Chapter Text
A woman—no, a witch— appeared and grabbed hold of Custas. A slim and tall figure adorned with bundles of cloth, some of which I could remember cutting up beside my mom. I could hardly make out her face beneath the golden brown tassels dancing along with the wind.
Velvet garments of indigo draped over a white undergarment akin to Coco’s. Beneath the cape on her shoulders shimmered the vibrant red dye hidden away from whoever gazes behind. Hair as long and silky as Beldaruit’s was tied up in a braid, masking more of her face away from view. Her coat and more loose fabric hung in the air while her sleeves made waves, tilting her hat.
Her brimmed hat.
“I believe an introduction is in order. I am Restys. And allow me to be the first to thank you for your cooperation…”
“Coco.”
The witch let out a fond sigh and brought her hands to her hips as if to lecture a child. Leaning her head with her hat in tow, she looks at Coco and gestures ever so slowly. The tassels spun and moved around the golden ring haloed on her hat.
“And I agree with your astute observation. This spell indeed “sucks.”
She chuckles as if she wasn’t watching the entire time. Merely waiting for her moment to appear. As if it was planned from the start. And Coco can’t help but pray that fate wasn’t that cruel.
“That a fleeting moment of security would be enough to stimulate the seed’s growth was an unfortunate surprise.” Restys hums for a moment with the discovery of the silverwood’s peculiar trait. “Clearly, it’s in need of revisions. Ininia?”
She looks over to the other girl across from Coco. And unlike the trembling apprentice sunken to her knees, Ininia replies demurely to Restys.
“Yes, Master Restys.” Her complexion brightens, a welcome distraction from all the mess and clutter, waiting for whatever spills out of her mouth. Coco silently braises herself, because heaven knows she couldn't take any more fights at the harrowing sight of her friends just tired. “Do you still have the seeds?”
Ininia rushes to the figure’s side, albeit surprised at the question. “Of course. Here…” And she carefully lays the container of the silverwood tree in the other’s palm.
Lestisse looms over the girl, towering over her in height as the corners of her mouth curve upwards. She gazes down and- “You are a hopeless witch.”
Ininia flusters and pouts as if she knows it was just a jest at the witch’s habits. Can’t a girl make mistakes? She was also disappointed! His anger was shallow, and clearly, she overestimated his resolve and anger against the pointed hats. So she gave the boy a try and ended up taking 2 steps backward, no big deal!
“But your hopelessness has served us... Well, this time.” And Ininia perks up at the mention. This was Master Restys after all, clearly her master also saw something!
“Perhaps it’s too early for us to deliver this to its intended recipient…” She ponders over the seeds for a second longer before a portal-like window way manifests over to the side.
Restys walks over to the portal with Custas still unconscious in her arms. She pauses in front as she addresses Tartah and Coco with a knowing smile.
“You’re welcome to join us if you like. This boy is important to you, isn’t he?” And without missing a beat, Tartah looks over to Coco. “Or you can stay here and simply wait for them to take you to Adanlee.”
Coco was still trying to catch her breath as she watched Custas have his home ripped out of his chest. As his roots finally found a safe place, only for it to be taken away from him. As both son and father closed their eyes for the last time. Only one of them was forcibly woken up.
To finally let go of it all—and to have him shoved back in the muckpool as if to taunt his miserable fate.
“Coco… Come on… Let’s go together.” She trembles every so slightly at the words. She knows where this goes. She already lost Custas, and she can’t help but think she’s going to lose Tartah too.
He crouches near and whispers, but Coco still keeps looking away. Her own face was hidden behind a curtain of golden and green hair. “I don’t trust these guys as far as I can throw them… I’m gonna see if I can figure out what they’re up to with this spell on my arm, then we can…”
He trails off… Concerned about the usually vibrant girl’s silence. Tartah wonders what kind of expression Coco had behind that veil of hair right now. But Coco knows better.
She has to.
Not after her mom, and especially not after Custas. She knows the dangers of forbidden magic and of what the brimmed hats did. This Silverwood Eve, a wreck already from one of the wise turned brim. And yet she can’t help but hesitate.
The line between right and wrong was blurry, and Coco couldn't tell if she already had one foot across. Coco saw with her own two eyes all of the lies witches have. Of all of the people they couldn’t save or help in fear of the rules, of an old pact to never repeat the old ages of Yore.
Why... Why does magic seem so scary now? What happened to the girl awestruck at the glowing pebbles? To the child fawning over witches and floating carriages? To the simple days of not knowing? Of falling in love with the blessing called magic and all of its uses?
‘I am a witch! I have magic now! Why couldn’t I do anything to help?! Why?’
Her breathing grew haggard, and tears puddled around her eye. Tartah saw Coco visibly shaking now, and he threw his arms on her shoulders as he finally gazed at the hidden face. Of a runny nose and tinted cheeks.
“Ah.. Tartah…” And the boy took that as his sign to hug the young witch. She stilled for a beat, one, two.. And she let out a cry. Of soft whimpers and a river flowing from her eyes.
“No, no, no.. Why.. I..” Tartah only hugs her tighter, as he listens to her mumbling, “Why?.. I couldn’t save anyone…” Coco dissolved into a heart-aching cry that everyone was far too familiar with. “Coco..” The boy felt his own knees weakening at his friend’s cries. He himself was rather acquainted with this feeling of hopelessness. And he knew better than to force his friend to come with him and Custas.
Restys at the display in front of her felt something tugging. A sight she remembers well with another’s cry. Of a young girl about her age, with ribbons clutched to her own chest. She can’t help but soften her gaze and words towards the pair.
“That’s too bad. A brimmed hat would’ve looked very nice on you, I can tell.” As she lightly tugs at the braces around their wrists. Clicking off both of the pair, she turns on her feet and approaches the portal once more.
“But what if we could teach you the ways of healing?”
A voice emerges suddenly behind the group, one that Coco remembers clearly enough that she looks up at the figure floating. And even Restys stills at the sound.
“Of spells letting you save what was lost?”
An eye glistens in the light beneath the pointed hat. Of dangling ornaments and a tied-up ribbon swinging in tow.
“Unshackled from your self-imposed restraints? Of being granted the freedom and power to use magic to its limits?”
A cloak drapes down fully as the figure lands gracefully on the ground. An arm outstretched to the girl on her knees.
“Wouldn’t you like to be a true witch?”
And Coco couldn’t help but stare at Iguin. At the eye of the world. Time seems to pause, as if making fun of her dilemma. And at this moment, grabbing that hand doesn’t seem so bad.
“You seem to still be hesitating, child of hope.” He tilts his head with a playful smirk across his face. “Then, how about we put it as another test of yours? A lesson even?” He springs up in the air with both hands raised. “I promise not to do anything to harm or hurt anyone! We will take care of your friends there and do our best to accommodate any of your wants and needs.”
“In turn…” He hums, considering his options, as Coco’s gaze hardens. “You come with us for a day! And we return you here without anyone ever finding out.” She couldn’t tell much behind his enormous eye covering his face. But she could surely feel that Iguin was looking straight through her.
“It must sound appealing enough, yes? We will not force you or anyone, for that matter, to use forbidden magic while all you have to do is stay for a few!” Now, suddenly appearing in front of Coco, he kneels and outstretches an open hand patiently. “Just for a day, child of hope, let us show you what magic can truly do.”
She bites the inside of her cheeks, staring holes at the hand laid bare. She looks back with puffy eyes at the sight of Tartah and Custas by the other two brimmed hats. Tartah expectantly looked back at her, worry evident in his eyes with a desperate pleading beside it.
‘I can’t leave them alone, not yet.’ Her determination wavers at the knowledge of having two of her friends taken away. She knows better. She truly does. But-
‘I’m sorry, Master Qifrey, just this once, please forgive me again.’
And she takes the hand, clutching at it with both of her hands, barely encasing it. “Please…”
And as if hearing her silent mumble, Iguin smiles all too knowing. “We didn’t mean to hurt you or your friends, little one. Allow me to make up for our mistakes for this day. And I will make sure you’ll learn more, more than what those pointed hats could ever teach you.” He stands up and still offers his hand to the witch beside him.
Coco hesitantly grabs hold of that hand once more as he leads her to the portal. Restys and Ininia are taking it as their cue to step through. And right before Coco resigns herself to this fate, she looks back at the tattered rocks, at the roots left alone through the cracks. And she wonders.
‘Just what did I agree with?’
The portal closes behind her, leaving no evidence behind and no witch to cry alone. And the world stills as if the clockwork paused to mourn the loss of a child full of hope.