«Should we... knock?»
«...please. The last thing I want is to attract the witch's wrath.»
«Yes, but it's been a while now since they... 'stopped'. Maybe they are ready to go.»
It was then that the door opened quickly, hitting the wall at the end of its semi-circular path.
Emerging from a light veil of darkness, two figures:
- the Violet Sorceress, Saviour of Irmevia, Slayer of the Chrome Dragons, Her Excellency Lady Verina of Tardeburgo. Adjusting her turquoise hat, in pair with a brand-new, fresh dress lightly following the autumnal wind, she looked around the glade with a satisfied suspire, elegant and bewitching. «What a pleasant day, don't you think, my dear?»
- the daughter of King Kaster, Princess Kara of Romiria. While her appearance was as refined as the day prior, due to last-minute magical adjustments, her regal demeanor was nowhere to be found, replaced by the apparent effects of a passionate night. Despite the evident fatigue and lack of sleep, her smile was radiant and genuine, as she left the rocky house following the witch. «Autumn is my favorite season...»
Verina moved a few steps outside, her long hair dancing with the breeze. «How long have you been here, soldiers?»
The two men looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed. The most courageous one stepped up, the crackling sound of leaves under his boot. «We arrived at sunrise.»
Kara immediately turned, in the shade of the woman, carefully avoiding being seen by the servants. The witch, on the other hand, donated them a large, mischievous smile, delighted; slowly placing her index in front of her lips, her tacit 'suggestion' easily reached the soldiers, frozen by her gaze, sweet and condescending at first glance, but concealing the same strength and resolve they witnessed the previous evening.
Once placed the remaining items of interest in the cart, they were ready to leave: the move was complete. The witch made the house disappear with a flick of her fingers, now forever absconded with magic, inaccessible to anyone but Verina.
The two women spent the entire trip sleeping. As they finally relaxed in the carriage, no force could now stop them from resting, including the bumps in the road; leaning onto each other, they peacefully drifted away into the land of dreams.
Once finally in Grelona, Verina was woken up, as previously instructed. The princess, groaning in her sleep, felt something missing when the witch left her side, but returned to her undisturbed slumber with ease.
Once again, she was headed to thee blacksmith: the Amulet should have been completed by then. But as she was leaving the carriage behind, observed with curiosity by an ever-growing number of common citizens, Teri appeared from a corner in a hurry, holding an old walking cane as a weapon. «Where's the enemies?!» asked the old woman, ready to strike, looking around her in a panic, waiting for Verina's input.
The witches looked at each toher. The younger one, with a mocking smile, sneered «I've never seen a granny so ready to throw hands.»
The magic shop's owner, baffled, put down the cane. Why wasn't the Violet Sorceress reacting to such a pervasive darkness? «Is... I... don't you feel it?»
Verina took her under her arm, in a soft hug, and started walking towards the blacksmith with the old woman, to avoid causing any more ruckus around the princess. «I feel it, constantly.»
«Is it... yours? No, yesterday you...»
«It's the famous 'apprentice' we were talking about.»
Teri stopped, trying to understand. Her expression shifted quickly, incapable of deciding which detail was more important to ask. «...is that the spawn of bloody Queen Lan Jian?! Did you two have a child and you didn't tell me?!»
Verina, caught off guard, burst out laughing, drawing the attention of a few in the street. «It is neither, I swear, Teri. One day, I'll die because of your jokes...»
Teri looked back at the main street they had just left, while the sorceress wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye «An aura like that... Even I understand it's out of scale.»
The two witches resumed their walk. Using her mind, Verina tried to explain the situation; as they visited Lok and received the precious magical item, the old woman turned pensive. As her thoughts became more and more convoluted, she feared to express them. At the carriage once again, the only thing Teri asked the witch with her mind, with a grave expression:
«Will we be safe?»
Verina smiled, putting a lovely hand on the old woman's head, much like she would do with a child «Fret not. She will do no harm.»
