Page 86 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“I promise,” she whispered, as he removed his belt and tied it along her waist, pushing his sword into it.

She moved towards her aunt and her father, who each gave her a huge hug.

“You've got this, Sunshine,” Aunt Agatha said. “And I'll watch out for your mate.” She winked.

Renya moved back towards the screen, standing directly in front of it, just steps away.

“Wait.”

Renya turned her head, and to her surprise, Cressida moved over to her, with her back to the group. She reached out and cupped Renya's cheeks with her hands.

Renya wanted to shudder at her touch, but the reaction didn't come.

Violet eyes met blue. Then she spoke, her tone hushed and low so the others couldn't overhear.

“You are meant to do this. I'm more sure of it than anything. You will come back, safe and sound—or else I wouldn't let you attempt it. I know I've never been a mother to you, never—never shown you the love I should have. But...whether you want to acknowledge it or not—it's there. Come back safe, my daughter. My Renya.”

Renya blinked, stunned by her mother's words. But before she could fully process them, the nymph motioned her forward, and Renya moved in front of the barrier.

“Wait for me,” Phillippe teased. “If the old witch is correct I'll be right behind you.”

Chapter Forty-One

Selenia received a hug from both her brothers, and they told her how they loved her. It felt like she was marching off to her death.

She looked back at Sion. He gave her a nod and a smile, but she could tell he was holding back tears. The Sion she knew from her youth was long gone, and instead, he had been replaced by this man, this sensitive, brave, and loving man.

She moved towards the spot where Renya had disappeared, peering intently. She couldn't see her through the strange divider, but she could almost sense her there. Selenia put her hands up, looked at the nymph, who remained stoic, and then she pressed forward.

Her first thought was that she'd entered another world. The entire landscape around her glowed. The moss underneath her boots seemed to awaken with an intense luminous glow as if responding to her movements. The trees towered above, their leaves shimmering with hues of blue and green, purples and pink. Delicate fungi clung to the trunks of oddly shaped trees, their soft light illuminating the bark like fairy lanterns. Fireflies flitted about, leaving trails of golden light in their wake, creating a moving tapestry of sparkling brilliance. The air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance, mingling with the cool, fresh scent of the forest.

“It's like the Wizard of Oz, right? When Dorothy enters munchkin land and everything's in color?”

Renya's voice startled her; for a brief second, she forgot that she wasn't the first to enter this strange environment.

“I—what's munchkin land?”

“Forget it,” Renya said. “Human stuff.”

They both looked back at the shimmering screen separating the two very different environments. However, they couldn't see any figures on the beach, just like Selenia hadn't been able to see Renya once she crossed over.

“Do you think it'll be Phillippe?” Selenia asked, looking at Renya.

“The longer it takes, the more I'm less certain,” Renya answered.

Several minutes passed, but then the magical wall began to shimmer and vibrate.

Phillippe emerged, his face bright red and his hair tousled.

“Phillippe!” Even though they'd said goodbye less than five minutes ago, Selenia still hugged her brother fiercely. “You took so long, we thought that you weren't able to pass through.”

He reddened even more, and then Selenia put together his expression combined with his hair.

“Ah. A rather...passionate goodbye?” she said, eyeing him.

He quickly fixed his hair and looked rather sheepish.

“Good for Esmeralda,” Renya laughed.

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