Night fell quietly over London. Sterling stretched his tired arms and set down the quill he had been using throughout the entire day. He admitted that fountain pens were faster and far more convenient, but didn't everyone agree that quills simply looked more elegant?
As a writer, Sterling firmly believed that a pen that brought him joy was infinitely better than merely a practical one.
He carefully completed his bedtime routine. Although he was eager to sleep early and visit his long-lost green dragon aunt, painful experiences at the dentist had made him extremely cautious about oral hygiene.
He gently placed the precious Galleon under his pillow and hugged the oil painting against his chest, closing his eyes with a hint of secret embarrassment.
He vividly remembered his last visit to Maleficent was three months ago, right after receiving the gift of that magical Galleon...
His consciousness slowly sank into comforting darkness, like lying on soft clouds. Wispy clouds floated lightly beneath his fingertips, then a gentle rustling sound reached his ears. The soft clouds gradually solidified, the rich smell of earth mixed with fresh plants filled his nostrils, and his fingertips brushed against a tender new sprout.
"Oh? Look who's decided to visit?"
A lazy, amused voice spoke from somewhere above him. Before Sterling could open his eyes, an enormous leaf emerged from the soil, lifting him upward, and then a strong hand grasped his small body.
Sterling opened his eyes and felt a bit shy as he met the gaze of the sharp-featured witch with magnificent black dragon horns.
"Long time no see, Lady Maleficent..."
"Indeed, yes, long time no see... Let me think, was it last month? No, the month before that? Actually, I believe I haven't seen you since I opened my treasury to you," Maleficent said thoughtfully, lifting her elegant head while Sterling lowered his in shame.
Oh no, this made him seem like a terrible person who had simply run away after receiving money...
Sterling stared down at his bare toes, preparing to explain himself, when Maleficent chuckled softly. Her beautiful golden eyes sparkled with genuine amusement.
"Caw! Caw!"
The ravens perched nearby joined in her laughter, their dark feathers gleaming in the mysterious light.
"It's perfectly fine, my dear child... I know you went to that kingdom trapped in eternal winter to witness that unfolding story. I understand that children can't always stay with adults, especially you, my restless and endlessly curious little one."
Maleficent gently stroked a raven's silky feathers, selected the finest long plume, and carefully pinned it behind Sterling's ear like a decoration.
"Oh... Lady Maleficent..."
Sterling exhaled deeply with relief. Recently, he had indeed been wandering through that frozen kingdom, listening intently to the traveling minstrels. Apparently, the young queen had suddenly conjured a devastating burst of ice magic during her coronation ceremony, then fled in terror, plunging the entire kingdom into endless winter.
Sterling had been desperately searching for that frightened queen, but the icy wasteland was vast and the blizzards absolutely relentless.
"Well then, why did you choose to return today? My own story hasn't begun yet, but that frozen kingdom's tale is about to reach its climax. You wouldn't suddenly return at such a crucial time without good reason."
Maleficent tapped her ornate staff against the stone ground. Brilliant green flames rose around them, wrapping them in magical fire, but Sterling felt no fear whatsoever. Instead, he experienced a comfortable warmth, although such flames would be absolutely terrifying to anyone else.
When the emerald flames finally dispersed, Sterling and Maleficent stood together in a grand stone hall. The ravens gracefully flew back to their golden perches along the walls.
"Actually, Lady Maleficent, I desperately want to know where you originally collected your Galleons from?"
"Galleons? Oh yes, those particular gold coins imbued with goblin magic."
(TL NOTE: Might change this goblin magic into fairy magic.)
Maleficent instantly recalled exactly what Sterling meant. Being extremely sensitive about her treasures, though the Galleons occupied only a small corner of her vast hoard, she certainly wouldn't forget them.
"Let me think carefully... let me think..."
She began pacing slowly, her pale fingers rubbing the top of her staff, where a golden orb began to glow. Within the light, an image appeared of a wizard wearing blue robes, floating with bright blue light emanating from his eyes.
"About a thousand years ago, a powerful wizard came to my domain and traded those coins for some of my naturally shed dragon scales... that was indeed a very long time ago. The Rose Kingdom hadn't even been founded back then."
Sterling immediately understood the timeline. That Rose Kingdom lay directly beside Maleficent's Dark Forest. The princess who slept in the tall tower came from that very kingdom.
Before the kingdom was even founded... truly ancient times indeed.
But Sterling was far more intrigued by another crucial detail.
"So the Galleons were brought to you by someone else entirely..."
Disappointedly, Sterling had hoped they were collected by Maleficent herself. That would have definitively proven his dream world was somehow connected to the real magical realm.
Wait... the person who had given Maleficent those Galleons must have been a genuine wizard from the magical world.
But Maleficent wouldn't understand anything about the modern magical world. As Sterling knew her, she was already remarkably generous to agree to any trade and wouldn't pry into her visitors' backgrounds.
Besides, even if such knowledge existed, it was from long ago. Andrew, who had left the magical world only decades ago, didn't understand its present state, let alone events from a thousand years in the past.
"What's troubling you, Sterling? You seem genuinely nervous."
Maleficent gently patted Sterling's messy hair. She possessed the ability to read minds but would never use such power on him without permission.
Sterling told her everything about Hogwarts and his acceptance letter.
"Hogwarts... I've never heard of it. A formal magic school? Not passed down through traditional master-apprentice relationships..."
Maleficent blinked thoughtfully, considering this new information.
"So you feel anxious? About entering a completely new world you've never experienced?"
"You look exactly like what the fairy godmother described when I first arrived in this world... But you know, it's not truly a new world, is it?"
Sterling looked up with confusion. Maleficent carefully adjusted the raven feather behind his ear and conjured a brilliant red rose to pin behind his other ear.
"Look, this is magic, isn't it?"
"The magical world, our world, is also a magical world. From when you first came here at age six, you've spent countless nights in this realm. You've already grown completely accustomed to living in a magical world."
"Then what is there to fear, my precious child? Their magic may be different from ours, but that doesn't mean our magic can't work in their world... Didn't the fairy godmother teach you transfiguration magic to transform pumpkins into elegant carriages?"
Sterling nodded, remembering how he had demonstrated that very spell to Andrew earlier that morning.
"And you discovered them quite early too, didn't you? You mentioned seeing many strange people who were different from ordinary folks but similar to yourself... If the fairy godmother and I hadn't believed you needed more magical training before contacting them, perhaps you would have entered that world long ago."
Indeed, Sterling had once passed through Charing Cross Road while buying books, noticing unusual people all heading toward the same mysterious destination. But after his exploration plan was gently denied by his magical mentors, he had rarely returned to that area.
"So please don't be afraid, my dear child."
Maleficent placed her hand reassuringly on Sterling's shoulder.
"I dare say that among wizard apprentices, you must surely be among the very best. You've learned magic from both the fairy godmother and myself... two of the most powerful witches in existence."
Sterling nodded gratefully. Andrew had also mentioned that he seemed extraordinarily gifted.
Comforted by Maleficent's encouraging words, Sterling relaxed considerably, but the thought of replying to Professor McGonagall's letter and being taken shopping the very next day still made him feel somewhat anxious.
Time was so limited. A couple of extra days to prepare would have been much better, giving him time to properly review his transfiguration magic. He mostly only used his magical abilities while in this dream world.
Suddenly, Maleficent struck the stone floor heavily with her staff. The sharp "thump" immediately brought Sterling's wandering attention back to her.
"I can sense you're still feeling nervous... well, the night is still quite long."
Maleficent's dark dress ignited with green flames once again, but this time the fire brought an intense wave of heat. These were deadly flames, capable of destroying anything in their path.
"I shall teach you the signature magic of Maleficent, the Dragon Witch."