas stamtąd w samą porę. 

— Tak jak myślałam. No cóż… Nie mamy innego wyboru. Musimy zrobić dokładnie to samo, co wy ostatnim razem. Obawiam się jednak, że nie tak prosto będzie znaleźć cokolwiek w ciemnościach. Odpocznijmy tu chwilkę. Niestety nie mogę was teraz nauczyć, jak rysować glif z pamięci. Nie mam wystarczająco fluorescencyjnego atramentu na ćwiczenia, ale możecie się przyglądać. Potem razem postaramy się przeszukać to miejsce. 

— Czy nie lepiej byłoby się rozdzielić? — spytała Agata. — Przeszłam test. Mogę już asystować. Jeśli się podzielimy, na pewno pójdzie szybciej. — Zawzięcie kreśliła kolejny krąg. 

— Rozumiem cię, ale asystowanie to nie to samo. Jesteśmy w niebezpiecznej sytuacji i w dodatku nie jesteś moją uczennicą. 

Koko nie musiała widzieć wyraźnie Agaty, by wiedzieć, że nie była zadowolona z odpowiedzi. Z całej czwórki to ona starała się najbardziej. Spędzała noce, poświęcając się magii. Zawzięcie uczyła się, nawet gdy powinna robić przerwy. Chciała jak najszybciej zacząć działać i denerwowała się, gdy Qifrey odmawiał jej możliwości wykazania się. 

— No właśnie. Nie jest pani moją nauczycielką. W dodatku to pani uwzięła się na tę przeklętą łódkę, chociaż mówiłam, że to zły pomysł... 

— Agato! — Tetia stanęła przed nią z rękami na biodrach. — Nie bądź niegrzeczna. 

To zmierzało w bardzo złym kierunku. 

— Jesteś jej pupilką, nic dziwnego, że jej bronisz — odgryzła się Agata. Po tych słowach szybkim krokiem odeszła ze swoim źródłem światła. 

— O nie — jęknęła [Reader]. — Poczekajcie tu minutkę, dziewczynki. Muszę ją sprowadzić z powrotem. Nigdzie się nie ruszajcie, dobrze? 

Z braku lepszego zajęcia zaczęły próbować rysować glify przy kiepskim świetle. Zachowała się jeszcze buteleczka zwykłego atramentu i dwie różdżki. Cała reszta musiała teraz pływać gdzieś na dnie szumiącego morza. 

Na szczęście obrażona dziewczynka nie oddaliła się za daleko, nim [Reader] ją znalazła. 

— Agato! — Profesor łapczywie łapała powietrze. Nie była przyzwyczajona do biegania. — Nie możemy się rozdzielać. Może oczekujesz ode mnie przeprosin, ale nie mogłam przecież wiedzieć, co się stanie. Proszę cię, wróć. Tak będzie bezpieczniej dla nas wszystkich. 

— Jeśli myślała pani, że się obraziłam, to jest pani w błędzie — oznajmiła ciemnowłosa dziewczynka, uparcie brnąc między skałami. 

Prawda była taka, że była trochę obrażona. Zdała drugi egzamin. Tymczasem nadal traktowano ją jak dawniej. Teraz jednak, gdy ujrzała coś, co ją zainteresowało, nie musiała się do tego przyznawać. Kilka małych, białych pędzlaków szybciutko pełzło w jednym kierunku. Widocznie poczuły zapach atramentu. 

— Możliwe, że gdzieś tam jest glif. — Wskazała skalną formację w oddali. 

— Masz dobre oko. Sprawdzimy to, ale wszystkie raze… — [Reader] zadziałała instynktownie, stukając butami. Złączony krąg na podeszwach pozwolił jej zabrać protestującą Agatę ze sobą. Wzbiła się w powietrze w ostatniej chwili. 

Skały na samym środku plaży poruszyły się. W oddali przeszedł grzmot. Pioruny rozbłysnęły fioletowym światłem, na moment ukazując całą prawdę. To nie były skały. To były cztery kopyta. A ponad nimi ogromne nogi. Kolejny rozbłysk ukazał pegaza. Stwór machnął skrzydłami, a wiatr porwał świecący piach z plaży i sypnął nim dookoła. Nigdy nie widziała tak wielkiego zwierzęcia. Czymkolwiek był, z pewnością Ronda maczały przy nim palce. Używanie magii w taki sposób na żywych istotach było zakazane. [Reader] nie mogła skorzystać z wielu gotowych zaklęć. Wszystkie, które chowała w notatniku, zmoczyły się. Udało jej się rzucić jedno z tych, które nosiła ze sobą w formie naszyjnika, na wszelki wypadek. Pegaz zawył na widok potężnego słupa ognia podsycanego wiatrem. Tupnął kilkukrotnie i zarżał. Dość szybko zorientował się, że może go ugasić piaskiem. Zaczął bez ustanku machać skrzydłami. Coraz mocniej i mocniej. Każde tąpnięcie o ziemię wywoływało wstrząsy. 

— Jeśli to dalej będzie trwało, to nas zabije! — [Reader] starała się przekrzyczeć wiatr. — Ja go czymś zajmę! Wy musicie znaleźć znak! 

— Dobrze! — Agata odbiegła w stronę koleżanek. 

Kobieta miała szczerą nadzieję, że pochwały, które Qifrey pisał na temat swoich uczennic, nie były słowami rzucanymi na wiatr. Nie chciała ich zostawiać, ale nie miała wyboru. 

Wyminęła skrzydło, starając się zająć uwagę pegaza. Malutki płomień zniknął jej z oczu i miała nadzieję, że adeptki naprawdę znajdą zaklęcie. W tym momencie nie miała żadnych innych pomysłów. Odpowiedzialność, którą czuła w tym momencie, była ogromna. Może dlatego nigdy nie przyjęła ucznia, nawet po zdaniu ostatniego egzaminu. Inaczej musiałaby się czuć tak, jak teraz, przez resztę życia. 

Pociągnęła za rzemyk, ściągając z niego kolejny glif wypalony w drewnie. Dokończyła różdżką zaklęcie. Musiała podtrzymać wciąż tlący się pod kopytami płomień. Nigdy nie miała talentu do wodnych zaklęć jak Qifrey. Sam ogień nie szedł jej też tak dobrze jak u Olrugio. Za to wiatr był dziedziną, którą kochała. Jej dawny mentor powtarzał, że to z powodu jej roztrzepania. Uznawał, że jej charakter doskonale to odzwierciedlał. Być może miał rację. W końcu nigdy nie założyła własnego atelier. A do Wielkiego Audytorium zaglądała tylko, kiedy musiała. Żyła w drodze i jedną z niewielu stałych w jej życiu był Qifrey. Mężczyzna o błękitnych oczach i uśmiechu ciepłym jak dom. Zawsze dbał, by na czas wysłać do niej list. Nawet gdy inni po latach nie pamiętali o jej urodzinach, on jako jeden z niewielu zawsze znajdował ją, by wręczyć jej prezent. Zapraszał ją też na wszystkie ważne święta. Wiedziała, że zawsze może przyjechać, a on przyjmie ją z otwartymi ramionami. Szanował też jednak, jak ceniła sobie podróże, dlatego nigdy nie nalegał, by z nim zamieszkała. Podobnie jak jej rodzina. 

Pegaz stawał się coraz bardziej rozjuszony. Gdy zgasił płomień, nastała ciemność. [Reader] tym razem nie udało się uniknąć podmuchu wiatru. Buty wyhamowały upadek, ale uderzenie o skałę sprawiło, że na moment straciła dech. Dotknęła klatki piersiowej. Z pewnością musiała złamać kilka żeber. Niechętnie podniosła się do pionu. Rzuciła kolejny wietrzny glif w stronę lekko tlącego się żaru. Stuknęła obcasami, by wznieść się w powietrze. Naszyjnik był pusty. Nie mogła już nic zrobić. 

Nagle na ciemnym niebie znów pojawiły się błyskawice. Piasek zdawał się wsiąkać w morze. Zupełnie jakby woda połykała plażę. Kobieta zdała sobie sprawę z tego, że wyspa tonęła. Rozejrzała się. W oddali dojrzała jasny punkt. To musiała być wyrwa. A więc dziewczynki znalazły wyjście. W samą porę. Chciała zawrócić w jego stronę, jednak pegaz nie miał zamiaru dać jej tak łatwo odejść. Ponownie została odepchnięta. Tym razem ból był okropny. Nie miała pojęcia skąd, ale na jej rękach pojawiła się krew. Potrząsnęła głową. Nie miała czasu. Szła na dno razem ze swoim wrogiem. Skrawek lądu ginął z każdą sekundą. Ostatkiem sił uniosła się w górę. To był moment, by godziny spędzone na lataniu się opłaciły. Zerknęła do tyłu, próbując ocenić odległość. Tym razem dała się ponieść sile wiatru. W akompaniamencie głośnego rżenia, poszybowała w ciemność. 

*** 

— Pani profesor! — Głośno chlipiąca Tetia była pierwszym, co [Reader] zobaczyła po przebudzeniu. 

— Przecież mówiłam ci, że się obudzi — skwitowała Agata, odwracając wzrok. 

Uporczywie wpatrywała się w okno. Być może po to, by nikt nie zauważył, jaką ulgę poczuła. 

— Skoro byłaś taka pewna, to czemu tu z nami czekałaś? — spytała Riche. Nie mogła sobie odpuścić tej cichej uwagi. 

Doskonale wiedziała, dlaczego Agata nigdy nie przepadała za [Reader]. Wiedźma też pochodziła od jednego z trzech znamienitych rodów, które zawarły Zmowę Milczenia. W przeciwieństwie jednak do dziewczynki, jej rodzina była z niej bardzo dumna. Choć ich jedyna przedstawicielka śpiewająco zdała wszystkie pięć egzaminów, nie wsławiła się niczym wielkim. Nie przyjęła nawet jednego ucznia. Nie stworzyła też żadnego nowatorskiego zaklęcia. Miewała trudności z niektórymi żywiołami i kurczowo trzymała się wiatru przy rozwiązywaniu wszystkich problemów. Odrzuciła kilka świetnych posad, by podróżować. W środowisku zyskała opinię lekkoducha, a także osoby mało odpowiedzialnej. Mimo to rodzina bardzo ją kochała, zgadzając się na nieustanną wędrówkę po świecie i machając ręką w odpowiedzi na zaczepki. Była dokładnym przeciwieństwem Agaty, która nie mogła jej tego wybaczyć, od kiedy postawiła stopę w atelier. Teraz za to chyba trochę zmieniła zdanie na temat wędrowniczej nauczycielki. 

Koko uśmiechnęła się szeroko. Leżąca na łóżku szpitalnym kobieta wydawała się wciąż lekko skołowana. Cierpliwie jednak wysłuchiwała całej relacji od najbardziej żywej uczennicy. Kiedy zobaczyły, jak wyrwa się zamyka, spanikowały. Na szczęście profesor [Reader] udało się przez nią przelecieć w ostatniej chwili. Upadła do wody z ogromną siłą. Wspólnymi siłami wciągnęły ją na łódź. Była nieprzytomna i za nic nie dało się jej dobudzić. Nawet krzyki panikującej Tetii nie dały rady tego dokonać. Za to pomogły zaalarmować jednego z czarodziejów, który zmierzał właśnie w stronę Karn. Jak się okazało, był to profesor Qifrey, który pospieszył z ranną do szpitala. Medyczka orzekła złamanie kilku żeber i utratę przytomności, ale uspokoiła wszystkich, mówiąc, że to nic groźnego. Rozcięcie na czole prawdopodobnie miało zostawić bliznę. Na razie jednak zostało szczelnie zabandażowane. 

— Możecie nas zostawić na chwilę samych? — poprosił mężczyzna, zdejmując kapelusz. 

Odpowiedział mu stukot czterech par butów. 

— Panie profesorze? — Koko się zatrzymała. 

— Tak? 

— Ma pan super dziewczynę! — Odbiegła za koleżankami. 

Zza pleców Qifreya dobiegł śmiech, przerywany od czasu do czasu atakami kaszlu. [Reader] przyłożyła dłoń do ust, próbując stłumić chichot, ale szybko przestała się z tym kryć. 

— Kto… jej… powiedział… że jesteśmy parą? — Roześmiała się na dobre. — Chyba nie ty? 

— Podejrzewam, że dziewczynki. A one pewnie usłyszały to od Olrugio. — Qifrey przysiadł na łóżku. — Powinnaś się nad tym zastanowić. 

— To okropny sposób, żeby zapytać kogoś o bycie parą — westchnęła [Reader]. 

Głowa mężczyzny spoczęła w zagłębieniu jej szyi. On też musiał był zmęczony. Pogładziła go po białych włosach. Pachniał jak swoje atelier. Może rzeczywiście powinna rozważyć jego propozycję. W końcu i tak zachowywali się, jakby byli w związku. Czy dałaby w ogóle radę zostać na dłużej w jednym miejscu? Nie była pewna, ale mogła spróbować. 

— Zawiadomiłeś już rycerzy o Rondach? — spytała, chcąc rozluźnić uścisk. 

Qifrey zamarł na moment. Coś w jego postawie się zmieniło. Jakby pytanie go zaskoczyło. Przyciągnął ją do siebie mocniej niż wcześniej. Odwzajemniła uścisk, chcąc o coś dopytać. Nawet nie zauważyła, jak zamknął okrąg w glifie. Pierścień na palcu rozbłysnął. Czarne tło i białe znaki. Mężczyzna westchnął. Nie lubił tego robić. Zazwyczaj był to tylko Olrugio. Ostatnio też pan Nornoa. A teraz jeszcze [Reader]. Jej ciało na moment zwiotczało. Wymazanie pamięci było koniecznością. Wierzył, że było to poświęcenie w imię większego dobra. Na pewno by mu wybaczyła, gdyby wiedziała. Może kiedyś jej powie. Gdy już będzie po wszystkim. Teraz nie mógł tego zrobić. Musiał się dowiedzieć, co stało się lata temu. Odzyskać to, co zostało mu odebrane.