MAY: The Ultimate Writing Challenge by CK continues

Theme of the month: Unexpected Magic and Hidden Powers.

Prompts:

• A character stumbles into a magical market only open at midnight.

• The new moon brings with it a surge of unpredictable magic. What happens?

• Write about a cursed object that changes hands three times in one day.

POV: the magical market

Kola was almost about to give up on her quest to find the one thing her master had told her to bring. She had managed to collect herbs and other resources just fine, but this object and place were so strange compared to everything else she had done before. She didn’t know what she was supposed to find and from where, but she had a name and a small piece of paper that were supposed to be given to a specific creature on the magical market of Sawith. Her master, Glen, had told her that the market would only appear on this night of the year at midnight for two hours. Last apprentice hadn’t found it so Glen had discarded them from the training. She didn’t have that chance. She HAD to find this creature from the market.

               Stumbling in the woods at night wasn’t new to Kola, yet she preferred to have some light source with her. She usually tried to make it back to the house before it would get too dark. Yet Glen had specifically instructed her not to have lights and to go to this direction. Sawith was a difficult place to find, because it was protected with spells against the forest trolls who would destroy it completely.

               From between the trees in front of Kola, a soft light glimmered. Had she finally found the market? Carefully, Kola slowed her steppes to appear quiet and gazed through the green branches of the pine trees. Trying to stay hidden in the darkness yet still see was she in the right place.

-Who are you looking for? asked a deep voice from the other side of the trees Kola was peeking through of. Stumbling a few steps back, Kola tried to see who had noticed her. On her right side, she saw a strange looking rock. Maybe twice her size, a few meters tall. Covered in moss and decorated with smaller stones as a necklace over the body of rock stood a klipti. They were said to be the protectors of different places, and this one was apparently the protector of the Sawith market.

-My master sent me. She told me to find a creature called Ptrista, Kola muttered respectfully to the rock-looking creature.

-Enter, was all that the klipti said in answer.

So Kola walked through the trees into the small square lit with dim lanterns. There was a pathway in front of her, both sides containing different-looking shops and tents. There were a few creatures walking and adoring the various items around the market that Kola recognised, but still so many that she couldn’t name. She walked along the creatures, admiring all the spell bottles and charms on the tables of the tents.

-Excuse me, I am looking for a Ptrista, have you seen any in this market? Kola asked multiple vendors without any luck.

It was getting late, yet Kola didn’t have any luck. She didn’t dare to buy anything for herself, as she tried her best to find the creature. If she wouldn’t, she would lose her spot and thus never make her mother proud.

-Young creature, whispered someone to Kola. She didn’t see where the voice came from, nor anyone talking to her either.

-Yes, you. Walk to the last booth on your left and you will find me, the voice echoed gently. And so, Kola obeyed the orders, wondering if she was making a mistake.

By the last booth on her left, was a green tent full of glass and metal items. There wasn’t anyone to be seen though:

-Hi, I am looking for a Ptrista. Did you summon me here? Kola tested the ice with a stick.

-Who sent you? echoed the same mysterious voice. Yet Kola didn’t see anyone.

-My master, Glen Krishkiela.

-I see. So, you managed to find me at last. Step into the tent and leave your belongings behind the selling table, the voice demanded. The young creature obeyed again and dropped her backpack onto the ground carefully.

The tent was larger than it looked like from the outside. Plenty of different items hanged from the walls and the ceiling while the ground was covered in carpets and large pillows. Kola saw a creature she thought would have been beautiful from the voice she had heard, but oh was she wrong. In front of her, she saw a strange being of leaves, moss, roots and something that looked like blue skin. Covered in strange and old strips of fabric in brown and whiteish colours. The face was of an old being, full of wrinkles and in the shape of a hexagon.

-I assume Glen gave you the note? The bluish creature murmured in that mystical voice that echoed in her head. They didn’t have to move their lips at all to talk, so they must have telepathic skills, thought Kola.

Kola didn’t dare to talk more than necessary she just placed the note from her pocket on one of the pillows on the ground. The creature didn’t move anywhere again, yet the note floated carefully in front of the creature’s three large eyes:

-Ah, yes. And how are you going to pay for this? asked the Ptrista. Pay? Glen never mentioned anything about a payment!

-Yes dear, you must pay with something to get this item to your master. What will you offer?

-I don’t have anything valuable…

-It doesn’t have to be physical if you don’t own items. What do you offer? shrieked the creature, getting slightly protective. Kola didn’t even know what the item was and how valuable it was. How could she know what was appropriate offering?

-Respectfully, I don’t know what my master is asking me to bring, so I don’t know the value of it, Kola muttered in a slight fear of angering the strange looking Ptrista.

-A bundle of your hair could work, offered the Ptrista.

-What are you going to do with it? Kola started to grow vary. Hair could be used for so many evil things in their world that it was dangerous to give it to the strangers. And even if the Ptrista answered to her question, it wouldn’t mean that the creature would follow their words:

-That is my business. Will you offer something else instead? grunted the Ptrista. Kola was running out of time. She would have to start getting back before the market would disappear after the clock struck one in the morning.

-Okay, how much is enough to you? And shall I cut it myself? was Kola’s only answer. The creature smiled at that. That didn’t mean any good to her. She hoped that she wouldn’t get in trouble for doing this. There must be a reason for everything, right?

The creature sent a picture of how much was enough to Kola’s mind while scissors found their way into her small and dry hands.

After cutting a handful of her hair off, she let go of the scissors and they disappeared in an instant:

-May I have the item my master requested? Kola demanded finally.

Luckily the creature wasn’t from the most evil side of the possible creatures and made the item appear in the bag:

-I shall write a note to your master about you retrieving the item finally, so wait before you leave, the creature said calmly in Kola’s head. It was the first time Kola saw the creature actually moving. And the way the creature moved would stay in her head for the rest of her life; unlike other forestry-type creatures who use their roots for moving, the Ptrista grew square-like wheels that moved only with great effort. But why move if the creature could just make other objects move to her? Or then ask Kola to move instead?

-Come a bit closer and offer your hand, the Ptrista commanded gently. Kola once again obeyed and had to withstand the power of the creature as one of the leaves dropped from its body onto Kola’s hand:

-Now you may leave. Don’t loose this and don’t say thank you when you go. Just go and leave the hair on the pillow, the creature said as a way to say goodbye. And so Kola put the leaf into her pocket and left from the tent, leaving the magical market behind as well, hoping her master would be satisfied with her work.

(This month's text is raw aka non edited due to my holiday trip and busy schedule)

Thank you for reading this and being a part of my author-journey!

(not my own picture, it was taken from the wix library - but I was chilling at a similar looking place)