This takes place before The Crystal Queen and the first Faen War. It's incomplete, but enjoy!
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The clock is ticking again.
Tock.
Tock.
Tock.
Reality's tearing again.
Tick.
Tock.
Tick.
Tock.
Forever and again.
A single gray-haired time traveler gazed at the horizon, his newfound ability bound to get him in trouble with two particular looped travelers. His sapphire and slate blue gaze scanned the medieval settlements of the island, wisps of existence on the edge of his gaze. He rubbed his eyes frustratedly before closing his slate blue eye, the nomadic groups in the distance clear as the coming day. He then opened his slate eye and closed the sapphire.
The world went dark.
Well, not entirely.
He could still see wisps of an aura, wisps of what was there, but he could see nothing like he used to be able to.
The boy opened his sapphire eye, half his vision clear and the other half some bizarre result of half-blindness, but still taking in the movements of the island at least 2,490 years in the past from what for him, was currently "the present."
He brushed his bangs back into place with a braced and gloved hand, obscuring his slate eye, then picked up a small clock on the ground next to him, making his way down the hill.
If he had been aware of what was happening among the nomadic groups, he might've stayed longer.
Prologue[]
A little winged, sleeping boy clung to his mother as she carried him, humming the tune of a foreign lullaby that was doomed to the fate of being forgotten in time.
The little boy was unusually white-haired, and his skin was such a shade of pale that one might've mistaken him for sick.
In a way, he was.
The child was frail, bones countable from malnourishment, and constantly tired - evident by how long he was sleeping. His clothing was a tattered set of hand-me-downs that nearly all the children in the nomadic group had used at least once, his wings slightly ragged from meeting the business end of weapons, and his white-gray tail looked unkempt as it lashed back and forth.
His mother was in no way better.
The woman's clothing was in a similar state to the boy's, her pointed ears were torn and scarred, wings marked from the process of being shredded then healing over, and a tail so bedraggled that a cat would look better if thrown into a dust storm.
And they were only two of many.
There were all sorts of people - similar to them in matters of wings, ears, and tails - sleeping or keeping watch nearby, hailing from multiple tribes of these nomadic people but forced to mingle with the current circumstances. However, they were all different, and none were designed by whatever deity who created them to live in this environment.
Yet why, why were they here if they didn't belong here?
The little boy woke up.
Chapter 1[]
The boy was now seated on the ground, ravenously eating a handful of shriveled cranberries. He wanted ever so much to savor the bitter but sweet taste, as he had no idea when he might be able to eat again, but hunger was so profound that he had gobbled them up in a matter of seconds, still not satisfied. He glanced to his left with his oddly gray gaze, where another boy was seated, still not having yet finished his ration.
The other boy was Naloc, hailing from a family that claimed to be royalty due to the unique patterning on their wings and pointed ears - both unusual traits for the small group of others like him. His rose-gold gaze was nervous as he ate his handful of berries, afraid that someone - like the first boy - might try to steal it from him. Naloc was also notable for the rare deformity leading to having an extra tail, as none in his family had the trait up to him. However, it was more of a blessing than a curse, as a few others born with two feather-like tails flew better than anyone else could.
The white-haired boy glanced to his right as Naloc finished, an olive-brown girl to his right. Her wings seemed as fragile as a butterfly, scales lining her wrist and hiding a pair of spinnerets. She had already finished her rations and spun a small strand of gray silk, fiddling with it to calm her nerves. The girl was Kirshna, hailing from a type of race that had begun to be known as Teresh Noric, which the humans call "Silk Fairy," for the fact they weave silk. Kirshna was from a group that recently joined the others, as her kind went through a stage similar to a butterfly's at eight, a process that falls under the name metamorphosis. Those of her race weren't born with wings, only having a small bump under the skin where they should've been. Eventually, they'll gradually near the point their spinnerets develop enough to form a chrysalis, and their parents would rush them off to a cave used for "the time of rest," when they spend the time asleep in their chrysalides and grow their wings. This period was dangerous, as they could not defend themselves if humans came close.
A band of humans dubbed De Rokshi, translating to "The Hunters," was why they were here. They earned this name due to their weapon of choice - bows - and because they mercilessly hunted down the forced nomads for selfish purposes.
The Rokshi had located and raided the cave where Kirshna had been the week before. She only managed to go uncaptured due to Ivan - the odd Silk Fairy having finished his metamorphosis days earlier. He had moved her chrysalis behind a few boulders, the gray silk blending in as well as the gray fairy himself. Ivan had tried to do the same for the other chrysalides, moving a few outdoors and into the bushes, but some were shades of colors so bright they were impossible to hide inside or outside the cave.
No one knows what became of the captives, but normally, when Silk Fairies fall into the hands of humans, they have to weave their silk endlessly as a resource, Fairy Dust harvested from their wings in the cruelest forms imaginable.
Now they had recently rejoined the group, and to the adults, every minute they spent in the clearing was an eternity.
The Rokshi raided and pursued them to the point they had to constantly move to a new location to avoid being discovered, or they would consign to a life of slavery.
A howl filled the clearing.
Chapter 2[]
"Edur!" The little boy's mother had rushed to him the minute the howling started, Naloc's and Kirshna's parents doing the same.
The area was home to a pack of timber wolves, but they were not a concern - it was the Articlaws.
Articlaws were a creature recently spotted among the ranks of local wolves, designed to live in the cold and capable of wielding magic - something exclusive to humanoids until recent centuries. They had blinding white fur and calculating blue eyes, having ice shards over their forepaws to increase the sharpness of their claws.
However, the name that had risen with the chilling canines was not the human term Articlaw, but Lopshna, meaning "wolf monster."
Edur had always had an eccentric interest in wolves, but his mother, being what was beginning to be known as an Oklish, meaning Feral, despised them.
The occurrence was strange, as the wolves typically avoided people, but to Edur, it was all too obvious.
A pup was in a Rokshi net.
"Maymay, look!"
Despite her franticness, the woman glanced in the direction the boy was pointing, panicking even more so.
Rokshi nets were threaded with iron wire to keep any captured fairies from escaping, and the fact one was so close could only mean one thing.
Mysts stormed the camp, ridden by the very thing they all dreaded, the Rokshi.
A single word filled the minds of every adult, child, and wolf in the clearing, the wind picking up and seeming to whisper it aloud.
Run.
A fairy can run quite fast, a wolf's speed coming close, but the Mysts were faster. The Rokshi rode their horse-like mounts, trying to cut off the only roads they could escape from, but unprepared, most of the fairies anticipated what would happen and burst into flight long before they reached them.
Meanwhile, in the chaos, the wolf pup went forgotten.
Along with Edur.
Chapter 3[]
The boy had hidden among the bushes, slowly creeping up to the wolf pup. The fairies were not the Rokshi's only prize, as they would capture any fishna they got their hands on - which in this case, was the trembling Articlaw.
Despite being a painful and generally bad idea, he grabbed the net and yanked it off the pup, catching the little wolf with burned hands and hugging it close.
It momentarily struggled before he allowed it to sniff his hand, both it and the boy hoping no one would spot them.
Yet luck was against him as a hand grabbed his wrist, him looking up, startled, only to meet the gaze of a Rokshi.
"Well, look what we have here."
They were instantly blasted in the face, hail pelting them.
With a yelp, they let go of Edur, the little boy running for his dear life, only to bump into someone else.
They were a smug-looking man wearing clothing only a noble could afford, clearly being the ones who ordered this hunt.
Edur backed away, still clutching the Articlaw close, yet soon let out a screech as an iron rod met his back, the pain unbearable.
He had dropped the wolf pup in the haze of agony, it snarling at his attacker.
A snow leopard burst into the clearing, dashing between the boy and the Rokshi.
Yet the pain was too much.
It had all been in vain.
The world went dark.
Chapter 4[]
The child awoke to the sound of whimpering, his eyes opening to see the little Articlaw chained nearby. Next to him was his mother, but something was off.
She was asleep, the rise and fall of her chest proving she was alive, but there was a clamp of iron at the base of her wings, a band around her tail to weigh her down, a set of shackles around her wrists, and one around her right leg. The tips of her fingers were cut and bloody, both concerning and confusing Edur until he remembered something - Okli has claws.
Someone had declawed his mother.
He moved to get up, only to feel something tug at his leg, finding he was in a similar predicament.
Panic filled his thoughts, his instincts screaming at him to get out of this place - but he couldn't.
He was inside what humans called a "room," or in Norlia, a doric.
The doric had tedious gray walls, a window with iron bars, and old straw littering the ground.
Doric? More like trac, prison.
Footsteps sounded outside the drab, heavy-looking iron door, the door soon clicking open.
The man he had seen during the hunt stepped into the room, gazing around the room. His gaze eventually settled on Edur, a horrid grin spreading across his face.
"Good, you're awake."
Dread filled him in every aspect, his tail fur standing up as he backed away, on all fours, as far as his bindings let him. His pointed ears laid back as he arched his body similar to a cat, a feral hiss escaping his mouth.
He wasn't an Oklish, but he could get pretty close.
The man's face twisted with revulsion, "Savages..."
He approached the boy, knowing it was all a bluff. Yet he had forgotten, in a sense, he was nearing a cornered animal.
And an animal does anything to be free.
He didn't know what compelled him, but the second the man moved to touch him, sharp teeth dug into his flesh, the man yanking his arm away with a yelp, blood welling where teeth had managed to puncture.
Edur spat out the taste, wiping his mouth in both disgust and disbelief.
When he looked up, nothing could describe the amount of hatred in that wretched man's gaze.
A burning sensation ran up his spine as an iron rod stabbed at the boy, the world going dark once more.
Chapter 5[]
When he awoke again, agony filled him in every facet. He was burnt in multiple areas, presumably the doing of iron, and he had a wound on his side that had scabbed over.
The boy felt a pang of hunger, but that was normal for him. What wasn't was that his mouth was dry and scratchy as sandpaper, him not having drunk any water in the past time.
The boy felt something brush past his face, and Edur weakly glanced up, seeing the white tail of the Articlaw pup.
The little wolf had gotten as near to the boy as it could, snuggling next to his face. Its snowy white fur was dirty, and there was a strand of cobweb on its ear, but what was alarming was the blood staining its muzzle.
Clearly, attacking the child did not end well for the man.
He was surprised at having gained the trust of the wolf so quickly, but he was thankful for it. Yet knowing this did not suppress his fear as the door creaked open once more.
This time a boy around his age stepped in, gripping something in his grasp. He glanced around, eyes widening in surprise at meeting Edur's gaze.
"So that's why dad didn't want me coming in here."
The little fairy placed his hand protectively on the Articlaw, hugging it as close as he was able.
The human child proceeded toward him cautiously, trying hard not to startle the boy.
Yet again, the scenario of cornering a wild animal - two of them - had begun to play out.
Edur scrambled back in the direction where the pup was chained, still clutching it close despite his shackles burning him whenever the chain links brushed his skin. Every movement was excruciating, even more, when he wrenched his leg, failing to realize he went as far as his bindings allowed.
Fear, and only fear, filled his gaze as the other boy approached.
Finally, the human child stopped, mere feet away from him.
He was not expecting the following few words.
"Are you okay?"
Chapter 6[]
The feeling of angst had still not left him as he eyed a piece of bread warily.
The other half of the bread was being eaten hungrily by the wolf pup, the human boy sitting a short distance away and watching the two.
Even now that the pup had eaten and seemed fine, Edur was still suspicious about the food, afraid that this was all a trick. The boy had seen way too much for someone his age, and his distrust towards humans was overwhelming, especially since...No, he couldn't let that get to him.
He was desperately hungry, the small handful of berries he's eaten the day before nothing near enough to make up for months without food.
Eventually, starvation overpowered logic, the boy devouring the piece of bread faster than you could blink.
The human child watched wide-eyed, clearly never exposed to any form of malnourishment.
"Wow, you're hungry."
The other boy's matter of stating the obvious was highly unappreciated, but at least he didn't have ill intentions.
Edur was still hungry, but as he didn't trust the other boy yet, he said nothing, edging closer to the still sleeping form of his mother.
The pup noticed and moved to follow but was held back by the chain.
The human child frowned but said nothing more, slipping out the door.
As the door clanged shut, the little fairy let out a sigh of relief, glad to have one less worry.
He snuggled close to his mother, beginning to be distressed. He's woken up twice now, and she still hasn't stirred. Eventually, with all the worries and torment the child went through, he drifted back to sleep.
Chapter 7[]
He hadn't meant to growl, really, but when someone you don't know shakes you awake in a situation like this, you can't help but be feral.
The human child scrambled back, clutching a bag close.
"D-don't hurt me. P-please."
Edur attempted to calm down at realizing he wasn't a threat, but his laid-back ears and fluffed-up fur made it evident the fairy was still downright terrified.
The feeling was mutual as the other boy backed away until his back touched the wall, sheer terror present in his gaze.
Silenced ensued for what felt like an eternity before Edur, against all his instincts, turned his back to the other boy, breathing heavily.
Even though he didn't trust him, he knew how he felt, begging another person not to hurt him.
"D-don't h-hurt me. P-please," a little boy begged as he backed up to the trunk of a tree, his too-small wings and tail meaning he couldn't fly away like the others.
His parents were nowhere in sight, but the Rokshi were.
Fearful tears threatened to pour, his wings torn and cheek bleeding.
Everyone else had already escaped - he was all alone.
The Rokshi approached with a malicious glint in their gaze but stopped as an arrow hit their side, yelling out in pain.
Standing nearby, shakily gripping a bow, was the boy's father.
"Edur, run!"
The boy hesitated at first before fleeing. He kept running before stopping and glancing back, just in time to see the form of his father falling limply to the ground.
He died to save him.
Cautious footsteps sounded behind him.
Edur didn't turn around and instead hugged his knees as the other boy placed something down near him, running out the door soon after.
It was not until the door clanged close did Edur dare to see what the other boy had left.
There was cloth on the ground, folded next to it was a blanket. Atop the fabric was food, water, and a treat for the Articlaw. The wolf pup had already noticed it and was gnawing at it gratefully.
He glanced up at the door, and even know he knew the other boy couldn't hear him, he whispered one thing, "Thank you."
Chapter 8[]
His mother finally stirred.
"...Edur?"
The little fairy turned to look at her, relief filling his gaze as he scrambled over, hugging her to the best of his ability. However, this was an awkward movement due to the current bindings, but neither child nor parent minded.
Yet the boy soon squirmed out of his mother's grasp. As she watched confusedly, he went to the spot where he had hidden the food out of the Articlaw's reach, who was now watching the ledge in the stone hungrily.
The boy ripped off a piece of the bread and tossed it to the wolf, then darted back over to his mother, who wide-eyed accepted the food.
"How did you get this?"
"A neren."
A friend.
The fact that both were to some degree okay - and frankly, together - was a miracle in itself. The Rokshi typically separate faen parents and children, as in the slave trade, none in the right mind will bother paying the price of an entire family. They would often cut off their wings a mere inch from the back, selling off the Fairy Dust produced and then allowing them to regrow to repeat the torturous process. Finally, through every minute of torture, every second of painful tears, they would sadistically collect the saline liquid, holding up the vial of tears like it was a trophy of their horrid accomplishments.
Yet it wasn't a miracle - it was the doing of a noble, the very same noble who was now at the door, son in tow.
The second the door opened, Edur grabbed the little wolf and hugged it tightly as he edged as close to his mother as he could. The woman didn't enjoy the idea of being near any dog-like animal but was more concerned with keeping the boy safe than his choice of pets.
The man watched this smugly, the boy the little fairy had encountered earlier hanging around behind him. The other boy's gaze was affixed to the floor, shame radiating intensely.
The nobleman walked up to the two fey, stopping just outside the reach of their bindings. The spot where Edur had bitten him was wrapped in a cloth bandage, the man sending the faen child a glare when he noticed him staring.
"Well, well, well, seems like I'll be putting both of you to work today."
The little fairy's stomach churned with worry as he gripped his mother's hand tighter, only relieving the tension when he realized he was hurting her.
His mother only glared at the man, snapping in heavily accented sapnic, "If you dare touch him-"
"You mean if he dares touch me." He responded with a flourishing gesture to his bandaged arm.
Silence ensued, but the death stares did not subdue.
He turned to leave before stopping and glancing back, "Oh, and Walter?"
The boy at the door looked up at his father, his blue-green gaze anxious.
"Get the Articlaw."
The little wolf, sensing the situation, twisted out of Edur's grasp, running behind some empty crates and hiding. However, its chain snaked right into the hiding spot, giving it away as Walter walked right up to it, unclipped the chain slowly so as not to scare it, and picked it up.
Walter looked at Edur apologetically but only received a hateful stare in return.
It seemed that neren turned shishic - a friend turned enemy.
Things had turned for the worse.
Chapter 9[]
The little fairy angrily scrubbed the floor, not hesitating to trip anyone that attempted to walk on the wet tile with his tail.
A few times, Walter had quietly offered to help the fairy with the tasks assigned, doing it whenever his father was out of earshot. However, Edur always scornfully turned down his offers, having no intention of healing a friendship with him.
He was the person that had taken the little wolf from him.
Yes, Edur knew the humans would eventually do so, but to see Walter walking down the hall with the Articlaw at his side...that of all things had hurt the fairy more than an iron poker could.
He was the one who befriended the wolf first. The Articlaw was his pet, not Walter's. It was silly, he knew, to care more about the little wolf than his current situation, but that was the spark for his anger.
The spark grew into a flame as the noble had purposely separated the boy from his mother, making Edur deal with endless turmoil inside the mansion while his mother worked outside.
This flame began a roaring fire as the man deliberately knocked things over. He stepped on the wet floor with dirty shoes, then spilled whatever he had in hand and yelled for the fairy to clean things up.
Every task was a form of personal revenge for the man, and what truly made Edur's blood boil was the fact he used the Norlian word fishna to address the little fairy.
He was calling him a monster and planned on treating him like one.
The squelch of muddy shoes sounded behind the fairy, him not even having to turn to know who was looming over him.
That wretched voice smugly asked, "Are you done yet, fishna?"
No answer, but the sponge Edur gripped scrubbed the floor more furiously.
"Are you done yet?" This time his tone was colder, evidently disliking being ignored, "I know you can understand me."
The boy sighed aggressively before saying, "I would say nearly, yet you once again neglected to wipe your feet before going in." His sapnic was shockingly accurate, yet it was clear that he despised the language, each word seeming to drip with poison.
"And stain the rug? Do you have any idea how much it costs?"
"No, as only a sapan would stupidly affix a price to woven straw." The fairy gripped the sponge tighter, water oozing out as he braced himself.
The man struck him across the back of his neck - low enough that it hit the soft, unprotected skin around his wings - the sheer force proving he was hitting him as hard as possible.
It had hurt, but Edur held back the stinging hot tears that threatened to flow - he would not give the man what he wanted.
Vexed, the man moved to hit him again, only to be stopped by his son.
Walter's gaze was searching as he caught his father's arm, "Hurting him won't clean the floor."
The man glared intensely before yanking his arm from Walter's grasp and lowering it to his side, promptly leaving but making sure to stomp on Edur's tail on the way out.
The little fairy held back a scream as he felt a bone crack, this time the tears flowing freely.
Walter's eyes widened exponentially, worry evident in his tone, "Are you alright?"
Faen had hollow bones, which broke under less pressure than a human's bones, and it seemed Walter's father knew that as he stomped hard enough to break one, if not multiple, bones in Edur's tail.
A broken tail meant trouble flying, and regardless that he couldn't fly just yet, it also meant he'll have trouble balancing correctly.
He was in no way alright.
Walter must have figured that out because he helped the fairy up, Edur flinching away at first, then led him down the hall and outside, not stopping until they reached the stables.
The human child pushed the door open and dragged the fairy in before he could react, the door shutting close behind them.
As they walked past multiple stalls, Walter finally found who he was looking for - a man who was petting an Emburn, the fire-patterned fox seated in his lap.
"Walter? What are you doing here?"
"I was hoping that you'll help a friend of mine."
The man's eyes widened at noticing the fairy - who was now cradling his tail - but said nothing more than two words, "Of course."
Chapter 10[]
Again, Edur had to ignore instinct and logic.
The man with the Emburn - whose name was Thomas - was in the process of trying to figure out how much of his tail broke. It wasn't that hard to figure out where the noble inflicted the damage - since there was a muddy footprint where the noble had stomped on his tail - but assessing the rest of the detriment was another matter. After a bit, the man settled on gently squeezing the area around the main break.
Edur winced but said nothing, leading to a sigh.
"You know, this only works if you tell me if it hurts," Thomas informed him, blue gaze unreadable.
No response.
The man huffed before continuing to press gently. Getting no response whatsoever, he started the process again on the other side of the injury, noticing Edur wincing again and this time becoming frustrated when he said nothing.
"Do you want to suffer?"
"No..." The little fairy responded quietly, twiddling his fingers.
"Then why don't you tell me if it hurts?"
Silence once again.
Thomas sighed aggressively, "If your tail doesn't heal, you won't be able to fly, and your wings will make it hard for you to walk right - you're not an Earth Fairy; you need a tail to balance."
"How do you know?" The fairy muttered under his breath, "And does it matter? I'm never going to fly anyways."
"And how do you know that? You're nearly old enough to fly anyways."
"With these?" Edur didn't hesitate to gesture to the iron bands around his wrists. "And again, how do you know?"
This time, Thomas was the one who failed to respond.
The fairy moved to get off the bench where he was seated before the man stopped him.
"I'm a fairy."
"Do you expect me to believe-"
Edur didn't finish before Thomas lifted the back of his shirt, revealing two lines running down his back where wings would be. He hastily yanked the shirt back down, shifting uncomfortably.
The little fairy stared at the older wide-eyed, at a loss for words.
Eventually, he managed a single question, "What... happened to you?"
A sigh, "It's a long story, and I don't think I should be taking up your time-"
Walter shrugged, "Go ahead - my dad always gets... what do you say?"
"Wishti," Thomas supplied, "He always gets wishti when he's upset."
"Exactly, so continue."
The man arched an eyebrow before turning back to Edur, "I've worked for Walter's family for a long time now. Around three hundred years, to be exact.
"I was sold to them by the Rokshi while Walter's great great grandfather owned the mansion, but he passed away before I ever met him in person - he wasn't as... involved as Walter's father.
"My master after that was named Herod Oceanfall. He was a more violent person and tended to beat anyone who disobeyed him - animals, slaves, and workers alike.
"Many people quit when he was in charge, leading to him funding multiple Rokshi hunts for labor purposes and forcing already owned slaves to work harder. At one point, I decided I had enough, refusing to do anything else.
"I was hot, thirsty, hungry, and overworked - even if I wanted to, I would've collapsed from exhaustion if I continued. Herod responded by having someone beat me until I couldn't take it anymore. So I worked, only to collapse not only from exhaustion but pain.
"He came out himself that time, personally ripping off my wings in a way that they couldn't heal over. He had someone beat me again, then forced me to work.
"The others helped me finish my tasks, knowing I couldn't do it alone, but I was so stunned and agonized I barely noticed. Later that day, his son, Neil, came and helped me. I don't know why he did it, but he did.
"With time, that devil of a man died, and Neil inherited everything. He was careful to take care of us, visiting me often to see how I was doing. He paid us, but I had no idea why at the time since we were slaves.
"When he died, it was only then I realized why he did so. In his will, he had explicitly written for us to be freed. He had also prepared documents to top that. With those documents, the Rokshi couldn't touch us without being at risk of the law, meaning we could live at peace unless something were to happen to them. Paying us gave us a headstart on rebuilding our lives from that point on.
"But...I stayed. Even with all the bad memories, I walked right up to Jonathan, Neil's son, and asked if I could work for him as an employee. He was as surprised as I was but agreed.
"It might have seemed odd, but if I were to return to my tribe, I would only be a burden. My family had passed away, and being flightless meant I was pretty much useless. However, I did keep the documents.
"When George, Walter's father, inherited everything, he wasn't aware I was a fairy, so he didn't treat me any differently. I didn't think he would bother with slaves since he grew up under Jonathan's example, but here you are, I guess. "
While he told his story, Thomas had cleaned and splinted Edur's tail, then wrapped cloth to keep it in place.
"Here, now try not to get on George's nerves, you hear me? We don't need a second flightless fairy."
The younger fairy muttered his thanks as he slipped off the bench, Walter thanking Thomas more profoundly before leading Edur out of the barn.
It was beginning to get dark out, and instead of leading him back to the mansion, he led the fairy back to the slave quarters, where he and his mother had slept the first time.
Walter opened the door and led him in before walking back out and closing the door.
Edur barely heard the apology the other boy mustered as he locked the door, too busy thinking about the day's events.
He didn't feel the relieved hug his mother gave him and barely recalled eating his rations, simply spending the time pondering something.
And the conclusion?
Only a question - a question that might affect his survival.
Chapter 11[]
What's to stop the same from happening to him?
That was the question filling Edur's thoughts as he completed the same chores as yesterday.
He completed every task, occasionally sending a rude remark in Master George's direction, smugly smiling when Walter stopped his father from doing anything rash.
At least he had some control over his situation, even if it required a taint of manipulation.
The fairy was scrubbing the floor again, subconsciously doing the task as he went over a turmoil of thoughts.
How long will I have to do this?
The wet sponge moved across the tile before him.
When can I leave this place?
He moved on to the next tile.
Will I even get out in one piece? Will I ever get out alive?
Before he knew it, he had cleaned half the floor, the marble tiles glistening with water and sparkling with the sunlight.
The particular room he was cleaning was an open space for receiving guests - countless bookshelves and tapestries throughout the room. There was a crystal chandelier hanging overhead - each gemstone representing a different element and refracting the light just right and causing a splendor of color. In the back center of the room, just below two luxurious windows with equally splendor curtains, a grand fireplace representing the epic Chill & Char was present. The unmeltable ice crystals that made up the hearth were carved in an elegant pattern representing the Water Element, complimenting not only the epic themselves but the full extent of their power.
Then there was him, the lone fairy who didn't belong here, who didn't want to be here.
His reflection in the water coating the tiles was that of an unkempt, underfed, tired little boy...as well as an angry man.
Startled, Edur glanced up at him, only to be met by a harsh glare.
"Did you think you'll get away with your dirty little-" He exhaled aggressively, his blue gaze furious. "You're just a fishna - you don't have any authority-"
"Ironic how you call my kind monsters, yet still use our language to do so," Edur interrupted, having regained his composure and watching the noble with a frigid stare.
His "master" momentarily struggled to find a response before brutely grabbing the boy by the arm - resulting in a yelp and the little fairy's confidence to be lost - and dragging him out of the room.
Walter was in the hall, eyes widening when he saw the progression, his cries for his father to stop going unheard.
The man forced Edur outside, radiating with ire as he dragged the boy to the barn.
All while Thomas watched silently, dreading the fate to come.
Chapter 12[]
The little boy sat in a locked stall, the sound of the barn doors closing reverberating throughout the building, startling a few of the Mysts.
The boy had been whipped, sore all over as tears blurred his vision.
Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry-
But he did cry, the little fairy sobbing as he was left alone.
Who wouldn't cry when someone unrightfully stole freedom? When a child's innocence was destroyed and replaced with pain?
The barn door creaked open.
Footsteps resounded as someone was about to open the stall, only for the rattle of a lock to replace the creak of the door. The wood groaned slightly as the person leaned against the wood, Walter's familiar face peeking over the top of the stall door.
"Oh god-"
Edur didn't react, watching his tears drip against the strewn hay and roll off onto the grimed floor. Dust was kicked up slightly with every drop, the saline liquid eroding a soil indent.
"Are you... alright?" Came Walter's voice again, concern imbued in every word.
Still no response.
The fairy only felt anguish, not having the slightest care for Walter. His feelings were remote, pain dominating the others as he glued his gaze to the ground.
A lone spider dragged itself across the floor to a dreary cobweb on the opposing side of the stall, the strands of webbing drifting in a draft.
The barn door opened anew.
Footsteps pounded against the ground, someone else joining Walter. Alongside the heavier footfall was the sound of pawsteps against soil, probably belonging to a small mammal.
Edur held no regard for this as well, his dirtied white hair hanging over his dull gray eyes, dried blood staining the back of his shirt.
Whoever it was this time asked Walter to move side, the jingle-jangle of someone messing with the door's latch resounding through the stall for a bit before the person sighed in frustration.
The wood let out a groan as someone leaned against it forcefully, metal snapping and the door moaning as it was obliged to heave in the wrong direction.
The door swung in the right direction, Thomas and his Emburn standing at the stall door.
"En de faen nor, vinshti hauska?"
The wingless fey rushed into the stall and knelt next to him, gently placing a hand against the boy's face.
Edur flinched away from the touch, his gaze distrustful, but Thomas ignored this, pulling him into a hug.
"Hey, we won't hurt you, I promise."
They sat like that for a while, the boy sobbing into the older fey's shirt, all while Walter watched.
Sometimes life only brought pain.
Chapter 13[]
Thomas stood in the barn doorway, glaring at the all too familiar noble standing in front of him.
"You have no right to abuse a child."
"And you have no right to tell me what to do."
"No," the fey began, "but I can give you my advice. And my advice is to stop."
That earned him a laugh, "Stop? It's just a slave - why do you care?"
"Someone's status doesn't justify your actions," Thomas replied coldly.
The noble's smile faded, "Well, it seems I have to remind you that I'm your employer. It doesn't matter what my father thought of you, you can still be fired."
No response.
"Now, I'll be taking-"
A hand slammed against the doorframe, blocking the noble from continuing, "No. He'll be staying in the barn from now on. He may be your slave, but your son certainly doesn't want to see him locked up again. Unless you don't care for your son as well?"
"I-" The noble's gaze narrowed, noticing the wood of the doorframe denting where Thomas was gripping it, "Very well, the boy stays with you - I'll be taking my leave."
The wingless fey watched him go, exhaling deeply once the noble was out of sight.
“That was too easy.”
“Very,” Walter agreed from behind him.
Edur sat on a pile of straw next to the boy, picking at the bandage going around his tail. He was angry at Walter’s father, but after that morning’s encounter...he felt reticent, not to mention helpless.
He hated this feeling, he really did, and what he hated more was the fact he had to depend on other people - people who could hurt him at any moment - to deal with that feeling for him, to make him feel safe.
But he could do nothing, absolutely nothing, about it.
His ears barely pricked when Thomas walked over, the boy being disheartened.
It was only when Thomas pulled him into a hug did he pay attention, grateful for the older fey.
"It's going to be okay," the man soothed, running his hand through Edur's hair, "Cenisha trishkna nali un, ne Nor."
Edur squirmed out of his grasp, looking at him in surprise, "...Cenisha? Aren't they dead?"
"Yes, Cenisha," the ginger-haired fey replied with a smile, "Do you and Walter want to hear a story?"
Both boys nodded eagerly.
"A long time ago, when the world was still new, something began to form in the eternal darkness, something that held great power...but used so little of it. With its formation, sparks of life formed in the darkness, but the sparks were weak as if they were all missing something.
"As these sparks began to fade, the first force of the world awoke for the first time, and sensing the sparks of life, decided to look for them. Yet, with all the darkness around it, it could not see, but that was not a problem for long.
"It had found the first spark.
"The spark had little to no form, but it was a hopeful little thing wanting to shine and light up the darkness they lived in. So, with the other being's help, the stars, moons, planets, and suns were made, providing light to the world.
"The spark decided to follow the other being in its quest to find the other sparks, and it merrily lit their path.
"As they continued, they encountered another spark, this one radiating with eternal night. It thrived in the spots the first spark did not light and sought only to stay safe within the folds of darkness in the universe. Yet, it slowly became curious about the two other beings.
"At first, the original being was unsure of this spark, as it was a creature of darkness, but they knew this new spark was important, meant to balance the more luminous spark. And thus, they set out again, this time with a new friend.
"The next spark started to grow near the celestial bodies created with the help of the first, specifically the planets and moons. When it nestled in the being's "hands" - and with some help from the luminous spark - soil, stone, and a promise of later life came to the planets and moons.
"When they encountered the next spark, the being barely had to intervene before the earthen spark and luminous spark approached the newcomer, working together to add water, atmosphere, and the most basic of life to a vast variety of planets and moons. As they did so, another spark began to form, and as the primordial being joined in with their creations, weather, and air was brought to the worlds, and life was becoming more and more prominent.
"The darker spark joined in, and with it, a coldness seeped into the planets and universe, and the next spark joined them, bringing ice and snow with it. That's when they found the final spark of life, an ever-burning flame.
With this, the elements came to be, as well as the one destined to balance them."
Thomas broke out of his story-telling voice and bopped both boys on their noses, dimples showing as he grinned at them. They smiled back at them, and then with his calming, enchanting voice, he continued with his story, "In the world's infancy, the elementals became many little creatures, such as birds, cats, and even fish. Yet as the world grew older, they decided it was time to breathe life into it again, and took on new forms.
"With Celestial came the Faen, creatures of air and land, water and earth, storm and fire, shadow and light. He wanted them to be noble creatures that had connections with all the elements, as well as bearing the knowledge of centuries. Yet, notably, he did not take on the form of the Faen he created, yet a more bird-like creature.
"With Storm came Ivories, a chaotic twist to existing races and creatures, along with the yokai. Specifically, he enjoyed taking on the form of an Ivory Storm Faen, resulting in Celestial's amusement.
"With Shadow came the dragons and demons, creatures that plagued those who did many wrongs, and with doing so, brought her pleasure.
"With Water and Earth came nymphs, mers, druids, dwarfs, and dryads of all sorts, as well as catamounts and taurs. Earth, however, took the form of a kätzlein.
"With Ice came the yetis, a race of mountains and snow.
"And finally, with Fire came the elves, a race born of flame and passion, but their passion was so strong they rejected him, and by doing so the race was doomed to fall..."
He trailed off at this part of the story, looking distant.
Walter, however, was oblivious, "And the humans? Who made the humans?"
"I'm getting to that part," Thomas said with a laugh before ruffling the wizard's hair, "For unknown reasons, the divine rejected Celestial, and he began to grow weak, eventually passing away.
"His ghost did not remain, nor did his body, it was as if he had never existed. This caused great panic among the others, as well as throwing their perfect world into imbalance. The primordial being who has remained silent for so long rose in response, waiting to see what the elementals would do as well as preparing drastic measures.
"Their hope was to be able to restore the peace they lived in before, but this will never happen, for things would change greatly.
"Shadow, despite being his opposite, was very close to Celestial and grieved him deeply. She swore vengeance against the divine, vowing to destroy the balance They created.
"In response to this, the primordial being used the remains of Celestial power to form Astral, and with them, the humans. They were to balance the darkness Shadow spread, to bring hope to the lands despite Celestial's fall.
"But it seemed even the primordial being had forsaken the world."
Chapter 14[]
Walter had snuggled up next to Thomas, looking a bit crestfallen. Meeting Edur's pale grey gaze, he slowly ventured, "The humans...they did the exact opposite of that, did they?"
Thomas sighed, wrapping an arm around the boy comfortingly, "Yes, they did. You see, Astral and the humans were made in Celestial's image, except they lacked his wings. So when the humans set out, they had..." he grimaced, "...a bit of a superiority complex. They believe they had a divine right to all creation, and sought to conquer the other races."
"That's obvious," Edur replied, nose scrunched in disgust, then at remembering Walter, he quickly apologized, "...sorry."
The boy shook his head, his oddly blue hair swaying with the movement, "No, it's fine. It is kind of true, after all." The young noble practically deflated, but he looked up at Thomas, his mismatched eyes meeting amber, "What happens next?"
"Nothing good. Remember when I mentioned how Fire made the elves, and they rejected them?"
The boys nodded, and the wingless fey continued, "Well, that's because when Fire created them, they gave the elves free will. They didn't want to accept that a creature like Fire brought them into existence, so they decided that they wanted nothing to do with them. The other races - like the Faen and Yokai - didn't have free will at that time, so they behaved accordingly. Yet, when Harmony made the humans, they gave them free will like the elves. Now, the elves weren't a problem since they stayed far away from everyone, but the humans were because they captured and enslaved the other races. When this happened, Shadow festered in their hatred, growing only stronger...and Harmony was forced to reset the land."
Walter frowned, looking off towards the opening in the hay loft and slowly kicking his feet, his legs hanging off the edge of the bench. As he drifted into thought, the story went on.
"With this reset, the other species began to change, some becoming more humanoid while others become more fierce. Some became so fierce that they attacked the humans, and another reset soon followed. They continued to change, and another reset followed the last. It kept happening over and over until all the other species had changed to have free will of their own, at the cost of Harmony being forced to forget all that was dear to them.
"It was Harmony's hope that with this free will, they will make good decisions without their influence...but what came next was only a horror.
"During this time, the elemental's physical forms were slaughtered, and war plagued the land as the races fought for territory. Eventually, the humans were forced to a corner of the island, and they ceased their conquest.
"The Faen were also divided, some wanting nothing to do with the other races and fleeing to the distant islands, becoming the Fae. Those who remained became the Fey, and began to believe that Celestial had truly abandoned them.
"That was until the Nor began to blow, bringing the warmth of the desert to the cold mountains, and within it were memories—Celestial's memories. And with his memories were the stories of the past resets, the stories of the land, and all that I'm telling you now. It was with the Nor that some came to believe that Celestial still watches over us, the remains of his spark drifting in the wind.
"But some are not so hopeful, diminishing these ideals. Yet I believe this is how Censisha will take care of you, Edur, and why I'm not convinced that this mess will last long."
The present noble glanced back at the fey, bearing an unreadable expression, "How are you so sure?"
"I'm free, am I not?" He replied with a weak smile, "As all things should be..."
"And in the end, all will be put back as it should." Walter finished his thought, returning the smile.
And they all hoped it will be true.
Chapter 15[]
A firm hand shook his shoulder, leading to the boy blearily opening his eyes. Before him was Thomas, the man crouched in front of him, a rather fluffy tail thumping against the ground.
"Kid, wake up, you need to get to work or George'll have our heads."
Edur didn't pay attention to this, clearly befuddled, "You have a tail?"
"Of course I do," he replied with a chuckle, flicking the ginger limb forward to tickle the boy's nose, "It's just that I always keep it tucked in my trousers."
The Ice Fey sneezed, mewling over his nose being titillated, earning another laugh from Thomas.
"Come on, I need to get you to the manor. If we hurry you can say hello to your mother."
That woke him up. The boy jumped to his feet, his cat-like tail wagging in excitement, "Then what are we waiting for?"
The older fey stood, "For me, apparently. Give me a minute, I can't go to the manor wearing this," he gestured to his basic shirt. Fine for working in the barn, not so much for entering a noble's home.
He dove into a stall to change, leaving Edur to wander in the barn.
The past few times he's been here, he hadn't taken a close look, but now that he had the time...
The barn was made of Lunar Celestial Pine, the wood being marbled shades of dark brown, containing white splotches. The planks were polished in wax, and the adornments were made with fey silver—a show of the Oceanfall's wealth, as it was rightfully the most expensive metal on the market. However, seeing the Oceanfalls have enslaved Fey for centuries, they most likely had an abundance of it.
Not many wizards - or fey - knew how fey silver was made, as it forms when a fey is exposed to iron for extensive periods of time. Due to how it incapacitates a fey's magical ability, as a natural defense, a fey will begin to form a chemical in their sweat, which gradually changes iron to silver. Once it's fully changed to silver, the fey can escape their confinements, yet this process takes different amounts of time depending on the amount of iron, and seeing how much iron the wizards use to bind Fey, it normally took years.
Edur's gaze drifted away from the silver adornments, settling on the stalls themselves.
In the stalls were Eqna, a type of horse-like fishna that had begun to be spotted across the island. The sapans called them Mysts, as they viewed them as mystical.
The Eqna in the stall before him was quite beautiful, having a near-white mane and a light chestnut coat. A pattern of blue and yellow stars coated its flank, and it had an astral-like symbol on its forehead. Its hooves were silver in coloration, having been carefully polished, golden horseshoes being affixed to the cartilage. Seeming to have noticed him, it lifted its head, a spiraling Ivory horn being pointed in his direction.
The stall gate separating the boy from the creature was grated, but this did not diminish its strength, as the hoofmarks proved it had taken many blows from the horse.
At that moment, a yip caught his attention, and the boy glanced down at the ground, spotting Thomas' Vulpshna, his Emburn. The fox sat on its rump, its red nose twitching before it yipped again.
"Norje, Vulpshna," he said in greeting, crouching and petting the animal. It appeared to be pleased with this, rubbing its face against his hand. Eventually, it skirted away, growling at something behind the boy.
"Hello, fishna."
The boy let out a screech, scrabbling away from the voice, heart racing.
The man scrunched his nose, clearly disgusted, "Where's Thomas?"
Edur didn't answer, mouth running dry. The Emburn continued to yip and growl, in a defensive posture.
"Where's Thomas?" The noble demanded, raising a hand threateningly.
"Right here," the older fey stood behind George, gripping a Raider's staff. The glaive's blade was pointed at the ground, the man's amber gaze as dangerous as Oceanfall's when he turned around.
"Ah, Thomas Cenloc Starheart, that is your full name, correct?" The man grinned when Thomas paled, clasping his hands together, "I have something to discuss with you."
The noble's gaze drifted away from the ginger, meeting Edur's, "And if you refuse..."
The young Ice Fey hugged Thomas' Emburn to his chest, eyes fearful.
"...the boy will pay."
Chapter 16[]
Fingers drummed against the armrest of his hair, seated in front of the fireplace and observing Thomas. Edur was curled up in a tight ball, hugging his knees and pressing against a nearby wall. In the distance, watching from the hallway was none other than Walter, his mismatched gaze worried.
Thomas' hands were curled into fists, his amber gaze burning with repulsion and undeniable hatred, "You said you wanted to talk to me, or am I suddenly too low of a peasant for that?"
"You were always too low of a peasant for that," the man drawled, indifferent to the fey's anger, "But I will humor you. You see," he leaned forward, lifting his pipe to his mouth and taking a breath, "I couldn't help but notice you're...different. Your ears are the wrong shape—it's painfully obvious, even when you hide them in your hair."
As expected, the ginger lifted a hand to his ears self-consciously, "So what? Elves work for the other estates all the time."
"That's the thing," the nobleman exhaled a cloud of smoke in Thomas' direction, earning himself a coughing fit from the fey, "you're not an elf. While elves are notably fit, they aren't capable of crushing a door with their bare hands. Since my father hired you, I decided to do a bit of research..." He picked up some scrolls from the furnishing next to him, tossing them atop the coffee table, "...and discovered you were enslaved to my family for nearly two-hundred-and-fifty years."
Between coughs, Thomas wheezed out the words, "So—what? You can't—you can't re-ensl—re-enslave me."
"Unfortunately for you, that's not true," he grinned taking one more breath from his pipe, "However, as a Starheart, you were illegally obtained, which immediately invalidates the statement of release. So that leaves me two options..." He reached out, yanking Thomas down by the shirt collar, "I return you to the Academy, or I enjoy the luxury of owning one of the infamous Faen royals," he breathed out one last smoke cloud directly in his face, leaving the wingless fey to fight in his grasp, "and I think the latter will be quite fun."
"I can't—I can't—breathe."
"I know," George said as Thomas slumped into unconsciousness.
Beaming, he looked up and met his son's gaze...
...and only saw horror.