Sofia watched the bright shimmers around her gleam and fade while she shrank to the floor. She bit her lip, waiting for anyone who heard or saw the light to come out and catch her. No doors opened, so she was safe for now.

The little princess took a step forward onto a plank and listened for a creak, hopefully at this size she wouldn't provide the weight needed for it to make a noise. It wasn't, and she stepped fully onto it, and onto the next, getting closer to the rotunda at the center of the house.

She made it to the banister, and rounded it to the stairs. Winifred and Goodwyn were rather short, meaning so was the stair railing, good. She climbed the carving in the post to the top, slipping off her socks and stuffing them into the pocket of her nightgown. She sat and positioned herself for the curved way down, and slid all the way to the bottom, pressing with her feet to keep traction. She would hate to imagine the fall if she didn't slow down before the ramp at the bottom of the rail.

She made it, and slid off as easily as she did the bed earlier, and brought her amulet close, "make me big again." with no one around, she felt more at ease with the glow the power produced.

It was here that Sofia found herself at a bit of a loss. tutor sessions with Mr. Cedric taught her a lot about magic, one lesson in particular being the guide for this investigation:

"All magic has the potential to be dangerous, but charms are a very different kind of danger. Charm spells were made for the purpose of altering or controlling an individual, more if the caster is strong enough."

Mr. Goodwyn was charmed, the signs were there: unfocused stare, inarticulateness, lack of autonomy. But Sofia was still just a novice when compared to even the simplest of sorcerers, the amount of help she could actually be weighed on her, at some point or another, she'd have to involve Cedric. Preferably later. Especially since the controller seemed to be his own mother. A Cedric unwilling to believe anything Sofia had to say about his mom was just as much of an obstacle as Winifred's magic.

Slow down, one thing at a time, remember the lesson.

"The strength of the charm is dependent on two major factors: the sorcerer's magical aptitude, and the type of charm in use. Most charms require a sort of catalyst to ensure the hold on the victim stays in place so the caster doesn't have to themselves. Some common catalysts are jewelry, mementos, anything of personal value.

Sofia inspected the trophies, plaques, and display cases, nothing seemed wrong with any of them. Even if there was magic inside any, it wouldn't be much good in controlling Goodwyn, personal items was key, and after years of collecting, Sofia doubted that Goodwyn was emotionally attached to any of the baubles here. Winifred had lots of jewelry, but she wasn't the victim, and her kids and husband had none. Object charms was out.

"charms meant for a group of people are bound by sigils, and get their potency from how frequently they're next to their caster, their target and for how long. Commonly, these are placed in rooms with lots of activity, ballrooms, living rooms, dining areas..."

Winifred's kids were under some kind of spell too, yes, but Sofia didn't bother looking for any sigils. It would require frequent contact, Cedric and Cordelia had their own lives, and thus neither visited enough for such a charm to work. And using a group charm on only Goodwyn would be a waste when object charms were more efficient.

"However, there are some charm spells that are too strong for a catalyst, and can only be cast and held in place by an incredibly powerful sorcerer with the magic to spare to maintain it. Though most only last a couple weeks, barely months, as even a few days can take a lot out of you. There was one case of a sorcerer controlling his wife for nearly a whole year before the strain killed him. Going beyond that would be completely out of the quest-put your hand down, Sofia, it's impossible."

Sofia could find no magic in the trophies, Goodwyn wore no jewels, Cedric either, Cordelia did, but not often enough to be special or to work, calista hated jewelry, and the whole family was never together enough for a sigil charm to work. The only possibility left was one that chilled Sofia to the bone. Winifred, kind, encouraging, patient Winifred, was capable of casting and maintaining multiple charm spells with no catalyst and multiple targets for fifty two years. Winifred who told stories from her youth, doted on her son, and held conjuring contests, possessed an incredible reservoir of potent magic far beyond what even the most skilled sorcerers could even hope to amass in their entire lifetime of pure dedication to the arcane.

This was far beyond Sofia. This was beyond everything Cedric, the fairies, and even witches had taught her. No, not beyond, against.

Fear slicked through Sofia like oil, dripping from her fingertips to her elbows, then further till it pooled in her gut and made her sick with the need to vomit. She's felt this fear before. She felt a lick of it when the ship pulled into the harbor and her father told her queen Shuriki knew they were coming. It bubbled and groaned when she finally saw her in person, heard her speak, and welcomed them all to Avalor with a wicked smile and a battalion of guards who Sofia knew wouldn't hesitate to impale a little girl like her with one of their bayonets if their queen commanded it.

the true fear, however, grabbed hold of her on the carriage ride into the palace. One touch to her amulet, and the memories that weren't hers thrashed in her head like the bull fights her mom and the uncle she never met watched as kids back in Galdiz. Forty-one years of bitter grief and anger that was princess Elena's only salvation. Elena, a fifteen year old girl, barely older than Sofia was, who could still be called a child by most, unhesitant to take a life in exchange for life taken. Shuriki who looked right at Sofia with those cold eyes and smiled the way only ruthless, unfeeling monsters can after all they've done.

Sofia, who had a job to do, a story to finish, who grit her teeth and bore through the terror, and smiled back at the murderer sitting beside her.

But this was no story she could give a happy ending, she had no quest, this was her, alone and directionless to save a man, a family, from a powerful sorceress she couldn't afford to underestimate. Could she even overestimate?

Wait, the secret library! If any place had knowledge about a sorceress as mysterious and powerful as Winifred, it would be that! She'd have to find a time to slip away though, not now, it's too close to daybreak. Tomorrow! She'll go for a walk, maybe spend time with another resident here at the meadow, get them to cover for her, then she could slip away to the library and be back before too long-

"And just what are you doing, skulking around in the dark, hmm?"

Sofia's blood ran cold.

authors note

like six chapters and it's barely the second day, not even, it's been like 12 maybe 15 hours probably

also damn did that carriage scene in the secrets of avalor shake me to my core

sofia didnt give a damn tho, straight up stepped on that witch's foot and yoinked her wand like nuthin

fr tho, this little girl is scary, and i will not tolerate any disrespect towards queen Sofia from anyone