SELENE EIN 👁 🌙

MYSTIC THICKET .

Ein stared outside the car windows as it sped through the road, trees were running in the opposite direction.

After a lengthy debate section of who gets to go with whom. In the end, they decided on Aze with Ein and Zem with Oliver. Despite the protests from Ein. They said Aze knows the synod well and Zem was familiar with the bookshop. So they believed it was wise to split up this way.

Ein had guessed from their exchanges that the synod must be somewhere near but they have been driving for one hour already. This was the rarely visited part of the town. She looked at Aze , who was driving, calmly. It was getting dark and they were driving through a deserted road. Her mind began creating a lot of scenarios in her head, was he taking her to slaughter her ? Fear crept through her. He parked the car in front of a huge forest, which made her mind run wild.

"There is no road from here, we will have to walk," Aze said in a calm voice.

Should she say she won't come? It was scarier in the car. Eventually, she decided to follow him. He got out and came to her side, and opened the door for her. Were all kidnappers gentlemen like him? She got out of the car.

The trees in the front were so tall like a wall concealing what's inside. There was not even a single void to peep inside. This is what usually happens in horror movies, the characters go inside these scary-looking woodlands and encounter scary things. There was not even a single house or human being around there,darkness of the night was gobbling up the world slowly.

"are you going to stand there?" Aze enquired, he had already reached the entrance of the forest. She ran to him for the fear of being left alone. Even if he was her kidnapper, he is the only one she could rely on now. Better to have a familiar kidnapper than someone scarier on the roads.

She caught up with him. They passed into the forest, the trees were so closely set and it was too dark. What if they lose their way? as if the forest had read her thoughts. some kind of lights started illuminating and a curved path came to be visible. It looked like a path from a fairy tale. She moved closer to the lights, they were hovering in the air. Getting a closer look she understood that they were not regular lights but illuminated butterflies with fireflies revolving around them forming a ball of light.

"wow," she whispered. She had never encountered anything this stunning.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Aze asked from the side. She looked at the direction. He was leaning onto a tree trunk with his arms crossed against his chest starting at her. He looked away as soon as she turned. She felt like he was talking about her and not the lights. Her cheeks automatically blushed in response. Thanked the darkness for concealing her blush.

He started striding forwards. She followed him closely. She looked around the forest, it was so beautiful. It offered her a home-like feeling. Abruptly two eyes twinkled in between the bushes. alas, it is a forest. Is it a wolf? Or a tiger? She poked Aze to show him the thing. suddenly the thing jumped. Ein screamed and hugged Aze her eyes shut tight.

Aze began to laugh out aloud. She slowly opened her eyes. They were not any kind of beasts. It was a group of unicorns . But not the normal kind. They were so short, like a deer. Navy blue in color , white cloud-shaped patches on their body with the typical spiraling horn projecting from their forehead. There was something like a circle crown on it's head.

That's when she noticed she was still holding onto Aze. She let go of him and moved near to those unicorns, caressed them lovingly. Their skin was so smooth like silk. The crown-like thing on closer look had a moon and small stars revolving in it. More of them started to come near her. They were so cute and magical she pinched herself to check whether she was sleeping. No, she was completely awake.

"Ein I think we should hurry. I will give a tour of these some other day" Aze called her out of the trance.

"oh okay," she replied.

She pursued Aze, as they moved further the more lights ignited leading the way. They reached the steps. Her mouth gaped open looking up. It was like a stairway to heaven. Like the jack and the beanstalk story, the steps extended above the clouds.

Aze was already climbed up halfway. He glanced back at Ein. She looked like a kid on Christmas. He laughed at her expression.which made her snap out and climb up the stairs.

After a long climb, they reached a huge mansion, the walls were glowing. They entered the mansion.everything was in pure white and peaceful.it was worthy to be called the moon palace.

"let's go through the back so that we don't have to visit the Daturas" Aze instructed.Ein nodded even though she had no idea who they were.

They moved through the back into a sidewalk without creating sounds, strode silently as if they were thieves. There were lights at the end, it must be the library.

"Azarios" a musical voice called from behind.
Ein jumped in shock. They had not heard anyone pursuing them until now,they twirled backwards. She was wearing all white which made Ein retreat behind Aze ,supposing she was a ghost.

"the daturas are asking why you did not greet them upon entering the synod" she proceeded in her gentle voice.

"Ein at the end of the walk there is the library you head there-"

"the daturas have clearly informed to bring the young lady with you" she interrupted his instruction.