"Uh, Lillian ?" Jasmine nervously spoke.
"What?!"
"You need to calm down." Rose stood beside Jasmine, hand on her shoulder. "Also, be careful of the words you use. The people here are people who suspect everything, strange words like that will only get you unwanted attention."
"Ok. Ok." Lillian said, exasperated. "Wait, what are you guys here for then?"
"We're just here to give you advice and answer your questions," Jasmine exclaimed.
Lillian stared at them with the most judgemental expression she had. "So, you're telling me, that you both are just NPC?"
"What's an NPC?" Rose asked.
"Non - player Character," Jasmine answered nonchalantly. Her answer made Rose and Lillian stare at her in confusion.
"What? I played games in the other world." Jasmine walked away as fast as she could, ears turning red.
"Come on." Rose followed after her.
"Where are we actually going to?" Rosalind asked, catching up to them.
"To your tree."
"The wishing tree?"
"It's called The Old Sage. Years ago, people made wishes to it every day but now that magic is all around us, they don't really see the need to make a wish anymore."
"Does it specialise on the type of wish? Does it grant every wish a person makes? How many wishes does one person get?"
"It grants a person only one wish. There is a chant you have to say and the tree will decide whether you're worth its time or not. It specialises in love."
"Love?! No wonder it went out of business."
"We're here."
They stopped in front of an enormous oak tree. At least it looked like an oak tree. The leaves are like crystals of varying colours, reflecting in the sun. Aside from the leaves, the rest of the tree was white and has scratches running all around it.
Lillian stared, mouth agape. The tree looked so beautiful and massive. She could also see a blue aura surrounding it. Something indescribable overtook her senses, she felt herself drawn to the tree, wishing to touch it.
Taking one step at a time, she stretched out her hand to touch it.
Rose grabbed her and pulled her back abruptly.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Lillian, still in a bit of a daze tried to answer as best as she could. "I . . . but . . . tree. It's calling me."
"Will you snap out of it?" Rose slapped Lillian across the cheek, shocking the woman back to her senses.
"What the f*** was that for?!" Lillian touched her stinging cheek, pushing Rose away.
"Rose!" Jasmine shouted, running to Lillian. "Are you ok?"
"No. What did you do that for?"
"Look, I'm sorry. I panicked and I didn't know what else to do. You were in a deep trance. You shouldn't be touching the tree."
"You said this is my tree. So why can't I touch it?"
"Rose. Let me take care of this, go in the corner. Lillian, listen to me." Jasmine grabbed her by her cheeks, turning her to face her. With the most serious expression, she ever had. "The Old Sage may be your tree but it isn't friendly. Not in the slightest. Touch it and bad things may happen."
Lillian made a face. "So, my tree is low key a sadist?"
"High key not low key!" Rose shouted from across them.
"How did she hear us?"
"I have no idea. Even when I call her, unless it's about food, she won't hear."
"Ahh~ Selective hearing."
They glanced at Rose from the corner of their eyes and snickered.
"I know you're talking about me! I can see it in your eyes."
"Oh no. I didn't mean to show it so blatantly." Lillian retorted.
"Ignore her for now," Jasmine said, pulling Lillian away. "Now listen to me. The dress may have chosen you but the tree still hasn't and that's the biggest obstacle right now. It will become your source of magic and wisdom if it accepts you. The Old Sage is more than thousands of years old but has the mind of a child."
"Ok, so what should I do to win its favour?"
"I have no clue." Jasmine smiled.
"What? You're the NPC here, give me some sound advice instead of just filling me in on the lore." Lillian threw her arms around in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Lillian. It's been years since a Fairy Godmother was even chosen. Nobody knows the procedures."
"Ok, so. What happens if I don't gain the favour of the tree?
"Well . . . Anything really. You could be sent back. But no matter what happens, remember to never EVER get its disfavour."
"Why?"
"That's how most of the other to - be - fairy godmothers died."
"The f***?!?"
"Language!"
"It just kills them!?"
"Yes. It's a fickle thing. So be careful."
"Jasmine. We have to leave now."
"Where are you guys going?"
"You don't need to know." Rose's expression turned stoic. She walked past them and drew some symbols in the air. A portal opened up almost immediately.
"Woah. How did she do that? Wait. Can I do that too?"
"It's not important, Lillian. Right now focus on getting The Old Sage's favour."
"Can't I just . . . not approach it, like just not do anything?"
"NO! That'll be the worst thing you can do."
"Jasmine!"
"Do not ignore it, do not make it angry. Gain its favour! Also do not show yourself to anyone!" Jasmine and Rose disappeared through the portal, leaving Lillian alone with the threat just looming behind her.
"Great! I'm f***ed."
She turned to the tree, staring at the leaves, the trunk and the blue aura. What once looked so beautiful to her, now just filled her with dread.
"Hey~ um . . . My name is Lillian. What's yours?"
Silence.
"Oookay. Uh. You see . . . I'm supposed to get your favour so you don't kill me. But like, I don't know what to say or do. Can you, I don't know, give me some hint on what to do?"
Silence.
" . . . Great. This is . . . uh . . . fun." She flopped down on the grass, staring at the blue sky. Now that everything has calmed down, she can now observe her surroundings.
She is in, what appears to be, a garden. There is a gate behind the tree, through the gate she could see more the garden continue to extend. Peaking through the trees and perfectly pruned bushes, was the castle. Stone walls and a very ominous atmosphere.
She sighed. "What do you think the king looks like? He seems incompetent though if his own people are planning a revolt against him."
She turned back to the tree. "What do you think? Yeah, I don't think he'll be attractive."
"Hey! How are you?"
A melodic voice came as the gate opened. Lillian's ears perked up as she scrambled to her feet. She was torn between hiding herself and dying to see the face that the voice belongs to.
"I hope you've been well."
S***. I'm drooling just from hearing the voice. Imagine the face?!!
I have to see him. I don't care anymore!
She ran to the tree, her hands touching the trunk as she attempted to get a glance of the mystery person as they continued to talk to the tree. But they keep walking and she keeps missing them.
Dear author, I will love you forever if you give me a convenient plot device that'll let me see the person. I'll even forgive the awful plot. Please.
She slipped from where she stood, landing on her face just as she heard the gate open again. Quickly, she looked up at the gate and all she could see was a bush of teal green walking away.
"Nooo! Why!" She cried, laying on the ground. "I missed them. But their voice I'll never forget." She placed a hand on her heart, smiling towards the gate as a small gust of wind blew.
Pfft.
"What?! Who was that?!" She looked all around the tree, finding nothing, she leaned her hand on the tree trunk again. "I could have sworn I heard someone mocking me."
"Oh! Old Sage! Do you know the person? They did come to talk to you so, like, help a girl out here. Who are they?"
Silence.
She huffed. "No fair. Come on, tell me. I'll do anything you ask if you introduce us."
No matter how she coaxed or pleaded, the tree remained silent. It's aura turning a deep shade of red as she continued talking.
One Week Later,
"We've been gone quite a while, do you think she's fine ?" Jasmine's brows knitted in worry. the satchel at her side bobbed with every step she took.
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Jasmine. We brought enough food to last her weeks." Rose said from behind wooden crates of food.
"I can't believe I forgot to tell her that she needs food. Rose! What if she died by starvation! It'll be all my fault." Jasmine stopped in her tracks, hands gripping the satchel strap.
Rose placed the crates on the ground and walked to Jasmine. She took her hand and said, "Look, Jasmine. We were suddenly called away, you didn't have time to tell everything. If anything, it feels like the author just forgot about it and is now trying to cover it up. I'm sure she'll be fine. She is the protagonist anyway."
(Author: I feel like I keep getting picked on in this chapter ｡･ﾟﾟ*(>д<)*ﾟﾟ･｡.)
"You really think so?"
"I know so. Let's go give these to her. I'm sure she'll accept them as an apology." She picked up the crates again and they continued walking.
"But, how, do you think she'll even survive a week without food or water."
" . . . Who's that?"
They stared at a woman, curly hair blowing in the wind. Her dress surrounds her like a shield. She is leaning against the Old Sage, and nothing was happening to her. She held something in her hand.
Noticing them, she turned her beautifully, sharp eyes to them and smiled.
"Who is that?" Rose whispered.
"She so ethereal. Do you think she's the one to replace Lillian?"
"I think so. Honestly, she looks most suited for the job as compared to Lillian."
They walked towards her, one step at a time. Afraid to break the atmosphere.
"Hello." Jasmine started.
"What took you so long? I've been waiting forever." She leaned back dramatically onto the tree, fanning herself with the mask she held in her hand. The tranquil and ethereal atmosphere shattered along with Rose and Jasmine.
"L-Lillian?"
"Yeah. Who did you think I was?" She laughed.
Rose remained like a statue unable to comprehend anything else.
"What's wrong, Rose?"
"You almost looked pretty."
"What?! Really?! From which angle?"
"Damn it! My eyes!!"
"There's the Lillian we know." Jasmine laughed. "Oh, Lillian. We brought you food supplies."
Jasmine handed over the satchel she carried. "But it would seem that you don't really need our help. How did you find food ?"
"I never left from this spot." Lillian stared at them in confusion. "Wait! I need to eat?!"
"Yes! How are you still alive??" Rose shouted.
"I don't know! I never felt hungry or thirsty. I thought it was normal!!"
"It isn't!"
"Will you both stop shouting!!" Jasmine interjected.
"Good. Now, Lillian. You haven't had anything to eat or drink since we left, right?"
"Yes." Lillian pulled out a loaf of bread from the satchel and begun to smell it.
"And you haven't been feeling hungry or thirsty? At all?"
"Yes."
Jasmine smiled. "Then there is only one explanation. You got the Old Sage's favour."
"Really?! Wow. That's great." Lillian talked in between bites of the bread.
"How?!" Rose shouted.
"Rose." Jasmine smiled sweetly at her. "If you shout one more time, I will shove whatever she's eating down your throat. Ok?"
"Yes, ma'am," Rose said, a little too quickly.
"Damn, girl. You're something else."
"Great. Now, Lillian, what did you do to gain its favour?"
"I don't really know. All I did was talk about boys to it."
Still smiling, Jasmine's expression became tense. "Really? That's all?"
"Yup."
"Let me see your chest."
Lillian spat out the water she was drinking, falling into a fit of coughs.
"What?"
"Once you bond with the Old Sage, a mark will appear on your chest."
"Ooooh~ Ok."
Just above her bodice, in between her cleavage, a mark that looked like the tree could be seen.
"So, you really are chosen. It even kept you alive for a whole week. Amazing."
"I'm sorry, were you saying something ?" Lillian looked up from burying her head in the food, crumbs all over her face.
"Are we very certain she's the one? They are, at the very least," Rose looked Lillian up and down, "not that."
"Hey, I can hear you. What's all this about? The tree made a choice and picked me. Maybe because I look so much like a fairy." Lillian tossed her hair, only for it to flop back to her face.
Pfft.
"Seriously, who is that? Someone's been laughing at me the entire week but I can't find them. Where are they hiding?"
"I get it now!" Jasmine snapped her fingers. "Lillian, I intend to always be honest with you, alright?"
" . . . ok?"
"The tree is keeping you around just because you're entertaining."
Lillian smiled, "Well, I can live with that. By the way, thank you so much for these foods. I'm really enjoying them."
"I'm glad you like it."
"When will I get my first wish? It's been a week."
"Do you know when the mark appeared?" Rose asked.
"Let me think." Lillian knotted her eyebrows. "Oh! The day you guys left me here, alone. With no idea of what I'm to do. I'm not bitter, don't worry." She smiled.
"That is strange. The moment the tree accepts you, wishes should be coming in. People make wishes all the time, don't they?"
"Strange. This tree does specialize in love. Who wouldn't want love?! Wait . . . do you hear that?"
"What?"
"Sounds. like . . . a. wind. chime." Lillian dropped the satchel, her eyes turned white.
Everything around her disappeared.
Smoke danced around then took the form of a woman in front of her, she sat crouched on the floor,
Saying,
"Old sage, old sage
Hear my cry
For a mere mortal as I
Wishes to be trialled."
In a voice she wasn't sure was her own, Lillian said, "Let the judgement commence."