Milly sat on a wide, flat rock situated on the edge of the gurgling river that flowed around Milly’s Meadow. There was a cool chill in the air, and the fragrant pines infused it with a sublime scent. A wave of ferns, flowers, and meadow grass covered the land around her, and below that lay a soft, thin layer of moss, slightly damp from the spray of the river.
Above the meadow rose the split-peaked mountain, which Milly, in a fit of playful immaturity, had accidentally, and permanently, named Cally’s Twin Peaks.
It was just a joke! My mind was on… well, Cally’s twin peaks. How was I supposed to know that the player who discovers a landform gets to name it? Or that the name would be permanent. Or that every player would be able to see it. Fuck, Cally’s going to kill me.
The surface of Cally’s Twin Peaks was marred by avalanche trails and the sporadic cave entrance. The pine forest climbed halfway up its slope, where soil gave way to a kaleidoscope of grey and brown stone that supported only the hardiest of shrubs, and even the shrubs ultimately gave way as the mountain rose higher still.
The twin peaks were so high they breached the faint whisp of cloud that floated across the valley’s sky. Between the peaks, a snowy glacier with hints of pure blue veins amongst the white had settled where the mountain bowled. At the base of that bowl, a majestic waterfall cascaded down the mountain and carved an unassailable path through both trees and rocks. Its waters created a fine mist that spread over her meadow and down the valley in a way that created a rainbow shimmer when the light hit it in just the right way.
The waterfall ended with a crash at the base of the mountain, washing over huge boulders that stole its hard-earned momentum. The water created a river that flowed down the centre of the valley towards the meadow. Started as narrow white-water rapids, it gradually calmed into a lazy river, thirty feet across at its widest, as the gentle slope of the valley tamed it. The river split in half when it reached the western edge of the meadow, such that it flowed around the meadow, encircling it and effectively turning it into an island within the valley.
Milly sat there now, at the edge of that calmed river, staring up at the rainbow hues of the waterfall. There were other mountains surrounding her – it would hardly be a valley meadow if there weren’t other mountains – but she only had eyes for the twin-peaked mountain with its majestic glacier that granted her this moment’s peace. The roar of its waters provided a steady, soothing music that sapped the worry from her soul – its white noise drowning out the chaos of the world.
She returned her gaze to the river. Its waters were slightly blue from mineral build-up, but otherwise crystal clear despite its depths. She could see trout swimming in the calmer river bends, until they scattered as the shadow of a hawk flew overhead. A raven dipped down from the sky and landed on the rocky shoreline beside her, oblivious to the witch’s presence, and parched its thirst in the ice-cold current. Milly studied its movements with an absentminded curiosity, until it craned its neck towards her and flew off. She returned to studying the river.
Flattened stones littered the riverbed, worn down by countless eons of erosion. Its shore was littered with fallen branches and stones that had been pushed into the meadow by heavy spring thaws. On the other side of the river, surrounding the meadow, the forest of coniferous trees, ferns, and moss stretched on endlessly, so dense that light struggled to reach the forest floor.
Milly eased herself off her stone and headed down to the water, stepping carefully to avoid the thick mud that formed where water met earth. She knelt at the river’s edge, cupped her hands tightly together and dipped them in the water. The glacial chill sucked the remaining heat from her skin. The water flowed into her self-made cup and Milly raised the prize to her lips. The cool water flowed down her throat. She closed her eyes tightly so she could focus completely on that moment.
She had never tasted anything so perfect in all her life.
She lost count of how many times she returned her hands to that water. By the time her thirst was quenched, her hands were numb from the cold. She casually wiped her hands on her grown to dry them, then channeled a touch of fire in both palms to heat them back up.
Rubbing her hands together for added warmth, she spotted a pair of elk emerge from the forest on the other side of the river. The elk spotted her and hesitated, then slowly strode to the water’s edge for a drink. Milly wondered whether she should hunt them. After all, two elk would feed many mouths back at the Castle of Glass and at the Isle of New Beginnings. But she found herself unable to do so, the peace in the meadow too perfect to destroy, and simply returned to her flat stone to watch them drink.
The sun arched across the sky in a lazy procession from late afternoon to early evening, and, all the while, Milly sat there and took in the sanctuary around her. By the time she final climbed off the stone to stretch her legs, she had seen bear, deer, beavers, squirrels, a dozen species of birds, and even a cougar venture out of the forest to enjoy the river. Although cautious, the animals did not flee or attack her, as if the Mistress of the Meadow deserved their respect.
Milly had also seen two creatures she did not recognize. The first was a twin-headed songbird that chirped in harmony with itself, creating soft music that filled the meadow like a string instrument duet. It blended perfectly with the gentle gurgle of the flowing river and the distant crash of the waterfall, and the resulting symphony took Milly’s breath away.
The second creature was a multi-hued raven landed beside Milly and stared up at her with unmistakable intelligence. Milly placed a finger on its head and stroked it gently, and the bird nestled up to her for warmth. It stayed at her side until Milly’s legs had fallen asleep and flew off with a grateful caw when she moved.
After leaving the river, Milly strolled through the meadow itself. It was almost perfectly circular, surrounded on all sides by the river. Five acres in size, it was filled with berry bushes, tall grasses, and tiny flowers of pink, yellow, and blue. Milly plucked a handful of ripened blackberries from a nearby bush and stuffed them in her mouth, savoring the intense, juicy flavor. She ran her finger along her chin, catching the juice that dared to escape, and licked it away with delight.
The tall grasses tickled her legs as she explored, finding raspberries and blueberries in scattered patches. A tree had fallen in the clearing long ago and now sported a collection of tiny white mushrooms along its decaying trunk. Milly plucked one, wondering if Billy could identify it, and placed it in her inventory.
A small black bear wandered into the meadow and plopped itself next to an untouched blackberry bush. It started devouring the treasure, until it spotted Milly and stopped mid-handful.
“It’s okay, Mr. Bear,” Milly laughed. “There are plenty of blackberries to go around.”
Milly was not scared of the black bear. It presented as much threat to her as the elk had. After careful consideration, the bear decided it felt much the same way about Milly and returned to its feast, thinking no more of the strange witch.
Milly had never known peace like she did in her meadow, surrounded by the dense forests, majestic mountains, and the calming river. It was a balm for her wounded soul, and although she knew that the world outside the meadow was drowning in chaos, at that moment, it didn’t seem to matter.
“I see why this meadow came with a warning. I don’t want to leave this place,” Milly admitted to herself. She turned her gaze east, towards the hidden, narrow passage that had led her to this paradise. Beside the passage was a Waypoint Pillar that only she and her family could access. She didn’t worry that another player would find this place by random chance. The entrance was unassuming, and it was located far off the beaten path. Even if they did, Milly didn’t think they would be able to access it. The meadow was hers – her personal sanctuary.
Milly placed her hand against the meadow floor, breathing in the slightly acidic scent of healthy decay and rich soil. She could feel the energy of the valley in the soil.
We could do so much with this place. A little cabin. A personal farm. Oh, we could try raising those Manifold Toads. I wonder if they would be tame if placed inside this meadow.
She imagined Passi running through the meadow, a carefree girl giggling under the bright sun, and it made her heart melt. She pictured a small workshop for Rain to brew her potions, and a fireplace where she and Calista could snuggle together under a midnight sky.
She spent the few minutes studying the meadow and deciding where all these additions would go. She found the perfect location for Rain’s workshop – a flat piece of earth nestled at the edge of the eastern river. In the morning, the workshop would be warmed by the morning rays, and in the afternoon, it would be cooled by the shade of the western pines. The workshop would be close to the water and provide Rain with unlimited crystal water for her brews.
A short distance away, just back from the northern river, Milly pictured a small hut where her newfound family could spend the night when they needed to get away from the drama at the Castle of Glass. For a moment, she contemplated whether they could move here permanently, but she dismissed the notion.
I love it here, but I also love our home on the fourteenth floor. Plus, the Castle has electricity and washrooms. I’d never be able to convince Cally to leave those luxuries, and I’d be reluctant as well. I’ve lived on the streets. I know how precious those luxuries are.
She’d heard that some people – rich people – had cabins in the woods or on lakes outside of the city. A second home to get away from the trials of everyday life. This meadow felt like that. A hideaway from the world around them, if only for a few hours at a time.
“There’s only one thing that would make this place perfect,” Milly said. She looked down at the skull ring on her finger. It was the first magical item she had received in the Contest. The Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre. It had changed her life that very first day of the Contest. It had given her the strength to survive.
Yet, compared to her other equipment, it now seemed so small. It only gave a four-point strength increase, and it had a big penalty if she ever ran across the dead ogre’s wife in the wilds. It had outlived its usefulness, except for one final task.
“I’m going to miss this ring,” Milly said as she cupped it in her hands and began to channel her Oracle’s Divinity. “It really fit the witch aesthetic. Luna, if you’re listening, I hope this works. And another ring would be great as a reward. Maybe a bat or cat this time instead of the skull.”
Luna’s Pendant of Guidance glowed brightly as it awaited Milly’s question.
“Where is the nearest system back door?” Milly whispered, focusing on the AI child that lay beyond.
The Wedding Ring of Philip the Ogre dissolved into her hand. Its remnants were carried off on the breeze and scattered about her meadow. As its final remnant left her hand, a destination appeared in her mind, and Milly found herself growing giddy.
There was a backdoor at the base of the waterfall that flowed down Cally’s Twin Peaks, only a quarter mile from the meadow. The discovery caused Milly’s spirit to soar, and she found herself smiling at the thought of being able to visit Luna whenever she wanted.
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“I’ll visit soon, Luna,” Milly whispered into her glasses. “I promise.”
The glow of her amulet faded, and Milly’s thoughts returned to the potential she could unlock in the meadow.
“Well then,” Milly declared, cracking her knuckles. “Let’s see what we can do.”
* * *
Milly was halfway through forming the earthen walls of Rain’s workshop when Calista’s telepathic message came in.
“Milly, honey, are you there?”
Calista’s voice filled her mind with perfect clarity. It felt like a warm blanket had settled over her.
“Hey Cally! I miss you. How was the planning?” Milly asked, as she stared at a small hole in the northern wall of the workshop that needed to be filled.
For the first time since Milly had accepted The Scarred Witch class, she regretted not having access to the civilization talent web. There was an entire section on magical construction, and although Milly could fashion small structures such as walls and benches, and even decorate them to a limited extent, the elaborate buildings and monuments that could be magically crafted would forever be outside of her grasp.
She waved her hand over the hole, and it disappeared.
“We know what the hearing will look like, and we have a plan. Elmer found witnesses willing to testify that the Carthage sisters started the fight.”
“So… it’s like a… real court?” Milly asked, her heart lurching in her chest.
The peace from the meadow abruptly shattered within her, as if a giant stone had suddenly shot through her windshield.
“Mostly. It won’t just be Brass as the judge. Elmer and Alison would have none of that. They settled on judge for each faction, acting as a panel, so that each faction had a voice in final decisions.”
“That’s… Cally, can we talk about this in person? I just… I think I need you to hold me before you tell me the details,” Milly asked as her knees began to shake.
“Baby, are you alright?” Calista asked, concerned. “You sound scared.”
“I… I have something to show you. Can you get Rain and Passi and use the Waypoint Pillar to come to me. You’ll know which waypoint it is. Did Billy cook the goose tonight?”
“… are you safe?”
“Yes. You’ll see when you get here. I just… I need you right now.”
“… okay. We’ll be there soon. I love you,” Calista said softly.
“I love you too, Cally.”
Milly felt Calista’s voice leave her mind, and she let herself collapse to the mossy meadow floor. Anxiety gripped at her heart and her breath grew shallow and rapid.
What did you expect Milly? Brass is a lawyer. Of course she was going to model it after a real court. Why did you delude yourself into thinking it would be something else?
She had been to court before, two years to the day after her foster father had been criminally charged. That night – the night she had relived in the Arena of Choice – had been the worse night of her life, but it was the events that followed that solidified the trauma so deep within her that it had set the course of her life thereafter.
Those two years of waiting were filled with anxiety-fueled nightmares that had stripped her of what little resilience she’d managed to build as a child. The constant reminders from social workers, psychologists, prosecutors, and the never-ending cycle of faceless foster parents of her violation had replaced her resilience with a cold, lonely isolation that she’d wrapped around herself like a protective shell.
Those were the years when she’d given herself the scars on her wrists. Those where the years when she wanted to end it all.
By the time her foster father’s trial arrived, after months of false starts and delay tactics, Milly was a broken child. The final torture was enduring eight hours as the primary witness at the trial. The prosecutor forced her to describe every single step of his violation of her in soul-piercing detail, then she had to survive hours on end of her foster father’s defense counsel calling her a liar and questioning her judgment.
All the while, she had to stare at the man who stole her childhood – his hungry eyes fixed on hers and the smirk he had reserved only for her plastered across his face.
All hope of living a happy life died within her that day. All that was left was a broken woman, for those two years had killed the child she had once been.
The guilty verdict had felt hollow, and his six-month sentence would have been laughable if her laughter had not died with the child.
That day, as court concluded and he was led away in handcuffs, Milly walked out of the courtroom in a daze. She didn’t return to her foster home – her fourth since it had happened – and since she was now sixteen years old, no one came to look for her.
Or, perhaps they did, and she was simply never found. She’d spend months on the streets after that, trying to survive and hoping she wouldn’t.
The memory left her, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
I thought I had left that all behind me. I put on a brave face against Stone and Brass. But here I am, still the same lost girl, paralyzed by her past.
Milly sat in her meadow as the sun creeped over the western mountains, and even its perfection could not soothe the anxious, injured witch that the memory had left in its wake.
* * *
Milly thought she had successfully bottled up her rampaging emotions by the time Calista, Rain, and Passi arrived at the meadow. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy this moment alongside them, watching and laughing as they explored the peaceful meadow. She wanted to see their faces light up with the same potential that she had experienced herself when she first entered their new sanctuary.
She had wanted that so badly.
Instead, as Calista approached, Milly’s ill-constructed emotional dam shattered. She ran into Calista’s arms, clutched her tighter than she ever had before, and wept. She wept all the tears she had buried beneath the cold and lonely shell she had built as a child. It was as if the love she had finally found with her new family had finally melted those childhood tears so they could finally be shed.
It was an hour before Milly had collected herself enough to tell her story to Calista. It was the first time that reliving the trauma of her past didn’t feel like just another knife stabbed into her chest. Instead, nestled in the arms of the woman she loved, it felt like a balm on a long-opened wound.
Calista simply held Milly and listened. There was no judgement. No trying to fix her. No telling her she was wrong or to grow up. Calista gave none of the dismissals Milly had heard as a child. There was only love.
By the end, Milly tears had transformed from tears of sorrow to tears of relief. Finally, after all these years, she found within herself the first steps towards true acceptance of what had happened to her and the profound impact it’d had on her life.
“Sorry, Cally,” Milly apologized for the hundredth time, as she wiped her palm hand across her nose to clear away the tears and snot from her ugly cry. “I must look like an absolute mess.”
“You look beautiful,” Calista said, her shoulder soaked with Milly’s tears. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that, honey. You’re so strong to survive what happened to you, and I love you all the more for that strength.”
“I don’t feel strong,” Milly said, but even as the words escaped her, she knew it was not true. After years of suppressing her past, she was finally starting to come to terms with it. What had happened would forever be a part of her, but, when her healing was done, it would become a source of strength rather than a weakness.
Milly gazed around the meadow, feeling lighter than she had in years. Passi ran across the meadow, laughing and twirling her arms, as she danced from bush to bush and stuffed her mouth full of berries. Their succulent juices dribbled down her chin and onto her dress. Milly couldn’t help but laugh when her first thought was how she would get rid of the stains on Passi’s dress.
“You’re such a mom,” Calista teased with affection. “Luckily, you’re a magical mom, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Milly smiled, and she didn’t dispute Calista’s words.
Rain was at the western end of the meadow, examining the stone frame that Milly’s had started constructing for her alchemy workshop. Rain had her notebook open and was already sketching out additions that she’d need Milly to build.
“So… Cally’s Twin Peaks?” Calista said with a raised eyebrow, when she saw Milly’s mind settle.
“It was just a joke!” Milly protested, as a blush broke across her face. “I was thinking of something else, and the system won’t let me change it.”
“Thinking of something else, were you? Please tell me that name isn’t public to all players,” Calista said. The horrified look on Milly’s face told her everything she needed to know.
“I… I think I’m ready to hear about this trial,” Milly deflected skillfully.
Calista let her have this one.
“In the end, there’s not much to it,” Calista began. “It will work much like a normal trial – witnesses, cross-examination, the whole nine yards – except there will be three judges. Judy Brass is the judge for the CEOs, obviously. Billy’s going to be the Freelancer judge…”
“That’s lucky for us,” Milly interrupted. “He hates Brass with a passion.”
“Yah, he’s eager for the chance to finally be on equal footing with her. The Farmer’s representative is someone named Lucy Dawson. She went through two years of law school before she realized farming was her true calling. I think that decision alone makes her the smartest of the three.”
“I think I met her earlier this week in the garden. A little shorter than me, blond ponytail down her back, cute button nose? Dressed in a knee-length black skirt and white sleeveless top?” asked Milly.
Calista raised a curious eyebrow at her. “Cute button nose?”
“Not… not that I was looking,” Milly denied. “She seemed very… um… studious?”
“Oh, did she now?” Calista pried, secretly enjoying Milly tripping over her own words. “And did you… study her back?”
“I… I mean she was really attentive to the plants,” Milly stuttered.
“Uh huh,” Calista teased. “Well, if Lucy is as… studious… as you say she is, then Alison made a good decision picking her. Alison is a smart lady, and surprisingly crafty. Near the end of our negotiations, the CEOs almost walked away, until Alison suggested Brass get two votes whereas Billy and Lucy would each get one, as long as ties go to the defendant. Brass leapt at that offer, and we sealed the deal. Thankfully, I don’t think Brass is very good at math. Her second vote is pointless. If ties go to the defender, we win if Billy and Lucy stay aligned regardless of Brass’ extra vote.”
Milly giggled at the thought of the wool pulled over Brass’ eyes. The woman was highly ambitious, but there was a reason she was running an insignificant law firm based out of the dilapidated Castle of Glass.
“Alison and Elmer have our witnesses lined up. There were a few who were close enough to see the Carthage sisters attacking Passi. Rain and I will be there too. The only remaining question is whether you should attend.”
“I… I should, right? The CEOs don’t want me to attend so they can paint me as a malcontent,” Milly replied weakly. She went white at the thought of showing up.
“Yes, but I don’t think you should come, honey,” Calista said with compassion. “I don’t want you to put yourself through that. Not after what you went through. Rain and I can telepathically message you if things go south and we need you to make an appearance.”
“I… okay, Cally,” Milly was quick to agree. “I’ll wait in the meadow until it is over. It’ll… distract me.”
“It’s going to be fine, my love,” Calista promised as she rubbed Milly’s back. “And, if it doesn’t go well, then you and I can figure out how we go about punching Stone and Brass in their stupid faces.”
Milly snorted with laughter, and a little tension left her.
“Yah, I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
They spent the remainder of the evening together in the meadow. Rain spread a blanket next to the calming river, and Calista pulled a roasted goose dinner out of her inventory. Passi ran back and forth between the berry pushes, proudly depositing heaping handfuls of raspberries and blueberries onto the blanket for dessert. Milly collected dried branches from the woods across the river, and soon there was a roaring campfire that bathed them in warmth and light.
They dined under the stars, gathered together as a family and basking in the love that flowed between them. She stayed cuddled together with Calista against the cold as Passi devoured the goose and Rain excitedly planned out her new workshop. It was everything Milly had ever wanted in life but never had the strength to hope for. She had that strength now.
Milly would remember that night as the happiest night in her short, lonely life. A night of healing. A night of love. A night of family.
But all nights must end.
And tomorrows can change everything.
*********
Author Note for Readers not reading through RoyalRoad:
As with many authors on RoyalRoad, there are some websites that steal our work and put it on their own websites. My work is no exception to that (which is a little flattering, but has its downsides)
I have only posted The Witch of the Castle of Glass on RoyalRoad. If you are reading this elsewhere, it is not an authorized reproduction. The challenge with this is it reduces visiblity for the story, which then reduces opportunities to get noticed for publishing. If you are enjoying the story, and want to show your love, pop over to RoyalRoad to read it: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/81646/the-witch-of-the-castle-of-glass-progression-romance
Don't worry, it is still free to read!
Plus, you are missing out on part of the fun if you are not on Royal Road. The method these websites use to copy the story did not copy post-chapter author notes, which means you don't get to read the Non-Canonical Aftermath section of the story. Want to see what all the actors playing the characters in The Witch of the Castle of Glass do behind the scenes between chapters? Interested in seeing crazy diva Milly, psychologist/arms dealer Goblin 42, or too-cute-for-her-own-good-now-go-do-your-homework Passi? Pop on over to Royal Road!