Isabelle

Into the unknown. II

Hallucination. There was no other word to use as a form of description. 'This couldn't be real? could it? Oh I get it now, I've been in the dark so long a time that my mind decided to play a good trick on me' Isabelle smiled to herself accusing her mind that had nothing to do with the scenery that portrayed itself to be beautiful before her eyes.

She was on a small hill that held out lots of flowers blooming and bathing under the sun light and from there she could see so many trees which was divided by a path that one could walk on to pass through.

She made sure she ran her finger tips on the flowers as she began walking through. Coming down the hill slowly she looked up at the clear beautiful sky. Dropping her head slowly to stare at the trees and the path which she has now walked into.

"what place is this?" She asked no one in particular as she walked on the path whose high trees nearly blocked the clouds from view making them slightly visible .

Her curious feet walked hastily down the path, it too wanted to know what place they might be in. She kept walking till a huge black gate came in view and at the side of the gate stood something huge. Its body clothed in black fur, sensing her presence due to her breathing it raised its head.

This creature knows the breathing of every living thing and could differentiate which from which, having listened to Isabelle's breathing it knew this creature wasn't from here.
It stared at her and surprisingly spoke. "Who are you?"

' woah! who knew big dogs could talk, or am I seeing things' She muttered under her breath.
" I am not a dog. I'm Naraj, gate keeper of the of folris . An Exsnifigon. Now who are you". This creature might seem like its just a gate keeper, it also protects the city of Sylux from the outside from intruders. The only way an intruder can get through is if its an expert in forbidden magic.

"I'm i'm Isabelle" She couldn't believe she was speaking to an Exsnifigon?. Looking at the features trying to see if it matched with any of all she knew. It had horns all right red and grey horns that curved to form a heart shape, with a C imprinted on it's forehead.

"leave.You are an intruder, and intruders are not allowed to enter."

"B.but I just arrived. And I don't know where this is so where do you expect me to go?"
"I said leave" The creature growled slowly about to strike with its horn which was already producing sparks, someone suddenly came between them holding up a basket of its weakness and because it knew this person, it couldn't resist it either.

"Blueberry muffins?" She said and the creature retracted it's steps. Isabelle stared at this young maiden that came out of nowhere. Her blue hair resting on her shoulders, she turned to look at Isabelle.

" Hi, seemed like you needed help. Sorry bout his behavior, he's just not friendly with strangers " Isabelle said nothing, she continued. "I'm Nya, you are?"

"um Isabelle"

"You are... Human" Nya looked at her. Naraj raised it head away from the muffin basket and stated at this human, it spoke "No wonder I couldn't recognise anything about her, she doesn't seem harmful but then looks can be deceiving".

"Uhh. Why'd you say it that way, aren't you also human?" Isabelle looked at Nya waiting for an answer but the maiden only turned to look at the creature.

"Don't worry Naraj, she's with me"
Nya held Isabelle's hand as they walked through the gates.

When they were completely in "Welcome to Gingerbread ville. I know, its a lot to take in but here we are"

The images that formed in Isabelle's eyes were too good to be true. She felt like she had a wonderland at the back of her garden. So far so good, everything she had come across that seemed false was later clarified real, for some odd reason.

It was huge, she thought gingerbread houses couldn't hold people but this, this was amazing.
From the beautifully crafted houses which was intricate to the people who dominated this ville. "Come with" Nya placed her hand on Isabelle's shoulder. The walked on the sugar coated pavement floor. Every house had a chimney that let out smoke, little candy canes that rested on the roof top and pepper mint sweets for decorations.

They passed one ginger bread house and two gingerbread people popped their heads out of their window with a gasp and from the corner of her eyes she could see two gingerbread ladies with frosting hat and sugar coated scarfs, they were whispering to each other.

"Hey Nya!" A young ginger bread boy stood at the entrance of his house and waved, but he widened his eyes as soon as they landed on Isabelle. Some even slam their doors shut, Nya noticed this and said
"They are a bit scared of strangers. They are a bit fragile so its easy for you to just crush them that's one of the reasons they have Naraj."

"Their houses tho? is it as fragile as they are?" Isabelle couldn't help but ask.

"Oh but of course not, every architectural structure here is really strong. Look at the fountain over there" Nya pointed to the middle of the village where a tall fountain was built. It had holes at the top which let out a dark flowing liquid. Beneath the fountain were children who were sent on an errand to fetch from it. They took what they could and left.
On getting to the fountain, Isabelle realised the dark following liquid was non other than chocolate.

"liquid chocolate" Isabelle couldn't help but smile.

At the front of a gingerbread house stood an old lady, you could tell due to the visible wrinkles and the candy cane that aided her walking. Some of the frosting that grew with her had already fallen loose. Nya pulled Isabelle hand so she come follow her as she walked towards the old lady.

"Greetings Ginjer " Nya smiled at this old woman which sugar blown glasses. The old woman saw this human standing beside Nya and immediately let them in.

'stepping into a gingerbread house for the first time. stepping into a gingerbread house for the first time' Isabelle kept repeating these words bracing herself for what might be inside.

The walls were painted red and white like a stripped candy. The interior looked like a rainbow puked all over the place, same goes to the whole village. Furnitures looked soo tempting, the fan looked like it was dipped in the chocolate fountain and left under the sun to dry. The living room was at right while the kitchen was situated at the left.
"Where's Choco?" Nya noticed Ginjer's husband's presence was absent in the room.

"Unfortunately Choco is late. he's passed away" Ginjer said looking at an old photo of him.

"Um Isabelle this is Ginjer. The oldest ginger bread in the whole village" Isabelle was bout to stretch forth her hands for a hand shake but stopped halfway for she was scared that she might break her hand, she smiled instead.
Still trying to absorb what an interesting discovery she had made. Guess curiosity pays after all, she wasn't killed.
"Would you like some ginger tea?" The old lady asked.
" Yes please " Nya said and sat on the sofa that was decorated with candy stripped mints that goes with the walls.

It took everything inside of Isabelle not to grab everything in sight and chew. She wasn't really a fan of sugary things anyway. She sat beside Nya.

Isabelle was able to see Ginjer whip up something in the kitchen, not knowing the ingredients she's used.
Shortly after, she came back with two cups of ginger tea on a ginger bread tray which she held with one hand and the other hand held the candy cane .
"Thanks " Nya said.
Isabelle took a sip and smiled at the little marshmallow that popped up. "its delicious" it was indeed delicious.
"Its an old ginger tea recipe, my great grand father taught my grand mother who taught my mother and then me" Ginger said sitting on a rocking chair.
"its been passed down from generation" Nya added.

Isabelle finished the content in the cup and craved for more but kept her cravings to herself.