Link to Red Spirit Character Portraits (made with the help of Rinmaru's Mega Fantasy Avatar Creator): drive . google drive / folders / 1fRKRypQtuDgWhTPU7 - EgmI4foqeMyn2g ? usp = sharing
Use this link to see how each character is envisioned. It will take you to the folder that contains all portraits; there are currently seven characters that will be featured prominently. Remember to take out all the spaces, though! :) (At some point, I will actually draw the full characters. Today is, sadly, not that day.)
A drop of blood fell to the earth, and Lucy hissed, her ire rising. The carving was momentarily forgotten as she inspected the fresh cut adorning her left hand. She sighed, miserably tucking her hair behind her right ear. "Somehow, I did not think it would be so difficult to create suitable offerings…" Sighing once more, she leaned back against the sturdy trunk of her perch, one leg dangling from her seat on the branch. Though the forest floor was far below, Lucy was not afraid - her mind was occupied with other things.
It was the highest offence to summon a spirit without an offering. Such mistakes had been made before with both Half and Pure Fae, and though occasionally the spirit could be mollified, higher-ranking and more powerful Spirits and Elementals had no qualms with showing their displeasure at the insult. Many times, Fae had themselves become the offering, surrendering blood and bone and life until the Spirit was satisfied.
Lucy did not wish to die at the hand of an angry Elemental. There were still many things she wanted to do, sights she sought to see, knowledge she desired to learn. But an offering made without thought or care would still enrage a Spirit. Thus, Lucy set to her task.
As she worked to carve the dense wood, her knife slipped, leaving another bloodied slice across her knuckles. The blonde Fae yelped and dropped the troublesome block. Exasperated by her lack of success, she huffed, scrutinizing the newest addition to her collection of wounds. This may be the most difficult thing I have ever attempted. Surely taming a spirit will not be as vexing as carving one offering bowl from birch?
A soft buzzing, like that of a hummingbird, filled the silence in the wake of Lucy's displeasure. "...shin sibh…" The quiet voice startled the Halfling out of her musings. A rather undignified squawk escaped Lucy as she lost her balance on the branch, almost pitching sideways. Clutching the bark of the oak, she breathed deeply, willing her heart to slow, before turning her glare upon the newcomer. She faltered, however, at the being before her.
It was a pixie. Usually, Lucy recalled, they were found in gardens and among natural flower growths. For a pixie to be this far into the forest and so close to the Courts was nearly unheard of. Fascinated, Lucy inspected the small Fae.
The pixie's wings were beating so quickly that no discernible shape or color could be seen. Her hair was a vibrant shade of blue, and cut short, just brushing the base of her neck. A thin strip of bark held her unruly bangs back from her face, and a tiny flower was nestled amongst the raucous waves, just above a delicately pointed ear. Though the heather bloom was small, it seemed a large ornament on the head of the little pixie.
Lucy could not help but smile, gazing upon the small creature's attire. Beautifully tailored from leaves and spider silk, the green dress boasted bell-like sleeves, thin vines securing the upper portion to exaggerate the flare. The skirt was short and ruffled with a multitude of green leaves, still soft despite the encroaching autumn winds. A patch of skin could be seen at her back, giving her wings freedom to move. Affixed to the V of her bodice was a drop of dew, solid and beautiful. Her thin legs were partially covered - leggings of spider's silk stopped just above her knees, and soft pink petals were expertly stitched into shoes for tiny feet.
The pixie shifted, her shoulders drawing inward and her intelligent brown eyes darting to the side shyly. "...shin sibh…" The little Fae's voice was small, and a blush had started on her face.
Lucy realized abruptly that she had been staring, and embarrassment swelled in her breast. "Hello, little one." The Half smiled apologetically, a matching flush spreading across her own cheeks. "I apologize for any discomfort I have caused - I have never seen a Fae such as you before."
The pixie's head snapped up, and she placed her hands upon her hips, blushing further. "T-that's rude!" The blunette fluttered closer, leaning forward as though to emphasize her point. "I can't help that I'm shorter than everyone else!" Immediately, her hands flew up to cover her mouth, brown eyes widening in mortification. "Oh no..." Dropping her arms, her head fell forwards, defeat evident even to Lucy.
Though she was bemused by the sudden fire in the seemingly-shy Fae, Lucy raised her hands beseechingly. The pixie landed upon her palms, seemingly without thought, for her expression of misery did not change. "I am sorry for my address of thee. I have never before met one of thy ilk, and do not know the proper titles." Lucy smiled bashfully as the blue-haired Fae looked up in surprise.
"I am Lucy Heartfilia, daughter of Layla, of the Seelie Court." The air brightened with her introduction, and the pixie's mouth opened in wonder. "What may I call thee, sister?" Perhaps my formality is unneeded… No, I have caused offence, and I must rectify it.
"My name is Levy. It is good to meet you… sister." The fire and sorrow drained from the pixie almost instantly, though she retained her look of wonder. "You look so much like her, I cannot believe I did not see it sooner."
It was Lucy's turn to be surprised. "You… Levy… you know of my mother?" Fond sorrow bubbled in her breast, as it did each time she spoke of Layla.
Levy snorted, tossing her wild bangs from her face. "Layla often travels to the ancient grove, and, as such, has visited me in my home countless times. Though, I have not seen her in several moons." She tilted her head. "Has something happened? Did one of the Trials fail again?"
Ice clenched around the Halfling's heart, fear being chased by grief. Grief that she must hurt her new friend, so soon after making her acquaintance, with the news of her mother's untimely death. A death that she herself had inadvertently caused.
Levy's face appeared in Lucy's sight, a hand pushing blonde locks aside with effort. "Lucy? What is it?" Lucy could not speak, could not burden her newfound friend with the pain of her Lost mother. She closed her eyes, willing her tears to recede.
There was a small pressure upon her forehead, and an authoritative voice sounded. "Fosgailte, agus Faic." Lucy's eyes flew open, and were greeted with blue light. Before she could voice her objection to the pixie's Scry, Levy's mouth opened in surprise and she snatched her hand back as though burned.
Tears had welled in Levy's eyes, dripping down to collect at her chin. A drop spattered against the dewy pendant on her bodice. Levy closed her brown eyes and breathed deeply before straightening.
"I had hoped that I was wrong, when I felt her Light recede from this world." Sorrow coated her words. "I had hoped that we might fly together once more, and listen to the songs of the forest." Tears no longer fell from the pixie's face, but her grief was still visible from her eyes and her voice. "She is gone then… I grieve with thee, Lucy."
The words, so familiar from the Court, struck against the chasm of guilt and loathing in Lucy's heart. "Why should you grieve, when you speak to the one that ended Layla's life?" Bitterness coated each word, dripping like poison to further corrupt her heart.
Levy drew back, her eyes wide and mouth opening to interject, but Lucy was not finished. For too long, these feelings had built, and Levy had been unfortunate enough to open the dam. There was no stopping the words, no matter how much she wished to snatch them back.
"My very existence stole the Light and life from my mother. I am an aberration in the eyes of the Court, in the eyes of my father. He whom helped to create me, abhors me. The Court looks upon me with empty eyes and poisoned tongues, and I am never quite enough. Even for my Trial, my faulty breeding is to prevent my ascension." She clenched her left fist, aggravating the cuts upon her fingers. "No matter how much I tried to grow my own Light, none would come. So my mother," her voice broke, "my dear, sweet, mother… she surrendered her own Light to supplement mine. But mine never came. Like a parasite, I stole all of my mother's power, draining her of everything."
The salt of her tears stung her wounds as she pressed her fist against her eyes, as though to forcefully stop the tears. "What kind of child thrives from the death of their parent?"
There was a burst of wind over her face before she recoiled from her self-pity, her forehead throbbing minutely. Lucy blinked in astonishment, for Levy, her new, only friend, was angry.
The pixie was almost vibrating in the air, her wings beating furiously, brown eyes hard. "...how dare you?" The utterance was almost silent, but carried a power that was unmistakably livid. The little fae's head snapped up, locking eyes with Lucy. "How dare you?!" Words poured from her lips, rapid and scolding.
"You, whom did not know the one you so harshly judge for her choice, would speak ill of my friend, when you do not know how dearly she loved you? You would tarnish her name, her last image, with your hatred? No, you may not speak further." Levy's tiny hand pressed against Lucy's lips, stopping any words or explanation. "Nay, you will sit and listen, for you require enlightenment."
Spinning away, Levy hovered before the young Half, her back to her as she surveyed the forest. For a few moments, naught but breath was exchanged between them. Then, Levy turned to fix her piercing gaze upon Layla's child. "Your mother chose you."
Such words were known to her, but Lucy still felt the breath leave her lungs, her eyes averting, as though to deny such information. For how could Layla have chosen to bear a child that would kill her?
Soft hands pressed upon her face, drawing her attention again. Levy's gaze was intense, but held an undercurrent of sorrow and kindness that almost brought tears to Lucy's eyes again. She clenched her left hand, the pain banishing such feelings.
"Your mother," Levy murmured softly, "knew of the consequences when she involved herself with a human. When she bore you into this world, she filled the night with Light, such that the small creatures of the forest stirred, believing it to be day." Levy paused, observing the subtle disbelief in Lucy's carefully blank face. "Though your father," Levy's face twisted slightly, "did not appreciate her sacrifice, you must believe me when I say that your mother, Layla, was overjoyed to bring you into our world. You are not the first half to be born, Lucy Heartfilia. The consequences were known."
Lucy was shaking her head before the movement registered, denial and no small amount of self-hatred welling within her. It broke Levy's heart, and she seethed below the surface, resenting the Seelie for planting such strong seeds within her. The pixie's fingertips brushed along the bridge of Lucy's nose, capturing her attention once again.
"Your mother often shared her joy with me. When she could do so without risk of harm, she allowed me to see you." Lucy's eyes widened, and Levy smiled. "You were so small, but there was such potential in your future." The smile became watery. "I cannot count the times Layla looked into your future, seeing happiness and strength to rival her own. She knew her own fate; she had accepted it. She loved you still."
Levy somersaulted through the air to face Lucy again. "Layla gave her power to you willingly, that you would live to brighten the world. She would not allow you to die - it would have broken her. To let you die, rather than grant you life, would have killed her regardless, do you understand?" Levy sighed. "Our grief is strong - it dims our Light. Had you perished, Layla's Light would have dwindled away."
There came a small choking sound from the Half before her, and tears dripped down her chin to sting wounded fingers. "How do you know of this?" Her misery was obvious, so Levy flew closer.
"I have Seen it." As Lucy's eyes snapped open, Levy murmured her incantation, pressing both hands against the Half's skin, allowing her to see the truths and visions stored inside her heart.
The images were quick and disjointed behind Lucy's eyes, but as Levy's brows furrowed in concentration, she could See them as they are intended.
Layla, laughing and dancing in the quiet wood with a stranger, a tall human with stern eyes in a gentle face. Her wings shine a brilliant white, betraying the depth of her happiness. A storm, with a bright Light and a dull shape taking shelter beneath trees. Then, a grove, empty and lifeless, with a dimming star at the center, bursting with Light, to bring day back to the night.
Layla's face hovering before her body, contentment in her eyes, even with the pain in her smile. A child the color of snow and sun held close to her breast, even as fingers - again, not her own - touch the babe's face, dwarfed by this infant. The dull shape of a human man, angrily running from the wood, only to collapse and disappear. Layla, caressing the face of her daughter, eyes full of love, even as her body fails. Finally, bright light shining ceaselessly from a young woman, eyes full of laughter and smile bright, chasing distortions in the air of the once-dead grove - flowers in her hair, golden Light threading through her outstretched hands, a white feather at her throat, the flash of an orange autumn leaf on her chest, finally embracing the Spirit in the air. Behind this scene, a dark Seelie court brightening almost painfully, the shadows writhing and disappearing into dust.
Her eyes closed, and Levy withdrew her hands, panting slightly from the exertion of sharing such moments. "Mother… chose this?" The quiet voice pierced the night, and Levy perched on a pale shoulder, nodding despite her exhaustion.
"Truly, she loved you above all else. To honor that love, you must not blame yourself any longer." Levy's fingers wound through golden locks, so similar to Layla's. "Whenever you desire respite from the empty heads of the Court you hail from, please seek me out." The silver light of the moon shone upon them, illuminating the two fae. Hidden in the shadow of the trees, a bright light wavers and blinks out with the sigh of wind.
A/N - Hello, all. I apologize for my absence. I am starting school again in 4 days, and have been sick for a few weeks. Some of my friends (with this illness) have been to the hospital, so I am prioritizing my health above all else. I hope everyone is have a good start to the new year so far; my schedule during school is busy, but then adding in work? It's going to be a whole other kind of crazy.
Speaking of crazy, I did not intend this chapter to be a dump of emotional issues in Lucy. However, in my experience, individuals who seem perfect are often the ones with the largest issues hidden beneath the surface. Lucy, who seems like a gifted Half-Fae, despised by most of the Court for her ability and her mother's death, would realistically have a lot of issues to work through.
I am ever so grateful for the steady stream of faves/follows/reviews though! I wasn't expecting so much attention after the last chapter and after so *inexcusably* long an absence. I would like you all to know that I am thankful for your kindness and your thoughts - they kept me afloat during some bad days this past 4 months (thereabouts). As per usual, please tell me what you think - this is actually a very long chapter, so I hope that it helps make up for my untimely disappearance.
XOXO AT