The gate to the enchanted grove opened and a bright blinding light shined from it. Immediately I got into the grove, the gate closed behind me.

I looked back and I couldn't see Viperis or Bushytail. All I could see was the golden gate and there was no lock for me to put the key in if I wanted to go out.

Seems like I am stuck in here.

When I first heard of the enchanted grove, I thought it was going to be a very creepy forest. But this was the opposite of what I thought.

The forest was beautiful and sparkling. Different kinds of fruits that I have never seen before. The colorful leaves danced on the trees and the flowers were very beautiful and had a great scent. 

It was such a wonderful scene and I didn't want to ever leave there.

Oh, I am supposed to be looking for some orange leaves on the path.
I didn't see any orange leaves.

I remembered the mirror of vision and brought it out from underneath my shoe.

" How am I supposed to use this thing? " I shook the mirror in frustration. I hadn't paid any attention when Viperis used it.

From my knowledge, it could even see past events and present events. It could probably see anywhere in the world.

Assuming I knew how to use it, I would have used it in knowing the location of the tree.

" Useless thing! "

I kept the mirror in my purse and hung it on my shoulder.

I continued walking and eating the weird fruits that were there to satisfy my stomach. They tasted delicious and different from any other fruit I had eaten.

As I was about to put a red fruit into my mouth, I heard a voice.

" Don't eat me! Don't eat me!!" The voice came from the fruit.

I froze on the spot from shock. The fruit grew eyes, a mouth and even tiny legs and hands. It was strange but cute.

" You're Lyra aren't you? " Apart from the fact that it was talking, it even knew my name.

" How do you know my name? "

" Never mind. You're going to tree of life, aren't you? " It was now standing upright on my outstretched hand.

" Well, yes. The tree of life. " The legs were ticklish on my hand I couldn't help but giggle.

" I was told to follow some orange leaves but I can't find any. " I explained to the talking fruit.

" Oh, that. Just close your eyes and look at the ground carefully. You'll see it. "

I closed my eyes as it told me and opened it again.

I stared closely at the ground and still didn't see anything.

" I can't still see anything." It was frustrating and I stared harder hoping it would work.

" Looks like something is wrong. Like your mind is impure. Have you done something wrong?"

" Something wrong? What? No!! " I defended my guilty self.

" Never mind. I'll take you there follow me. " It jumped down from my hand and walked.

" What's your name? " I asked.

" Just call me Ju-Ju"

" Ju-Ju. What a cute name. " I complimented.

We walked for a long time and I admired the forest. The beautiful trees and flowers. I wondered if the other fruits were like Ju-Ju.

The adorable talking fruit stopped at a place and I saw the tree of life. It had a lot of orange leaves around it each of the leaves were glowing with light except some which were dull and brown. There were also some leaves on the floor.

" Galdor! You have a visitor!!" Ju-Ju called.

" Ju-Ju! What kind of visitor could that be? "

An old man with a long beard came out from the tree.

His eyes widened in shock as came closer to me.

" Are you a human? " He asked me.

" Yes. "

" You're the first human to ever come to the enchanted grove in many years. They normally don't usually pass the entrance. "

" Uh " I remembered the story Viperis told me.

The humans that got here always tried to get the key and eventually joined Zephyr's army. I was just lucky.

" Wait. Let me check your identity. " He held my hand and looked into my eyes before letting go.

" You are Lyra from the village of Aquaridge. The one sent to rescue her village. " He said.

" Yes. Please can you help me? " I pleaded.

" Of course I will assist you. For making it into this place, you must be worthy. "

" I will have to retrieve a certain shell within 30 days and I have 25 days to go. "

" Of course I know. I can help you on your mission by giving you something. " He walked towards the tree and stopped abruptly to look at me.

" I sense enchanted magic from you. Do you happen to have an enchanted object? " He came back to me. Ju-Ju nodded to what he said.

" Uhm " I couldn't tell them I stole the mirror.

He collected my purse and brought the mirror out.

" This is a very powerful object you have. " He marvelled at it.

" Where did you get it? " Ju-Ju was also surprised by my having that.

" It's a long story. " I avoided explaining everything.

" Do you know how to use it? " He asked me.

" No." I had to be truthful with that.

" I have a book with knowledge of all enchanted creatures and objects. I have seen it in the book once but I can't remember how it is used. Let me bring it. " He entered the tree and came out again with a big book.

He opened it and to a page about the mirror of vision. It's was from the snake kingdom and was passed down from generations. Luckily, they didn't ask how it got to me.

" It says here that if you want to use the mirror, you will have to chant some certain spells depending on what you want to use it for. " The wizard said.

As he was about to chant one of the spells, Ju-Ju interrupted.

" The leaves from Aquaridge keep getting dimmer. "

Aquaridge? That's my village. Are they okay?

" You're from Aquaridge aren't you? " Galdor was worried for me.

" Yes I am. I wonder if they are okay. "

" This is the tree of life. Each leaf symbolizes a life. When a creature is sick, the leaves turn yellow, and if a person dies, the leaves turn dry and brown and fall of. We pack them every week. A lot of creatures die every week," He explained.

I looked at the brown leaves on the ground and I felt sad.

Ju-Ju pointed at a branch.

" This are the villagers of Aquaridge. "

Tears flowed from my eyes as I looked at the green leaves on the branch. Two were on the ground already.

" Who are this dead ones? " I asked amidst tears.

" These are the lives of The village Wise old man and a young child. " Galdor held the dry leaves in his hand.

My tears increased and I remembered the old wise man. I fell to the ground and cried to my heart content.

" Cheer up! You can't save your village like that. " It was Ju-Ju the cheerful fruit cheering me up.

" Yes! I must save them!! Especially my mother!!! She mustn't die. " I stood up determined and cleaned my eyes.

" First, let me help with the mirror. Then I'll give you a map you must follow to get to where you can find the shell you are looking for. "