Author's Note:
Sheesh, that last chapter was a long one. Anyways, we're moving on from Verashema now, so enjoy! And no, this is not the end of Ava and Gavin's complications…
-Tangent
When the morning came, it found the party boarding the ship once again. At the end of the dock, a group of elves had come to see their heroes departure. Elkian had clasped hands with each of them, smiling as they clambered on board the ship.
"Will you be able to send someone to the mainland?" Ean had asked.
"I think so, with Serendipity's blessing." The elf had responded, pink hair blowing in the light breeze. "Stay safe, brother." Ean had nodded before leaping onto the ship, and the vessel began to move away from the dock, heading out towards the open sea once more. The elves waved as the party gazed back at the dock, and Rye raised a hand in farewell. After a few minutes, the ship rounded the edge of the cape, and Verashema was lost from sight.
"Where to next?" Jack asked finally, looking around at the others.
"First, we see Serendipity." Ean said, and Iya nodded. "And then, we sail for Storybook Island to the southwest."
"Which nymph is there?" Rye asked.
"Aisling, nymph of hope." Iya responded. "The eldest after Nuha, I believe."
"She sounds nice." Jack commented as the ship carved through the water. "Do people live on the island?"
"Yes." Emma put in. "It's home to the Fairytale Kingdom, supposedly. I think they are also elves, but a different kind." She looked to Gavin, who was staring out at the passing island. He had not told Ean what had happened the previous evening, but he could infer it all the same. Both him and Ava had been quite distracted, as well as refusing to look each other in the eyes.
"It's kind of funny." Vincent put in, and Amari chuckled. "Kind of like how you used to be around your mate."
"Hey!"
"Yes, I believe that there are multiple races of elves." Gavin put in. "The ones in Verashema are more attuned to the earth, while others are fit for the sky or water. I've never been to Storybook Island, though."
The coastline flew by, and soon they were turning into the small dock that served as the entrance point to Serendipity's spring.
"Is everyone coming?" Ean asked, and the rest of the party nodded, even Nicholas. Although they still were not on friendly terms, Nicholas had stopped addressing the members of the party as his inferiors. Ean suspected that was due in no small part to Ava, who was a fierce taskmaster when she wanted to be.
They disembarked and set off along the forested path. Here, they could plainly see the change that Serendipity had wrought on the island. The trees and bushes had receded, revealing a simple stone path that led into the heart of the woods. Birds chirped as they flew overhead, and everything seemed much warmer and peaceful.
"This is much better." Iya said with a sigh. "I'm glad she was able to fix it." They continued down the path, and soon they stepped into the clearing that housed the nymph's ancestral home. The glade was quiet, save for the rustling of the wind and the quiet gurgle of the waterfall as it filled the star-shaped pond.
"Welcome, young heroes." Serendipity said as her body emerged from the water, wings glittering with little droplets that sparkled in the sun. Her face was kind, and she looked much better than she had a few days prior.
"Serendipity!" Iya said, smiling. "How do you feel?"
"Much better, thank you." The nymph said as she alit on the grass. "I have you to thank for all of that."
"We were happy to do it." Ean said, and the others nodded assent.
"Still, it does not change the fact that you have earned a reward, and much more." Serendipity said calmly. "And though your quest is not done, I can aid you in the best way I can." She floated over to Iya, whose eyes were slightly widened. "I offer you my blessing, Iya Tiki. Will you accept it?"
"I will." The female elf declared firmly, and the nymph smiled. She raised her small hands, and touched Iya on the forehead. Both song mage and nymph closed their eyes, and light began swirling around the pair in a helix pattern. It grew brighter and brighter, until it finally coalesced into a ball that hovered in front of Iya's chest.
"The blessing of luck." The nymph said quietly, and the ball floated into Iya's chest, where it vanished without a trace. Iya opened her eyes, and for a moment, they seemed to glow with a hidden power that eclipsed anything they had seen thus far. "Half of your spirit is complete, young elf. May my blessing protect you as you travel on your journey."
"Thank you." Iya breathed, and Serendipity turned to the rest of the group.
"I am afraid that I cannot offer you the same power, but perhaps there is something else I can give you. Captain One-Eye, please come forward." Ava seemed slightly unsure, but she moved forward and bowed her head to the nymph. "You have far to sail yet, but I can help all of you in that regard. Another ball of light formed in Serendipity's hands, and she tossed it into the sky, where it vanished. "The winds will always be at your back, driving your ship forward to your next goal."
"I appreciate it." Ava said quietly, and the nymph smiled at her.
"Ceri would be proud of you." The pirate flushed slightly, glaring at the nymph. Serendipity let out a small laugh as Ava retreated back to the safety of the group. "My apologies."
"How come you can control the wind?" Jack asked, and the nymph gave him a small wink.
"Well, young boy, it is not so much luck that I have power over, but fate itself. After all, is luck not tied to fate?"
"So you can help us control our fate by giving us winds and our backs?" Rye asked, and the nymph nodded.
"More or less, Ranger Zoyle." Emma raised an eyebrow at her use of Rye's last name, but the man didn't seem to mind. "And it why my blessing is a part of the human spirit. I am helping Iya take control over her own fate again, so to speak."
"So those orcs…" Ean said, trailing off as he thought. "You freed them?"
"I did." Serendipity said sadly. "They had been taken captive by a dark magic, and I thought it best to free them. The Snow Queen, it seems, has been busy."
"No doubt she did something to Aisling as well." Nicholas muttered, and the nymph nodded gravely.
"Indeed. I can feel my sisters out there, two of which have been freed. The others, however, remain trapped in places that are beyond even my fight. I fear the challenges will only become harder, heroes."
"We can handle it." Ean said, and Rye murmured assent. "We will not fail you."
"I know." Serendipity said kindly, and her form began to vanish. "If you need healing, young ones, you are welcome to return here at any time. Farewell, and safe travels…"
"Goodbye, Serendipity." Iya said, gazing upon the vanishing nymph. "I promise, I'll free the rest of your sisters." And then, with a whisper of wind, the nymph was gone, and the spring was silent once more. They stood there a for a moment as the magical presence dissipated, and Ean sighed.
"It's time to move on." The party nodded, faces set resolutely. "Ava, has the course been set?"
"I'm ready when you are." The pirate responded, and Ean nodded.
"Then let's set sail."
As it turned out, Serendipity had not been lying. When the boat reached the open sea, powerful gust of wind seemed to come from behind them, and the vessel flew as it had never flown before. Its bow cut through the waves, sending foam flying as the salty air whipped past the ship.
"Incredible." Iya breathed from her position on the deck next to Ean. The pair was gazing out at the ocean as they surged through it, a tiny speck in the vastness of the water. "It feels as though we're flying."
"The power of the nymphs." Ean said quietly. "Makes me wonder how anything could capture them."
"I've been wondering that as well." His companion admitted, her hair floating in the wind. "It feels like we're missing something important, Ean."
"I've thought much the same." He said, turning to face her. "We still don't know anything about the Snow Queen. Yet, what can we do besides move forward?"
"We do seem to be limited on options." Iya admitted with a small smile. "Still, I keep hoping that one of the nymphs could tell us something concrete that could help me. The Snow Queen is so powerful, and all I've got is a few song orbs." Ean stared at her, eyes wide.
"You're not serious."
"About what?" The elf raised an eyebrow, and Iya mirrored his expression.
"Iya, you had no magic months ago, and now, you're summoning storms and fire, and magical weapons. I'd say that's pretty good, considering you were never trained to use your powers." The elf opposite him blushed slightly and looked down at the deck.
"But…"
"No buts." Ean said firmly. "We've got a ways to go yet, and I know that you'll be able to unlock your full potential soon. You've come so far, and I know you'll go even farther."
"Thank you." Iya said, and she hugged him quite suddenly. Ean wrapped his own arms around her for a moment before letting go. They returned to their positions at the railing, unaware that Emma and Rye had been watching from the other side of the ship.
"Well, that kind of clears up my doubts." Emma said wryly, and Rye grinned.
"About time they figured it out, too." The woman looked at him curiously, but he did not elaborate. "Still, I think they've earned their happiness." A shadow seemed to cross the man's face, something Emma didn't miss.
I wonder what that's about. There's still a lot I don't know about Rye, I suppose. A flash of something like jealously crossed her mind, but she stoutly ignored it. That's ridiculous.
"What about you?" Rye asked, and she froze.
"What about me?"
"Have you ever…" The ranger looked hesitant, but he continued on. "Ever had somebody like that?"
"No." Emma said quietly. "I was a servant, remember? And my temper always seemed to drive people away from me."
"I haven't seen any temper." Rye's eyebrows were raised, and he looked genuinely curious.
"After a few harsh words from my mistress, I ended up bottling it up inside." Goddess, why am I telling him this? "I think I was angry because I was unhappy with what my life had become, but now…" Emma took a deep breath, still staring towards the stern of the ship. Her green hair rustled slightly in the breeze. "I'm happy, I think. So there's no need for me to be angry." Rye was silent, eyes focused on the passing ocean.
Did I upset him?
"I… had somebody once." Rye admitted, eyes still glued forward, as if he was unable to face her directly. His eyes were stormy, but Emma knew the emotions were not directed at somebody once. "And then she decided I wasn't worth it. We were only fifteen or sixteen, but it still hurt."
"I'm sorry." Emma replied softly. "If she hadn't… Do you think you still would have come with Ean and Iya?"
"I think I would have, anyways." Rye admitted, brow furrowed. "If I'm being honest, I knew our time was always limited, but it still hurt." Emma heart clenched slightly at the comment, but she ignored it. "And I'm sorry that you had to live the way you did." The man added, and the green-haired woman gave him a small smile.
"Well, I'd say that we're both pretty well off now." Rye smiled as well.
"I'd have to agree." He leaned back, stretching as his smile became more of a smirk. "Would you like to spar? I bet I can beat you now."
"You wish." Emma snorted, and the pair laughed before moving to retrieve their practice swords.
The wind sent by Serendipity turned out to be a substantial boon, as it reduced their travel time to nearly a quarter of the expected time. As such, it was the middle of the afternoon. when Ava called everybody up the deck, where she pointed to a hazy object in the distance.
"Land ho, everybody. It was supposed to take two days, but we've made it in just under half a day."
"I can't see much." Jack said, squinting towards the landmass.
"That's because we're approaching The Mists." Ava said, gesturing to Iya. "According to your book, there's an area on the north side of the island that is perpetually covered in fog. It has ancient magical ties, so I thought you'd want to head there first."
"Is there a place to land?" Ean asked quizzically, and the pirate shrugged.
"Guess we'll find out."
"What do you mean by magical ties?" Nicholas said with a raised eyebrow. "One of the nymphs?"
"To be honest, I don't know. The book doesn't go into much detail." Iya nodded in confirmation of this statement, and Ean sighed.
"More mysteries. Ava, take us in, if you will."
"Yes, sir." This was accompanied with a sarcastic salute from the purple-haired woman, and Rye chuckled.
Around an hour later, the party noticed that the sky was growing hazy, and Gavin surmised that they were entering the mists. Ava slowed the ship as they neared the shore, where the air was the thickest. Although they could see, anything far away was completely obscured by the fog, and Jack shivered.
"An odd place."
"I'm tempted to agree." Emma said, looking around into the gray that surrounded the ship. And then, without a warning, Storybook Island came into view.
"What kind of place is this?" Gavin asked, gazing at the gnarled trees that lined the rocky shore. The earth, from what they could see, was the same color of grey as the mists that shrouded the area, mixed with darker rocks and trees.
"Can you feel anything?" Ean asked Iya, but the elf shook her head.
"Nothing yet. Just a strange, empty silence, like something should be here, but isn't." The ship moved past rocks and trees until the earth smoothed out into a beach of grey sand, and Ava swung the wheel towards the makeshift dock. With a slight vibration, the ship ground into the ocean bed, and members of the crew leapt down to secure the vessel. Ean and Iya followed, feet hitting the rough sand as they surveyed their surroundings.
"My senses are being blocked." Ean said suddenly, eyes scanning the twisted trees. "I can feel a little bit, but nothing farther in."
"I'm not surprised." His companion said. "Do you feel the magic in the air? This whole island is alive with it."
"My senses aren't as attuned as yours, I suppose." He gave her a smile, and she returned it with one of her own. As the rest of the party joined them on the desolate beach, Ean found a few stones in the sand which looked as though they had once been part of a path. They lead toward the forest, and he now saw that there was a gap between two trees. Beyond that, nothing but the mists. The air was thick and oppressive, as if the forest was waiting for them to make a move.
"Nobody wander off." Gavin warned. "If these mists are magical, who knows what they'll do to us?"
"You think it'll hurt us?" Rye asked. "We've already been breathing it in."
"Also, 'they'?" Emma asked, but it was Nicholas who answered.
"These mists are magical, more so than almost anything. We don't know if there are spirits controlling it, or if it really is natural."
"And yes, we've been breathing it in." Gavin said. "But we've got three powerful mages in the group. Hopefully we'll deter whatever might be out there from getting too confident, just in case."
"It doesn't feel dangerous, though." Iya pointed out as the group began moving up towards the tree line. "Just… sentient."
There was indeed a path, carved by the tread of many feet, that led deeper into the forest. Ean went first, his senses on alert for anything that might spring out at him, but he felt nothing. The others clutched their weapons as well, and Jack glanced around nervously, eyes scanning the misty woods.
As far as they could tell, there was only one path through the forest, and it slowly curved to the southwest as they moved. As the trees began to open up, revealing a small valley, there was a muffled curse from Rye.
"What is it?" Iya said, turning to see Rye picking something off the ground.
"I tripped over this." He said as he unfolded the cloth to reveal a black cloak that moved in the slight breeze. "Some sort of garment?" He flipped it over, and his eyebrows shot up. "Say, wasn't there an elf named Gulliver back in Verashema?"
"Yes." Ean said. "But he was gone. Why?"
"Because this cloak has his name sewn into the collar." The ranger said grimly, flipping the robe around to show them the silvery thread. Indeed, it read: Property of Gulliver.
"So, he's here?" Emma said, turning to scan the area once again. "Or not anymore?"
"I don't know." Ean said slowly, taking the cloak and stowing it in his pack. "I saw no ships on the way here, and I'm not sure where else he could have gone, but let's keep an eye out for him."
They had just crossed the small valley when they heard a rustling sound from the nearby trees. Everybody froze, and Ean flicked his claws out. The trees rustled again, and several large shapes emerged from the forest, blocking the party's path.
"What are these things?" Ava said, eyebrow raised as what looked like toads with wings slowly drifted towards them, croaking quietly. Their thick, knobby skin was grey, which made them look something like an angry plant.
"A cousin of the toads, maybe?" Gavin said. "They're clearly magical, so that explains the wings."
"I don't think they're friendly." Ean said, as he prepared to pounce on the nearest one. And then, one of the toads let out a loud croak, and the creatures leapt towards the party with similar cries.
With fluid movements born of instinct and teamwork, the eight travelers immediately charged forward, weapons bared. The toads' skin was tough, tough enough that Jack's knives could not pierce it, but Rye's new arrows were a different story. One projectile flew straight through the offending toad and embedded itself in a tree, dropping the amphibian in its tracks. At the front of the wedge, Ean and Iya faced down three of the monsters, wielding a combination of brute strength, sharp weapons, and bursts of fire that burned white-hot. Evidently, receiving Serendipity's blessing had given the female elf a boost of confidence, and soon the toads were nothing more than dissolving corpses. One of the last croaked, and Ava turned her attention towards it. Instead of lunging, however, the creature opened its mouth, and a bright purple blast of light shot towards the woman. Stunned, the pirate did not have time to dodge as the curse neared, and her eyes widened.
"Not today." Nicholas snarled, and he flung a net of magic in front of Ava, canceling out the curse a foot from her face. A second later, Gavin's counterspell sent the toad flying backwards, where it hit the muddy ground.
"You alright?" The warlock added as the other joined them, watching as the toads' corpses dissolved into dust and various piles of loot.
"Yes. Just surprised, is all." Ava said, not thinking about her situation with the magic user for once.
"Those were quick reflexes, Nicholas." Emma said, and the prince nodded ever so slightly, accepting her compliment.
"Indeed." Ean said. "I'm not sure what that spell would have done, but it likely wouldn't have been good."
"At least we know now." Iya said, turning around to watch as Jack collected their spoils. "What are you doing?" As it so happened, the boy had noticed something among the trees where the toads had come from, and he was moving towards it.
"I see something." He responded absent-mindedly as he reached into the bushes. "The toads have a nest back here, or something." The trees rustles slightly, and then he emerged into the misty air once more, carrying what appeared to be a blue, metal box.
"A treasure chest?" Emma said curiously, and Jack shrugged.
"Could be. There's a lock, see?" He indicated a side of the box, and Ean smiled slightly.
"Can't ignore your sixth sense for valuables, hm?"
"You'll be grateful if this is something good." Jack shot back as he inserted his lockpick into the opening. Overhead, the mists swirled in strange patterns as the party watched the boy fiddling with the pick.
"This one's tough, but… I think I can… almost… there!" He exclaimed as the lock clicked, and Jack opened the chest to reveal a small piece of metal that was in the shape of a rectangle.
"What is that?" Iya asked, and Jack shrugged.
"Honestly? I have no clue." He passed it to Ean, who examined it closely before handing it to Gavin.
"Can you tell us anything?" The warlock took it, flipping it over his palms a few times before answering.
"There's some sort of spell on it for sure, but it's weird. It's like a transformation spell, perhaps? I've dealt with a few before." He passed it back to Jack. "You found it, so hang on to it for now, okay?"
"Fair enough." The boy said, tucking it into his pocket as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. "We keep going?" Iya nodded, and the party moved off towards the south once more.
They did not encounter anything for a few minutes as the path gradually curved to the north. No more fairies appeared, something that Iya was grateful for.
Unless, of course, they're waiting to ambush us. She shook her head slightly, clearing her thoughts as Emma gasped.
"Oh, look!" Up ahead, they could see a thousand tiny lights flickering in the mists, each one soaring gracefully through the air in a sort of dance. As they drew closer, they could see that there was a small clearing set aside from the road that housed the dancing lights, bounded by tress that were illuminated in the yellow light.
"Fireflies?" Ean said from next to her, his eyes wide. "There's so many!" Indeed, there were hundreds of the small insects moving around the clearing.
"It's beautiful." Ava murmured, and Jack nodded in agreement. For a moment, the party stood there, lost in the dancing lights that reflected off the misty air.
It's just like home. At once, she was reminded of sitting on the cliffs of the Vale with Ean, watching as fireflies bumbled through the night sky. That had been… a few months before her final failed trial?
"I remember." Ean murmured, and she smiled slightly.
It hasn't even been a year, and yet so much has happened… Even though I know I'm not done with my quest, I finally see just how beautiful this place is. A strange thought crossed her mind:
If I succeed, will I want to return home? The idea shocked her, and she banished it to the back of her mind as the others stirred.
"We should keep moving." Gavin murmured, and they returned to the path. "Although it does seem that we are coming to the end of the road." Iya glanced up, and saw that they were indeed approaching a small clearing, bordered by a rock cliff on one side and by trees on the other. There was a small pond at the end of the path, but the water was dark and murky, and the elf felt her sense of contentment replaced with foreboding.
"What is this place?" Rye said as they approached the pool. "It looks like another spring, but there's nobody here."
"Aisling?" Emma asked, but Iya shook her head.
"There's no trace of her presence here." Gavin had moved over to the rock wall, and was poking at it. Suddenly, the warlock stiffened, and Ean glanced at him.
"You find something?" He did not respond, still staring at the wall. Ean exchanged a glance with her, eyes wary.
"Gavin?" She called, and the warlock stirred.
"Guys… This isn't Aisling's spring."
"Then what is it?" Emma asked, eyebrows raised, and the warlock moved to reveal a wooden sign attached to the wall. It was old and faded, but the single word written upon it could still be read:
Aveyond.
Iya felt her heart skip a beat.
Impossible. Next to her, Ean's eyes had widened to their maximum, and even Ava seemed shocked.
"Is that…" Rye said, then stopped. "It can't be."
"I think it's real." Gavin said. "It's known that Aveyond has entrances into the mortal world, but I've never heard anything about one around here."
"The realm of the Goddess?" Ava said, and Ean nodded. Iya was still shocked, her mind struggling to comprehend what she was seeing.
"What do you know, Gavin?" Ean asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. He squeezed it reassuringly, as if letting her know that it was okay.
"Not much." The warlock said with a sigh. "The realm of the Goddess, where she takes souls she deems worthy when they pass away. It is from there that all doors to other worlds open, and where she watches over our land."
"My book says much the same." Iya said, still gazing at the rock wall as though she could see through it. "It was the ancestral home of the nymphs, before they came here."
"Can we get in?" Rye asked, but Gavin shook his head.
"It's sealed by powerful magic. Iya might be able to open it if her spirit was complete, but…" He gave her an apologetic shrug, but she waved it off.
"It's okay, Gavin. I just… I wish I could talk to the Goddess myself. I know she'd be able to help us so much…" The elf trailed off, and Emma placed a hand on her other shoulder.
"If we can find a way, we will." Iya's tiny smile was grateful, and Jack gestured to the pool of water behind them.
"What's this, then?"
"I'm not sure." Gavin admitted. "But perhaps somebody on the island would know."
"That's probably our best bet." Ean said quietly.
"I agree." Iya said.
Still, I feel as though the answers I've wanted for so long are just behind this door. If only we could open it… With no other alternative, the party left the clearing, and Iya cast one last look at the solitary pool before it vanished from view among the mists. As it did, the elf could have sworn that she heard a solitary voice crying out to her from somewhere within the darkness, pleading for help…
An hour later, Ean found himself staring out at the mountains and trees that formed the west and south edges of the island. The cliffs towered high over the ship, even from a distance, and Ava had opted to stay clear of the shore for the time being, not knowing what currents were lying underneath the dark water.
"The cliffs run right up to the edge of the water." Ava said from next to him, where she was gripping the wheel. "I'd rather not get pulled into them, if it's all the same."
"Agreed." Ean said, eyes still scanning the shore for any suitable places to dock. As the shore began to curve towards the south, he saw a sight that was becoming familiar to the people on board the ship. "I see something up ahead, and it looks like a dock. "
As the vessel drew closer, the rest of the party looked up from their positions on the deck, excitement written on their faces as they approached the stone dock that jutted out into the calm sea. There were several smaller boats tied up at the dock, but none as big as theirs, and Ean guessed that they were for fishing.
"It's the same as Verashema." Rye said, joining him on the steering platform. "They must be similarly cut off from the world."
"Monsters, probably." Ean agreed. "I'm guessing Aisling was their primary source of protection, but if she's gone…"
"Then we can expect another powerful creature." Ava finished. "I hope not."
"Only one way to find out." Ean said, and he gestured to the pass through the cliffs that had come into view. "We do a little bit of exploring."
After they had docked, the party assembled on dry land once again, looking around at the wild landscape. On either side, the cliffs rose high into the clouds, framing the passage between in a daunting manner. Grass grew thickly wherever they looked, and several trees dotted the landscape here and there. Nearby, a sign read:
Dogwort Plains -
Happily Ever After -
"Well, there seems to be only one way to go." Gavin said. "I don't see any monsters yet, but perhaps they're farther in."
"We'll probably learn the truth whether we like it or not." Emma said dryly, and Iya smiled at her comment.
"Er, is it just me?" Jack asked as they emerged from the rocky pass that lead back to the shore. "Or have all the rocks turned purple?" The boy was correct, as all the exposed rock stretching out over the landscape had turned a light shade of purple, contrasting magnificently with the green grass.
"That's… interesting." Rye said. "I'm very confused, but still, I suppose it's pretty."
"So long as the rocks don't try to eat us." Gavin said, eliciting a grin from Jack.
The Dogwort Plains curved to the north and out of sight, and Ean thought he could see cliffs in the distance, just barely out of plain sight. The sparse trees and shrubs were made of an odd, lightly colored wood that seemed to blend in with the purple ground.
"There's a path." Nicholas said, indicating a trail worn into the ground. "Do we follow it?"
"Seems to head to the town, so that's probably best." Ean agreed, and the party set along the road.
As they passed by the edge of a rocky cliff a few minutes later, an odd sound echoed through the air, reverberating as it went. It was like something being bent and let loose with a snap, but with more power behind it.
"What is that?" Iya said, turning to scan the path on either side. The sound seemed to be coming from behind a clump of rocks, and it was growing louder.
"I see something coming out." Jack called as the creature came into view. It was composed entirely of metal, with a rounded base and four prongs where the head should have been. It had no arms and legs, and the boy's mouth fell open. To move, the monster was bending its body in half, and using the elastic force to spring forward several feet at a time.
"Is that… Is that a fork?" Ava said as the terrifying piece of cutlery approached.
"It sure looks like one." Ean agreed, readying his claws. "Is it hostile?" As if in answer, the fork bent downwards, more so than it had before, and the sharp tines pointed towards the party.
"Look out!" Emma shouted as the fork shot forward like a spear, shooting towards the party with surprising speed. Ean, Iya, Gavin, and Rye dove to one side as the tines of the fork passed, embedding themselves in the cliff wall behind them. The sharp points sank into the stone, and the fork quivered violently as it attempted to free itself.
"Oh, no you don't." Ava said, and her sword flashed down upon the writhing silver body. Much to her surprise, however, her blade rebounded with a clang, causing no visible damage to the angry utensil. "It's so hard!" With another flick of its body, the fork flew out of wall, bouncing angrily as it surveyed its targets. It turned towards Iya, who raised her staff, but Emma stepped in the way, swords raised.
"Emma?" Iya said, but the green-haired woman smiled.
"I've got this one." She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, gripping her blade with two hands as the fork bent down once more. And then, it shot directly towards her, and Emma swung her blade with a terrific shout.
The blade met the neck of the fork and shattered it in a blaze of silver sparks, flinging the tines away uselessly as the body fell to the grassy earth.
"Whoa." Rye said as the monster began to dissolve into black smoke. "How'd you do that?" Emma was panting, but she grinned as she pointed to her sword.
"I've been working on channeling battle magic into my blade for harder strikes, but that was as much as I could do."
"Still, that was impressive." Ava commended her. "I'm not sure I could do better." The woman flushed, not saying anything in response to her teacher's praise. Jack grabbed the spoils from the grass, stowing the coins in his bag as he stood up.
"Shall we keep moving?" Ean said with a gesture at the waiting path.
They passed through a narrow, rocky section before the plains opened up once more, revealing a sparkling river that rushed through the heart of the grasslands, forming a barrier that could only be passed by using the bridge that spanned it.
"There's something standing on the bridge." Rye observed from a distance. "And I see more of them on the other side."
"Can you tell what it is?" Ean said, squinting. "They look… rectangular."
"Let's get closer, then." Gavin said, and Ean led them through the grass towards the bridge. As they drew closer, Ean saw that the creatures on the bridge were indeed rectangular, but also flat, like a piece of paper. They had insignias drawn upon them in black and red lines, along with a number in the corner. Each one wielded a spear and shield, held by tiny black arms that jutted out from the sides of the monster.
"Are those… playing cards?" Jack said in confusion. "Why is everything here so weird-looking?"
"It is Fairytale Island." Ava pointed out. "Perhaps the monsters are bit more mystical here." The card on the bridge turned towards them, and it stopped, seemingly peering in their direction. And then, without warning, it raised a horn and blew it loudly. The note echoed through the air, and every single card on the other side of the bridge turned. Their malevolent gaze made their intent obvious, and Jack gulped.
"We seem to be outnumbered."
"You mean them, right?" Emma said as she adjusted her shield on her arm, her sword out. "What's the plan, Ean?" The cards were beginning to form a line as they marched towards the bridge. Ean estimated there was around twenty of them, and he grinned.
"Let's take the bridge, shall we?" And with that, he charged forward, followed by Rye, Gavin, and Ava.
As they hit the first plank of the wooden bridge, Ean was confronted with the first card, which raised its spear in preparation to attack. They were much bigger up close, but that just gave him a larger target to strike at.
The monster whirled its weapon, stabbing at Ean with remarkable speed. The elf dodged, rolling under the blow and slashing the card's short legs out from under it. Another cut, and it was down. Next to him, Ava was fighting three of the creatures at once, her sword dancing as she repelled their attacks. Gavin was flinging spells at the creatures across the bridge as Rye and Emma crushed any that got past Ava.
Ean went to block another blow from a shining spear, but before he could, a massive gust of wind plucked the card and five of its brethren bodily from the ground, tossing them into the river. The current swept them away, and they did not resurface. The elf turned and saw Iya, her hair flying behind her as she swept her storm orb back and forth, systematically attacking the approaching creatures. She was… She was…
Beautiful. His mind whispered, and Ean had to agree.
"You okay?" Iya said as she stepped up next to him, eyes still focused on the enemies, and Ean nodded.
"All thanks to you." She flashed him a fierce smile before casting another spell, and Ean was content to watch as she and Gavin reduced the rest of the cards to steaming piles of ash and dust.
"That wasn't so bad." Jack commented as he came up behind them. "That was awesome, though, Iya." The boy added, and Nicholas nodded his assent.
"It really was." Ean said, smiling as Iya turned slightly red. "You've gotten so much more confident."
"Perhaps I needed the proper motivation." The elf replied, and Ean winked at her, causing her to laugh.
"If you two are quite finished," Ava said with a smirk. "We should probably get moving before night comes." The two elves flushed, but joined the others across the bridge nevertheless.
"We should be almost there." Rye said, and the party set off once more.
As they passed a sign that read: Happily Ever After, Jack frowned.
"Shouldn't the town be here?" They were back in a small canyon, heading towards an apparent dead end.
"Should be." Ava said as they rounded a corner, and Jack's mouth fell open. In front of them, the canyon opened up to reveal a large valley that stretched out to the mountains on the other side. From where they stood, they had an excellent view of the busy town that covered most of the open area. Most of the roofs were painted a bright, vibrant color, and lanterns hung from ropes stretched across trees. Patches of green grass were dispersed throughout the small metropolis, and Ean could see many people moving around. The path sloped down to one of the main roads, which seemed to house a local market.
"I think we found it." Gavin deadpanned, and Rye chuckled.
"Now what do you think about that, Jack?"
"Duly noted." The boy said with a small smile. "Now come on, I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry." Ean pointed out with a grin, and led them down into the streets below.