Another Chance to Fight

A beautiful lake rippled in a moonlit clearing, surrounded by gleaming crystals nestled among purple and blue flowers. Wearing a long, flowing dress with slender straps, Leyade walked along the shore, brushing the plants with her fingertips as she passed. The hem of her dress grew wet, leaving a trail of water across the sand. Tiny fireflies danced through the otherworldly scene. The breeze stirred her hair, which fell loose over her shoulders and down her back like a waterfall.

“Leyade…”

The wind carried her name through the branches. She looked around, searching for the source of the whisper, until she noticed a faint, warm golden light shining among the bushes on the far side of the lake.

The elf followed the shore until she could go no further, then stepped into the lake. The water washed over her bare feet and slowly rose up her legs. Her light dress began to float around her like an ethereal veil.

“Leyade…”

The voice grew louder as she approached the far shore. She continued gliding through the water until she reached the bushes. The water was deeper on this side than where she had entered, leaving the bushes at eye level.

Leyade studied them for a moment. The glow was more distinct now that she was close. It gave off warmth and, for some reason she could not understand, filled her with a profound sense of calm.

“Leyade, Leyade…”

The voice came again. To her surprise, it seemed to be coming from the bushes. Very carefully, she reached out and began parting the leaves. Golden light spilled through the gap she was making.

“LEYADE!”

The voice cried out her name as a sudden blaze of light engulfed her, blinding her.

“OPEN YOUR EYES!”

Startled, Leyade opened her eyes and…

Elindra’s face was right in front of hers.

Leyade screamed, making the dragon scream too. Instinct took over, and she rolled across the bed and fell onto the floor, completely tangled in the sheet.

“Are you all right?” Elindra asked, settling on the edge of the bed.

With adrenaline coursing through her, Leyade looked around in confusion. She was in the little bedroom of the bark dwelling. The chest holding her belongings, the oak chair and table, the embroidered cotton curtains, the bed of moss and poplar down… Everything was still where she had left it the night before. The only difference was the purple faerie dragon watching her anxiously from the edge of the bed, her tail swishing.

Leyade rubbed her eyes.

“Yes. Sorry I frightened you, Elindra,” she replied sleepily, turning towards the dragon. “I was having a rather strange dream.”

Covering her mouth as she yawned, the elf tried to untangle herself from the sheet.

The dragon watched her with curiosity in her yellow eyes.

“A dream? What was it like?” Elindra asked, watching the elf struggle unsuccessfully with the sheet.

“Well…” Leyade began, catching part of the sheet between her teeth. “It felt mystical, like a beautiful but strange vision. I was somewhere I didn’t know, but for some reason, I felt at ease there.”

At last, she managed to free herself.

“It was as strange a place as this, but there were crystals and a golden light… What do you think it means?” She turned towards Elindra as she tossed the sheet back onto the bed.

“I don’t know. They say dreams are messages from your soul.” The dragon tilted her head, watching the sheet fall before pouncing on it. “Others say they’re visions of the future.”

Leyade watched thoughtfully as the dragon caught the sheet and burrowed beneath it.

“My soul or my future…” she repeated to herself. “If that’s true, what was it trying to tell me? What was that place?”

She remained there for a while, turning it over in her mind.

“Then again, some creatures say it’s the gods, and others say it’s mind… mind-eaters trying to get inside your head…” Elindra poked her head out from beneath the sheet, sounding amused. Apparently, she found speculating about the mysteries of dreams fascinating.

“Mind… eaters?” Leyade had heard frightening stories about them. She had thought they were imaginary, but Elindra seemed serious. “They don’t really exist, do they?” she asked, a shiver running through her.

Sitting on the bed with the sheet draped around her like a cloak, Elindra met her gaze. At the sight of Leyade’s anxious expression, she replied:

“No… Of course not…”

She did not sound remotely convincing.

It was like asking a child what they had done, hearing them say “nothing” and knowing they were lying. Elindra immediately realised that Leyade had seen through her, so she added brightly:

“Don’t worry. It’s very unusual to see one. They’re always underground.”

“I don’t know whether that makes me feel better or worse…” the elf murmured, getting up from the floor and walking towards the chest. “By the way, Elindra, what are you doing here?”

The dragon rolled across the bed, shedding the sheet, then beat her wings and flew over to the wooden table beside the window.

“Waking you up,” she replied innocently. “Sometimes you elves ask questions with very obvious answers.”

“Yes, I know that.” Leyade smiled and shook her head. “I meant, why were you the one to wake me?”

“I wanted to see how you were.” The dragon studied her closely with her yellow eyes, looking for any sign of how she was feeling.

“Oh, you’re so sweet…” Leyade looked at her from where she was crouching in front of the open chest. “Thank you, Elindra.”

She began rummaging through the chest.

“I’m all right, considering. I’m still recovering from everything that happened, but I haven’t got time to sit around crying.”

She took out several items of clothing: an ivory dress with golden-yellow embroidery and a round neckline that left her neck and collarbones bare; a dark green cloak embroidered in gold to match; a plaited leather belt and matching bracers; and a pair of brown, lace-up boots that reached halfway up her calves. She laid everything on the floor around her.

“But that’s not right. We’re all allowed to fall apart sometimes,” Elindra replied, leaning forwards to look at her more closely. “Even faerie dragons do.”

Leyade gave her a warm smile. She agreed, but she had already cried far too much in the dungeon.

“I know, but being in that dungeon taught me that sometimes, giving in to despair won’t get you what you need. Sometimes, the best way forward is to get up, hold your head high and keep going.”

The elf stood and began slipping out of her thin-strapped nightdress, taking her time.

“I’ve brushed the void with my fingertips. I’ve looked death in the eye… Now it’s those dark spirits’ turn to look me in the eye.”

Leyade looked at Elindra with determination and a broad smile.

Once she was dressed, the young elf picked up her satchel and prepared to leave. As she checked that she had everything, her hand went instinctively to the place where Kalindra should have been.

She sighed and murmured to herself:

“You’ll be back with me soon.”

She turned towards Elindra.

“Is Silas ready yet?”

Elindra, hovering beside her, looked back at her.

“Of course. Silas gets up at dawn, but he told me not to wake you then because you needed your rest,” she explained matter-of-factly.

“That was thoughtful of him.” Surprised by Silas’s kindness, Leyade tilted her head, brushed her hair out of her face and adjusted her braid before leaving.

“Silas is very kind!” Elindra declared. “Well, when he wants to be, of course.”

With that amused remark, the dragon darted towards the window.

“Last one down is a crystal slug!”

The little purple dragon shot out through the window.

“That’s not fair! You’ve got a head start!”

Leyade raced outside, leaping down the steps that grew from the wood itself. She caught hold of small branches jutting out of the trunk as she descended, taking great bounds to save time, until she landed at the foot of the stairs outside the bark dwelling.

Unfortunately, an elf was no faster than a faerie dragon. Elindra was looking at her proudly.

“I won!” The dragon spun through the air around Leyade. “Yes, yes, I won! But you’re very fast too!”

She darted closer, ruffled Leyade’s hair, stuck out her tongue and continued circling.

“But it’s not fair… you can fly!” Leyade protested through her laughter, trying to catch the dragon in her hands. “I’ll beat you next time!”

“I see you’re awake.”

Silas’s pleasant voice came from the path leading to the cottages.

“Good morning, Leyade.” He gave her a small bow and a lovely smile.

Leyade returned both.

“Good morning, Silas! I was playing with Elindra,” she explained, hurrying towards him.

The dragon made one final circuit around Leyade before flying over to Silas. She nudged his cheek with her head, then climbed onto his head.

“Don’t stay up there too long. You’re not exactly light,” he teased.

At the suggestion that she was heavy, Elindra swept her tail across his face to annoy him and tightened her grip on his head.

“All right, all right. I take it back.”

The dragon loosened her grip and lowered her tail, but stayed where she was.

Leyade could not help laughing at the endearing sight.

“Well, then…” Silas cleared his throat. “Did you manage to get some rest? Elindra hasn’t been bothering you, has she?” he asked, stepping a little closer and studying Leyade’s face.

She nodded, still smiling, and lifted her gaze towards Elindra on Silas’s head. The half-elf was a little taller than she was, so she had to look up.

“Yes, I had a wonderful rest, actually. I slept better than a woolly marmot in winter,” she assured him, stretching a little. “And don’t worry. Elindra’s been very good. She let me sleep in. Didn’t you, Elindra?”

The dragon nodded vigorously, tapping a forepaw against her chest.

“I’m very glad to hear it.” Silas nodded in approval.

“Well…” Leyade began. “When are we leaving? Where are we going? Or could you teach me to use the sword here? We can’t use weapons, but starting with a stick wouldn’t be a bad idea. Though I ought to replenish my rations and prepare some medicines first. I have some medicinal herbs I found just after I arrived in Kalneria, and they are absolutely wonderful.”

Excited and full of her usual energy, Leyade began bombarding poor Silas with information, questions and suggestions. He watched her patiently, waiting for a chance to speak.

“Goodness, she talks fast…” Elindra remarked, holding her head between her forepaws as though it were spinning.

Silas smiled in amusement before replying.

“As I said yesterday, one thing at a time, Leyade. One thing at a time.” He ran a hand over her hair, ruffling it slightly.

Leyade pushed his hand away and smoothed her hair back into place, narrowing her eyes at him in silent warning.

“The problem, Silas, is that there is no time,” she said, stressing the last three words, her tone utterly serious. “If you’re going to travel with me, you need to be useful. I don’t need someone just to keep me company or cheer me up.”

Leyade folded her arms and fixed him with an icy stare, her green eyes meeting his.

Silas sighed and shook his head.

“A little patience wouldn’t hurt, you know.” He turned and gestured for her to follow.

“Where are you going?” she asked, following reluctantly.

“We’re going for a walk,” he replied over his shoulder, continuing without checking whether she was behind him. “You want answers, don’t you?”

Leyade huffed and followed him down the path.