• -Welcome back to class kiddo, Morgane said in her usual powerful voice. Today, I'll share my knowledge, or lack of, about Miralen, a country that takes up most of Enira. it's just one big forest. There are elves, nymphs and even sentient trees! I don't know much about the geopolitical stuff but I do know that Miralen is divided into two large territories: Issarel and Laifahor. Issarel is the kingdom of elves. It is said that Issarel is a pretty cool place ahah! yeah, they got snow and stuff. Get it?! 

Morgane burst into uncontrollable laughter at her joke, while Sasha looked at her mentor disapprovingly.

...

...

So yeah, the woman with pink hair just kinda brushed off that awkward moment and moved on. 

• -By the way, have you heard of Laifahor? It's got some temperate forests where all sorts of creatures can live. Oh, and Lysa is gonna fill you in on all the details. And guess what? You're going on a trip to Miralen, kiddo! 
• 
  
• -Wow! A trip! Sasha squealed with excitement. What about you? Are you accompanying us?
• 
  
• -...No, Morgane responded. She looked uncomfortable and like her mind went elsewhere. So. Class is done for today. You read the book I gave you, ya? 
• 
  
• -Yes, yes, of course, Sasha said clumsily, worried about Morgane's sudden change of character. Thank you.
• 
  

Morgane waved briefly and walked away with her hands in her pockets. Sasha tried to think of something else, something less troublesome. 

Suddenly, she had a flashback to what Lysandra told her this morning. The angel suggested the girl go for a stroll in her gardens if she wished to. The woman also mentioned the girl could find a little surprise if she's lucky enough. So, Sasha walked for many minutes on a sand path lined with bushes from which grew small soft white balls of fluff. Cloudenalia was the name that popped into Sasha's head as she saw the plant. She learned to recognize some of Egea's incredible specimens in Morgane's handy encyclopedia of flora.

She knew quite a lot about the human realm's plants and animals, but now, it was like starting from the beginning all over again, and she loved it! She was getting bored with her plain old village. Now, she could explore an incredible world for as long as she wished with no one to restrain her. Sasha enjoyed the freedom.

 The little girl finally saw a fountain in the distance, circled by a bunch of brightly coloured flowers and silver-leafed trees. The morning dew made each blade of grass sparkle in the sun. A magnificent multicoloured bird with long feathers was lounging on the fountain's rim. It gazed at Sasha with its eyes shining with wisdom before turning back around and continue resting, ignoring her presence.

Sasha sat upon a white bench in the shade of a tree and enjoyed the view generously offered to her. The young girl closed her eyes, smiling in peace. 

During that time, a curious little bug which was sitting in the tree was attentively staring at Sasha. The insect started climbing down the trunk and jumped swiftly on the bench beside Sasha. She felt observed and abruptly looked around everywhere around her but saw nothing. 

• -Hey! Down here! The insect said in a high-pitched voice.

-Sasha looked down and saw it. A strange-looking bug for sure, she had the bottom half of some kind of flower mantis and a somewhat human torso, with spiky arms folded weirdly and big black eyes, pink and green" hair " and long antennas.  

• -What are you doing here?! Invader! The bug yelled in a "menacing" voice.

• -My name is Sasha, and you? What even are you? 

• -I am Manta! An Etomanian, she responded proudly (a little bit too proudly, borderline cocky)

• -Ah yes! An insect woman, Sasha recalled. 

• -An insect girl! and not any insect! I'm special! I'm a religious mantis, Manta said. 

• - I think you meant a praying mantis, right? 
• 
  
• -... How dare you correct me strange... creature! Hey! You didn't even answer my question! What are you doing here, huh?! The bug said angrily. She was a real brat.
• 
  
• -It's a long story, but Lysandra told me I could visit the place if I wished to. She told me I could find a little surprise, I wouldn't say you're not a nice surprise though, but you match the description, Sasha said mockingly. Also, I'm human. 
• 
  
• -Madam Lysandra?! Hosting a vulgar human?! Impossible. You must be lying with that filthy mouth of yours. 
• You can just ask her and see for yourself, you know? she's home. Do you want to go back with me? Sasha suggested reluctantly. 
• 
  

The Etomanian jumped on top of the girl's head and they headed back to the angel's house together. Manta complained during the entirety of their short walk. "Ew, the horrible strings you call hair are getting stuck on my beautiful spikes!", or," Straighten up, girl! I don't want to fall off!". They both finally arrived and Sasha opened the kitchen door. The angel was not there, so she walked upstairs and found her in her room, writing in silver ink with what looked like one of her feathers on parchment paper. The woman turned away from her paperwork and looked at them with her bright blue eyes, shining in the sunlight. It was the first time Sasha saw the woman with her hair down. It was at hip length, was slightly curled and seemed more... orange? 

When the winged woman noticed that Sasha was staring at her hair, she turned around quickly, flustered. Lysandra brushed it with her fingers and put it back into a messy bun. 

• -H-hello Sasha! Oh. I see you brought a guest, spoke the angel. 

• -What?! so the human was not lying?! Madam Lysandra, you know her? Manta squealed in incomprehension. 

• -Of course not. Why would Sasha lie to you, dear? Questioned the angel, an eyebrow raised. 
• 
  

Manta turned even pinker than her usual shade with shame because she was mistaken about Sasha. However, Sasha was thrilled to witness the small insect's embarrassment.

• -By the way Sasha, I'm glad you're here. I reached out to an old friend of mine who lives in Miralen and they have agreed to be your guide. We'll be leaving Esten in a week, so let's make the most of our time.
• 
  
• -Madam Lysandra! Please! Can I accompany you on your trip to Miralen? Asked Manta in her irritating voice. 

Sasha stared at the angel, apprehensively waiting for her answer 

• -Alright, Lysandra responded flatly, turning back to her paperwork.
•  

The little girl stood there for a moment, her mouth wide open in astonishment. No! I don't want to spend my days in Miralen with this annoying creature that only knows how to complain! Thought Sasha. Her excitement to go on the trip crumbled down. She would not be as free as she thought she would be. 

• -Hey human! Close your mouth, you'll flood the entire house by the end of the day, Manta mocked. 
• 
  

Sasha shut her mouth and frowned. The girl started walking towards the door but the angel stopped her. 

The angel stopped her by grabbing her arm and asked to have an important conversation. She requested her friend, Manta, to leave them alone. The Etomanian's face expressed her want to stay, but she obeyed the angel and left Lysandra's room. 

• -What did you want to say to me? Asked the young girl, curious. 

• -For the safety of both you and the baby dragon, I urge you to keep it hidden from everyone. As dragons are rare and desirable creatures, many hunters are seeking to obtain them. Even your close friends should not be allowed to see it. Please take this seriously.

• -But Morgane? pouted Sasha. She would love to see a real dragon.  

Lysandra shook her head. 

• -Not even Morgane. I'm sorry, apologized to the angel. 

• -I see... alright. 
• 
  

The young girl left the room and headed back to her own. Manta followed her, hiding in her shadow. Sasha had a sad expression as she put her belongings back into her old saddlebag. 

• -Oh, sweet Adall! What are all those dusty things?! questioned the Etomanian, disgusted. 

• -Everything I own. All I have left of my world.
• 
  

The little girl lowered her head. Her lower lip started shaking. She missed her mother. She missed her friends from the village. She might never see them again. Sasha's eyes filled up with tears.

• -Oh no, you're not going to cry are you, human? Said Manta, at a loss for words. The bug didn't know why the young girl was crying or what to do. 
• 
  
• -I'm not crying! Sasha said precipitously, wiping her tears with her sleeve. 
• 
  

At this exact moment, the baby dragon decided to make an incredible entrance through the window and landed on the girl's shoulders.

• -ahhhhhhh!  
• 
  

Manta jumped away as far as she could so she would not be crushed by the big lizard, but she fell on the bed, landing not so graciously on her back.

• -Thank you little one, you finally got rid of her for me, she whispered to the dragon while scratching its chin. 

• -What is this beast doing here??! yelled Manta, visibly terrified.

• -I guess it's too late now, you already saw it. it's a dragon and, come on, it's not that big, argued the little girl.

• -Of course, it's a dragon, but why is it in here?! On your shoulders of all places?! manta asked, confused. 
• 
  

Sasha shrugged. She was as clueless as the bug. Manta wasn't even supposed to see it for... whatever reason. 

• -You know what? I don't even care. Take me back home, human, rudely ordered the insect ( with little authority by the way). 

• -In a couple of days, you won't be able to go back home for a while. You might as well just get used to it, retorqued Sasha. 
• 
  

The Etomanian, furious, jumped on Sasha's shoulder and pinched her neck. The dragon tried to chase the bug away, but Manta was fast enough to avoid its attack. 

• -Ouch! You're mad! Complained Sasha. 

• -Take me home, human! I have goodbyes to make.