《The Grey King》


 Into the Wild

    Another sunset, another day lost in the fields. If this was going to be everything life had to offer, then I might as well have been born as a work horse.


    Lately the days had begun to pass by seemingly unnoticed, I felt like I had been stuck in the rhythm of work - from sunrise to sunset. Sweat on my brow, dirt buried beneath my fingernails. A sign of the way things had always been - and I suspected, always would be. Old man Edrin¡¯s farm wasn¡¯t much, a modest stretch of land at the edge of Briar¡¯s Hollow, a village too small for a lord to care about but just big enough to scrape by. We¡¯re the last piece of human civilisation before the brambles and towering ferns of Veilwood swallows the meadow whole.


    Briar¡¯s Hollow was a place of hardworking folk - farmers, hunters and blacksmiths who knew better than to stray too deep into the wilderness. The village was nestled in the valley below the looming shadow of the Duskfang Mountains to the north and the endless sea of trees that was Veilwood Forest to the south. Both of which were ancient places, untouched by time and home to things much older than our recorded history.


    Everyone knew that monsters lurked beyond the treeline. Elders would often speak of the creatures that watched from the dark, whispering in hushed voices to lure unsuspecting fools to an early grave. The mountains were worse - under the earth there were ruins hidden below, places where the air hummed with power and where the wind carried echoes of the most vile languages.


    We¡¯re taught that before men ever set foot in these lands, the forests belonged to the Fey, and the mountains were home to things even fouler.


    But I don¡¯t have time for old legends and cautionary tales.


    Old Man Edrin had been hunched over the fence, muttering to himself. Probably arguing with the crows again. He had spent the afternoon with half an eye on the tree line of forest, as of he had been expecting something to come bursting out.


    Edrin was as strange as they came, a tangled beard, crooked back and eyes sharp enough to slice through a man¡¯s lies. The villagers called him a washed-up hermit, but I knew better. There was something about him - something beneath his nonsensical mutterings about ¡°how things used to be¡± and the way he sometimes looked at me as if he was waiting for something.


    Not that I had time to dwell on that either.


    He had finally decided to send me into the woods that evening to gather a handful of feverfew, rambling about how his bones were aching more than usual. I didn¡¯t argue - he was impossible to reason with, and I could use the quiet stroll.


    The forest was calm, bathed in the last light of the setting sun after I had spent the day working the fields. I couldn¡¯t have been more than a couple of minutes in before I found what I needed, nestled near the roots of an old oak tree.


    I crouched down, plucking the delicate white flowers one by one and placing them into the satchel when I heard it.


    A sharp intake of breath. The snapping of branches. Footsteps - uneven and frantic.


    I straightened just as something broke through the underbrush.


    A girl.


    She all but collapsed against a tree, her breath ragged. Even in the dim light, she looked¡­ unreal. Her hair shimmered like a river of silver, falling around her in tangled waves. Her skin had a faint, almost unnatural glow, and her eyes - golden and sharp, flickering between caution and curiosity as she noticed me. But what stood out the most - what marked her as otherworldly - were the great curling ram¡¯s horns, dark as polished onyx. Framing her head like a crown, accentuating her already striking features.


    A fey.


    She was young, or at least she looked young - about twenty, if I had to guess. But with fey, who really knew? She could be older than my entire village and still appear as she did now.


    I barely had time to process her gaze before a low, snarling growl rumbled through the trees.


    A wolf stepped into the clearing - but something was wrong. Its fur was blackened, thick with shadows that shifted unnaturally as it moved. Its eyes were burning like embers, and when it bared its teeth, I saw too many fangs.


    The girl tensed.


    It lunged.


    I didn¡¯t think. I just moved.


    My hand shot up, reaching for something - anything. And then¡­


    It felt like time paused for a moment, the world unravelled before my very eyes.


    An unrelenting force exploded from my chest, both searing and cold as it vibrated through my bones. I felt power. Bursting through me like a storm, raw and uncontrollable. The air around me rippled, the power exploding outwards with a force that sent the wolf crashing into the trunk of a tree.


    I stumbled back, my breath catching in my throat. I could barely believe what had just happened. Was that magic?


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    I could hardly believe it, magic was for nobles, scholars and adventurers. It wasn''t something you''d find out in Briar¡¯s Hollow, especially from a farm hand.


    The beast snarled viciously as it rose to its feet, shifting its focus from the Fey to me. The girl was staring at me now - not in fear, but in surprise.


    ¡°You-¡± she started, but the wolf wasn¡¯t finished.


    It gathered itself, shadows now coiling tightly around its body. The hunger in its eyes deepened, now I was its target and it wanted revenge.


    The force inside me swelled again. I had no idea what I was doing, but at the moment I didn¡¯t need to know. The moment the thought formed - push it back - the power replied.


    A torrent of pressure erupted from my outstretched hand like a tidal wave. The wolf was thrown off its feet again, slamming back into the tree as it let out a yelp.


    The power was swelling on my chest, pushing out from my ribcage. But worse than that, the feeling of it vibrating against the bones in my arms was excruciating.


    I could feel the wolf struggling to be free, but something told me to push harder. The power responded again and then - just like that - with a satisfying crunch, the wolf''s body began to compact and distort before dissolving into a black mist.


    Silence.


    I let out a shaking breath. My arms felt heavy. My chest ached, as if something had been torn open inside me, like I''d pulled my heart muscle.


    The girl was still watching me, her expression unreadable. Then, softly, she whispered, ¡°What was that? It felt like magic, but it wasn¡¯t¡­ It wasn¡¯t anything.¡±


    I swallowed hard. My hands were still trembling. Outside of a few cheap tricks that old man Edrin would do, I don''t think I''ve ever seen actual magic.


    ¡°What does that mean?¡±


    She hesitated, then met my gaze as she replied, ¡°You didn¡¯t weave any threads of mana, or cast a spell. It was like magic in its purest form, without any affinity or instruction.¡± Her voice was quiet but certain. ¡°People aren¡¯t born without an affinity, nobody should be able to wield that kind of magic, even during your awakening.¡±


    I didn¡¯t understand what she meant. The awakening was a process when a mage would first unleash their powers, I gathered that much.


    Something told me - she didn''t quite understand what had happened either.


    The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. The girl - the fey - was watching me with wide, unblinking eyes, as if she had just seen the impossible.


    I didn¡¯t know what to say. My hands were still tingling from whatever had just happened. Magic. That word meant nothing to me, I was just a farm hand, yet the word felt like a weight pressing against my stomach.


    The fey girl was the first to break the quiet.


    ¡°You¡¯re human,¡± she murmured, tilting her head as if she wasn¡¯t entirely sure. She had been examining me with her eyes from a distance.


    I exhaled, almost in relief. ¡°Last time I checked.¡±


    Her gaze flickered over me again, as if she was searching for something, interrupted when she winced and clutched her side. Only then did I notice the dark stain seeping through her tunic just below her ribs.


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt,¡± I said, stepping closer.


    She stiffened, her fingers curling instinctively. A defensive gesture, even as her legs wobbled beneath her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± she said quickly.


    I raised an eyebrow. ¡°You nearly got turned into that thing¡¯s next meal.¡±


    The girl exhaled, lowering herself carefully onto a moss-covered rock. Now that I was paying attention, I could see the faint shimmer of something curling around her wound - thin, twisting vines that weaved together like stitches.


    Magic. But unlike mine, this had purpose, control.


    I crouched in front of her, fixated by her spell. ¡°You¡¯re a mage?¡±


    The vines tightened around her wound, closing it little by little. She exhaled softly, some of the tension in her shoulders easing.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said. ¡°My magic is tied to nature - growth, restoration, balance.¡± She hesitated, then glanced at the dark spot where the wolf had vanished. ¡°And corruption.¡±


    I followed her eyes in bewilderment, my concept of magic was built on rumours and old wives tales. ¡°Corruption?¡±


    She nodded, shifting slightly. ¡°That wasn¡¯t an ordinary wolf. It was demon-touched. The Feywilds are no stranger to dark forces,¡± she continued. ¡°But this¡­ this is spreading. They¡¯re no longer a rarity.¡± She looked at me, her golden eyes gleamed with purpose. ¡°I was sent to observe and report back.¡±


    Her words were measured - too measured. I didn¡¯t know much about the fey, but I knew when someone wasn¡¯t telling the whole truth.


    I narrowed my eyes. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to fighy with them then?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Only to observe.¡±


    ¡°Then why were you near the edge of the forest, fighting it off?¡±


    Her eyes flickered, ¡°It¡­ caught me off guard.¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± she continued. ¡°I may have underestimated the threat,¡± she admitted.


    There it was.


    She wasn¡¯t sent here alone, I bet she wasn''t even sent here at all.


    I don¡¯t know why I was suddenly so invested, but I couldn¡¯t help myself. ¡°How many were there?¡±


    She hesitated again, but this time it seemed like she was recalling something, ¡°Four of them.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°Four? The one I killed was alone.¡±


    She nodded, ¡°Because I killed the others.¡±


    Something in her tone made me believe her. She wasn¡¯t arrogant, she just stated the fact.


    I glanced back at the base of the tree where the last wolf has disappeared. If that thing has been the straggler, I didn¡¯t want to imagine what the rest of the pack had been like.


    ¡°You fought off three of those things?¡± I asked.


    She let out a slow and heavy breath, ¡°I held my ground as long as I could, but the last one broke through my defences before I could finish it.¡± She glanced down at her injury, ¡°Then you appeared.¡±


    I didn¡¯t know what to say to that.


    I assumed that she was overwhelmed, but in reality the fight had just cost her more than she had expected. She had pretty much won.


    Still, something didn¡¯t sit right with me. If she has this much strength, why was she alone on a scouting mission?


    I studied her carefully, ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to be out here were you?¡±


    For a moment she said nothing, then, with an almost imperceptible shift in posture she lifted her chin.


    ¡°This was my mission,¡± she said firmly.


    I caught the way her fingers twitched slightly at her sides. A tell.


    It wasn''t a lie, but it wasn''t exactly the truth either.


    She had come to investigate the corruption, but it wasn''t that she had been sent. She was doing this of her own accord.


    I could press her on it, I could push for the truth. But looking at her now - her exhaustion, the stiffness in her movements and the lingering pain behind her eyes - I let it go.


    I sighed. ¡°Alright well, right now we should probably move.¡±


    She gave me a sharp look, but she didn''t argue. Old Man Edrin¡¯s remedy could wait, this was the most alive I had felt in some time. And perhaps I could find answers with this Fey girl on what had happened to me.

 Veilwood Forest

    The forest was eerily still, save for the rustling of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of unseen forest creatures. Shafts of moonlight, silver and pale, filtered down through the canopy, painting patterns on the forest floor that shifted with the evening breeze. The smell of wildflowers and tree bark filled the air, a stark contrast to the blacksmiths'' forge and freshly manured fields of Briar¡¯s Hollow.


    I glanced at the girl walking beside me, her locks of silver hair glittering like starlight as it caught the moonlight. Despite her injury she moved effortlessly with grace, her faint limp barely noticeable. She carried herself with such confidence in the forest, it was as if the trees themselves were her subordinates, bending to her will.


    We hadn''t spoken much since setting off, though we stole glances occasionally and I could have sworn that I caught her studying me from time to time, as if she was trying to solve a puzzle she didn''t know the shape of. I supposed that I couldn''t blame her, I had no explanation for what had happened. One moment I was collecting flowers, the next I was conjuring something I didn''t understand. Magic.


    Did that make me a wizard now? Would I start growing a wild beard and wearing oversized hats?


    I cleared my throat, parting the silence. ¡°You never told me your name.¡±


    She turned her head slightly to look at me, her golden eyes reflecting like embers in the low light. ¡°Aeris,¡± she said simply.


    I didn''t know anything about Fey society, but by Briar¡¯s Hollow¡¯s standards it suited her perfectly. It was equally as soft as it was commanding.


    ¡°I''m Caden,¡± I offered in response, an equivalent exchange. Stories we were told as kids said that there was power in a name, the witches of the wilds would curse you if you told them your name.


    She gave a courteous nod, as if to approve but there was something unreadable in her expression. ¡°You''re not a mage, ¡± she said after a brief pause, it sounded more like an observation than a question.


    I couldn''t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°No, I work on a farm-¡± I replied, pausing to manoeuvre over the roots of a large oak tree that Aeris has seamlessly glided over. ¡°I''ve never cast a spell in my life.¡°


    I couldn''t get that feeling of using magic out of my mind, for that brief moment I had felt powerful. My chest and my arms were still aching, but I was worried it was a fluke. That I wouldn''t be able to feel that level of power again.


    Aeris nodded in response, as if my inexperience was obvious. I felt exposed, embarrassed. But at the same time it felt like an accomplishment, I would be the first mage in Briar''s Hollow for generations once I got home. I wanted to tell Edrin, he would know what to do. After he consulted a spoon or argued with a horse of course¡­


    The deeper into the forest we ventured, the more the atmosphere shifted. The trees grew taller, their trunks becoming more gnarled and ancient, their roots twisting like veins in the undergrowth. The air grew thicker, more humid, something unseen but felt. A presence.


    Aeris must have noticed my discomfort. ¡°Veilwood marks a threshold between the Feywilds and the land of men, ¡° she explained. ¡°The deeper we go, the closer we get to the domain of my people.¡±


    Her people. The Fey. Creatures of legend and cautionary tales, of trickery and beauty. The Fey had long been guardians of the forests, they didn''t bother humans so long as we kept out of their way and didn''t harm the woodlands.


    Of course there were always stories to the contrary too, humans kidnapping Fey for slaves and entertainment. Likewise Fey would kidnap humans for black magic and sacrificial offerings to their evil deities.


    Not that I believed in any of that, but I had heard the big cities were rife with fanatical churches and holy knights.


    Before I could ponder any further, movement ahead caught my attention. A figure stood at what looked like an old stone gateway, watching us and waiting expectantly.


    As Aeris led us closer, I could see the figure more clearly. An older woman, in her forties or fifties, the moonlight reflecting off her silver hair, even from a distance. I could feel the weight of her presence from a distance, her arms folded disapprovingly, and her eyes¡­ They had a disapproving chill, not unkind, but measuring and observant.


    Aeris let out a slow breath. ¡°My grandmother¡­ ¡° she said through gritted teeth.


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    I could feel the shift in Aeris¡¯ demeanour, from the careful scout to an elegant young woman expecting to be disciplined. Her shoulders straightened, her steps more deliberate. It was as if she was stepping into a role she didn''t particularly enjoy.


    I gulped with anticipation, it felt like we were both about to be reprimanded. Or perhaps they didn''t take kindly to a human being led through the front doors.


    ¡°Grandmother, ¡± Aeris called out, keeping her gaze forward as she bowed her head respectfully.


    Her presence was undeniable, commanding without effort. Her horns glistened in the light, twisting like gnarled branches. They weren''t dissimilar to Aeris¡¯ horns but they were definitely some sort of status symbol. She emanated radiance and nobility.


    Aeris slowed as we approached, her posture careful and her head still bowed slightly. I didn''t know their customs, but I also bowed my head slightly as a precaution.


    ¡°You''ve been gone longer than expected my dear,¡± her grandmother said in an even tone. There was no sharpness to it, no outright reprimand. But the weight of her expectations lingered between her words.


    Aeris bowed her head deeper in respect. ¡°I was scouting the border,¡± she said calmly. ¡°Given the spread of corruption, I thought it was necessary to assess the situation myself.¡±


    Her grandmother studied Aeris briefly before exhaling gently. ¡°How diligent of you,¡± she mused, though I couldn''t tell if she was approving or simply amused. Then at last, her gaze flickered to me.


    The moment her eyes fixated on me, I could feel myself struggling to breathe. The weight of her gaze was extraordinary, if she had applied the same pressure to Aeris then Aeris was impressive for not showing any signs of struggling.


    I could feel something pressing into my core, not physically, but it felt like she was reaching through me. Examining me in detail with just a gaze, I felt exposed and helpless.


    ¡°And what have you brought with you?¡± she asked, her eyes fixated on me. But the pressure lightened slightly at her words, much to my relief.


    Aeris raised her chin. ¡°He is the reason I was able to return.¡±


    Her grandmother''s expression didn''t change, but I felt the air lighten still. Free of the probing sensation, I finally let out a relaxed gasp. I hadn''t realised I had been holding my breath the entire time.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± she murmured.


    Her grandmother took a step closer, though it was more akin to gliding, she moved with such elegance.


    ¡°You do not appear to be a warrior,¡± she observed. ¡°Or a mage, either.¡±


    I swallowed, unsure if I should speak. My legs felt rooted beneath layers of soil.


    ¡°And yet¡­¡± her head tilted slightly as her voice drifted off with her thoughts. ¡°It appears we owe you our thanks.¡±


    Aeris remained silent, watching the exchange carefully, but I saw a crease forming in her brow.


    Her grandmother studied me for a moment longer before exhaling again softly. ¡°It is not often that outsiders show us kindness in the wilderness.¡± She glanced at Aeris. ¡°And I cannot ignore the debt we owe for your safe return my dear.¡±


    Aeris¡¯ fingers began to clench into a fist before relaxing. ¡°It isn''t a debt, grandmother,¡± she said, quiet but firm.


    Her grandmother smiled faintly. ¡°Regardless,¡± she continued, turning back to me. ¡°Allow me to express my thanks.¡±


    She gestured to the path behind her, beyond the archway. ¡°You are welcome among us for a time, to rest and to learn. It appears you have recently gone through an awakening, we have some of the best sorcerers on the continent.¡±


    My stomach flipped with excitement, how many humans in history have been taught by Fey?


    ¡°Humans may still have an infantile understanding of the world,¡± she said smoothly. ¡°But even they understand that mana, when left unchecked after awakening can lead to a fate worse than death.¡±


    The hairs on the back of my neck pickled at the thought, though I could feel the wisdom in her words, even if I couldn''t really appreciate it. What happened to untrained mages after awakening?


    ¡°Regardless, the offer is there-¡± she began to say, stopping herself just before a figure approached through the archway.


    The figure was adorned in steel armour, plates sewn together with silver vines. The armour itself was sleek with a design favouring movement and elegance.


    He came to a stop before Aeris¡¯ grandmother and dropped to one knee, bowing deeply with respect.


    ¡°My Queen,¡± he said, his voice steady and with purpose. ¡°I apologise for intruding, but there is an urgent matter requiring your attention.¡±


    I could briefly detect a flicker of irritation across her face, but she quickly masked it with a smile as she turned her head.


    ¡°Very well,¡± she said, nodding her head. ¡°Consider my offer, even if it''s just to wait for dawn. And for goodness sake Aeris, get yourself home.¡±


    She turned to smile at Aeris before walking back through the archway, with just the guard left to face us.


    He hesitated before bowing his head. ¡°Princess,¡± he greeted, or apologised before retreating. I couldn''t quite tell. I was too distracted by the fact that Aeris and her grandmother were royalty?!


    I exhaled slowly. ¡°You''re a princess?¡±


    Aeris also relaxed, her shoulders sloping slightly as she sighed and ran her hand through her hair. ¡°Technically.¡±


    I stared at the ancient gateway, admiring the architecture as I weighed up my options.


    ¡°So,¡± I said finally. ¡°What now?¡±


    Aeris had been standing there idly, watching with anticipation.


    ¡°That depends, are you hungry?¡± she replied with a smirk before turning to walk through the gateway.

 The Feywilds

    I followed Aeris through the stone gateway, still fascinated by the architecture which seemed almost otherworldly, stepping into the threshold of the unknown. The moment my foot passed through the arch, a sensation washed over me - a ripple in reality itself. For a brief moment I could make out whispers in a language I didn¡¯t recognise. The air then began to shimmer, like the surface of a pond disturbed by a single drop of water.


    Then, the transformation began, a whole new world unfolding before my very eyes.


    The dense shadows of Veilwood Forest peeled away like a curtain, revealing a realm beyond my conceivable imagination. The twisted roots and tangled underbush receded, replaced by a pristine stone road that unfurled beneath our feet. Trees, impossibly tall and lush stretched towards the clear twilight sky painted in an aurora of deep purples and blues, speckled with swirling constellations that gleamed brighter than any stars I had ever seen.


    The air itself felt different, softer, carrying a gentle, clean scent - vanilla and something almost musical. I couldn¡¯t quite put my finger on it, but it felt familiar and welcoming.


    I inhaled deeply, absorbing the world around me as it unfolded. The trees weren¡¯t just trees, some had elaborate windows and carved out balconies, revealed structures interwoven into their trunks. Glowing lanterns suspended from curling lampposts, pulsed with a glowing light, moving and flickering like nests of fireflies. Bridges of intertwining vines arched over crystal clear streams, connecting various sections of what could only be described as a city built seamlessly within nature. The sight stole my breath away and left me feeling enchanted.


    My wonderstruck was disrupted by the sound of Aeris chuckling at my side, watching my stunned expression with amusement. ¡°It¡¯s safe to say you¡¯re not in Veilwood anymore,¡± she mused. ¡°Oh, the enchantment has a way of flipping your stomach until you get used to it.¡±


    Right on cue, I felt a lurch in my gut. I could feel my mouth salivating as I clutched my stomach. ¡°You could have warned me before I walked into-¡± I waved my hand at the surreal landscape still unfolding before us, ¡°-all of this.¡±


    Aeris merely smirked, shrugging innocently. ¡°Where¡¯s the fun in that?¡±


    It took me a minute to shake off the initial disorientation, I sheepishly followed as Aeris guided me along the central road. My gaze darted everywhere, from the ornate wooden carvings on the buildings to the softly glowing flora that pulsed and swayed as if they were talking to each other. It was like stepping into the heart of a living fairytale.


    It wasn¡¯t just the flora that caught my attention, creatures of all shapes and sizes moved through the city. Some were small, flitting through the air on delicate wings that shimmered like liquid gold. Others were tall and willowy, their varying skin tones reflecting the soft glow of the lanterns.


    A trio of regal-looking women wearing flowing silks curtsied in greeting, while a tiny being with translucent wings dipped in a bow as Aeris passed. In fact, now that I noticed, nearly every Fey we passed acknowledged her in some way, be it a smile, a nod, or a whispered greeting. It was evident that Aeris was well known and well loved among her people.


    After a short walk, the landscape opened up to a breathtaking view. Before my very eyes, nestled on the top of a cascading waterfall that glistened like liquid moonlight, floated the Fey palace. A marvel of architecture, the palace floated effortlessly suspended above the calming waters, its spires sparkled as if carved from the stars itself. Delicate bridges of woven branches and luminescent vines stretched across the gap, wide enough for at least three carriages to move side-by-side and leading to the main entrance.


    I could only gape helplessly to appreciate the beauty and grandeur.


    Aeris noticed my expression and smirked. ¡°Pick your jaw up, farm boy,¡± she teased. ¡°You were told that I was a princess.¡±


    I could tell she was enjoying this, this was her home so she was accustomed to it all. But her gaze rarely left me and her face was brimming with pride.


    As we crossed the bridge, I noted the guards stationed at the entrance. They wore the same armour as the man who had previously come to fetch the Queen, Aeris¡¯ grandmother. Each of them stood at attention, their armour sleek and adorned with silver engravings that reflected the ambient glow of their surroundings. As Aeris approached, they saluted her by placing their left fists over their right shoulders in a synchronised motion. A clear display of discipline and their reverence for the royal family they served.


    Inside the palace, I felt another strange shift. The interior seemed even more expansive than the exterior suggested, if that was at all possible, the walls themselves stretched beyond physical limits. Towering marble columns, carved with intricate depictions of fables and legends, reaching out towards a ceiling that resembled a night sky. Opulence was present, but not gaudy - everything was elegant and refreshing, carrying an air of refined majesty without excess.


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    Once I had time to appreciate the grand entrance, Aeris wasted no time in navigating through the corridors. Leading me towards the living quarters of the royal family, skillfully bypassing crowds and rooms where meetings were taking place. At the end of a grand hallway, double doors adorned with silver inlays swung open, revealing an ornate chamber where two figures were clearly waiting for us.


    The authority radiating from them was unmistakable. Before us stood Aeris¡¯ parents - the Crown Prince and Princess of the Feywilds.


    Her mother, a beautiful and striking woman with piercing golden eyes like Aeris¡¯, was the first to react. She frowned, her flawless features tightening in frustration. ¡°Aeris,¡± she scolded, crossing her arms in front of her chest. ¡°You were in Veilwood again?¡±


    The sharpness in her tone made me straighten instinctively, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something uncannily familiar in her reaction. It was eerily reminiscent of the way the Queen had looked upon seeing Aeris. An immediate shift from concern to controlled frustration. It was the look of someone who had faced this kind of reckless behaviour multiple times before, someone who lived fiercely but feared even more.


    Aeris sighed, standing her ground as she had done with her grandmother. ¡°I was just scouting the border. Given the spread of corruption, I wanted to see the situation for myself.¡±


    Her mother¡¯s eyes flashed with sadness and concern. ¡°You could have been taken. Humans-¡± She stopped herself, glancing at me before exhaling sharply. ¡°You know how dangerous it is.¡±


    Before she could continue, her father, a tall man with a regal yet easy demeanour waved a dismissive hand. ¡°She¡¯s home, and she¡¯s unharmed,¡± he said, smiling faintly. Despite his calm expression, there was an undeniable weight to his presence, a quiet authority that demanded respect. He seemed gentle with Aeris, as all fathers are to their daughters. But I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was every bit as powerful as the Queen - maybe even more so. The way he carried himself, it was as if the air itself was bending subtly around him.


    Aeros nodded in appreciation, grinning stupidly at her father before she regaled her parents with a retelling of her most recent adventure. Although I noted she had strategically omitted some of the details, particularly when she was disadvantaged. When she had finished, her father turned to me, nodding approvingly. ¡°So then, you¡¯re the one we have to thank for her safe return.¡±


    I hesitated, still uncertain of their social etiquette. Especially in front of royalty, so I simply bowed my head slightly. ¡°I just helped where I could.¡±


    Her father chuckled, as if he had already inflated my involvement in his head based on Aeris¡¯ recklessness. ¡°Modest, I like that.¡±


    He gestured to the grand dining hall beside us. ¡°Come, I hope you haven¡¯t eaten already. I¡¯d like to know more about our unexpected guest.¡±


    We sat at a long, beautifully crafted wooden table. The food was unlike anything I had ever tasted, delicate thinly sliced meats glazed with sweet nectars, crunchy vegetables that seemed to glow faintly, and warm bread that was so fresh it melted on my tongue. Throughout the dinner, Aeris¡¯ father asked a series of casual yet probing questions, gauging my background, my life in Briar¡¯s Hollow, and my awakening in the forest.


    I hesitated for a moment before speaking, compared to their extravagance my life was going to seem extremely mundane. ¡°I grew up in Briar¡¯s Hollow,¡± I began, my voice steady and thoughtful as I recalled my childhood. ¡°It¡¯s a small village, not far from the edge of the forest. Quiet for the most part. My parents were simple and ordinary folk - my mother a healer, my father a carpenter. We weren¡¯t all that wealthy, but we had enough, and we were happy.¡±


    Aeris¡¯ mother watched me thoughtfully, tilting her head slightly with sympathy. ¡°You spoke of your parents in the past tense,¡± she noted. ¡°They are no longer with us?¡±


    I swallowed a mouthful, nodding my head. ¡°No. They¡¯re gone. I was taken in by Edrin, a family friend. I live on his farm now.¡±


    At the mention of Edrin, Aeris¡¯ father¡¯s expression shifted subtly, his gaze sharpening with suspicion. There was a pause in the conversation as he watched me before finally asking, ¡°And your magic?¡± leaning forward ever so slightly.


    I paused hesitantly, again it felt like they were expecting some elaborate origin story. ¡°It was unexpected,¡± I admitted honestly. ¡°I had never used magic before today. I vaguely remember Edrin tested me once when I was younger, but he actually seemed relieved. I don¡¯t think Briar¡¯s Hollow has seen a wizard, or a sorcerer for as long as I¡¯ve been alive.¡±


    Aeris¡¯ father continued to watch me carefully, he appeared to be convinced that I was being genuine but I couldn¡¯t help feeling unsettled.


    Aeris let out a low whistle. ¡°So you don¡¯t get taught about magic as kids or anything?¡±


    ¡°Not a thing,¡± I confirmed.


    Aeris seemed to be in disbelief, based on everything I had witnessed so far about the Fey magic was commonplace.


    Aeris¡¯ father smiled. ¡°Then we¡¯ll make sure to help you understand it properly.¡±


    I struggled to contain my excitement at that thought, it was true that there was nobody in Briar¡¯s Hollow that could help. Especially given the Queen¡¯s earlier warning about the dangers of magic, now that I had time to think and a full stomach, I was more certain than ever.


    I wanted to stay here for a while, to not just learn about the Fey. But also to learn about myself.

 A Wizards First Lesson

    The warmth of the soft bed enveloped me with a gentle embrace. For a brief moment, the disorientation from waking up startled my senses. This wasn¡¯t my bed, or even my house. As I sat up, escaping the remnants of sleep that had been holding me down, I came back to my senses. The events of the night before came rushing back to me - the blur of a divine meal, meeting Aeris¡¯ parents, and ending up sleeping in the guest bedroom.


    The comfort of the bed was undeniable, but today was a new day. The softness of the silk sheets and plush mattress couldn¡¯t keep me here much longer.


    I had grown used to my humble bed in the farmhouse, resting my head on the pillow again just for a brief moment¡­


    I must have fallen back to sleep. Still, I laid there gazing at the ceiling. It was elegantly adorned with gentle lights that faintly dimmed like distant stars. If this was the guest bedroom, I couldn¡¯t begin to imagine what the royal chambers were like. How could anything be more extravagant than this?


    I finally shook off the lingering exhaustion, sitting up again and stretching as I tried to remember what we had agreed last night. Aeris¡¯ father had mentioned something about a private tutor session he would arrange with Aeris¡¯ teacher. To help determine whether magic was something I wanted to pursue, whether it was something I wanted to learn, or even if I could learn it all.


    I recalled his keen interest in Old Man Edrin, he had occasionally asked about him with an increasing sense of familiarity. Not impossible given Edrin, but he had never mentioned anything about meeting the Fey before. I¡¯m sure if he had I would have remembered, and asked him a thousand questions. In hindsight, maybe that¡¯s why he had never spoken about it.


    Regardless I had agreed to go ahead with the private lesson, I knew very little about magic and what I did know wasn¡¯t exactly reliable. If I was going to attend actual lessons, it would be best to build up some kind of foundation first. I couldn¡¯t exactly turn down the opportunity for a private tutoring session, though I hoped Aeris wouldn¡¯t mind that I borrowed her tutor.


    The thought of magic, which had suddenly become a part of my life, was both exhilarating and terrifying. What if I was too old to pick it up, or if I just wasn¡¯t compatible? Like the time I tried to learn how to play the lute.


    I eventually managed to get out of the bed, the soft carpet cushioning my feet felt almost too luxurious. I quickly dressed in the simple tunic that had been left for me, my satchel with Edrin¡¯s feverfew had been placed on a small coffee table.


    By the time I was ready and I had opened the door to leave, Aeris was already stood waiting. She stood in the hallway with a bright, infectious smile.


    ¡°Good morning sleepy head!¡± she beamed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel like I was her first real friend in a long time. There was something genuine about her joy, a far cry from her pained expression when we first met. Her warmth helped to make me feel lighter, despite my nerves.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± I greeted her with a smile. I felt completely out of place here, but Aeris definitely made it easier.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re feeling refreshed,¡± she chirped excitedly. ¡°Today¡¯s going to be amazing, I¡¯ve got a good feeling about it.¡±


    I nodded, already feeling a sense of excitement bubbling in my stomach. ¡°I¡¯m ready, I think.¡±


    She smirked at my uncertainty. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you either have it or you don¡¯t. And you¡¯ve already awakened, so we just need to find out what ¡®it¡¯ actually is.¡±


    She was right, I¡¯ve already used magic once so it¡¯s not like I could fail the test. Her positivity was contagious, being at home and in her element definitely showed me her in a new light. I figured her parents must have forgiven her for her self sanctioned scouting mission.


    Without another word, Aeris led us through corridors, her steps quick and light. She was no longer favouring her injury. The palace was even more grand during the day, sunlight streamed in through the high windows, casting golden beams of light across the marble floors. The air felt alive with energy, the smell of vanilla was instilling a warmth I could get used to.


    We made our way outside behind the palace, Aeris advised that the training grounds for the court mages and warriors were located here. Usually reserved for serious training, but today it was ours.


    When we arrived, a tall figure was standing in the center of the grounds - a woman who carried herself with strength and the confidence of someone who had seen countless battles. She wore a grey tunic, covered by a flowing pale blue robe that shimmered under the morning sun, the light refracted from her robe like glitter on the ground. Her blonde hair held back in a ponytail, shifting gently with the breeze and revealing her pointed ears.


    Aeris waved enthusiastically. ¡°This is my instructor, Nivara.¡± she said. ¡°She¡¯s a mage of the Winter Court, she fought alongside my father for years.¡±


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    Nivara turned her ice-blue eyes towards us as we approached, nodding her head respectfully towards Aeris. ¡°You look happy, Princess. This must be your ward, I¡¯ve heard much about you.¡±


    Aeris grinned. ¡°Father said you agreed to give Caden a crash course, I¡¯m looking forward to someone else doing your grueling training.¡±


    There it was, that¡¯s why Aeris was so excited this morning.


    Nivara let out a soft chuckle in retort. ¡°Who said you would be getting a day off?¡±


    Aeris played coy, nervously trying to insist that helping me would be more of a benefit for Aeris¡¯s own development.


    Nivara eventually gave in, shifting her focus to me as she began to study me with a quiet intensity. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was unique to Fey, but the way they appeared to peer into my soul never ceased to make me feel exposed. ¡°Let¡¯s get started then, shall we?¡±


    She led us to a set of ancient looking stone tablets, arranged in a circle. In the center of the circle was a large crystal sphere that radiated a faint light resting on a stool. ¡°These crystals are used in our coming of age ceremonies, every Fey goes through it to determine their potential and magic domain.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s normally a large pedestal and a big party,¡± Aeris added with a smirk.


    Nivara looked at Aeris sternly, as if she was threatening her with laborious exercise routines. ¡°This crystal will measure your aptitude for magic,¡± she went on to explain. ¡°It will show how much mana your body currently has, and it will highlight your mana¡¯s preference.¡±


    ¡°So if it fills with water, then your mana is best suited for water magic. If it freezes over, then you¡¯re best suited for ice magic, you get the gist.¡± Nivara added, seeing my inquisitive look.


    I nodded my head, stepping forward cautiously. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my pulse was racing and my stomach churned. I wasn¡¯t sure what to expect, or what I wanted the crystal to show. I was just fortunate for the opportunity. Nivara gestured for me to place my hand on the crystal, and I did with clammy hands, feeling the cool surface beneath my fingertips helped to ease some of the pressure I had started to put on myself.


    A soft hum filled the air, the crystal pulsed with light. At first, it was a steady glow, but then it grew brighter, swirling with energy. My hand tingled, I could feel the flow of power stirring in my stomach, warming as if it was a response to the swirling crystal , a deep resonance that synchronised with my heartbeat that felt both foreign and familiar.


    After a few moments, the crystal¡¯s glow stablised, Nivara raised an eyebrow, scanning the results with a quiet intensity. After a few moments she gestured for me to step back while she inspected the crystal, she ran her fingers along it and examined it in intricate detail.


    The crystal¡¯s glow flickered, still swirling in dizzying patterns. I could feel my heart racing as Nivara analysed the contents of the sphere. Unsure if I had done something wrong. All I could hear was the hum of the crystal, blocking out everything else as I waited in anticipation.


    Finally she looked back at me before placing the crystal back on the stool. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, could you do that again?¡± she asked, she looked almost perplexed.


    I stole a glance at Aeris who looked just as confused, she shrugged her shoulders and nodded towards the crystal.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what the issue was, the crystal glowed brightly so I guess that made my domain light? So what was the issue? I followed Nivara¡¯s instructions again, placing my hand on the crystal which was still cool to the touch.


    The soft hum filled the air again, the light of the crystal flared before synchronising with my heartbeat and turning to a steady glow before swirling with energy. I could feel the connection better this time, the power from my chest swirling through my stomach before traveling through my body and into the crystal through my hands.


    ¡°Remarkable,¡± Nivara muttered under her breath, almost to herself as she examined the crystal again. I could see her composure faltering for a brief moment. She looked almost- concerned? She glanced back at me, her gaze searching, as if she was weighing her next words carefully.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, slightly confused. ¡°What¡¯s remarkable?¡±


    She looked at me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. ¡°Your aptitude for magic is higher than most master wizards. Your potential rivals some of the most experienced court mages. But¡­¡± she paused, her brow furrowing. ¡°Your mana is unusual, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen anything so pure. There¡¯s no clear alignment to a domain, it doesn¡¯t seem to connect with any particular type of magic.¡±


    Her eyes widened as she looked at me, as if the anomaly was both fascinating and unsettling. ¡°Does that make sense?¡±


    I shook my head. ¡°Not really?¡±


    A sudden urgency flashed across her face. ¡°It means you could potentially learn any type of magic, you could cast any spell. With enough study and practice of course. This is completely unheard of, even among the Fey. There¡¯s always one or two domains you align to, which restricts what type of magic your body can produce.¡±


    Before I could respond, Nivara quickly excused herself and rushed back to the palace, likely to inform the Queen about what she had just witnessed. I stood there with Aeris, trying to process the whirlwind of information. Maybe I didn¡¯t channel my mana into it properly? Or maybe I was pushing it in the wrong direction.


    Aeris placed a hand on my shoulder encouragingly, her golden eyes sparkling excitedly. ¡°Caden, that''s amazing, do you know what this means?¡± I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed, I still hadn¡¯t really processed the gravity of the situation. Aeris was looking at me eagerly with anticipation, maybe even awe. Like I was the key to a question I didn¡¯t know had been asked.


    I could hardly believe it, the spark of possibility had raged into an inferno.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have to do weighted laps!¡± Aeris exclaimed, her grin widening as she caught the look on my face. Her words helped to lighten the mood, pulling my back from the tempest of my own emotions. As if she was reminding me that whatever is happening, I wasn¡¯t facing it alone.

 The Fey Court

    The training field was quiet now, with the exception of leaves rustling occasionally with the gentle breeze. Aeris and I sat on the grass, soaking in the sun as the tension from Nivara¡¯s test finally started to wane. My hand was still tingling from where I had touched the crystal. Its reaction lingered at the forefront of my mind.


    I was still trying to process everything that had just happened.


    Aeris playfully nudged me with her shoulder, breaking me from my train of thought. ¡°You¡¯re quiet. I imagine you have about a hundred questions.¡±


    I let out a stifled chuckle and cracked a smile. ¡°A hundred might be an understatement.¡±


    She laughed, tucking a stray strand of her silver hair behind her pointed ear. ¡°Well, lucky for you, I¡¯m feeling generous. Ask away.¡±


    I considered where to start. There was so much I didn¡¯t understand, but something she had mentioned about Nivara had stuck with me. ¡°The Fey Courts. You said Nirvara was part of the Winter Court. What exactly are they?¡±


    Aeris leaned back on her elbows, gazing up at the clear blue sky. ¡°The Fey are divided into four great courts - Winter, Summer, Spring and Autumn. Each of them has an assigned role. Winter, for example, is the military force. Their domains are specialised for destruction and war, most of the soldiers are from the Winter Court. They¡¯re disciplined, formidable, and honestly a bit scary.¡±


    I nodded. Aeris sounded like she was reading from a textbook. But I could imagine if Nivara lost her cool she could be terrifying. ¡°What about the others then?¡±


    ¡°Summer,¡± Aeris continued, ¡°is the court of vitality and growth. They focus on healing, support and agriculture. Their domains usually focus on regeneration and renewal. Spring is a bit tricky, literally. They¡¯re unpredictable because they specialise in trickery and illusions. And Autumn¡­¡± she took a moment to breathe. ¡°They are keepers of knowledge, foresight and the arcane. You¡¯ll find most of the renowned spellcasters and scholars are from the Autumn Court.¡±


    It was a lot to take in, but the way Aeris explained it made sense. Everything here was tied to nature and maintaining balance. ¡°So, which court do you belong to?¡±


    Aeris let out a smug grin. ¡°None.¡±


    I glanced at her in surprise. ¡°None? But your parents are royalty, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    She nodded and smiled. ¡°Yes, but the Monarchy sits above the courts. We maintain the balance by overseeing all of them equally.¡±


    That explained a lot and theoretically it made sense to have a central element to pin the courts together. Together they all worked in harmony. I then recalled our first encounter, how Aeris continued to give the impression that she had been forced into a role she didn¡¯t want. ¡°So what do you do then? As the princess, who would rather be out in the wilderness.¡±


    Her expression became more thoughtful. ¡°My parents want me to stay in the palace, learning about court politics, diplomacy, that sort of thing. ¡° She let out a defeated sigh, playing with a blade of grass absentmindedly. ¡°Honestly I don¡¯t want to be trapped in a cage. I want to get out there and see the world beyond here. I want to experience things for myself, not hear about them in boring council meetings.¡±


    I understood that feeling all too well. ¡°I guess we¡¯re similar in that way,¡± I admitted. ¡°I spent my whole life in Briar¡¯s Hollow, doing the same thing day in and day out. I wanted something more, something exciting.¡±


    Aeris grinned at me. ¡°And now you¡¯ve got it! A whole lot more than you bargained for though I bet.¡±


    I chuckled, thinking back to Briar¡¯s Hollow when a thought suddenly hit me. ¡°Edrin! I completely forgot! He¡¯ll be waiting for those herbs, he¡¯s going to think I ran off.¡±


    Aeris raised a questioning eyebrow. ¡°Well you kind of did¡­¡±


    Before I could reply, a figure approached us from the palace gardens. Dressed in deep violet robes adorned with golden leaves. ¡°A messenger¡­¡± Aeris muttered under her breath.


    He stopped a few steps away from us, bowing his head slightly towards Aeris. ¡°Lady Aeris. Her Majesty has been informed of the results of the assessment and has requested Caden¡¯s presence in the throne room.¡±


    My stomach twisted at his words. The Queen wanted to see me already? That couldn¡¯t be good.


    Aeris stood, brushing off her tunic. ¡°Well, no point in keeping grandmother waiting.¡± She offered me a hand. ¡°Ready to meet the people who decide the fate of our realm?¡±


    I hesitated before taking her hand, letting her pull me to my feet. ¡°Not really, but I don¡¯t think I have much choice.¡± She was surprisingly strong.


    Aeris laughed, following the messenger as the two of them led the way back toward the palace.


    The throne room was nothing short of breathtaking. Grand marble pillars lined the hall, etched with golden filigree that shimmered under the dim glow of the floating orbs of light that had magically been suspended in the air. The floor was an intricate mosaic of intertwining vines and symbols that pulsated faintly with magic. At the far end of the hall, raised upon a platform of polished moonstone, sat the throne - a masterwork of silver and twisting branches, the high back inlaid with gemstones that glowed like stars in the night sky.


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    The Queen herself sat in regal poise, her presence commanding yet serene. Her robes shimmered pearlescent with hues of twilight blue and deep violet, shifting like liquid as she moved. Her gaze settled on me. Piercing and unreadable.


    ¡°Caden of Briar¡¯s Hollow,¡± she spoke, her voice carrying a melody of power and grace. ¡°Welcome. I have heard your assessment produced some¡­ unusual results. I have gathered the court to officially welcome you.¡± She spoke with a gentle familiarity, as if she had anticipated my results.


    To her sides stood four figures, each radiating their own distinct aura.


    ¡°Lord Valaris, of the Winter Court,¡± she introduced first, gesturing toward a figure who stood apart from the others. Lord Valaris resembled both lion and man. His dark armour drank the light around him, and though his aura was clearly suppressed, it was still overpowering from this distance, radiating his brutal strength which prickled my instincts.


    ¡°Lady Sylwen, of the Summer Court,¡± a warm-eyed woman with auburn curls, and robes of emerald nodded in greeting. The air around her was kind, mixed with the unnecessarily long pipe she was smoking.


    ¡°Lord Tavion, of the Spring Court,¡± a sharp-featured man dressed in flowing green silks smirked, his fingers idly spinning multiple illusions between them.


    ¡°And Lady Valha, of the Autumn Court,¡± a quiet woman with an oversized pointed hat and violet robes to match, her gaze was unreadable, like she already knew more about me than I did myself.


    The Queen studied me carefully before continuing. ¡°It appears we have much to discuss, you¡¯ve been a guest here for less than a day and you¡¯re already making waves.¡±


    I could tell where Aeris got her teasing from. I swallowed hard, suddenly aware that whatever had happened may have been bigger than I could have imagined.


    I had never felt so small and out of place.


    The Queen leaned forwards in her throne, her golden eyes catching the light. ¡°Our nations have turned inward, becoming complacent with peace. They have not seen the signs of the coming storm. I would see us all united once more, bound together against the coming threat to the continent.¡±


    I swallowed, unsure of where she was going with this. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what that has to do with me, Your Majesty.¡± I could find my nerves getting the better of me, my hands were shaking.


    The Queen continued to watch me, she was already aware of my shortcomings after our first encounter. ¡°You are an outsider to both worlds, you¡¯re not a Fey and you are not involved in the politics of man. Yet you have crossed into the Feywild and found yourself entangled in its fate. I would like to ask something of you, Caden.¡±


    She rose from her chair, the guards instantly saluting and standing to attention in one synchronised motion. Her presence filled the room, although she didn¡¯t raise her voice, I could feel the power of her words. ¡°Travel to the Duskfang Mountains. Our intelligence suggests that the ruins within the mountain hold answers to the source of the corruption. I ask only for reconnaissance.¡±


    I could feel Aeris becoming tense beside me, her fingers curling into her palms.


    I let out a stifled laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. ¡°Your Majesty, as you know I¡¯m a farmhand. I may have scored well in your magic test, but I don¡¯t actually know any spells. I¡¯ve never seriously swung a sword, or fired a bow. You¡¯re asking me to march into danger when I can barely defend myself.¡±


    Lord Tavion chuckled. ¡°A fair point, but hardly an excuse. You have potential, we would hardly be sending you unprepared or alone.¡±


    Lord Valaris pawed at his mane. He nodded in agreement with Lord Tavion. ¡°We will ensure your protection.¡±


    Even still, it was an enormous responsibility to place on someone without any suitable skills.


    ¡°Oh just tell the poor boy.¡± Lady Sylwen interjected, surrounded in an almost obnoxious cloud of pipe smoke.


    The Queen sighed, weighing her words carefully. ¡°Lady Valha has a theory that may prove to provide you answers to your unexplainable power.¡±


    Lady Valha stood silently, I couldn¡¯t tell if it was a lack of confidence in her theory or another hidden motive. But she seemed unwilling to provide any further explanation. Her unsettling gaze was definitely hiding something, but I couldn¡¯t get a grasp of what.


    Aeris finally spoke, her voice steady. ¡°Caden, I know this is sudden. But this¡­ this could be what we¡¯ve both been looking for. A chance to do something that matters, to be a part of something bigger!¡± Her golden eyes met mine, filled with hope and pleads.


    I could feel my body trembling, Aeris was right. This is what we both wanted, an adventure. But this wasn¡¯t some storybook tale where the hero knew exactly what to do. This was real. And I wasn¡¯t prepared, how could I be? But what if I said no? What if the ruins held some answers? Would I regret not going? Would I spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been?


    I let out a defeated sigh. ¡°Fine. But only if we¡¯re properly prepared and supplied.¡±


    I glanced at Aeris, who still looked hopeful for a chance at adventure.


    ¡°And Lady Aeris needs to escort me.¡± I said firmly as a final term to our agreement. I was definitely out of my element, but even if it turns out to be a bust at least Aeris and I can say we went on an adventure.


    The Queen¡¯s initial smile quickly faded at my addition. She once again weighed her words carefully, no doubt considering Aeris¡¯ parents'' reaction. The rest of the court murmured their disapproval of the idea, but if the Queen cherished her granddaughter''s wishes as I suspected, she would take her thoughts into consideration. And perhaps increase the security and preparedness of the party.


    She slowly nodded her head. ¡°You will receive appropriate training before your department, and you will be equipped with what is needed.¡±


    Lady Valha continued to study me, her mouth curving into a gentle smile. ¡°May this be the beginning of a new alliance, when the world needs it most.¡±


    I swallowed hard.


    Adventure, it seemed. Had found me after all.

 Foundation of Magic

    The heavy doors of the throne room slammed shut behind us with a resonating thud, leaving Aeris and I alone in the grand hallway. The Fey palace shimmered as rays of sunlight filled the hallway. My mind, however, was too preoccupied to appreciate the beauty.


    Aeris was practically bouncing beside me in excitement. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! We¡¯re actually going on an adventure!¡± She was spinning in circles, her silver hair glittering in the ambient light. ¡°Oh Caden, thank you. Really, this means more to me than you¡¯ll ever know!¡±


    I forced a smile, but inside, I was panicking with uncertainty. This wasn¡¯t a game and I definitely wasn¡¯t ready. I didn¡¯t even know how to cast a spell, but here I was, thrust into a role where they expected me to go on an adventure. I couldn¡¯t even defend myself, I felt like I had just conned my way into the opportunity of a lifetime. The Queen¡¯s trust felt misplaced, I felt misplaced.


    And what if something happened to Aeris while we were away? I couldn¡¯t protect her, if anything she would be the one protecting me.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I mumbled. ¡°We¡¯ll see how it goes.¡±


    Aeris stopped, looking at me with concern. ¡°You¡¯re nervous.¡±


    ¡°Of course I¡¯m nervous.¡± I chuckled in response.


    She placed a hand on my shoulder again. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out together, you¡¯re not alone in this.¡±


    I nodded, though it did little to ease the weight of the situation. ¡°I need to study. Lady Valha gave me access to the spell library - she said I should start with the foundation book on magic. I need to-¡±


    ¡°You need to breathe,¡± Aeris interrupted, still looking concerned. ¡°But fine, if it will make you feel better. Go start your studying, I want to go tell my parents. So I¡¯ll come find you later.¡±


    With that, she took off, struggling to contain her excitement. I couldn¡¯t help but wish I had her confidence. After a moment of standing there, I looked around - realising I had no idea where the spell library was.


    I wandered down the hallway, wishing I had a fraction of Aeris¡¯ excitement. But I couldn¡¯t help but feel dreadfully underprepared for the unknown. I paused to ask one of the guards for directions and headed towards the spell library located within the east wing of the palace.


    By the time I got there I was exhausted, I hadn¡¯t realised just how vast the palace was. I must have spent at least an hour wandering around trying to find my way. Stopping occasionally to ask for directions to make sure I was heading the right way. But eventually I found it, held behind large oak doors that were protected by various sigils - the spell library of the Autumn Court.


    I pushed open the doors to find a library far larger than I had anticipated, towering bookshelves that appeared to stretch endlessly, each filled with ancient tomes and scrolls bound in unfamiliar materials. Soft blue wisps of light floated lazily through the air, illuminating the reading alcoves.


    After searching through the maze of bookshelves I eventually found what I was looking for, the book Lady Valha had recommended - Foundations of the Arcane. It was a fairly thick tome, bound in something not dissimilar to leather. The pages themselves were thick and smelled of old parchment, the text was written in a flowing script that I swore shifted slightly as I read, adjusting to the reader''s understanding.


    I retreated to an alcove to read, settling into the comfy nook on a sofa.


    Magic, as it turned out, wasn¡¯t just about waving a staff and chanting incantations. It was an intricate dance of intent, control and connection. The book explained mana to be a force woven into all things, like invisible threads that built up the world around us. All living things generated their own mana, it provided thought and gave our bodies energy to breathe. Spells were, by their very nature, structured disruptions in the natural flow of mana, shapes through incantations, gestures, and will.


    Even the most basic spells relied on formulas - specific finger movements and will to force mana into a predetermined form. More advanced magic allowed for improvisation, controlling mana with less structure that relied more on one¡¯s will.


    It made sense, at least in theory. I was eager to try casting my first spell.


    I decided to start with the simplest spell in the book: Levitation. According to the text, it was one of the first spells taught to aspiring mages as it required a fundamental understanding of how to direct mana externally to interact with the world.


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    The instructions were meticulous - first, you need to center your mind and focus on your mana core, the center of your own energy. After that you shape the spell with a practiced series of finger gestures, guiding mana along predetermined paths.


    It all seemed straightforward, at least in theory.


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, reaching inwards trying to sense the mana within me. The book compared it to a circuit, a current that ran through your body that flowed, waiting to be commanded.


    I continued to search internally, recalling the feeling when I awakened in the forest and felt the power thrumming from my chest. I could feel my frustrations building, searching frantically for this immense amount of mana my body apparently held.


    I breathed.


    I hadn¡¯t realised I had been holding my breath, then I thought about when I touched the crystal. The swirling energy that reacted to my heartbeat and my breathing. I controlled my breathing, taking slow and deliberate breaths.


    There it is.


    It started as a flutter in my chest, if I focused on it I could follow it down into my stomach where it then flowed through my body, moving through my right arm, down my side, down my other leg and then up my left side and through my right arm, before coming back to my core.


    The book was right, it felt like a river with a subtle flow waiting for instruction.


    I opened my eyes, lifting a hand toward a feathered quill on the small table in the alcove. Carefully, I copied the finger gestures, a melodic dance that flowed smoothly as if knitting the mana around my hand. I whispered the incantation in the Fey tongue. Though the syllables felt foreign, they were spelled phonetically in the book which helped, I followed the spell to the letter.


    But nothing happened.


    I grimaced. Maybe the gesturing was wrong? I tried again, this time slower, ensuring every movement was deliberate and precise. Still nothing. Again. And again. Time began to pass by. I could feel something, a faint stirring, but the spell refused to take shape.


    I didn¡¯t have time for this. Frustration gnawed at me.


    I slammed the book shut, irritated with myself just as a soft voice spoke behind me. ¡°Struggling, are we?¡±


    I turned to see a woman standing near my alcove. She wore an autumnal robe with golden embroidery, her dark green eyes glinting with amusement. I recognised her as one of the librarians, they all wore the same robes when I had entered the library, though I hadn¡¯t caught her name.


    ¡°A little,¡± I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°I can feel something, but I just can¡¯t get it to work.¡±


    She gave a knowing smile and stepped closer. ¡°That¡¯s because magic isn¡¯t about following instructions like a recipe. The gestures and incantations are tools, not the essence of magic itself.¡±


    I frowned. ¡°The book makes it sound like a strict formula.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because they make it easier for structured learning,¡± she explained. ¡°But in truth, magic is about communication. You¡¯re not just forcing mana to take a certain shape - you¡¯re instructing your own mana to interact with the world around you. Until you understand that, spellcasting will always feel forced.¡±


    I absorbed her words carefully, she spoke with a gentle wisdom that helped comfort my failure. I thought back to the forest, when I had first awakened my mana, there had been no incantations or complex gestures - just raw emotion, an instinctive push against reality. Maybe that¡¯s what I was missing now.


    The librarian nodded to the quill. ¡°Try again. But this time, don¡¯t think about it like following a routine. Focus on what you want to happen instead. Feel your mana flow and connect with the quill, try and touch it with your mana.¡±


    I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, pushing away my frustration. Instead of focusing on what my fingers were doing, I focused on the feeling - on the way my mana weaved around my fingers and warmed the surface of my skin. I reached out, not with my hand but with my mind, willing my mana to become my hand.


    For the first time, I felt my mana surging with life. Leaving me like a breath exhaled. My fingers tingled as my mana extended outward, brushing against the quill. I didn¡¯t need to open my eyes, I could feel the quill trembling, rattling against the table before it rose in the air.


    I opened my eyes to see the quill floating helplessly in the air, I gasped which wavered my concentration for a fraction of a second. The quill immediately dropped back onto the table with a soft clatter.


    The librarian let out a chuckle. ¡°There you go.¡±


    Before I could turn to thank her she had wandered off down an aisle of bookshelves. My heart was pounding with excitement. It had worked - not for long, but it had worked. I wasn¡¯t a fraud. I could actually do this.


    I returned my focus to the quill. This time I wouldn¡¯t let myself get distracted. I wanted to refine my control, understand the limits of what was possible to make the spell truly mine.


    For the first time since stepping into this world, I felt like I had finally taken a real step forward.

 The Shape of Magic

    The library had become my refuge. Every spare moment was spent among its towering shelves, pouring over the principles Lady Valha had suggested. The more I studied, the more I realised something: magic wasn¡¯t a rigid system of rules, it was more akin to a language - open to interpretation. While the books spoke of precise routines and formulas to channel one''s mana to produce specific results, I saw them more like guidelines. They weren¡¯t absolutes. My mana didn¡¯t resist me when I strayed from the book''s instructions, it adapted as if it was eager to shape itself to my will.


    I was sitting cross-legged in the palace gardens, deep in meditation. The scent of blooming wildflowers drifted through the warm air, mingling with the faint hum of magic I had begun to notice everywhere in the palace.


    It had been a couple of days since I first went to the library and I had started to develop a routine. In the morning I would have breakfast, then sit in the palace garden to do some mana exercises I had learned in one of the more advanced books. Repeatedly shaping my mana internally, running it through my body to get used to the sensation and to improve my speed and control.


    ¡°Caden?¡± Aeris¡¯ voice called out, breaking my focus.


    I opened my eyes to see Aeris approaching below me, I found myself floating a couple of feet off the grass. The combination of Aeris¡¯ voice and the fact that I was hovering off of the ground shocked me, disrupting my mana, causing me to wobble in the air.


    A flicker of surprise crossed her face before turning to amazement. I lowered myself back down shakily, unfolding my legs and landing in a smooth motion on my feet.


    ¡°You know,¡± she paused, ¡°you never cease to amaze me.¡±


    I smiled proudly.


    It was true, these last couple of days I had even surprised myself. I felt like I still had catching up to do, but I was having the most fun I think I had ever had.


    Aeris was still watching me quizzically until she looked like she remembered why she had come to find me. ¡°Listen, I think my parents have finally given in to the idea of me coming. But¡­¡±


    She paused. She had spent the last couple of days arguing with them, they definitely weren¡¯t happy that the Queen had agreed to let Aeris come with me. They had petitioned the idea multiple times, at one point her mother even came to see me. But I knew how much this meant to Aeris and selfishly, I felt a lot safer knowing Aeris would be there with me.


    ¡°Only if we agree for Nivara to escort us as well,¡± she continued. ¡°My father insisted.¡±


    I shrugged my shoulders, I couldn¡¯t see a downside to that. I felt like I had a better chance of surviving now, but I wasn¡¯t an idiot. I knew I still had a lot to learn, and a seasoned veteran along with whomever they had arranged to go with us would definitely increase our chances of making it back in one piece.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± I asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with it,¡± Aeris still looked slightly disappointed. ¡°I just feel like they don¡¯t trust my abilities.¡±


    This time I placed my hand on her shoulder for comfort. ¡°They¡¯re just looking out for you, they don¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡±


    Aeris slowly nodded her head, her face still solemn.


    ¡°So how long have you been able to fly?¡± Aeris jested.


    I withdrew my hand from her shoulder before smiling, ¡°you mean after you learned how to use mana it wasn¡¯t the first thing you tried?¡±


    ¡°You know I use nature magic. We don¡¯t have a spell for that - not that I¡¯ve found anyway.¡± Aeris furrowed her brow. ¡°Besides, spells have to be cast exactly for them to work. But that didn¡¯t look like a spell?¡±


    I shrugged my shoulders, I had tried explaining my understanding of magic and how it worked for me to her a few times. But it seemed like a completely foreign concept that she couldn¡¯t grasp because it contradicted everything that they were taught.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a spell, I must have been pushing too hard while I was concentrating,¡± I tried to explain. ¡°Anyway, if you think that¡¯s impressive. I think I¡¯ve grasped the basics of changing the nature of my mana too.¡±


    I lifted my hand and traced a slow series of gestures with my fingers in the air. With each motion, a thin thread of mana followed my fingertips, weaving a pattern of intent that resembled the flow of mana for fire spells that I had read up on. As I rotated my index finger in a tight circle, a small orb of fire began to materialise above my hand. A flickering candle flame at first, which fed from my mana to grow into a small ball of fire the size of a fist. Then by simply closing my fist, the flames extinguished without a trace.


    Aeris looked in amazement, her mouth slightly agape. ¡°You really can change the nature of your mana?¡±


    She was still staring at where the flame had been when we were interrupted by the arrival of a young man, clad in the robes of the Autumn Court. His amber eyes settled on me with keen interest. ¡°Master Caden, I¡¯ve been looking for you. Lady Valha has requested your presence.¡±


    Aeris and I exchanged glances. I was starting to dislike how we kept being summoned.


    ¡°What for?¡± Aeris asked.


    He bowed his head to Aeris. ¡°Lady Valha has arranged for Master Caden to undergo the first year magic trials,¡± he explained. ¡°She believes it will offer him further insight into his own magical capabilities.¡±


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    I adjusted my tunic, checking Aeris¡¯ reaction before nodding my head. ¡°Sounds like fun.¡±


    Aeris sighed dramatically. ¡°I could do with a laugh.¡±


    Aeris and I were then escorted to the training grounds. Several members of the Autumn Court, including Lady Valha were standing together speaking among themselves and observing an arrangement of puzzles they had set up in the grounds.


    They fell silent when they noticed us approaching, Lady Valha stepped forward and offered a patient smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s ready.¡± Aeris said immediately.


    Lady Valha looked at us both slightly confused. ¡°I heard Master Caden has been making astounding progress?¡±


    Aeris shook her head, jumping in before I had a chance to speak. ¡°He hasn¡¯t even learned a spell yet.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s not entirely tr-¡± I tried to say.


    ¡°You are aware, Lady Aeris, that the first year trials are about controlling mana.¡± Lady Valha replied, with a tone that told me Aeris had already completed her own trials.


    Aeris turned to look at me and smiled menacingly. ¡°I tried to help.¡±


    I shook my head at her, I wasn¡¯t enjoying the fun she was having at my expense when I didn¡¯t know what I was walking into.


    Aeris folded her arms, not unlike her mother or grandmother. ¡°Try not to embarrass yourself.¡±


    I smirked at her. ¡°Not planning on it.¡±


    Lady Valha raised a hand, calling for silence. ¡°Master Caden, your trial consists of three magical puzzles. Each will test a different aspect of mana control and magical problem-solving. There is no single correct solution. You may begin when ready.¡±


    I stepped forward, inhaling deeply. My mana thrummed within me, eager and ready.


    The first trail stood directly before me, a towering stone tablet inscribed with glowing glyphs that continuously shifted and rearranged themselves. An empty circular groove sat at its center.


    Lady Valha¡¯s voice called out. ¡°The glyphs before you must be arranged in the correct order to activate the mechanism. However, a direct attempt to manipulate them will cause them to reset.¡±


    I studied the symbols, a couple of them were vaguely familiar that I had seen in textbooks. But I couldn¡¯t read any of them, or recall on the spot what they meant. I could however feel the subtle currents of mana flowing through them. The students would likely try to analyze the glyphs, deducing a pattern. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn¡¯t even recall the meaning of the ones I recognised.


    Instead I tried a different approach.


    Extending my hand, I let my mana seep into the tablet - not to force it to my will, but to analyse it at a deeper level. The glyphs reacted to my presence, flickering like embers. Instead of rearranging them manually, I coaxed the glyphs along the threads of mana they seemed to favour. Gently moving each one to find which position they gravitated to, the pull was subtle but with enough focus I could detect where they fit on the tablet.


    The glyphs rippled, settling into place, the groove at the center of the tablet pulsed with light. A deep hum resonated through the air as the first puzzle completed.


    A student silence followed. One of the Autumn Court mages muttered behind me, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t have worked.¡±


    Lady Valha merely nodded, her gaze unreadable when I had looked over my shoulder.


    The second puzzle was deceptively simple - a glass-like sphere suspended above a stone pedestal. Engraved into the stone were the words: ¡°Balance the opposing forces.¡±


    Aeris commented in a hushed whisper behind me. ¡°This one gave me trouble.¡±


    Most students I imagined would attempt to manipulate the sphere¡¯s weight with telekinesis or brute force. But that seemed too simple, I felt myself almost wanting to show off.


    I raised my hands toward the orb, feeling the energy within. Two opposing domains - one warm and vibrant, the other cool and dense. Both domains flowing within the sphere, constantly trying to assert dominance over the other for space. Rather than forcing one to overpower the other, I injected my own mana to interlace the two, finding a rhythm between their struggle. It was like tuning a stringed instrument, subtly adjusting until the harmonies aligned.


    With a final pulse, the two forces reached equilibrium. The sphere stabilised, glowing with a soft golden light before gently descending onto the pedestal. A chime echoed through the training grounds, signalling the puzzle had been solved.


    I could hear the mages behind me discussing the trial amongst themselves again. One spoke to Lady Valha. ¡°He''s far beyond what we had discussed, there are final year students who couldn''t solve this trial that quickly.¡±


    As I turned to look at them, Lady Valha was silent, pressing her fingers together as she watched on curiously.


    The final trial was the most complex, a maze of floating runes that connected together to form barriers. A static barrier defined the walls of the maze itself and additional barriers that moved, flickered on and off, or of varying sizes requiring some maneuvering to get past. At the center of the maze, was a silver key, resting on a stone slab.


    The objective of this trial was simple, retrieve the key.


    I could instantly tell that navigating the maze would require trial and error, avoiding the barriers and looking for openings. That was going to take time, and it was nearly lunch time.


    My stomach let out a low grumble. I had been that excited to practice magic again this morning, I couldn''t even remember if I had eaten.


    Closing my eyes at the entrance to the maze, I released my mana like a tidal wave towards the maze. Invisible waves of magic flooded the labyrinth, detecting every possible route, every crack and every trap.


    I could also feel the maze shifting in response to my mana, trying to block certain pathways or leading in circles.


    I smiled, I didn''t want to follow a conventional path. I took the mana from one of the runes that turned off when approached, memorising the instruction layered within its structure and began overwriting the runes down the middle of the maze.


    When I was done I began walking straight down the center of the maze, continuing as I approached the first barrier. As instructed the wall of the barrier came down and switched to another angle.


    From that point on I walked straight towards the key, each barrier shutting down and reappearing in a different direction, giving me a straight path towards the key without any obstacles.


    By the time I reached the key I was exhausted, I had shown off initially by releasing a tidal wave of mana. But I didn''t anticipate how tiring that would be, especially after I manually reprogrammed the runes.


    Finally I plucked the key from the slab at the center of the maze, exhausted but victorious. The entire labrinth dissolved into motes of golden light.


    The silence that followed was deafening. Then a ripple of applause erupted amongst the crowd, although not everyone was clapping. Some of the mages looked more concerned than impressed. Aeris however was grinning from ear to ear.


    I had a slow walk back to them, my exhaustion kept at bay by my hunger. By the Goddess, I was hungry.


    Lady Valha, however, had not joined in the celebration. Her sharp gaze bore into me, as though she was seeing something the others couldn''t. Finally as I approached, she spoke, ¡°you have demonstrated exceptional aptitude, Master Caden.¡±


    I expected her to sound pleased, but her tone held something else - worry and concern.


    One of the observers spoke in a lowered voice, ¡°his mana control is unbelievable, sustaining that level of precision without any artifacts.¡±


    Lady Valha inclined her head slightly, gazing up at the morning sky. I got the impression she was confirming a thought she had long suspected. She lowered her eyes toward me and I caught a brief glimpse of fear.


    I frowned. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡±


    She hesitated for a moment, then gave me a soft, measured smile. ¡°No, you should be proud of your results, young master.¡±


    She then stepped closer, isolating us from the rest of the crowd as she watched my face carefully. ¡°Are you sure you haven''t practiced magic before?¡±


    I looked at her slightly confused, my brow furrowing. ¡°Never, my mana only awoke a few days ago.¡±


    She continued examining my face, she finally looked satisfied with my answer as she nodded her head and returned to join the rest of the audience.

 Blade and Sword

    The midday sun bathed the palace gardens in golden light, casting soft shadows across the elegant stonework and luscious greenery. I sat opposite Aeris at a low wooden table, a spread of dishes before us. Delicate petals of a flower I didn¡¯t recognise floated in a crystal pitcher of water, and the air was intoxicating with faint smells of honey and spice. The Fey cuisine was really starting to grow on me - it was lighter than the meals back in Briar¡¯s Hollow. Every bite carried an unknown and magical depth of flavour that made my mouth water.


    Aeris picked at a bowl of shimmering fruit, her usual grin slightly subdued. It had been a long morning. The Autumn Court¡¯s trial had left ripples I didn¡¯t fully understand. Lady Valha, despite her composure, had seemed wary - even afraid. That was the part that lingered most in my thoughts. The Queen and Lady Valha seemed to suspect something about me, yet they were keeping it from me.


    ¡°You¡¯re doing that brooding thing again,¡± Aeris said, tilting her head slightly. ¡°You always do that when you¡¯re overthinking.¡±


    I huffed in response. ¡°That¡¯s because I know I have you here to distract me by teasing me.¡±


    She smirked but didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°It works, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    I shook my head, chuckling before taking a tip of the floral water. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ this power. I don¡¯t know where it came from, what it means. Lady Valha¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t exactly comforting.¡±


    Aeris played with a strand of her silver hair around her finger. ¡°Magic has rules - old ones. For whatever reason you don¡¯t fit into those rules, people like Valha don¡¯t know what to think and see it as an omen. That¡¯s all it is.¡± She paused, then gave me a searching look. ¡°What do you think? About your magic I mean.¡±


    I hesitated. I hadn¡¯t put much thought into the world of magic before this week. I suppose I was under the impression it was something that came with discipline and years of studying. But what I had was different, it defied convention and apparently isn¡¯t affected by the same limitations as everyone else. That unsettled me, what made my magic so different?


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯m holding something I don¡¯t understand,¡± I admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t want my life, or your life to rely on something we don¡¯t understand.¡±


    Aeris smiled at first, nodding her head. Then she let out a sigh and propped her chin in her hand. ¡°I get it.¡±


    She was quiet for a moment, staring at the table without really looking at it. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer. ¡°I¡¯ve never left the forest before, not once.¡±


    That caught me off guard. ¡°Really?¡±


    She nodded. ¡°I mean, obviously I could have, if I wanted to. No one would have stopped me.¡± She exhaled through her nose, a wry smile on her lips. ¡°I love my home. I don¡¯t just mean the palace - I love the Feywilds. The way the magic thrums in the air, the way the trees whisper to each other. It¡¯s alive. It feels like it¡¯s where I belong.¡±


    I watched her carefully, Aeris was always so confident, so sure of herself. But right now, her fingers were fidgeting, she was showing an uncertainty I hadn¡¯t seen in her so far.


    ¡°But I thought you dreamed of a great adventure?¡± I asked.


    Aeris looked up at me, her golden eyes steady. ¡°I do. I want to see the world for myself. But I know the second I step outside of Veilwood Forest, I¡¯ll be longing for the Feywilds. At the same time, I know that I¡¯ll never understand the world outside if I don¡¯t see it for myself.¡±


    It felt like she was running around in circles, but I knew what she meant. She loved her home because it was all she knew, but at the same time she wanted to know what else was out there. We were both walking into the unknown together.


    I gave her a small, knowing smile. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s of any help, I¡¯m just as unprepared for the journey as you are.¡±


    She laughed, almost choking on her water. ¡°That¡¯s not comforting at all, but thank you.¡±


    A thought suddenly struck her, and her eyes brightened. ¡°Speaking of being unprepared - you don¡¯t know how to fight, if it¡¯s not with a pitchfork, do you?¡±


    I frowned. ¡°I once wrestled a stubborn goat, if that¡¯s what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Edrin doesn¡¯t count.¡± She grinned. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s fix that. I know just the person.¡±


    The Winter Court¡¯s training grounds were a stark contrast to the rest of the Fey Palace - practical, study and built for battle. A wide open field stretched before me, sectioned into sparring circles, dummies lined up against the sides. A few soldiers trained in the distance, from what I could see their movements were precise and disciplined.


    Aeris led me to a tall High Elf clad in dark armour, he appeared sharp and calculating. He was older, his long brown hair, braided at the sides, was streaked with silver, and he held himself with the stillness of someone who has spent a lifetime mastering the arts of war.


    ¡°Caden, meet Commander Ceryndor,¡± Aeris said. ¡°He¡¯s the best swordsman on this side of the continent.¡±


    Ceryndor rose to his feet, bowing his head toward Aeris. Then he studied me with a raised brow. ¡°Bricklayer or Farmer?¡±


    ¡°Apprentice Magician, apparently,¡± I replied.


    His lips twitched in something almost like amusement. ¡°How can I help you both?¡±


    ¡°Caden and I are going on a bit of an adventure, but he needs to learn how to handle a sword before we leave.¡± Aeris replied.


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    I don¡¯t know if it was because of his respect for Aeris, or the crown. But Ceryndor seemed to drop all of his duties for that afternoon to help us.


    What followed was not what I would call gentle. Ceryndor put me through my paces. Assessing my stance, my reflexes, even throwing in a few surprise attacks to see how I would react.


    My instincts weren¡¯t terrible, but they weren¡¯t exactly good either. My experience lifting hay bales and fending off wild animals gave me a decent foundation, but Ceryndor likened it to a primal response and not much else.


    When Ceryndor was finally satisfied he called for a break, nodding to himself. ¡°Your movements are strong, but lack finesse. You rely on brute force and sheer will, when you should be using control and technique.¡± He gestured to a rack of weapons. ¡°A bit unusual, but all things considered: a swordstaff.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°A what?¡±


    Aeris smirked as she grabbed the weapon and tossed it to me. It was a staff, but with a single edged blade at one end. As I held it, I felt a strange familiarity in its balance - like holding a scythe, but this was a weapon not a tool.¡±


    Ceryndor watched how I handled the weapon and measured the weight. ¡°Farmer.¡± Nodding in approval, ¡°A weapon with reach. momentum and precision. It suits a farming apprentice magician well.¡±


    Aeris clapped her hands together excitedly. ¡°Great! Now let¡¯s see if you can use it.¡±


    Ceryndor seemingly agreed, leading us to a vacant sparring circle. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt the princess,¡± he warned before turning to look at me with a blank expression, he nodded his head to me. ¡°Princess.¡±


    Aeros twirled a practice rapier she had picked up along the way, smirking at Ceryndor¡¯s warning. I could already tell she wasn¡¯t going to take this seriously.


    ¡°Alright farm boy,¡± she teased. ¡°Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Ceryndor stood between us. ¡°You will fight until I call a halt. Don¡¯t hold back. Begin.¡± His voice was cool and authoritative, like he had said those words a thousand times.


    Aeris moved first - blindingly fast.


    I just barely raised my swordstaff before she was upon me, her rapier darting toward my shoulder. I managed to deflect the strike, but the force of her attack sent a vibration down the length of my weapon.


    She smirked. ¡°Not bad.¡±


    I didn¡¯t have time to reply - she was already circling, probing at my defences with quick, precise jabs. I could tell she wasn¡¯t going full speed, but even still I was struggling to keep up.


    I countered, swinging the swordstaff in a sweeping arc to force some distance between us. She dodged effortlessly, slipping just out of range before lunging in again, aiming low this time. I barely managed to twist my body, the tip of her blade cutting the fabric of my tunic and only just avoiding my skin.


    Gritting my teeth, I pressed forward, stepping into her strike instead of retreating. I swung the staff upward, trying to catch her off guard. The blade whistled through the air, but Aeris had already turned to my left, her feet moving with a dancer¡¯s grace.


    ¡°Better,¡± she admitted. ¡°But still predictable.¡±


    She feinted right, then struck left. Again I barely reacted in time, blocking with the handle of the staff, the impact jarring my forearms.


    I knew I needed to find an opening.


    Taking a risk, I shifted my grip on the swordstaff, stepping forward with a downward slash. Aeris parried, but instead of withdrawing, I used the momentum to spin, sweeping the hilt of the staff toward her legs.


    She jumped over it, landing lightly before thrusting forward.


    I pivoted on my foot just in time, her rapier slicing past my ribs just nicking my tunic.


    Ceryndor¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Good. But Lady Aeris, stop playing with him. Show him what real combat looks like.¡±


    I adjusted my grip at the sight of her smirk widening, her knees bent slightly and her heels lifted from the ground, instead of her firm stance she adjusted to become more bouncy and energetic.


    The air shimmered, but for a brief second I had felt her mana before I saw it affect the air around her.


    A gust of wind enveloped Aeris, and before I could react, she was gone.


    A blur. A flicker of silver and gold.


    Then - pain.


    Her rapier slammed into my side, not cutting, but the hilt struck with enough force to send me stumbling. She had enhanced her speed using magic.


    I gasped and instinctively reacted, something inside me surging in response.


    My body tingled.


    A warmth blossomed in my chest.


    The next time Aeris lunged, I didn¡¯t think - I simply moved. The world around me became sharper, I could briefly feel Aeris moving before she actually moved.


    A sensation like an unseen force guided my body, and suddenly I was not just dodging, but flowing. My swordstaff blurred as I counter her next strike, my movements sharper and more precise.


    Aeris¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What the-¡±


    I stepped in, my weapon humming with energy. I swung at a distance, my blade cutting through the air, a faint trail of light following its path.


    Aeris barely dodged, jumping backward to gain distance.


    She skidded against the ground, eyes locked onto me in a stunned realisation.


    ¡°You used magic.¡±


    My breath was heaving, my body was tingling from channeling my mana through my entire body and then my sword. ¡°You started it.¡±


    Ceryndor¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°Enough.¡±


    I looked down at my hands. The glow had faded, but my mind was already racing with possibilities. How to combine magic with the sword and my body. I had always associated magic with casting spells from a distance.


    Ceryndor studied me for a moment longer. ¡°A magic swordsman.¡±


    He continued to watch me, his gaze almost mistakable for approval. ¡°You learn quickly, you will train under me from now on.¡±


    I instinctively nodded my head, it sounded like I had just found a mentor to prepare for the journey to the Duskfang Mountains.

 The Path of a Magic Swordsman

    I arrived at the training grounds just in time to see the sun rising over the horizon, a marvel of red, orange and purple hues shifted beautifully in the sky. The morning air was crisp, my breath misted in front of me as I faced Ceryndor.


    He greeted me with his usual, stoic expression, his hands behind him as he examined me. The faint breeze stirred his brown hair, highlighted with a streak of silver, and in the dim morning light I could almost believe the rumours of him being a spectre on the battlefield. Today was the day that I began training under him, to learn what I needed to be able to defend myself and Aeris.


    ¡°The path of a magic swordsman is not an easy one, boy.¡± He said, his voice coarsely scraping like steel against stone. ¡°It is a rare talent for someone to possess the discipline to master the sword, and the will to follow the path of a sorcerer simultaneously. It takes decades of training, ideally starting in childhood. You, however¡­¡± His eyes studied me with mild amusement. ¡°You''re several years late.¡±


    I swallowed, but stood firmly, refusing to stand down. ¡°Then I''ll just have to catch up.¡±


    Ceryndor almost cracked a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    He turned, motioning for me to follow. As we walked, he explained the various levels of a magic swordsman. ¡°Novices first master the sword. Only then can they use magic to enhance their abilities, once they have established a solid foundation to enhance. A knight blends their sword techniques with magic, creating a seamless technique that syncopates steel with mana. But a master- ¡° he paused, his eyes locked with mine. ¡°- needs no blade at all.¡±


    I raised my eyebrow. ¡°Do you mean they use their mana to create a sword?¡± That didn''t seem like that great of a feat. I could probably do that before long.


    Ceryndor scoffed, he could probably read my thoughts on my face. ¡°Any child can conjure a blade. Mastery is about unification and understanding oneself completely. Creating the perfect weapon for your body, your stance, your style, your techniques. It isn''t just a weapon, it becomes an extension of yourself.¡±


    Ceryndor searched a rucksack he had brought with him, pulling out a pair of bracelets made of the same pale blue material I recognised in the throne room. ¡°Before all of that though, we need to break you down so you can be built back up with the right foundations.¡±


    The moment he clasped the bracelets on my wrists, I felt the world around me close off. My senses that I had subconsciously started to improve with magic were shut off, the world felt colder and more grey. Likewise the power that I had spent the last couple of days exercising my control over was completely suppressed. A cold hollowness was now all that remained in my core, no matter how hard I tried to coax my mana.


    Ceryndor watched my reaction carefully. ¡°Without magic, you have to rely on your body and instincts. If you can''t fight without using mana then you don''t deserve to fight with it.¡±


    I clenched my fists and nodded, I was ready.


    For the next several hours, Ceryndor relentlessly put me through drills. Mostly focusing on my footwork and breathing, while pushing my cardio to its limits. Every time I screwed up, he would have me restart from the beginning. This went on, and on until he was satisfied that I had mastered where to put my feet and when I should be inhaling and exhaling for maximum effect.


    Once I had had the basics down, it was time to start incorporating a bastardised version of his own style of swordsmanship.


    His style, Phantom Fang, was aptly named - swift, precise and brutal. It focused on overwhelming an opponent by dancing around their blind side, flurries of cuts and feints orchestrated to put pressure on even the most seasoned warriors. Unlike Ceryndor¡¯s sword and dagger combination, I wielded a swordstaff, so he began to incorporate quarterstaff techniques into his own style to make up for the difference in space that the swordstaff provided.


    I struggled at first. My swings were too wide, which made them too slow. Adjusting from staff to sword was too clumsy, breaking my rhythm. Ceryndor would face me with a training sword, landing strikes effortlessly, the dulled edge of his blade cracking against my ribs, my shoulders, my legs. Again and again, he punished me for every opening I presented. But every failure fueled me to fight through the fatigue.


    ¡°You¡¯re telegraphing again,¡± he growled, knocking my weapon aside. ¡°Slow and predictable.¡±


    Another strike - my legs buckled, and I had the ground. I was gasping for air, my muscles burning from exhaustion.


    ¡°Up.¡±


    I staggered back up, gripping my swordstaff. My hands were raw from the constant drills, my arms trembling with fatigue. But I refused to yield.


    Everytime I failed, my grip tightened around the hilt. Every bruise, every fall, only made me more determined.


    The days blurred together in sweat, pain and exhaustion. Every night, I collapsed into bed, only to wake stiff and sore. Aeris¡¯ father had given me access to a wellspring, a source of rejuvenation that refreshed me every morning. Despite the repeated beatings, I adapted bit by bit. My body began to remember the movements before my mind did. My strikes became tighter, my footwork flowed smoother. My instincts started to become more proactive, rather than reactive.


    I looked forward to my breaks, occasionally Aeris would stop by, sometimes bringing food. More often than not she would watch for an hour with an amused glint in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re improving,¡± she mentioned one afternoon, handing me a slice of fruit as I slumped against a tree. ¡°Barely.¡±


    I shot her a glance but was too tired to retort. Ceryndor didn¡¯t give praise, but he was more than happy to highlight my shortcomings.


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    As the days stretched to a week, my training escalated.I wasn¡¯t sure if I had taken too much of his time, or if he felt like I would benefit from practical experience against people more at my own level.


    Thankfully, the impossible wall that was Ceryndor was no longer my opponent, he had decided to throw me into sparring matches against his recruits. At first I struggled to last more than a few exchanges before I was disarmed, or thrown to the ground. But with each fight I made progress, lasting a little bit longer. The recruits stopped underestimating me, I could feel the respect starting to show in the weight of their strikes and the way they looked at me.


    Ceryndor began to steadily increase the difficulty. To begin with I fought against one opponent, then two, then three. Each ramp up in difficulty pushed me to my limits. But I still refused to yield, I endured and with each battle I learned.


    By the ninth day, something had changed. I was fighting against three opponents each time, but I could feel a difference. Maybe it was my instincts, or maybe it was my battle awareness. But I felt myself flowing through techniques with a more natural ease. After feeling out an opponent, I could dodge a strike, counterattack before they had a chance to react, and I felt, for the first time, what it was like to fight without hesitation.


    Ceryndor, observing from the sidelines, finally spoke with praise.


    He nodded, his gaze almost approving as if he had been waiting for this moment. ¡°Not bad, boy.¡±


    I froze. I meant it wasn¡¯t exactly praise, but coming from him, it might as well have been a decree from the Queen.


    Aeris laughed from her perch on a nearby fence. ¡°I think that means you pass.¡±


    I barely registered Ceryndor¡¯s words before the weight of exhaustion finally pulled me under. One moment, I stood unsteady but victorious. The next, the world tilted and began to fill with darkness as I fell.


    When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the training grounds.


    Everything was wrong.


    The world around me was drained of colour, cast in a bleak greyscale as though reality itself had faded. I stood in an enormous chamber, towering walls were lined with banners that bore no crest I recognised. The air hummed with an oppressing silence, it was neither warm or cold, neither hostile or welcoming.


    Before me, at the end of the vast stone hall, stood a throne unlike any I had seen or imagined. It was sleek in design, simple and yet complex.


    A figure sat upon it, obscured by shadows that refused to settle into a discernible form. I couldn¡¯t make out a face, or any features, but I felt the weight of their gaze as they watched me.


    ¡°Welcome, Caden,¡± the voice resonated, smooth yet ancient, carrying an undeniable sense of authority.


    I swallowed hard, taking a cautious step forward as I continued to look around. ¡°Am I¡­ dreaming?¡±


    The figure let out a hearty chuckle. ¡°Perceptive. That is good. It gives this one hope.¡±


    ¡°Hope for what?¡±


    ¡°For the legacy of the Grey King.¡±


    The words sent a chill down my spine. There were numerous monarchs on the continent, but none of them were referred to as the Grey King. There were however a handful of powerful individuals that held the title of King or Queen without being a monarchy. Legends within the Fey archives I had read indicated they had been granted their titles by deities, but I hadn¡¯t read into legends and rumours in any detail due to focusing on training.


    I opened my mouth to ask more, but the figure continued, their voice heavy. ¡°I apologise, Caden. I had hoped to give you more time to grow in innocence, but time does not favour us.¡±


    The air seemed to ripple as he leaned forward, and suddenly I felt¡­ something. A pulse of power brushing against my very soul, it didn¡¯t feel that dissimilar from my own. But it was ancient and vast, like a stream that met an ocean.


    ¡°You must understand, those who have carried this mantle before you have always appeared in times of imbalance. We are not rulers, nor conquerors. We are the hand upon the scale, ensuring that the world does not tip too far in any one direction.¡±


    I stood there dumbfounded. ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°Because your ancestors have carried this power for centuries. But the world has not needed it until now. The tides of war are coming and the world is woefully unprepared.¡±


    A heavy silence filled the large hall.


    ¡°Coming into contact with the growing demonic threat activated your birthright,¡± the figure continued. ¡°They have always been present. They rise and they fall, it is a cycle as old as time. But this time¡­ something is different. They are growing at an unnatural rate, their expansion is too swift. There are forces at play that seek to break the balance of tradition.¡±


    I exhaled, this was a lot to take in. ¡°What does that mean for me?¡±


    ¡°You must survive. Grow. But most importantly, you do not stand alone.¡±


    A strange sensation washed over me, invigorating, as though something had taken root in my soul. My vision started to blur, my body felt weightless, and the bleak world began to fracture around me.


    The last thing I heard before the dream shattered completely was a final warning: ¡°Find those you can trust. A storm is coming, Caden. And you must not weather it alone.¡±


    I gasped awake, sitting bolt upright. My body ached as though I had been struck by a mountain, but my head was clear and my senses were sharp.


    I was in my bed, tucked beneath the silk sheets. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting slithers of light across the furnishings of my room.


    A gentle breathing drew my attention.


    Aeris sat beside me, curled into a chair, her breath was slow and even. Asleep. Her hair tumbled over her shoulder, her usual energy absent in the stillness of her slumber.


    I exhaled, Aeris¡¯ presence was a relief. My body felt different, remnants of the power I had felt in the dream now ran through my body.


    A storm was coming, we knew that much already.


    But for some reason, I was near the center of it.

 Burden of Fate

    I must have fallen asleep again, hushed voices stirred me from sleep. My eyes wrestled against the soft glow of morning light spilling from the high-arched windows. Aeris was no longer slumped in the chair beside me. Instead, she was standing at the door, whispering urgently to someone I couldn¡¯t see.


    I pushed myself upright, rubbing the sleep from my eyes just as she turned back toward me, her expression a blurred mixture of relief and tension.


    ¡°Caden! You¡¯re awake!¡±


    I blinked the last traces of sleep away. ¡°H-hey you.¡±


    She dove onto the bed, wrapping her hands around me and pulling me into her embrace.


    ¡°We were so worried!¡± she said, her mouth muffled as her head pressed into my shoulder.


    I sat still for a moment, my body aching from Ceryndor¡¯s hellish training. After everything that had just happened, this was exactly what I needed.


    ¡°Sorry, I must have overworked myself.¡± I finally spoke up.


    Aeris lingered before pulling back, her eyes glistened as if holding back tears.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine now, just a bit sore,¡± I added to try and ease her concern.


    She smiled in response, looking me over before nodding her head.


    ¡°Well, start looking after yourself. The fate of the world is in our hands,¡± she teased.


    I exhaled, stifling an involuntary chuckle. If my dream was to be believed, then she might not be far from the truth.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± I asked, nodding at the door.


    Aeris¡¯ eyes widened as if she had forgotten something important. ¡°Oh! My grandmother asked to see me about our mission. I¡¯ll wait outside, sorry, hurry up and get dressed.¡± she clambered off of the bed, adjusting her disheveled tunic and she went to wait in the hallway. ¡°You¡¯ll be a nice surprise!¡± she added on her way out.


    I forced myself to my feet, my muscles were still aching. As I changed into a fresh tunic, I examined my body in the reflection of the window. My muscle tone had become much more refined, noticeably so compared to the previous morning.


    That wasn¡¯t all, the ancient power now rooted within me had intertwined itself with my mana seamlessly. I had to focus to tell the two forces apart, but my mana felt denser. I felt powerful.


    Had I really changed this much overnight?


    We made our way through the halls of the palace, Aeris caught me up to speed. After I had collapsed she and one of the Winter Court recruits carried me back to my room. One of the healers had looked me over and complained to Ceryndor that he had worked me to my bone, but it was nothing a long sleep couldn¡¯t fix.


    ¡°I could have sworn your eyes turned grey,¡± Aeris said as she led us towards the Queen¡¯s audience chamber. ¡°But when the healer looked you over, she said you had collapsed from exhaustion.¡±


    Despite the beauty of the palace - the walls that shimmered as if they reflected starlight even in the day - I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was wrong.


    ¡°She¡¯s not usually this abrupt,¡± Aeris muttered to herself. ¡°If she¡¯s summoning me this urgently, something must have changed.¡±


    I didn¡¯t answer, but I couldn¡¯t help feeling uneasy. I had spent every moment since we got here preparing for the mission to Duskfang Mountains, but I had assumed we had more time. Now, the sensation of unease coiled in my stomach. Was it connected to the figure in my dream?


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    The doors to the Queen¡¯s chambers parted before us, opening into a room bathed in warm light. The Queen was sat at a desk, reading through papers and tracing her finger along a sprawled out map. Her piercing golden eyes settled on us the moment we stepped inside. Her chamber was empty, with the exception of the royal guards stationed at the walls.


    Aeris lowered her head in a shallow bow, though I could feel her tension. I followed Aeris¡¯ gesture, keeping my eyes level as the Queen spoke.


    ¡°There has been a change of places,¡± she said firmly. ¡°You must depart for the Duskfang Mountains immediately.¡±


    Aeris raised her head. ¡°Immediately? Caden still needs-¡±


    ¡°There is no time,¡± the Queen interjected. ¡°Recent events are forcing our hand. You will leave by first light.¡±


    I could feel my stomach twisting in knots. Was I really ready? There was a lot depending on this mission and I thought I had more time.


    Aeris¡¯ brow furrowed, but she didn¡¯t argue further. However I had to ask, ¡°Recent events concerning the mountains?¡±


    The Queen regarded me for a drawn out moment before answering. ¡°A member of the autumn court had a premonition. Disturbances are growing with each passing night. I had hoped to grant you more time to prepare, but delays may begin to cost us more than we can afford.¡±


    I felt the weight of her words and a sense of responsibility. I wasn¡¯t a commander or a strategist, but I could see the potential risks if we continued to delay on my behalf.


    Before I could fully process my trail of thought, the Queen continued. ¡°There is something else I need to discuss with you both.¡±


    She straightened up, no longer giving the map on her desk any attention as she focused on us both. ¡°I have made progress in reconnecting with the humans. A select number of Fey will be permitted to study within one of their most prestigious magic academies, Aeris will be among the first to attend.¡±


    Silence filled the chamber.


    Aeris looked dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re sending me away?¡± Her voice wavered, caught somewhere between disbelief and sadness. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°It is an opportunity,¡± the Queen replied calmly. ¡°It is a place of great learning, I have been informed many of the human¡¯s most renowned mages started their journeys there.¡±


    The Queen paused, gauging her granddaughter''s reaction.


    ¡°And I would like to ask that you join her, Caden,¡± she focused on me, her eyes piercing into my soul as she examined me again. ¡°On behalf of the Fey.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m human.¡± I glanced at Aeris and then back to the Queen.


    The Queen smiled softly, nodding her head. ¡°Indeed. But admittedly I had this in mind when I invited you to stay with us. To help repair our relations with your people.¡±


    ¡°And my granddaughter seems to have taken a liking to you.¡± she added nonchalantly.


    I could feel the heat radiating from Aeris beside me. I couldn¡¯t tell if it was rage or embarrassment, but the thought of her being flustered made me smile.


    ¡°I do not expect an answer now,¡± the Queen said. ¡°Complete your mission. We can discuss the academy further when you return safely.¡±


    I found it difficult to look directly at Aeris, but I could see her bowing her head from the corner of my eye. I mimicked her gesture before we both stepped away from the chamber.


    We walked silently down the halls, my mind was spinning. The journey to the mountains was no longer something we could ease into - we were being thrown in headfirst. And after that, we were expected to start going to school? I had barely begun to understand this world I had been introduced to, how was I going to sit in a classroom with snotty nobles?


    Aeris finally broke the silence. ¡°So¡­ First you get sent on a dangerous mission, then you¡¯re supposed to help represent all Fey when we get back? I¡¯m sorry Caden, if I had known that night in the forest¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have let you escort me home.¡±


    I let out a short laugh despite my own hesitations. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it could always be worse.¡±


    She turned to look at me curiously, as if to say how could it be any worse than a life threatening mission.


    ¡°She could have called you in to announce your engagement to a troll¡± I teased.


    Aeris sniggered at the thought, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°I would prefer the mission.¡±


    I smirked, this was it. It was time to make our final preparations. We were leaving for the Duskfang Mountains tonight.

 Fond Farewells

    The morning air was still crisp as Aeris and I made our way through the palace grounds toward the front courtyard. My heart was a storm of emotions - excitement, uncertainty and dread. The weight of my first adventure, the responsibility to not be a burden forced me to push myself forward. This was beyond my wildest dreams when I lived in Briar¡¯s Hollow. I was going to be leaving the enchanting Feywilds today, journeying to the Duskfang Mountains. A place no sane person would dare to even approach in my old life.


    The party had gathered and were already waiting for us. Aeris had given me a brief overview of the group as we went to meet them.


    Two soldiers from the Winter Court stood at rigid attention, their dark armour shimmering under the light of the morning sun. The taller of the two, Arvwyn, had sharp, angular features and eyes like chipped emeralds, a warrior whose reputation preceded him. His companion, Lirien, carried a quieter presence, her dark hair neatly braided beneath her helm, her expression unreadable save for the occasional flicker of curiosity when she glanced my way.


    Perched on the low wall was Rylwehn, a scout of the Spring Court, his form lean and wiry, his attire a patchwork of greens, browns and blues that blended seamlessly with his surroundings. He absently twirled a dagger between his fingers, a glint in his eyes suggesting he found amusement in everything, even the gravity of our mission. ¡°Let''s go find us some old dwarf ruins, ¡®ey?¡± he said with a fearless smirk.


    Beside him sat Elara, a healer of the Summer Court, her pastel yellow robes flowed like rays of light. Her warmth was immediately noticeable - radiating in both presence and personality. ¡°Ignore Rylwehn,¡± she said, her voice calming against the cool morning air. ¡°He¡¯s convinced that we¡¯re going to strike gold in the mountains.¡±


    And then there was Nivara, her arms crossed as she observed Aeris and I with that same stern gaze she always wore. She held her staff in one hand and was carrying another wrapped up neatly in her other hand. Clad in pale blue blue and silver, she exuded an aura of quiet power, her ice-blue eyes reflecting none of her thoughts. Where the others had already revealed glimpses of personality, Nivara remained an unsolvable puzzle. She had tested my magic for the Queen, I couldn¡¯t help but be curious if it was really Aeris¡¯ father who insisted she join us.


    ¡°Good morning everyone.¡± Aeris said, greeting everyone.


    There was no turning back now.


    Aeris grinned, taking the wrapped staff from Nivara. ¡°Before we go,¡± she said, ¡°my father insisted you carry your own weapon.¡±


    I took the bundle hesitantly and unwrapped it, revealing a weapon unlike any I had ever seen. It was a swordstaff - dark, polished wood reinforced with veins of silver made up the staff section, a silvery-blue, single-edged blade resting at the other end. Deep-blue leather bound the grip, providing a handle that was much more comfortable than the swordstaves I had wielded in the Winter Court¡¯s training grounds. As I held it, a faint hum of energy thrummed beneath my fingertips. It felt right in my hands.


    ¡°He said you would need something suitable,¡± Aeris said, watching my reaction closely. ¡°It¡¯s forged from moonsteel, with a pretty powerful enchantment to withstand even the harshest magic.¡±


    I ran a hand along the shaft, the reality of it settling in. ¡°Thank him for me,¡± I said, my voice coming out as a whisper.


    ¡°You can do that yourself,¡± Aeris smiled.


    As we made our way toward the entrance to the city, I saw them - Aeris¡¯ parents were standing in wait. Her mother looked concerned, but with resolve as she pressed her lips tightly together as if holding back words that might break her composure. Her father, the Crown Prince, stood beside her, his measured gaze darkened by reluctance to let his daughter leave the protection of the Feywilds.


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    When Aeris reached them, her mother pulled her into a tight embrace, her fingers clutching the back of Aeris¡¯ purple cloak as if to savour the moment. ¡°You are always chasing the horizon, my little star,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°Just promise you will come back to us.¡±


    ¡°I promise,¡± she muttered, nodding her head in her mother¡¯s embrace.


    Her father exhaled slowly, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. ¡°You are headstrong, who knows where you get that from. But it¡¯s your greatest strength, and what keeps us awake at night.¡± He glanced toward Nivara. ¡°Keep her safe.¡±


    He then turned to me, his eyes searching. ¡°I fear my daughter has met her match. No matter what you face together out there, remember that you may doubt yourself. But strength is not found in certainty - it is forged in the moment you rise despite it.¡±


    ¡°I will do my best and thank you for the gift,¡± I confidently met his gaze and nodded.


    He placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°I pray you don¡¯t have to use it.¡± Then, with a final glance at Nivara, he stepped back.


    With nothing more to be said, we left the city behind.


    The stone gateway stood tall, I hadn¡¯t noticed when I first came to the Feywilds but the stonework held ancient carvings that hummed faintly with magic. I turned back one last time, taking in the wonder of the Feywilds - the impossibly vibrant colours, the sky painted in hues that shifted like paint in water, the towering trees that held magnificent structures highlighting the perfect harmony of nature and civilisation. The very air pulsed with life, the hum of magic so deeply woven into everything that I could feel it within me, like a second heartbeat.


    For the first time, I understood that I had become part of this world in a way I never had before. And yet, stepping forward through the gateway, the beauty began to slip away, the bleakness of the ordinary world settling back in like a forgotten burden.


    The moment we crossed the threshold the world felt heavier. The magic that had once surrounded me so effortlessly in the Feywild was now distance, muted. Veilwood Forest stretched out before us, the canopy of trees overhead casting long shadows. And it was still - too still.


    As we moved further away from the Feywilds, Elara the Summer Court healer ran a hand over a nearby tree trunk, her brow furrowing. ¡°The corruption is spreading,¡± she advised. ¡°The forest is beginning to decay.¡±


    Rylwehn moved ahead, his eyes sharp as he scouted our surroundings. The Winter Court soldiers remained silent but were watchfully on guard, their hands keeping close to their weapons.


    Despite the unsettling quiet, we encountered nothing out of the ordinary. The forest didn¡¯t stir to our presence, I wasn¡¯t sure if this was due to the path Rylwehn was leading us, but I got the lingering sense of something missing - where was the wildlife?


    By the time we emerged from the forest, the sun had reached its peak in the sky, casting golden rays over Briar¡¯s Hollow. The village, with its simple rustic homes and dirt paths, stood in stark contrast to the Feywilds. Here the world felt void of colour and life - grayish or copper rooftops, weathered fences and buildings, and the smell of damp earth and woodsmoke clinging to the air. And yet, as I looked at it, the warming sense of familiarity filled my chest. This was home.


    The rising plumes of smoke from chimneys curled lazily in the sky, mingling with the steady clang of the blacksmith¡¯s hammer from the center of the village. Every sound, every scene, every similar sight brought back fond memories. Running through the fields as a child, laughing down by the river bed, of my mother calling me in as the sun dipped below the hills. The Feywilds had enchanted me, awakening something new within me, but Briar¡¯s Hollow held everything I had ever known before a couple of weeks ago. I hesitated before turning to Aeris.


    ¡°I need to go back,¡± I said. ¡°Just for a bit.¡±


    She looked at me curiously. ¡°Eldrin?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he must be beside himself by now.¡±


    The group exchanged glances, but Aeris simply nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t be too long, we¡¯ll wait here.¡±


    I set off toward my village, my heart pounding. It had been weeks since I had left. I wasn¡¯t even sure what I¡¯d say. But as I neared old man Edrin¡¯s farm, I knew one thing for certain - he deserved to know I was still alive. My satchel, still filled with the feverfew I had been gathering for him in the forest, bounced lightly against my side, a reminder of the life I had left behind.

 A Life Once Lived

    I took the most direct route through Briar¡¯s Hollow, keeping a steady pace, conscious that the rest of the party were waiting beyond the village. The last thing I wanted was to compromise the mission because I lingered too long or brought them unnecessary attention. I passed through familiar roads, nostalgia creeping in as I recalled the various buildings, people and the scent of home.


    It really felt like I had never left.


    Braun, the baker, was out front arranging fresh loaves on a wooden pallet in front of his bakery, the rich aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air as I approached. His face broke into a wide grin as he spotted me.


    ¡°Well, well! Look what the cat dragged in,¡± he called, dusting flour from his hands and wiping them on his apron. ¡°Caden, my boy, where¡¯ve you been? You look like you¡¯ve been wrestling a bear!¡±


    I chuckled, rubbing the top of my left arm. ¡°You¡¯re not far off.¡±


    He raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t press further, handing me a small roll of bread. ¡°Still warm. Consider it a welcome home present.¡±


    He paused for a moment, peering into his shop before quickly retreating to retrieve something. He came back with a full loaf wrapped in a paper bag.


    ¡°For Edrin,¡± he said as he handed it to me. ¡°The old bugger hasn¡¯t been the same with you gone.¡±


    I nodded in thanks, taking it gratefully before continuing down the road.The roads themselves were a stark contrast to the Feywild, there was no artistry or construction aided by magic or exotic materials. The ground was dirt, well worn by animals and humans alike.


    As I passed the tavern, a familiar figure stood outside, wiping down a table. Lysandra - Lys to everyone in the village, she looked up as I approached.


    For years, we had been sweethearts, my anchor in an otherwise dull place. Her deep brown eyes met mine, and a warm smile tugged at her lips. She didn¡¯t say anything, just lifted a hand in an easy wave.


    I returned the gesture, hesitating only briefly as I thought of what could have been. How different my life could be if we hadn¡¯t separated. There was a lot of history between us, but we had both agreed that we wanted different things out of life.


    Edrin¡¯s farm came into view before long. The fields were neatly tilled, the crops showed signs of careful upkeep. He must have found another farmhand - someone to take my place. I felt slightly guilty, Edrin had done so much for me. Especially after my parents passed away. But I was relieved to see he hadn¡¯t been struggling.


    I climbed the small hill to his house, the air shifting subtly as I neared. Now that I could feel mana, I could sense something about Edrin¡¯s cottage that had eluded me before now. There was a depth beyond what my eyes could see, like the roots of an ancient tree stretching far beneath the surface.


    I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I would find inside before knocking firmly on the wooden door. A moment passed before it creaked open.


    Edrin was sat in the kitchen, hunched over the table, his gnarled fingers tending to a newly potted plant. His robes were as plain as ever, disheveled and well worn. His tangled grey hair was pulled back and his beard as tangled and uncontrollable as ever, the usual hint of mischief in his eyes tempered by his thoughts.


    He didn¡¯t look surprised to see me.


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    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± he said plainly, not even looking up as he adjusted the soil around the roots.


    I blinked. ¡°Late for what?¡±


    ¡°For today,¡± he said simply, as if that explained anything at all.


    He finally glanced up, his sharp gaze flickering past me to the doorway before settling back on my face. ¡°Sit then. Tell me all about it.¡±


    I hesitated but took the chair opposite him. ¡°You¡­ I mean, what aren¡¯t you telling me? What do you know?¡±


    Edrin let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head as he sat in his chair. Rummaging around the table to find his pipe, he lit it with a match and inhaled. A plume of smoke left his lips, drifting up toward the ceiling.


    ¡°What do I know? Not a lot. The birds told me you disappeared in the forest.¡±


    I exhaled through my nose, shaking my head. Of course, the crows. Edrin always had an uncanny way of knowing things he shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°I went beyond Veilwood,¡± I admitted. ¡°To the Feywilds.¡±


    Edrin didn¡¯t react with shock or disbelief. Instead, he hummed, nodding slowly, as if I had simply told him I had gone to the market. ¡°I suppose it was only a matter of time.¡±


    I grimaced. ¡°You say that like you were expecting me to go there.¡±


    He met my gaze, something knowing lurked behind his expression. ¡°Because I was.¡±


    Silence stretched between us before he continued. ¡°We don¡¯t get to choose the roads we walk, boy. Some paths are set long before we even take our first steps. Your folks had hoped you might avoid this one, but fate is a stubborn mistress.¡±


    His tone was distant and his words held a weight that gave me an uneasy feeling. ¡°Edrin¡­ who are you, really?¡±


    He laughed heartily, sounding both amused and tired. ¡°Nothing more than an old man with a farm.¡± But now, with my mana awakened, I could feel the world around me. Edrin¡¯s presence however, was unnaturally absent. His mana was hidden so thoroughly that it was as if it had been erased from existence. It wasn¡¯t the actual absence of mana though, everything I had learned living with the Fey meant that would be impossible. It was deliberately concealed. He had definitely been something more, perhaps a long time ago, and though I couldn¡¯t grasp the full truth, I knew this much - Edrin wasn¡¯t an ordinary farmer.


    Pressing him further for answers had never worked before, and I doubted it would work now. But something gnawed at me, his lack of mana. It wasn¡¯t just faint or dwindling like an aged hermit. I was still new to all of this, untrained, but even I could sense what wasn¡¯t there.


    Instead of trying to solve the mystery that was Edrin, I pulled the satchel from my shoulder and set a small bundle of feverfew on the table. ¡°I collected this before I left. You probably don¡¯t need it now, but¡­¡±


    For the first time, true delight lit up his face. He chuckled, his voice booming as he picked up the herbs. ¡°You disappear into another realm, come back looking like the weight of the world sits on your shoulders, and still remember to bring an old man his feverfew?¡±


    He let out a slow sigh, placing the bundle aside. ¡°Thank you, really. It means more than you know.¡±


    I nodded, standing from the chair. ¡°I should go. There¡¯s a group waiting for me outside of the village.¡±


    Edrin¡¯s gaze softened slightly. ¡°Then you better not keep them waiting.¡± He leaned back in his chair, smoking his pipe and watching me closely. ¡°Keep your wits about you, boy. The road ahead isn¡¯t as forgiving as the one behind.¡±


    I turned to leave, reaching for the door. But I hesitated. It almost felt like I was saying goodbye to Edrin, I didn¡¯t know when I would see him next. But he was all the family I had left, even if he wasn¡¯t explicitly family. I could feel the sadness building, if something happened in the mountains then this really might be the last time I see him. Would he be okay without me?


    I took a deep breath and opened the door. Stepping outside, I made my way back towards the edge of the village. My mind was swirling with more questions than answers, but I couldn¡¯t let that distract me from the mission ahead.