Dagger

I was exhausted, so tired. The loneliness was driving me mad with every passing day while I tried not to spend my last coins. I had no choice left but to go to the kingdom. They wanted me; they had learned that I was a White Witch. They did everything in their power to destroy me, and well, they had succeeded. As I packed my belongings for the small house that was enough for me, I glanced at my most treasured items — my spellbook, healing herbs, talismans, and potions. They were all essential to me; I had dedicated most of my life to them and my books. Being a White Witch meant being cautious. I got along well with humans and regular witches most of the time, but the fact that we were once the ones they obeyed didn’t change. Even though burning and execution were no longer practiced for regular witches, it was still happening to us because our blood carried dark magic, despite the "White" in our name. Lost in these thoughts, I found myself standing before the magnificent castle, its brilliance reflecting the entire city. I wondered if I could pull it off one last time. Could I be Wedaihirt’s puppet? But that thought quickly vanished as I stepped through the grand gates. I pushed aside my fears and worries. I stood tall, as if I had come by choice, enjoying this task, not as a necessity, but as something I took pleasure in. I had to keep my tail high — strength ran in my blood. I passed through the magnificent garden and approached the main gate. A guard who clearly looked like a messenger stood in front of me. "I wish to speak with King Tulus," I said. He instructed me to wait. While waiting, my eyes wandered to the garden, surrounded by a thousand different plants. Its peaceful beauty was surprising, especially since I felt anything but peaceful. As I observed the guard’s approach, he stopped in front of me and signaled with a nod for me to follow him. This was it, I thought. The final stop to escape. I didn’t escape, I couldn’t. Step by step, I continued up the spiral stairs adorned with gilded flowers, until finally, I was at the door where the king met his people. The guard stepped aside, and I took a long look at the door. I knocked, hearing the echo of the sound in my head. There was no turning back now! "Come in," the voice echoed from inside. As I stepped into the grand room, I straightened my back and held my head high. I glanced at the king, who was waiting calmly, though I had expected a surprised man. Then it clicked — he knew. Thanks to the guard, I was standing in front of the large table. "I believe you know why I’ve come," I said with a confident tone. A sly smile appeared on the king’s face. "I do. Your arrival pleases me," he said, his smile growing. He gestured to the chairs across from him, inviting me to sit. "I want to train you, Leyal. I want you to become a true White Witch," he declared, but it wasn’t a request — it was an order. "What do I get in return?" I asked, needing to secure my position. I trusted the kingdom, but not enough. "Power. Power beyond your wildest dreams," he said. His voice was firm and assured, but power wasn’t what intrigued me. "What if I don’t want the power? What will you offer me then?" I watched as the king’s expression shifted in surprise. His answer came quickly, "What do you want, Witch?" "My freedom. I want to be as free as a bird," I answered. The king seemed even more surprised now, understanding I knew the weight of the pressure he'd placed on me for months. A genuine pleased expression spread across his face. "Your wish will be granted, Witch. But don’t think it’ll happen right away. First, my demands, and then your freedom," he said. "Is the agreement just about training? Is that all?" "For now, yes. In two days, on the third day, the guards will be at your door. Be prepared, Witch." The moment he finished speaking, he gestured toward the door. I gave a slight bow before stepping out. It had gone better than I expected. I walked out with the same straight posture as I entered. I would live for the next two days as planned.