THE FAYE

I sat, still stunned, watching the figure before me—a man, but not quite. Elbis had shifted into human form, his once-translucent wings now gone, leaving a solid figure with pale grey-blue skin, like the sky before a storm. His frame was muscular but compact, and his round belly jutted out, as though he had a loaf of bread tucked beneath his tunic. His dark hair fell in waves, partly obscuring his pointed ears. But even without the wings, there was no mistaking him for a mere human.

This was no illusion, no trick of the mind. The Faye were real. I had seen many things in my seventy winters, but nothing could have prepared me for this. Winged men? Translucent wings that shimmered like light caught in a prism?

My thoughts were interrupted by the fluttering arrival of another figure—a Faye with wings still intact, hovering delicately as he landed on a nearby rock. He too was of similar grey-blue skin, with long, silver wings shimmering in the moonlight.

“Elbar is just scouting the area,” Elbis said with a defiant edge in his voice. “We’ve learned to be cautious. Your kind killed enough of us during the Celestial War.”

“I... I...” I sputtered, still trying to wrap my mind around what was happening. The entire situation was too surreal.

“No one else around,” Elbar reported, his voice squeaky. “I think it’s one of their young. Strange they left him alone. Look at those ridiculous leaves he’s trying to wear as clothes.”

I glanced down at my improvised leaf tunic and boots, feeling strangely self-conscious.

“He doesn’t look right, Elbis. He doesn’t even smell like a human should.”

Elbis scowled at his companion before slowly lowering himself to the ground, rubbing his round belly in thought. Despite his new human form, he still had a magical presence, as though the energy of this place lived inside him.

“It’s alright, boy. Boy, right? Yes, boy,” Elbis said, his tone softening. “We just have a few questions. Did you get left behind by your... uh... Mum and Dog?”

I blinked. “It’s Dad,” I said, trying to suppress a laugh.

Elbis scowled again at Elbar. “That’s what I said. Dad.” He shook his head, then refocused on me. “So, is that what happened? You lost your parents?”

“I lost my parents nearly thirty winters ago. It would be quite a trick if you could find them now.”

Elbis’s eyes widened slightly. “Elbar, you idiot. He’s not a young one. His parents died that long ago—he’s no child. Humans don’t live nearly as long as we do.”

“Why are you here then, dressed in rags?” Elbar asked, his voice full of suspicion. “You don’t look like the others. You don’t even smell like them.”

“I’ve just arrived,” I said, trying to remain calm. “I mean no harm. These rags are just what I could fashion to keep myself warm. Villas didn’t exactly tell me I’d arrive naked.”

The name seemed to have an effect on them both.

“Did you hear that, Elbis?” Elbar squeaked. “He said Villas!”

“That’s enough, Elbar,” Elbis interrupted, turning toward him. “Head back to the village and prepare some food. And get the best tailors working on something suitable for our visitor. We have young ones here, and we can’t have him walking around like that.”

With a quick nod, Elbar shot into the air, his legs kicking behind him like an excited child, disappearing into the overgrowth.

“Villas, you said,” Elbis continued, his tone more serious. “That’s not a name I’ve heard in quite some time. Now, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but how do I know what you’re saying is true?”

I took a deep breath, trying to recall everything from my time with Villas. “Villas of Vermulia. He sent me here, not dead but... renewed. My world was destroyed. Vermulia was destroyed. He spoke of a monstrosity, how he had set plans in motion—a rock in a river, a boulder blocking the way.”

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Elbis rubbed his chin, his grey-blue skin glowing faintly in the soft moonlight that bathed the forest. "This is madness, you know. You shouldn’t even be able to speak to us, let alone see us. Villas’s last gift to us before he left was a spell—a spell to hide us from humans. The last human who spoke to us was Smoke, and that was during the first year of man.”

My stomach rumbled, reminding me that whatever state I was in now, I still needed to eat. “I’m happy to discuss all of this further, but perhaps we could do so over some food? It’s easier to think on a full stomach.”

Elbis chuckled softly. “Very well. Follow me.”

The forest, now bathed in the rays of sunlight that broke the canopy, was a mystical sight. Everything shimmered in hues of bright colours. The trees had silver bark, their leaves glowing faintly as though they were drinking in the sunlight. The grass beneath my feet felt soft, almost liquid in its movement, rippling like waves with each step. Flowers, luminescent in their own way, lit up the ground like stars scattered across the forest floor.

“This place reminds me of Villas’s home,” I said as we moved deeper into the forest. “The trees, the air—it all feels... alive.”

Elbis nodded, his human form moving fluidly beside me. “This is a fragment of that world. Villas separated it after the Celestial Wars and gave it to us for protection. It’s a sanctuary, a place of peace. But even here, we are not entirely safe.”

We soon came to a large, gnarled tree devoid of leaves, its grey branches twisting upward like smoke rising into the night sky. There was a line of light running down its center, shimmering like a living rainbow. It pulsed with a quiet energy that seemed to call to me.

“What is that?” I asked, pointing at the strange glow.

“That,” Elbis said with a smirk, “is the entrance to our home. Go ahead, touch it. See if you can pass through.”

I wiped my hands on my makeshift clothes, dirty from the forest trek, and reached out toward the rainbow light. The moment my fingers touched it, the world around me began to shift. The trees, the sky, the very air itself drained of color, leaving everything in shades of grey.

“Well, don’t stand there gawking,” Elbis called out from ahead. “Keep walking. If you stay too long, you’ll meet the wraiths.”

I hurried after him. “What’s a wraith?”

“I have no idea,” Elbis said with a shrug. “I’ve never stayed long enough to find out.”

Another step, and the world erupted in color once more. But this time, everything was even more vivid than before. The forest was lush and alive, bathed entirely in soft blues and silvers, the moonlight pouring over everything like liquid magic. The trees here were more sparsely placed, giving way to fields of glowing wildflowers. It was like stepping into a dream, a place out of time.

“So, Villas is here?” I asked, marveling at the beauty around me.

“No,” Elbis said, his voice tinged with sadness. “We haven’t seen him since the Celestial Wars. I fear he may be lost to us forever.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” I murmured, thinking of the man I had met, or whatever Villas was. There was more to this than any of us realized.

“Come,” Elbis said, leading me toward a large clearing. “Let’s get you some food. You can’t think on an empty stomach, and we need to do something about those rags.”

We walked to a place where a massive tree had fallen, its trunk creating a natural bench. I sat down and looked at my makeshift boots—what was left of them. The soles had worn away completely, leaving me feeling like I was walking barefoot in hoods of leaves.

Before I could dwell on it, a group of small, flying Faye appeared, carrying bundles of clothing. They hovered toward me, led by Elbar and an older Faye woman. The fabric they carried floated like ghostly apparitions in the moonlight.

“Here you go, Ragson,” said the woman, her voice light and musical. “Elbar told us you’d need some proper attire.”

“Ragson?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elbar, still hovering nearby, coughed. “Well, yes... there was some confusion. I thought they were asking what you were wearing, so I said ‘rags on.’ Now, well... everyone thinks that’s your name.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “No mistake, Elbar. It’ll do for now.”

With a smile, I took the clothes and retreated behind a tree to change. The material was soft, fine—somewhere between silk and cotton, but stronger, more resilient. The tunic and pants fit perfectly, and the boots were sturdy but flexible.

When I stepped out, the fallen log was now covered with food—fruit, berries, cheese, and bread. My stomach rumbled again at the sight.

“Let’s eat, shall we?” Elbis said, gesturing toward the spread. “With a clear head, we can discuss what to do next.”

I nodded and sat down, grateful for the meal. As I ate, I noticed the Faye children gathering around Elbar, their glowing wings fluttering softly as they listened to him begin a story.

“So, children, who wants to hear about Smoke—the last human we trusted?”

I leaned back, my body feeling lighter, stronger, and more at peace than it had in years. But even in this serene place, I knew my journey was only just beginning. Eating my second apple when I heard Elbar talking to children, telling them a story of Smoke, the last human they trusted.

Next Chapter due 18/09/2024 12:00 GMT