Cindo's Path: Door with the Slipper

Key:

"": Speaking

(): Thoughts

*Alakazam!*: Spell Incantation

/Hello, Readers\: Magic Book Speaking

Chapter 1

I walked calmly towards the door with the Slipper on it. I opened the door to see the castle in front of me. Stepping through the door and allowing it to close behind me, I sealed my path.

Looking wide eyed at the castle in awe. It was tall, white with hundreds of windows. Two large towers stood on the southeast and north-west ends of the building. A long staircase led up to the large entrance which a royal crest above it. Above it was a golden balcony surrounded by glass windows that seemed to pull it all together. I slowly spun in a circle to see the entire courtyard and garden on either side of me and the gate out to the town behind me.

Looking left, then right I started thinking what I should do next. Shrugging, I walked to the left side garden. I was so impressed with the garden that I didn't see the small step that led down into it. With a gasp, I found myself meeting the grass and my staff rolling off. I groaned. I knew this happened in the game, but did it have to hurt?

Standing and dusting myself off I went off in the direction my staff rolled.

I soon came to the center of the garden. There was a fountain that bubbled merrily, trees cut square and hedges covered with flowers. "Wow!"

Just looking around, my staff was pushed to the back of my mind. I looked around in amazement. I then heard footsteps coming towards me and I turned around.

We froze when we saw each other. He was tall with silver hair pulled into a ponytail over his left shoulder. Part of his bangs hung down on his face most of it between his eyes, other pieces framing his face. He had a sharp jaw, thin nose and lips. His eyes though... they were amber in color like honey. He was wearing brown pants and boots, a white shirt with a high collar and open partially in the front to show the collarbone and a brown vest with grey designs on the shoulders. Three emerald colored fastener buttons held the vest together and a golden belt hung over his waist. He had an air of royalty about him, so I asked the first thing that came to my mind.

"Are you the Prince of this Kingdom?"

He starred at me in shock. "The... what?"

I slowly walked towards him. "Well, it's just... You seem to have this air about you that I've only seen on Royalty in all my travels. But by your reaction I guess I'm wrong..." I was now directly in front of him, a look of curiosity on my face.

"Prince...' he batted his eyelashes in shock at me before he laughed. 'You say the craziest things!"

I pouted. "Sorry. Said the first tuning that came to mind when I saw you."

He shook his head. "I'm flattered really, but no prince would wear servant clothes like these." He gestured to the clothes he wore.

"True. Unless he was trying to get away from all the Lessons, Lords, Charity Lunches and 'To-Do' lists for a few hours." I shrugged making my point.

He raised an eyebrow. "You must have come from the farthest backwater village, if you don't know what things are like in the city."

I glared at him. "I'll just pretend you didn't insult me. I've been living with my grandmother in the village for a year. Before that I lived in the city. But it was nothing like this."

He shook his head. He got a far-off look in his eyes and blushed a bit with a small smile. "A prince, huh..."

I observed him as he stood there. He was quite handsome when he's silent and smiling, even more when he's laughing. But I could tell he hasn't done much of either for a long while. He blinked out of his daydream and gave me a curious look.

"What are you doing here, by the way? You don't look like one of the castle maids."

I sighed. "I've been traveling around a lot lately but when I passed by the gates I tripped, and my grandmothers staff rolled away into these gardens. I've been trying to find it before any guards pick it up."

He looked at me worried. "You came in here without permission?' When I gave a shrug he grew even more worried. 'This may be a small country, but this is still the royal castle. You'll get in serious trouble for entering without permission."

My eyes went wide as he continued. "If the guards find you, they'll take you to the guardroom and torture you until you confess what you were up to. If they think you're a secret agent or an assassin from an enemy nation, you'll be executed."

I blinked then became serious. "Well, I guess, with how I look some might think me odd. But if I told the full truth of how I got here I'm not sure if anyone would believe me. It was mostly an accident anyway."

He looked at me in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say I have a few magic tricks up my sleeve."

Before he could say anything someone shouted. Turning, we both saw a guard heading our way. "Hey, what are you two doing here?"

The man beside me replied that he was waiting for his stepfather, Lord Aster, and stepbrothers to return from their meeting with the King. I knew I had to either think of an excuse quickly or use some of my staffless magic, knowing it would sap my strength. Deciding on the latter, I pointed my ring and pointer fingers on my left hand at him and muttered under my breath. *Memoria Imperium.*

A silver stream of magic left my fingers and circled around the guards' head before disappearing. His eyes became glassy and dim as I spoke. "You are to forget about me and go about your business. Understood?"

The guard nodded and bowed to me. "Yes, Milady." With that, his eyes returned to normal before he walked off. I turned to look at the man beside me to find him starring opened mouthed at me. I sighed.

"Well, I think that's enough trouble for one day. And I really cannot do anymore staffless magic today, lest I collapse in exhaustion.' I reached into my satuel and pulled out my broom, making it hover above the ground before climbing on sidesaddle. I looked at the silver-haired, prince-like man and said. 'If you want answers from me or you find my staff, come find me at the front steps of the palace. I promise I'll be there, even as an Enchantress in training, I always keep my word." With that, I took off, knowing he would find my staff and the real story will begin.

(She flew! Is she really an Enchantress? An Enchantress who got here by accident. She said she can't do anymore staffless magic today. Without her staff she can't use magic. In that case, there's only one thing to do!)

I reached the front steps of the palace, only to find the door that brought me here to have disappeared. "Just as I expected. The door is gone. Let's get started!' I pulled out my Magic Book. '*Ut mihi non loquaris Magicae Libro!*"

The flew open, stopped on an empty page as silver mist rose from it forming words. /Magic Book is not here right now. Please leave a message after the beep. BEEP!\

I rolled my eyes. "Cut it out! Anyway, give me the details."

/Well, as you know, Magic Doors disappear once closed in order to prevent misuse. There are two options you have. One: You wait a hundred more years till you are powerful enough and had more training, but I doubt you'll want that.\ I growled out a 'nope'. /So that leaves the second option: Pray for people's happiness, fulfill their wishes and grow as an Enchantress.\

I sighed. "Alright. But we can't goof off. I still will practice some of my magic daily. Don't make me be the mature one in this relationship."

/Fair enough. I'll not mess with your training, but I'll withhold anything that's above and beyond your level at the moment. Remember, this is a test for you, to make you grow into a first-class Enchantress. Use your magic to make someone in this world happy. When you do, you'll pass the test, and the door will reappear.\

"There you are."

I turned around to see the silver-haired man coming towards me from the bottom of the staircase. The Magic Book sprouted a misty question mark before I closed it and returned it to my bag. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Weren't you looking for this?"

He flashes something at me. It's my staff, no question about it.

"That's my staff alright. Where was it?" I asked not reaching for it because I knew he would probably want something in exchange.

"You said you dropped it. I found it near the fountain."

"Ah.' I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. 'Part of me doubts that your doing this out of the kindness of your heart."

He seemed a bit surprised I read him so easily but regained his composure. "You can't go back home without this, can you?"

I nodded. "Yes but it's a bit more complicated then that. Magic Doors disappear once closed to avoid misuse or someone going somewhere their not supposed to.' I shrugged. 'I'm still in training so I can't really summon one up. I'm not that powerful yet. I'm supposed to use my magic to help someone achieve something that would make them find their 'Happily Ever After', but I don't know where to start."

Suddenly, another guard saw us and started towards us. "Hey! State your business here!"

I looked the man in the eye and knew exactly what he wanted. Grandmother had warned me about these things and told me to always take it seriously. "Thou'd wish to form a contract with an Enchantress?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Then name thy terms!" I said my voice singing with magic. The world around us slowed as the magic started bonding us together for the contract. His eyes widened even more but he still kept a stern face.

"Swear yourself to become my slave!' I blinked in shock even though I knew he would say that. 'You can't go home; you can't use anymore staffless magic and you can't get out of here without this staff. If the guards catch you, you might be beheaded. Correct? If you had the staff you might be able to escape. And that very staff is in my hand right now. Therefore, you only have one choose. Submit to me and tell me you'll be my slave. Beg me to let you use the staff."

I raised an eyebrow. "Thou must know, magic cannot do everything. If I help thee gain happiness, thou wilt have to pull thine own weight."

His eyes flashed a positive that he understood but said, "Do you want to get caught?"

"Slave is rather a cruel word for one such as thee to call one such as I."

"I'm not asking you to serve me forever. Just until you fulfill my wish. If you're a real Enchantress, it won't take very long."

"The time it takes for thine wish to be granted depends on the how much thou wants it to be true. It always goes as such." I told him sternly and he twitched a bit.

I sighed. "What be thy name?"

"Cindo." He said.

I nodded. "Then Cindo, I Anneliese, Granddaughter of the Enchantress Hime, shall serve thee until thou gains happiness. *Haec dicta sunt, contractum hunc signatum!*"

We both shuttered and gasped as the contract sealed and bound us together. The magic surrounding us that slowed time disappeared and everything returned to normal speed. I came closer to him and whispered. "Just because we have a contract doesn't mean I will always obey so I'm only saying this once.' I cleared my throat and made a cute face that made even the coldest heart melt. 'I swear I'll be your slave, so please save me."

He blinked before smirking and nodding. "With what little I know of you I expect nothing less. And since you were such an obedient little slave, here's a reward for you.' He handed me my staff. 'Here. Do something about those guys."

I looked at him with a smirk. "Okay. But you better play along. Our contract didn't say anything about me not hitting you with a couple of jinxes and hexes if I wanted." I said, putting a little singing in my voice.

With a mental picture of what I wanted; I used a confusion spell on the guards before changing my outfit to that of a simple girl from the country. I was now in a cream and amber dress with small flats on my feet. My mother's choker still hung around my neck but my satuel had gained a more well used look. I dug in it and pulled out a simple diamond and amber ring and placed it in his hand.

Lifting the spell, I placed on the guards to make them think I've always been wearing this dress, I brought tears to my eyes before hugging Cindo around his neck. I then spoke as the guards came into hearing range. "Cindo, please don't make me go back! Father will try to beat me again! Or worse have his way with me before killing me like he did with Mother! I know we aren't married yet but please let me stay with you!"

I inwardly laughed at the horrified faces the guards were making when they heard about my 'Father'. Cindo looked at me in surprise before putting on a caring face and holding me in his arms. "Don't worry Anneliese. I'll make sure he never lays a hand on you again. But why couldn't you have waited for me outside the palace gates? You knew my Stepfamily had a meeting with the King today." he asked pulling away a bit and cupping my face with the hand not holding the ring.

I shook my head as he wiped away my tears with his thumb. "Father chased after me. If I stood outside the gate, I just knew he would catch me, and I would never see you again! I had to slip in to find you! He may still be there, and I don't want to leave alone!"

My inner self was rolling on the ground laughing at the guards' expressions. Shame they would forget about us as soon as they were at least a mile away from us. I could tell Cindo was also amused by their reactions by the look in his eyes. He nodded before holding up the ring. "I'm sorry it took so long to get this for you but better late then never right?"

He slipped it onto my ring finger. "Now it's official." He muttered kissing it. He then looked at the guards with a raised eyebrow. "Do you mind?"

They stuttered their apologies and started leaving, some of them muttering about checking to make sure my 'Father' wasn't still at the gate. But soon a silvery mist left them as they walked away, and the mist went directly into the ring on my hand.

I stepped a bit away from him and took off the ring putting it in my satuel while allowing the illusion on my clothes to fade so they were back to normal. "That was fun. I would have put them to sleep but I like a good prank now and then."

He smirked, patting my head. "You were quite an actress."

I grinned but then frowned. "While I thank you for returning my staff to me and playing along, I still don't like the fact I'm a slave."

"Get used to it. Just call me 'Master' from now on."

I sighed. "So Master, what is it that thou wishes?" I asked being formal again.

"Right, I need to explain that but...' Suddenly seeing something over my shoulders and groaned. 'Ugh, here they come."

I turned to see who he was talking about. The elder man was handsome that was sure. He had dark blue hair, small eyes that were dark silver. He was dressed in a cream-colored pants and dark boots, a grey shirt and vest. A cravat held with a red and gold clasp was around his neck. He had a dark blue jacket over it all and lined red, gold and purple. Behind him were a pair of twins. Both had shoulder length brown hair and green eyes but the one on the left wore a red dress shirt with a white, black and gold suit while the one on the right wore a white dress shirt with a grey, back and red jacket. Both boys were looking at me with interest.

"Hey, Cindo. What are you doing here? I thought I told you to watch the carriage.' He glared at my new 'Master'. 'You've got nerve, ignoring orders so you can hit on girls.' He then turned his eyes to me looking me over. 'Who's this dirty-looking girl?"

I was insulted a bit. I knew my clothes weren't something from around here but there was no need to insult me. If I was thinking right, this was Lord Aster. I had to admit he was more handsome in real life then he was in the game. I curtsied to him. "Excuse my appearance, my Lord. I've been living with my Grandmother Hime in the country the past year. I only just started out on my own."

The twin on the left then came forward. "Whoa, it's a country girl!' He took my chin in his hand, looking me in the eye. 'She's cute!' He gave me a small smile before looking over at Cindo. 'Where did you find her, Cindo?"

The twin on the right then came and stood on my other side and turned my head words him with a smile. "She sure is cute! Where did you get her?"

I knew at this moment my face was turning red. And how could I not? Two handsome twins were complimenting me.

"I met her in the garden just now.' Cindo said. 'One thing led to another, and I saved her life. Now she insists on helping me. I'm thinking of taking her home with us and making her my maid."

I looked over at Cindo with a raised eyebrow while Aster hummed. "What a strange girl.' He muttered before turning to me. "Hey. What's your name?"

I slowly unwedged myself from between the twins and curtsied to him again. "My name is Anneliese, my Lord." I made no mention of my magic yet in case...

"Miss! Miss! I found no one at the gate! So perhaps your abusive father has left!" We all turned to see a guard heading out way.

"Whoops! Missed one!" I said holding up my staff. I could tell Cindo was annoyed at this as he most likely didn't want me to reveal that I was an Enchantresses. Pointing my staff at the man I said, *Memoria Imperium.*

The silver stream of magic left my staff and wrapped around the guards' head and his eyes dimmed. "Forget everything that has happened in the past few hours. It has just been a normal day at the palace for you. Are we clear?" He bowed with a 'Yes, Milady!' before his eyes returned to normal. He inclined his head to Lord Aster and the other three men, ignoring me, then left.

I sighed and leaned on the wall beside the steps. "I'm running out of energy. Please ask no more magic from me today. I wasted enough as it is!"

Lord Aster then chuckled, looking over at Cindo. "A maid who can use magic like a magician? So, you want her as an ally, huh? Ha! You're wasting your time trying to oppose me."

Cindo growled. "Shut up, you old fart. I'll get you if it's the last thing I do! Say your prayers!"

(Famous last words!) I thought rolling my eyes.

Aster growled. "Let us return home. Ruben, Toto.' He then walked over to me and held out his hand. I took it and he helped me up. 'Well, Country Bumpkin, if you really want to be a maid to repay Cindo for saving you, I won't deny that. But you must also help him with his chores as well."

I nodded and, with a smirk, he led me to the carriage.

Chapter 2: CLICK 7