Forest Bay The Return Of Magic

Once she heard her name being introduce, a chill was sent down Effie's back. She practically had frozen in her spot. How did I get dragged into this? The female managed to set the basket down carefully, before capturing the funds and tucking them away in her pocket. Being forced into a conversation, she politely turned against her heels to face the duo conversing before her. Effie offered a soft, warm smile as she gave a short wave of her hand. "H-Hello." She took note of the female's occupation, assuming Effie would have a higher chance seeing her around town, more than in an all white room. The female tightened the grip she had against her basket, sinking her teeth into her bottom plump lip. As Alana questioned the goods Effie had just delivered, she instantly cleared her throat. "Ah! I just delivered a few bagels, breads, and pastries. We p-picked a few items that would compliment...stuff...with coffee." The female had finished, the confidence in her tone clearly lacking. "The uh...Caramelized Apple Loaf Cake is...I-uh...popular this season." Effie forcefully finished her statement, her colored hues fixated against the flooring of the coffee shop.


"Crap. Crap. Craaaaaap!" Groaned Eren as he laid in bed, glaring at the clock that laid beside his bed. "I'm late...again." He announced, huffing. The male had to physically bring his body from out of his bed to begin his morning routines, in a bit of a rush. His current career at the mechanic shop wasn't something he took too serious. It was like he just became incredibly lucky with scoring said job. He's always late, barely works, and spends most of his time messing with the clients. And yet, he still has yet to get fired. Now in uniform, the male was pacing down the streets to his job. He turned a sharp corner, before catching a glimpse at Saleme's coffee shop. "I mean, I'm already late. What's another five?" Eren muttered to himself as he gently shrugged his shoulders. The male burst through the doors dramatically, as a form to be playful and cause a few laughs. "Saleme, I need my usual and make it snappy!" He demanded as he swung his index finger in the air. Finally, Eren relaxed his shoulders and posture before chuckling. "Totally kidding. Not on my usual order, though. I need that. Just whenever you can." Glancing around, the male noticed the two female's joining him. "Morning ladies!"

Saleme would begin the process of making the latte, pressing the buttons rather rapidly “Alright shouldn’t take too long” he mumbled as Effie begun explaining what treats she brought in the basket.
“They’re really good, I sell them mostly at night to people who need that you know three am fix” he explained before Ewan made his ever dramatic entrance.

Adding the milk he handed Alana her coffee.
“Aye aye, it will be just a moment” He muttered setting up the machine to get Ewan usual “Your just lucky I’m in a good mood today I will give it extra snap” he said cheerfully before pointing at Ewan as he greeted the girls.
“Hey no ah not here lover boy, customers come for coffee not to be flirted with” he warned pointing his index finger at him.

“Five years, five years and everything runs smoothly. Five years and I get that lousy Witch into a coffee shop with no powers. Five years and I got that annoying handyman as my personal assistant. Even the scary Widow succumbed to the power of my magic. She works at a flower shop for Pete’s sake,” Ozuhus complained while pacing back and forth in his extravagant office. It was more akin to a small throne room than the office of a town official.

He took a seat in an excessively expensive looking chair and moved the crystal ball from the corner of his desk toward the middle. After the wish, everyone’s magic within Forest Bay’s boundaries was affected. That included Ozuhus. Once a genie with phenomenal cosmic powers, now he’s been reduced to a Mayor with eyes all over Forest Bay. Though he was capable of subtle seducing, something he used to continue winning election via landslide. “Something is going awry, but I just can’t put my finger on it…” He muttered, panning across all of Forest Bay for answers.

“Mayor Draheim, Bazyl Musa is reporting for duty. He’ll be up there shortly.” Ozuhus rolled his eyes at his secretary’s warning. Just a couple days ago, when he first felt something awry, Ozuhus ordered his secretary to make him aware of everybody entering to see him, employees included. With his charming ability, he didn’t need to offer much of an explanation.

Two knocks on the door were followed by a short pause. “Come in,” Ozuhus spoke loudly.

As Bazyl entered, he smiled curtly tho his eyes feigned respect. “Good morning Mayor Draheim, how are you today?” He asked, walking toward the Mayor’s desk. Ozuhus sat down, the crystal ball back in the corner of his desk. Papers were slung to and fro, in what Bazyl considered a messy pile atop the desk while Ozuhus tapped his forehead with a pen.

“You’re late,” Ozuhus responded, not looking up at him. “What’s on my agenda for today?”

Bazyl kissed his teeth in his head before opening his smart phone and scanning the calendar for today’s events. “You have a meeting at noon, followed by a meeting at 4 pm. I told the local elementary school that we’d let them know if you had time to show up and read a book to the kindergarteners.”

Ozuhus seemed to mull over it all before he looked up and met Bazyl’s eyes. ‘I’ve gotta find out why the magic is seeping back,’ he thought. “Get my coffee. You know how I like it,” Ozuhus said, a front to bring Bazyl back to his old gang that he didn’t remember.

“Yes sir,” Bazyl said, bowing slightly and backing out of the office. Once he closed the door behind him, he pulled the skin under his right eye down and stuck his tongue out. “Stuffy old man. No respect for anybody,” He complained, already out on Main Street walking toward Saleme’s coffee shop. He waved at Violet who had recently entered her Flower Shop. Once inside the coffee shop he plopped down in one of the seats nearest the counter. Inside were familiar faces, “hello all! Momentous day everyone?” He inquired before slipping Saleme a note with Ozuhus’ insanely long order written on it.  As Mr. Snuggles rubbed on Bazyl's leg he smiled and gently pet his back.  "Maybe I should quit my government job... you need help here at the coffee shop, Saleme?"

"That caramelized apple thing sounds lovely..." Alana began, biting her lip a little. She'd been asleep a WHILE. May as well make her first edible something special, right?

"Wait, you're open that late, Saleme?" She blinked, upon hearing about customers getting their 3am fix. "Do you never sleep?" She giggled, sipping her coffee, and biting into her sweet treat.

At this moment, Eren wandered in, exuberantly ordering a coffee, sparking a conversation with Saleme. She smiled as Saleme cooled his jets. "Morning, 'lover boy.'" She smiled over her coffee cup. She was looking forward to sitting with her coffee, and after a quick break, was going to see where she could start with her curse-breaking activity. The thought filled her with dread. There was another tinkle, and she had to keep her face passive as Bazyl walked in. He wouldn't know her.

= = = = = = =

Alone in the store, Violet took a moment to regain her composure. After each fever dream, camomile tea helped, but she'd just ran out.

"Maybe Saleme will have some?" She pondered, wondering when she could feasibly find time to have a break, absentmindedly waving back at Bazyl through the large clear, greenhouse-esque windows at the front of her store. She turned to the counter, where she'd left a basket of bulbs. She needed to plant these soon, for her calendar of seasonal plants to keep ticking.

Violet lifted one of the brown, dusty plant hearts in her hand, and shivered as it uncurled into 8 hairy legs, skittering up her arm. She started backwards, and the floor was full of them, making a beeline for her sandalled feet, and then they were on her, covering her bare skin, fangs lightly scratching her skin as they scrambled over each other on their way towards her eyes. She stood rooted to the spot, clenching her eyes shut, until her shop door bell tinkled.

"Just these roses, please, Violet." A kindly voice spoke.

Violet opened her eyes and turned around, to find Mrs Mundie, the older lady from down the street. The spiders were gone, the sunlight pored through the windows once more, and she shivered, plastered on a smile, and made her way to counter, grabbing some brown paper, and wrapping the flowers Mrs Mundie had picked out.

"The ones just about to turn, Mrs Mundie?" She asked politely.

"Yes, dear. I always like a bargain, and with my home made fertilizer I can nurse them back to fighting shape, you see." Mrs Mundie exclaimed proudly, handing over the money.

Violet placed the money in the old-fashioned till and smiled. "One day, I'll need to ask you whats in that fertilizer, you know."

"Your entrails, dear."

"E-excuse me?"

"Just household garbage, dear, eggshells and the like. Little dab of rooting powder, too, but I know you know all that, dear. You've got more flowers to care for, is all!" Mrs. Mundie gave a tinkling laugh.

Violet joined in, smiling widely, while inside she felt numb.

= = = = = = = =

Bazyl comes here, too? This confirms it. Even in the midst of the curse, they all find each other. 

Alana thought, sipping her coffee, keeping a low profile. No need to introduce herself to too many people, so soon. It would look too suspicious to be constantly announcing yourself as the new person in this little utopia. She sat back and watched Bazyl and Saleme interact, seeing them both healthy and happy and whole was motivating her more and more to free them from this curse.

Eren couldn't resist but chuckle at the exchange between him and Saleme. It wasn't as if he intended to receive such a 'status' as a lover boy, it just seemed to happen. The male would offer a soft shrug of his shoulders before curling his hand around his fresh cup of joe. Suddenly, his hues fell upon Effie, watching as she shyly stood in the far corner. He couldn't put a finger on it, but she looked so familiar. Eren rose the rim of his cup to his lips, carefully lifting to gather a good sip of the warm liquid. He didn't even realize that he was pretty much staring at the poor girl. But, what should he say to her? This was an odd situation. He never found it difficult to speak to the opposite sex, it came naturally for him. So, why was it so hard with this familiar female? Clearing his throat, Eren took a small step forward. "I don't see you in here often, are you new around town? I'm Eren." The male spoke in a soft, calming tone with his hand extended out towards her.

This would cause Effie's cheeks to grow a bright red. "I-I-I have to go!" She turned to face Saleme before offering a wimpish wave. "Thank you for your business. See you soon." Immediately after finishing her words, Effie gathered her belongings and left the building.

Eren blinked as he watched the female's departure. "Who is that?" He softly whispered beneath his breath. In the background, he could hear Saleme going off about his bike. "Hm?" The male turned to the barista and leaned against the counter in a relaxed position. "Oh, that old thing! Yeah, I'm actually just waiting for a part to come in and then I can get back to work." Eren took a quick glance around the room, which was followed by laughter. "Had it yet with the Mayor? I could always catch you a job with me. That is, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty." He would then push his weight from against the table, motioning himself to stand against his feet, and proceeded to take a seat alongside Alana without saying a word.

She took her staff and stirred the water.

The reflection of clear sky slurred into a mix of ripples and rebounds.

She sat near the forest, the green her bed and the water her sanctuary. Her ears tensed as a bush rustled from the forest.

With calm eyes and a stone face, she glanced to see who would be accompanying her.

A small fox with blue fur sniffed the ground around the bush before looking up to see the vast expanse before it.

Her eyes lit up, a smile crept upon her countenance. She ceased her stirring.

The fox joined her side and took a couple licks out of the water. She looked at the beast with fascination, her eyes locking on it as if she was hypnotized.

The fox lapped it's last, slowly raising it's head to meet her gaze. Water slowly dripped from its fur, its eyes glaring with a slight fire to it.

Her body lit up, her teeth peeking from behind her lips. She began to clap. Incessant clapping. Excited clapping. It drew attention from the few people nearby, she never made noise.

A bird perched on her shoulder, a rabbit poked out nibbling its carrot. Two stray dogs from town circled to join in her joy.

Then she stopped. Her hands stuck together as if glue was applied mid-clap. Her eyes open, shocked.

There was 16 eyes in the shadow of the forest. 2 stringy, hairy legs reaching for her, beckoning her.

The animals around her began to cry out, the beast reluctantly retracting back into the forest.

She took up her staff and sat again, tears welling in her eyes.

"O God. Protect us."

Alana was stumped. How am I supposed to reverse this curse? They're all so used to this life.

She sipped her coffee thoughtfully, thinking it through.

= = = = = = 

Violet shook herself. As her customer left, she decided that was it. She sprinted over to the coffee shop, and burst in. Remembering herself, she tried to compose herself.

"Sorry, hello, Saleme. Could I order a camomile tea, please? I'm a little...shaken."