Chapter 5: The First Night of Magic
The sun was beginning to set as Evanora and Everett made their way back to the small lodging house they were staying in. After the day’s misadventures, Everett couldn’t help but feel for Evanora. Despite all the teasing and clumsy crashes, her determination never wavered.
As they approached the old stone building, the air was cool, and a few early stars had begun to twinkle in the dusky sky. Everett glanced at Evanora, who was unusually quiet, her eyes fixed on the ground as she walked beside him.
"Hey," Everett started, trying to break the silence.
"You okay?"
Evanora nodded but didn’t meet his gaze. "Yeah. Just… you know. Rough day."
Everett scratched the back of his head, trying to find the right words. He had grown fond of her in a way he hadn’t expected. Sure, she was clumsy, but there was something endearing about her constant optimism, even after everything that happened. 
"Look, I know today wasn’t the best, but honestly, I think you’re doing great," Everett said.
"You’ve got guts, Evanora. Most people would’ve given up after the first crash—or the fifth," he added with a chuckle.
Evanora’s lips twitched into a small smile. "Thanks, Everett. But it’s kind of embarrassing, you know? I’m supposed to be this cool witch escort, and all I do is mess up."
"Everyone messes up," Everett replied.
"You’re learning. And I think you're getting better."
She laughed softly.
"You think so?"
"Definitely," Everett said, nodding enthusiastically. Then an idea struck him. "Hey, how about we practice flying your broomstick tonight? No pressure, no crowds. Just you and me. What do you think?"
Evanora blinked, surprised. "You’d help me practice?"
"Of course! We can’t have you crashing into any more fruit stands tomorrow," Everett teased.
Evanora giggled, a sound that made Everett feel warm inside.
"Okay. I’d like that. Let’s try it."
After dropping off their things in their small but cozy room, the two of them grabbed Evanora’s broomstick and headed out into the cool evening air. The sky had darkened into a rich indigo, with the moon casting a soft glow over the surrounding landscape. The streets of Astoria were beginning to quiet down, but the magical hum of the city remained in the air.
They walked for a bit, looking for an open space where Evanora could practice. Eventually, they found a small clearing just beyond their lodging. Tall trees lined the area, their branches swaying gently in the evening breeze.
"Alright," Everett said, clapping his hands together. "Let’s get started. Show me what you’ve got."
Evanora took a deep breath and mounted her broomstick, her expression determined. "Okay. Here goes nothing."
She hovered a few inches above the ground, the broom wobbling slightly beneath her. "See? Not crashing yet," she said, her voice filled with nervous hope.
"Great start!" Everett encouraged. "Now try going higher."
Evanora nodded, carefully guiding the broom a little higher off the ground. She was shaky, but she didn’t crash. Everett watched as she wobbled in the air, her face scrunched in concentration.
"You're doing it!" Everett cheered. "You’re flying!"
But just as the words left his mouth, the broomstick gave a sudden jolt, sending Evanora spiraling sideways. She yelped as she lost control, veering straight toward the line of trees at the edge of the clearing.
"Look out!" Everett shouted.
With a loud *crash*, Evanora tumbled into the bushes, her broomstick bouncing to the ground beside her.
Everett rushed over, his heart pounding. "Evanora! Are you okay?"
Evanora groaned, her face half-buried in the leaves. "I’m fine," she mumbled, though her voice was muffled. "Just a little… stuck."
Everett tried to hold back a laugh as he helped her up, pulling twigs from her hair. "Well, at least you didn’t crash into anything too hard."
"Yeah, just nature," Evanora said with a wry smile, brushing herself off. "I think the broomstick’s cursed. It has to be."
Everett snorted. "Maybe it’s just stubborn like you."
Evanora shot him a mock glare. "Hey, I’m not that stubborn."
"Uh-huh," Everett said, raising an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Before Evanora could respond, something rustled in the nearby trees. Both of them froze, turning toward the sound. The rustling grew louder, and then, out of the bushes, a glowing creature stepped into view.
It was small, no bigger than a rabbit, but its fur shimmered with a silvery light, and its large eyes glowed softly in the dark. It had delicate wings like a butterfly, fluttering as it hovered a few inches off the ground.
"What… what is that?" Everett whispered, his eyes wide.
Evanora stared at the creature in awe. "I think… I think it’s a star sprite."
"A what?"
"They’re magical creatures that live in enchanted forests," Evanora explained, her voice hushed with wonder. "They’re really rare. I didn’t know there was an enchanted forest near here."
The star sprite fluttered closer, its glowing eyes fixed on them. It let out a soft, chiming sound, like the twinkle of stars on a clear night.
"It’s beautiful," Everett murmured, unable to take his eyes off the creature.
Evanora nodded, her face lighting up with excitement. "This is amazing! I’ve never seen one before."
The sprite hovered in front of them for a moment, then darted off into the trees, its silvery glow disappearing into the shadows.
"Wait!" Evanora called out, running after it.
"Where are you going?" Everett asked, hurrying to catch up.
"We have to follow it! Star sprites only show themselves when there’s something magical nearby!" Evanora said, her eyes bright with excitement. "There might be something incredible hidden in these woods!"
Everett wasn’t sure if running into a dark forest at night was the best idea, but he couldn’t deny that his curiosity was piqued. He followed Evanora into the trees, the two of them stumbling over roots and dodging low-hanging branches as they tried to keep up with the glowing sprite.
The forest was dense, the trees towering above them, their leaves casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. But there was something magical in the air, a soft hum that Everett couldn’t quite explain.
After what felt like forever, they reached a small clearing deep in the forest. At the center of the clearing stood a massive tree, its bark twisted and gnarled, and its branches stretching high into the sky. The tree’s trunk glowed faintly, as if the magic of the forest flowed through it.
"Wow," Evanora breathed, staring up at the tree in awe.
Everett looked around, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him. The air was thick with magic, and the star sprite fluttered around the tree, its glow blending with the soft light of the enchanted bark.
"This place is incredible," Everett said quietly.
Evanora nodded, her eyes wide with wonder. "We must have stumbled into a hidden part of Astoria. I’ve never heard of this forest before."
As they stood there, marveling at the tree, something strange began to happen. The ground beneath them shimmered, and small orbs of light rose from the earth, swirling around them like fireflies. The lights danced through the air, their glow brightening the clearing.
"Is this… magic?" Everett asked, his voice hushed.
"Yeah," Evanora whispered. "I think this tree is connected to some kind of ancient magic."
Without thinking, Evanora reached out and touched the tree’s trunk. The moment her fingers brushed the bark, the glowing orbs of light surged toward her, wrapping around her like a shimmering cocoon. She gasped as the magic flowed through her, her hair lifting as if caught in a gentle breeze.
"Evanora!" Everett shouted, stepping forward.
But before he could reach her, the lights swirled faster and faster, surrounding her completely. Then, with a flash of light, the magic faded, and Evanora collapsed to the ground.
Everett rushed to her side, his heart pounding. "Evanora! Are you okay?"
Evanora groaned, slowly sitting up. "I… I’m fine," she said, though her voice was shaky. "I just… that was intense."
"What happened?"
"I’m not sure," Evanora admitted, rubbing her head. "But I think… I think the tree gave me some of its magic."
Everett blinked. "Wait, what? You mean you’re more powerful now?"
Evanora shrugged, still looking dazed. "Maybe? I don’t know. But I definitely feel different."
As they sat there in the enchanted forest, surrounded by the soft glow of magic, Everett couldn’t help but smile. Sure, their day had been filled with mishaps and crashes, but now they were here, in the middle of something truly magical.
"Well," Everett said, helping her to her feet. "Looks like our first night of practice turned out to be a little more exciting than we planned."
Evanora laughed, leaning on him for support. "Yeah. I guess it did."