Chapter 2
-Wishing Well-
A mist rose up from the well. Emily gazed at it. A beam of sunlight fell on it, causing the droplets to shimmer like splashes of wet paint. The colors blended to form the image of a young girl. Dressed in a quaint blue gown, the girl looked about Emily's age, about ten years old.
In a most enchanting voice that sounded to Emily like singing, the little girl said, “Welcome, weary traveler, to the wishing well. I have gone by many names, but I do prefer the name Kaleffa.” Kaleffa beamed at them. Entranced by her smile, Emily smiled back without thinking. Then Emily furrowed her brow when she discovered she couldn't stop smiling. “I am glad you are here. It has been many years since someone last visited. And now, I will grant you one wish.”
“Most excellent Kaleffa, one wish is all I need,” said Nameless. “I have traveled long and far for the sake of removing the curse upon me.”
Kaleffa motioned for him to wait, slowly closing her eyes. “Ah, yes, I can sense... several curses.” She screwed up her face for a second. “No. I sense more—much more. And you only want me to remove one?” She opened her eyes. “Which one?”
Nameless stripped the cloth from his face, revealing strange markings and scars on his skin. He pressed his fingers against a special mark on his cheek, which looked like a tattoo of a black sun with thorns.
She leaned closer to examine the mark, then frowned. “It is no wonder you are plagued by so many curses. The Curse of a Thousand Curses, without a doubt one of the worst. I know I said I would grant you a wish. But this is beyond me—”
“You can't do anything to help?” he asked, his voice tense.
She shook her head. “I did not say that. I cannot rid you of this curse—but there is something I can do. Hold out your hand.” He did so.
Kaleffa stretched out her arms, lifting her hands to the heavens, and began uttering words. Emily gawked as she saw wispy, blue words visibly flow from the girl's mouth. The words danced in the air... until a gust whisked them up into a swirling funnel. Then a loud crack sounded, and a light flashed.
Emily squinted up at the sun. “What's that?”
Out of the sky fell a small sparkling object bathed in the sun's rays. Nameless moved his umbrella aside and raised his hand to catch it, rain dripping down his wrist. The object was still glowing as he clutched it.
Nameless stared at it. “A silver ring? What am I supposed to do with this?”
Emily shrugged. “Why don't you try wearing it?”
He blinked at her. “You know what? That's a great idea.” He sounded pleased by the suggestion, but Emily wondered if he was being sarcastic. “Wearing a ring. Now why didn't I think of that?” He held the ring over his finger. “Well then, as they say on backwards day—there comes everything.”
As soon as the ring slid down his finger, he blacked out. It was as though someone had thrown a blanket over his head. He was blind as a bat. Then he saw something. It wasn't a memory and wasn't a thought. It was a vision.
A view of the continent was laid out before him. It seemed so real. He felt as though he were flying over mountains, through forests and down rivers. He could see places he had never been to before—faraway meadows covered in fuzzy black fur, and massive caverns inhabited by frost-breathing salamanders. His final destination was an astonishing place—a vast garden where diamonds littered the ground like rocks and the water glistened like gold. Then the vision disappeared.
“That's where I need to go?” he said, replacing the cloth on his face.
“Yes,” said Kaleffa. “The waters there will cleanse you of all your curses.“ She paused. “Now that I have done what I can for you, I have a favor to ask.”
“A wishing well is asking for a favor?”
“This is an exception, to be sure,” she said. “You see, Emily was placed in my care by her mother many years ago. Her mother's wish was that I would watch over this little one until someone came for her. All I ask is that you lead her through the forest safely.”
Wide-eyed, Emily looked up at the girl in the gown.
“Grandma, I don't want to go,” said Emily.
“My child, you must. It is time.”
“But Grandma...” Emily sniffled. “Why must I leave?”
Kaleffa smiled pleasantly. “Because the world needs you as much as you need the world. It is not good for you to remain here. And I cannot take care of you forever. Look.” The girl showed Emily her hand. Emily reached for it. Kaleffa's hand began to fade. Their hands passed through each other, unable to touch. “I am exhausted. I must sleep... for a very long time. Even if I wanted to, I cannot stay with you. So please, my child, let me see you go. Let me say goodbye.”
Fighting back the tears, Emily bit her lip.
Kaleffa said, “Emily—please.”
Her hands shaking, she said softly, “Y-yes, Grandma. I will go.” She swallowed, and then opened her mouth to say goodbye. But the words just wouldn't come out.
Kaleffa turned to Nameless, “I have not yet heard your answer. Will you lead Emily through the forest safely?”
He bowed his head. “After what you've done for me, how could I say no?”
“Thank you. You have... set my mind at ease...” Her voice softened to a whisper. “May your soul... find the peace...” Her mouth was still moving, but her voice had left her. Her form began to fade, flickering in the wind like candlelight. And finally, she vanished without a trace.
The two of them stood in silence in front of the well. Nameless looked at Emily. He sighed, then turned to leave. There was nothing he could do—except fulfill the wishing well's last request.
Keeping her head low, Emily followed after him. She resisted the urge to look at the wishing well, afraid she might burst into tears.
Down the hill they went. Emily's mind was in turmoil. It was all happening too fast. Her heart wasn't ready. She knew this day would come. But she never believed it could.
Nameless remained quiet. He didn't know what to say.
When they reached the edge of the forest, however, he could hold his silence no longer.
“You haven't said goodbye,” he said.
Emily shook her head wordlessly.
“I know it won't make you feel better,” he said. “But it might make it feel right.”
Emily said bitterly, “She's not even there anymore. What's the point?”
Nameless smiled. “Everything can have a point—as long as you give it one.”
Emily turned around. She saw the wishing well on top of the hill. It looked so small from afar. Teary-eyed, Emily waved to it and whispered, “Good-bye.”
Out of the blue, Emily felt an embrace—the tender, gentle arms of her grandmother wrapping around her one last time. A voice spoke into her mind. Good-bye, my dear sweet Emily. I love you. You will always have a home here. The voice giggled. I wish you well. Eyes fixed on the sky, Emily quivered as all her worries melted away. A big grin spread across her face.
“Hello? Hellooo?” Nameless waved a hand in front of her eyes. “You all right?”
“What?” Emily blinked unevenly.
“I said, if you need more time, we could stay a while longer. I know how hard—”
“No,” she said quickly, drying the tears with her sleeve, “I'll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I'm sure. Let's go.”
Emily wheeled around and stopped immediately. This was the first time she had ever gotten so close to the forest. It was frightening.
The forest looked unnatural—a place of horror and wonder. Though there was daylight where she stood, none of it could reach the forest. She narrowed her eyes, looking past the trees, into the darkness. She could see nothing there—only darkness, complete and utter darkness, as if the forest had been smothered in black ink.
She stretched out her hand to touch the darkness. It wasn't her imagination. There really was something strange about it. She was able to grasp it—a black airy substance
that slipped through her fingers when she made a fist. The darkness was touchable.
“Scary, isn't it?” said Nameless.
“Is it supposed to be like this?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I don't know. But I had a rough time coming here. And I'm sure it'll be rough on the way out. So stay close. We don't want to get separated. Not in a place like that.”
She took hold of his hand, and they went into the forest together.