A Journey That Changed The World

Archer turned around only to see a sight he never expected to see. Ophelia was standing there, wearing overalls and a thick coat, wrapped in a winter cloak. Her purplish/black hair was tied into a messy bun with random strands of locks hanging in front of her face, making her look beautiful.

The older woman’s violet eyes narrowed as she continued. ”You look older, more mature than the boy I met all those years ago.”

”Life happens, I control a worldwide empire, have children, and grown up, Ophelia,” he replied, a charming smile crossing his face.

”So I’ve heard, the great White Dragon Emperor bringing life and happiness to the people,” she quipped. ”All Draconians worship you like a god; it becomes irritating after hearing your name constantly.”

”Something wrong with it?” he asked, eyebrow rose.

Ophelia huffed, turning to her cabin as she ignored his question and offered. ”Would you like to come in for dinner? It’s going to get cold tonight, the Long Winter is only getting worse.”

Archer nodded. ”Alright.”

The older woman ushered him into the cabin, a warm and inviting haven. Plush carpeting cushioned the floors, save for the polished wooden entryway that glowed. The space was tastefully adorned, with comfortable sofas arranged in front of a crackling fireplace. He was impressed but turned his gaze to Ophelia, who made her way toward a small kitchen.

”Do you drink tea?” she suddenly asked.

”Yes,” Archer replied, approaching the witch as he questioned. ”This place is lovely, is it a permanent home?”

Ophelia gave a slight nod. ”It is, I hope you don’t mind me being here?”

”No, you’re fine to stay,” he answered with a smile. ”Why would I care? I’m glad you’re here and away from the Alliance.”

When the older woman heard this, her eyebrow rose as she inquired. ”How is the war going anyway?”

”There isn’t one at the moment, the Alliance called for a ceasefire months back,” Archer replied, chuckling. ”It’s allowed me to sort out many things across the empire; it’s been refreshing.”

Ophelia’s eyes widened before she giggled and shook her head. ”Doesn’t surprise me, I’ve watched the armies march by in the millions and can see your navy patrolling the sea around the island.”

Following that, Archer and the older woman continued talking about life, and he found out Ophelia felt bad because some students were killed during the invasion many years ago, and now wanted a quiet, peaceful life. He understood and agreed to warn people not to come here in search of her.

As the beautiful witch heard his words, a radiant smile lit up her face. She responded in a warm, melodic voice. ”Thank you, Archer. I truly cherish my life here, especially when loneliness doesn’t linger.”

”Can I visit you? So you won’t be lonely anymore?”

Ophelia glanced at him as she stirred the tea after pouring it into two cups and nodded. ”That would be good, sorry I didn’t see you the times you appeared, but I wasn’t in a good mindspace thanks to everything that was happening.”

Archer waved her away. ”It’s fine, some people need their space and this place is perfect for you,” he responded.

Following that, she opened up more and spoke about the creatures she bought from traders in the nearby town to sustain herself. He offered to give her some more, which the older woman happily accepted. Once they drank the sweet tea, she decided to give him a tour of the place.

Ophelia’s violet eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she gestured toward a narrow wooden door tucked into a corner of the cabin. ”Come, Archer, let me show you my new home and what I’ve created,” she said, her voice brimming with pride.

She led him through the door into a small, dimly lit laboratory, its walls lined with shelves of colorful vials, herbs, and peculiar instruments that glinted in the flickering light of a single enchanted lantern. A sturdy wooden table sat in the center, cluttered with bubbling flasks and a worn leather journal open to a page of intricate runes.

”This is where I tinker with potions and spells,” she explained, picking up a vial of shimmering emerald liquid. ”This one helps plants grow, even in the harshest winters.”

Next, she guided him to a cozy library opposite the lab, its walls covered floor-to-ceiling with bookshelves stuffed with ancient tomes, scrolls, and trinkets. A plush armchair sat by a window, bathed in soft sunlight filtering through lace curtains, but all that could be seen now was a snowstorm.

”I spend hours here,” she said, running her fingers fondly over a leather-bound book with glowing sigils on its spine. ”Some of these texts are older than the forest itself.”

Finally, she led him outside to her garden, an oasis shielded by a dome of mana that pulsed faintly in the air, keeping the cold out and allowing everything to grow as if the Long Winter wasn’t a thing. Rows of exotic plants, some glowing, others swaying as if alive, thrived within, their colors vivid against the earthy tones of the surrounding forest.

”This shield keeps out pests and prying eyes,” she said with a wink, brushing her hand against a flower that hummed softly at her touch. ”It’s my pride and joy, Archer. A little piece of magic I’ve carved out for myself.”

She turned to him, her smile warm but tinged with curiosity. ”What do you think of my little world?”

Archer gazed around the garden, marveling at the vibrant blooms and the faint hum of the mana shield overhead. ”It’s incredible,” he said, his voice tinged with awe. ”You’ve built something truly special here. It’s like a piece of the mountain’s heart, nurtured by your magic.”

Ophelia’s smile deepened, her eyes crinkling with warmth. ”You’re kind to say so. It’s taken years to shape this place into what it is.”

She gestured toward a winding path lined with luminescent mushrooms that glowed faintly, even in the daylight. ”Come, there’s one more spot I’d like you to see.”

She led him down the path to a small stone bench nestled beneath a towering willow, its branches draped like a curtain around them. The air here felt cooler, charged with a subtle energy that made his skin tingle. A tiny fountain bubbled nearby, its water sparkling with flecks of light that seemed to dance to an unheard melody.

”This is where I come to think,” Ophelia said softly, settling onto the bench. ”The mana shield is strongest here, and the wilds whispers are clearest. It’s where I feel connected.”

Archer sat beside her, the bench creaking faintly under his weight. ”Connected to what?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

”To everything,” she replied, smiling. ”The forest, the mountain, the creatures, the magic that flows through it all. It’s a reminder that even in my solitude, I’m never truly alone.”

She paused, then turned to him with a playful glint in her eye. ”But enough of my mumblings. Tell me, Archer, what brings you so deep into these woods? Surely it’s not just to humor an old witch with tea and compliments.”

Her question hung in the air, light but probing, as the fountain’s gentle trickle filled the silence. Archer shifted, a thoughtful look crossing his face before speaking. ”I was in Starfall City, which is abandoned, and I came across the College of Magic and remembered you. So I decided to come here to see you.”

When Ophelia heard this, her smile grew wide as she looked at a nearby red plant that snapped up a fly that passed above it before turning back to him. ”Even with all those beautiful young women surrounding you, you still think of me?”

”How can I not?” he replied. ”You were my headmistress back in the College of Magic, who has helped me out more times than I can count and is drop-dead gorgeous?”

The witch’s cheeks went bright red at those words, but she shook her head and curiously asked. ”Even though I’m so much older than you? You still like me?”

”Mary, Brooke, Embera, Malakia, and a few others are all your age or much older than me,” Archer revealed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ”And Mary gave birth to my Antonia, so older women aren’t left out, Ophie.”

Ohpelia’s eyes widened in shock, awe, and a few other emotions. She shook her head and spoke in a low voice. ”So you don’t care if I cannot give you children?”

”Nope,” he reassured. ”But you’ll become a mother to thirteen little gremlins, and they love their mothers.”

The older woman giggled. ”I’ve heard Princess Freya is a female version of you. The newspapers had pictures of her with Sia when they were out in Dragonheart City.”

”Yes, the empire loves the princes and princesses,” Archer agreed. ”At least they’re not hated like some back on Pluoria or the other continents. It makes traveling around easier without anyone hating us.”