As Merci stepped through the portal it closed behind them as the last brother walked through. She was greeted by the radiant warmth of a grand sun shining overhead. The landscape before her was straight out of a fairytale, with rolling hills blanketed in lush, green vegetation. Vibrant flowers dotted the undulating terrain, enhancing the enchanting beauty.

Nature buzzed around Merci as a symphony of unknown species chirped, sang, and hummed their distinctive melodies. Colorful, multi-winged birds flitted above, while squirrel-like creatures with the fluffiest tails she had ever seen scurried up towering trees adorned with leaves in vibrant, rainbow-like hues.

The path that Lysander was walking them down on was bricked and had a shimmer of gold. The path cascaded down the hill landscape with countless twists and turns as it seemed to never end.

The air around her swirled with warmth and mystery as everything seemed to be straight out of a fairytale. “Lysander…” Merci whispered as they walked along the path.

“Yes?” Lysander stopped and looked at her.

“What are the birds in the sky?” Merci asked as a clutch of about five birds flew overhead. These ones had two sets of wings each and a unique coloration pattern of a pretty hue of blue, white, and purple.

Merci watched as a smile fell upon his lips, “The birds are called Seraphwings. They are for the majority harmless creatures that thrive in the skies above. Each species of Seraphings have a distinct amount of wings and coloration pattern. The ones that just flew above us are specifically known as the Cuatro Seraphwings.”

Merci stared up at the sky and watched in amazement as the birds were clearly something to behold. Then she looked at the nearby tree, “What about the fluffy squirrels?” She questioned as one scurried up the tree.

“The squirrel-like creatures here are called Flufftail Spryte.” Lysander said in a bit of amusement. “The Flufftail Sprytes have a variety of colorations to them and are harmless.” Lysander said as he approached the tree the white Flufftail Spryte scurried up.

Merci watched as he used some of his essence to cast Animal Friendship and began conversing with the creature.

“Thistle, how has it been?” Lysander questioned as he looked up the tree.

Octavius and Nikalus both shook their heads as they watched their beloved King talk to a Flufftail Spryte.

Unlike the brothers, Merci was curious enough to follow suit and utilized the same spell so she could understand what the creature was saying back to Lysander.

“It’s been quiet!” The squirrel-like voice squealed loudly.

“That’s good, that’s good.” Lysander muttered. He looked back and motioned for Merci to walk forward. Merci followed his direction and approached the tree cautiously. “This is my friend Merci, Merci this is Thistle.” Lysander said, introducing the two.

The white Flufftail ran down the tree in a spiral like motion and ran up Merci’s body and perched itself on her shoulder. Merci stood frozen and stared wide eyed at the creature.

“Hello!” The Flufftail squealed loudly in her ear causing her to flinch.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“H--Hi.” Merci muttered as she just stared straight ahead.

The creature hoped from Merci and landed onto the King’s shoulder and stared at her, “I scare…” The Flufftail said as it curled itself around Lysander’s neck and watched Merci.

Lysander chuckled, “Easy there Merci, I swear she’s harmless.” Lysander scratched the creature on his shoulder and presumed the trek down the path. Pulling Merci along with him, “Come on.”

Merci followed him as he pulled her along.

More and more scenery unfolded before them as countless trees of various sizes spread across the landscape. Each containing their own vibrant foliage as it soon became clear that Summer was in full swing here in the kingdom of Sunne.

After about an hour of walking through the hill-sides, the land began to flatten before them as pools of shimmering water soon began to glisten as the light stretched upon it. Each side of the path contained several small pools of water.

“Springs.” Lysander said as they stopped for the second time. “These are our Celestial Springs, gifts from the deities themselves. There are ten springs, five on each side. Each spring is a representation of a deity and contains a unique aspect of that said deity.”

Merci walked over to the path's edge and stared out on the right side. There was one in particular that stood out, a spring that consisted of an enormous tree that had bits of magical essence glistening from the branches.

“That one in particular is for the Wild Mother or Melora, a prime deity that we worshiped for hundreds of years. All deities are welcome in our kingdom, all but the betrayer gods. Those who wish to pray to the betrayer gods, can but if proven harmful to the kingdom may be questioned and further punishment may be determined.”

“The pools…” Merci began but trailed off as her eyes remained fixed on the one for the Wild Mother.

“The pools are gifts from our prime deities only.” Lysander said as if he read her thoughts. “I’ll let you be for a bit my dear.” Lysander said as he walked back towards the brothers and began to whisper a few things to them.

Merci however, remained fixed on the pool as if it was drawing her to it. Something about that pool beckoned her, it wanted her. She could sense the spring wanted to help her not harm her but she was still hesitant in adventuring forth.

“You can go there if you want.” The male voice in her head spoke.

Soon she found herself making small strides toward the pool that was about thirty feet from the path they were on. Once she reached the edge of the spring a female ethereal sounding voice echoed around her.

“Welcome home Queen Elara.”

Merci jumped back as the voice startled her. Her heart began to race but soon the feeling quickly faded.

“No need to be afraid, I am your source of power and beliefs.”

Merci soon found comfort in the voice as her eyes found a focus. And that focus was the tree that protruded from the spring. Before Merci knew it, the glistening essence that shimmered around the tree found itself traveling towards Merci. Enclosing her in a warmth and comforting sensation. The feeling only lasted for a brief second as it faded rather quickly.

“Lysander, thank you for bringing her home.” The female ethereal voice spoke as Lysander approached Merci and stood beside her.

“Of course Melora.” Lysander responded.

“You hear her too?” Merci whispered as she grabbed onto Lysander’s arm.

Lysander chuckled, “Yes, it’s just Melora. She’s harmless.”

“She’s not the same as she once was. She’s broken but you have helped her. My blessings should aid her development.” Melora ethereal voice spoke as the feeling of warmth and calm soon began to vanish, “I have other business to attend to. I trust you got this from here Lysander.” Her voice was firm on the delivery of the last word spoken.

“You have my word.” Lysander said as the magical essence around the tree quickly faded. “Let’s continue.” Lysander said as he began to pull Merci away from the springs and resumed the travel down the path.

“Was I blessed?” Merci stared in the direction of the pool she was just at as she was confused.

“You have always been blessed, Merci.” Lysander responded.

Merci fell silent as she tried to comprehend what just happened. Merci understood that she just had a real interaction with a deity. A deity she truly felt familiar with and one that wrapped her in the warmth and beautifulness of magical essence.