With no plan in mind, Mia strolled around in Cheery Lane.

The brilliant and colorful fruits displayed in front of the stall attracted her. There were red and green apples, sweet oranges, lemons, red dragonroot, purple night grapefruit, and pink carambola. The fresh, fruity and sweet smell reminded her of a dewy morning on a spring day.

A flock of birds flew across the radiant sky painted in pink, orange, and purple tinge. Along the river and the street, lanterns glowing in radiant yellow illuminated the town. The sun had left his shift and the moon greeted them. There was no sign of merchants closing their stalls or people going home.

A man played his ten-string lute under the cherry tree accompanied by a young lady in red dancing around him. Her hair swung in waves as she shimmied to the melody of the lute.

Town guards in red uniforms made their round around the town. The sword on their hips swayed as they marched.

Lovers strolled along the river. and the children ran around the plaza, laughing.

It was such a beautiful day, but not for Mia.

Under the cherry tree, Mia stood alone and munched her apple. She listened to the conversations of the young men as they strolled around the market from one merchant to another

“What life quest did your cousin received when he went for the blessing of the goddess last week?” Said the man in the red cloak.

“Oh, it was a boring one. Can you believe it, his life quest is to become a town guard and ensure their safety from the orc attack?? When did the orc last come to our town??” The man in the green cloak grunted.

“Hey, that was better than Conan. Do you know what his life quest was? To plant one hundred kinds of herbs.” The man in red laughed hard.

“But doesn’t his family run a herb store? Its only befitting him. Oh, I envy Raven. Hers was to tame the Blackblood Dragon!” The man in green cloak exclaimed.

“Your sixteenth birthday is coming soon. What you think your life quest will be?” The man in red asked.

“I wish the goddess gave me something meaningful, something powerful. Like, hunt and kill the sorcerer and sorceress. I hate them. They’re wicked and ugly.” The man in green cloak snorted.

Her jaw dropped and the basket slipped off from her hand upon hearing the man mentioning killing sorcerer and sorceress.

The apple rolled through the sea of feet, on the dirty ground, and stopped right at the man’s feet. To be precise, the man in a green cloak; the killer-wannabe.

“My lady, excuse me,” The man in the green cloak smiled at her and walked over. By any means, he was a fine young man but Mia thought he was the ugliest man ever. “You dropped your apple.”

“I’m – I’m sorry,” Said Mia. She panicked and squatted down on the ground, picking all the fruits and foods on the ground. “Tha – thank you.”

Mia hastily grabbed the apple from the man and dashed back to the inn.

“Such a shy young lady,” The man in red said.

“Such a beautiful young lady,” The killer-wannabe said, his eyes glimmering with adoration as he watched her back vanishing in the crowd.

Without bothering whether Oyen or Baddie was following her, Mia rushed back to the inn. No one can see Baddie and Oyen was just another ordinary cat when he walked on four. Well, as long as he didn’t open his mouth too.

The young lady scolded her when Mia bumped into her but she was left yelling alone like a mad lady. Mia didn’t pay any attention to her. In fact, Mia didn’t even realize the lady was angry at her.

Bang!

The old lady frowned and her face puffed red when Mia slammed the front door of the inn. A gust of wind sent the paper flying, spinning around in circles as if it was caught in a tornado. The glass vase fell and shattered on the floor. The old lady rushed to pick the scattered paper. Her mouth twitched, itchy to scold Mia but Mia didn’t care at all. She walked past her and stormed up the stairs. The lanterns on the wall flickered as she passed by.

Bang!

The old wooden door slammed against the wall, her hand trembling as she locked the door. The basket in her hand slipped and everything inside rolled away as if escaping from her. She leaned against the door, gathering every bit of courage she had left after receiving such a huge blow.

“The quest is evil. Quests are not for sorcerer and sorceress,” She repeated it over and over again.

She tumbled on her way to the bed. Under the quilt, Mia buried herself and cried.

“I am a sorceress and sorceress are don’t do the quest.” She sobbed.

Seven days and seven nights, she locked herself inside the room. From morning to dusk, Mia sat by the window. Her eyes kept guard all day, hoping to catch a glance of her Master. The wand and the broom never left her side, in case the killer-wannabe come to catch her.

A sorcerer and sorceress must stay on guard all time.

Mia sighed at the sight of the wilted cherry tree by her window. Its once yellow and deep-red leaves fell on the ground, dried and brittle branches crumbled when Oyen climbed on them. The birds nested on it once bushy branches had moved to another tree, away from her. How can it die so soon? She wondered.

Baddie had found himself a spot on the darkest corner where the sun couldn’t touch him. He couldn’t haunt the bed, another monster had already haunted the spot.

On the eight day, which was her sixteenth birthday, Baddie had enough of seeing her pitiful state. Her cheek sunk and her eyes were swollen. The straw basket was empty. After a long morning of talking, Oyen managed to convince her to take a walk and had a proper meal. Even the introvert Baddie agreed for once with Oyen.

That afternoon, Mia dragged her depressed soul down the street.

After a warm meal and fresh air, she still wore a miserable look on her face.

Mia trailed behind Oyen and walked around the town. She walked past the busy market and her favorite baker, but the sweet cookies and freshly baked bun couldn’t tempt her at all. The colorful fruit stall looked like nothing but gray to her. No, not just the fruit stall. The whole town looked gray in her eyes.

Her bleary eyes had stopped admiring the colors of the town. Her nose stopped savoring the delicious fragrant of foods. The chattering and yelling passed her ears like wind. Like a ghost, she bumped into almost everyone. Oyen had lost count how many times she was yelled at.

When they reached the edge of the town, where the Temple of Destiny stood, Oyen pointed at the crowd.

“Mia, look over there. What are they lining up for?” Oyen asked.

There was a long line of young girls and men around her age. They wore an excited expression on their face, chatting with the person at the back or front of their line.

Mia shrugged her shoulder and walked past the crowd. She was not a single bit interested in the commotion.

She could hear their faint excited voices talking about the quest.

The darn quest. The evil quest. Were they here to pick up their life quest? Mia shuddered at the thought of it. She was still haunted by the word she heard from the man last time.

“HUNT AND KILL THE SORCERER AND SORCERESS”

Perhaps she should mark the man and told Edgar to kill him later. Yes, she really should. She looked around to see if the man was there but he was nowhere to be found.

Mia walked past the old man in a glittering silver and white robe. He had a mask on his face, covering half of his face.

Still occupied with her thought, Mia hastened her pace. She had to leave that place as soon as possible. She didn’t want to hear anything that had to do with sorcerers and sorceresses.

She had to run. Yes, she had to leave.

Then again, the Goddess of Destiny wasn’t a kind goddess. She loved chasing after people who ran after their destiny. She, Deonoa, the Goddess of Destiny was determined to chase after her. Deonoa smiled from her throne. Today, on the girl’s sixteenth birthday, she will make her accept her quest no matter what. Yes, no more waiting. No more delaying.

In the bright autumn day where the sun smiled brightly and clouds were nowhere to be seen, the thunder rumbled. The crowds stopped chatting and raised their heads to catch the glimpse of the gods or goddesses.

Mia looked up at the sky, wondering which gods were throwing tantrum.

Deonoa rolled her dice and Destiny stone tumbled on the ground.

Mia tripped on a black and ugly stone.

“Damn stone!” Mia yelled. She stumbled on the ground. She picked up the stone, wanting to throw it away, but instead, she stood frozen. Her face turned white as if blood had stopped flowing through her body.

MIA GISELLE DENDRAGON

On an autumn day, a child was reborn,

Life starts all over again for the one abandoned,

She was the destined one whose the star had chosen,

Her name will spread and known throughout the land,

The man in the crown bowed to her presence,

The mask will be unveiled, and she will be announced,

THE GREATEST SORCERESS OF ALL.

“Giselle!”

A hoarse, trembling voice yelled at her. She looked up at the tall and burly man with a scar on his face. His red face was burning with anger, his black hair was messy and his beard unkempt. He looked no different from a merchant or farmer.