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It was the day after our shopping with Rem, and I found myself wandering the lively streets of the gnome town, Kran perched on my shoulder in his new miniature metal body.
"I finally get why she always sat here," Kran mused, looking around from his new vantage point. "It's comfortable, and the view isn't bad at all."
Both Kran and Rem were small enough that having them sit on my shoulder like a parrot didn't bother me, though Kran's constant commentary was starting to get on my nerves.
"I am not a parrot!" Kran snapped, commenting on my thoughts.
I didn't have any particular destination in mind today. We'd already decided where to head next, but Rem had some final business in the town, leaving me free to explore. The day felt light, almost weightless, as I passed by colorful stalls and the bustling market square. Curious, I ducked into a few shops I hadn't had the chance to check out during our first round of shopping. Many of them sold items I couldn't make sense of. One shop displayed small glass tubes, all empty and neatly arranged on shelves. Another specialized in rings and necklaces, available in every size imaginable—from ones that would fit a creature as small as Rem, to others that would easily slide onto the finger of a giant.
One particularly strange shop caught my eye. The shelves were lined with oddities and pieces of dead creatures, their labels carefully handwritten in looping script. There were things like "toe of Karakasa Kozo" or "Candle of Erchitu," which I couldn't even begin to guess at. Some of these items were priced between five and twenty full coins. I might've thought that was reasonable if I hadn't been shopping with Rem yesterday—everything we bought had only cost around four coins total. How could a single candle be worth that much?
While I was examining the bizarre offerings, a man bumped into me. He was human, with short blond hair and light green eyes, wearing an oddly normal outfit for this fantastical world: a dark green leather jacket over a plain T-shirt and jeans. There was a red arrow tip shaped necklace hanging from his neck. He didn't apologize, just murmured to himself as he scanned the shelves, seemingly preoccupied.
I let it go—there wasn't any point in starting an argument over something so minor.
(I think you should've buried his face into the shelves,) Kran remarked dryly.
And what am I going to do if they make me pay for everything I break? It's not worth it.
(So the face-burying part is fine, as long as it's free?)
That's not what I meant...
I sighed silently, shaking my head as I left the shop.
With time to kill before I had to meet Rem again, I decided to head toward the fairy side of the world. I hadn't seen it yet, but I'd heard that it was supposed to be very different from the gnome half. The gnomes were industrious, practical, and a little rough around the edges. Fairies, I imagined, would be more whimsical.
It didn't take long before I reached the edge of the gnome town, stepping onto the road where I had first encountered the group of gnomes carrying that massive log. This time, I walked in the opposite direction, following a winding path that led deeper into the forest. The trees grew taller and more majestic the farther I went, their trunks stretching toward the sky like ancient guardians.
And then I saw it—the fairy side of the world.
The gnome town had been charming, but the fairy village was breathtaking in a different way. Graceful, winding bridges made of silver and gold intertwined between the towering trees, connecting floating homes that seemed to be made of light itself. Each house sparkled with a faint glow, its walls shimmering in soft hues of lavender, teal, and rose, as though they were woven from the very essence of twilight. The air was filled with tiny, dancing lights—will-o'-wisps or fireflies, perhaps—that floated lazily among the branches, casting a dreamy, almost ethereal glow over everything.
The fairies themselves were as delicate and shimmering as their surroundings. Their butterfly wings, translucent and iridescent, caught the faint light and reflected it in every direction, making them seem like living jewels as they drifted from one home to another. Some flitted through the air in small groups, chatting and laughing with musical voices that blended into the gentle hum of the village. Others hovered near the ground, interacting with visitors who had come to admire the fairy town's beauty.
I wandered further into the village, passing by stalls selling all kinds of odd, magical trinkets. One stand displayed enchanted flowers that bloomed and closed in response to touch. Another sold sparkling dust in small glass vials that, when uncorked, created tiny, animated creatures—birds, butterflies, even miniature dragons—that flew around briefly before dissolving back into the air. One vendor tried to offer me a jar filled with glowing moss that, according to him, would "enhance my dreams and reveal my destiny."
(That's a scam if I've ever seen one,) Kran scoffed.
I ignored the vendor and continued through the streets, marveling at the seamless blending of nature and magic. Everywhere I looked, the trees themselves seemed to be part of the village. Some homes were nestled within the trunks, while others floated freely, tethered by shimmering vines that gently swayed in the breeze. Bridges arched elegantly between the trees, winding upwards in intricate spirals, and I could see fairies and other creatures walking along them as though gravity didn't quite apply here. It felt like I had stepped into a different world compared to Gnome Town.
As I walked, a pair of fairies fluttered down to greet me. They were small—barely a foot tall—and had wide, curious eyes that sparkled with mischief.
"Hello, stranger!" one of them chimed, her voice light and airy. "You're new here, aren't you?"
"Just passing through," I said with a nod.
"Ohh, you must visit the Silver Spring before you go!" the other fairy exclaimed, her wings fluttering excitedly. "It's just up that hill. The water there is pure magic! They say if you drink from it, you'll be blessed with good fortune."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
(Why not? Go ahead and drink magic water. What's the worst that could happen?) Kran said, a grin in his voice.
I decided to humor them and followed their directions up a winding path that led to a secluded clearing. In the center of the clearing was a small, serene pond. The water shimmered like liquid silver, rippling gently even though there was no wind. Tiny lights—similar to the ones that floated around the village—hovered just above the surface, casting soft glimmers across the water.
I crouched by the edge of the pond and dipped my hand into the water. It was cool to the touch, and the surface glittered as if it held tiny stars. I took a sip, half-expecting some kind of mystical transformation.
"Do you feel blessed yet?" Kran teased.
I didn't feel any different, but the water was refreshing. I lingered there for a few moments, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere before standing up and making my way back to the village.
As I walked back toward the gnome town, I couldn't help but feel a sense of tranquility. The fairy village had a way of making time feel irrelevant, as though I could've spent hours there without realizing it.
On my way out of the fairy town, I spotted the same blonde man from earlier. This time, he wasn't alone. He stood with two women—one of them bearing a striking resemblance to him, except her hair was styled in twin tails. She also had the same necklace as the guy. Both of them seemed to be apologizing to a third figure, a tall woman with straight black hair. She wore a white lab coat draped over a black leather suit, her face partially obscured by a gas mask that covered lower half of her face. Her pale face stood out starkly, her vivid green eyes shining with an eerie intensity beneath the evening light.
(Wanna bury his face in the ground now?) Kran said, sounding far too eager.
No. Why are you still stuck on that?
I thought back, shaking my head slightly.
I avoided lingering too long, sidestepping past them to continue on my way. But just as I thought I was in the clear, a woman's voice called out, tinged with a faint mechanical hum.
"Hey! Can I ask you something?"
(I smell trouble,) Kran muttered, his tone cautious.
I turned to face the black-haired woman. Her posture was calm, but there was something about her sharp gaze that made me instinctively wary.
"What is it?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
"Hi, I'm Selvira Vanelia," she said, introducing herself with a smooth, almost detached tone. "I was wondering where you got that bracelet. It's... related to a hobby of mine, you could say."
Behind her, the other two— the blonde man and the woman—stood a little distance away, glancing impatiently between me and Selvira. None of them seemed to have noticed Kran perched on my shoulder, his tiny metal form blending in with my clothing.
(They're treating me like a forgettable detail,) Kran muttered irritably.
Keep talking through my mind, It's better to keep you hidden for now.
I returned my focus to Selvira. "It was a gift from a friend," I said, keeping my response vague.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she smiled. "Oh, I see. If it's not of sentimental value, would you consider selling it to me? I think we could come to an arrangement. Name your price."
(She really thinks she can just buy it? Don't even think about accepting that offer.) Kran's voice rang with annoyance.
As if I would. This bracelet was far more valuable than she realized—especially considering what it held inside. The Heart of the Dragonlord was priceless, let alone all the other stuff in it.
"Sorry," I replied curtly. "I'm not interested in selling. If that's all you wanted, I'll be going."
Without waiting for her response, I turned away and continued walking, aware of the curious eyes from bystanders who had overheard our conversation. Selvira didn't call out again, but I could feel her gaze linger on my back as I walked away.
(What kind of person asks something like that? There are people weirder than you.) Kran said in a low tone. (She was way too determined to get that bracelet.)
Why does she want it so badly? I've seen other storage devices like this one while shopping yesterday.
(She might be more interested about where it is coming from. Her "hobby" is definitely more than collecting bracelets.)
I glanced down at the bracelet on my wrist, its dragon-themed engravings catching the fading sunlight. I hoped I wasn't walking into unnecessary trouble.
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As the day was ending, I made my way out of the fairy town and reached the edge of the forest. The path ahead led to open fields, but the trees behind me cast long shadows, and the air grew colder with the approaching night. There wasn't a soul in sight, but I could feel the weight of someone's gaze trailing me.
(Someone's following you,) Kran warned. (Better deal with it sooner rather than later.)
I knew he was right. I needed to confront them before they caught me in a less favorable position. I walked a bit further until the trees began to thin and an open clearing appeared up ahead.
(You've got this. It's just a couple of amateurs.)
Once I reached the clearing, I stopped, turning back to face the trees. My voice cut through the silence.
"You two—stop following me and come out. Now."
For a moment, there was only the rustling of leaves. Then I heard voices.
"You little—"
"Peronii, no!"
A blonde woman emerged first, jumping down from one of the trees with a scowl on her face. She was the same twin-tailed woman from earlier. A moment later, the blond man followed her down, looking less eager but no less determined.
"What, Krait? He already knows we were following him," the woman—Peronii—snapped.
"Still, we should've gone back to Lady Selvira first," Krait muttered, sounding more cautious.
"And make her even angrier? Forget that. We'll take the bracelet and make up for today's failure. He doesn't even have a idea what he is dealing with!"
Peronii's eyes locked onto the bracelet on my wrist. They weren't going to back off.
Kran, Go tell Rem I'm going to be a little late. I'll let you know if anything happens through our mental link.
(But I want to watch the show!) Kran protested.
Just go.
Reluctantly, Kran flew off my shoulder, disappearing into the distance. The moment he was gone, I did what I was training for, feeling the surge of somnium flood through me.
The two intruders barely had time to react before the sky above us shifted. The darkness of dusk was instantly replaced by the blinding brightness of daylight, the air around me shimmering as I let somnium from my core run free. My body temperature spiked, radiating heat so intense that the grass beneath my feet blackened and turned to ash without ever igniting into flames. My body hovered slightly above the ground, my feet barely touching the earth.
I said nothing. Letting the display of power speak for itself, I watched as both Peronii and Krait exchanged stunned glances, their confidence visibly wavering.
"He looked like an amateur..." Peronii muttered, her voice shaky.
"Oh come on... we weren't prepared for this," Krait grumbled under his breath, backing away slightly.
The air crackled around us, and I could feel the weight of the somnium coursing through my veins, every cell alive with the power of the sun. It was them who had no idea what they were dealing with.
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