In the moonlit yard of House Velmont, a peculiar man's laughter filled the air, shattering the serene night with an unsettling mirth. The soft glow of the moon revealed the distinctive feature that earned him Aran's playful nickname a pair of glasses perched on his nose.
Aran couldn't resist a jest, nudging Lacy with his elbow. "Who's the 'four-eyed' fellow?" he quipped, his attempt at humor a fleeting moment of levity.
As she confronted Aran, Lacy's demeanor remained unflinchingly serious. She divulged the information while speaking with a tone that was tinged with a mixture of caution and scorn. "That's Zilion, the Vampire King's right-hand man," she said. "He's responsible for the terror that swept through Eldenwood."
Aran's amusement gradually transformed into comprehension. He said, "So, he's the reason Thaddeus embarked on his journey to Whimsyfall," tying Zilion to the events of the past as he made the connection between the two.
"Yes," Lacy affirmed. "And what we pixies gave to Thaddeus was much more than assistance; it was part of our essence." She began to recount the tale, her voice echoing slightly in the vast yard.
The memory took them to a point in time when Faela, the other pixies, and Thaddeus were gathered together in an obscure part of the forest. When Faela had taken up Sir Thaddeus, her tone was filled with pride as she added, "Observe our power."
Pixies went through their entrancing ritual, which involved transforming into dazzling spheres of energy. The intense flash of light that followed left Thaddeus in a state of awe and wonder.
During the course of Lacy's story, Aran interrupted her to ask, "So that move you used against Zander..."
He was rendered speechless by Lacy's piercing gaze. She said, "Let me finish the story," and her tone was firm.
Thaddeus, who was completely taken aback by the display, had turned to Faela. "That's unbelievable! "What is this power?" he had queried, the surprise in his tone of voice clear to hear.
Faela had a warm smile on her face. "This is the power that the Twinklebark Tree possesses, which has a connection to the Great Tree. It is the source of our existence, and we dedicate our lives to preserving it.
The following day, a determined Thaddeus went up to Faela in her cove and spoke to her. "Faela, our kingdom is in danger, and the magitech possessed by the Velmonts is not enough to save it on its own. "The power of your magic is all that stands between us and succumbing to the gloom," he had urged.
Faela paid close attention to what he had to say, as she was aware of the seriousness of his request.
Thaddeus had spoken those words with a note of optimism in his voice, saying, "We seek the assistance of the pixies, to combine our forces against the encroaching darkness."
"Yeah I know that you will ask for that, the twinklebark even reveal it to me, As I said We will follow your every command our king even if it cause us our lives we will, for it is the will of twinklebark,"
"Now ladies we will embark!!" Faela shouted lefting thaddeus with tears in his eyes uttered the word "Thank you"
Lacy turned to Aran with a playful grin. "That's the story of Sir Thaddeus," she said, teasingly. Then, she shifted her gaze toward Zilion and continued with a mischievous glint in her eye, "But let me tell you, this bastard..."
Without missing a beat, she shouted at Zilion, "Hey you bastard, prepare to get your ass kicked again, huh Bleh!?"
Zilion chuckled, seemingly unfazed. "HAHAHA, you sure haven't changed; you're still annoying. But that's not my business here." He approached Zander, about to utter something ominous when Aran swiftly drew his dagger, cutting Zilion's hand.
"Ouch! Zilion remarked, "HAHAHA, what an interesting boy you are," remaining unfazed by the situation. "Are you interested in being my ally? I formally swear that I won't include you in any of my experiments.
Aran's response, which he delivered with a sneer, "In your dreams, Fake Butler!!"
Zilion played along, "Alright, alright. I guess I didn't finish what I came here for. Look, my hands are cut off," he said, showing his cut hands, only to watch them regenerate before Aran's eyes. "But I will come back. There's something more interesting than the dog." With that cryptic remark, he vanished into thin air.
Aran, who was confused, turned to Lacy, seeking answers. "What was that, Lacy?"
'Aran, Zilion is a Vampire, and he has many tricks up his sleeve,' Lacy stated to him. He can't stop himself from trying new things out on either himself or anyone else. Zander was one of his experiments, and Sir Thaddeus was the one who saved him. But now that the chambers are accessible, we are at a loss as to where we may place him..."
Aran's voice broke through the conversation: "Don't you recall what I said earlier? We are going to take him to speak with King Aldric, and I will be the one to explain what happened. Now, come on!"
He turned to his parents, a sense of determination in his eyes. "Mom? Dad? I think it's better for the two of you to go back and stay in our home in Pinevele. Lacy and I will stay here until we figure out what happened."
Lourdes agreed, hugging Aran tightly. "Yes, and Robert is wounded too. I think that's for the best. Just be careful here."
Shortly thereafter, a carriage pulled up, and out of it walked Martina. "Madam Lourdes, may you please come here? Also, Miss Felicia and Christina are here.
Lourdes and Robert entered the carriage, and Lourdes directed Martina, "We're going back home to Pinevele. The three of you should return to House Felis. Thank you for your service."
As the carriage pulled away, Aran, Lacy, and enigmatic Zander were left to face the duty of accompanying him all the way to the kingdom.