Chapter Text
With the sun slowly creeping up from the horizon, the multitude of trees still blocking most of its light, now was probably a good time for a certain Satyr to roll out of bed and get started on dusting and cleaning. Preferably before it gets too hot or the bed gets too comfy and the hours just zoom on by. Sadly, the bed was already starting to feel so pleasantly warm and plush, and the thought of sleeping for a few more hours sounded so good but work needed to be done. The sooner the work is done, the sooner she could just go back to sleep. So with a groggy groan, Shika pushed herself up from her stomach until she was sitting on her knees. Her entire body felt heavy and the temptation to just plop back down was strong but the voice in the back of her head nagged at her to keep going. Just get up, take a shower, grab some food and get to work. Easier said than done, inner voice.
With a strained groan that slowly turned into a sigh, Shika raised her arms up and just stretched them as well as arching her back slightly and creaking her neck a little. Several pops could be heard before another sigh and her body slumped to a more natural position. Glancing over to the side, she took a quick look outside her window and she could just barely see the sun creeping up above the treeline in the distance. Finally, she climbed off of her bed and began to make her way downstairs and over to the bathroom for a much-needed shower, a few yawns slipping out and her legs popping every so often. Her hooves clicked and clacked against the wooden steps and floor, certain spots creaking or groaning under the weight.
Today was 'Dusting Day' ... creative names were never Shika's strong suit, so its a good thing that she doesn't have to name things for a living. Or else every fruit would most likely be named after their color and taste, like Sour Red or Bitter Green.
With the shower completed, Shika made a mental note about heading out to the store later on as she was running rather low on shampoo, among a few other items. When about half of her body was covered in fur, she tended to need more shampoo, at least her bodywash lasted longer though. A towel was left wrapped around her head to help dry her hair, though her antlers got in the way a bit as she had only just recently started to do this method. Still needed some practice to get used to it. Now heading to the other side of her home, she made her way to the kitchen and tossed in some bread in the toaster as she searched through her fridge and cabinets, writing down whatever was getting low and things that she would need more of soon or use daily.
Honestly, she was mostly just stalling as dusting isn't exactly the most 'fun' thing to do. With a small list of items that needed to be bought and the sound of her toaster going off, Shika set the paper on the counter and grabbed the hot bread before stuffing it into her mouth. She munched on the bread as she got her supplies ready; a medical mask to keep the dust out of her lungs, some wash rags, an extendable duster, and best of all a playlists to make this a little more fun. Food eaten, mask on, playlist blasting, and windows open (to help air out the place), Shika started with her room... or well most people wouldnt describe it as a 'room'.
Her home in general wasn't really standard either. She actually lived inside of a rather old great oak tree that was hollowed out with some additions. She does live in the middle of the forest afterall, would be kind of unlikely to just find a home around, well besides cabins but those tend not to have the best track record if the horror genre taught her anything. As soon as anyone (if she ever got any visitors that is) enters her home, they would be greeted by the sight of a rather open floor plan. The living/reading room had a couch facing the left side where a large TV was placed, surrounded by bookcases filled to the brim with books, journals, tomes, and loose papers. On both ends of the bookcases were passageways, one that led to a tunnel she dug out a while ago as an emergency exit as well as some extra storage space, and the other was for the bathroom. As well as where she kept most of her medicine, herbs, and first aid kit. To the right were the kitchen and a small table for her to eat at if she ever made anything larger than just a snack. She didnt make large meals that often, usually preferring to head out and dine out than dine in. Then towards the back was where she slept, though it was actually upstairs in a loft. It was pretty standard though, a bed, a desk, closet, a few more bookshelves, nothing really exciting. There was a window right by her bed that had a windowsill big enough for her to sit on so she could dramatically or solemnly stare out the window on a rainy day though. Under the loft was ample space that she still hadnt really decided what to do with... so for now its where ALL of the books are going so she could dust every shelf and reorganize every book afterward.
Maybe taking a shower before dusting and hard labor wasn't such a good idea. Having to grab and move each and every single book and paper from the multitude of shelves seemed easy and quick at first but as the piles and piles grew, Shika began to slow down a bit. A hot soak later on sounded rather pleasant... maybe with some wine as well. Cant drink wine in the shower... well she could, just not an open glass. It was probably about midday when she had finished her room and all of the shelves... dusting wise, and that still left putting all of the books back, in order, the kitchen, and bathroom. She honestly needed to also clean the tunnel but that was just a job that she kept pushing off.
"Is this a one-person job? Yes, if they were smart and stretched it out over a few days. Am I smart? I dont know, maybe, I keep surprising myself with my own genius and stupidity with each task and question... And I'm talking to myself." Shika groaned and rolled her eyes, huffing as she put away the books one by one.
I should have gone to magic school like all of the others. Would have been REALLY handy right now as well as other times. But nooooooo, I had to be different, I had to go on adventures and see the world, not be stuck in a stuffy room surrounded by prodigies and the rich.
"..."
Shika paused for a moment, her train of thought halting as she gazed at the title of the book she was currently putting away.
Magic for the Horned 101
Her hand brushed against the title, feeling the indented lettering before she opened it and flipped through the pages for a bit until a stray paper slipped out and fluttered to the ground. She stared at it for a moment, debating if she should climb down the ladder now or later to pick it up. Crinkling her nose, she set the books she was holding down on a shelf for a moment and took a breath in and out. What was a sour look slowly relaxed into a more calm and peaceful one as she focused her gaze on the paper. While she never went to magic school, that didn't stop her from trying to learn on her own in the past.
Focus on the target of your spell.
She kept her gaze steady on the lone paper on the floor a few feet below her.
Relax and feel the magic flow through your entire body.
Her breathing slowed slightly, her fur and skin feeling a little tingly as a faint greenish-blue light flowed around her.
Focus it to your core and like pipes, let it all flow to just your horns and cut off all other passages.
Slowly the light began to gather at her center, around her navel, before fading out and instead encasing her antlers. Her hair and large ears began to float and dance ever so slightly.
Imagine the item you wish to levitate, being engulfed by your magic, rising. If needed, left her chin as well to help guide it.
Just like her antlers, the piece of paper soon became surrounded by the same colored light. Shika bit her lip and hesitated for a moment, her breath catching in the back of her throat, before she just lurched her head up with force. The paper fluttered and shifted before the light faded from it, leaving the paper in the same spot it landed in. Shika stared at it, lips parted ever slightly and her eyes narrowed just a little. The light slowly faded away more and more until it was all gone and everything was back to the way it was before. Her ears and tail drooped and her lips formed a pout as she just slide down the ladder and begrudgingly snatched the paper up from the floor and just stuffed it into the book.
"What a waste of time. Would have just been a lot faster if I went down the ladder in the first place!" She huffed to really no one.
Back to work for her. She made a mental note that once she was done with the books, she was going out for a drink and a much-needed break.