Badilia’s Hidden Gem

My name is Badilia Diera. I have a hidden secret to my magic. The secret to my magic being stronger than what it used to be is the Talisman of the Southern Forest.

It all began when I wasn’t but maybe 10 or 12 years old. I just started my 5th grade year. I walked out of the school and started walking home with my 3 sisters and my brother, Amilia, Celia, Regina and Tara Tarantula. We got home and we all ate a snack. I took a walk next to the beach when some stranger in a cloak bumped into me. I was terrified to figure out what this stranger was when I heard him wheezing as he laid on the ground. I was horrified to figure out this stranger was a giant Snapping Turtle, who lived in a tent in the Southern Forest. He was coughing and wheezing as he tried and tried to catch his breath.

“Are you okay, sir?” I asked as I walked toward him, slowly.

“Come… *coughs* come closer.” He said in a really raspy voice and I stepped closer to him.

I walked up to him and he put one hand on my shoulder. He handed me something that was small and carefully wrapped. He lengthened his neck up to my ear, and took a deep breath in.

“Don’t… let the… Dragon Kin find… it.” He said slowly with his raspy voice.

As he took his final breath, his head fell to the floor. His body turned to dust and the cloak he once wore, laid flat upon the sand. I picked up his cloak and put it over me as I heard footsteps running toward me. I dug a hole big enough for it and covered it up. I laid flat, just as sand hit the cloak.

“Damnaigh sé go hifreann! Cá ndeachaigh sé? Seo a chlóca, ach níl sé anseo! Téigh abhaile. Damn it to hell! Where did he go? This is his cloak, but he isn’t here! Let’s go home.” I heard a male say in Irish.

They left and I stood up with the cloak upon my back. The cloak shrank and it fit my body. I dug up the package up and picked it up. A saw a note flutter to the ground and I picked it up and read it.

“Carissimi Badilia Diera (Dear Badilia Diera),

Hic lapis est verbum hoc in illud. Custodite animas vestras.

This stone has this warning with it. Be careful.

Qui mollibus istud plus poterit.

Those who wear this stone shall gain more power.

Cauti esse invidia, quarum illa sit in flore uvam.

Be wary of those whose jealousy is a sour flower.

Sincerely, Todd the Gigantic, yet gentle Turtle.”

I wiped tears away from my eyes and cleared my throat. I walked home and no one asked me about what was in my hand that was wrapped. I closed my door and set the package on the desk. I unwrapped it and saw a beautiful Sapphire stone. The stone had powers to strengthen my magic, just for me. I put it on a golden bracelet and hid it from my family. They don’t know I have it and they never will know that I have it.