Misty tugged at her tangled locks, pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Well, the only witch who's been burned lately seems to be yours truly."
Zoe gasped, "You weren't burned... Sorry, I mean, how come you're completely fine now?"
"Who knows? When I woke up and realised I still had a pulse, I smeared dung over the burns... Look! This is it!"
Misty retrieved a lump of grey, viscous dung from her shoulder bag and handed it to the others excitedly,
"Louisiana swamps are full of ironweed and alligator dung, which have excellent healing properties. Nature has its ways, so I recovered quickly."
"Good heavens!" Madison recoiled, clutching her nose.
Ruboo, Zoe, and Quinny, not wanting to be too rude, forced a smile and glanced twice at the dung mere inches away.
Unaware, or perhaps preferring to dwell in her own world, Misty enthusiastically finished introducing her treasure to the group before tucking it away, her mood buoyant as she declared:
"I knew I couldn't be the only witch out there. There had to be someone like me. I didn't know how to find you all. Thankfully, while meditating in the forest today, I sensed something here calling to me. Though I didn't know what it was, I knew I had to answer the call. And so, I found you."
"I'm so grateful for the call. Now I know I'm not alone."
With that, she began singing a cheerful tune to herself:
"Her song rings like silver bells across the night sky... Wouldn't you love her? ... Like a bird in flight, she holds her own destiny. Where will her love take flight next?"
Watching Misty dance and sing, Zoe and her companions exchanged glances, sensing she was somehow different from them.
When the song ended, Zoe stepped forward with a polite smile and invited, "Misty, would you like to return to the Witch Academy with us? Headmistress Cordelia welcomes every new witch. There, you needn't fear threats from the outside world. Moreover, the academy will help you better control your abilities."
To her surprise, Misty shook her head without hesitation. "No! I much prefer living here. Besides, if I went with you, I feel I'd run into trouble—big trouble."
Zoe tried to persuade her further, but Madison cut in, "Enough, really. If she doesn't want to go, why beg her? Honestly, if the Council hadn't forced me here, I wouldn't want to stay either. It's too far from Los Angeles. Who knows if anyone will even recognise me when I get back to Hollywood?"
"Don't worry, hardly anyone recognises you now anyway," Quinny promptly added, driving the knife in.
"Bloody hell..."
While the two girls bickered again, Ruboo fetched paper and pen. Writing down the address of the Witches' Academy and her own phone number, she handed it to Misty. "If you run into trouble, or fancy getting out for a bit, head to this address. We're mostly there. If that's inconvenient, just give me a call."
"Are they alright?" Misty asked, taking the paper without refusal as she watched Madison and Quinny's argument escalate.
Ruboo glanced back over her shoulder, her expression utterly unruffled. "Don't worry. It's just their way of bonding. You'll get used to it."
"Bonding? How peculiar."
Misty shook her head, her gaze shifting back to Ruboo before suddenly sniffing the air. A hint of intoxication flickered in her eyes. "Your life force is so potent. No wonder you could slay a being like the Swamp Lord who scorned life itself. Would you care to visit me sometime? Do you enjoy music? I could teach you to sing. And my cooking is rather good too..."
Possessing the power to resurrect the dead, Misty had an acute perception of life and death.
Ruboo possessed the most potent life force she had ever encountered.
Her innate love for life compelled her to draw near.
This was precisely why she completely ignored Zoe, whose face was darkening by the moment, and promptly gave Ruboo her address, extending a warm invitation.
If Zoe had previously harboured some regret over Misty not joining the Witch Academy, that feeling had now vanished entirely, replaced by a certain relief.
A predatory Madison was already cause enough for concern.
The thought of Misty joining her ranks was simply unthinkable!
Ruboo's favourable regard for Misty initially puzzled him.
But upon reflection, he realised it was likely due to his enhanced physique.
With his girlfriend present, Ruboo was certainly not foolish enough to say the wrong thing.
After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, and with Madison and Quinny's warm conversation having run its course, they parted ways to avoid lingering too long and drawing attention.
Watching Misty's retreating figure, Ruboo signalled to the girls to dispose of the remaining corpses.
To be on the safe side, they set fire to the headless crocman corpse, ensuring no other creatures would feast on its flesh and risk spawning a new generation of crocmen. Only then did they drive away.
Following a democratic vote, the group decided not to return immediately to New Orleans.
Having felt their camping trip incomplete after last night's disturbance, they turned back towards their originally planned destination. There, free from further incidents, they happily spent the entire day before finally heading home.
Notably, under the dual pressure of Madison and the newly arrived Misty, Zoe took the initiative that very evening to try out the method Madison had taught her earlier that day on Ruboo.
Though far less experienced than Madison, Ruboo nonetheless found a peculiar kind of satisfaction in the encounter.
...
The next day.
As Ruboo drove back into downtown New Orleans, he was surprised to find the streets dotted with numerous jack-o'-lanterns. Many shopfronts were adorned with scarecrows, skulls, cobwebs, black cats and suchlike.
Seeing a handful of people already dressed as zombies, vampires, witches, Frankenstein's monsters and the like, Ruboo suddenly realised: "So today is Halloween!"
"Halloween Eve, to be precise," Zoe corrected.
Compared to the actual day of Halloween, Halloween Eve was when the festivities truly reached their peak.
Adults don bizarre, eerie makeup and outlandish costumes, parading through neighbourhoods and streets, hosting gatherings, and throwing uniquely themed parties.
Meanwhile, children dressed as all manner of adorable spooks went door to door demanding sweets, threatening mischief if none were forthcoming.
It is a nationwide carnival.
It's immensely popular among Westerners, yet not particularly widespread in the East.
Observing the three women beside him, utterly unfazed, Ruboo asked in surprise:
"How come you lot aren't the slightest bit excited?"