Silverwood

Science is the twin sister of magic

"Chemistry is not a god. It's science." I said.

"Science god please help us." She prayed.

She is so cute. And naïve. She thinks science is a kind of god. It makes me smile only.

"It works." The ogre entered the tent.

"Waiting," I say.

"Come."

I follow him to a small camp of goblins. 

"Human!" They began to mumble.

"She has a name," Vidya says.

Sweet. She is taking my side.

"Hi, I am Li" A goblin introduces himself.

"I am Devi."

Like a kid, he holds my figure and led me to a cave. No others were allowed there. The cave was like a portal and we ended up in a hi-tech lab. Why lab? Because there were goblins wearing safety goggles. There were tables set in rows. With the glass beaker on it. It seems they were experimenting. 

"Is this your lab?"

"No....his" He pointed to a goblin wearing a black apron.

That goblin was on an experiment, testing something. He mixed two chemicals and boom, it pops orange fumes. 

I am waiting and looking at him, working passionately. One goblin comes to him with a tool. Looks like they are the scientists of this world. 

"Here is the human, sir."

"Human..." He checks me out, top to bottom.

"I am Chang, nice to meet you." He bows in front of me. 

So I did the same.

"Myself Devi."

"We heard you can make crystals." Chang enquired.

"Sort of."

"Interesting."

He took off his apron and guided me. He takes me on a tour of his lab. Then he brought me to his cabin. It was a tidy place. Walls, the door, are of tin, and yet you can see through. From the outside, it is tin but inside, more like a see-through glass. Amazing. They are mind-blowing. 

"Welcome to our secret laboratory," Chang says.

"Secret! Why?"

"Fairies. After they took over as protectors, they banned us from experimenting. They confined our works. Making vehicle. And other stuff for our day-to-day life. The old sugar factory was taken by them too. They ordered that only powder sugar would be produced. These rules were too much. We wanted to produce some alternative for the crystal stones. This noble thought got punished by them. So we created a secret society and research was on. Yet we had no idea. As you mentioned there, we tried to make sugar crystals."

He leans down to pick up a sugar crystal big as a tennis ball. 

"Wow.." That was my reaction after looking at it.

"We have not many ideas. But you can help us. I have heard that you can not go back. What do you think about my offer to work here as an adviser?"

"Oh.... thanks. But.."

"No need to answer now. Take your time."

"What about the war?" 

Why did I ask that? What about war, what is that supposed to mean? 

"I am not against it. Arun is our buddy. If he is leading, we are ready to help."

Arun? Crazy. 

Some noise distracted us. 

"What's going on?" Chang enquires. 

"Someone is looking for Devi. It's urgent."

We rush to the portal gate. Stepped out, and saw Anu's mother crying loudly.

"Hey what happened?"

"They took her. They took our Anu."

Broken tents. Burnt cars. Injured soldiers. 

"Witches attacked us. Arun was not her nor do you. Mina fights back and many joined her. When the witches found they are being defeated, they took all the children with them." Vidya said.

"Where is Arun?"

"He is on the cliff. Blaming himself."

"This is what going to happen when you don't listen to us." Chief of fairies said.

"Jerk" Mina express.

"People of Silverwood. Listen to me carefully. We protect you. Without us, you are always in danger. No one will protect you. That elf, that cursed person. He is happy by getting power. He will not think about you. Why would he think about those who used to mock him? Insulted him. And that human girl. She has no power. Her goal was to go back. Only that. We are the only ones, who truly stood for you. So stop this rebel. And come under our shade."

"Living under your shade is worse than dead." One from the crowd shouted.

That angered the chief. 

"Then die. We won't help you. You have two choices. Either live as we say or win the battle and set yourself free."

"What?" The crowd howls.

"Three days. You have three days to save those children. If you can, then I promise we will leave every asset we took over. Won't force you any rules. Because we won't have to protect you anymore. But if you couldn't. Then you have to get back to the mines and factories. You will have to pay penalties too. And the human, she has to be our prisoner. I am warning you. I am warning you following a traitor and an alien would lead you to more destruction."

The fairy army with the chief fly back to their way.

"Prisoner?" I muttur. 

"Devi.."

I ran to the cliff.

"Arun!"

"Arun!"

Where is he? 

"Arun...."

Searching for him everywhere. Over the cliff. The tents. Kitchen. He is nowhere. 

"Kaaak.."

That's a familiar sound. Yes, it is. It's the griffin. I followed the sound. Out of the camp, far on the field, Griffin was with Arun. Arun was patting him.

"Arun!" I call out loud.

"Wanna have a ride?"

Looks like griffin likes that idea. I walk near them. 

"Is it.."

"Yes, the chief's griffin."

"That's why he was flying on his own."

"He was mean?"

"He, with his fellow soldiers, came to the camp. He announced his order. Either to win the battle to set everyone free or to live as they say. Plus, if we lose or the public chose to go with the fairies they will lock in prison."

"That's never gonna happen. Hopp on."

I am in the front, and he is next to me. Arun leans on me to tap griffin, ordering him to fly. 

"Confidence?" I ask.

"Yes"

"What if.."

"Shush..."

I look around.

"What are you looking for?"

"Sushree." I answer.

It made him laugh. He is laughing like I said a joke.

"Not that shush, sweetheart."

"Oh"

He hunched over me, his head resting on my shoulder. Arm wrapping me. 

"A.. Arun!"

"Hm.."

I tried to resist.

"Don't move."

"Hun?"

"What were you saying?" He asks.

"About the battle.. if we."

"We won't lose."

"You think so?"

"No, I know so."

"How?"

"Because I have you."

His grip tightens. I am liking his embrace. 

"He said three days to win. What if they turn towards the fairies?"

"They won't I know it."

"Chang says, you are his buddy."

"Yes, I was his supplier. So you met him."

"Yes."

"What he said more?"

"He offered me a job there. As an advisor."

"That punk." He seems frustrated.

"What?"

"Nothing. Anything else?"

"Yes, he said if you will lead the troops then he is ready to help."

"Oww that punk. He is so sweet. But I will not lead the troop."

"Why not? Then who will?"

"I know someone more capable. Till then, what do you think we should do?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you."

He is embracing me. Tight. His face touching mine. Giving me goosebumps. 

"What's that?" I pointed to the surface, that disturbed Arun's mood.

"Oh, you are new here. I'll take you on a tour. I'll make you visit each place without any fear. But before we need to visit Gyan. And that's my dear is a phoenix."

"Wow"

"You've never seen it?"

"No"

"What about an elf?"

"We have mythical stories about you."

"Interesting." He says.

"About giants, fairies, mermaids, even the snake person."

"But never heard of any changing mammals."

"Really?" He asks.

"We had many movies based on it. And games too."

"Hmm" He shows his interest.

Games! Yes, games!.

Which one was that? Pubg? No.

Harry Potter game? I think no.

"What happens? Where have you lost?"

"Nowhere."

We arrive at the giant valley.

"He is fast."

"Yes, he is."

Griffin dropped us at Gyan's library.

"Knock... knock"

He opens the door.

"Oh.. you are back." He said.

"I had to," I reply.

"Not you dear."

"Yes, I am back as I promised," Arun replies.

That confused me.

"Get in."

We got in. Sat on the chair. He gave us soup. Is soup his favorite?

"Give it to me."

Arun handed him the compass.

Oh, that. Yes, it belongs to Gyan.

"How are you, lady? I guess your time to return is over."

"Yes"

"What about my offer?"

"Once I thought about it, but now. I need time."

"Sure. I have something for you." Gyan went inside and came back with something in his hand.

It's a book. Though it is tiny for him. He's holding between his index finger and thumb. It must be big for me. It is. 

It was about the portal to the human world. It was the research for the ways to go back.

"Is there away?" I ask. That made Arun a bit sad. 

"The research is not complete. You have enough time to complete it. Only if you are interested to go back. Unless you've not found something to hold you here." Gyan teases me.

Arun looks a bit pale. I stare at him. Gyan noticed me staring at Arun. 

"Arun!" He says.

"Yeah"

"I have something for you."

It was a diary.

"It belongs to your grandfather. We recovered it from the beach. It must have fallen while entering the battlefield. They went to attack the island through under the water."

That hit me. "If you ever need me, call me anytime. For you, I can join the war as well." This is what Ritesh has told me. Should I give that suggestion to him?

"You can solve the spell given by your grandfather from it. But always remember. Whatever he did was for our betterment. Or else we would have suffered more. In the time of the emergence, such bold action is needed. At that time of the decision, you think of one thing leaving behind the thought of its pros and cons. I hope you get what I am trying to say."

Don't know about him but I get it. Arun's grandfather must have sacrificed the human to save others. We never know what situation he was in. 

Arun nods. 

"We have limited time. Or else we would have stayed for long." Arun says.

"Sure. Remember me whenever needed."

"I will."

Arun walked out of the door. I am following him. Wow! Gyan lifts me.

"Remember one thing. You have something no one has. The knowledge. Please lead them on the right path. I am counting on you." He whispers.

I nod to yes.

He let me down. And saying bye, I walked out of the door.

I am scared. Holding the book. Worried about the public reaction to the incident that happened today. And we left them again.

On the way back Arun said nothing. We reached the camp. There was a gathering. I felt something bad must be going to happen. I was terrified to face them. Where were you? We chose to stay under the shelter of fairies. Hopping these words from them. I don't want to go to prison. Rather, I prefer death. 

"There they are."

I gulp out of fear.

They are staring at us. Welcoming us with their gaze. That scary gaze. 

"You came too early?" One says.

Was it a taunt? Please don't be.

"We were looking for you everywhere."

Oh no.

"We were waiting for you."

They are furious, I guess. 

"We have something to tell you."

Finger cross.

"Look it works."

What? The sugar crystal... Oh my gosh! 

They had fixed the sugar crystal on Mina's wand. It is glowing. She even shows us a simple trick. 

"Devi look. Your idea works. Now we can beat those witches' butts."

They laugh.

"Wand preparation is going well. Sprites have come and they are ready to train the rookies." The ogre says.

"Have you seen their lab? Magical." Mina says.

"Their lab? You went in?"

"Yes. They are ready to serve in the war. So I was allowed to get an inside tour."

"Is it so."

"Devi, thank you. Now we will smash them down."

"We will go and save those children."

"Yes"

"Yes"

"Please lead us the way."

They bows.

What?

"Yes Dev, lead us the way." Arun is saying the same thing?

Huh! I was wrong. Science is not the stepsister of magic it is actually a twin sister of magic. Isn't it a captivative magic that made them wanted me to lead them?