Chapter 37 VOL II: The trip to Calma(4)

Chapter 37 VOL II: The trip to Calma(4)
VOL II: The trip to Calma(4)

RICCARDO'S POV

It’s been a year since Vacuità was destroyed, and I was almost killed.

Almost.

If not for the spell my father placed on me—the same one he placed on my mother.

A spell that prevents you from dying against your own will. That is what saved me.

Mother survived Massimo’s attack but she lost an arm.

Harry and Stefano were alive and well, and their powers are intact.

But not mine.

My powers still haven't returned since Massimo tore them from me.

The previous year was crazy. I remembered every single thing that happened the moment we arrived at Witchsville.

Luana had parents—two very important and influential figures in the magical world.

Her father, Massimo, was the Supreme Lord, the most powerful wizard in the land.

And her mother, Terra, was one of the most powerful earth witches.

And the funny thing was that we all knew each other. My parents and hers. And she knew us—me, Harry, and Stefano.

The misunderstanding that drove us apart was a delicate one.

My mother was accused of poisoning Terra, Luana's mother.
And the worst part was that all the evidence pointed to her. But I knew Mother didn't do it.

She couldn't.

Terra was her best friend; they were like sisters.

Massimo was furious and harbored hatred for demons ever since that day.

That was why he destroyed Vacuità and almost had me killed.

In that dying moment, the only thing I could think about was Luana.

She looked distraught and terrified when her father forced her to use her magic on me.

After I recovered a month later, I began looking for her. I spent the entire year trying to find her, but it was hard.

Massimo was difficult to track. It was as if he had disappeared from the world.

I almost lost hope until Intel came from the human realm that someone had seen a familiar face, similar to the one I had drawn of Massimo.

And it was true.

He was now living as a potter with two daughters.

I had sighted Luana once through the window of one of the houses.

But she looked different.

Felt different.

Like an entirely different person.

I met her face to face in her backyard.

Brown hair, Brown eyes, and a fierce expression.

I missed those Emerald Green eyes.

She acted like she didn't know me, and I could see hatred in her eyes, just like when we first met.

I resolved to see her again.

I needed to.

I heard that she was going to Calma to regain her powers and heal her mother because only Golden Witches could do so.

So I did what any lovesick fool would do.

I followed her.

And I ended up beign discovered.

I angered her, lost her map and made her come with me.

I lied about going to Calma to see a friend, but I offered to help because I knew the way.

And because I had lost her map.

And now here I was, sitting across from her by the fire.

"My mother wasn't the one who poisoned your mother. It was someone else."

She closed her book and looked at me, her face expressionless and cold.

God, she really did hate me.

"You really expect me to believe you?" she asked.

"No, not entirely, but I—"

"Do you have proof?"

"I'm working on it."

"Working on a new lie to formulate, I presume."

"It's true, Luana. My mother isn't like that. She would never poison her best friend."

"People change, don't they? I heard the story. You demons didn't want something that could destroy you. Isn't that the reason Mother was poisoned? To prevent the birth of a Golden Witch?"

She looked away, her eyes fixed on the fire.

"It was supposed to be me... I was the one who was supposed to be poisoned."

"...but she took it so that I could be safe. Imagine if it had been known that I was a Golden Witch. What do you think would have happened? Hmm?”

I couldn't say anything.

I didn't have proof, but I knew there were many demons who wanted Luana dead.

Suddenly, I heard a rustle from the trees behind us.

It was faint, so I ignored it.

Then it became louder.

Like something was coming.

"Luana...?"

"Stop calling me that."

"We should pack up and change camping locations.

This place doesn't feel safe."

She ignored me and picked up her book again.

I heard a growl come from the direction of the bushes, and I leapt to my feet, drawing my sword.

"We need to leave. Now."

Only when she saw me holding my sword did she stand up.

"What's wrong?" she asked, looking toward the trees as she packed her things.

"There's something there."

The rustling grew louder, and out stepped a massive brown bear.

It roared and looked directly at Luana.

In one swift motion, it grabbed Luana by her shirt and ran off with her.

"LUANA!"

\~~~~~~~~~~

The day had just gone from bad to worse.

First, I lost my map.

Second, I was traveling with the Demon King.

And now, I was being carried away by a bear to God knows where.

It was so fast it was terrifying.

Where could it possibly be taking me?

This was so not okay.

I needed to get to Calma, and now I was completely off the road.

After what felt like forever, we finally stopped in front of a strange-looking tree.

It was unusual, yet beautiful.

Its leaves were all different colors, and its branches spiraled upward in elegant curves.

I turned toward the bear.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, hoping it would understand me.

But it simply bowed its head, confusing me even more.

There was a peculiar sweet scent coming from the tree.

I moved closer and inhaled deeply.

It was heavenly.

“She's the one.”

“Oh yes, she is.”

“How long has it been since she was here?”

“It's good to see her again.”

I heard tiny whispers coming from inside the tree.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

In an instant, three little pixies flew out of the tree.

One was blue, another pink, and the last was yellow.

"Welcome, Princess Luana," they said. "We're here to help you!”