After some hard work, I could finally converse coherently with Eir and Morgan. Morgan and I established a friendship, and she was eager to learn about my culture. I remember one day we took me on a walk to show me more around the village, and I even showed her the dragons, which she was mesmerized by.

"I remember hearing stories about dragons as a child," Morgan said, grazing her hands over Riptide's scales.

"You heard stories about dragons?" I replied in surprise. She nodded with a laugh.

"Oh yes. I desperately wanted to see the world. In my naive child brain, I had been convinced that the creatures in my bedtime stories were real… and my inner child is ecstatic to know that at least the dragons are real." I chuckled as Riptide nuzzled my face.

"I didn't even know the concept of dragons growing up. I had stories about other fantastical creatures. Even shapeshifting demigods. And when I ended up here in the north… Dragons changed everything for me." Not just the dragons, to be honest. So much more.

"Something tells me that more than the dragons changed you," Morgan noted. I felt my cheeks warm and quickly changed the subject, eager to learn more about her past. She led me to a cliff edge overlooking the ocean, and together we sat down, letting the sharp wind rip through our hair.

"My father was a lord in a different land south of us. As I mentioned, I grew up listening to fairytales and was convinced they were real. I was naive and wanted to believe the unbelievable. And as I grew up, I slowly learned more about the world around me. On a trip through my father's land, we encountered a group of Druids practicing some of their rituals in town for a crowd. My father feared them since he didn't understand what their magic was for," I raised my eyebrows in curiosity.

"He tried to teach me that the ancient Celtic magic was dangerous. But I defied him. I was desperate to learn something new over the same old lessons about being a proper lady. I escaped my home to find the Druids I saw. I followed them through one of their special portals and wound up here. At first, understandably, things were rough and they didn't trust me. But over time, after extensive observation and demonstration, I proved I could be trusted. And then Eir took me in, seeing my interest in magic. And taught me his extensive knowledge of ancient Celtic magic."

Needless to say, I was blown away. Her defiance of her father's fear led her to become a Druid's apprentice.

"That's really something, Morgan." She grinned, "But do you ever miss your family? Even sometimes?" Her expression changed, and she shrugged.

"Sometimes… but they only supported a fantasy as a fantasy. They didn't believe in me having independence and the freedom to choose something different. So, some things are better left in the past." I frowned.

I wasn't so sure I agreed with leaving everything in the past. But, I guess that I never had a reason to leave everything behind willingly. Morgan and Eyarr both had legitimate reasons to leave behind their past, they had families who didn't support them, so they made their own choices. And now that I thought about it, Zyrah had a similar situation. How was it that so many people I've met here all had horrible things happen in their past that forced them to leave everything behind?

It felt awkward now… knowing that I didn't want to leave my family behind. I simply wanted to explore the world a bit and then go home. Everything that happened to me wasn't my choice. And I still wanted to see my family again.

After spending the rest of the day with Morgan, sometime before the sun set, we headed back to the village where Eir and Eyarr were chit-chatting around the fire.

"Hey, girls, what were you up to?" Eyarr asked. He and I exchanged a tiny smile, and I took a seat next to him. We talked about the dragons, chilling on the cliff, and our lives.

Eyarr also shared what he'd been up to throughout the day, and I was thrilled to see him happy to talk about his day. I watched him as I ate, taking in his stories. I momentarily glanced over and saw Morgan and Eir eyeing me. Morgan's words from earlier echoed back in my head.

"Something tells me that more than the dragons changed you."

***

After getting to know Morgan and now Eir, I felt more comfortable and didn't feel as out of place as before. Granted, I was the only non-white person in the village, but nothing could change that.

With that in mind, Eir and I could also communicate better after some more coaching from Eyarr and Morgan. And now that I could talk to him more fluently, I had so many questions about the extent of his magic and what he knew. I could see the smile through his beard when he led me to the same fairy ring that sent Eyarr and me to the village.

"The fairy ring? You use this for magic?"

"In a way. I perform the chants and spells… and I allow the elements to take control. In my practices, we're in tune with the earth and its changes. We learn from nature," he paused for a second, taking his wood and gold staff in his hands and swirling the top of it around him in a circle over the mushrooms, flowers, and crystals. Much to my amazement, the crystals began to glow upon this action, "but sometimes, you need to add a little something extra to find what you're looking for."

I wasn't sure if he meant that he was referring to me or the general masses, but either way, I was incredibly intrigued by his handiwork. Back home, we sometimes had a specific person to communicate with the gods and certain rituals. But communicating with the gods was a community effort, especially on a voyage. We always called upon the gods of the sea and wind to guide us on our journey.

"So… what are you doing exactly?" I asked.

"When Eyarr explained your goal in finding answers… about how and why you're here, Morgan and I discussed the options and various ways we could figure it out. And I've concluded it does have to do with godly interference… and perhaps some elemental influence."
"Wait, what?"

"I have yet to determine why. But he was smart enough to mention a certain demigod of the wind and sea you have a familial bond with."

"Who, Maui? What does he have to do with this?"

"Considering what I've learned about him, surprisingly, nothing. But he does offer a potential solution."

"Well… before winter, he did mention he was going to be in the realm of the gods to chit-chat." Eir turned and raised a bushy eyebrow.

"Have you seen him since?" I shrugged, shaking my head.

"He comes and goes as he chooses. Sometimes I don't see him for months on end. I don't know when he'll be coming back. I mean, I hope soon. I do miss him."

"I see."

"What'll you do in the meantime?"

"See how I can connect to the gods. Or their messengers. The sooner we get an answer or a solution, the better."

I left Eir to his thing, returned to the house, and found Eyarr chilling in bed.

I didn't mind sharing a bed with him since we were given one large one, not two pushed together. I joked with him that at least he wasn't a violent sleeper. At first, it was a bit awkward, but now I didn't care. I had become so accustomed to his presence that it was now easier to sleep at night.

After I fell through the ice during the winter, it'd been a challenge for me to remain asleep through the night for a bit. But Eyarr never left my side. And even now, he went out of his way to ensure I was okay.

He looked up upon seeing me.

"How'd your hangout with Eir go?" I rolled my eyes at the use of the word "hangout", but I took a seat on the edge of the bed and pulled my hair loose from the wooden pin that held it in place, releasing the twists on the side of my head.

"Not bad, actually. He demonstrated some of his magic to me, explaining how it's supposed to work. It was rather fascinating. And his staff makes the crystals and mushrooms in the fairy circle glow! I've never seen anything like it." His lips curled into a smile.

"I told you we'd find something here." I smiled back and combed my hair. Then another thought came to mind.

"Soo… about those stolen Celtic items from your family's cabin. Did you give them to the chief?" He blinked momentarily and then nodded in confirmation, gesturing to the empty bags that once held those stolen items.

"Like with Hilda, the chief here said that he'd make preparations to send some of the stuff to other tribes south of here where they originate from."

"Oh, that's good! Do you feel better about returning all that stuff?" He slowly nodded, placing his arms behind his head.

"I do. I don't… feel guilty about it. Holding onto that stuff anymore. Less burden from the past on my shoulders," he paused for a moment, pushing his blond hair out of his eyes, "and it kills me knowing that if my parents wanted to, they would've sold all those religious items for outrageous prices and take advantage of more people. It makes me feel better knowing I'm ending that cycle."

"I'm happy to hear that, genuinely. Every day you look more relaxed as we settle down a bit more. You're a different man than the one I met." He chuckled.

"I am still that man, just with fewer burdens."