Dante bowed out the coachman very quickly. He took them to the final destination as they agreed and departed. Violette and Dante again were left alone, however, instead of a comfy bed in an inn, they continued on their way.
“The place we need is not far off, we can walk there,” Dante said as he started moving.
His words took Violette by surprise. “It won't wait until tomorrow?”
“Do you have any other plans for the night?” He abruptly stopped and turned his head.
“No, I just meant we could wait for the daytime,” she suggested.
“The faster we get there the better. I thought you wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible, or had you started to enjoy my company?”
Violette shot Dante an unfriendly look and with a frustrated sigh followed him.
“Why are all our adventures always happening in the night?” she asked herself more than him. Though, he didn't hesitate to reply.
“Isn't night the favorite witches' time?” His voice sounded playful.
And despite it being just a popular assumption, it was still kind of true and Violette couldn't object to his words. She herself finds night a mystical and inspiring time. She couldn't say if it was because she was a magical being or she just liked the secrecy that darkness hid. Though, it was a fact – there were a lot of potions and spells which some wizards believed better to brew and conjure in the nighttime. This belief started because of the strong power the moon can radiate while being in the different phases. It could energize some of the potions and objects, and give them special powers. Some of the potions required to be brewed for three nights under the light of the full moon, or to leave the ingredient to bathe in its light for a while.
When Violette was younger she had a time when she had to brew a potion of alleviation for five hours under the crescent moon’s presence, and then do it again after almost a month. Same time. Same day. Otherwise the potion would be useless, just a usual liquid, no matter how many ingredients she'd put there and how uncommon the color of it looked.
As they were leaving the town Violette took in a little wooden sign:
Violette raisedher brows, continuing treading behind Dante. They were going into the woods? It's not what she actually expected but why should she be so surprised when her companion was secretive all the way here? And it's not like he brought her this far just to get rid of her in the forest.
“The place we are going to–” Violette started as one of the thorns caught her cloak, “so what exactly is it?” she continued removing the thorn.
“You are very impatient,” he pressed.
“It's called having common sense.”
Dante only slightly turned his head to fling a look at her over the shoulder. “We are almost here.”
“Remind me again, why can't you take whatever is hidden in this place?”
“One witch didn't want me there so she enchanted that place with a blood spell,” he explained dryly.
“And what is there? A spell that can break your curse?”
“Don't rush events, Little Witch. I said there is something that will help us with the curse, not break it. It will require more work.”
She glanced sideways, of course she didn't hope they would be done that soon but it would be nice to dream.
A white veil covering the tall trees and a deep layer of snow on the ground suggested that the snow was falling here only a few hours ago.While the winter barely visited southern lands, it was already celebrated here in the northwest.
The snow was crackling under Violette's boots with every new step. The fresh and cold air filled with pinecone and a wooden scent was drifting around while the moon had followed the travelers as a kind friend keeping an eye on them.
Violette took another step, the snow creaked under and suddenly she stopped. The silence circled around her. Her eyes fell onto the steps ahead left by Dante. She took a step again, and two more. Snow pressed under her boots, making a loud sound and then silence reigned around again. Her eyes darted at Dante's back – he was treading forward, not making a sound. Literally none. His steps were completely quiet, as if muted. Like he wasn't moving at all.
“How do you do this?” Her voice shattered the silence.
Dante didn't turn his head. “What?”
“How do you move this quiet?” A confusion hovered over her.
He made a little turn with his head, voice remained nonchalant. “What do you mean?”
“You walk completely quiet while my boots make noise filling all around.”
