The wizard had little time. Chances of an opportunity like this came by so rare. He had to take action now. “Caroline.” He mumbled, not quite addressing her head-on. She was following closely and in the dimlit basement he could hear her audible intake of breath. “You must go there to the emerald witch. Not me. I’ll stay behind.”

“Me?!

He pointed to the end of their hallway, and even from a distance Caroline could see how much magical barriers were in place and it looked extremely dangerous. Fire, ice and patrolling bisharps marched around the perimeter with vigilance.

“It doesn’t look safe.” she said

“It will be fine. I only need you to guide pumpkaboo here.” From inside his cape, he cradled the smallest pumpkaboo and transferred her to Caroline’s arms. He lifted a finger and the little one’s eyes sparkled at it with interest. “Meet Caroline, Kaboom. You will listen to her from hereon. She will let you know when to use those moves I taught you.”

Kaboom grew visibly distressed by his words, her gaze shifting from Caroline to Wizard with confusion, tears welling. When it started dropping across her cheeks, her body flashed like starlight, fully engulfed in a ball of glorious blinding light. Quick as it came, the light died down to reveal a new-looking Kaboom, a form similar to Esmeralda’s friends from upstairs. A gourgeist, Caroline thought she said.

Fully evolved, Kaboom had grown long pink hair and it moved upon her will like vines, starting to wrap around Caroline’s neck in a hug that reminded her of pumpkin spice latte.

“Well done,” the wizard nodded. “As for you, Caroline. You will be doing me a wealth of favor by freeing the emerald witch.”

“So it’s true. You.. you do have someone locked in your basement. Why?”

“I married into it. Believe me I wasn’t aware of a caged emerald witch until I got home after getting married. I’ve been wanting to free her ever since. It’s not right.”

“What makes you think I can do it?”

“I’ve been leaving trails and hints over the years, enough to inspire interest. So far I’m aware that the emerald witch has been having successful correspondences with a human association. If she sees you, she will trust you.”

“What do you intend to do with her once she’s free?”

“Her will has been locked under cafe for 507 years. After she is free, I want her to do whatever her heart desires.”

“I don’t understand. If you really care about her, why haven’t you done so already?”

He sighed, turning away. “I admit, I haven’t entertained the idea seriously up until I learned that some areas of wild magic are slowly disappearing. The emerald witch being used up to benefit a select few is creating a lack of necessity for other magics. And so, poof. They disappear. And the magics that are newly created for the past hundreds of years since her imprisonment are ones borne out of desperation and cruelty. If it continues to pervade this world, then it will soon be over for all of us. So yes, the emerald witch must be set free. To restore a balance that gives all of us a greater benefit in this dying world.”

Her heart skipped a beat, bottom lip trembling from the sudden surge of responsibility burdening her shoulders “I have my doubts and more questions but right now helping with this comes first.”

“Excellent. I will now teach you the moves.”

Caroline’s skin had turned clammy, heartbeat racing exponentially from his growing nearness. Even through what he said, her body doesn’t seem to be getting the memo of all the red flags he was flashing. The intimate feel of their darkened hallway, underground basement and his indomitable size had influenced her body with a thrill she has never known before. Throat getting dry, she tightened her fists and mustered up the courage to resist. There was something very wrong in this tower.

And it wasn’t the strange monsters.