After what seemed like hours, the duo eventually found their way into a dense, dimly-lit forest. "That was a genius idea," Neo said, gesturing to the five crystals hanging from a black rope around Falner's neck. The crystals illuminated the path in front of them with a dazzling kaleidoscopic glow. Falner beamed. "Thanks, Neo. I figured that since my choker wasn't doing anything beneficial, I could just transfigure it into the same rope that holds my Kyber crystal," She said, pulling a small aqua green crystal out of her pocket and attaching it to the rope around her neck. "Well, if it helps you become more organized when it comes to these quests, then I'm all for it." Neo chuckled. As the duo walked ahead, he took Falner's hand in an experimental gesture and murmured something under his breath, something that was concealed by the sound of branches cracking underneath the girl's sneakered feet. Falner shivered for a moment before glowing with a neon blue light that faded as quickly as it had come, Neo's grip on her hand never faltering.
"What was that?" She asked. "Until you get the Rune of Protection, the spell I just cast on you will protect you from harm. I...I don't want you getting hurt, Falner," He said softly. "You're one of - if not the only - Magi that I truly feel like I must protect. And it's not just because of the challenges thrust upon you, either. I care about you." He had started to ramble, but Falner seemed to understand because she smiled slightly. "Neo, I'm glad you care about me. You're the only one who does. Everyone else calls me a freak," She said, sighing. "The worst part is...I think they might be right." Neo's brow furrowed. "Why do you think that?" He asked, his voice laced with anger. "Neo, take a moment and just look at me." She commanded, standing still.
Neo let go of her hand and moved in front of her, looking her up and down. Her blonde hair was cut in a pixie style and had red highlights, her eyes were a shimmering purple behind blue square-framed glasses, her skin was so pale that she seemed to be glowing in the darkness, and there were small blood stains on her grey jacket. "What am I supposed to be seeing, exactly?" He asked.
Falner looked at him with a mixture of surprise and anger. "Neo. I'm too short for my age, my eyes are purple, and I'm as pale and light as a ghost. You really think there isn't something wrong with all that?" She half-growled. He shook his head. "Sweetheart...nothing is wrong with you," He said softly. "You're a beautiful and wonderful person. You keep calm and collected even with the challenge thrust upon you. You're someone I can admire." Falner looked shocked. "Y…You're lying," she said. "There's nothing good about me. Sure, I may have a lot of magical prowess and can make friends with relative ease, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm short, too skinny for my own good, and as frail as a piece of glass."
Neo let out a sigh, putting his hands on Falner's shoulders. "Look if you want to argue with me and put yourself down, that's fine. Just know that my opinion of you will never change. To me, you're nothing short of a miracle." He said. Falner was silent as the two walked deeper into the forest, finally stopping at a large mass of leaves and bushes that looked to be forming the shape of a woman. She waved her wand at the bushes wordlessly and, after a rush of wind and the rustle of leaves, the bushes parted to reveal a woman sitting on a leafy throne. She had dark green hair, eyes the color of the autumn leaves, green skin, and wore a deep green leafy dress.
"Ah, so you are the student of Hogwarts," She said, smiling at an extremely bewildered Falner. "I've been expecting you." "How...how do you know I'm a Hogwarts student?" Falner asked. The woman laughed slightly, a gentle breeze whistling through the leaves. "The way you carry your wand, the blood stains on your coat, and the ethereal glow of your purple eyes. All of that shows me that you, my dear, are part of the select few. You're a student of magic, and, if I may quote your groundskeeper, a thumpin' good one at that." She replied. Neo gestured to the woman, smiling. "Falner, meet Umalis, the Lady in the Leaves," He said. "She's the keeper of the Dazzle Rune."
Umalis smiled sweetly at him, and Falner could swear she saw his cheeks light up blue. "Your wand spirit is absolutely correct. I am the keeper of both the forests and the Dazzle Rune. Speaking of which…" She waved her hand, and a small stone appeared in her palm. It shone with a rainbow glow as she handed it to the still-bewildered Falner. "The rune is now yours. Go now, Magi and be...dazzling."
Falner gave her a small smile. "Thank you. But, I have a couple questions that I hope you can answer." She said quickly. Umalis gave her a short nod. "What would you like to know?" She asked. Falner took a deep breath and began to speak. "What is this place? What's the deal with the decoy trees in the lodge? How come I saw other people doing these quests but they weren't in here? And, the most important one in my opinion, how come I was chosen to come here?" She rattled off questions at lightning fast speed. Umalis let out a soft chuckle, looking at Neo. "How do you keep up with her? She speaks faster than she walks!" She said jokingly.
Neo snickered slightly as Umalis looked back at Falner, who was staring up at her expectantly. "Firstly, your current location is the Whispering Woods. If you want things from a technical standpoint, you're in the world of Vellara, a place where Magi and mortals coexist. The decoy trees sense if a child has the magical potential that only students of Hogwarts or Ilvermorny hold. That's also the reason why you were chosen to come here. You're something powerful. Not just a 7th-year witch at both Hogwarts and Ilvermorny, but you have some special blood running through your veins," Umalis explained. Falner nodded slightly, letting her continue.
"Finally, the other children...as Neo has told you, they don't know the truth. They think this is all just for show, and wouldn't be able to see any of this due to that mindset. It doesn't help that Xavier cast that illusionary spell over the entire lodge. Elise is one of the few who was able to get to a safe place before the spell was cast. That's why she could see the danger that this world is in and try and see if anyone in the lodge had the power and potential to save it. That's where you come in. Like I said, you're something extraordinarily special. You're not like everyone else, and that is an amazing thing, especially here. Go with Neo, train yourself to your full potential and even beyond that, and help us all save not only this world but the lodge too." At this, both Neo and Umalis spoke in eerie unison. "Help us, Falner Greyson. You're our only hope." Falner's entire body shook slightly at the words, recognizing the reference and the sincerity behind it. "Okay. I'll help. But, on two conditions." She said.
Neo tilted his head. "And what would those conditions be?" He asked. Falner gave him a slight smile. "First, you stay with me the entire journey. I like having you around, Neo. You make me smile," she said. Neo's cheeks dusted blue, but before he could speak Falner continued. "And second, I want to get my brother involved in this. He and I are almost magically equal, what with him being just a year older than me, and he's a great strategizer." She said confidently. Umalis looked intrigued. "A brother? What's his name and location? I could send a signal to Elise, and she can bring him here." She said. "His name is Lucas Anakin Greyson, and he's currently…" Falner started, closing her eyes for a moment then reopening them. "Sitting on the bed in our room at the lodge, probably wondering what the hell is taking me so long to come back." She finished. Umalis nodded, closing her eyes. "Then if you'll give me just a moment…"