"Arica, slow down!" Araz said as her feet touched the broken trunk of the birch tree. The black cat sitting by her side hissed in annoyance, not wanting to leave Araz's side. She took a deep breath and tried to ignore the whispers coming from the hut. The cat's eyes turned towards the hut, its feline instincts giving off an uneasy feeling.

"I wasn't running, I just wanted to get out of that boring practice as quickly my feet could take me." I complained, the words barely escaping my lips.

There was a sense of peace and seclusion as I spent my days practicing magic with Araz, taking in the beauty of the surrounding nature. Amongst the witches I had a unique ability that could not be found anywhere else in the realm and I couldn't help but feel out of place. As if I never belonged to this world, I always felt the weight of my origins lurking behind me.

Araz's red curls danced in the wind as she practiced her magic with the help of her loyal cat companion. She was beautiful and had a power unlike any other, as her skills and knowledge of magic exceeded those of most of the witches in the village.

"That's just because you can do magic like no one else. They are jealous, I'm sure of that." She smirked making me smile.

Araz stayed behind practicing her magic, while I went back inside the hut to get food for us. As I approached the counter, I grabbed some flowers and fruits and placed them in the basket. As I was about to walk out, I heard her voice making me turn.

"Skipped practice?"

I gave her a sheepish smile in response to her snarky greeting. Evanora was certainly beautiful, with her red curls bouncing up and down as she moved her head. She was more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen in the village, and I hoped to someday know her better.

I ran back quickly wanting to watch Araz's magic. Just as I got there, I saw all the leaves circling around her as the whiskers rounded her trying to get her attention. I will never get over the power and control she had over her magic. In witches, they could use as much as Magic as they need. But if used for the evil cause, the individual loses its power, people had lost their powers and gained it only after they have done something good. But that's very rare to never get your magic back. For a witch, its power is everything. I am a lot different than any other witch; my powers are a specific type and my body gets weak if I use too much power. I have fainted more than you can count on your fingers.

"What are you thinking about?" Araz asked as I jumped down the small cliff.

"Oh nothing"

I settled myself on the grass behind a large rock and practiced my magic spells, alone. We remained there long enough for the sun to dip behind the mountains. I used all of my power and focused intently on reviving a few dead plants; after a couple of successful attempts, I wrote down "Twelve plants" on my parchment before gulping down a mystical juice to regain some of my mana. With this newfound strength, I felt fresh magic pass through my body once more.

Among the witches in my community, I was considered an unearthly creature, possessing a power unlike any other in the realm. Despite the absence of information or records, there existed no other method of obtaining the power I held, as I was required to directly petition the ruler herself. But to reveal my true nature would result in my swift and brutal demise. Residing in the region with the least number of resources and connections, I was grateful yet uneasy. The tranquil atmosphere, however, could not ease the feeling of being out of place; I never felt like I truly belonged.

"Are you done with your practicing?" Araz asked as I nodded my head and got up dusting my little frock. When she looked up, Araz was all tensed up that made me get suspicious of her.

"Is something wrong?" I asked Araz, noticing that she was avoiding my question with a smile. I had the gut feeling that something was bothering her, and the curious cat inside me couldn't resist snooping to find out what. I knew that I could faint because of this, but I decided to take my chances and closed my eyes, creating a pathway link to her mind. I was engulfed with memory flashes of Araz with a boy, seemingly arguing. I tried to dig deeper, but the life force inside me slowly dissipated as I became more exhausted.

"-the hell with you! You cannot run from this-."

"But I don't want this, I don't want to be your slave!"

Araz looked distraught as she argued with the young boy. She was clearly reluctant to do whatever it was he wanted her to do, and there was a strong resistance within her to refuse the request. The boy's insistence only frustrated her more, as she kept trying to argue and fight against his control.

"Our mothers' agreed to this, you just want to back out now like a coward?"

"You are the main reason I dislike this marriage deal!"

I let out a shocked gasp as I felt my mind begin to fuzz up, my legs giving up the will to live. My eyes swirled with black dots as I fought to stay awake, Araz in the background screaming at me to remain conscious. Her voice was falling on deaf ears, and her face began to disappear into the blackness. It was becoming increasingly harder to stay awake, and every second felt like an eternity of torture. Eventually, I gave up the struggle and let my body find rest in the comfort of unconsciousness.

***************

"I'm sorry," I apologized to Araz and Evanora, acknowledging that I had overstepped by prying into Araz's business with the use of magic as soon as I woke up. I felt ashamed yet relieved to know the truth, as Araz was to be wed to a rude, egotistic person.

"But how can you make Araz marry someone with such an egotistical attitude?" I questioned, feeling confused and frustrated by the idea.

"Enough!" Evanora stated sternly as my emotions rose. "Araz has already made her decision, and she has agreed that you have no right to speak about this matter. You're still a child." I felt like crying at their words, but I held back my tears.

"She's my friend," I stated, the last words falling awkwardly out of my mouth as I struggled to make up for my mistake.

"And she is my daughter." I heard it with my own ears, the words dropping my heart as I finally realized I was alone. But it was unfair to Araz! How could she be pushed into something she didn't wish for herself?!

I ran past Araz and Evanora, out of the hut and onto a clearer path in the forest. Running until the sole of my feet pained, until my tears ran dry, until it was way hard to breath. My feet eventually slowed down once I reached the end. I started to hum a song to myself to calm my nerves, finally letting my breathing slow down while the breeze brushed past my shoulder. Slowly taking steps,

But oh, my lady oh my pride,

I have to put this love aside.

I curse that lightening, bright as you,

I continued singing the lyrics, approaching the edge of the small village where I soon found myself trapped. The protective barrier prevented me from escaping, like a bubble protecting the town and its inhabitants. Only the most gifted individuals could shatter the barrier and leave as they pleased, those who were fortunate enough to master the arts of the "dangling rope." The cord was utilized for fast travel in the realm by connecting the cities at high altitudes, allowing the inhabitants to navigate and traverse the sky with ease.

The Realm of Witches - Kelertiwa

(The art is created by me and all rights belong to me)

Whenever it rains it shall come and hit you.

But shall you know, else than you,

I don't love anyone, and that is tru-

Leaves rustled, Araz approached me, her smile apologetic as she stared down at me. I turned away and directed my gaze toward the triton moon that supplied strength to the herbs throughout the cities.

"Are you just going to ignore me now?" she questioned, and I glanced back at her.

"Of course not!" I stated, "I just don't want you to be forced into a marriage you don't wish." She sighed and moved closer to me, her smile shifting toward a saddened expression.

"He was very sweet at first," she continued gently. "That's the way of life. I wish I could get out of it but I got responsibilities and I can't ignore it." I faced her with bewilderment as she lowered her head not wanting to face me.

"How! I won't let you." I pleaded as I held her hand in mine. "Let's run away,"

"And go where?" She scoffed. "Do you possibly think there is a way to get out of this barrier, I should be considered lucky that Leo is taking me as a bride when he could have any girl in the village." I rolled my eyes as I wanted nothing more to crush his face in the pig's dirt.

"I just can't live like this; it is suffocating me. As if I don't belong here." Araz looks at me with pity as I turned away from her.

"I understand you are different from everyone here but there might be solution to all this. You just have to be patient enough to receive it and smart enough to stay out of trouble" She pulled my hand and made me walk back to the house. We were almost close when I asked the question whose answer I have been dying to hear.

"Who is my real family?" she stoppedwalking; my question punctuated by a quick gulp. I heard whispering, concerns,and speculations from people. But not one voice dared to provide the answers Isought. I left without waiting for a reply and climbed into my mobile home. Icould not identify my true origins, as my name and song were all I had. Myexistence was merely my moniker sculpted in silver within a locked locket, anda melody quietly repeated to me and only me. I had no memories otherwise.

***********

Well Idk why but I feel like the story is too fast paced, is it?