Right. So at this point, you are probably thinking something along the lines of "Oh he died and was reincarnated - he went to a new world. Now he will begin to conquer everything and walk among the stars." Well, am I right?

Well, I don't really know what happened. I wasn't dead - so that was a surprise. But...the whole defeating planets thing? Hasn't happened yet.

******

Kel just stared at the tiny, agitated fairy for a moment, but she seemed content to continue looking at him like he was; in fact, an idiot.

"I'm not really sure what you are upset about right now" he finally confessed.

"You smooshed the grass. It didn't hurt it, but you didn't have to do it" she explained, her previous tears now dry and forgotten - instead replaced by frustration.

"What else could I have done" he responded in exasperation.

"Well, you could just fly like me. And when I do sit on the grass, I make sure I am light enough I don't smoosh the poor thing" she responded as she spun about to point out her wings.

"Tria" Kel began, "I can't fly."

Kel watched as stars exploded behind her eyes. "You can't what?" she exclaimed in alarm, shooting off to circle him - intent on finding the wings he must be hiding behind his back. She circled him a good...20 times? before finally stopping in front of his face again.

"I didn't know you couldn't fly" she said, lowering her adorable head in embarrassment. "I thought everyone could fly" she explained, quickly recovering her usual cheery demeanor.

"How many people have you met?" Kel couldn't help but ask.

"No one ever comes here - you are the first person I have ever met!" she exclaimed in excitement. "It's so nice to meet you!"

Kel couldn't help but feel a little bad for the tiny flying; and quite excitable, girl. "It's nice to meet you too" he responded lamely, flashing her a small smile. Her eyes unfocused slightly for a moment before she shook her head and caught herself.

"You know, you really shouldn't do that - it's not fair" she pouted.

"Do what?" he asked in surprised.

"Look handsome. It's distracting - and unfair too!"

Kel felt his ears go red for a moment. He could tell she spoke only out of childish innocence and meant nothing by it, but her words still caught him by surprise. He gingerly took a step towards the pond, aware he was "smooshing" the grass as he went, but Tria seemed unbothered by it now she knew he couldn't fly. The thought amused him for some reason.

He glanced at his reflection in the water and froze.

The face that stared back at him was indeed handsome. The midnight blue hair that fell to his shoulders, with eyes of matching color. The smooth and light skin - not sickly pale, but clear. The sharp jaw and angular features.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

It didn't look like him at all.

"What happened" he shrieked as he jumped back, his hands running all over his face to see if his face actually matched the reflection.

"What...what's wrong" Tria cried, circling about his feet in distress as he smooshed grass unnecessarily. The heartache written on her face was enough to make him stop.

"Sorry Tria" he whispered, hands still stretched across his face. She smiled in response and floated back up to his face, clearly feeling better now that he wasn't busy trampling the entire grove. "Is...is my hair...blue?" he whispered.

"Yup" she responded brightly, "and your eyes too. They are really pretty" she responded matter-of-factly. Kel wandered back over to the water's edge to study his reflection once more. Maybe this new look is why all the colors are so bright? he mused.

"So, how long have you been here" he asked casually, turning his face so he could study his new features more. He certainly was not in his old body anymore - that much he could tell. Now that he was paying attention, he could tell his hands were slightly bigger, his muscles more defined. And he was several inches taller.

Yea, that too.

"I've always been here" she responded in surprise.

"No no, I know that - I just meant how many years" he clarified.

"I...I don't know. A long time maybe? Or...maybe a few days?" she answered in confusion, and Kel glanced up to see the uncertainty plastered on her childish face. "I just know I have always been here" she finally finished, looking nonplussed. "I never really thought about it!"

Kel stepped back from the pool and sat down, noticing how his eyes rested higher than they used to when he sat. He must be over 6 feet tall when he stood now. Even with everything going on, he couldn't help but feel happy about that. I always wanted to be a bit taller he smiled to himself.

"Well, what did you do to pass the time?" he asked in genuine curiosity.

"I played with the grass" she giggled, zooming down to touch a strand. Kel watched in surprised as the grass seemed to stand up taller to touch her, and then sway after her when she moved on. "Oh, and the flowers too" she continued in excitement, plopping herself onto a rather large white flower. "The water is really nice, and the trees are sweet and always willing to teach me" she finished cheerily.

Kel glanced around at the trees ringing the grove and wondered if one of them was going to reach down and smoosh him like he "smooshed" the grass. He seemed to be safe for now.

"I don't really know why I am here" he finally confessed.

"Well, so we could meet - silly" she explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Kel immediately perked up. "Really? Who told you that?" he pressed.

She again looked confused. "No one. But why else would you be here then?" she asked quizzically.

Kel...couldn't really argue with her childish logic.

The two of them just sat there for a time, staring out over the deep blue of the pond.

"Have you ever wanted to leave?" Kel eventually asked.

There was no response, so Kel turned his head to glance back at the tiny girl sitting on the flower. She was looking at him with her head tilted to the side. "I never really thought about that either" she confessed.

He turned to look back over the pond. He wasn't really surprised at this point. Tria seemed to be...young; and very innocent.

"But, I think it is time for us to go now" she spoke up matter-of-factly once more.

"Oh?" Kel responded with a raised eyebrow. "Go where?"

"Well, away" she answered as she flew towards the edge of the grove and into the shadow of the trees. She remained there, hovering just inside the grove as she watched him with expectancy.

"Wait, just like that?" he stared at her in surprise.

She just looked at him like he was an idiot again.

Kel stood up and walked over to her. "Why do you want to leave now?" he asked.

"I don't know, I just know it's time for us to go" she responded simply.

Well, I guess it can't hurt to get an early start Kel mused. The day still seemed to be young, and an early start was always better than a late start.

He turned to walk into the trees but paused as he noticed the look on Tria's face.

"This place will die when I leave" she said simply, sadness in her voice. "I don't know how I know it, but I just know it. I'm sorry everyone" she finished with a tear, taking time to bow at the grass and the pond and the trees. Kel could have sworn they bowed back.

"Then...why are you leaving?" Kel asked.

"Sometimes" she said, her eyes gazing off over the pond "to find something better, you have to let go of something that is already beautiful."

Kel stared in surprise at the words coming from such a seemingly young child. "Where did you hear that?" he asked.

"The one who brought you here" she said happily, "He told me!"

"Wait, you said no one brought me here!" he exclaimed.

Kel stared at her intently and watched as her eyes glazed over and her face went blank. A short moment later, she shook her head and refocused on him.

"No one brought you here, silly" she answered. "I told you, you were just here." The earnestness on her face convinced Kel she was not lying. Someone had made her forget.

He vowed he would find out who that someone was.

******

And so, Benutriapella Evitres Elialpelodopolianna turned and walked out of the grove. Kel watched as she sunk lower to the ground with each inch forward she took - her wings slowly fading and her long green hair slowly shortening. Her body slowly grew as well. At the exact moment her wings faded away, her foot finally touched the ground.

The little girl turned to look at Kel. She barely came up to his waist. Her great brown eyes peered up at him in absolute innocence. Her hair had turned a warm brown, just long enough to frame her face as it curled under her chin. She gave him a smile and reached out for his hand.

Kel knew at that moment - he would protect this child with his life.