Irdra marched straight up to Charlie, not bothering with a hello.
"You have my bag. Where is it?" She was already glancing around him, peering at his sides like it might be strapped to his back.
Charlie blinked, then recognition clicked. "Oh—hey, you're the girl from yesterday. Good thing you came looking for me. I probably wouldn't have found you on my own."
"The bag," she pressed.
"It's not with me—"
Her hands shot forward, gripping his shirt. "What do you mean it's not with you?"
"—right now," he finished, holding up his hands. "It's at my place. Safe."
She released him, stepping back. "Then what are we waiting for?" She hopped forward like she was ready to sprint, then stopped, turned, and started pushing him from behind. "Lead the way. I don't know where you live."
Charlie sighed. "Okay, okay, I'm going."
The walk home was… a lot. Every block, she asked, "Are we there yet?"—sometimes twice before they reached the next corner. Charlie kept answering with a flat "Nope," until finally, they reached his street.
Outside his house, he gestured toward the door. "Alright. Wait here. I'll grab it for you."
She didn't wait. The second he opened the door, she slipped past him like a cat, already scanning the place.
Alfred looked up from the couch, coffee mug in hand. His eyes flicked from her to Charlie. "You didn't mention bringing someone home. Let alone a girl."
Charlie scratched the back of his neck. "Uh—yeah, this is the girl I saved. She's looking for her bag. I told her I'd get it."
"Where is it?" Irdra asked, ignoring Alfred entirely.
"Upstairs. In my room," Charlie said. "I'll show you."
He nodded to Alfred, then started toward the stairs, Irdra right on his heels.
******************
Charlie opened his bedroom door, stepping aside to let Irdra in—though she didn't wait for permission. She darted in, her eyes bouncing from shelves to desk to the pile of laundry in the corner.
"Okay, slow down," Charlie said, closing the door behind him. "I know exactly where it is."
He crossed to his wardrobe, reached up to the top shelf, and pulled down the leather bag. "See? Safe and sound—"
Before he could finish, she snatched it from his hands and hugged it tight to her chest like it was a long-lost pet. She didn't even look at him—just unbuckled the flap and dug inside, sitting cross-legged on his bed as though she owned the place.
Charlie leaned against his desk. "You know, I didn't steal anything. No need for a full FBI sweep."
Irdra didn't respond. She pulled out a thick, weathered book first and flipped through the pages with quick, practiced fingers. She stopped on one page and smiled—really smiled, like she'd just seen a friend.
Then, without warning, she stood up on his bed.
"Uh—can you not stand on—"
The book floated up from her hands, glowing faintly. Her voice dropped low and deliberate as she began chanting words Charlie couldn't place in any language he knew. The air in the room shifted—warm, charged, electric. Light spilled from the pages, wrapping around her like a cocoon.
When it faded, her outfit had changed—just… not in the way she'd hoped. Instead of looking imposing or regal, she looked like she'd been dressed by a Renaissance Faire gift shop.
She looked herself over, then frowned. "Ugh. Wrong spell."
Charlie rubbed his eyes. "What—what just happened? Are you—were you glowing?"
She ignored him and started the chant again. Another burst of blinding light filled the room, and Charlie threw an arm over his face. This time, when he lowered it, her clothes had transformed into something far more fitting: deep midnight fabric embroidered with silver runes, boots that looked built for long journeys, and a cloak that shimmered faintly in the light.
"Better," she said with a satisfied nod, the floating book still by her side.
Charlie just pointed. "Your… book is levitating. And you're—what are you?"
Her tone shifted, becoming grand and commanding. "I am Irdra, witch of the fallen tower, seeker of the last knight—" Her voice cracked halfway through. She coughed, cheeks flushing, then tried again in her normal tone. "—And I'm here on a mission. But I don't know much about your human realm, so I'll need your help."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "You could've just said that without… you know, the light show."
She gave him a flat look. "Anyway. Now that I have my bag—and more importantly, my master's grimoire—I can start my search for the knight."
She paused, thinking. "Although… I don't actually know how to find a knight here."
Charlie opened his mouth, then closed it. He didn't know what to say to that.
Irdra began rifling through the bag again. "My master must have left something…" Her hands stopped on a small, ornate bracelet, silver with strange inscriptions. She held it up to the light, studying it. she flipped through the grimoire, muttering until she landed on a page. "Ah. Found it."
Her eyes scanned the text, then she set the book open in midair and began chanting. The bracelet began to glow, floating upward and spinning slowly. The air hummed.
"Uh, is it supposed to be doing that?" Charlie asked, edging away.
The bracelet spun faster and faster until it zipped around the room like a metallic wasp. Charlie ducked. A lamp toppled over.
"Okay—control your… jewelry!"
"I'm trying!" Irdra said, just as the bracelet smacked into her forehead. She stumbled back, dizzy, rubbing her head.
The bracelet zoomed again, knocking books from shelves. Charlie threw open the window. "Out! Go!"
It darted out… then immediately whipped back inside.
"Of course," Charlie muttered.
Irdra steadied herself, then barked another incantation. The bracelet froze midair, trembling, then shot straight toward Charlie.
"Wait, WAIT—"
It slammed into his wrist and clamped down with a burst of searing heat. Charlie yelped, grabbing at it. "Ow—OW—get it off!"
"Calm down! Calm down!" Irdra said quickly, stepping toward him. "The spell bonds the bracelet to someone with a heart of courage and bravery. A knight's qualities."
"It feels like it's breaking my arm!"
"The burning will fade," she said, though her tone wasn't entirely convincing.
After a long, tense moment, the heat began to ease. Charlie stared at the thing on his wrist, still breathing hard. "You could've warned me."
She opened her mouth to explain more—but before she could, a deafening BOOM rattled the room.