the witch in the forest

the lost child, and their (so called) teacher.

"Can I leave now?" Perdita asked, her voice betraying none of the anxiety one might expect from someone in her position. She leaned against the wall with an air of casual disinterest, her eyes scanning the room as if she were merely waiting for a train.

"No," Soleil snapped, her eyes narrowing into slits as she glared at Perdita with unrestrained animosity. 

"Not until you hand over the pen. Or I'll take it from you."

Lillith, who had been watching the exchange with a detached demeanor, shifted her gaze from Soleil to Perdita. With a soft hum, she crossed her arms over her chest, her posture a blend of casual indifference and subtle disapproval.

"Look," Lillith said in a measured tone, "the pen is in her possession. According to witch law, if you've had something for over a year, it's considered yours."

Soleil's face darkened with frustration. "Can you please SHUT UP, Lillith?!" she roared, her patience clearly wearing thin.

Lillith sighed deeply, her lips pressing into a thin line as she fell silent. The abruptness of her compliance seemed to tug at Perdita's conscience, making her wonder why Lillith had acquiesced so easily.

Soleil let out a derisive scoff, her eyes flashing with irritation. "I don't have time for this. Hand over the pen."

Without waiting for a response, Soleil reached out and snatched the pen from Perdita's grasp. In a blink, she was gone, leaving nothing but the faint echo of her departure in the room. 

Lillith and Perdita were left in a heavy silence, their gazes locked in mutual contemplation.

That was my sister's pen.THAT WAS MY SISTER'S PEN.

The realization hit Perdita with the force of a physical blow, 

her mind racing with a seething tide of fury. Her eyes blazed as she stood abruptly, her movements sharp and determined.

Turning sharply to Lillith, Perdita demanded, "Lillith, do you know where she went?"

Lillith met Perdita's gaze with a calm but inscrutable expression. Her eyes held a glimmer of sympathy, yet she remained composed. "I have a general idea," she said softly, "but finding her won't be easy. We'll need to act quickly if we want to recover the pen—and whatever else she might have taken."

Perdita's heart pounded in her chest as she processed Lillith's words. "Tell me," Perdita demanded, her voice trembling with urgency. "Where do we start?"

Lillith hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting towards the door. "We'll need to track her through the ley lines," she finally said, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "She's likely using them to cover her tracks."

Perdita's mind whirled with questions. "Ley lines? You mean the mystical pathways that connect different places?"

Lillith nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. Soleil is skilled at navigating them. She could be anywhere by now, but the ley lines will show her recent movements."

A sense of dread mingled with determination. Perdita glanced around the room, mentally preparing for whatever lay ahead. "Where do we begin?"

Lillith walked to a wooden chest in the corner of the room, its surface intricately carved with arcane symbols. She opened it with a practiced touch, revealing a collection of ancient maps and enchanted tools. With deliberate movements, she selected a small, ornate compass that glowed with a soft, eerie light.