Andres woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was a beautiful room, but unfamiliar. Getting to his feet carefully, he found his thin framed glasses next to his bed. 

High, light green walls, dark blue ceiling with a small crystal chandelier, a large dark colored wardrobe, a glass cabinet, a cushy bed with dark green covers, and a shelf next to his bed. 

A bowl of water, a small plate with bits of cheese and bread, and a tiny animal bed were placed by a hole in the wall. 

"Mateo?"

The small gray rat scampered out of the hole and into Andre's hand. 

"Hey buddy. Are you okay? Where are we?"

After placing the rat on his shoulder, Andres looked through the wardrobe. A white shirt, and black cargo pants hung above a pair of study brown sandals.

After getting dressed, Andres and Mateo made their way downstairs. An older Sofia and a lady he didn't recognize were in a kitchen area, making a spread of food. Andres could discern sausage, bacon, eggs, pancakes, and a large jug of a beverage. 

"Ah, Neito. Please come in. Breakfast is ready." 

Mateo hid in on of the pockets inn Andres pants before he sat at the table.

"Abuela Sofia, where are we?"

"We are in your Granny Sasha's home. She lives a little ways away from your Encanto, so I don't think you have your gift of superspeed."

"Granny Sasha?"

"Yes dearie. You might not remember me, I only visited when you and your siblings were toddlers and child."

"Right, so why are we out here?"

"Since, nobody in that house was giving you the proper respect, or magical training your deserve, I took you out here to properly teach you with Sasha."

"Granny Sasha, if you don't mind me asking, what life are you on?" 

"Very astute of you my dear. I'm on my ninth lifetime. I'm technically thirteen physically, but I aged this body to twenty-five years of age to properly use my magic. Are you please with breakfast, niño?"

"Yes, it's delicious. Thank you for the food Granny Sasha."

"Such a sweet boy. Go wash up and we can begin your first lesson. Towels and washcloths are in the closet next to the bathroom, and clothes are in your room."

Andres walked, almost as if in a daze, back to his apparent new room. He picked out a dull yellow shirt, a ruana that reminded him of his Papa, a pair of brown slacks, and a pair of black sandals. His shower took only fifteen minutes, but it was a whole ten minutes longer than what he usually got. 

His glasses were foggy walking out of the bathroom, but he was relaxed. He missed his Papa and Azule, greatly however. 

"Hey Neito, what's on your mind?"

Andres jumped and fixed his typical 'everything is fine' smile.  

"Nothing at all Abuela Sofia."

"Nice acting Andres, but you can't fool this hag. What's the matter?"

"I miss Azule and Papa."

"Damien? Why would you miss that worthless excuse of a -?"

"No, not Padre, Papa. Camilo Madrigal. He was always nice to me and spent time with me when Padre was too busy. And Azule is my oldest sibling, they've been my role model for magic ever since I was five."

"I see. Go downstairs and help Granny Sasha clean up, okay Neito?"

"Okay Abuela Sofia." 

Andres left Mateo on his shelf with a small block of cheese and a piece of bread before heading down the stairs. Sofia was finishing her cup of coffee and biscuit when Andres walked in. 

"Ah, sweetie, great timing."

"Abuela Sofia asked me to help you clean up."

"As she should. You're first lesson. Cleaning dishes. Watch this."

She stood up and snapped her fingers. The food still on the table was piled into a large bin. The dirty plates, pans, cups, and kettle floated into the air and vanished. 

"Where'd they go?"

"I banished them. In fifteen minutes they'll reappear in the cupboards all freshly cleaned."

"Fascinating. I didn't know banishment spells worked like that."

"Typically, they don't. I made this spell myself. I have yet to officially publish it in the LLG."

"I'm sorry, the what?"

"LLG? Lucinda's LookingGlass of course. The most popular witch's magazine in the world. How have you never heard of it?"

"I've read about a lookingglass before in a book I took from Padre's room, but that's it."

"Ay dios mio. Lucinda's LookingGlass is what it sounds like dear child. Every month, witch's from all over get a visit from Lucinda's familiar, an albino Thunderbird, and for a small fee of gems and biscuits, you receive an ornate lookingglass. When you want to publish something you have to record yourself with a crystal, give it to the Thunderbird, who will then give it to Lucinda. She will publish it, and pay the witch for the contribution."

"I've never seen a Thunderbird before."

"They're majestic creatures. Lucinda's Thunderbird will arrive sometime in the week for so you definitely be able to meet them. Have you found a familiar Neito?"

"No, all the creature in the Encanto serve either Padre or Tias' Valeria and Mirabel. They didn't want to form a contract with me due to Selkie."

"Damien's familiar?"

"Yeah, she doesn't like me and all the surrounding Fae avoided me for fear of retaliation otherwise."

"She was such a sweetheart as a youngling. To hear how spiteful and cruel she's become is heartbreaking."

"At least she's nice and loves my sisters and Azule. She treats them kindly and helps Faye and Cadence cause mischief."

"So it's just you she hates? My poor baby."

Sasha pull Andres into a tight hug rubbing his back. 

"Abuela Sasha, what are we doing with the leftover food?"

Andres was quick to squirm out of her arms and back up a good foot or two. He loathed physical contact, except for his Papa and oldest sibling. They were the only ones to show him love in his whole family. 

He then thought of Burno II and Alejandro. Alejandro and him got along, but Al could befriend the meanest of animals in Tio Antonio's room. Bruno II on the other hand was a like those animals. Watching. Observing, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His Gift didn't help matters. 

But he had wormed himself into an unsteady, shakey fellowship. Andres would provide information from around the village and Bruno II would owe him a favor. Andres never used these favors, but he was seriously thinking about it. Even though Bruno II was a conniving snake in the grass, he never backed down from his word or a promise, the favors were his word, his unbreakable oath he would uphold no matter what; so long as it didn't affect him or his brother.  

"Andres, hello! Eden to Andres!"

"Huh, what?"

"Sweetheart, are you okay? I was trying to talk to you for a while."

"Sorry Auela Sasha, everything's okay, I'm fine. Eden?"

"Dios mio, they didn't teach the world names. We are on Eden, the Fae realm is called Tir Na Nog, and the birthplace of magic is Arcadia."

"Gotcha. So, what's up?"

"We're making compost!"

"Nature?"

"You bet your sweet butt it's nature! Compost is amazing for keeping your potion ingredients healthy. I'm gonna show you how to make it and how to use it, understood?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

Andres was genuinely excited. He was about to learn something to help his nature affinity. He rolled up his sleeves, took the bin of leftover food, and followed his Abuela Sasha out to her garden.

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This chapter is dedicated to nonbinary_individual

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