Glass or Diamond: Fairy's Wish

Lykha sits on her knees on the bunk bed she and Maerin share due to their small size, and she murmurs softly, “Gruicelle?”

I’m here.

“I…”

Nope, I’m good. Glad you survived. Sorry I jumped ship. I panicked. Please don’t hold this against the others.

Lykha smiles. “I understand. I’m sorry your time got cut so short.”

Bit off more than I can chew, but I agree with Schieranna. Please keep us in mind for future contracts, if you would. Please.

“I will. Mury said we’re approaching a village today, so I’ll offer the next contract afterwards. I hope that’s okay.”

Nieolsynnys’s voice replies gently, We are at your mercy, Lykha. But, so long as you treat us well, we are at your service as well. Be safe, and be wary of those creatures. Not many things in this world should be so resistant to magic. Dark forces are at work.

Lykha nods, murmuring, “Strange. Gyrryth said something similar. But, I understand and I will. Thank you.”

Rui-Buri says somewhat sourly, The spellcaster is going off of the Holy Order foolishness. Anything they are afraid of is a ‘dark omen’.

Regardless,... replies Nieolsynnys. Something is afoot. Perhaps the helmed one is not so strange to be afraid of demons…

Lykha swallows hard, glancing at Mury’s bunk, which is neatly restored to a crisp and organized state. She asks herself, What could he be so concerned about?

She smiles, though, confident that he can handle whatever it is. She hovers over to the partition separating her half from Maerin’s and she peeks at the other side. Maerin is already out and about, which is unsurprising. The more mature fairy is typically a fairly early riser, but also frequently naps throughout the day; particularly if she drinks herself to sleep.

Lykha makes her way towards the cockpit. The vehicle is creaking and rumbling, so they’re currently driving.

Maerin greets Lykha first, seated on one of the back two passenger seats, “Welcome to the land of the living, Lykha. Coco was trying to get Gyrryth to take over so she could come back and wake you up.”

“Is something going on?” asks Lykha innocently. She looks at Mury, who is seated in the other back seat, resting his head against the seat’s headrest. He may be asleep, judging by how still he is.

Coco replies over her shoulder, “Aye! ‘Bando says we’re gonna have to climb soon.”

Gyrryth nods. “Many forest villages are suspended or raised from the ground to keep most of the animals away.”

Mury coughs, apparently waking himself up when his brain processes he was mentioned. He sits up, asking, “Hmm? Oh. Yes. Make sure we replenish on winch cannon charges if we can.” He stretches for a moment, coughing again.

Lykha hovers closer cautiously, asking him, “Mury? Are you okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes.” He stands up, saying, “Just a cough.” He says to Gyrryth, “I’ll go make sure the rear winches are loaded and dry.”

Gyrryth nods, “Please do, my friend. I will call back if there are issues.”

Mury nods, and he walks towards the back. Lykha looks at the others. Maerin is kneading something similar to clay, and Lykha asks softly, “Maerin?”

“Mmmmyessss?” asks the mature fairy somewhat facetiously.

“Was there any luck with… the sickness those animals had?”

“What I look like to you, some sort of doctor?”

Lykha fidgets nervously, and Maerin waves playfully, “Relax. I’m not a doctor, but I’m smart enough to know to experiment in a sealed environment. Unfortunately, I don’t have one. I’ll get some equipment in town to make a small containment that I can work in safely. Probably some more chemicals, too. I’d like to make some chlorite if I can find the ingredients and additional equipment I’ll need. Good for keeping our water clean. Plus, it can take stains out of whites. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my wardrobe, too.” She smiles, and Lykha notices something strange. The cockpit doesn’t smell strongly of alcohol, nor is Maerin taking a sip every few sentences. Lykha smiles. She dare not mention it, lest Maerin remember she’s not presently drinking if she forgot.

Coco adds, “Aye! An’, I have some tinkerfixin’s to trade in town for some ji- money. ‘Bando may be broke, but don’ne mean I have to be.”

Lykha smiles. “Sounds good.”

Gyrryth points ahead of them, saying, “Ahhh, there it is. See the glowing lanterns, Coco?”

“Aye! But, there’s nothin’ there. We gonna hang like a windchime?”

Gyrryth chuckles, “No, Fiery One. That is but the path.”

“Aye! A path up a bogglecave wall.” She winks over her shoulder at Lykha, and the fairy smirks. She’s fairly confident Coco knows and accepts that the forest is a bunch of trees and not a cave, but the teen will not likely admit it anytime soon. Just in case she was right all along.

Coco says, “Prepared to fire!”

“Hold that, Fiery One,” replies Gyrryth. “Trunk winders are designed to climb without the winches. The winches are a backup in case we fall.”

Maerin retorts dryly, “What a comforting thought.”

Lykha smirks until a faint glimmer catches her eye outside. She looks, and a vehicle is smashed across the ground, though it appears to have been present for a long time, as the foliage of the forest is reclaiming it. Her smirk dissolves, and Coco seems to notice it as well. She points at Gyrryth, “Oi! You bes’ not break my trunk winder, Gyrryth.”

“I’m telling the truth. I, of course, will say that you should remain at the lowest speed possible.”

Coco nods in agreement, “Aye, as if it needed ga-said. Tricksie! Tell ‘Bando we’re almost ready to climb!”

Lykha scoffs, retorting playfully, “Aye-aye, Boss Machen.”

Coco laughs boisterously, “And don’ye e’er forget it!” She grins at Lykha and the fairy rolls her eyes, hovering through the trunk winder towards the back.

She finds Murtoa checking cabinets and lockers in the sleeping compartment. He seems to be simply making sure they’re all fastened, and that anything within is securely stored.

She watches him a moment, though, and his motions seem to be rather deliberate -slow, even-.

He notices her, saying, “Lykha. Checking to make sure nothing’s going to fall and break. Hopefully.”

The fairy smiles and nods. She continues observing him as he continues his checks. While she watches, she says, “The path is visible ahead. Coco wanted me to tell you we’ll be climbing soon.”

Mury nods, “Thanks for the heads up. One of us should man the rear cannons anyways, so I’ll finish my checks.”

Lykha nods again, still skeptical. “Are… you feeling okay, Mury?”

“I am. Thank you for asking. Are you doing okay?”

Lykha nods once more. Still, she watches the human warrior as he works. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“Haven’t we discussed this before?”

“Right, but seriously… Are you okay?”

“Yes. A little tired, but I probably didn’t sleep well. Probably a full moon.”

The fairy crosses her arms, hovering alongside him as he keeps checking. He passes through the engine and boiler compartment and the kitchenette area to the cockpit. He informs the rest of their friends, “Good work, Coco. Everything looks to be stowed properly. Gyrryth, is everything okay up here?”

Gyrryth turns to nod. “Indeed, Sir Murtoa.”

“Good. I’ll man the rear cannons, just in case.”

Gyrryth nods in agreement, and Coco says playfully, “If only Tricksie could drive, I could keep ye comp’ny back in back, Love.” She snickers, but Lykha turns it around with a smirk, “Guess I’ll just have to keep Mury company in your place, then. Thanks for the idea, Coco.”

The teen’s devious face flattens out, and she murmurs, “What…?”

Mury leaves without a word, but Lykha doesn’t follow right away. She waits until the unorthodox knight is out of earshot, and she murmurs, “Guys… I think… I think Mury might be sick.”

All three of the others look at her, and Gyrryth asks cautiously, “You think he was infected by those beasts?”

Lykha hugs herself for comfort, replying nervously, “I don’t know… I… He’s not shrieking like a monster, so… But… I don’t want to… What do we do if he is?”

Coco looks to her seniors, rather nervous herself as she lets the vehicle slow down. Maerin offers, “I doubt he’d knowingly risk infecting us if he thought he was infected with something. Did he mishandle the samples he collected?”

Lykha shakes her head, “No. He was extremely careful. He didn’t even put his blade into his scabbard after. He waited until he rinsed it off.”

Gyrryth nods, scratching his neck in thought. “Murtoa is cautious, but perhaps he did not want to concern us until we were in a safe place.”

Coco replies, “All the more why we shoul’ get him up to this bundle’o’-... buildings. Ey?”

All three of the others nod in agreement, and Lykha says softly, “I’ll keep an eye on him.” She flies quickly back to the back to catch up to Murtoa, and she arrives just as he’s telling Gyrryth over the intercom, “Gyrryth, I’m buckled in. Tell Coco she can start. If you need any help, let me know.”

Coco can be heard saying at the same time Gyrryth replies, “Aye Love!” while he says, “We shall begin at once, my Friend.”

Lykha asks gently, “Mind if I take a seat, Mury?”

He nods, and she asks as she hovers closer, “You wouldn’t get me sick, would you?”

He sighs. “I’m not infected.”

She recoils, replying nervously, “I didn’t say that.”

“You’re thinking it.”

“A-... Are you… sure, though?”

He nods. “If you want to be safe, though, you should probably sit in the other seat or stay airborne. If we fall, though, you’ll be at risk if you’re floating already.”

She nods, hovering to the other seat for the second cannon. She's highly suspicious of her dear friend because of exactly what Gyrryth said; Mury would absolutely lie so everyone else doesn't worry when they're not in safety. He'd probably even try to sneak away to deal with it on his own.

Lykha narrows her eyes at Mury, watching him diligently. He doesn't seem to notice her, and in fact, may be resting his eyes once more.

She doesn't press for now, though. She knows him well enough to know that if he gets upset, he'll ask her what she intends to do differently, and she won't have an answer.

Suddenly, the next room seems to suddenly tilt, and only a brief moment occurs before the rear compartment also tilts. Lykha leans in her chair as gravity shifts, and she looks up the hallways as the vehicle evens out on its new vertical trajectory.

Gyrryth calls over the radio, though Coco is almost drowning him out with excited laughter, "Sir Murtoa, M'lady Lykha, we are ascending. Tracks are holding strong."

Mury stirs, gripping the radio to reply, "Got it. Good work. Nice job on your first ascent, Coco."

Coco's voice reaches without the radio as she yells down the hall, "Thank you, Love!", though the teen is barely audible.

Mury and Lykha both laugh, and the human warrior returns to relaxing in his seat. Lykha sighs.

We’re almost to town. I guess I can wait. Don’t turn into a monster on me, Mury. I’ll never forgive you.

She smiles at her most treasured companion. He’s not a pure and righteous knight, gleaming in infallible integrity, but he is immensely trustworthy. Even if he is sick, there’s no way it could best him.

After all, he’s Murtoa of Lakia.

***

Lykha hovers up to the cockpit to see what their status is. It’s been over an hour, and the trunk winder is still climbing vertically.

Even Coco is a little bored, while Maerin is sitting on the edge of the head rest of her seat, looking down at Lykha as she approaches. The younger fairy asks, “How long have we been driving?”

Coco retorts with exasperation, “Dunno. Feels like me whole life is passin’ me by.”

Gyrryth chuckles. “Underestimate how tall the colossal redwoods are, Fiery One?”

“Not doin’ wonders for convincin’ me it’s no’ a boggle spell! Tha’s wha’!”

Lykha chuckles and takes a seat next to Maerin as the mature fairy continues kneading the same clay-like material as before. She asks, “What are you working on, Maerin?”

“Bread,” states the wishless fairy.

“Bread?” asks Lykha confused.

Maerin nods. “Not the edible kind, though. This is my mold killer. The yeast produces a special type of alcohol that binds well with some other chemicals without reacting them, making it much more potent for a small amount. I have to keep kneading it in the rising stage, though, or the yeast will kill itself.” She scoffs at the irony, while Lykha watches.

“Need an extra pair of hands?”

“Nah. Good idle work so I don’t get the itch in my hands to find my flask.” She smiles at Lykha, teasing, “Can’t let Coco be the only one trying to grow up, huh?”

Lykha smiles tenderly, intrigued by the sudden change in her friends.

Maerin tears off a piece of the ‘bread’, though, and hands it to Lykha. “If you’re bored, though, fidget with this. Don’t worry, it’s safe.”

Lykha nods, imitating Maerin as she twists and pulls and pushes and squeezes in cycling motions.

Gyrryth asks the big question, “Has their been any change in our knight, Gentle One?”

The young fairy replies, “No. He’s low on energy, but he didn’t try to bite me or anything. Maybe he’s just under the weather. It’s just… scary.”

Maerin nods in agreement. “Trash way for a man like him to go, that’s for sure. ‘Murtoa of Lakia, slayer of colossi, killed by an infection.’ Blegh. Can’t stand even thinkin’ it.”

Coco replies defiantly, “‘Bando will be jus’ fine. You’ll see. We’ll be in the villagetown in jus’a’wee, an’ we’ll make him go to the nickpatch, nary’o’jections.”

Gyrryth nods in agreement, “He should see a healer familiar with the forest ailments, just to be safe.”

Maerin adds, “We all should. We’ve all been around him AND those monsters. If he is infected with something, chances are good we have it, too.”

Lykha looks around. While that’s a reasonable assumption, none of them are showing the fatigue Mury has. She explains as much, “Mury has no energy though. The rest of us seem fine.”

Maerin shrugs, “Either way, better safe than sorry with these things.”

Gyrryth gestures Coco towards a shift in the path, a slight turn towards the junction between a massive branch of the gigantic tree and the trunk they’re currently climbing. She nods, steering easily towards it so the trunk winder maintains good traction. The vehicle tremors a bit, but Gyrryth reassures her, “Panic not, young one. The rest of the vehicle is adjusting to the turn.”

She nods, but keeps caution as she drives. The young fairy smiles as she remembers the day she and Coco met; the lunatic teen drove a sand cruiser as if nothing could hurt her, scaring the life almost completely out of Lykha. Now, she’s like a little fairy girl testing her wings for the very first time; slow and steady and afraid of even the smallest gust.

Of course, Lykha isn’t complaining. She is a little curious, though, why both Mury and Gyrryth didn’t even seem to offer to drive in her place as experienced soldiers who’ve used vehicles like the trunk winder before.

In any case, Lykha watches as the teenage techromancer carefully drives the trunk winder up onto the limb, which is almost twenty times the vehicle’s length across on its own. And, Lykha can see why the path turned. Suspended between an equally large branch is the ‘parking lot’, while the village itself is assembled on structures both on and in the further branch. The suspended parking lot or bridge seems to act as a sort of barrier, where security personnel can restrict access to the village if need be.

And, the cannons stationed at the gates to the parking lot turn towards them. The group flinches lightly, while a handful of people approach the vehicle from the ground. It’s probably one of the more cautious welcomes the group has ever received from a village, but it’s not unreasonable. Especially with the village suspended so high off of the ground.

Maerin remarks, “Friendly bunch, I see.”

Gyrryth replies, “I imagine it is an abundance of caution.”

Coco retorts as the group approaches her window, “These goobs woul’ be sand paste in’ne desert villagetowns.”

Gyrryth whispers as she pops her window, “Village or town. One or the other.”

She nods, greeting the apparent leader through the window, “G’day, mistah! We be legit monstie slayas and-...”

“Quiet!” shouts the leader curtly. He says sternly, “You will go no further. There is a plague consuming the forest. Where did you come from?”

Coco looks to Gyrryth, and he replies with a shrug, “Down river?”

Coco nods, “Down river. We’ve been followin’ it up, and we need a place to rest.”

“Find somewhere else. We’re not taking a chance.”

“Please, mistah! We jus’ need some supplies an’ we’ll go. We have j-money! An-...”

The leader glances at his companions, and they discuss it quietly. The leader says sternly, “We have to search your vehicle. We can’t allow the plague into our village. We already have trouble as it is.”

Coco retorts sassily, “You will no’! You brainin’ I’ll let a bunch of slick goobs finger through me runna!? You mus’ brain me a wonk foo’!”

This agitates the villagers, but Coco holds her ground. Lykha whispers, “Coco,”, but the teen retorts sassily, “No! I ain’ gettin’ grifted on some bad gab.”

Gyrryth leans over Coco, requesting diplomatically, “Our straits are no less strained. Perhaps you will allow us to walk into the village and leave our vehicle here. You may inspect us as needed.”

The villagers discuss it for a moment and Lykha sighs. Gyrryth is a lifesaver in more ways than one. Though, she also hopes the ‘plague’ they keep mentioning isn’t what the creatures had, though she has very little doubt that it is.

The leader nods, “Very well. But, if we get a single sense of trouble from your group, our cannons open fire.”

Gyrryth nods, “A fair standoff. Thank you. We shall meet you at the rear hatch.”

The leader nods, directing his crew cautiously towards the rear hatch of the vehicle. Gyrryth stands up, saying, “Well, that was less fruitful than I hoped, but more so than I feared.”

Lykha says softly, “We’ll need to try to get Mury to a doctor quickly. Gyrryth, if you wouldn’t mind… I can make him weightless.”

“No need. He is not so heavy. Coco, I would advise you ensure the vehicle is adequately locked as Mury and I have shown you.”

Coco nods. “Aye. Leave i’ to me.” She climbs up to the escape hatch, locking down its handle, while the other three head to the back.

However, at the end of the corridor, where the last compartment starts, a pair of armored boots are stretching out on the floor. Lykha’s heart races, and she zips into the room.

Murtoa is seated against the corner furthest from the main ramp on the floor, leaning his head against the wall. Lykha panics, “Mury!? Mury!”

He replies wearily, “I’m… sorry for… the inconvenience.”

Gyrryth kneels nearby, asking, “Tell us what ails you, Sir Murtoa. We have reached the threshold of the village.”

Mury shifts slightly, but he doesn’t seem to be able to speak very well. He holds out his left forearm, dropping it onto his thigh. His hand falls near his thigh padding, where three tears in his pants are present.

Lykha gasps when she glimpses the flesh underneath. Though Mury’s armor always looks well-worn and beaten by all manner of damage from people and creatures alike, this damage is very obviously fresh.

And, the ashen color around the wounds is also quite telling.

Mury manages to add as Lykha’s gaze meets his, “Sorry… I… lied…”

“MURY!” screams Lykha as she begins to panic.

Gyrryth is speechless as Maerin stumbles away in disbelief, searching her immediate area for her desperately needed relief.

Lykha pleads, “Tell me what to do, Mury! Mury, please focus! Stay with me! Mury, please!”

A pounding sound comes from the main ramp, and Coco steps past Gyrryth to see what’s going on. The teen’s eyes begin to water as she sums up the scene in her own mind, but she says nothing right away.

Lykha whimpers, “W-Wish. M-Mury, m-make a wish. I-I’ll grant it. Please don’t leave me…”

His head shifts side to side in a quiet declining headshake, and he shifts his hand. Coco is the first to notice it, standing back as she is. He’s pointing -weakly- at the ramp. Without hesitation, Coco lowers the ramp, and Lykha cries out, “Coco! NO!”

The ramp lowers, revealing the scene to the villagers, who were already suspicious enough. The leader stares with a stern expression, but he says coldly, “So… the detection spell works…”

Lykha pleads, “It isn’t what it looks like! We have time to save him! Please!”

The leader looks at Coco, whose eyes are watering, but they show a determination to face him down; to fight him if need be.

“When was he infected?” asks the leader.

Gyrryth replies first, holding the most level composure, “Yesterday. We had an encounter with deranged creatures.”

The leader nods. “The plague. Did he get any bodily fluids on the rest of you; spit, sweat, blood; anything?”

Coco replies sourly, “No. He’s always wearin’ his armor. Always. Can’ne even cough on us.”

Lykha’s eyes widen as she looks at Gyrryth. “He even hasn’t bathed inside. He sprayed himself down with the hose last night.”

The leader sighs. “He has a week at most before he becomes one of those things. I suggest you find a place to leave him.”

Lykha shakes her head. “No. No, that’s not possible. This is… He’s M-OW!” She whirls when pain bites at her wing, and she finds Mury. He shakes his head wearily. She yells, “WHY NOT!? THIS ISN’T THE TIME!”

Gyrryth murmurs softly, “A name doesn’t have to die when the man does.”

“THAT’S STUPID! AND I DON’T CARE!” She whirls to face the leader, “He’s Murtoa of Lakia, whether you believe it or not! And he is NOT just some animal we’ll be tossing out back! He deserves better!” She sniffles, fighting back tears. “S-So, I’m going to save him. B-Because he’s always saved me.” She wipes her eyes, saying sternly, “So make a wish. Someone wish him safe right now. Wish him cured. If Mury won’t, one of you has to. I don’t care who.”

Gyrryth murmurs, “Lykha…”

Coco is silent, and she looks away when Lykha glares at her. She shouts, “MAERIN! Get out here and wish Mury healthy! Please! I’m the ONLY ONE who can’t! Please, villagers, any of you! Wish Mury healthy and safe! I’ll pay you!”

Coco finally snaps, “THE DAMN POINT OF IT ALL WOULD IT BE IF YE USE YOUR TRICK NOW, YA DAF’ BAE!? He clawed his way halfway across the world so YOU could go home! Because, of the lot of us, yer the only one who has a home to go to!”

Mury finally nods, and Lykha gasps, covering her mouth. She shakes her head frantically, “No! No no no no no! No! NO! That’s stupid! It’s not worth more than your life! Please, someone; anyone! NOW!”

Just as one of the villagers is about to speak, the leader puts his hand up, shaking his head.

Lykha shrieks, “WHY ARE YOU ALL DOING THIS!? HOW COULD YOU!? I’M WILLING TO TRADE ANYTHING FOR THIS MAN! PLEASE!”

The leader finally replies, “I’m sorry, young fairy. But, it wouldn’t matter anyways.”

All of them look at him, and he replies softly, “We know for a fact wishes can’t cure it. We don’t know how or why, just that it can’t.”

Lykha falls onto Mury’s lap, losing all strength and willpower.

The leader of the village group looks around at the four present. He says more gently than before, “I’m sorry. With the exception of your infected friend, we’ll allow the rest of you to enter the village and resupply. You can’t be here when he turns, though.”

Lykha is silent, and Coco stares at the floor. Gyrryth replies quietly, “Thank you. Please give us a moment.”

The leader nods, leading his group back towards the gate.

Mury’s hand moves weakly, gingerly touching Lykha, and she throws herself onto his hand, breaking down into sobs.

Coco sniffles, wiping tears from her eyes. She says sternly, “We’ll ask around town. We’ll ask every goob we find. We’ll find goobs to ask. There has to be something. Mury ain’t toesin’ up to no scratch.”

Maerin asks quietly, stumbling in with her flask, “Can we chop it off?”

Lykha sobs harder, and Coco glares at her, barely holding herself together. Gyrryth answers calmly, “No. It may have been an option at the time, and then healing magic may have been enough to restore him. But, it is likely far too late to isolate the infection from the rest of his body.”

Maerin stumbles by, saying, “Then we go with Coco’s plan. Le’s get walkin’.” Coco stops the quickly inebriated fairy with her boot, saying, “You’re missing your top, Bae.”

Maerin turns in a shaky posture, saying wearily, “Aye! Me bes’ assets fer ques’ionin’.”

Gyrryth massages his temples. He takes her poncho from the drying line nearby and puts it on her, scooping her up. “We should start with merchants. They may be more inclined to speak during business with them. Coco, get your gear. We need to ensure we reach them before the day is out.”

Coco nods, quickly darting to her bunk to retrieve her gearbag. She jogs back out, and the two hesitate while looking down at Mury and Lykha. Lykha is in no state to gather information, nor is it likely they’ll be able to pry her from Mury’s hand without a fearsome fight. They opt to let her have the time to be with him, just in case. Maerin empties her flask, leaning back against Gyrryth’s bicep. She murmurs softly, “Be back soon, Murmur.”

Gyrryth and Coco nod. They couldn’t say it better themselves. The three of them depart, leaving Lykha and Mury in the quiet sound of Lykha’s tears.

Lykha’s wish is the most unfair thing she’s ever known.

***