After a day of resting in the village, trying to completely recover from the apple powder, I decided that it would be the time I would leave Flair Forest for good. Although, it would be messy if everyone figured out right away that I'm not from Astra, and it could cause problems in the future. Like Lucifer and the Fairy King figured it out right away, I'm worried of causing too much confusion and attention. Maybe it would be my best interest to ask Guide at least about what Cat Kin and Human History is like here first? No... if I want history, I need the full story of Astra. Or at least the summary of it. And I can't ask Guide for everything, it would weird out Lucifer if I knew too much but didn't ask him at all. Best to play it out and ask. So I walked outside to go see Lucifer, but saw the Fairy King, Cleon and a few of his soldiers talking amongst each other in concern. He then looked at me, and dismissed his guards to check up on me.
"I see you doing better than yesterday, " Cleon said.
"Yup, and it's all thanks to the fairies of this village. They're all so sweet and nice."
"Of course, " he said with a smile, "Fairies are known to be one of the few neutral creatures to accept any race with open arms, as long as they follow one rule."
"And what's that?"
"No destroying any of our trees in this forest, " he said in a serious tone.
Oh no... Oh crap! Ah shoot! I'm so screwed, I-!
"Pfff, I'm just messing with you! Your cute face was truly priceless, " he said laughing so openly, "My apologies, I didn't mean to sound rude. But don't worry, our trees here can't die no matter how many times you destroy one. It'll just grow back stronger than ever, filled with more magic than its last life."
"Just like reincarnation."
"Exactly, " he said grinning, "Now, that's more of a look more like you wanna hear more knowledge of our world then just for security."
"How-? Right, fairy thing. Man... I really should stop questioning stuff like this."
"You won't get much from the Fallen Prince, he's lived up in heavens most of his life and he's only been on ground for several years after losing grace, " he said petting my head, "With me, you'll get more info about the lands of Astra much more accurately. Now come this way."
He lead me deep and far away from the village to a very large tree covered with rainbow leaves. It was far larger than the rest of the trees and you could practically feel a very powerful magic with every touch of a leaf.
"This is the Grand Flair Tree, " he explained, "It has the power to control this very forest and that it's leaves can heal any kind of sickness. It's what we gave you to cure you from your slumber earlier. It's one of the very few cures for apple powder, it requires a high level healing magic substance.
"So the tree is that powerful?"
"Yes, " he said, "It's what thrives our forest with prosperity. The Grand Flair Tree was planted by a god long ago. The first fairies and the very trees and plants that grow here were born from this very branches of this tree, and were given wings based on our destined identity. And there is a bit of a prophecy too. One day, the tree will die and it is said that a soul of another will try to sacrifice their life to call upon the Grand Flair Tree back to life and save our forest for eternity. That soul would then would be given the greatest treasure of the Flair Forest."
"What exactly is the greatest treasure of Flair Forest?"
He shakes his head, "No on really knows, but it's just a silly legend. The tree is very powerful and has lived for many generations, I'd doubt it would go down without a fight. Now that I told you most of Flair Forest's history, it's about time I talk about the history outside of Flair Forest. Long ago-."
"M-My King, " one of the fairy guards appeared, "Y-Your son has returned!"
"He's rather early today, " he said surprised, "Sorry, we'll have to have our history lesson later, Ms. Kitten."
Ah great, now he's calling me Kitten.
"Mr Fairy King-."
"You can call just call me Cleon, " he said.
"Cleon, sir... My name is Catherine, not Kitten."
"But doesn't the Fallen Prince always call you Kitten though, " he said in confusion, "My apologies if I offended you."
"Oh no no, it's alright. I only let Lucy call me that cause that's how he nicknamed me. It just... I don't know... it feels weird when people other than Lucy call me that."
"I see, " he said, "Well Ms. Catherine, would you like to meet my son before we continue our talk later on."
"Sure, I don't mind."
We walked back to the village where I saw another fairy who has similar features as the Fairy King, except kid sized, shorter blonde hair, thinner and has no transparent wings whatsoever. Which was odd, because all the other fairies had wings. But that wasn't the only odd feeling I got from this kid. They said that's the King's Son but something doesn't feel right.
"Old man, what's this Hybrid doing here, " the kid asked in a serious tone.
"Son, calm down. This is Catherine and she's our guest, " Cleon said with a smile, "Catherine, this is Echo, my youngest, he is the next in line to be the crown king of Flair Forest."
"The youngest? What about the others?"
"Oh you mean my two eldest daughters, Aurora & Ellie, " he said smiling, "You saw them already, they're both the ones that treated you."
Oh, so that's who the two girls were trying to care for me all day. They both didn't look to be conversation starters so I barely realized how similar they looked to Cleon.
"Treated this Hybrid, " Echo chuckled in an obviously mocking manner, "From what? Fleas?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh I'm sorry, " he said dishonesty, "Did the little abomination get its feelings hurt? That's a laugh."
"Echo, " Cleon yelled at him in an angered tone, "Behave yourself!"
"Tch, " Echo said looking away in a irritated look.
"Fine, lets do this the old traditional way, " Cleon said looking from Echo to me, "You and Catherine will do the Gathering in 3 days, first to pass out loses. If Catherine wins, you have to stop your behaviour and listen to my demands!
"Ummm..."
"Fine by me, old man" he said with an devious grin, "I accept that challenge.
Oh, and if I win, you'll have to abolish that ideal of yours and listen to me! I'll see you at the tree in three days, Hybrid."
"Cleon... what did you just drag me into?"
"Oh nothing, you'll just be giving your magic to the Grand Flair Tree as a challenge, " Cleon explained, "I don't know exactly who made the game up, but we kept it up to this day. All that I remember is that whoever passes out or quits first during the Gathering loses. I can teach you how to move magic out of your body without skills right now to get you started, but we would also have to hold our history talk. We can do it after the magic lesson. It's the least I can do for dragging you in such an unfortunate situation."
Has this... turned into me being in between a family dilemma? I feel like I just got unintentionally involved in something I shouldn't have. I mean, on one hand, the Gathering sounds neat but also very sketchy at the same time. On the other though, he said this is traditional stuff for the fairies, so one has ever died from it. Three days can't hurt me... I mean I'm not stalling this time, I was sorta dragged into the situation... Well if anything, I'll just bail out with Lucifer should anything go wrong. Wait...
"Where's Lucy, Cleon? I haven't seen him around the village."
"Oh, he's just doing a small errand for me, " he answered, "To pay off the apple powder antidote."
"Wait he did what?!"
"Don't worry, it's nothing too big or hard for him to do, " he said with a smile, "And it's only something he can do as a Fallen Angel."
"Oh... well okay then. As long as it's not too bad and he can handle it, I have faith he'll come back to me."
What I didn't know then is that little errand would spark up something a lot worse later. Cleon looked back at his flashback to between him and Lucifer when they just gave the antidote to me.
"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT, " Lucifer said in anger, "You're insane, Le!"
"You heard me, " Cleon said in a serious tone, "I want you to go back to demon territory and challenge Mammon to a Devil's Gamble for The Sword of Souls."
"You're trying to kill me is what you're doing" Lucifer said now grabbing on to Cleon's neck in pure rage, "I won't be involved in the slaughter of another Fallen Prince."
"You will do it, " Cleon said holding onto Lucifer's hands, "Otherwise your payment will be your own life. We fairies maybe kind, but we do have laws of abide by. And you can't abandon that girl, can't you?"
"No... I can't... but I also won't allow myself to kill again, " Lucifer said loosening his grip on Cleon, "I promised her."
"But you broke it awhile ago didn't you, " he said obviously trying to manipulate him, "You killed those humans who used the apple powder on her, right? You killed your family. You killed so many innocences in the past. One of them being my own demented father. So what's another one dead going to do to her, after all she already knows you're a murderer."
"I..., " Lucifer was at a loss for words.
"Enough excuses, " Cleon said putting Lucifer's hands down, "Will you do it, or die right now."
"... When she wakes up and settled in, give me a few days to get there, " Lucifer said in defeat, "Promise me you won't tell Kitten, Le. Keep her occupied until I get back.
"Of course, " Cleon said smiling.
The flashback ends as he looks at me deviously behind my back.
"I'll keep her occupied alright, " he said to himself, "Or should I say, I'll keep her occupied forever. After all, you'll be dead by then. But I guess I should thank you at the very least. After all, you have picked a perfect future bride for my son, Fallen Prince."