Miracles. Quite bizarre to many, suprising to others, and strange to some. Not everyone has the same idea of what miracles are and what they do. Most people don't even believe in these so called "miracles". Having to just think of it as fairytales o...
As expected, Valentina was already up early the next morning. She was currently packing up food for the trip that'll probably last her for about a week. Not long after, she was finally ready.
Right after she walked out le familia Esperanza's home, bags on both her shoulders, she noticed people outside. She gazed her eyes at the faces surrounding her. One face in particular, she recognizes all too well.
"Buenos diaz, Señor Bianco." Valentina greeted him, bowing slightly to the man in front of her who was giving her a bright toothy smile.
"Buenos diaz, Valentina! I see you're about to head off." he stated as he walked towards the girl, giving her head a light pat before continuing, "We're here to see you off and wish you luck on your travel."
"They're here to see me off?" Valentina thought to herself. "I'm not even fully acquainted with all the other people in town.. Heck, I don't even know the names of those surrounding me right now other than Señor Bianco ."
Although this may be true, that's not the same case to the townsfolk. They knew her since she and her family arrived in their village. Throughout the years of her stay, Valentina hasn't really communicated much towards others she didn't know. But that didn't stop the girl from unconsciously helping around town. Yes. Unconsciously.
She never really minded how she acted around people, but to others, they witnessed how she helped people around town on a daily basis.
Everyday, Valentina would go down to the town square. Just the other day, when Valentina was minding her own business and just casually sitting on the fountain that was in the middle of town, she helped stop a bunch of tumbling barrels that almost hit a group of kids not too far from where the fountain was. Without even standing up to do so.
Everyone in the area that time witnessed how a crystal wall suddenly appeared protecting the kids from the large barrels. Valentina only vaguely remembers those times she unknowingly helped others though.
"Vale! Vale!" the familiar voice of her youngest primo called out to her from the house. The girl then turned around, only to be greeted with her familia looking like they're ready to go on a family vacation. Seeing this, Valentina raised a brow. "You guys are going off somewhere too?" she asked towards them.
"Yep! We're coming with you." Ernesto started with a proud grin on his face, picking up a few luggage that his family packed.
Valentina stood, mouth slightly agape as she asked, "wha- really??"
"Yes dear. We won't let you have an adventure all on your own, now would we?" her Tia said while smiling, walking towards Valentina. "We're your family. Us Esperanzas gotta stick together, right?" Alehandra said kindly before giving her niece a quick wink.
Valentina gave a small grin before sighing, "Right." she said calmly. Deep down inside, the girl felt happy, knowing her family would be by her side every step of the way. And that they're willing to go on an unknown adventure with her to a place called Encanto.
The townsfolk were kind enough to lend us two horses and a carriage.
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Not long after loading in the bags and the Esperanza's sitting down in the carriage, with Ernesto at the front, holding the horses' leash, they already started moving. As they do, the townsfolk said their goodbyes to the familia while waving, their figures getting tinier as the carriage got even farther down a path.
"Just follow the path to the North, right?" Ernesto asked as he slightly tugged on the reins.
"Yes." Valentina quickly replied, looking back at the paper with the directions that was given to her the other day. She felt excited, but didn't show it.
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It had already been 3 days since they left Afueras. The Esperanza's kept themselves entertained by singing and talking to each other. There would also be times wherein Valentina would offer her Tio a break, letting her drive in order for him to bond with his family in the carriage.
It was almost noon when Valentina saw an extremely tall mountain from the distance from where she was. It was hard to get a good view when inside a thick forest, so she just noticed the mountain now.
Just by looking at it for a few seconds, Valentina had a feeling that that mountain is where they should go. She checked her compass, and as she thought. That mountain was in the North. Feeling giddy, Valentina pulled on the reins, oh so slightly increasing the speed of the horses.
Traveling wasn't a problem with the help of her crystal powers. She made bridges mostly along the way to safely and smoothly cross unexpected bumpy terrains.
Valentine could still see the mountain as it gradually started to look bigger. They were getting close.
"Tina? You doin' alright over there?" her Alehandra's worried voice called out towards her niece.
"Yes Tia, I'm fine." she replied back to her. Just then, she sensed someone got up from behind her. Valentina quickly turned her head around only to see her older cousin, Ana, sitting on the roof of the carriage.
"Relax prima, it's just me." she said, laughing slightly at how jumpy her cousin was. "Here." Ana said as she held out an apple to Valentina, in which Valentina greatly took.
"Thank you." she said to Ana, looking straight back to the mountain as she casually took a bite on the fruit.
"Do you truly think that there's a place called Encanto?" Ana asked, as she too stared at the mountain ahead of them. Valentina swallowed down her chomped apple before replying to her, "I think so."
Ana stayed silent after she answered. Their surroundings are peaceful as they only hear the faint thuds of the horses' hooves on the ground as they gallop.
About 2 hours passed before Ernesto decided it was time to switch places with Valentina. The girl is now inside the carriage, drinking some water. Her Tia and cousins were casually talking to each other when suddenly, a loud thunder was heard.
"Amor? Is there a storm?" Alehandra shouted towards her husband as Ernesto tried to control the now panicked horses, thanks to the thunder.
"Yes, and it seems to just happen out of nowhere." Ernesto replied back to her. Then another loud thunder was heard. With this, the horses already started to stand up from their hind legs, desperately wanting to run away.
Noticing this, Valentina immediately made a high crystal fence around the two horses, not letting them escape. Valentina then proceeded to make a crystal dome that surrounded the whole carriage, along with the horses, seeing as the strange storm suddenly got stronger.
The Esperanzas listened as the strong winds and rain pounded on the dome. His younger cousins held onto their mother as she softly comforted them. Not even a minute later, everything went silent.
No rain, no winds, no more storms? Valentina thought to herself as she let the dome vanish into thin air, leaving only faint sparkles that slowly disappeared.
The horses had already calmed down. Ernesto decided to check up on his family, going down his high seat and walking towards the left side of the carriage.
"Everyone alright?" He asked his family. He received a few nods and yes' from his children.
"That was one unusual storm." Ernesto said as he sighed heavily, relieved that the sky was once again back to it's bright blue hue.
"I have a feeling we're getting closer." Valentina stated as she got out of the carriage and stretched her limbs. Alehandra got down the carriage as well.
"It seems like we are. Let's all take a short break for now." the woman calmly stated, as she assisted her youngest child, Julian, as he went down the carriage followed by Ana.
With that said, everyone's gaze was now on the mountain in front of them.
