"Did you happen to see an illusion?" Humming asked cautiously as if she was embarrassed.
'An illusion? Was it an illusion?'
Kalia thought seriously then shook her head and answered, "From my understanding, the Fairy Forest's fog shows one's greatest aspirations or the person you miss the most but what I saw earlier was a strange woman I'd never met before. Above all, she looked like a fairy."
(T/C: *cough* soooooo I'm wondering. If the fog did work on Kalia and if she was in the fog, would she see Simon?)
"Oh, well, maybe she's a fairy who lives in this forest?"
"Maybe."
That was the most reasonable hypothesis. However, it was a little strange for an adult fairy to roam the forest alone. Most fairies of that size were high-rank fairies with a human-like appearance. They were very cohesive and usually didn't wander alone.
'That means….'
That there could be other fairies nearby. Kalia looked around slowly with heightened senses but she didn't feel the presence or energy of other fairies. However, she could see the light yellow hair fluttering from behind another tree.
'…Why is she over there?'
Kalia looked in the tree's direction again and her eyes met the eyes of the fairy who had slightly peeked her head out. Perhaps she was shy but the fairy seemed to stomp her feet before shrinking back behind the tree. She couldn't hear the sound, but somehow, the fairy seemed to scream1.
'I must be mistaken, right?'
Kalia's brow furrowed and eyes narrowed again.
'Are they hiding or not? I thought she left but she actually came closer. She's close enough to be observed….'
Right now, the fairy was hiding behind a tree so slender it couldn't cover her entire body. Parts of her hair and clothes peaked out from behind both sides of the tree. Dirt splashed everytime she stamped her feet. Truthfully, it was no different from signalling 'I'm here' with her body even though she was 'hiding'.
Humming, who watched Kalia give a light sigh, tilted her head and thought the whole thing was strange. "Hey, Kallia. What's over there?"
"Humming. Behind that tree, you really can't see that woman – no – that fairy?"
"Behind the tree? There's nothing there," Humming replied as if she had no idea what was going on.
Kalia's gaze couldn't help but slide back and forth between Humming and the woman behind the tree.
After a few moments of silence, Kalia asked again, "…Humming. You really can't see anything?"
"Huh? Yes, there's nothing… Why- what am I supposed to look at but am not seeing?"
At Humming's unconfident reply, Kalia blinked in confusion.
'What is this? Am I really seeing an illusion right now?'
Kalia turned back to the tree with a bewildered look. The hiding woman stuck her head out for another look again.
Then, she waved again, as if she knew Kalia. Having her wave returned with an involuntary stare and frown, the woman immediately lowered her hand awkwardly and scratched her cheek. Her cheeks reddened and her eyes flitted to and fro, seemingly embarrassed.
'What the hell is that creature?'
It would be better if she could catch her and remove them or reveal their identity, but time was currently running out. Having observed her for so long, it didn't seem to be trying to do any harm. Kalia, who'd been pondering for a while, turned her head. She was not the point and wasn't what was important right now.
'Let's find the kids first.'
From the way she kept hiding around, she didn't look like she was going to call a colleague or a friend.
Kalia hurried onwards to find the children, leaving the suspicious-looking fairy behind.
***
"Oh gosh."
Standing before the place where the wolf's tracks went cold, Kalia agonized for a moment. Because she had met the strange fairy along the way, she had lost track of the wolf. She stood there for a while and looked around. When she heightened her senses to scan the surroundings, she picked up a faint scent of blood with her nose. The scent of blood was mixed with the smell of water.
"I can hear the sound of water over there. Let's go over there first, Humming."
The wolf may have gone towards the sound of water either to wash their blood or it was thirsty because of its heavy bleeding. Either way, it would be better to go towards sources of water first.
'I hope the children are safe.'
Other than the one that attacked her a while ago, she didn't know if there were more monsters. That's why Kalia was in a bit of a hurry.
Just as Kalia was about to take a step forward, something grabbed her wrist.
"…..!"
No, it was the illusion that stopped her.
Clearly, the woman's hand had grabbed Kalia's wrist but the touch didn't feel like a normal hand's. Kalia turned her head to look at the fairy who held her. Somehow, without Kalia even sensing her presence, the fairy had come this close and now stood beside her, grabbing onto her with all her might. Upon closer inspection, the fairy herself didn't have much presence at all. Judging from how faint her presence is, she seemed to be a fairy with weak powers.
But at that moment, Shasha, who'd be quiet in her stomach, started kicking and making a fuss. As if he was reacting to the fairy besides her.
'Is it because of elven blood?'
But the blood wouldn't be so strong…
Kalia looked at the fairy strangely. The fairy was holding onto her hand, making grunting noises as if begging her to go to the other side. Although she was a little smaller than Kalia and a little taller than Humming, her face was young and seemed to be somewhere in her teens to twenties. There was no malice or playfulness in the fairy's eyes as she tugged at Kalia's hand. Rather, she only showed a huge likability towards Kalia, which was strange.
"What are you doing?"
Kalia was caught by the fairy and her wrist was lifted, but that didn't mean she would be dragged off by the fairy. She stood there motionless, staring at this mysterious creature with sullen eyes. On the other hand, Humming looked at Kalia's hand, which to her, was floating in mid-air in front of Kalia and wondered what was wrong with her.
"Why are you standing like that? Kalia? Oh! I-is it what you were saying earlier? Don't tell me that fairy is holding your hand?"
Surprised, Humming swung her long sword blindly through the air, trying to drive back the fairy who was only visible to Kalia's eyes. As if annoyed by the recklessly swinging sword, the fairy glared at Humming and swung her foot out. Humming, who was still wielding her sword, got kicked by the fairy and was pushed backwards.
Argh!
Humming screamed as she held her banged hip.
Humming panted and pointed at the air, "Wh-what? Who is it? Who put their foot on it? Is that you, fairy? Get out of here!"
The fairy, who had been holding Kalia's hand until then, went to Humming and stuck her tongue out at her. Kalia shook her head as she watched the childish fight between Humming and the fairy. Humming was shouting at empty air while the fairy teased the back of her head.
When Kalia made motion to bypass the two and continue onwards, the fairy ran back to her and gripped her wrist with even greater force than before. She glanced around, whining and pleading for Kalia to head towards where she was pointing.
"Can't you speak?" Kalia asked rather politely.
The fairy hesitated and shook her head.
– I can't do it.- 2
There was a small rustling sound and a gentle breeze brushed past her ears as if the wind was whispering softly in her ears.
Kalia nodded as if she understood and spoke again, "I don't have time to play with you right now. I have to go find the missing children."
The fairy paused for a moment, then nodded as if in understanding. She patted her own chest as if to assure her and then waved Kalia's hand in the direction she wanted her to go again.
'Can I trust her?'
As she was deliberating, the fairy seemed to glimpse Kalia's suspicions from her facial expression and made a desperate face.
'Well, the tracks cut off here anyway. I could go in any direction from here.'
It wasn't a guarantee that the children or wolf would be by the body of water. Maybe this fairy really knows where the kids are.
"All right, I'll follow you. But if there are no children there or if you're playing a joke…" Kalia began dryly.
Kalia's eyes on the fairy were serene.
With an indifferent look, she finished her threat quietly in a languid voice, "I will hurt you."
If the fairy really led her to where the children were, she couldn't be more grateful. However, she and Humming had too much at risk for this to be a joke or lie. There was nothing to fear if it was just her and Humming but, she had to be more harsh than usual because the children's lives were at stake. It was a gamble, following this strange fairy now…
Somehow, Kalia felt that she could trust in this strange fairy. The strange fairy made eye contact with her and responded to Kalia with a big smile. She then motioned with her head and pursued her lips.
– This way. –
Kalia, who was staring at the beckoning fairy, followed slowly behind her with Humming in tow.
***
In front of her, was a huge pool of flowers.
It felt like every color in this world was gathered here on this vast expanse of land. Like wildfire, countless flowers spread out in every direction to as far as the eye could see. The scent of flowers filled the air and the onslaught of stimulation was overpowering, overwhelming all of Kalia's senses, especially her sense of smell. She was blinded by the colorful flowers, and her head felt dizzy. The vast field of flowers swayed gently in the wind. Their dancing figures seemed to be welcoming the three people who entered.
"Huh…"
That was the only sound that could come out of Humming, whose mouth had long dropped wide open. Yes, the landscape was so enchanting that any humans who witnessed it for the first time would no doubt be in awe like Humming was. The sound, aroma, and color of the flowers swaying in the wind were all perfect. Even the flower spirits flying innocently above the flowers and Kalia harmoniously mingled with each other.
Amidst everything, Kalia stood absentmindedly3 in the middle of the field, like a fairy born and raised there.