We followed Niara along the path, which was barely a path; she cleared it naturally, effortlessly pushing aside branches and leaves. Despite her seriousness and laconic air, she answered all our questions... though always with the same economy of words.
"So... is it a tribe of Amazons in a wizard settlement?" I asked, intrigued.
"Yes and no," Niara replied, without stopping. "The tribe is dominated and led by witches, but some non-magic folk also coexist."
"What about the International Statute of Secrecy?" asked Hannah, worried.
Niara gently pushed a thick branch aside and continued:
"We don't care too much. Nor do we strictly break it. We are in a very remote location; few know we exist. We cannot deny the non-magic members of the tribe knowledge of magic. As for outsiders..." she made a vague gesture with her hand, "we ensure they don't divulge anything, either by making them forget or by preventing them from reaching here."
"So it's a mixed settlement? Is it well-known? I've never heard of anything like it," I said, trying to recall any historical records of the Icamiabas.
"As I said, few know of our existence," she replied, without turning around. "The magical government of Brazil knows about us, but there's little they can do with or against the tribe, and there's an agreement not to disclose information about us. Then there are some allies, acquaintances, or those who handle certain information. Not many, but not too few either."
"Wow... it's like a hidden village," murmured Hannah, marveling at everything she was discovering on this adventure, "but with witches and muggles coexisting. It's fascinating."
"And do you rescue people lost in the jungle?" I asked again. Something wasn't quite adding up.
"More or less," said Niara. "Usually, when someone approaches our territory, it's because they are lost. And we act according to the circumstances."
"Such as?" (Hannah)
"If we find lost Castelobruxo students on an excursion, we show them the way back. Sometimes we use Apparition to drop them off closer, if necessary. Although it doesn't happen often." (Niara)
"That's... noble," I admitted.
"If those we find are males, young or adult, we give them a warning. A scare. We make it clear that they are entering territory forbidden to them and that they must leave by another route. If they don't cooperate, or if they are adult men we don't like enough... we give them a permanent lesson and leave them to fend for themselves in the jungle." She said this with an unnervingly natural indifference. Then her voice softened slightly, "If they are girls or women, especially if they are helpless, alone, or without a place to go, we take them in. We give them asylum, food, a home for as long as they need. And if they wish to join the tribe, they can."
"So..." Hannah's eyes widened, processing. "You only bring women into the tribe?"
"That's right," Niara confirmed. "Men cannot enter; it is forbidden. Our village is a safe haven for all women."
Hannah and I exchanged glances, confused. Perplexed.
"And... are you taking us toward the tribe?" Hannah asked, cautiously.
"Yes. It's still a distance away," said Niara. "We don't use Apparition within the village unless strictly necessary. That's why we walk."
But she never answered why she was taking me. And that silence weighed more than her words.
So I cleared my throat.
"This..." I began, sensing it might end badly. "You know I'm a man... right?"
Niara paused for just a second. She turned her head and looked at me with the same serious expression she had when she found us. A look that analyzed, calculated... or judged.
Then she continued walking.
"I know," she replied, with the same dry coldness as always.
"And you are taking me to a tribe that doesn't allow men?" I asked, with Hannah as curious as I was, though relieved to see that my gender didn't seem to be a problem... yet. "Why? I hope I don't end up as a tribal sacrifice... Hannah, protect me if that's the case," I added jokingly, trying to break the palpable tension. Hannah let out a small laugh, but I also noticed her shoulders tense. Something felt wrong.
Niara didn't stop for a second.
"It is true that you should not be able to even approach our tribe, and that taking you there is an act that should not be permitted. I would never defile our safe place in that manner..." she said with a frown, every word heavy with meaning. "But I do it for the same reason I spent several days checking these flower gardens, waiting for you to appear."
"Why?" Hannah asked, completely tense now. What Niara said sounded more like an obligation than a choice.
"Because of the prophecy," she snorted.
Hannah's eyes widened. I also stood still for a second.
"What prophecy? About us?" Hannah asked, looking at me; she knew I understood more about the topic.
Niara began to recite in a firm voice, as if repeating something memorized word for word:
"When the flower girl is lost, the women of the jungle shall find her. She will need their aid, but alone they must not take her. The evil at her side they must allow to enter, for the bloodthirsty demon that accompanies her will stain the rivers of the Amazon red with the blood of its inhabitants, until he recovers what belongs to him."
As she finished, she looked at me with absolute coldness.
"I cannot take the risk. I will bring both of you to the tribe," she concluded before turning her gaze forward.
Hannah was speechless, looking from Niara to me. I noticed her swallow as she processed what she had heard. She wasn't dumb: she grasped the subtext immediately, and the faint blush that appeared on her cheeks made it crystal clear. Before, she might not have connected the dots... but now, knowing what she knew, it was impossible to ignore.
I also remained thoughtful. And yes... what Niara said was plausible. If someone tried to take Hannah from me, to separate her from me... I don't think I would react with much patience. Fury would be possible. Stain all the Amazon rivers? Well... perhaps it was a bit exaggerated, but the idea wasn't entirely far-fetched.
"So... I have special permissions," I said in a playful tone, trying to break the thick silence that had formed.
I felt a little calmer now. At least I knew what this was all about. And incidentally, I understood that it probably also had to do with the "destiny" I had provoked. Although I was left wondering: if the prophecy had been made a few days ago... how did destiny work then? Was it already written? Was the fact that I provoked a destiny that was already destined also destined?
"Red!... don't provoke her," Hannah whispered to me, still somewhat nervous. "What if she leaves us behind?"
"She wouldn't. You're a girl, they'll surely help you... I'd be the one who should worry. If it weren't for the prophecy, they'd probably leave me stranded in the jungle while treating you like a goddess... flower girl," I told her, in a teasing tone to cheer her up.
"That's not..." she started to retort, but didn't finish. Even she didn't fully understand what was happening. It was the first time she had been involved in a prophecy. "You wouldn't... you wouldn't do something like that, would you?" she asked with an impossible mix of fear, curiosity, and... expectation.
"I don't know... maybe," I replied, smiling. "If they take you away from me, I'd do whatever it takes to rescue you. A knight always rescues his princess."
I winked at her.
"Idiot..." she muttered, puffing out her cheeks; but a smile escaped her without her realizing it.
Niara paid us no attention for the rest of the journey; she simply moved forward, guiding us without losing pace. I must admit it was a complicated trail, especially from a certain point onward, where she had to cast several specific spells to clear our way.
From there, we began to cross paths with other Amazons. They were armed with bows, blades, and their own magic wands. They were women similar to Niara: strong, muscular, and with a wild, aggressive aura. Still, their features varied: different heights, skin tones, and distinct Brazilian racial features.
At first, they observed us with the same indifference with which one looks at something mundane, as if it weren't odd for Niara to bring someone. But that changed as soon as they noticed two details about me: that I was male and, even more so, my very distinctive color. Several immediately tensed up. Some even stepped forward, ready to interrogate Niara for bringing a boy so deep into the territory. Others stopped them, murmuring among themselves in their native language.
The looks I received became more complex, charged with caution and something akin to fear. Hannah, nervous, stuck closer to my side. The presence of both of us left no doubt for those who knew the prophecy. But recognizing it didn't mean accepting it. Especially one, the most aggressive, whose expression was as clear as the edge of her blade: she wanted to eliminate me right there to prevent the supposed disaster. I could feel her murderous intentions like a sting at the back of my neck.
I considered reacting, but I didn't want to make a bad impression. Not in front of Hannah, and not before knowing the end of this story. I suspected the prophecy about me was linked to the altered "destiny," and I wanted to talk to that seer to discover how truly bound I was. Once I was freed from those shackles I myself had provoked, I could act freely.
That's why I opted for something more... diplomatic. I greeted them cordially and used my auras to try to gain their sympathy. It worked on some, who relaxed their posture and even seemed curious. Others, however, became even more tense and uttered strange names to refer to me. I would later discover that they were names of local folklore demons: tricksters, tempters, cruel, and feared.
They allowed us to proceed, although I could feel several following us secretly, watching me. Others rushed ahead, undoubtedly to announce our arrival.
After a bit more walking, the environment began to change. There was less wild vegetation and more signs of human activity: marked trails, scattered constructions, sounds of work and life. Until finally, a settlement opened up before us... peculiar, to say the least.
It reminded me a bit of Whiterun from Skyrim: the center was on a moderate elevation, and the constructions gradually descended around it. It wasn't a mountain, but a hill that defined the structure of the place. Many houses were built on wooden platforms or reinforced roots, giving them height. Almost all were made of plant materials: wood, cane, straw, vines. Each dwelling had a different design, as if each craftswoman had imprinted her personal style.
The paths were dirt, although the main routes were better marked and paved. We saw houses built around enormous trees, some connected by elevated bridges. There were also corrals with animals and, undoubtedly, magical creatures among them.
The people were equally varied: some sported the primitive, savage style of Niara; others wore perfectly normal clothes for the time. Racially, the settlement reflected the Brazilian ethnic mix. Everything vibrated with life, magic, and tradition.
It was admirable. Astonishing. Just like when we entered the Archway Passage. Just like the first time I saw Hogwarts or Hogsmeade. Another facet of the magical world that had been completely unknown to us until now.
"Hey... I'm sure you said men weren't allowed, but I see several men and boys here," I commented, pointing discreetly.
Niara nodded without stopping.
"Those are our men. Husbands and sons of Amazons. They were raised here or accepted into the tribe. They know our laws, understand their place in society, and their duty as men. They are not like the men outside."
I looked at the males in the settlement. They were notably thinner and less muscular than the women. Many were taking care of children or performing more passive, domestic tasks.
"Well... I'll say it's nothing I couldn't imagine," I murmured, observing the place with genuine curiosity, "but it still surprises me."