Walking in the forest behind the Castle, alongside the lord, Anneliese couldn't help but looked around and noticed the tall dense trees which appeared shady and creepy. Looking up at the sky, she registered in her mind, "Oh, it's New moon tonight!" The moonless night, made the forest appear darker.
In the dark forest, the only crunching sound coming is from their footsteps on the dry leaves along with the distant crickets of the forest insects, making the forest seem spooky which made her feel uneasy. Anneliese looked at Vincenzo before asking, "Why did we come here for walk instead of the Castle garden?"
Vincenzo gazed back at her before answering, "I want you to get familiar with the area around the Castle specially this forest!" He saw the confusing look in her gaze which was questioning further and he answered her questioning eyes, "I want you to get familiar with the area so that after a few days, you can come here by yourself and practice the spells and also if some day, you will need to get away because of any danger at all and I am not around then you can take this route. Hide in the forest and look after yourself until I come to get you!"
Anneliese blinked in response before giving an approving nod.
He noticed how her eyes express and give away everything that is going on in her mind. The thought of her being an open book for him to read, made him smile subtly before a possessive look appeared in his gaze, not wanting anyone else to read his precious book and a thought of immuring his little girl crossed his mind but he knew it will only enlarge the gap he is trying to diminish between them.
Remembering the night when he first saw her blazing one of the towns of Versimoil Kingdom, He asked her, "Have you ever been here Anneliese? I mean not the Castle of course but anywhere in the kingdom?"
Anneliese frowned at his question before replying, "No. Although I have always wanted to explore other lands but Papa was always worried about me and Adlina. He has always been very protective about me and my sister. Since I remember, Papa always tried to keep us away from any other kinds and never let us cross the border of Sicilian Empire."
Anneliese questioned while stating the fact, "Why did you ask? Isn't it a common knowledge that no human from Sicilian Empire visit the Versimoil Kingdom willingly? Not just Versimoil, All humans from Sicilian Empire avoid going to any land be it Fairyland, Witchesland or Demonsland!"
Vincenzo who wanted her to find answers told her the truth about her being in the Versimoil Kingdom when she was little. He didn't hide the fact that she burnt the whole town of Bridgehallow with her blazing hands!
Hearing the disconcert tale, Anneliese's feet stopped moving and she turned to face Vincenzo before her lips managed to spill out the words, "How are you so sure it was me?" That girl doesn't necessarily have to be her! There could be someone else who possesses the same power as her!
"I am sure. It was you." stated Vincenzo.
Noticing the unconvinced expression, he explained, "Dark brown wavy hair, small straight nose and full pink lips on her sharp oval face with ivory skin!" He took a step forward towards her and looked deeper in her eyes before continuing again, "She had cosmic blue eyes which at first appear aquamarine but if you look closer, you will realize they actually are a shade of celestial blue resembling the universe."
A blush appeared and adorned her face which turned her face bright pink in the dark night which was clear for his dark red eyes to see. She cleared her throat before speaking, "Ahh I... I don't remember any of it! I was unaware of this power till my hand started illuminating fire flames in the dungeon! If the little girl you are talking about was me then how was I unaware about my power or why don't I remember anything?"
"You are kind of a mystery box for me which I am unable to unfold as of now!" said Vincenzo
The uncertainty in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by him and he assured her, "You don't have to worry about anything Anneliese. No matter who you are or what kind you belong to, I will never let anyone harm you."
Brushing her hair, he said, "First, we need to find out about your lineage or anything regarding it to get some light so that we can move forward! We would have started searching with your parents but they have disappeared along with the townsfolks!" He paused noticing Anneliese contemplating something and asked, "What is it?"
Anneliese started, "I was about to talk to you about this when we met at the river but I couldn't and after that I didn't get a chance to talk about it! A day before I met you at Waspa river, My father said something strange like, I am a destined child and life won't be easy from now on! There was this unreadable sadness in his eyes and next day the whole town vanished along with my parents!"
It did not take long for Vincenzo to understand and he let her know, "I think your father knew, he along with everyone else is going to be disappeared! Not just this, I guess he knew much more than that!"
Anneliese who has guessed the same, hummed in response before her ache forced her to spill her thoughts, "I wish I would have asked him and saved them all but neither did I ask nor did he tell!"
The sadness and pain in her eyes was as transparent as water and he wanted to take it all away but he knew this pain will drive her to find answers she is looking for and will keep her going instead of breaking her down. He heard her heavy voice trying not to spill tears, "Is there any news about my family or regarding the townsfolks?"
Knowing there is no point of giving a fake hope, he answered truthfully, "No. There hasn't been any news regarding Haselburg or Windborn. The only thing we know is that Dark Witches are behind the vanishment of townsfolks and they are planning some sort of sacrificial ritual."
Reaching a small lake, Vincenzo made her sit as the wounds on her legs are still unhealed. He would have carried her here in his arms but he knew she would have precluded him right away and he doesn't want her to feel insecure instead he wants her to slowly get accustomed around him . One of the reasons of taking her out here was, he did not want her to feel trapped in the Castle but to feel free and one day to stay here on her own not because she have no other choice.