Part 3:

Alessa's Castle

"So, who exactly is this Alessa woman?" Thomas asked to no one in particular. After they left the Unicorn Spring, Nyllay began leading them east, into the direction of a sunrise.

"A powerful sorceress," Nyllay said. "She built her home in a mere night. Even among dragons, her strength is admirable."

"But what sort of magic user is she? Battle mage? Weather witch? Is her magic with plants? Or elements? Or divination? Does she make magical tools? Is she fully human, or fae blood?" Thomas pressed.

"Wind and Earth."

"Have you met her?"

"No."

And the conversation died.

It was much farther to reach this magic-user than it had been to reach the Unicorn Spring. It took several weeks before they reached the point where Nyllay vanished once more. The supplies they boys had brought with them were dwindling quickly, and they had to find some means of restocking between this task and the next.

The castle, while not the largest the two had seen, was by far the most ornate. It had a theme of vines and lilies in its build. Johnathan, trailed by Thomas, walked to the front door, which was made of heavy, sturdy wood; runes of intense power were artfully carved all over it, and the doorknobs were in the shape of a lily, gleaming and forged from brass. It shimmered in the light of the sunset.

"In one night, she created this?" Johnathan whispered, mostly to himself.

"If the outside is this intricate, what's the inside look like?" Thomas said in awe, not bothering to keep his voice down.

"Shh!" Johnathan hushed his friend. The whole place had an aura that deserved respect and reverence, like an old church. If an old church were so fantastically built, with so much put into its design, and not very old looking. Johnathan reached and knocked upon the door.

It was a few minutes before it opened. It revealed a woman with moonlight-blonde hair, and the most lovely caramel eyes that almost glowed in the fading light. Both contrasted with her deeply tanned skin.

"What is your business here?" her voice was soft, but clear. "It is well known I do not wish company."

"Then why'd you open the door?" The confusion was evident in Thomas' voice, and Johnathan elbowed him for his lack of manners.

"You must excuse him, he lacks anything resembling a filter," Johnathan apologized. "Are you Alessa, the magic-user?"

"I am. What is your business here? I refuse to help any more villages with crop failure, or towns with sickness." Alessa shuddered delicately. "They merely scorn me for my aid."

Johnathan had an idea. "I wish to help you with something, in return for hearing my story. I have no desire to take anything from you, without giving a fair return."

She raised a brow, clearly curious. "Then I suppose you may come in."

Alessa ended up serving Johnathan and Thomas dinner. Johnathan noticed as they conversed, him telling her his story, and her telling him hers, that the woman was very lonely. She was very much enthused, if not a bit shy, about being able to talk to people who didn't fear her. Apparently it had been a problem—Johnathan knew very well that people tended to fear what they didn't understand, or was a power greater than they. But alessa was a very kind woman, and strongly reminded him of his Aunt Morgana. She was even of a similar age, in her fifties—and like Morgana, she looked to be a much younger woman. She looked like she could have been younger than them. It greatly saddened him to see her in so much loneliness and sorrow.

"I was nineteen when discovered my magic," Alessa sighed. "There was a landslide that trapped me and the children I was watching under the rubble. They were crying and screaming in fear and suddenly the magic burst out, causing the rubble to shift and freed those of us who were trapped. But the children were still scared, but of me. The town I had grown up in soon chased me out, blaming me for the accident in the first place, despite the fact that I was the one who prevent any casualties. From there, I went from village to town to village, attempting to learn my magic and use it to help people. I had, before being chased out, been trained under the healer of my once-home village. But the moment the townspeople or villagers discovered my magic, they chased me out. Even the ones that had initially sought me for aid in rebuilding or healing. Every one of them. And so I went away, south, where the land were sparse in terms of human and abundant in magical folk. I created my castle, and it is here I've remained. Other than the two of you, my only visitors have been fae-folk and the like."

"I admire that you tried so hard to help others, even if they rejected you. It's not right, what they did, not at all." Thomas looked highly annoyed, making Alessa laugh.

"You are sweet, to pity me. But it is the fate of our kind. Humans don't understand us, so they fear us, and thus will always attempt to destroy us. It is the way of humans."

"Are you not human yourself?" Thomas asked.

"Not entirely, I know that much. How else would I be so old yet look so young? But what my non-human blood is, I know not."

"It doesn't have to be that way," Johnathan said. "I've told you my goal to create a kingdom for magic-users to be safe and welcomed. I only need to complete the last two task and the kingdom will be a reality. You could come live with my people, I know for a fact they would welcome you with open arms. They know all too well what persecution for having magic is like."

"That is a very kind offer, but I wish to live the rest of my life in near-complete solitude. I have had my fill of the general population." Then she smiled, softly. "But I will help you in your aim of creating this home for your people. You are a good lad, and I hope you remain this kind for your whole life. You will make a fine king. But for now, why don't you two rest? It's been along journey, and I'm sure you are both exhausted. You both may use one of my rooms."

"That would be greatly appreciated, thank you."

The next morning, they had breakfast with Alessa, and she asked them for some help in her gardens. As it turned out, the entire second floor of the castle was gardens, and it was only possible through very specific kinds of magic, which Alessa was well versed in. They helped her until midday, when she served them lunch and surprised them with a container. Within were perfectly miniature lily plants, four of them—one colored with oranges, reds and yellow; another shimmering white and silver; a third in shades of violet and blue; with the forth being metallics of bronze, copper, and brass. They were beautiful beyond anything they'd seen in the gardens, clearly from the special lily garden Alessa had asked them to leave alone.

"These are for your task with the fae king. I hope you both manage to create that kingdom of yours, and I hope it provides solace to all who seek it," Alessa smiled softly at the two of them. "And thank you for your help in my gardens. The flowers will return to full size one removed from the container, and I've filled your saddlebags with supplies—I noticed they were running low."

Johnathan was touched by her sincerity, and felt compelled to gift her something in return. It only took a second before he had an idea of what to give her. Reaching up to his heck, he pulled the key from under his shirt, pulling it over his head, and proffering it to her.

"It was the key to my Aunt Morgana's workshop. As you know, she was another magic-user who sought to help others and was eventually rejected for it. It has given me no small comfort the past few months, perhaps it will bring you some comfort, as well. To remind you that you aren't alone."

With a look of surprise that softened into something almost…sorrowful, yet hopeful, Alessa accepted the token with a sincere, heartfelt thanks. She bid them farewell, and then they were off.