A promise

"Welcome Claire." the woman said, eyes still closed and hands together.

"That's- I-" Claire panicked since no one knew about her new name. "How do you know my name?" She whispered.

"I hear and see all… Even that you have a book that-"

"So it's like… you know the latest gossip too?" Claire asked as if she had become familiar with Medusa's gate.

"I... Well… yes- yes you could put it that way." The gate replied.

"That's so cool!" She said excitedly. "By the way, Just noticed the pretty flowers on your head. It makes you look very naturey even though they are green too. I love nature" Claire continued with a wide smile.

"Why thank you darling. I was about to comment about your adventurous attire too. It makes you look ready for action and suits your personality as well." She replied with a lovely smile.

The gates of Medusa were larger than what Claire had read in her book. Medusa herself was a darker shade of green, had curly hair that snakes at the ends of each strand. Each snake slithered and moved in one motion. Each tiny snake kept their eyes on Claire and seemed to be the eyes that saw all the sights for medusa whose own were closed because of the fear of turning someone into stone.

"How do I-" Claire was interrupted by a gust of wind.

It blew towards her at such a speed that she lost her footing and fell on her bottom. There were tiny things in the wind that got stuck on her clothes. After a good whole minute, the wind stopped but the source from where it came from was unknown. The gate had not opened either. A few moments later Claire felt something crawl up her arm. Realizing that the teeny weeny spider-like creatures had started to creep over her body, Claire leaped up and started screaming while trying her best to pat them off her clothes.

"I am sorry my child but you were diverting from the task at hand. I hope I didn't ruin your lovely hair." Medusa said very apologetically that even the snakes in her hair became depressed.

"Ah- Yes. Sorry… eekkkk- please… pleasecanyougetheseguysoutofmeeeee." Claire replied in one breath.

"Your first task- Get rid of the weberettes by yourself without harming a single one of them. If you harm even one of their legs you WILL BE ELIMINATED." She replied. "Do your best!"

"I- eeeekkkkkk!!!!" Claire shriked.

'Clear your mind, Clairenteena…~' memories of when she trained with her older sister started to play in her mind like a movie.

Claire then remembered what her sister said, trying her best to stand still to calm her breathing down but her face made all kinds of expressions. Resting her left palm up on her torso Claire used her right hand to motion her breathing. Taking the stick from the bag that her sister gave, Claire waved it around whispering a few words under her breath she turned the stick around and tapped her forehead with it.

The weberettes looked like spiders but less lethal since they are only babies. Each weberette has its eyes inside its mouths, which means that only if they open their mouths they are able to see. Weberettes have very sharp teeth and longer canines. They have small 'x' shaped feet and long legs with spikes that allow them to cling onto things. The smaller ones don't hunt on their own so they aren't dangerous.

"Careful now… HEY! Don't scrap me-" Claire whispered, guiding the creatures that Medusa called weberettes with her magic stick slowly off her body.

"Well that definitely took longer than either of us hoped for but… regardless you passed successfully." Medusa smiled, making her snakes hiss in happiness. "You are now free to continue your journey, Claire-nteena."

Claire put the stick back into the bag with aggression.

"What?!? That was it? I get to meet the great Gate of Medusa and I'm told to leave after getting a few spiders of myself?" Claire whined.

"You want to be covered in more spiders then?" Medusa asked with a questioning face of concern. "This was your test of endurance. I like you so I wasn't going to give you a really hard test." She continued.

"NOPE. THANKS, MS. MEDUSA BUT I'M OUTTA HERE. HAVE A GREAT DAY." Claire waved before she tried to dash away. "Wait- could you… uh… tell me why- you're on that gate? I have read about it but I want to hear your story from you. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it." She stopped in her tracks.

"Well… there are various reasons, my child. Many of which I cannot remember…" She said with a weak smile. "Ah- there is one..."

"Nope, it doesn't matter. You don't have to tell me ab-"

"I was already cursed with the power to turn people into stone… guess that wasn't enough for them… a unicorn was forced to turn me into something that was to give me the utmost humiliation anyone could have… I wouldn't blame but I must say... there are many consequences in everything that one may desire in their life..." She trailed off.

"Hey… Those people are… are FOPDOODLES!." Claire said in anger.

"Haha… well it's all in the past." Medusa smiled, during any of the exchange of words she didn't move anything but her mouth. Sometimes the snakes on her head expressed emotions which she couldn't have without her eyes.

"Does it get lonely when you don't have someone to talk to?" Claire asked. She had already sat back down to converse with Medusa.

"It does. You are one of the only people I have spoken to in centur- Oh excuse me in decades." Medusa finished. One of the snakes had corrected her previously.

"Really? I wish I could come to talk to you more often. Sometimes I get extremely lonely too, I can't imagine how you would feel… Is there a way I could set you free?" Claire asked with sincerity.

"Such a kind soul." Medusa smiled. "There are ways but they are much too dangerous for a small child such as yourself."

"That's the problem with adults these days! Always underestimating children." Claire pouted, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry my child but-" She sighed before continuing "One method is by becoming the strongest unicorn in magic, mostly healing. The other is to find the Unicorn who cursed me and it is up to you to convince him to change me back."

Claire's eyes glittered in joy. She leaped from where she sat and made a pledge, choosing her words carefully.

"I, Clairenteena, daughter of Corbett and Calliope, shall set Madam Medusa from her chained curse by any means. It may take a few years but I shall be back as a valiant necromancer and Unicorn." Claire said, kneeling down as the knight she once saw at the king's coronation.

"I, Medusa, daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, Shall await you, necromancer and unicorn Clairenteena. Till then fair knight." She replied with a giggle. "Thank you. I'm feeling very happy since you spoke to me."

"It is my utmost pleasure madam Medusa." Claire smiled.

Claire walked close to the gate and placed both her palms before she allowed her forehead to touch the large, green gate, silently swearing to save her newfound friend.

Medusa smiled, having understood the message she continued "Now you must choose your next path, through my gates or will you be venturing out on your own? The choice is yours."

"If I may ask, what exactly is inside of your gate?" Claire said after a while of pondering.

"It is all of what you want to see... but beware of the dangers that lurk in desires. Many of which are painful and very saddening to experience." Medusa's smile dropped.

"I shall journey on my own then Madam Medusa," Claire said. "And will be back again."

"Very well my child. Good luck and don't die." Medusa said before she disappeared just as she had appeared in front of Claire. Feeling satisfied and happy Claire continued her journey to the second test.