Magic

As we continue walking, I finally see the mountains! I pick up my pace and head straight for them. This has to work... it has to. I don't know if this world has oceans or not but if this doesn't work... that will be my next stop. 

I turn and look at Li Jun as I say "Hurry up!" He gives me an exasperated look as he struggles to keep up. I pick up the ends of my dress and struggle not to run. The walk begins to become steep but with the help of my magic, I have no problem climbing up. 

When we finally reach the springs, Li Jun is practically crawling. I place my hands on my hips and look out over the natural springs with a wide smile on my face. We made it! Mango and I can finally go home! I go to step forward but then remember something. 

I turn back around and say "Catch!" Li Jun looks up but it's too late. The bag of gold smacks him in the face, nearly knocking his teeth out and knocking him out! I turn around and quickly run to the spings with a look of bliss on my face. 

Li Jun shakes his head, trying to clear his head as he looks down at the bag that just hit him. What the hell was so heavy and hard!? He glances up at her before slowly sitting down and pulling the bag open. 

He stares down at the bag in silence before closing it. He blinks and then opens it again... only to stare at it in silence once again. He quickly closes the bag back and slowly looks back up at her. Did he get hit that hard or was this really a bag of gold?

He swallows hard and shakes his head again before looking back down and opening the bag. It was really full of gold!??? He snaps it closed and struggles to stand. He quickly walks over to me and says "I think... I think you made a mistake. This is full of gold." 

I turn back to him and glance at the bag before waving him off and saying "There's no mistake. That is for keeping me entertained." Li Jun blinks with a dumbfounded look on his face as he repeats "Entertained?" 

I nod and look back to the spring before rolling my sleeves up. I used quite a bit of magic back there but I should still have more than enough to make this work. When I notice Li Jun staring at me blankly, I shoo him back and say "You're in the way. Stand back." 

He holds the bag to his chest like it's the most precious thing in the world and steps back several feet. He was going to follow her for the rest of his life. If she wanted to eat worms, he will find the best damn worms in the entire world! She wants fingers and eyeballs??? He'll go out and get the crunchiest and juiciest ones in the whole world!!!

After rolling up my sleeves, I look out over the water and ask "Are you ready for this Mango? We're going home." Mango looks at the water with excitement as he nods his head eagerly and says "Yes! I promise to always listen to you and to never jump into an unknown portal again!" 

I chuckle a little as I say "Good, let's begin." I kneel down next to the warm spring water and slowly place my hands into the water. I close my eyes and focus on my magic as I feed it into the spring. At first, nothing happens but after a few silent minutes, the water begins to glow! 

Li Jun watches in shock as the entire spring starts to glow a strange blue color! What was she doing now!? 

I grit my teeth and pour in as much power as I possibly can while imagining home. This has to work! The water slowly starts to swirl, giving me hope and giving me strength. This is it! It's working!! The spring starts to swirl more and more until it almost looks like a whirlpool but it's still not enough. 

I feel like I'm so close but I need more magic! I grind my teeth as I strain to pour in more magic but I was at my limit. Beads of sweat begin to form on my forehead as I strain to keep going but I just can't bring myself to stop. I'm so close... just a little more! 

Suddenly, my world spins. My magic snaps as I fall back and land on my butt. The bright blue glow in the spring starts to fade as the whirlpool slowly dies. "No!" I cry out as I fight back tears. I was so close! I stare at the water with despair and slowly lift my hand up. 

I look down at my shaking hand with tears in my eyes. Was it because I'm only half? No, Asher is also half-human and half-fae like me but he can do it. I slowly clench my fist as tears fall from my eyes. I'm just not strong enough...

Some women suddenly appear with wash pans in hand but they pay me no attention. Mango silently sits on my shoulder and lightly kisses my cheek as he whispers "It's okay, Willow. We can try again. Maybe you just need to be fully rested. You did just help that little girl."

He's right... I sniff and quickly wipe my tears away as I sigh and say "You know what... you're right. Maybe after being fully rested I can fully open it. I guess I was just so eager to go back, I was rushing." 

Suddenly, the women run out of the spring with a few cries of fear. When I look back up, I notice the spring water glowing brightly! What!? How??? I watch with shock as the spring starts spinning around and around until it turns into a strong whirlpool! 

No way... it can't be!