Chapter 39 VOL II: The Trip to Calma (6)

Chapter 39 VOL II: The Trip to Calma (6)

VOL II: The Trip to Calma (6)

WRITER'S POV

"Come, there's something you need to see," Marionnette said, leading Luana out of her room and to a different part of the kingdom.

"This... is what's happening."

Luana gasped.

The flowers, trees, pixies, and animals were dying. They had all turned gray and pale.
The place looked so different from what Luana had seen when she first entered Fiori. Even the water had turned dark.

The sun didn't shine here either.

"Us Earth Witches have a system that keeps our world alive," Marionnette began.

Luana looked at her eagerly.

"What's that?" she asked.

"The Trio Ring. Three generations of Earth Witches must be in good health and of sound mind for their magic to work in protecting and sustaining the realm."

Her face turned sad.

"When your mother was poisoned, half of the forests everywhere were instantly poisoned and withered."

"But I was able to restore them after a few days because your Earth magic had awakened, even though it hadn't activated and you weren't here anymore. Your father took you to Witchesville."

She paused, turning to Luana with a soft expression.

"You currently don't have your powers, so you can't really help. I've done what I can by preventing the scourge from reaching the imperial grounds. But we still need your mother."

"Only a Golden Witch can cure her."

Luana nodded, her grip on her bag tightening.

"But reaching Calma won't be easy. There are demons who want you dead."

"The Distruzione?"Luana asked.

"Yes, them. They're very evil and ruthless. They should just wait until Terra wakes up. I'll choke them with prickly vines."

Luana suddenly remembered something.

The star-shaped rock her father had given her.

She looked through her bag but couldn't find it.

She searched again, ransacking the bag, but she still couldn't find it.

"What's wrong, child?" Marionnette asked as she watched her granddaughter frantically search through her bag.

"There's something Papa gave me. A star-shaped rock. He said to rub it three times and help would come, but now I can't find it."

Could it have fallen out of my bag? she thought.

"It's alright, darling. There's something else I can give you that will help."

Her eyes moved to Luana's neck.

"Did you meet the Mermaid Princess?" Marionnette asked.

"Yes, I did. She gave me this for protection," Luana said, touching the necklace around her neck.

"That's good. But you need something stronger to get to Calma safely."

In the air, she conjured a rose necklace twisted with thorns and vines.

"Wear this, child."

Luana looked skeptical.

"Won't the thorns hurt me?"

Marionnette smiled.

"No, they won't."

Luana put it on, and indeed it didn't prick her skin. It even felt comfortable.

"This necklace will prevent demons from coming close to you because it will poison them."

She placed a hand on Luana's shoulder.

"May the stars be with you, my little flower bud. Bring your mother home."

"I will, Grandma," Luana said with a smile.

Marionnette kissed her on the forehead.

"Now go. The pixies will show you the way out, and Raja will take you to Calma. Be safe, child."

"Thank you, Grandma."



"What do you mean she was taken by a bear? Do you even know how crazy that sounds?"

"Are you sure, Sire? You could just be tired."

"You both think I'm crazy, huh? I know what I saw."

Riccardo had called Stefano and Harry to help him look for Luana.

"In which direction did they go?" Harry asked, adjusting his glasses.

"That way." Riccardo pointed in the direction the bear had taken Luana.

"Do you think a locator spell could work here?" Stefano asked, crouching beside Harry, who was on the ground drawing markings for the spell.

"Hopefully. Let's hope it does. Do you have anything of hers?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, here." Riccardo handed over a handkerchief Luana had given him back in Vacuità.

"Individua il proprietario del fazzoletto!"

The circle Harry had drawn glowed a faint yellow, and the handkerchief levitated into the air.

The handkerchief shook slightly and then turned toward a specific direction.

"She's in Fiori," Harry said.

"Fiori? Isn't that the hidden Earth Kingdom? The home of the Earth Witches?" Stefano asked.

"She must be getting help from her grandmother. With the Distruzione on the move, it's best she gets all the help she needs," Riccardo said.

"So what do we do now?" Harry asked.

Riccardo smiled.

"We wait until she leaves Fiori, and then we follow her."

"To where?" Stefano asked.

"To Calma," Riccardo replied.

"We're not welcome there. You know that," Harry said.

"I know, but we have to blend in and make it through somehow," Riccardo replied. "I'm not leaving Luana alone."

"As you wish, sire. Oh, she's left Fiori and is on the move."

"Splendid. Let's go."

Before they departed, Riccardo caught sight of something on the ground.

It was a white, star-shaped rock.

He picked it up, and it instantly burned his fingers, scalding him.

"Owww!"