Two Weeks Later
The stream glistened under the dappled sunlight, its surface broken only by the occasional dart of silver fish. Nyx crouched at the water’s edge, her fingers trailing through the cool current. She tilted her head, watching the ripples spread outward before settling again.
“Do you think he’s okay?” she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.
Len, perched on a mossy rock nearby, flicked his wings lazily. His sharp gaze stayed fixed on the water, but his antenna twitched at her question. “Who?”
“Till,” Nyx replied, her voice soft. She picked up a smooth pebble and turned it over in her hands. “I wonder if he’s eating enough. Or if he’s told anyone about what happened here.” Her silver eyes clouded with a mix of worry and curiosity.
Len tilted his head slightly, finally looking at her. “Humans are tough,” he said matter-of-factly. “He’ll be fine. Probably eating more than you think.”
Nyx smiled faintly, tossing the pebble back into the stream. It skipped twice before sinking. “I hope you’re right,” she said. “I wonder if he remembers me.”
The Aetherling buzzed over to her, settling lightly on her shoulder. “Hard to forget someone like you,” he said with a playful lilt. “You did save him, after all.”
Nyx laughed, the sound soft but genuine. “I guess. I wonder what the world outside the forest is like. Maybe I’ll meet him again someday… see it for myself.” Her voice trailed off, her gaze drifting beyond the trees as though trying to glimpse something far away.
Len shifted, his wings brushing her hair. “The outsiders do not like it here,” he said after a pause. “It’s louder. Messier. You’ll have to be careful.”
Nyx nodded, her fingers brushing the grass at her feet. The thought lingered, both thrilling and uncertain, but she tucked it away for another time.
The sound of rustling leaves broke through their conversation. Nyx turned her head just in time to see Fox appear from the trees, his sharp golden eyes scanning the area.
“You’re still worrying about that boy?” he asked, leaning casually against a tree. His tail flicked behind him, brushing against the grass.
Nyx crossed her arms, a playful pout forming on her lips. “What if I am?”
Fox smirked, his teeth glinting faintly in the sunlight. “You’re too soft, little one. Humans forget. They move on faster than you think.”
“Maybe,” Nyx replied, her tone firm. “But I don’t want to forget. And I don’t think he will, either.”
Fox let out a low chuckle, pushing off the tree to crouch beside her. “Stubborn as always,” he said, plucking a stray blade of grass and twirling it between his fingers. “Don’t let that soft heart of yours get you into trouble. You might regret it one day.”
Nyx raised her chin, her silver eyes meeting his unflinchingly. “I won’t regret helping him.”
Fox held her gaze for a moment before a crooked grin broke across his face. “Good answer,” he said, standing smoothly. “Just remember, I’ll be around when things get messy. Someone’s got to keep you from getting eaten.”
The Dark Forest of Tivera thrummed with its usual rhythm. The trees swayed gently, their leaves murmuring secrets to the wind. Birds flitted between the branches, their songs weaving into the ambient hum of life.
Nyx darted through a dungeon corridor, her steps light and sure as her blade struck the crystalline exoskeleton of a spider. Shards scattered across the floor, glinting in the faint glow of her Arcane Tempest.
“Nice form,” Tiger called from the edge of the room, his amber eyes glinting as he lounged against the wall.
Nyx straightened, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. “Getting better, aren’t I?”
Tiger smirked, his tail flicking lazily. “Not bad for someone your size.”
She grinned, a flicker of pride warming her chest. “Careful, or I’ll beat you next time.”
The constellations each had their quirks, and Nyx found herself moving through their worlds as naturally as she did her own.
Griff’s cave was quiet except for the soft drip of water from the ceiling. Nyx knelt near his favorite rock, scrubbing away at the moss with a well-used cloth.
“You work too hard,” Griff rumbled, his eyes half-lidded as he lounged nearby.
Nyx huffed, pausing to flick a clump of moss off the cloth. “And you don’t work hard enough.”
Griff’s beak clicked softly in amusement. “Why bother? You do a better job cleaning than I ever could.”
Nyx rolled her eyes, tossing the cloth onto the clean stone. “Maybe if you helped once in a while, you’d see how satisfying it is.”
The sloth-like constellation gave a low chuckle. “I’ll leave the satisfaction to you.”
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Later, they sat side by side, the stillness of the cave wrapping around them like a blanket. “Do you ever think about leaving this place?” Griff asked suddenly, his voice a low murmur.
Nyx leaned back, her silver eyes tracing the uneven ceiling. “Sometimes,” she admitted. “But not yet. There’s still so much to learn here.” She smiled, looking at him. “Besides, what would you do without me?”
Griff closed his eyes, a faint smile on his beak. “The same thing I always do—wait for you to come back and clean.”
Peacock, on the other hand, never let her forget about the world beyond.
“You’ll thank me one day,” he said, adjusting the hem of a shimmering dress he’d made for her.
Nyx frowned, tugging at the sleeves. “You always say that. When’s this magical day supposed to happen?”
Peacock laughed, the sound smooth and rich. “When you’re dazzling everyone outside this forest.” He stood back, admiring his work. “And when they all look at you, you’ll remember who made you the star of the show.”
She groaned, but her lips quirked into a reluctant smile. “You’re impossible.”
“Charming,” Peacock corrected, handing her a plate of fruit.
At the end of the day, Nyx sat on a rock overlooking the stream, her legs dangling as she watched the sun dip below the trees. The forest didn’t change much; its ancient rhythms beat steadily, a comforting presence around her. But she could feel the changes within herself.
Her movements in the dungeon were sharper, her aura manipulation stronger. She didn’t stumble over spells the way she used to, and the constellations’ rare words of approval lingered longer in her heart.
She held a hand in front of her, letting a faint golden shimmer dance across her fingertips. A quiet pride warmed her chest.
“I’m getting there,” she whispered, her voice soft but resolute.
The forest might be the same, but Nyx wasn’t. Each day shaped her a little more, preparing her for the moment she’d take her first steps beyond the trees.
For now, though, she belonged here—among the constellations, the Aetherlings, and the rhythm of the forest that had become her home.
Fox reappeared, lounging lazily under a nearby tree as if he’d been there the whole time. He watched her in silence for a moment, his sharp eyes catching the fading sunlight.
“You’re thinking too much,” he said suddenly, breaking the stillness.
Nyx looked over her shoulder, arching a brow. “And you’re here too much. Don’t you have your own business to handle?”
Fox grinned, resting his head against the bark. “Keeping an eye on you is my business.”
She huffed, turning back to the sunset. “I’m fine on my own, you know.”
“Sure you are,” Fox replied, his tone light but his gaze serious. “But it’s nice to have backup, isn’t it?”
Nyx didn’t respond, but her lips curved into a small smile.
**********************************************
The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting dancing shadows on the ground. Nyx stretched her arms above her head, yawning as she went about her morning routine. She gathered water from the waterfall, bathed and scrubbed her face clean, used Steam Convergence to dry off as always and brushed her hair until it gleamed.
Drac lay nearby, watching her lazily, his tail curling slightly with each flick of his eyes.
“I’m heading to Tiger’s today,” Nyx said, slipping her bag over her shoulder.
Drac grunted, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “Be careful.”
“I always am,” she said with a grin, walking up to pat his side.
He huffed, smoke curling from his nostrils as she stepped away. “Don’t stay too long.”
“Bye, Drac!” she called over her shoulder before her silver wings unfurled, catching the sunlight as she launched into the sky.
The wind rushed past Nyx’s ears as she flew to Tiger’s rocky domain. She landed gracefully at the edge of his territory, her boots crunching against the stone.
Tiger was waiting for her, lounging near the entrance with a mischievous grin. “About time you got here, little one.”
Nyx rolled her eyes, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “You said you had something for me. Don’t tell me you were waiting just to tease me.”
Tiger chuckled, standing and stretching lazily. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Come on.”
Nyx followed him deeper into the rocky terrain, her silver eyes scanning the area curiously. The sharp scent of sun-warmed stone and faint traces of fur hung in the air.
Tiger stopped suddenly, his ears twitching as he glanced toward the shadows. “You can come in now!” he called, his voice echoing across the cliffs.
Nyx froze as a familiar presence stepped into view. The towering figure of the Three-Horned Bull emerged slowly, his usual arrogance absent. His shoulders were slumped, and his gaze was low, almost hesitant.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Nyx stood her ground, her expression hardening. “What do you want?” she asked, her tone clipped.
Tiger stepped aside, his tail flicking with amusement. “Relax, Nyx. He’s not here to cause trouble this time.”
The Bull hesitated, then walked forward and sank down gently onto the rocky ground. Nyx blinked in surprise but remained standing, her arms still crossed.
“Sit,” Tiger said, gesturing at her.
Nyx glanced at the Bull, her silver eyes narrowing skeptically, before reluctantly lowering herself onto a nearby rock. She sat stiffly, her wings twitching slightly as she kept her gaze locked on him.
The Bull let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nyx… I came to apologize.”
Nyx tilted her head, one brow arching. “Apologize? For what, exactly?”
“For how I acted,” the Bull said, his deep voice softening. “I’ve been thinking about it… and I see now that I was wrong. I shouldn’t have demanded anything from you. It wasn’t my place.”
Her arms uncrossed slightly, but she remained silent, her expression unreadable.
“I’ve spent so much time being… well, being me,” the Bull continued, gesturing vaguely with his hands. “I’m used to taking what I want, being stubborn, and charging ahead without thinking.”
Nyx smirked faintly at that. “Sounds about right.”
The Bull gave a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah. And I see now how that’s gotten me nowhere. Especially with you.” He glanced at her, his eyes filled with something unfamiliar—regret. “I don’t want to act like that anymore. Not with you.”
Nyx leaned back slightly, her wings relaxing as she studied him. She hadn’t expected this—not from him.
“I was just trying to help you see my worth,” he said quietly. “But I went about it all wrong. I’m sorry, Nyx.”
Her silver eyes softened slightly, though she didn’t let her guard drop entirely. She hadn’t been trying to teach him a lesson; she simply didn’t like his attitude and refused to entertain it. But seeing him now, so subdued and sincere, made her feel a flicker of sympathy.
“Alright,” Nyx said finally, her tone steady but calm. “I forgive you.”
The Bull’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank you.”
Tiger snorted from where he stood, watching the scene with thinly veiled amusement. “Well, that went better than expected.”
Nyx shot him a look before turning back to the Bull. “But don’t expect me to tolerate that behavior again,” she said firmly. “You come at me with demands, and we’re done. Got it?”
The Bull nodded quickly. “Understood. I’ve learned my lesson.”
A small smile tugged at Nyx’s lips despite herself. “Good.”
The Bull shifted slightly, his massive hands resting on his knees. “I meant it when I said I want to help you, Nyx. I’d like to give you a skill—if you’ll let me. Please.”
Her silver eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. She had planned to take a skill from him eventually, but hearing him offer it like this… it felt different.