A Fairytale...

chapter 21: The old witch

Kristin, Marieke, and Sabrina left the council chamber with a renewed sense of purpose. Though they had reported their findings to the Royal Family, they were no closer to understanding the full extent of the aura they were tracking. Time was running out, and the mystery surrounding the magic was becoming more unsettling by the day.

"We need to look at this from a different angle," Kristin said, her frustration barely concealed. "The magic we’re sensing—it’s older than we thought, and I feel like we're missing something."

Sabrina was silent, her mind deep in thought. She had spent hours poring over ancient texts but felt like the answer was just out of reach. "We need to go back to the beginning," she finally said. "The origin of this magic. If we can understand where it came from, we might be able to track its source more accurately."

Marieke nodded. "The problem is, we’re dealing with something tied to the fairy realm. It's not like we can just walk in and start asking questions. We’ll need more information."

Kristin looked between her two comrades. "Then we focus on that. We need to find someone who knows more about old magic, someone who might have seen this kind of thing before."

Sabrina’s eyes narrowed. "There is one person… Miza."

Marieke stiffened at the mention of her name. Kristin frowned but nodded. "Miza... the old witch. She’s deeply connected to the origins of fairy magic, right?"

Sabrina hesitated. "Yes, and if anyone knows the truth behind this aura, it’s her. But Miza hasn’t been seen in years. She went into hiding after being shunned by the council for experimenting with forbidden magic."

Kristin sighed. "We don’t have a choice. If she’s our best lead, we need to find her."

---

Meanwhile, in the human realm, Hina and Sharxea continued to enjoy the festival, but the sense of unease never left Hina. She kept her composure around Sharxea, who was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them. As they wandered through the town’s brightly lit streets, Hina felt the familiar pulse of magic brush against her senses.

It was faint but undeniable, a presence that tugged at her awareness. Hina felt a subtle pulse of magic in the air as she and Sharxea strolled through the lively festival. The energy was faint but distinct, something she couldn’t ignore. She tried to focus on the bright lights and music, but the sensation lingered at the back of her mind, pulling her attention away from the festivities.

Sharxea, unaware of Hina’s distraction, smiled as she pointed at a vendor selling sparkling trinkets. “Look at this, Hina! They’re beautiful!”

Hina forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah, they are.”

But deep inside, her thoughts wandered back to the strange magic she had felt earlier. It was familiar in a way that unnerved her, yet she couldn’t pinpoint why. Something—or someone—was watching them.