Glass or Diamond: Fairy's Wish

Lykha opens her eyes. The young fairy has been adventuring for some time now, and it only now occurs to her that she trusts her companions so wholeheartedly, she can sleep soundly around them.

Of course, she wasn’t just sleeping this time.

Maerin, the mature fairy whose wish is expended, is leaning over Lykha, her eyes red. She chokes out, “Lykha… Thank goodness…”

Lykha rubs her eyes, sitting up with Maerin’s help. “Wh-... What happen-?” An open hand smack finds her cheek, and she gently touches her cheek as she looks to Maerin. The mature fairy holds her own hand as she stifles sniffles. “You… idiot…”

Lykha stares at her in shock. Maerin rubs her face, adding more sourly, “Jus’ b-because I said… y-you have magic ‘s long as you’re breathing… b-but that wasn’t a suggestion.”

Lykha relaxes. “I’m sorry for worrying you. D-Did… we win?”

Maerin sniffles, nodding. “Murmur said you killed the nishkatan.”

“WE did. I’m not taking credit for that… Still can’t live down the ONE guy I blew up when I met…” Lykha looks around, recoiling when she sees Coco.

Or rather, Kessa. She relaxes, “Sorry, Kessa. I thought you were Coco.”

Kessa smiles. “She was distraught.” She grins. “‘Lykha! My beloved sister! I could’ne live without you!’”

Maerin laughs as she wipes the rest of her tears away. “Spot on, Kessa…”

Maerin straightens her outfit -a fairly simple long dress-. She states bluntly, “I have it on good authority we’re almost there.” Lykha straightens her own posture in surprise. “Wh-Where’s that?”

Kessa replies giddily, “Your home village, silly! You were asleep for two whole days!”

The young fairy gawks at the teen girl dressed in one of Mury’s spare undershirts and Coco’s pants instead of the leaves she was wearing. Kessa adds innocently, “Sir Murtoa said we’d make it today.”

Maerin adds, “A-About that, Lykha… You… You realize…”

“Realize what?” asks the younger fairy when her elder trails off. Maerin tugs at the collar of her dress. She’s more dressed up than usual, but she seems worried for another reason.

“Your village… None… None of us will be able to accompany you the final ascent.”

Lykha stares at her. “Wh-... What do you mean?”

Maerin sighs. “You’re not actually an idiot, Lykha… You know outsiders are forbidden to enter fairy villages.”

“Y-... You’re not outsiders… O-... Or, they HAVE to make an exception! You returned me home safe and sound! The-The rule is to keep out people who STEAL fairies, not… No. They’ll let you visit. I’m sure of it. You’ll see.”

“Lykha…”

“YOU’LL. SEE.” Lykha crosses her arms. “They’ll listen to me. You’re not outsiders.”

“These aren’t the Zaereens, Lykha…”

The young fairy darts up into the air, saying, “You’re wrong! It’s a precaution for bad people. I know we’re not trusting, but ALL of you have proved yourselves. Not to mention…” She trails off when she gestures at Maerin to refute Maerin’s own banishment. If the former alchemist COULD return home, she likely would have.

Lykha shakes her head as tears find her own eyes. “You’re wrong.” She darts upwards towards the cockpit. She arrives as the cockpit is tilting forward, indicating the vehicle reaching level ground.

Gyrryth notices her enter first, and he greets her, “Gentle One, it is…”

“Sorry Gyrryth! I’m sorry for worrying you, but I need to ask Mury something!”

Murtoa looks over his shoulder at her from the driver’s seat, and she darts down to in front of his helmet. She tries to summon her confidence, but he instantly erodes it. “Maerin told you the truth.”

Lykha gasps, recoiling. He adds, “I wasn’t sure how to tell you, and Maerin insisted we tell you before we reached the threshold. I assume she did.”

“You’re both wrong! They’ll make an exception! You-...”

“Fairies aren’t the exception type, Lykha. They don’t welcome outsiders.”

“I… But… I wanted…”

Coco offers in a surprisingly gentle tone, “Don’ worry yer thinka, Tricksie. Jus’... Jus’ glad we got ye home.” She smiles tenderly.

Lykha still tries to deny it, though. “Murtoa of Lakia… should be able to go anywhere he wants…”

Mury scoffs. “‘Murtoa of Lakia’ is pretty much everywhere already. I’m just one of many who wears the name.”

Lykha sniffles, sinking to a kneel on the console in front of him out of his way as he slows the vehicle to a parking spot. “That’s not true…”

Murtoa stops the vehicle, saying gently, “If I could defeat the monsters of the world with the truth alone, I’m sure my job would be easier. But, I can keep a promise or two.”

She sniffles, looking up at him with watering eyes. “Y-You never… You never promised me you would take me home…”

“True enough. But, here we are.” Lykha looks out the windshield, and her heart begins to race.

She recognizes where they are. She truly, truly recognizes it. She’s played here as a child and snuck “out” of the village to come here. Though fairies don’t welcome outsiders, it’s the closest outsiders can get to the village proper. And, there are dozens of tiny eyes watching from the shrubs and ancient stone structures decorating the pool of water sparkling in the sun.

The sun.

It’s so bright where they are. They’re nearly at the top of the colossal tree, to the point that there’s very little foliage cover blocking out the sun. Above them, floating like a magic jewel, is the sacred garden where the fairy village is. The sacred garden is much larger than Lykha ever realized, but it fits, given how many fairies live in the village. Though fairies can fly to and from the sacred garden, many magic spells protect it from intrusion. It also can only be seen by… She looks down, realizing the many reasons her friends can’t get anywhere nearer to the village, even if she tried.

She looks at Murtoa. “What do you see ahead of us?”

He looks at her. “The spirit pond. A few structures. Open sky.”

“H-... How can you…?”

“Not see it? I assume a magic spell.”

Lykha looks down. “C-... What if we just… go? We’re just fairies…”

“I have no intention of invading a fairy village, Lykha. You don’t have to worry about us.” She clutches the collar of her shirt. “W-... Will… If I can convince her… Will you… Will you at least wait to meet my mother? I-... I want to… I want her to meet you.”

Coco snaps somewhat playfully, “OI! No fair! Tryin’ to introduce ‘Bando to ye mama! Tha’s cheatin’.”

Lykha manages to smile, and Murtoa replies sincerely. “We’ll wait. Have you decided what to do with the sage’s remains?”

Lykha slumps a little, and Coco scolds, “Oi! ‘Bando! ‘Ave a li’ul think! Ye done tinkled the drink!”

Lykha smiles, replying softly, “It’s okay, Coco. Yes. I’d… I think I’d like to bury her here, near the spirit pond. I think she’d… I hope she’d have liked that.”

He nods. “We should present ourselves. The sages are wary.”

She nods, glancing at the elder fairies gathering just out of sight of the human, with Grandmother Galla visible near the archway next to the spirit pond.

The group gathers in the cargo hold, and Lykha takes a deep breath. She nods at Gyrryth, who presses the button to lower the ramp. Murtoa is the first to exit, and the others follow, bracing themselves against the sunlight that is significantly brighter than what they’ve experienced for the last few weeks.

The eldest fairy sage growls, “Humans and drakyks are not welcome here, outsiders. Return whence you came, and…”

“Grandmother Galla!” Lykha flies quickly out front, darting to the fairy elder.

“Lykha? Blessed spirits…” The revelation of Lykha’s return sends ripples of murmurs and whispers throughout the fairies hidden around them, as well as the sages junior to Galla. Galla hugs Lykha, petting the young fairy’s head. “I truly had feared you were lost to us, dear child.”

Lykha sniffles, choking out as relief and happiness overcomes her. “It’s all thanks to my friends. Grandmother, these people… They’re…”

“Do not soil this moment, child. You know our laws. That you have returned to us whole is a miracle. Let us celebrate that miracle.”

“I… Yes, Grandmother.” Lykha smiles, though she’s not quite as energetic. “Can I at least introduce them, Grandmother?”

Galla sizes up the ragtag group of adventurers. A human warrior in shoddy makeshift armor, a drakyk spell caster, two southern demons no older than their teens, and an adult fairy whose wish has been expended. “Perhaps… But, perhaps first, you could explain the fallen you travelled here with.”

Maerin speaks for herself, “My wish was used by a former colleague. No one here was responsible.” She crosses her arms, showing little care or respect for the elder the way the other fairies, including Lykha, are.

Galla hovers a little way past Lykha, studying them further. She retorts to Maerin, “Strange you did not attempt to steal your sister’s wish.”

“A wish can’t be stolen, and you know it. I foolishly granted a wish. I’m glad we were able to return Lykha safely.”

Galla stares at them as the other fairies nervously look on. It’s clear few talk back to a fairy sage, least of all with such a lack of respect.

Galla finally speaks, looking at Lykha, “Introduce your companions, Lykha, so that they may be on their way.”

“Uh… Y-Yes, Grandmother.” She flies to each person, starting with Coco and Kessa. “This is Coco, a techromancer and mechanic. Sh-She fixes the vehicles and makes tools to help us!” The older fairies snicker at the title and the mundane work. Lykha wonders if she thought so lowly of outsider tools and equipment when she was a naive fairy. Regardless, she continues, “And, this is Kessa. She’s a mage capable of powerful healing magic.” She smiles as the teen bows politely, as opposed to Coco who is standing with her arms crossed.

“This is Maerin, our chemist. Even after losing her wish, she has been a big help. A-And Gyrryth, our spellshot. He’s taught me many things about both magic and survival.” Gyrryth removes his hat, bowing at the waist. “My sincere pleasure, Gentle One.”

Lykha then blushes, introducing her closest companion last. “A-And this… Is… M-Murtoa of Lakia.”

Gasps wash across the crowd, and even Galla seems to be surprised. Mury doesn’t move. He doesn’t like the hero effect of his name. He prefers to come and go as a faceless warrior wandering town to town, forgotten as quickly as he appears, and gone before his reputation catches up to him.

He also gets the other response when he is accused of being Murtoa of Lakia; “What makes you so certain this… human is the hero of the stories, child?”

Lykha gushes instantly, “BECAUSE I’VE SEEN IT! I’ve helped him! We’ve defeated a BUNCH of monsters together. A nightenmael, two silveryourds, and even a nishkatan just a couple days ago!”

The fairies murmur, and Galla seems less than pleased. Mury finally speaks, but it doesn’t inspire a lot of happiness in Lykha. “Regardless, Lady Sage, our goal at this place was to return Lykha home. She still has her wish, so I’ve heard she wouldn’t be banished. We won’t trouble you further.”

A few of the younger fairies giggle and coo in awe and adoration, and Galla shoots them a brief glare that scatters the young fairies.

Lykha adds, “Oh! A-... And, we encountered a fairy who… didn’t make it. I was hoping I could bury her near the spirit pond so she could rest peacefully.”

Galla looks at her skeptically, asking, “Didn’t make it, you say?”

Lykha nods solemnly. “She died in a fight she started. H-Her name was Yanari.”

This causes all of the elders, including Galla, to audibly gasp. Lykha fidgets with her hands, and Galla asks at a low growl, “How did you come to know Yanari?”

The young fairy fidgets nervously, squeaking syllables. Murtoa replies brutally, “She lured our party into a trap and attempted to use mind control to use Lykha’s wish. I killed her.”

Again, the other fairies around them murmur in surprise, as well as some amount of adoration for the human willing to go against a fairy like Yanari, who seems to have more of a reputation than they expected.

Galla explains coldly, “Yanari is an old name. One not welcome here.”

Murtoa replies, “She’s dead. She can’t harm anyone ever again.”

“You didn’t know her, human. Clearly.”

Lykha wonders if Galla means the journal, but she halts her own thoughts. The very fact that Galla would be concerned with the journal or its contents doesn’t refute anything within. If anything, it validates what Yanari said.

Lykha bows her head, pleading softly, “Please, Grandmother. I hold no residual hate for Yanari. I only want to let her rest.”

The fairy sage stares at Lykha for a moment, looking at Murtoa with cold eyes for a moment as well.

Galla finally replies after a long time of silent deliberation. “You may bury the saearlossei here. Your friends will leave after.” She smiles with a practiced shift from cold and stern to warm and caring. “It’s good to have you back, Lykha.” Galla turns her back and hovers away from the group, and Lykha bows respectfully, replying sincerely, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

Lykha turns to her friends as the fairies mostly return to what they were doing, though the young fairies are scolded not to go near the outsiders. Murtoa doesn’t say anything, but he does survey their surroundings, while Coco states sassily to Lykha, “Aye! No wonda ye left, Tricksie. All tricksies here.”

Lykha smirks. “Let me guess. I’m the worst one?”

Coco grins deviously, teasing the fairy without further words. Kessa remarks to Coco, “There’s a reason there are no boy fairies…”

Gyrryth, similarly watching their surroundings more overtly than Murtoa, remarks, “I am more surprised we are allowed to stay this long. I do not believe we are any more welcome than a moment ago.”

Mury replies, “I’d argue less so. Lykha, go find your mother if you want her to meet us. We’ll prepare Yanari’s remains.”

Lykha smiles and nods, murmuring, “Thank you.” She starts to hover towards the village, but she halts. She darts close to Murtoa’s helmet, pointing at him sternly. “Don’t you DARE try to sneak away while I’m not here. Promise me. Promise me you won’t sneak away.”

“I won’t leave until we say goodbye. I promise.”

She nods. “Coco, don’t let him.”

Coco scoffs, retorting, “Ye think I want to do anythin’ you say, Bae?” She puts her nose up with her arms crossed and eyes closed. She opens one eye to look at Lykha, who isn’t buying it. The teen grins. “Aye. I’m no’ lettin’ us go wi’out one las’ gab.” Maerin nods in agreement. “We’re not going anywhere. I might be the least capable, but Coco can probably fix what I break.” She winks, and Coco nods.

“I’m counting on you.” She glares at Murtoa, who absolutely would sneak away to avoid saying goodbye and Lykha leaving with them. She starts to fly towards the village again, and again, she stops in her tracks. She turns more slowly, murmuring, “Mury?”

He replies with a hint of amusement in his voice. “What is it?”

The young fairy fidgets with her hands, blushing. “I… Wh-... When I was a young girl… A friend of mine, Rylinair… She… left the village, and she returned… But, she left again after… I… I finally understand why…”

“I told you, you’re not bound to this mission.”

“Not that, Mury…”

Kessa, realizing what’s about to happen the quickest, whispers to Maerin. Maerin states sharply, “Let’s go. The air’s getting mushy here.”

Kessa pushes Coco, against the other teen’s resistance as she complains, “Oi! What’cha think ye doin’!?”

Maerin growls, “Shut up and go, Coco, or I’ll tell Mury that thing.”

The fiery teen blushes, shouting as she runs, “There’s nothin’ ta say, ye soggy brained Bae!”

Gyrryth, the last to leave, gives a knowing smile and bows, walking to follow the others.

Murtoa watches them leave briefly, and then looks at Lykha again. He says softly, “You don’t have to say it.”

Lykha smiles sheepishly, fidgeting with her hands. “Yes, I do. It’s long overdue… I’ve known for a while, Mury. But… It’s true. I… I love you. I couldn’t -I wouldn’t- be standing here if it weren’t for you… I… I don’t want to be apart from you.”

Murtoa is silent for a moment, but she knows he heard and is absorbing every word. He finally looks down awkwardly, and Lykha realizes he’s never had to address this before. Or, rather, not with someone who he might actually feel something for in return. He replies quietly, “Lykha, I… I promised not to break your heart, but… You know…”

She smiles. “You’re obsessed with killing monsters, and there’s one you have to kill before anything else, right?”

He hesitates, but nods.

“Do… you…?”

“I don’t know love. But, I care about you. It’s… hard… to imagine the future…”

Lykha smiles, and her eyes begin to water. “Y-... You can say it, Mury. P-Please say it.” She wipes her eyes, looking at him with hope and pleading. “J-Just once.”

He is silent for a moment, but he replies sincerely, “It’s true. I think I love you, Lykha.”

She shivers in ecstasy, disbelieving but so very thankful for the words she just heard. She says excitedly, “I’m going to go find my mother! Wait right here! I’ll be right back!”

He nods, and she darts towards the village. This time, she doesn’t stop.

***

The group reassembles as Murtoa finds a spot near the spirit pond and removes the small package containing the remains of a fairy sage. Coco remarks, “Tricksie a slick-gab cheata, I see.”

Maerin teases, “We all knew, Coco. She just finally got to say it.”

Kessa gushes, “It’s sooooo romantic…”

The techromancer crosses her arms, retorting, “Aye. She said it.” She faces Murtoa, putting her cutest pose on display. “M-Mury? I-I love you, too.”

Murtoa pauses digging a small grave with his hands, and he looks at the teen. “I have to tell you the same thing I told Lykha. I have things to accomplish first.”

“AYE! And yer true wife will step the same all the way, Love!” She smiles, saying cutely, “Me.”

Maerin teases, “Absolutely shameless.”

Gyrryth kneels next to Murtoa, saying more seriously and on a separate topic, “Personal feelings aside, Sir Murtoa, I do not think we should delay.”

“I know. The sages are discussing throwing us off of the tree.”

Surprised, Coco glances at the fairies hiding as they watch the outsiders. She asks, “These tricksies? They’s younga than a cri-... toddleblo-... little’un. K-... Kid?”

Gyrryth nods, and she nods in return.

Murtoa counters as he finishes digging the hole, “The sages withdrew beyond the veil. It hides the village and a large region around it. And, the Lady Galla was more hospitable than fairies typically are. They’re still pondering us as a threat, though.”

Maerin, also skeptical of her people, retorts softly, “They wouldn’t dare.”

Gyrryth replies, “I would not be one to aggravate. Every sage I saw seemed to emit a strong presence. Quite likely stronger in magic than I could ever hope to be.”

Murtoa nods. “I’ve never heard of anyone coming this close to a fairy village. It’s likely we’re lucky we made it this far.” He places the package in the hole gently and with great care, and Maerin walks forward.

She glances around, saying quietly, “They won’t attack us. They knew Lykha was with us, or we wouldn’t have gotten this close. You’re right. But, they also don’t want outsiders to know what we know.” She looks up at the human warrior, and she adds, “That fairy sages exist.”

Coco asks, “Why’s ‘at matta?”

Kessa explains, “How many wishes can a fairy sage grant?”

Coco furrows her brow, retorting sharply, “Goob if I know.”

Kessa nods. “Exactly.”

“‘Xactly what!? Ye gabbin’ jabber.”

“What if stories started that sages could grant additional wishes?” She whispers loudly enough for everyone to hear, “They can.” She then returns to normal volume, adding, “Everyone in the world crafty enough to go after fairies would dedicate more energy if they discovered a sage.”

Maerin adds, “They also don’t seem particularly happy we knew a rogue sage. What could she have taught us that they don’t want outsiders to know?”

Coco shrugs. “Soun’s like fliffery.”

Murtoa adds silently, “It is. We’ll be gone soon enough. Put it out of your minds.” He adds almost inaudibly, “For now.”

The group goes silent, and Maerin looks at the small bundle containing the fairy sage. She sighs, pulling out her flask. She pours a shot, rather than drinking from it straight. She says dryly, “You were an old hag and tried to screw my friend, so rot in peace, Yanari. God willing the rest of us are so lucky.” She drinks the shot in a toast as she dumps the rest of her flask out over the bundle.

Kessa steps up and kneels, laying a flower on the alcohol-soaked rags, saying, “I wish what you were doing was secret… But, I thank you for your kindness for all those years… Goodbye, Yanari.” The teen sits on her shins for a moment, adding softly, “The plague was a curse of a fairy sage, but also, a threat to a greater evil. The Watchers did not ignore you. They were afraid of you.”

Maerin asks softly, “Any chance we can take Lykha with us? I worry…”

Murtoa replies simply, “She belongs here. They won’t hurt her.” He looks at the wishless fairy and adds softly, “If they try…”

Maerin smiles warmly, and Coco chuckles deviously. The human warrior then looks over his shoulder to Gyrryth, “Anything you’d like to say, Gyrryth?”

“I regrettably had no positive view of the Elder. May she rest in peace. As The Mature One said, we all should be so lucky at our ends.”

Coco jokes, “Methinks I shoul’ make friends wi’ one of these Tricksies an’ convince her to keep me alive foreva. No wish. Tricks. Mus’ be somethin’, aye?”

Murtoa scoffs, and Kessa replies quietly, “There are ways. W-Would you like me to…”

This prompts the colossus slayer to reply curtly, “Don’t. Coco, do you want to say anything on Yanari’s behalf?”

The teen techromancer shrugs. “Seems wasted gab. Bae tried to slick and stick Tricksie. Lucky I’m no’ emptyin’ me gol’water on ‘er.”

Murtoa nods. But, the teen adds a little sheepishly, “Bu’... I… I guess,... be dead quietly an’ thanks for failin’, I guess.” She shrugs and fidgets uncomfortably. “I’mm’a check the runna, case these Tricksies get ta rib-tickin’.”

Again, Murtoa nods, saying softly, “Thank you, Coco.” She blushes a little, but hurries off.

Murtoa says calmly, “We don’t all pick where we start, and we don’t pick where we end. Yanari lived more life than most of us ever will, and she destroyed lives to do it. Let her acts be lessons for the rest of us, and the life she lived sate her in the afterlife.”

Gyrryth adds, “Amen, my friend.”

Murtoa adds after a small pause, “I was going to wait to bury her for Lykha…”

“I was beginning to wonder what’s taking her so long as well.” Kessa looks in the direction the young fairy flew, but the veil makes her destination invisible to them.

A shrewd older voice, familiar to the group now, says coldly, “You have completed your tasks. Your tolerated presence is officially expired.”

The human warrior stands up, pivoting to face the fairy elder, Galla. He replies plainly, “I promised Lykha I would wait for her.”

“Then you made a promise you had no right to make. Leave, outsiders, before I cast you from this tree.”

There’s a long tense moment of quiet, and normally, Murtoa is content to defuse and acquiesce to people who are otherwise non-hostiles. However, this time, he retorts coldly, “If we all die, we ALL will die, Lady Galla.”

This stuns his companions as much as the fairy sage and her own allies. The two stare down coldly, with the fairy unintimidated by the size difference, but forced to hesitate by the resolute counter she just recieved.

One of the fairy sages asks nervously, “You would die just to try to keep a promise?”

Murtoa looks at her briefly, replying instantly, “Yes.” He looks back to Galla, resuming the silent staredown. No one makes a threatening move, and finally, Murtoa states, “I said we’d leave when our business is done. Lykha is the one that wanted Yanari buried here. It’s only fitting that I wait for her.”

Galla glances at the incomplete burial, and she quickly realizes what the human warrior just did.

The old fairy snaps her fingers, and silence befalls the two of them. Or rather, she’s blocking all external sounds from reaching the two of them, and she’s likewise blocking their conversation from leaving the two of them.

“Did Yanari tell Lykha anything.”

“Plenty. Everything Lykha wanted to hear.”

“Anything else?”

“Nothing worth considering truth.”

She clenches her jaw briefly, thinking. She growls, “You’re lucky I’m uncertain of whether you are the real Murtoa of Lakia or not.”

“I have no interest in proving it, Lady Galla.”

She stares at him silently again. She then snaps her fingers to remove the silence spell. “Finish the burial and leave. If you even step towards the children…”

“We won’t.”

She still doesn’t want to concede, but thanks to him defining the “end” of the agreed upon time; the completion of Yanari’s burial, neither of them “lose” the argument. She turns and hovers away, followed reluctantly by the other fairy sages. Maerin lets out the first burst of noise, sighing dramatically as she sinks to her back on the grass. She curses in fey, “Yassbata klessoooop!” She throws her empty flask at Murtoa, and it clinks off of his thigh armor, prompting him to look down at it briefly. The mature fairy groans, “Are you mad, Murmur!? I mean, that was awesome, but I am WAAAAAY too undrunk to be picking fights with a bunch of sages!”

“I made a promise.”

Gyrryth chuckles. “I have seen few things that made me so nervous, Sir Murtoa. Regardless, it was exhillarating.”

“...RRRRYYYYY!” The group turns towards the voice calling out, concerned that it’s Coco calling for help. Instead, it’s Lykha, flying at full speed. Her face is contorted in pain and tears are streaming from her eyes, sprinkling the air in sparkles in the sunlight.

She flies directly to his helmet, stopping herself so she can look into his eyes as her hands touch his face plate. “M-M-Mury! Sh-Sh-Sh…”

“Try to steady and tell us what happened.”

Lykha wipes her face continuously, fighting the tears as she tries to regain control of her words. She whimpers, “M-My mother… Sh-Sh… She’s not here…”

“Not here?” asks Maerin. “This is the right village, isn’t it?”

Lykha nods, adding through sniffles and sobs, “Y-Yes. B-But she’s… She left the village… J-Just a couple days ago…”

Kessa asks gently, stepping closer to Lykha to comfort the fairy. “Was she looking for us?”

Murtoa replies, “There shouldn’t be any way she knew…” He trails off.

Gyrryth fills in, “The shockwave…”

“Sh-Shockwave?” asks Lykha nervously.

Murtoa asks, “Have you heard or felt the presence of the spirits today, Lykha?”

She thinks for a moment, shaking her head solemnly. “N-No… What happened?”

Kessa asks nervously, “My spell?”

Murtoa nods. “Afraid so. It seems it sent ripples rather far, which is a complication. Did anyone tell you where your mother was going?”

Lykha fidgets nervously, “I-... I guess… some beills -um, adolescent fairies- have gone missing. Sh-She… went to look for them.”

Murtoa kneels and asks, “Any words you want to speak for Yanari?”

Startled by the question, Lykha quickly says, “Oh! Y-Yes… I’m sorry…” She lowers to the ground, folding her hands together. “Yanari… You lived a long life I can’t imagine, and I fear I don’t want to. I know I should hate you, and that I should be content… but… I’m sorry… Please forgive me… Even after everything, I… I never wanted you to die… I-... If you can… please find redemption…” She then kneels, pausing when the smell of alcohol reaches her. She partially glances at Maerin, but stays focused on the bundle. She gestures her hand in a soft wave, like she’s gingerly swirling the surface of water. A few magic sparkles sprinkle from her hand, coming to rest on the bundle. “Please accept this light so you can find your way back from...” She softens, all but whispering the final words. “... your lost path. Gleaiess varaila tome…” She sniffles, wiping her face and scooping dirt onto the bundle. Murtoa helps her bury the bundle, and she hesitates on her knees for a moment.

Murtoa says softly, “Well said.” He then offers his hand, in spite of the awkward height difference, and she gingerly takes it. He lifts her into flight and up to their normal speaking level. He asks, “Direction she went?”

Lykha sniffles, nodding. She looks towards the village and searches the horizon, making sense of her directions. She replies, “I don’t know for sure, but they said she left the village that way.” The young fairy points, and she looks over her shoulder at Murtoa. He nods.

Kessa asks, “How do we plan to find a fairy in this forest?”

Murtoa replies, “If Lykha is willing;” He looks directly at the young fairy. “The spirits can detect magic.”

***