Despite her age, the woman exuded an air of regal poise that would have made Anaelle's mother envious. Her face was adorned with wrinkles that, far from detracting from her beauty, only served to enhance it. Anaelle couldn't help but be mesmerized by the stranger's angular features, high cheekbones, and dark, lustrous hair, which was streaked with strands of light.

Her clothing was equally mesmerizing. The asymmetrical cut of her dress was a bold departure from Lumerian fashion, and the diaphanous veils that made up the ensemble seemed to dance and sway in the stillness of the forest's breeze. Anaelle couldn't help but feel uneasy, and she moved closer to Salima, sensing that something was amiss.

"Who are you?" Anaelle demanded, her voice brimming with suspicion.

The stranger smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Now is not the time for questions, princess. Let us adjourn to my abode, where we can converse over a cup of tea."

Anaelle's frown deepened. "If you wish to speak with us, then do so here and now."

"I'm afraid that's not possible," the stranger replied sternly, already turning to leave.

"Wait!" Anaelle cried, her voice fraught with uncertainty. "Why should we trust you?"

The stranger didn't even look back. "I didn't ask for thy trust, princess. I only offered to speak with thou because I have important information that concerns thou."

Anaelle's confusion deepened. "What kind of information? Shall we know more before we go?"

Salima intervened, placing a gentle hand on Anaelle's shoulder. "Let's go now," she said calmly, her eyes fixed on the stranger.

Anaelle turned to her friend, feeling uneasy. "Are you sure about this? She could be dangerous."

Salima's expression remained serene. "I'm certain."

Anaelle's lack of acquiescence was palpable in the tension that remained etched onto her face. Though suspicious of the stranger, she held implicit trust in Salima and that trust, for the time being, extended to their new acquaintance.

With the woman leading the way, they walked on, and Anaelle stole a glance skyward. The sun still hung lazily in the sky, but she knew they couldn't afford to dally. The thought of the panic that would ensue in the palace if she didn't return before nightfall had her straining to quicken her pace. Though the question of how much farther they had to go weighed heavy on her, she refrained from asking the woman. There was something about her that suggested she would ignore her question if it suited her.

For almost an hour, they trudged through the wilderness of the forest. The trail had vanished beneath their feet within mere yards of entering, making the journey more grueling than they could have anticipated. Every step was punctuated by an impact against hidden roots and rocks, leaving them forced to move with the caution of scouts.

Anaelle's anxiety and melancholy had given way to a heady curiosity for this new environment, and, if she were honest, for this unexpected adventure. She smiled in spite of herself.

"Here we are," the woman announced, coming to a stop.

The girls took a few steps closer, and what they saw stole their breath away.

"You...you must be joking," Salima sputtered.

The ground in front of them had been cleaved open as if by a massive sword, creating a canyon that seemed to defy logic. On the other side, a tiny house barely visible, connected only by a flimsy wooden bridge that looked as though it could snap at any moment.

"And this is the only way across?" Anaelle grumbled, skeptical.

The old woman smiled and nodded.

"No way. No, no, no, no!" Anaelle shook her head vigorously. Her life was frustrating, yes, but she didn't want to forfeit it by crossing this horror of a bridge! The boards were all full of holes, or rotten, or broken, or all three!

Approaching the edge, she was relieved that vertigo did not plague her. Otherwise, she would surely have fallen, and the landing would have been an unforgiving one. If she somehow survived a hundred yard drop, the river raging below would surely claim her life.

"I...I don't think I can do this," Salima stammered.

"Thou will have to," the woman replied, her tone firm.

Anaelle joined her friend, the fear in Salima's eyes striking a chord with her own.

"I'm not a fan of heights," Salima apologized, her face contorted in discomfort.

Anaelle struggled to persuade the stranger not to make them cross the bridge, her inflexibility proving to be a roadblock. However, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss. Why had the stranger chosen such a treacherous path? Was there an alternate, safer route?

When she voiced her concerns, Salima's eyes sparked with a newfound curiosity.

"Perhaps there's a trick,' she mused thoughtfully, turning to the stranger. ' But it won't budge that easily, does it?"

The stranger's smile gradually faded. "I can't guarantee anything, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. I won't debate with thou unless thou  do the same."

"Agreed," Salima conceded, rising with a resolute determination.

As the stranger stepped onto the bridge, not a single plank creaked beneath her weight. Despite the gusts that whipped her clothes like sails in the wind, she strode forward with unflinching confidence. Anaelle held her breath, anticipating a moment of imbalance that would cast her down.

But it never came.

The stranger navigated the bridge with effortless grace, reaching the other side in record time. Anaelle turned to Salima.

"I'll go first, alright? Wait until I'm on the other side before you venture across. This bridge won't bear the weight of two people."

Salima nodded, visibly relieved that she didn't have to cross just yet. Anaelle approached the bridge with a stiff resolve, tapping the first board with her foot. The wood groaned but held firm. She took a step, then another. Nothing untoward happened. She allowed herself a sigh of relief.

Two steps down, and an eternity of steps still lay ahead. She refused to dwell on the daunting task before her. Anaelle clutched the moist ropes of the deck for support, avoiding the most dilapidated planks. She dared not glance down at the river below, for fear that it might unnerve her.

With her head held high, Anaelle pushed forward, her fear of the canyon fading as her focus zeroed in on the stranger's house.

It was much larger than Anaelle had anticipated, and bore no resemblance to the modest homes of Solembia's residential neighborhoods. It stood tall and mighty, crafted from the deepest, darkest wood, adorned with intricate shapes and design that climbed upward to a staggering height. The steep, pagoda-like roof was adorned with tiles of emerald green, perfectly matching the natural foliage that surrounded the building. A sprawling gallery burst with life, adorned with an overflow of brilliantly colored blooms.

Upon finally reaching the other side, Anaelle breathed a sigh of relief, signaling to Salima to follow. Despite the distance between them, she sensed her friend's unease. With a reassuring smile, Anaelle called out to the stranger, who was tending to her flower boxes.

"Why did you move here?" Anaelle inquired.

The woman responded curtly. "Out of necessity."

Anaelle was perplexed by the answer. The woman appeared to be someone who would never let necessity dictate her choices. Who was she running from? Or what? But the woman's guarded expression conveyed that she wouldn't share any more information. So Anaelle shifted her focus back to Salima.

The winds grew stronger as Salima progressed across the bridge. Anaelle had made the journey without issue, but she watched with a growing sense of alarm as her friend struggled against the gusts of wind. Suddenly, Anaelle realized that nature had never unleashed its fury upon her during the journey.

But surely, Salima would persevere.

Yes. She would hold on.

All the way.

Or not.

An ear-splitting crack rent the air. The plank beneath Salima's feet gave way, and Anaelle let out a piercing scream that reverberated through the canyon. It blended seamlessly with Salima's own scream, as she clung tightly to the ropes, fighting to stay alive.

Anaelle's voice shook with terror as she exclaimed, "Come on! We must help her!" But the stranger remained indifferent, much to Anaelle's frustration. "Damn it! Do something! It's your fault!" she cried out, hoping to elicit some kind of response. This time, the woman looked up and glared at her, and with a simple retort, shut down Anaelle's accusations. "Wrong. Thou hast decided to follow me. Take responsibility for thy decisions."

Anaelle felt contempt rise in her throat as she ran to the deck, paying no mind to the forceful wind that threatened to topple her at any moment. She reached her friend's side and tried to hoist her up onto the deck, but quickly realized that she didn't have the strength to do so. Salima's arms were stiff, like metal bars, and Anaelle knew that she wouldn't last long in this position.

Gritting her teeth, Anaelle made a decision. "I'll count to three. Then you drop everything and hold on to me." It was a risky move.... But before they could try it, nature's will overcame theirs.

Salima let out a long scream as her fingers were torn from the ropes by tempetuous gale.

A cry that stopped abruptly when the wind suddenly died down. Anaelle finally managed to see something... inconceivable.

Salima was not falling anymore. She was simply standing there, suspended, a few meters below the bridge. Impossibly alive.

"What the..." Anaelle trailed off, shocked by what she was seeing.

Salima began to levitate towards the house, floating like a cloud. When she landed on the grass, Anaelle's gaze fell on the woman, who stared at her with a neutral expression.

"I knew it. That psycho was behind this. She had tried to kill Salima. To kill us both!" Anaelle thought angrily.

She wanted to turn around and go back the way they came, but not without Salima. However, Salima looked too shocked to even stand straight.

Suddenly regaining control of her body, Anaelle crossed the bridge. This time, fury roared inside her.

"You're an Esperite! From Eyrielle!" she exploded.

The woman raised her chin proudly.

"I'm Sashka. Thou may have questions, but thou hast to listen to me first. If that's a problem, leave now and bask in thy ignorance forever."

✧-------------------✧

I apologize for being behind on my publication, but I hope you enjoyed the first more 'animated' scene of the novel! Let's hope Anaelle and Salima's efforts will pay off. What do you think Sashka might have to say to them?