Chapter 4

Alice 

As my cousins and I ventured deeper into the Enchanted Forest of Doria, the conversation from the day before still lingered in my mind. Karina's desperate plea weighed on me, and I wished I could have helped her more. But the truth was, I couldn't. The wand, Elizabeth's wand, could only be used by her descendants, and I wasn't one of them.

"Alice, as much as I may appear thick-faced... can you assist me in detecting who the culprit is? You have the greatest authority among the three of us. Can't you use Elizabeth's wand?" Karina's anguished plea had tugged at my heartstrings.

"Of course, I'll help, Karina, but as you know, I'm not a sorcerer. I'm unable to utilize the wand," I explained, the frustration evident in my voice.

Elizabeth had been the kingdom's most powerful sorceress, and her wand was a symbol of her unmatched magic. Even though she had passed away many years ago, her descendants were yet to be found.

"Wait! Do you remember the Mirror of Truth in the Longsati cave? It might be able to inform us who stole the diamond," Harriet suggested.

I couldn't help but let out a sigh. "Harriet, that mirror only answers questions like, 'Who is the fairest of them all?'" I replied, facepalming at the suggestion.

Karina, always the book nerd, chimed in with another idea. "What about the magical bug? I read about it in one of the royal manuals. It says we should place it in front of the Living Mirror with the accuser, and the bug will reveal the truth."

I recalled hearing about the magical bug. The late King had used it to select royal guards to ensure none were our enemies. The only problem was that it was an extremely rare creature, appearing only once in a blue moon.

"But where can we find it?" Harriet asked, her frustration evident.

"I'm not sure," Karina admitted, "but if I remember correctly, it might be in the Enchanted Forest of Doria." This forest was known to be one of Bridgeton's most dangerous areas due to its isolation.

My mind drifted back to the present as I followed my cousins through the dense forest. The sounds of woodland creatures filled the air. Birds sang in harmony as the wind rustled through the leaves, making the branches sway gently. Every step I took seemed to crackle as I walked over dead twigs. We were all armed with bows and arrows, prepared in case we encountered any wild creatures.

"What does the magical bug look like?" Harriet inquired, her eyes darting around, searching for any signs of the elusive creature.

"It looks like a regular bug, but it emits a golden glow. We should be able to spot it at night," Karina explained, scanning the area for any signs of the bug.

However, it was only 3 p.m., and the sun still shone brightly, casting dappled shadows through the thick canopy of trees. Although the forest appeared dim, it wasn't as dark as it would be at night.

I let out a weary sigh, feeling the impossibility of our quest weighing down on me. But Karina was determined, and I couldn't let her face this challenge alone.

"We've been searching for about four hours, and still no sign of it," Harriet complained as she sat down to rest against a massive cypress tree.

I followed suit, drinking water to quench my thirst. "Why can't we just use our royal seeker to find this magical bug? Why are we even doing this?" Harriet whined once more.

"If you're tired, you two can go back to the palace. I'll continue," Karina said, not giving up.

I shot Harriet an annoyed look. We had promised to support Karina in resolving this matter, no matter how daunting it seemed. As Karina's cousins, it was our duty to stand by her through thick and thin.

After a brief pause, we both silently followed Karina deeper into the forest. The journey led us to a beautiful waterfall, the sounds of rushing water echoing in our ears as we walked on. Different species of butterflies flitted about, creating a mesmerizing display. I couldn't help but wonder at the abundance of unique flowers around us. Could the myth of a Fairy Mother residing in the waterfall cave be true? If not, how could this place be teeming with such a variety of blooms when no one lived here? It was a mystery I couldn't unravel.

"It says here that the bug will be found in the upper part of the falls," Karina said, referring to an old script, interrupting my musings.

I gazed up at the steep, rocky slope leading to the top of the falls. It seemed treacherous, covered in jagged stones that looked slippery. "How do we even get up there?" I asked, fully aware of the dangers that awaited us as we ascended the slick rocks.

"I'll go up there. Just wait here... and if... if anything happens to me, call for help," Karina said, donning some safety gear we had brought along—gloves, a hard hat, and a rope tied around her waist.

I looked up at the precarious path, knowing that if Karina made even one wrong move, she could seriously injure herself. As the eldest among us, I felt a sense of responsibility. I couldn't forgive myself if something terrible happened to her. Karina had been reluctant to accept my offer at first, but I used my authority to insist, and she finally conceded.

I began the ascent, pushing my body against the unforgiving stones. Even with gloves, the sharp thorns managed to pierce my skin. My hands, arms, and legs ached from various scrapes and cuts inflicted by the unforgiving terrain. I halted for a moment when I felt a particularly long scratch on my thigh. Thorns seemed to be everywhere, no matter how carefully I tried to avoid them. The beauty of this place was evident, but so were its dangers.

"Alice! Don't stop. You're almost there!" Harriet's voice echoed in the space, making me roll my eyes as I continued to climb.

As I made my way up the rocks, I couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of the upper portion of the falls. The area was adorned with various flowers, and as the clock neared 7 p.m., the forest started to dim, with fireflies lighting up the surroundings like a shimmering curtain. However, one light stood out among the rest, radiating a brilliance that illuminated nearly half of the area.

Could it be? My heart raced as I moved closer to the source of the intense light, only to be astounded by what I saw.

The Magical Bug? Fate had truly smiled upon us. With trembling hands, I carefully picked up the bug and placed it in a glass box. Without wasting any time, I began my descent, eager to show my cousins our incredible discovery.

But as I reached the bottom and opened the box to reveal the bug, something unexpected happened. The bug emitted a blinding light that enveloped us, and the forest seemed to come alive with an eerie, mystical energy. My cousins and I exchanged worried glances, unsure of what was happening.