I walked along-side the unicorn, becoming more curious by the second. It led me to another path, this one seeming a lot less treaded.

It huffed out at me, waving it's head near its back. "You want me to get on your back? I haven't ridden bear-back in a while, but if you say so!"

I excitedly climbed on it's back, using a nearby branch to hoist myself up. I gripped ahold of its pink mane, as soft as silk, almost like it was perfectly groomed. I made sure to sit upright and point my heels back even without stirrups, to make sure the unicorn felt comfortable with me on it's back.

We took off walking on the path,"I never did get your name." I smiled and groomed its mane.

This is probably the most magical encounter I will ever have.

Then a flurry of snow hit the back of my head, having me startled. I looked back to realize by the swish of it's tail, it chucked snow off a tree to hit me. "Your name is Snow? That's beautiful!" Yet the unicorn only huffed out, like it didn't like the idea of it.

Just like Hazalen doesn't like being called Hazzy.

"Not a fan I can tell. So, where are you taking me, might I ask-" Snow took off, trotting into a canter through the forest. I had to hold on tightly to its mane, the chilly air whipping my hair and my large coat around me. Snow definitely knew where she was headed, because she took certain turns and twists which could've led other places.

I took a second to admire the view around me, though my eyes were watering so much I could hardly see. The trees became larger and thicker, which meant we were going deep into the forest. The world around me was memorizing, a white heaven of snow and Mother Nature. I would never forget this day and the beautiful sights.

Especially the unicorn and the make-you-think-you-are-crazy waterfall.

Snow slowed to a trot as I could slowly start to see my destination. There was a small cottage with trees growing over it, and such an excess of snow that blended in with the forest. Snow came to a halt, letting me hop off gently and examine it. The door had thorns across it, obviously no person has visited in a while, and unable to get through.

"You want me to go in there?" I impossibly exclaimed, pointing to the door. Snow looked as if she has had enough of me, and kicked some snow on the ground to the nearby window.

By gods, this better be worth it.

I slowly but surely lifted up the window with all of my strength, dust already kicking up and the smell of must filling my nose. I plopped on the ground, butt first with a groan.

I was in a low-roof room which looked like what used to be a clubhouse: paint drawings on the walls, marbles and cards scattered across the floor, and a dusty wooden chest surrounded by chairs. Yet they were velvet, looking as if they were very expensive, especially for a small house in the deep woods.

I blew off the dust on the chest, obviously used as a table with old books on the top and a small used-up candle. I picked up the book,"The Mystical Tales of Descuvi" and started flipping though.

There were children's tales about a magic mermaids living in Descuvi's beach caves, alluring foolish men into doing their deeds on land. A baker in the forest whom sells magic sweets for teeth, which could give you visions into the future or read people's minds. Last but not least, a tale of true love between a kidnapped princess and a heroic prince.

But why is there a book about Descuvi in Deltora?

This house must have been built before the Rage of Demotis, when Descuvi and Deltora were best of countries. Where the royal families were the best of friends, hoping to join alliances one day through marriage of their destined children. Both Deltora and Descuvi's children of true love were meant to be one.

I quickly took off the remaining books and candle off the chest, ready to see what was inside. I tried pulling off the top, when I noticed it was locked by a keyhole below.

Great. Just the cherry on top to my whole crazy ass, mystical one-day, heroic trip of not knowing anything.

I started looking everywhere, through the creaking cabinets, under all the chairs and cushions, through the books hoping it would fall out; but nothing. Only flint and steel in a cabinet for the candle. It was going to get dark soon, I knew Henry and Hazalen were already trying to find me, and Snow was probably going to leave soon. I sat down in the velvet chair in defeat, dust flying everywhere making me cough.

How in the name of gods am I supposed to find this key?

I held my head in my hands, wondering how I could've come all this way just to stop here. The unicorn brought me here for a reason, one I needed to fulfill. Snow wants me to discover something big, but I didn't expect it to be this hard and frustrating.

But this is just part of my hero's journey! Every hero has a point of failure, and I was going to pick myself back up and find that key if my life depended on it.

I need to start thinking smarter, not harder.

I walked to the door, taking a step back to examine the whole room. I noticed the paintings looked more professional than I thought, obviously done by a very skilled painter. One caught my eye, a painting of a large rose with words growing up it's thorns.

"A fire in the hearth is what fuels the heart, the key to love, setting you free."

"The fireplace!" I excitedly danced around like a child. Now I needed wood, something I could start the fire with, and a airway through the chimney.

I climbed back out the window to find Snow waiting on me quietly, watching me as I found twigs around the house and stepping on large branches to break them. I left them by the door and started climbing to the roof, being such a low playhouse it was easy to climb.

My hands turned numb as I scooped out the frozen snow around the entrance of the chimney, removing the block of brick which was blocking the chimneys airway. As I made my way back down my foot slipped, and I tumbled down the roof into the puffy white snow. Snow started snorting and pacing around, almost as if she was laughing at me the hardest she ever had.

Great, now I've gotten to the point in life where a unicorn is laughing at me.

I climbed back into the house with the twigs and branches, placed them in the hearth along with pages I ripped out of a book to start it. I grabbed the flint and steel from the cabinet and began to try to make a spark.

I guess I've never had to do this much dirty work before... lighting a fire is harder than I thought.

My hands turned red from gripping the sharp steel, trying to force it onto the flint to make the fire. I started to realize the spark came more when I ran smoothly over the flint, not quickly and harshly.

A spark hit the page, fueling the fire and heating me up from the Blackberry season chill. The flames were blue, dancing around with a memorizing glow. I was allured to it, never feeling anything like this from a fire before.

It felt like love.

The key appeared, right in the ashes of the fire below the wood. I used my coat to reach under and quickly grab it, not wanting to be burned.

The key was beautifully hand crafted in gold, a rose with thorns winding up to the key at the top. I took a deep breath, put it in the key hole, and turned. I heard a "click" and threw off the wooden top.

The chest was filled with books, another tiny chest, and paintings. I picked up one, having it be very large, and examined it.

Oh my gods...

It's the man from my visions, along with younger versions of Queen Katherine, King Louis, and Queen Lillian.

Holy shit.

He's King Demotis of Descuvi.