Damien's Novela

Chapter 13

Damien's pov

I had a transparent, magic machete in my hand as I slashed through the dense foliage. Mirabel walked behind me admiring the natural forest surrounding her Encanto. Hugo was on her shoulder, looking around. When Sprites are manifested, they don't have senses. No eyes, ears, mouth, nothing. They're just a ball of their own element. 

Hugo may be a firefox, but he only got a fox-like appearance due to Mirabel being my student. My official title among the elders is "Aqua Vulpes Bruja", which blatantly translates to Water Fox Witch. Witches, are not, the best at names. My last name is literally cauldron in the witches tongue. 

I looked around and spotted a fae with a human baby. I stopped Mirabel and lifted my blade. I held my hand over her mouth so she would stay silent. I waited for the Fae to vanish before releasing her. 

"That woman disappeared?"

"She was a Fairy. Like the Fae you've encountered in my room, their lives are long lived with different purposes. Say, Aphid. Her nest in like a bee hive. You have the ringleader, two types of workers, the birthing mothers, and the security fleets. Fairies, bring forth different things in the world. Snow, bountiful harvests, good luck, but every so often they will have horribly ugly offspring. It's not often, but when it does happen, they go to a human's place of dwelling with a young baby, and they swap the infants."

"That baby is from the Encanto?!"

"No. Aphid and her pack is protecting the area. For as long I live in the Encanto, she and her people will protect the area. Make sense?"

"Yeah, but wouldn't the humans notice the different baby?"

"No. The fairy places a spell of her babe to make it look like the humans baby. The spell only works on human eyes and it has a sixteen year time frame. When the child reaches sixteen years of age, the spell wears off and the fairy features take form. Well, lets keep moving. If there's an entrance to Tir Na Nog here, more Fae and Fairies will come through."

I ushered Mirabel along and we soon came across a water hole. 

"This will be a good place to take camp."

"Camp?"

"Yeah. Most Fae come out at night. With your scent, you'd probably attach all the fae we need, but any extra will be a learning experience. Now it's time to make your first staff."

"Really?!"

"Yup. Stand back."

I spread my legs, shoulder length apart, brought my fingertips together in front of me, and thrust them out. The force knocked my back and made me clutch at my chest, just under my heart. I looked up and saw the portal. 

"This portal...will last for an hour. Let's go."

My hand never left my chest as we walked through. 

"This is...Arcadia?"

"Yes. Birthplace of the first Witch's Coven. Go around and find whatever material that calls out to your core. I'm going to rest."

I fell backward onto the soft grass. I propped myself against a smooth boulder and watched  Mirabel explore the lovely plains. She stopped in front of a tree and ran her fingers along the bark. I hefted myself up and made my way over to her. 

"That is the elm. It's a good sturdy tree. Perfect for -"

Her hand glowed a light green and broke through the middle of the tree. Her hand reemerged with a large seed.

"Holy hells, Mirabel, do you know what that is?"

"No?"

"It's a yggdrasil seed. Is that what your core is calling to?"