Dramia, followed by Kamala and Stella, walked through the portal and arrived inside the throne room of the fairy realm.


    "Tiohr, we''ve arrived."


    "I can see that. Thank you for bringing miss Kamala to me."


    Tiohr-nam was the Remnant of Life, and the mother of all fairies. Though her real form was the massive tree covering the whole village, she welcomed her guest through her Avatar, which she used to make conversation with others easier.


    "Don''t thank me. I''m just doing what you''ve asked me to."


    "Haha~ Cold, as usual. Oh?"


    While enjoying the fact that Dramia hadn''t change much after moving away from the realm, her eyes fell on the little girl looking at her.


    "Stella came to visit? Alone? What a surprise!"


    Amazed, Tiohr-nam blinked a few times.


    "H-Hello..."


    Thinking that maybe she wasn''t welcomed after all, Stella quietly looked away after greeting her.


    "Hello, Stella."


    The Avatar, who had more freedom of movement in this realm, removed its hand from the tree. Her arm, covered from the tip of her fingers to her shoulder in moss, waved at the girl.


    With a smile, she pointed at the table.


    "Please wait a moment at the table. Someone will bring something to drink. Is juice alright?"


    "Mmh~"


    Stella smiled in return and hurried to one of the chair.


    Watching this warm scene, Kamala readied herself. She needed to succeed.


    ''If a human like Stella could be treated so gently by a fairy, by the leader at that, then the reverse should be... no, it is possible!''


    ''Humans can accept them, even if we are different.''


    Tiohr-nam seemed to have picked up Kamala''s thoughts, as she slightly squinted her eyes at her.


    "I should not keep miss Kamala waiting unnecessarily. Welcome to our realm. Please have a seat."


    Dramia nonchalantly walked to the table and sat on the chair she always sat at, before pointing to the chair next to her to Kamala, who immediately followed her movements.


    With everyone sitting at the table, Tiohr-nam looked toward the two doors leading to the main hall, and called someone.


    "Motirion, please come in."


    *Clack*


    The doors opened, and a gentleman with moth wings entered. He looked at his creator, and at his Queen.


    "What can I do for you?"


    He placed a hand on his chest and bowed forward. After a second, he straightened and waited for the order.


    "Could you bring juice and something to eat for our guests? Something suitable for a child to eat too."


    Turning his head slightly, he met eyes with Stella, who timidly nodded her head as a way of saying hello.


    ''Is she...''


    Before he could finish his thought, Tiohr-nam confirmed.


    "She is Orion''s daughter as far as she is concerned."


    "Oh~ I see. Please wait a moment."


    He bowed once again, before turning around.


    "Food suitable for a child. Sweets?"


    Before closing the door behind him, everyone heard him whisper to himself. That made both Kamala and Tiohr-nam smile.


    Not caring about what expressions she was making, Dramia was already known to be strict and stern compared to her sister, so she remained neutral.


    "I thought living with Orion would change you a little bit, but as I thought, your heart is set on him and him only. That is kind of a waste if I had to tell."


    "Leave me alone."


    Dramia crossed her arms and looked away after being told that by her friend. She showed the most emotions only when close to Orion, which Tiohr-nam managed to notice only recently.


    "Alright, trivialities aside, let us discuss the matter of humans and fairies. Miss Kamala, this is why you are here."


    "Yes. I cannot express how thankful I am for having the opportunity to talk with you once more."


    Kamala felt the nervousness slowly vanish from her mind.


    ''I don''t have to be so tense, am I? Let''s just treat this as a friendly chat. I will place my trust in what Orion said before.''


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    -


    "How to engage with Tiohr-nam?"


    "Don''t lie, that''s all. Be honest with her, because she can easily pick on the little details."


    "Whatever she tells you, answer it. With that in mind, you should enjoy talking with her, I promise she''s not as bad as you might think."


    -


    It was before her first meeting with Tiohr-nam. Remembering those words, she thanked Orion inside her head.


    "I chose to gave a chance to humans once again. But before that happens, you will have to be the first to describes what you will do for us."


    "It should not be reminded to you, but I will not accept another hunt."


    The famous fairy slaughter, where a lot of them were killed for their wings and shells. Kamala knew it well.


    "I have already began to work on laws punishing those kinds of people. The moment the fairies are introduced in Hocride, a protective law guaranteeing them the same status as humans will be instantly brought forward."


    "It means that everyone who would assault, kill, or injure a fairy will be dealt a fine, or at worse... a death sentence."


    ''We can''t risk anything. I don''t want to kill other humans other it, but...''


    Her mind wandered.


    "Speak to me frankly. Why would you go this far?"


    Still in her thoughts, and while hearing the question, she answered.


    "Those who try to harm fairies are scum anyways. Without laws, they would assault anyone. The world is better without them, especially with the corruption spreading around us."


    "I see. That is a good point. Do you believe it will be effective in deterring those acts?"


    Tiohr-nam kept on asking questions. She wanted to make sure Kamala came prepared.


    "I have no one in my city capable of committing such awful acts. If I had to point fingers at someone, it would be the merchants and poachers we sometimes encounter in the harbor, coming from other lands."


    "Are they a threat?"


    Kamala woke up from her thoughts and looked at Stella before looking back at the Avatar.


    "No, I made sure they wouldn''t. I have learned my lesson, both with the sirens, and with Stella."


    "There are a lot of unknown activities we are made oblivious to, but I carefully dismantled every dangerous organisations in the city over the past months."


    Surprised, Tiohr-nam couldn''t help but be amazed by the woman''s effort.


    "Oh~ That is impressive. All of that for the fairies cohabiting once again with the humans?"


    But then, Kamala shook her head. The Avatar squinted her eyes at her immediately.


    "It is not only for the fairies."


    Realizing that there was more to it, she remained silent until Kamala was done explaining herself.


    "As I have said before, I learned a lot from Orion, and from a close friend of mine. The awful treatment of the sirens on my ground, and the pain children similar to Stella were subjected to."


    "Even as a human, I reject those acts which should have never happened to begin with. It is the same with the fairies'' suffering."


    Kamala placed both hands on the table and entwined her fingers together. She took a breathe and continued.


    "I... My mother... was someone who ended up sacrificing everything for her own pleasure. Even me. I understand better than anyone the scars it left on your being, even if they aren''t visible."


    Astonished, both Tiohr-nam and Dramia looked at Kamala.


    "You have my sympathy, and my apology. I never meant for you to talk about sensitive a matters. Though, it seems we are no different."


    As the Avatar looked at Dramia with a small smile, the other looked away with a frown on her face. Though, for the three of them, a single person made them forget about their past.


    Orion.


    "You do not need to apologies. I made peace with my demons a long time ago, thanks to Orion. Without him, I would still be the coward I was before."


    Tiohr-nam and Dramia both nodded.


    *Knock* *Knock*


    "Enter."


    *Clack*


    "I have prepared everything as requested."


    Motirion entered the room while pushing a wooden cart with a few plates on it. He stopped being Stella, and walked next to her after picking one of the plates.


    "For the young lady, I have brought some..."


    He opened the lid, and revealed a plate full of leaves with big droplets that looked close to jelly.


    "Dew Drops. They are a mixture of honey and sugar syrup. I think the young lady would like them."


    With a smile on his face, he placed a glass in front of her, and poured some red liquid inside.


    "I also have some sweet berries extract. Please enjoy."


    Placing the glass carafe on the table, he got behind the cart, and walked all the way around the table and stopped behind the two ladies.


    "For lady Dramia, as usual, a glass of sweet grape extract. For our guest..."


    With a frown on his face, he looked at Kamala.


    "I didn''t know what you would like, so I brought some tea. I have already infused it, just in case, but if you requires anything else, please do tell me."


    Kamala waved her arms rapidly.


    "Oh no, please don''t! Tea is fine. Even water would have sufficed!"


    Motirion placed his right hand on his chest and sighed in relief.


    "Thank the tree. I was scared I would offend you. Please, here."


    After pouring a warm cup of infused tea in front of her, he placed another plate in front of them.


    "For the ladies, I have brought a fruit cake. As you can see, I have already sliced it. Please enjoy that as well."


    Once behind the cart, he turned to Tiohr-nam and bowed.


    "Please excuse me."


    "Thank you, Motirion. I am glad to have you following my orders."


    With a proud smile, he exited the room.


    Once he had left, Stella picked up on of the jelly drop on a leaf, and placed it in her mouth.


    "Ahm."


    A smile never seen before appeared on her face, which melted everyone''s heart.


    ''I''ll tell Orion later.''


    Thought Dramia, hoping that she would get more time with him by doing so.


    Kamala quietly sipped her tea. Once the liquid flowed down her throat, she looked surprised.


    ''This tastes great!''


    She placed the cup on the saucer and looked at the Avatar.


    "Thank you for offering me something this good. I should have come with a gift to compensate your hospitality."


    "It is but a simple cup of tea."


    The mood was instantly lifted, and only happiness remained, as everyone besides Tiohr-nam, who had no need to eat, enjoyed the food and drinks.


    ...


    Once they were done eating, they returned to the discussion at hand.


    "Miss Kamala, your sincerity in resolving our past struggles has been made clear. If all humans were like you, then this situation would have never happened to begin with."


    Sadly, she was right, so Kamala nodded.


    "You humans are probably one of the only faction that does go out of its way to hurt others, and even themselves. That is the fear I have."


    "You can be sure other Lords will try to eradicate them once they know of their existence. Are you certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will be able to protect them?"


    Kamala strongly nodded, and stared directly in her eyes.


    "I am. I have the will, and the ways to protect them. I have allies I can count on in times of need, and a friend I can depend on to help me protect them. I have ways to rapidly communicate with everyone if an attack happens."


    ''I am not the same as before. I will do whatever is in my power to accomplish my goal. I will bring everyone together, and bring the our continent back to its original trajectory.''


    After closing her eyes for a minute, Tiohr-nam opened them again.


    "I understand. It does sound like you have everything ready and set to make our return happen."


    "I do."


    Tiohr-nam nodded.


    "Then, it is set. I will agree with your pro-"


    Just when she was about to end her sentence, the ground suddenly sank under them.


    "What was that?!"


    Dramia suddenly stood away from her chair, and hurriedly flew out of the mansion after opening the closest window.


    "This is... not good."


    The Avatar''s face suddenly became clouded in darkness, which made Kamala and Stella nervous.


    "Miss Kamala, you should leave this place."


    "Why?"


    With a terrible expression, she said.


    "The fairies... it might be the end."