Isabells lined the path on either side. Each flower contained three pink glowing bulbs. When the petals surrounding the pistil are removed, the light becomes far brighter. Despite only growing in the forest, many isabells found their way to Aeceria, where they are used for indoor lighting. At night, lantern hoods would be used to fully dim the glow to allow for sleep.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, trees and bushes became wider and taller. Flowers other than isabells sprouted around them, some as wide as a sleeping child. Gwyneth reached out to touch the white petal before her to find that it felt firm and almost bouncy. The Fae must have found some sort of use for it, but what? She was too proud to ask.

Isla felt every nerve in her body tingle with excitement. It was as if an invisible energy was all around them, one that was alive and had a will of its own. She half believed it possible to speak with the trees and flowers before her. Of course, that wasn't the case. While the Fae had some sort of wordless communication with nature, conversation was impossible.

There was something about the wind that felt different than in Aeceria. It wasn't as chilling as when they had entered the swamp, and it wasn't as forceful as when they had been knocked from their horses. It was a gentle breeze, one that seemed to direct the flow of life itself.

She took in the sight before her. Hundreds of tiny flowers ranging from blue to green to yellow to red and everything in between. Bigger flowers like the ones she had seen her friend reach out to touch sprouted pink, white, and blue petals. Yet, the deeper they ventured, the more spectacular the forest became. Trees became so tall it was difficult to pick out the sky in between. Vines and ivy trailed down from many of the trees, some sprouting flowers of their own. Most peculiar were the white and dark blue glowing flowers that sprouted on vines that hung between the trees. Were they another type of isabell the Aecerians had never known about?

"Makes you want to stay forever, doesn't it?" The shorter-haired Fae noticed her incredulous gaze. Isla couldn't help but nod.

In truth, she felt at home here in the forest. It was as if it was calling out to her welcoming her home to somewhere she belonged. She had always felt out of place in Aeceria, but she pegged it out to be her race. Yet, she couldn't care less that the forest was inhabited by her people. It was the forest itself telling her she belonged. Perhaps after their journey was over — whether that was this moon or the next — she would retire to the forest.

Aston couldn't care less. For all he knew, the pretty flowers existed just to spite him. There was something about how... happy this forest seemed that repulsed him. Perhaps if he were in a better mood, he would have enjoyed it.

"Come," Florian called out to the group. He beckoned them to follow him down a ditch that led to an underground tunnel. The tunnel wasn't anything spectacular — just dirt and more dirt surrounding them on all sides. Floor, ceiling, walls, all dirt. Elric wondered what was holding the dirt in place but didn't dare to ask. Fae were skilled with elemental magic anyhow.

At the end of the tunnel was a door, spectacularly, not made of dirt. No, it was wooden. Through the door was a dark hall with many cells lined. Ah, they had been taken to the dungeons.

Florian unlocked one of the cells as the other two forcefully pushed the group in. "I will inform the king about your intrusion as well as your 'hero'." Florian used air quotes. "Your fate will be up to him." He harshly slammed the door and locked them in. "You may try to escape at your own risk."

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Aston seethed, casting a fire spell in his head. While the door to the dungeon may have been made of wood, these cells were pure metal. It would take a while to completely melt them. Before Aston could complete his spell, the longer-haired Fae grabbed him by the collar, shoving a dark purple liquid down his throat. He felt his senses dull, the burning magic within him quelled as if a wave put out the fire within. He found that he was no longer able to call upon his magic no matter how he may try. "What did you do?!" He seethed; words dipped in hatred as they passed through his teeth.

"A dulling concoction," Florian explained. "It dulls your senses including magic. Its effect is temporary; or permanent if you do not choose to behave yourself." He tapped a finger to his elbow, arms crossed.

"Why can't we speak to the king ourselves?!" Elric demanded as he clutched the metal bars.

Florian paused for a moment, a devious smirk spreading across his lips as he pressed his face against the cell. "Because you are unworthy." With that, he left.

"I knew we should have avoided the forest." Gwyneth huffed before crossing her arms and plopping herself down on the cold stone floor. She took the opportunity to look around, considering they had all the time in the world now. Funny how Aston was in such a rush that he ended up setting them back. The floor, ceiling, and walls were made of some sort of white stone. At least that was the color the bright white flowers hanging from the walls painted it to be. Fae didn't typically construct their homes or facilities with stone, so there must have been some sort of purpose that the dungeon was. Was it for bad little Fae who couldn't control their magic? Or something more powerful like Aston? Had they heard about the prophecy and wanted to stop it at all costs? Too many questions they had no way of asking.

Aston slumped across from Gwyneth, hugging his knees to his chest. There was a lot on his mind. Too much to talk about. He had gotten them into this mess, and thanks to that vile liquid he wouldn't be able to get them out. They really were at the mercy of the Fae, and it was all his fault. Even if he did have his magic, he was too exhausted between fighting an arrogant sophist and an encounter with the supernatural.

He would get stronger. He had to. He would prove to everyone that he was not someone to be messed with. He would be the hero everyone expected him to be.

And the one they all feared.

The sound of metal clanking against metal shook Aston from his thoughts. Florian had returned, ordering them to remain seated where they were. "You," he pointed at Isla, "are coming with me."

Isla blinked at his sudden orders. What could they possibly want with her- Right, she was one of them.

Half of one.

She cautiously stepped over Elric's leg (he had been stretched out) glancing between Florian and her friends. She could tackle him and buy time for her friends, but Florian's fingers tapping impatiently against the doorframe told her otherwise. Once she was out of the cell, her wrist was gripped tightly as he closed the door with his other hand and locked it. Without a word, she was dragged behind the lithe Fae.

"We are...going to see her again...right?" Gwyneth inhaled, willing herself not to cry.

"I would say her chances are better than ours." Elric brought his legs in, inching himself closer to the princess to comfort her.

"Doesn't answer the question." Aston rolled his eyes. "We could end up not seeing her for an entirely different reason-"

"Do you never shut up?" Elric snapped, springing up. "In case you haven't gotten it through that thick skull of yours, now is not the time."

"Why should I hide what we're all already thinking anyway? Why can't we say what we mean and how we mean it?" Aston rose from his seat. He positioned his hand to summon a ball of fire before quickly remembering he couldn't.

"You wouldn't like it if we did." Elric sighed, sitting back down realizing the conversation was getting nowhere.

"Maybe it's time we started being honest with each other." Gwyneth frowned.