What started out as a means to pass the time had turned into a full-blown job for Salem at this point. She understood she used magic far differently than anyone in this world, as she was not built like everyone from this world. Which ultimately meant she had to learn it differently from how others did. 

She started with long chants from the Fenrir to show her the basics had soon turned to her one-upping him. The language of the continent was something she seemed to speak naturally when she was summoned and English did not exist here. But somehow for large and intricate spells, she would only need to recite the English phrase for her to be able to use it. And this was how she mastered two of the three intermediate grimoires in a week leaving the large beast beyond stumped. Do not mention the fact that she did not need to speak to use basic spells like ‘mana claws’, ‘fireball’, ‘earth wall’, and ‘water spear’. 

When it was clear Salem had a knack for this, the beast simply decided all he needed to do was to teach her to read and write as this would help her better than anything he could teach her. Four months later, she had mastered the written language and all the grimoires she had on hand. 

So with nothing to do, Salem went back to the basics of living in the wilderness. What was once a one-room studio-like earth dome, was soon transformed into a two-story fully equipped mansion. She had bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a workshop… 

“You are an odd existence, little human.. but when I consider your experience here I cannot tell you to live a different life.” 

Salem had crafted a crochet needle the perfect size and had begun the process of loccing her hair. She sat on a chair, which of course was stolen, in between two large mirrors, which were also stolen.

“What are you talking about?”

The Fenrir sat beside her in her open-air workshop. The eggs nestled on his tail as Salem had placed them there earlier and shot the large mythical beast an icy glare that was meant to say ‘Move and drop them and I’ll turn you into a rug’.

The large beast sighed, “Most summoned heroes immediately go to town and think about helping the community.. but you live isolated. Which again, I understand considering your first impression.”

Salem was silent as she parted another piece of hair.

“But here you sit, at peace living a better life than even most commoners in large cities. Why are you not consumed by rage and destroying this continent? You clearly have the mana capacity and justification to do so. I would gladly help you since I am so fond of you” The beast was huffing in confusion as he crossed his front legs.

I think he just wants to go on a rampage… but I suppose he has a point… 

“Of course, I’m still angry. Livid in fact. These scars on my back that will never fade are a testament to this. But for the moment I have chosen peace. And not peace between myself and that wretched temple. But the peace of mind. I am tired. And these menial tasks provide me an escape from the screams in my head.”

The Fenrir did not ask whose screams were in her ears and mind. He simply rested his head on his paws and moved his tail closer, bringing the eggs closer in the process. 

25 years later

‘Marry me.’

Salem was shocked to hear the voice that made her swoon every time. She had not heard his voice since he first explained the eggs. These two words were not a question but a statement. And Salem did not take kindly to being told what to do.

What started as a proposition to be the temple of Deaths Saintess or Holy Maiden candidate had somehow turned into a marriage proposal after a swift threat of suicide. Salem knew now what the roles were that she had been potentially summoned for thanks to the Fenrir.

The responsibilities of a saintess were completely different from that of a holy maiden. A Holy Maiden was basically a glorified Paladin. A saintess was basically the Mother Teresa of the temple. One went to fight wars and used their holy powers to fight while the other did volunteer work and used their powers to purify the land. 

“Long ago a holy maiden from one of the temples led an expedition to purify the land from all things with intelligence that was not human… maybe a few millennia ago… that is why there are no elves or beast people in the land. One of my uncles fought in that war I believe if I am remembering correctly…”

These descriptions linked up with what Salem knew from her world’s literature. Salem wanted to do neither. She would not serve this world or do it any favors. She just wanted to raise her kids, live out the rest of her life and die. Whenever that was. She had now learned she had been alive in this world for a total of 328 years. 25 of which were spent in this forest. The last 5 were spent raising her children. She had not aged one bit though. Her skin was as tight and glowing as it was when she had first arrived. Ignoring her scars...

Her hair was still silver and her eyes were still ruby red. She just accepted her appearance as she was destined to gray early. All the women in her family on earth grayed early. She quite liked the look as it reminded her of one of her favorite comic book heroes. 

“You don’t seem to understand that I want nothing to do with the ‘gods’ do you?” Salem groaned as she handed a plate to the two children before her. Salem’s furniture stock had grown immensely over the years. Salem was the only bandit in this forest and eight out of ten times, it was the forest creatures who stole the items for her. 

Salem smiled at the children who happily accepted the plate of food. Both were a mixed tone similar to that of mixed children on earth but had Salem’s silver hair. One had a right red-eye and a left gold eye. The other vice versa. Salem thought she spied a little Asian in their features but dismissed it. They didn’t even reach up to Salem’s hips when they stood up. The girl was Priscilla and the boy was Caleb. Both of them had long hair. They refused to cut their hair unless Salem was trimming her own loc'd up hair. She noticed they liked to copy her every action. 

The twins sat at the dining table with eager eyes as Salem placed cups of strawberry lemonade next to their plates. 

‘We already have children. Let’s get married.’

“I don’t want a marriage out of wedlock. Especially with someone, I have never met and probably never will.” Salem responded simply as she bit into her fruit salad. 

The children also picked up their forks and began to devour the food on the numerous plates before them. They had a large appetite in the morning, while Salem had a large appetite in the evening. 

‘Are you asking a god to love you and only you?’

Azrael had a cheeky tone to his voice. Salem played along. 

“I said nothing about love.” 

‘You are not asking for love but my presence?... I do not understand.’

Salem shrugged her shoulders interested, “That’s your problem. Not mine. You keep forgetting I want nothing to do with the gods or the residents of this world.”

The children continued to eat their breakfast with their ears wide open.

‘Every time you play hard to get, you get cuter and cuter.’ 

Salem, as usual, ignored him, “Children say goodbye to your father.”

Salem truly was not interested in this god. She wanted nothing to tie her down. Raising the eggs was the first and last responsibility she took upon herself since being dragged to this world. She would raise them with love, affection, and wisdom, and see them off.

The twins had long since gotten used to this morning banter their parents had every morning. They knew this was a form of affection in some manner but also knew their mother was deadly serious in her rejections. They did not know the reason and every time father asked, he was rewarded with silence. 

“Yes, Mother.” The two chimed. Somehow in the short interval of their banter, they had finished their large breakfast and juice. 

They then jumped up, hugged Salem, and ran out the earth house’s front door. Outside resting was the now considered Legendary Beast Felman. Salem had named him since Azrael asked her what names she thought suited the beast. He was now a divine beast under the god of Death. 

13 years later

“Father do something.” Priscilla hissed.

Today marked their 18th birthday. The twins had long since decided that once they turned (earth's) legal age, they would convince Salem, who had not aged a day, as usual, to go to the capital with them. The twins wanted to experience human towns and see for themselves what humans were like. 

Salem, on the other hand, had no intentions of leaving the forest. 

“I want to be a witch in the forest. You know like the ones people whisper about. The deadly forest with the deadly witch and her hound dog.”

Salem had a content look on her face. Like the look, an old lady would give her grandkids who were heading back to the city. She was resting on the lawn chair with Felman at her feet. Both seemed to have gotten into this lazy retired mentality.

The twins would not stand for it though.

So here they were two weeks later, Salem still not budging from her original stance. 

Caleb looked at his sister. They were identical except for gender. Personality-wise they were also different. Both were extremely vicious though. Caleb took after Salem and Priscilla took after Azrael.  Salem sat in front of the wide garden in the backyard. She had several rows of fruits and vegetables. Ever since she befriended some of the smaller forest creatures, stealing crop seeds from passersby became much easier. And with Salem and the divine children here, anything they sought out to grow, grew. 

Caleb looked behind him to the house Salem had built and reconstructed over the years. It was 3 stories high and made of wood and earth. It did not look like a house that suited the Forest of No Return but more like a small castle. They had bedrooms, workshops, a kitchen, a bath…

Salem was a scary woman when it came to using magic to live a simple life.

Caleb turned back to his mother. She sat in the chair looking out into the distance. She had a chilled glass of juice in her left hand and a book some of the forest creatures had stolen from travelers. They seemed to find out that mother liked to read and continued to bring her books. The house now had a very large library. Salem wore a white cotton blouse and black leather shorts as it had just become summer. Her wrists were adorned with the same bangles and charms she had when she arrived. Her rings were also the same. She used restoration magic and preservation magic on them long ago. Her silver locs draped down her shoulder. On the side table next to her chair, her new witch hat sat. Salem had long since gained back a healthy physique and her mind was as stable as it could be considering her years of bondage.

She’s dead set on being a mysterious old witch… Caleb thought to himself.

Priscilla and their father were going back and forth in their heated debate on how to convince Salem. Priscilla spoke aloud and father telepathically. 

Caleb wanted his mother to come with them to the capital. Despite what Salem said her age was, she was still truly physically a 26-year-old woman. Apparently, in her original world, her prime. Yet she was forced to spend almost all of it in a prison as a power supply without the chance of aging and with-it death. And after her escape, she basically had to learn to live all over again and then finally become a mother. 

Caleb’s dual-colored eyes took in his mother’s truthful calm and at peace look. She looked at peace and fulfilled. But he wanted her to feel more than that. 

He wanted her to feel like a success and like she was on top of the world. If anybody deserved to feel this way, Salem Cache did. 

So, Caleb opened his mouth.

“If you come to the capital you might be able to start your singing live again and become famous.” 

Priscilla and Azrael stopped their talking. 

Salem dropped her glass to the ground.

SHATTER

The sharp sound of the glass breaking as it contacted the ground went unheard by all. Even Felman raised his head in curiosity.

Salem’s eyes started to shake and her lips trembled. 

***

Sing live. 

Those two words sent Salem into a state of shock. Old dreams she hadn’t thought of in ages resurfaced in the old-minded but young-bodied woman. With her eyes closed, flashing scenes of Salem on Earth dancing, singing, and acting rushed past her eyes rapidly. The onset of memories hurt her head, so she let her head fall. She could still hear the music, the laughter, and feel the rush of performing.

Her shoulders trembled slightly. 

Her children, and Felman all went still and stayed completely silent. 

Only one being said anything. Azrael, the God of Death.

‘Remember what Dawne said.’

Salem’s shoulders trembled harder.

‘I’m sorry. My sweet child summoned on my behalf... Your struggle will never be forgotten. I release you from my will… live for yourself.’

Tears dripped down her cheeks and hit her thighs one by one,

This time, absolutely no one said a single word.