Sequel to [The Guardian]

Inspired by: Howl's Moving Castle, various Wendy Howl and Irene Sophie artworks

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Character: Irene as a Princess, Wendy as a Witch/Wizard/Mage (well, same ol' characters)

The famed mage Seungwan, was lazing on her massive couch, enjoying a hard-to-come-by peaceful afternoon before the quietness was interrupted by Joy, the fire demoness who was bound to this magic moving castle and herself.

“So, have you decided who to bring along to the ball?” Joy asked coyly, taking this chance since Irene has brought Yeri out to buy some much-needed housekeeping supplies.

Seungwan screwed to a side to feign contemplation when she already had the very candidate she would be bringing to the ball in her mind.

“Well… who do you think?” Seungwan returned the question wearing an enigmatic smile on her face.

Joy had taken on her human form as she leapt from the fireplace, sashaying towards the mage with a seductive smile on her face and with only a thin trail of flame clinging to the firewood an indication that she was still bound by a contract.

The fire demoness put a finger to her chin and tapped it in a manner that would have been alluring to most men, but Seungwan was immune to Joy’s seductions. “Well… let me think. Not the darn witch in the palace who calls herself an Enchantress since she cursed the girls you have been with after you screwed with her feelings, including Irene.”

Seungwan winced at the thought of the possessive witch, Solar. Seungwan had known Solar since her days at the academy. Famed for her beauty as much as Seungwan’s handsomeness, Solar was also a most gifted witch at the academy, only losing her top place to Seungwan. Solar was not an evil witch by nature however due to her competitive personality, Solar would perform curses on people around Seungwan to spite her and challenge her to undo them. Over the years however, Solar had developed a strong fondness and attraction for Seungwan which was not reciprocated, at least not in a serious way.

“Right, not her, in fact, please remind me to coax out the curse she used on Irene during the ball.”

Joy continued guessing as she melded her body against Seungwan’s own, her fiery hot breath teasing Seungwan’s skin; a natural at bending human’s wills to her wants, Joy’s effects on Seungwan had waned over the numerous years they have been together. The mage knew not to fall prey to Joy’s ways and successfully elicited a disgruntled snort from the fire demoness as she peeled her body away from Seungwan.  

“Not Tiffany too, since she has agreed to go with Taeyeon this year. Speaking of which, don’t you have to explain to your sister about Irene’s presence in our house?”

Seungwan swallowed at the mentioning of her sister, Taeyeon, one of the most famous witch across the lands, feared for her volatile tempers and revered for her powerful curses which were unbreakable except by herself. After learning that Taeyeon has had a crush on Tiffany, a fellow witch at the academy, Seungwan had courted Tiffany on and off a few times just to rile her sister up. Last year, her sister finally gave her an ultimatum when she stormed into her moving castle and demanded for Seungwan to stop with her attempts at courting Tiffany else she would blast her moving castle apart in the middle of the city’s parade square.

“Yes, not Tiffany this year. I wouldn’t risk our house and well… perhaps you.”

Joy shuddered in agreement at the thought of being blasted and disintegrating into nothingness by Taeyeon’s hands. Joy her chin ruefully as she circled about Seungwan, her harmless flames against Seungwan’s flesh every now and then.

“Definitely not Irene…”

“Why not Irene?” Seungwan asked, only realising on hindsight that her voice had sounded a lot more aggressive than intended.

“Well… her face in its current state is… not very matching with your charming one.”

Unhappiness spread across Seungwan’s chest as she thought back to Irene’s once pretty face, the face she beheld when Seungwan had first saw her as the princess at the ball numerous years ago, back when they had not known each other personally yet.

For the past few months, Seungwan had been trying to break the curse casted on Irene by Solar and she thought she might have found the right spell. However, Seungwan had to be extremely cautious and she knew not why she paid so much attention when it came to Irene. Then image of Irene’s marred face came to her mind and Seungwan could even hear the numerous times Irene told her it was okay if Seungwan took her time. It made Seungwan feel guilty, that perhaps her way of protecting her was delaying Irene’s chance at regaining her beauty and return to her palace where she truly belonged, not this dilapidated moving castle.

“Come on, Seungwan, not many people is handsome enough for you and you know it. I will do my best to keep up with your beautiful appearance and be worthy of you.” Joy batted her eyelashes at the mage.

“Spare me those hon