CHAPTER 2: The Blue Lotus
"So, I want to know how you saw our coven" She furiously added.
"Well…. I was alone in the forest, then all of a sudden, I heard that song you people were singing. It was extremely beautiful and peaceful, so I decided to find it's origin. That's how I got here" Yetunde said, staring earnestly at The Witch, who questioned her.
"You even heard our song?" The Witch said, gasping in awe.
"Yes….I'm deeply sorry for disturbing your ritual" Yetunde said as she bowed respectfully before the Witches.
"This is really strange. No one has ever seen this coven or even heard our song" The Witch thought to herself. "It's fine" She replied to Yetunde's plea, walking towards the young girl.
The Witch placed her right hand on Yetunde's face, caressing her cheeks slightly. Suddenly, her hand froze in fright, as she sensed an incredibly ominous energy surge, originating from Yetunde's body. The energy she felt from the young girl was extremely destructive and unstable, causing her to stumble backwards but she immediately regained her composure.
"All of you… Continue the ritual" The Witch exclaimed with authority.
"As you wish, Our Liege!" All the other Witches said in one accord, leaving Yetunde to the Superior Witch. Moments later, The ritual continued.
"Tell me young girl, what is your name?" The Witch asked.
"Yetunde, Yetunde Adebayo" She immediately replied.
"Alright Yetunde, let me introduce myself. I am Ella, The Queen of this Coven" The Witch said as she removed her hood revealing her extremely beautiful face.
Her beauty was unrivaled, as her long braided brown hair caressed her body. Her fair skin was really lustrous as it made her look like she was glowing. Also, one could lose themselves in her light brown eyes.
"Wow!" Yetunde exclaimed, gazing solemnly at Ella.
"What is it?" Ella curiously asked.
"It's nothing… I'm just admiring your beauty" Yetunde replied.
"Oh... Thank you" Ella said as she slightly blushed.
"If I may ask, why were you alone in the forest?" Ella inquired with a stoic expression.
"I….I" Yetunde mumbled.
"Judging by your name and dressing, you're probably royal. So, why weren't you at your fancy Mansion?" Ella said, staring earnestly at Yetunde.
"I….I ran away" Yetunde quietly whispered as she slowly began to tear up.
Noticing the young girl's sudden mood swing, Ella drew her closer to herself, giving Yetunde a hug.
"I just wanna die" Yetunde said as she began to shed tears. She slowly started to recall everything her Grandma said about her earlier.
"Now that's strange. Girl's your age are always going gaga over a boy or something else, but here you are, claiming that you want to die. Care to explain what's going on here?" Ella brightly smiled as she wiped Yetunde's tears.
"I…I'm a failure. I'm a total failure" Yetunde cried out in frustration.
"How?" Ella curiously inquired.
"And who the hell told you that?" Ella added.
"My...Grandma" Yetunde whispered.
"Huh, are you serious?" Ella confusedly yelled.
"Yes, I saw her with my own eyes." Yetunde sadly replied.
Hearing Yetunde's reply, Ella couldn't help herself anymore as her anger began to get the best of her. " How can that old bitch be so cold. Someone needs to teach that hag a lesson" She thought to herself.
Even if she just met Yetunde, Ella had this weird urge to help her out in her present predicament. "What did you're mother say?" She asked.
"My…My Mother's dead. She died on the day I was born" Yetunde sadly replied.
"Damn, this girl's been through a lot" Ella thought to herself. "What about your father?" She asked.
"He tried his best to defend me, he even wanted to fight her" Yetunde proudly said.
"Challenging his own mother for the sake of his daughter, now that's a man I'd like to get married to" Ella seductively smirked.
Yetunde couldn't help but laugh after hearing what Ella said.
"So, why would your grandmother say such awful things about you?" She asked, staring straight into Yetunde's sad and pitiful eyes.
"Kids my age have already displayed their various Affinities, and then there's me. I'm sixteen and yet I haven't displayed my Affinity" Yetunde sadly said.
The minimum age for displaying one's affinity was at twelve while the maximum was at fourteen.
"That sure is a pickle" Ella commented on Yetunde's predicament.
"Still, I don't think that woman has the right to trash talk her own granddaughter" Ella added.
"I deserve it. I'm nothing more than a failure" Yetunde silently thought to herself.
"Now listen to me, You're not a failure" Ella said, fixing her gaze on Yetunde.
"Huh?" Yetunde confusedly exclaimed.
"Don't let anyone talk bad about you" Ella angrily said. All Yetunde could do was nod as she wondered why Ella would deeply care about her, given the fact they just met.
"Of course, Life isn't fair but that doesn't mean you should give up and feel sorry for yourself. If someone calls you a failure, then prove to that person, that you're not a failure. Strive harder everyday to get stronger, to get powerful so you can change you're Ill fate. Do you understand me?" Ella furiously yelled.
Yetunde's eyes soon cleared as she realized what Ella just told her was the truth. "Yes…..Yes, I understand. Rather than feeling sorry for myself, I've got to get stronger. I've got to get more powerful, so I can prove that I'm not a failure" Yetunde exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Atta girl, and I'm going to help you get stronger, Witches Honor!" Ella exclaimed with her left hand raised up proudly. Hearing Ella's word, Yetunde began to cry but this time, her tears were tears of joy. She gratefully bowed before Ella " Thank you…thank you so much!".
"No problem" Ella said.
"At least, now I can get closer to her Dad" She thought to herself.
"Alexa!" Ella immediately yelled.
"Yes, My Liege" A tiny bit cute voice echoed from the distance.
In less than a minute, one of the hooded women appeared right in front of Yetunde and Ella. She immediately bowed before Ella, slowly removing her hood revealing her face.
Alexa's face was extremely pretty and cute but it couldn't be compared to that of Yetunde's or Ella's. She had light glowing skin and huge bulgy eyes which were green in color. She also had a blonde, ponytailed hair which was rather short but luxurious. Judging by her facial appearance, she looked at least two years younger than Yetunde but in real terms, Alexa was five years older than Yetunde.
"You called me, My liege" Alexa humbly said.
"Yes I did. I want you to prepare a portal to the Garden" Ella said with her usual stoic expression.
"As you wish" Alexa said and swiftly disappeared, leaving Yetunde in awe, as she admired her speed.
"Let's get going" Ella said, prompting Yetunde to follow her.
"Where are we going to?" Yetunde curiously inquired.
"We are going to The Enchanted Garden" Ella replied.
"This is going to be nice" Yetunde thought to herself.
They walked passed the other witches who were currently busy with the ongoing ritual. After some minutes of walking, they took a sharp turn to the left which led them to a dead end. Alexa stood patiently, waiting for her Queen to arrive.
By Alexa's side, was a door shaped Portal which glowed bright green.
With a bow, Alexa said " You're portal is ready!".
"Thank you, why don't you come along?" Ella said with a bright smile.
"Huh….. I mean, you're wish is my command" Alexa stuttered in confusion.
As the trio walked into the portal, immediately they appeared in a wonderful place. The place was really an Enchanted garden.
Different kinds of Arcane fruits, vegetables and flowers grew wildly. Arcane particles could be clearly seen illuminating the atmosphere. One could get lost in the transience and serenity of the environment.
All Yetunde could do was gasp in awe, as she stared at the breathtaking sight. Even Alexa and Ella, who have been to The Garden on multiple occasions couldn't help but stare at the wonders of the Garden.
"This isn't what we came for" Ella said, interrupting the other girls.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Yetunde politely questioned.
"Where we're heading to is called The Meadow of The Blue Lotuses" Ella said, when the space of the garden suddenly got distorted.
In a blink of an eye, the trio saw themselves on a valley which was covered with nothing but Blue Lotuses.
The sight was breathtaking, as the Lotuses released a bright azure glow which illuminated the entire meadow, giving it a bright blue glow. Yetunde immediately recognized that the Lotuses were exactly the same as the ones she saw back in the cave.
"These Lotuses, they're the same as that one I saw in the cave" Yetunde said.
"Yes, they are" Ella replied.
"Every ten year, we tender these Lotuses as a gift to our goddess , as we hope for her glorious return" Ella added.
"Oh…. I hope I'm not being rude but how are these Lotuses going to help me become strong" Yetunde curiously inquired, earnestly staring at Ella.
"These Lotuses aren't normal flowers. They possess something called The Flames of Eons ... or also called Azure Flames" Ella said with a stoic expression.
"Wow, I didn't know" Yetunde said, as she gasped in surprise.
"They're a lot of things you don't know" Alexa suddenly said.
Within Alexa, she was purely jealous because Yetunde who she just met today has already created a mutual bond with her Queen, which hasn't been done in ages. Not only that, but she was also jealous because Yetunde was far prettier than her and she also had bigger boobs.
"Here, take this" Ella said, giving Yetunde one of the Lotuses.
"Thank you but… what am I supposed to do with it?" Yetunde ignorantly exclaimed.
"Tsk, what a stupid girl!" Alexa thought to herself.
"If you can refine the Lotus by comprehending it's Essence into your body, you'll be able to obtain the flower's Affinity" Ella brightly explained.
Hearing this, Yetunde got extremely excited as she began to solemnly stare at the Lotus.
Alexa jealously walked up to Ella and whispered to her" I don't mean to be rude but what the hell are you doing?".
Ella replied with an indifferent expression "I am helping her!"
"But.." Alexa tried to oppose.
"No Buts, my decision is final" Ella angrily said while turning her gaze towards Yetunde. "I almost forgot, it takes approximately two weeks to fully refine the….Lotus?" Ella said as she froze up.
"What in the world?" Alexa exclaimed as she stared at Yetunde.
The Lotus hovered in front of her, with her eyes glowing Azure. Blue colored elemental essence dissipated from the Lotus, entering into Yetunde's body through her mouth.
The process took less than a second, as Yetunde successfully refined the flower. Her body soon ignited with an Azure colored flaming aura. Despite the intense heat and temperature of the flames, her clothes and skin were surprisingly unharmed.
"Who the hell is she?" Alexa frightfully asked.