Edgus's Circle of Esteemed Friends and Colleagues (and Colleague Friends)

In the distant taiga on the edge of the province,
An interesting place had appeared.
Among the dreamy firs and evergreens,
There's something that's been feared.

The most unusual of sights unfurls to weary traveler.
It is some giant mushrooms planted in a ring.
Like a circle of pixies and fae, inviting would be reveler.

No one knows where it came from or who planted it.
Why is it feared?
Everyone's story is different.
Yet all storytellers would often agree,
After that encounter, their day changes to certain degree.

Those that just leave as soon as they see it will still feel an invisible pull.
It does not bring them back to where they arrive from, yet doesn't lead to their doom.

A mysterious mansion appears before his eyes,
With a garden that looks to be tended.
No inhabitants are visible from the outside,
That makes him hope that the spell's work had ended.

Well, it seems like it did, so our traveler can go.
But now he's got curiosity rooted deep in his soul.
Just what kind of household lies beyond these walls?

If he were to turn back he'd be lost in the forest.
A decision will have to be made.
If he were to intrude there'll be risk of contest.
Or he'd probably meet some weird fae...
Even worse, this damn mansion might fade!

The traveler telling the story just chuckled.
Perphaps recalling the thing that have happened.

I politely ask to continue the story,
Since he's standing right here, there's no reason to worry.

So the traveler reaches the entrance door,
Grabbing hold of the cold metal handle.
He gives it a push and a pull.
It won't budge.
He tries to give it a series of knocks.
On the third it rose off the floor.
The dim gray interior seemed rather dull.

As the traveler whispers a greeting, the room makes a change.
The colours grow warm and the hall gets well lit.
Deeper down in the room he sees a person sit.

"Welcome, dear traveler..." a low yet gentle voice sounds.
"What brings you here?"

The traveler's taken aback but his answer is very soon given.
"You might laugh, but I was enchanted by a strange circle of 'shrooms".

The host raises his brow in surprise.
"The one by the elderblooms?"
The traveler gives him a nod,
Adding a "yes", just to be nice.

"I invite you to stay the night, or use my own map of the forest.
Keep in mind that it's gotten quite dark, so I may offer you food and a place to get rest."

The traveler agrees, albeit reluctantly.
The host stand up from his chair and brings back a kettle to heat on the stove.
He gestures to take seat, and traveler did, hesitantly.
The stranger moves farther taking out a glass jar labeled "Berry jam from the grove".

A peculiar writing, this is for sure, but the guy merely spreads it onto a bread slice.
"Here, it's a snack to go with my tea."
The traveler accepts it, unsure if eating it now would be wise.

*Fyooooom* goes the kettle.
"Ah" the mansion inhabitant utters.
He takes off the kettle and fills up a cup.
Then he hands it like one would entrust a ceremonial torch to a runner.
Slowly and gently, as if testing the traveler's mettle.

Then they both have a small chat over simple yet delicious treats.
Very soon both of them head to sleep in the different rooms of the mansion.

The traveler's weary so he's out like a light.

Then comes morning, he's pracefully snoring.
Turning over, he falls from the bedding to bedroom's fine carpet.
In breaks the sunlight he had been ignoring.
Irritating the eyes, traveler abandons the dreams he didn't see yet.

Hovewer, the scenery isn't a room, but a meadow.
The same one where circle of fungi is grown.

"What of the mansion and its gracious host?"
Well, he does not really know.
The path to the mansion is hopelessly lost.
Hovewer, this meadow is really familiar,
So the travelers fears do not show.

He finds way that leads back to the province, no longer completely lost.

Nimbly, I express gratitude to the narrating traveler for his story.
Whatever the truth, my research into mysteries of the fae grows bigger in volume and glory.

The dissapearing mansion and mushroom faerie circle is just one of the many fanciful things that the locals have mentioned.
What a wonderful province with lands that's been molded...
By mythical legends and folk of the fae.