《Sovereign Esteria》 Prologue I was still a girl when I inherited the Rainbow Star Parasol from my mother, making me the new Sovereign. My name is Esteria. The day of my mother¡¯s funeral was hard on me. When a faery passes away, they shatter into silver dust, then we gather the dust and bury it along with a seed, preferably the seed of the flower that was most beloved by the Sovereign. In my mother¡¯s case, she loved peonies the most. When a faerie¡¯s dust is buried with a flower, the flower will grow within a matter of seconds, and it will give off a beautiful glow. We call these flowers. Mors Lumina My mother¡¯s Mors Lumina shines in the sacred grove, but besides that, my mother also had another important obligation besides leading our clan: Mother was the only Faerie who could reproduce. She was incredibly important, but with that said, I opened my eyes, finding myself in my mother¡¯s room, clutching my Rainbow Star Parasol. I then got out of the bed, and I began to get dressed. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled at my beautiful white hair. My clan has prismatic hair that changes color depending on how the light hits it; however, my mother and I, being Sovereigns, did not have that ability. our hair remains as white as snow Another thing about faeries is that our hair is incredibly important to us. I don¡¯t really know why, but if a member of our clan cuts their hair, it¡¯s an incredible shame. Only certain professions can allow you to cut their hair. But that¡¯s enough about that. I fly over to my wardrobe, and I begin to get dressed. I choose to wear a crystal blue top with a white and red striped long skirt. I also adorn myself with some jewelry, mainly two emerald anklets. I place the ladybug hairpin into my white locks. I then take my parasol, and I fly out my balcony window. The sun rises on our little settlement, and soon I hear the sound of the birds. My first order of business is to go to the Faery dome I fly over and see Maia. Maia She¡¯s one of the elders of my clan. She was good friends with my mother and a second parent to me. She was dressed in white and pink robes and smiled at me. Maia smiled and instantly hugged me and said, ¡°Oh my sweet little Esti, you¡¯ve grown so beautiful. Your mother would be so proud of you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Maia, but you know why I¡¯m here,¡± I said. Maia nodded her head. She then opened the curtain and said, ¡°Yes, my Sovereign, please head inside, and I will guide you to the best of my abilities.¡± I found myself in a beautiful room filled with soft blue flowers and a pond in the center of the room. Maia then placed a hand on my shoulder and said, ¡°Now, my Sovereign, please relax in the pond and let yourself go.¡± Maia spoke with a tone that was gentle but stern. I then landed on the ground, and I flew into the pond. The water felt so familiar. When I was deep enough in the pond, I began to lay in the water, and soon I began to float. When I looked up, I saw so many white and pink Mors Lumina, each one giving off gentle light. It was like looking up at a sky full of moons. Maia then flew over me and smiled softly. ¡°Now, my Sovereign, I want you to close your eyes, take deep breaths, and think about your mother, your friends, and everything that makes you happy.¡± I did as instructed. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I began to hear my heartbeat. I felt so relaxed. I then began to think of my mother, all the good times we shared, the joy she gave me. Then I thought about my friend Amira; she was so hotheaded, always getting into fights with Rays; he was always incredibly artistic but also very complex. Those two would always butt heads, but at the end of the day, they were good friends. Then I felt a warmth well up in my chest; it was so lovely. Soon that warm feeling spread throughout my entire body and then spread into the water, and then I felt a burst of love well up in my heart, and when I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by water lilies; each one held a white, glowing faery bulb; some water lilies held three or two bulbs. I was so impressed. Maia then looked to me and said, ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you, my little Esti; you have produced some marvelous bulbs. I can tell they are strong. Your mother would be proud, Esti.¡± I then rose from the water, and I took a closer look at the bulbs. They each gave off a beautiful white light, but if you looked closer, you would see a fetus inside them. It was small, but it would grow in time, and on that day the bulb would burst open and a faery would be born. Maia¡¯s attendants soon came in. When they saw me, they bowed their heads. I then used my wings and began to fly out of the faery dome. By the time I got out of the dome, the settlement was more active. I then flew around the settlement; everyone was happy to see me, and I was happy to see them. Eventually, Rays came to me; the Elders decided that he should be my advisor. Rays adjusted his glasses and said, "My Sovereign, I¡¯m sorry to interrupt your stroll, but we have several things to go over.¡± I nodded my head and left with Rays; he guided me to the Knights barracks. Rays informed me that I needed to oversee the final trial to become true Faery Knights. Faery Knights are the basic infantry units of any Faery Clan. They wield swords made from magically imbued stone. These swords are able to channel magic, and they can also absorb magic. Their shields are made from oak wood with charms of protection drawn into them. Each shield bears the crest of my clan, then there is the armor made from a mixture of wood and stone and a warding charm. Faery Knights are dependable soldiers. Rays leads me inside the Knight¡¯s Barracks, where I meet with the headmaster. Her name is Resella. She is a seasoned warrior who survived twelve invasions during my mother¡¯s time as Sovereign. In that time Rosella earned the Crown of Jubilee from my mother and the Elders. The Crown of Jubilee is a relic that holds a lot of respect and honor. A faery can only obtain it by performing an outstanding service. Rosella smiled at me and said, ¡°Greetings, my Sovereign. I¡¯m glad you could be here to see our graduates off today.¡± I smiled softly and said, ¡°I¡¯m happy to be here. I¡¯m sure I can boost some morale for them, so shall we begin?¡± Rosella smiled and led me to the training ground, and I took a seat upon a throne made just for me. Rays stood by my side as Rosella then began to say an empowering speech to the graduates. Then, when Rosella was finished, she began the event. The first event was they had to tame a male Shimmer Rhino Beetle. This beetle is comparable to the size of an actual rhino compared to us, and we are about the size of dolls compared to a dwarf or human, so a Shimmer Rhino Beetle is big, and these beetles can use barrier and rage enchants. We use Shimmer Rhino Beetles as mounts and companions; they are incredibly fierce fighters.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Rosella then announces that each potential Knight will have to somehow appease this Shimmer Rhino Beetle; this is to test their resolve because a Faery Knight is not just a soldier; they are also protectors of the Clan and the Nature around them. Soon the bell chimed, and Rosella took a seat beside me. She told me that this particular Shimmer Rhino Beetle is one she raised herself for this exact event. I watched as the graduates tried their best to appease the beetle; at some points, the beetle charged at them, and they had to protect themselves with their shields, but others managed to appease the beetle and get him to settle. Sure enough, those who managed to appease the Beetle were going to be knighted. The exact number of graduates was three out of sixteen. I guess it was back at the drawing board for several of them. Now for my part, the knighting ceremony was held right away. I was waiting on the center podium while the three knights approached me. I held out my parasol as the three knights kneeled before me. I then stood before the graduate in the center and said, ¡°Young Knight, state your name.¡± This knight was a faerie man with styled red hair. He spoke with a hardened and stern voice, ¡°I am Desdon, my Sovereign.¡± I smiled and tapped each of his shoulders with my parasol. I then said, ¡°Desdon I saw how you calmly appeased the Shimmer Rhino Beetle with a stern look and kind actions. For those attributes, you shall be knighted Desdon of Ironclad Mercy.¡± I then moved to the graduate on the right and asked for her name. She said, ¡°I am Fernai, my Sovereign.¡± I smiled and said, ¡°Lady Fernai, I admire how you sheathed your blade to gain the Shimmer Rhino Beetle¡¯s trust." You were clever and showed so much patience for this. I knight you, Fernai the Wise." I then approached the last graduate, and before I asked for his name, he had purple hair. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°I am Clin, my sovereign.¡± I gave a stoic look and said, ¡°Graduate Clin, you showed great courage by dropping your shield and taking the Shimmer Rhino Beetle by the horns, gaining the beetle¡¯s respect. For that alone you deserve to be knighted. From this day forth, you will be known as Clin the Courageous.¡± I then asked all three of these Knights to rise, and I addressed the crowd, ¡°My friends, the Knighting Ceremony has reached its conclusion. May we celebrate the new generation that will devote themselves to the Clan.¡± Then a party began. Things were good at the moment, but for me, my work had just begun. Rays told me I was needed somewhere else, so away I flew. Rays informed me that I needed to meet with the Cavaliers; they are a mounted infantry unit. They wear armor like the Knights, but they mainly rely on special lances made from clay. Some Faery Cavaliers use staves; they are a different sect, though their main priority is to support other combatants. We call them Faery Bellum Maidens. Another difference between them is that Faery Cavaliers usually ride large red and gold skinks while the Bellum Maidens ride white rabbits that have frilled ears that sort of resemble wings. Both these creatures are like the Shimmer Rhino Beetle; the skinks are referred to as Geo Skinks." They are a hybrid between the fire elemental salamanders and their cousins, the wind elemental gale iguanas. The Geo Skinks possess both Fire and Wind magic. Geo Skinks mainly use the wind magic to increase their movement speed, and the fire magic is to fight or clear away enemies. The rabbits are referred to as Concordia Hares; they are incredibly rare creatures with the ability to empower their riders powers. The only problem issue is that Concordia Hares choose their riders. I should mention that there are two other factions within the Cavalier branch, but I can get to that later. Anyway, the Cavaliers have another job, and that is to patrol and scout around our clan¡¯s territory, so me meeting with them is to get any information I can on the lands surrounding the settlement. When we arrive at the Cavalier base, I meet with the captain, Sir Tantalo. He¡¯s pretty young to be the Cavalier captain, but he has the experience of a true veteran. Tantalo bowed to me and guided me to the meeting room and displayed a map of our known territory. There was a mark on the southeastern border. ¡°My Sovereign, my troops tell me that a basilisk has made its nest in this area. It¡¯s far enough away that it won¡¯t cause any harm, but there are eggs in its possession, and we believe that if left unchecked, there could be problems in the near future.¡± Tantalo said Basilisks are powerful creatures. They are birdlike creatures with the head of a chicken and the body of a lizard. They are best known for being incredibly toxic; one touch can cause severe harm to you. I thought for a moment and said, ¡°I want to handle this peacefully; send our best Naturae Speaker to try and reason with the basilisk.¡± With that said, Tantalo bowed to me and began to get things underway. Rays then reminded me that there are still two more things that need to be done, and right now I need to speak with the Council of Elders. I sighed when I heard that Mother always dreaded speaking with the Elders; she said it was because the meetings would last for hours. I sighed but flew with Rays to the Elder¡¯s tower. Even though I lead the Clan, the Elders also hold some sway; they act as a council that speaks for the entire Clan. If I wanted to move the Clan to another location, the Elders would have to hold a vote, and depending on how that vote would play out, we would move or not. But there is the fact that since I am the only member of the clan that can reproduce, I hold the most power since my clan relies on me to survive. When I walk into the tower, I meet with all the elders. As of right now, there is a council of 43 elders, and they all have one thing in common: they don¡¯t approve of me being the sovereign. I stand in the center of the room as all the Elders take their seats, and we begin the meeting. The meeting will mainly discuss upcoming events such as festivals, ceremonies, and planning for the future. When everything is sorted, I walk out of the tower, and Rays announces that my final task is to spend time with my clan; this was my favorite activity. I went to the Settlement Plaza and began to talk with my subjects. Everyone was so nice. I even helped with the chores, like sorting food and making clothing. I had experience in many types of chores. Mother insisted on it; she always said the best type of sovereign is one who can easily work with her subjects, especially when things get tough. It was 8 pm when I returned to my chamber and began to relax. Today was a good day; it was my first day as my mother¡¯s successor, and even though it was scary, I greatly enjoyed it. I love my clan, and I will protect them with my very life. End of Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 1. Awoke the next day feeling well rested, a servant brought me breakfast. It was hot spider milk cereal with a side of water, my favorite. Once I was finished with breakfast, I got dressed in my usual attire, and then I began to brush my hair. Soon Rays came in. He smiled at me and said, ¡°My Sovereign, I have good news: we don¡¯t have much to do today, but I figured we¡¯d get the most tedious thing out of the way first. I was able to get you an audience with the Elder Council. I sighed, finishing up. I was glad we were able to get this done. First I grabbed my parasol and walked out onto the balcony and flew to the Elder¡¯s tower. I sat at the podium and I watched as all the elders got seated, and yes, I had to wait for all 43 elders. Rays had informed me that this meeting was about the basilisk in our territory. The elders were concerned mainly because of the basilisk¡¯s poisonous nature; they were worried that it could infect our water supply and spread disease. I was adamant about my decision; however, if possible, I would rather resolve this peacefully. Rushing into war would only cause unnecessary losses. The meeting ended with a stalemate; ultimately, nothing got resolved at all. The next appointment was with two members of the Farmer¡¯s Society; apparently, they wanted my input on a dispute they had been having. I flew to the farm, and I met with Farmer Layloon and Farmer Hestro Rays, who informed me that the dispute was over a thievery claim. Farmer Layloon had noticed that his stock of raspberries had been running low while Farmer Hestro¡¯s stock of raspberries had suddenly been expanding. Farmer Hestro stated that he had started growing raspberries in his own garden and that it was purely a coincidence I would ask to see Farmer Hestro¡¯s garden, but then I remembered that a Farmer Faerie¡¯s garden is sacred; only the Farmer¡¯s family may enter it. The reason I can¡¯t go there or know about it is because it¡¯s an ancient custom; going against it would be heresy. I then moved to the next best thing. I asked Farmer Layloon to show me her storehouse. Farmer Layloon agreed and led the way to her storehouse, and I began to investigate it. I then noticed the smell of chipmunk droppings. This was a smell I knew all too well because I had raised a chipmunk until Mother told me to send him away. I now understand why. I then took another look around, and I saw a large hole in one of the walls. It was blocked by several rocks. It seemed hastily done as well when Farmer Layloon saw the hole; she was shocked. I then turned to Farmer Layloon and asked, ¡°My dear, do you have children?¡± Farmer Layloon nodded her head and led me to her home. There I saw that Layloon had adopted two children. They were both boys, and I could sense it. These two were born from my mother. I then approached the boys and said, ¡°Hello, little ones.¡± The two just waved and said hi. They were obviously too young to know who I was. I just smiled and said, ¡°Do you kids know anything about a chipmunk?¡± The two slowly began to look nervous, but they shook their heads no. Farmer Layloon then began to dig into them; the two were forced to bring out the chipmunk pup they were hiding. The two then explained that they had found him while cleaning the storehouse, and they had been caring for him ever since. Layloon was furious, but she calmed down upon seeing the chipmunk pup¡¯s cute face. I volunteered to take the pup to the ranger¡¯s base. Layloon happily agreed, and her children had to say a heartfelt goodbye to their new friend, but I promised them that they could visit him any time they wanted. I then held the pup in my arms, and I carried him over to the ranger¡¯s base. It was a rather short trip, to say the least. I met with the ranger warden, and I told him the whole story. He agreed to take in the chipmunk and raise him until he was ready to be released. With that done, came the final task for today: I had to see how meeting with the Basilisk went. I then flew over to the Cavalier base. I flew into Tantalo¡¯s office; he had a pained look on his face. I wondered if the mission was a failure. Tantalo then spoke up and said: ¡°Greetings, my Sovereign, I have dire news.¡± I took a deep breath and took a seat across from Tantalo. He told me that the Basilisk refused to leave for a very important reason: the Basilisk had just laid her eggs, and she was brooding them, and if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, this Basilisk was a matriarch who had lost her entire lounge. I got incredibly worried. It would be one thing if she was brooding, but the fact that she was a matriarch had made it even worse, but at the same time this was an opportunity. I asked Tantalo to retrieve the Natuserpentrae Speaker because I wanted an audience with her. Rays opposed the entire thing, but I was firm. Tantalo also insisted that I not go, but I needed to do this. I compromised with Rays; he let me go as long as I wore the Serpent¡¯s charm. It was a relic gifted to us by the Dwarves when we traveled through their domain. The Serpent¡¯s Charm¡¯s soul purpose is to nullify the effects of creatures with the Reptilian Genus. With that done, Tatalo pulled together his finest Cavaliers and the Naturae Speaker, and we made our way to the Basilisk Matriarch¡¯s nest. As we traveled closer to her nest, the smell of decay was heavy in the air, but this wasn¡¯t a misuse of her powers. This was her marking her territory, you see; a normal Basilisk has no control of her poisonous powers, and their poison is so bad that it makes anything unlivable. It¡¯s so strong that if there is poison that touches the bare soil, it becomes so bad that nothing will ever grow from there again but a basilisk. Matriarch has the ability to control her poison. which is good because compared to her male counterpart, a matriarch¡¯s poison is stronger and more deadly. So I know that this display is not out of pure whim; the Matriarch is simply marking her territory, but the deeper we went, the worse the smell got. This only strengthened my resolve. Soon we heard a loud screech. The Speaker called out and said, ¡°That was a warning cry. She knows we are here. I took a deep breath and spoke up, ¡°Matriarch Basilisk, I am Esteria, the Sovereign of the Arcus Stella Clan. We live in this forest as well, and your future lounge threatens my clan, but I have come here hoping to create an accord between our two races. The Matriarch Basilisk then let out another screech. This one seemed calmer somehow. The speaker then translated,Let me come to you; please wait a moment. Soon we began to hear footsteps; they got closer and closer. Soon two legs came into view; they were slender and green. I looked up and saw a raptor-like body with two green wings. The feathers on those wings are bright pink and blue with shades of dark green mixed into the design. The frilled neck is the color of purple and gold; the eyes are that of a snake. She is a matriarch basilisk in her full magnificence.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. She lets out another screech, translated: ¡°I am impressed with your courage, little Faerie." The fact that you entered my territory yourself shows great courage. I bowed respectfully and said, ¡°I am glad to see you in your full radiance, your grace. Now I know that nothing I can offer can make up for the loss of your entire lounge, but I wish to make an offer.¡± The Basilisk Matriarch tilted her head inquisitively, showing she was interested. ¡°My offer is this, your radiance: we split the forest in two parts, with you keeping your lounge on the northeastern side and you leaving the southwestern side to us. We will also make sure you have an abundant supply of food and your own personal spring that will never run dry, but in return our two races are to never cross into each other¡¯s border. Do you agree to this arrangement?¡± The Basilisk Matriarch thought it over for only a second before nodding her head in agreement with the arrangement in play. I would then use the Serpent Charm as the catalyst for the Accord; using my magic, I would inscribe our arrangement into the Charm. Suddenly, the clouds would gather, starting to form a storm; the wind would howl, and a light would gather in the sky. Suddenly, it came down upon us, forming a wall between us and the Basilisk Matriarch; lightning would fill the sky for the rest of the day. In that time, Tantalo had escorted us back to the settlement. I gathered the whole settlement together and told them about the Accord I had made. The Elders were furious at me, saying I had risked the entire clan¡¯s life and that Basilisks can¡¯t be trusted. I remained adamant on this, plus I didn¡¯t tell her about the punishment for breaking the Accord, and it was another stipulation why I couldn¡¯t tell my clan that detail either because I want our arrangement to be of mutual faith. I then told our finest geomancer to go to the basilisk territory and create a lake burst. He looked to me and nodded. He took a team of Faery knights and left immediately. Until that link is performed, the Accord will not manifest. Luckily, geomancers can create lake bursts from several yards away. When I had made my announcement, everyone slowly returned to their routines. I then learned from the farmer¡¯s society that several Faerie gardens were in the Basilisk territory, and I simply shrugged, saying they would have to start new gardens. They were furious with me, but they had no other choice. At that time, the geomancer had returned, stating that the lake was created safely within the Basilisk domain. I smiled because now we only had to worry about keeping them fed. I sent a letter to the ranger base telling them what to do. Luckily we have Piper¡¯s to lure in animals. Pipers are a faction within the Ranger Base who focus on routing animals with special flutes made from Moonstone. Luckily the ranger warden would be able to keep that up with all that done. I was incredibly tired. I took a long bath to unwind, and then I began to melt in the tub. It was absolutely nice. When I got out of the bath, I dried off and began to relax. I placed my parasol on the bed, and I stepped out onto my balcony and observed the settlement, all the comings and goings. It was absolutely beautiful. I then realized that I was still wearing the Serpent¡¯s Charm. It was the very symbol of our accord, meaning it was now much more important. I traveled to the treasury and locked it up safely. I then returned to my room and began to people-watch from my balcony. Once again I started to think about everything I had accomplished today. It was wonderful. I then began to wonder if my mother would be proud of me or not. I soon felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped and saw Maia; she smiled and said, ¡°Hello, my child, I heard about what you did today.¡± I blushed and looked to the ground. I was kind of conflicted about it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maia, but honestly, I¡¯m conflicted about my decision. I¡¯ve been up here wondering what my mother would have done. Maia rubbed my back and said, ¡°Oh, you sweet thing, I know your mother would have done the same thing. She was always the type to make peace; then again, she would have moved the entire clan if things got bad, but the fact that you choose to coexist shows great promise. I know it. ¡°Thank you, Maia, but why did you come? I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t just to cheer me up. Maia chuckled and said, ¡°My child, I came to show you something really important. Please follow me." Maia led me to the Faery Dome and led me inside. Once we were in the darkness of the Fairy Dome, I felt a strange wave of joy wash over me. It was soft and gentle. I then went into the pool of bulbs. Once in the pool, I saw that the bulbs were giving off stronger light; some were even flashing multiple colors, but one bulb was shining like a star. The closer I got to it, the more the feeling of joy began to rush over me; it felt like I was in my mother¡¯s embrace again. The bulb then began to open, revealing a small faerie baby resting inside it. I then picked up the small newborn in my arms and began to cry tears of joy. This small child was my firstborn. born, I just couldn¡¯t stop crying. He was beautiful. My heart felt so bright. I then felt Maia flutter up to me. She smiled and said, ¡°Welcome to Motherhood, my Sovereign. This is your firstborn. The newborn then opened his eyes and looked up at me and smiled. I stopped and wiped my tears away. ¡°Hello, little one, welcome to the world.¡± I then gave the child to Maia; the moment I did, the child began to cry, and it broke my heart. Maia smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my child. It¡¯s common with newborns; they imprint on the first thing they see and get so attached, and what you''re feeling is perfectly natural; your mother felt the same way. I gave the child a kiss on the head. He smiled at me, then he settled down. I then made my way back home. I lay in bed crying because I would never get to raise any of the children I bring into the world. A sovereign bears no responsibility to any child she births. A Sovereign may only care for the successor to her reign; that is her burden. So basically, as long as I survive, it doesn¡¯t matter how many children die in my name. I wonder if my mother felt this much remorse about her own obligation. Soon dinner had arrived. It was a berry and veggie stir fry with fried frog meat as a side dish. It was heavenly. I wonder if they would let me take a shot at cooking. I then made a call to the staff, and my tray was taken. I then went back to my vanity mirror, and I began to brush my hair and sing. It was a song my mother liked. She was a terrible singer, though her voice was like listening to a frog being castrated. But Mother loved this song, even though she would constantly forget the words. It was such a good memory. I then got ready for bed. I began to sleep, and I kept thinking about the child I held today. He was so sweet, so innocent, and he quickly consumed all my thoughts. This was bad because a faerie sovereign must think about the entire clan''s well-being; focusing on just one is just selfish, but I want to be with him. I want to hold him and raise him as my own. It feels as though my instincts are conflicting with my duty. I was tossing and turning all night. I somehow managed to get three hours of sleep by morning light. I just remained in bed with Rays. He came in. He was concerned. He reminded me that I had important tasks to do today, but I refused to leave my bed. Rays ultimately conceded and said he would add my tasks to tomorrow''s schedule. I ended up resting till noon. When I got up, I began to get ready for the day. I brushed my hair and got dressed, and I grabbed my parasol and flew from my balcony over to the plaza. I began to socialize with my subjects. Since yesterday, my subjects have been divided down the middle when it¡¯s come to my choices. Some respected my decision; others were reviled by it, and it stung to have my own subjects think of me in such a way, but I really did appreciate those who were on my side. I just hope the council of Elders was just as divided because if they could overturn my decision if they got the full support of the citizens. Eventually I went back to the palace, and I began to rest for the remainder of the day, but I couldn¡¯t get any sleep due to me sleeping all day. I then wandered through the palace halls. I began to think about the future of the clan and the forest where we lived. If the Basilisk Matriarch sticks to her word, we won¡¯t have to suffer. Even though half of the forest will become unlivable, we might need to create some detoxing shrines to ward off the poison. A faerie architect can create more than just standard buildings; they can also create shrines. Shrines have multiple uses; it mainly depends on what crystal is used for the catalyst. For a detoxing shrine, we would need to use Howlite gems; that is something I would need to tell the Chief Architect to construct one right away, but we would also need to get Howlite gems from the Gnomes that come by to trade with us. They come by once every so often; they usually trade gems for food and medicine. I can only imagine how precious a Howlite Gem could be. I eventually found my way to the palace greenhouse. All the plants here radiate with perfect beauty and so much life energy. They are all so beautiful I smile and pick a berry, and I bite into it. I smile at the flavor. It¡¯s so flavorful and vibrant. I soon make my way to my room, and I lay in bed, and soon sleep consumes me. Chapter 2 Chapter 2. Tonight is the Night of the Amethyst Comet shower, a night sacred to us faeries. Faerie Clans across the land will all be celebrating. It¡¯s also the night where the gnomes come to the surface to trade their gems with us. Like I mentioned before, we trade food for their gems. It¡¯s how it¡¯s been for generations. In fact, that¡¯s why Mother chose this forest to make our home; she sensed the Gnome Tunnels below. Gnomes are Earth elemental Fae who take the forms of moles. The only difference is that Gnomes always walk on two legs, and they come in two colors: red and blue. The female Gnomes are blue while the males are red. Another thing about the Gnomes is that all Gnomes carry a pickaxe, similar to a Faerie Sovereign¡¯s parasol. A Gnome''s pickaxe is their most valued treasure. It¡¯s used for both mining and a way to channel their magic. We Faeries have always had a good relationship with the Gnomes. In times of hardship, the Gnomes have sheltered us Faeries from harm. But back to the main subject at hand, the comet shower on this night, I will perform the rite of Orchidaceae umbra Flosculus. It is a vital ritual that needs to be performed in just the right way in order to produce Mana Blossoms. These flowers do not grow naturally and as such are incredibly rare. Mana Blossoms can be used for a variety of things, but they are heavily valued by the Gnomes. The Gnomes use them to create medicine and lighting for their tunnels. I should also mention that the Gnomes are gifted with Earth Magic, but they don¡¯t have much talent with other types of magic, hence why they value Mana Blossoms. Mana Blossoms, when made into potions, boost a creature¡¯s magical abilities, but the effects will wear off within 20 days. So they use Mana Blossom Positions sparingly; even still, their supplies do run low, hence why we Faeries perform these rituals, and in return the Gnomes trade their finest gems with us, and that is another thing about the Gnomes: they can also unlock the dormant Powers within Gems, and frankly, that is something we¡¯ll need in order to create the Detoxing Shrines, so everyone will be counting on me. Since tonight is the comet shower, all my tasks that I would be doing are going to be pushed to the next day. Right now I need to relax and save my energy because the rite needs to be my main concern right now. I am in the ballroom auditioning a series of musicians. The goal of this is to find one I vibe with. To do this, I am blindfolded, and I listen to them play. This is to make sure that my choice isn¡¯t compromised by appearances. Soon I hear the sound of a beautiful flutist. They are playing an interesting yet somber song. It reminds me of the day Sir Densna died. Desna was my mother¡¯s protector and a surrogate father to me. One day, Desna and my mother were traveling alone in a storm, and they ran into a goblin scout. Desna single-handedly fought him off while my mother fled to safety. She was able to return to the settlement, and she quickly sent knights to go aid Desna, but sadly it was too late. Desna was brought back to us with his wings plucked; he died an hour later. Desna was then Buried with a primrose seed and a Mors Lumina, it quickly sprouted. That was the worst event of my life. I then stood up and said, ¡°I choose you to be my lead musician for the rite. I then heard the flutist''s voice for the first time: ¡°Thank you, my sovereign. I swear I won''t let you down.¡± Next was the accompanying musician. Soon I hear a variety of instruments, and they are all wonderful; however, none of them sing to me. Then I hear the strings of a harp; each strum is like someone pulling at my soul. I start to feel a wave of joy, and I¡¯m reminded of the feelings I felt when I held my first child, and it brings a tear to my eyes. I then stood up and said, ¡°Harpist, what is your name? Please, I must know it.¡± The Harpest Squeaked and said, ¡°Oh my, I am ever so pleased you enjoyed my song, My Sovereign. My name is Wensk, and thank you for allowing me to perform for you.¡± I then removed my blindfold and saw the faces of my two performers. Res had soft pink hair and was dressed like an artist. Res told me that he was a member of the Fables; they are a beloved acting troupe that provides entertainment for the local children of the settlement Wensk. However, he was just a teen. He told me that he was an apprentice musician and that his master encouraged him to try out today. I was happy with my selection. Rays took the two to get ready for the rite, and I was allowed some freedom. A knight notified me that a gnome merchant had arrived with two of his companions. I then went to see them. The Gnomes have a series of tunnels running below the Forest with a series of entrances hidden around. I feel that since the Basilisk Matriarch had made her home in our forest, they may not use the entrances on the northeastern side of our forest soon. I followed the commotion to the Wanderer¡¯s Respite; this was where traders set up their stands, and soon I met with the merchant. He was busy talking with one of his companions. I approached him and said, ¡°Greetings, sir merchant, I am Sovereign Esteria.¡± The gnome turned around and looked surprised. I then noticed the sash around his chest. It had a series of golden medals on it. The medals all had the same symbols on them. I then noticed that this Gnome was wearing a bright green bracelet on his left arm. But the Gnome Merchant quickly regained his composure and said, ¡°Ah, your radiance, I am honored to make your acquaintance, but pardon my confusion, but our archives say that the current Sovereign of the Arcus Stella Clan is Mai Prisma.¡± Upon hearing this, I felt a pit in my stomach. I then said, ¡°Mai is my mother. I inherited her title. My mother passed away not too long ago.¡± The gnome merchant then began to apologize and said, ¡°Forgive me, your grace. Let me introduce myself. My name is Giovanti. I am a high-ranking member of the Gold Merchant¡¯s Guild. This year we are handling the trade for Mana Blossoms. My craftsmen have prepared the finest gems available.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Giovanti then introduced me to his companions. First was his lovely wife, Anitoli, a blue gnome dressed in a white gown. She was obviously a gnome of high society. She also had a beautiful pink ponytail. She also wore the same green band around her arm that Giovanti wore. Next was Giovanti¡¯s brother; he was a Gnome Knight. His pickaxe was made from lapis lazuli, and the handle was made from perfect silver. His name was Roti. I took a moment to talk to Anitoli. I noticed that she didn¡¯t have a pickaxe. When I asked her about it, she simply said, ¡°A lady of high society only needs two things to succeed: her elegance and virtue. Magic has no place in a lady¡¯s repertoire.¡± Roti then told me that his sister-in-law is a traditionalist. He told me that back in the day, gnome women were not allowed to use magic, but in recent years those laws were overturned. Giovanti then showed me his coffers; they were filled with a variety of gems, all of them giving off a slight magical aura that would be enhanced in time. I then told Giovanti that I was mainly interested in gems with purifying capabilities. Giovanti promised that if the rite was successful, he would send twenty extra coffers of gems with purifying capabilities to my clan. I smiled. I then offered to show Giovanti and Anitoli around the settlement. The two happily agreed. The first place I took the couple to was our bakery in the residential sector. I bought the couple a bunch of pastries, and the two Gnomes swooned and gleefully squealed at the taste of every pastry. Giovanti told me that all Gnomes have a weakness for sweets of any kind; it¡¯s almost crippling. They then went on to tell me that a Gnome¡¯s diet consists of worms, roots, and an incredibly fragile stone called Moldavite. I then asked the couple if Gnomes cook their food; the two tilted their heads and asked, What is cooking?" Giovanti then said, ¡°It is vital for a Gnome¡¯s health that worms be eaten as fresh as possible; eating a dead or fried worm could cause sickness. This is why we have dedicated worm breeders.¡± I was fascinated by Gnome culture. Anitoli then mentioned that the Gnomes share an ancestry with the Dwarves. Most Dwarven kingdoms are built inside of mountains, and I hear that Dwarven craftsmanship is unmatched. I hear they can even withstand an attack from a dragon army. The next place I took Giovanti was the stables, where we raise our mounts and companions. Giovanti was impressed by all the animals we had been raising. Anitoli wanted to purchase one as a pet, but Giovanti quickly told his wife that they couldn¡¯t keep a pet due to their confined home. Anitoli was saddened by this. The last place I took the couple was our plaza. I told them that this is where I come to people-watch and socialize with my subjects. Anitoli loved this place because of all the beauty around us. We stayed at the plaza until 5 pm, and then I escorted them back to the Wanderer¡¯s Respite. I then made my way back to the palace and began to get dressed in my gown for the ritual. It was a beautiful white gown decorated with a wave and lotus pattern. I then wore a white scarf around my arms, and I waited for nightfall. At around 7 pm, the sun had set, and the stars filled the night sky. Then Wensk and Res began to play their instruments, and they flew behind me to the plaza as Maia sang a hymn. Soon I flew towards the gazebo. I then rested my feet on the cold wooden floor, and I opened my parasol, which soon started to give off a soft prismatic light, and then the music stopped. I began to concentrate, and soon I felt it: the first amethyst comet raced across the night sky, and then the music started up again. I then began to dance using my parasol as an extension of my arm. The music was a mixture of both joy and sorrow. The music filled me with a mix of emotions, and I channeled all my emotions into the rite. Soon I began to feel a mystical energy well up inside me, and that energy began to radiate off my body, and then I pointed my parasol towards the north, and in that direction a large field of Mana Blossoms began to instantly grow from the ground. I then pointed to the other three cardinal directions, and in each one, a field of Mana Blossoms grew instantly. Then I pointed my Pparasol up towards the heavens, and soon a stalk grew from the top of the gazebo, and from it a large bush of Mana Blossoms erupted in a beautiful display. I then fell to my knees exhausted. Rays soon came to my side and held me close, then the entire audience cheered. ¡°My Sovereign, you did so well; the sheer number of blossoms you produced is almost unprecedented.¡± Rays said, Rays then helped me to a bench, and soon Giovanti came over. He looked so impressed. ¡°Lady Esteria, I am dumbfounded. The sheer number of Mana Blossoms you created is far more valuable than anything I can offer. I can only imagine their potency. Please, I must offer you at least 60 coffers of gems to properly compensate you. I then looked to Giovanti and said, ¡°My friend, I would happily give up all the Mana Blossoms, but I must think of the good of my clan. We can also use the Mana Blossoms to full effect, so I offer you this deal: we split the turkey hand in hand; you take 60%, and I take the remaining 40%.¡± Giovanti thought for a second and said, ¡°You are a wise woman. Lady Esteria, I agree to your terms, but my payment shall remain as is. We both shook on it, and Rays brought me a flask of water. It was soothing. My clan celebrated for a very long time before things died down. I then returned to my palace and began to rest. I then had a dream of an army of bats that attacked my entire clan. By morning I awoke in a cold sweat. I was worried; bats usually symbolize death and rebirth, but to a faerie, bats can also symbolize the wings of a Lich Faerie. Lich Faeries are faeries imbued with Death Magic. Usually, a Lich Faery is usually a Sovereign, and the reason they become Lichs in the first place is to preserve their lives. Faerie Sovereigns can only live for so long, and some can slowly become infertile with time, or sometimes the heir dies. Either way, no matter the reason, a Lich Faerie will always be Sovereign, and in time that sovereign will slowly go insane from the death magic that flows through her veins. Lich Faeries will rarely produce an heir, and if they do, they will usually kill it to preserve their reign. Lich Faeries also gain a plethora of abilities. The first and most obvious is the ability to raise and control the dead; another ability is unparalleled. Shadow magic that could rival even the eldest dark witch next is the ability to steal life from any living thing. A Lich Faery will often use this power on her own subjects to regain some vitality or to show dominance. I swear that dream was a warning for things to come. I quickly met with Tantalo and the Ranger Warden Erical, and I told them about my dream. The two promised to do some patrols. I felt so scared. I then met with Rays, who escorted me to all of my tasks. When it came time to meet with the Elders, I told them about my dream, and they simply laughed at me, saying, ¡°Esteria, please be real; the odds of a Lich Faery in this lifetime are just utter hogwash. Don¡¯t bother us with such fantasies.¡± I growled. The Elders were all such conceited old fools. I knew this peace would not last; something kept nagging at me that something dark was coming, but the Council wouldn¡¯t let me alert the clan. They told me that if I did, they would seize control of the Clan from me, and I knew for a fact that their true goal was to make me into a figurehead while they controlled the Clan. I wouldn¡¯t let that happen, so I bit my tongue and simply bided my time. Two weeks later, Giovanti¡¯s delivery of gem coffers arrived. I was greatly impressed with the quality of the gems. The architects went to work on the detoxing shrines almost instantly. I was happy that they could get started so soon. But then the architects didn¡¯t return. Later that day, I sent scouts out to investigate them, and when they returned, they had a look of pure terror on their faces. That was when I knew that my clan was in jeopardy. Chapter 3 Chapter 3. The scouts recalled the grisly scene of arcane spirits feasting on the corpses of the architects I had set out. I was horrified. This can only mean two things: one, a lich has discovered our location and is actually hunting us, or two, there is a disturbance in our forest. If this is the latter, then the disturbance could be a curse from a lingering soul slowly gathering power. Both of these options are the worst-case scenario. I quickly send the scouts to recover, and I call for Tantalo, Erical, Resella, and Scout Commander Giavon. I tell all of them about what I had just heard. They all share my concern and vow to look into the matter. I ask each of them to be careful; the four then take their leave. There is nothing but fear in my heart. Rays then comes over to me; he places a hand on my shoulder, doing his best to alleviate my fears, but it¡¯s no good. I had never known fear like this. It wasn¡¯t just fear; it was an instinct deeply rooted and ingrained in my heart. Mother told stories of how my great-great-great-grandmother led the charge to bring down a powerful Lich Faerie. She died in that battle, and somehow I know the fear she felt. It¡¯s as easy to remember as what I did yesterday. I guess that is the curse of a Sovereign: to carry the emotions of our predecessors. I then get ready to go outside, but Rays stops me. He says I should stay in the palace. I sigh and agree, but it is important to have options in the future. I go to my room, and I write a message to the Gnome Formen. I want to make sure that if things go wrong, he is willing to provide us with assistance. I then entrust this message to a Faerie Cavalier, and I send him on his way. I take a deep breath and return to my room, where I lay in bed and begin to pray. If you were wondering if we Faeries pray to a god, we do; we pray to the two forbearers of Faerie kind, Mother Titania and Father Oberon. There are others, but we shall focus on the highest of the Pantheon. Titania is the Mother of all Faery kind; she birthed the first court and taught us of our innate magical powers, and Father Oberon taught us of order and the ways of the natural world. Countless moons ago, Mother and Father returned to the world of mist and left us to fend for ourselves. You would think we would be put into a wave of despair, but our ancestors stood up and ventured out into the world, confident in our future. Eventually the First Faery Court was founded. It is known as the Court of the Amandum Blossom. That court is still thriving, so I hear, and the only reason why I know about it is because the First Sovereign was born of that court. Her name was Helon, and legend says she was born with a surplus of magical power due to a birth defect. She was shunned by her court and was considered a disappointment. That is until she met a faerie man who loved her for who she was. The two eloped and started the First Faerie Clan. Helon had unimaginable power, so she crafted the first parasol, known as the Ever Dream Parasol. Helen was full of love and kindness. It is said that she had brought three thousand faeries into this world, half of them Sovereigns. Those Sovereigns would carry on her harmonious legacy, but sadly when Helon died, her children drifted apart, all of them. Grieving in their own way, some with anger, others with despair, and some went mad due to the realization of their own mortality, and as such, some Sovereigns went through the painful, agonizing process of becoming Lichs. And this would lead to an all-consuming war between the Lich Faeries and the other Sovereigns. We would get help from other Fae Creatures, notably the Gnomes, our brothers, the Faery Purests, and the Human Quartet. It was the first alliance between humans and Fae, and it worked. We were able to slay all Lich Faeries and wipe them off the face of the earth. But besides the Lich Faeries, there are the normal Liches; only they know how to stay hidden, and the fact that no one has seen an active Lich in centuries. So if this is a lich, then we need to be careful. If this is due to a Lingering Soul, then this can be resolved easily, but we need to know for sure. The worst-case scenario is that the Soul is on the northeastern side of the forest where the Basilisk Matriarch makes her nest. If this is true, then we¡¯ll need her permission to cross over and deal with it, but I¡¯m too important, dammit!!!!!! I lay in my bed crying. I need to protect my clan, but I need to be safe. How can I keep them safe? Please, someone tell me, please. I end up crying myself to sleep, only to be awoken by Rays. He helps me to fix my face and demeanor and leads me to the meeting room where I can get the reports from the knights. The four kneel before me, and they each give me a different report, but there is one recurring key detail in all of their reports: the fact that the Arcane Spirits are wandering the forest aimlessly without direction, and they seem to be stemming from the northern side of the forest, something I have feared. I quickly stand up with newly enkindled resolve. I grab my parasol and I hold it tightly in my hand. ¡°I am Esteria Prisma Lyrica, Sovereign of Arcus Stella. I am the holder of the Basilisk Arcus Accord. Arcane spirits have invaded my lands, and it is my duty to dispel them. Now, my knights, you will aid me in my mission, all of you, as my protectors.¡± All four knights bowed their heads and said, ¡°We will follow you, my Sovereign.¡± Rays was speechless. He knew at this point that he couldn¡¯t stop me, so away I flew. My protectors and I flew to the border, and I held my Serpent¡¯s Charm aloft, and soon the basilisk Matriarch came over, careful not to cross I then spoke aloft, ¡°Greetings, your grace. I have called you here to ask a question.¡± The Basilisk let out a low growl as if saying, ¡°Speak now, Faerie.¡± I think it was due to our Accord because even without the speaker, I felt like we were talking in a way. ¡°Your grace, I need to know: Do arcane spirits plague your domain? If so, I need your permission to cross your border and deal with the Lingering Soul creating them.¡± The Basilisk Matriarch let out a purr-like growl and turned to the North. The Serpent¡¯s Charm let out a soft blue glow, meaning we had a temporary truce. My protectors and I then crossed over with no incident. We began heading towards the North, and the further we went, the more vile Mana was produced. Vile Mana is corrupt in every way; it¡¯s toxic to living beings, but Arcane Spirits love it. It empowers them in a way. Usually, souls filled with all kinds of regret can create it in droves, so if they aren¡¯t purified, things can get difficult, but still we continued on. Soon we found it, a corpse of a human woman. She was pregnant, and obviously the child didn¡¯t make it, so it was obvious the child¡¯s soul wanted to live and never got the chance. ¡°You sweet child, I feel your pain. Everyone wants to live, and you never got that chance. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± I slowly point my parasol towards the corps, and I begin to speak the incantation. Slowly, light begins to come off my body, the soul begins to shriek, and arcane spirits begin to appear. I sigh and try to hurry, but my Protects are quick to come to my aid. All I hear is them fighting the spirits, and from what I hear, they are doing well. Soon a spell circle begins to form under the soul. It starts to radiate with white light. The soul slowly begins to shift. I feel so bad for this child; all he wanted to do was live. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. So I decide to take a chance; I slightly change my intent, and things slowly start to feel right, but then I start to sense more spirits. They¡¯re swarming. I was starting to get afraid this is taking too long, but if I try to hurry, I could make things worse. Then I hear it; it¡¯s a scream from Tantalo. My heart starts to sink. I should be the one helping him; he needs me. A tear falls from my eye as I continue trying to block out his screams so I can complete this spell. Then an explosion of white light comes from the soul, the corrupted mana slowly dissipating, and the spirits started to fade from this world. I then looked to the soul, and in its place is a Faery seed bulb. I can sense powerful magic coming from it. I gently cradle it in my arms, and I come over to my protectors, Tantalo and Erical, who are pretty banged up. I end up helping them back to the settlement. Everyone is rushed to the healer¡¯s circle, and I take the bulb to the Faery dome. I leave the bulb in the care of Maia, who shares my surprise. She says that this bulb could be a Sovereign. Hearing this fills me with a sense of relief and fear. In our culture, when there is another Sovereign born into a clan with an existing Sovereign, the existing one must mentor them until they are ready to come into their own. After that, the two Sovereigns will either fight for the right to rule the clan, or the newer Sovereign will go off to start her own clan. But this could wait for later. The moment I leave the Faerie Dome, I am met with the leader of the Elders, Destai. He glares at me and says, ¡°Esteria Your choices have put this clan in serious danger. We, the Elders, have decided that your right to rule should be reconsidered for the time being. We, the Council of Elders, will rule the Clan in your stead. You can only focus on creating more Bulbs for the future of the Clan, but we also ask that you return to the Palace and stay there. At that point, two guards loyal to the Council of Elders take me by the arms, and they escort me to the palace. They take me to my room and stand outside the door, blocking me inside. I try to leave out the balcony, but there are guards there as well. I''m trapped. I start to hyperventilate. I lay in my bed like several times before. I curl into a fetal position, and I begin to weep. For the next three weeks I am bound to the Palace, only being able to go to the Faerie Dome and back, and besides the one royal Bulb I brought into the world, no other Bulb has shown any signs of becoming a Sovereign, but according to Maia, this one seed Bulb seems to hold greater powers than I do, and that might be what the elders are hoping for; they would love nothing more than to throw me aside so that they could abuse their power and live the life of luxury. I end up lying in bed as I stare at the ceiling. I hear Ray''s voice; he comes in and smiles, handing me a letter and quickly leaving. I assume the guards don¡¯t want him around. I look at the letter, and it¡¯s blank, but there is a faint scent of spider milk coming from the paper, which can only mean one thing: I wait until nightfall, and once I¡¯m alone, I create a fairy flame and set the paper on fire. The letter is quickly enveloped in it, but it doesn¡¯t burn completely. The fire then reveals the hidden message, which is as follows: ¡°My Sovereign i write this letter to you on behalf of Clan the Elders have already set there plan into action they are throwing lavish parties in there tower using up all our resources the clan is steadily running out of food they are also forcing the maidens of the clan to service them and if that is not bad enough we suspect they now about the Sovereign resting in the Bulb at the Faery dome if this is true they may be planning your assassination know this Esteria we the people will not allow this to happen i have met with the people and we have a plan for your freedom there is a list of instructions on the other side of this letter please read them carefully this starts tomorrow at dawn¡± I let out a sigh of relief; it was comforting knowing that I had the support of the people, but I can¡¯t believe the elders would do this, but then again it¡¯s not too far-fetched. The elders have always taken a backseat when it comes to the politics of the Clan, but for them to actively abuse their power and try to assassinate me, why would they even do this? I was so worried that for the rest of the night I could barely sleep. I was worried for my safety, like at any given moment an assassin could come in and try to take my life. I didn¡¯t sleep at all. When dawn came, I heard what sounded like a club striking metal. It came from the balcony. I came over and opened the door and saw Faery dressed in purple and pink fishnet clothing. He had black hair that gave off a neon purple sheen, and he wore a mask covering his face. He looked to me and said, ¡°Come, hurry.¡± Then the door burst open, and in came two guards loyal to the Council of Elders. They came towards me, but then they were stopped by two servants who were doing their best to stop them. I was so touched. Then I turned to the Faery in fishnet clothing. He created a fog of dark mist that engulfed the balcony, and soon we escaped under the cover of night. Soon I found myself in a small house on the edge of the settlement, and there waiting for me was Rays, along with an elderly Faerie in fishnet clothing. He created a fog of dark mist that engulfed the balcony, and soon we escaped. Under the cover of night, soon I found myself in a small house on the edge of the settlement, and there waiting for me was Rays along with an elderly Faery couple that seemed familiar to me. Rays hugged me and said Rays: ¡°Esteria, thank goodness we succeeded. Praise the Mother and the Father.¡± Esteria: ¡°Rays, it¡¯s so good to see you, but what are we to do now?¡± Rays: ¡°We are working on that, your Radiance. Until then, these two will be sheltering you. They are more than willing to secure your safety.¡± I looked to the couple, and soon I remembered them. Esteria: ¡°Nanny Layai Uncle Coba? Is that really you? Layai: ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you, my sweet Flower. It¡¯s been so long.¡± Coba: ¡°When we heard what the elders were doing, you better believe we jumped at the chance to help you, and luckily the rest of the Clan agreed the entire Senate has gone mad and needs to be taken down.¡± I smiled and hugged them. Both of these two were like a second pair of parents to me. They helped raise me whenever Mother was busy. Coba was my mother¡¯s personal bodyguard, and Layai was my mother¡¯s adviser. They treated me like I was their daughter, and they were so kind to me. When they retired, they were offered a seat on the senate, but they turned it down¡ªa wise decision if you asked me. A voice then spoke up and said ????: ¡°Ahem, I hate to break the mood of this touching moment, but there is the matter of payment for my service. Rays turned to the Masked Faerie and said Rays: ¡°Yes, of course I will handle this. We are prepared to offer you any reward you could possibly desire.¡± Sai: ¡°The name is Sai, and all I ask for is a month''s supply of provisions so I may continue my travels.¡± Rays: ¡°Is that all? I thought all rogue faeries required a king''s ransom.¡± Sai: ¡°That¡¯s not always true. I¡¯m happy to help my fellow faeries in need; plus, this seems to be a dire situation for you all. I don¡¯t want to make the situation any worse.¡± Nanny Layai then handed Sai a bag full of supplies. He then made his way out of the house. I then stopped Sai by grabbing his wrist and saying, Esteria: ¡°Wait, can I please see your face? I wish to know the face of my hero.¡± Sai turned around to face me and nodded his head. He then removed his mask, revealing his icy blue eyes and black sclera. These were the eyes of all rogue faeries. The reason why a Faeries eyes change to this haunting appearance is because a faery must commit the worst sin of all, the sin of murdering their most treasured companion. Upon committing the deed, their eyes change, and they stop aging, and they gain the ability to use shadow and curse magic. I looked into those ghostly eyes, admiring them. Sai then put his mask back on and said Sai, ¡°For my kind, our masks serve a vital role of protecting our identities; when Faeries see our true face, they cower in fear and flee, but you are the first to show general intrigue and compassion, Sovereign Esteria. I shall always remember your name.¡± Sai then left, and I suddenly felt so exhausted I soon began to fall to the floor, only to be caught by Uncle Coba, who carried me to my room. He tucked me in, and soon I was sleeping soundly. I would soon wake up to breakfast in bed; it was my favorite treat: spider cider with strawberry cakes with blueberry syrup. Nanny Layai smiled and began to pick out my clothing as I ate. Layai: My dear, for the time being we can¡¯t let you leave the house; the Senate¡¯s guards are frantically searching for you, so I hope you understand. Esteria: ¡°I completely understand Nanny; for the time being, I¡¯ll help with the house chores. It¡¯s about time I learned how to keep house.¡± Nanny Layai smiled and began teaching me how to cook, clean, and sew. I was incredibly bad at cooking; everything I made somehow wound up turning yellow in color, but it was still a nice experience. Uncle Coba kept me informed about the goings-on with the Senate; they were furious about my escape. They began to spin a tale of how I had gone insane and was actively trying to hurt my people. Fortunately, they all failed to convince them; the Senate really underestimated the bonds I had formed with the people. Soon there would be a revolution in my clan; the Senate will be brought down, and things will change for the better.