Ayden led him down a narrow hallway.He was sure that it was a blank wall when he first noticed it,he had to suspect there was a sort of magical barrier that showed itself to those who were allowed. Whatever Ayden had to show him had to be big or dangerous. The wheels in Sebastians brain seemed to be stuck with gum as he tried to work out what it could be. As they stopped in front of three bookcases squished together,Sebastian finally couldn’t hold his question. “Okay,uh where are we going?” he asked

The fluff creature flew in front of Ayden’s face and went upside down.It made bell noises as if it was questioning the little witch as well.

Ayden walked over to the middle bookcase “I told you silly!” She pulled on a silver globe. “To teach you magic.” The bookcase opened up,there was something mechanical making a loud noise. As the bookcase fully opened up like a self-moving door, Sebastian walked inside without asking. 

The room was a big greenhouse, inside was almost clear paneling showing gears and solar panels, on the roof was a pull system that took an empty plant pot to a claw-like metal arm that planted a seed into the pot. The pot was transferred to a row of pots that sat next to a table.

The plants were even more unusual than the ones in the rest of the house. One plant looked like an egg and it had eyes. When Sebastian went past the plant it made a plop noise with its leaves. Sebastian stopped walking and stared at the plant , it stared at him and made another polo noise. Ayden shouted at Sebastian ,” Come on Sebastian we have to teach you magic, this is a matter of life and death!”

The soft  creature flew circles around the egg-shaped plant and got whacked by its leaves, the creature flew off to Sebastian and Ayden.

Sebastian followed Ayden to a rather large and rather messy table. The table had a big pot and around the pot was vials with strange liquid in all colors of the rainbow. Standing at the word table was Lorenzo talking to a  pocket watch in a low tone of voice .

He turned his head and looked surprised at Ayden and Sebastian's appearance.

“Ah Ayden, Sebastian, what are you two doing here?” he said calmly,

He closed his watch, placing it in his pocket.

Ayden smiled, “we’re here to teach Sebastian magic.”

Lorenzo smiled back weakly, “ of course.”

He turned around and said to the fluffy creature , “Don’t touch that.” who was too close to an orange liquid vial that bubbled, the fluffy creature flew to Sebastian's head and made bell noises at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo replied , “ That is a very dangerous potion and the tiniest drop can explode this very house off the planet. “

“Potions?” Sebastian asked Lorenzo, grabbed three books that were laying on the table and shoved them in Sebastian's hands. “ Yes, potions is my job. Go learn about magic , I have to work. “ He said hastily. 

Sebastian and Ayden along with the creature tangled in Sebastian's hair left the garden. They walked into the living room and sat on the floor next to an oak coffee table. Sebastian placed the books on the floor next to them.“Sorry about that, dad's potion making is really dangerous.” Ayden said

Sebastian shrugged, flipping some pages of a book. “It's alright I understand.”

He stopped at a page that said magic marks. “What's this about? “ He asked.

Ayden looked at the page and looked excited, “ ooh magic marks! When a witch turns of age, 9 , the witch in question gets their magic mark!”

“Okay, but what is it?”

“Hm, it's hard to explain , here let me show you.”

She placed her left hand on Sebastian's palm and pointed her other hand at a simple leaf plant on the table. She concentrated on the plant and it grew taller.

The top of her left hand started to glow with a spring green heart flower pattern. She placed her hand down and turned to Sebastian, the glow now stopped.

“So? What did you think? You're amazed aren't you?”

Sebastian beamed,” I never saw anything like that!”

“Duh silly you 've never seen a witch before! My dad has a similar looking mark on his back. Don’t ask him to see it, he won't let me see it either but Uncle Billy insists he does!”

“Uncle Billy? '' Sebastian asked, 

Were there other witches here? A whole family of witches in Period perhaps? He thought to himself

“Yup William Parabola the third! He is the goat man that lives next door!”

Sebastian let that idea of a witch family in peirod flush away in his imaginary toilet.

“Ah I see, Ayden, can I ask another question?”

Ayden stopped playing with the fluffy creature. “Of course, ask as many as you want.”

“What is the world beyond the woods like? “ He asked

“ The world beyond the woods? It’s in everyone's dreams and nightmares. It's actually cursed, you know.” She giggled, “Anyhow I heard it's called Dauswela, and they call the whole world Etherex.”

Sebastian frowned, “I already know that,they taught it in history class.”

Ayden crossed her arms and turned around. “If you already know so much about it, why ask me?”

Sebastian shrugged “I didn't know if it was real or not. Although it never mentioned magic marks, it vaguely talked about royalty.”

Ayden uncrossed her arms and bit into an apple that came out of thin air, or more specifically an apple tree that grew in the living room.

“Royalty ah, their so romantic aren't they”

Sebastian just stared at her. How could royalty be romantic? All royals were a bunch of old kings that forced people to live in some cursed woods and kill innocent kids in basements. They sounded like the opposite of being romantic. 

“They live in huge towers and have fancy horses with princesses wearing fancy dresses.” Ayden continued.

“You don't know anything real about royalty do you?” Sebastian questioned, perhaps he shouldn't be asking her for advice anymore.

Ayden put her hands to her sides, “I do too, they actually are really boring and have lots of boring text in their books and have nothing about fighting dragons or finding unicorns! The only interesting thing about them is this one magical eye symbol!”

Sebastian tilted his head. “There are multiple royals?” Ayden stood up and yawned “ Yup it's so  boring. Hey, want to see one of my dad's potions?”

Sebastian shrugged; his new friend definitely got bored quickly. Ayden grabbed a clear spray bottle with yellow liquid and pointed it at Sebastian. “It's supposed to make people happy.” she said

“Okay?” Ayden sprayed the liquid all over him.

The liquid had a pleasant smell . Sebastian gasped “ Did you just spray that at me.” 

“Now my nose is happy.” Ayden replied

Sebastian slowly stood up. “Are you saying I stink?” Ayden only laughed and ran to the other side of the room. “You little- That was air freshener wasn’t it!”

Sebastian ran after Ayden , and she ran over to the couch and jumped on top of it. Sebastian ran after her and soon the two of them were running after each other. The fluffy creature was spinning after them while making bell noises. Ayden stopped for a bit to stare at the fluffy creature and Sebastian took advantage of this, taking the spray bottle from her hands and sprayed her. 

Lorenzo spoke from the doorway, “Kids I need to talk to you.”

Sebastian stiffened as he quickly placed the bottle back down on the coffee table. “We’re sorry for bothering you at work.” He said quickly 

Lorenzo walked in the room and sat down on the gray couch. He flipped open the pocket watch and closed it again. He looked sad for a split second but remained calm.  “That is not the reason I need to talk to you.” Lorenzo looked at Ayden's curious face and pulled out a piece of paper out of his pocket. “I need you two to go into the woods.” 

Sebastian raised his eyes. Despite his wanting to cross the forest it was still cursed regardless. He didn’t blame the magical people for cursing the forest.

 You had to protect your kind somehow from the humans however it was surrounded by dark clouds and the trees were taller than the mountains, when you walk near the woods there is this eerie feeling of being watched.

If Lorenzo wanted Sebastian in the forest this had to be important. He sat down on the floor slightly watching what he had to say.

Ayden sat down on the couch next to her father and asked him 

“Why do you want Sebastian to come? Isn't it too dangerous for him?”

“ Normally yes, but you could use the extra help. I want you to find the paraforni azural fungi, it is a blue mushroom that causes maddening visions, it is located deep in the forest and will take at least a day to find it. With extra help you would be able to find it much quicker, now I do not need to warn you about the dangers Ayden but Sebastian, the forest is a very dangerous place it is full of people who have lost their minds,animals who would do anything for some kind of food. They don’t care if you're a child, they will do anything to feed. ”

He handed the piece of paper to Sebastian, it had a picture of the mushroom which had a long stalk and light blue pearls on the cap. 

“Now Sebastian you dont have to go on this mission if you don't want to, you can go back home and be safe with your family, however I do have to tell you this, this is the only way you can really learn about magic and have all your questions answered."

Sebastian didn't even think when he said “ Yes of course I’ll go.” If Lorenzo was right, maybe all his questions would be answered, especially the important one. Perhaps the forest will give a clue to how the war ended. 

Ayden smiled, “That sounds like an adventure.” 

She leapt out of the couch,”This shall be my biggest quest yet! I will not let you down dad.” She shouted.

“No need to be dramatic.” Lorenzo said “ Ayden change out of your skirt and get your bag, Sebatatian your bag is in the closet.”

He pointed to a door in the hallway next to the front door. 

Ayden ran to her room. Sebastian opened up the closet and grabbed his bag. It had some leaves stuck to the bag , he shook the bag causing all the leaves to fall to the ground , Lorenzo tapped on Sebastian's back, Sebastian turned around , Lorenzo had a bundle of stuff in his hands. “ Here this will assist you in your travels.”

They were maps of the forest, a water bottle , a silver compass , and a dagger with a silver handle in the middle of the handle was a blue gem.

Sebastian put them in his bag, “ Thank you but why the dagger?” 

“The dagger will aid you if you encounter anything dangerous.”

At this moment Ayden came walking to them, she wore yellow shorts with a white tee-shirt , her red curly hair was tied up. She carried with her on her back a brown book bag that frayed at the edges . “ I have the best idea ever!” Ayden said she reached in her pockets and pulled out two flip phones, one purple and the other one was pink. She handed Sebastian the purple one, it had rhinestones stickers on the phone along with other girly pink stickers. 

“Okay?” Sebastian said, confused , he looked over at the phone and opened it to only close it.

Ayden replied “ It's a flip phone. Dad got me three if I get lost and need to call him for help. I figured you could use one sorry if they're not to your taste.”

Sebastian placed the phone in his pocket, “ No no it's okay, it will remind me of you if we get separated.” 

Lorenzo patted them on the back ,” Well kids you don't want to break daylight, you should go now.”

The two teenagers walked out of the house to be greeted by a small man wearing a baseball cap and big oversized cowboy boots,he had an orange colored beard.

“Hello Billy!” Ayden greeted.  The man only grunted as he walked into the house. “ Huh, must be in his grumpy mood.” she commented.

Sebastian took note that goat men existed and maybe he shouldn't doubt Ayden’s stories.

****

As Sebastian and Ayden walked down the street, 

Sebastian felt dread; he wondered how his mother would react to him not being home and Charlie sleeping over.Charlie might be concerned about him as well.

 Ayden noticed Sebastian's expression and asked “Hey are you okay?” 

Sebastian fidgeted anxiously on his sleeve.

“I suppose yeah, I’m worried what to tell my mom, can’t tell her I’m on a magical adventure and looking through the cursed forest for one mushroom.”

Ayden frowned “Oh that is a tough question. Is there anyone else you can talk to?” 

Sebastian thought about this; 

Charlie probably wouldn’t believe him or either come alone and there was no way he was going to have another friend hurt because of his stupid mistakes, 

Rhinmon and him were not in speaking terms and if she knew she would turn him in to the M.P.S, perhaps he could tell Rain, his older brother was always open to the possibilities to magical creatures being actually good sure they were not as close to each other as they were sense Rain moved away but maybe he will understand, and

 Maybe he can tell him about Will.

Sebastian grabbed the phone out of his pocket, Ayden grinned “who are you going to call?” Sebastian typed in the number on the flip phone.

“My older brother, he will understand. I know he will.” He said hopefully. 

He called his brother and waited for the response. He wondered if he could phrase the right words correctly.

Sebastian took a deep breath to only be greeted by a robotic voice mail.

“Hello this is Rain Miller, if you are hearing this I am busy at the coffee shop. Stop by sometime.” The machine beeped.

Sebastian couldn't believe it, he really thought he was going to talk to his brother, how naive he was.

“Uh hey Rain if mom calls you tell her I’m with a friend, maybe I'll stop by at the coffee shop later on today.”

He hung up the phone. Ayden tilted her head,” I thought you were going to tell your brother about our magical adventure?”

Okay so Sebastian chickened out but was he going to talk to a machine definitely illegal activities? No, of course not ! The government was probably looking for him at this moment and had his brother hostage. That's what he thought anyway.