Chapter 8

"Welcome to the Northern Territory of Tomer Forest!"

Wiggy stretched out his hands in the middle of the clearing around which thick tree vines grew. There was nothing or anyone else there but the open field. Phillip and Lillian exchanged glances, then looked around waiting for what would happen. After a few seconds, and only the sound of crickets could be heard, Wiggy turned toward the thick tendrils with a thump.

“I said welcome to the Northern Territory! Hey, that's the code!"

Phillip squinted at the vine, finding out whom Wiggy was talking to. Due to the dominating darkness, he caught only one figure that was surging and immediately spun something like a pulley several times. As soon as the pulley was turned, green tendrils opened wide like curtains, a light made of glowing mushrooms of various colors filled the whole place.

The field that was pitch black was lit up by the beautiful neon colors. Giant trees lined up, there were also a few smaller trees, but still big enough to make room in them. Each tree has a door with a sign on top of the door, such as the Kitchen, Warehouse, Tool Case, and so on.

Lillian approached one of the glowing yellow mushrooms and touched it gently with sparkling eyes. Phillip himself was so amazed at this sight, he looked around enthusiastically. Even Wiggy's annoying bugs look beautiful together with the neon glow of the mushrooms.

Lillian was still fixated on one glowing mushroom as if she would never get bored. Until a small creature appeared sticking out its tongue and squinting eyes. Lillian was so shocked that she fell backward screaming.

"Gnome!"

Phillip's admiration was dashed, he grabbed everything he could to hit. "Where!" The young man exclaimed while preparing to swing a slender stick of wood.

Wiggy snatched the wood quickly. "Give it back!" He irritated the long flute which turned out to be made of golden bamboo. "He's not a Gnome, you don't have to be that hysterical."

Phillip sharpened his eyesight, different from the annoying dwarf Gnome, this one creature has a normal body. It's just that, his body size is much smaller than most humans, his face looks young and joyful.

Lillian slowly smiled. "Right, Phill, they're different from the Gnome."

"Then, what creatures are they?" asked Phillip, trying to distract from the embarrassment.

"They are Elves," Wiggy replied excitedly. The Elves waved their hands at the siblings. Lillian waved back enthusiastically, while Phillip was careless.

The young man whispered as softly as possible to his sister. "Don't the Elves work for Santa Claus?"

Wiggy who heard the words suddenly chuckled. “It's true, but you think Santa got the Elves magically? Like waking up and then poof ... suddenly the Elves are having bagels together in one table."

Phillip responded with one eyebrow raised, while Lillian tilted her head. Seeing the audience's incomprehension of his jokes, Wiggy rubbed his face in disappointment.

"I mean, Santa hired my Elf a few weeks before Christmas Eve, to help him take care of all the Christmas needs," explained the young man at last.

Phillip and Lillian nodded in understanding, although Phillip's heart still doubted the truth, he even doubted whether Santa clauses existed.

"And every year the old man rewards an object that I don't even need," Wiggy continued as he opened the old ebony door, inside which was a pile of children's toys, such as dolls, copper horse carriages, a replica of a pirate ship inside bottles, and various other kinds.

"Very well, my people! We rarely have guests, I want you to make a delicious meal for them, show them how the traditions of the Elves in entertaining! " The Elves greeted their master's shout with cheerful cheers. "Well, you guys come with Noby, he will show you where the dining room is." Wiggy held out an Elf with two teeth sticking out of his mouth.

"But, sir. Didn't you say yesterday that tomorrow I will be assigned to guard the fort? ” the Elf protested, not looking very happy with his duty.

"When I say tomorrow, it means tomorrow. There's something else I have to do in the kitchen, you go ahead." Wiggy flies low, followed by a group of Pixies past the Elves who are scrambling to shake hands with him.

"Over here, ladies and gentlemen!" asked Noby, walking ahead of Phillip and Lillian parting the vines of the tree. The two of them followed closely behind.

"Lill, you think all these creatures are terrifying?" whispered Phillip to his younger brother.

“What do you mean terrifying? I thought they were cute." The girl looked happily at Noby whose path was on tiptoe, more looking like jogging than walking.

"Oh, of course, Lillian, I forgot that you like everything."

"And you hate everything!"

"That is not true!"

"It is true."

***

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the working Elves, a rock between the flaming mushrooms shifted. After being far enough away, the stone slowly turned into a stocky shape with a hunched body, a large nose, and wet moss growing around its body. The creature stared at the Northern Territory for a moment, then turned itself back into stone, then rolled away.

It took a long time for the ball of stone to roll through tendrils and tree roots, up and down the small hills, into a muddy marsh, until a majestic palace with a gloomy tone came into view. The palace had many spiky-roofed towers, the tallest of which was decorated with a tattered flag depicting two horses neighing at the top.

Almost every inch of the palace walls was covered with dry roots, there were even several tower windows covered by these roots. The red and green faded paint splotches were eaten by mushrooms, adding to the rundown impression. The stone ball changed back to the thing, then pulled the tail of the bald vulture that was sleeping soundly on the pillar of the gate. The bird immediately woke up screaming in pain, growling at the creature in front of it.

"What do you want, Nasty Thing?"

"Take me to The King!" replied the creature in a deep voice.

The bird looked at it doubtfully, crossing its wings like a man with arms. “So, being the 'king's favorite' makes you can order me at will? What reward are you offering for this delivery service?"

"Shut your mouth and immediately take me to The King!"

“That's not the bargain I want, Troll. Come on, state your offer."

The stone creature grinned, showing black teeth that looked more like porous gravel. "Take me to The King, and I will keep my mouth shut for your behavior so far. Do you know the punishment for a vulture that falls asleep while guarding the fort? Your ugly feathers will be plucked out one by one, and before your naked body shivers, the stick and fire are ready, ready to roast your flesh until cooked."

The bird shuddered with its huge eyes. "That's cheating!"

“That's only for the king's special. I prefer bird meat when it's alive and fresh." The troll continued, his grin widened.

Finally, the vulture grabbed the troll by the shoulders and flapped its wings with difficulty until the troll lifted off the ground, bringing the troll to the tallest of all the towers. When it touched the tower balcony, the bird released its grip and then flew away.

The troll walked slowly toward a throne decorated with skins of various kinds of animals sewn together. At the top of the throne was the head of a large bear that was roaring, making anyone who saw it tremble.

"You brought it?" asked a voice coming from behind the throne.

"We are late, Your Majesty."

The throne slowly rotated revealing a tall man with bright blonde hair that hung neatly down to his ears, and a nose as sharp as a blade, his sky blue eyes as if made of glass with a chilling gaze. He wears a large crown made of gold, decorated with rubies and diamonds on each side. That luxurious appearance does not necessarily make his face bright.

"What do you mean we're late?"

"Edwig had already taken them."

"That insolent child!" snorted the man. He rose from the throne, walked to the large window full of cobwebs. The blue bead was fixed on a speck of light dancing far across the cliff, which was a banquet for the Elves of the Northern Territory.

"What do you want me to do, Your Majesty?" asked the Troll again.

The man turned and grinned at the Troll.

***