Trials of the Wtich and the Demon

Trials of the Witch and the Demon

A faint lavender mist falls over the Witrial Woods. Trees cascade down, stretching for miles as small bits of sun peak through the cracks of the leaves. Wisteria sways softly in the wind as it glides through the forest.

A little girl, no older than ten, with a head of curly hair full of pink flowers, scrunches her face in concentration as a soft green emerges from beneath her hands, wooden logs blooming from her palms. Willow effortlessly bends the nearby vines to her will, lifting the logs into place upon the dark brown, mossy green cabin. As the last one is placed, she smiles in triumph, the sun hitting her mahogany skin just right to light up her face. She spins on her heels, running deep into the forest. Leaving the cabin built with her hands, sitting alone.

Willow returns shortly, a mossy green blanket clutched tightly between her balled up fists. The sound of a stick snapping makes her nearly jump out of her skin. She races behind a nearby tree, peaking out from behind it. She watches a boy emerge from the opposing treeline. He tugs on the sash of his yukata.

“Stupid-Just fit-” He slams the piece of silk to the ground. Letting his yukata stay open, blowing softly in the wind. He pauses and takes in the cabin in front of him. Willow’s eyes are wide and curious. A Kuroboshi, or what she assumes is one. She’s heard many stories from her parents. His hair so black that in the light it turns blue, with his silk yukata wrapped around his body and the weapon snug at his waist. She knows he’s not from her kingdom, which only leaves one option in her mind.

The boy runs his fingers gently along the wood as if trying to commit its image to memory. Willow takes a step forward, and a loud crunch echoes through the forest. The boy’s head whips around, and Willow gasps, quickly hiding behind the tree. After a moment, she peeks around the tree to find him gone. It’s all fascinating to her. He’s nothing like the stories. Her mom used to tell her the Kuroboshi’s are monsters that take bad children in their sleep. Or her dad’s tales about the great Kuroboshi Dragons who feasted upon their enemies simply because they could… She can’t help but wonder if her parents lied. Were they bad people? He looks to be a normal child, just like her. He’s not evil or monstrous, or as if he’d hurt her if he knew who she was. Against her better judgment, she tiptoes towards the cabin’s front door–the blanket still tight between her fists.

She manages to slip inside undetected. The boy is staring at the inner workings of the cabin. The entire inside is built out of wood from the trees. The table, the chairs, the windows–you name it. His hands run over the stove, carefully carved from stone. Everything is too recent to be old. Why won’t he leave? This is mine, I built it, you can’t have-

Her thoughts stop suddenly as she watches him closer. In the corner sits a circular bed carved from wood with a soft, flowery cushion atop the frame. Pillows are propped up neatly at the head. His eyes travel upward, noticing a ladder built into the structure, revealing a reading nook above. He takes a step back, examining the books that clutter the walls above. It appears as if something is willing him to stay. Willow struggles for a moment to find the perfect words.

“Do you like it?” Willow’s voice cuts through the space. The boy whips around, immediately unsheathing his sword, pointing it directly at Willow’s neck.

“Who are you?” His voice is solid, untrusting. Willow carefully sets the blanket down on the table nearby. She smiles at him, gently pressing her finger on the edge of the sword and pushing it towards him.

“I don’t want to hurt you… I only wanted to know what you thought. You’re the first person who has ever been here, and I just finished making-”

“You made this?!” He gestures to the space around them. Willow nods. “That’s so cool! How? You’re a child-” He clears his throat, attempting to hide the excitement that attempts to bubble over.

“Yeah! It took a while as I had to make everything from scratch.” Willow’s smile disappears as the words tumble from her lips. She was supposed to keep the fact that she’s a Loset a secret. What the hell was she thinking??

“From scratch… you’re from the Loset kingdom, yes?”

“No…” She lies. “Your clothes. They belong to the Kuroboshi-”

“No.” He lies. They’re both lying and they both know it. The boy finally puts his sword away, sitting down in a chair at the table.

“If you’re not from there… why do you dress like them? Your clothes are embroidered with their symbol.” She gestures to the family crest on his chest. He doesn’t look at her, refusing to meet her gaze. He’s been caught in his lie. His mind rushing to find a way to deny her claims. He’s a royal. The heir to the Kuroboshi throne. He stands out. Of course he does. “Are you a royal?” Her voice interrupts his thoughts. “What was his name… um.. Oh! Reisui-”

“River.”

“What?”

“Call me River… please.” Willow stares blankly at him for a moment. She wonders if she got the name wrong, but she knows better. A smile forms upon her face once more.

“Well… River… I’m Willow.” She holds out her hand.

“Willow Loset?” He doesn’t move to shake it back.

“Yes. One of us has to be honest, and since you won’t, I will.” She grabs his hand, first forcing him to shake it, then to drag him towards the latter. A blush forms upon his face, but he doesn’t pull away. She climbs up the ladder and gestures for him to follow as she plops down on the reading nook. He hesitates as he joins her. She pushes open a window, sticking her head out of it.

“See there? That’s my kingdom.” She points to a tall building with only the pointed top visible from the treeline. She comes back inside the cabin and sticks his head out as well. “Are you going to hurt me now that you know?” He lowers himself back into the cabin and turns to face her.

“Hurt you? Why would I do that?”

“You know! Those stories.”

“I don’t follow.” His face scrunches in confusion. She grabs a storybook and flips it open. The pages pop up with illustrations as she flips through the pages, as if telling a story just like her parents.

“Well… My parents have mentioned many stories-” She flips the page, showing him a pop-up image of children breaking things for fun. “-Your people steal the bad children of our kingdom—oh!” Willow flips closer to the end of the book, “And then at night, when we least expect it…” She dramatically slams it down onto the cushion, revealing demon-like dragons with various people in their mouths. “You all turn into demon dragons and eat your enemies-”

River blinks at her. Taking in her words, his eyes dart from her face to the book and back to her face. Willow looks up from her book, noticing how quiet he’s gone.

“Are you alright?”

He takes in the extreme detail of the demon dragon. A hateful grimace slowly forms on his face.

“THOSE ARE LIES! Your family is nothing but WITCHES and, and GOOD-FOR-NOTHING TRICKSTERS who only care about themselves! They’ll step on anyone they can to be at the top-” Willow jumps at his tone. Her imagination runs wild as before her, River takes shape into a giant demon dragon like her pop-up book. The ceiling cracking and breaking under his growing size.

She immediately turns away, her hands covering the back of her head with her elbows clamped tightly around her ears.

River covers his mouth, realizing he’s frightened her. He holds his hand out, hovering it by her shoulder before he lets it fall back down to his side.

“I’m… sorry. That was uncalled for.” His voice is barely above a whisper. He can’t bring himself to meet her eyes.

Willow hesitates, slowly uncurling her body and staring at the boy.

She scoots closer to him, placing a hand on his knee. His gaze slowly meets hers, and he finds a gentle smile that seems to still his rapidly beating heart. She’s nothing like the stories his parents tell.

“If I came off as rude, I’m also sorry. I only meant to explain that my suspicions about my parents’ lies were true. I got a bit carried away… I just think these books are so fun-” She starts playing with the pop-up again, but notices his scowl. She quickly shuts it and tosses it to the side. She scoots over to the latter, carefully lowering herself down to the floor. He quickly follows her down, watching each moment.

She grabs the blanket on the table and gently places it onto the lower bed, unfolding each corner. “But I… I think I will grow to like you…”

River’s cheeks flush a bright red. His eyes drinking in every detail about her. It doesn’t take long for him to wonder what his life might be like with her in it. Because, to him, even in this forest filled with flowers, she’s the most beautiful one he’s ever seen.

“After all, you’re far too small to be a demon dragon. They’re huuuuge!” She giggles to herself.

River raises his eyebrow at her. “And you’re too… flowery to be a witch.” He retorts, a smile forming on his face before he quickly forces it away while clearing his throat. “I guess I should come back here every so often.” He gestures to the space. “It’s… okay… But there’s still so much more to be done here before you can call it finished.” A smile forms on her face, she glances at him over her shoulder.

“Oh yeah? Let’s say we meet here at the end of every week.”

“No. That’s not enough time. It will take forever at that rate.” He looks around frantically, his eyes locking on something in the window. He bolts outside of the cabin, leaving Willow confused as she turns to find him gone. Without missing a beat, he returns, lowering himself onto one knee, holding a rare, blue rose. A color that matches his yukata perfectly. “Would you meet me here at the beginning and end of every week?” His voice is filled with hope.

Willow giggles, “How do I know you’re not lying?”

River pauses for a moment, pondering over her words. “You have a point…” He stands, tucking the rose behind her ear, pushing the curls back gently to hold it in place. He then removes the top of his yukata and places it around her shoulders. Leaving him in only a white shirt. Her smile falters for a moment. “There. Now I have to return it if I want this back. It’s my favorite one… so don’t lose it.”

A pink flush stains Willow’s skin. Her hands clutching the fabric as her smile grows once more.

“Okay, perfect.” She slips her arms into it and points outside. “Come on. Help me gather more stones. We have to finish making the counter.”

He smiles as the pair run off outside, their childish laughter filling the air.