As I flew rapidly across the land, the trees' leaves changed from lilac to dark green below me. I fumbled desperately to keep one of my only items, a small map showing a nearby town's location, in place as the wind attempted to tear it away. The only thing pinning it down to my broomstick handle was my shaking thumb and the will to not let it out of my hand's grasp. Leaning down to examine it further, I noticed that the dark green leaves I was passing over signaled I was nearing my destination.

The town was in the heart of a small forest called 'Arachnid's Grove.' I was not too fond of the thoughts that came with such a name. I may not fear much, but spiders? Those were most certainly among my top fears.

My good friend Selena, Guardian of Moonglow Hollow, had given me this map as a parting gift. I had helped her find a unique fungus to cure a rapidly-spreading disease among her people, and in return, she gave me a task involving spiders. I was still upset at her for this "gift."

I surveyed the ground below, looking for the roofs of houses or any clearings to land on. I soon spotted a dirt path through the thick foliage and commanded my broom to lower itself. The broom obeyed me, sinking to the track, my boots skidding on the ground as it slowed to a stop. I hopped off and patted down my wrinkled dress, hoping to make myself look presentable to whomever I encountered. I tidied my messy hair back into the best braid I could manage, pushing each small strand of light blue hair into the cute white tie I had at the bottom of the braid.

Once I finished making myself look decent enough, I grabbed my levitating broom and carried it with me as I walked down the path. It was well-worn, as I could see tracks from the wheels of countless carriages and wagons accompanied by hoofprints.

I took in my surroundings. This forest and the plant life were familiar. I scanned the map held tightly in my hand, still tense from the flight here. After a moment, I understood why this place was so familiar. This path was used for travel between Elkkehart, a more populous nearby city where my older sister lived, and a much smaller town, Gretlund. I had been to Elkkehart often to purchase goods, handle job requests, and re-experience the city I grew up in, but I had never once visited Gretlund. Maybe after my task, I could go and say hello to my sister in Elkkehart. However, I hadn't seen her in a few years, and I wondered if she would be upset with me. That thought didn't last long; Urie wasn't like that. She'd be overjoyed by my arrival. There was no need to worry.

Holding onto my broom and map, I followed the path south to where Gretlund should be. While there, I planned on investigating the problem directly from the people residing there. There were many questions I had lined up. Selena, being the mysterious person she was, hadn't given me any information beyond this map. All she told me was that something dangerous was stirring in Arachnid's Grove, and it needed to be handled quickly.

While forming and reviewing the plan I created (the plan being human interaction, something I was not too good at), it didn't take long for me to run into other people. I heard the distant sound of hooves on dirt, and in response, I stopped in my tracks and turned.

It was a wagon pulled by a donkey. Sitting in the driver's seat was a broad-shouldered young man with slicked brown hair and a friendly and welcoming smile forming on his face when he saw me. He waved to me. I held up my hand and did a little wave back.

Standing in place, I waited until he was right before me. On the roadside, I got a better look at him. Mid-twenties. Late at most. Green eyes, like my sister's. His skin was tanned, telling me he was outside a lot. A farmer, perhaps? Farmers were common in and around Elkkehart, thanks to the abundant farmland surrounding the city.

Now thinking about it, I hoped that the man didn't find me creepy for examining him so closely. It had become a habit of mine after becoming a bounty hunter, which was yet another job added to my neverending list of occupations.

The man didn't seem to notice. If he did find my examination unsettling, he didn't show it. He sized me up briefly before asking, "Are you headed to Gretlund, too? You need a ride?" He pointed his thumb to the canvased wagon he was driving. "There's more than enough room. Just finished delivering some crops to Elkkehart."

So he was a farmer. My guesses were usually close.

I nodded politely. "Thank you for the invitation." I walked around to the back of the wagon and climbed in.

When I was inside, I noticed another passenger, a little girl. She was just a child, her fluffy and short brown hair containing bits of straw. She was sleeping away beneath a burlap sack. I did my best to stay quiet for her sake.

Crawling up to the front of the wagon to talk with the man, I hushedly asked, "Is she your daughter?" as I set my broom beside me. I hoped to get some information out of him, and this was a good enough way to start.

He shook his head. "Nope. FeeFee's my niece." He glanced back fondly at his child passenger.

"You babysitting her?" I attempted to keep the exchange going. Letting it come to a standstill would be awkward.

"Consider me a full-time babysitter."

I decided not to question that further. It seemed like a touchy subject.

"Oh, I"m Bowe, by the way. And, in case you couldn't tell, that bundle of joy back there's FeeFee. Phoebe's her full name, but she just loves the nickname I use for her."

I felt a slight tug at my heartstrings. I tried to keep my face from forming into even the smallest of smiles. Now was not the time to be expressing such emotion.

I nodded, even though he couldn't see. This wasn't exactly the information I was looking for, so I decided to introduce myself as well, which should bring this conversation to something closer to what I was seeking. "I'm Evelyn. Representative for the Kingdom of the West. Honorary Member of the Order of Soless." I had many other titles and was involved in many more institutions and organizations. Still, these were the ones that would gain me the most access to what I needed to know currently.

Bowe had his back to me, but I could see his shoulders tense. "Wow! So you're working for the capital over there, huh?"

"Yes."

Silence, and then, "Sounds like a wonderful profession." There was a hint of something in his voice. Regret, perhaps? Longing?

I shifted in my seat. I wanted to avoid reaching too far and asking something that was out of boundaries. In turn, silence overtook the rest of the wagon ride.

While I had time to myself, I looked outside the back of the wagon. I enjoyed scanning and searching areas I was traveling in for various flora and fauna. I had grown up in the East, where that kind of thing was often rewarded with job opportunities and, if you were especially keen on protecting and observing wildlife, being accepted as a Scholar for the Grand Library. While I could never imagine being accepted as one now, I dreamt of it as a young child.

All different species of mushrooms grew from logs, on tree trunks, and along the dirt path, accompanied by flourishing flowers in all colors and berry bushes filled with juicy fruit. I didn't notice any fauna, which I found odd. The East's forests were usually teeming with wildlife.

After a while of doing my best to identify each plant and type of tree I saw, we came to an abrupt stop. I turned and looked out the front of the wagon. In front of us was a small village surrounded by a high wooden wall. It didn't look sturdy; it looked like it was quickly put up. I made sure to make a mental note of that.

Bowe hopped out of the driver's seat, reached the back of the wagon, and climbed inside.

He gently shook the young girl, Phoebe, awake. "Hey, FeeFee, we're home." His voice was gentle and soothing, full of evident love for this girl. It made me curious about their relationship and how it started. Still, I decided to keep that to myself; for now, at least. Unless I got to know them better, I had no need to know such things.

The girl woke up, yawning and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She sat up and stretched before opening them. They were a dark shade of brown. "Are we home y-" She gasped when she noticed me. "Who is she?!" she asked, a huge smile forming on her face, a face still young with childish features. Ten or eleven years old, I'd guess. "She's so pretty!" She crawled up to me, and I scooted away in response, cautious and taken aback by this sudden situation. I wasn't used to kids.

"Phoebe." Bowe's voice was sharp and stern. Phoebe jumped at the sound of it. She must not be used to him being strict with her.

She lowered her head. "Sorry..." Her voice came out as a quiet and timid murmur. I felt pity for her. I hadn't meant to put her in this situation.

I looked around awkwardly, trying to find something to keep my mind distracted by to make things less tense. A tiny spider web caught my eye in the corner of the wagon's roof. It brought me back to reality as I was disconnecting from it. I couldn't handle apologies. "It's... it's nothing. Please don't worry about it."

Bowe sighed. "I'm so sorry, she doesn't meet new people often, and much less people wearing such... elegant clothing."

Blinking, I understood why the girl reacted the way she did. I was slow on the uptake. "Oh."

Phoebe was blushing and fiddling with the bottom of her simple beige shirt. "I love your dress, miss. And your hair. And your-" She gasped when her eyes wandered to something atop my head. "You're a witch hat!"

She was looking at my witch hat. Her enthusiasm had returned so quickly. Children are like that, I suppose.

I nodded awkwardly. "Uhm, yes-"

"What kind of magic can you do?" Her eyes were sparkling. Bowe wasn't lecturing her this time around, so he must've been curious as well.

"All I can do is fly on my broom," I said, pointing to my broomstick. I didn't want her to ask even more questions. This was already too overwhelming for me.

Phoebe seemed a bit disappointed. "Oh. Okay." She then looked up, her eyes wide. "But that's wonderful too! I wish I could ride on a broom! I could get to my friends' houses so quickly, and I could go to my favorite restaurant, and I could-"

"We'll have to save the talking for later, FeeFee. Let's get Evelyn introduced to the townsfolk, okay?" With Bowe butting in like this, he must've been disappointed that I couldn't perform other forms of magic too. I did feel a twinge of guilt for lying to them, but I'm sure they would learn of my true identity soon, with me arriving in Gretlund.

The girl grunted but didn't refute. "Fine."

We all climbed out of the wagon, starting with me, Bowe, and then Phoebe, with Bowe helping the young girl onto the ground. When she landed, she held onto one of my gloved hands. I had never had my hand held by a child before. This was an oddity.

I patted down my dress, held my broom in the hand opposite of Phoebe's grasp, and followed Bowe through the gates of Gretlund. At the entrance were two guards possessing incredible physical builds and scruffy bears. They nodded at us as we walked past, acknowledging us. I momentarily let my eyes follow them, then let my attention turn to the scene before me.

The hastily built wall was just the first line of defense. In the distance, I could see a large and high wooden wall, much sturdier-looking, surrounding a small area.

That must've been the town itself. That meant we were only in the town outskirts, and my feet were starting to hurt; I had outgrown my boots long ago but hadn't had the time to purchase new ones. I was always busy with other things, whether it was taking on jobs for the Order or being on guard duty for a noble. My only hobbies included nighttime spellbook studies and sewing my own clothes. Shoemaking was sadly not a part of my skill set.

We carried on, the child still holding my hand. Hers was warm and soft. It was a comforting feeling in this new environment I was in.

Carts and wagons passed us by. I tilted my head, a simple question passing through my mind. "Why didn't we continue riding the wagon into the town? Everyone else seems to be doing so."

Bowe smiled, clearly embarrassed. "Actually, that cart wasn't ours to begin with. We borrowed it from a good friend here, and I agreed to leave it outside the gates so he could fetch it for himself soon. My family's cart broke, you see, and the culprit of it?" He shivered. "You'll see shortly, I'm afraid, if you intend to stay in Gretlund for longer than a few minutes."

That last part concerned me. Whatever this threat was, it seemed openly hostile, which was never a good sign for things to come.

Of course, my intuition was correct. Upon entering the wooden walls surrounding the town itself, we were greeted by walls of buildings covered in missing person posters. The amount was daunting.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Bowe tapped my shoulder, tearing my attention away from the posters. "I forgot to ask you on the way here, but why exactly are you visiting Gretlund?" he asked. It's not exactly a good time to visit, unfortunately. You mentioned you were an important figure for the West and the Order. Does that have anything to do with it?" His voice held a sliver of hope.

"Not quite. The Order didn't send me here; it was instead a nearby deity that did so. The reason I'm here is to resolve the happenings plaguing this town. And on that note, could you take me to your mayor? I think it best if I discuss matters with him personally."

He let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods! Finally, someone heard our prayers! You have no idea how long we've been waiting. It's been weeks since this whole spider thing-"

"Hold on. Spider thing? This situation, taking place in Arachnid's Grove, has something to do with the spiders living in it?"

Bowe nodded.

"Why would you build a town so close to a forest overrun by spiders?"

"Because they were never so hostile," he responded as if that were supposed to be completely obvious. "Something's happened, but we have no idea exactly what that 'something' is. We've sent out search party after search party, and I think you can guess what happened to them. Only clue we have is that it has something to do with the spiders based on their recent show of aggression." My companion looked over at a nearby wall lined with posters. "Every single person on those searches. Gone. Vanished. And we can't exactly send more people out. That'd just repeat the cycle."

"Recent show of aggression? Have the spiders been displaying erratic behavior?"

"Yes, actually. When we have run into them, which has been less frequent as of late, they have done nothing but attack us. That's how my cart was destroyed. I was lucky to get out of there alive; they were vicious."

I understood the situation and how dire it was better with Bowe explaining it to me. "Thank you. I needed that information."

"Yeah, no problem."

We walked in silence the rest of the way into town. By the time we reached the town center, the sun was beginning to set. Soless's rays cast long shadows from the buildings, shadowing the miserable town in early darkness.

Looking around, I noticed a surprising number of people in the center. This must've been because they didn't have a better place to be. After all, the forest was too dangerous. Who knew how many of these people would have to go home through the woods and possibly meet their doom?

Bowe stood next to me and scanned the town center. "Hmm.. oh! There he is!" He pointed towards a bench near a street lamp. Sitting on it was a man and a woman.

The man was on the bigger side, wearing a top hat and a suit. He must've been the Mayor.

With my target in sight, I let go of Phoebe's hand and left her and Bowe behind.

The Mayor noticed me arriving and waved kindly. "Hello, miss," he greeted me as I walked and stood before the two of them. He looked at my outfit, then back at my face. "I don't believe I've seen you around here. Are you a traveler?"

I nodded and curtseyed. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Evelyn. I'm an Honorary Member of the Order of Soless. I've come to discuss your... well, 'spider problem.'"

The woman on the bench looked up at me as well. "Evelyn, you say?" She looked puzzled. "Order of Soless as well... where have I heard that name...?"

The Mayor immediately recognized my identity. "Miss Evelyn!" he exclaimed, his mouth gaping. "Oh, my goodness... I didn't think they'd send someone of your ranking! You can call me Mayor Olestead. What is it I could do for you?"

With an attempt at a smile, I explained, "I've come to help you out with your problems. Now, if we could discuss this matter somewhere private..."

"Of course, Miss Evelyn!" He shooed the woman sitting next to him away.

Casting a glare at him, she stood up, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Mayor, just who is this woman?"

"Miss Evelyn, would you like me to introduce you by your known title, or would you like to?"

I held up my hand, silencing the Mayor. "No need. My name is Evelyn, Violet Witch of the East."

The woman's face shifted into one of disgust. "The Violet Witch? Why is she-"

Mayor Olestead gave the woman a look telling her to shut it. "She is here to help us, Charlotte. Now, prepare her a room in your inn. We have an honored guest, after all."

Charlotte's gaze was frigid as she pushed past me and through the crowd, heading toward a tall three-story building that I presumed was her inn.

I didn't blame the woman for her reaction. Not many had positive feelings toward me. I was used to this.

The Mayor patted the seat next to him. I sat in it obediently. Turning to face me, he began telling me the problems the town was facing: "Our town has always been involved with the neighboring spiders. After all, they've been around for longer than the town itself. When this town was built around a century ago, there were no issues whatsoever. We lived together in harmony, without a single problem.

"That all changed earlier this year, however. A couple of months ago, one of the farmers in town had his cow go missing. The town searched and searched, even searching near the spider's nest, yet was only met with violence from the spiders. They had to retreat back to the safety of the town. Then, it was a person who went missing. Another search party searched the forest and, once again, was driven out by the vicious arachnids. Over these last couple of months, the spiders have been getting increasingly aggressive to the point where we can no longer live with them peacefully. We have sent letters to the capitals, East and West, but to no response. We're at a standstill here and have no idea what to do next."

The Mayor closed his eyes for a moment. "Even my own son fell victim to this," he murmured, his voice shaking ever so slightly. When he opened them again, his eyes sparkled with hatred. "The spiders must pay for what they have done to our town. We have gone far too long without help and suffered for far too long, and now that we finally have the help we need, we'll do anything in return."

I twirled the end of my braid through my fingers. Something about the spiders suddenly becoming hostile didn't sit right with me. There must've been a reason, and I intended to find out. "Understood. Thank you for sharing."

As I stood and was about to make my way toward the town's exit, the Mayor grabbed my hand. "Evelyn, don't!" he urged.

His urgency shook me somewhat. Just how bad was this situation? I sat back down to let him explain his reasoning.

"Miss, I believe that we should hold a town meeting right away. Tomorrow morning, we can find another search party to guide you through the forest. Stay put while I call upon my people for now, alright?"

"I don't work with others, Mayor. I can do this myself."

"Please, I insist. The forest is difficult to navigate."

I hesitated before bowing my head in respectful acknowledgment. I'd leave town first thing in the morning before a search party could even arrive. I didn't work well with others; I preferred to do everything independently. I could handle it.

All around, people of the town were watching me with interest gleaming in their eyes. Even Bowe stood a bit off to the side. His niece was no longer with him, and, for a split second, I wondered where she had gone off to. I eliminated this lingering thought, though. I had no relation with this family. It was best to rid myself of unnecessary connections from my travels. It'd be best to have no strings attached.

I turned my head away from Bowe and looked for Mayor Olestead. I soon found him on an elevated stage in the very center of town. He then began to say, "Residents of Gretlund, please come forth!"

The people, who were initially watching me, walked forward to hear what the Mayor had to say.

Clearing his throat, Mayor Olestead began, "Greetings, my people. This meeting has been called to inform all of you of the arrival of a new guest we have staying in Gretlund. Come, Evelyn!"

I stood, walked up the steps, and onto the stage, joining the Mayor. I felt a twinge of anxiety about being in front of so many people, but I did my best to ignore it. Now wasn't the time to be getting nervous.

The Mayor gestured toward me. "This here is Evelyn, the Violet Witch of the East. She has come to help us."

Murmurs broke out among the crowd. "The Violet Witch? Surely he doesn't mean..."

"But her eyes aren't even violet. Could she be a fraud?"

"She must be using concealment magic, the deceitful witch! Trying to blend in with us, how dare she? She knows perfectly well of her sins!"

"What's someone like her doing in Gretlund? Couldn't they have given us anyone else? Why'd it have to be her?"

I stood calmly. This was normal. It didn't hurt me. Not anymore.

The Mayor coughed awkwardly. "Apologies, Miss Evelyn. Please understand them. They truly are thankful for your offer to help."

"It's okay, I know. They're just... surprised, is all."

The Mayor let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much." He turned back to the crowd. "Now, to convince them that you aren't a threat..."

"I can handle this." I took a step forward and dug my fingers into my broomstick to help distract my mind from what I was about to do. This would take a lot out of me, but I had to go through with it.

"People of Gretlund," I started, trying to appear confident. In reality, I was very much so not. In fact, I was terrified. I hated speaking in public, especially to so many people. I did my best to push down these feelings of nervousness. "I am here to assist you with your spider problems. Now, if someone could please tell me-"

"We don't want you here!"

"Begone, witch!"

"Leave!"

My fingers began hurting from how hard they were digging into the broomstick. Sure, I had dealt with this rightful discrimination whenever my identity was revealed across all kingdoms, so I should be fully used to it by now.

However, I couldn't keep lying to myself. This was genuinely starting to hurt. My heart began aching; why couldn't they just understand that I wanted to help them? Surely my accomplishments across Aestratha were enough to make up for... that. I had no ulterior motives...

I saw Bowe standing amidst the angered crowd. His face was confused; did he not understand who I was? Had he never heard of the Violet Witch? That could be the only explanation. Otherwise, he would hate me, just like all the others. And I deserved that hatred.

The Mayor raised his voice above the noise. "She is here to help everyone. Tomorrow, she will venture into the forest to rid us of our problems. I will form a search party to go along with her. For now, she must get her rest."

And with that, the meeting ended. I stepped off the stage and pushed my way through the crowd. Despite the rage emanating from the crowd, no one was getting violent this time, which was good for me. I wouldn't have to give them more reason to despise my very existence by acting in self-defense.

"Hey, Evelyn!" The voice of Bowe rose above the clamor around me, and I looked around for him. My eyes soon met his across the departing citizens.

He walked toward me, relieved. "Hey," he greeted kindly. "So, what was all that about? Why was everyone so upset with you?"

Now, to be honest, or deceitful. I chose honesty. "While I am a well-known figure, I'm not exactly well-known for the best of reasons."

"Those reasons being...?"

"Just some things from my past. You needn't pay it any mind."

Bowe seemed satisfied enough. "Alright then." He looked up at the darkening sky. "Well, I best be off. I hope to see you again. Phoebe's got a playdate with her friends, so I need to head out early before it gets too dark." He turned and began walking away before halting in his tracks. Looking over his shoulder, he waved. "Goodnight, Evelyn!" And, just like that, he was off.

I stood, blinking away the stinging feeling in my eyes. No one had been that kind to me in a long, long time. Why had he chosen to be so kind to me, of all people? It just... didn't make sense.

I snapped out of these surging questions when the Mayor clasped my shoulder. "Miss Evelyn, your room in Charlotte's inn is ready. Would you like me to lead you there?"

"No, I believe I know where it is. Thank you for the offer." I left him quickly, ready to call it a day. The townspeople's words still stung. I wanted to get their words out of my mind.

I arrived at the inn's doors, a pair of swinging wooden ones, and entered the inn.

Upon entering, I saw a bar filled with people, all sitting and cheerfully talking to one another. After noticing me, however, they all abruptly halted in conversation.

Some nervous whisperings began, but it was quickly put to a stop when Charlotte walked up to me. Her long black hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her cold blue eyes gazed into mine.

She looked me up and down and, with a suspicious glance, told me, "Welcome to Raevenn Inn. Here, I'll show you to your room."

She let me up a flight of stairs and into a hallway filled with ten identical doors. I followed her towards the second one on the left, and she fished a key out of her pants pocket and unlocked the door. She handed me the key. "Have a good night." She pushed past me and made her way back down the stairs to attend to the bar folk.

With my only luggage being my broomstick, map, and the clothes on my back, I entered my room. It was a small, dim room with a window viewing the town center below.

I walked up to the window and gazed down. Some people were still gathered, talking amongst themselves, most likely about my presence. I grabbed the curtains and closed them.

I felt my way around the dark room, trying to find a light source. I eventually came across what felt like a desk and a candle. I grabbed the candleholder, held it to my lips, and whispered a prayer. Soless's flame burst to life, dancing along the candle wick. I set it back down on the desk.

Looking around my room, I saw a bed with a sheepskin blanket in the corner, a large fur carpet, a messenger birdcage in the corner, and a dirty mirror.

I decided to turn my attention back to the desk. I pulled out the seat from underneath it, sat down, and searched the drawers.

Luckily, I found some sheets of paper, a quill pen, and a jar of ink. I fetched the paper, grabbed the pen, dipped it in the ink jar, and began writing my letter:

Letter to the West's Capital, City of Soless

Today, I arrived in Gretlund to investigate Arachnid's Grove. Missing person posters were plastered on every building's walls. People were gathered in the town out of fear of what the forest held. The Mayor, Mayor Olestead, begged me to rid Gretlund of its problems. Tomorrow I will be heading into the woods to explore and investigate. I will send another letter once I have solved what is occurring.

Best Wishes,

Evelyn, the Violet Witch