> Place : Hyden Castle
> Realm : Aracaneaum
> Ethan’s Status : 3 Zyk in Fairy age (5.5 yr in human age), 3’6’’ft, growing up.
> Time : Morning, 1048th Rev of Timestar. Present.
> Population : 0.00000000000000001% (Only Ten fairies and Ethan)
In the sunlit garden, the scene was one of serene tranquility. Ethan, nestled comfortably in Zara’s lap, looked up with a thoughtful expression as he spoke. The other fairies were scattered around, engaged in their own activities—Luna practicing her combat moves, Flora tending to the plants with a gentle touch.
Zara, her graceful figure draped in a flowing, elegant dress, looked down at Ethan with a tender smile. Her fingers lightly stroked his hair as they delved into their discussion.
**“And,”** Zara began, her voice gentle and curious, **“how exactly do you think we could use scientific principles to enhance magical spells? You mentioned something about quantum mechanics and energy fields?”**
Ethan, excited by the topic, bounced a little in her lap. **“Well, Zara, if we think about magic as a form of energy, we can relate it to the concept of quantum fields. For instance, if we could stabilize a magical field using principles similar to those in quantum mechanics, we might be able to control the flow and intensity of magical energy with greater precision.”**
Zara’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she gently kissed the top of his head. **“That’s fascinating. But wouldn’t the unpredictable nature of magic pose a challenge to such precise control?”**
Ethan nodded vigorously, his cheeks flushing slightly from the affection. **“Exactly! Magic has that inherent unpredictability, but if we could create a theoretical model that accounts for those variables, we might be able to anticipate and adapt to magical fluctuations. It’s like predicting the behavior of particles in a superposition state.”**
Zara chuckled softly, her hand giving him a loving squeeze. **“You really do have a way of making complex ideas sound so intriguing. I love how you blend science and magic. It’s like you’re creating a bridge between two worlds.”**
Ethan grinned up at her, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. **“And I love how you make magic seem like it’s part of the grand cosmic dance. What if we also considered the possibility of magical resonance, like how certain frequencies can interact in science? We might find new ways to synchronize magical energies.”**
Zara’s eyes widened in admiration. **“That’s an excellent idea! Resonance could indeed be a key. I can see how combining magical and scientific principles could open up so many possibilities.”**
As they continued their sweet debate, Zara’s playful affection never wavered. She would occasionally plant soft kisses on his forehead or give him a warm squeeze, which only made Ethan more animated. Their laughter and shared excitement filled the garden, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere that reflected their deep bond and mutual respect for each other’s knowledge.
The garden was still bathed in that intense, overwhelming pink light as the mysterious orb floated above, its tail of luminescence stretching across the sky, dimming the sunlight as if night had suddenly approached. The fairies, having spent many years defending their realm from threats, knew instantly that this was no ordinary occurrence. Instinctively, they shifted into high alert.
Lira stood at the forefront, her muscular and powerful frame poised, ready to defend. **“Aria, move everyone behind me. Zara, keep Ethan close,”** she commanded without hesitation.
In a blink, Aria zipped behind Lira, placing the others in a protective formation, while Zara hugged Ethan close to her chest. Sylph and Flora dashed to their side, both looking prepared to unleash their powers at any moment.
Ethan, wide-eyed and still trying to process what was happening, managed to murmur, **“What the…?”**
Tara, standing nearby, had an uncharacteristic look of shock on her face. *"**No... How's this even possible?*"** she whispered under her breath, her usual playfulness replaced with disbelief.
Luna, eyes sharp and body tense, asked Lira in her demanding voice, **“Should we be worried, Lira?”**
Lira kept her gaze locked on the orb, her fists clenched but her voice calm. **“Stay close to Ethan. We’ll deal with it, whatever it is.”**
Flora and Sylph quickly flanked Zara and Ethan, standing ready to shield him. Zara, with a soft but firm tone, reassured Ethan, **“Stay close to us, okay, baby?”**
Ethan, still in Zara’s arms, nodded with a mix of confusion and awe. *"**But what is this?*"**
Tara, her voice barely above a whisper, uttered, **“It’s a Philight…”** The words were so soft that no one heard her clearly. She seemed both awestruck and hesitant, as if she didn't believe what she was seeing.
Suddenly, the orb’s voice echoed across the garden, reverberating in the air. **“Fear not, my child.”**
Lira, ever the confident protector, narrowed her eyes, unfazed by the soothing tone. **“It always starts with this. But it always ends with my punches. And before I destroy you, state yourself.”**
The orb responded, its voice calm and eerily knowing. **“Kanthia. Always the protector and strongest.”**
Lira’s expression didn’t falter. **“Wanna taste it?”** Her tone was laced with bold confidence, daring the entity.
**“I am not here to fight,”** the orb’s voice echoed, gentle but firm.
Lira, still on edge, wasn’t swayed. **“Then you can go back from where you came.”**
But before the confrontation could escalate further, Tara suddenly stepped forward with a grave seriousness. All eyes were on her as she passed Lira, who instinctively grabbed her arm.
**“Tara! What are you doing? Stay back, I said.”**
The orb’s voice echoed again, addressing Tara directly, **“Elysia, the one and only to know about me. Why don’t you tell your friends?”**
Tara stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on the orb. Her voice was unsteady as she finally spoke, louder this time, **“It’s a Philight.”**
Zara, holding Ethan tightly, looked confused. **“What?”**
Mira, ever calm, was equally baffled. **“Wait... how?”**
Lira, her protective instincts still in full force, glanced sharply at Tara. **“What? Tara, are you sure what this is?”**
Tara nodded slowly, still in shock.
And then, in a dazzling moment, the orb shifted. Its light intensified for a second before it took form—a tall, radiant, and impossibly beautiful fairy. Her figure shimmered with soft, glowing pink light, her presence both awe-inspiring and overwhelming. She stood before them, not as an enemy, but as something entirely unknown to all but Tara.
Everyone froze, staring in disbelief.
Ethan, clinging to Zara, could only whisper, **“What... is that?”**
The intensity of the moment weighed heavily on the garden, the air still shimmering with the powerful presence of Phinix Varmora. As Tara knelt, her head bowed low before the radiant figure, Zara followed, holding Ethan tightly yet respectfully lowering herself.
Flora, standing close to Zara, whispered urgently, **“Zara! What are you doing? Get up.”**
Sylph, couldn’t resist making light of the situation. ***"What, are we bowing to shiny lights now?*"**
Zara, her voice soft yet commanding, snapped back, **“Kneel, you two. Don’t you know who she is? Get down.”**
Lira, always ready for a fight, was confused and skeptical. ***"Tara, get up! Why are you kneeling before what could be our enemy?*"**
Tara, still kneeling, spoke reverently to the Phinix, her voice filled with awe, “**Forgive my Aarthel, Phinix Varmora! I apologize for her unknowing.”**
At the name *Phinix Varmora*, the air around them seemed to shift as a collective gasp rose from the other fairies. A deep silence followed, broken only by the quiet rustling of leaves in the garden. The shock of hearing that name—a name from legend—sent ripples through them all. Yet, despite their disbelief, instincts older than time kicked in. One by one, they knelt, unsure of how a Phinix could be standing before them after so many eras and ages.
Mira, her voice barely above a whisper, said, **“Varmora? Lys! Varmora…”**
Aria, equally stunned, muttered, **“I heard it... but how?”**
Luna, still kneeling but looking toward Elara, noticed something unusual. **“Why is Rynous still standing? Shouldn’t we be following her?”**
Nia hushed them quickly, her voice stern. **“Shut up, you three. Don’t you know how to respect our Phinixes? She is *the* Phinix. And royal blood only bows. Quiet now.”**
Elara stood tall, regal as ever, her posture betraying the weight of her lineage. As Varmora’s glowing eyes fell upon her, Elara, in the way of her royal bloodline, bowed gracefully—a respectful tilt of the head. In return, Varmora mirrored the gesture, a deep mutual respect passing between them.
**“Rynous?”** Varmora’s voice echoed softly, curious and knowing.
Elara’s voice, steady and proud, responded, **“Phinix Varmora. I am Rynous Mystrayla of Ogma. Daughter of the great Zylna, and descendant of Phinix Mstynus.”**
Varmora, her radiant form pulsing slightly, bowed deeper in acknowledgment. The connection between them was clear and ancient.
Ethan, still nestled in Zara’s arms but peeking out, whispered to Sylph, **“Hey, Sylph.”**
Sylph, stifling a laugh, whispered back, **“I don’t know what’s going on, if that’s what you’re gonna ask.”**
Ethan grinned, **“I was about to ask the same thing.”**
Both chuckled quietly, a rare moment of levity amidst the tension.
Zara shot them both a stern look. **“Quiet! Or you’ll get us all in trouble.”**
Ethan, ever the cheeky one, whispered back with a playful grin, **“Don’t worry. When she sees my smiling face, she won’t be able to resist. It always works on all of you.**”
Flora, couldn’t help but smile softly but quickly hushed him. **“Ethan, just be quiet... or I’ll tie you up.”**
As they all knelt before the powerful Phinix, a sense of history and reverence filled the air. Whatever Varmora had come for, it was clear that this was no ordinary encounter.
As Varmora's soothing voice echoed across the garden, she commanded gently, ***"Get up, warriors.*"** One by one, the fairies rose, though the weight of the moment still hung in the air. Ethan, still in Zara’s protective embrace, peeked cautiously at the glowing pink figure before them.
Tara was the first to speak, her voice filled with reverence. **“It’s been a great pleasure for us to see our Phinix standing before us.”**
Zara added, **“Likewise, Phinix.”**
Varmora’s keen eyes caught sight of the small figure nestled in Zara’s arms, his little body disappearing further as he snuggled more tightly into her.
Varmora smiled softly, nodding toward Zara. ***"Erudite,*"** she acknowledged, addressing Zara with respect. Her gaze then softened on Ethan. ***"And this must be our Savior.*"**
Zara gently glanced down at the small boy in her arms, though he only buried his face deeper into her chest, not daring to peek further at the unfamiliar being before him. **“Right, Phinix,”** Zara responded, **“He is.”**
Varmora tilted her head in gentle curiosity. ***"But, why is he—*"**
Before she could finish, Tara interjected with polite haste, **“Apology, my Phinix, for interrupting you. But this is something that we can’t talk about here. We all want to tell you, but—”**
Varmora smiled, understanding Tara’s meaning without needing further explanation, and nodded in agreement.
***"Just let me take a look at him,***" Varmora requested softly.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Flora gently took Ethan from Zara, cradling him in her arms with her familiar warmth. **“Now, Flower baby,”** Flora cooed softly, “**I want you to be my good flower. Don’t get scared of her, okay? She just wants to see you and your little cute smile.”**
Ethan, still reluctant, looked up at Flora with wide, uncertain eyes, his small voice barely above a whisper. ***"But I don't know her.*"**
Flora smiled warmly, trying to soothe his worries. *"**Umm... she’s like our Queen, okay? And after that, we’ll both go and have a really good breakfast, promise.*"**
Tara, eager to ensure Varmora’s attention was respected, added, **“It would be our honor if your grace bestowed upon our Savior.”**
With a reassuring nod from Flora, she stepped closer to Varmora, bowing her head in respect as she held Ethan tightly.
**“Phinix!”** Flora greeted warmly.
Varmora chuckled softly at the sight. **“Lorieyna, I suspect you’ve spoiled him more than anyone else,”** she teased with a smile.
Flora grinned. **“It’s not that, my Phinix. We all love him the same.”** She glanced down at Ethan, who was still hiding his face against her chest. In a soft whisper, she coaxed him gently, **“Ethan, Flower, look up here, baby... just once, I promise.”**
Slowly, Ethan peeked up at Varmora, his big eyes filled with innocent curiosity. The sight melted Varmora’s heart, and she smiled warmly.
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**“Varmora,”** Ethan said softly, his voice unsure.
Flora leaned down and whispered sternly, **“Ethan! It’s *Phinix Varmora*. Say sorry to her.”**
Varmora laughed, clearly charmed by his innocence. ***"It’s alright,*"** she said, waving it off.
Still, Ethan, ever polite, muttered, **“Sorry, Phinix Varmora.”** But no sooner had he apologized than he buried his face back into Flora’s chest, the world too overwhelming for him.
Varmora smiled with a hint of playfulness. **“Oh, no need for that. But if you keep hiding from me like this, I might just get upset. And if I do, I won’t tell you all the funny stories about hers childhood days.”**
Ethan’s eyes lit up at the offer, his curiosity instantly piqued. He beamed, his excitement bubbling over. **“Really?”**
Varmora’s eyes twinkled. **“Of course.”**
Ethan, now fully intrigued, perked up. **“Then I’ll meet you after breakfast! You know, Flora makes me very tasty breakfasts. You should come too!”**
Everyone, even Varmora, burst into laughter at his sudden shift in demeanor. The tension in the air evaporated as the boy’s innocent charm worked its magic once again.
Varmora smiled brightly. ***"Oh, he is so cute. I’ll be waiting for you right here.*"**
As Flora carried Ethan toward the castle, he peeked over her shoulder and waved cheerfully at Varmora. ***"Don't start without me, Varmora!*"**
Varmora smiled and called back, *"**I won't.*"**
Flora, still smiling but with a touch of loving exasperation, gently scolded him, *"**It's Phinix Varmora, Ethan. Respect her.*"**
Ethan gave a small nod before snuggling back into Flora’s arms, comforted by her warmth as they continued their way to the castle for breakfast.
---
Meanwhile, the mood shifted as the rest of the fairies gathered with Varmora for a more serious conversation. Varmora’s expression grew intense, her commanding presence filling the space.
***"What happened to him?*"** Varmora asked, her voice steady but filled with concern. ***"Why is he so small and fragile? How are you planning to fight Nemesis with him like this?*"**
Lira, her head low, stepped forward. ***"We apologize for it, Phinix. But we have done all we could to keep him safe.*"**
Varmora’s eyes narrowed, her tone sharper now. ***"Does he look safe to you? From where I stand, he appears more vulnerable to even the smallest danger. Kanthia, you are the strongest and the leader among them. You were supposed to protect him at all costs.*"**
Lira's posture stiffened, guilt evident in her stance. ***"I did what I could, Phinix. And it's my shame that I can't do it the way it should be.*"**
Varmora’s gaze swept across all of them. ***"I never expected this. Not from any of you.*"**
Mira stepped in, her voice calm but firm. ***"We’ve been attacked multiple times since the Negative Day. With Ethan’s help, we managed to clear some parts of the Arcaneum realm.*"**
Aria added, ***"We've had many rivals. First Bigon, Jyrith, then Tirth, and so on. Until we faced Zytrax.*"**
The fairies began recounting every battle they had faced, explaining the harrowing challenges they overcame, all while trying to protect Aracaneum and other realms.
---
After a pause, Varmora finally spoke, her voice softer but filled with a deep understanding. *"**Hmm... I see. You all have been through so much. And now, you face what's coming. But... I am proud of you all. You’ve stayed together, strong and unbreakable.*"**
Nia, always gentle, chimed in, **“And it’s all because of our little hope. He’s the reason we’re united and strong.”**
Sylph nodded in agreement. ***"Right. He’s the reason we’re fighting. And now, we’ve all fallen so deeply in love with him that we can’t even bear to leave him for the smallest moment.*"**
Luna smiled, her eyes soft. ***"He’s become our everything. It’s nearly impossible to imagine our lives without him. And he’s so cute. We’re all wrapped around his little fingers.*"**
Varmora chuckled, her stern demeanor giving way to warmth. ***"I can see that. He makes you all weaker, but at the same time, he makes you unstoppable. But you must be even more careful now. He’s more vulnerable to dangers than ever.*"**
Elara stepped forward, her voice resolute. ***"We will, Phinix. We will protect him at all costs. And one day, he’ll be again the one to kill Nemesis.*"**
Varmora’s expression shifted back to seriousness, her eyes gleaming with purpose. *"**No doubt. He is destined for it. But destiny can be changed and this is what made me to appear before you all. I’m here to give you one warning and a truth. Hidden from you all this time.*"**
Zara, always perceptive, spoke up. *"**What is it, Phinix? We assume it must be more important than even your life.*"**
Varmora nodded, her gaze piercing. *"**Right, Erudite. It is.*"**
**“The Midfold is no longer able to hold Zovrath,”** Varmora began, her voice grave. **“He may break free. And when he does, he will come for the Codex.”**
Zara stepped forward, trying to grasp the situation. **“But the Codex was destroyed long ago, wasn’t it? We don’t need to worry about that.”**
Varmora shook her head, her tone low and filled with sorrow. **“No. The Codex is not destroyed.”**
Luna, perplexed, furrowed her brow. **“What does that mean? We all know it was destroyed long before any of us were born. Before Ethan was even here.”**
Varmora’s gaze turned distant. **“It wasn’t destroyed. It was sent to a different place. The rest is merely rumor.”**
Tara’s voice was sharp with concern. **“What place? Another realm?”**
Varmora nodded slowly. **“Yes. It was sent to Gardim… where Ethan came from.”**
The weight of her words sank in. The fairies’ eyes widened in shock, their minds racing with questions.
Nia, always calm but now visibly shaken, asked, **“Gardim? But why? Why Gardim? Is Ethan somehow related to it?”**
Varmora hesitated, her silence only deepening their fear. She knew the truth would break them.
Elara’s voice was pleading. **“Tell us, Phinix. Is Ethan related to the Codex? Please… tell us he’s not.”**
Aria, trembling, joined in. **“Phinix, tell us! You’re scaring us.”**
Varmora’s composure cracked, she revealed the terrible truth. **“Ethan *is* the Codex.”**
A collective gasp echoed through the atmosphere. The fairies were frozen, their hearts shattering as they tried to comprehend how their beloved Ethan—innocent, sweet, and vulnerable—could be the ultimate weapon, the very Codex that would decide their fate against Zovrath.
**“He bears the Codex within him,”** Varmora said.
Lira, always strong, was now trembling, her voice filled with despair. **“No. Phinix, It can't. This… this can’t be true…”**
Elara, her usual calm now replaced with anguish, shook her head in disbelief. **“No, no, we can’t allow that. He’s just a human. How can this be?”**
Zara, the erudite of the group, spoke in a voice barely audible, shaking with fear. **“This means… we will lose him one day. No… no, this can’t happen… not our Ethan…”**
Aria, her voice a mixture of rage and heartbreak, sobbed, **“But how, Phinix? How could it be Ethan? Tell us why! Why him?”**
Varmora wiped her tears, her voice heavy with regret and helplessness. **“The Codex is what brought Ethan to our realm. The Codex chose Ethan as its host. There’s nothing we can do.”**
The fairies stood in stunned silence, their world unraveling as they realized that the very child they cherished, the boy they had sworn to protect, was now bound to a destiny far beyond their control.
The atmosphere was suffocating with sorrow, a heavy silence hanging over the room as the fairies stood there, paralyzed by grief. Each of them, overwhelmed by the weight of the truth, could only sob softly, unable to find words to express the anguish clawing at their hearts. The idea of losing Ethan, the very light of their lives, was too much to bear.
Sylph, always the light-hearted one, now crumbled under the realization, her entire body shaking with sobs. ***"Oh... Ethan... Ethan... why?*"** she cried out, her voice cracking with despair. She stumbled toward Mira, collapsing into her arms. ***"Cirnyx... why? Why my little Firefly? He’s the only I left…*"** she sobbed uncontrollably, her words barely coherent through her tears.
Mira, always the strong and nurturing one, tried to hold Sylph, but her own tears betrayed her. Her arms trembled as she stroked Sylph’s hair, her voice shaky. ***"We can't... we can't lose him, Emberis...*"** Her voice faltered, choked by her own sorrow. ***"I don’t know what to do... I can’t imagine a world without him. He’s everything to us.*"**
Aria, usually full of energy and laughter, had collapsed onto her knees, her face buried in her hands, her body trembling with deep, heart-wrenching sobs. ***"But... he's so small,*"** she whispered through her tears. *"**How do we... how can we protect him from this? I can't watch him die... I can’t…*"** Her voice broke as fresh sobs wracked her body, her hands clutching at the ground as if trying to anchor herself from the unbearable weight of her pain.
Lira, the fierce leader, who had faced countless battles without flinching, now stood helpless, tears streaming down her face as her heart shattered. She clenched her fists, her knuckles white from the force. ***"I swore... I swore to protect him at all costs,*"** she whispered, her voice trembling with guilt. ***"How... how can I fight against this? How can I fight the fate that’s already written in his soul?*"**
Nia, the gentle soul, had sunk to the floor, hugging herself as if trying to hold her breaking heart together. Her tears fell silently, each drop reflecting the unbearable truth. ***"He... he’s just a child...***" she whispered, her voice trembling with unspeakable sorrow. ***"Our little Snowflake... how can he carry such a burden? It’s not fair... it’s not fair at all.*"**
Elara, the wise one, was often the pillar of strength, but now even she was shaking, her calm demeanor shattered. Her voice came out in a broken whisper as she stared at the ground, tears pooling in her eyes. ***"We can’t lose him... We... we need him as much as he needs us. How can we even go on without him?***" Her voice cracked, and she wiped away her tears in vain, the sobs coming despite her attempts to stay composed.
Even Tara, usually mischievous and playful, stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief as tears streamed down her face. ***"How could fate be so cruel?*"** she whispered, barely able to get the words out. ***"He’s just... he’s our little one... Why him? Why not one of us instead?*"**
The room was filled with the sound of their collective sobbing, each fairy drowning in her own grief, yet united in the same devastating reality. Ethan, the child they had come to love more than anything.
The atmosphere grew unbearably tense, as Varmora’s words sank into their hearts like a blade. The fairies, once united in hope and strength, were now consumed by the unimaginable weight of the truth.
Zara, her voice desperate, pleaded again. ***"But there must be another way! We can’t just accept this, Phinix. There has to be a way to take it from him—like how Zovrath would. We could save him the same way, right?*"**
Aria, her heart clinging to the faintest sliver of hope, nodded fervently. *"**Yes! Erudite’s right, Phinix. There has to be another way! We’ve faced impossible odds before—there’s always something we haven’t thought of!*"**
But Varmora, her voice low and sorrowful, shattered that hope. ***"Only from his dead body, Lys. Codex leaves the host only when they are dead. Codex will leave his body if he is dead.*"**
Sylph's scream echoed through the chamber, raw and filled with both rage and unbearable grief. ***"No! No! Don’t you dare say that again!*"** Her eyes blazing as if she would burn the world itself to protect Ethan. The very air crackled with her fiery anger, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though even Varmora would not be spared her wrath.
Tara rushed to Sylph's side, grabbing her arm, trying to calm her down. ***"Emberis! Stop! You can’t—calm down, please!*"** Tara's voice trembled with fear, not for herself, but for what this devastating truth was doing to them all.
Sylph, her body shaking, looked at Tara with tear-filled eyes, her voice a fragile whisper now, crumbling beneath her fear. ***"How... how can she just say that, Elysia?***" She dropped to her knees, her hands trembling as they fell to the cold floor, her fiery spirit extinguished by grief. ***"How can any of us survive this?*"**
Elara’s voice, usually steady, was broken, barely audible as she spoke. ***"Calm down, Emberis...*"** she murmured, her eyes fixed on the floor. ***"This... this is our fate. If Ethan’s death is fixed, then... then it’s inevitable.*"** Her words were hollow, the despair in them cutting through the room like ice.
Sylph collapsed further, her sobs wracking her body as she cried hard into her hands. ***"No... no, no, no...***" she whimpered, unable to comprehend a world where Ethan didn’t exist.
Luna, her voice choked with tears, stepped forward, her fists clenched as she tried to fight back the devastation threatening to break her. ***"We just... we just found someone to love. Someone who makes us forget all the pain and suffering we’ve endured for centuries. And now... now he’s being taken from us.***" She paused, her voice barely holding together. ***"And now..... There has to be a way. We won’t stop until we find it.*"**
But Varmora, with sorrow deep in her eyes, shook her head. ***"There isn’t, Luna. This is the only way to stop NEmesis. Only Codex can end him.*"**
The room fell silent once again, except for the sound of quiet sobs and broken hearts. The fairies, once the strongest beings of their realm, were now reduced to fragile fragments, torn apart by the impending loss of the one they cherished most. Their love for Ethan, so deep and fierce, had made them invincible—and now, it was the very thing that made them feel powerless.
As Ethan came running into the roof garden back *"**Varmora!. Varmora!***", full of energy and excitement, the heavy atmosphere immediately shifted. The fairies quickly wiped their tears, trying to mask their sorrow, but the tension still hung in the air like a storm cloud. Sylph, however, was too consumed by her grief, still sobbing quietly on the ground, unable to hide her pain.
Ethan, noticing her as he got closer, immediately diverted from Varmora and ran straight to Sylph. He gently cupped her tear-streaked face with his small hands, his innocent eyes full of concern. ***"Sylph, are you crying? What happened?***"
Sylph tried to muster a smile, shaking her head in denial, but her tears betrayed her. *"**No, sweetie, I—*"**
Ethan, his voice soft but insistent, cut her off. ***"You were crying. Tell me.*"**
Before he could finish his question, Sylph, overwhelmed, wrapped him in her arms, holding him so tightly, as if letting go would mean losing him forever. Her voice was trembling as she sobbed against him, ***"Ethan... Baby, stay with me. Please.***"
Ethan, confused but trying to comfort her, gently patted her back. ***"Sylph, I'm with you. I'm not going anywhere.*"**
Still clinging to him, Sylph whispered through her tears, ***"And never go.*"**
Flora, quietly asked the others what had happened, and as they explained. She had just learned the truth about Ethan being the Codex, stood nearby, her own shock and sorrow mirrored in the tearful eyes of the other fairies. She too began to sob softly, heartbroken at the weight of Ethan's fate.
Elara knelt beside Sylph, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. ***"Sylph, don't... Stay strong. For him.*"** Her voice was calm but filled with deep emotion, trying to remind Sylph that they had to protect him, even from the truth.
Sylph, knowing that if she held onto Ethan any longer, he would sense something was wrong, reluctantly wiped her tears. She kissed his forehead tenderly before slowly standing up, forcing a smile as she looked down at him. ***"I just had a bad dream about you,*"** she said softly. ***"So I cried. But we love you, Ethan. More than anything.*"** Her voice was full of love, but also the unbearable weight of what she couldn't say.
Ethan, still too young and innocent to understand the depth of their sorrow, beamed up at her, his smile lighting up the room. *"**And I love you all too! But I love Flora’s cake more!*"** he added with a cheeky grin, his innocence piercing through the tension, unknowingly offering them the briefest moment of solace.
The other fairies chuckled softly, their laughter tinged with bittersweet pain as they tried to bury the crushing weight of his fate. For now, they would keep the truth hidden, cherishing every moment with him, hoping against hope that somehow, some way, they could change what seemed inevitable.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the sky darkened to an eerie blend of black and red, the tension in the air was palpable. But, as usual, the fairies couldn’t help but bring their humor to the fore.
Luna squinted at the ominous sky and sighed dramatically. “**What’s this now? Can we just not with the apocalyptic vibes for one day?”**
Aria threw her hands up in exasperation. **“Come on! Give us a rest, universe! We’re trying to have an emotional breakdown over here!”**
Tara glanced up and rolled her eyes. **“Looks like even the sky decided to throw in some dramatic lighting.”**
Despite the levity, Ethan clung tightly to Sylph as the sky darkened, his eyes wide with fear. *"Sylph!*" he cried out, his small hands grasping onto her for safety.
Sylph immediately wrapped her protective arms around him. ***"Stay with us, Ethan,*"** she said, her voice suddenly serious, determined. ***"We won’t let anything hurt you. Ever.*"**
With Lira snapping into command mode, the mood shifted swiftly. ***"Everyone, get alert!*"** she barked. ***"Aria, fly up and scout the area! Phinix, we need you to hide your Philight somewhere safe. We can’t risk it falling into enemy hands! Sylph, Luna, Elara—protect Ethan. Protect him at all costs.*"**
Sylph clenched her fists, fire practically igniting in her eyes. **“With my last breath of fire.”**
Elara swiftly scooped up Ethan in her arms, cradling him protectively. Luna and Sylph stood guard in front of them, their gazes sharp and unyielding.
**“What’s happening, Elara?”** Ethan whispered, his voice small but brave.
Elara softened her voice as she held him tighter. ***"We’re not sure yet, but you have to stay with us and strong, okay?*"**
Ethan nodded, his small arms wrapping around Elara’s neck for comfort, though he still looked up at the terrifying sky in confusion.
Just then, Aria swooped back down, her face serious for once. **“It’s Ryznith. She’s coming—and she’s bringing an army of her minions.”**
Flora gasped. **“How did she even find us?”**
Tara shot a glance at Aria. **“Were you followed last night?”**
Aria frowned, indignant. **“No! We outran them! Obviously.”** She crossed her arms, but the weight of the situation returned quickly.
Sylph, flames starting to flicker in her eyes, interrupted sharply. **“It doesn’t matter now. If she’s here, then it’s her last trip.”**
Luna stepped closer to Lira. **“We need a strategy, Lira. We could be seriously outnumbered without a plan.”**
Lira, her voice steady and strong, didn’t flinch. **“Flora, open the treeline. Sylph, Luna, Elara take Ethan inside. The rest of us, prepare to fight. That’s our strategy. We fight until we can’t anymore.”**
Mira, ever the compassionate one, stepped forward. **“No, Lira. They’re fairies like us. We can’t just... kill them.”**
Luna groaned. “**Then what are we supposed to do? Hug it out?!”**
Ethan, from Elara’s arms, piped up. **“Wait! You don't have to kill them. Nia can freeze them. Make them immovable. Keep them at the treeline. Flora can tie them up with her plants. Mira, you can make a big pit to trap them in, and Aria can zip them inside. You all can save them with your powers.”**
He looked around at the shocked but thoughtful faces of the fairies. **“We’re not fighters. We’re saviors. We can figure out what to do with them later, but we can’t just kill them.”**
Nia reaches to Ethan, her eyes soft but worried. ***"But, Snow, even if we turn them back into fairies, they’ll still be lifeless. What’s the point in that?*"**
Ethan looked up at her, his voice steady. **“We’ll figure something out later. We just can’t be the ones to destroy them.”**
There was a pause, and then one by one, the fairies nodded in agreement. Lira, her voice filled with both authority and admiration for Ethan, said, **“Alright, that’s our plan. Everyone, take your positions.”**
With determination renewed, the fairies moved swiftly into action. The weight of what was coming pressed down on them, but so did their resolve to protect each other—and especially Ethan—no matter what.
Luna, Sylph and Elara took Ethan inside. Other fairies now outside the treeline shield and ready to deal with coming chaos. Their casual dress is now turned into their war attire. The minions' wave is getting closer and closer. As soon as the impact hit, the ground trembled, and the first wave of Ryznith's minions came charging toward the fairies.