Silverwood

Time to trade.

"Drink it."

"Can't there be an easy way? Something like taking a lift."

"A lift?"

"Yes. From them."

I am pointing at a ship on the port. It was getting ready to sail.

"Taking lift from a trade ship is not a good idea. Many different kinds of traders are there. They are not so trustworthy. You have something they might want to snatch from you." Arun's opinion.

"If they want crystals, then we can trade with them for some."

"I don't think they will be after your crystals."

"Then?"

"Your owl."

"Vidya? What about her?"

"She is one of a kind. I haven't seen a talking bird before. Either she is trained or born from magic. And something like that is in high demand."

His words are scaring me. 

"What if, she stays mute?"

"She can?"

After he asked that, we stared at her. She nods to yes. 

"And what about him?"

He points at Plum.

"Is he in danger too?"

"Umm-hmm"

"Why?"

"Changelings mammals are found on the Jaduland continent. They are rare for Apah citizens or fairystan citizens."

"So you mean they can take my Plum from me?"

"Yes."

"What if...."

He interrupts. "What if we hide them?"

I wanted to say that.

"How?"

"This invisible potion. But only if they stay quiet."

"They will."

We get near the ship.

"Can I meet the captain?"

A goblin looked at him after he asked the question.

"Who are you?"

"Someone who is asking for your help."

Can't he just say directly? 

"Who is there?" A werewolf asks.

"Captain! These two want to meet you." Goblin informed him.

"Elves! What do you want?" The captain asks.

"We are going to the Apah abyssal. We are hoping if this ship is heading in the same direction, so can we get a lift?" 

"Why do you elves need to visit the Apah abyssal? After the curse, elves are f*******n in many places and they too confined themselves to their continent only."

"Ahh..why??"

"Give a suitable reason that can convince me."

"The reason is...." Arun is nervous. 

The captain looks horrifying. The crew member of the ship looks horrifying too. They took the saber out.

"Because that's my last wish." What the hell did I shout.

They all stare at me.

"Last wish?" Captain asks.

"Yes! My wife is sick. Her last wish is to have a full tour of the entire Silverwood." 

Not bad, Arun. You handled it well.

"Is that so?"

"Ohu Ohu!" A fake cough will definitely work. 

It did. The captain allows us to get on the ship. 

"Woh! What's that?" I couldn't control my excitement after looking at some strange creatures. 

"That is a lava worm." The captain says.

"Lava worm? Why is it called that way?"

"Curious child. This is a lava worm because it is hot. Hot as lava. When it dies, its body melts to molten metal. After it cools down, we use that metal for other use."

"Oh"

"Want some flower?" A short lady goblin asks.

"They are beautiful."

"They are more than just beautiful."

"Means?"

"These are magical. This white flower can be used to remove the effect of any potion."

"How does it work?"

"Suppose you feel a wizard is trying to ham you with a potion. Hold the flower while drinking. No change will occur."

"What about, a person is already under a spell and there is time for it to wear off. Will it help then?"

"Of course, child. But in that case, only holding it or just a touch won't work. You need to glide it over that person's face and the potion will get transferred into the flower. The flower will change its color. Only for one use if the potion is active if not then it is reusable."

It is something I need.

"What are you thinking, child? It is a good deal. One flower for just two large and a small taṅka."

"Ṭaṅka?"

What is this now?

"You don't know what taṅka means?"

I shake my head, saying no to her.

She shows me the money leaves and said that is their currency taṅka.

"Oh that. But this is too expensive."

I didn't know the name of the currency, but I know the value of the large leaf. Its valuation would be like one thousand, I guess. So she asked me for two thousand one hundred of their currency.

"Ok, two large only." She says.

I have never bargained. I didn't get any chance to do so. Now I get one.

"Too expensive. One lager per piece."

Nailed it.

"One large and a medium."

Ok, let me calculate. It will be one thousand five hundred. 

"Give me two flowers for two large."

"Two for three."

"Two for two large and that's the final offer." 

"Fine!"

Finally, I won. This flower is the answer to my problems. 

"What does this yellow one do?"

"It helps one to possess the power of two potions at a time."

"Stop!"

I stopped her from packing.

"One white and one yellow for me. And how it works too?"

She gave me a strange look.

"Just a touch of the flower's fragrant will do. Keep the flower close to you. Drink a potion of maybe invisibility and drink another for speed. Both will work together till its wear-off time. Suppose you drank one in the morning for two hours and another for five, then the first will go off but the other will stay."

"Okay, give me both for two large."

"What will you do with these?" Captain startled me.

"Nothing, this is unique, so I wanted to have one from each for my collection."

"To fulfill your last wish?"

"Yes"

"Here you go." She packed it. 

I dig into my bad for the money.

"This is from me." The captain says and paid on behalf of me.

Seriously. A wolf paid for me?

"Do you want wings?" One asks.

"No, I don't want to be a fairy."

"Oh no, dear. This chain will give you wings, won't change you into a fairy."

Fascinating.

"Forget the gadgets, they are not reliable. Take potions, fly without wings."

"Potions have side effects but gadgets are safe."

"Forget about side effects your gadgets are effectless."

"How rude."

"You started it up."

"You stinky wizard."

"You ugly goblin."

"Ignore them. They are like that. Tell me, how far you get in completing your last wish." The captain asks.

"I have seen wizard colony, passed by cyclops plateau, sat on a huge tortoise but it changed into a komodo dragon."

"Changelings reptile. Bravo. "

"I... giant valley."

Arun stared at me when I said that. Now I notice though he is moving around, his full attention is on me.

"That's it?"

"Oh no. I went to the yeti mountain, snake village, saw centaurs, and now you."

"You had a wonderful journey. May the adventure continues. I must say, you got a great partner. "

Captain winked at me and left for work by yelling at his crew members. 

Woh! The ship is shaking.

"You okay?" Arun came running. He does care about me.

"What's going on?" 

"I don't know either. I have only heard of the trade ship but never had seen it before."

"So it's your first time too?"

He nodded.

"You said you know everywhere? You can guide me to the entire globe."

"Sorry for being overconfident. I thought you are a less trouble maker but you are the big one."

"Seriously?"

He chuckled. 

Suddenly the ship lifted up and it is in the air. 

"It will fly."

I see Arun's eyes it is sparkling. He is so amazed as me. We get to the edge of the ship to see the view. An invisible layer covered the ship. Feels like we are inside a bubble or transparent capsule.

"Everyone hold tight." At the captain's command, we stuck to the poles. It dives straight into the water. Splashing it and giving us a rollercoaster experience. It calms down and I see the view. 

"Wow!" We both gasps.

Seeing each other's reaction, we can't stop giggling. We are inside the water and yet so dry. Fishes swimming above our head. 

"Beautiful!" Again we giggled. 

How are we reacting at the same time? It must be the impact of the situation. 

"Grrrr"

I gasp.

"Plum, no. No Plum."

Please don't.

"He must be hungry. Fish are provoking is hunger." 

"So what should we do now?"

"Let go inside so that he can not see the fish."

We did the same. It is a bit helpful though.

"Well, I must admit that your idea was good."

What did he say?

"Sorry what you said?"

"I said, your idea is more efficient than mine. If we would have transformed into a mermaid, it would have taken ages to swim till the abyss. We are here in no time. Thanks to you."

This elf can say sweet words, too. Not bad.

We just smile and our eyes does the talking. 

"We are arriving at the port." The captain shouts.

"Are you ready?" He extends his hand.

I hold it. And nod a yes. 

We stopped before an igloo-shaped bubble.

"There is a gigantic market inside the bubble." 

The tunnel connected with the bubble and the ship open the gate for us to move out. We walked out and got mesmerized by the vibe of the market.

"Salt salt. Epsom salt."

"Alge alge. Take the healing alge."

"Magic pearls. Magic pearls for the magic less."

"Should I buy one?" Arun asks.

"Stop right there." The captain stops him.

What happened? Did he suspect something? Plum is quiet and Vidya, too.

"These vendors are not so wise. Think carefully before buying anything." He suggested.

We took a breath of relief. 

"Wow, I have never seen a seahorseman before."

On Arun's word, I look around. I see a creature like a seahorse but bigger in size.

"Seahorseman? What about the woman?" I ask.

"You don't know?"

"What?"

"They are called seahorseman because they all are men only."

"All?"

"Yes. Only male, no female in their kind."

"Like witches are all female, no male in their kind?"

"Exactly."

We explore the market till the trade ship left. After we see off them with a warm wave, we searched the gate to get out of that bubble.

"There is room for transforming. The lady's room is there." He pointed in a direction. 

The room was half-filled with water. It splashed as Plum dived in. 

"Plum!"

"Ouuu Ouuu!" 

"Was that you Plum? It's....its sounds like a whale. An invisible small whale. You can do that as well. Cool."

"Thank god the room is big enough."

"What will you do Vidya?"

"Don't worry about me. I stole a shell that will help me in breathing inside the water."

"You stole something? That is bad. Terrible Vidya."

"Do we have any other choices?"

"I could have bought you one."

"You were too busy. You barely thought about me, Devi. You ignored me completely."

She flapped her wings. I moved the flower over my face and it turned faded blue on its tip. I guess it can be used again. So I kept it. Drank the potion and my legs transformed into a blue-green fishtail. I developed gills. Can breathe in water. Open the gate back gate and the room got filled with water. We get out and pressed the button to close it. As Arun said, we swim to the point we set to meet.

"Where's the other?" He asks upon my arrival.

"Plum turned into a whale."

"And I am here who can breathe in the water now," Vidya said in a harsh tone.

Why is she mad at me? 

"Where next?" 

I don't have the answer to his question.

"Vidya?"

"Great to know that you remember that I am present here. We need to visit the castle." She says.

"Castle?"

"Yes."

"May I know why you want to go there?" Arun asks.

"You are here to help us get there. Don't get in our personal space."

"Vidya!"

What's wrong with her?

"Sure." He took out a compass and swim in a direction.

He has the same kind of compass as I do.

"Vidya! Why are we going to the castle?"

"The boy in the picture is the prince of this nation."

So we are going to meet the prince. Hope it goes well.