The Invitation

Storm stopped running as they reached the border between the Sapphire Island Kingdom and the Wallachian kingdom. He marched along the path under the shady big trees to a hidden mansion among the woods.

Celestine got down and walked along with the horse next to her, standing in the front of wall gate with a small hole to peek inside or outside.

The mansion was captured as an abandoned castle, sturdy building with rambled plants on its wall. It was hidden among the high shady trees, appearing like a pearl inside its muddy shell.

A man with ragged clothes was standing in the front of gate after Celestine knocked the gate three knocks with pause.

“Who are you?” He peeked out.

Celestine beamed at him.

“The shadow from the east coming out, the haze of silence will be disappeared behind…Smoky mountains have their rules as well as the stormy hearts…” she peeked inside. Telling him those magic words, turning around to see whether there was or not someone following her.

She sighed. “The mist has been cleared”.

The man in ragged clothes smiled widely, throwing away his ragged hat to the ground.

“Princess Celestine”.

He opened the gate with the help of two other men.

Celestine hurriedly came into the mansion and handed Storm to the other man.

“Moustache, I need your help!”

They were strolling down the entrance path with some shadowy plants.

Moustache was the man in ragged clothes turned his head to her while he twisted his moustache.

“Your wish is always our commands, dear princess. Come.” Moustache ripped off his ragged clothes, magically appeared in black outfits, the outfits the artist most like to wear as they landed their feet inside the mansion with its luxurious interior.

He took Celestine to the lounge room, a spacious room with some comfy couches and various antique artefacts.

He clapped his hands. A moment after taking himself and Celestine took a seat on long couches.

A woman in crème long dress with a hair bun up-tight appeared in their sight and was ready to serve.

“Please bring us, Bouche du Mer, for this beautiful princess, Adelaide.” Moustache requested.

Adelaide, the name of the woman, beamed and made a nod. “Yes, monsieur.”

Celestine narrowed her eyes. “The Mouth of The Sea?”

“What’s that?”

Moustache grinned. “A kind of drink to change our skin color becoming blue! It’s good…”

Celestine giggled. “A recipe for the right moment.”

Moustache glanced at Celestine. “I heard King Dragon coming to the kingdom. Does he want to propose you?”

Celestine made a nod.

“Did your question mean you need my help to get rid of him for a while?”

They were talking until the flocks of birds flying away, returning to their swarms.

They stopped laughing at Tiger’s jokes when they heard someone rushing steps were entering the room.

“Princess Celestine. The Squad.” Ersa came into the sight, taking a half kneeling, spreading her eyes from the princess to the other four persons member of The Squad.

Celestine who already changed to become bluish in her skin tone rose from the seat.

“Any news, Ersa?”

Ersa nodded hurriedly.

“Your friend, Jacques…” she paused as Celestine took her moving to the other room after the princess heard the name ‘Jacques’ was mentioned.

“What happened?” she hissed and looked at Ersa whose a nest of birdie laid on her braided hair.

‘She must have chosen the wrong path to come here. As the nest on her, she could cross along the bird woods where the plants were growing shady, suburbs anywhere.’ Celestine took the nest with a little birdie from Ersa’s head. She sighed and saw the birdie with her empathetic look before giving it to Ersa.

As a return, Ersa handed her a folded letter.

Celestine opened it and Ersa was busy to handle the twits of the birdie.

‘My lovely princess, I can’t hold the flow of my yearning heart to see you tonight. I join King Dragon’s musical performance tonight in your kingdom. A tribute for King Dragon and my respected teacher in music but also art. Wanted to kiss those rosy cheeks. Your love, Jacques.’

Celestine deeply inhaled after reading the letter. She turned around and grabbed a paper from the desk within her reach. She wrote something.

“Give this to Jacques.” She handed the letter to Ersa.

“Tell him to expect the unexpected.”

Ersa nodded. “How do you change into blue skin?”

Celestine grinned. “A camouflage. I need it to hide from King Dragon.”

Ersa kept staring at her with a wondering sight. Her hands held a nest and the birdie inside.

“Don’t choose the same path as you came here. You’ll get another bird nests then.” Celestine warned her before leaving the mansion.

Ersa stopped walking and turned around. “How about this birdie?” Her eyes stared at Celestine with a deep concern before directing to the birdie.

Celestine sighed. “You can keep it!”

Ersa smiled and put the birdie with its nest into a sling leathered bag. She carried it with her.

“Blessed you, Ersa.” Celestine watched her leaving the mansion, riding the horse back to the castle.