Believe in the Mystics

by Tacori Bean

  As we emerged from the forest a wave of cold, wet air hit my face, which caused goosebumps to encase my body.

  “I am surprised the vines and other plants can withstand the weather.” I commented.

  “The foliage won’t die down until after harvest.”

  “Harvest?”

  “Yes. We are the only town in Kocala that harvest late. Which is because of the Tree turning black. Our magic users can't work during that time, so we pushed it back into winter.”

  I looked over to her with wide eyes, “Doesn't that hurt the plants?”

  She shook her head and laughed, “No, plant mages like myself have spells on the plants in Secret Hollow that protects them from the harshness of winter. None of the foliage will die until the spell is taken off.”

  I hesitantly nodded my head and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the walk through the town until a terrified shriek filled the air.

  “Piper!” The woman’s shrill voice cried.

  Piper hurried towards a woman holding a small child in her arms.

  “Please, you must help him.”

  Piper scrambled through her bag, “It’s okay. I have a mixture that will remove the poison.” She reassured.

  I didn't understand until I peeked around Piper’s shoulder and noticed the black mass encasing the boy’s arm and chest.

  “Hold him still, I don’t know how he’ll react to the mixture.” Piper said, pouring the clear liquid into the boys mouth.

  The liquid glowed as it moved through the boy’s body. Piper hovered her hands above his chest and moved the glowing liquid to his arm where the black mass was. The black slowly disappeared until it was gone like nothing had happened. The liquid then flowed off of his arm like sweat onto the ground, wilting the leaves that covered it.

  The boy shifted and settled in the woman’s arms.

  “Thank you so much.”

  Piper smiled at the woman, “If I may, how did he contract this? Black poison is a magic that has been outlawed for years.”

  “There is a beast at the gates that uses the magic. The guards are fighting it now. The poor boy was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Piper froze and then took off towards the town gate. I followed closely behind her, unsure of what was going on or what I was going to do to help if the time came.

  When we arrived at the gate a few minutes later, I fully understood the severity of the situation.

  A disfigured human with horns and tattered clothes, hovered in the air above Damon and Augustus, making black smoke appear around them.

  The beast created one cloud that surrounded Augustus, but he quickly cut through it with his silver, dual swords.

  “Don’t let the smoke touch you! It is laced with black poison.” Piper yelled.

  Suddenly the beast looked at Piper and me. He laughed a shrieking, horrid laugh.

  “Finally!” His echoed voice yelled, “Althea has come to fight!”

  I could see the cloud forming towards Piper, faster than the rest of them.

  My body, seeming to control itself, threw myself towards Piper, pushing her out of the way.

  I screamed in agony as the cloud hit my hand and burned until it turned black.

  “Journey!” I heard Damon yell.

  More smoke surrounded me, encasing my body in the black mass. I could feel my feet leave the ground, still encased in darkness and pain. I struggled until I lost all movement and faded in and out of consciousness.

  I could hear cries from Piper and shouts from Damon, but I could not call back. I had screamed in pain until my voice faded to nothing. Tears ran down my face until had I no tears left to cry. The burning raged on until the comfort of darkness took over me.

  ~~~

  Damon’s POV:

  Journey’s body was encased in the black smoke before any of us knew what was happening.

  “Journey!” Piper yelled, sending vines twisting towards the black smoke. But just as every other living thing that touched the smoke, the plants were poisoned.

  The beast laughed another shrieking laugh, “Your magic doesn’t work on me! Althea will pay for what she did to me.”

  Piper ran over to me, “Damon, we have to do something. If the poison reaches her heart it will kill her.” She cried.

  I looked down at her concerned face, and then back up to the black cloud. We stood in terror for our new friend.

  Even if we could cut through the cloud with our swords we would risk hitting Journey.

  “After she dies I can finally use the magic from that tree to turn myself back to normal.” He rambled.

  A beam of light busted through the smoke, shining into the heavens. It encased the cloud and dissipated it from Journey’s body.

  “How can this be?” The beast cried, “She drained my magic but not my life force…”

  Annoyance covered his face, “I'll be back, Althea, and every beast in Kocala will know that you are back and be by my side.” He said, floating away from the kingdom.

  The light began to disappear slowly until it reached Journey’s lifeless body.

  I ran to her, and let her fall softly into my arms, Piper was not far behind with the poison’s cure.

  “Damon, you have to hold her still. The medicine will be painful against this much poison, and I don’t know how well it will work.” She said pouring a clear liquid into her mouth.

  I held her as still as I could while Piper extracted the poison, “Come on Journey, stay with me.” I pleaded.

  After what seemed like years, Piper smiled up at me and a wave of relief washed over me. She was going to be alright.

  I smiled down at how peaceful her her soft expression looked despite the chaos of the moment.

  After a few minutes of waiting, her eyes fluttered open.

  “D-Damon?” She called softly.

  I smiled at her, “It’s alright… You're safe now.”

  She tried to sit up, and with Piper’s and my help she succeeded.

  “Wh-What happened?” Her voice shook.

  “You were hit by the poison when you pushed me out of the way.” Piper explained.

  “If it weren’t for you, Piper could have died.” I added.

  “Do you what happened besides the poison?” Piper asked.

  She nodded slightly, “I could hear you guys screaming and… the burning of the poison. Then another heat but not burning… it was warm and comforting…” She trailed off.

  “That must have been the light that we saw. I could feel the amount of raw magic energy.” Piper mumbled.

  Journey looked up at me with so much confusion in her emerald eyes and it broke my heart.

  “Can I stand up?” She asked quietly.

  Piper nodded and helped her up.

  She steadied on her own until August came and pushed her down again, “I warned you!” He yelled, pulling his swords from the holster on his back, “And now you’ll pay.” He raised his swords to her.

  I grabbed the swords from behind him, fighting his grip on them. August may have been powerful but he was no match for my strength.

  I pulled the swords from his grasp and threw them into the nearby tree, “Enough Augustus!” The forest went silent with my command, “If you don't control yourself, your power will get the best of you.”

  He glared at me, hatred in his almost red eyes, “Fine, keep her here. But when the next beast comes, don’t expect me to fight it.” He grabbed his swords and marched off to the guard tower.

  I turned to help Journey up then to Piper, “Why did you two come here?” I asked.

  “A boy in the village had touched the smoke and was poisoned. We were on the way to the Tree when I stopped to heal him. I figured I was the only medic who knew about the poison and came to help. I had no idea he would attack Journey.” She explained.

  I thought for a moment, “Well according to him he was attacking Althea… which isn’t impossible but definitely odd.”

  “She had no idea who the Mystics were until
I told her.” Piper remarked.

  “Many people don’t know about the Mystics unless their family is native to Kocala.”

  Piper looked at me with warning in her eyes, “You’re right, but you shouldn't.” She challenged.

  I looked over at Journey’s stunning emerald eyes, so full of curiosity, looking at me for the answers to her questions.

  “Journey, is there any possibility that you're related to Lady Althea?” I asked, disregarding all warning from Piper.

  “...No…” She hesitated.

  Piper looked at me, “If you want to know so badly you should take her to the tree.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Damon, I want Journey to stay as much as you do, but it would be nice to know if she is of Mystic descent. Then if another beast did come, at least we would know who we are protecting.”

  She makes a good point.

  “We want to take you to the Mystics Tree and see if you could possibly be descended from Althea.”

  “You don’t trust me…” She said harshly, yet her eyes held no shock or hurt.

  Sadness immediately filled my heart at the way she spoke, “No, we just want to know what that beast really meant.”

  She sighed, looking away from me, “What do I have to do?” She mumbled.

  Piper smiled gently, “Just take a leaf from the tree. If it changes color then we will know what Mystic you’re descended from.”

  “And if I’m not descended from them?”

  “Then the leaf will shrivel up and the beast was just merely mistaken.” I finished, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “If it is the only thing that will show you that I'm not descended from the Mystics then I'll do it.”

  ~~~

  Damon’s POV:

  We took Journey to the center of Secret Hollow, following the cobble staircase that spiraled around the hill the Mystics’ Tree sat on.

  Piper was the first to reach the top, embracing the magic energy that was let off of the tree.

  Once Journey reached the soft grass at the top of the hill, she froze in awe at the dark trunk of the tree, shaded in the canopy of lavender leaves. I knew she could feel the calm atmosphere that the tree radiated. The feeling of protection and happiness.

  “So, how does this work again?” She asked.

  Piper reached up and plucked a leaf from the tree branch, “Just grab a leaf. It will do the rest.” The leaf shriveled in the fingertips until it turned to dust.

  Journey walked forward, “Sounds simple enough.” She mumbled, reaching up to grab the leaf.

  As her finger barely brushed up against the leaf, the earth shook lightly. Large drops of gold liquid fell from the tree, forming together to make a liquid wall, encasing us and the glowing tree. We stood there in terror at how the wall closed in on us like fire.

  Piper screamed from next to the wall, “It’s too much magic energy! It hurts!” She cried.

  The Tree’s leaves faded from lavender to baby pinkㅡthe color that we didn’t expect until months laterㅡfrom where Journey touched the leaf.

  Once the tree had turned completely, the wall of liquid magic fell back down to the earth and was absorbed by the tree’s roots.

  Journey looked back at me, she shook uncontrollably as the tall tree above her glowed with pink leaves.

  Piper whispered from beside me, “...Althea?”

  ~5~

  I BEGAN TO shake uncontrollably as the once soft lavender leaves were changed to a baby pink in a matter of minutes from my touch.

  I turned and looked at Damon as the last of the liquid magic was absorbed back into the tree, “I-I didn't…” I shook.

  Damon and Piper stared at me with wide eyes.

  “...Althea?” Piper mumbled in a breathless whisper.

  Damon looked at me and then back to Piper, “What does this mean?” He asked.

  I tuned them out and walked away from their astonished glares to the edge of the hill.

  The people from the town were gathered at the bottom gasping and shaking at what had happened.

  What have I done? I destroyed their-

  “Journey?” I heard Damon’s voice call from above me.

  I- I don’t know what happened. I thought, mute from the world.

  “Journey?” He called again.

  Why me? Out of all the people in the world, why me?

  “Journey!” I felt a hard shake.

  I met Damon’s lapis blue eyes that seemed so bright and cheerful in such a horrid situation. I knew he saw my dull emerald eyes that never would compared to his.

  “...Yes?” I mumbled.

  He smiled sadly at my tone, “I was wondering if I could show you around?” He faked a cheerful smile.

  I wanted to accept seeing the sincere pleading in his blue eyes, but still the doubts lingered in the back of my mind.

  “What… What about the people? Don’t they hate me?” I assumed.

  His eyes widened at my question, “No, of course not. They may have been shaken up but they don’t hate you.” He assured.

  I didn’t quite believe him but I agreed to let him show me around, trying to ease my shaken core.

  He helped me down the hill away from the tree, but something in the back of my mind seemed to call me back to it. Something that I could not shake away, but I ignored it as best as I could.

  Leading me through the town, I noticed Damon smiling as the children ran around us with huge grins and no cares in the world. Their mothers sat near their medieval houses that dotted the area, their windows open, making the houses look warm and friendly. All of them smiled or waved at Damon and me as we passed. They rejoiced when they saw their husbands and sons coming home from their work, showering them in affection despite them being covered in dirt and sweat.

  He looked at me and smiled. Rays of sunlight shining through the fog revealed the golden layers in his blond hair. Filled with joy, his lapis eyes sparkled, and in that moment he was more handsome than he had ever been.

  “How are they all so happy after what I just did?” I asked as we walked.

  “If we only focus on the things that scare or anger us, we would miss the things that bring us joy and happiness.” He fixed his gaze on me.

  “They are excited that their families have come home from work, that their children are happy and healthy, and even by the fog has lifted to bring another beautiful day for the fields. And as long as they have that happiness, nothing can bring them down.” He explained.

  I followed him further towards the steep hills until the cobbled path spread in front of a large stone archway.

  It was part of the cliffs, naturally carved to be almost like a walkthrough cave. It was so deep that you could only barely see the light that peeked through the other side.

  “What is this place?” I asked, stepping in and marveling at the height of the cave.

  Damon followed me in, “It was our marketplace before our king left. Since we have no king the other kingdoms are skeptical about trade relations, the merchants weren’t earning enough money so they left. Now it is just simply a reminder of happier times.” He finished.

  “Why would your king do something like that? What decent human leaves their people to fend for themselves!” I furiously inquired.

  “His family was threatened to be killed because of their Mystic descent. He entrusted August and me with the kingdom. We don’t have families to worry about… That makes us perfect candidate for the job of running a kingdom.” He smiled sadly.

  My cheeks burned red with not only embarrassment from my sudden outburst but also with ignorance from my assumption.

  Damon led me through the cave in silence. I could just imagine what it used to be like here; with merchant booths and the crowds gathered around. It made me sad when I thought about how much these people had suffered, but deep inside I knew that the happiness it brought was still a part of this town.

  “I have one more place to show you.” Damon pulled me out of m
y thoughts.

  ~~~

  The hills were orange from the setting sun. Up ahead cobbled steps led down to a small beach that was completely hidden from the town by tall trees.

  The sand was soft and white as we made our way towards the dock. At the end I looked around us. The beach ran thin until it met with the hills that surrounded Secret Hollow, but other than that it was just ocean for miles as it reflected the sunset onto it.

  “It is my favorite spot in Kocala.” Damon looked over at me, “It’s hidden from the rest of Secret Hollow.”

  Letting the ocean breeze hit my face, I thought for a moment, as the sound of the crashing waves soothed my mind, “Then why show it to me?” I finally asked.

  “Because it is the best place to watch the sunset,” He began, “And I think that after today I finally realized that you see too much of this world in black and white. So I wanted to show you that the world is full of beautiful colors that you are missing.” He finished softly.

  “It is not unusual for someone like me to see the world as I do.”

  “Please, explain what you mean by ‘someone like you’” He asked.

  “Someone who was left alone, trapped, and... bound somewhere that she didn't want to be. All without the knowledge of who she was or what she was meant for.”

  “I think that despite those things you say about yourself, there is something special about you.” He smiled.

  I laughed slightly, “Well, then you are the only one who thinks that because you are the first person to ever say something like that to me.”

  “I’m surprised. I would think more people would have noticed that about you.”

  “If it helps any, I’ve never really been around anyone who wanted to notice-”

  “Then they were fools.” He interrupted in a very serious tone.

  “Were they though?” I began, “For many people the world turns and they live their lives. Only few of us really do something that we are proud of. So spotting specialty is something many can’t do because specialty is so rare,” I paused, “And even if we do notice, we usually don’t say anything because we are too worried about our own pride and insecurities. So it is easier for people to just pretend not to notice.” I finished.