My bones ached as I rested on my hands and knees. I felt bile bubble in my stomach before shooting up my throat, making me puke. Using that much magic at once wasn't something I was used to. It felt like my insides were burning after eating nothing but greasy food. I could feel Alder holding back my braids to keep them out of my face.
He gently rubbed my back. "You did so good, little blossom. I am so very proud of you."
"I think it's all-" I gagged and leaned forward, closing my eyes. I swallowed thickly. "I think it's all gone."
"It seems you've been training hard since I was gone." Stolas observed, crossing his arms.
"Impressive, right?" I slowly straightened myself and sat back on my knees. "The puking thing is a little embarrassing though."
Alder sighed and kneeled down next to me. "It is because you have not used that much magic at once before. The more you train and cleanse your soul, the more you will adjust to it. Make sure to meditate soon, alright?"
I nodded. I looked all around me. The rotted flesh, fur, and bones of the creatures were all melting into the Atrophy. My nose scrunched at the smell. Stolas waved Aeternum in a circle. A ball of wind started to form, getting bigger and bigger. He guided it over to the Atrophy. He lowered the ball of wind. It sucked the Atrophy right up. So that's how he got rid of it at the first fight.
"I'll go dispose of this… somewhere."
Stolas walked off. I stood up and brushed off my clothes. My hands trembled with exhaustion as I picked up my bow and adjusted the quiver on my back. Almost all of my arrows had been eaten by the Atrophy. I frowned and looked over at Alder who was standing close next to me.
"I need more arrows."
"Shall I teach you how to make them?"
My eyes narrowed. "Sure."
"What is that look for?"
"Nothing. I'm going inside."
I left Alder behind. I was upset, and truthfully, a bit scared by his words. He could say he was proud of me all he wanted. That didn't erase the fact he wanted to keep me here. He wanted me safe, even if it meant crushing my dreams. I sighed and went into my room. When have I even begun calling it mine? I had just assumed… I had gotten too comfortable here. I closed the door before sitting on my bed. Flops was sleeping peacefully. I laid down and curled up around her. I needed to rest. Then I could figure out what to do after that.
When I woke up, I felt more refreshed. Less shaky, more hungry. I held Flops into my arms before leaving the room. I went into the kitchen to find Stolas making sandwiches. That was a rare sight. I sat at the counter. Flops sniffed inquisitively, her nose twitching. I took a piece of lettuce and fed it to her.
"Hey. That's for us, not her." Stolas scolded.
I frowned and shook my head. "She needs to eat, Snappy."
"Feed her something else."
I ignored his scolding and leaned forward. I looked around. "Where's Alder?"
"In the conservatory." He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
I cleared my throat. Stolas was the only one I could talk to. I could vent to Flops, but that wouldn't do much for me. Besides, Stolas has been by his side and other Fairy Kings for thousands and thousands of years. Maybe he could give me insight on why Alder was acting the way he was. I licked my lips and looked away.
"Before you came back, I had told Alder I wanted to leave. He didn't like the idea. Said that I still needed training, that he needed to protect me, and that I was special. He said that he couldn't just watch me go into danger."
"I see." Stolas finished one sandwich and started on another. "Is that all?"
My mouth downturned at his nonchalant attitude. "No. He said cannot and will not let me go. Ever."
Stolas raised his head at that. "He did?"
"Should I be worried? Am I in danger?'
"No, you're not in danger." Stolas snorted, shaking his head. "I just wasn't expecting Alder to be so… outright about his feelings."
"Stolas, he's obsessed. I don't think this is okay."
He sighed and slid a sandwich towards me. "If you're worried he'll hurt you, don't be. He would never, and I mean never hurt you intentionally. He'd probably go crazy if he did hurt you. Now if someone else hurt you…?"
He didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to. I thought back to when Alder had come and saved me. He looked like he was barely holding back from physically fighting Stolas. The argument was bad enough. I sighed in frustration and picked up the sandwich. I took an angry bite.
"Why does he act this way with me?"
"Because he does care for you. He's not a bad man, Cahira. He just doesn't get the chance to actually… be around others. Like me, he stays in this forest. The only difference is that the forest is connected to him. He doesn't leave like I do. Alder is practically like a hermit. So when he met you, met someone he connected with–"
"He got excited." I mumbled between bites of the sandwich. I set it down and started to pet Flops again. "He got attached."
"Yes. He got attached." Stolas finished the third sandwich and set it aside. The bryum started to wrap them up in large leaves. "Alder is a serious man. He's always so focused on keeping Elfil Forest healthy. I don't think I've ever seen him as relaxed as he is with you. Please don't think of him as a bad person."
I nodded, looking back at him. "It's not like I do. I just felt… frustrated. I finally found my confidence and I wanted to continue my adventure. I expected Alder to be proud and happy for me. It was more than upsetting when he said I couldn't leave."
"I know."
"But… he would let me leave, right?" I asked as I stared at Stolas. "Those were just words."
Stolas hesitated. He turned away from me and nodded. "Sure. He would've let you leave."
A weird feeling bubbled up in my stomach. I didn't want to acknowledge it. I didn't want to acknowledge the deception behind Stolas's words. So I ate the rest of my sandwich in silence. Alder truly didn't mean to hurt me. That, I believed. He was a strong and powerful Fairy King. But he was not cruel. And I knew he'd never be cruel to me.
After I finished, Stolas and I went down to the conservatory. Alder was bustling around in a hurry. He muttered to himself and the many mushroom pygmies that followed him. He was holding a journal. Some of the mushroom pygmies were holding plants from the garden. One of the tables had three baskets on it. The other table had sticks, feathers, and metal tips.
"When did the mushroom pygmies get here?" Stolas went up to a basket and inspected it.
"I had them come here to protect them from the Atrophy." Alder said, looking up from his journal. "They are helping me pack."
"Packing?" My eyes widened. "You mean you're actually leaving the forest and going to Othesh? That wasn't a joke?"
Alder stared at me, his eyebrows furrowed. "Yes. I do not joke around, Cahira."
"Unfortunately." Stolas quipped.
"But what about the forest? The Atrophy?"
"We will do what we can as we travel. Stolas has been putting the Atrophy up north in hopes that it will slow the spread. The situation is too dire for me to just sit around."
"You said you need to meet the king… is he not a good person?" I watched as Alder took some herbs from a mushroom pygmy.
He hesitated before setting the herbs in a basket. "I would not say that. He is just… difficult to deal with."
Stolas let out a snort. "Hah!! Difficult?! That man is a-"
"Stolas."
"Right, right." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm just not too keen on the bastard. He's not good with people who prefer to spend time alone."
"Oh." I looked at the baskets. "You're not taking all of that with you, are you?"
"With us." Alder corrected. "Some of it, I am. Some plants only grow in certain parts of Elfil."
I paused and looked up at him. Us? What does he mean by us? I looked over at Stolas. He didn't seem too interested in what Alder said. He was still sulking over the fact that he had to see the king. I crossed my arms and huffed. There was no way I would let this slide.
"I am not traveling with you guys." My voice was defiant. It was time I put my foot down.
Alder's head whipped over to me. "What? Yes, you are."
"No." I spoke firmly. "I will not go until you apologize to me. I worked too hard for you to just act like I'm some damsel in distress."
Alder's eyes went wide. Stolas hid a laugh behind his hand. Yes, this was exactly what I needed to do. If I were to travel with them, to trust them on what would be a difficult journey, I needed an apology. I needed to know that Alder actually cared about me.
"I apologize, Cahira. I truly never meant to undermine how much progress you have made. I was worried about you. I wanted you safe. I promise I will choose my words better in the future. I will not hold you back. I swear."
"Wow." I could only stare at him in surprise. "That's… thank you. I forgive you."
"Anyone would with an apology like that." Stolas snickered.
"Maybe you should take his example, Snappy." I shot at him. I gave him a smirk. "Maybe I would like you more."
"Is this what it will be like the whole trip?" Alder asked, crossing his arms.
"No." Stolas and I said at the same time.
"Good." Alder tore two pages from his notebook. "Stolas, go pack these. Cahira, let me teach you how to make arrows."
This was surreal. As I went over to Alder and the table of deconstructed arrows, I could feel a buzz of energy within me. We were finally leaving this forest. I was leaving. I was going to achieve my dream. I didn't think about how when we go to Othesh, we'd probably split ways. All I thought about was how excited I was to finally be able to take care of myself and make myself proud.
It took around a day to finish preparing everything. We were standing outside of the tree. Alder had just finished placing more talismen around the tree. A group of bryum and mushroom pygmies stood in front of the entrance. Some of them were crying, some looked angry, while some looked determined. Alder kneeled in front of them.
"I trust you to keep the tree and yourselves safe. Remember what I told you to do in an emergency, alright?"
"Squee!!" They all shouted.
"Good." Alder stood and turned to me and Stolas. "We have triple checked everything we need."
"Yup." Stolas stretched out his neck.
"All ready. Right, Flops?"
Flops jumped up in confirmation, the small pack around her back shaking as she did so. There was no way I was going to leave her behind. Wherever I go, she would follow. I adjusted my bags straps and took a deep breath. This was it. It was time to start my journey again. It would be dangerous, but I had the best fighters in the forest by my side. I was more than excited to get going. Alder gave me a smile.
"It is time for us to go to Othesh."
***
A tall man in regal clothing stood at an open window, staring out at the bustling city below him. His blonde hair rustled in the wind, and he reached a hand up to brush it neatly back into place. A small smile graced his face. This was what happiness was. Looking out over a city he loved. A city he cared for. And he wanted more.
"Your happiness annoys me."
The man looked back at the person who spoke. They were lounging in a chair, smoke curling from a pipe that rested loosely between their fingers. A blindfold covered their eyes and had intricate white designs on the black fabric. Their skin was pale and smooth like porcelain. accentuated by silk clothing. The man sighed and turned fully.
"Must you be so rude?"
"Mmh." Their voice was raspy. They took a puff from their pipe. "I can't handle seeing you mortals so happy."
He rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "It doesn't matter. We won't have to work together much longer."
"The Atrophy is spreading, I presume?"
"It is." The man's smile stretched into a grin. "Just as I had planned."
They ran their hand through their long and silky pitch black hair. The tension was thick in the air. The man turned back to the window, once again watching the city. The person leaned their head back against the chair. They knew what was coming.
"Be careful. Plans are often ruined by unfound confidence."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
"If you say so."
"Why should I worry?" The man turned back once again, smiling at them. "You will stay by my side, will you not?"
They lifted their pipe, a grin on their red lips. "Forever and always."