THE MYSTERIOUS GIFTS

HIS MIND WAS FIGHTING WITH A THOUGHT, THAT WHETHER HE SHOULD TRUST THE STRANGE LADY OR DOUBT HER GENEROSITY-LIKE ACTIONS.

WELL, HE WAS STARVING ENOUGH TO EAT ANYTHING THAT HE SAW. BUT THAT BEAST-LIKE MAN CONTROLLED HIS WILDERNESS AND ASKED VERY POLITELY, "WOULD YOU HELP ME GET SOME FOOD, AS I HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING FOR DAYS WITHOUT EATING A DECENT MEAL".

THE FAIRY REPLIED IRONICALLY," NOW THAT'S NICE THAT THE DOUBTS ARE OUT OF THE WAY, AND YES OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE DINNER WITH ME".

THIS WAS A HAPPY NEWS FOR KIMOWASHI.

HE STOOD AND DRESSED UP PROPERLY, WASHED UP, AND WENT TO HAVE FOOD.

THE MOMENT HE STEPPED OUT OF THE ROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE DOOR DISAPPEARED.

HE DIDN'T GET STUCK IN THAT THOUGHT AND PROCEEDED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE NOISE THAT SEEMED LIKE THE NOISE FROM THE KITCHEN.

HE NOTICED THAT THE COTTAGE LOOKED VERY SPACIOUS FROM THE INSIDE. AND THE FURNITURE WAS VERY ELEGANT-LOOKING. THERE WERE YELLOW LANTERNS THAT LIT THE ROOM WITH A FIERY LOOK.

THE CREATURE WHICH CAME INTO THE ROOM WHILE KIMOWASHI WAS RESTING, WAS A BEAUTIFUL PHOENIX. IT HAD GORGEOUS FIERY COLORS WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE THE REASON IT WAS NAMED HONEYPLUM. THE BIRD SAT ELEGANTLY ON A CAGE BAR NEXT TO THE FIREPLACE.

WHEN THE FAIRY SAW KIMOWASHI SHE SAID: "FEEL AT EASE AND FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE. DINNER WILL BE READY IN A JIFFY"

HE SAT ON THE SMALL DINING TABLE MADE FOR FOUR PEOPLE TO SIT, CARVED OF OAK WOOD. WHILE HE SAT THERE ADMIRING THE HOSPITALITY GIVEN OFF BY THE WITCH.

SOON THE WITCH BROUGHT A BIG CAULDRON FILLED WITH A SWEET-SCENTED STEW WHICH WAS A LOTUS AND HERB STEW.

THEY ENJOYED THE DINNER AND HAD A SMALL TALK.

THEN HE ASKED THE FAIRY: "EXCUSE ME, BUT YOU DIDN'T INTRODUCE YOURSELF PROPERLY"

SHE REPLIED:" AH YES! MY APOLOGIES, BUT I GO BY THE NAME FAIRY OF THE ENCHANTED FOREST"

"ONLY THOSE WHO ARE IN GREAT NEED, AND ARE PURE OF HEART, CAN RECEIVE MY HELP".

"AND YOU MUST BE THINKING ABOUT HOW I KNOW ABOUT YOU. IT IS THE RUMOURS THAT THE FOREST WOODS HAVE BEEN BRINGING TO ME"

SO SOME OF KIMOWASHI'S QUESTIONS WERE CLEARED.

THEN HE GAVE HIS GRATITUDE TO THE FAIRY FOR HER HOSPITALITY AND ASKED HER FOR DIRECTIONS SO HE COULD CONTINUE ON HIS QUEST.

HIS QUEST WAS TO TAKE ON ALL THE ENEMIES OF PEACE AND UNITE ALL WHICH WERE SCATTERED.

THE FAIRY OF THE ENCHANTED FOREST GAVE HIM DIRECTIONS TO THE NEAREST TOWN FROM THE FOREST. HE WAS THE BACK ON TRACK.

BEFORE HE LEFT THE COTTAGE, THE FAIRY GAVE HIM THREE GIFTS. WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE USEFUL IN TIMES OF DESPERATION.

THE FIRST OBJECT WAS A FEATHER, PLUCKED FROM THE BODY OF THE MAGNIFICENT BIRD WHICH SAT NEAR THE FIRE.

THAT FEATHER WAS ENCHANTED, AS IT HELD THE POWER OF FIREWORKS.

THOSE FIREWORKS WERE ALSO CONTROLLABLE BY THE CASTER OF THE SPELL.

THE SECOND GIFT WAS A NECKLACE SHAPED LIKE A WATER BUBBLE.

YOU CAN SAY THAT IT WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE ONE THAT THE FAIRY WORE

THIS GIFT ALSO HELD A MYSTICAL POWER. THE POWER WAS THAT IT TURNED RED IF IT SENSED DANGER SHORTLY,

TURNED BLUE IF THE SITUATION WAS GOING SMOOTHLY,

AND TURNED GREEN WHEN SOMETHING MAGICAL WAS HAPPENING IN A LIMITED PERIMETER

THE LAST OBJECT WAS A BOOK. WHICH WAS EMPTY OF WORDS.

BUT WHEN PLACED UNDER MOONLIGHT IT SHOWED THE MOST POWERFUL SPELLS AND METHODS TO DISARM STRONG OPPONENTS.

HE WAS VERY GRATEFUL TO HER. HE WAS WISE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT SHE HAD GIVEN THOSE OBJECTS TO HIM FOR A REASON.

AND HE CONTINUED ON HIS ADVENTURE.