- Wishing Well -
Ninth day in the in between
The following day everyone went off to lurk around the third chapter. Mia read the map and the possible clues Alfredo gave them to find the second part which is the weddling willow.
"Okay why did Alfredo verto whateva his name is wrote down clues not the dang location!" Yeonjun complained
"No one specifically knows where the parts are hidden Alfredo just wrote down where it could possibly be" Sky shrugged
"I hate this creator of yours why won't he just be a chill cool dude? His literally giving me a head ache"
"Don't we all get a headache from him?" Lewis slightly rolled his eyes
"I miss the good old days where humans could freely interact with the characters" Mia sighed
"Too bad Astreaus passed away he was a great leader" Sky looked at them
Astreaus Elingard the original first ever creator in the in between. He led the land peacefully making good decisions for the world. Astreaus ruled the in between for decades and he never really ages...
He stays youthful since no one really gets old in the in between. If your created as a teenager you'll stay as one something does not happen in real life he also lives alone with the staff in the palace walls.
Astreaus spent his time thinking, creating new characters that will somehow make a personal impact in the land. Each character is unique in its own ways no one has the same traits or likes.
Unlike the new published characters... A special ink that only works for the creator is used to make these people. Astreaus writes all of his creations down in a book locked away in one of the towers.
Its been a while since In between got new useful characters that will somehow help their world. The land began to loose it magic that it beholds before, things began to change a lot to the point its useless.
"Why what happened to Astreaus?"Chaeryeong asked
"He passed away mysteriously years ago... no one really knows the reason behind his death some say he can't handle ruling the land anymore so he gave his title to Elecrio before vanishing" Mia answered
"Ew don't even mention his name that idiot needs to be unnamed or even better banished from this land" Sky flinched in disgust just hearing their current leaders name
Elecrio Lieote the new leader of the land... he has a lot of dissimilarities with Astreaus. Unlike the old leader Elecrio is more on focused about power and perfection.
He makes countless unneeded rules, repetitive characters, big killing threats to the world and so on. Elecrio never thinks about things he just do what ever comes into his mind.
He believes the humans is a big disgrace to the land and decided to ban the entry. Elecrio placed this protective seal to the book preventing anyone to get in.
But as time passed by his 'seal' started to fade away. Causing difficulties to enter and leave the world... And the teens were the unfortunate ones to get in especially at this time.
"His puuuuurfection is amazingly perfect according to him" Lewis mocked
"Okay why don't you just yeet him out of his position?" Beomgyu said
"What's yeet?" Sky innocently asked
"Basically he means to remove him out the role" Yeji explained
"Even if we wanted to 'yeet' him out of his position we can't the palace walls are sealed no character can get in unless he brings them down which only happens once in a blue moon"
The palace is surrounded with this big huge protective seal not allowing anyone to enter. Its only brought down during the celebration which only last for a day or two.
"The only thing every in between character wishes is to get a new leader who could lead us back to the right track.. everything is misplaced"
Lewis said that made Hueningkai thinking
"Can characters be leaders?"
"Sadly that never happened in our history.." Mia shook her head before looking back at the map
"Enough about our leaders what's important is to bring you back home before it gets too late i don't want you to feel more torture" Mia added as everyone gathered behind her and took a look at the map.
"Now the weddling willow is said to be hidden around this specific place the only thing now is to start finding it" She folded the map as a huge village was revealed.
"Well we should get to it..." Sky happily turned into a boy and starting to hop away
"This doesn't look like a village IT LOOKS LIKE A DANG CITY!" Hueningkai shouted
"this will be a long day help me" Yeonjun sighed before sloppily following the others
➳
They all started to divide in groups of four, Mia with Lia and Yeji, Sky with Taehyun,Beomgyu and Yuna, Lewis with Yeonjun and Soobin lastly Chaeryeong, Hueningkai and Ryujin together.
Mia decided to give every group a certain part to search. Things will be easier for them afterall their a thirteen membered team. "Can you not really get out of the book? Or can you?" Lia looked at Mia
"Well i don't know.. were always told that going out of the book will kill us since were just fiction"
"What if that's just a saying? Maybe you can get out of the book for once and become the first ever fictional character to walk in earth!"
"That sounds cool but i doubt that will ever happen"
"Everything is possible" Yeji smiled while walking with her little paws
"I just wish that we could freely interact with the outside world.. like make a copy in the in between if its even allowed"
"But we all know that ain't happening with the creator we have... Freeing you from our world and our cruel leader is the least thing i could do knowing theres a whole life waiting for you back at earth" She added as Yeji and Lia nodded
Mia has been really trying her best to get this mission over as quick as possible just to save her new friends from the celebration. Yeji felt bad knowing Mia, Sky and Lewis will face something terrible once this is all over because of them.
"Won't you get punished after you help us?" Yeji tilted her head
"Well i don't really mind being taken away from this land....i mean what is the worth in existing in this wasteland when your not even happy anymore?" Mia answered Yeji watched the girl continuing to walk as she went in front of her.
"We'll help you get a new creator too" The fox said as Mia raised a brow
"You had sacrificed a lot already knowing that your risking your life just to get us out of here... Let us help you in return" Yeji raised her paw for a high five as Mia smiled and crouched down gently held her paw.
"Yeah! Think of it as a trade.. we get back to earth while you live happily again in" Lia placed her arm around Mia's shoulder before they continued searching for the weddling willow.
Meanwhile with Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Hueningkai the three were busy looking through the market stalls because of the hungry young boy admiring every single food in the third chapter...
"Oooh what's this?" Kai pointed at the twirly piece of candy in a stick
"Is fairy floss would you like to buy some?" The vendor said
"Oh so its cotton candy?"
"Nope.. its literal fairy floss made by multiple diffrent talented fairies"
"So what flavors does it have? Blueberry? Strawberry? Apple? Raspberry? Blackberry? Banana?" Kai cocked a brow
"Its all of those in one"
"Okay sold! One please" Hueningkai took out three wickles that Mia provided them with and paid
"Hueningkai can we go now?You raided the whole damn market!" Ryujin exclaimed
"Wait.. i haven't tasted that yet" Hueningkai took the fairy floss from the vendor and swallowed a whole piece in his mouth
"This is heaven" He replied and offered some to the girls as they politely declined
"I don't get why they call it fairy floss when its technically just cotton candy" Kai said continuing to eat
"the vendor said its made by fairies with unique talents so i think is sort of different?" Chaeryeong answered as the boy shoved her the fairy floss he was just eating and ran up to another stall.
"Your kidding me" Ryujin facepalmed herself as Hueningkai bought a pack of wormlies, a sour gummy textured candy made out of real worms.
"Wow thats cool fairies with different talents making candy like?Thats so amazing!" Kai said as he started to stuff more wormlies in his mouth.
"I don't even think were gonna find anything by the end of this search" Ryujin shook her head as she snatched the pouch from Kai and threw it across the market place.
"HEY! I WASTED TWO WICKLES FOR THAT YOU KNOW?" Kai sassily crossed his arms and glared at the girl before taking another packet out of his pocket.
"Hm at least i bought another one" He flipped his hair dramatically before walking away looking at his nails.
"This kid i swear" Ryujin mumbled as they both followed him from behind looking like nannies taking care of their boss's spoilt child.
"Faster ya'll!" Hueningkai clapped his hands from afar as Ryujin and Chaeryeong decided to take a different turn leaving the boy alone.
"Hey! Don't leave me" He ran after them
➳
As hours passed by nothing turned up for the other groups and its getting dark. Taehyun, Beomgyu and Yuna went to their meeting spot with the others early and decided to know more about each other.
"So your telling me you two has been trying to get inside the book and did a lot of rituals with a lady named Mrs. Seo?" Yuna asked as they both nodded
"Didn't she think that your crazy or some sort?" She added
"We tried to tell others.. Police officer Kim, Police force front desk Dian—"
"Ehem you mean that annoying bratty police man and his money faced front desk?" Beomgyu coughed
"Yes.. uhm that.. We even tried to tell your parents but they wouldn't believe us except Mr.&Mrs. Kamal" Taehyun continued
"Even my mom didn't believe you two?" Yuna widen her eyes
"Damn.. my mom believes in old people beliefs but she can't believe this? Woah something must have possessed her mind" Yuna shook her head
"Mr. Baldy head's irritating words" Beomgyu said disgustedly by just thinking about that old man
"Its surprising to know that you decided to help us to get back" Yuna looked at Beomgyu as Taehyun coughed
"He actually had been in the in between before.. just coming back for the second time" Taehyun explained as Yuna was surprised
"By why tho? Aren't you just risking your life bro for people you barely interacted to?" Yuna chuckled as Taehyun glanced at the boy beside him
"Unless there's another reason why your coming back here dude" She added
"Well i have a promise to fulfill" Beomgyu replied with a small smile on his lips
"To who? Sorry man i'm just curious the in between has a different type of tea and its not my taste" Yuna said as the rest of their team started to arrive
"Oh my lord my legs—" Soobin laid down on the grass as Yeonjun started dragging him up the hill
"Boi you have dang long legs and your tired? what about me?" Yeonjun grunted while pulling his friend up to the top
"Shut up Yeonjun i'm tired i walked a lot today okay?"
"What about me? Didn't i walk too?"
"You sat and chattered with lewis while i did most of the work.. actually i did everything" Soobin glared while laying down
"Ahaiajnanajajaja shush i was keeping an eye out for those minions and threats" Yeonjun let goes of Soobin's arm sat down and tried to catch some air
"I need water" He fanned himself
Lewis sat down in the middle of Beomgyu and Yeonjun as he looked at the boy. "I just wanted to say your visuals are overflowing you look like a
star—" Lewis fanboyed as Beomgyu looked around.
"Your talking to me?" He pointed to himself as Lewis looked behind him too
"No i'm talking to the damn tree" Lewis sarcastically replied "Of course not i'm talking about you"
"Oh wow um.. thanks" Beomgyu replied not knowing what to say. The boy loves his face more than anyone he knows its just weird that i came from a person that he barely talked to...
"But i also want to say my friend Ryujin felt uncomfortable when you were staring at her yesterday so better keep your eyes off her" Lewis patted Beomgyu's shoulder
"She said that?" He widen his eyes as the dwarf - elf shook his head
"No but you could see from her actions.. why do you have the right to look at her?"
"Well i'm her be— Boyfriend? Boi really? Woah i need to find another person to admire on then" Lewis cuts him over as Sky smacked his head with a thick twig, Beomgyu quickly shook his head after hearing what Lewis said.
"No no no no i'm her best- friend- not that but i'm not sure if were still considered as one.." He awkwardly chuckled as Lewis nodded
"Okay then keep your stares to yo—" Lewis eyed the boy as Sky cuts him off
"Lewis how many times i told you to shut up?this mission is serious so snap out of your dream we need to get this mission over with so you my friend snap back to reality" He whisper shouted to him
"We need the the smarty Lewis not this one so snap back to yourself since your a changing dwarf while she's a fearless independent human" Sky added before sitting beside Soobin who was fast asleep.
"Gosh can't take a joke seriously dude as if i'm gonna shoot this brown haired boy down" Lewis said before taking out something from his pocket
"Wormlies anyone?" He looked around waving the packet in the air before opening it
➳
As everyone finally gathered to the meeting spot they formed a circle. Ryujin was about to sit down as no space what's left Beomgyu quickly shuffled away and tapped Taehyun's shoulder to make space.
"You can sit here" Beomgyu patted the ground as Ryujin looked at him and back to the grass
She sat down but Ryujin stuck with Chaeryeong making another empty gap between the two. "Okay so what did you find" Mia asked taking a look at everyone.
Soobin who was still asleep was woken by Hueningkai's aggressive tapping on his shoulder. "What? What happened?" Soobin sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Did you find anything connected to the weddling willow?" Mia looked at the boy who just woke up but he just fell asleep again
"Well i think that's a no... what about the rest? Did you guys find anything?"
No one found anything about the weddling willow... this is so far the biggest village they been to in the in between and wasn't able to find anything at the moment.
"So what do we do now?" Sky scratched his head
"We could rest?" Yeonjun suggested as Yeji poked him using her sharp fox nails
"Stop thinking about resting! We'll not rest until we find that willow so stand up"
Everyone looked tired... its been such a crazy adventure so far. They barely get to sleep by just thinking about what could happen to them while resting. Chaeryeong took a look at the others who were getting really sleepy then suddenly she spotted a well..
"How bout we freshen up before we continue searching for the willow?" Chaeryeong said as she stood up from her place and went to the old well.
It was covered in moss from the outside and the water looks pretty clean. She took the bucket and lowered it down the hole. The others followed and started to wait for their turn to use the well.
"Hurry up would you? He's heavy!" Hueningkai complained while carrying Soobin heavy arm around his neck
They washed their faces as one of them felt thirsty, Yeonjun formed his hands into a cup and scooped water. He started to drink it as Yuna watched him in disgust. "That's disgusting..."
"Well at least i won't die from dehydration" He rolled his eyes before continuing to drink the well water..
"Myyyy gosh! I wish that i would stop feeling sleepy" Yeonjun gripped on the stone wall as he suddenly felt something strange
His face brightens up as his hair got fixed a bit aswell. Yeonjun didn't look like a haggard old retired man anymore. "What happened to you?" Ryujin asked as Yeonjun checked himself.
"Huh? I looked better than i am before hm" He flaunted
"But how did you get refreshened like that?" Soobin looked around with his eyes half asleep
"I don't know" Yeonjun shrugged
"Maybe its the well water?" Mia said looking around the well as she saw this sign
"Yep its a wishing well, Every chapter has one its where your wishes will be granted but wishes such as money, love, evil, death will not be tolerated" She added
"So i could wish for more wormlies" Hueningkai's face lit up as Soobin's heavy arm was still hanging on his neck
"Sure.. but the well only works for some time then you have to wait for another three to five years? So wish wisely"
"I wish to—"
"I WISH TO GET OUT OF THE IN BETWEEN" Lia shouted as nothing happened....
"Wishes such as getting out of the world never works.. the only way to get out is to reassemble the Ephellerium staff"
Yeji then stood up and went to the well's rim she looked down at the water looking at her reflection. "I wish to get back to my normal human form" Yeji wished closing her eyes.
Suddenly the well water glowed so as the little fox.. Yeji looked at her paws that soon turned to hands, her legs longed and the fur disappeared. She touched her face and took another look in the water... "I'm back" She said to herself.
Yeji jumped in joy finally returning to her regular form. Its not everyday your wishes get granted... She stretched her arms and her back as it snapped
"Oh wow.. i need to exercise again" She rubbed her back.
"Growing old sucks" Yeji added as the rest chuckled
Hueningkai had enough of carrying Soobin's arm around his neck. He throws his arm away as the boy landed on his butt bumping his head to the well's stone finish. "Whoops..." Kai covered his mouth as something started to open.
A secret compartment was revealed.. Hueningkai took a peek at the empty space as he saw something. He reached out his hand as his eyes widen. "The weddling willow?"