As they walked amidst the market, no one stared at them or notice their appearance. "Don't you guys think something is wrong somewhere?" Kelvin whispered
"Why are they going about their normal business without talking to us?" Ryan thought, agreeing with what Kelvin had said.
Jasmine turned to face Jamal who was closer to her. "It's just like the last time we came" she whispered.
"There is something strange here. I will try talking to someone" Kelvin said and they nodded. He walked closer to a woman who was selling fish. She displayed the fishes in a star shape. Her eyes were focused on the fish she was cutting. She had cut some into some strange shape. Unlike Ariana who was afraid to speak to the woman the last time they came, Kelvin was courageous.
"Good morning ma'am" he greeted.
She stared at him and smiled. "Good morning my son. Do you want to buy some fish?"
Kelvin stared at the fish on the table. They were was strange shapes. He shook his head. "No thank you. I will get going"
He returned to meet the rest.
"She answered you," Jasmine asked in surprise.
"Yes she did" Ariana answered surprise evident in her voice too
During their time, when Ariana had gone to talk to the woman, had stared above Ariana's head and continued cutting the fish. Ariana had batted her lashes in fear and had returned to meet the rest who had tried their luck in talking to the rest of the villagers. They had stood in the middle of the market, confused about what to do next.
At first, they had thought crossing the river was the last puzzle/test they had to encounter. And when they saw the village a few meters away, happiness had filled their heart which was cut short by the strange feeling they had about the village. Now, being stranded in the middle of the market and not knowing how to get into the village, they realized Alaska is more difficult to get in than they had ever thought. It's been four days and they are yet to get into the village.
But now things were different. Different from what they had encountered.
"What are we going to do now?" Jabal asked. He was getting tired of the new test they have to pass through.
"Maybe we should keep going. We might get new answers" Ariana suggested
They all agreed to it. "Right or left?" Jabal asked
"Right," Jamal said
"No, left" Jasmine replied
"Why don't we keep going?. I mean without taking a turn" Ryan suggested.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Can we start going now?"
Jabal chuckled. "Impatient as usual"
Jasmine ignored him. She is too tired to want to start an argument with him. She placed her headset and left the rest. The rest had to hasten their footsteps to get to her.
**
They have been walking for a while now and the more they go the more it seems they've been walking in a circle. It was getting late and they were already tired and having a change of mind. They are beginning to think it was a wrong decision to come to Alaska.
Though Ariana, Jasmine, Jamal, and Jabal had experienced this before, it seem new and strange to them.
"Look!!" Ariana pointed, shrieking happily. The rest looked at what Ariana was pointing at. It was a small village some meters away. They stood rooted to their spot. Have they not been walking in a circle for over ten hours?. Why are they suddenly seeing another village ahead of them?. Aren't they coming from a village?. They turned and realized the village they had been walking in, was no more in view.
It was just like the last time. "Let's hasten up. That's the village over there" Jabal said.
They took a few steps but were stopped by a man. They widened their eyes in shock. This was the same man they met the last time. He is no more the only man in Alaska. He must be a wizard, a great one, they had thought. He walked closer to them and smiled. "I haven't seen a set of kids, as determined and consistent as you four or rather six. It's good to see you again". They stared at themselves. They do not understand what he meant by those words and why he was saying them. When he realized they did not understand what he meant, he spoke up. "Congratulations, kids. You've passed another test". They widened their eyes. So this was another test?. A test for their patient like he said?. Just the same way they passed the last one?
But why did that woman speak back at them if it was the same test?. Maybe to confuse them, they thought and smiled.
He pointed towards the village in front of them. "That is the real Alaska village right in front of you. Go"
They wanted to ask him questions. There was so much they wanted to know but before they could from their sentences, he was gone. They stared at one another confused. "Do you think we should believe him?" Kelvin asked
"I don't think we should," Ryan said. He had to support Kelvin for the first time. He is also finding it difficult to believe the wizard. Not after everything they have passed through. He had thought in his heart, right before Kelvin spoke up that what if it was another test. Maybe a test of trust?. He batted his lashes. If it's a test of trust, then they have to believe the wizard. He rolled his eyes. "We should believe him"
Kelvin was surprised that Ryan supported him at first and was more surprised when he changed his mind. Why did he suddenly have a change of mind like he has thought about something and feels the decision was wrong.
"Do you think there is more test to go?" Kelvin asked but they ignored him. They could not tell him there is one more test if they are not mistaken.
"We should go," Ariana said
They began to walk through the path, leading to the village. As they get close to the village, an old woman appeared. "Don't you want to see me anymore?" She asked
They froze in their spot, afraid to make a move. They couldn't stare at themselves or even say a word. Who is this woman? they had thought. "Are you not here to see the great witch?"
Ariana batted her lashes. It was the same test. But this old woman here wasn't the same as the one they saw.
Kelvin and Ryan were confused. Could this old woman here be the great witch they had traveled all the way here to see?. To Ryan, she doesn't look like what Jasmine had explained her to be. Though she did not give him a full detail of what she looked like, he doubted she was the one.
Another woman appeared. She was a bit younger than the other woman. "I am the great witch," she said
More women kept appearing and claiming to be the great witch. Their voices were loud and confusing. They tried to concentrate on the path they were going.
"Close your ears" Jasmine commanded. "They will keep getting louder and stronger. They will try to control your minds"
This wasn't a test. It was to make them miss their way and start afresh and she was quick to understand that. They did what Jasmine asked them to do and they succeeded in getting into the village. The voices died down and there was total silence.
They were confused about which house to go to. They do not want to go about knocking at people's doors and disturbing their peace. Ariana suddenly remembered something. Though her mom had never said what the great witch looks likes, she had said something about her living in a cave with a star, shining right at the top. And the house they entered the last time looked exactly like that.
She turned to face the rest. I think I know where the great witch lives. Kelvin and Ryan stared at her with hope. They were tired and it was late already.
Jasmine smiled. "The cave house" she cooed.
"I remembered, " Jamal said smiling.
"Me too" Jabal yawned. He was tired and needed some rest.
Ariana pointed at a cave. "It's that cave over there"
They were happy they had finally finished up their test and can finally have some rest. They dragged their lazy body slowly in the direction of the cave. When they finally got there, they pondered on whether to knock or not.
The cave suddenly disappeared and they stood, rooted to their spot, their mouth opened wide in surprise. This never happened to them during their last visit. Why is the cave gone?.
"Did something like this happen when your last visit?"
"No" Jasmine replied.
Ariana smiled. "I guess I forget to tell you guys. She changes the location of her house at every visit. Spread yourself and look for a cave with the moon shining directly on it. Not the one with the moon shape on it"
They spread themselves quickly and began the search.
**
After several minutes of searching, Kelvin was the first to notice the cafe with the moon shining directly to it. "It's over here" he yelled and the rest rushed to meet him. They sighed in relief and hoped this was the actual cave they were looking for.
"Do you think we should move closer to it?" Jamal asked, afraid the cave might disappear again.
"I think so," Jasmine said and they obeyed. They stood in front of the cave wondering what next to do. They had waited for the cave to disappear but instead, the door suddenly revealed a young beautiful woman. Her face radiated like the sun.
To Jasmine, Jabal, Ariana, and Jamal, she wasn't the same as the Stella they knew, the one they had spent a month with. Kelvin and Ryan stared at her in shock. She is the list they expect as the great witch. She smiled at them. "I have been waiting for you. Come in". They stared at her not making a move. She smiled. "You look so tired, I know you would love basmati rice and chicken soup". They batted their lashes.
Ryan made for the door but Jasmine drew him back. "She is not Stella" she whispered and he moved back quickly.
She smiled. "I am not Stella but she has been waiting for you. Come in"
"How do you expect we believe you?" Ariana asked.
The door opened and Stella popped her head out. "Are they willing to miss the basmati rice and chicken soup for anything?"
"Stella" Jasmine called and ran to meet her. "I've missed you too"
Stella smiled. "Someone still recognizes me. How have you been my white witch"
"I'm fine"
Jamal, Jamal, and Ariana ran to hug her. "Of course, we all do" Ariana answered.
"It's been like a year since I last saw you. You've grown into mature men and women. I've missed you guys"
"We miss you more" Jabal answered.
"And how is the demon bear doing?"
Jabal turned. "As you can see, he is doing great"
She touched his hair. "Your hair has grown longer than the last time. Oh, my red-haired witch, you look more beautiful than last year and my future beta, you've grown taller"
She stared at Kevin. "You are the demon prince"
He nodded. "It's good to meet you"
"Call me Stella"
"I'm Kelvin"
"I know" she pointed at Ryan. "The alpha of Munar pack". He nodded. "How have you been coping after your dad's death"
He smiled. "They had been of great help" he pointed at the rest.
"Can we go in please, I can't miss the basmati rice and chicken soup for anything" Jabal said and the rest nodded.
They don't think they also would want to miss the food for anything. Not with the noise their stomach makes right now.
Stella smiled. "Then, are you coming in?" She asked. They nodded and she moved to the side for them to come in.