'Child, wake up.'

'Wake up...'

Celeste fluttered her eyes open and was greeted by the fulgent sun rays, peeking at the half-opened window. She slightly lifted her body from the bed and squinted her eyes multiple times. A soft groan escaped her lips when her temple throbbed while her sight scanned the room.

She was inside her small, cozy home.

Still dazed, she breathed the familiar flower-scented room. Strangely, it was very comforting. She knotted her forehead trying to remember something. 'What was that all about? A dream?' She touched her abdomen with her warm fingers and slowly ascended it to her chest where she had felt the cold metal cut through her sensitive flesh.

"What on earth just happened...?" She was greatly perplexed as she shook her head and stood up from the bed. She paced the carpeted floor with her bare feet heading towards the mirror to check her body only to see her normal reflection; bed hair, puffy eyes, and rosy cheeks. There was no trace of blood... nor the skin and bones of herself from the torture inside the prison. Just her healthy self.

She ran her fingers through her silvery white locks and let out a sigh of relief. "It must be a long dream. Just a bad dream, oh dear."

A mellow fuss outside slightly disturbed her so she stepped towards the window near the bed and opened it freely. It was the tiny wood faeries who were creating that noise, romping around her backyard with their giddy greeting as soon as they saw their white witch. They flew around like frenzied puppies.

"Hey..." Celeste chuckled softly as their velvety tiny wings brushed against her smooth skin. "Stop it... it's ticklish!"

The wood faeries were the spirits of the forest that had been under her protection. With them around, it represented how vibrant and flourishing a woodland was. And Celeste was chosen to be the forest's next keeper after the former green caster was declared missing twenty years ago.

She disregarded the distressing thought right away. No need to think of another depressing past. She took a deep breath and quietly scold herself for being so pessimistic these days. After all, she had survived this far from the purge of the empire by living in this small rural village away from the capital city of the Arkaean Empire, the Crestgold. There should be no welcoming of negativities in her life.

The fays playfully nudged her silver strands as she went to her small kitchen. Humming, she wagged her pointed finger and the utensils moved on their own. She sat down on her cute wooden table while waiting for her breakfast and summoned her planner out of thin air.

"My babies, don't be too noisy," she told the giggling faeries who were chirping quite loudly. She scanned her appointments for today as she motioned her hand to reach for the tea. "Hmm... no plans today? That's weird."

Celeste remembered the only time she had left her schedule empty was last year. It was for her three-month vacation in the Southern Arkaean territory. Now that she thought of it, she missed the beach and sea! Although she stayed at the hidden cove and was all alone the entire vacation.

'Did I get the wrong date? Isn't it the Spring Festival next week?' Without putting much meaning to her query, Celeste finished up her morning tea and meal. She would do her usual daily routine which was helping her village with their farms and local businesses. Dressed in white puffed sleeves and an olive green corset matched with a yellow, long flared skirt, she went off to the small town with a smile plastered on her reddish lips.

"Good morning Mr. Hannes!" Celeste greeted the old baker as she walked passed the only bakery in town. The old man was arranging the newly baked crescent rolls on the wooden shelf. She flashed her sweet smile at Mr. Hannes as soon as he turned his head to her.

"Oh! The lovely Miss is here!" His wrinkle lines were lessened when he beamed at her. "Have you already eaten your breakfast, dear? You can have some bread... Ruel! Will you get the miss the newly cooked bagels?" Mr. Hannes was referring to his young assistant, Ruel, who was working in the kitchen.

"Oh no need, Mr. Hannes! I'm on my way to the plaza... you don't need to give me anything." Celeste tried to refuse the offer from the baker but Mr. Hannes just gave her a wink.

"Whose miss..." The assistant hurriedly peek at the counter to whom his teacher was referring. "M-Miss... M-Miss Evergreen!" He stuttered, his cheeks tinted red in a matter of seconds upon seeing Celeste. "Ah, ah... y-yes! I'll get the bagels ready sir!"

The old man laughed at his assistant's sudden clumsiness. "Pardon my boy, Miss Evergreen. I could understand his actions. I would do the same if I see a very beautiful lady."

She responded with a chuckle. Mr. Hannes often gave her such adoration that she was used to it. And just as quickly, her thoughts lingered on the strange dream she had last night. 

The village persecuted her... and remembering these two gentlemen, Mr. Hannes and Ruel were the only few who had visited her prison cell. They brought a loaf of bread for her to eat. However, later that day, the two were murdered by the townfolks just for helping her. The dream... was too detailed and too terrible as if she was living her second life right now.

A feeling of sadness and warmth loomed over the White witch.

"My dear? My dear, are you alright?" The older baker asked her when he noticed the change in her mood.

Celeste snapped back to reality when Mr. Hannes gripped her right shoulder. "I, uh... I'm sorry Mr. Hannes. I'm okay." She put on a weak smile but the old man's face still had that look of concern, so she put an effort to smile widely. "I'm alright, really."

"Ah, Miss Evergreen?"

Celeste jolted when she heard Ruel's voice behind Mr. Hannes. "Oh, Ruel, I didn't see you there!"

"You space out for a moment, Miss Evergreen. Mr. Hannes was calling you several times," came his timid reply while faintly scratching his head. His eyes couldn't even look straight at her even though she was smaller compared to his rangy, tall figure.

"Oh, I see Ruel." She beamed. "No worries, gentlemen. I am completely fine. Please don't put those gloomy faces now."

"It's the first time that we see you made that expression, dear," Mr. Hannes muttered.

"Eh, cheer up gentlemen! And Ruel," she took the bagels in his fumbling slender hands. The latter just blushed furiously. "Thank you for this. I'll give you a special potion to mix in your ingredients later on, Mr. Hannes. Surely, you will like it!"

"Alright, dear! I'm looking forward to it. By the way, why did you come to town today? I thought you'll be having your vacation?"

"Vacation?" Celeste stilled at her feet; puzzlement was written all over her face. "Ah, isn't next week the spring festival? How can I take a vacation?"

Now it was their turn to throw a quizzical look at her.

"The spring festival you say?" It was Mr. Hannes. "My dear, the spring festival just ended a month ago. Don't you remember?"

She was taken aback by what she heard. "A month ago? Mr. Hannes, do you know what date today is?!"

"It's the 20th of May, Belleveure year 734."

Ruel also confirmed the date when the old baker turned at him.

'No way! How is that even possible?' 

"I... I—" She took a step back, her visage weakened in dread and horror. "No! This can't be! This is not real... that was just a dream..." She covered her mouth with her trembling hands causing the paper bag to fall on the concrete floor.

"Miss Evergreen are you—" Ruel didn't get to finish his sentence when Celeste left the bakery in haste as if a ghost was after her. He could see the fear in her eyes. He wanted to run after her but Mr. Hannes held him back. "Sir, I need to know if the Miss is alright!"

But Mr. Hannes just threw him a telling look. "We shouldn't."

"But!"

"Ruel, just pick up the bagels on the floor," Mr. Hannes said calmly before giving him a gentle smile. "Why don't we pay, Miss Evergreen, a visit later?"

Although still worried, the assistant nodded at his teacher. Her reaction baffled them both. He was quietly wishing that she would be well by then.

The restless witch ran towards the thick forest instead of going back home. She wanted to run away. She wanted to wake up from this nightmare. Everything began to sink in her mind, from the very beginning to the end when death touched her body. As her thoughts became clouded with trepidation, the forest seemed to share her heavy emotions. The atmosphere darkened as if an impending storm was coming. Trees became anxious, swaying to and fro as though silently screaming. Even the little faeries hid in their small caves at the clamor of the forest.

Celeste collapsed on her knees after running for quite some time. She was panting hard. Deep in the woods, her wailing echoed. She didn't die that day... she only went back in time! 'Is this a curse? Is this even possible with magic?'

"What do you want?!" She screamed. "Why did you bring me back just a year before my death? Why do I need to suffer all over again?" Her shoulders shrugged as she lowered her body to the ground. No one dared to reply to her cries. The trees could be heard in their soft weeping. Their master was in great sorrow.

The faeries began to flock around her, comforting their sobbing white witch in the middle of the forest. It stayed like that for hours... questioning, waiting for an answer... still waiting... but Celeste received nothing. No signs, no answer just deafening silence. It took that long for her before she could hear the late afternoon crickets begin to thrum their tunes and the sky that was peeking above the tall trees was already dyed purple. She used to love looking at it... but right now she could see nothing but the reality she was in. 

She needed to do something about this strange situation; whether a blessing or a curse.

"Hey..." she whispered, staring at the sky. "I won't die this time around." She reached her right arm into the air. "I don't know why you turn back time, but I'll keep myself alive this time."

'I will change my fate!' It was a bold statement—a dare to the god who held the thread of providence!

For some reason, the silhouette of that man shadowed her mind—the sword that took her soul and his piercing golden eyes that brought solicitude to her resolve. Celeste shivered at the mere thought of him. She didn't want to meet that man in this lifetime!

From this day on, she will walk her own path... her new journey.

Celeste Evergreen