A Fairy Tale With a Twist Book 1: Mirror verse

Chapter 8

Mirabelle's POV: These plants were encroaching on the walls of the greenhouse. In the center lies a spherical flower vase filled with dead flowers. When I touched a specific portion of the butch, it cleared through and revealed a face. Is there anyone here? Vines encircled a model of three men carrying weapons.

As I took a look around, I called out to the others, saying "Hello." However, no one responded. The air hung heavy with an eerie silence, causing my skin to crawl. Despite not seeing anything out of the ordinary, I couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that I was being watched. The path before me wound through a dense thicket where the underbrush was so thick that I could barely see more than a few inches in front of me.

I bravely took a step forward. My progress was abruptly stopped by an unyielding force. Looking down, I discovered that my legs had been tightly bound together by a thick rope. It was wound around my ankles and secured firmly to a sturdy tree trunk. Frantically, I struggled to free myself, feeling the sweat bead on my brow and trickle down my spine. Despite the panic rising within me, I took a deep breath, determined to remain calm. Just as she had warned, the handcuffs were indeed made of wood, growing tighter around my wrists with each futile attempt to break free. The once lively forest, filled with the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves, now fell eerily silent, as if nature itself were conspiring against me.

 "Humans are not allowed here; the portal must have led you by mistake, unless..." Her voice trailed off as she studied me intently. After a moment, she shook her head. "Nope, probably not."

With a deep breath, I summoned my courage and spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just... I was just looking for something, or someone, I think."

Another elf approached to untie me, but this one was dressed differently. I had encountered elves before, but never like this. They guided me towards a small cottage where an elderly female elf sat. Her face was etched with wrinkles, and her eyes twinkled with curiosity. "So, you're the one who's been causing all the ruckus. What's your name, dearie?" Her voice was soft and melodic, and a strange sense of tranquility enveloped me.

As I introduced myself as "Princess Mirabella Charming of the France House of Charming,"  The woman in front of me, tapping me on the shoulder with her staff, reassured me, saying, "No need to be so formal, welcome to Fantasia's forest." She then bowed and made a circle with her hands, indicating that this was how they greeted visitors. The rest of the elves followed suit. inside the cottage, a mushroom served as a table, while a snail shell above me served as a lovely lamp. The round windows and everything else here seemed to be made from nature, rather than store-bought items. She kindly asked, "Would you like something to drink? I have some tea." I was eager to learn everything I could about this enchanting establishment.

The elder nodded solemnly and spoke with caution, "I can provide you with a map and a few supplies, but I cannot guarantee your safety. The forest is treacherous, so you must be careful. Furthermore, remember, princess, the creatures within are unlike anything you have encountered before. They are as wild as the wind and as ancient as the trees." Understanding the risks, I nodded and took a deep breath. With determination, I declared, "I will venture into the forest and bring back your parents, even if it means sacrificing my own life." As my words settled, the elder looked at me, a mixture of sadness and admiration evident in their gaze.

"My apologies, Princess," Elder said. "I'm not trying to offend you. You see, the Forest of Fantasia is no ordinary place. It's a place where light and shadows come to life. Many powerful creatures live there, creatures that even you, with all your knowledge and magic, might not be able to handle." "What about you?" I asked. "Why did you stay here?" She bowed her head and gazed into her tea. "I wasn't born here, but when the forest's leader went missing centuries ago, I seized the opportunity to become their new leader." The charms are the magical ball of light; twelve of them form the earth, while others are scattered across the world. The Virgo charm belonged to the establishment's original owner and leader." Elder spent years assimilating to the culture in order to become the elves' next leader, someone on whom they could rely. "I came here by mistake."

I followed Elder to the center of the village, where there was a clearing surrounded by a circle of twelve tall trees. In the center of the clearing stood a massive oak tree, its trunk carved with runes and symbols. "This is where we gather to discuss important matters and make decisions for our people," she explained. "And this," she continued, pointing to a small charm dangling from a branch of the oak tree, "is the Virgo charm." She paused for a moment, a look of reverence in her eyes. "It belonged to the establishment's original owner and leader."

It looks like it was made out of stone. It was the same woman from Dominic's book. The brown-haired elf explained to me that the statue was of Queen Eowyn, a legendary figure from their history. She was known for her bravery and leadership during a time of great strife. The elves revered her as a symbol of hope and resilience. The statue stood tall and proud, as if guarding over the city, its weathered features etched with a wisdom that only comes from enduring hardship. As I looked at it, I felt a strange sense of awe and admiration.

I was thinking of my friends. "This is wonderful to know and nice to meet all of you, but I need to find my friends." Everything was fine. Until a shadow spirit came by. "Hey there, human," it hissed, its voice cold as ice.