Alright, sorry again for the long ass wait, but I actually have a plan for the next chapter and after that it's gonna be a little time skip with filler fun buts until we get to some more plot stuff.

Months later I was standing on the east coast of the largest of the British Isles. The winds had directed me as far as they could but the ward around Avalon always got them turned around. I was supposed to wait for dark and look for the lights that only an Immortal could see. Well, it was dark now and I'd been looking for an hour. I wanted to be irritated but I was still too excited to go to freaking Camelot that I didn't really mind.

The winds blew around me. "When you spot the light, follow it until you reach Avalon." Yeah, I knew that. Only problem was that it was super foggy and on top of that a few miles off the coast it was storming - bad. Like thunder clouds so black it looked like the middle of the night when it was still light out. Of course, now it was the darkest spot of the ocean - of what I could see anyway. In all honesty, the only light I'd seen was the lightning but I highly doubted that's what the wind was referring to.

Amongst the storm clouds and lightning, something caught my eye. I looked closer and saw a bluish-purple light peeking out. What caught my eye was that it wasn't jagged like the lightning, it was straight. St. Elmo's Fire. Oh yeah. I'd never seen it in person before but there it was, live and in color. As I stared at the phenomenon it dawned on me that the fire could - and most probably was - the light I was supposed to follow. After figuring it out I face-palmed because I'm an idiot. I called my wings and headed into the center of the storm. To my surprise, the rain didn't touch me. Like it was raining - hard - but it was just sort of falling around me. As I kept towards the fire the clouds started parting and I could start to hear sounds other than thunder and rain. I could hear music. And people.

Why the hell do I hear people? I started catching glimpses through the clouds of an island the size of Manhattan - just not as populated. Avalon? The people were milling around a castle - which I assumed was Artie's - and looked like they were having a festival or something. Camelot. The smile that spread across my face was somewhere between excitement, hunger, and reverence. I landed on the ramparts that circled the city, staring at the sight in awe. The castle had five towers that sliced through the sky like swords, St. Elmo's Fire shining off of them like fireworks for the festival. The town sprawled for a mile around the castle and everywhere that I could see, people were dancing, drinking, and all a manner of other things. More importantly, they were all wearing a weird mix of medieval garb and modern clothes. Like there were jeans and tunics on one of the guys walking past me and a girl was wearing a patterned T-shirt and a skirt with an apron over it. Baseball caps with dresses and sneakers with chain mail. It was bizarre but really cool.

I called my wings again and headed towards the castle when I noticed that people were pointing up at me. As the others around them glanced upwards and in turn pointed and spread the word, I realized that everyone here could see me. Awestruck, I dropped down as the citizens gaped at me. "You can all see me?"

One of the men close to me cracked a crooked smile. "She's American." He laughed and whacked his friend on his shoulder.

A woman took a tentative step towards me. "Are you a friend of his majesty's?"

I nodded dumbly. "Yeah... Yeah, I'm friends with Ar- King Arthur." This is so weird... and cool. A few people had walked away by now but a crowd had gathered to stare at the newcomer. "Um... can you point me to the castle?" From ground level it wasn't as easy to find my way - the towers having disappeared into the cloud cover.

She nodded eagerly and pointed through the crowd. "The main gate is o'er that way."

I gave her a smile. "Thanks." As I walked past her, she reached out to touch my shoulder. I jerked a little in surprise - which in turn made her pull her hand back.

"My apologies, miss. But... where did your wings go?" She looked at my back in awe and confusion.

I glanced over my shoulder. "Oh, you mean these?" I called them back as people backed away, making room. A few moments after they were fully formed I let them dissolve again. I looked back at the lady that touched me. "They only stay as long as I need them."

Her awe turned into a smile of wonder, as did a lot of the people's surrounding me. One kid had grabbed a page as it had tried to flutter away. The paper was tugging at his hand, trying to go back. I walked over and crouched town to talk to him eye to eye. He looked at me with wide eyes - almost scared for a second. "Why don't you let it go home?" I nodded at the page.

He glanced at it then back at me. "Home? Whaddya mean?"

"It came from somewhere. It should go back before someone tries to read the book and finds a page missing." He looked at it with new eyes and relaxed his hand, watching it as it disappeared above the throng. By the time he looked back I was already making my way to the castle.

I dodged my way through the crowd, at the same time having a mini panic attack from being next to so many mortals all crammed in together and thrilled beyond words at the fact that they could all see me and touch me. I was lost in the crowd... something I hadn't been able to do without risk in a long time. It had my heart racing and my ears pounding from the blood rushing through them. I was shaking and a little clammy but it was exhilarating. The crowd jostled me towards the castle and it was some of the most fun I'd had in years - don't tell Jack.

By the time I made it to the castle gate, I'd had my feet stepped on more times than I could count and elbows cracking me every three steps but I'd have done it again in a heartbeat. The gates were open and a few people strolled through - half drunk out of their minds - with guards watching for any funny business. The looked at me sideways but didn't try to stop me. I followed the flow of people and ended up in a great hall with twelve banquet tables crossing the floor like stripes - people filling each one. Above the banquet tables was it. The Round Table. It was on a raised platform at the head of the hall and there were knights surrounding it... but only enough to count on both hands. Shady's mane stood out like a neon sign among them.

I worked my way over to the Round Table and as I stepped onto the platform two of the knights stood up, drawing their swords as they did. The other knights grabbed at theirs as well, as if readying themselves to be backup. Artie grinned at me as he stood up. Shady beat him to my greeting, though. "Story!" She jumped onto the table and ran across it towards me, vaulting down once she got to the other side. "Ye came!" She tackled me in a hug that I returned. As fun as it was to get lost outside, seeing familiar faces was a welcome change.

"Of course, I did. I got an invite to Camelot. Who in their right mind would pass that up?" I looked at the Table to see Artie waving down the knights who had jumped up before.

"I'm glad to see you, Story." Artie had walked around the table and set a hand on my shoulder momentarily. "I trust you had no troubles finding my kingdom?"

I bobbed my head. "Sort of. It would have been nice if I knew what light to look for." He grimaced apologetically as I glanced over my shoulder at the hundreds of people filling the room. "And if I'd had some warning that everyone here would see me." And that there'd be people. Yeah, that too.

Artie nodded. "Well yes, that. You see - Avalon is located on top of many crisscrossing leylines - which imbues the island with magic. The entire kingdom is born with the ability to see any immortal. Lucky for me or I would have no subjects." He raised his glass to the knights seated and they raised theirs as well, drinking as they dropped their arms. "Santoff Claussen is similar, as was Atlantis in its time - or so Mors tells me." Shady rolled her eyes and headed back for her seat.

"What's with the party?" I raised an eyebrow and eyed the crowd again.

"They are celebrating my homecoming." At my still-raised eyebrow, he explained further. "Once a year I do not leave Camelot for a month straight. My citizens have taken to celebrating that time annually." That actually made sense, since he wasn't always at Legends. Actually, the only staff members who were always there were Dollie, Sunny, and Gaia, the latter two being a packaged deal. All the others had lives outside. "You should stay, have a drink! Er-" He looked at me, trying to hide the memory of my drunken escapades from reaching his face. "Maybe not." I squinted at him. "I didn't mean to make you cross, Story. I only meant that I'd forgotten you've sworn off alcohol."

"I'll be just fine, thank you." I stomped over to Shady and took the vacant seat next to her. She was laughing at me. "Oh haha, Hangover Queen won't drink."

She shook her head, eyebrows raised. "I didun't say a wurd." She lifted her glass and sat back in her chair.

I looked out at the people in the Hall again, marveling at just how many people lived on Avalon. Leaning towards her, I asked Shady, "What's with all the people?"

She sat forward, nodding. "Right. When Artie was dyin' Merlin brought 'im 'ere to try and save 'im but it didun't werk. Manny stepped in and now 'e's the immortal we all know 'n luv."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I wusn't finnished." She took another drink. "Camelot wus destroyed by Mordred and 'is men. Its people had nowhere to turn. I dunna know 'ow 'e did it, but Manny sent out a call to Artie's people, they flocked 'ere o'er the next few years and re-built Camelot 'ere on Avalon." She looked up at the ceiling. "The original's just a pile o' rubble now."

-

The party lasted all night, and all morning. For February, the drizzling cold didn't seem to bother anyone. Actually, for the next few days I barely saw anyone with a winter coat on. Us immortals, of course, weren't bothered but you know what I meant. After I was there for a week Shady finally got around to my next training session. Because the citizens were still partying and the grounds were flooded with people, we ended up commandeering a stretch of the ramparts for our own purposes. The first few hours were a lot of the same - i.e. Shady beating the living crap out of me while I feebly tried to fend off her advances. But halfway through day one we'd drawn a small crowd at the bottom of the wall. By the end of the day, there were well over two hundred spectators.

On day two, there was a crowd of knights waiting for us on the wall - on top of the watchers below. Shady was irritated by them being there - something I didn't figure out until a few hours in - something about them distracting me from my 'lessons'. Honestly, I thought it was fun. The knights and people were laughing and making bets on how the bouts would end. I saw more than one hand over a handful of money when I - yet again - was knocked on my ass.

Day three was the same but with one difference. Artie came to watch. He didn't make any bets but he did cheer on both of us - mostly by yelling out which way I should dodge and what to do next. That was more distracting than the onlookers, honestly. I think there were more people that day because Artie was there. We were probably up to a thousand or more now.

Then day four happened.

Artie was waiting for us in leather armor, Excalibur in hand. Unlike the previous days, it was dead silent as everyone watched with bated breath. When we got close enough he cracked a smile. "I thought I'd join you today."

I glanced between him and Shady. "So am I supposed to fight both of you now?"

My tutor squinted at our kingly friend. "Do ya think yer up fer two foes?" She looked back at me, waiting for my answer.

I pushed my lips to the side as I thought. I mean, I barely held my own against Shady on a regular basis. Was I ready to try and take on two full blown warriors? Warrior royalty at that. Well, Shady did go easy on me - and I hoped Artie would too - but it was still two people to fend off. That meant swords swinging at my face from two angles and more than one direction that I had to pay attention to. I did need to learn how to face multiple people at once, but now?

I took a breath. "I guess we'll see, won't we?" They both grinned at that. Shit. Why did I suddenly have the feeling that I'd just dug my own grave?

There's not much to say about the following fight. Well... what I remember of it anyway. It only lasted about a minute. Shady swung at me like normal, I dodged - barely missed Artie's swing in the process - I took a step back and managed to parry Shady's next attack, turned to fend off what I knew was coming from Artie and then... well the next thing I knew I was opening my eyes - flat on my back - a few hours later. I don't know who hit me and neither of them would tell me, but apparently I'd been hit hard enough to black out for the rest of the day. Also, there was blood crusted in my hair and on my shirt so I know that it must have been a pretty bad gash for me to have bled that much.

Shady was sitting next to me when I woke up, one leg stretched out and her arm propped on the other. She smiled apologetically at me as I sat up. "Sorry ta leave ya out 'ere like this. Ya took a nasty baytin ta the 'ead."

I gingerly touched the left side of my head. It throbbed in response but when I pulled my fingers away there wasn't any blood. "At least I'm not bleeding anymore."

She grimaced. "Yea', ye were leakin' fer a while. One a t'e knights tried ta staunch the blaydin but Artie sent 'im off." Her shoulders shook while she chuckled. "Yer black blud scared the shite out 'im." She handed me an ice-pack ye-old style. "I thought te stay wit ya 'til ye woke up. Didn't know ye'd be out fer aurs."

"Didn't know I'd be blacking out." She helped me up and walked with me down into the castle. I almost blacked out two more times but she caught me - didn't say a word, just grabbed my shoulder and righted me again, making sure I didn't fall down the stairs. We ended up at a bedroom that was the same size as my house - not counting the giant staircase of course. "Why are we here?" I was still a little light headed but otherwise fine.

"Because yer lookin' a bit manky and I thought ye should clean up a bit befur ye scare the shite outta anyone else." She gestured to the bathroom off to the side of the room.

"Gee, I feel the love." I walked over to the door, holding my head as I did.

"I'll git yer bag." With that, she left me to fend for myself. Shady was a little course but she was still one of my good friends. As far as the girls went probably my best friend. You just had to understand her.

I looked around at the room in growing awe. The ceiling had to be thirty feet high, the four poster bed could fit a family of five, and the fireplace was big enough for me to stand in with room to spare. I felt about two feet high. Is this room for Goliath or something? When I walked in the bathroom my jaw hit the floor. The bath was set in the floor and it was more like a pool than a tub. "Woah." The water set-up was similar to the bathhouse from Spirited Away, pull a cord and a spout comes out of the wall.

I was already in the bath-pool by the time Shady came back. She announced her presence verbally - and loudly - before tossing my bag into the bathroom without looking. It almost landed in the water but at the last second I caught it with a wall of pages that deposited it back on the ground. It almost gave me a mini panic attack because the sketchbook I had with me had some painted pieces in it and I didn't want them dying. Regardless I sat back and decided to enjoy what was essentially a dip in a hot tub.

I was singing 1985 to myself when I heard steps in the bedroom. I assumed Shady had come back since I'd been in there for almost an hour by then. I yelled over my shoulder at her. "I'm almost done, hold your horses." I went right back to singing and reached over for my spare clothes I'd brought on purpose because I assumed I'd be getting the other ones dirty at some point. I wasn't concerned with anyone seeing anything because A, bubbles, and B, I'd worn my bra and underwear into the tub. Hey, there was no door to either room - I wasn't taking any chances whether they were my friends or not.

However, as I was ready to get out I realized there were no towels. Anywhere. In the entire room. I mumbled a few choice swear words. "Did you bring a towel with you?"

"I did Milady." I jerked at the unfamiliar voice. I sank lower in the water as I spun around to see a girl who was about eighteen standing with a small stack of towels and what looked like a dress. "His Majesty sent me to assist you." She walked over to one of the many tables and deposited the towels. "His Highness also sends his apologies for injuring you today." She grimaced sheepishly. Well that answers the question of who hit me.

"Uh..." I stared at her awkwardly while she waited patiently. "Thanks... but um, I can assist myself." I wanted to get out of the tub but with miss rando standing there I wasn't about to stand up in my undies.

"Is something the matter Lady Story Tale?"

"Uh, it's just Story. Believe me, I'm probably one of the least lady-like girls you'll ever meet - save Shady." I eyed her for a second. "Can you like... turn around or something?"

She curtsey/bowed to me and turned her back to me. "Of course Lady Story."

I rolled my eyes as I climbed out of the tub/pool. "Story. Just, Story." She must have heard me walking towards her because she picked up one of the towels and held it out for me, obligingly looking away. "Thank you."

"It is my pleasure, Miss Story." She bowed her head again.

I rolled my eyes again. "Listen, it's just Story. No 'lady', no 'ma'am', no 'miss', just Story. I call your king by his first name - nickname, actually - and I'm on a first-name basis with Mother Nature. I hate titles so please don't use them with me." I stared at her with the towel wrapped around me. "Just, Story." I could see in her eyes that there was no way in hell she was just gonna call me by my first name. "If you have to use a title, then just say my name, 'Story Tale'. Okay?"

She bowed again. "As you wish, Story Tale." I sighed in relief at that.

"Thank you." I flashed her a grateful smile and picked up my clothes from the floor. "Can you turn around while I get dressed too?"

"As you wish, Story Tale. However, His Majesty did send a gown for you." She held up the dress she brought with her.

I lifted an eyebrow skeptically when I saw the dress. Not that it was a frilly monstrosity or anything, but... well, it was bright pink. And it was still way too fancy for my liking. "Uh, not that I'm not grateful, but why...?" I gestured at the dress.

She curtsied, still holding out the dress. "His Majesty, King Arthur saw that your clothing was dirtied from your injury and sent a gown for you to wear in their stead."

I lifted my clothes. "I brought extras. I'd rather wear these."

She bowed her head again. "Very well, Story Tale." She put the dress down and turned back to me, grabbing for my clothes.

I pulled back. "I can dress myself, thanks. Just turn around again, please." She obliged and I quickly pulled on my pants. I yanked on my shirt just in time for her to turn around again, smiling like nothing weird was going on. "Geez, a second less and you'd have been flashed."

A flicker of confusion crossed her face but she shook it off. "His Majesty and Lady Scathach invite you to return to the festivities if you are able, Story Tale." She curtsied again when she said my name.

"Okay, you don't have to curtsey so much, but thanks for the heads up." I rubbed at my head where Artie'd hit me. Even though it was still a little tender I wasn't falling over anymore. I wasn't up for drinking, though. "I think I'll just crash for a little while." I looked back into the bedroom. "Can I sleep in here?"

She head-bowed again - which I rolled my eyes at. "Very well. I will tell His Majesty that you wish to retire for the night."

"It'll probably be longer than the night." I hadn't slept for about a week and a half now - unless you counted while I'd been unconscious - but it had taken a lot out of me and I was exhausted. I'd most likely be sleeping for the next day or so if not longer. "I'll be out for a while, two days at the most. If there's somewhere more convenient I'll go sleep there."

She held up her hands. "No, no. You may sleep wherever you like, you are a guest of His Majesty's." She went to curtsey again but caught herself. "Do you require anything? Shall I order the other servants not to disturb you?"

There was something in the way she'd been acting that I hadn't been able to put my finger on until right about then. I squinted at her. "You saw me training with Shady- Scathach, didn't you?"

She looked shocked for a moment before meekly nodding. "Do you remember me from the crowd? You won't tell His Majesty that I was shirking my duties in order to watch will you?" She looked at me pleadingly. "Please don't. I've never seen immortals fight before..." She looked nervously at the ground. "I was too nervous to stand on the wall so I hid in the crowd the first two days." She looked up at me and I could see in her eyes what she was about to say.

"Today you were hiding behind the knights and saw me fighting with Artie."

She shuddered a little bit. "The instant you were injured you dropped like a stone... I thought you'd died." She honestly looked scared. "His Majesty froze... he looked like he was in shock. He and Lady Scathach stared at each other for a moment before ordering everyone away. They turned to you and tried to wake you up but you were lifeless." Her eyes were shining. "How is it you are unharmed?" She looked at my head where I was hit. "I saw the blood... I thought it was blood..." She trailed off.

I nodded. "Yeah, my blood's black." I looked at her for a second. "I'm immortal, remember? Not invincible, though. None of us are. That's why I'm trying to learn how to fight, in case anything ever happens where my powers aren't enough." I hiked my bag over my shoulder. "And why I need to sleep because I may look fine now but that hit really hurt and I'd prefer to sleep it off than deal with it awake." She was looking at me like I was speaking another language. "I might not be mortal, but that doesn't mean I'm not human."

She visibly relaxed, letting out the breath she'd been holding. She gave me a small smile and walked with me to the bed. "Do you wish me to order that you not be disturbed?"

I shook my head. "Nah, if anyone needs me they can come wake me up. Just shut the door when you leave and tell the others that I'm gonna sleep it off." She nodded and left the room.

I looked at the bed that was as big as my bedroom. Then I took a few steps back and made a running leap at it. I flopped down onto it, spread-eagled and grinning despite the throbbing in my head. "Duuuude, this is the best bed." Within minutes I was out.

-

Now I can't recall what my dream was about, nor can I tell you exactly what was happening in it when I started waking up. However, I do remember that my dream was disrupted by something in the real world enough to the point where my dream logic was disturbed. I do know what was happening IRL to fuck up my dream logic so much. One of my planes was running into my forehead over and over again - so much that the point was crunched halfway through the wings and it could barely hover anymore. I sat up and caught the poor thing, unfolding it to put it out of its misery.

'Story, either keep your ass in that room or get the hell out. Don't come downstairs. I'll finish your training later.'

I raised my eyebrow. Um, excuse me? I bounced off of the bed and scooped up my bag in a fluid motion on my way to the door. When I got to it, I flung the door open and was face to face with the same girl from earlier. I blinked at her surprised face for a second before saying excuse me and trying to brush past her.

She blocked my path and grimaced apologetically. "I'm sorry, Story Tale, but Lady Scathach has ordered me to bar you from the festivities."

I raised my eyebrow again. "Pardon?" A tiny flicker of fear entered her eyes as she glanced at the hilt of my sword which was sticking out of my bag. I followed her gaze and rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. I'd never hurt you. Just let me through."

She blocked me again. "I cannot." I stared at her blankly for a moment before abruptly turning around and walking towards the window. Fine. I threw it open and called my wings. As I launched myself out the window I heard her calling for me to wait. As if. I landed in the courtyard and dispersed my wings. Everyone sort of made way for me as I marched towards the Hall.

As soon as I entered my eyes zeroed in on the carrot colored fluff ball that was Shady and stormed towards her. Halfway across the room she noticed me and stood up, moving to cut me off. "Shady!" Annoyance crossed her face as she made her way towards me. "What the hell gives you the right to order me to stay in my room like I'd a child?!" My voice - raised in anger as opposed to merriment - drew the eyes of many of the revelers. Shady was about ten feet away by now but I didn't bother to drop my voice. "I may be younger than you but I'm not five! If you'd told me to meet back up later then fine, cool, will do - but no. 'Keep your ass in that room'?! Are you fucking kidding me?!"

The noise in the room had quieted considerably. Shady's voice -however - was barely audible with how low it was. "Story, ye have to leave. Now."

"Why? Because I can't take a hit from friggin Excalibur?"

Her eyes ordered silence, but that's not what got to me. There was alarm there too. "There's another immortal 'ere. -"

Before she could say anything else, a man sitting next to Artie spoke up. "Shady, why don't you introduce me to your friend." It wasn't a question and I could see on Shady's face that this was the last thing she'd wanted. Regardless she turned around and beckoned that I follow her.

When we got back to the Round Table the noise in the room had by now gone back to normal so our conversation was more or less private. Shady plopped back down in the chair like nothing was wrong but I could see how tense she was. "Izzy, this is Story Tale." She gestured towards me then looked at me hard. "Story, this is Iskandar." She gestured to the man on the other side of Artie.

He was tall - well taller than me at least - and had curly blond hair held back by a band to reveal hazel eyes. As soon as the introductions were over he stood up and walked over to me, offering a hand to shake. I accepted and he grinned. "Shady neglects to introduce me by the better-known variant of my name."

I raised an eyebrow for the third time in ten minutes. "And what would that be?"

"Alexander." Before he could even finish his title, my mind instantly zapped the connection and I finished with him. "The Great." He looked at me with mild surprise. "So you knew?"

"More like I've heard both names." Figures he'd be friends with them. "How come I've never seen you at Legends?"

He snarled the instant I said Legends. "I detest that cesspool and most of the immortals in it." He glanced over his shoulder at Artie and Shady. "With obvious exceptions." When he turned back to me his sly grin was back. Okay well, it probably wasn't sly per say but his charisma mixed with Shady being so tense made it feel that way. "Now, how is it you are so obviously acquainted with my friends here and yet we have never met?"

"Well probably because I frequent Legends and you apparently never set foot inside."

"Only if I can help it." I snorted. What a cocky bastard. He could give Sunny a run for his Money in the ego department. Which is probably why Shady had been trying to keep me away from him.

I pulled my hand out of his grasp - yes he'd still been hanging onto it - and took my seat next to Shady. "Well, unlike you, I thoroughly enjoy Legends and almost everyone in it. I met our mutual friends there as well as a few others I consider close." I shot a smile at Shady and Artie. "So what are you doing here, Iskandar?"

"You may call me Izzy if you wish. And I am here for the revelry. It is not often Arthur stays home long enough for me to make the journey to see him - not to mention Shady being here as well. In fact, the last time I saw the two of them together was almost a hundred years ago, give or take."

As Izzy rattled off a long-ass story about whatever battle it was the last time he saw them, Shady discretely passed me a note. 'Stop trying to piss him off, I mean it. He's terrifying when he gets mad and you can't fight him off, trust me. Just let him talk and in a little bit just leave, say you have to go or fake a plane coming or something. I'll come and train at your place to make up for it I promise. I didn't know he was coming otherwise, I wouldn't have invited you. I'm sorry please just go."

I had to consciously refrain from raising my eyebrows at her. What the hell? Discretely I glanced at Iskandar. He looked about as scary as the others - by which I mean he looked like a warrior. But he didn't seem as scary as she let on. Regardless, I hunkered down for about an hour - he talked more than I did - and then by some miracle, an actual plane showed up for me. One that I would have never expected.

I cleared my throat. "Sorry guys, I gotta go. I had a great time, by the way."

"You can come back anytime you want to, Story. My people would love tales from the outside world - actually, they can't get enough of them." Artie gestured to how one of the servants had been carrying around a copy of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

I laughed. "Will do." With that, I turned around and made my way through the hoard of people.

When I was close enough to the edge of the city that I could call my wings without anyone being in the way I heard someone calling my name. I looked around and saw the girl from earlier running towards me, waving frantically. "Story Tale!" I kept a hold of my wings but I let them hang down beside me as she jogged up breathing heavily.

"Did you just run the whole way here?"

She nodded breathlessly. "His... Majesty... said that... you were... planning... on leaving." She straightened up, holding her side and taking deep breaths. "Please... come back soon."

I smiled slightly. "Any particular reason why?"

She blushed faintly. "You're not like the rest of them. The immortals. They're all warriors but you..."

"Are the essence of stories"

She shook her head. "No, well yes, but - I only meant that you are... well normal. You aren't royalty or deemed a god... you're one of the people."

I sat down on a retaining wall next to me. "I try to be. I hate being put up on a pedestal. I still fangirl as much as everyone else who isn't immortal so why should I be treated differently?"

"That's what I mean." She looked at the ground. "You speak to us as if we are still human, not servants."

"I speak to everyone as if they're my equal." I pushed myself off of the wall, stretching a little. "Besides, if you talk to me like I'm human why can't I talk to you the same?" I shot her a grin before lifting my wings. "Don't worry, I'll be back. Art- Arthur already extended an invite." I picked my back up and hung it across my front like I usually did when I was flying. "However, I do have to go. Sorry, bye." I waved as I tore upwards, racing for the origin of that note.