Ànifa turned a corner and found herself in front of the entrance to a narrow slot canyon. Standing akimbo, she looked at the top of the canyon and estimated the walls to be about ten meters tall. The road, which had been about a meter wide the entire way here, was narrowing to a small, single-use path. Steep cliffs rose high into the blue sky on either side of the canyon.
Snow covered the ground all around the area outside the path. The few scattered pine trees were small and shrunken, as if they had been there for hundreds or even thousands of years. They radiated with life—each tree brimming with small birds and squirrels, each minding their own business and chattering away at each other.
As Ànifa took in the scene before her, she caught something odd from the corner of her eye. She turned her full attention to it and was surprised to see a large, tattered blue sorcerer’s hat lying in the snow. It looked as if someone had only recently placed it there.
Ànifa took a few steps toward it while absentmindedly muttering to herself.
“Hmm… what’s this?” she asked herself.
Suddenly, the hat floated off the ground and spun around wildly, creating a miniature whirlwind. Ànifa screamed and hid her face behind her arms. Then, as suddenly as it had started, it stopped, and the husky voice of an elderly man called out to her.
“Hullo there!”
Ànifa was too stunned to move. She kept her face hidden, but after a few seconds, she felt foolish. She turned in the direction of the voice and saw a wizard dressed in fine blue clothing standing before her. He had a long white beard that trailed to his chest. His beard and hat covered his face, with only his small button nose and cerulean eyes showing. He wore a blue button-up shirt under his long navy-blue cloak with brown trousers held up by a large golden belt buckle. He was wearing the blue sorcerer’s hat that she had seen resting on the ground mere moments ago and was holding a large scarlet glass staff. He was shorter than her by a head, but his sorcerer’s hat made up for the loss.
“I apologize for the theatrics, miss, but I’m a lost traveler. I was sheltering myself from the storm that came through here last night, and also from the monsters, as I’m not much of a fighter.” He lifted his scarlet staff in the air and gave her a deep nod. “I am Theodore Henry Caldwell, and it’s nice to make your acquaintance. What’s your name?”
Ànifa took a few seconds to compose herself and used this time to study the man in front of her. Although Theodore’s actions and words made it seem like he was perfectly at ease, he eyed her curiously, keeping his staff raised as if readying for an attack. She realized how tense she was and smiled, feeling a bit ridiculous. She let out a sigh of relief and felt back at ease.
“I’m Ànifa. It’s nice to meet you too,” she said with a quick wave. “I haven’t seen a single other person since I started on this path. So, you’re lost then?”
“Yes, indeed,” Theodore said while relaxing his stance. “I was with someone—a knight by the name of Sir Cecil Kloud. We were separated, and after wandering around in circles for a bit, I hid myself here. You said that you have seen no one else but me, but what about footprints? Any signs that there was someone else on this path recently?”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t seen anything and I know nothing about this area. I’m on my way across the mountains to purchase special herbs for a friend. Would you like to join me?”
Theodore stood there for a moment, quickly and quietly analyzing her. After a few seconds, he nodded. “So, we are like twin wands, then. I’d love to join you, Ànifa, and I’m truly glad to have met you. But after we find these herbs, can you help me look for Cecil?”
“Of course!” Ànifa replied with a smile. “I couldn’t accept your help without helping you in return.”
“You are too kind.”
“I’m just doing what I can. Shall we go?” she asked.
