The three little ladies walked towards the forest, always evading the Fog. Berry was lively, super excited about what she did back in the classroom.

-I couldn’t believe it! My fire was so intense and so pink and so hot and and and…! AAAAAHHHH! That was so exciting.-

She laughed from joy.

Leaf was walking a little out of herself. Her head was full of thoughts, many of which were not very nice.

-Both of you did your best. I’m really proud of you.-

Thorn said, trying to elevate Berry’s spirits, and to lift up Leaf’s. But the middle sister was still sad. She walked, dragging her feet, and closed her fists with a bit of pressure. Both Berry and Thorn knew that the best way to deal with this was to just let her breathe, and offer their support if she asks. Leaf was going slowly, so much that she was left a little bit behind, while the other two continued walking. Nothing would prepare them for what she was about to say.

-Hey girls? I… I have an idea.-

Thorn turned back, as so did Berry, both looking at her with curiosity.

-What if… We looked for the lady from last time… And we asked her… just like Berry said… to teach us magic.-

Berry smiled radiant with excitement.

-YEAH! YEAAAAAHHH! LET’S DO JUST THAT!-

Thorn looked at them both with concern.

-What?! You can’t be thinking that. Girls, come on, we don’t know her! We have no idea if she’s a cannibal, or a murder, or…. Or worse… A liar.-

Just as she said that last word, thunder fell from the skies and hit the floor behind her.

Berry and Leaf hugged, fearful of that. They repeated in unison.

-A LIAR?!-

And another thunder struck the floor behind them.

Leaf shook her head, quickly separating from the hug.

-No! Wait! Let’s be reasonable here… She was traveling with a child! Perhaps around our age. She was around your height, Thorn. Strong and powerful, yes, but definitely underdeveloped! And that must mean she was young! And what can we infer from that? Kids and liars don’t get along! So she… can’t be.. a liar. Yeah.-

Berry nodded with her eyes closed.

-Makes perfect sense to me.-

Thorn sighed.

-Leaf, come on, you’re the logical one! That’s not a good point!-

-N-No, it is a good point! So… I say we look for her and ask her to teach us one or two tricks… It’s the perfect chance for us to get ahead! Come on, Thoooorn! Don’t you wanna get better at magic? Pleeeaaaaseee…?-

She looked at Thorn with puppy eyes. Berry soon joined in as well.

-Yes! Pleeeeeaaaaseeee Thoooorn! Can we goooo?-

Thorn was very hesitant at first, but in the end she sighed once again, to shake her head and whisper to herself.

-I can’t really say no to those faces…-

She cleared her throat, returning to her responsible stance.

-Fine. We’ll go. But only for a lesson or two.-

Berry started running back to where the Fog thickens.

-SHE SAID YES, SHE SAID YEEES! WE HAVE TO FIND HER BEFORE SHE CHANGES HER MIND!

Leaf laughed.

-I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE, BERRY!-

She quickly approached Thorn to hug her.

-Thank you… This means a lot to me… NOW WAIT FOR ME, BERRY!-

She started running to catch up with her younger sister, leaving Thorn behind.

She warmly smiled, she loved seeing her sisters happy. She even laughed a bit before starting running to catch up.

-Slow down…!-

The sisters arrived at the dark forest, the same one they were that day they met Cytrus for the first time. The beasts’ eyes stared right at them. Following them around every step of the way. The ambiance was just as gloomy as that other day. A weird smoke was present on the floor, different from the Fog. Not as dark, or heavy. The smoke moved with ease, following the sisters. Regardless of these signs of danger, they made their way across the forest, always evading going into the Fog. They arrived at a big empty spot in the shape of a circle. No flowers or bushes grew there. It had only the darkened grass. No beasts’ remains, no leaves, no nothing.

Berry wasn’t scared anymore. Quite the contrary, she was excited.

-I wonder where she is this time…-

She said, as Thorn looked at her with uneasiness. But for her sisters, she ignored her feelings.

-Maybe… we should try calling her name?-

Berry thought for a second

-Did she tell us her name…?-

Memory wasn’t her strong suit.

-She did! It’s Cytrus.-

Leaf said, raising her index finger.

-Alright then. At the count of three we’ll perform the Witch’s calling. You know, what dad taught us!-

Thorn said.

-Ohhhh yeees! I remember that! If a witch gives you the confidence of her first name you can summon her by chanting it three times!-

Berry said, excitedly.

-You paid attention?!-

Leaf said, in surprise. Berry made a pout in response.

-I pay attention when it peaks my interest!-

Thorn laughed while shaking her head.

-Alright girls. Let’s hold hands! At the count of three, we’ll chant Cytrus three times.

Berry smiled and held Thorn’s hand.

-I think this only works with Bloody Mary… It’s a little bit silly…-

Said Leaf, feeling skeptical.

-Hey, we don’t waste anything by trying, do we?-

Thorn told her.

-Yeah alright… Here goes nothing…-

The three sisters held each other’s hands. Surrounding the barren land within another circle. They chanted the witch’s name in unison.

Cytrus… Cytrus… Cytrus…

But nothing happened. Not a sound was made. Not a breeze blew through. Nothing. Everything was the same.

-I told you it wouldn’t work.-

Leaf said, letting go of her sisters’ hands.

Thorn thought of it for a moment, putting her knuckle against her chin. She looked everywhere. To the sides, backwards, up. Nothing. But she had the idea of looking down. She noticed that the depth of the floor had a thin inward bump in the shape of a line. She started following in its direction. First only with her eyes, and then walking towards it when she noticed it was longer.

-Guys! Look at the floor!-

-What is it? Is there a funny bug in there? I wanna see!-

Berry said, while following her. Leaf followed as well.

Thorn lifted that inwards bump, revealing a vine that was camouflaged because of the similar colors. She started pulling it, getting help from her sisters. It slowly started revealing a figure on the floor, drawn with sticks, vines and flowers. It was a magic circle, with a five sided star in the center. The same kind of magic circles that they learnt that same day in school.

-This is weird… Definitely not something someone from school did… Do you guys think… She left this for us…?-

Thorn said and looked at her sisters, with doubt.

-I… I can’t believe it… She listened…?!-

Leaf said and Berry started jumping in the air from joy.

-I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE!

Thorn looked at their surroundings, stepping away for a moment. At a nearby tree she noticed some words colored in bright red. They looked as if they were recently painted. She read it out loud…

To invoke me use your magic you shall.

Sit at the three vertical peaks of the star and close your eyes.

That way, see me, you will.

-C

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-WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?! LET’S GO! LET’S GO! GO, GO GO!-

Berry said, following the instructions and sitting at the first vertical peak.

-Woah… I’ve never seen her so focused…-

Leaf said, while walking to the other peak and sitting down. Thorn shrugged and did the same.

-We’re ready?-

She asked.

-Ready!-

Leaf and Berry said in unison.

-Alright then… Close your eyes! Helps with concentration. Or so they say.-

They all closed their eyes, starting to breathe deeply and slowly, with Cytrus on their mind.

-Now… in three… two one…-

They started channeling their thoughts and their magic energies, as best as they could.

The leaves started elevating from the floor, as a piercing breeze started flying through the forest, taking them and everything in its way. If not for the girls grabbing onto their bags and backpacks, it would’ve taken those too. The smoke inhabiting the floor turned thicker, darker, and more intense, generating a whirlwind in the middle of the star, until that harmonious but scary laugh started resonating through the woods. Despite it all, the girls did not open their eyes. As the whirlwind, the breeze and the leaves combined, the figure appeared in the middle of the star, as if it was made from the ground up from those elements.

-Well, well, well… Aren’t you girls good at following instructions?-

The girls opened their eyes. The figure now wore a robe made of dark vines that complemented her previous outfit. Thorn in and Leaf with amazement, Berry with excitement.

-We are! That’s what good students are supposed to do! Right?-

She said, as Leaf replied.

-What?! No. That’s not- Wait… M-Maybe?-

Cytrus smiled as she shook her hand from side to side.

-So, so.

Thorn looked around.

-Where’s the other one?-

-My daughter you mean? She’s out there… Hunting for food somewhere. She’ll be back any minute now.-

She took out a wooden cane from her robe, hitting the floor under her. The floor trembled a little.

-So… You girls have called for my aid?-

-Yes we did! We want you to teach us magic! Pleaaaase?-

Berry said. Leaf followed.

-Y-Yes… Please, Lady Cytrus. We need your help… You’re our only chance to get ahead of the other students! So… please…-

Cytrus laughed again, her laugh echoing through the whole forest.

–Fine. In that case. Are you girls ready for an adventure…?-

She looked at the sisters, with a gleeful shine in her eyes.

-A-Adventure…? What kind of adventure…? N-Nothing dangerous, right?-

Leaf said. She was still afraid of Cytrus, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her.

-Depends on what you consider dangerous. Have you guys seen… the Fog?-

Leaf nodded.

-Yes… It’s everywhere around us.-

Cytrus took some steps forward. Looking and analyzing each of them.

-Very well… For you to be students of mine… We shall cross the Fog.-

Thorn looked at her in complete disbelief.

-Come again…?-

Berry gave her a thumbs up, ready for anything.

-Count me in.-

She said, as Leaf took her hand and made her lower it.

-WHAT?! BERRY, NO! T-T-That’s crazy! Nobody ever crosses the Fog and survives to tell their tale!-

Cytrus stared right at her, with an ear to ear smile.

-Are you sure about that, youngling?-

Leaf then remembered, looking at her with shock, Cytrus did go into the Fog the day they met her for the first time.

-You have…?-

Cytrus maliciously smiled.

-I don’t buy it.-

Said Thorn.

-I do! But either way, we’ll figure it out! If we die horrible deaths, then she lied. If we survive, she was right! It’s basically the scientific method. Right, Leaf?-

Berry said, while looking at her sister. Leaf was silent. So many thoughts roamed around her head. She finally looked up at Cytrus and spoke.

-I’ll do it.-

Thorn shook her head.

-What?! No way in hell! We are NOT risking our lives just to know more!-

Cytrus cleaned some dirt off her nail.

-That’s how great historians have died.-

Thorn frowned.

-Yeah. And who’s alive to tell their stories now? I’m not doing it. Nope. No. Girls. Let’s go.-

Thorn started walking away, slowly, waiting for her sisters to join her.

Berry thought of it for a moment.

-Well… yeah… it’s tempting, but we don’t really know what’s gonna happen. And I don’t wanna die just yet!-

She went to Thorns side. However, Leaf stood her ground, just where she was.

Thorn looked at her for a moment.

-Leaf…? Leaf. Come on. This is stupid.

But she still did not move. Cytrus looked right at her, raising both of her eyebrows. She felt the piercing stare of the woman. First it was cold, but then it became warm and compassionate.

-You’re disappointed in yourself, aren’t you? You tried something and it didn’t work out. And that’s why you’re willing to risk your life, risk everything… for knowledge.

Thorn was shocked over this analysis. She stared at Leaf with sadness.

-Leaf… Is this true?-

Leaf’s face was full of pain. She pressed her fists with impotence. She spoke while looking to the side, she was on the verge of tears, and didn’t want her sisters to see her like this.

-For all my life… There's one thing I’ve always wanted to do… And that thing is magic… And… I thought I would finally be able to do it… But I couldn’t! I suck at it! Unlike you guys!-

She now looked at them, her eyes full of tears.

-You were perfect! Perfect! And I sucked! I’ve studied all my life!Met people! Asked them questions! Gathered knowledge! So many questions, so many answers, so many thoughts in my head! And you want to know what’s the worst?! It was worthless! It’s so frustrating! I’ve wasted my life studying for what!?-

She cleaned her tears with her sleeve.

-So… yeah… I’m willing to risk my life in order to do what I’ve always wanted to do… And if I have to do it alone I will!-

Thorn and Berry stared at her during her full speech. Thorn’s face went from desperation, to grief. She frowned for a moment, closing her eyes, shaking her head and sighing. To then finally return to her sister’s eyes and approach her.

-Fine. But we’re not letting you do this on your own.-

Berry smiled, approaching them as well. She pushed her cheek against Leaf’s, and told her while smiling.

-Yeah! If we’re gonna die, we better do it as we do everything else! Together.-

Leaf’s eyes became even more teary, and she started loudly crying.

-Y-You girls…! Euuugh-

Thorn and Berry both cleaned her tears.

-There, there…-

Cytrus' stare turned incredibly warm and compassionate.

-Ow… You guys are adorable.-

She laughed and shook her head.

-But we have to get going. So. Are you done with your sweet little moment now?-

Thorn held her sisters’ hands.

-Yeah. We’re ready.-

Just as Thorn said this, a white-haired girl with bright red eyes and light tribal clothes arrived. She was carrying an enormous fish. She had the same muscular build as the person who tied them up the first time they met Cytrus. She threw the fish on the floor.

-There. You told me we were going to have visits, so I brought a bigger fish.-

She looked like Thorn, and even sounded like her, although her voice was a bit raspier.

Leaf’s eyes opened like plates after seeing the fish.

-I-Is that a shark…?-

Cytrus smiled at her daughter.

-Oh, Rayna. Right on time, baby. That’s good. We were about to go home, anyway. Excuse me girls.-

She brought her fingers to her mouth, and started whistling. It was so loud and shrilling that the sisters immediately brought their hands to their ears to block the noise.

As the witch did this, the shadows of the nearby trees grew taller and taller. They slowly came together and materialized into three shadowy horses. They ran and stopped right in front of Cytrus.

-Girls… Meet my best friends. Goliath, Hercules and Hades.-

Berry excitedly clapped.

-Hi Goliath! Hi Hercules! Hi Hades!

Leaf looked in shock.

-Are those… made of magic…?!-

Cytrus smiled.

-Correct.-

Thorn looked at them in awe.

-Wow. Can we…?-

She approached with her hand to one of the horses, noticing that despite being made of shadows it was completely palpable. As she did this, she immediately got her hand away.

-Holy…!-

Cytrus laughed while mounting the taller horse.

-Rayna, come with me. Girls, you can pick one of them. Two on one and a loner on the other. On the little pouches at the side you will find gas masks. I suggest you wear them now.

-Leaf. Take Berry.-

She mounted the middle horse, grabbing the gas mask and putting it on.

Leaf followed suit, putting on one mask and giving the other one to Berry. She mounted the horse with some difficulty, to then help her little sister.

-Now… up!-

Rayna tied the shark to the back of Thorn’s horse. Afterward, she put a gas mask on and mounted the back of her mother’s horse. Cytrus looked at the sisters, her eyes shined red, she had many expectations of them, and smiled.

-Alright… Follow me, girls. For the Fog we shall get through, and survive it, we will. Stay with me at all times…-

She looked at them with some malice and laughed.

-You don’t want to get lost in there do you?

The sisters looked at the Fog in the distance. They could almost hear screams of agony inhabiting it.

-Nope. Nonononono… Big nope.-

Leaf shook her head and looked somewhere else, she knew this was only her mind playing tricks on her… Maybe.

-Maybe it could be fun…-

Berry told her, trying to make her calm down.

-We could die.-

-...Of…Joy?-

Thorn shook her head.

-No backing down now! We’re too far in it now!-

Cytrus nodded.

-Thorn is correct. These horses will follow me and my every instruction. If you get down while they’re riding away, you will get severely hurt.-

Thorn looked at her.

-Wait! How do we know if we’re securely-

-OFF WE GO!-

Cytrus screamed and started riding towards the mist, the other two horses started to follow through.

Thorn grabbed the thick neck of the horse, very afraid.

-I REGRET EVERY SINGLE DECISION WE’VE MADE FOR THE PAST HOUR AND A HALF!-

Leaf did the same, ridden with anxiety.

-I DON’T LIKE THIS!-

Berry on the other hand lifted her arms in the air, laughing from joy.

-I LOVE THIS!-

They were able to see Cytrus’ horse in the distance. Both her and her daughter were riding completely relaxed, not even grabbing on to the horse. Rayna even got up and turned 180 degrees, sitting above her knees in the horse and staring directly at the sisters. She was extremely agile.

-I WANNA TRY THAT!-

Berry said, amazed by this maneuver, and tried getting up using her hands. However, Leaf stopped her, grabbing her hands.

-DON’T. EVEN. THINK. ABOUT IT.-

The Fog became thicker and thicker the further they got, surrounding them. They had never been this close to it.

The air grew heavier and gloomier, the girls coughed a bit and closed their eyes, they were not used to this dark air. But little by little, they started getting more comfortable around it. When they opened their eyes, they started seeing the remains of the trees and dead leaves and beasts. It even had some ponds of grayish water. It was the first time they ever got this close to this forbidden place. As they continued forward, they were able to distinguish a small structure of tied and deformed trees, surrounded by a small pond. It looked like it was built similarly to their school. They didn’t have much time to process it, as Cytrus breathed deeply and stopped her horse.

-Home.-