5

Helena felt her whole body wet. She heard the chirping of the crane. She opened her eyes and was surprised to have been in the middle of the high seas on top of the broken hull. Helena looked around. There was no one but her here. 

She really was in the middle of the high seas. 

Helena never imagined that she would risk her life for Axton. However, one thing she did remember: Axton was the man she cared deeply for right now. Whether because of pity or feelings that began to appear, she herself also did not know. Now, she is still trying to think hard to survive on the sea with the wreckage of the ship she was on. She was sure it wouldn't last long to be here. 

There was only one thing she was sure of at this time; at least Helena could still breathe, although who knows how many more hours she could last.

As if there was no hope, all she could see around her was the blue sea and the sun shining so brightly. Helena wasn't like Vale who could easily teleport. She is a witch who has the limit of every ability. Truly, at a time like this, she felt sorry for not learning from the beginning.

“Devuélveme.”

The spell slid out of Helena's lips, wishing she could return herself to land. However, it failed; only visible waves moving because of her magic. 

Damn, Helena thought. She was really hopeless. She didn't think about her life, she didn't care. She's been thinking about Axton ever since, she doesn't care about her life but that guy. Everyone hates him and no one cares except Helena. Not to mention that this curse was caused by her sister, Selena Dazzle. 

“What should I do?” shouted Helena to the open sea. 

She was like a madwoman screaming to herself. No answer. She looked down, the beautiful blue sea with colorful fish. Dimly she heard a humming sound, something foreign to her ears but pleasant and melodious; siren sound. Siren Aquamarine, the mermaid of the Caribbean sea who always tempts pirates and fishermen. They suck every soul that is subject to their beauty. Beautiful but deadly. 

Helena gulped nervously. She didn't want to die at the hands of the sirens. She covered her ears, but unfortunately, the singing was getting closer and made her more complacent. Slowly, Helena enjoyed the song. Very beautiful melody. She looked down again, to the beautiful blue sea. 

From deep in the ocean, a merman tried to rise, greeted Helena. He appeared and revealed his face while smiling at Helena; handsome, handsome like a god. She couldn't take her eyes off him. It's really tempting and uplifting. The mermaid's hand reached out to welcome Helena's hand. Her mind screamed, "Don't!" but what can she do; the mermaid is very tempting. It was only an inch and their hands would touch each other… until there was a thud. 

The merman frowned. His handsome face turned fierce and angry and returned to the ocean. This time the merman failed to find prey. Every soul that drowns in the ocean will be an offering; the more lives in the sea, the more beautiful the ocean will shine and the fish will have food. 

A man hung from a rope and grabbed Helena by the waist, carrying her onto his boat.

“Are you stupid?” the man exclaimed, watching Helena from above and below. The man's eyes widened, surprised when he saw Helena's red hair, not to mention there was a distinctive hexagonal-shaped mark on her hand. For witches to be great and have talent, they must have hexagonal marks on their hands. 

“A witch?” asked Alex again. 

Helena suddenly felt dizzy. The merman's melody poison started to work, instantly her vision blurred. What she saw, the man who had saved her in front, slowly faded and her vision darkened.

Alex Deraldo, the man, grabbed Helena's body and carried her inside. He covered her body and allowed the girl to remain calm asleep. He studied Helena's face, tracing every curve of her face. Very beautiful, but suddenly he thought of Selena Dazzle, his lover who several years ago disappeared after saying goodbye to learn more about witchcraft. 

Alex grabbed Helena's hand and stared intently at the hexagonal shape in her hand. Who the girl in front of him was, he didn't know. However, for sure, the girl in front of him must have a close relationship with Selena.

“Captain, where are we sailing? When the weather is like this, the fish will head north,” said one of the crew members who entered Alex's room. 

“What are you waiting for? Just take it back north and we pull over on land for a while to fill our bellies,” said Alex. 

All crew members returned to their positions, turning the controls to head north. Alex was the captain of the De Bosch, a ship that carried marine catches and then sold them ashore. It was Alex's job every day. He had two days off and he always used it to hunt in the forest. His mother is a famous healer, very intelligent and has the same healing magic ability as Helena. 

“Get up, hey.” Alex shook Helena's arm, the girl was still asleep. He remembered the incident earlier, a siren who tried to grab Helena's hand. Alex thought for a moment, he suspected that Helena had fainted because of the siren. There was only one way Alex could do it; heal her with the help of his mother, Amora Deraldo, a healer who is proven to be able to cure all kinds of diseases. 

Alex asked his crew to speed up the ship to get to the mainland as soon as possible. He didn't want something to happen to Helena, for some reason he just felt sorry for the girl. 

One thing Helena felt when she blinked her eyes: a very distinctive medicinal smell, the medicinal herbs from the leaves that she often used to heal people. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a light coming through the window. She couldn't see clearly who it was. Helena tried to get up and looked around, the room full of medicine racks. Looks luxurious but still rustic.

“Oh, you're awake?” said an old woman who had just come out of the cubicle door. Helena gasped and blinked her eyes. Even she was surprised when a middle-aged woman with red hair arrived, almost the same color as her hair but darker.

“Dazzle… are you really from the Dazzle family?” asked the middle-aged woman named Amora. 

Amora is famous as a witch on the coast. She can cure various diseases. Amora's name is famous in various parts of the world, some even try to target her as a slave. The witches in this day and age are being hunted, they are feared will bring disaster.

“Yes, that's right, Dazzle is my surname. How did you know?”

Helena looked at Amora questioningly. She didn't know if her family name was really famous.

“How could I not know? The whole world also understands that the Dazzle family clan is the best witch and has the highest caste level. How could a girl like you be stranded in the ocean? Does the Spanish government have no respect for your family at all? I heard that your sister was appointed a noble witch, right?”

Helena looked down at Amora's words. Back when there was still her father, mother and sister, her life was indeed glorious and always respected. Unfortunately, Helena never wanted to master magic like her parents or sister. 

“Yes, my sister is a witch, but she's dead.”

Amora was shocked by Helena's words, unable to believe that such a legendary witch died at such a young age. “Why? What happened?” she asked. 

“Sorry, I can't answer that. My head feels so heavy and dizzy.”

The effect of the siren's singing was still ringing in her ears. She could barely bear the pain.

“Oh my gosh, I forgot you must be still in pain! Come here, please sit here.”

Amora held Helena's head. She rubbed Helena's head and earlobe gently. Helena didn't hear the spell she said, but it was actually able to make the pain go away. 

“Why are you in the ocean? What are you looking for?” asked Amora. 

Helena took a deep breath. She looked at Amora with a doubtful look, wanting to tell Amora everything because she wasn't sure she could release Axton's curse alone. 

“Do you know about the life trapped in the foxglove flower?” Helena instead asked back. 

“About the Dazzle Curse? I've heard of it. Your sister has cursed bad people and locked their life in foxglove flowers.”

Helena immediately lit up with joy when she found out that Amora knew about it. Helena herself wasn't sure she could find the location of the forbidden forest. 

“How can I find that foxglove flower?” 

“To enter the forest, you must find the key. I don't know where exactly the forest is, but come here, I have an ancient map of the approximate location of the forest.”

Amora took something out of her books and showed her an ancient piece of teak leaf paper, a map depicting the location of the forest. She pointed to a location. 

“The forest is roughly here, but you must come with the key. Do you know what spell to unlock the forest?” Amora turned to look at Helena and frowned. “Actually this is something beyond my limits, moreover this is entering your sister's territory. I know your sister is dead, but your sister's curse and magic power will never go away. Besides, what did you go there for?” 

“Prince Axton, ruler of Castile La Mancha, he is cursed by my sister's magic.”

Amora looked earnestly at Helena. She wasn't sure the girl in front of her could handle this alone. Undoing her sister's curse alone was not easy. 

“I know your intentions are good, but you must come together with the holder of the forest key. You have to find out your sister's secret, about where the key to the forest lies.”

“Key?” Helena was silent for a moment, then she took something out of her pocket. A little diary belonging to her sister that she hoped would help her find her way. 

“I brought this book. Can this help me find the key? I can't read magic code language,” said Helena. Amora asked for the diary and read it carefully. In the book it is written: 

—In search of freedom, Winky and Winter are a pair who knows everything—

“Winky and Winter. The key is a couple named Winky and Winter. Do you know who Winky is?” asked Amora. 

Helena frowned and shook her head slowly. She had absolutely no idea who Winky was. She sat back down on the wooden chair and massaged her temples. Who are Winky and Winter? Helena felt familiar with that name. After pondering for a long time, she finally realized something. 

Winter, the girl who was cursed to be the cat. 

“I know where Winter is, but I don't know who Winky is.”