Some say that when you're a thousand and something years old, you should be mature enough to know life well, and therefore make fewer mistakes. But the truth is it really depends on the world you live in. For example, in more peaceful worlds, one thousand years were not enough to learn about the traps and twists of fate and her quirky sense of humor. One thousand years were just enough to make sure there was always room for more suffering.
Elyre had spent so much time in the library of Vahara Arta, she almost perceived it as a second home. It was soon time to leave.
"Is Wild Wood really so far from here?" The librarian Heliona wondered. She had known from the start that Elyre would leave, but now when the time had finally come, she felt a bit sad.
"Really, very far," Elyre replied. "Why do you look worried? I'm just going to teleport back home," Elyre said on noticing Heliona's tense expression.
The old woman laughed,
"Teleportation also isn't easy," she said in a level voice. "What if you got lost in magic?"
"But we don't live in the 30th century," Elyre protested. "Today's technology is reliable."
Despite all the troubles she'd encountered here, today she was happy. Because she was going home in Wild Wood, because she was going to see her sister the Princess of the Wood-nymphs Phyllada again.
Yes, she remembered the promise she gave Aristhaeus that she would marry him. She didn't know what to think about it. He hadn't asked about her amulet again and he'd left it with her.
She had come here to find a cure for Wild Wood. Had she succeeded? She had found something but this didn't mean it would work. It was too early to be happy. Maginopia, the illness Wild Wood suffered from, was thought to be incurable. So even though Elyre had found a cure, she couldn't believe it could work. After all, it might all come to nothing.
She remembered the magnificent halls of the library and the helpful people she had met here, and she smiled to herself.
"You can stay longer if you want to," Heliona said. They hadn't known each other for a long time but they felt like they were old friends really.
"The..." Elyre was just about to say 'the archmage' but corrected herself, "Mage Phabian is going to leave soon and I will travel with him. I am truly grateful to you. But I don't want to procrastinate. The sooner I bring the cure back, the better." Elyre sighed.
"Mage Phabian? You came together and you leave together? Are you really close to him?" Heliona was thoughtful. Perhaps Elyre was aware of his identity. "It looks like you know each other well."
"Does it?" Elyre wondered.
***
When Elyre met Aristhaeus, he had a very strange expression on his face. He looked... pale and hurt. Also, he was silent.
She would've asked "What's the matter?" but he spoke first.
"Elyre, would you please come with me?" he asked very monotonously as she left Heliona. From his tone she understood he had something very serious to tell her.
He walked the corridor and when they were completely alone, he said solemnly,
"News reached me from the mainland. There has been an incident in Wild Wood... It has been destroyed."
"Incident?" Elyre wondered. "What kind of an incident? ...A fire? ...And what do you mean 'destroyed?'"
"Elyre, I've heard it's major destruction. Most probably by magic. You have to be very careful as we don't know who's behind that." However, he could guess it had to be the Queen for such major destruction. He caught Elyre's hand. "I don't want to speak too much in advance. When we go there, we will see for ourselves."
"How about the people?" Elyre asked. Suddenly she felt dizzy.
He felt even more guilty because he'd promised her he'd improve the forest's condition if she married him, but now there was no way to fulfill his promise.
"How about my mother and sister?" Elyre asked. Her eyes were searching for answers.
"I don't know yet," he said. "Elyre, I don't know what's happened there but I promise I will be with you."
"It can't be so serious. I have to go and check," she said.
"*We* have to go and check," he insisted. He hugged her. "Please, Elyre, believe me. It would be my deepest regret if you think that I misled you on purpose when I said I'd help Wild Wood," he said. "The Phabian you knew is not very different from Aristhaeus."
She looked him in the eyes. She wasn't sure about the rest of the things, but this one sounded as sincere as he could ever sound.
"I..." she started, "have to go alone. If something so disturbing has happened in Wild Wood, the survivors would be very frightened. It is not a good idea to appear there with a mage, or with the archmage. They will ask about who you are, I don't want to have to lie to them."
Aristhaeus wasn't sure what to answer. He thought it wasn't a good idea for her to go alone there.