Eloise’s mentor? Elizabeth wondered what this mysterious person could be like, as they climbed the spiraling staircase that ran the interior of the Great Life Tree’s trunk. It seemed as though the stairs ascended forever, and Elizabeth felt herself quickly running out of energy. Leon, on the other hand, always seemed un-phased by physical labor.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhtQI2y6JE 維尼
“How much further? I feel like I’m climbing a mountain,” Elizabeth complained.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6ygFbj4uf 維尼
“You climbed an actual mountain two days ago; how can you already be tired from a few stairs?” Leon chided.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QGySs8Tdp 維尼
“A few? This goes on forever!” Elizabeth exclaimed in response.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQLR0mhXU3 維尼
“Hardly,” Leon retorted.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTzoUDFKPw 維尼
“Does it go all the way to the top of the tree?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn2uH24fKR 維尼
“Yes.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRFlv2Z9Rf 維尼
“That’s basically forever.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNTRps8x6Z 維尼
Leon chuckled. “We’re almost there,” he replied.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5ERRImsra 維尼
“That’s what you always say.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vO4rLagog 維尼
Elizabeth lost track of how many floors they had ascended by the time they turned off the stairs. She had started to feel dizzy from constantly veering to the right in the spirals, and was still resisting the urge to throw up.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0mttI8oq1 維尼
“Are you well? You look very pale,” Leon asked as he turned around, his eyes darkening with concern. Elizabeth just nodded — she was certain that if she spoke now she would surely vomit. Leon nodded, hesitant, and turned back to lead the way forward again.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsB6FGKwvD 維尼
They emerged into a room much smaller than the first. The room and all its furnishings were carved straight out of the tree and immovable. The room itself was furnished with a long table and four chairs, a wide bookshelf, a bench beside it, and a bed. It was decorated sparsely, with books on the shelf, the bed made up with silken blankets and soft-looking pillows, a chamber pot in the far corner, and a fancy-looking silk throw rug in the center of the room that depicted a scene of a fairy dancing with a dragon-looking creature.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZffoMdIlH 維尼
Leon noticed Elizabeth examining the carpet and spoke up, “it depicts the legendary beast, the Kirin.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡp55lboJVbh 維尼
“What’s a Kirin?” Elizabeth asked, inquisitive.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡotkyvqodCb 維尼
“Supposedly a magical beast who guards The Dreamer — it is simply a myth, though,” Leon explained briefly.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkNoRQGA6v 維尼
“Some things are myths even in this world?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YYdmDLOmV 維尼
“Indeed. Every world must have its myths and legends, to awe and inspire.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKYMTikwki 維尼
“Every world? How many worlds are there?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkz9OmYkzW 維尼
“Honestly, I do not know the answer to this,” Leon admitted.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIY6q4dPvq 維尼
As Leon put their bags next to the bed, Elizabeth examined the rug a while longer. Both creatures depicted in the carpet were beautiful in their own right — the fairy’s wings were woven with a sparkling yarn, well representative of those wings they had just seen down below. The Kirin was woven in brilliant bright colors — it reminded her of an oriental dragon with a horse’s mane and tail.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5BXtBo5qJ 維尼
“I bet they’re beautiful,” Elizabeth commented.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1p5yVZXN9 維尼
“What are?” Leon asked, puzzled.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4bB4QvNak 維尼
“Kirin. I bet they’re beautiful and majestic creatures — if they exist.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHGRc0KmTo 維尼
“Ah,” Leon replied, at a loss for words, “I imagine so.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBjwoDrylX 維尼
“I wish I could meet one. If fairies are real, I’m sure Kirins must be, too,” Elizabeth commented more-so to herself than her companion as she finally looked up from the decoration. Leon was already waiting by the door and Elizabeth groaned, “more stairs? Are you serious?” Leon chuckled in his typical way, a honeyed sound that enchanted Elizabeth every time.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHZfKf9duB 維尼
“My apologies, dear, but I am afraid we must travel higher once more,” he replied. Elizabeth exaggerated a groan but Leon ignored her and started to head up the stairs, knowing she would follow. She did so begrudgingly.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMHrIaSREh 維尼
“Where are we going? How high this time?” Elizabeth asked, clearly annoyed with stairs at this point.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKztHvmp21 維尼
“The top,” Leon replied.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z2U8rzXVj 維尼
“Are you serious?!” Elizabeth halted, angry. “Before you said it wasn’t far, now we have to go to the top?!” Leon stopped and looked back down at her, sighing heavily.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqbqOF5ftP 維尼
“You are acting as a child, Elizabeth — it is not too much to ask for you to make a little effort; the horses have carried your weight for two days, I am certain you can carry your own self for a few more minutes,” he replied condescendingly. Elizabeth fumed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGR198DvF6 維尼
“What the hell?” she demanded.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCa2pAXeaS 維尼
“If you throw a childish tantrum, then I shall thusly treat you as a child,” Leon chided. Elizabeth was furious with him at this point, but tried to take a few calming breathing exercises like her therapist had taught her years ago. Leon watched her impatiently, but said nothing as she closed her eyes and breathed through her mouth. He recognized that she was attempting to calm herself down.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuvtWs5MST 維尼
“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth, “lead the way.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡotzX6u3ufe 維尼
“Good,” Leon replied simply and started heading back up the stairs with Elizabeth right behind him. They were starting to get irritated with how confrontational the other one was.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yaE1YnTUv 維尼
A few minutes later of climbing the stairs in aggravated silence, they reached the summit of the Great Life Tree, where Leon claimed they would find Eloise’s former mentor. Elizabeth didn’t know who or what to expect — perhaps a fairy elder of some kind? Or another creature altogether? She braced herself for the unknown as they emerged into a grand chamber that Elizabeth guessed encompassed half the width of the tree. It appear, for all intents and purposes, as one would expect of a throne room — a long hall ended in a throne, with a silken red runner carpet leading from the stairwell landing up to the three short steps directly in front of the throne — which elevated the seat. Fancy tapestries lined the entire wall behind the throne. No one was seated on the throne, and Elizabeth wondered briefly why they had come this far for nothing. Before she could get mad at Leon, a figure emerged from behind a tapestry — which Elizabeth realized had been concealing a doorway.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Kc5OA98D5 維尼
“Leon!” a tiny voice cried as a child-like figure with glittering silver wings launched themselves at Leon and he caught the small fairy in a warm embrace. “You’ve finally returned!”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6vvrwDWDc 維尼
“Indeed, I have,” he affirmed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS83MlmOH4 維尼
“I saw it in the stars, but I scarcely could believe it!” the fairy gushed as Elizabeth looked her over. She was a tiny thing, smaller than the fairies downstairs, and Elizabeth realized she seemed to be nothing more than a child — perhaps twelve years old, by human standards — though Elizabeth had no idea about the aging process of a mystical creature. The fairy had deep-set silver eyes that seemed to shine like starlight and matched her wings, and long silver hair tied into a tight bun. Her clothes seemed to be made of layers of sheer blue and black fabric, in fading hues — it appeared as though she wore a darkening sky. It reminded Elizabeth of seeing the moon and stars, if they were personified.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiln8reUHl 維尼
At that moment, the unidentified fairy noticed Elizabeth and began to look her over, fluttering all around her in 360 degrees. Elizabeth felt awkward and out-of-place as she eyed the fairy curiously.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN5x63Hk9V 維尼
“Is it true? Is she it?” the fairy asked, and Elizabeth realized she was referring to her.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnwCKa82kA 維尼
“Yes, it is true, and this is she,” Leon confirmed the cryptic question.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU5KKNCbVW 維尼
“She doesn’t look like her,” the fairy pondered.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡroCvY0K0p4 維尼
“No, she does not,” Leon agreed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NXoz6yxS 維尼
“Curious, is it not?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPDDAhOqcJ 維尼
“I suppose so.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQNogfW4e0 維尼
“You brought her from the other world?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvuUJnLpgS 維尼
“Yes.” Elizabeth realized then that they were talking about her, and drawing comparisons between her and her former incarnation.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRjekUvoN5 維尼
“I’m standing right here,” Elizabeth fumed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXzWsAyPiP 維尼
“That you are,” the fairy child mused and Elizabeth frowned.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAxRIjiGWa 維尼
“Leon, where the heck is this mentor I’m supposed to meet?” Elizabeth demanded.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AgiWnbOYa 維尼
“Right here,” Leon pointed to the fairy still circling Elizabeth. The fairy in question stopped and landed directly in front of them with a low curtsy.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡorBAsi8j2S 維尼
“My name is Nefeline, of the Forlarren people,” she introduced herself. Elizabeth flustered and stammered for a moment, before curtsying awkwardly in return.463Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg51eisvDm
8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡTboM7m1zWI 維尼
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Elizabeth managed to stammer politely.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNBHy0Qdbb 維尼
“Enough of the formalities, they bore me,” Nefeline said as Elizabeth straightened back up. “Let’s get down to business: you want to learn to control Eloise’s, your, powers. Correct?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡulAORs3WNb 維尼
“Yes, ma’am — please teach me, before I hurt someone again!” Elizabeth pleaded.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7yeoOxjG0 維尼
“Hurt someone?” Nefeline echoed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHVKqwRDZw 維尼
“Yes, I— I…” Elizabeth trailed off. Leon noticed her distress.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIKtEPfaoy 維尼
“It was an assassin, sent after her. Her power manifested when her life was in danger,” Leon explained and Nefeline nodded her acknowledgment.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWDq2iPJYL 維尼
“I understand,” Nefeline replied.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYPTb8wrzU 維尼
“Then you will teach me?” Elizabeth asked, hopeful.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbyVKUo7iS 維尼
“Why?” Nefeline asked, a challenge in her tone.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡunDlBMwRC0 維尼
“What do you mean ‘why’? So I won’t hurt people!” Elizabeth exclaimed, distressed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62tX0XDii2 維尼
“Yes, but why should I teach you? This doesn’t affect me,” Nefeline replied. Elizabeth looked to Leon, at a loss for words, but Leon just shrugged.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8f7cdNzPx 維尼
“We’re trying to save the entire world, this affects everyone!” Elizabeth cried but Nefeline just frowned.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYr1Dpk09F 維尼
“That’s not a good enough reason, I’m afraid. Come back when you figure it out.” Nefeline dismissed them with a wave of her hand. She nodded to Leon and fluttered away back to the hidden doorway. Elizabeth looked on in dismay.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GcH3jPCyI 維尼
“Leon, can’t you do anything?” Elizabeth cried.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡtldulIb9Zk 維尼
“Nefeline isn’t easily swayed — you have to earn her respect; it’ a test,” Leon said, offering very little in the way of aid or explanations.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ayYZ2srp6 維尼
“Test? For what?” Elizabeth asked, trying to calm down again.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡDne9oZMGLq 維尼
“Your character,” Leon replied, “that is the only way she will decide whether or not you are worthy of her efforts.” With that said, Leon turned sharply and began to head back down the stairs. Elizabeth stayed rooted in place, dismay still plain on her face.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXJk6vlCry 維尼
What do I do now? She wondered.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOXclbDcNc 維尼
“Wait!” Elizabeth called after Nefeline. The fairy turned back to regard her with little interest. Elizabeth was flustered but attempted to gather her thoughts quickly. “I’m— I’m not Eloise,” she began meekly but, as she spoke, her confidence and intensity grew and she slowly strode towards the fairy who had so easily dismissed her. “But I’m not her shadow, either; I’m my own person. I have my own appearance, my own personality. I’m sorry if that’s not good enough for anyone, if I disappoint them because they expected Eloise to suddenly be back, but I won’t apologize for being myself — I won’t allow you, or anyone else, to detract from who I am now and who I’m becoming. I may not really belong in this world or Earth, I may be caught somewhere in between, and this power I’m developing scares the hell out of me. But I WILL save both worlds, with or without your help.” Elizabeth was now standing toe to toe with Nefeline, at eye level while the fairy hovered in the air. Nefeline was still frowning and Elizabeth swallowed hard but kept her composure.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs579LXXTI 維尼
“Okay,” Nefeline replied after a long moment of silence and turned away again.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Uk7P6XzBF 維尼
“Okay? That’s it?” Elizabeth was dismayed at how easily she was constantly being dismissed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6iTswsBFe 維尼
“Come along then,” Nefeline added and Elizabeth cocked her head in confusion. Nefeline held the curtain aside and looked back at her. “Are you coming or not?” she asked and Elizabeth found her motor skills again, hurrying to pass through the doorway. Inside Nefeline’s quarters was grander than Elizabeth could have ever imagined. The room was again carved out of the wood of the tree, with furniture fixed in place. However, the entire room was beautifully adorned and decorated with intricate, brightly-colored tapestries covering every wall and silken carpets depicting various scenes of fairies and magical beasts, a towering bookcase crammed full of books and parchments, a long table covered in flawless glass and crystals in radiant colors of varying shapes and sizes, a king sized bed made up with plush-looking blankets and pillows, floating light orbs, and no ceiling. Wait, what? Elizabeth was confused as she strained her neck to look up. She could indeed see the sunny sky above, as soft clouds drifted gently across the ocean of blue. Nefeline noticed her reaction and giggled, a sound that reminded Elizabeth of wind chimes or a bubbling brook.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzMnRorchR 維尼
“It’s an illusion,” Nefeline answered the unspoken question, “but it is exactly as the sky appears at present.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2d88W3LSV 維尼
“That’s amazing!” Elizabeth exclaimed.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZjVrJ8SJ2 維尼
“That’s magic,” Nefeline replied in a matter-of-fact tone.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wM2WFy6M7 維尼
“Will I be able to do that?” Elizabeth asked excitedly.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXyFYGEXK4 維尼
“No.”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3gBFoohU6 維尼
“Why not?”8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvFB4yLWK5 維尼
“Faerie magic and the magic of an enchantress are very different — you deal with elements, we deal with illusions and nature,” Nefeline explained.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡGetgr2AW2y 維尼
“What’s the difference?” Elizabeth asked.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdagOo0ekR 維尼
“That is what I must teach you,” Nefeline replied.8964 copyright protection459ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0AbakW6V1 維尼
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