A waltz under the willow tree (ON GOING)

An annoying little mage

Attention! The picture above does not belong to me! all credit to the artist!

And thank you to Luxembourger for collaborating with me on this part/chapter!

I stand at the bank of the lake, next to a small stream wringing out my long hair, after swimming the whole way. "Okay, so what do I do now? I got off that island, but I don't even know where to go." I scratch my head, my dress dripping wet from being in the water.

"And I have to walk barefoot too...why couldn't I have woken up with slippers or sandals?" I sigh as I walk around, the grass isn't soft like on the Island. I can feel eyes on me, "It's probably just my imagination," I tell myself, because I'm already feeling scared and nervouse. Then I see some berry bushes. But they look nothing like at home or any I've ever seen. For a second I swear I see a pair of boots step out, piquing my interest. You know curiosity killed the cat.

"Hello...? You can come out, I know you're there..." I can't help but be a little curious. But as I wait I get a little more scared. I take a deep breath and slowly make my way towards the bushes. When I get closer once again my instincts stop me from thinking and I throw a kick right at someone's face, a moan can be heard from the bushes.

"Oow! Was that really necessary?" Says a boy rubbing his chin where I had kicked him.

"Ahh, shoot...Sorry..." I say, rubbing the back of my head a bit, "Sometimes I do that..." I mean it's not a Lie... "Sorry about that again." I'm a bit embarrassed, I can't help but bite my lip. An old habit of mine.

He smirks a bit. "Who would have thought the same person who kicked me in the face would act like that right after." He talks as if we know each other, creepy... "Why are you looking at me like that? You look like you've seen a ghost!" He says childishly. I felt a chill go down my spine, I was creeped out.

"No, I-it's not like that! It's just you...and I ...and well... why would you think that? Do I look creeped out? 'Cause I am NOT creeped out!" I lie.

He laughs, "Uhh yes, yes you do look creeped out! You are SO lying."

I look at him startled. How did he know that I was lying? was I really that readable, was it really that obvious? 

"It's written all over your face! Anyways, what is a village girl like you doing out here at Crystal Lake...?" I'm a bit startled when he answers my thoughts as if he could read my mind. and well I guess I am obvious! I can't help but feel just a little relieved that I now at least know the name of where I am. "And this lake is at least 15 miles away from the closest village..." I see a mischievous smirk grow on his face.

"I-I..." I didn't know what to say to that so I ended up saying whatever I thought of first. "I-I didn't know I was so far...? YA, I DIDN'T KNOW I CAME SO FAR!" I shout a bit flustered and embarrassed. Wanting to hide away somewhere. Well, that's the best I can do...whyyyyyyy!!!!????

"Girl you are really bad at lying you know that right?" He is still smirking and it freaks me out. "Anyways milady, I'm Shaka an...an apprentice, learning magic." He says mimicking a butler or a noble from an anime.

An apprentice...? Magic? This guy's talking nonsense! I think to myself confused. "Magic? Magic doesn't exist! You're living in Ku Ku land!" I shout. Think only that magic couldn't exist.

"Are you sure...? What if I told you it is real?" he says now looking up." I swear... He smirks too much I shudder when the smirk on his face becomes serious. "Everyone knows magic is real...you're not from here are you...?" what the! How the heck did he find out!? I never even mentioned anything about where I was from!

I'm embarrassed even more but I'm mostly taken aback by his remark. "H-how did you k-" I get cut off.

"I'm just kidding! Everyone knows you're not allowed to travel!" I let out a sigh of relief. This kid...what was his name? Shaka? Oh ya, he is getting on my nerves! I almost thought he knew! "Well, what a pleasant conversation!" He says once again back to being mischievous. "Oh...I've already told you who I am, It's your turn to do the same." I stare at him, I can't help but blink at the sudden change in topic. Damn, this kid knows how to talk!

"Uhhhh...it's..." Sh*t that was so sudden! Now that I think about it...what is my name? My Head hurts when I notice, How do I not even remember my name?! I panic, thoughts running around my brain. WHAT THE F*CK IS MY NAME!? Actually...now that I think about it I don't remember anyone else's name...just Dere- No I shouldn't think about him he's the one that killed me and...wait what? For a brief moment, frustration and confusion could be seen as if a bucket of cold water splashed all over my face.

"Hey, you alright?" Only when I hear someone else's voice,  do I remember I'm not alone.

"What?... Oh Shaka..."

"Hey You look, I don't know like you just lost everything...?" I don't hear him, my eyes just widen and I hear a voice in my head. I gulp as I falter, It was new Information, but it felt like I knew all of it already.

The voice in my head sounds like a Man, he speaks in a fancy manner his voice deep, but it sounds as if he is reciting a spell, no it was more than a spell, It was in another language, not one that existed on earth, I knew that much, A headache comes over and excruciating pain in my chest as I cough and place a hand on the trunk of a tree next to the bushes and I lean on it. I feel like screaming but I can't it's as if I've lost my voice and the strength to even do so. The pain slowly comes to an end after a few as I fall over clutching my chest. And the last thing I hear was a name, It said it was my name...

The pain disappears and I stay on the ground tearing up, I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, you okay?" I hear Shaka's voice. I look up my eyes full of tears, my face still mirroring the pain. I just Nod.

"M-my name...it's Linali, Linali Nareen." I feel his hand On my shoulder. As I repeated the name the voice said was mine.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Shaka says I just Nod as I get up, Tramutized. I turn to face Crystal Lake.

"You said the Villiage is 15 miles away right?" I say listlessly. My eyes are still teary and in pain MY hand in a fist against my chest.

"Ya, that's what I said, do you want to go," Shaka said. I nod as I get up taking long deep breaths. Who would have thought he'd be smirking once more...behind my back? "All right we can get going..." If I had been paying more attention I probably would have noticed the change in his voice...almost eeri. 

Hi, It's me Lil' Bean! 

Thank you for sticking around this long! I would like to once again, shout out, Luxembourger for helping me with this part/chapter! THANK YOU!

See yall in the next chapter! I hope you enjoyed the nursery rhyme though!

-LB