The Taste of Seduction

"I dunno~! But great granny said when we were there once… that when leprechauns feel threatened from humans further exploring inside, they get abducted. But ma and pa told me that it\'s a scary story for children not to go further. Humans just get lost because the place is unfamiliar and unexplored."

And with that, Atlas and Meredith looked at each other, thinking that they may have found a great lead.

The couple then looked at the old woman looking at them, giving them a small smile. It was obvious in her eyes what her granddaughter could be talking about to the tourists, making the two smile at her to assure her that there is nothing suspicious in their actions.

"What\'s your name, sweetie?" Meredith asked, the little girl giving them a sweet and cute chuckle. "Erin."

"Erin," Meredith smiled, bending slightly to give her a pat on the head. "That\'s a wonderful name. I\'m Meredith, and he\'s Atlas."

"Nice to meet ye," she replied, swaying her body side to side. "Why are you two curious about leprechauns?" she further asked, Atlas answering for them this time.

"Ah, you see… we are not from here, right?" he began, the little girl nodding at them. "We\'re writers. We want to write about them for our story."

"Oh!" Erin let out another cute giggle. "Are the books you make for children?"

"Well, yes," Meredith answered, a clearing of the throat heard from an old woman now approaching them.

"I\'m sorry… is my granddaughter disturbing the both of you?"

"Oh, no, no… not at all!" Meredith immediately answered, giving them a sweet smile. "She\'s a lovely child. She\'s telling us more about leprechauns," she added, the old woman nodding as there was slight suspicion in her eyes.

"I see," the old woman said, Atlas further taking it from here so they wouldn\'t get thought of as people targeting little children. They couldn\'t blame her--the world is getting more dangerous nowadays.

"I\'m Atlas, and she\'s Meredith," he introduced themselves to her. "We\'re both writers. We visited the place for research. For our book."

"Aaah…" The old woman now smiled brightly at them, no longer suspicious of them as she understood why they were talking to Erin, her granddaughter. "The name\'s Fiona," she introduced herself. "Nice to meet ye."

"Nice to meet you, too," Meredith replied, looking at the souvenirs she\'s selling in a small pouch wrapped around her. "Are you selling these?"

"Ah, yes," Fiona answered, opening her bags more to show them her handmade items. "I crocheted these leprechauns and castle figures. They are indeed the highlight of our place--considering our mythology and all."

"Oh, we\'ll buy some, please," Meredith said, wanting to help the old woman and the little child. "These can be great gifts for my family and friends back home."

"Why, thank ye. This will help us greatly," Fiona said, letting her choose from her bag. "I take it that you two are talking about leprechauns and my granddaughter overhead the conversation so she joined in? I\'m sorry… she really loves leprechauns!"

"Oh, no need to apologize," Atlas said, taking this opportunity to converse more with the old woman which may give them more clues to the mythical creature. "We do want to learn more about them. It will indeed help us with our research for our book," he added, the old woman nodding.

"Well… what exactly do you know about them and what did my little Erin tell you about leprechauns?"

"Actually--" Meredith began, already giving the old woman the chosen souvenirs for her to bag, along with the money. "--as we visited villages and asked about the legend, it\'s all the same--that leprechauns are at the end of the rainbow with their pot of gold."

The old woman laughed and nodded, giving Meredith her souvenirs along with the change. However, Meredith shook her head, giving Fiona the change as tips. She thanked her, the old woman making a comment on the knowledge they knew that\'s commonly and popularly known.

"As it always is," Fiona answered, her smile never leaving her face as it seemed that she also loved talking about leprechauns. "And I take it that Erin told you that leprechauns are not found in villages and forests near villages?"

"Yes," Atlas said, her smile fading with what he said next. "She also told us that her great granny--possibly your mother or your husband\'s mother, told Erin that people get lost when the mountains are explored deeper, due to leprechauns feeling threatened."

"Although--" Meredith continued, Fiona\'s smile turning into a frown completely. "--Erin told us that it\'s just a story to scare children from exploring the mountains. And that humans just get lost because the place is unfamiliar and at the same time, unexplored."

There was no answer for a while. Seeing that her happy expression turned to something serious, Atlas and Meredith knew that there is indeed something that she knows about the mythical creature. However, with the old woman now excusing herself, the two felt quite desperate to know more.

"I see," she started, FIona\'s hand now reaching out to Erin\'s as if to scold her. "Well, that is all there is to it about them and nothing more. Excuse me, I shall sell more of our souvenirs. I hope you two find more about leprechauns."

"Oh! Thank you," Meredith said, the two of them surprised with what they heard next as Fiona thought that she wouldn\'t be heard as they walked away.

"How many times will I tell you, Erin… that you shouldn\'t always disclose to tourists what happens in the mountains!"

"But--"

"You might scare them from visiting and people doing their jobs might lose their job, sweetie… is that what you want?"

"No…"

"Then be a good girl… and don\'t tell them about it, yes?"

"Yes, gramma…"

Atlas and Meredith looked at each other. Even though they heard Fiona reprimand Erin, there\'s something different in the way she scolded her that seemed off.

Is it really because of them keeping up the good name of the mountains for tourists… or are people really missing the moment they go deeper inside the place?