#2 The Emerald City

As Elphaba walked through the winding streets of the Emerald City, she couldn't help but feel a sense of disconnection from the world around her. The city was bustling with activity, the streets filled with people of all shapes and sizes, but Elphaba felt like an outsider, a stranger in her own home.

She walked past the grand buildings and market stalls, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. But despite the beauty and wonder of the Emerald City, Elphaba couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that there was more to life than the mundane routines and expectations of her family and society.

As she walked, Elphaba's thoughts turned to her parents, and the tension that had been growing between them for months. Her father, Frex, was a strict and unyielding man, who believed in the importance of tradition and conformity. He had always been critical of Elphaba's love of magic, and her desire to pursue a career in the magical arts.

Elphaba's mother, Melena, was a kind and gentle soul, who had always been supportive of her daughter's dreams and aspirations. But even Melena's love and support couldn't compensate for the lack of understanding and acceptance that Elphaba felt from her father.

As Elphaba walked, lost in thought, she suddenly heard a faint humming noise coming from a nearby alleyway. She turned to see a small, peculiar-looking shop tucked away between two larger buildings. The sign above the door read "Madame Morrible's Magical Supplies", and the windows were filled with a dazzling array of magical artifacts and curiosities.

Elphaba felt a sudden surge of excitement and curiosity, and she pushed open the door to venture inside. The shop was dimly lit, and the air was thick with the scent of incense and something else, something sweet and slightly musky.

As Elphaba looked around, a figure emerged from the shadows, an older woman with a kind face and a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Welcome, my dear," Madame Morrible said, her voice warm and soothing. "I've been expecting you. You have a certain... aura about you, a certain spark of magic that cannot be ignored."

Elphaba felt a shiver run down her spine as Madame Morrible spoke, and she knew that she had stumbled upon something truly special. She spent the next few hours in the shop, browsing the shelves and talking to Madame Morrible about magic and the mysteries of the universe.

As the sun began to set, Elphaba reluctantly said goodbye to Madame Morrible and left the shop, feeling more alive and more connected to the world around her than she had in weeks. She knew that she would return to the shop, and to Madame Morrible, again and again, for guidance and support on her journey into the world of magic.

And as she walked back through the streets of the Emerald City, Elphaba felt a sense of hope and excitement that she had not felt in a long time. She knew that she was on the verge of something truly special, something that would change her life forever.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***