Chapter 7: Magic Kingdom

[In the morning]

Violet: No matter what I do, Iris doesn't wake up.

Ruby: Sis.

Lord, whispering: Ruby, tickle her.

Iris: Ok..ok...I'm going. Next time I don't wake up, kiss me in the cheek, OK?

[In the town]

Little girl: Mom, buy me a flower girl costume like that one.

Iris: It seems the flower girl's fashion has spread to this town.

Almond: Good. We attract much less attention this way than if they think we are a real fairy or something.

A man nearby, shouting: For only 1 gold coin, if you can beat our arm wrestling champion, you will get 10 gold coins.

Ruby: That guy is so big.

Iris: Hmm, interesting.

Almond: Better not attract any attention at all, Iris. Let's go.

Iris: Hmph....

Ruby: Look. A lot of beautiful jars. I'll buy some for Lily.

Violet: Hmm...this grilled fish tastes so good, right, Jasmine?

Jasmine nods.

Astille: I like bacon.

Iris: This steak is juicy. Almond, let buy all of these businesses and relocate them to Radish market, so we can eat them everyday.

Lord: Are you girls plant or carnivore?

Iris: There is a weapon shop over there. There are all kinds of weapon and armor. Let go check it.

Almond: The most expensive sword in this shop is 500 golds "Thunder Roar". The description says: Emit thunder when slash. Better try it, my lord. Since it doesn't seem to require any skill to use.

Lord: Hiyaaa... Sorry, too heavy. I can't lift it.

Almond: ......

Iris, whispering: If he can't even lift that sword, then these heavy armors are no use then.

Almond: Guess so.

[Advanced item shop]

Shopkeeper: Hi, you girls. Do you want to buy my whole business again?

Almond: Not today. I will let you live here a little longer.

Shopkeeper: I told you have a good sense of humor..haha. I don't have many items to sell yet, because you girls just bought everything from me a few days ago.

Ruby: I'm so sorry.

[A few seconds of silence have passed]

Shopkeeper: But, here, check this new item, 5 golds only.

Iris: Necklace with a beautiful pendant filled with strange green liquid. OK, I will buy it.

Ruby: Does it has any magical property at all?

Almond: I don't feel anything, but I don't know for sure.

Iris: It looks so cute on my neck, right?

Astille: It looks cute on you.

Iris: Let me carry you like mother and child. [giggle]

[Fortune teller shop]

Iris: This one has her own shop, instead of a table and a crystal ball.

Almond: But this shop doesn't seem to have many customers.

Fortune teller: Welcome, tell your future or your past, pay 1 gold coin, ask 1 question, and I will try my best to answer it.

Iris, whispering: It's rather expensive. No wonder there is no customer here.

Lord: Ok, let do it. Could you tell me about my past? Like a summary of what happened in my entire life before 2 years ago.

Fortune teller: Hmm...let me see. I don't see anything. The cloud is blocking my sight.

Iris, whispering: Is she a charlatan again?

Almond, whispering: It's easy to test this. Let me ask.

Almond: Here is 1 more gold coin for the second question. Could you tell me about my past one years ago?

Fortune teller: You were standing still near a river for so long, all the time, never go anywhere. Hmm.. a weird vision, but that is what I saw.

Iris, whispering: Wow, she is the real cheese.

Almond: So, what the fortune teller in radish market told us is true then, about something blocking her sight.

Iris: In retrospect, we should go back and pay her 1000 golds, to save all of these troubles.

Almond: I don't see her anymore on our way here.

Iris: Ah! We should have asked our test question with the one at radish market.

Almond: Exactly, I totally miss that.

Iris: Fortune teller, how can we overcome the cloud that is blocking your vision. What about 3 days and 1,000 more gold coins?

Fortune teller: I'm not powerful enough to do anything against this kind of obstruction. Please find another fortune teller.

Almond: Do you know any good one?

Fortune teller: There is one who travels around from town to town in this region. She is very powerful. Or you can find a lot of other fortune tellers in the magic kingdom on the far east of this continent.

Ruby: Let go to magic kingdom everyone!

Almond: It's more than 4 months of travel, Ruby. It's like on the opposite side of the continent.

Lord: Let go home then. I don't really need to know my past that much. I'm already very happy with all you girls.

Ruby is blushing.

Iris: What are you blushing for? He meant all of us.

Ruby: [giggle]..Sis.

Fortune teller: Oh, better keep that green pendant you just bought with you. It will be of some use in the future.

Ruby: Wow, lucky you have bought it, sis.

Fortune teller: One event leads to another event. Most of the time there are more than one way to reach the destination......mumble...mumble....

[Still in Morroc]

A girl in shoulder-length, light blonde hair, wearing a magician robe of yellow-tinted white color, shouts to the group.

The girl: Hi, over here. My name is Angel. Special discount for the first customer. Teleport to magic kingdom for only 1 copper per person.

Iris, whispering: Isn't it too cheap for something that can replace 4 months of travel.

Almond, whispering: Way too cheap. Anyway, let talk with her first.

Iris: Sorry to ask this, but your name is Angel, right? Not Angela or anything. Isn't it a rare name?

Angel: Yes, Angel, like an angel in heaven.

Almond: You are not a real angel, right?

Angel: No...no.. [giggle] Just a name. I am a magician from the magic kingdom. Lady Priscilla wants me to expand our teleport network to this place, so people can travel easier and faster.

Almond: It's almost like you know we want to go there. No trick right? We won't be warped to death or anything.

Angel: Absolutely not. Do I look like a bad guy? And since when a person named Angel is a bad guy.

Iris, whispering: Although the reason is weird but she does have a point.

Violet: What should we do, my lord?

Lord: Don't ask me. I don't know.

Almond: How can we know for sure that it's safe?

Iris: Beat me.

Almond: Arh...wait. I got an idea.

Almond run somewhere for a few minutes and back.

Almond: [pant....pant....] The fortune teller said it's OK. We will reach the destination safely.

Iris: Let's go then.

[Magic kingdom]

Iris: Wow. So easy. I just stand there and it's done.

Ruby: I thought it would be more twirling.

Angel: 7 people. I will give you a volume discount. Please pay 5 coppers.

Almond: Best deal I ever had in my life.

Angel: Welcome to the magic kingdom. Please enjoy yourself.

Violet: Thank you. I hope we meet again.

Angel: And that doll is cute. Love it a lot, OK? Bye.

Angel teleports away.

Violet: She talked like she know Wevil is not a doll.

Iris: She is a magician who can bend the fabric of space. I won't be surprised at all if she know what Wevil ate last week.

Ruby: Wow. This place looks so magical like it should be. It has a tint of heaven.

Almond: Let go find fortune tellers first, I guess. Arrh..I forgot to ask Angel where to find a good fortune teller.

A portal appears and Angel come out of it.

Angel: You can find several of them in the town square, bye.

Angel teleports away.

Iris, whispering: She is definitely stalking us.

Almond, whispering: Certainly. Better not say something bad about her while she is still around.

[An hour later]

Iris: Damn. Everyone gives similar answers. Fog blocks the vision.... Mist clouds the path... Something powerful is in the way of my sight.... What should we do next?

Angel, appearing: Let go ask Priscilla herself then. She is the most powerful oracle.

Iris: Whoa. I had a hunch that you might appear. But isn't she the ruler of this place? How can we pass the guard? And will she talk to us?

Angel: Surely she will allow it because she ask me to... oops... forget about it ... I meant better give it a try because we have come this far.

Iris thinks: [Oh, right...that's why a teleport girl appeared exactly when we needed it]

Angel: Oops. Almost time. Got something to do. See you later.

Angel teleports away.

[The castle's main gate]

Guard1: Sorry, sir. Today the queen is expecting a special guest. The throne room is closed to the general public.

Guard2: Go away.

Iris, whispering: I can put these two down in half a second.

Lord: No! Do you want to start a war between two kingdoms or something.

Iris: Then how can we get in. Angel ain't here anymore. Angel...Angel...are you under the rock...come out... See? She ain't here, or won't appear, at least.

Girl: Hello, you guys want to get in?

A kind yet seemingly powerful magician is standing behind your group.

Girl: These people are the queen's special guest. Let them pass.

Guard: Sorry we didn't know, Lady Luna.

Luna: It's our fault we didn't provide you with details of the guest. Keep up your good work.

Guard: Yes, my lady.

Iris, mumbling to herself: I know it. Everything went on too smoothly. This is the queen's plan all along.

Ruby: What are you mumbling, sis? We are so lucky today. It must be the luck from your green pendant.

[Throne room]

Royal guard: All hail the guardian of magic kingdom, ruling queen of the eastern region, headmaster of the magic university, protector of the light, a holy maiden and messenger of .........

Priscilla: That's way more than enough, guard. Get out!

Priscilla: Hello, everyone. What bring you here today?

Lord: Thank you for letting.....

Priscilla: Although I am good at predicting the future but seeing the past is not my specialty. However, I can lead you to the best magician for this task.

Lord: Where can...

Priscilla: Angel, bring her in.

Fortune teller: Hi, everyone. We meet again.

Iris: You are the fortune teller we met at the radish market.

Fortune teller: Yes, nice to meet you again, Iris.

Iris: Arrhh..we run around all over the region...no...I'm not complaining...I'm not complaining.

Fortune teller: 1000 golds please. I don't need preparation time anymore because I have started the required process 3 days ago.

Iris: ......... yeah..yeah...it's all my fault.......mumble......mumble....

Fortune teller: ....and that pendant please.

Iris: Ok...ok. Get it all. I surrender.

Almond: May I ask what the pendant is for?

Fortune teller: Nothing. I just like it.

Almond: .....

Fortune teller: My lord, are you ready?

Lord: Yes. What shou.....