The Council had a hard time believing that the Crown was actually stolen.

"So, what do we do?" asked Ralph.

"Without the Crown, there is no use of electing a leader, because it would be futile. There wouldn't be any immortality," said Marcella, a vampire.

"True. Are you sure that nothing was there in the box?"

Eric suddenly burst in with Mirabel behind him.

"There's a clue, we believe. To where the Crown is," he said, unfolding a paper.

Where the cherished dreams drown,

There you will find the immersed crown,

Be not late oh, factions,

Let the woman be not a distraction,

For if you stay back,

You will remain heirless.

"I propose this, then," said Ralph after a discussion. "We all get out to search this Crown. Whichever factions gets it will be the heir. The person who finds it."

They all nodded in assent.

Perhaps, a war could've been thwarted, if not for Amoris.

******

"Try this shoe," said Mirabel, giving Eric a pair. Eric had decided to go find the Crown despite a lot of people's protests.

He tried it and walked around. The shoe was made of leather and it fit snugly. "It won't work in the rain."

Mirabel sighed. "I will make one for you today which stays in all weathers. I might need Hans' help."

"Really?" he said, eyes beaming. He rushed and hugged her. "Thank you!"

Mirabel blushed. "Eric, get off."

"Sorry," he said looking happy. "I just...want to find the Crown."

"I think the gods play with us," she said, designing another shoe.

"Why?"

"Because, Amoris is a kind of a goddess and ever since she's come, there's been havoc. I think if we can find her, we can find the Crown."

The elves didn't care about the Crown at all. They just hoped that their shoe business wouldn't be ruined.

When Eric's mother came in, Mirabel excused herself.

"Didn't I tell you not to spend too much time with her?"

"She's a friend, mom!" he protested.

"She's a servant. You are a werewolf. A member of a very prestigious faction and you decide to play with her? You could have chosen Sera instead!"

The Nymphs were probably the only people who could bond with any faction. Choosing a nymph was considered good by Eric's mother.

Mirabel sighed from the outside, the shoe in her hand losing its meaning. She walked away, hearing a bang, the door opening and someone touching her hand.

"Don't worry, Mirabel."

"You can't stop feelings, Eric. Emotions are a part of us. It's not my fault that I have been born into this faction. I have no regrets, though," she said, turning to look at him. "As a matter of fact, I enjoy making shoes and taking care of people."

Eric stood speechless. "Just know that I don't think the way she does." A migraine hit him, and he felt the room get bigger. He was becoming way too small, almost the size of an ant. He teetered and Mirabel put an arm around his shoulders, leading him away.

"You are not going to get the Crown," she muttered, leading him to his room.

He sighed and she brought a wet cloth and called Zest.

"So, I think I can make a sleeping draught, but this is new. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome..." she mused, bringing the cauldron and her apparatus.

"He gets it sometimes," she said, looking at him. "The first time was during his coronation ceremony."

Zest set everything and made the potion.

"Does your family know of...this?" asked Mirabel, gesturing to her and Hans.

"Nope. I don't think they'll take it well," she said frustrated. "I mean, hundreds of wizards and why I chose a unicorn is something they might not be able to fathom."

*******

Hera freed Zeus because she couldn't bear him to die in the web. She immediately left, not waiting for any apologies.

"You know, there is something as to why she's doing this," said Apollo. "I mean, the flute, come on..."

Athena's flute could revive anything. Any lost thing, a lost person, a dead one, if he hadn't been sent to Hades yet.

The frog croaked loudly.

"Shut up," said Poseidon, thinking. He tried to recollect something, and then it all clicked. "Styx! She's trying to bring him back."

*****

So, who is Styx? If you're familiar with the Greek myth you might answer that with some confusion...be not confused, curious ones! More is yet to come! Like I said, the ALice in WOnderland Syndrome or AIWS is real...not many recognize that there is a name for it...i just thought that incorporating it here would be good...

Au revoir,

Rose