A placid pond broke through the reeds. Reflected on the surface of the pond, the crescent moon rippled gently in the breeze. Idyllic cattails ducked by the water's edge. Mouse glanced back at the castle. From here, the high reeds blocked out all but the highest reaches. Spindly tower roofs barely crested the reeds, dining hall completely blocked from sight.

Mouse nodded. “This will do.”

He stepped into the water and sucked in a breath. Summer warmth lingered in the air, but it fled the water. Icy chill gripped his foot. A shiver travelled up his legs, up his spine, all the way to his head, and back down again. I forgot… that’s why I stopped requesting the goddess. Standing in the water in the northern reaches at night, only to get ignored again? No thanks.

“Mouse?”

“I’m fine,” he grit. Lifting his other foot, he placed it firmly in the pond. Soft mud gave under his foot and sucked at the slippers. One step at a time, he descended into the water. It climbed his calves, then his thighs. A slipper stuck in the muck. He stepped back to find it, fruitlessly. The shoe vanished into the pond, and no amount of poking with his toes could locate it.

“Everything okay?” Felix asked again.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Mouse kicked off his other slipper and pressed on.

Sticks and rocks pricked his soles. Mud sucked at his ankles and clouded around his feet. He walked slowly, toes questing through the mud. When the water reached his upper thighs, he stopped. The upward chill already scared him enough. I don’t want to freeze to death out here.

Something heavy thumped into him from behind. He staggered forward a step. A hiss escaped his lips, and he grimaced.

“Mouse?”

“I'm fine, fine,” Mouse grumbled. Dammit.

He closed his eyes and let his fingertips trail in the surface of the water, disturbing the moon’s reflection. “I call upon the Moon Goddess…”

His mind went blank. He peeked open an eye, but no beam of moonlight descended. “…to bless this believer upon this night…”

Shit. What comes next? He bit his lip and paused. Oh, whatever. I’ll just make it up. “We beseech you to descend upon this pond, to provide magic and…”

Pencil scratched against paper. Mouse grimaced. Don’t take notes, I don’t know what I’m doing.

“…and, er, and shine thine silver light, so that we might feel your might…” Did it rhyme? Maybe?

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A soft touch on his shoulder. Mouse opened his eyes. A pillar of silvery light enveloped him. Dancing rays blocked out all else, dazzling, but not painful.

At the apex of the pillar, the moon shone brilliantly. Outside the pillar, it had been a crescent, but here, a full moon gazed down on him.

“My child. Blessed thee shall be.”

Warmth suffused his veins. He closed his eyes and stretched, supremely comfortable.

Silver liquid poured down from the heavens. When it met his forehead, it sunk inside, coiling down into his core. Silver haloed his body, the pale, familiar moonlight.

Mouse stared at his faintly glowing hands, flabbergasted. Men rarely get blessed, and I’ve never managed to so much as see her face. I crossdress, and the goddess appears immediately. Is crossdressing the secret? Is that all I had to do? All this time?

He turned back up, but the light was already fading. The full moon diminished to a crescent. The pillar petered out to a last ray and flickered away.

Damn goddesses.

“Incredible, incredible. It was a lot like Eleda’s, and yet, different.” Felix nodded to himself, desperately taking notes. He glanced at Mouse expectantly.

Blank, Mouse stared back. He wanted Eleda to cast a spell. Maybe that’s what he’s waiting for?

Shit. I don’t know a lot of spells. What should I teach him? The temperature-sensing spell? The one that identifies edible plants?

He shook his head. C’mon, Mouse, something impressive! There’s got to be something.

He thought for a moment, then nodded to himself. “Your Majesty, in light of the mishap at the duel, let me teach you a spell that can help you sense blight.”

Felix nodded eagerly, pencil poised.

“Put down the pencil. Let me guide you through it. It’s easier to learn if you feel it.”

Reluctantly, Felix put his notebook away.

Wet skirts clinging to his legs, bare feet squishing over thick mud, Mouse crossed to Felix. He kicked his skirts out, annoyed. Dammit, who made skirts so heavy? They ought to be fired.

“Draw light into your chest and hold it there. Raise your hands… like this.” He scooted behind Felix and lifted his elbows, adjusting the pose.

“Like this?” Felix held his hands flat.

“Close enough. Okay. Circulate the light through your arms. Picture a disc, a flat disc. It emanates from you, spreads into the world. Hold that image.”

Eyes shut, Felix nodded.

Mouse stepped away from Felix, giving him a last check. Nodding to himself, he closed his eyes and assumed the same pose. Light welled up in his chest easily, practically jumping to his will. “Now release. Let it fly.”

He released the magic. A second later, he felt warmth wash over him as Felix did the same. Compared to his lackluster spell, Felix’s shuddered Mouse’s soul, as if it searched every ounce of him in the passing. A shiver passed up his spine. Damn.

The magic rushed back to Mouse. A second later, a loose representation of the castle and town appeared in his mind, faint details made out in silver and white. Two black blots burned, flame-like, in the representation. One far, near the edge of town, and the other in the heart of the castle.

“Do you see those black blots? Those are blight,” Mouse said.

“Wow,” Felix muttered. “What a useful spell. How'd you moon elves come up with it?"

“When you fight the darkfoe for centuries, you learn a trick or two.”

Felix hummed. A second later, he nudged Mouse. “That one, the further one, that’s the Arena.”

“And the closer one?” Mouse asked, opening his eyes.

Felix’s brows crinkled. “The castle? That one…”

He opened his eyes, gazing into Mouse’s. A faint note of panic sparked in their depths. “I have no idea.”