“Oh no! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” she cries as she checks on us. “I tried to control it! But I couldn’t! I…”
“It’s ok! Are you Adeline Blackwood?” I ask and she nods. “Can you stop this?” I continue while pointing at the sky.
“No.” she answers with sorrow.
“May I ask what happened here?” Blake asks.
“This curse that’s plaguing the forest was my doing. Long ago, there was a huge war between the two villages that surround this forest. My family told me to not participate, but I didn’t listen, I thought I was doing good. I took the side of the one closer to us, thinking that the other village was full of bad people. People were convinced that this war would bring us prosperity. We all wanted it, thinking it would bring us glory and justice, but we were wrong. I lost everyone in that fight. And so much blood was spilled. My parents perished by the sword. And so did my friends. Everything suddenly changed and everything was suddenly lost. I looked at both villages, both were in pain and almost brought to ruin. Suddenly, I finally understood why my father was so intent on me choosing the kind choices and keeping the peace. So many good people died on both sides and I took part in this. They were preparing another attack in this house, our old home, when I finally had enough. I couldn’t fix my past mistakes, but I knew I could still do something. So, after everyone left to prepare for the battle next day, I quickly studied magic that hadn’t been practised in millennia. The books were written in a forgotten language, but my parents still remembered it and taught it to me. I managed to create a special cloak that would grant the user one wish. I knew what I had to do, so I put it on, and I wished for them to never be able to battle again. A barrier fell over the forest, blocking their only means of travel, and I remained here. At first, I tried escaping, but I was trapped as well. Even as a spirit, I can’t leave. I thought I would remain here forever. But then, you entered, Elwyn. And my hope that you could break the curse I created was rekindled. The cloak responds to purple magic. So, you can undo what I did. I’ve been trying to tell you what happened here through that dream. And when you reached the statue, I started the process, but since I’m a ghost, it reacted badly and turned me into the thing that chased you.”
“That’s why you were talking to me all this time! You also let me in, didn’t you?” I exclaim.
“Yes, it wasn’t easy, almost destroyed my spirit form, but I managed to let you in. Would you please help me?”
A wizard cloak appears in her hand, and she looks at me with hope. I approach it slowly, then I pull my hand away.
“Why did the wish backfire on you?” I ask and she looks down with sorrow.
“It took my anger and sadness and turned it into a curse instead of the spell I wanted. It takes your feelings and turns them into power, channelling it into your magic. So dark feelings corrupted my good intentions. The fighting may have stopped, but I cursed this whole place and people have gone missing or got trapped in here, all because of me. And I am trapped as well.”
I look at her with sadness, then I take a deep breath. She hands me the cloak and I put it on.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Blake asks with concern.
“Yeah, I can do this! I know I can.” I say.
I close my eyes, and my magic is combined with a golden light. It slowly moves towards the sky and an Aurora Borealis breaks apart the clouds, revealing the starry sky behind them. The wind calms down and the thunder stops. The lights dance beautifully on the night sky as I move my hands and the stars glow magically above.
“I wish to free this forest!” I say and my voice echoes. “I want to free the souls trapped here and I want to make sure such pain never happens again!”
Purple and golden hues cover the sky as birds sing. The barrier around the forest becomes visible and starts to weaken as more magic flows towards it. Golden and purple stars embroil more Northern Lights with each second. Fireworks colour the world as they explode in beautiful patterns and flowers bloom all around us. Blake and Adeline look up in awe, both of them shocked by what they are seeing. I smile, but suddenly, something clouds my mind. I open my eyes in horror and the magic weans for a second.
“Are you sure you’ll not be alone again? How do you know he won’t leave you once it’s over?” a voice echoes from the cloak.
“Elwyn! It’s testing you!” Adeline shouts, but my magic envelops me in a hurricane of swirling stars, blocking the two out.
I look up to see my memories. Walking down the streets alone, misunderstanding what’s going on and being different from everyone else. Feeling like I don’t belong in Indigo, feeling like an outsider in Verdant.
“Elwyn, are you sure you can ever adapt? After all, it’s so hard! So many new words and customs. Wouldn’t it be easier to just give up? You can wish for everything to be easier! You can already be a part of this place, no need to adapt, you’ll already be part of it. All you need to do is…” the voice echoes once more.
“No.” I say seriously. “I will adapt in time, even if it takes years, this place will one day feel like home! And I’m not alone! I have someone very special already and many new people to meet!”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I have the courage to try!” I answer and move my hands slightly, destroying the tornado around me.
I sigh. That wasn’t pleasant! Suddenly, someone hugs me tightly.
“Blake!” I say and start blushing.
“Elwyn! You ok? We tried calling out to you, but you couldn’t hear us! I was so worried! I was… I was afraid I’d lose you!” Blake says with emotion in his voice.
I smile kindly and put my hand on his face. I look into his emerald-green eyes. They remind me of beautiful green hills. His breath is slow and uneven from the stress and his face is slightly red. His hair is messy, and his hands are slightly sweaty. The dark clothes he wears are ripped, but somehow, even now, he’s still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. We can feel each other’s rapid heartbeat as we look at one another.
“You will never lose me!” I say as the golden and purple light circles around us like butterflies. “Blake, before I met you, I thought that I’d never be able to call this place home, and it was making me feel so lost and alone. But now, I’m more confident than ever before! And I’m really glad I met you! You’ve changed my life for the better!” I say, tearing up a little.
“You changed mine as well!” Blake replies, tears appearing in his eyes.
I take his hands into mine as I take a deep breath.
“The future is very uncertain, but that’s the beauty of life, right? Still, I’m certain of one thing, if you want as well, I’d really like it if you were part of mine. Because… Because I love you, Blake Hart!” I say, almost dying from how difficult it was to say.
Blake starts crying completely but manages to say:
“I love you too! And I’d love it if you were part of my future as well!”
We both chuckle awkwardly, then, as more fireworks explode in the sky, we kiss. Suddenly, above us, the lights stop and disappear, leaving only the moonlit sky behind. The cloak disintegrates and Adeline comes to us with a look of awe and disbelief.
“You did it… I’m free!” she says as she tears up. “The forest is saved! Thank you! Both of you!”
We both look at her with a smile and nod.
“You’d better not keep your family waiting! I think they missed you quite enough.” I say and she chuckles.
“You’re right! I’ll finally get to see them again! And I have a lot of apologies to say.” Adeline replies with a little sadness.
“Yes. But in the end you made it right, it took a while, but you did make the kind choices in the end. I’m sure they will forgive you!” I say and she smiles.
“I can’t wait to see them again!” Adeline admits with a trembly voice as tears flow down her ghostly cheeks. “Thank you… For everything! Goodbye!”
“Goodbye!” we both say in unison as she fades away.
“Elwyn! We did it!” Blake shouts and picks me up, spinning me in the air. “Hahaha! I can’t believe this!”
“I can’t believe it either!” I shout over his laughter and he kisses me on the cheek. “Hey, uhm, we’re dating, right?” I ask awkwardly.
“You bet! And I’m very happy for it!” Blake says genuinely as we hug.
“Me too!” I reply as I lean my head on his chest.
We stay like that for a few minutes, then, while holding hands, we go back home. We pass by the mountain and lake and finally, we reach the border of the forest as the sun is rising. The gate and wall are gone. I smile at Blake and he smiles at me as we finally exit Celestial Forest. The cosy and colourful buildings of the city greet us and the cheery songs of the birds follow us as we reach my house.
“Call me when you reach home, ok?” I say as I give him my phone number. “And maybe we can go, you know… On a first date?” I add with a dorky smile.
“Of course! And Elwyn, I can’t wait for that date!” Blake answers and winks as he leaves.
I stay in the doorway for a little longer, until he disappears behind a corner. I look up at the blue sky, puffy clouds moving lazily with the wind. Then I look at the small city. Pumped, I take a deep breath. This is a new start!
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