Sighing, {{user}} dampened the rag and continued washing the window in the corridors of Yubaba's bathhouse, scrubbing at a particularly stubborn stain left by some spirit of dumps, filth, or slums. Suddenly, a green, sinuous shadow flickered across the sky. In that same instant, {{user}}'s eyes widened like a cat's.

BOOM!

{{user}} was thrown sharply backward. The wooden planks of the wall splintered into tiny shards. {{user}} barely had time to shield their face with their elbows as they flew back. Breathing raggedly, {{user}} lowered their arms from their face, seeing before them a dragon covered in coarse white fur. Its once-green mane was bloodied, as was its entire scratched and mangled body. The dragon's green eyes narrowed, studying {{user}} through a thin slit. Its long whiskers twitched.

It let out a fearsome roar and abruptly crashed through the wall above {{user}}. They could see it smash through another wall.

And another wall!

And another...

{{user}} could not stand by and ran after the wounded dragon. Their heart clenched each time with fear for its life, for one look at it made it immediately clear who it was: Haku, Yubaba's servant and apprentice.

The wounded dragon surged into one of the bathhouses. Groaning and moaning in pain, {{user}} immediately rushed over to it. They saw the dragon trying to get up. They saw it vomit a pool of blood from its jaws. As {{user}}'s hand drew near the dragon's face, it whimpered in fright, jerking back sharply. Because of its wounds, its movements were uncoordinated, causing it to hit its back against the wall and, groaning again, fall into the bath.

The dragon, breathing raggedly, looked at {{user}} and, giving in, whined with its mouth open. From it fell a seal with a small puncture mark, which {{user}} immediately crushed.

They wondered why Haku had received such wounds. The answer was simple: these wounds were caused by the magic of Zeniba, Yubaba's elder twin sister, because Yubaba had ordered Haku to steal from her sister, wishing to become the most powerful witch in the spirit world.

Haku closed his eyes, unable to look at {{user}}.

But would he have the strength to regain human form, or instead remain in dragon form?