The Devil’s Cursed Witch

“I’m glad you made a friend. Do you know his name?” Leeora asked. “Maybe I know him too.”

Ember nodded but even before she could answer, there was a disturbance outside her house. Her home shook a little as if the tree spirit had been disturbed and was restless.

The High Elder belatedly realized what it was. ‘Not again.’

With a sigh, Leeora stood up and went towards the door. The moment she opened the door, she saw a Divine Eagle turn into a man before  landing in front of the door. He swatted away the moving branches like he’s fending off flies with his hand.

Leeora easily recognized his ash gray hair and wings. She tapped her staff to calm the tree spirit that was rampaging once again due to the order of their king to not let any male enter this house.

“Morph!” Leeora said with a smile.

The shapeshifter smiled back at her. “Leeora, how have you been?”

“I thought you would come to see me only after I die,” the old elf said as she walked towards him.

Just then someone peeked out from the open doorway, and Morpheus offered that person a lopsided smile.

“Hey, little female,” he said lightheartedly.

Ember let out a shy wave.

Leeora understood that the winged man Ember was talking about was Morpheus. She felt relieved to think that it was Morpheus as she knew she could trust him with this human. Though he also hated  humans, he was similar to Leeora—he would never harm any innocent person. He was carefree and straightforward, but he was a warrior with a great sense of justice.

“What is wrong with this tree spirit?” he asked, as he decided to grab the moving vines hitting him and tie them in a giant knot. As for the thicker branches, he’s simply pushing them away with his wings.

“He is following the King’s order to keep males from entering this house,” Leeora answered. She walked towards him while Ember stayed back at the door of her home.

“Why am I not surprised?” Morpheus mumbled as he continued to effortlessly push the branches away with his wings, making a rhythmic ‘thwack’, ‘thwack’ noise that Ember found funny in a silly way

“Seems like you two are friends,” Leeora concluded.

“Well, something like that,” Morpheus replied.

Leeora looked back at Ember. “Dear, do you mind if I leave for a bit? You can eat those fruits I have brought while you wait. When I return, we will be leaving for the council meeting.”

Ember didn’t know what council meeting Leeora was talking about but she nodded, and after waving at Morpheus once more, she returned inside her home.

The moment the wooden door  closed, Leeora led Morpheus across the hanging bridge towards her own house. “Have you eaten? I have baked some buns with fillings, and they’re still fresh…”

Morpheus tilted his head as he entered her house. “Do they have meat inside? If it’s just fruits, then no. You know I don’t like sweet jams…”

“You know we Wood Elves don’t eat meat.”

As Morpheus sat around the wooden table, Leeora casually chatted with him in a relaxed manner.

“…well, I don’t think you came to Ronan for me,” Leeora said after a while.

The shapeshifter shrugged. “I merely dropped by along the way.”

“Are you heading to the palace?” Leeora wondered. “That means you are planning to attend the council meeting?”

“Hmm.” He nodded.

Leeora gave him a doubtful look. “Never saw you taking interest in any council meeting.”

“How can I miss this one? I cannot remember the last meeting that had such an interesting topic,” he commented.

“What is your opinion about it?” Leeora asked but before he could say a word, she continued, “Answer me keeping your hate for the King aside.”

Leeora was one of the comrades close to the King, similar to Morpheus. Back in the old days, she had witnessed from the very start the close relationship  Draven and Morpheus shared. Even now, she felt regretful about how things turned out between them.

“My opinion doesn’t matter here,” he replied plainly. “I am just going to attend to watch the council trouble him.”

“Such honesty.”

Leeora almost rolled her eyes at his blunt reply. This eagle didn’t even bother hiding his true thoughts. Well, he was always like this, honest and straightforward.

“But I worry for that girl,” the elf admitted. “She is so young and her life so far has not been pleasant for her. She seems to be happy here and I wish she could stay with me.”

“You think if you send her to the human villages she’ll be unhappy?” Morpheus was curious.

“She’s such an innocent child—”

“All humans used to be innocent children.”

“But maybe if I educate her well…”

“Humans are disgusting and greedy by nature. Didn’t centuries of experience teach us that? The people we lost are innocent too.”

Seeing the elderly elf look in low spirits, Morpheus could not be stone-hearted and said, “Well, I am just saying what the other people are saying, but you don’t need to worry. If he wishes to keep her with you, then he will find a way.”

“I am not even sure what he wants. Every passing day, I find it difficult to understand him.”

“He has always been like this,” Morpheus commented.

Leeora nodded as she glanced at the position of the sun outside the window. “In a while, we have to leave for the council meeting.”

“She doesn’t seem to have any idea about the council meeting,” Morpheus probed.

“She doesn’t,” Leeora agreed. “I haven’t told her yet. She is already scared of the King. If I tell her we are going to the palace, she might just faint.”

“Seems like that Devil has scared her enough,” he said and Leeora only nodded, not bothering to explain to him the incidents that happened.

After some time, Leeora reluctantly rose from her seat. “Ember and I should start heading out. I wonder how she will react when she realizes I am taking her to the palace.”

“That, you can leave up to me,” he said with a reassuring gaze.

Leeora didn’t know what he had planned but decided to trust him.