"Ms. Nora, Ms. Nora." a flurry of voices shouted. Behind her, a small group of children rushed up to the girl they were calling out to. The girl in question turned around to see the group running towards her. She gave each of them a smile as she bent down to the ground to be at eye level with them. Her jade green eyes giving her a sort of mystical aura around her as people passed by the small gathering of little ones.
"Hello, everyone. How are you all doing?" she asked them all, never losing her smile. The children all replied with a simple "Fine, Ms. Nora." Her smile grew at their response. Nora had become a local favorite at a newly-built schoolhouse, down the path into another village, for children of all ages.
Eleven years had passed by ever since the dramatic, life-changing event that befell our maiden. The brunette had frequently volunteered and visited the three only classrooms that had been one of the many joys of her life. There were only three topics being taught in the school at the moment, Literature, Simple Mathematics, and Dance. Her dance skills were less than desirable, but she always loved to observe the techniques that every child came up with. Sometimes, she tutored many students on how to solve equations, nothing very advanced, but enough to further their education. She had dabbed a little in literacy, but mostly with storytelling, as it was the children's favorite topic. At the end of the day, two out of five school days, many of the children would come up to her and ask her for something. It would usually be stories, or help on math, but mostly stories. Nora, most of the time, had a new story for her to tell, but she would usually tell them repeats of ones she told in classes.
"We were wondering if you would tell us another story before you went back to your home." a tiny boy replied. Looking at him, she saw that he was one of the youngest with jet-black hair and big blue eyes. Nora smiled at them sadly.
"I would love to, but I really need to get back home, today. I have to help my sister with our flower shop." she kindly told them. They all responded with "aww", even ones that were longer than necessary. "I don't want to let my sister down. After all, a promise is a promise." she continued. After hearing that, the children, immediately, perked up. They knew the meaning behind those words.
"Now run along. And, if you're good tomorrow, I'll tell you two stories before I leave." Nora promised. The children cheered, and they all rushed off to their parents and homes. Standing back up, Nora smiled sadly to herself. She wished she had their enthusiasm. If she did, she could get things accomplished more than what she usually did. The brunette seemed to be pleased, though, considering that at least she could make little children happy. But, for how long?
Turning around, she was about to walk off and down the path that led to the gateway of this village. It wasn't big, but it was bigger than her own village. This village, Crop Plain Vale, consisted of farmers and they had just made enough money to build the schoolhouse that stood proudly in the center of the area. Outside of the huts, there consisted of crops, fruits, vegetables, trees, grass, and any other kinds of greeneries that could be picked and regrown for multiple purposes. Sometimes, Nora wished that her village could be like this one.
Reaching the gateway, the brunette looked back at the path through the village. It was sort of empty, with a few women walking to and from huts. All the men, during the day, were always out in the fields. They were proud to be providers for their families since their wives could make delicious meals out of the fruit they grew. This village was peaceful, and very untouched by the hands of war.
Nora continued on, passing the gateway, and started walking down the short path between Crop Plain Vale and Aromavale. It was just five hundred steps between the two villages, so she usually takes an hour to get back home. Her usual walk always takes her past the big camphor tree that concealed a certain spot that touched her heart. Looking at it with an empty expression, she turned her gaze back to the path as it led downhill towards her home. That part of her life, she thought, was over for her. So, there was no need to stop in her tracks and make her way towards a certain swingset.
"Well, it's about time you got here. Your sister was expecting you a few minutes ago." a voice said. Nora took a few steps past the gateway of Aromavale before being stopped by a fellow villager.
"Sorry, Lily. I was in Crop Plain Vale again." She said as she closed her eyes in embarrassment, rubbing the back of her head in the process. The girl, Lily, sighed in the process as she smiled at her best friend's sister.
"It's alright. At least you have an excuse. And I'm pretty sure Concordia will understand if you came from Crop Plain Vale." Lily responded. Nora just smiled. Her sister could be very understanding. "But we better go before her arms fall off. Besides, she'll need her darkness to complete this spell." the friend continued. Nora nodded and started rushing towards a certain building. The building in question was a two-story flower shop that was famous all around their country. Aromavale was famous for its rare find in flowers. One reason was all types of flowers discovered within their country could be found right here in this village. Just as much as Crop Plain Vale was famous for their farming. It made Nora happy to be born in this village, but it also disappointed her that it was marked by war.
Another reason for being famous was that it was home to two powerful witches, the Dox Sisters. Although their family name means "dark," they were good witches that often helped others in need, mostly in witchcraft. There was, also, a two-year difference in their age. Concordia was skilled mostly in healing and telepathic powers, which made her the more dependent sister. Nora was the one with the empathic and molecular speed powers, but ever since her life changed, her powers have weakened drastically. They were dubbed as the Harmonic Witches, but now, Concordia is the older Light Witch, while Nora is the younger Dark Witch. Together, their powers can solve any puzzle or riddle that comes across them.
Lily led Nora to where her sister was waiting. Concordia had white long-flowing hair that reached her waist. Right now, she wore a light-gray tunic and a black knee-length skirt. Neither of the witches were very flashy with their appearances. Concordia was stalling a woman client who brought in her son with a fish hook through mouth and out his jaw. The little boy was crying tears until Nora came in.
"You're here, finally. I've been dealing with clients all day. This boy is really scared, so let's get this thing out of there." Concordia said to her sister. Nora looked at the boy weeping horribly and winced when she saw the hook. Lightly shushing the boy, the brunette joined hands with her sister and started humming a tone. A soft glow radiated from their hands as they closed their eyes to fully concentrate. Putting their free hands on the boy, the glow started to emanate stronger and stronger until it glowed more fiercely than before. The glow blinded everyone until it suddenly ceased. The sisters released their hands and opened their eyes to see their accomplishment. Smiling, the boy felt at his jaw. There was no pain, and the hook was sitting in front of him on the table. The mother wrapped her son up in her arms and weeped gently at the successful deed. The two girls smiled as Lily congratulated both of them on their work.
"Next time, be careful with hooks. I may not know what had happened, but at least you can be cautious about these kinds of things." Nora told the boy. He smiled and thanked the sisters for their help. The two members left the shop and the sisters breathed a sigh of relief. Their work was never done.
"So, how did it go in Crop Plain Vale?" Concordia asked her sister. Nora looked at her sister in confusion, until she realized what she meant.
"Ohh, seriously Concordia? You can't go one full minute before you peek into my mind?" the brunette questioned, before walking off. Her older sister following her as she went upstairs, tagged along by Lily.
"Well, I'm just curious about what goes on in my sister's life. After all, you've been spending more time at that Vale than you do in your home Vale." she interjected. Nora walked into a room full of flowers and two beds each on the opposite wall. She lay down on the bed, her dress flapping in the soft breeze until it slowly hovered down onto her legs. Concordia sat on the edge of the bed while Lily stood in the doorway. Nora sighed.
"I just want a change of scenery. It can get a little boring being all cooped up in this flower shop." she stated. Concordia looked worried at her sister. She then looked at Lily. Lily got the message and walked away while closing the door, giving the sisters privacy.
"You don't really mean that, do you?" the older sister asked softly. Nora looked at her.
"Well… a little. I mean, aren't you tired of our daily routine?" the younger sister asked. Concordia sighed.
"You love the flower shop. You love helping people. I love helping people. We help those who really need us. I don't see what's so tiring about it. And I definitely don't see what the problem is." Nora sat up and beside her sister.
"The problem is we never get out of our Vale and see the world. Sure, we help those in need. But, aren't there other people out there who might need our help? Maybe there is someone we can find who actually, really, entirely, needs us."
"You're lying." Nora looked at Concordia. "I didn't need to read your mind to know that you're lying. You just want to forget about everything that has happened here in Aromavale." she stated.
"Isn't that why Mom and Dad left?" she asked her older sister. Concordia looked at the ground.
"Yes… but we aren't them. We chose to stay here and help the people that are familiar to us." she answered.
"Well… you did." Nora said softly. The eldest looked at her younger sister again.
"You wanted to stay here as well. I just want to make you happy. I just want to be with my sister. Even if that sounds a little selfish." Concordia muttered. She brought her hands together and looked outside the window opposite of the room. It looked like it was going to rain.
Nora kept her eyes on Concordia. Her older sister seemed a little hurt by what she was saying to her. Five minutes had passed by and the sisters kept silent to each other. They both were up and looking outside their shared window of their share bedroom. They didn't need much from the flower shop, so they stayed together in the same room. After all, they're stronger when they're together.
Once again, Nora looked at her sister.
"Why don't you come to Crop Plain Vale with me tomorrow?" she asked. Concordia looked at her.
"You never really get out of Aromavale, and it's been a long time since you've been there, too." she continued. The white-haired girl smiled at the offer.
"Sure. I guess a change of scenery for me wouldn't hurt." she replied. Nora jumped on her and they both fell to the floor in a laughing heap. Unknowing to Nora, Concordia looked at her sister with worry.
'I wonder if she truly has let the tragedy go.' she thought. She really wanted her sister to be happy.
