(Zane x reader) The Divine Chronicles Book 1: Change

Chapter 7: The Forest

Seeing the forest and being reminded of its beauty reminded me of the forest outside Okasis.
The three princes and I would play in them often. The forest was said to be cursed but Garroth, the eldest had insisted that those were all just silly rumors and that they weren't true. He had convinced us to play a game of hide and seek in the forest and because we were young and silly we all agreed. Zane had pulled me through what seemed like the never ending forest until I relized that no mater what direction we went we kept coming to the same spot. I dug my heals into the ground causing Zane to stop and look at me with a rather confused expression. I pointed out the fact that we were in the same spot that we started and that we had passed through this exact spot almost five other times. Zane looked around, his head swiveling from left to right as he examined his surroundings "Zane! This forest really is cursed! And were lost!" I began to panic. Zane reassured me that we would eventually find our way out, and even though I was almost one-hundred percent certain that we were going to die in that forest I allowed him to drag me deeper in because I trusted him.
We were walking for what seemed like forever until finally we found Something.
There was a clearing in the trees and in the middle of the clearing was a small house. "Zane! Look! A house! We're saved!" I cheered as the dark haired boy hushed me. I quieted my self and began to pull him towards the building. Zane resisted my tugs on his arm, "y/n! We don't know who lives in there!" Zane protested fear hinting the edges of his voice. I rolled my eyes at him and pulled on his arm harder but he was stronger than me and I couldn't get him to move. I let go of Zane's arm and shrugged my shoulders turning on the heel of my boot and walking toward the house on my own. "W-wait! Y/n! Where are you going?!" Zane called after me, but I didn't reply. The boy huffed and raced after me. "Y/n! Your insane let's go back!" Zane said through pants but I ignored him and kept going. Zane was about to protest more until he relized that we had already reached the house. I reached up my hand to knock but before I could and before Zane could stop me, the door opened to reveal a tall woman with white hair done up in some elaborate looking bun and long gray robes. She was very beautiful and even though she was definatly old she still somehow managed to look young. She offered us a dazzling smile. "Why hello there I've been wanting to meet you two for a while now, I'm glad to finally get the pleasure." Zane looked utterly terrified while I just stood there in wonder. I finally snapped out of it when Zane started poking at my arm. I shook myself and looked at the woman "H-hello m-my name is-"
"Y/n" the woman said my name for me "and you must be prince Zane" she said directing her attention to the boy standing next to me, who was now holding my arm in a death grip as if I was the only thing in the world that would keep him alive. "How do you know our names?" I asked the woman. "I've been friends with the royal family of Okasis for years but never have I gotten the chance to meet any of Zianna sons" she said smiling down at Zane who began to relax knowing that this woman was an acquaintance of his mother's. "And wha-what's your name?" I asked "you can call me Hyria" the woman said to me. "Hello Mrs. Hyria" I said "would you like to come in for some tea?" She asked gesturing in to her house "of course why thank you!" I said before Zane could have the chance to decline the offer. He shot me a look before I dragged him into the woman's house.
Inside the house seamed to be much bigger than it looked on the outside. There were all kinds of strange things inside her house as well. Glass bottles filled with strange liquids and books with odd lettering lined the walls, side by side with ordinary nick nacks. The house smelled if cinnamon and pine wich I found to be quite relaxing. Zane stayed close to my side as my eyes wondered about the interesting things that lay about Hyria's house. "You can have a seat here if you'd like, the tea will be out in just a moment." Said the woman as she gestured to a table and chairs. I took a seat Zane sitting next to me. He looked rather uneasy and I couldn't figure out why. The place seamed quite nice to me. Hyria came into the room carrying a try with three tea cups on it. She placed the tray down in the center of the table and I reached for one. "So, Mrs. Hyria-"
"Please just Hyria"
"Ok, Hyria, so how is it that you don't get lost in this forest?" I asked sipping my tea. Hyria let out a soft chuckle "well you see dear I'm the one making it so people get lost. I've put a spell on the forest because it's my job to protect this beautiful place."
"What do you mean. Spell?" Zane said his voice shaking. "Well I'm a wich, and a very powerful one might I add" Zane turned an unnatural shade of white. I wasn't sure it was possible for a human to reach that level of pale. Zane seemed absoloutly terrified at the news of Hyria's being a wich but I was utterly amazed and I wanted to hear more. "Your a wich! That's so cool! Are- does that mean you're really old!? Oh my Irene I'm sorry that sounded rude!" I apologized quickly realizing I had said somthing that could greatly offend the which, but instead of being offended Hyria just laughed. "It's quite alright, I'm not offended. Yes it is true, I have lived many years." She said. Zane began to relax as the woman began to tell stories of her years on this planet. Somthing about the woman seemed familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on what.
We had stayed in the house for hours until we noticed the sun was begining to set. "Oh no! Garroth and Vylad are probably in a panicking right now!" I said standing up from my seat at the table. "I'm so sorry hyria, but we really need to be going!" I frantically said as Zane began to stand from his seat as well. "Oh my it is getting late, you should indeed be getting back"
"But how are we gonna find our way out of here?" Zane said as he followed me to the door, Hyria close behind. "Don't worry I'll have a wisp guide you back." The wich said. We stepped out the door of the house as Hyria whispered somthing that I couldn't hear into the wind, and a blue floating orb appeared in front of us. "Follow this and you'll find your way out,  and if you ever want to come back just call and I'll send a wisp to fetch you" She said "but how will you know if it's us?" I asked "I can sense the presence of every thing that enters this forest don't worry, I have eyes and ears all throughout his the trees don't worry if you call it will here you" The wich reassured as she lead us from her home "now hurry home"
"We'll be sure to come back!" I called as we left the clearing and made our way into the forest and we did, Zane and I would venture in almost every day to see our friend, until about a few years ago we stopped going. We got caught up in outer studies and hyria became nothing but a childhood memory.
I look back on the time from when we had first met hyria, a friend that Zane and I had shared but now I was running from him. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. What if I had just turned around and pretended I hadn't seen anything? What if I had just stayed in his room? I'm such a fool. I shouldn't have said those things but, they were true weren't they? Zane was a monster? I didn't know how I felt but what I did know is that I had to get away from this village, to the only place I knew I could go, I was going to visit Hyria.