Damien's pov

I had a transparent, magic machete in my hand as I slashed through the dense foliage. Mirabel walked behind me admiring the natural forest surrounding her Encanto. Hugo was on her shoulder, looking around. When Sprites are manifested, they don't have senses. No eyes, ears, mouth, nothing. They're just a ball of their own element. 

Hugo may be a firefox, but he only got a fox-like appearance due to Mirabel being my student. My official title among the elders is "Aqua Vulpes Bruja", which blatantly translates to Water Fox Witch. Witches, are not, the best at names. My last name is literally cauldron in the witches tongue. 

I looked around and spotted a fae with a human baby. I stopped Mirabel and lifted my blade. I held my hand over her mouth so she would stay silent. I waited for the Fae to vanish before releasing her. 

"That woman disappeared?"

"She was a Fairy. Like the Fae you've encountered in my room, their lives are long lived with different purposes. Say, Aphid. Her nest in like a bee hive. You have the ringleader, two types of workers, the birthing mothers, and the security fleets. Fairies, bring forth different things in the world. Snow, bountiful harvests, good luck, but every so often they will have horribly ugly offspring. It's not often, but when it does happen, they go to a human's place of dwelling with a young baby, and they swap the infants."

"That baby is from the Encanto?!"

"No. Aphid and her pack is protecting the area. For as long I live in the Encanto, she and her people will protect the area. Make sense?"

"Yeah, but wouldn't the humans notice the different baby?"

"No. The fairy places a spell of her babe to make it look like the humans baby. The spell only works on human eyes and it has a sixteen year time frame. When the child reaches sixteen years of age, the spell wears off and the fairy features take form. Well, lets keep moving. If there's an entrance to Tir Na Nog here, more Fae and Fairies will come through."

I ushered Mirabel along and we soon came across a water hole. 

"This will be a good place to take camp."

"Camp?"

"Yeah. Most Fae come out at night. With your scent, you'd probably attach all the fae we need, but any extra will be a learning experience. Now it's time to make your first staff."

"Really?!"

"Yup. Stand back."

I spread my legs, shoulder length apart, brought my fingertips together in front of me, and thrust them out. The force knocked my back and made me clutch at my chest, just under my heart. I looked up and saw the portal. 

"This portal...will last for an hour. Let's go."

My hand never left my chest as we walked through. 

"This is...Arcadia?"

"Yes. Birthplace of the first Witch's Coven. Go around and find whatever material that calls out to your core. I'm going to rest."

I fell backward onto the soft grass. I propped myself against a smooth boulder and watched  Mirabel explore the lovely plains. She stopped in front of a tree and ran her fingers along the bark. I hefted myself up and made my way over to her. 

"That is the elm. It's a good sturdy tree. Perfect for -"

Her hand glowed a light green and broke through the middle of the tree. Her hand reemerged with a large seed.

"Holy hells, Mirabel, do you know what that is?"

"No?"

"It's a yggdrasil seed. Is that what your core is calling to?"

"Yeah..."

I took the seed from her and she followed me out of the portal. I sat on a rock and took out my measuring tape. Two meters in length and three feet wide. 

"It's just about noon now. You should get some rest before we start moving. I'll start your staff, but it won't be complete for a day."

"Alright. I'll see you when I wake up." 

She took a powder out of a small pouch hanging on her skirt and sprinkled it over herself. She was knocked out in seconds. 

"Low grade sleeping powder. Not bad little missy."

I placed Hugo in a circle of stones, on top of some wood. 

"Hugo, I took the liberty of making a firepit. I hope it'll suffice as a nest for the time being."

He yipped at me and lit himself on fire. He laid down and started to nap. I smiled at him before turning to the massive seed. I cracked my neck and manifested my machete again. I carefully started carving the seed into a staff. It was crude, but I needed better lighting to do the more intricate details. I shrunk the staff and placed in in my bag. I started walking around the camp, protecting my two wards from the Aerials flitting to and from. 

After the sun fell, I had a bad feeling. I stuck a tracking stone in Mirabel's pocket before shaking her awake. 

"Mirabel, it's time to head out. Wakey wakey!"

She jolted awake and ate a small bit of fruit salad and an arepa. I ate one arepa and started leading the way into a cave at the base of the mountain. 

"Hey Damien, are we going to able to get back to Casita?"

"Yes. As we been walkin about, I've been memorizing the area. Everything I see is jotted down on a map in my bag. Don't worry we won't get lost. There is a small nest of Azebans' in here. They are harmless comedians, but they are Fae."

"Are we going to kill them?"

"Dear lord, no. I make it a habit, not to kill harmless Fae. They're too cute and sweet. I just want to show you and gift one to Antonio."

I led her in. Azebans' have the appearance of small racoons, but their tiny. Much tinier than normal racoons. They are much fluffier and more friendly than most animals and Fae. mirabel gasped and her eyes sparkled. The Azebans' were rolling around around a straw and twig nest, just chirping and watching us. They watched us with curious and sparkly eyes, not unlike Mirabel in that current moment. 

"Go pick one out for your primo."

She ran forward and the small racoon-like Fae started jumping over each other to get to her. They tripped over each other, falling and rolling around. Mirabel laughed at their silliness. One of them jumped up onto her unoccupied shoulder. 

"Is that the one you taking?"

"Yup!"

"Okay then, lets go."

I led her out of the cave as she held the azeban like a human baby. The tiny Fae was wriggling around, enjoying the attention. I led her to a smaller clearing and waited. She seemed curious, but I shushed her and pointed. A white, horned horse crept into the clear and nibble on the grass.

"You should know what that is?"

"A unicorn..." 

"Yes. They only show themselves to witches, but are know to aid injured humans on the verge of death."

Mirabel slowly walked forward. I quickly yanked her back. 

"Are you daft?! Never approach a unicorn! Witch or not, that horn is not just for show! They are the only Fae Beast capable of using magic, are are dangerously accurate with that damned horn."

"They...attack people?"

"Yes. Unlike the legends, if someone approach a unicorn, they take it as a challenge. My best friend Valeria always approach unicorns, and she was always stabbed for it. They are incredibly vain creatures, so feel free to sketch him in your notebook. I'll prepare a small offering. Don't ever copy, what I'm about to do." 

I let her start her drawing while I prepared the fruit salad. I crawled over and nudged the bowl with me. The unicorn watched me with a dominate glare. I gave the bowl a final nudge and backed away quickly. I relaxed as he ate the fruit, posing for Mirabel when he finished. I had the bowl float back to me, not even going to try and chance getting closer again. 

It took a little over half an hour before she was done with her sketch. It was beautifully done and she thanked the unicorn for his generosity. He huffed and trotted back into the forest. 

"We should keep moving. With Fae about, it never a good idea to stay in one place."

I led her through th clear into the opposite way of the unicorn. I took the lead, cutting away leaves and branches. A faint growling caught my ears. 

"Mirabel, down!"

We both threw ourselves to the ground as a wendigo leapt out. I quickly splashed Mirabel with ice cold water. 

"Mirabel, run!"

She took off as the foul monster leapt at me again. 

"What in the hells is a Wendigo doing this far South?! It should be too hot for you! You shouldn't be here!"

It leapt at me again, so I quickly slice off it's head. I sprayed myself with water to get rid of the blood. I held up my hand and took a deep breath. 

"Semita Lux!"

A bright white ball of pure light energy appeared above my hand. 

"I command you, ball of light. Take me to her."

The light zoomed off toward the direction Mirabel ran. The light disappeared just behind a tree. 

"Oh sweet Butterfly~ You should join us in Tir Na Nog~ Your family won't miss you~ Even that defect doesn't believe you can fight by his side~ We have so many beautifully talented Fairy teacher in our realm. Come with, sweet girl~"

My heart jumped into my throat as Mirabel was surrounded by Aerials. They are Wind Fae. I know they for their honeyed word and sweet promises. If they take Mirabel to Tir Na Nog, she would be gone for year without even knowing and she would miss her family growing old and dying.

"I'm sorry, but I want to stay here. Even if my family won't miss me, I'll miss them. And so what if Damien doesn't want to fight at my side. I'll just have to work harder and prove myself to him!"

I smiled at her conviction and blatant principles. The Aerials did not smile. Despite their words and promises, the are vindictive and nasty when they don't get what they want. A small group of them brought the unicorn from earlier out, lured by a few carrots, gluttonous beast. As soon as they both made eye contact, the unicorn reared up and charge at her. I ran in front of her and took a vicious stab in my arm. 

"Infiernos de mierda!"

I held the gaping hole in my arm. The Aerials and mystical horse ran off.

"Damien?! Are you okay?!"

"I'll be fine. The hurts like unos hijos de puta."

"I don't now would be an appropriate time to watch your language."

"You think?! Sorry, I don't mean to snap at you, but meirda, this hurts!"

"Will you be able to heal it with one of your potions?"

"No. I need to call Valeria. She was always getting stabbed so only she figured out how to heal the stab wounds. Unicorn horns have a type of venom, that interferes with magic. Dio mio, this hurts! Aphid!"

Aphid and Coara, surprisingly shows up and they start fretting about my arm. 

"Enough. Take us back to the Casita before I die of Unicorn poisoning!"

They both shut up and grabbed our hair. They popped us to my room where I promptly fell over, and threw up the single arepa in my stomach. 

"Master?!"

I felt Selkie wedge herself under my arm and someone else under the other. 

"Selkie...mirror call Valeria. The pearl....connected to her...is the center one...one the bottom."

I closed my eyes and focus on my breathing after I told Selkie what to do.

Vote, comment, and have a fantabulous day 😊😊💖💖 
1937 words 
Enjoy