The Witch's Necklace
1052 Words
Astera decided to leave the Dark Forest before sunrise.
The discovery of her wings had created more questions than answers.
She still didn't understand what was happening to her.
The flames.
The strange energy.
The wings that appeared when she was in danger.
None of it felt like something she controlled.
And that frightened her more than anything.
She had spent her entire life creating inventions because machines followed rules.
Logic.
Patterns.
But this...
This was something beyond her understanding.
Astera walked through the forest with the tiny dragon-like creature following beside her.
It was no bigger than a small cat.
Its soft red and yellow fur made it look harmless, almost like a strange little ball of warmth moving through the shadows.
Yet it refused to leave her.
Astera stopped and looked down at it.
"You know..."
"You appeared from an unknown egg, followed me into a volcano, and now you're following me through a dangerous forest."
The creature blinked innocently.
"I still don't know what you are."
It tilted its head.
"And somehow..."
"You expect me to take care of you?"
The little creature walked closer and rubbed against her leg.
Astera sighed.
"You really don't understand rejection, do you?"
She continued walking.
But this time...
She didn't tell it to leave.
---
After several hours, Astera reached the edge of the forest.
Beyond the trees was a narrow mountain path leading toward the Ocean Tide territory.
She looked at her map.
"Another two days..."
She whispered.
But before she could continue...
A strange sound reached her ears.
A cry.
Someone was in danger.
Astera immediately became alert.
She followed the sound carefully.
Behind a group of ancient trees, she found a young woman surrounded by several armed men.
The woman looked exhausted.
Her clothes were torn from the struggle, but she still stood firmly.
Astera noticed something unusual.
There was no fear in her eyes.
Only determination.
One of the attackers stepped forward.
"Your family hid their magic for generations."
"You are the last one."
"Tell us where it is."
The woman refused.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The man grabbed her arm.
Astera's expression changed.
She hated injustice.
No matter what had happened to her...
She couldn't watch someone else suffer.
---
A small device slipped from Astera's bracelet.
She activated it.
A bright flash filled the area.
The attackers immediately stepped back.
Before they could understand what happened, Astera moved.
Her metallic wires shot forward.
One weapon fell from a man's hand.
Another was trapped by a wire around his wrist.
She didn't fight with overwhelming power.
She fought with intelligence.
Her inventions gave her the advantage.
Within moments, the attackers retreated into the forest.
They had no idea who she was.
And Astera wanted to keep it that way.
---
The young woman stared at her.
"You saved me."
Astera looked away.
"I just helped someone who needed it."
The woman studied her carefully.
Then her eyes moved toward the tiny creature beside Astera.
A strange expression crossed her face.
Not fear.
Recognition.
But she said nothing.
"My name is Elara."
Astera nodded.
"Astera."
For a moment, Elara became silent.
Then she smiled slightly.
"I knew it."
Astera immediately became cautious.
"Knew what?"
Elara shook her head.
"Not who you are."
"But that something unusual was happening."
Astera's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Elara looked toward the mountains.
"My grandmother sensed it."
"Sensed what?"
"Something strange."
"Something that disturbed the balance of the world."
Astera remained silent.
Elara continued.
"She sent me here."
"She told me I would find someone carrying a mystery."
Astera's hand moved closer to her bracelet.
"You came looking for me?"
Elara nodded.
"Yes."
"My grandmother wants to meet you."
---
Astera didn't answer immediately.
After everything that happened...
Trusting someone was difficult.
The person she believed in most had betrayed her.
The people she called family had thrown her into a volcano.
Now a stranger claimed her grandmother wanted to meet her because she sensed something unusual.
It sounded impossible.
"Why should I believe you?"
Elara understood her hesitation.
"You shouldn't."
Astera looked surprised.
Elara smiled softly.
"You have every reason not to trust people."
"But my grandmother believes you need answers."
"And I think she may be right."
---
Elara reached into her bag and removed a small necklace.
The pendant was made of silver crystal with a simple ancient design.
She extended it toward Astera.
"What is this?"
"A gift."
Astera didn't take it immediately.
"Why?"
"Because you are hiding."
Elara's words made Astera freeze.
"You don't know anything about me."
"No."
"But I know you are afraid of being discovered."
Astera remained silent.
Elara continued.
"This necklace can hide your presence."
"Your appearance."
"And your aura."
Astera looked at the necklace carefully.
"What do you mean by aura?"
Elara explained,
"In the Wolf Realm, wolves can sense other wolves."
"They can feel whether someone has awakened their wolf."
"This necklace hides that."
"No one will sense anything unusual about you."
Astera's expression changed slightly.
A way to hide her biggest secret.
A way to move among wolves without being exposed.
She finally accepted the necklace.
The moment she touched it, the crystal gave a faint glow.
But neither of them noticed.
---
The tiny cat-like creature suddenly jumped closer and stared at Elara.
Elara smiled.
"It likes you."
Astera looked down.
"It likes everyone."
The creature immediately looked offended.
For the first time, a small softness appeared in Astera's eyes.
But it disappeared quickly.
There were still too many wounds inside her.
Too many unanswered questions.
---
Elara turned toward the mountain path.
"My grandmother is waiting."
Astera looked ahead.
"Where?"
"Beyond the northern valley."
"Hidden from the rest of the world."
A pause.
"She may know things about what is happening to you."
Astera looked at the necklace in her hand.
Then at the little creature beside her.
A mysterious power.
A mysterious companion.
And now...
A mysterious witch family.
She still didn't know what she was.
But she knew she couldn't find answers alone.
Finally, she nodded.
"Take me to your grandmother."
Elara smiled.
"Good."
"Because I think she has been waiting for you for a very long time."
And together...
They began walking toward the hidden home of the last witch family.
- Writer
