Food Land teaser(Chapter 2)

2. The poisoned tree. (Nick’s story)

   I plopped on the bench in front of the orphanage and thought about the conversation with Grandpa Elli. He is the only person who can talk with the Eldest tree.

“The tree is dying. Somebody has poisoned her.” Grandpa Elli had said.

I blinked back tears.

The Eldest tree is the biggest and the oldest tree in Foodland. She doesn’t die, unless somebody poisons her. She makes magic foods and sends them to the normal world. She made Foodland. She was like a mother to me.

Tears rolled down my face.

I asked Grand El if it was the Black magicians.

His face darkened and he said “I’m afraid so. The poison is from a place very deep and dark.”

“Can’t you heal her? You healed her when Rachel accidently set her on fire!”

Grand El shook his head sadly. “The poison is too strong. She has only a little bit of power left. There is now only one magic food left. She mustered all her power to make it. The food is the ivy. The person who eats it becomes really powerful. You should do your best to find that person, Nick.”

My head ached.

How can I find that person? Me? I’m just an orphan! My mom and dad died in a car accident and I couldn’t stop it!

I stared down at my shadow and murmured “You have given me such a big thing to do, Grand El. How am I going to find that person among the millions of people in the world?”

“Hey, who do you have to find?” a soft voice said behind me.

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“What? Who…….” I stammered as I looked behind me.

A girl with purple jewels and long black hair tied in two ponytails below her ears, smiled and sat down right next to me.

“El, Elizabeth Jewel?” I asked surprised.

Elizabeth let out a tingling laugh and slipped her hand in to mine, which made my face burn hot.

“So, who’s that person you were crying about? I don’t believe you have another girlfriend.” she said softly.

I could feel my face turn redder and redder. “You’re a daughter of a millionaire. You shouldn’t hang out with an orphan like me.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Nick, you’re so cute when you get embarrassed. It’s okay. I still like you. So, who’s that person?”

I was about to tell her but stopped because I felt my body say “Don’t tell her. She radiates danger!”

I hurriedly stood up and said “I have to go back to the orphanage. It is 12:00. I’ve got to get lunch.”

With that, I ran back to the orphanage before Elizabeth could stop me.