"So tell me, what is it like in the Fae land?"
Eryth asked as he and Danila walked side by side while the other two were in front.
Danila was quiet for a while before speaking, keeping her voice low.
"Where do I even start? The Fae land used to be filled with lush forests, vibrant meadows, sparkling streams, and colourful flora," she continued. "The landscape was ethereal and enchanting, with trees that whisper ancient secrets of the ones that came before us, flowers that glow in the moonlight—"
She smiled as her mind wandered to the past. "It was beautiful."
Eryth hummed. "Sounds to me like you are just giving good praises to your home."
The fairy jumped in front of Eryth with a frown that the former deemed cute. "I'm telling you, it's not just praises, it is and even more than the words I use to describe it to be."
Eryth placed his hand on her shoulder and tucked back a stray hair from her face. "Okay, I believe."
Her cheeks turned red as a smile crawled up her lips.
"I have heard stories of how beautiful and peaceful the Fae land was, never-ending tales of light, trees and rainbows." He moved his hand from her hair to her jaw, shifting her head up while leaning closer.
"You…" he stopped abruptly.
Danila's brows moved up as she noticed Eryth's eyes moving over her shoulder.
[Are you okay?]
"Guys, come look at this," the Mage called out.
Syrie and Blutox quickly returned to where the other two were.
Eryth pointed at strange tiny markings on a tree. "What is that?"
[It's a warning] Danila said, using her telepathy to speak to the whole crew after yet another failed attempt to talk out loud as everyone was there, and even then, her voice came out with a little crack in it.
"You can read it?"
[It's Faeling, written by a fairy to warn about the Shadow Fae]
"Shadow Fae?"
There was a long silence until it was broken by Eryth's words. "Our narrator is feeling a little shy, so I'll be doing the talking." He shook his head while patting Danila's head.
Danila glared at Eryth who winked at her.
"A very, very long time ago, there used to be this fairy in the faeland, she was the sister of the Fae queen at that time… a descendant of the Fae goddess."
"She was very powerful and she protected the Fae people from any harm until she got overwhelmed and tapped into the Chaos side, she touched and read the Chaos script: The Tome of Discordia."
"This overwhelmed her with much chaos energy and abilities, matching that of the Fae gods and because of the long life Fairies have, she was able to live long even after opening the book… she was driven out of the Fae land and this made her seek refuge in the one place she wouldn't be rejected, the Hecahiyk, becoming part of and one of the strongest Choas gods at that time…"
"At that time?" Blutox repeated.
Eryth continued. "Well, the thing about us fairies… I mean about fairies. They lose their energy and weaken the older they get, which is why Frostholm, the Shadow fae began to hunt and kill souls for their energy, but she was hunted down and trapped in this forest by a Fae goddess using her life essence to stop the Shadow Fae from escaping and with this marking, she warns travellers to stay away from this path."
"Is there another path we could take?" Syrie queried.
Blutox nodded. "There is, but that'll mean going back to the last village we were at, which is a five-day journey."
"And following this part is certain death," Syrie said, drowning the group in dilemma.
Eryth stepped forward. "There's only one thing to do one."
"We'll have to take on the Shadow Fae!" Eryth declared.
"We go back the way we came!" Syrie chipped.
Syrie turned to Eryth with her brows furrowed. "Are you insane? This path is certain death, it's better we take the longer path and live more days."
"I agree with Eryth," Blutox said while turning to the danger-warned path.
"We don't have much time left. Who knows when Hex plans to execute his final plan? We have to act fast, and this." He pointed at the warning. "This is our way."
Eryth turned to Danila. "Do you know what she looks like so you can warn us if we do see her?"
Danila shook her head no.
[It was thousands of years back, how'd you expect me to know?]
'Fair enough'
Blutox turned to face the path they were to follow. He exhaled and pulled out his sword. "We just have to make a quick pass through the woods and that is all, no detours, no pause, no turning back, we got it."
"Ay, cap'n Blue."
"You guys are insane."
Eryth stepped close to Syrie and pulled her close. "Don't you worry, honey, I'll keep you safe."
Syrie's cheeks flushed but she immediately shook it off and tucked Eryth's hand away.
The four started down the path warned against. They continued through, eyes peeled out for any danger in sight and ears ringing deep for whatever sound that lurked in the dark.
"I think she died of hunger or perhaps old age," Eryth joked.
The moment he spoke the words, the sky turned completely dark and a heavy rain accompanied by a strong wind and thunderstorm began to fall.
"We can't continue this way!" Eryth said, trying to use his Rune Act to control the rain but it was too much, almost as if the gods had it out for them.
"There, there's a cabin." Blutox pointed at a small house a few meters away from them.
Without wasting any time, the four rushed up to the building and hurried in, sparing no time to knock.
Once inside, they stopped to check their surrounding. It was just a normal cabin and the wall significantly reduced the noise from the rain.
"Anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?" Eryth queried.
"A cabin, in the middle of a forbidden forest, it has to be her," Blutox said, already readying his sword.
"Honey, is that you?" A female voice called out from up a flight of stairs. The voice was followed by slow steps as a lady walked down the stairs.
She made an abrupt stop as she noticed the four staring back at her with Blutox holding his sword.
She was light-skinned with striking features and almond-shaped ice-blue eyes that sparkled. Her flowing bright white hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, framing her delicate face. She wore a stunning floor-length gown in a vibrant shade of sapphire blue, adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered in the light.
"W-who are you?" She stuttered, the horror and fear visible in her eyes.
Eryth used his hand to move Blutox's sword away. Looking at her outfit, he guessed she was waiting for someone else, her husband perhaps.
"Mother? What is it?" A male child's voice called from up the stairs.
"Go back up Trix, everything's fine, go back to sleep."
Eryth put his hands up in surrender and took some steps forward.
"My husband is a Demigod, he'll kill you if you dare touch me," she threatened.
The Mage chuckled. "We are just travellers, there is a storm outside so we came here to stay until it passes, if you don't mind of course."
"I…" she paused, looking between the four. "Travellers, following through the forbidden forest?"
"We had no idea it was forbidden till we got here, and it'll take longer if we were to go around."
She paused, no doubt weighing her options. "I don't mind, as long as you only stay down there."
"Of course, thank you."
Eryth turned to the others and smiled. "Guess the warnings are wrong." He interlocked his index and middle finger and a rune marking appeared on all four of them, drying out the water.
Eryth looked up to see the lady still staring down at them. As he gazed into her ice-blue eyes, he couldn't help but admire the beauty she possessed.
"Were you expecting someone else?"
She nodded. "Yes, my husband. He's supposed to be back today and I dressed this way to surprise him, I…" she stopped. "Sorry, I talk too much."
"It's okay, I don't mind hearing your story," he sat on the ground as he spoke, leading the other three to follow his actions.
"Was that your son up there?" Eryth asked.
"Yeah, he's still a little boy."
Eryth smiled. "Trix, that was his name right?"
"Mm, Trix is his name."
Eryth could see that she was stopping herself from speaking too much.
The lady cleared her throat and sat on the stairs. "It's pouring outside, it happens often, and sometimes it takes a long time before it stops."
"Why are you in this forest?" Syrie queried. "Haven't you heard the tales of the Shadow Fae that was trapped here?"
The woman smiled. "Oh, yeah… my husband slayed her. When we arrived here, she was already old and weak and all he had to do was drive his sword through her chest."
"He doesn't tell me why, but he doesn't want us to interact with the outside world, which is why he built this cabin for us to stay here, alone… though sometimes I wonder how the outside is and I'm sad that our child won't communicate with real people."
"I'd say your husband was right to keep you here, the outside world is… filled with Chaos, it's safer in here."
Her smile widened. "Where are my manners? May I get you something to drink?"
"Sure."
A few moments later, the lady gave them each a cup of water before giving them space. This time, she sat on the ground, leaving only a round table between them.
"What is this chaos that troubles the world?" She asked.
"Well, this crazy guy, Hex is going around claiming to be the one true god and killing people to get stronger. He has his people all around this Realm."
"Oh my, must be terrible."
Her words were interrupted by Syrie as she began to cough. She placed her hand on her temple and began to breathe uncontrollably.
"Can I use your bathroom?" Syrie asked.
"Sure, this way." The lady led her to a room away from the one they were in earlier. Once in, she shut the door and turned to Syrie.
"How do you feel?"
"N-not good."
"I know," she replied.
"You feel like going on a rampage. You feel hungry and desperately need to feed, am I right?"
Syrie's eyes widened in fear. "Wh… are you?"
"Forget who I am and succumb to the desire."
"Feed."
The Lamia didn't hesitate for a second more. She lunged at the lady and dug her fangs deep into her neck. But as she fed, she slowly fell to her knees until she was on the ground and unable to move.
The bite mark on the lady's neck healed as she turned to walk back to the room where the others were.
"Well as I was saying?"
She stopped as she noticed Danila shaking Eryth who sat in his position, not moving any part of his body but his eyes were open, while Blutox lay motionless on the ground.
"You are still awake, as expected from a Fae."
Danila turned to the lady, eyes widened, chest uneven, and mouth dry with fear.
"You are…"
She smiled wickedly and waved at Danila.
"Frostholm"
....
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