96 AW 

An enormous tree that stretched to the sky was the only sign of life for miles. The sky was a blend of rose red and lilac. Lights littering the sky are shone like suns in the night sky.  The wind howled around the lone tree.

Following the roots of the tree, there was our whole other world where the sky was a baby blue and trees, rivers, and mountains were spread along the landscape. And where the roots of the tree stuck out of the ground were trees of all different types.

A jacaranda tree stood over a forest in the morning light.

A small figure huddles at the base of the tree. She watched as fawns became adults and gave birth to the next generation. She saw fires spread through the lands only for new forests to grow back stronger. She saw the trees that lost their leaves and snow to cover the forest floor only for flowers to blossom.

She watched as the years passed and the forests continued to thrive and bloom.

One day and new creature enters the forest. A new apex predator, at first, wanted to kill the pests that ruined her land, but they brought new creatures with them and new plants. They built new landmarks and gave her offerings.

418 AW

People danced to the song of the band, as people bustled around them. Lights and flags hung around the houses as decorations were still being put up. Children ran through the streets laughing and chattering away.

Eden wandered around the town of Jacara Vale, watching the early festival. The sun had only just risen but the people flooded the streets. It was the annual offering, and it was a large festival for the town. Other smaller towns in the area venture to the town to also participate.

It was the festival of Jacara Vale’s Spirit.

“Good morning, Eden. Can I offer you some fresh fruit?” A tall dark-skinned man asked as he showed some oranges.

“Can I have four,” Eden passed over some coins. “And gave a great festival Lucas.” Eden nodded waving a goodbye. She made a mental note to swing by the house to cut the oranges.

Her periwinkle dress swayed in the light breeze as she tried not to get it dirty in the puddles. Honestly, Eden didn’t care too much about the purpose of the festival but the gathering of people. New stories from afar or new treasures. Many don’t travel too far from where their spirit lays after the war so hearing stories about other places is rare.

Jacara Vale could almost count as a city, but the people never made a royal hierarchy. Yes, there was a mayor and rich nobles but no one person ruled.  It was one of the only places without a royal household, but the people never minded. Eden loved that Jacara Vale was always changing just like the forest. The main concept stayed the same, but no tree or house stayed in the same place.

“I haven’t seen you in a while Eden. It’s been a couple of months, hasn’t it?” Ian asked behind her. Eden waved back at Ian.

“Has it been that long?”

“Eden forgetful as ever. You should stop by the house the kids miss you.” Eden met Ian a few years ago and helped look after his kids after his partner died. She didn’t know how to help them at first. Eden didn’t understand how to grieve so she had no idea how to comfort someone. But after a while, they started to move on and that was it.

“Is everything prepared for this year’s festival?” Ian nodded as he passed her a small sandwich. They both headed further onto the field grounds just outside the town. It was easy to let Ian talk about his kids and how much they’ve grown up. Eden remembered when Ian was born but she didn’t let him know that.

“I’ve been practicing with my girls learning how to fancy hair styles. Can I?” He pointed to her neglected faded purple hair. Only in directed light could you see the shine of purple, but most don’t pay much attention to it.

She thanked him as they watched people crowd around the open field waiting for the mayor to show up.

A couple more friends showed up and they all greeted each other. They joked as they watched the kids play around.

It wasn’t long until the mayor stood on stage and boomed his voice across the felid.

“Greetings to all people of this land, and travelers from afar. Today is the first day of our festival. We hold this each year to celebrate our spirit. We offer our best and in return, they give us bountiful harvest and protection. Our ancestors arrived in this land in 96 AW making this our 322nd year of celebration. May we have another year of great prosperity!”

The crowd yelled and clapped as people brought gifts for the spirit.

Eden let her zone out. She waited for the weirdest tradition that no matter how hard she tried she never so the purpose of it.

The sacrifice.

Don’t get her wrong, she studies and asks about it. ‘The spirit needs human souls to protect the land.’ Older spirits were told this to humans over a thousand years ago. And who was she to question the elder spirits? Each place had its way. Of whom, why, when, and how they sacrifice someone.

Jacara Vale was to sacrifice a witch.

But was different from the other years? There are no witches left in the Jacara Vale region to sacrifice. But the people around her didn’t know that.

She only ever attended ten of them but by then she grew distant from the practice.

“This is our sacrifice to our great protector.” A young woman with raven-like hair and eyes of seafoam stared at Eden. Her eyes widen when she looks at Eden. Who flashed with different emotions before setting on surprise. It bore right through her human disguise.

A new feeling of dread crawls around her mind. She supposes this is how a deer feels right before it dies. How your body feels like it’s made of stone and refuses to move. No witch before saw past her human features. It wasn’t something she knew they could do. While spirits connect with magic from the roots of the great tree. Witches could borrow their power from minor spirits. In rare cases greater spirits like Eden.

“You should be glad that your soul is being used to fuel our spirit.”

The witch only continues to stare at Eden. Eden scanned the crowd to see if anyone noticed the witch staring but most didn’t care.

The mayor lit his torch and started to walk over to the wooden pile. Before he could light the witch on fire the dark clouds quickly gathered in the sky.

Eden felt the witches arrive before she could see them. Their magic felt out of place in the area. But it still flowed naturally all around them.

 Other witches arrived and quickly freed the chained witch.

“We are under attack!” One of the guards shouted, and the people finally went into action. The people either fled or fought.

Guards raced to the witches as the town’s people's screams drowned out the fighting. Soon heavy rain fell making the now battle muffled and impossible to see in.

Eden could only stare at the fight in front of her.

Eden heard that every so often another witch shows up to free its brethren but not a whole group. Was something about this witch so important? Or was this a trap? Thousands of people were gathered, it was a massive feast that someone couldn’t ignore.

It doesn’t matter now as the people fled the festival ground to hide in their homes. Eden focuses on the sounds of the fighting drowning out the sound of the rain. The guards could take out maybe one or two witches. But as a whole group, they don’t stand a chance.

Eden knew she should do something, but her feet were planted on the ground. Eden heard the footsteps before she saw them.

“What are you?” The witch's eyes were ablaze with gold no longer the seafoam hue. Eden felt her throat tighten. In the hundreds of years of her life, she has never felt fear like this before.