The Princess of Krystallos

The Witch's Family

After trying to explain to the crowd for a while and realizing it was hopeless, they dashed for the farmhouse, daring to breathe a sigh of relief only when everybody had left. The episode had left all of them tired. Crimson got back to cooking, while Chloe wrote a letter to Blaze, informing him about the newly occurred events. After the family seemed like they had calmed down, she went to get them water but Crimson reached out, blocking her.

"Roya...." Crimson started but Chloe pinch interrupted her.

"Call me Alba!" Chloe whispered in her ears.

"Alba, I will do that. You should rest."

"It’s okay, they are our guests." Alba smiled at the kid who still seemed to be shaken from everything that happened. 

“Thank you for saving us but unfortunately, it was actually because of us.” The old lady was looking at the ground, looking guilty.

“You killed them?” Alba was shocked.

“No. Some children bullied my grand- daughter. Being a family of good witches, we don’t harm humans, so to get revenge; she cursed them which led them to lose their animals. We developed the potion that once released in air near their houses can end the curse, but it has been broken in the fight.”

“Can you make it again?”

“I can, but it needs many things that we don’t have. And it takes three days of continuous work to complete it.”

“Crimmy, make the list!”

While Crimmy made the list, Alba played with the kids and the dog. Evening fell and they had dinner together. Alba slept on the floor with Crimmy, giving the only bed to the old lady and kids. As soon as the first light of the day hit, Alba, Crimson and the kids took off, in search of the witch lady’s requirements.

Some herbs from the mountain, hair from unicorn’s tail, alive fish scales, shell of a snail, were all collected by the evening. It all felt bizarre to Alba, but it seemed like the only way. Now the only thing left was something of the kids who caused it. They hid by the door of the first kid and saw that there was a pile of dirty clothes on the other end of the room and no one around.

“How much cloth should we take?”

“Any amount, will do.” The kid replied.

“Crimmy go!!” Alba nudged Crimson, who scoffed before crawling to the pile.

She searched for the child’s cloth in the pile and finally found one. She threw it towards Alba, who kept it in the bag and they headed for the next destination. 

The next child’s house was filled with humans so they went to search for the child. He was playing alone and Alba was planning the next step when the little girl went to him, pulled his hair and ran in other direction. After a while the little girl came back, the boy was not following her and the hair was even wrapped in a piece of paper. Alba patted softly on her back as a form of appreciation.

The next child was a fat, big kid, who was sitting with his family. Alba sneaked across the other side of their house and undid the rope of a calf tied to a small pole. As the calf ran away, panic rose among the family members, who ran behind it, leaving the fat kid behind, who was busy eating. Alba took out the chocolate Blaze had given her the other day, tied it by the rope that lay beside her and threw at near the kid. While the fat kid tried to catch it, Crimmy got the bowl he was eating in.

The last kid was sleeping, while her mother was cooking. Alba entered the bedroom as the others kept a watch outside.

“Sigh!! Even this cute kid is a bully, what is wrong with this world!!” Alba muttered as she cut his hair carefully.

She turned around to leave when the sound of approaching footsteps scared her. She threw the bag with stuffs outside and she got inside the bed. The mother came in with a glass and softly rubbed his hair. As she woke the kid up softly, Alba couldn’t help missing her mother. The mother took the kid in her arms and walked out. Following their departure, she jumped out of the door and they rushed to get the materials to the old witch.

Following few days were busy, with witch grandmother working on the potion and Alba helping her in the process while Crimson managed most all the housework. The potion needed three days to be prepared. After three days, they released the potion in air and soon the city became normal again.

More than a week had passed by and Alba was playing with the kids and the dog when the old witch called her.

“My Lady, I don’t have much time left and these two kids are entirely dependent on me. After I am gone, can you protect them?”

“Grandma, why are you calling me like that? And why are you saying that? We will take care of them together.”

“You have a unique presence, you cannot be a commoner. I know my body, so promise me, you will protect them!” she held Alba’s hand, and looked at her in a pleading manner.

“I promise. Now you need to rest grandma, making the magical potion has already drained you!”

“Ahh, before I forget! My witchcraft records.” She went to get a thick notebook, which was actually a number of papers sewn together. .

“I hope it comes in handy, my lady!” she bowed to Alba.

“Thank you grandma, but please don’t do this. You are an elderly; it should be me bowing to you!” Alba bowed to her.

The night fell and they laughed as they chatted. Alba felt like she had a family again. But when morning came, grandma didn’t wake up. Tears ran down Alba’s cheeks as the kids shook her corpse, trying to wake her up.