The thick wood looms with towering trees, their gnarled branches interweaving to create an eerie canopy that filters sunlight into dappled shadows. A haunting silence envelops the air, broken only by the rustle of leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures. The atmosphere carries a palpable sense of enchantment, as if the very foliage conceals secrets.
An uncanny aura pervades, sending shivers down the spines of those who venture within. The dense undergrowth seems to murmur with an otherworldly energy, leaving visitors with a feeling of being watched by unseen eyes.
Whispers of ancient tales echo through the wind, telling of witches who find solace among the twisted roots and shadowy corners. Legends speak of mystical rituals conducted under the moonlit canopy and elusive spirits that call this bewitched woodland home. As night falls, the forest takes on an ethereal glow, accentuating the mysterious allure that makes it a haven for different creatures, especially tainted witches who enjoy the eerie feeling it exude.
As Aliona walked through the trail that led to Milmuke's tent, her eyes kept darting around, aware of the different creatures inhabiting the forest, making her cautious of her surroundings even more.
She had instructed her coachman to stop the carriage when they got to the narrow path where it couldn't go further to trek the remaining distance.
The dull ray of sunlight which found it way through the woods suggested dusk to be near. She had taken the time to stop at the town where the mysterious woman was, to hurriedly ask some questions regarding Mimulke before continuing her journey to Argonark when she found out her story was similar to what Josephine told her. She had listened to her heartbeat to ensure she wasn't telling lies.
With not much time to waste, she quickened her pace when she sighted the overworn and tattered dull grey tent exactly where Josephine had described it to be.
Feeling like being followed by some pairs of eyes, she quickly glanced back but couldn't find any. She piqued her ears and heard two pairs of heartbeat thumbing in an uneven manner. Alerted, she swung to the right as a long sharp object rushed towards her. Missing her by just an inch was a stake that could have pierced her heart.
"That was a fast move you got there, Lady Aliona"
She spun to the direction where the voice came from, a figure in a dark cloak materilzed.
"Mimulke?" Aliona asked, unable to see her face clearly, her throaty cackle suddenly vanished. So did her form.
Aliona looked around, guessing the strange figure to be Mimulke.
"Looking for me?"
Aliona was faced with an entire different figure from earlier, replaced by the obscure face in an untidy cloak was an attractive redhead lady. Her shiny white teeth was a perfect contrast to her black dress, she could be mistaken for a damsel in distress.
The sharp contrast between her appearance and her poorly decorated tent couldn't have been more glaring. Aliona watched her keenly as she walked right around the cluttered entrance of the tent. How she was able to walk without knocking over the metal pots and kettles scattered on the floor along with all sorts of objects which were best stored in the artic amazed her.
"What would you like me to offer you? Tea?" Mimulke gestured, sweeping her arms around proudly like a warrior showing off his spoils of war.
She shook her head to decline her offer, Aliona couldn't even imagine staying there more than necessary not to think of ingesting whatever could come out of the dark kettle brewing on the stove.
"I'll like to decline if you don't mind" mustering as much apology as appropriate, she continued, "I would rather you allow me tell you the reason why I'm here"
"Isn't it rude to decline an offer of hospitality shown by your hostess. Did your governess skipped that part during your lesson?" She cackled, watching Aliona closely to see how well she was getting under her skin.
Ali watched with concern for the poor white cloth that was about to be stained as Mimulke went ahead to sit graciously on the overturned dirty mortar after she took a handful of the lower part of her gown to clean the flat surface.
Surprisingly, there was not even a speck of dirt on the cloth. With a chilly grin, Mimulke watched the surprised look on Aliona's face
"Tell me Lady Aliona, are you here for what I think you're here for?" Mimulke sipped the liquid poured from the kettle, as she placed her hand on her stomach, rubbing it while looking at Aliona who clearly read that Mimulke was referring to pregnancy.
She nodded, "yes, I am. I would be delighted if I can get the potion you gave my sister-in-law"
Mimulke took her time to empty her cup, "unfortunately, the potion just finished" she belched as she raised the cup upside-down to show its emptiness. "I offered you but you declined" shrugging when she saw the pure horror on Ali's face.
"What! But you didn't tell me that was the potion I was here for. I thought you told me it was tea" looking helpless as her eyes widened.
Ignoring her outburst, Mimulke hummed away with her eyes closed, one would think Aliona was a pest which could be flicked off with the mere brush of two fingers.
Aliona slumped on the floor, dejected as she stared in the horizon, regretting the moment she decline her offer, if she had known, she would have taken the courage and accept the 'tea'.
But why would she drink the potion? Was she trying to get pregnant?
As if she could read her mind, Mimulke answered, "the portion has many uses, one of which was what you seek"
Ali was dazed, confused on what to do, "isn't there a way you can help?"
With a knowing smile, she answered after a long sigh, "there is. But it depends on how desperate you want to conceive a child"
Her dashed hope resurrected by her last statement.
Ali's narrowed her eyes in search of any deformity Mimulke would have had if she had been dabbling with dark magic but she found none. Her thought also went back to the woman she questioned in the town and Josephine who didn't suffer any grave consequence or misfortune which would have occurred for associating with Mimulke had it been she was a tainted witch.
With that, she spoke with conviction, "I really wish to conceive"
That alone was enough for Mimulke to continue, "so it seems."
She materilzed behind Aliona, holding her shoulder in place as she turned her to the opposite direction she came from.
"Follow that path which will lead you back to a broader road. All you need to do is ignore whatever you witness on your way till you get to the place where three paths meet"
Confused as to how to find her way back to her carriage but before she could ask, she heard her spoke, "you'll know which way to go when you get there. Remember, do not react to whatever you see" Mimulke warned as she placed a small bottle on her palm.
"Drink this when you get home." Her once feminine voice changed to a raspy one, "do not react " and she vanished.
Mimulke reappeared in her earlier attire, her lips tugged as she watched the figure of Aliona as she walked down the trail. Glad she was able to hold the end of the pact she made with Josephine, she yanked off the mask on her face, watching her reflection on the half filled cup as the scarred and uneven ridges of her jaw and the lumpy rough cheeks stared back at her.
"It's going to be a long and interesting night" she cackled.