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The trio took their way to venture into the outskirts of the dark enchanted forest. Even though it was daytime, they couldn't help but get the creeps from the not so pleasant forest.The sun rays passed through the twisted branches of the trees, casting eerie shadows on the grounds. The sounds of the weird birds chirping on the trees, the sounds of toads and ugly creatures in the swamps, the sounds of creepy crawlies, crawling on the ground, and the creepy shrubs and vines around their bare legs, enhanced their discomfort.While on their lead, they couldn't shake the feeling of being watched."This forest gives me the creeps. Are you sure trolls are the only things we should worry about here?" The blondie whispered, her voice tinged with unease.Circe, eyeing the ominous surroundings, replied, "Sirius didn't mention anything else, but who knows what lurks in these shadows."Vesper, seemingly unfazed, smirked, "Trolls or not, we can handle it easily. They are just some freaky little goblins. Just stay close and follow my lead."Upon seeing the creepy bugs trying to crawl her bare skin, Allegra jumped at Circe, "Could this fucking forest get any worse?" She said irritated and disgusted."For real! It's disgusting!" Vesper complained.Circe, however, couldn't resist a smirk. "Maybe if you weren't flaunting so much skin, the bugs would find you less enticing, sisters."Allegra shot her a glare, "This is not the time for your sarcasm, Circe!"Circe continued to mock, "Well, well, the witches brought down by tiny insects. Who would've thought?""Shut up Circe!" Vesper yelled, irritated.As they walked deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew denser, and the eerie feeling intensified. Vines and shrubs snatched their skins, enforcing the discomfort. Unbeknownst to the witches, Sirius, through his mirror, observed their every move with a sinister satisfaction."Stupid witches. You think you could outsmart me?" he chuckled.Back in the forest, the sisters encountered the first signs of the trolls' presence; small footprints and broken branches scattered along the path."I think we're on the right track girls." Vesper said to her sisters, who were to busy with the crawlies to care. Even Circe had gotten frustrated by the tiny wildlife."Let's get over it, already!" Allegra answered, as she couldn't risk to get her eyes on the road."Ugly trolls, where the hell are you hiding?" Vesper said in a sinister luring voice. As she continued to walk, a bush got in her way and she stumbled upon a vine. Then, she fell on the dirt, her expensive clothes tainted with dirt everywhere.Vesper cursed loud enough while Allegra couldn't help but laugh and Circe smirked."Don't worry sis, we got you." Allegra said with a mocking smile.As she and Circe approached Vesper, they heard a loud growl that made them all flinch."What was that?" Allegra asked, her face leaving its color."Maybe we've stepped into the goblins territory," Circe answered."Shit! Look at my clothes and skin!" Vesper cried as she straightened, looking down at her dirty self."Don't worry Vesper, Sirius will get you new ones," Circe taunted, her eyes gleaming with mischief.At the same moment, crackling noises were heard from near, and another growl made it's way to the sisters ears.Allegra's hands glowed with an orange aura as she was prepared to shot at anything obscure, meanwhile Circe's glowed with a grey one. Vesper on the other hand, was still preoccupied with her disgusting surroundings as she didn't really care about a confrontation with the trolls.Suddenly, the shrubs in front of them moved and the ugly grotesque creatures appeared, their distorted and uneven faces, crooked by frowns and the sisters couldn't help but laugh.Their laughter echoed through the forest as the trolls started to emerge from the shadows. Each of them leashed their dark powers to the trolls, and most of them went up flying."You think you can mess with us, freaky dwarfs?" Vesper declared, a wicked grin on her face."They are adorable!" Allegra taunted.As more trolls appeared, the witches manages them by using their spells to bring them down. However more trolls emerged and Allegra couldn't help but shout:"How many of them are?"Her sisters didn't answer but focused on the task on hand. What startled them suddenly, was that the thrown trolls raised from the ground and stood on their short twisted feet, showing their wicked face. As the sisters cast their spells, the trolls swiftly dodged and countered with unexpected agility. They sprinted fast to the girls and one troll grabbed Circe by her outstretched arm, while others knocked Allegra and Vesper off their feet with well-timed swipes.Meanwhile the sorcerer, who was enjoying their pointless fight from far, far away, smirked at himself in satisfaction."What in the realms?! What's going on with these trolls?" Vesper yelled as another troll got her ankle and dug it's nails on her skin preventing her from moving."Get away from me, you little bastard!" She cried in pain as she shoved her bare leg trying to throw the troll away but the troll didn't even move.Her anger only served to make her more reckless, and she began to unleash a flurry of dark spells, hoping to clear a path for them to escape."I don't fucking know but we have to kill these trolls, otherwise how are we going to face Sirius?" Allegra cried back, being nearly in the same position as her sister.Meanwhile Circe, who was in a slightly better position, where the trolls were just trying to ambush her, yelled, "let's have a deal, who kills the trolls first, gets Sirius's attention," She just wanted to trick and annoy her sisters.She found herself surrounded by trolls once more. They were clever little creatures, always trying to outsmart her. She grinned, enjoying the challenge, "Fine, if I have to play your games," she muttered under her breath, before unleashing a powerful spell that sent several of the trolls flying through the air.Both Allegra and Vesper grew mad and irritated as they prepared to unleash even more dark spells, and some trolls flied away.But still, the small dwarfs seemed unstoppable, the more they brought down, more emerged and started to hit the sisters with no exception.The forest echoed with the sisters' frustrated cries as the grotesque trolls were outplaying them, their spells proving ineffective against the resilient creatures."Dammit! Why won't they just stay down?" Vesper grunted, attempting to shake off the trolls clinging to her.Allegra, struggling with multiple trolls, yelled, "Our powers should be more than enough to crush these annoying creatures!"Circe, surrounded by trolls who seemed impervious to her spells, growled, "This is ridiculous! We can't even handle these wretched dwarfs!"As the trolls continued their relentless assault, the sisters felt furious, not just towards the creatures but also towards their own inability to conquer the seemingly simple task assigned by Sirius."I've had enough of this nonsense!" Vesper shouted, her frustration boiling over. With a burst of electric dark energy, she attempted a more potent spell, but the trolls proved resilient."Face it, sisters! We're failing miserably!" Allegra exclaimed, her frustration mirroring Vesper's.Circe, still trying to negotiate with the trolls, finally gave up, "I can't believe we're getting beaten by these tiny abominations."As the realization of their failure sunk in, the sisters, battered and bruised, decided to surrender. They fled through the forest, leaving the relentless trolls behind, their body tired and their faces crossed by a desperate defeat.They cursed the trolls and Sirius as they hurried away, their bodies aching and their pride wounded. Allegra, mad and furious , was the first to speak while they were running, "I can't believe we failed so miserably! This is humiliating!" she spat."It's not our fault," Vesper yelled, "The trolls were just too resilient. They must have been given some sort of enchantment.""And maybe that was Sirius's doing to humilinate us!" Circe shouted, "I told you that he wasn't going to let that mirror matter to slip!"They ran deeper into the forest, trying to put as much distance between them and the trolls as possible. Their breath came in ragged gasps, their lungs burning from the effort. The forest grew denser and more oppressive, the air heavy."Maybe we should split up," Vesper suggested, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "It'll be harder for them to follow us if we're not together."Allegra shook her head, "No, we should stick together. It's safer that way."Circe didn't respond, too focused on navigating through the dense underbrush. She cursed Sirius under her breath, wishing she could confront him and make him understand the gravity of their situation. They were his companions, his most trusted allies, and he was treating them like pawns in some twisted game.As they sprinted away, finally the trolls lost their track and they were already out of the forest on a green field, the sun shining brightly in the sky. They put their hands on their knees, trying to even their breaths.The way back to the castle looked long and unreachable. Their bodies ached from the beatings of the trolls and they couldn't shake the feeling that this was Sirius's wicked plan, to make them look powerless. Allegra's legs gave up as she sat on the ground and leaned on a rock, followed by Circe."I told you, sisters, he wasn't going to let that slip," Circe said tiredly."Shut up you too! We're all together in that. That time, I'll be us who'll teach him a lesson and prove how wrong he was to mess with us!" Allegra said furiously as she looked at her dirty, sticky skin and brushed her dirty long blonde hair with her hands."That time, he has crossed the limits! That guy really needs a lesson. And all this for what? For a freaky mirror," Vesper said with the same fury."I'll tell you Vesper, the root of the problem is the slave scarface. We stole the mirror because of her. She's the reason of our humiliation!" Allegra exclaimed, her voice dripping with venom.Circe kept listening to her sisters, knowing that replying them wouldn't be taken into consideration."And let us see what he will do when we eliminate his little captive," Vesper replied, her face red by anger and defeat."My little who?" The familiar voice in front of them, startled them as they saw none other than the sorcerer himself, "well, well dear ladies, how did the confrontation with the trolls go?" He asked with a mockery smirk, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "or did you get defeated by some little dwarfs?" He said as he saw their poor state.Vesper narrowed her eyes, her fists clenched, "This was your plan all along, you didn't tell us that these fucking trolls were enchanted and difficult!" She yelled."Difficult? A potent witch would have been prepared, Vesper. Or perhaps, you're not as powerful you think yourselves?" He taunted."Cut the crap! You never meant for us to succeed!" Allegra said angrily, mirroring Vesper."This was just your plan to make us look bad!" Circe added."It's not my fault that you three couldn't handle these grotesque small creatures. But it's not a big problem. At least, I know now well enough what the potential of my allies is," He said smirking as he leaned on a near tree and crossed his arms."Allies? Well, that's not what allies are Sirius. You set traps for us, and then you talk about allegiance. That's bullshit!" Vesper said."You're showing clearly that you aren't on our side!" Allegra added."We're all on the same side," he said, his voice persuasive, "I just wanted to teach you a little lesson, of what comes when you defy me.""Well, then, keep your little lessons for someone else! You haven't seen all we can do, Sirius," Circe retorted."Yes, you haven't!" Allegra said through gritted teeth.""Oh, so you're all turning against me now?" He asked and faked a sad smile."You were the one who turned against us first! What was the need for all this?" Vesper hissed."Adherence Vesper, adherence. I warned you three for one thing only, don't come near Regan. And what did you three do? You followed your own useless plans, disobeying me."Allegra who was growing impatient second by second, stood on her feet and walked closer to him."We've told you one thing, since the start of all that, we are partners, and partners don't take orders from each other. Besides that, what the hell is so interesting about Regan?" The blonde asked, her voice dangerously low, her orange eyes piercing at him, with a burning fire."Ah, my dears. You underestimate Regan. I know what you three think. You think that I'm willing to keep her inside that castle? I'm not. But I can't let her go and wander around, ruining my plans," his face took a serious look, "That's why she's kept there, so she doesn't cause any trouble. She's a dangerous one, not like the ordinary ones you encounter everyday." He finished his speech, solemnly."You've said that so many times. What are your so important plans?" Circe suddenly asked, noticing how her sisters' mouths were sealed. She knew of his plans for dominance and conquering, however she couldn't help but think that there was something else, something more that he wasn't showing on the surface."My plans? My plans stand the same. I'll finish Regan off, when the right time comes," He confidently said, his gaze distant on the horizon, although deep down, he knew that was a doubt.As he spoke of his plans the sisters exchanged glances. The air was thick with tension, and Circe couldn't shake off her skepticism."And what guarantee do we have that you won't betray us once Regan is out of the picture?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing.Sirius, wearing a sly smile, replied, "I've invested too much in our allegiance. It's in my best interest to keep you three by my side. Besides, we've been through thick and thin together, haven't we?"Vesper, still seething from the recent humiliation, hesitated but nodded in reluctant agreement. "Fine, but we're watching you closely, Sirius. If you cross us, you'll regret it," Warned she."And don't think for a moment that we've forgotten this little lesson you taught us. It won't go unanswered. You ruined our looks and pride," the blonde added.With a feigned sincerity he extended his hand towards them."Agreed. Let's put this behind us and focus on our common goals. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with."The witches, with a mixture of distrust and resentment, reluctantly shook hands with Sirius. As they turned to leave the accursed forest, the atmosphere remained tense. Circe, who was cautious about all that, whispered to her sisters, "Keep your eyes open. I don't trust him entirely."