‘When you said it was a hidden city, you didn’t tell me it was hidden in hell,’ Vivian commented, glancing at the tall rock walls that rose up on either side of them.

The group had stopped their ascent up the mountain and turned off the narrow path, wading through a crevice that was so narrow that the sides of the wagon scrapped against the rock walls. The crevice dipped downwards as if it was heading for the bowels of the mountain. A sudden wave of claustrophobia washed over Vivian, which was strange since she never had problems with small spaces before. Perhaps it was the ominous thought running through her head at the sight of the high rigid walls on either side that was the cause of that.

An avalanche… or even a small rockslide and we would be buried with nowhere to run. Whoever designed this place should be beaten black and blue and have their license revoked.

Vivian tried to calm her racing heartbeat as the walls seemed to close in on her. A sudden hand on her head caused to snap her eyes open which she didn’t even realize she had closed. A sudden calm settled over her as her heart went back to normal and the walls seemed to back off a bit.

‘Relax,’ Cyrus interrupted her string of thoughts. ‘We pass through here every time we come to Mirran.’

‘This crevice is enchanted,’ Dixie said. ‘Shadow magic is at play here. It causes people to panic and lose all sense of reason. One minute in here and you can see them running back with their tail between their legs.’ Dixie glanced at her, her gaze holding a healthy amount of suspicion. ‘Well, if you’re not a mage that is…’

Vivian shot her what she believed was a smile but was probably more of a grimace. She turned and focused on the winding path ahead. Light was slowly entering the chasm signaling its end. It grew brighter as they kept moving forward until finally they were out of the dark crevice. Vivian squinted against the sudden bright light as sound rushed back to her ears and the wind finally seemed to be moving again.

‘Here we are,’ Cyrus said grandly. ‘Welcome to Mirran, the city of magic.’

They were standing on a narrow cliff high up on the rock wall. A similarly narrow path snaked its way down the rock face and into a lush green valley. Nestled in the centre of the dip was a city unlike any she had ever seen. Arranged in concentric circles, the buildings and roads radiated out from a single central structure that was wrapped around a single towering tree that managed to rise above the entire city, casting the structure under it in eternal shade. Even from where they were Vivian could hear the bustling of the city below them and see the movement of its citizens like a million little ants scurrying through the streets in different directions. Her eyes widened in fascination when she realized that the small dots flying about the city were actually people riding brooms and carpets. A vast forest spread out to the west of the city and to the east lay a large lake whose waters gleamed in the noonday sun. The buildings grew scarcer as they moved away from the centre of the city, fading into farmlands before it reached the forest.

‘This is incredible,’ Vivian said, awe quite apparent in her voice.

‘Just wait till you’re inside. I’ll take you to the best spots in the city,’ Dixie said with a dreamy look in her eyes. ‘The food street, the boutiques, the top restaurants, the central market, the flea market and the black market. Also, you have to taste the sweets at-’

‘Slow down there Dixie,’ Cyrus stopped her. ‘Before any of that we have to present her before the council, get her registered in the records, set up accommodations and enroll her in school. If we have time after all that, we can go sightseeing.’

Dixie puffed out her cheeks in annoyance but did not refute him. Vivian chuckled, a sense of excitement as well as a sense of dread settling and mixing in her stomach. It was a strange feeling.

They began their descent.

It took them about three hours to finally reach safe, level ground, by which point the sun was high up in the sky. Vivian almost jumped off and kissed the ground but she restrained herself. The path they were on had swerved west towards the forest making it impossible to get to the city without passing through it. Unaware of everything that was happening, Peri continued sleeping, the wine barrel acting as an impromptu pillow.

‘Should we wake him?’ Vivian asked tentatively. ‘He’s been asleep the whole time.’

‘Leave him be,’ Cyrus said. ‘Let’s wake him once we reach the city. We’ll need to take him with us to the Council’

‘I am assuming that’s the building with the tree.’

‘Good guess. Yes, the Council of Seven sits there,’ Cyrus said. ‘They are the highest authority in Mirran. So, if you wish to live here, you have to gain their permission first.’

‘Do I… have to do something?’ she asked nervously. ‘Even though it pains me to say this, I think we can all agree that I am weak at magic.’

‘You don’t have to do anything. They’ll just check Peri’s memories to make sure you are a mage… hopefully, that’s all they do.’

‘What do you mean hopefully?’

Cyrus ignored her and whipped the reins. The horse whinnied and clopped forward, dragging the wagon along. As they neared the trees, Vivian noticed something. Rather than noticed, it was more as if she could sense it. She could feel the vitality in that place. It was so full of life, nothing like she had ever felt before. She could sense each and every one of the creatures hidden in the grass, perched on the trees and buried underground. She could clearly hear the wind whispering gibberish as it whipped about and the trees breathing through their roots. She could sense their roots moving deeper underground in search of water and how each tree was connected to the others around it through those roots creating an intricate network that allowed them to talk to each other.

Intruder… intruder... eliminate… The voice echoed inside her head.

Wait, are they talking about us?!

‘Um, those trees-’ she started.

‘Ah, you noticed,’ Cyrus said, smiling a bit as he looked out into the woods. ‘Not many do. Yes, these trees are special, though we’re not exactly sure how. They’re called Druscans, hence the name Druscan Woods. We know they can communicate with each other and that they can move, but how or why, no one knows. Still they seem to be intent on protecting Mirran so we leave them be.’

‘They seem…’ she searched for the right word. ‘Unfriendly.’

‘It’s fine,’ Dixie said. ‘As long as we stay on the path, they will leave mages and magical creatures like us alone. However,’ she added cheerfully. ‘If you step off the path, they will rip you limb from limb.’

‘You seem a little too happy about that,’ Vivian commented dryly.

‘Do I?’ she asked innocently.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Vivian shook her head. In the one week that she had been travelling with them she had realized that Dixie was a bit of an oddball, a violent oddball. Sometimes it was best to ignore what she says.

Should we do something? Vivian heard the trees whisper to one another. That red hair girl… I cannot sense any magic in her.

But we’re not supposed to harm anyone on the path…

Maybe she’s a normal human who snuck in here. We should kill her just to be safe…

‘Um, can we hurry up?’ Vivian asked. ‘Those trees are having very unfriendly thoughts about me.’

Cyrus tilted his head to study her before pulling the reins. They came to a stop.

‘Wh-What are you doing?’ Vivian stuttered. ‘This is the opposite of what I just said.’

‘Are you saying that you can hear them?’ he asked calmly.

‘Yes, and that’s why I’m telling you we have to get out of this forest.’ She tried to grab the reins but he raised it out of her reach.

‘Try talking back,’ he suggested.

‘What? Do I look insane to you?’

‘You said that you can hear them… try talking back. Maybe they won’t be so hostile.’

Vivian gaped at him for a moment before sighing in defeat. Knowing how stupid she looked she forced a strained smile to stretch across her face and called out-

‘Hello.’

The trees had stopped whispering for a moment, shocked at the fact that someone was trying to talk to them, before they started again.

Is she injured… in the head?

Must be… poor thing. Life must have been hard for her.

Maybe the outside world drove her mad and so she’s come here to seek refuge.

The corner of Vivian’s mouth twitched as she tried to rein in her temper.

If I start yelling at trees I will truly look insane.

‘I am not insane,’ she said slowly. ‘Also, I can hear you.’

Another bout of silence followed. It was broken by the creaking of a tree as it pulled out a root out of the ground followed by another and another. The tree slithered towards the wagon slowly, planting roots and pulling itself forward. Vivian gulped but managed to stay where she was. Finally, the tree stood next to her silently, as if it was pondering about what to say.

You can hear us? The voice reminded her of the healer in her village. It was deep, gravelly and weighed down with experience, just like the old man back home.

‘Yes I can,’ she answered clearly. ‘Just so you know I am not insane.’

This is a first, it hummed inside her head. Never before has a human been able to hear us… What is your name child?

‘Vivian… Do you have a name?’

Hmm… It hummed. It seemed to be thinking. Rayne… yes, that is my name… Rayne. It has been a while since I used my name… I barely remember it… It feels good to say it again. Thank you… Vivian.

‘Uh, you’re welcome?’

Since you can hear us, you are definitely not a normal human… go ahead child, and when you find time please do come visit… I would like to talk to you… Vivian.

‘Well,’ she glanced back at Cyrus who simply shrugged. He had no clue of what was being said after all. ‘As long as you and your friends promise not to kill me, I’ll try to come.’ She smiled awkwardly. ‘It sounds interesting. Never had a conversation with a tree before.’

Rayne chuckled. It’s not that different. I will see you soon.

Vivian watched as Rayne dragged himself back to where he was rooted, his companions already asking him what happened. She let out a breath she did not know she was holding and turned away.

‘That was… different,’ Dixie commented.

‘I told you she was a mage.’ Peri was finally awake. ‘You lot should trust me more often.’

‘And find ourselves dead at the bottom of a ditch someday,’ Cyrus said. ‘No, thank you.’

Peri shot Cyrus a scathing look. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you are a pain to deal with?’

‘Yes, you. And that statement is a point of pride for me.’

Peri yawned and leaned back onto his barrel, clearly planning to resume sleeping. Cyrus shook his head at him and whipped the reins urging the horse forward.

‘That was impressive,’ Cyrus said after a while. ‘I have never seen anyone communicate with them before. What did it say?’

‘Nothing much. He asked my name and I replied. I asked him his and he said his name was Rayne. He also invited me to come talk to him whenever I had the chance.’

‘… He said his name is Rayne?’

‘Yes… Why? What’s wrong?’

‘It’s nothing… looks like we have another reason for the Council to keep you. After this, they would have to be idiots to throw you out.’

‘Well then, let us hope they’re not idiots,’ Vivian said, cheerful at the prospect.

For the next hour Vivian did not hear a single hostile thought from the trees, though she did catch some whispers of the girl who talked to Rayne.

Hmm, wonder who that could be… she thought smugly.

Thankfully, they made it through the forest without any other incidents. Vast farmlands stretched before them. Little green creatures worked the fields, mixing manure into the soil, obviously preparing to plant the winter crops.

‘What are those?’

‘Goblins,’ Dixie replied. ‘They’re the workforce that deals with all menial jobs like farming and keeping the streets clean. Every mage has one or more as their servants.’

‘So they’re public servants,’ Vivian said. ‘Do… they get paid?’

‘Of course,’ Dixie replied. ‘They’re not slaves, they’re workers. They are free to quit if they cannot continue to work for a certain master and seek employment elsewhere. They even have a worker’s union to take care of their problems.’

Cyrus had turned the wagon to the right as they spoke. They were now heading for a large cottage that was situated at the edge of the forest. Grey smoke puffed out of the chimney showing that there were people inside. He pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the house.

‘Come Vivian. Let me introduce you to someone.’

He jumped off the wagon. Vivian followed suit, scooping up the three-tailed cat that had been fast asleep in her arms for the past week.

‘Are we really going to visit that old hag?’ Dixie squeezed herself past Peri and out of the wagon. She stretched her arms, popping a few joints as she did so. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘Because I knew you would say no,’ Cyrus relied shortly. ‘Now be a dear and wake up the sloth would you?’

Dixie huffed in annoyance, grumbling under her breath about old hag and ugly cat, neither of which made sense to Vivian.

‘Who are we going to meet?’ she asked Cyrus. ‘Also, why does Dixie seem unhappy about it?’

‘The one we are about meet is named Sith. She is a member of the Council. I thought it might be a good idea to introduce you to her before we present you to the rest of the Council… Also, this is where the sloth lives so we had to stop here either way.’

‘Who are you calling a sloth?’ Peri was standing slouched, a hand running through his messy hair. ‘I’m not lazy. I’m efficient. If my work’s done why can’t I sleep?’

Vivian raised an eyebrow. ‘You slept for an entire week and you claim not to be lazy?’

‘Was there anything else to do?’

‘Hunting, cooking, cleaning, watering the horses- none of which you helped with.’

‘We have you for menial jobs like that.’ Peri looked disinterested. ‘You’re the youngest and the most inexperienced. It is tradition that these tasks falls to you.’

‘I believe the correct term is harassment.’ Vivian sighed. ‘Still, I won’t argue, you did save my life. So, I owe you.’

Cyrus hissed. ‘Ooh, you shouldn’t have said that. He’s is the kind of man who will leech on you forever.’

‘So now I’m a leech?’

Cyrus shrugged. ‘If the shoe fits…’

‘I can think of a few other places my shoe can fit.’

‘Try me, leech.’

Peri yawned and loosely gripped the hilt of his sword. ‘You know, we’re currently standing at thirty-one draws and three wins for me.’ He grinned. ‘Want to make it four wins?’

‘Clearly you don’t know how to count. We’ve been tied for quite a while now. Those fights where you pulled dirty tricks don’t count.’

‘Well how else is a normal person like me supposed to keep up with a big, strong mage like you?’ Peri said in a mocking tone.

Cyrus looked at him incredulously. ‘You stopped the fight so that you could bribe people to beat me up. That wasn’t a win using your own power.’

Peri shrugged. ‘Money is a form of power.’

‘Um, should we do something?’ Vivian asked.

Dixie had a look of contentment on her face. ‘Nah, let us just watch. You don’t get entertainment like this these days.’

‘I like a good fight as well,’ a voice interrupted from right behind Vivian. ‘But not in front of my house.’

Vivian squeaked as she whipped around to see a tall, graceful woman with chestnut brown hair and deep brown eyes. Her dark skin gave her a feeling of warmth and her high cheekbones gave her face a sharp edge. However, something seemed different about her. It took her a moment to put her finger on it but once she did, she could not take her eyes off it. Swishing behind her was a long, brown, spotted tail that matched her hair perfectly.

‘Sh-she has a tail,’ Vivian stuttered.

Dixie rolled her eyes. ‘If you’re going to be dumbstruck by every little strange thing you see, it’ll take you a long time to settle in. Learn to roll with it. Besides she’s not that incredible. Nowhere close to me.’

The cat-woman smiled gently. ‘Well, well, well… if it isn’t my two favourite idiots… and my least favourite gasbag.