Celeste the air faerie soared through the tranquil cerulean skies, a lavender-scented scroll nestled in the folds of her periwinkle satin dress. She had been chosen from the ranks of the faerie messengers to deliver a note to DuskWinged_Darigan the Korbat.
Celeste sighed, fingers wrapped gently around the message as she flew. She had never asked questions before, never complained about an assignment or opened a letter. That- she knew- was the reason she had been given this assignment in the first place. But still, there had been a certain urgency in her majesty's eyes that would have made the most unquestioning of creatures curious.
"Too late," the air faerie murmured regretfully, "I'm already here." The residence was fairly impressive- a two-story home of cloud and silver. Celeste knew that a mage who often dealt with fairy affairs lived here. Perhaps that was what all the secrecy was about.
As she zoomed closer, Celeste noticed a small face peeking at her from a window, golden eyes wide. The faerie slipped the scroll into his hands. "Message for DuskWinged_Darigan from her royal majesty Fyora of Faerieland," she announced. The Korbat nodded and Celeste was on her way home, the curiosity still etched in her mind.
As soon as the letter landed in his hands, Dar dashed for the living room to show Lilicah, but then he stopped himself. It must be about the initiation, Dar thought, and there is no point in disappointing her if the faeries decided against it. He untied the violet silk ribbon that held the scroll together and unrolled the parchment apprehensively, as if preparing to face a powerful foe. The faeries were his last hope- without them
Dar forced himself to glance at the letter, penned in a lovely, elegant script with a Pencil of the Light Faerie. The Korbat took a deep breath and began to read.
To DuskWinged_Darigan, Korbat of Faerieland and his mistress, the Mage Lilicah:
The initiation of the mage into our society (as proposed by Lady Marina of the Healing Springs), has been reviewed by the Faerie Council. After much debate and discussion, you have been granted approval for this most drastic measure. The ceremony will be held in secret on a small , hidden cloud near the Wheel of Excitement, known by the faeries as the elusive Nimbus of Secrecy. Please come to the aforementioned location for the initiation two days from the arrival of this message. Any and all supplies and magical equipment will be provided for you.
Do not bring any guests other than the Korbat. No one is to know, no even your mentor, the Neopian mage Kauvara. It is not a matter of trust or lack thereof- we simply do not want to take any unnecessary risks. Please understand that this matter must be kept a secret. Havoc will most definitely occur if it is not.
Keep in mind that you are the first outsider to be given this honor in centuries. We appreciate you services to our people in the past. Please know that we would never desert you in a time of peril.
Signed,
Her royal majesty, Fyora I, Queen of Faerieland, mistress of Faerie City, Empress of the Nimbus of Secrecy and all of her advisors
Dar gasped, feeling tears of joy and relief cascading down his cheeks. The faeries would help. Everything would be okay.
"Lilicah!" he exclaimed, waving the message like a banner in one hand as he flew toward her. Dar halted, nearly colliding into a Zen desk. "Fyora sent a letter! She'll let you do the initiation! The day after tomorrow, on the Nimbus of Secrecy. That's next to the Wheel of Excitement" Dar paused, panting for breath.
Lilicah grinned, a little of the color returned to her cheeks. "Slow down, Dar. It's two days from now, correct?" The Korbat nodded. "All right. Where is it? The Nimbus of Secrecy? I've never heard of that. Hence the name, I suppose." Dar smiled at his mistress. Lilicah had not attempted a joke since the whole business with the orb began.
The orb! "Lilicah?" Dar asked, "What will happen to the orb you created after this whole thing is over?"
The mage frowned, forehead furrowing in thought. "I'm not sure. I suppose Fyora or one of the uber-faeries will take charge of it. They may let us keep it, however."
"Lilicah?" the Korbat ventured again. His mistress nodded, seeing the worried expression on his face. "I-I'd rather let the faeries take it. I-I don't like the orb."
Lilicah nodded. "I understand. In a way, the orb caused all of this." She sighed wearily. "Oh, Dar, I am sorry. I shouldn't have done something like this without investigating the consequences. I didn't think" Her voiced trailed off. "I'll tell you what, though. I will give the orb to Fyora, after the initiation. She can use it to help her kingdom. She will make better use of it, let it serve its purpose. I'll present it to her as a gift, for all she has done for us." Dar nodded, reassured.
Lilicah's gaze drifted out of the window, into the faerie city and onto the clouds anchored like sailboats at its shore. She pointed at a golden-hued cloud that strayed a little east of the Wheel of Excitement. It had never been there before
"Is that the Nimbus of Secrecy?" she asked. "I've never noticed it until now. I could have sworn it wasn't there."
Dar shrugged. "I suppose. I've never seen it either."
Lilicah looked thoughtful. "How clever of the faeries. It must be one of the disguising charms created by Psellia the air faerie. She is a master in things like that." She laughed, a rather ironic sound to Dar. "But here I am confusing you with magical theory again." The mage patted her Korbat affectionately.
Dar frowned. Even in the presence of this shining light, this beacon of hope, something still bothered him. "Are you worried about it, Lilicah?" he asked. "The initiation? What if something goes wrong?"
A shadow passed over Lilicah's thoughtful silver eyes, but it disappeared quickly. "Yes. A little, I suppose, Dar. But I trust the faeries. If anything goes wrong, they will find some way to fix it."
Dar smiled. Hearing it from Lilicah would surely make it true. "Everything will be okay now!"
Lilicah returned the smile. "Everything will be okay"