Star Sun Cave

Ch. 36 | Candle in the Wind

Supra gave Elena a small shining crystal, and the birthday girl pretended to cry in pure joy and bliss. Rongie passed a small, thin tool which she thought could be useful in her everyday life, without adding too much information, and Elena hugged her. Finally, it was Sneak's turn, and she took out another shining crystal, but this one could create fires when rubbed on its side.

Morio sighed, and Ambrosia looked at the Morian who lay on the flowerbed while they sat. "It's so cool, isn't it?" Morio rubbed his eyes. Ambrosia didn't answer, and Morio continued. "The things they do to find joy. It must be amazing to live a life without worries so much that you step into danger for a little fun."

"I'm not sure that's what witches do." Ambrosia put their hand on their lips, scratching a little. "At least that's not what people believe in."

"How much do you know about witches?" Morio sat up. "You've said a lot!"

"Not too much, except the obvious." they scratched their left cheek. "Obvious..." they muttered. "Some people don't even know witches exist." Ambrosia raised a finger. "But, I have the right to believe that something about all of this is a little curious and strange. You don't see a Malikan rabbit jumping into the water, right? It's only grass that they like." Ambrosia blinked a few times.

"Maybe they're just different witches?" Morio waddled over to Ambrosia. "Like, Idalia didn't have wings, but they do."

Ambrosia raised their eyebrows. "Who's Idalia?"

"L-Long story." Morio rolled his eyes, taking a flower out of the rosy field, and putting it into his mouth. "Maybe another day." he spat the flower out, complaining about its strange taste, but no one answered his gripes.

Suddenly, the coherent, joyous and hopeful melody of the harp dimmed like the sparkling light that the witches created. Simultaneously, they all turned to the two new guests, politely beaming.

"What about you?" Elena asked, closing her sparkling eyes and putting her soft, translucent hands on her lap, before moving them up to her face. "What have you brought me as a gift?"

Morio made a strange face, scratching his head and turned to Ambrosia who shrugged, as if annoyed. "Uhh! It was a party at such short notice! We didn't know we were invited!"

"Haha!" Hexia chuckled, although the sounds she made were rather pleasant and comfortable, there was a sinister tint to everything that unfolded. "You don't come to a party without a gift..."

The witches nodded, looking at each other.

Ambrosia first pulled out one part of her Guardian Demon, putting it behind themselves and then reached into their handbag. "Here." Ambrosia took something out of the said pocket, that being a half-empty flask of pure water from Magna, and handed it over to Elena.

"What could this possibly be?" the witch in question asked.

"It's for curing wounds." Ambrosia closed one eye.

"Oh, thank you, my dear." Elena spoke, putting her hands near her heart, and all the others made a few 'grateful' noises. Then, they turned to Morio, with big expectations.

"Um!" Morio kept scratching any part near his head that desired to be scratched and looked around nervously. "I can give you my cloak!"

"No, Morio," Ambrosia whispered, blinking with one eye, constantly.

"I..." Morio gulped. "I'm sorry, sisters. I don't have anything on me. I can go back and find-"

"No, it's okay. I have an idea." Hexia raised a finger. "Our cake... the flowerbed that you're standing on, it doesn't have candles, does it?" she asked, and all the other witches nodded, even agreeing verbally.