“How can she appear here-“Said Oyen, pointing at the old woman who stood among the crowd. There was no guilt, anxiety nor worry in her face. It was the same expression she always had; Calm and tranquil.

“In that ugly nightgown and hideous cloak?” Said Mia, wiping her tears with her cloak.

“Mia, that is not the main point here! Isn’t she’s supposed to be dead?!” Oyen snapped, tempted to jump and bite that old woman.

“Even in the time of death, one should always dress their best,” Mia repeated her Master’s word. It was a life commandment practiced by the Dendragon’s.

“Mia! She sold us out! She betrayed us! And here you are, riding your broom with your ruffled hair and yet concerned about someone’s look! And did she died? No! She’s alive!” Oyen snapped, he had enough of her nonsense and concerned over fashion.

“Then, what am I supposed to do, Oyen? Go down there and offer my life?? Praised her for her look??” Said Mia.

“Well, err-“ Oyen pondered for a while but he was lost for word. “Go on, continue mocking her.”

“That Celeste! Edgar trusted her! I can’t believe I ate all those puddings and cake she made. Oh, pumpkin! Pudding!” Mia cursed at Celeste.

“Damn old woman,” Oyen added.

“…Bad…g’andma…” Muttered Baddie.

“Good Baddie! She’s a bad grandma!” Mia snapped.

“We better leave before she sees us, Mia.” Said Oyen.

Mia jerked her broom and zoomed away, flying across the pine forest and off to the sea. Under the starry sky, a sorceress, a cat and a monster under the bed flew in the company of the eclipse.

“Left… ‘ight… Left… Down… Down… Down…” Said Baddie. Despite rarely leaving his spot, he was an excellent navigator. Never once did he forgot places and directions no matter how many times they changed course. It was the only thing he was good at, second to his crying.

At the edge of the cliff by the sea, they drifted down and hovered until they reached a narrow entrance into a small cave. The broom floated still as Mia made her calculations. Oyen leaped and landed on the ground, followed by Baddie who floated into the cave. Mia lowered the broom, approaching the narrow entrance. Carefully, she took a deep breath and jump.

The night was dark and there was barely enough space for her to land. The clumsy Mia tripped on the ground and almost fell from the high cliff. Frustrated, she kicked the stone that had attempted murder on her.

The ocean waves and surf splashed up against the rock at the bottom of the cliff. The wind whistled through the crack and gaps in the wall, haunting the cliff with an eerie sound. The faint song of the siren echoed in the chill night, luring the fisherman to their cave. In the distance, the lighthouse shone, guiding the lost boat back to their port.

Mia set up protective barriers before she slumped to the ground, pulling her knees together. Watching her crying, Oyen walked over and sat by her leg. Baddie grabbed her neck and hung to her back. It was a habit he couldn't get rid of when he was afraid.

In that cold and dark night, the sound of her crying petrified the ghoul and infuriated him. Who dares to rob him of his career? The ghoul wailed and Mia sobbed louder. Baddie too had joined the duel. After an hour-long of wailing, sobbing, and crying, Oyen lost his patience. He threatened to throw everyone out of the cave. Did they want to compete with the sirens down the cliff too?

It was the longest night she ever had.

As dawn descended upon the dark sky, the warm sun found its way inside the cave. Mia sat by the entrance, leaning against the wall. Oyen walked over and stood next to her, licking his furs.

“What now?” He asked.

“I don’t know, Oyen.” Said Mia. Her hand moved to the Charm bracelet, its still shining like it always had.

“Should we go back?” Oyen asked again.

“You are just like Master,” Mia smiled, nudging his head with her finger. Despite her teasing, she couldn’t hide the sadness and worries in her voice. “You spent half of your nine lives on your furs.”

“And how does that made me similar to him?” Oyen glanced at her, irritated by her morning mocking.

“Did you know Master spent hours every morning and every night just to fix his hair?” Mia brushed her fingers against her hair, her heart chanting a beauty spell. “No amount of spells are enough to make him beautiful.”

“A narcissist like him, I wouldn’t be surprised. Look what he had turned you into. A narcissist, self-proclaimed beauty.” Oyen smirked at Mia.

“It’s called inheritance, Oyen. I got it from him.” Mia looked at the cloud. Her red swollen eyes filled with fears.

“If only you'd inherited half of his brain, you wouldn’t be as miserable as you are today,” Oyen rolled to her side and sat on her lap, muttering as he purred, “The hopeless sorcerer’s apprentice.”

Their morning banter was soon replaced with silence as they gazed at the rising sun. Her worries and anxiety grew stronger as minutes passed. Defeated, they hopped on the broom and headed back to the cottage.

The image of her ferocious Master scolding her played repeatedly in her mind. Oh, she wouldn't mind getting scold right now. She would rather hear him scolding her than having no news of him at all.

But what greeted them that morning wasn’t her Master or his scolding, instead, more disappointment.

The cottage that once stood proud in the little island was now nothing more but a pile of ash and waste. Smoke rose from the burnt pillar, gray ashes scattered where they stepped. The Shrieking Stone Lady can no longer shriek or weep, she was just a stone statue.

Baddie froze at one corner and sobbed, pulling out a piece of burnt wood and holding it dearly.

“It’s alright Baddie. It’s only a cottage. We’ll get you a new bed.” Mia said to Baddie who was mourning over the remnant of the cottage. Baddie nodded, although he was reluctant to be separated from what he thought is a bed frame.

“Mia, come over here,” Oyen called her over. He was digging the ground near the woodshed. “Do you know Master hide something in here?”

Mia rushed over to the woodshed. How could she fail to notice it before? There was a barren spot on the ground, next to the Creeping Ivy on the wall. A huge pot of Emberflower covered the spot. This was where her master stood almost every night when he plotted the stars.

She dragged the huge pot to the side and dug the ground with a shovel. Yes, there was something buried in there. Mia was dying with curiosity to know. The shovel made a loud clang noise when it hit the silver chest. As her patience grew thin, Mia added more strength to her effort.

“Almost there, Mia. I can see it. Something shiny.” Said Oyen, who lost his patience minutes ago. He dug the ground with his tiny paws, ignoring the dirt that had smeared his shiny furs.

Clang!

The shovel hit the shiny chest again. Mia threw the shovel away and dug with her bare hands. After what seemed to be hours of digging, she finally dug out the silver chest.

“It’s locked.” Said Oyen, rubbing and studying the dragon-shaped lock with his paws.

It was a chest big enough to fit five or six cats inside. Hand-carved dragon patterns and rare gems decorated the silver chest. It was the symbol of the power of the Dendragon’s.

It was a simple statement; It wouldn’t belong to a Dendragon’s if it wasn’t luxurious and eye-catching.

“Whatever inside, it must be a precious treasure." Said Mia, signaling Oyen and Baddie to stand behind her. She took out her wand and cast a spell on the chest.

“Leviiseo!”

A red light came out from her wand and shoot straight at the lock. The silver chest sprung against the wall but the lock remained tight. She repeated the same spell but to her disappointment, the lock didn't loosen a bit.

“Try another spell,” Said Oyen.

“Expem!”

As her mana hit the chest, it glowed brighter than before. The dirt and soil disappeared from its surface as if had never been buried underground.

“…Cleaning.. Spell…” Baddie muttered.

“Ignitio!”

From the edge of the wand, a radiance light illuminated like a torch.

“That’s err… To light the dark.” Oyen murmured, scared to face Mia whose face had turned red.

“Liberior!”

Another streak of light came out from the wand and hit the chest. The chest stood unmoved, not bothered by her spell.

“That’s a-“ Said Oyen, looking ashamed at her proficiency at spells. He looked around, making sure no one saw her making fools of herself.

“Enough!!” Mia roared, picking the chest and smashing it to the ground. The silver chest refused to admit defeat, it tightened its lock. Agitated, Mia smashed it against the wall, the ground, and last, picked up the shovel and hit it hard for few times.

An hour had passed but the lock didn’t budge at all.