Talented
5:
"I've got to run some errands around the community today," Faith interrupted Melody's attempt at small talk about the weather.
She looked insulted. "Is my weather forecasting not good enough for you?" She looks up at the sky, watching fluffy white clouds racing each other across the clear blue. "I predict warmth and sun all day, by the way."
"Thanks Melody," Faith grinned. "It's not you though - I really do have some things to do for the Mentors. You know how it is."
"You know, I really don't," her friend started. "I don't involve myself in the community like that."
"I don't see why you don't," Faith replied, consulting her map. "It's a great feeling you know. To do something for the good of the place you live in."
Melody shrugged. "Never been into that kind of thing I guess."
"Well, suit yourself."
Faith hovered her finger above the map. The options - the stores, Talent games, and Mentor's nook - winked into existence. Her fingers lingered above the Sunflower Gully meadow.
"I'll see you later ok?"
"Sure," Melody nodded imperceptibly. Faith smiled at her friend just before a golden swirl of pixie dust swallowed her.
Faith had wondered how the teleportation system inside the Hollow had worked when she first arrived. She looked into it. The system functioned on - like everything else - pixie dust.
The pixie dust set up an instant portal between one's current location and the requested position. Hovering over the requested location activated a spray of specialized dust required for the teleportation. The process took some time, but Faith still didn't understand the logistics behind the magic.
She landed in Sunflower Gully, where the stalks of gigantesque sunflowers reached towards the sky. A dozen of blue gems tumbled down a waterfall and caught the sunlight in a burst of cerulean light. She scanned the meadow, brightening as she spotted what she came for: a small home created by the intertwined leaves of Iridessa's Glade.
She fluttered into the Glade, admiring the twisting stalks of the flowers to make a sun-lit corridor.
"Hey Iridessa," she cried, bursting through the woven door made of sunflower petals. "I need your help for something."
The pretty fairy with French toast-coloured skin turned away from the opposite corner, where she was meticulously organizing a blue stone to her gem collection. She was wearing a bright yellow sundress and flew over to her apprentice.
"Hello," Iridessa smiled at Faith. "I see you got a haircut."
"Oh. Yeah I did," Faith replied, a little nervously.
Dessa took a seat by her sunflower table and folded her hands together on top of her heavily tanned legs.
"So," she smiled at Faith. "Did you have a question about your life in Pixie Hollow?"
"In a sense…"
Faith swallowed, studying the intricate network of vines on the roof of the Glade above her head. She looked everywhere - anywhere - but at her mentor.
"I was actually wondering if uh -," Faith stammered, clearly deliberating, but finally sighed and gave in. "You know anything about this."
She pulled out the thick leather bound volume, brushing off a speck of pixie dust from the old cover.
Iridessa took it from her and inspected it carefully, adding in a couple "hmms" for good measure. She flipped open the pages and peered at some of the ancient lettering. After the careful inspection, Dessa handed back the bounded book to Faith with a frown.
"Sorry Faith," she finally said, giving her a puzzled look. "I don't know anything about this."
"Oh."
"But," she said quickly, not wanting to disappoint her protegee. "Maybe Tink can help. Y'know - she's closer to Queen Clarion than I am and usually knows a lot more about this stuff."