“Master, I’ve figured it out. Listen to this…. Her name will spread and known throughout the land…The wind travel all over the world... It’s suggesting me to go and travel throughout the land!” Said Mia over dinner. She clutched onto the parchment of paper as if it was a treasure map.

“Hah! Your little brain finally figured it out! It takes you so long to decipher something so obvious. How are you going to travel with that peanut brain of yours? By the times you realize something was wrong, the enemy already kills you.” Edgar shook his head. He dunked the bread into the stew and stuffed it inside his mouth.

“They can’t kill me that easy,” Mia smiled. “I know you will always protect me.”

“So, what is your plan now?” Edgar sighed.

“Do what the quest said! Travel throughout the land… Spread my popularity… What else?”

“How about starting a religion while you’re at it? Or build a cult?” Edgar laughed. “Pumpkin, Mia! What holy scripture are you going to write? Ten ways to drive Edgar mad? How to make a perfect burnt egg?”

“Stop insulting me, Edgar.”

“No, I’m not. I’m complimenting your skills and abilities. Weren’t these are your strength? Yeah, while you’re at it, you should do something to drive the damn priest mad. In fact, I should send you over to his side to become his apprentice. Go on, Mia. Go and travel throughout the kingdom and make the whole nation wild with your madness.”

“Edgar, you’re sulking. You’re throwing tantrum again.”

“No, I’m not!” Edgar snapped.

Mia sighed. Why was he sulking? If he was that jealous of her adventure, why don’t he tag along too?

Three days long she sat outside their cottage, listening to the wind. It was, of course, another lies she told herself. She didn’t know where to go nor did she had the intention to leave.

Where should she go and what she had to do to restore their reputation, she had no idea at all. Why can’t the damn quest give her something direct, like - go and kill the priest? She would rush to his chamber and turned him into a goat. Ah, if only it was that easy.

One sunny autumn morning when the wind refused to blow on the little hill where the cottage stood, Mia hauled the invisible anchor that sunk her lazy feet in the cottage and rode her broom to Portheart Town.

With Oyen tagging along and Baddie forced to come, They flew low along the dense enchanted forest.

It was almost an hour-long of flying and dodging bushes and trees, not to forget the short tea break they had to take when Mrs. Gea the old gnome convinced them to accompany her for a cup of tea.

It wasn’t a pleasant cup of tea. Dirt tea and dry mushroom, only Baddie would love that.

By the time they reached the ridge of the forest, the farmer who drove a wagon had left for the town. Poor Mrs. Gea was blamed for Mia's sore foot. She had to walk up and down the hills instead of hitchhiking on the wagon.

After half hour of non-stop complaining and driving Oyen mad, she finally conquered the last hill. The blue and white lighthouse stood proud at the top of the hill as it served its duty saving the astray ships and boats. Tall brown grasses danced at the song of the winds.

Her lips curved upwards like the cove down her feet. Mia reached for a handkerchief inside her pocket and wiped the sweats on her face.

Like her pleated blue dress, blue rooftops scattered along the cove. Its brick building painted white. Big ships and small boats sailed along the coast or swayed at the dock.

She strutted down the grassy hill, past the flock of sheep. Their sharp gaze followed her step. Feeling extra friendly and fabulous that particular morning, she lifted her staff and greeted them. To her horror, they were in foul mood that day.

Bad luck Mia was chased all the way down the steep hill.

“LAMB CHOP! LAMB STEW!” She yelled at the sheep, threatening them to death.

The town guards chuckled at her, amused. She tripped on the flat ground and the flock of sheep almost rammed her. The confused shepherd sprinted down the hill. For a moment, he thought Mia planned to kidnap his flock of sheep. She struggled with her intense desire to turn them into a comfortable blanket.

The fluttering wind sent her brown hat flying and caught by the town guard at the town’s gate. A charming smile formed on his face as he passed her the hat. Mia thanked the man and ran as if she was still chased by the flock of sheep.

No, this time was worse.

She was chased by a flock of sheep, now the wolf wants to eat her. His Master wouldn’t let that happened. Edgar would turn him to meat patty and fed him to the werewolf. Ah, poor man. She can’t let that happen. The man was too….handsome.

The big blue clock tower struck nine times, its chimed traveled throughout the town.

She stopped by the bushes of red flowers that grew abundantly everywhere her sight fell and fixed her cloak.

An old lady was scrubbing clean the mossy mermaid statue erected nearby the dock. Not far from the statue, a group of mermaids swan nearby the shore with a huge packet of what looked like mermaid silk. The townsfolk gave them a basket full of flowers, bread, and foods and happily accept the mermaid silk. It was a normal sight, for the mermaids and townsfolk had traded among them for hundreds of years.

The waves crashed against the harbor wall. The seagull shrieked and scared the young child. Mia laughed until her stomach started to shake when the seagull chased the kid around and stole his bread. The fisherman unloaded their fishing boat and the Port Guards marched along the port.

Mia spent the whole afternoon gazing at the horizon.

Then she saw it.

No, not her wind or sail, but the killer-wannabe. Worse, the man saw her too. She and the killer-wannabe exchanged glances, and the man smiled. He walked over and she trembled.

Damn. Why was she terrified of the damn man?

“Hey, apple girl. I keep on seeing you everywhere I go.”

“Really? I don’t remember.”

“We meet the first time at the market. You dropped your apple. I saw you again a few days ago when you go to the Temple of Destiny. Did you go there to receive your blessing?”

Mia smirked. She doesn’t want to talk to him at all.

Seeing that Oyen had come to the rescue, she let out a breath of relief. Did Oyen manage to scam the fisherman to feed him salmon? Her eyes moved to his bulging belly. Yup, he did.

Graciously, Oyen walked to the man’s side. A few moments later, he started gagging. What he did next surprised her -

He threw up on the man’s feet.

Mia was so shocked that her jaw dropped. Realizing that the man was so angry that he wanted to kick Oyen, Mia grabbed Oyen and apologized to him.

“Oh, my bad cat! I’m sorry! I hope he’s not sick! Please, forgive him.” Mia bowed and apologized to the man.

“It's fine. A real man doesn’t get mad over a small thing.” The man smiled sourly and left.

“Uhh! The man is so annoying! I swear I’m going to cook him in a cauldron!” Mia grunted. Her smile faded when the man disappeared in the crowd.

Ding!

You earned 3+ Wickedness points!

Oh, no! You’re bending the wrong! You’re the destined righteous and respected sorceress, not a wicked sorceress.

You have incurred the wrath of The Guardian of the Quest. Punishment will be carried out before tomorrow afternoon as a warning.

“NOOOOOO!!!!” Mia yelled, shocked by the sudden notification and the threat of punishment.

She will be punished? Who was the Guardian of the Quest? Terrified, she rushed back to the cottage.

“Guardian of the Quest? You’re on your own now. There is nothing I can do except cheers for you. Good luck, Mia.” Edgar slammed the door and get back to work.

Uneasiness and fear haunted her the whole day. She kept on glancing at the clock, hoping that the day will suddenly past that before she knew it, its already tomorrow afternoon.

When night came, she tossed and turned in bed. Right after the clock struck twelve, a knock on the window shocked her coward soul. Was that him? The Guardian of the Quest? Sweats rolled down her face. She grabbed her wand and waited.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The owls hooted and werewolves howled. The knocking grew louder each second. Mia refused to open the window. She would be a fool if she did, but the Guardian of the Quest wasn’t a patient man.

Bang!

The window broke open.