Magic Hat

Ellaine called for Melinda late in the evening, and the spectral helper wasted no time answering the summon. When Melinda arrived in Ellaine's bedroom, the pale skinned mage was busy untangling her rich locks of dark hair from its braids.

"Melinda, I shall be away for a couple of days for I have business to attend to in the capital, and I am leaving you in charge. Furthermore Hakob is expecting a visitor tomorrow and I want you to keep an eye on them. Can you do that for me?" Ellaine said

"Yes ma'am, I will see to it" replied Melinda, her ghostly glow slightly dimming

"Now come and help me with my hair" Ellaine said as she handed the brush to the ghost

Melinda proceeded to brush Ellaine's long black hair which smells like fresh honeysuckle. With the gentle and satisfying motions of the brush, Ellaine closed her eyes and started to hum a tune reminiscent of a lullaby.

A minute went by and the humming stopped, Ellaine noticed that the rhythmic combing became sporadic and unpleasantly uneven. She opened her eyes and from the mirror she saw that Melinda seemed to be distracted, the spectral maid kept on glancing at one of the drawers.

She followed the ghost's eye-line and found the source of her distraction. It was a gaudy looking glowing hat that she received from a fellow arcanist earlier today.

"Do you like that hat?" Ellaine asked

Melinda straightened up, a hint of panic on her face, realizing she was doing a lousy job.

"I'm sorry Miss Ellaine" Melinda replied

"You did not answer my question, do you like that hat?" Ellaine repeated in a calm even tone

Melinda nodded.

"Then you can have it" Ellaine replied with a hint of a smile

"I... I'm sorry ma'am it's not - It is really not necessary" Melinda stammered

"I could not picture myself wearing such a garish piece of attire, and I don't see a reason as to why I should cover my beautiful hair when we work so hard maintaining it" Ellaine said

Hearing this made Melinda's ghostly radiance glimmer slightly brighter. She carried on with her brushing and finished it off with the application of a scented oil.

Melinda picked up the hat and exited the bedroom humming a tune reminiscent of a lullaby