Chapter 9

The following day, Hina and I decided to return with Aedric. We prepared early on, as I wasn't expecting a journey of several days ahead.

"Goodbye, grandmother," Hina said, embracing Isobel to bid her farewell.

"Come back soon, my child," she replied with affection.

When they separated, she kept her gaze fixed firmly on me.

"Take this with you. I hope that the next time you return, you'll have stories to tell me," she offered me the collar that was tied to the spear.

"Thank you. Next time I'll tell you about the adventures I've had," I mentioned with a smile.

"I'll be waiting for them eagerly."

Hina and I began to move away from the small cabin along the path beside the cliffs overlooking the sea. The sky had been clouded the entire time we were here.

"You did well. Any person without magic would have failed that trial. Few people have the courage to face the creatures on this side," Hina mentioned, congratulating me.

"I couldn't have done it alone. Without the collar that allowed me to use magic, I wouldn't have survived," I responded while gripping the collar tightly.

"You didn't know how to use it. You managed to draw out its power by yourself, so feel proud."

The truth was, I was still surprised that I had done all of that. In some way, I was glad to be able to stay here—everyone had been good to me. Besides, I still hadn't repaid Hina for having taken care of me all this time.

"I couldn't have done it without you. You've protected me and supported me this far, so I'm very grateful," I said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it. It's my duty as your superior," you could see that Hina was also very embarrassed. The atmosphere became somewhat tense between us, so we decided to walk in silence. We had several days of travel ahead. The days passed without incident, camping in roughly the same places as the trip there.

"After this forest, we'll be able to see the town already," Hina mentioned.

This forest was near the one where the dragon had left us when I arrived with Aedric. In this forest too, I could feel the gaze of the fairies watching me, but I could also sense some movement. I suppose I was getting closer to being able to see them.

"In this forest there are some rather unsettling rumors, so be careful."

"What kind of rumors?"

"They say some people have seen a monster around here."

"That sounds like a story to scare children, doesn't it?"

"That's what I thought when I heard it, but the truth is the fairies here are quite restless. Drust is rather agitated too, so be careful."

"We can't have a peaceful journey," I said with resignation.

We both continued walking, keeping our guard up. I could notice that Hina was somewhat uneasy. We kept walking until we could see an exit.

"It seems like they're just rumors."

"Don't speak until we're out."

"We can already see the exit. If we run a bit, we'll escape."

I moved ahead of Hina toward the exit. Hina tried to grab me—she seemed nervous. I turned in her direction and she wasn't there. All the hair on my body stood on end. The entire forest had changed. I was in one much darker. I looked up at the sky and could see it full of stars. The forest was filled with fireflies too, illuminating everything. Before me was a lake where all the stars of the sky were reflected. In the middle of the lake was a humanoid figure sitting on the water, wearing a red mask where only their eyes could be seen. The mask also had a mane that covered their entire head and reached all the way to the water, so long was it.

"How amusing, thinking it was so easy. It's fun to see how humans are so easily deceived."

"Who are you?" I said nervously.

"I am what you call the great fairies. Normally I don't show myself to humans."

"Then why have you brought me here?"

"You're interesting. You're someone who shouldn't be here."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"Why would I? I'm not like humans. To me, you're all the same. You can be at ease—if I had wanted to kill you, I could have done it the moment you stepped into my forest."

That was supposed to calm me, but I couldn't. That thing was terrifying. Even though it hadn't moved since it appeared here, it was as if it could take my life away at any moment.

"What do you want from me?"

"I only wanted to see you out of curiosity. You're an anomaly, and anomalies bring chaos. Chaos can destabilize everything, and humans don't like that, so I wonder what destiny awaits you."

"I just want to live in peace."

"You're lying. That destiny was denied to you the moment you decided to be here. Your heart longs for more things—things you've had to suppress."

It seemed that it could see through me, through that thick fog.

"What do you mean?"

"You're afraid of what's inside you. Afraid of disappearing, that your memories will make you disappear, and that makes you an even greater anomaly. You're not a person—you're just a shadow. If you're not aware of this, you'll never see your path with clarity."

I didn't understand what it was saying. My chest was about to explode from nerves. I felt like I needed to ask more if I could understand its words.

"I suppose I've said too much. I'll give you a reward for entertaining me."

It raised its hand and began to glow with a green light. My chest began to glow with the same color.

"You now have my blessing."

"What does that mean?!"

In that moment, I appeared again in the normal forest. I saw Hina holding my arm.

"Don't rush ahead. It could attack us at any moment."

Hina seemed to have noticed nothing. In fact, it seemed that she had come back at the moment I left. Hina noticed my look of terror.

"Are you okay?" she said, concerned.

"I just want to get out of this forest."

When we left the forest, I collapsed to the ground. I had to process everything that had happened. Hina placed her hand on my back to try to calm me. When I felt somewhat more calm, I told Hina everything. She was so surprised that she didn't know what to say.

"Great fairies—I've only heard about them in books."

"It was terrifying, and that was without it moving the entire time it spoke to me."

"And what it told you—it's better that you tell Aedric everything when we arrive. He'll be able to advise you better than I can."