The Witcher's Hour

TWH Chapter 2: Blessing in disgust

She's walking swiftly over colorful flowers and yet her feet are not touching the ground. The floral kingdom is in full bloom, hence the flowers where she's trailing automatically withers as she passes over them. As she sees what she has done, she was pleased.

Her entire body is adorned with withered vines, with large brown leaves covering her bosoms. Her long hair is braided messily, adorned with a rare black rose that glimmers through the sun's rays. Her pair of eyes is the only one in Trekke. It looked similar to that of a cat, yellowish, and yet symbolizes authority to whatever she wishes to rule. Her long eyelashes were covered with silver pixie dust that glimmers whenever she'll blink them. She has a queer pointed nose and thin, black lips. Her long, pointed nails are painted black as well.

She's holding a wooden scepter with a transparent star on top of it. As you look closely, there's seemed to be flashes of lightning that's trapped, ready to let loose if given the chance.

"Zola...no more hiding sweetie, I know you're here." She said as she grinned, her voice is like that of a lioness roaring like a threat to those who are around her. She is smiling so confidently not caring about the peril that will come for she is peril herself.

"Belladonna...what brings you here at this hour?" A flash of light suddenly appeared in front of her, showing a beautiful witch all dressed in white. Her hair is adorned with white flowers glimmering as the rays of the sun touches it. Her white hair is wavy and it follows the breeze of the wind to any direction it wants. The innocence of her face can be compared to an angel's. Her eyes speak tranquility and compassion. Flowers are automatically filled with vibrancy as she gazes at them all.

Belladonna folded her arms as if showing impatience to someone in front of her. "I just want to see you today." She said as she's raising both of her eyebrows as well. She smiled as her way to respond to her actions. Zola can't help but shook her head as she looked at her reaction.

"And what is that? How many times did I tell you to never touch that Stellscepter? You are always breaking the rules of the Trekke." She is referring to what Belladonna is holding right now.

"Oh, this..." She grinned as she caressed the wand that she got. It's like, she's very proud of what she has done.

"I'm bored. I got nothing to do." She added as she smirks, looking at Zola from head to toe.

"Are you aware that what you have done is prohibited? How could you break some of the important rules so lawlessly?"

"You're taking everything seriously. It is also good to break the rules sometimes. It is fun."

"You think so? Please put that into its rightful place." Zola said to Belladonna with humility. She held out her hand to her as if encouraging her to surrender the Stellscepter to her. She was able to stare at her face and she switched to her palms that are open in front of her.

She sighed impatiently as she surrenders the scepter. Zola smiled and nodded.

"I don't want you to touch this again." She said as she examines the stellscepter closer, with all its details.

"Can you stop me? I am just enchanted by its power."

"Belladonna, please don't put yourself to the things you might regret later, or shall I ask if you felt that before?"

"What is that?"

"This is a serious matter. If the queen will know someone breaking her rules of Trekke, we are doomed."

"Wow. Will it happen if I break the rules? That sounds scary...hmm." She said as she grinned in a meaningful manner, looking directly into her eyes. Zola is aware that she is becoming sarcastic to her but all she knew is to humble herself for the sake of the wand of Trekke.

"Do not ever do this again. Remember to avoid any actions this kingdom forbids. You might get yourself in trouble if you do."

"Oh please, I don't need any concern coming from you," Belladonna said as she frowns. Zola walked past her, trailing where she started walking, trying to revive the flowers that Belladonna killed along her way. When Zola felt that Belladonna is following her, she stopped and turns her back at her. She smiled as she taps Belladonna's feet with the scepter. It gave her a tingling sensation, and as she steps forward, not a flower is harmed again.

"Ugh. Here we go again. Can't you let it pass?" She said, half-amazed, half-annoyed at what Zola did. She raised her eyebrows because she doesn't like the idea of Zola reviving what she already killed. Zola taps her shoulders.

"No. You're in my place and I don't want to see any of my flowers harmed or withered."

"Zola, you're boring as usual."

"Many living creatures will be scared if I will let them die here."

"Well, if that's the case, you can go to my place. I will show you what's the meaning of fun." She said as she winked at her.

"Thank you, Belladonna. I surely go there. Thanks for the invitation. We should return this scepter as quickly as possible before the queen finds out that this one is missing already." She said as she pulled Belladonna's hand by her left hand while tapping the flowers that wither a while ago with her right hand by the use of the powerful scepter.

They are the witches of the Trekke kingdom. They are tasked to take good care of the whole place. The three are responsible for protecting the equilibrium of the whole kingdom. The place is equally divided into two parts, including the part which is quite dominant because this is where the queen resides, and that is Esreal. It represents the highest place in Trekke that represents authority and power.

 Wiltshill represents the underworld and everything in it. It is protected by Belladonna Grimm, the black witch. Flaura for life and the beauty of the world where people live and this is under the care of Zola Nox, the white witch.

They quickly tiptoed from the kingdom of Flaura to the boundary of Esreal. They are in front of the two enchanted mountains standing tall in front of them with a small hole at the center of it.

"Look what have you done!"

"Can you blame me? You're even holding that Stellscepter too, this time. Now we're even!"

Zola sighed as she looks around, with a worried look on her face.

"Now, give me your hand," Zola said as she pulled Belladonna's hand and she held the Stellscepter too. Zola is holding the scepter on her right hand, while Belladonna is holding it on her left hand. They look at each other and nodded at the same time.

They close their eyes and held the Stellscepter very tight. With equally joined forces, the thing suddenly disappeared from their hands. As they open their eyes, the hole at the center of the two enchanted mountains was sealed with a shiny rock. It is the shape of the star with a flash of lightning trapped inside of it. It's as if sealing the two mountains and keeping it together.

Zola sighed with relief while Belladonna is looking at her as if she's the main reason for her ruined day.

"Look at that Stellscepter. Has it come into your mind to at least own it as you rule Flaura?" She whispers these words to Zola as she walks around her. Belladonna is not letting Zola's eyes avoided hers.

"The queen has the full authority of it, let me remind you of that."

"Well, I hope not, for me. Wiltshill deserves that power too, Zola."

"Let me correct you, the three parts of Trekke equally needs the stellscepter. Let not evil overpower you, Belladonna."

"I am evil, Zola. You always know me."

"I always believe that there's good in every bad, Belladonna." She softly answers Zola as she looked into her eyes, too, with a smile.

"Oh well...carry on, my dear. Carry on."

'Your kindness will betray you someday, Zola. You'll see.' She kept the other words to herself as she smiles back at her.

----

Chloe rushed to the bench under the large tree at the back of the library. This place is their official hangout if they want to meet for a snack, talk, or study. As soon as she saw Peter, she grinned from ear to ear.

"Peter! Don't wait for me anymore." She gasps as if she's out of air while saying these words.

"Who is chasing you? Why are you running so fast? Are you okay?" Peter held her hand and tapped her forehead. She pouted her lips as she looked at him.

"Yes, I am totally fine. Please don't wait for me after your class."

"Why?"

She looks at him as she moves her lips from side to side. She started moving her gaze sidewards, too, avoiding his eyes.

"You will not support me either if you'll know where I will be going so I decided to go there myself."

"Don't tell me you will go to that Ethereal Ella's modeling tutorial with press conference included?"

"Y-Yes." She said as she avoided his gaze.

"But the ticket for their fans is quite expensive. I think it will be my whole month's allowance." Peter answered as he held both of her shoulders with both of her hands. Chloe slowly removed his hands from her shoulders. She jerked her shoulders as if trying to get off the straps of her knapsack that's on her shoulders. As she unzips her bag and pulled the ticket in front of Peter, she can see that his eyes widened with shock.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Of course if you're very passionate about something, you can do everything."

"Is Axile Wiles coming, too?"

"Well, of course, being Ella's close friends, it's a guarantee that he will come."

"Is that so?" Peter said, looking so disappointed.

"Yes, I am more than excited."

"What time will you go home?" He asked. When he shifted his gaze at Chloe's face, her smile eventually fade away.

"I can't be sure about that. It is much better if you're not going to wait for me. I'd be coming home very late tonight."

"Where does she live?"

Can you not ask too many questions? I have to go now. It will start at 6:00 pm I have to be there early. Bye!" She kissed his left cheek and before he can even answer, she's gone from his sight.

Peter sighed as he shook his head. He's looking at the path where Chloe disappeared instantly.

'Why do girls have endless insecurities when it comes to themselves?'

Peter slowly sits on the bench and look down.

'Am I not good enough? Am I not too convincing enough for her to believe that she's beautiful in her way? Or maybe, was I that ugly to not put her confidence in me?'

He slowly fixed the things inside his bag which he had on his side. A while ago, he's excited for his class to end because he will invite Chloe to that fancy restaurant that she's been dreaming to go to. They both didn't have the money to eat there last month because this restaurant is quite expensive for them.

He bitterly smiled as tears poured down on his cheeks. He looked at the road to where Chloe ran away. She can't see her anymore since she's very excited to go there. Looks like he can't even stop her at this time no matter what he does.

Without Chloe knowing, he has a strong disgust and intimidation towards Axile Wiles. Who is he compared to him? He's more of this boy version of Ella Grande. If Chloe Prin has this great admiration for Ella's life, how much more him to Axile Wiles?

Well, who is he when compared to him? He knows many girls will flock to see him tonight. That complete boyfriend material that everyone at the campus is dreaming of having for her own. He's thinking that maybe Chloe is not yet accepting his love for her because of Axel. He hopes he's not right in what he's thinking right now...