As the first light of dawn pierced through the window, I slowly woke up. Lying on the floor, I felt the coolness of the ground beneath me. I opened my eyes, the rays of the sun licking my skin. I sat up, feeling every muscle in my body protest against the morning cold. I stretched, chasing away the stiffness in my limbs. The birds began to sing, greeting the new day with their joyful melodies.

I sat for a moment before deigning to get up to dust off my clothes. In the fireplace, there was nothing left but a poor little pile of cold ash. Miss Green Apple didn't seem to be awake. I sat down again and grabbed my bag. What exactly is in it?

I opened the bag. All my school stuff had been replaced by funny objects. For some, I knew the use: the small dagger and the rope that I had already spotted. There was a compass. I grabbed it and looked at it intently. It was so beautiful. All golden with small engravings. I opened it, the background was a sparkling blue. The compass rose in the center was engraved in a golden color, which made me think of gold. The needles were silver. I put the compass away and grabbed a second object. A kind of magic wand, straight out of a fairy tale. It was made of wood at the end, a small white crystal. I wonder what this funny object is for. I found some sort of coins at the bottom of the bag. Rather silver coins. On one side four symbols are engraved. There was a small flame, a drop of water, a leaf and I don't know what the last pattern represents, but it looks like a current of air. There was a small notebook, the cover was rigid, fir-colored, golden spirals were drawn. I opened it. There was so much written, but I couldn't decipher it. This language is totally unknown to me. What to do with all this? I put the notebook away with the other things.

I got up and approached the bookcase. I grabbed the map that Miss Green Apple had shown me last night. I unfolded it carefully. Afetis. It's such a big country. I ran my hand over the gold letters that surely form the name of the country.

- You can keep it.

I jump and turn around.

- You scared me, I whisper. Thank you.

-You're up early. Tea?

-Yes, always... Willingly.

She prepares in a white, enameled teapot, decorated with small colorful flowers. She pours in a purple, or even mauve, liquid. A delicate scent tickles my nostrils. I sit down. Steam rises from the cups and gracefully floats around the house.

The taste is sweet, there's an aftertaste of vanilla. It tastes like blueberry tea.

- Since you're here, you're going to help me with my tasks today. You're not going to wait with your arms crossed.

-Alright.

She already offers me housing and food, I can only agree to work for her.

-What should I do?

-Finish your tea, I'll show you after.

She disappears upstairs. I finish my tea. Miss Green Apple comes down with her arms full of boxes that she places on the table.

-You're going to help me carry this.

-Okay.

-Let's go now, customers don't like to wait.

I nod. I put on my cape and take a box. My god, it's heavy. I wonder what it contains? I've never been a very muscular person, let alone athletic. It's never been my field, and it will remain so. I've always been lagging behind in sports at school. In running, I was always the last. In basketball, just like in football, I was unable to play properly, it's not for lack of trying. To think that my mother did years of athletics, my father was the team leader of the football club in his village. I clearly didn't inherit from them. I'm quite good at artistic subjects.The air is rather fresh. There's a small wind that stirs the leaves of the trees. Some people are early risers and are busy in the street. Some greet Miss Green Apple with a rather strange gesture. They bring their hands to their forehead and bow their heads, it's very quick, then they go on their way as if nothing had happened.

I lay my eyes everywhere, everything catches my eye. The flowers with their shimmering colors, the crystals, the cobblestones that vary from ochre colors to shades of gray. A cat crosses the street, its black fur is marked by silver patterns. It turns its head towards me, it has big green eyes that scrutinize me. How intriguing. It jumps into a bush and disappears into nature.

-Come on, come! 

-Sorry.

I quickly join her. We then go to the small palace that stands in the heart of the village. It's even more beautiful up close, all these little details in the bas-relief, and these magnificent crystals that illuminate. They seem to concentrate a vital energy.

We enter a sort of large hall. Two guards stop us, they wear bird masks, which prevent me from seeing their faces. Their armor is green with golden spots. Miss Green Apple whispers a word to them. They let us pass. We enter a room filled with statues and climbing plants, there is a skylight in the ceiling. The rays of the sun fall like a golden rain in this room. It's so pretty.

Another guard appears, followed by a colleague. Both of them grab the boxes we were carrying.

-He's waiting for you, says one of them.

-Wait for me, here.

The frog follows the two guards. So I stand there. I decide to walk around these places.

There are beautiful elf sculptures that are sometimes more than two meters high. The bas-reliefs represent bucolic, forest and maritime scenes. It's funny all these details. They are really refined. I walk into a gallery, filled with strange vegetation. Some plants move. Out of doubt, I prefer not to approach them.

A meow attracts my attention. The black cat from earlier, I thought as I saw it appear in front of me.

It sits down and scrutinizes me without blinking.

-How beautiful you are.

-Thank you.

I jump.

-You talk!?

-Where do you come from? Of course I talk.

-Actually... I'm not from here.

-You wouldn't have told me, I wouldn't have been able to guess. If you want my humble opinion you should avoid staying with that witch.

-Miss Green Apple?

-Yes.

-Why? She's so nice.

-I would have warned you.

I hear the frog calling me. The cat runs away, I don't have time to ask him why. He has completely disappeared from my sight. I return to the frog.

Be wary? But why did he say that? Should I trust him? Who should I trust, actually?

-I told you not to move.

-I'm sorry, I was curious...And.

-No need to apologize, we have to go. Follow me, she cuts me off.

We leave this little palace. We go down to the village.

A woman approaches Miss Green Apple. She has long chocolate brown hair tied in a loose braid. She wears an orange-toned dress with a large white apron, embroidered with green leaves. Her eyes, she greets her as she should.

-Madam, do you have the remedy I asked for.

-Yes. Here you go.

She pulls out a small vial containing a green liquid and gives it to her.

-Thank you, she says, bowing.

-You're welcome.

-Who is this young lady?

-This is Elisabeth. My assistant.

What? No!? I'm not her assistant.

-You have an assistant, I didn't know.

-She arrived yesterday. If you don't mind, we have business.

-Nice to meet you.

I don't have time to answer as the frog takes me with her.

-Why did you lie?

-They don't need to know.