Ahmed walked into the forest with light casual steps, he could ever so slightly feel the mana silently following him.
It was a novel feeling to say the least, whatever had happened when he was in the zone was too much of a boon.
His senses had been raised such that he felt he had been blind, deaf, dumb, crippled and numb for as long as he could remember, all five of his senses underwent a qualitative change which were very welcomed.
Ahmed could see the flickers of the elements well their colors to be more precise, he could also feel them gleaning into their nature and of he gave it his all he could even hear their whispers.
Curious he decided to test this theory and asked his mana and the elements to lead him towards the fae.
Mana glowed dimly as a pulse of it spread throughout the forest seemingly mapping it, the elements working in tandem begun to materialize in short bursts leading the way.
Ahmed throughout the walk passed and plethora of beasts, some stared at him from a distance, others ignored his presence while some daring one's came face to face with him.
He smiled at them as he passed the packs and herds, he had killed beasts yes, he needed their cores to grow stronger yes, that didn't suddenly make them his worst enemies.
He therefore enjoyed the moment and didn't let any depressing thoughts to surface as he finally stood before a large oak tree.
A small light flickered before him flying circles above him head as of appraising him, it then disappeared into the tree before five more such lights came out shortly after.
With a flash of golden the five lights turned into humanoid beings, standing on two legs, having two arms, a pair of eyes, a single nose and mouth, the only differences between them and a normal human was that they had transparent wings with alluring patterns that gave Ahmed a headache when he stared for too long.
They had spiral patterns on the back of their palms, on the side of their shoulders and on the sides of their head.
"Tr'kah dkahhe aodhy aoejeh." The Fae spoke in a language Ahmed couldn't understand, he sighed not having thought about the language barrier after all he wasn't so well versed in foreign languages.
"I can't understand you." He replied hoping that they would understand his intent.
As he spoke however he failed to notice how mana flowed from his mouth and through his voice as the words themselves before reaching the Fae were in the Arcane tongue.
The Fae's eyes widened as they stopped talking amongst themselves and looked at Ahmed with sparkling eyes.
They attempted to speak once more only this time using the Arcane language similar to that Ahmed had unknowingly used.
"I'm T'or can you understand me now?" The male leading Fae spoke.
Ahmed's eyes widened as he smile in relief nodding his head.
"Good, what are your names?" T'or asked.
"Ahmed Reeves, Calypso said itnwas okay for me to meet the Fae, I hope I'm not bothering you." He replied earnestly.
"It's no bother, seeing as to how mana is clinging on to you then your mind and heart seems to be pure, take this." He threw a small bracelet towards Ahmed, "wear it otherwise you won't be able to fit into our small home."
Ahmed nodded as he word the bracelet, he felt a pulse of mana mixed with something else forcing his body to contract his former five foot ten height got reduced to less than an inch.
Unlike the Fae, he did not sprout wings on his back but on his feet, a pair on each foot, to his astonishment even his pendant shrank with him.
The Fae also shrank, well it was more of tgey regained their former sizes.
"What was that?" He asked in awe making the fae to smile.
"It's one of our best artifacts, it dwarves the wearer and grants them two faefolk abilities, in your case its wings and our language." He smiled.
"Your language? But aren't I just talking like I used to?"
"Well yes you are, but the bracelet is actively translating what your saying to us, this isn't it's function that why im saying you've been granted oir language." He calmly replied before stretching out his hand.
"You obviously don't know how to fly, so follow my lead." He offered, Ahmed held on to the mans hand as he was led towards the oak tree and through its opening.
The opening was a swirling tide of golden waves which ghe group passed through, Ahmed opened his eyes on the other side of the portal and was shocked with what he saw.
There was a blue sky above his head with no sun and clouds, below him were green plains that stretched into forests which stretched into mountains that sat at the horizon.
At the center of the forest was a thick oak tree similar to the one he had seen outside, it was akin to a palace where many fae flew around as if guarding.
"Beautiful," was all he could say as he enjoyed the extremely co-existant relationship between the forest amd the fae, he almost begun to think fhe forest was alive.
"Don't let go of my hand, I'll lead you towards the city." T'or smiled as he flew into the forest, passing by the patrolling fae at the oitsr regions of the forest, villages, towns filled with fae folks.
They soon reached the city, well the only city after all no other place could be likened to the central area.
"The Queen will see you now." T'or said lightly as he let the youth land on his feet.
"Queen? I'm not that important to meet a Royal." Ahmed panicked, he had never in his life met a noble, let alone a royal plus he didn't have the best image of them in mind.
As if reading his thoughts T'or smiled as he patted the boys back, "don't worry the Royal Fae are different from the Royal Humans."
Ahmed's shocked expression seemed to make the young fae laugh as he continued to explain, "I didn't read your mind, we fae have no such ability.
We can however read your emotions, we're sensitive to them. Plus your face gives away your thoughts, your still an innocent lad."
T'or pushed the boy forward causing him to stumble but still walk, "don't worry your not in trouble." He encouraged as the youth headed towards the Royal Tree Castle.