Spindly arachnids weave fragile webs between the branches of trees; he brushes them away with ease. The road is ridden with brambles, suggesting years of neglect. His ears tingle with the ribbitting of frogs as he cuts away the final thorn to unveil a secluded spring, encircled by a concrete wall. Upon the wall are mystical runes; remnants of a forgotten language.
Ezra, Dakota and Laurel shortly arrive at the scene. Their eyes scan the vicinity; the still spring water, the gargantuan ferns, and the googly-eyed frogs that watch them from atop the moss-covered rocks.
Ningan approaches a crumbling wooden sign at the water's edge and reads:
Spring of Wishes -
Place an offering before the Spirits of Engrove, and may your wishes be granted by their divine influence.
Be warned: every wish comes with a price.
"Curiously daunting." Ningan mutters.
"What are we waiting for?" Dakota chimes. "Let's test it out!"
"You don't truly believe in all that hogwash, do you?" Ezra scoffs.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Dakota huffs. "And I'm going to prove it."
She extracts a blue Rupee from her pocket and tosses it into the water. It impacts the surface with a delicate splash.
"What did you wish for?" Laurel asks.
"I'm not telling!" she insists. "Now it's your turn!"
"I'm not one to engage with superstition…" the knight declines.
"It's a little harmless fun! Besides, you never know when luck could strike you!"
Laurel shrugs and withdraws a yellow Rupee from his wallet. He launches it into the water and listens for the splash.
"There. Now it's Ningan's turn."
"Me?" Ningan frowns. "I'm not sure I trust this…'magic'…"
"Come on, Ningan, man up!" Dakota snorts. "What's the worst that could happen?"
The ninja peers into the clear smooth surface of the spring. His youthful reflection gazes up at him with curiosity and wonder. Do it!
He fumbles about in his satchel for a suitable offering. He wields a red Rupee in his fingers and hurls it into the water. The weight sends a plume of water shooting into the air.
"Your wish held plenty of conviction there!" Laurel chortles.
"Guess you'll never know." Ningan sneers.
"Alright, now it's Ezra's turn." Dakota commands.
"No!" Ezra refuses. "I decline to partake in this nonsense!"
"Come on, Ezra, what's the matter?" Dakota says mockingly. "Are you scared?"
"Everyone else has made a wish." Laurel reiterates. "Why don't you join in with us?"
"As Dakota said; it's a little harmless fun." Ningan pipes.
Ezra eyes his companions warily before reluctantly drawing a single green Rupee from his pocket. He flicks it into the water and watches it drop below the surface.
"There. Are you happy now? Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be gathering some very specific ingredients."
The scholar storms back along the dirt-track, leaving the spring as nothing more than a distant memory. Laurel and Dakota snigger to themselves before they catch up to him. Ningan casts one final glance over his shoulder at the mystical pond before merging into the trees.
