Chapter 99. Missing Witches

Ally's POV

The evening air clings to my skin like a second coat, heavy with the scent of pine and impending rain. In my hand rests a stack of parchment invitations, their edges curling like leaves in autumn, each bespeaking the union of two souls intertwined by fate- or so the gilded letters claim. My pulse keeps time with the rustle of paper, a metronome of anxiety as I make my way through the village, distributing promises of merriment and celebration.

I pause at the edge of the clearing, where the forest begins its dominion over man's attempt at civilization. Here lies the dwelling of the reclusive witch, an entity both feared and revered within the Luparian Kingdom. Dawn stirs within me, her presence a reassuring weight against the unease that tugs at my insides.

With measured steps, I advance towards the witch's abode- a cottage cloaked in ivy and mystery. The door stands unadorned, save for the runes etched into its surface, whispering secrets