A Lion's Heart (Hiatus)

Reunited At Last

As Allegra continued along the cobblestone path, the landscape around her grew more serene and enchanting. Up ahead, she noticed a glistening lake, its surface shimmering under the moonlight. The water seemed almost magical, reflecting the starry sky and the glowing spires of the school in a surreal, mirror-like quality. Glitter-winged fairies flitted about the lake's edge, their delicate wings catching the light and scattering it in all directions. They played and danced, their laughter a tinkling sound that added to the otherworldly atmosphere of the place.

Despite the seemingly peaceful scene, Allegra tensed. She knew better than to trust appearances in a place like this. She reached back into her enchanted pouch, fingers brushing against various items she had collected. She pulled out a small vial of glittering dust, her fingers closing around it as she kept a wary eye on the fairies. They were beautiful, but she had learned the hard way that beauty often hid danger.

She decided to avoid confrontation if possible, choosing to stick close to the edge of the trees as she made her way closer to the imposing structure of the school. The fairies, however, were not easily ignored. At first, they seemed merely curious, hovering at a distance and watching her with bright, inquisitive eyes. But as she moved closer, their demeanour shifted. The fairies began to dart towards her, their movements becoming more aggressive. They nipped at her exposed skin, their tiny teeth sharp enough to sting. Some tried to grab at her torn clothes, pulling at the fabric in an attempt to lift her off the ground.

Annoyed and increasingly concerned, Allegra swatted them away, her movements quick and decisive. She knew she couldn't afford to waste time or energy fighting off these tiny creatures, but they were relentless. She backed up, trying to position herself to better defend against the swarm. With a swift, practiced motion, she popped the cork off the small glass vial and tipped it into her open palm, careful not to spill the contents. A small handful of fine, glittering dust now lingered, threatening to blow away with the slightest breeze. Without hesitation, she blew the dust into the air, creating a sparkling cloud around her.

The effect was immediate. The fairies recoiled, their eyes widening in fear as they tried to scatter. The dust seemed to have a tranquilizing effect, causing them to drop to the ground like leaves in the wind. One by one, the fairies fell, their wings twitching weakly. The cloud dissipated before reaching the last fairy, which hovered in mid-air, clearly terrified. Not wasting a moment, Allegra took off after it, her gaze fixed on the fleeing creature as it darted higher and higher, heading towards the majestic structure of the School for Good.

The castle loomed ahead, an architectural marvel of glass and crystal. It sparkled in the moonlight, each pane reflecting the surrounding landscape in a dazzling display. The structure seemed impossibly delicate, as if it were held together by magic alone. Allegra's breath caught in her throat at the sight; it was a place straight out of a fairy tale, but she couldn't let herself be distracted by its beauty. Her mission was clear, and she had no time to marvel at the scenery.

As she approached the massive golden doors of the castle, she noticed mirrored words arched above them, spelling out: THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD ENLIGHTENMENT AND ENCHANTMENT. The inscription was flanked by two white swans, their forms elegant and serene. Allegra steeled herself, her resolve hardening. This was it— hopefully the last threshold she had to cross to find her sister, Agatha. She pushed open the heavy doors, which creaked loudly in protest, and stepped inside.

The interior was breath-taking. Allegra found herself in a tight mirrored corridor that soon opened into a magnificent glass foyer. The space was cavernous, with massive stained-glass windows depicting scenes of legendary heroes and noble deeds. The floor was made of milky marble, polished to a high sheen. Directly opposite her, an enormous pink-painted "E" adorned the wall, surrounded by lovingly drawn angels and sylphs. The other walls featured similarly styled letters, spelling out the word "E-V-E-R" in alternating pink and blue hues.