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Chapter Text

High flames were heading towards the sky. The smoke was covering everything and many were running away, escaping from their own homes. Long, familiar screeching sounds were spreading terror everywhere.

The old man cursed under his breath, while his eyes darted around, looking into the first thing in his field of view he could use as a weapon. He saw an axe, stuck near a chopping wood table. It wasn’t ideal, but he had to make do with less in the past. He grabbed it without hesitation.

“Monsters! Monsters are attacking the village!” a man screamed, trying to make his way out of the nearby house on fire.

“Someone! God! Help us, please!” a young woman was crying while limping away, with blood on her ankle and her child between her arms.

These were the loud, piercing cries that he heard while he was heading to the village, ready to sell the goods from the mountains where he lived. He left livelihood behind and his body, still used to this even after such a long time, bolted towards the first people he saw, who were trying to defend themselves from a monster.

They were astonished when they saw the infamous old hunter coming towards them. For such a man to be here, charging to their rescue with an axe in hand, they were nothing short of shocked.

He dealt a strong blow to the creature’s throat, and soon the monster’s head fell on his feet, in a pool of blood. Relief instantly appeared on the faces of the villagers standing in front of him.

“You’re here!”

“This is a miracle!”

“Please, save us!” begged a man, his trembling hands holding the folds of the hero’s pants.

He has never been a person with a noble soul, nor was he known as something even close to a hero. He was known to have killed for money in the past, and the victims weren’t just monsters. The same people that didn’t want him living inside the village, calling him “murderer”, were the same ones who were now asking for his help. 

‘I know how humans are, my long life has shown me how unabashed their hypocrisy is, but I can't help but feel surprised when I see it every time. I guess hypocrisy is part of human nature, after all’ he shifted his gaze from the humans to the monsters, wanting to ignore them.

He kicked the blood-covered remains of the monster he just stabbed aside and started slaying all the ones standing in his way one after the other. If only he hadn’t thrown all of his weapons away after retirement, now he wouldn’t be using a stupid, rusty axe. Luckily, those monsters didn’t have armored skin but their fur was made of fire. Taking a step back from the monsters, although their shape was chimera, they looked somehow like monkeys. As he tried to figure out the best approach to get close without getting scorched, he merely dodged a surprise attack from one of their scorpion tails, probably containing venom, that he hadn’t noticed before.

As soon as he’d killed the second one, all of them decided to target him, seeing him as the main threat for their pack. Everyone else screamed and ran away, while he faced seven of them alone. 

One of the monsters tried to bite off his arm, but the man split its head in half before it could do any damage. Another one tried to stab the back of his head with its venomous tail, just to be roughly grabbed by the head and torn off from the rest of its body as the man dealt it a powerful kick. The man could feel their boiling blood run down his skin, and immediately started feeling nauseous. 

He’d never wanted to become a hunter in the first place. Yet, his body was trained to kill, despite his mind still trying to escape the terrible punishment that had tormented him all his life. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept well, without nightmares of the creature he had slayed. Even with these monsters now, he couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain inside his chest every time he heard their last cry.

“He’s gonna die! We’re all gonna die!” a woman’s call of desperation rose from the crowd “We’re all gonna die and it’s all that- that baby’s fault!”

‘A baby?’

One of the monsters was able to tear open the tender flesh near his stomach. He let down a low groan, pressing a hand firmly on his abdomen while trying to dodge another attack and coughing up blood.

Then, he heard it.

The long, desperate sound of a baby crying. It couldn’t have been very far from him.

That’s when he sensed a vibration in the air around them: the ground suddenly caved under the monsters’ feet and water streamed down from seemingly nowhere. Monstrous guttural howls left their throats, while the flames on their fur died out and they ended up buried under the ground. Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

‘What… Just happened?’

The same woman from before screamed once again.

“Demon! The real monster is still alive! They came for him! He’ll bring us all to hell!”

The old man looked in the direction the woman was desperately pointing to, and saw a house completely engulfed by the flames. Suddenly, he couldn’t think about anything else. With his now bloody hand still pressed on his abdomen, his body moved. Realizing his intentions, one of the villagers tried to stop him, but he dodged without breaking a sweat and threw himself in the raging inferno.

The echoing sound of a cry, the strong smell of smoke and the unbearable heat of the rising flames were numbing his senses.

A strong cough shaked his whole body, but he managed to tire down the big remains of a wooden wardrobe that were in the way. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes. There was dust everywhere and he could feel more and more blood gushing from his wound, but he couldn’t stop there, not yet. 

‘I will not die here, not after killing again.’ 

He needed to find that baby.

Another cry caught his attention and he tore off his shirt, now ripped to shreds, shoving it in his mouth and biting down hard while moving forward again, desperately looking for the source of the pitiful lament. 

Painful blisters were starting to form on his skin, the heat was just too much. He could feel he was mere seconds away from losing consciousness. 

Then, he found it.

A small child was crying his eyes out, curled up inside an invisible circle the fire couldn’t enter. He couldn’t be more than two years old, and had fair, pale skin and shiny, dark eyes. His fluffy black hair couldn’t manage to hide his little, pointy ears, as well as a pair of tiny antennae on top of his head. From his back, long purple wings shone in the blinding light of the flames. They were fluttering desperately, in a physical manifestation of the child’s distress.

‘It’s… a fairy?’

Three corpses lay near the child. A man and a woman, both humans, covered in deep wounds in a pool of their own blood. Next to them, a dead monkey monster was impaled, pierced by a spike that had come out from the ground. 

The old man’s shock immediately came to a halt when he saw the child stretching his little arms out to him. The little one was trying to stand on his own, but his legs couldn’t stop shaking. His desperate cries showed no sign of stopping.

The hunter coughed again, feeling the cold, metallic taste of blood well up in his mouth. A crack that suddenly appeared on the ceiling above their heads made him bolt forward as fast as he could, swiftly enveloping the child in his arms. He shielded him with his own body, ready to die.

‘This… is a heroic death, at least’ He thought. After all this time, perhaps, he could have atoned for his sins.

But death didn’t come.

He waited a few seconds, then opened his eyes and looked up. The ceiling had completely collapsed, yet they were unharmed. A warm purple light was covering their bodies.

He was inside a protective barrier. 

His gaze shifted to the child in his arms. His cheeks were red from fatigue, and he was covered in sweat. He was still crying on the man’s chest, not even aware of what was happening. His little hands tightly squeezed whatever remained of the hunter’s shirt.

The old man pressed his hand down on the child’s fluffy hair and started running without hesitation, determined to make it out of that hell. The sheer adrenaline running through his veins even made him forget about his own wounds.

‘I’m still alive. We’re alive. This child… saved me.’

As soon as they got out, he heard the blaring sound of the house collapsing to the ground. He took in a deep breath, with the child still loudly crying in his arms. He was about to fall on his knees, when a horrified scream stopped him in his tracks.

“The demon! He took the monster with him!” The same woman from before widened her eyes in terror, petrified in fear. “We need to kill him or more monsters will come! He’s a cursed child!”

“What the hell are you talking about? Did the smoke get to your head or something?” The old hunter’s tone was sharp and cold as he replied. “This is just a baby. All the damage was caused by the monkey monsters.”

Only women and children surrounded the two: the men were all trying to extinguish the remaining flames with water gathered from a nearby river. A second woman put her hand on the other’s shoulder, in an attempt to calm her down. Her eyes remained fixed on the little one in the old man’s arms.

“You have eyes, you can see his wings too.” The woman couldn’t hide her aversion, accentuated by her poisonous tone.

“So what? Never seen a fairy in your life?” The irritation in his tone grew stronger and stronger by the second. “Just because this is a human village, it doesn’t make other creatures demons. What about our Elf King?”

She hesitated for a moment, before letting out a sigh. The woman on her side was muttering in distress, saying something along the lines of “We’re all going to die, we will never be free.”

“Put that thing down and let me tend to your wounds while we talk. After all, you saved us.”

“It wasn’t just me. This fairy that scares you all so much also saved you. Saved… me.” He looked down into the boy’s dark eyes. His breathing was still irregular and he looked exhausted, but his tears had stopped flowing down his cheeks and he had gone silent.

“Don’t let your eyes betray you. Can’t you see the mark on his right hand?” The old man looked down at the little fist that still gripped his shirt tightly. A little, star-like shape was covering the back of the little boy’s hand.

“That symbol marks it as a changeling, a fairy that took the place of a human child in another family. It’s said that they do this so that the fairy’s parents can eat precious, newborn human flesh and their offspring can grow as a parasite in another family. It will consume all of their money, food and energy until the humans that tend to it die. If they survive all the monsters coming to eat them, they become even more powerful than other fairies. Just because of his presence, part of the village was destroyed, and if you hadn’t come down here, many people would have died. We were just lucky.”

The old man remained silent. The child, sensing the tense atmosphere and, noticing everyone’s eyes on his hand, tried to hide it.

“The married couple in the house was already dead, wasn’t it? Monster or not, if the child is able to use magic, it’s because it absorbed the energy of those reckless people. We tried to warn them, but they didn’t listen. They wanted to believe that it was their real child, and that it was blessed or something. Maybe it was all part of its spell.” She sighed once again, and her eyes hardened. “So, if you want to be part of this village, we need you to let us kill the child. Or else, you shall take it away with you and never come here again. Your choice.”

The little wings on the child’s back fluttered in agitation, while his antennae started to curl up. The old hunter looked at him for what felt like eternity, wondering what to do. His head was spinning so much.

He knew what he saw. The couple had died because of the monster. But what about the child’s powers? How could such a small creature have absorbed their life energy? If he’d decided to keep it, would he have faced the same death too? And would he have had to fight monster after monster? Alone, without any support whatsoever from the nearby village? 

Every thought made it clear that it was a terrible idea. He was already too old for all of this.

But for once, he decided to follow his heart.

“Screw you! All of you!” His booming voice echoed in every corner of the village. Everyone looked at him in shock. 

“You’re all just a bunch of ungrateful pieces of shit! And you call yourselves the good guys here?! Hah!” He started laughing, mocking them, until he found himself coughing up blood again. But that didn’t stop him. “I’ll be damned! If nurturing this little one will bring misfortune to you all, then so be it!”

All the people in the village looked at his back, now completely covered in blood, as he climbed up the mountain while limping and growling in pain. Just above his shoulder, the face of the little child, once again covered in tears, was the last thing they saw. No one had the courage to halter his steps.

“He’s been enchanted as well…”

“We’re all going to die…”

The old man left everything behind. His body was aching from the pain, but he never lost hope. He decided to try talking to the child, all he could do to try and stay conscious.

“You’ll need a name. I don’t think ‘demon’ or ‘monster’ suit you at all.”

The child, for the first time since they had met, decided to talk.

“Yudr…”  He tried to say. His voice was so feeble.

“Yudr? That sounds strange. Is that your name?” The old hunter was surprised, then a smile bloomed on his lips. “What about Yuder? It has a nice ring to it. Can I call you that?” 

The child was silent for a while, and then gave a little nod.

“Well Yuder, you can call me Grandpa.”

“Ga-Pa?”

“Yeah.” He sighed and let out a little laugh. “Life will not be gentle to you, Yuder, but I'll try to prepare you for it as much as I can. Be proud of who you are, and someday, others too will be able to recognize your worth.”

He wasn’t sure if the child could understand what he was saying, but he felt his little body relax and his head lean on his shoulder. 

The old man felt his own heart thumping in his ears. For the first time in his life, he’d made a choice for himself. 

For the first time in his life, he had found a purpose.

18 years later

Wind played with his hair and antennae. Long, dark bangs covered his eyes as his sleek, purple dragonfly wings fluttered on his exposed, pale back.

He focused his eyes, now shining gold, to admire the view. A city carved into giant trees was right beneath him, full of creatures roaming around the main path. With his pointy ears, he could hear laughter and voices, while his antennae sensed many powers who all overlapped with each other. 

Looking down from his elevated point of view, he could see every single path unfurling between the giant plants. They all converged at the center of the village, where the most magnificent, majestic tree of the whole Great Sarain Forest stood tall. Only the Elf King and other members of the Royal Family were allowed to live there.

Yuder took a deep breath, absentmindedly letting his slender fingers lightly brush onto the exposed mark on his right hand. He knew he would soon face many others ready to hate him, judge him and curse him, but his Grandpa’s last words kept repeating in his mind.

‘Be proud of who you are, and someday, others too will be able to recognize your worth.’

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

The sun was shining in the sky of the Great Sarain Forest, as a playful wind raised the fallen leaves off the ground in swirls.

A tall man looked outside the window of his room, his arms crossed. His long, golden hair momentarily uncovered his long ears because of the breeze, but he didn’t notice it. 

Beneath him, he could hear busy people working on the streets. Although there was still a month to go, everyone was excited for the upcoming Harvest Festival. The taverns were filling up their storages with all kinds of food, and the merchants were preparing to show off the best goods they could find. Many were painting the streets with symbols of the sun, the moon and summer flowers, and getting ready to dance and pray during the whole week dedicated to the upcoming festivity. It was a tradition created long ago by the first King of the Great Sarain Forest - represented by the sun - to honor the ancient mage Luma - portrayed as the moon -, to commemorate the creation of the kingdom.  

‘I hope I'll be able to see it this year, too.’ The elf couldn’t help but sigh longingly.

Since he was a child, he’d always used to sneak out from the Great Holy Tree to enjoy the Festival. Even though it was a regular annual occurrence, all the people laughing, dancing, cheering and hoping for a good harvest for the next year, were still a sight that made his heart swell with joy every time. 

Seeing all of that, reminded him of all the days his big brother spent working on his desk behind piles of books. The other noble families kept saying behind his back that he wasn’t made for that role and that he couldn’t make the hostilities between all the creatures disappear, that ‘a place like that could never exist’; but If the Kingdom of the Great Sarain Forest was suddenly so peaceful, after many years at war with other nations, it was only thanks to the young King. Kishiar couldn’t help but feel proud of him, even if it weren’t his own achievements. 

‘I wish he could scold me this time, too.’ A bitter laugh accompanied his thoughts. He was always excited to see the young King fussing about his younger brother’s identity being revealed while sneaking out. However, his big brother had never been able to hide the affection in his eyes everytime he brought him something from the Festival.

His red eyes shifted upwards, scanning the clouds, looking for something. A small smile appeared on his face as soon as he saw a dark figure with long, black, jagged wings approaching him.

“Nathan, I’ve been waiting for you.” He said, moving to the side.

The man, his skin a light red color, landed gracefully in the room, careful not to damage the window with his big, dragon-like wings. As soon as his feet touched the floor, a blue-colored aura enveloped him, changing his half-dragon form to a more human-like appearance. The only things hinting at his true nature were the vertical, reptile-like pupils of his ocean blue eyes.

“I apologize for the delay, Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry about it.”  He replied, his tone calm. “How did it go?”

“I have done everything you requested.” The other replied, as the elf's red eyes widened in surprise.

“Already? Even the investigation?” 

“Yes, Your Highness.” Hearing the dragon’s response, a smile bloomed on his plump lips.

“What would I do without such a capable adjutant?” He caressed the other man’s dark blue hair gently. Even if they were almost the same height now, this intimate gesture had never changed with the passing of time. The dragon stood still, closing his eyes while enjoying his Master’s touch. 

“We’ll talk about the rest later. Are you ready to go?”

Nathan nodded in response and the elf left out a sigh. Even if he was somehow managing to maintain a relaxed expression, he knew the dragon could feel the tension brewing inside him. He silently moved his hand down, intertwining his long fingers with the other’s.

“Thank you” Kishiar whispered.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

After stepping out of Kishiar’s chambers, they moved into a long hallway carved through living wood, where glowing vines pulsed with gentle light and the walls hummed with the heartbeat of the ancient tree, leading them toward the royal quarters.

The elf extended his hand and long, tendril-like roots moved to the side, opening the golden doors in front of them. When the passage had become big enough to allow both of them in, Kishiar halted the current of sacred energy radiating from his palm and quickly moved inside with his adjutant. The entrance closed once more behind them in the blink of an eye.

‘The energy flowing from the spring keeps getting weaker…’ His red eyes scanned the roots again, a worried expression painted on his face. They were rotting more and more everyday. 

“Kishiar.” A familiar voice called for him, abruptly stopping his train of thought. He quickly turned around.

At the end of the room, a nymph was approaching them with elegant steps. Little purple flowers were dancing around, moving as if they were alive and following every elegant movement coming from her. Two worried cerulean eyes, adorned by long platinum hair, were set on Kishiar, the palpable sadness they held evident for everyone looking. Most of the flowers had lost some of their petals, leaving a trail behind her, manifesting her turmoil, but she nonetheless gave both of them a smile as she always did.

“Your Majesty.” Nathan was the first to greet her, bowing deeply.

“My Queen.” Kishiar smiled back at her warmly. “Is the King still unable to greet me out here?” 

He tried his best to keep his tone light and playful, but all three of them were aware of the true, crushing weight his words held.

“Let’s go. He’s waiting for you.” Her smile wavered, and a shadow of sorrow deepened in her eyes. She hadn’t answered Kishiar’s question aloud, but the truth was clear.

The queen turned around, leading the way. With every step, more and more petals were falling on the ground.

The hallway stretched endlessly ahead, its walls alive with slow pulses of golden sap that glowed beneath the smooth grain of ancient wood. Vines braided into delicate arches overhead, their leaves whispering secrets in a language only the forest could understand.

Nobody, not even the attendants were present in that long hallway, but they were always aware of the possibility of eyes watching them. From an outsider’s perspective, they just looked like they were walking towards the King’s chambers, but in reality they were using that moment to share vital information.

“He’s getting worse, even if tries to hide it.” She whispered softly, so that only the two of them could hear.

“I already guessed this much. I used more power than usual just to open the doors, too. And, since he’s the core of the Tree right now…” Kishiar saw a hint of hesitation take over the Queen for a moment, but she quickly adjusted the long veil that covered her shoulders, making it look like she was just shivering from the cold. 

“Did you… Manage to find out anything else about that solution?” Her face was composed, but her voice was shaking as she spoke.

“Nathan just came back with the last bit of information. We finally have an idea of where we could be able to find it.” He quickened his pace to walk beside her, before continuing. “I really hope I can convince His Majesty, this time.”

“I’ll help you as much as I can.” She gave him a look full of determination. “He can be stubborn sometimes, but we know full well he can’t resist both of us.” Kishiar let out a sigh, to conceal his nervous laugh.

“I’m glad I'm not alone. Thank you, My Queen.”

A soon as they reached their destination, they both went silent. 

“Her Majesty the Queen and His Highness the Prince have arrived, My King.” The servant near the bed announced.

“Thank you, Yuliver. You can leave us.” The old man bowed in response, excusing himself, and left with some kind of cloth in his arms. Even though he tried to conceal it, Kishiar could clearly see traces of blood on it. His heart tightened in his chest.

Nathan, sensing his tension, moved to his side. The distance he kept was still one appropriate for an adjutant, but Kishiar felt his hand graze the side of his arm. It was just a simple touch, one that could well pass off as a coincidence caused by his sudden movement, but the elf could sense a reassuring energy flowing from the dragon. 

“Brother, it’s been a while.” As soon as he heard Yuliver leaving the room, Kishiar instantly dropped the formalities, switching to a more casual tone.

“Barely one day has passed since your last visit.” Keilusa remarked, raising an eyebrow. His shining red eyes met the ones of his little brother.

“Yes, but I enjoy your honorable company so much that it feels like it’s been weeks instead.”  The King let out an annoyed sigh, reaching for his golden hair ready to softly push them out of his face as he was used to doing, but his hand only met air. He still wasn’t used to his new, short cut, imposed by the constant withering of his hair. He fixed his glasses instead.

“Why are you here, Kishiar? Get straight to the point. I know you have better things to do than to check my conditions everyday. As you can see, I can still sit up on my own and speak without any trouble whatsoever. You don’t need to concern yourself so much." His voice was firm, but his sickly appearance betrayed him. He was sweating just from having that simple conversation, and the roots of the Sacred Tree near him were in poor conditions too. 

“I have found a solution, brother. I know how to help you stabilize the Sacred Spring and bring the Tree back to its stability.”

“You’re talking about the Red Stone again?” The king tried to keep his composure. “We’ve already talked about this. It’s only a legend. There's no way something like that could really exist. And if it does exist, then it’s too dangerous for you to try looking for it. I need to make sure you’re safe, or else…” His words came to a halt as he started coughing uncontrollably.

The Queen moved to his side, lightly rubbing his shoulder to relieve his stress, and handed him a cup of water infused with some of her healing flowers. He brought it to his lips, sipping slowly, and managed to calm down a little.

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry to intrude” Nathan piped up, bowing his head as a sign of respect. “I can confirm that we’ve made a lot of progress since the last time we spoke. We were able to find the place in which it most likely fell, and many reports from people who were able to see it falling from the sky as well.”

The King remained silent for some time before posing a question. 

“And where would that be?”

“The mountains near the Central Region. It would take just two weeks to go back and forth from the Great Sarain Forest." Hearing his affirmation, Keilusa stroked his forehead with his hand, looking tired.

“Still, this doesn’t change the fact that we’re talking about a legend. Just because some ancient mage wrote about a similar phenomenon before, we can’t be sure the same would happen again.”

“It’s not just any ancient mage. We’re talking about Luma, the ancient mage that helped the First King create the Kingdom of the Great Sarain Forest, the one where we live right now.” Nathan had moved first, that alone meant that Kishiar couldn’t afford to hold back.

“Why not give it a try, My King? What do we have to lose? If the legends are indeed true, then this stone could really help balance the energy from the Sacred Spring again.” The Queen also tried to do her part in convincing her husband, but he shook his head.

“We have so much to lose, Rosa. If something happens to me, and Kishiar puts his life at risk during this expedition, Katchian and the Diarca Family will immediately aim for the throne. You'll be left alone to fight a terrible battle. I need to know both of you will be here, ready to take my place.” 

“We don’t want to see you sacrificing yourself just to keep the Sacred Tree alive either.” The nymph lightly caressed the tips of his hair, which were slowly browning, a constant reminder of the life force that was leaving his body as they spoke.

Before he could rebut, Kishiar intervened.

“I know what you’re afraid of.” with his eyes fixed on the other elf, he moved closer to the bed “But I need you to trust me. Not because I ask, but because you know the weight of what’s coming.” Kishiar took his brother’s hands. and brought them to his forehead in a delicate but desperate gesture. “You’re still the one this Kingdom looks to. I do, too.”

Keilusa was about to say something back, his hands shaking a little, but Rosa didn’t hesitate to take the lead of the situation again.

“My love, neither of us wants to live in a world without you. I know you trust us so much that you’re willingly trading your life for the fate of this whole Kingdom, but if we can manage to be able to live together for years and years to come, then wouldn’t it be worth it to try?”

To deal him the final blow, Nathan knelt down in front of his bed, with a hand on his chest.

“You’ve given me a place to live where I can be my true self. I would be honored to serve you, your family and my Master for many more years to come.” 

Keilusa shifted his gaze between the three of them, completely speechless. His little brother, with whom he had shared his whole life, his wife, who’d stolen his heart from the very first time he saw her, and a legendary black dragon that was vowing to protect him and the ones he loved.

His eyes were welled up with tears, but he didn’t allow himself to cry. He tried to keep his composure, but his voice faltered a little.

“I have one condition.”

“What is it?” 

“You can’t do this alone. And no, even if I trust Sir Zuckerman, he’s not enough. You can’t use the Royal Guards because of the secrecy of this mission, but…” His gaze was firm while looking at his younger brother, who was still holding his hand. “I need to know you’ll be as safe as possible. You’ll need someone capable and trustworthy to accompany you.”

A smile bloomed on Kishiar’s face.

“It’s really fortunate that I know you so well. I thought you’d say that, and I already planned accordingly.” A surprised expression appeared on Keilusa’s face.

“You don’t mean…”

“Yes.” Kishiar stood up, a newfound determination in his eyes. Finally, he could allow himself to hope again. 

“Today, we’re officially going to assemble a squad for the retrieval of the Red Stone.”

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

Loud voices echoed in the halls, and the air was filled with the smell of roasted meat, the familiar aroma of the burning embers in the kitchen drifting lazily out the door.

The tavern was bustling with activity for lunchtime. The group had decided to head there at that specific time of day to blend in with the crowd as much as possible.

Nathan looked at the man in front of him, who was sipping on the golden drink he’d ordered for both. Even if his facial traits remained the same, except for the now round, human-looking ears, his now short light brown hair and amber eyes made it very difficult to recognize him. Wrapped around one of his fingers, the magical shape shifting ring had such a simple, unsuspecting design that no one would think it was such a powerful tool. 

“So, even if I’d love to think that you asked me out for lunch just to grace me with a most pleasurable meal in your company… ” Kishiar winked at the other between words, his usual, playful tone evident. “I know that’s probably not the case. Who are we looking for?”

The dragon cleared his throat, keeping his composure as he ignored his Master's flirty behavior. 

He quickly signaled with his eyes, pointing to a girl who was swiftly navigating around the crowded tavern while taking the clients’ orders. She had short, fluffy brown hair, and sweet blue eyes that squinted cheerfully every time she smiled at the customers. She’d almost look like a completely normal human, had it not been for the scales covering some parts of her neck and hands. They most likely coated other parts of her body as well, but if that was the case, they were hidden by her long sleeves and skirt. 

Every once in a while, she would wipe a damp handkerchief on her face. She seemed to be doing it to dry her sweat, but a more careful observation would quickly prove it was to keep her extremely sensitive skin hydrated instead. 

“Kanna Wand, 20 years old, half-mermaid. She came from the Western Continent, near the Great Lake. It’s been two years since she was able to escape her father and started working here. Her mother was part of a rare mermaid clan that left the ocean and adapted to the water of rivers and lakes about a century ago. They’re very rare nowadays, since they need to hide from the land-dwelling creatures who regularly hunt them down.” Nathan whispered in a low voice, just loud enough for Kishiar to hear him and conveniently drowned out to prying ears by the loud laughter filling the tavern around them.

“Half-mermaid, you say…” Kishiar slowly stroked his chin, taking one discreet glance at her. “Mermaids rarely venture far from their homes” His voice lowered slightly. “I imagine she had no other choices, if she decided that was her best option.”

“... Yes, that seems to be the case.” The dragon nodded quietly in response. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find out precisely who her father is.”

"Maybe someday we’ll be able to find out, if she ever decides to seek help.” Kishiar couldn’t help but let out a sigh. “I don’t mean to sound cold, given everything she's endured.” His gaze slid back to Nathan "But I assume there’s a reason you thought she was suited for this mission.”

“A famous legend has it that mermaids have the power to read into someone's emotions and life memories, and that’s how they charm other creatures and lead them to their death at sea.” As he talked, Nathan took pages of handwritten notes out of his pockets and signaled to the most important parts. 

“I looked up more about this, and found out that an exiled mage named Thais Yulman and his apprentice, Alik Pelgin, were able to study them after surviving a shipwreck. They reported that most of the mermaids were able to gain such information through singing, and others by making direct eye contact with their prey. Just a handful of them needed physical contact. Even if such a method is more inconvenient and risky for them, as well as being a lot harder to control, it allowed these mermaids to extract considerably more information than the others.” 

Kishiar looked at Kanna again, this time paying more attention to her movements.

After having observed her for a while, he noticed that she actively tried to dodge everyone, avoiding contact as much as she could. The few times she happened to accidentally bump into someone, a deeply troubled expression appeared on her face. 

“Interesting. I think I can figure out the rest on my own.” Nathan looked at Kishiar as his lips bloomed into a smile “I can perfectly understand what it means to have such a troublesome power and how hard it is to keep it from everyone else.” He closed his eyes for a moment, deep in contemplation.

Then, he raised one arm, trying to catch her attention.

“Excuse me, may I trouble you for another order?” She quickly turned to him, slightly taken aback by the sudden call, but she quickly composed herself, moving in their direction.

“O-Of course! What would you like to order? Some food to complement your drinks?” She smiled at the two of them, her hands behind her back. 

“Why not? What do you recommend?” Kishiar asked, a nonchalant smirk on his face. 

Nathan sensed the other’s leg shifting under the table and frowned. Right then, he saw Kishiar's foot discreetly getting closer to the girl, and realized what he was scheming.

“Well… What about some wild boar meat? Or maybe you’d enjoy our special salad, grown by pixies if you-” She stopped talking as soon as the tip of Kishiar’s foot touched hers. She blinked in confusion and instinctively flinched in shock.

“Y-Your High-” Stepping back, she didn’t notice a customer behind her and was about to bump into him, but Nathan swiftly intervened, grabbing one of her arms and pulling her out of the way.

She blinked again, clearly startled from the situation, her gaze directed at the dragon this time. She instantly pulled her arm back and covered her mouth with her hands.

“I’m so, so sorry! I didn't mean to…” Kishiar shook his head, with a reassuring smile.

“Quite the opposite, I owe you an apology. My action was intentional, a test, though I admit it may not have been a fair one.”

“A test? But, why would…” As she started sweating more profusely, more and more scales started to appear on her skin. Kishiar noticed it and took out one of his clean napkins, slightly dampening it with the water from their table before handing it to her. 

Kanna looked at him, her eyes still filled with confusion. Still, she accepted the napkin and started to hydrate herself once more, deeply breathing in and out. The anxiety from having her secret laid bare was heavy in the air around them, but she was somehow able to regain her composure. 

Just as she was about to say something, she was interrupted by a middle-aged woman shouting at her from the other side of the tavern. 

“Kanna! What are you doing? The kitchen is waiting for the client's orders!” 

“Ah, I-I’m sorry! I’m coming right now!” She was about to walk away but hesitated, still looking at the two men before her.

“I’m deeply sorry we caused you trouble during your shift.” Kishiar apologized again, smiling at her. “If you read our intentions, you’ll know we don’t wish to harm you in any way. If you still want answers as to why we were seeking out your help, then I hope you’ll come and meet us tonight.” 

Without saying any more, he stood up, leaving some gold coins on the table and excusing himself. Nathan moved to follow him to the entrance of the tavern, giving her a final, parting nod.

Kanna stared at them until they both disappeared behind the door. It all felt like an extremely strange, vivid dream, but the damp napkin still in her hands proved otherwise. She looked at it and saw that the hour and place of the appointment were written down in magical, golden ink.

“Kanna!”

“I’m coming!” She quickly came back to her senses and shoved the napkin inside her pocket. Her heart and thoughts were racing in fear and confusion, but most of all… excitement.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

The busiest road of the Great Sarain Forest Kingdom was very lively in the early hours of the afternoon. 

Children scurried around everywhere, cheerfully playing tag after the end of their school day. From the windows of many houses, civilians hung up the wet laundry they’d washed in the nearby river earlier in the day, while others were ready to go back to their jobs after enjoying a hearty meal.

Nathan tugged the hem of his hood down to better hide his face as they walked among the crowd. He’d planned to move at that specific time because anyone would have simply been too busy to pay proper attention to their two cloaked figures. Still, he could feel several, unwelcomed pairs of eyes staring holes right through them.

“This does bring back memories of when we used to sneak around. The only difference is that now you’re the one leading the tour.” Kishiar smiled at him, a glint of playfulness in his now amber eyes. “Don’t you feel nostalgic too, Nathan?”

“I recall things rather differently, my Lord.” Nathan replied, eyes fixed on the road. “Back then, I was always being dragged out without warning. Every time." He kept up his pace, his expression unreadable as always. Kishiar couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Kishiar couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Ah, yes. And you were always so diligently scared about it.” His playful smile only grew wider. “Still, we managed to go unnoticed most of the time, so what should we feel guilty for?” Nathan didn’t know what to argue back, and left out a deep sigh. 

They passed by a young flower nymph who was selling beautifully colored roses she kept in a basket. Kishiar crouched down to her level to hand her a silver coin, and chose one of the blue ones. The young nymph beamed at him gratefully and ran to her mother, enthusiastically showing off her first coin.

“I am fully aware that I was a very annoying little Prince back in the day, but the ‘little adventures’ we always embarked on together still remain some of my most deeply cherished memories.” Kishiar's gaze softened as he looked at him again. Then he gently put the blue rose, whose color was so similar to the dragon’s eyes, into the pocket of Nathan’s uniform, near his heart.

“I always end up acting like a fool whenever I want to surprise my loved ones. And I’m afraid this will not change anytime soon.” The prince winked at him, turning back with a mischievous expression and acting like he hadn’t just openly flirted with another man in the middle of the Kingdom’s main street.

Nathan immediately hid the flower with the cape that already concealed most of his figure, pressing his lips together and closing his eyes shut as a flustered look appeared on his usually stoic, deadpan face.

‘To think I told him not to do this sort of thing while we’re outside…’ He tried hard to regain his composure: he needed to fully focus on the mission. Yet, some part of him couldn’t help but feel flattered, even pleased by such cheesy, flirty gestures. Only His Lord could do this sort of thing to him and get away with it.

He secretly grazed the flower with his fingers one last time before stepping up to walk alongside Kishiar again. 

“Please! Just a letter of recommendation would be fine, I’m not asking for more.” 

As soon as the bounty board entered their field of view, they both hid behind the nearby houses, careful to not be noticed by the people they could see from their hiding place.

Not too far from them, a young man with a face as beautiful as a blooming rose and fiery red hair, stood in front of a group of individuals, pleading. With one knee to the ground to better look at the dwarf he was talking to without towering over him, his deep green eyes were wide in disbelief. Betrayal was written all over his face as some sort of strange shadow shifted behind his back, almost as if it had been a creature with a mind of its own.

Judging from their outfits, weapons and bags on their shoulders, they were probably a group of adventurers, ready to leave for their next expedition.

“And that boy would be our next candidate, I suppose?” Kishiar asked, without taking his eyes off the scene unfolding in front of them. Nathan simply nodded in response.

“Gakane Bolunwald, 21 years old, human. His ancestors were noblemen, but their family name fell from grace after the man who was Lord of their house at the time was cursed. He’d wronged a witch, exploiting her powers and tricking her into becoming his lover just so he could gather more and more wealth, all while hiding his real wife and children. Once the witch found out the truth, she decided to curse him and all his descendants, so that at least one child in every generation would have their own shadow live as a being of its own. The Lord went mad and died, just like all the others that inherited this cursed shadow from that point on.”

“So, they can’t even trust their own shadow? That sure sounds like such a nerve-wracking life” As he said this, Kishiar focused his attention back on the strange, shifting shadow he’d noticed before. 

Not only was it clearly moving on its own accord, but it was circling around Gakane's knees, trying to make him stand up, as if furiously beckoning him not to kneel before the people in front of him. 

“Yes, but his case is a little… peculiar. He’s actually the first ever member of his family that was able to befriend the shadow and harness it as if it were an extension of his own body.” Kishiar’s eyes widened at Nathan’s words.

“That’s truly fascinating...” Before he could add anything else, he was interrupted.

“Listen, young man. I know you asked for this job solely because I know someone who works for the Royal Guard, but I haven't talked to them in so many years, and…” The middle-aged dwarf, an apologetic expression visible even under his long beard, was trying to reason with the redhead but the sad, hurt-puppy-like glances that Gakane kept shooting him were truly heartbreaking.

“Was I lacking in any way? Did I do something wrong?” While he tried so hard to make up for whatever mistake he’d made, the shadow swirled in a very menacing way towards the adventurers. They backed down, in a cold sweat from the fear.

“Oh no, not again…” Gakane tried to hold back his own shadow, but it didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to its owner.

“You see? You can’t even control your own shadow! Do you really think the Royal Guards would accept someone as dangerous as you?!” Another one of the adventurers, a human mage, couldn’t take it anymore and spat out her true thoughts. “It’s truly a miracle we were able to survive travelling with you and your… your… abomination!”

The shadow coiled ominously, as if ready to attack, but Gakane looked down at it, sadness filling his eyes. The dark being suddenly decided to remain still.

“I… I understand. Thank you for trying anyway.” He said, disheartened, as he got up from the ground. 

“I’m sorry, Gakane… I’m sure you’ll find another way.” The dwarf was about to pat him on the side, but he didn’t dare approach the shadow, which looked like a barely tamed beast. He decided to give him a little nod instead, and then turned around to face the rest of the group.

“Yeah… Sure…” Gakane scratched the back of his neck, and a discouraged sigh left his lips.

“From what I’ve gathered, this seems to be his eighth try…” Nathan murmured to himself, but Kishiar didn’t fail to hear him.

“Hmm? Care to elaborate?” He slowly stroked his chin, still observing the dejected-looking young man.

“I’ve heard that he’s very skilled, and has remarkable mastery in all survival skills. So far, he’s tried to join eight different adventurer teams with the intention of being noticed by the Royal Guards, as he wishes to become a Knight.”

“Oh? Is he trying to win this year’s Adventurer Award so he can receive a special Knight training without having to disclose his family name?” Kishiar started to connect the dots. The recommendation letter the boy had mentioned at the very start of the conversation, as well as the dwarf being acquaintances with a Royal Guard, now made Gakane’s intentions all the more clear. 

Every year, during the Harvest Festival, one adventurer that met a list of requirements could have one wish granted in exchange for having risked their life outside of the Great Sarain Forest. If their expedition had helped the Kingdom in some important way, then the probability of being noticed and chosen was significantly higher.

“That seems to be the case, but as My Lord can see… He hasn’t had much luck at all.” Nathan glanced at Gakane, who was now looking at the bounty board and trying to figure out what to try next, but his slouched posture gave away his obvious sorrow.

“A small test might be in order, If he’s as promising as you believe, this could be a useful stage for him.” Nathan raised an eyebrow at Kishiar’s words.

“What are you plotting, My Lord..?”

“Nothing that would really harm anyone, don’t fret. But… be ready to intervene, just in case.” He replied, the mischievous glint in his eyes utterly failing to reassure his adjutant. 

Kishiar stretched his right hand out, his eyes shining like two crimson gems. At the same time, Nathan reached for the scabbard of his sword.

A strange energy started to ripple in the space just above the adventurer group that still hadn’t gone too far. The roof of a nearby house started to crack, and soon bricks and wood were falling down, aiming directly for the head of the human mage that had insulted Gakane earlier. 

Nathan's body flinched, his instinct yelling at him that the mage would have died if he hadn’t intervened immediately, but Kishiar’s free hand stopped him just in time.

A shadow, big enough to contain all the adventurers, enveloped the group just in time. As soon as they hit the dark surface, the bricks were absorbed and disappeared as if they’d never existed in the first place.

Kishiar smiled with satisfaction.

“Are you all okay?!” Gakane called back his power and ran towards them to check on their conditions. Their faces were masks of horror and shock, and the mage screamed as the boy got closer.

“D-Don’t touch me!” She instantly pointed the big wand she was carrying with her straight towards him, ready to cast a spell, but stumbled in the process, falling on her back. 

A powerful blast of magic shot up from the tip of her wand. An ominous dark distortion appeared in midair, splitting the sky as a long, inhuman screech echoed loudly throughout the area and the townspeople started screaming and running away in fear. 

“What the hell did you do?!” The dwarf shouted at the young mage.

“I-I summoned a portal because I wanted to send him away!” The mage tried to explain, but she was already well aware of the seriousness of her actions. The spell she’d just used, albeit impulsively, was a forbidden one. 

Portals were used by merchants to help them transport their goods while traveling, so it was a spell well known even if incredibly hard to use, because the point of start and the destination needed to be extremely clear. Creating a portal from nowhere, with no purpose and without previous notice, was forbidden because it was incredibly dangerous. If the start and arrival weren’t decided in advance, the portal could cause a direct contact between two realities, and most of the time it was a dark dimension where monsters lived.

“We’ll talk about this later! Now’s not the time!” Gakane abruptly interrupted them, a determined look in his eyes. “Let’s evacuate the civilians!”

The adventurers all looked at him and nodded. That wasn’t the time to talk. 

“The spell was cast inside the Kingdom’s protective barrier… I wasn’t expecting such a dire situation to unfold.” Kishiar bolted towards the portal without hesitation, swiftly dodging the people running in the opposite direction. 

“How many do you think will come out?” Nathan asked, drawing his longsword as he kept up with the Prince’s pace.

“If we’re fortunate, just one. And even if luck isn’t on our side today, it still isn’t a passage big enough to let more than three, small-sized monsters inside.” Kishiar effortlessly assumed an elegant stance, worthy of a true swordmaster. “It’s sure been a while since the last time I could put my combat skills to good use Still, I didn’t expect for us to be forced to use them before even setting out on our wondrous journey.” 

Shooting a glance over his shoulder, he saw Gakane darting around with his big shadow following closely after him, trying to help the people that had gotten caught in the crowd’s stampede and prevent any further damage. His eyes burned with determination: he was not going to leave anyone behind. 

‘Indeed, I’d say the boy passes with flying colors.’ Without anything else to worry about, he fully brought his attention back to the incoming danger.

“It’s coming.” Nathan shifted his stance, ready to take on any blow that could come their way.

Long claws appeared to grab either side of the crack, using it as a leverage point to drag the body they were attached to outside of it. The monster’s head, similar to that of a lizard, came out of the portal, letting out another long screech and baring its razor-like teeth. As soon as its long body was completely out of the portal, the distortion disappeared and the monster landed on all fours, shaking the ground as it did.

“I guess Lady Luck kissed our foreheads this morning.” An amused smile bloomed on Kishiar's lips.

The monster thrashed its long, whip-like tail and destroyed the merchant carts as it ran towards the two men, jaws wide open and ready to attack. 

Their two swords were now shone bright as a blue aura enveloped them, ready to finish everything with just one, coordinated blow.

Then, as soon as the giant lizard entered the perfect range for them to strike, an unknown figure appeared on top of it out of thin air. The ground crumbled under its feet, trapping the creature’s limbs, as long spikes started to stab at its abdomen from beneath. The monster screamed again, this time in unbearable pain, as its blood gushed everywhere. 

Without wasting any more time, a short sword pierced its skull in the blink of an eye. After just a few seconds, the monster stopped moving. 

Before the creature fell to the ground, the mysterious man landed beside it with just a flutter of his dragonfly wings. He made sure to not touch the monster’s blood as its corpse fell, and not a single drop of sweat was visible under the black bangs covering his forehead. The antennae on his head were still moving, scanning the area around them. 

After sheathing his sword with his right hand, whose back sported a strange mark, his gaze met the baffled one of the two other men. As soon as they met his dark eyes, a shiver ran down their spines.

“Who is this man…?” Nathan whispered, his hands still tightly gripping the hilt of his sword.

“A Dragonfly Fairy.” Kishiar replied, his eyes shining.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

He knew he shouldn’t have acted.

The dryad that was currently hosting him had warned against standing out, but he acted before he could think. 

“You need to lay low for now, or you won’t be trusted.” The man said “This is the second time a monster has appeared in this kingdom since your arrival.”

His golden eyes had shifted to look at the back of Yuder’s hand, with his eyebrows furrowed more than usual, manifesting his concern. “Unlike me, they can’t feel the barrier weakening, so you can’t blame them if they start to convince themself that you are the cause.”  

No more words were needed, they both knew about the twisted beliefs surrounding that mark.

He knew full well, yet he couldn’t bear to be forced to do nothing at all. He’d been trained to kill monsters since he was a child as a way to protect himself from harm, but also as an instrument to protect others surrounding him. He would have betrayed his Grandpa's words by choosing to hide.

With a graceful arc of the marked hand, the air stirred, summoning a breeze from nothingness. All the things that the monster had overturned were instantly put back in place, while the ruins of their shattered surroundings were gently put to the side. The main road was clean again.

The civilians that had witnessed the scene started coming back from their previous escape, visibly alarmed. Their eyes darted anxiously from the monster’s corpse, laying in a pool of its own blood, to the young man that had killed it in the blink of an eye and cleaned up almost every trace of the aftermath as if it had been nothing.

Yuder ignored all of their terrified but curious gazes, glancing at the dead monster once again and trying to recall the last time he’d seen something similar.

As soon as he remembered where he had seen the monster before, he turned towards the people who were now warily surrounding the monster’s carcass, speaking aloud so that everyone could hear.

“Its tail should be edible, if you peel it and cook it for at least an hour over high heat. Moreover, its skin is very resistant, while the claws and teeth can become good materials for building daggers.” 

No one replied. Yuder just couldn’t wrap his head around why people always got rid of the monster’s corpses without even thinking of using the good parts, so he’d decided to start telling them. It was a waste, it made Yuder wonder how much they didn’t know about monsters. 

“Truly fascinating.” a voice not far from his side spoke, a velvety murmur, warm and resonant, more akin to a quiet decree than a fleeting whisper.

Yuder looked at the direction where the voice was coming from. He recognized the two men approaching, those who had drawn their swords and stood ready to fight, yet had been caught off guard by his sudden intervention.

The human with short brown hair smiled at him, his eyes shining with a glint of curiosity. “Are you a hunter? Or maybe some sort of Monster’s Byproducts expert?”

Yuder hesitated for a second, slightly unsettled by such a bright, welcoming smile. He was so used to others being afraid of him, asking what he was or what his intentions were. For someone to genuinely ask about his profession, it was a first. 

Looking into his amber eyes, he could sense some strange energy coming from the man. His antennae scanned his figure, and he looked down to a ring wrapped around his middle finger where the floating energy was pulsing, albeit almost undetectably. Probably some sort of magical artifact. 

He glanced over at the other, red-skinned man following him, who was busy placing his longsword back into its scabbard. As soon as Yuder's eyes met the man’s two vertical pupils, the purple wings on his back went stiff. Something ancient and mysterious was swirling beneath those eyes, and a feeling that he’d never experienced before washed over him. 

Since he arrived in the Sarain Forest, it wasn’t unusual for him to see or learn about new types of creatures, but it was the first time he felt uneasy to not know the true nature of the individual he was looking at. 

He couldn't help but wonder what kind of creature was hiding inside the man. He could guess the other was asking himself the same thing by his gaze, that was scanning Yuder from head to toes, with his hand still placed on top of the scabbard, wary but not openly hostile.

The weirdest thing, however, was the strange connection he felt between the two. They were two different beings, but it felt like both their energies were intertwined. It was the first time he perceived something like that with his antennae.

“Is that… a fairy?” A voice coming from the crowd interrupted his train of thought.

“...They’re still alive?”

Yuder ignored every noise and murmur coming from the townspeople, looking at the brown-haired man in front of him once again. As soon as he opened his mouth to speak, he saw a tomato flying in his direction. He moved to dodge it, but the man in front of him was faster and grabbed it in midair.

In just a second, the atmosphere became unbearably tense.

“What is the meaning of this?” He moved between Yuder and the crowd, still smiling with nonchalance, the fruit a little squished in his hand.

“T-This is the third time something like this has happened since he arrived a month ago!” A middle aged man shouted, trying to justify his action. “This can’t be a coincidence anymore!”

“Oh? And what makes you think he’s to blame?” Interest was evident in the man's tone. 

‘It’s happening again.’ Yuder could barely hold back a sigh. Even though he had been ready to face the consequence when he took action, it was still disheartening. ‘The apothecary was right.’ He could already picture his angry expression and the feeling of his cheeks being pulled on.

“Why, you ask? Obviously, because he’s a-”

Like Yuder had summoned him, a sudden shout rose from the crowd.

“Oh for Luma’s sake- YUDER!” 

Making his way out of the crowd, not paying attention and consequently shoving the man that was just trying to talk -and, actually, probably doing so on purpose-, a dryad with long, messy gray hair that was covered in leaves appeared. His eyebrows, already pointed themselves, were furrowed in anger.

“Everyone of you is such an ungrateful being! Better yet, I think that monster would have found you especially tasty!” He approached Yuder and the two men with big steps, all while trying to free himself from a towel that had gotten stuck on one of his branch-like horns. 

“Oh no… it’s that apothecary again,” someone muttered with a resigned sigh.

He was well-known throughout the Sarain Forest. Respected, certainly, but just as much feared. Everyone had heard of the ‘talented and mysterious apothecary’ who lived in those woods, and most had learned, one way or another, to tread carefully around his temper.

“Enon, please! You can’t just defend some random stranger that came out of nowhere!” A woman tentatively screamed in disbelief.

“Well, this random stranger just saved your lazy asses, for the third time I might add, since he moved here! You should throw him flowers instead! Or lemons, if you’re so fixated on what you throw being edible! And you !” He roughly pulled Yuder away from the brown-haired man, dragging him in the opposite direction. “What did I tell you? Stop putting yourself in danger! At least say something before you decide to disappear all of a sudden!”

It was then that Yuder remembered why he was even there in the first place. He’d been in the market until just minutes before, running errands with Enon. He’d left him in the middle of the street as soon as he sensed the distortion appearing in the sky, and… Dropped the herbs he’d been holding in the process.

“Enon, i’m sorry about the goods-”

“Is that what you’re worried about?! Ughh, shut it! I don't want to hear your voice anymore!”

After that confusing, yet somewhat funny exchange, they left everyone behind. Yuder shot one last glance at the two men, before following Enon in complete silence. The brown-haired one was smiling, waving with the same hand that wore the magic ring, while the mysterious red-skinned individual beside him continued to observe from a distance.

He had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time he saw them.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

“Sir Enon! Yuder! Welcome back!” 

A green haired human opened the door of the apothecary with a welcoming smile, and the familiar scent of freshly processed herbs greeted them.

When his green eyes met those of Enon, he seemed to notice that his expression was grumpier than usual. the human expression somehow even grumpier than usual, He covered his mouth, a worried frown shifting on his face. “Did something happen...?”

“You’d never guess, Lusan.” The dryad scratched his gray hair furiously. “ Someone here wanted to play the lone hero so bad he put his life on the line again ” He then started pulling Yuder’s cheeks to further emphasize who he was talking about. 

After he heard that, Lusan hurried to Yuder without any hesitation whatsoever.

“Yuder, are you hurt?! Are the villagers okay?” 

Even if it had just been a month since he’d arrived, Yuder was still not used to the way Enon always scolded him: like he was talking to a child and not a grown man. At the same time, he was still unfamiliar with Lusan’s concern behaviour. He’d been alone for so long that he could have never expected to find someone who’d genuinely care for him. He was first a patient, and now a temporary assistant to them, not positions that he would have thought warranted this much care. 

“I’m fine. None of the civilians were hurt.” Relief appeared on Lusan's face for a moment as Enon started to pull on Yuder’s cheeks even harder.

“He’s fine, he says! Like having the whole kingdom throwing tomatoes at your face while blaming you for all these monster’s appearances was a funny joke!” 

Lusan's eyes saddened at the revelation.

“I’m so sorry, Yuder… I can't believe so many simple-minded people still live inside the Great Sarain Forest!” His voice was filled with frustration, but he tried to keep his emotions in check. “I understood the situation… Why don’t we sit down for a moment?” Enon was about to disagree, but he remained still when Lusan put one hand on his shoulder. “I think it would be better to calm down a little before discussing the rest.”

Yuder nodded and Enon let go of his cheeks. After closing the apothecary for the day, both of them followed Lusan to a side door that led to a small dining room. They sat down on the wooden chairs, looking at Lusan as he poured tea in three wooden cups. His long hair, tied in a ponytail, was swaying on his back, following his quick movements. 

No one would have guessed he was just a normal human, judging its peculiar brilliant green color. Yuder was also surprised at first, but it turned out he wasn’t so far from the truth. Lusan’s family descended from an ancient lineage of naiads, a specific type of nymph that lived in rivers and were said to have strong healing powers. Even if Lusan’s ancestors intertwined their lineage with humans, the naiad genes and a strong curative energy were still present in their descendants.

“Here you go, this should help.” 

The sweet aroma coming from the cups filled the room and eased the atmosphere in an instant. Enon's eyebrows started to relax from all the previous tension. As confirming his now calm state of mind, from one of his branch-like horns a lemon started to bloom. As soon as it had perfectly matured, he picked it and started to chew on it, peel and all. 

Yuder still remembered his shock the first time he’d seen him do that, but it happened so often that now it was as normal as seeing him drink water. 

“So… Yuder. You came here because of your Grandpa's wish in the first place, right? You told us something about it the first time you came here.” After taking a few sips, Lusan resumed the conversation.

“Yes, that’s right… He wanted to be sure I would be able to find a place and people that’d accept me for who I am.” His eyes automatically fell to his mark. Enon slapped his hand.

“Stop looking at it like you want to cut your hand off!” He sighed. “If it was that easy to be accepted, then more creatures would have been part of the Grand Sarain Forest since long ago. It’s only thanks to King Keilusa that we can have some peace around here.”

Yuder nodded. Enon wasn’t the type to talk highly of someone else, but it wasn’t the first time he’d complimented the King’s achievements.

“And that’s why…” The dryad looked back at him, pointing the half-bitten lemon to his direction. “You should build a good reputation around here. As soon as the royals see you in a good light, then it’s done. But! ” He started to pull on Yuder’s cheeks again. “If you ruin everything now because of those stupid civilians’ opinions, then you’re screwed! That’s why you should lay low! Like, I don't know… Use at least some type of disguise if you want to play the hero in the middle of the street!”

Yuder was genuinely confused. How was he supposed to have a good reputation if he was defeating monsters in disguise? 

“Well, that could be an idea, but…” Lusan cleared his throat to hide his snicker at the weird suggestion, trying to change the topic. “What are we gonna do about the whole situation now?” 

Silence filled the room for a couple of minutes. 

Yuder thought about how the two people in front of him had accepted his existence so easily, healing him and treating his wounds the very same night he’d killed the first monster that had invaded the city the day he arrived. He knocked on so many doors, asking for a place to stay, offering to work as payback, but none of the places he visited wanted to host such a creepy stranger.

But not them.

As soon as Enon opened the door that night, seeing him covered in dirt, he was so ready to throw him inside a bathtub that Yuder was speechless. That same night, neither of them left him to rest alone in the room they provided for him until they’d treated all his scratches. 

He wondered if they hadn’t seen him defeating the huge monster that same morning, maybe that was why they weren’t so scared of him in the first place. He was surprised to learn that wasn’t the case at all when Lusan thanked him for saving the civilians.

What he had thought would be only a temporary place to stay ended up becoming part of his life for a whole month, an offer made by Enon after Yuder helped him develop new medicines. When Yuder left his old home behind, he took with him a few homemade remedies he had learned to prepare from his grandfather, using common herbs that grew near the mountains where he once lived. Enon was immediately fascinated when he saw them for the first time. He asked Yuder to teach him how to make them, and, impressed by their effectiveness and low cost, offered him a place to stay in exchange for the right to learn and sell those remedies, a simple, affordable way to help those in need.

Yuder wasn’t sure if they could be considered friends, but they were the first people who had treated him with genuine concern since his grandfather’s passed away. That alone was enough to make him hesitate, he didn’t want to trouble them any more than he already had.

“I think… It would be best for me to change where I stay for now.” He broke the silence, voicing his thoughts out loud.

“Why do you say that? Don’t speak nonsense.” Enon cut in at once, his voice gruff but quick with concern. He waved a hand sharply in the air, as if swatting the idea away like an annoying fly.

“I think that more people would come here to complain about me staying than before. I don’t want to involve you in all of this.” They both knew what he was referring to. Two customers had already come by just to complain about his presence in the shop. 

Enon had put their names on the ‘ Unwelcome customers ’ sign out of the apothecary as soon as he’d made them leave.

“Yuder, I’m sure that there is another way. Me and Enon are more than happy to have you here! You’re not troubling us, if that’s what you think.” Lusan smiled at Yuder, sincerity filling his eyes.

“The little one is right. Also-” Enon was suddenly interrupted by someone knocking on the main door. After the third knock, he got up from his chair, his eyebrows frowned again.

“ For Luma’s sake ! Can’t they see the big wooden sign saying ‘ closed ’?!” He walked towards the door with big steps , without worrying if the customers could hear him from the other side. Lusan let out a little laugh and followed him alongside Yuder.

“Sorry to intrude.” A clear and familiar voice came from the front door. “I wish to talk with the mysterious hero that saved my life on the main street.”

As soon as Yuder had met the eyes of the people behind the entrance, he couldn’t help but be surprised. The two strange men that approached him before were standing in front of Enon. The brown haired man had the same beautiful, playful smile as before.

“And who are you supposed to be?” The dryad asked, his arm crossed and without any intention to let the two in, even despite them being much taller than him. He probably didn’t recognize them, since his only focus on the main street had been saving Yuder from the crowd.

The brown man lifted his hand and touched the same strange ring that Yuder had sensed during their first meeting. As soon as he’d done that, his appearance changed.

Pointed ears, long golden hair and two unmistakable crimson eyes. The features aligned perfectly with the description that Enon had repeated numerous times.

It was none other than the prince of the Sarain Fores, Kishiar La Orr.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

Enon had lived for many years, so many that it was rumored he'd been around even before the Great Sarain Forest had taken root.

At least, these were the stories people loved to share among themselves in cluttered taverns. After all, even the diaries of great-great-grandparents of elves, creatures known for having an extremely long life span, talked about a strange, perpetually angry apothecary. 

He never shared his secrets, but many had tried to pry them out of him. The only thing they got for their trouble, was a firm boot to the backside and a lifetime ban from his shop

Yes, Enon had lived through centuries. However, that didn’t mean he was immune to surprise, and the sight before him now was more than enough to crack the hardened shell of habit.

Kishiar la Orr was sitting at the center of their humble living room, tapping his long fingers on the wooden table - which was way too small for him - while enjoying some of the tea Lusan had previously prepared. The little one was so worried, saying that it wouldn’t be good enough for a Royal, but Enon was able to calm him down, stating that if the prince wanted something refined then he shouldn't have come unannounced.

Standing behind him was a man with peculiar reptile-like eyes. Enon hadn’t seen much of his kind during his life, but it was still enough to let him recognize his mystical aura and features. 

‘Why is this dragon here?’ He couldn’t help but wonder. They were supreme, narcissistic creatures who lived alone in remote and hidden parts of the realm, so it was more than strange to see one of them serving someone that they’d normally consider a ‘lowly being’. 

He shifted his eyes back to the prince. It wasn’t the time to wonder about the dragon now. 

“Why is His Highness here to confer with me?” Sitting in front of the Prince, Yuder spoke first. Even if it was the first time he’d ever talked to a Royal, he looked composed, his dark eyes firmly set on him. Enon couldn’t help the faint smirk tugging at his lips as he watched Yuder hold his ground. At least the boy wasn’t planning to roll over just because someone wore a crown.

“Why, you ask?” The prince crossed his legs. “Our previous conversation was interrupted, so I would like to start from where we left.” A smile bloomed on his face. 

Enon let out a groan, not bothering to conceal it. He always used to talk about the King in a good way, but the same couldn’t be said about his brother, known to secretly sneak around and being a flirty troublemaker. He smelled something fishy, hidden in that peaceful expression. 

He picked another lemon from his own horn, biting it while assessing the situation. He saw Yuder try to recall the prince’s previous question, closing his eyes and taking some time before answering.

“My Grandpa was a monster hunter, that’s why I know how to deal with those creatures.” 

Enon could see something shifting into the elf's eyes at Yuder’s answer. 

“You’re grandpa seems to know a great deal about monsters, he must have been a great hunter.” The tone had been light, but the dryad could see a flash of something else in the prince's eyes. “Such a hunter would have been known if he lived around here.” 

The prince drummed his fingers lightly against the table, his gaze fixed on Yuder. When the fairy offered no reply, he spoke again, his voice calm but edged with expectation.

“I hope you forgive the town people for sharing your information so freely. A month, they said?” He smiled faintly, leaning back against his chair. “And before that?”

Enon frowned. He’d just said how convenient it would’ve been if Yuder could obtain the attention of the Royal Family, and now for some kind of magical coincidence the Prince was suddenly interested in him? He seemed to have done a background check too. Something in his guts was telling him that the situation was shady.

Before Yuder could answer the prince, he decided to intervene.

“Excuse me, can we know the true purpose of your visit to this humble apothecary, before answering all these questions?”

Lusan looked like he might faint from sheer embarrassment, shifting nervously at Enon’s side for his boldness. The dryad ignored his desperate gaze, staring right into Kishiar's surprised eyes. He had never been one to stand still and play the respectful old sage, not even in front of royal blood.

A sudden laugh filled the space, the prince’s smile shining even more. 

Enon was disgusted by the view, but caught Yuder stare mesmerized at the prince. That displeased him even more. 

Before speaking again, Kishiar exchanged a glance with the man behind his shoulder, handing him the same wooden cup where he’d been drinking.

“Why don’t you try this, my dear adjutant? It’s not exactly the Queen’s tea, but it’s truly delicious. We have some capable apothecaries in front of us.”

Silence filled the room. The dragon remained composed, accepting the sudden and playful request of his Master, like sharing the same cup wasn't something only lovers should do. 

Enon could feel the atmosphere shifting, becoming more… relaxed? Capable apothecaries, he’d said…

‘Were they testing us?’ His gaze grew sharp.

“I would like to apologize. We asked around to some of the civilians on the scene, and I wasn't sure if the apothecaries were treating our benefactor properly, keeping him hidden.” He looked at the dryad, his crimson eyes gentler than before. “But I can sense a genuine kind of friendship.” He then looked at Enon’s hand, resting on Yuder’s shoulder. 

The dryad jerked it away without a second thought, feeling somewhat embarrassed. When had he done that? Nevermind.

“Even if I would like to give an honest answer on what our intentions are, I still need to ask you some questions. Would that be okay with you?” Kishiar looked directly at the fairy in front of him. 

Enon was about to say something else, but Yuder nudged him with his foot, nodding to reassure him he was fine. There was no need to be this worried. The dryad sighed.

“I grew up on a mountain near the Central Region. My Grandpa saved me from a monster attack in the nearby village and took me in. He taught me everything he could before dying.” 

“...How old were you?” His tone was light, but something behind it faltered.

“I was two years old when he found me, and he died when I was thirteen.” Yuder pulled up one of his long sleeves to reveal a wooden handmade bracelet. 

Enon couldn’t help but remember the first night he and Lusan had taken him in. Even while they were bathing him or treating his wounds, he’d always made sure to keep it safe near him, in his field of view. It shouldn’t take much for the prince to realize that it was a memento from Yuder’s grandpa.  

“Now you look almost twenty, but we can’t be sure since so many creatures have longer lifespans. How old are you now?” 

Even if it wasn’t said out loud, it was clear that the question had a second meaning: ‘Since when were you alone?’

“...I should be twenty this year.” Yuder confirmed his assumption. Kishiar’s expression remained unchanged by his answer, but the dryad could see a glint of doubt in his eyes.  

He saw Yuder holding that gaze, with the same serious expression. Eighteen years had passed since his grandfather adopted him, if he tried to count the years the math was right, so why did the prince have doubts?

“And why did you come here, to the Great Sarain Forest of all places?” Before he could think further about it, the prince changed the topic. He saw Yuder’s shoulders relax a little.

“It was my Grandfather's last wish. He wanted me to… find a place where I could be accepted for who I am.” 

The Prince's expression didn’t change, but something in his gaze shifted, quiet and perceptive, like he knew there was something else hidden under the surface, but wanted to hear it from Yuder himself. 

Nathan stared at Yuder, a strange light in his eyes. Was it… empathy? For the topic about being accepted? From a dragon? Enon wasn’t sure.

“Mmh, but is it also your wish?” Kishiar stroked his chin. “We aren’t forced to follow someone else's wish, if it’s not what we want. And it’s been eighteen years since your Grandfather left this world." He paused again, to study Yuder’s reaction. “This makes me wonder if you hesitated just now because you didn’t have the same wish. What made you change your mind?”

Yuder clenched his fists. His antennae moving and his wings flattering couldn’t hide his surprise. Enon was shocked by the sudden revelation, thinking how dumb he’d been for not thinking about it beforehand. 

Even if his actions moved him in that direction, he’d never once said he was on the same page as his Grandfather. Enon hadn’t even questioned it in the first place, but while recalling all the conversations he’d had with Yuder, he’d never said ‘My wish’. It had always been ‘His wish’ instead.

The prince was able to read this young man better than him with just a glance, while Enon and Lusan were on his side for a month. This made him feel somewhat frustrated.

Yuder bit his lips. The dryad couldn’t read everything that was passing inside his mind, but he could sense a big conflict, probably unsure on what and how much information he should share. There were more secrets and walls around this young guy than he thought, a deep sigh left his mouth.

“...If I told you it was because of a dream, would you believe me?”

Kishiar looked at his tensed up shoulder for a moment. Nathan, behind him, frowned his eyebrows a little. Both of them didn’t expect that answer, and Enon couldn't help but stretch his pointy ears too.

“A dream?”

“Yes.”

The Prince tapped his fingers on the wooden table once more.

“I can’t say I have enough knowledge about fairies, but…” He exchanged a glance with Nathan and the adjutant gave him the documents he was about to ask for. Kishiar smiled at him, before focusing on Yuder again. 

“There are some old legends about fairies. Bad ones and good ones, like for most creatures.” He opened the papers in front of him, pointing at different parts while talking. “Some stories are popular knowledge, like the one about changelings.” He paused for a second, looking at the mark on Yuder’s right hand. 

“But some of them are still nothing but hypotheses. Like, for example…” The prince held his breath for a moment. “...Having visions about the future.”

“The future..?” Lusan repeated Kishiar’s words in disbelief, looking at Yuder. 

Enon did the same, his golden eyes full of questions, while his mind wandered back to the old, familiar face of a certain archmage, who’d always wondered about the future, wanting to know it, change it, but never achieved such knowledge.

‘Don’t tell me he was able to know when even Luma couldn’t...!’ The dryad tried to hold back his mix of surprise and frustration.

“I’m not familiar with it either, since I’ve never spoken to another fairy before. But…” Yuder's voice sounded deeper than usual “...What you said was just a hypothesis… It’s very close to the truth.”  

The fairy closed his eyes, magic flowing through him. Enon guessed he was about to show them something to prove his words, since he never felt an energy like this one before. 

When Yuder opened them again, one of his pupils was shining like a star in the night sky. Some ancient, mysterious energy was moving inside it. Something Enon, in all his long years of living, had never seen before. 

“...What kind of future did you see?” Nathan couldn’t help but ask, his reptilian eyes staring down at the golden light.

Yuder's voice came out like a dark, unavoidable prophecy. 

“I saw the King dying, the forest collapsing, and… monsters destroying everything.” he paused for a moment, before continuing “...The destruction of the Sarain Forest Kingdom.”

Kishiar’s face hardened, his fingers intertwined, knuckles white with tension he refused to voice. Nathan's posture became stiff, gripping his hands harder behind his back.

Lusan looked like he was about to faint, while Enon’s instinct told him the fairy wasn’t lying, and that was the scariest thing. 

At that moment, he connected the dots. The barrier weakening, the King's illness, and the sudden monsters’ appearances. The whole situation confirmed that Yuder was likely speaking the truth.

He looked at Kishiar. Was he aware of those same things? Given his expression, that was probably the case.

“But that wasn’t all.” Yuder quickly started to talk again. “In those ‘visions’, I also saw the Red Stone. It’s real, not just a legend, and it’s powerful enough to bring life back.”

“Are you sure about this?” Kishiar asked, feeling the weight of his words.

“Yes. The King can be saved.” his declaration echoed in the room, like a destiny that would come true.

A long silence filled the room. 

With his crimson eyes fixated on him, Kishiar asked one last question: “You knew we would have come to you for help?”

Yuder’s eye turned back to normal. He remained silent for a moment.

“...Yes.” His answer was simple, but after all that he revealed, it sounded like the final confirmation the prince needed.

Enon was speechless. This guy was always so quiet that it was hard to read his mind, but he really knew all that? 

“W-What…” Lusan's eyes were trembling in shock. Maybe it was too late, but Enon thought that probably the little one shouldn’t have heard more than half of the things that were shared in this room. He’d let Lusan curl up next to him again later, as always when things got bad. That usually worked. For now, he just gave him a pat on the shoulder. Lusan seemed to settle a bit, though his body stayed tense. 

“Some kind of deity sent us a very interesting hero, Nathan.” Kishiar let out a chuckle, trying to release the previous tension that had built up in the room. His red eyes were still unreadable, covered behind that bright smile, but Enon was sure that he wasn’t left unscathed by all these revelations.

“I guess you can state your real intentions now, Your Highness ?” The dryad couldn’t help but repeat his previous question, with an even more bitter tone. If he had known that Yuder would have shared so much, before knowing what the other party truly wanted from him, he would have stopped the fairy.

“Well, I guess our young man here already knows, doesn't he?” He smiled, as he saw Yuder nodding.

“I will help you find the Red Stone and save the Forest Kingdom… Under one condition.”

“Oh? And what would that be?”

Yuder bit his lip once more.

“I wish you could make my Grandfather's wish-”

“No.”

“...”

After a long silence, a scream could be heard even from outside the apothecary.

“ What do you mean ‘no’ ?!” Enon’s face became impossibly red, as if he was ready to explode “You ungrateful-”

“I also have a request for you. If you can do that, only then will I make your Grandfather’s wish come true.” Kishiar ignored the screaming dryad. Lusan was desperately trying to calm him down, trying unsuccessfully to usher him into another room, before he could jump at the Prince’s throat.

Yuder looked at him lost in his thoughts, not paying attention to the two apothecaries.

“And what would it be?”

A mischievous smile appeared on the elf lips.

“I’ll keep it a secret for now, but I promise it won’t be anything too bothersome for you.”

Yuder looked at those red eyes, wondering what the strange man wanted from him, but at the same time he didn’t have any reason to decline the agreement. The priority right now was to ensure the success of the mission, he would have worried about the condition when the issue arose again, hoping it really wouldn't be that troublesome of a request.

After a long sigh, he nodded.

“Okay. I accept your offer.”

Enon was still making noises of disapproval in the background, like a kettle just shy of boiling over.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Inside the Great Holy Three, there was a room located far away from the other Royals’, one that the power of the King couldn’t reach. He hadn't been able to see or hear anything in that area since he’d first gotten sick. Here, the roots and tendrils crawled along the walls, darker and drier than anywhere else, like veins slowly losing their color. The furniture, once carved from wood that pulsed with a soft, living glow, had turned dull and heavy. That somehow reflected the true nature of the young man living there.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The only sound echoing in the bedchamber was the man’s long fingers, adorned with rings, tapping on the sofa’s armrest. 

Even if he was forced down on his knees, Kiolle could feel the burning gaze of the Crown Prince in front of him. 

“A strange fairy that hunts monsters. This sure is interesting.” He crossed his leg on top of the other. “Are you sure you told me everything you saw?”

Kiolle's face became red as he cleared his throat.

“Y-Yes! That’s all! Kishiar visited the King, then had lunch with his adjutant in a tavern, tried flirting with a girl working there, spied on a group of adventurers fighting among each other, and then the monster appeared! After that, he asked for information and followed the apothecary who walked away with that… strange fairy!”

The dark, red eyes glaring down at him were full of disappointment. He put the glass of wine he was drinking aside.

“As always, your information is lacking.” He pulled Kiolle's hair to lift his head and met his gaze.“I wonder why I still keep asking you to do this kind of work for me.”  

‘Why do I always end up in this kind of situations?’ Kiolle thought, fisting the fabric of his pants, trying to suppress his frustration and to resist the impulse to break himself free.

Since he’d been assigned to be the Crown Prince Katchian La Orr’s personal guard, he’d asked him to follow Kishiar’s every move and report back to him. But he was a knight, not some assassin! He could never manage to get close enough to hear Kishiar’s every conversation, nor was he skilled enough to hide properly as he followed him.

“Anyway, even with your pitiful work, I'm now able to understand that he’s found a powerful ally. I want to have a talk with that fairy.” A sadistic smile spread on his lips. “We should pay him a special visit, don’t you think?”

Kiolle wasn’t smart but, as a renowned slacker, he could perfectly understand when something troublesome was coming his way.

“Your Highness, you want to sneak out of the Sacred Tree?!”

“Yes, tonight.” He let go of him, pushing him aside. “Prepare a disguise for both of us.” 

Kiolle left out a pained moan, rubbing his head and trying to tidy up his now messy hair.

With a last sip of wine from his glass, Katchian stood up from the sofa, walking towards the adorned mirror. He touched his round, normal-looking  ears, while murmuring some ancient words.

As soon as he’d finished chanting, his ears became pointy like every other elf’s and a strange mark, resembling a star, disappeared from his forehead.

“I want to see if I can steal his new toy this time around.”

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

Inside a remote cabin hidden deep inside the forest, a magical soundproof space was created to conceal a secret reunion. It was once used to interrogate suspects captured by the Royal Guards, but was abandoned since the new law system was created by the King. Abandoned since then, it was the perfect place to talk.

“The information and royal secrets that will be shared inside this room will put your life in danger, and any attempt to reveal them will be severely punished.”

A few hours earlier, after his meeting with the prince, Yuder had been summoned to this secret gathering. There, he was introduced to the two other individuals who would join him on the retrieval mission. 

They introduced themselves as Kanna and Gakane, their curious gazes fixed on him from the moment he arrived. Though it was their first time encountering a fairy like him, there was no trace of hostility in their demeanor. 

‘That’s… different from what I had expected.’ a flash of those same eyes filled with hatred and suspicion quickly disappeared from his mind.

Enon had asked him so many times if he was sure it was the right thing to do. When Yuder simply nodded, he took a long sigh and warned him to not trust Kishiar or Nathan unless they proved to be worthy. When Yuder had asked the meaning of his strange warning, he’d simply gotten a lemon shoved in his mouth to shut him up.

Kishiar moved in front of the three people that he’d met that very same day, looking right into each one of them’s eyes to study every subtle change in their expressions. His soft, cheery personality was now replaced by a serious look, fitting of the situation.  

Gakane gripped his pants under the table, in an attempt to suppress the shivers that the prince's eyes sent down his spine. Kanna slowly wiped the sweat at the back of her hands against her shirt, attempting to keep her back straight despite the pressure. Yuder remained composed, his eyes looking directly at Kishiar. He was the only one not cowering at the pressure.

“This mission will carry on its back the destiny of the Sarain Great Forest and this whole Kingdom.” The elf sat elegantly on the big, worn-down chair on the other side of the wooden table,. “If you understand and feel able to handle the weight of this task, then please take a step forward and sign this oath.”

After his lord had finished speaking,Nathan grabbed the previously prepared magic scroll and set it in the middle of the table. 

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I have a question!” The girl with short brown hair sitting next to him lifted her hand.

Kishiar nodded. “Go on.” 

“Can I ask why…” She hesitated for a second, as if trying to pose her question in the right way “...You chose us? I mean, doesn’t His Highness have the Royal Guards at his full disposal?”

Kishiar smiled, his expression softened by the honest question.

“Why indeed? Well, I think it’s fair to share this much before you all make a decision.” He clasped his hands together and a conflicted smile appeared on his face “Inside the Great Holy Tree there is someone that is trying to read all our movements in order to forcibly take the throne. If we decide to officially move the Royal Guards or someone else close to the King, then we could lose this game right from the start.” 

“Okay, this makes sense, but still, why not seek the help of mercenaries or adventurers? I don’t know about the other two, but…” She looked at him and Gakane before continuing. “...I’m just a commoner. I don’t have any experience in combat nor exploration.”

“Please don’t worry about me, “I’m an adventurer.” The redhead intervened, while the shadow that was always moving near him assumed the shape of a big human hand with the thumb up to underline his words.

“Oh, I didn’t know! Sorry!”

"Don't worry about it!” He smiled and waved her nervousness off.

Nathan cleared his throat and the two of them went silent. Kishiar let out a chuckle, but then brought his attention back to the girl.

“Kanna Wand, I understand your concerns, but a good team is not always made exclusively of fighters. A good thinker with investigation ability can be of the same importance as the main shield of the group, but don’t get me wrong. I wish to have you with us not only for your abilities, but also because you know the weight of hiding a secret.”

Yuder looked at the man in front of him. It was surprising how his way of speaking was so enticing, but respectful. He wasn’t hiding the need to use someone for the mission, but at the same time he didn’t dare to reveal someone else’s secret in front of others, as he clearly knew secrets that Kanna  didn’t want to reveal, based on her behaviour. And with all of that, he was ready to answer every question needed to freely let someone join his cause. He wanted to build a genuine mutual trust.  

Yuder couldn’t help but feel somewhat interested in his ways of dealing with others, it was very different from what he was used to seeing . 

After some seconds of silence, Kanna speaked again.

“I… Don’t wish to share my secrets with the rest of the Kingdom. I would like for it to be known only to the people I'll work with during this mission.” She cleaned herself with a wet napkin, trying to hide her anxious sweat once again. Yuder saw for a moment the glint of something that reminded him of a scale on her neck.

“Of course, we are obliged to maintain your personal secrets as well.” Kishiar tried to reassure her with a calm and pragmatic tone. “If this mission ends successfully, I plan to give you all the title of Hero and the monetary recognition that you deserve, but your identity will remain known only in the way you desire. If you want to be known as a simple commoner until the very end, I shall grant your wish.” 

“Thank you very much.” She left out a sigh of relief. Even if she didn’t say it out loud, it was clear from her eyes that she’d decided to go along with the mission. Yuder guessed that Kishiar had probably offered her something else in private, like he’d previously done with him. Something that was worth enough for her to pursue this dangerous expedition.

“I’m sorry, but I also have a request.” Gakane lifted his hand as well.

“Oh my, I’m sorry to assume, but I probably already know what you’re going to ask for.” Kishiar exchanged a look with his adjutant.

“If we conclude our mission with the best outcome, Gakane Bolunwald, then you’ll be officially trained as a Knight.” Even if Nathan’s tone was calm, it was enough for the young man to not believe his ears. 

“Me… A Knight?! For real?” Gakane could barely contain his excitement, but the shadow at his feet didn’t have the same composure and moved around joyfully. Yuder couldn’t help but observe it, intrigued by the way the shadow moved like a real living being. He didn’t recall seeing something similar before …

“Yes, of course.” As Kishiar confirmed, Gakane's eyes welled up with tears. The young man couldn’t help but be emotional about it, struggling to maintain his cool. Yuder guessed this was something that he aimed for a long time, and that explained the overwhelming happiness that he was manifesting.

‘It almost looks like the prince is trying to buy our trust.’ Yuder thought. Maybe it was how they were used to dealing with this kind of stuff, but since the mission they were about to embark on was indeed a very dangerous one, at least it was a good sign that they were already talking about the rewards that would be given at the end of it. 

At least it didn’t make them look like they planned to use and dispose of them afterwards, like he had thought was the style of the Sarain Forest royalty.  

Yuder shook himself odd at the thought, ‘I still have to be wary of them’, he reminded himself. Enon’s warning was not the only reason why his internal alarms were going off, after all.

“Do you also have questions, Yuder Aile?” Nathan's voice distracted him from his train of thought. He wasn’t expecting to be called on.

Yuder shook his head. They’d already talked about all the necessary things in the afternoon at the apothecary.

Kishiar was smiling in his direction, while the other two were shooting curious glances at the fairy, trying to recall if they’ve seen him somewhere before. 

“Wait, now that I look at him, isn’t he…” Kanna started to murmur.

“You’re the fairy that kills monsters!” Gakane couldn’t help but shout at the sudden realization. “Oh my god, I’m sorry, I was too nervous to notice! I’ve wanted to talk to you since I first heard about your actions. Today too, I was right there when you killed that giant lizard!”

Yuder blinked, unsure on how to react, the wings on his back fluttering in surprise by the sudden attention.

“Yes-” 

“I’m so sorry! It was my fault the portal appeared.” Gakane interrupted him, not even hearing his attempt at a reply. “I tried to explain it to the other civilians, but it was of no help, and the magician that opened the crack escaped with the rest of her team…” The shadow patted him on the shoulder, trying to cheer him up.

“Oh, I heard about what happened today too! And you probably don’t remember it, but I was there when you defeated the floating dark octopus before!” Kanna followed after Gakane, a barely contained excitement showing on her sweet expression.

Yuder tried to recall that time. Enon and Lusan had decided to try helping him to get on better with the rest of the civilians, taking him to eat in one of the most known taverns of the Great Sarain Forest. Suddenly, a giant black octopus appeared on the roof and Yuder intervened to slay it since Enon was about to be squeezed to death by one of the tentacles. 

After he’d defeated it, even if he had tried to convince the chef of the tavern that it was actually an edible monster, they were kicked out, saying that another one would soon appear if a changeling like him had remained there. Lusan looked gloomy that evening, thanking Yuder as always, while Enon added a new pair of names on the “unwelcome guest” outside the apothecary, his expression more grumpy than usual.

“I was almost eaten by it, but you killed him before anyone could be harmed!” Kanna interrupted his thoughts, smiling in his direction “You probably thought it was nothing special, but I'm really grateful. I remember that day very well, since it was probably my fault…” She hesitated a little, looking down on her feet, without elaborating further “But you took the blame instead. I’m so sorry for that.”

Yuder was speechless. It was the first time that someone apologized to him and he didn’t know how to name the strange sensation he felt inside his chest.

“Thank you.” He managed, but it sounded strange coming from him. When he’d decided to join the team, he’d been ready to be hated by his own companions and to keep some distance since they were forced to travel together for the mission, but the look in their eyes held no trace of hatred whatsoever. 

Kishiar let out a little chuckle, looking very pleased.

“I’m glad there’s such a good atmosphere in this crew already.” He moved the scroll with the oath in their direction. “So, can I count on you all? You’re still in time if you wish to step back.”

“Just one more question, Your Highness.” This time, it was Yuder who took the lead. Kishiar seemed satisfied about it.

“I’ll make sure to give you a satisfying answer. What is your uncertainty?”

“I want to know what type of repercussions we will have if we break the deal.” A glint of delight appeared in Kishiar's eyes. 

“First time using a magic oath? Don’t worry, I didn't program any harmful consequences into it.” He smiled mischievously. “If you plan to reveal what I'm about to say, you’ll simply forget about it and about the fact that you ever met me. That, of course, means that you would be instantly expelled from the team, exiled from the Great Sarain Forest for high treason and that your wishes won’t come true. So, I suggest you all be very careful. ”

Even if his tone was calm and without any trace of threat, Yuder couldn’t help but feel a shiver running down his spine. Kanna simply nodded and Gakane gulped.

“So…” Kishiar took the quill pen that Nathan was holding from his fingers “Are you all satisfied? Do you have any more doubts?”

Yuder moved first, grabbing the quill pen. He closed his eyes for a moment, with a shivering breath.

‘It’s not the same as back then.’

He gripped the pen harder and signed the paper, his name glowed with a golden light. Kanna and Gakane looked at each other, and after a minute, the names of the other two were shining beside Yuder’s. 

The letters began to drift from the scroll, swirling through the air before encircling them, one by one sinking into their chests. Yuder felt the magic seal etch itself into his skin, a long lost sensation he was already familiar with. Gakane on his side let out a slow breath, releasing the tension he had been holding in.

“Thank you for your trust.” Kishiar closed the scroll and handed it to Nathan, taking the map that was in his adjutant’s other hand instead. “Now that we’re done with the pleasantries, we can move towards the most important topic.” He scanned all of them, one by one, looking right into their eyes. After he seemed satisfied by their expressions, he started to talk again.

“The first important thing that you need to know is that the rumors about the King’s conditions are true. His Majesty has been fighting for his life ever since the Sacred Spring was damaged. Because of this, his connection with the Great Holy Tree is at stake and he is using his own life force to keep the barrier of the Sarain Forest up, but it’s a drastic and temporary solution, not working as it should. That is why so many monsters were able to enter our territory.”

Kanna covered her mouth in shock, while Gakane was visibly shaken. Yuder was already aware of the situation and remained silent, but he couldn’t help but look into the Prince's eyes. His red gaze looked composed as always, focused on the map that he was unfolding on the table in front of them. Even if he was good at hiding it, it seemed that even this prince could be shaken by his ill brother. Yuder observed how Nathan didn’t move from Kishiar’s side, a solid and unfaltering presence.

“I’m sorry for interrupting Your Highness, but… How was the Sacred Spring damaged in the first place?” Kanna asked with concern.

“Don’t ever feel wrong about asking intelligent questions, Kanna Wand.” Kishiar nodded in her direction, before answering her question “We still didn’t find the culprit, but I have some suspects and we’re secretly proceeding with investigations. It’s a delicate topic at the moment but, as you can guess already, it’s done by someone that doesn’t bear a kind purpose towards the peace of our Kingdom.”

Yuder remained silent, his thoughts wandering. The image of the Spring shattered in front of him was still clear inside his mind as one of the ‘visions’ he had engraved in his mind. 

“Okay so… What can we do to help the King?” Gakane asked hesitantly. The prince smiled in his direction.

“Me and Nathan have tried to search for different remedies, any kind of cure. We ended up finding the old diary of the first King and the testimony of the Archmage Luma. From the book, it looks like something similar happened in the past.”

“Somehow the spring was restored back then due to something that they both called ‘The Red Stone’. Do you know anything about that?” A knowing glance was exchanged between Kishiar and Yuder, but both of them remained silent, listening to the other’s two answers.

“The Red Stone… Is His Highness talking about the one in the legend that was said to be seen flying in the sky and was able to grant any wish?” Kanna frowned, trying to remember. 

Yuder knew the legend well, it was a bedtime tale whispered among common folk. His grandpa shared it with him too.

It was the story of an old man, weathered by time, who lifted his voice to the skies, pleading for a miracle. His child had come into the world without eyes to see its wonders, nor legs to roam its vast beauty.

The father's heart ached at the thought of his son, trapped in stillness, unable to see or explore the beauty and magic of this world. So he prayed seven days and seven nights, his words carried on wind and starlight.

And then, on the final night, a crimson shooting star streaked across the sky.

Taking it as a divine sign, the man rushed home, only to fall to his knees as he saw his child running toward him, tears of joy streaming down his face, his laughter echoing like a song of miracles. From that day on, everyone believed in the miracle magic of that descendant red star.

"Precisely.” The elf nodded towards Kanna, interrupting his thoughts “But as you can already guess, the part about granting any kind of wish mostly sounds like a fairytale. However, that stone seems to really contain some kind of ancient power that would be able to restore the Sacred Spring.” He pointed at a specific zone on the map. “And we have reason to believe that the same stone happened to fall again recently, in the mountain zone near the Central Region.” 

‘Not far from where I lived…’ even without looking at the map, Yuder was able to tell the exact location.

“So… His Highness is saying that some strange, magical and ancient stone has fallen from the sky more than once? A stone that is able to grant wishes of any kind?” Gakane tried to ask, his eyes full of doubt. “I mean, I was used to making wishes with my younger siblings back at home during shooting stars nights, and I'm used to seeing them since I always sleep outside during adventures. However, I’ve never seen something red falling down from the dark sky.”

“We don’t know what the formula for it to appear is, but it seems closely connected to the Sacred Spring conditions.” Nathan intervened.

“But if you’re bringing this up, then it means that you’re certain it’s fallen once again. If we’re able to successfully retrieve this stone, then we can save the King and the Sarain Forest.” Kanna concluded.

Kishiar nodded sighed. “Me and Nathan will be able to provide protection during this mission, but we didn’t choose all of you randomly.” he looked at them, one after another.

“Kanna Wand, we ask you to use your power to help us retrieve as much information as you can from this mysterious artifact. Gakane Bolunwald, we need your experience as an adventurer and your magic shadow to protect us on this long quest, and Yuder Aile.” Kishiar looked right into the fairy’s eyes. “We’ll need your fighting knowledge, given all the monsters we’re gonna meet on the way of this journey. Will you all join us?”

The three of them looked at each other. Kanna’s eyes tried to smile even if she was visibly nervous, Gakane looked full of determination and Yuder simply nodded, already sure of the decision he’d made.

“I thank you all for your collaboration.” Kishiar said, closing the map in front of him. “Be sure to go home and rest now. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

“So, what do you think about our team, my dear adjutant?” 

As soon as everyone had left the cabin and they were alone, Kishiar turned to Nathan. The dragon looked at the tree chairs the recruits had been sitting on just minutes before.

“I’m not sure. The half-mermaid inexperience is palpable but it doesn't look like she’ll be a burden, while the young man looks a bit naive, but I can see determination in his eyes, they are the type of individuals that would never betray someone. The fairy, however…”

“What about Yuder?” Kishiar took his hand in his own, urging him to continue. Nathan was used to his Lord's gentle and casual touch, and as long as they were alone he didn’t mind.

“I can’t quite read him. It’s the first time that I'm clueless about someone else's intentions. He’s strong and he knows more than he should, so I can’t help but wonder if he’s truly someone who’s ready to sacrifice his own life for a Kingdom and people he barely knows. Or…”

“If he plans to betray us when we reach the Red Stone.” Kishiar ended the sentence for him, and the dragon nodded in response. “In that case, we should keep an eye on him together.”

“If I may, you looked kinda pleased by him, My Lord. I’m surprised you’re going along with my suspicions.” Even if there wasn’t any hint of emotion in Nathan’s statement, Kishiar couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you reprimanding me? Is that jealousy that I hear? Hmm?” Nathan left out a long sigh, somewhat used to his teasing. 

“I would lie if I said I’m not interested in him, but it’s more of a curiosity about his abilities and knowledge, so you don’t need to worry.” Kishiar patted his head like every time he tried to comfort him, a habit he’d had since their childhood. “But I do need to ask you a favor.”

“What is it?” Nathan released some of the tension from his shoulder.

“A message from His Majesty arrived before the reunion. Katchian left the palace for some unknown reason… And I have some suspects. I need you to secretly follow the tree of them and make sure they don’t make any other kind of deal behind our backs.” He sighed. “I’d like to trust our new crewmates, at least on the first day, but since you have your doubts, then keep an eye on Yuder and then draw your own conclusions. What about it?” He smiled at him, the usual smile he had on his lips every time he had something planned.

“As you wish, My Lor-...” Nathan hesitated for a second, seeing the childishly disappointed appearing look in the elf’s expression. “...Kishiar.”

The Prince looked satisfied and left a soft, quick peck on his lips. Nathan was taken by surprise for a moment, but he didn’t move, looking right into his lover’s red eyes.

“Be careful. I’ll be waiting for you.” 

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

Nathan was no stranger to this kind of work. Watching from the shadows, tracking footsteps without being seen, it was the sort of task that might seem ill-suited for someone of his stature. Broad-shouldered and tall, he didn’t exactly blend easily into the background. Surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. He moved with the quiet precision of someone who had done this a hundred times before. 

He and his lord had shared more than just duty in their youth, after all. Kishiar used to call them ‘secret adventures’, born out of boredom or curiosity of the young prince, but those days had trained him better than any official scout mission ever could.

So, while moving between all the houses and trees that adorned the streets, Nathan felt no anxiety. This was familiar ground. The shadows here knew him, and he knew them just as well.

He also had a trick up his sleeve, with his reptilian eyes having the ability to see clearly even in the darkest hour of the night and his hearing being more kin to sense and register sounds than others. That’s why Kishiar always trusted him with this kind of missions in the first place.

As he leaned against the wall of a nearby house, he focused on the conversation that was happening ahead between the new formed trio. Even if they had left first, they didn’t go too far, probably because they were too absorbed in learning more about each other. Bonding with new crewmates was important and Nathan was sure his lord would be pleased to see that.

“I still can’t believe I'll be able to work with the mysterious hero!” Gakane smiled while looking at Yuder, full of barely contained excitement. 

“I’m not…” Yuder didn’t manage to finish, interrupted by Kanna.

"Shh guys! This mission is super important, you shouldn’t talk so loudly.” she whispered. 

“Right, Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind!” Gakane whispered in response, but it was still too loud and the shadow assumed the form of a hand and put it in front of his mouth. Kanna looked at the shadow with evident curiosity.

“It’s okay.” she chuckled, looking at him and Yuder. “On another note, I can't deny that I'm kinda curious to know more about you two… But it doesn’t seem fair if I don’t wish to share my own secrets.” Kanna smiled with apologetic eyes, while rubbing her neck with her humid napkin.

“You don’t need to share something if you don’t want to.” Gakane paused for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed like he was searching for the right words to say. “I mean, you can know someone even without knowing their secrets first! And we can learn about each other day by day on our journey.” Yuder nodded after hearing Gakane’s words.

“Don’t feel pressured to do something you don’t want to do,” he added.

Kanna’s expression changed and her shoulder relaxed a little, reassured by their words.“Thank you, it means so much to me. Oh! But if both of you have questions, I'll answer as much as I can.” she smiled.

Nathan was complacent to see that Kishiar was able to choose people with good compatibility for the mission. Even if Yuder still seemed a bit off with his serious and unreadable expression, he strangely seemed to fit with the other two. 

Kanna left first, returning to the tavern where she worked and lived. Gakane and Yuder waved at her -shadow included-, wishing her good night. Once the two men were alone, the fairy looked at Gakane.

“Since you said that we’re free to ask… Can I ask you something?” The red head looked excited by the sudden interest in himself from someone he seemed to admire.

“Anything! What is it?” 

“It’s about your shadow.” The dark being in question assumed the form of a question mark, nested on Gakane’s shoulder, while Yuder looked at them “I would like to know more about it.”

“Ah… Of course.” For some reason, the cheerful expression on Gakane’s face subsided. Since he had investigated his past experiences, Nathan was sure that he was probably used to that kind of question, and that the outcome was likely unpleasant every time he answered. 

Kishiar understood that much, that’s why he decided not to ask about it, but Yuder was probably not aware of all the unfortunate past experiences of the young man. If the fairy noticed the change of atmosphere coming from Gakane, he didn’t seem concerned about it.

“Well… It’s a curse that is part of my family. One of my ancestors wasn’t kind to a witch and now the firstborn of every generation has them.” Gakane awkwardly scratched his neck, while the shadow moved to his other free hand to be petted. “It’s very strong and they have helped me so much since I was little. I was always in search of adventure, and I wasn't very attentive to my surroundings. They saved me so many times from danger. It’s not harmful… Unless you really make them angry. Most are scared by them, but as you can see they’re cheerful and cute. And a good companion to have.” His tone and words were obviously trying to picture the being by his side in the most positive way possible, probably scared to be rejected once again. 

Yuder looked at the shadow, remaining silent for a long time. Since it was night already, the dark being looked more ominous and bigger than when there was daylight. Nathan knew already that the bond Gakane had with the creature was different from his predecessor, but for Yuder it should have been the first time he heard about that.

“Did the shadow ever… Talk to you?” At the unexpected question from the fairy, Gakane hesitated for a second, without hiding his surprise..

“No, they don't talk, but… Sometimes they remind me of a child that wants to play, so I consider them like a childhood friend that it’s able to communicate even if not with words.” To confirm what was just said, the shadow caressed Gakane's cheek. For someone that didn’t stop at the first impression, they really looked like an affectionate being, even if it was more conscious than a simple pet. Nathan thought that maybe it was more accurate to think of like a familiar spirit.

“I understand. Do they have a name?” At Yuder's next question, the dragon blinked in surprise. He thought the fairy was curious about that being because he wanted to know the potential of it, but was he planning to treat him like another teammate? 

The sweet and sincere smile that bloomed on Gakane's lips at that moment, showed how much he appreciated that unexpected question.

“It’s the first time someone asked me that! I don’t know about the others before me, but… I gave them a name when we were little and we played together. They’re happy every time I call them, so I guess they like it.” He caressed the shadow in question “The name is Jimmy.” 

To confirm his previous words, the shadow danced around him two times, happy to be called by their name. Nathan mentally noted this information, he was sure Kishiar would be interested to know more about this.

Yuder nodded in response, “Then I'll refer to them with this name as well.” 

The shadow stopped for a second. Even without eyes, they seemed like they were looking in the fairy’s direction. Jimmy danced two times around him too, but faster than before to show their excitement. Yuder remained still, looking at them without showing any change in his expression, his antennae twitching a little.  

“I think they like you!” Gakane’s voice was full of happiness. Nathan could easily guess that It was the first time his little companion was accepted by someone else other than him, and he seemed grateful for that. 

“...Isn't it just normal to ask the name of a sentient being?” Yuder seemed somehow confused by their enthusiasm, like he didn’t do anything special, just what he was supposed to do.

After that interaction, Gakane returned to the inn where he was sleeping, leaving Yuder alone on the way to the apothecary. 

After a while, his antennae were moving around on his head, like in the middle of sensing something, and his step became lighter. If Nathan wasn’t tailing him since before, he would have probably lost him. He didn’t know the fairy could be so stealthy, that was in itself useful information. 

Suddenly he stopped. After looking around, the fairy moved to a hidden road that was on the opposite way to the apothecary and Nathan diligently followed him. Something about that sudden change of path seemed strange.

He found himself jumping on top of a roof to continue tailing him, since Yuder decided to move in places where it was difficult to hide between the streets. With his reptile eyes, following him in the darkness from a high distance was nothing, but he started to suspect that the fairy sensed his presence and was trying to lose track of him. Little did he know that Nathan was ready to follow him all night if it was necessary.

After a while, he stopped at the end of a dead-end alley, his purple wings fluttering faintly against his back. Minutes passed, and by now the dragon was certain he was waiting for something, or someone . That suspicion was confirmed soon enough when he sensed the approach of two other figures, not far from where they were.

When a hooded silhouette emerged at the mouth of the alley, Yuder turned to face them. The dragon stayed where he was, quietly observing this unexpected turn of events. Then his gaze caught another hooded figure lingering awkwardly near a building at the alley’s entrance. If they were trying to conceal their presence, then they were doing a terrible job.

“You’re the fairy that everyone in the Forest is talking about, aren’t you?” The hooded figure stopped in front of Yuder, speaking with a firm and arrogant tone. 

Yuder remained silent. The young man in front of him lowered his hood to reveal his face. Long shiny golden hairs, deep and dark red eyes and pointy ears, everything from his traits made clear that he was a royal elf. 

The dragon instantly recognized Katchian and his gaze hardened. His lord suspicions confirmed.

“...Yes.” the fairy simply answered. 

“Why don’t you look surprised at all?” Katchian looked at him with disappointment “I know we’re already connected to each other, but isn’t this the first time we officially met?” He looked more and more annoyed. “You could at least pretend, you can’t even do that?”

“I knew you would have come.” Yuder remained impassive while the elf lifted an eyebrow and let out a laugh. 

Nathan wondered. Was that part of his future prediction too? Something was not right. Moreover, what type of ‘connection’ was the crown prince talking about?

“What a strange statement to say. You’re just making yourself look more like a fool.” Katchian moved closer, reaching out to touch his dragonfly wings. “They’re really gross, why don’t you hide them to look like a normal human? Since you seem to know so much, you should be able to do that.”

Nathan felt a strange energy moving around while Yuder moved away his hand, his antennae shivering in distress. For dragons, touching someone's wings without permission was considered a threat. He didn’t know if it was the same for fairies, but it was an unspoken rule for all the creatures to not touch sensitive parts without consent.

Katchian looked at the fairy’s marked hand, the one he used to push him away, with a burning gaze. So many emotions were clearly showing on his face: disgust, hatred and resentment. 

“Since you know i was coming, then i guess you also know why?” His smile was cold. Yuder looked back at him with his dark eyes.

“I’m not going to make a deal with you. And… I’m sorry, but what happened wasn’t my choice.” 

For the first time since he looked at him, the dragon could feel an unknown determination coming from Yuder. There was clearly something more hidden in that statement.

Katchan's expression hardened and with a quick movement he pulled down Yuder, holding one of his antennae between his fingers. Nathan gripped the sword on his belt. He shouldn’t intervene, no matter what happened.

“You, filthy parasite! You should kneel in front of me, since you know who I am. Who gives you the right to refuse a deal, if I'm the one proposing it?!” The prince’s face was red and his voice full of anger. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t exist right now. The least you could do is serve me for the rest of your life!”

Nathan held his breath, trying to understand what they were talking about. He still wasn’t able to completely understand if the two already knew each other before this encounter, their conversation was strangely full of contradictions.

For some reason, Yuder didn’t free himself. Even if it looked painful, he remained still, while Katchian pulled him harder.

“You’re not gonna leave this road until you agree to do an oath with me.” Katchian whispered, with an exasperated tone. Yuder looked back at him, still not moving.

Nathan closed his eyes, the grip on his sword becoming more firm. Why wasn't he reacting like before? He knew the fairy was strong enough to free himself, he and his lord were already aware of how capable Yuder was.  

Once again, he reminded himself that he shouldn’t interfere, he had to observe and learn more about this situation.

“I'll use you, so that you can sabotage whatever plan Kishiar la Orr has in mind. This is the only way you can repay me.” More poisoned words left Katchian’s mouth, while his grip hardened.

Blood started to run down from Yuder’s forehead, the antennae looked like it was about to be ripped out from his skull. 

Nathan’s body moved before he realized. He couldn’t stand being still while someone was harmed in front of his eyes, all the more so when that someone was one of the people his lord had personally chosen for the mission.

“That’s enough.” 

The dragon suddenly jumped down from the roof above, putting himself between him and Yuder. Katchian opened his eyes wide, releasing the grip on Yuder’s head and stumbled back, falling on his back for the sudden appearance of the adjutant.

“You… Why are you…?” a deep shock was readable in his eyes.

“Step back, please. I’ll report that his highness Katchian la Orr tried to harm a civilian.”

The face of the elf became gradually more and more red, while gritting his teeth in frustration. He was caught red-handed and worst of all, he couldn’t even dare to lay a hand on Kishiar’s adjutant.

Katchian stood up, dusting off his clothes and looking at Yuder one last time.

“It doesn’t end here, changeling .” he went back from where he came at a quick pace, swearing under his breath and pulling from the ear the other hooded person at the start of the alley. 

Nathan was pretty sure it was Kiolle de Diarca even without confirming it.

“You useless rat, it was your job to look out for intruders!”

“B-But he didn’t come from the road-” His taken aback assistant was shivering after him. 

“Shut up!”

As soon as he heard their footsteps disappear in the distance, he turned back, looking at the fairy he ended up shielding despite his instructions to remain hidden.He met a pair of dark eyes that were looking up at him.

“You were following me.” 

“...Yes.” The fairy didn’t seem surprised at his admission. “Did you notice?”

Yuder nodded “I was expecting that much. But I didn't think you would intervene.”

‘Neither did I.’ the dragon thought. He was still unsure about his actions, since he wasn’t an impulsive person in the least. Even if it was to save someone in need, Yuder would have been able to free himself even without his help, and his priority should have been to gather more information about that exchange between him and Katchian. So why did he intervene?

The only thing he was certain, was that he didn’t regret doing it.

Nathan looked at him without saying anything, then at the antenna that was grabbed. It looked crumpled and it didn’t move well. He didn’t have holy power like Kishiar, but he could still help somehow to relieve the pain.

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing-” as if sensing what he was thinking, Yuder tried to convince him to leave it be, but Nathan was quick to wipe away the blood that was running down his forehead. The fairy shivered, but didn’t move away.

“If it compromises your abilities, then it’s not something we should ignore the day before the expedition.” The dragon moved the hand near the wounded part. “I’m going to try something, if it hurts make sure to tell me and I'll stop immediately.”

“I think Enon should be able to look into it. You don’t need to go that far.”

He knew that, but he couldn’t just leave. Kishiar would not be pleased if he knew he didn’t even try to attend to one of his new comrade’s injuries? 

Blue energy started to flow on Nathan fingertips and his reptile eyes glowed in the dark. A little cerulean aura caressed the antenna and Yuder’s wings flattered on his back, but he remained still. 

It had been a long time since he’d used his energy in this way. Dragons were known as powerful, magic-touched creatures, but he was fairly certain that only a rare few were willing to turn that strength toward aiding others. Dragons weren’t mages or artificers; their magic existed solely to enhance their bodies, to make them stronger, faster, more intimidating.

But he had been raised differently from the other dragon cubs. The thought of keeping his power for himself alone, when he had the chance to use it to protect others, had never sat right with him.

After a while, Nathan pulled back and looked at the antenna that was somehow back to its original form. Yuder stepped back, looking guarded. Nothing in his posture betrayed tension, yet there was a quiet readiness in the way he held himself, like a blade resting in its sheath.

“What did you do?” Inquiry was readable in his tone. The trust between them couldn’t bloom so easily.

“It’s just a reinforcement technique. Normally, if you’re in good shape, it helps to generate more strength from your limbs or wings, but if you’re injured, then it’s a good skill to help keep bones into place.” His reptilian eyes cease to glow, turning back to their normal ocean color. “I don't have healing abilities, but it should help until you go back to the apothecary. I’ll accompany you.”

As soon as he finished, he turned back, but stopped after a few steps, noticing that the fairy wasn’t following him. He looked in his direction, wondering if Yuder preferred to walk alone. 

“Why?” Yuder gaze was more piercing than before. Nathan lifted an eyebrow. 

“As I told you, it would be a problem if you were injured-”

“Why don’t you ask what we were talking about?” Yuder extended his question, making it more clear.ù

Nathan remained silent for a while. He couldn’t help but wonder. It was the first time someone asked him to be interrogated. Normally, people were more than happy when you didn’t ask questions and let them be. He didn’t know if that made him look more like a possible threat or not.

Again, since he started to observe this fairy, he couldn’t figure him out. 

“I would have looked into it anyway after leaving you to the apothecary. If you turn out to be a threat to the royal family that I’m protecting, then I’ll not hesitate to stop you. For now, I can't leave someone injured behind.” 

In truth, nothing was stopping him from leaving. He had already interfered where he wasn’t supposed to, but he wasn’t the kind of man to look back and regret his decisions. He turned to face the main road, starting to walk again. After a while, he heard Yuder following him with light steps.

The walk remained silent, but Nathan decided to slow his pace to walk on Yuder’s side. Since he was accompanying him while looking at the surroundings, it wasn’t a good idea to walk ahead. 

As soon as they reached the apothecary, Yuder didn’t manage to knock before the door opened wide and the dryad appeared in the entrance.

“Why are you so late… Uh?!” his yellow eyes instantly noticed the strange blue antenna on the fairy’s head and looked at it perplexed “Why did it turn blue?”

“There was an accident and Sir Zuckerman helped me.” The dragon looked at Yuder and nodded. There was no point in sharing the strange encounter with the apothecary for now.

“His antennae was damaged. I wasn't able to intervene on time to avoid it.” To confirm his words, Nathan retracted the blue aura that was surrounding the antenna, which returned to its crumpled appearance. Enon's eyes widened in shock.

“ How did that happen ?! What kind of Royal Guard are you?!” His angry and pointy eyebrows were bouncing from Yuder to Nathan, scolding them like two children that didn’t behave properly and not two grown men, one even taller than him. 

“Enon, it’s not as bad as it seems-”

“Shut up! Come inside and let me look at it properly! And you. ” Nathan didn’t remember the last time someone looked at him with murderous intent without holding a weapon “Go and tell your Lord that if something like this is going to happen everytime i send him to you two, then he’s not gonna be part of your stupid expedition anymore!”

As soon as he stopped screaming the apothecary pulled Yuder inside, slamming the door in front of Nathan. He was pretty sure Kishiar would have laughed after seeing him being scolded like that.

“Lusan! Come here! This stupid fool got wounded again !” Even with the door closed, he could hear the apothecary screaming inside. At least he was sure the fairy would have received proper treatment.

Nathan looked around one last time, making sure no one had followed them, then the air around him began to shift, the faint shimmer of blue light radiating from his skin like heat from a flame. It pulsed, alive, curling upward in thin, ethereal threads that clung to his shoulders and spine.

Then, with a sound like the rush of distant wind, the light thickened, shaping itself. Shadows unfurled from his back, and the glow sharpened around them, tracing each curve and edge until it took form. They burst into existence in a single motion, wings vast and midnight-dark, arcing high before settling against his back.

With a quick movement, he jumped up from the ground, flying towards the Great Holy Three. 

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

“Y-Your Highness...? Where are we going?” Kiolle asked, his back still awkwardly bent forward as the young prince showed no sign of letting go of his ear. The grip was firm, merciless, and Kiolle had no doubt those fingers could easily rip something off if pushed too far. After all, he had just witnessed them nearly tear the antennae from that fairy's head. The memory alone was enough to make his legs scramble to keep up.

Since leaving the changeling behind, Katchian had been marching through a series of unfamiliar alleyways, his pace quick and unrelenting. Kiolle had never once set foot in this part of the Sarain forest. Twisting streets, worn-out walls, with the roots of the trees coming out from the ground threatening to trip him at every step, it was a world belonging to commoners he had only ever heard about in stories during noble gatherings, and not flattering ones.

It didn’t take long for Kiolle to realize something that made him even more uneasy: the prince didn’t seem to know where he was going either. If he never roamed in these streets, it was less likely that Katchian had done it before.

They turned into yet another alley, only to be met with a blank wall and silence. Katchian muttered something under his breath, clicked his tongue in frustration, then spun on his heel to try a different direction, still dragging Kiolle by the ear like a disobedient child.

“Shut up, don’t say anything. I know what you’re thinking. I’ll find it.” The arrogant tone of the elf came out sharp like a knife and Kiolle had to gather all his courage to try talking again.

“M-Maybe, if your highness told me I would be able to help?” It was obviously a lie, but it was hard to think while feeling stingy pain on the side of your face. The piercing gaze that came from the prince’s red eyes made his voice die on his throat and he felt even more pain on his ears. He started to pray to not lose such an part of himself that night.

After ten painful minutes, they finally stopped again. They halted in front of another dead hallway that looked more old and worn out than the previous one. The prince moved away some ivy that was covering it, revealing a crescent moon symbol carved on one brick.

“I found it.” A smile appeared on Katchian’s face and his fingers suddenly released Kiolle, who was taken aback and almost lost balance. He started to rub his lobe, now painfully red and throbbing. A sting sensation on the corner of his eyes made him fight for his honor. He was a knight, he would not cry for something like this.

…At least until he was back into the comfy hug of his favourite luxury pillow.

“Touch all these bricks until something happens.” Katchian suddenly ordered, pointing his fingers from him to the wall. Kiolle looked back at him with confusion in his eyes, but the prince insisted with a more angry tone. “Do as I say, quickly.”

The knight pressed his hand more against his ear, fearing another deadly pinch, and quickly stepped towards the surface, starting to touch it. He soon saw his precious velvet gloves covered in dirt, some part of them with tiny holes, and he felt a hint of despair inside himself. Why the hell was he massaging a wall in the first place?! 

Under his touch, something shifted. A faint vibration pulsed beneath his fingertips. He recoiled instinctively, heart skipping a beat as he stumbled back.

Then, the wall began to move.

His eyes widened in disbelief as the old, weather-worn bricks shuddered and creaked, grinding softly against one another. Dust fell like glittering sand in the dim light. The stones twisted, rearranging themselves with deliberate, unnatural precision.

Strange unreadable symbols appeared, glowing faintly, etching themselves across the surface. They carved through stone with no visible tool, only a silent force that knew exactly where each stroke belonged. The script pulsed with a soft, silver-blue light, curling and coiling like living threads of magic.

He didn’t recognize the language, but something about it hummed in his bones. Every fiber of his being was telling him that he just discovered something he wasn’t supposed to know.

“W-What is going on..?!” He tried not to scream, but his voice was pitching high from his surprise. The hallway was silent again. All the bricks at the center were gathered at the corners, some of them floating in the air, a big round and purple portal stood in front of them.

“It really worked.” Katchian smiled as he stepped near the portal and looked at him again “What was the combination?”

“Uh..?” the knight looked at him with a confused expression. He just touched the wall like he was asked, without any real purpose. Did he really just use a secret combination without knowing it?

As if Katchian read his expression, he looked incredibly pissed off, his jaw was set so tightly it looked as if he might crack a tooth “You’re so damn useless.” After that, he moved inside the secret portal without hesitation, disappearing. 

Kiolle looked at the portal and then back at the alley entrance. The idea to just run away instead of following his crazy lord was too alluring at the moment, but he shook his head immediately. He couldn’t just leave someone like the prince around alone inside an unknown portal.That’s not what a good knight would have done.

He slowly tried to put a foot inside and quickly put it back, confirming it was still intact. He did another try with his hand, just to be sure. Then, he pinched his nose and gathered all the air inside his cheeks, like preparing himself to go underwater, and pushed his head on the other side to look.

Everything was dead. 

The ground was scorched and cracked, as if the earth itself had been seared by an unforgiving flame. What had once been grass lay in brittle strands of ash, crumbling beneath the faintest breeze. The plants stood skeletal and lifeless, their blackened stems twisted into grotesque shapes.

A cold shiver crawled down his spine.

Not too far away, half-swallowed by fog and ivy, there was a tavern. Its crooked sign swung on rusted chains, creaking with every gust of wind. ‘ The Broken Fang ’, it read, though the word ‘broken’ was comically torn apart, so if you didn’t pay attention it appeared as ‘ The Fang’ . 

Kiolle never heard about this place, but from the dark and creepy atmosphere he was pretty sure that it wasn’t good news. Not that the ominous dark portal was a good signal to begin with.

He spotted the prince not too far away and tried to call for him “Y-Your Highness..? What is this place?” He whispered, scared that something or someone could hear them. He was pretty sure they weren’t here just to drink something in a tavern.

“...Why are you still there?” Katchian looked at his direction with disgust. At that point, Kiolle realized that he probably looked like a floating head, since the rest of his body still didn’t pass through. 

Before he could take a step in, something hard hit his asscheek and rolled inside, covering himself with all the dust that was on the ground. He quickly looked back on the portal, searching for the culprit, and he saw a floating piece of brick standing there, then quickly moving away to join the others on the corner. Was he just… Kicked by a brick?!

“...Pathetic.” The prince looked down on him like an insect. “Follow me.” Katchian simply ordered, without any intention to help him getting up from the ground and moving towards the entrance of that dark inn. Kiolle quickly stood up, trying to clean himself from the dust as he did as he was told, looking around with one hand on the hilt of his sword. He tried to look composed, but in his head only one thought was ringing loud and clear.

‘My uniform…’ 

It was all tattered and dirty. Why did he have to be the royal knight of the crown prince? Since he started working for him, his days had become so much more stressful. When he saw a white hair reflected in the mirror that same morning, he almost screamed in disbelief.

The few steps at the entrance creaked under their feet and a rat passed in front of them, making Kiolle squeak in surprise. Katchian looked back at him with a disapproving gaze and the knight quickly adjusted himself. Like he could change the image of a poor man covered in dust and with a still swollen red ear. 

When they stepped inside, the air was thick with smoke, sweat, and the sharp tang of cheap ale. Candlelight flickered low, casting long, twitching shadows on the warped wooden walls. The floorboards creaked under every step, as if groaning in protest beneath the weight of too many dirty boots and heavier intentions. The patrons spoke in murmurs, their voices gravelly and low. Scarred hands nursed chipped mugs, daggers gleamed at belts and between fingers used to dealing cards…or death. The only distracting sound was a satyr musician without an ear and an eye patch that was playing at the side of the room.

Kiolle never saw one before, but it was painfully clear that they were in a secret place where mercenaries gathered. He swallowed hard and looked at his young lord, who ignored all the gazes directed at them and kept searching for something around the room. His red eyes were the only thing visible under the heavy cloak that covered him.

‘Why does prince Katchian know a place like this..?’The knight wondered, while a creepy sensation rubbed through his skin.

“I’m searching for a group called the Star of Nagran. ” His thoughts were interrupted by the prince's sudden exclamation, which echoed inside the room. Even the people that were minding their own business, turned around to look at them, the laughs and music stopped. Someone coughed in the background.

Kiolle felt all those gazes like they were ready to throw daggers at them and he positioned himself in front of the prince with trembling legs. 

‘I want to go home!’ He couldn’t help the thought that slipped out of his mind as he swallowed hard. Katchian looked at him with another annoyed glance, but before he could say something, a laugh echoed inside the inn. 

“Who is asking?” Kiolle looked towards the man who intervened and met two cold heterochromic eyes, one of them framed by a deep burned scar in the left side of his face. He didn’t stand, remaining sitting with his fingers intertwined in the most isolated table in the tavern. The other three persons sitting near him on the same table looked at each other, putting their beer down on the table, feeling the shift of atmosphere.

“I’m here to make an offer.” Katchian, with his face still concealed, didn’t falter one bit, sticking out behind Kiolle trembling form. 

The dark blue braid of the mysterious man moved on the side, as his head tilted a bit, a hint of curiosity shining in his eyes. “If you’re some kind of nobles, you should leave. We don’t deal with people like you here.” He was still smiling while saying that, but his tone was sharp as a knife.

Kiolle swallowed hard and whispered to his prince “M-My lord, maybe we should leave…”

“No. I have to talk to the leader!” Like Kiolle was afraid of, the composed behavior from before was quickly forgotten and Katchian stepped out from behind him, starting to approach the table with big steps. The knight wanted to scream, put the prince on his shoulders and run away. Especially after he saw all the eyes that were following them.

“I’m the leader. And I said I have nothing to do with your kind.” The man started again, a low growl forming on his throat and his lips parted a bit, showing a couple of dangerous fangs. Kiolle widened his eyes as he realized that creature was probably a werewolf. He had read about them in old fairytales books, since they were often considered evil beings to fight. The sudden realization that the prince had brought them inside a dangerous werewolf's pack of mercenaries made Kiolle shiver.

He was about to take out his sword, scared that the man could transform and bite him or his prince, but both of them were blocked by two of the other members sitting with him.

“Hey! Let me go!” Katchian quickly tried to free himself from their grip, but they were too strong.

“Gayle, Doyle, keep them steady.” The werewolf didn’t move, barking his commands. Kiolle looked down at the hands that were holding him, seeing long claws ready to pierce his skin and couldn’t help the strangled noise that left his throat. He obeyed, not moving an inch.

“Nahan…” The young man with dark long blue hairs and brownish red skin that was still sitting on the werewolf’s side looked at him, his big brown eyes showing his worry. “Maybe we should ask the sage..”

“Hosanna, I have no intention to help a noble, he can’t order me to do that.” The man called Nahan looked towards them with murderous intent, a new cold smile spreading on his lips “Actually, now that I think about it, maybe I could take advantage of that…”

“What is this commotion about?” 

Everyone turned around, looking at the new person that stepped in. While they were all too focused on each other, the innkeeper went on the backdoor to call someone else. Kiolle was already prepared for the worst, but when his eyes landed on the simple middle aged man, he had to blink a couple of times. Why was there an old man in a place like that?

Katchian freed himself, stepping on the foot of one of them. A low moan of pain left the lips of the man called Gayle. “Damn! That hurt-”

Kiolle swallowed a chuckle before anyone could notice, knowing exactly how painful that was, having experienced that before.

“I want to speak to the leader of the Star of Nagran , but this man kept refuting me. Is this how you usually welcome the important persons that are here to offer money to people like you?!” 

The old man caressed his bear “Oh, I see… I’m really sorry for that Sir. We usually don’t treat guests like that.” Kiolle saw him looking in Nahan's direction, before quickly looking away. “Doyle, please leave the other guest too. I want to speak with them in private. Diemon, prepare a table for us to sit.” He quickly ordered a young man near him.

Kiolle looked at Katchian, who burned a resentful gaze towards the man called Nahan before rushing after the mysterious old man. The knight swallowed hard, wishing to be out of that place as soon as possible, before following his lord.

Little did he know, that was only the beginning of more troubles to come.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

Smoke coiled in slow, suffocating spirals, rising into the pale gray of morning. It carried with it the acrid stench of charred wood and burned flesh, a bitter reminder of what had been lost. The silence was broken only by the distant crackle of fire and the restless sigh of the wind, heavy with ash.

This land had once pulsed with life, every root and stone infused with the purest veins of magic. Now that same earth drank greedily from rivers of blood. Crimson seeped into the soil, staining grass and petals alike, until even the leaves bore a ghastly hue vivid red, fed by the lifeblood of the fairies who once nurtured them.

The fallen fairies laid together, row upon row, their delicate forms abandoned in the dirt. Their backs were exposed, wings glistening faintly with the last traces of fading light. With brutal efficiency, mercenaries planted their boots upon the lifeless bodies, wrenching the wings free in sharp, tearing motions. One by one, the treasures of flight and beauty were ripped away, tossed without care into a waiting carriage like spoils of war.

Not all among them had been willing. A handful of rebels had faltered at the order, refusing to raise their blades against the dragonfly fairies’ nest. Now their bodies lay scattered among those same creatures they tried to protect in vain, the noble futility of their stand written in blood beside the very lives they had tried to save.

“Why do we need to take those with us?” One of them asked.

“We don’t ask questions, we take the pay and follow the orders.” Another pair of wings was put on the carriage. “The only thing that upsets me is that I'm pretty sure these are double the value of what was given to us…”

“You’re not thinking of taking some of them away with us, are you..?”

Their faces were blurred, unclear, as if memory itself refused to hold them still. Even their voices, like echoes inside a dream, sounded like the one listening was underwater, where every word was pulled and reshaped, carried by the currents of the events playing right now.

“One of them is still alive!” Someone screamed not too far from the men. The two people talking near the carriage started to run towards the voice, unfolding their weapons.

Amid the sea of broken bodies, one figure remained standing. She was soaked in blood, and her purple wings hung in tatters, their once-glorious shimmer dulled to a lifeless sheen. Her long, dark hair clung to her face, veiling eyes that burned with desperation and grief. Her lips, cracked and raw, moved in frantic whispers, shaping words older than the forest itself, an ancient tongue that carried the weight of sorrow and defiance. Each syllable seemed to thrum in the air, weaving with the smoke and ash like the faint echo of a dying spell.

In her arms, lifted towards the sky, a baby wailed, its cry piercing the silence like a blade. The sound was fragile, almost too small for such devastation, and yet it carried through the ruin as if demanding the world to witness. The fairy’s hands shook, slick with blood and dirt, yet she held the child as though it were the last spark of light in a world drowning in darkness.

“Stop her!” One of the mercenaries screamed. The sharp sound of metal reverberated in the air.

A deep crimson energy pulsed and shimmered in the air around them. On the child's trembling hand, a star drawn with blood began to sink into his skin, slowly, as if the very flesh was being marked forever.

“Please live, Yudrain.” 

A sword pierced through her chest, the blade tearing her flesh apart, but it was too late. The blinding red light completely enveloped the child, making him disappear in the blink of an eye. When she fell on the ground,, her lips were curved upwards. 

Before someone could ask what happened, another light appeared on the ground, with the same dark hue. The mercenaries tried to cover their eyes, gripping the hilts of their swords, ready to attack any kind of monster that was summoned. Neither of them was ready to see what actually came out of that light.

When the light faded away, another child was crying on the ground, a human with golden strands, dark red eyes, and with that same star mark deep carved on its forehead.

“A… Human child?” The same one that killed the fairy kneeled down, looking at the baby, confusion filling his eyes.

“The mark on the forehead… No way.” Another one moved close, picking the child from the ground to observe it better. “She performed an exchange ritual.”

“Does it mean that…”

“Yes, that fairy’s cub is still alive somewhere, and it took the place of this baby.” A profound sense of disgust filled his guts. “A changeling, huh? That mother chose to condemn his offspring just to keep them alive? Useless stubbornness.”

The child was still crying loudly in their arms. A sense of pity for the poor creature that was taken away from the warmth of their parents lingered in their chest.

“What should we do now?” None of them wanted to kill a human baby, such was the hypocrisy of their human nature, who didn’t care less to destroy other types of creatures, but couldn’t manage to end one of their own kind.

“We’ll take him to Diarca. He has the same red eyes as the royal elves, even if he’s a human… He’ll decide what to do with this child, probably a forgotten bastard left behind.” The mercenary pulled his sword away from the woman’s body, tearing the purple wings from her back and kicking her away, with a profound sense of frustration.

“But what about the fairy’s offspring? Our orders were to not leave any survivors-” The one keeping the baby in his arms tried to ask, but he was interrupted halfway by the other.

“There’s not much we can do. Maybe keeping this child could help find the other one again.” He shook his head. “Even if we don’t find it, the monsters are gonna feast with that changeling, that’s the real cruel destiny his mother chose for him: a life of endless battle just to breathe another day.” He put the sword back into his folder, still dripping fresh blood. “Now, go back to the carriage and prepare to depart. And make that child shut up, his cries are getting on my nerves.”

As they start to move away, leaving the corpse of the fairies and rebels they slayed without mercy behind, the vision starts to blur away. 

The last thing Yuder saw inside his own mind was the smile on his mother’s dead lips.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

“Yuder! Are you listening to me?!” 

A sudden, sharp call interrupted his train of thought, and he blinked a couple of times, trying to focus on the present again. The lingering feeling of that past vision that came to him the night before was still deeply carved inside his mind, and a cold sweat was streaming down his neck.  

“I’m sorry Enon, what did you say?” Yuder looked back at the angry dryad in front of him, finding his own cheeks being pulled without restraint.

“I said that I still don’t like it! I don’t like this situation at all, you stupid brat! Why are you so eager to throw yourself in such a dangerous mission, huh?!” His eyebrows frowned deeper, underlining the deep refusal inside his golden eyes.

Behind him, Lusan put the last few remedies and food supplies inside the definitely-too-big bag on top of the table, cleaning away some sweat on his forehead. Yuder didn’t see everything he had put inside, but knowing Lusan, he was pretty sure most of it were supplies that he could easily manage to find during the trip. However, when he watched his hands moving with care, just to make sure he had everything he needed, he decided not to say anything.    

“Everything is ready! I checked the bag two times, I really hope I didn't miss something…” The young man smiled at him, then moved towards them to pat Enon’s shoulder, trying to soothe his angry temperament a little. “Sir Enon, don’t be too harsh on him! This is the occasion he was searching for, and I'm sure… He’ll be fine..?”

“You clearly don’t believe that!” The dryad released Yuder’s cheeks with a grumpy sigh. “He knows how to fight, alright, but he’s also an expert at getting hurt and ending up in trouble. We have had to heal this reckless child so many times since he arrived!” He looked up at the little antennae that was crumpled the night before - now returned to normal after his care -, pointing that out as the ultimate proof of his statement.

It was still early, and the dawn had just started to color the sky with a pink hue. Before going to rest for the night, Yuder said to them that it wasn’t necessary to wake up with him in the morning, that he would let them sleep longer until they had to open the apothecary and just leave, but neither of them  listened, insisting on helping him prepare for his long voyage. 

Someone knocked on the apothecary’s door. As soon as Lusan opened it, Kishiar appeared at the entrance, smiling brightly, like he wasn’t about to start a possible life-threatening journey.

“Are you ready to depart? The rest of the group is waiting for us with the horses.” His tone was composed while looking at him.

“Weren’t we all supposed to meet at yesterday’s cabin?” Yuder looked up at him with the usual stern face, voicing his perplexity. Surely, the elf prince didn’t come here just to pick him up.

“Why? Is it wrong that I wanted to accompany you to the meeting point? I thought we could use the time to chat alone.” He winked. Yuder’s eyebrows frowned a little, but then a sudden realization came to his mind. 

If Nathan dutifully reported to him about the meeting between him and Katchian the night before, then he had a valid reason to search for a private conversation with him.

When Yuder remained silent, Kishiar moved towards the table and took the bag before Lusan could stop him.

“Y-Your majesty, hold on! That bag is very heavy, there’s no need for you to-”

“Let him carry it! He has strong shoulders, he can manage that much just fine! At least, he has a purpose for his unannounced visit.” Enon intervened, looking annoyed in the prince’s direction since he appeared unwelcome. 

While he moved, the cloak to hide his appearance lifted a little and Yuder could take a look at his outfit. 

A long coat of light green shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight, its fabric woven from enchanted silk often favored by mages to enhance the flow of magic. The faint glow seemed to shift with his every movement, as though the garment itself breathed with arcane power.

His long legs were clad in fitted white trousers and high boots, tailored to embrace his form without hindering his stride. They carried the unmistakable elegance of his high elven heritage, yet their cut allowed freedom enough for battle. An attire that spoke of both nobility and discipline, of a swordsman who valued grace as much as skill.

Along the hems and cuffs gleamed intricate embroidery: golden and crimson filigree curling into delicate leaves and ancient runes. They caught the light like fire traced in thread, whispering of protection and power, as though even his clothing bore the weight of lineage and magic

Everything looked like high quality material, the perfect outfit for an adventurer of high rank. It would have been rather difficult to go unnoticed if he hadn't had that big clock wrapped around himself.

Yuder glanced down at his black trousers worn smooth from use, a plain white shirt with no ornament, and sturdy hunter’s boots still dusted from the road. Practical, comfortable, and made for movement. It was a practical outfit, chosen for function, not display. Though it was no less fitting for the tasks ahead, it carried none of the majesty or effortless grace the prince’s garments radiated. If the others matched the prince, then Yuder might as well have been mistaken for a stable hand, a quiet attendant trailing behind noble lords rather than a companion.

Kishiar followed his gaze and a smile appeared on his lips, like he knew exactly what Yuder was thinking.

“Oh, how could I forget about it? I have something special for you. It was tailored yesterday by the pixies. I thought you would appreciate a little gift like this.” He took out a package from under his coat, giving it to him. “Go on and change, I'll wait for you.”

“...When did you take my measures?” Yuder could see the hem of a black tunic coming out from the wrap.

“Oh, I always had a good eye for this type of thing, don’t worry about it.” A pure and sincere glare of disapproval came from Enon in the prince's direction.

“I don’t really need it.” 

Kishiar put the gift on his arms, completely ignoring his refusal.

“I must insist.” Yuder opened his mouth again, but one look into the elf’s red gaze and his charming smile made it clear that he didn’t intend to back down. The fairy looked away from him.  

Without wanting to lose any more time, Yuder moved to the nearby restroom to change. He didn’t glance at the garment until he was fully dressed.

A black tunic of thin fabric, adherent to the body, tailored from deep obsidian velvet that shimmered like a raven’s wing. A high collar flared subtly around his neck, embroidered in silver thread with abstract, almost shifting patterns of moons. Behind his shoulders, a perfectly tailored opening was made for him to fit his big purple wings.

His pants were fitted, made of black leather with a subtle iridescence, flexible enough for flight or combat. Down the sides ran embossed patterns reminiscent of ivy and insect wings, only visible when the light hit at the right angle. His boots were laced high, lightweight and nearly silent when he walked, with silver buckles shaped like crescent moons.

If Yuder felt too humble before, he was definitely too elegant right now, but the clothes really fitted him perfectly. He tried to move around a bit, testing the flexibility of the outfit, and it felt like it was a second skin.

He gave a last glance in the mirror and moved back to where the others were waiting for him. Lusan covered his mouth in surprise.

“Yuder! You look so good!” The young man couldn’t help but voice his thoughts, and the amused eyes of Kishiar told him that the prince was on the same page.

Enon circled him two times, fixing some hem of the tunic with furrowed eyebrows. “There is enough space for your wings to rest comfortably and the texture is made to let you fly without difficulty. The pixies did a good job.”

“Yes, they did meticulous work. I’m glad my project turned out like I imagined."

Enon ignored the prince's comment, biting his tongue for giving him an indirect compliment.

“I think we can go now.” Yuder intervened. Lusan and Enon looked at each other, a silent conversation passing through them.

“Here, have this.” The dryad took the fairy’s hand, placing a lemon on his palm. After observing it for some time in silence, Yuder looked back at him, with his usual deadpan face showing a hint of confusion. Enon’s eyes rolled upwards before sighing.

“Obviously it’s not a normal lemon!” he pointed at it while explaining, “I filled it with communication magic. When you need to contact me, open it up and eat one of the seeds. I’ll be able to reach out to you. It’s faster and more effective than normal letters.”

Yuder looked at him, surprised that Enon was hiding such a useful and unexpected ability. Kishiar caressed his chin with sudden interest.

“Would it be possible to make one for me as well?” He tried to ask.

“No.” 

Kishiar chuckled at the dryad's unwavering refusal.

“Please be safe, Yuder. We’ll wait for your return.” Lusan gave him a little caress on the shoulder, and the fairy looked at him without knowing what to say. 

Could he really return to the quiet life of the apothecary once this journey was over? The thought unsettled him, not because he disliked that world of herbs, remedies, and familiar routines, but because he had thrown himself so completely into the mission, into the danger ahead, that he had never once stopped to imagine what awaited him when it was done.

Was there even a place left for him among those shelves and tinctures, or had this path already carried him too far to turn back? The question lingered like a stone in his chest, heavy and cold, making him realize that while he had prepared for every battle on the road ahead, he had never prepared for what would come after. 

If an ‘after’ existed at all.

“...Just because we got used to having two extra hands at work, don’t think too much into it.” Enon tried to dismiss his worries, as if he was reading his thoughts, but his harsh words didn’t sound so sincere. 

Then he took a long sigh, scratching his neck in frustration. “I’m not good with this kind of stuff, but…” the dryad pointed his finger at the fairy’s chest. “Don’t you dare come back full of wounds and broken bones, you heard me? And more importantly, be sure to come back alive! I can fix a broken arm or leg, but not a silent heart.” His golden eyes betrayed his real turbulent emotions, and Yuder felt a pang in his chest, something that he wasn’t really able to name.

“...Okay.” Yuder couldn’t come up with better words, but it was enough for the other two, both of them nodding and Lusan smiling. 

He moved after Kishiar towards the entrance, closing the door of the apothecary after them. Yuder’s hand remained on the door’s handle for some more seconds before moving away and starting to walk after the elf.

“Don’t worry, I'll make sure you can come back to them.” Kishiar's tone was kind, like a whispered promise. Yuder looked away, without meeting his gaze.

“I can protect myself. You should focus on the mission.” Even with his composed denial, the prince couldn’t help but smile.

“Your grandpa would be happy about this, don’t you think?” he said, touching his ring and changing appearance, with his hair becoming brown and short and his eyes assuming an amber hue. Now he looked like the human he had met the previous day. 

Yuder didn’t say anything, but that question moved something inside him. Enon and Lusan were the first people to accept him after his grandpa for who he was, after all.

They left the main road behind, slipping into the narrower streets that coiled between the villagers’ homes. The noise of the market faded with every step, replaced by the quieter rhythm of distant footsteps and muffled voices.

These back alleys weren’t exactly hidden, but they were quiet, the kind of paths locals used when they wanted to get somewhere without drawing attention. Kishiar noticed that the fairy didn’t have too much trouble following him, a hint of curiosity making his lips curl into a smile.

“You know your way around here well,” Kishiar said, without looking back at him.

He wasn’t the kind of person to directly ask you what he wanted, but he liked to find a way to make you say it. Yuder could understand this much already.

“...Why are you still bringing me with you?” he didn’t beat around the bush, going straight to the point. Kishiar stopped, turning around. Yuder looked at those brown eyes, now covered by the spell, that still hold the same powerful gaze. 

“You’re worried about what Nathan reported to me last night?” That simple question answered the fairy concerns. The prince smiled at him, “Well, I can't deny my curiosity about how you and Katchian know each other.”

Yuder closed his hands on his sides, gripped his palms, piercing the nail inside the skin, but he didn’t say anything. Kishiar moved some steps towards him, closing the distance between them.

“But you have a goal and signed a contract with me, and your memories are still intact, so I think that's enough for now.” He put a hand on his shoulder, looking at the antennae that was crumpled the day before. “I’m glad that the apothecary was able to heal you, it would have been a shame to damage your ability right before the departure.”

“You shouldn't trust me this easily.” Yuder moved away from his touch, like it was burning, his dark eyes unreadable. The prince smiled.

“Well, that’s a given. Trust isn’t built in just one day.” He dropped his hand on his side. “Nathan helped you last night because he felt like it was the right thing to do. I won’t deny his instinct and see it for myself.” He turned around, giving him a wink, “I like to break walls, and yours seems especially tough.”

Yuder stared at him, his face unreadable as ever, but behind that carefully neutral mask, confusion churned quietly. It didn’t make sense. No one in that position, no one with a sibling’s life hanging in the balance, should put their trust in a stranger. Not when it was so obvious that he was hiding something. big and dangerous.

It was a reckless choice. A foolish one.

And yet, the more Yuder looked at him, the more he felt the weight behind those words, unshakably honest. That was what unsettled him the most.

He didn’t answer, remaining silent. Yuder began to wonder if, among all the royal elves, this one truly was different from what he had expected.

“Also, you would be surprised to know what Nathan said about you,” Kishiar said while turning back, starting to move again into the cabin direction, leaving the streets and moving inside the forest path. Yuder lifted an eyebrow.

“What do you mean by that..?” He had already wondered what the dragon had reported from the day before and he was pretty sure they couldn’t be positive words, but Kishiar’s tone made him hesitate. 

“Why don’t you ask him? He may look stern and not too talkative, but he’s really a wonderful soul.” He stopped thinking, caressing his chin, “I must say, you two are kinda similar to each other…”

Yuder was about to disagree, but the cabin and horses appeared in their view. The others who were waiting for them were all dressed in the new outfits, ready for the departure.

“My lord, Sir Ail.” The dragon that they were just talking about greeted them with a nod of his head.

Nathan wore a fitted outfit of dark leather, layered and reinforced with faintly iridescent scales that shimmered in the light like embers caught under glass. The armor hugged his frame like a second skin, built for both movement and transformation. His shoulders and upper back were bare, leaving space for wings to erupt should the need arise. Across his arms, the scales grew denser, darker, almost indistinguishable from armor.

“Yuder! You look so good, I almost didn’t recognize you!” Kanna waved and smiled at him.

A wide, brimmed hat, somewhere between a fisherman's and a wanderer's, sat tilted low over her brow, protecting her from the direct contact of the daylight. Her shirt and trousers were long and loose, dyed a soft, watery blue, with a row of pink shell-shaped buttons running down the front. The enchanted threads clung gently to her body, keeping her skin moist and protected, as if she were always half-submerged. They shimmered faintly when she moved, like a ripple across a still surface. 

Yuder’s outfit was drawn by Kishiar with the help of the pixies to perfectly adapt to his body and help him during the adventure; he probably had done the same for her as well. He nodded towards her to answer her compliment.

“Yuder! Your Highness! Do some of you have allergies to mushrooms or berries? I was looking at the map to find the best spots where we can rest and eat, but I didn't ask about your preferences first…” Gakane looked at them with a hint of embarrassment in his voice, while using a half-chopped tree to look down at a scroll of paper.

He wore his usual adventurer clothes: a soft yellow shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, which clung lightly to his frame, worn loose and open at the collar. Over it, a fitted vest the color of drying roses, somewhere between rust and crimson, brought out the red in his hair, windswept and bright as wildfire. His pants were simple, practical. Sturdy boots carried the dust of a dozen forests that he had already explored.

Yuder suspected that even that outfit was made by the pixies, even if it had already been used for a long time by the young man. Veteran adventurers usually commissioned more comfortable clothes after gaining some gold from their adventures, and since Gakane wasn’t a novice that was probably the case.

Jimmy was moving around him, but when they noticed Yuder, they started to move up and down to greet him. The fairy did a quick nod in response to them as well and the shadow looked happy.

“Elves have the blessing of mother nature itself, I can eat everything edible in nature.” Kishiar was the first to respond to him, looking at the curious exchange between the fairy and the shadow. 

“I can eat everything.” 

Yuder's simple answer made Gakane chuckle. The fairy lifted an eyebrow.

“Oh, sorry! It’s just that… You and Sir Zuckerman gave the same answer in the same tone, even if in two different moments." At the boy's revelation, Yuder gave a quick glance in the dragon's direction, and Nathan did the same thing at the same time. They both quickly looked away, and Kishiar chuckled at the scene. 

“We’re ready to depart,” Nathan said, changing the topic. The disguised elf looked at the others.

“Yuder, Kanna, have you ever ridden a horse?” he asked. The question was well founded, since he knew that Yuder traveled from the central mountains to the Sarain forest without a mount, while Kanna was just a waitress since the day before.

“Yes,” Yuder gave a dry answer, while Kanna looked a little nervous.

“Actually, no…” 

Kishiar nodded at their responses, probably guessing that much.

“Then I made the right choice bringing only four horses.” It was then that Yuder noticed that one horse was missing, and he looked back at Kishiar as he started to talk again, “Kanna, you’re free to choose your knight for now. We’ll teach you to safely ride during some of our breaks, so that you’ll be able to move on your own if needed.” His tone was reassuring.

“Thank you so much, your Highness, but…” She hesitated, nervously playing with the hem of her shirt, looking down. “I… I still can’t control my powers very well, so there is a high possibility that I'll pry into your memories without meaning to. That is why I think it would be best if the choice happens the other way around…”

Yuder’s body stiffened at her revelation. He knew about her half-mermaid nature, but he didn’t know the details about her power yet. She wasn’t keen to speak openly about herself, he guessed that much the day before, so it was actually admirable that she found the courage to be sincere about this, not wanting to cross any boundaries. 

Looking at the others' reactions, Gakane was the only one taken aback. Nathan and Kishiar obviously knew already, since they hired her for that reason, but none of them said anything. After a while, the young adventurer smiled at her.

“You can come with me.” Kanna looked surprised in his direction.

“Are you sure..?” Her tone was still unsure, but Gakane nodded without hesitation.

“I don’t have anything to hide. I mean, I can’t say I don't have precious memories or secrets, everyone does, but I think it would be worse for you to know secrets about His Majesty or Sir Zuckerman.” He tried to light the mood, patting her on the shoulder, and Jimmy did the same thing on the other, mirroring him. 

“Okay! Thank you, and… Sorry for the trouble.” She smiled at him, an evident relief pictured on her face.

Gakane helped her to climb on the horse and the others mounted too. Yuder flapped his wings and leaped on the saddle, feeling an old, comfortable sensation coming back to him, like his own body was only waiting for the moment he could travel again. He ignored the feeling and looked at the others, positioning himself in the back next to Nathan, while Kishiar and Gakane moved to the front. 

“First stop, the pixie village!” Gakane announced, while Kanna gripped his waist to secure herself.

Yuder drew in a long, steady breath, as if preparing not just his heart, but something hidden beneath the surface. Then, without hesitation, he gripped the reins with a firmer hand and urged his horse forward, the hooves beating against the earth like a quiet oath.

This time, the path would not be the same.

This time, things would be different.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

Chapter Text

“Don’t touch me!” the child screamed, shoving the other boy and sending him tumbling into a puddle.

The ground was still wet from the previous rain and the grass smelled fresh, but the sensation of the mud now covering the boy’s pants was terribly unpleasant. 

He moved his little hand to scoop out the red hair that was covering his eyes, forgetting about his dirty hands for a moment. More laughs came from the children that were looking down to him, now that his forehead was stained too.

“Yeah that’s what you deserve! Young false nobles deserve to be covered in mud!”

“I’m not-” the little child tried to talk, ignoring the knot he felt inside his throat, but he didn’t manage to finish what he was saying, biting his lips to stop the tears that were forming in his green eyes.

From beneath his feet, his shadow stretched and rose, twisting into an ominous shape that towered over him. The boys shrieked in fear and bolted in every direction.

“Monster! The cursed child called his monster!”

“Run away or it’ll eat us!”

“Mommy! Mommy save me!”

All the children disappeared, leaving only traces of their tiny feet in the mud. A long sigh left the boy as his body trembled.. 

“...I told you to not come out." His voice was weak and his eyes were burning.

The shadow moved towards his face, forming a little hand and rubbing away some of the mud on his cheeks, then disappeared behind the child’s back. With a sudden push, the boy was back on his feet again, with some dirty drip still rolling down his legs.

“Mom will be worried again… And dad will repeat that I shouldn't have left home alone.” The tears that he tried to hold back started to roll down his cheeks. “I just want a friend to play with…”

The shadow reappeared in front of him and remained still, like they were looking at him and wondering what to do. They rose and wove themselves into shape, slowly and uncertain.

The figure had no flesh, but a silhouette carved from darkness. There were no features on its face, only the hollow suggestion of small shoulders and slight limbs, its edges soft and shifting, as though the slightest wind might scatter it. 

And then the eyes opened. Two golden lights burned in the void. They stared, slowly lifting the two bright orbs upright to resemble some sort of smile without lips.

The shadow child stood slightly taller than the crying boy, who blinked a few times and held his breath, his brows lifting in surprise. His gaze trailed over the figure from head to toe, where the smoky outline of its feet faded into the bare skin of his own.

“You can do that..?” The child watched in confusion as the shadow nodded, bent low, and grasped a stick. It began to scratch words into the wet ground.

‘I don’t like taking this form. It scares people more.’ 

Since the young boy descended from a noble family, he was taught to write and read. Did the dark child know how to do it as well because they were the shadow of their own family? That probably wasn’t the case because the dark silhouette’s calligraphy was bad, unlike the one taught in his family.. 

Seeing that the boy didn’t say anything, the shadow wrote a simple question holding hope in every word:

‘You want to play?’ 

The green eyes of the young boy widened again, the tears long forgotten. 

“You… Want to be my friend?” he whispered with barely restrained excitement. The shadow nodded.

‘I like you, Gakane.’ Their dark fingers hesitated, before continuing ‘You’re kind to me. I don’t want to scare you.’

The boy shook his head. “You're not scary. I know you protect me. ” He leaned in closer, whispering like it was a secret meant just for the two of them. “I know you’re the one who brings me secret biscuits and scares away the monsters under the bed.” He smiled, and the shadow’s eyes curved more upright to mimic him.

Gakane moved his hand closer to the shadow, trying to touch their shoulder, but his hand passed through him and he didn’t feel anything. He looked down at his own hand and up at him, confused. Usually the shadow was able to grab things and push him around, but why couldn’t he touch him?

‘I’m using all my energy to keep this form. It’s not real. An Illusion.' The shadow left down the stick and touched the rosy hand of the boy tentatively with one finger. At that moment, Gakane noticed that when they touched something, the smoky form seemed to dissolve. 

“Does it hurt?” The boy looked at him with worry and the shadow eyes dropped a little, grabbing the stick again.

‘I can’t feel pain.’ They paused their hand midhair, like they were thinking to add something, but they moved towards one of the previous phrases they wrote and underlined ‘You want to play?’

Gakane nodded, cleaning the tears from his cheeks using his forearm. “Just one last question. Do you have a name?” This was the first time the shadow answered him, so he couldn’t let this moment slide.

The dark child remained still, their golden eyes staring at him, before slowly shaking their head. “Can I give you one? Since we’re friends.” A sweet smile appeared on his rose lips, erasing every trace of the sad child that was sitting in the mud just a moment before. Those yellow orbs looked at him without blinking and the shadow moved his head to form a nod.

“Then, can I call you… Jimmy?” Gakane’s cheeks blushed a bit, feeling suddenly embarrassed by the suggestion.

‘Like your teddy bear?’ The shadow didn’t look upset, just curious. 

“Yes! So if I talk to you at home, it’ll look like I'm talking to the toy. This way, mom or dad won’t be scared. It’ll be our secret.” Gakane’s enthusiasm was shining through his body and the shadow crumbled in place, temporarily losing their ‘child-form’ so that they could snuggle against the little boy's cheek, who laughed in response. 

The people near them could only see a young boy covered in mud who was laughing by himself, but Gakane couldn’t care less. People could make fun of him because of his origins or call him a cursed child, but he had a friend, a very special and unique one, so nothing else mattered. 

The joy of the memory from those old days filled Kanna’s mind with warmth. Then, the sway of the horse beneath her and a voice calling her name stirred her awake.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───

“Kanna? Are you alright? Should we stop for a moment?” 

As soon as she opened her eyes, she had to close them again. The light was so strong she had to blink a couple of times to regain control of her sight, her mind focusing to identify the present after being immersed in a memory she didn’t mean to pry.

Gakane’s shadow -Jimmy, she reminded herself- moved in front of her face to cover her from the sun, so that she could focus better. She smiled at them, feeling a little pang in her chest. 

Kanna’s eyes flew wide, her arms tightening around Gakane’s frame as the horse suddenly sprang forward, clearing a jutting root. The faint sound of her surprise made the rider turn to look back, easing the horse’s pace at once.

“I’m sorry, I should have warned you!” He quickly moved his eyes in front of him, looking back at the road ahead. 

“We’re almost at the pixie’s village, so the path is full of trees, roots, and branches.” Kishiar's voice made her look in his direction. “You were quiet for a while, but it didn’t seem like you were sleeping. Do you feel any discomfort?”

Kanna quickly shook her head, trying to give him a little reassuring smile. “It’s okay, I was just… Out, for a moment.” 

To be completely honest, her tights were a little sore from riding for the first time, but thanks to the new outfit the prince gave her, at least she wasn’t sweating profusely. It would have been hard to hide the scales while riding. 

Kishiar seemed to read her thoughts. “As soon as we arrive, we can ask the pixies if we can use the nearby river to rest, if you need it.”

Kanna looked at him and shook her head. “Thank you, your highness, there’s no need. You're very considerate.” 

“It’s nothing, if you need anything else don’t mind asking.” His words were kind. She even without the use of her power, she could feel the sincerity in his tone.

She turned her head to confirm Yuder and Nathan's presence in the rear. The two of them were riding one next to each other, composed and silent, without any sign of fatigue. 

Kanna bowed her head just in time to avoid a low branch, gripping the sides of Gakane’s shirt to not lose balance. She knew already that she was the least prepared and used to this kind of travel, but she didn’t want to feel like the last wheel of the wagon. When Kishiar said that they were gonna teach her how to ride a horse, she felt incredibly grateful. At least, they didn’t plan to treat her like a damsel in distress, even if she was the only woman in the traveling group. The thought of asking them to teach how to use a weapon as well crossed her mind, so that they could make the most of it out of these training sessions.

She closed her eyes again, trying not to think about the sore feeling of the muscles of her tights. Before she could read more memories from Gakane, she focused her own energy on herself. It was a trick she learned to keep her power in check, but it didn’t work all the time, and looking at her own memories didn’t make the process less tiring.

She tried hard to think of a happy moment. Her mind went back to the night before, to the inn where she was staying. She couldn’t tell Steiber, the man who gave her a job and a place to live, about the secret and dangerous mission she had decided to undertake, so she had to lie a little. A white lie that cost her more than she could admit.

Her vision blurred again as the sweet presence of a familiar man filled her mind.

“I’m going to visit my mom’s lake.” 

The man looked at her, stopping his movement as he was preparing the flour and ingredients for the bread. His black hair was turning gray, reminding Kanna of how many years he had taken care of her when she ran away from the place she didn’t consider home. 

Steiber was the closest thing she had to a father figure, though she had never grown close to his wife and children, too afraid her secret might be discovered.

“Why, and so suddenly?” Steiber asked, his gray eyes full of worry, the concern deepening the lines on his face.

Kanna bit her lips, wishing for a moment that there wasn’t a magical oath to keep her from telling him the truth. At least, she could say a part of it that was close to the truth. Her truth.

“I feel like I can't escape my origins and who I really am anymore,” she whispered. A weight on her chest lifted as she said that. Kishiar asked for her help because of her powers and talked to her in private before signing the oath. She knew the direction they were going would have crossed that same lake where she was born, so what she was saying wasn’t a complete lie, even if it wasn’t the real purpose. 

“Alone?” Steiber moved a step in her direction. “You never went back there since I found you that rainy day. What if…” He didn’t manage to finish what he was saying, but Kanna knew what he was thinking.

‘What if your father finds you?’ She swallowed hard, shaking away that thought.

“I’m going with someone I trust.” 

He remained silent for a while, a mix of surprise and uncertainty in his expression. She never had friends or people she could trust, not really, so she wasn’t surprised by Steibern's dubious eyes.

“They know your secret?” He asked, looking intently at her.

“...More or less, yes.” She didn’t look away, gathering all her courage to look back at him. Steiber wasn’t the kind of person who would have stopped her, but she couldn’t help but search for his approval. The idea of just sneaking away while leaving behind a letter had crossed her mind before, but the guilt of knowing he wouldn’t have slept for days was too much.

He washed his hands, knowing well that the flour gave Kanna a terrible itching sensation when it touched her skin, then he closed the distance between them, taking her hands and tangling their fingers together.

From that simple contact, she could feel all his emotions passing through her: anxiety, fear and a deep affection. Through the contact memories flowed; her young self, soaked in the rain and bruised from her escape; their first hug; the day she asked to help him by working in the inn. 

Steiber knew well how her powers worked, but he always used them as a way to connect deeply. He wasn’t scared to touch her, making every doubt that he didn’t really care about her vanish like it never existed. 

“I can’t help but feel worried. I feel like I should come with you, or at least know who these people are.” His thumb caressed the back of her hand.

Kanna quickly shook her head, “You can’t leave your family behind. And what about the inn?”

“You're part of my family too, Kanna.” He didn’t hesitate to respond, giving her a gentle smile that made her heart melt. “But I never meant to keep you trapped here, and I knew this day would come eventually. I just hope this isn’t a permanent goodbye.”

She felt her eyes sting and took a long breath before answering, “I’m not sure I have the right to call this place home, but… I feel like it’s the only place I wish to return to.” 

Happiness and trust rushed between their shared contact, but a little thread of doubt remained. 

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

“I’ll make sure of it, I promise.” 

Steiber released her fingers, a warm sensation still lingering in Kanna’s hands, but also the last feeling of sadness coming from the man in front of her.

“Then please, stay safe. I’ll make your favourite bread when you come back.”

“We arrived.” Gakane's announcement made her eyes open again. She had to blink a couple of times like before, but her gaze soon returned to focus. As soon as Kanna looked ahead, her expression shifted from surprise to awe.

Deep in the forest, an ancient oak tree stood tall beneath them. His roots wove through the earth, like veins that bring nutrients to the main body. From its trunk radiated a quiet, timeless strength. Intricate spirals of golden energy rose from the ground, climbing into the branches and ending their trail on the leaves above, which seemed to bloom and fall every minute, as though time itself held no power in that magical little realm.

Inside the trunk, tiny houses nestled along the curving wooden walls, their roofs spun from leaves, petals, and strands of glimmering silk. Bridges of woven vines and crystalline threads stretched between roots like delicate pathways in the air, connecting clusters of homes that sparkled with soft, enchanted light. Lanterns of glowing fireflies drifted lazily above, illuminating cobblestone streets no wider than a handspan. 

Floating at the center, on top of a giant leaf, there was a castle, the pinnacle of its roof made of pine cones and acorns. Wings glittered like fragments of dawn as tiny figures darted between flowers. 

“Why does it look so familiar..?” Kanna asked herself after a while. Gakane helped her to get off the horse, while Yuder and Nathan were already tying the mounts to nearby branches.

“Because it is.” Kishiar smiled, standing on her side while she was dusting her clothes. “Pixies love to play with illusions and are really faithful creatures at the same time, so they tend to mirror and recreate the place where the elves they decided to collaborate with live. In this case, the La Orr family.”

Kanna looked again toward the giant oak, and this time the realization washed over her.

“It’s like the Great Sarain Forest, but… small.” Gakane nodded in her direction, almost falling as he lifted his big adventurer’s bag on his shoulder. Even if the horses were accosted near, he seemed not to trust leaving his belongings behind.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? It makes you feel like a giant who can look at everything in the kingdom from above. You can also see the inn where you were staying in its tiny version, the apothecary where Yuder worked, and the market street too!” Gakane pointed at every little building as he listed them. 

“Only the castle is different.” Yuder joined after them, crossing his arms on his chest. Probed by his observation, Kanna looked at the floating little building on the leaf.

“You’re right. Why is that?” She asked curiously.

“It’s the core of the reign, like the Great Holy tree.” Kishiar began to explain, “It’s the only piece that never changes despite the centuries, even if it breaks the illusion. It’s like a sacred temple for them. They can change tree, shape, and form as the time changes and if they decide to follow another family of elves, but the castle is what keeps their real identity. Pixies are born from flowers, like dryads from trees, so the flowers that decorate the castle of every Pixie’s colony are the symbol that reminds them of the founding king or queen.”

Kanna looked again towards the oak tree in awe.

“I never met a pixie before.” She admits, “Should I know something important? Like, how are you supposed to introduce yourself?”

“Don’t be nervous, pixies are really adorable creatures!” Gakane gently patted her shoulder to reassure her. “They’re just really sensitive and overprotective of one another, so if you treat all of them gently and in the same way, you’ll be okay. The most important thing is not to talk badly about their queen, and you’ll be fine.” 

“Like… Like with bees?” Kishiar chuckled at her question.

“Yes, but don’t say that out loud. There is an unspoken grudge between pixies and bees because pixies say that the bees copied them.”

Before she could ask more about that, Nathan joined them as well.

“The horses are all tied. We can go, my Lord.” Kishiar nodded at him, then gave a quick glance towards Yuder.

“What about you? Have you ever met a pixie before?” The fairy lifted an eyebrow at that question.

“No. Why do you ask?” 

“Oh, you’ll understand. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.” Yuder's eyebrow frowned slightly, while Kishiar stepped forward with a little secret smile, Nathan behind him. 

“I can't wait to see them again, It’s been a while.” Gakane whispered, following them while fixing his big backpack on his shoulders again.

“You have friends among the pixies?” Yuder asked. Even if his tone remained neutral, Gakane didn’t seem to mind.

“Yes! Two of them. I’m sure they heard about the hero of the Great Sarain Forest, they’ve always been big fans of the mysterious individual who saves the day. I’ll make sure to introduce them to you.”

Kanna was just some steps behind them when she noticed one of the pockets of Gakane’s bag being slightly open. She quickly closed it before he could notice, but the gesture was seen by a silent shadow. Jimmy made the shape of a thumb up and she smiled at them with a simple nod. After seeing that memory, she didn’t feel intimidated by this mysterious being like the night before.

Suddenly, Kishiar’s steps came to a halt. All the pixies stopped their activity all at once, looking up at the elf with a mist of awe and curiosity. One of them took the empty shell of a snail, flying on top of the tiny crowd to talk into it.

“The Prince Kishiar La Orr, Descendant of the elves' lineage La Orr!” Every little pixie started to flap their iridescent little wings together, making a round of applause as the color of the rainbows shone through their back, making a beautiful spectacle. Kanna waved her hand, and some pixies did the same.

“Thank you,” Kishiar nodded with a smile. “We’re here to express our gratitude for the beautiful clothes you made on such short notice, and to receive a blessing for our upcoming departure.”

“A blessing?” Kanna asked Gakane, her voice barely a whisper. He nodded in response.

“It’s a tradition between pixies and their chosen elves. The pixie queen or king must ensure that the elves are protected and can call on their aid in times of need. Usually, a pixie joins the elf directly to guarantee that protection.”

‘A pixie is joining us?’ Kanna was about to ask for confirmation, feeling a mix of surprise and thrill at the thought, but suddenly the atmosphere shifted. When she looked back at the pixies, all of them were staring without blinking towards Yuder.

“It’s… It’s a…?” A young pixie pointed their tiny honey biscuit towards him.

“Oh my, I can’t believe I lived enough to see it!” An old pixie threw his old walking stick in the air, hitting another pixie that was hanging out their leaf-made clothes, making them fall from their tiny balcony.

“A dragonfly fairy?!” The pixie that was announcing the presence of the elf prince screamed inside the snail shell, so loud and gripping it so hard that it cracked and turned into dust. A coral ‘gasp’ lifted in the air.

“Here's the reaction I was hoping for.” Kishiar smiled, looking amused and not surprised by this sudden and somewhat comic reaction of the little beings.

Yuder blinked his eyes a couple of times, his dragonfly purple wings fluttering on his back. Kanna noticed that he seemed to do that on reflex from time to time, but the reaction of the pixies at that gesture was incredible.They mirrored the movement, all of their transparent little wings caught the ray of the sun, changing hue to purple. In the blink of an eye, a crowd of tiny pixies was shining the same purple of Yuder’s wings, like a magical sign of reverence. Kanna smiled in awe.

“Woah, I never saw them reacting like this,” Gakane whispered near her.

“Pixies have a great and fond respect towards Elves. They consider us blessed creatures at the same level.” Kishiar started to explain, “But Fairies are like deities to them. They’re incredibly rare nowadays, and their connection with nature is the deepest that exists in our world.” He suddenly dropped his tone so that only Gakane and Kanna could hear. “But the funniest reason is that fairies look like giant pixies.”

Gakane coughed to hide his laugh while Kanna bit her lips to hide her smile. Nathan gave Kishiar a glance and the elf responded with what seemed to be an innocent smile.  

The pixies started to move towards Yuder, like months towards a fire, all their voices overlapping as a shower of questions came out of them.

“What’s your name?”

“I love your wings!”

“Can I be like you when I grow up?”

“Do you eat children?” At that question, everyone stopped, looking back at the same old pixie that had thrown their old stick a moment before. “What? Back in my days, changeling’s parents used to eat human children.”

“That’s gross.” 

“I don’t eat children.” Yuder intervened with a serious look. Kanna had to cover her mouth as she saw Gakane improvising another cough near her.

“You sure? I wouldn’t mind,” another pixie said, flattering her tiny eyelashes with a dreamy expression on her face.

Kanna thought that everything was so cute and funny at the same time that she didn’t want it to end.

“Enough.” All the pixies turned around, silently looking upwards while their wings returned to their transparent color. As Kanna followed their gaze, her eyes widened.

The main door of the floating little castle opened, revealing a majestic and beautiful pixie. Her dress, woven from the velvet petals of crimson roses, shimmered with dewdrops that caught the light like scattered rubies. A trailing train of dark, thorny vines coiled behind her, both elegant and dangerous, as though nature itself bent to her will.

Golden tendrils, like living vines of sunlight, twined through her long, obsidian hair, shifting with a life of their own as if stirred by some unseen breeze. Though her features bore the familiar delicacy of her kin, she was taller, her aura radiant, her every movement edged with a quiet power that made her seem less a creature of this world and more an ethereal spirit draped in mortal form.

The pixie that had previously announced Kishiar quickly found another snail shell and, after inhaling a good amount of air, they spoke with a reverent tone: 

“Her Majesty, the Queen Thornbrush Marin!”

The wings of the pixies turned the same red hue as the dress of their queen and they bowed towards her. Kishiar bowed his head as a sign of respect, with Nathan and Gakane following after him. As Kanna saw Yuder mirroring their movement, she quickly did the same, placing a hand on her hat to prevent it from falling. She was surprised to see the prince of the Great Sarain Forest bowing in front of someone else, but the more she learned about the relationship between elves and pixies, the more it made sense that it was that way. Kanna couldn’t help but look towards the majestic pixie again.

The queen approached Kishiar, not flying with her wings but walking above those same vines that came from the inside of the castle, creating a magical bridge under her every step, until she stopped right in front of him.

“Prince Kishiar La Orr, you and your companions may lift your head,” as she spoke, Kanna looked surprised. Even for someone so little and graceful, her voice was incredibly harsh. She didn’t look so pleased by their presence, something was off.

“Queen Marin, it’s a pleasure to meet you again.” If Kishiar noticed something was off, he didn’t show it.

“I would like to express the same enthusiasm, but the feeling it’s not mutual.” Marin didn’t smile. She moved her gaze away from the elf, only to observe the others who were with him. Kanna swallowed when she looked at her, feeling her sharp and analytic gaze. Even when she looked at Yuder, she didn’t look impressed like her people. 

The pixies' wings flattered behind their back, still adorned with a red hue, but they looked nervous, like they were scared by the interaction that was taking place before them. 

“May I ask why?” Kishiar remained poised and his tone was light, but not disrespectful. Marin looked at him, remaining silent for a moment.

“Are you feigning ignorance, or are you really that oblivious?” 

Kanna felt a trail of sweat on her neck and she quickly moved to dry it. Even if the queen wasn’t questioning her, she felt the tension building in her chest by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

“I’m afraid I'm really unaware. The last time I interacted directly with your kin was a couple of years ago, while my adjutant came here just the previous night to retrieve the two outfits that we commissioned.” He modulated his voice, sounding calm. “Did something happen in this short period of time?”

Kanna looked at how the queen was studying him, the golden vines dancing between her hair as her mouth remained a strict line. After what seemed a long, exhausting minute, Marin let out a long,exhausted sigh.

“Werewolves came late last night.” Her expression hardened, “They can’t find our reign, as it is protected with magic, but once a pixie is out from the Oak, they’re exposed.”

All the pixies dropped their wings, the red hue dissipating as a blue one started to spread. Even without touching them, an incredible wave of sadness washed over Kanna and she felt goosebumps traveling in all her scales under her skin. 

“Werewolves?” Kishiar's eyebrows furrowed. “They usually don’t travel with their packs near the Great Sarain Forest.”

“Of that, I’m well aware.” Marin’s expression was hard and unreadable.

Kanna was distracted, her gaze moving between the pixie’s queen and Kishiar, that’s why she didn’t notice when one of her fingers touched one of the vines coming from Marin. 

Her vision blurred and the present slipped away from her mind. 

The moon was high in the sky, its rays of light shining on the forest. The song of a wolf made the birds fly away, the bugs crawl inside the holes of the ground and the trees shake their leaves. 

The pixies shivered, giving the signal to cover the fireflies and to hide inside their tiny house as the sound of big paws started approaching. 

All the pixies had the rule to be back before midnight, because the energy of the moon was too strong at night and the forest didn’t respond the same way. What was secure during daylight, was dangerous in the moonlight.

“Is everyone inside?” Marin asked one of the pixie guards.

“He’s still outside. He said he was looking for the Dudureli Mushrooms.” The Queen’s expression became sour as she tried not to let her agitation show, but Kanna could feel every emotion that was invading her mind.

A spark of rage and frustration, because she told her brother so many times that he shouldn’t leave in the night, that he had to stay safe inside the Oak tree; but it was mostly a terrible shade of blue: worry, anxiety and fear.

The song of one wolf became the song of many wolves. Their voices were louder and stronger, the energy vibrating. They were near, coming towards the Oak.

“We have to close the barrier.” Marin's voice was steady, but her heart was beating loudly in her chest. Her thoughts were a hurricane, every one of them focused on one name.

‘Mikey. Mikey, please, be safe.’

The pixie obeyed without hesitation, her delicate wings shimmering as she raised her hands toward the ancient roots of the Oak. At her command, the scattered motes of enchanted dust stirred, lifting into the air like a golden tide. Each grain glowed brighter as it drifted upward, weaving into threads of light that curled around the massive roots, as though the great tree itself were awakening from slumber.

The earth hummed with power. Golden energy seeped from the bark and the veins of the Oak, rising in waves that made the leaves tremble and the air vibrate with an otherworldly song. The forest seemed to hold its breath as the luminous threads entwined, stretching higher, faster, until they formed an invisible dome that arched above the treetops.

With a final pulse of radiance, the spell sealed itself. The shimmer of the barrier rippled once, like sunlight on water, and then vanished from sight. Their presence was swallowed by the magic of the Oak. Hidden, protected, as if the forest had folded them into its very heart.

Right at that moment, she felt a pang in her chest. From the brushes not too far away, a pixie with familiar black hair was limping towards the oak, one of his wings was broken, and he was covered in blood.

“Mikey!” She screamed, flying towards the barrier, putting her hand on the ground with the intention of calling her vines to help her brother. 

But plants don’t grow in the moonlight.

Behind him, a massive black wolf with red eyes came out from the dark.

She couldn’t shatter the barrier and fly towards him. She couldn’t put everyone in danger. She was the Queen, she had to protect her people.

He knew, that’s why he smiled. 

The wolf came down with open fangs.

Then it was red.

“They killed your brother.” 

When she opened her eyes again, everyone was looking in her direction. She didn’t realize she said that out loud and she quickly hid her hand behind her back, the thorned vines in front of her shifting as Marin pulled them away.

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to…” she bit her lips, her heart beating hard in her chest.

Kanna felt dizzy, her stomach churning after the terrifying memory Realizing that she was sweating when her neck and forehead were already covered in scales. She tried to cover it, but everyone already saw it. 

“Mermaid.” Marin voiced her realization out loud.

She sighed, closing her eyes. She had worked so hard not to expose herself before she felt ready, and yet she had ruined it on the very first day. Her throat went dry as she tried to ignore all the eyes fixed on her, as if they could pierce into her bare soul and judge her very existence.

She forced her breath to remain steady, in and out of her chest. Kishiar and Nathan already knew her secret, and the panic she felt when she realized the prince of the Great Sarain Forest also knew about her hidden nature was nothing compared to what she felt now. She couldn’t find the courage to look at Yuder and Gakane. She hated this familiar fear. 

“The werewolf came to hunt your brother?” Yuder spoke for the first time since the queen arrived. Kanna felt incredibly grateful that he moved the attention away from her. Even if only a few seconds had passed, it felt as though time itself had stretched.

Marin moved her gaze to him, remaining silent, before returning to meet Kishiar’s red eyes.

“Mikey, my brother, responded to another official request that came before yours from the La Orr family. He was asked to search for a very specific type of mushroom called ‘Dudurelli’.”

Kanna saw Kishiar bowing his head. “I’m really sorry for what happened to your brother.” He said with a calm tone, “But I never heard about such a request.”

“When he…” Marin stopped for a moment, searching for the right words while her voice hardened. “When I saw him for the last time, he didn’t have them. He probably delivered the mushrooms yesterday night, before he was attacked.” The thorns in her vines seemed sharper, more dangerous.

“So you think whoever gave him the request ordered the werewolf to kill him, to hide their identity and intentions,” Kishiar concluded his deduction, meeting the gaze of the Queen’s eyes again.

Kanna looked at the pixies. She saw a mother caressing her baby, the little one shivering in her embrace as she whispered ‘No, the wolf will not come back. We’re safe. We’re safe, my love.’

“I’ll make sure to send a message to His Majesty to inform him about the situation,” Kishiar promised. Marin’s expression didn’t change, her tiny fist shaking on her sides.

“I’m sorry, but for the safety of my people, I can't trust you right now.” Her tone was severe and her voice sounded stronger than before at that declaration. “And for that reason, I will not bestow the pixie blessing on your voyage.”

The pixies opened their eyes in shock, whispering between them. Kanna felt their confusion and heard some of them whisper: 

“Can we really refuse to help the elves?” One asked the others, agitation filling their voices.

“They betrayed us in the first place.” Another responded with a defeated tone.

“We must follow the Queen's will.” The mother said, caressing the head of her little one.

“I’m scared…” The child murmured.

“I accept your decision,” Kishiar responded, interrupting the startled pixies. “You lost someone really important, and I can't prove that none of my family members acted with vicious intent. For that reason, I’ll make sure to investigate the matter, so that one day our path will meet again in a more positive light.”

Marin nodded one last time, her eyes darkening as her shoulders dropped. “Thank you for your comprehension. Until we meet again.”

As she turned, the living vines coiled after her every step, retreating with a grace that mirrored her own. The bridge of woven magic unraveled thread by thread, dissolving into motes of light that drifted upward before fading into the air. When she passed through the gates, the great doors of the floating castle swung closed with a soft, resonant thrum, as though the whole kingdom exhaled in unison.

In that instant, the Oak stirred once more. A faint shimmer spread along its vast trunk, subtle as a mirage, before swelling outward into a radiant veil. Even in the brightness of day, the air bent and shimmered like heat above stone, and then silence. The spell closed over itself, seamless and perfect.

Before their eyes, the dazzling kingdom of the pixies vanished, erased as though it had never existed.

───  ⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅  ───