The journey back to the West after a long time was somber and heavy-hearted. My flying monkeys carried Elysia and me through the night, the Emerald City fading into the distance as we flew over the burned forest that marked our homeland. The once lush landscape was now a stark wasteland, scorched and desolate, with flickers of green fire still dancing among the charred trees.
As we approached our village, the sight was a painful reminder of the devastation that had already occurred. The forest fire that had ravaged the land was a grim omen of the darker times to come. The familiar village, once a haven of comfort, was now a shell of its former self.
Upon arrival, we landed discreetly on the outskirts, avoiding any detection. The village lay in an uneasy silence, the aftermath of the fire leaving a heavy, oppressive air. We made our way through the wreckage, heading straight for our mother's dwelling.
When we reached our mother's home, we found her sitting among the remnants of what had once been a cozy sanctuary. Her face, lined with the years of hardship, looked up at us with a mix of resignation and sadness.
"Mother," I began, my voice strained with the weight of what we were about to ask. "You need to come with us. We're in danger, and we can't stay here. The Wizard's Knights might come for us, and they'll destroy everything."
Our mother's gaze was steady but unyielding. "No," she replied firmly, her voice carrying the weight of a final decision. "I would rather stay here and die in my own home than run away, always hiding and being criticized as the mother of evil witches."
Her words were a knife to my heart. I wanted to argue, to convince her of the danger, but I knew her mind was made up. Her pride and resignation were intertwined in her choice, a reflection of a life lived under scrutiny and judgment.
Elysia and I embraced our mother tightly, the sorrow of the moment overshadowing any words we might have spoken. The weight of her decision was unbearable, but it was her choice to make.
As we prepared to leave, a sense of inevitability settled over us. We had come to understand that the destruction of our home was a part of the price we would have to pay. The village, which had been our sanctuary and our life, was now a symbol of the fallout from our choices.
With heavy hearts and the pain of betrayal fresh in our minds, we triggered the magic that would destroy the village. Flames erupted, consuming the remnants of our home, reducing it to ashes. The fire spread quickly, fueled by the lingering embers of green magic that had once signified hope and now marked ruin.
The villagers' screams, once a familiar sound, were now distant echoes. We stood apart, witnessing the destruction unfold, knowing that our choices had sealed the fate of those we had once called neighbors and friends.
As the last of the village was engulfed in flames, Elysia and I took to the skies once more. The destruction was complete, and our homeland was now nothing more than a smoldering ruin. We flew away, leaving behind the remnants of our past and the ghostly echoes of our lost lives.
The journey ahead was uncertain, but with the village destroyed and our mother's sacrifice a stark reminder of the price we had paid, we knew there was no turning back. The path we walked was now one of exile and resolve, and as we ventured further into the unknown, the weight of our decisions lingered, a constant reminder of the bitter end we had forged.
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The wicked path: the chronicles of a witch
Fantasy**"The Wicked Path: The Chronicles of a Witch"** follows the early life of Demi-Athara, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West. Set in the northernmost region of Oz, the story explores Demi's discovery of her magical heritage and her experienc...
