Silverwood

Before the quest begins.

A pitch white shiny feathered owl with small horns on its forehead and spikes on its wings. Its wings were more like a bat, but white and with feathers on them. Round face, small beak, big green eyes that can captivate anyone. In that three and a half moonlight that creature was shining gorgeously. How can anyone put such beauty inside a cage? Actually, peoples dose that. Don't know what pleasure they get from doing so. 

But I am happy that I save that bird. She is Vidya. And now she joined my quest too. She claims that, because she had read almost all the books that are there in the library, she has vast knowledge. At first, I wasn't willing to tuck her in, but I don't want her to be imprisoned again. She is a free bird now. But she wants to stay with me. 

Because I have no knowledge about the world I am in right now. I think it is probably a good option to take her along. She is the one who knows that I am a human. So I don't have to pretend in front of her. I can be myself around her. And I can ask her anything about this world without any hesitation. It is a kind of win-win situation. And moreover, I freed her. She is free to choose with whom she wanna be with. 

We shared many conversations. That was like a query, of course. I asked her about the persons I met. The three wizards who saved me. They are the sorcerers who make magic potions. Making potions is their chief talent for that they need a crystal placed steadily close to the cooking flame. Then the trolls. They can do magic too. But they use the crushed crystal's dust. They don't wear clothes, so to keep a stock they sprinkle the dust over themselves. So whenever they chant a spell they glow and the dust over them helps them to do magic. Interesting. 

Giants have no magic. But they have some psychic ability. Obviously, they identified my true identity even after I am undercover. They have something unique. 

Then comes the fairies. Male fairies mostly guard this world, they formed an army. Female fairies usually work to maintain harmony. Like being in charge of the currency chest and many more. Fairies look like humans, but they have a uniqueness. They have wings. Crystals or no crystals, these fairies possess invisible wings with them. They take it out whenever they needed it. The colorful light with a unique lace pattern appears from their back. Each has its different colors. Fairies do magic with their specified hand gesture. Each pattern of hand or finger movement is meant for a specific spell. This world works somewhat as ours does, but with no democracy. Fairies are the protectors, so they are in the highest rank. Everyone kneeled before them. Everyone serves their order. Except by the giants, I guess. The wizards work in the factory to produce the potion dust needed for the growth of the currency. But they are supplied with fewer crystals. As there is a limit to using magic here. Trolls are the rebels.

This world looked harmonious to me at the first glance but is not. According to Vidya, the peoples of this world are afraid of their lord. The lord is an evil spirit. Supported by witches and chordewas. These two creatures hunt down the other ones and take them to feed the lord. Scary because it occurs often. No one is safe. Anyone can be the victim of these evil creatures. 

 Witches are the unisexual species. They look like human females. According to Vidya, witches have some unique features too. Their nose is longer and sharper. They wear only black. Mostly a gown. They too are fond of the pointy hats. Like the fairies took hold of almost every mine of crystal. Witches have also captured a mine of jade. That's why they always have the green jade crystal to use their power. They wear many rings of jade. That helps them in doing magic. Vidya said they look divinely beautiful but scary like hell. I have never encountered them, so I can only believe what Vidya told me.

I wanted to ask more. I have so many questions. But before I could ask further, we reached the slope. We slide through it. And now we are stuck on a giant spider web. Vidya could fly, but she is trying to help me. I am totally paralyzed so does plum. Plum got stuck on the web. The spider babies are approaching him. Getting closer. I am about to stick there too. 

Oh, no plum. I can not move. I can not help him. Spiders are getting closer to him. I reached there and got stuck too. Vidya is trying to lift me. But fails. 

"Woosh!"

"Thief...thief!"

"Aaahhh"

A flying bike crossed over. The others who were chasing that biker got stuck on the web. I rolled my eyes. Plum! He is missing. The web is torn at the part Plum was there. Spiders can not reach us because of that divider. But they started webbing. The men who were chasing the biker were not much affected by the web toxin. I had faced the web once, and it took me minutes to get paralyzed. But these men arrived now, so they have time to react. 

They are fairies, that's why they got stuck. The bike is not that venerable to the web. The one with the ocean blue wings cast a spell, and the web collapsed. Thanks to that gentleman, I survived. Though he wanted to save himself and his fellows, he saved me as well. I am grateful to him. But I couldn't thank him. I am still paralyzed and sliding down with great speed. 

Those guys left. They went after that biker. 

I am going down. Vidya is following me. I am helpless. She is helpless. Plum is missing. And I am about to crash heavily on the ground. I see the ground. My speed is enough to smash me down. Closer. Closer. It is getting closer. Vidya can not help me. 

I feel my foot. I can move it. Maybe I'll regain my control over my other parts of the body. Fingers. Ankles. I try to press the foot to create friction. It helps. The friction slows me down a bit. But still, I am gliding too fast. 

I feel I can move my lips.

"Viii..." I try to speak.

"It is hard to stop you." Vidya is screaming while trying to pull me. 

The slide is narrow. So I got an idea.

"Vidya!" I call out, but not loud.

"Yes tell me. What can I do?"

"Arm. My arm." I moved my eyes to give her a sign. 

I guess she understood it. Because just as I have thought, she does it. She pulled my arms in such a way that I have become a "T". My palms are touching the slide's wall. I regain the strength. Presses my hand against the wall. It slows down the speed of my fall. I fall to the ground. Got wounded. 

"Are you okay?" She asks.

"I am fine," I say. 

"Plum! I need to find him."

"You can not find him. He is gone."

"No. I had seen those spiders were still at some distance from him. After the bike crossed, Plum was missing. I think that thief took Plum with him."

"And why would he do that? Plum is an ordinary animal. Why would he steal him?"

"Don't know about sealing, but. I am pretty sure he has my Plum."

"But what can you do now?"

"I am going to find him."

Shocking, right? It is shocking, for Vidya and for me as well. I want my pet back. I am determined. 

"All thieves can be found in the black market." She says.

"So, let's go there."

"Oh, no no. That place is not safe. Not for an elf for sure."

"And why so?"

"The black market is in the middle of the town. The town is in the opposite direction. And the most frightening part is. The black market is the place of Cyclopes."

"Cyclopes?"

"Yes. They are the race of one-eyed bald creatures."

 "Nothing scary to me."

"They hate elves. Because elves are the reason for their misery. If elves wouldn't have betrayed the army, then this fear of the lord wouldn't have existed."

"Elves are the traitors?"

"Yes. One book says that elves were once the most powerful sorcerer. But because of their betrayal, they got a curse. Their magic vanished. They became magic-less. People hated them. The descendants had to suffer because of their ancestor's act. The elves are f*******n to many places. They can not join the army. They can not be employed by any officials. They can me merchants only. Staying in the city is a hard no no for the elves."

"So elves can not enter the city?"

"They can. Now it's been eighty years to that. But still, you may encounter some humiliation. With some death threats and many more. They can also attack you if they get a bit violent."

Great! It is something like going into a lion's cave. If the lion is full, then there is hope if not then no return confirm. I don't know why I am so desperate to find him. It was just a few hours that we met. I am so concerned about him. I have never, ever felt something like that for anyone. So much of connection, so much of affection. Don't know why.

"Fine. At least we have hope. If they don't get violent." I say.

"So you've made up your mind?"

I nodded like a determined child. 

***

The city is so beautiful. Huge buildings, flying vehicles, shops with snacks. Oh, wow. I need one.

"Where are you going?" Vidya says.

I entered the shop. A yeti was sitting there. The store is full of stuff I really want to try. I picked some packets of chips, a soda cane, and other utilities. The yeti was humble. Helped me with currency confusion. He said I am not the only one facing this problem. 

After a wild search of the town, we reached the black market. The cyclops glaring at me. As if I have stolen something from them and I am presented here for a pleading. I am walking forward with my shaky legs. 

Vidya is exploring with her flight. She returns. 

"I saw the bike and that elf too." She reported.

I headed in that direction. I see an elf exchanging the bike with a grotesque, half pig, half human-like creature. It has a large pig-like nose, rusty brown skin, pig-like ears. They were a bit short in height.

"What is that creature?" I ask in a whispering voice.

"That's a boggle." She replies.

I stopped and eavesdrop on their conversation. 

"Hmm, the bike is in a good condition. I can give you four only." The boggle says.

"Four is too less. I risked my life to get you this. My labor worth more reward." The elf says. 

The voice of the elf was deep yet humorous. 

"No, four is final."

"At least six, man."

They are bargaining. I am looking around to get a sign of Plum. The bike is having a side seat. It is a tree-seater bike. But I can not go near the bike. 

Their bargaining is going on. And I am planning to sneak in. 

"Gerrrr!"

A voice stopped everyone. 

"Geerrrrr!" The sound came again.

"What is it?" The boggle asks.

"Don't know. It's coming from the bike." The elf says.

It must be my Plum. He is alive. I was about to run there but stopped. Because a cheetah hopped out of the bike's side seat. It looks furious. It scared the boggle so much that he pleads for mercy. 

"Wow! Easy boy." The elf tries to calm it down.

"Plum!" I call out. 

He looked at me and turned into a cute cat. He runs to me and gets in my arms.

"Take the six sodalites and give the bike to me." Saying this, the boggle hurriedly handed the stone to the elf and placed one in the bike, and drove it off.

The elf turn and checked me out.

"Well well well. What is a pretty elf doing in this dirty market?" He asks.

"I am here for my pet." I reply.

"Your pet. This wild animal doesn't listen to anyone. And it is your pet. Interesting."

I remember a thing. He is the one because of whom my tortoise got distracted. He is a troublemaker. 

"It is. I must leave."

"Where are you heading to?"

He enquires. 

"I... I am exploring the world." 

He raised his brows in suspicion. 

I turned around to leave.

"Nice to meet you. Hope to meet you again." He says.

I feel it will be rude if I don't reply to him. I turned around and grins. I see something familiar. 

"Can't take your eyes off my handsome face, haan?"

"What is that?" I pointed to a charm hanged in his left side of the waist.

It looks like the part of the summoner.