We recline in the middle of a forest clearing, watching the stars as we stretch out to ease our full bellies. Lucien and Arthur are now bantering after Arthur’s made a comment about a woman he’d met on the road claiming she was extremely beautiful, but not quite perfect.

“I know your type, Arthur,” Lucien teases him. “You like them to look exactly like light elves.”

“Ugh!” He groans. “It’s just not the same, and it never could be.”

“I’ve heard Princess Isabella is the closest any human has become in matching the beauty of the light elves,” I comment absently, not caring for the conversation, but feeling left out.

“You’re not wrong, she is quite beautiful, except for her hair. It’s not quite light enough.”

“You could convince her to put honey in it, and over time it would get lighter.”

“Truly?” He asks, excitedly, waiting for Lucien to confirm my statement.

“Luna’s correct, but it wouldn’t be lightened by much.”

“I tried it once, but it was exhausting, and sticky,” I sigh. “And a waste of good honey.”

I smile to myself, remembering how my sisters, mother and I had each tried to lighten our hair. Marcellus couldn’t tell the difference, but noticed how happy it made me, and wouldn’t say anything about it. He’d simply discouraged any future experimentation, commenting that my hair was light enough. It didn’t take much convincing to not do it again. The process had been long, and annoying.

“So, you’ve had your turn to annoy everyone. Now it’s my turn,” I smile, looking over at Lucien, and I’m surprised to see him already smiling back at me.

“I’m so glad I have two irritating humans choosing to journey with me on my first year to the Academy. It’ll be a lesson in being more wary of the company I choose to keep next time.”

“You know you like us,” Arthur teases. “Or you would have left us by now.”

“Your ego is showing, Arthur,” Lucien scolds him playfully. “Do me a favor, and put that dreadful thing away. Besides, it’s Luna’s turn to speak.”

“You can take a turn,” I say, looking over at him, surprised to find his gaze is still on me. “You’re several turns behind.”

“I’ve nothing of interest to say.”

“Well,” I say, propping myself up on one elbow in order to examine Lucien’s face better.

I can’t tell if he’s joking, or purposely giving us both a hard time, but I enjoy the way he looks in the moonlight, even if he’s barely visible.

“Tell us what’s on your mind then. Anything at all,” I grin.

“No,” he states, pursing his lips to form a pout.

He looks so endearing, it makes me snicker. His pout vanishes, and he looks smug, as if he’s won some unknown challenge between us.

“Lou,” whines Arthur. “We promise we won’t use it against you.”

“Dinner was delicious. That is all I’m thinking about,” he gives me a side-smile, determined to continue giving Arthur a hard time, and now pulling me into his game.

“It’s not, stop lying,” Arthur sighs heavily. “We just ventured into conversations about hair color. You must be far past thinking of dinner. I swear you can trust us with your deepest, darkest, elf secrets.”

“I am not a fool, and would never believe such a promise coming from you, no matter how much wine I’ve consumed.”

“I promise I’d never bring it up again,” I promise. “I’ll even let you prod me more about Marcellus, if you’d like.”

I raise my hand, making an oath to the heavens. He shakes his head, with an amused look.

“I believe you, of course, but you can keep your affairs with Marcellus to yourself, if you do not wish to begin rumors. This idiot cannot keep a secret, and cannot help inquiring further without being offensive.”

“You already told him we’re lovers. He couldn’t possibly be worse than you.”

“You underestimate him.”

“Hey!” Arthur cries. “We’re all friends here. I don’t go around spilling your secrets to anyone.”

Lucien returns his gaze to the stars, and I do the same, lying back with my hands at my sides, twisting the strands of grass between my fingertips. The cool night breeze makes my skin prickle, and I am beyond my normal levels of exhaustion, but I don’t want to stop looking at the stars. I don’t want to stop speaking with Lucien. I feel drawn to him; His warm smile, his inquiring eyes, his soothing voice, and the way he easily speaks to me as if we’ve always been friends. Or maybe, this is all in my imagination, and I’ve been daydreaming again.

“What’s the most amazing sight you’ve ever seen?” Lucien asks.

“Ibis Islands,” replies Arthur.

“What are islands?”

“I thought you were smart, Lucien. I guess you only know what Master Eaimer has taught you.”

“Arthur!” I scold him, then turn to look at Lucien, who looks over at me puzzled, but not the least bit upset. “Islands, like Ibis Islands, were formed by a volcano that once existed beneath the water where the islands now stand. Some are broken off from larger pieces of land, like other parts of the world beyond Amith.”

“Volcano?” He sits up, and looks down at me, his long braid cascading over his shoulder, reflecting the light of the moon. “What’s that?”

I prop myself up to meet his gaze again, losing hold of my senses in my weariness, feeling myself increasingly drawn to him. I’m taken aback momentarily by his endearing and inquiring glance, like a curious and trusting child, hungry for knowledge. I want to run my thumbs along his ears, and trace his braid with my fingers. I clear my throat, trying to focus.

“It’s like a mountain that’s connected to Gaia’s center, spilling out rock so hot, it runs like a river down its sides,” I say, motioning the flowing of a river with my hand, and giggling when he watches my fingers intently. “Where those rocks were cooled off by the surrounding waters, the islands formed.”

“A river of fire?” His eyes grow wide, flickering like a flame in the moonlight, and his earrings collide with each other loudly as he shakes his head excitedly. “I see… you call those volcanoes.”

“What was your next thought?”

“It was ridiculous,” he mutters. “I…”

“Go on,” says Arthur, teasingly.

“Never mind.”

“I’m listening,” I say, and this seems to encourage him.

“I once pictured a grand weeping willow surrounded by this powerful wind that kept it afloat over some strange city surrounded by stone walls. I’d forgotten all about it, since it’s been a long time, but lately, I keep dreaming of it.”

“That sounds like Zelfari,” says Arthur. “Except the tree isn’t floating, it’s just really old.”

He’s more alert now. “Such a thing exists?”

“It does. It’s not very impressive.”

“I want to see it one day. I’ve been… visited by that image often, and I’ve always wondered what it meant.”

“You’re right, that’s ridiculous,” says Arthur, stretching, and letting out a yawn. “I’m going to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Arthur,” says Lucien, with a smile, following him with his eyes as he walks past us.

“Goodnight, Arthur,” I say, my eyes drawn to the expression on Lucien’s face.

When Arthur is no longer within earshot, I give Lucien a devious grin.

“Is he your complication in love?”

Lucien gives me a puzzled look, and pouts. I want to pinch his cheeks.

“What?”

“Arthur. You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”

Lucien scoffs, then laughs bitterly. “I see he’s already had an effect on you. You’re catching his stupidity, but I’ll forgive you. It’s quite contagious. I’ve witnessed it myself.”

“Lucien, one would have to be blind not see the way you look at him. So, if you’re trying to conceal it, I must warn you that you’re not doing it well enough.”

He scoffs again, and I half expect him to leave, but he rolls over to his side instead, and gazes at me. There’s a strange glimmer in his eye.

“It doesn’t matter. Not only is he a human, he’s also a man, and that is greatly frowned upon by all of you. You cannot even figure out your own simple relationships, too afraid to admit your feelings for each other when your life is already so short.”

“Aren’t you judgmental?” I ask, irritably.

“Simply stating the facts.”

“You almost make me regret not speaking to Marcellus,” I frown.

“You should speak to him, and finally lay all your feelings out, so that they may rest. You’ll be much happier, I guarantee it.”

“What about you and Arthur?”

“Luna,” he gasps. “Please, I won’t speak of that.”

“You can’t or you won’t speak about it with me?”

“As long as you swear to only speak of it to me, and no one else. Ever! Especially not Arthur,” he pleads.

He pouts again, and I can feel my self-control beginning to slip. It was such an endearing look, on his otherwise serious face. I laugh, and pinch his cheek. He looks even more upset now, and rubs his face, as if it’s been soiled.

“I’m not a child, you know.”

“Nor am I, Lucien. I won’t say a word to Arthur, you need not worry. If I can keep my sisters’ secrets, I can keep yours.”

“Arthur is such an idiot,” Lucien begins, laying back on his arms, letting his defenses down slightly. “He’s also spirited, and charming. I cannot help being drawn to him. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“I haven’t witnessed his charm. I wasn’t aware he had any.”

“It’s… he’s an acquired taste,” he reassures me, sounding doubtful.

“That definitely explains it, then. How long until I witness his… charm?”

“We’ve known each other since I was eight years old, and he was ten.”

“Forever, then?”

“Well, yes. He is an idiot about most things, but he knows my true feelings for him.”

“He does?” I exclaim in surprise.

“I forget who I’m speaking to,” he groans, pained by the excited look I give him. “I’ve just set myself up for a long night of interrogations, I suppose?”

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

“So, make it easy for both of us, and get to the point.”

“I’ve wanted to lay with him,” he looks away.

I blush, and the tips of his ears go dark blue.

“Sorry, I swear I’m not judging you, I just can’t imagine ever admitting such a thing out loud about anyone.”

“Well, I can never have enough of him. I’m quite drawn to him… for some reason. It’s embarrassing.”

“And did it happen?”

“We haven’t, but my feelings continue to become stronger, and his feelings are diminishing rather quickly, so I’d rather not entertain the thought.”

“Oh… Sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he tuts. “It wasn’t a situation I wanted to ever find myself in.”

“Afraid?”

“No,” he scoffs.

“Then what?”

“Gods, Luna, have some manners,” He laughs, dryly. “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you. I don’t want to discuss it further. I think I’ve already trusted you with enough of my secrets to make me uncomfortable for the entirety of your existence.”

“When I was seven, my father brought home a bunch of pastries from the shop. I didn’t often have pastries, and they were so delicious that before I knew it, I ate the last one we were saving for my father. When my mother asked who took it, I lied and told her that Celestia did it.”

“You’re ruthless.”

“Before my poor sister could even defend herself to my father, he forgave her, and confessed that he’d brought home a second box, and we could enjoy more. My mother forbade Celestia from taking any, and she cried the whole night until she fell asleep. I’d saved my pastry, feeling too ill from the whole situation. I woke my sister in the dead of night, and gave it to her. She forgave me, shared it with me, and never told another soul what I’d done. Instead, she still holds it over my head to this day.”

“Why are you telling me all this?”

“Now you know my deepest, darkest secret.”

Lucien laughs in amusement, and I feel relieved.

“I’m still not going to talk about Arthur, though that was quite an amusing tale, and an impressive attempt.”

I sigh. I assume it's safe to share my true secrets to him, knowing he’ll forget me soon enough when we reach the Academy.

“When I lived in Mirror Lake, there was a girl that none of the wealthy children liked, named Angelina, because she looked different from all of us. She had strange hair that stuck out in all directions, with strands of silver, and her skin was almost as dark as the night sky. They’d make fun of her for looking old, and so different from the other dark elves, and, of course, I wanted to fit in, so I joined them. We teased her relentlessly, and there wasn’t a day I ever saw her smile,” I take a deep breath, feeling my chest tightening into a knot.

“One day,” I swallow hard, and continue on. “We were all just being… downright nasty, throwing rocks at her in the forest where no one would see us. She slipped, trying to get away from us, and fell into the river. All of the other children left fearing punishment, and would have surely pinned the blame on me because I wasn’t really their friend, I was just always around them. She screamed for help, and instead of helping her, I decided she was going to do just fine on her own. I followed everyone back.

“The next day, I found out from my mother that she’d drowned in the river. She said very nasty things about the children that teased her, not knowing I was one of them, because none of them ever bothered to learn my name when they were ratting each other out. She prayed for divine intervention to teach those children a lesson. That very day was the day my family and I left for Bellehaven. My sisters and I were bullied relentlessly for our appearances, just because of our silver gray hair when we first arrived. It went on almost as long as I’d teased Angelina. I felt rotten knowing my sisters were paying for my sins, except I wasn’t dead in a river somewhere like her.”

I wipe a tear from my eye, and look over at Lucien, who appears saddened. “Anyway… Are we even now?”

“We didn’t have to be but… I’d say so. Uh-… Luna…” he looks up towards the stars, and smiles. “I know a wealthy man from Mirror Lake by the name Montclair, with a beautiful daughter. She has the softest, darkest, curliest hair I’ve ever seen. She’d even inherited her mother’s dark, luc- smooth skin. I could barely keep my eyes off her. She seemed unreal, beyond any beauty I could have ever imagined.

“Her father noticed my gaze wander to her during the middle of his admittedly dull story, and he mentioned that before everyone thought of her as a breath-taking woman, she was teased relentlessly by the other children. He’d never known until she was brought back to him by a hunter that heard her cries in the forest. She told him how she’d fallen in the river, and none of the children helped her. He was so furious, he lied to the townspeople about her death.”

“You’re lying.”

He holds up a finger before I can say another word.

“He let them think she’d died until finally confessing to the townspeople that Lady Angelina was home with a cold. Each child received quite a punishment. And then he warned me that she was engaged to be married to Prince Raiden Tempest of the City of Lights, not that I admitted any interest. I have a good feeling about her marriage. She’s very good with… She’s simply divine.”

“Sweet Selene certainly has a sense of humor.”

“She does. Lady Angelina is one of the best of you pathetic humans I’ve ever met. She was extremely kind to me, and is a dear friend of mine despite all the rumors in the west that she’s been exposed to.”

“Well, I guess we’re no longer even.”

“We’re even, don’t worry about that. Are you feeling weary yet?”

“Oh, that’s right!” I exclaim, having forgotten the small sleeping draught sitting in my tent. “Arthur made a potion for you. He says it would help you sleep. It’s in my pack.”

“Oh,” he sounds pleasantly surprised. “I’ll have to thank him in the morning. He… he did make this himself, right? Not you?”

“Yes, it is fully made by Arthur, including his dreadful cutting skills. Have you always had trouble sleeping?” I yawn, exhaustion hitting me twice as hard suddenly.

“I… no. Nothing could keep me awake in the past. One day, that idiot over there got himself kidnapped, because he wasn’t keeping guard like he was supposed to, as you heard in his tale. What he never mentions is that I didn’t hear any of his shouts or cries for help at first. It wasn’t until the next day when I hunted his captors down, in a state of mania, that I slaughtered every single one of them. I didn’t realize what I’d done, and wish I could redo that whole night over. I still can’t sleep well because it haunts me, and he sleeps like a log every night. Even with a sleeping draught, I will be alert at the sound of a pin dropping miles away. He always remembers that tale fondly, because it was the first time he saw the true capabilities of my magic, but… it’s not a fond memory for me.”

“That accursed light elf trait,” I tease him lightly.

“Yes,” he chuckles.

I awake the next morning to the sound of footsteps trekking through the forest. Gripping my dagger tightly in my hand, I wait quietly, until I hear the familiar sound of laughter, as Lucien and Arthur walk back to our camp.

“Lucien, I forgot how good you are at dueling!” His voice becomes muffled, and I can’t catch the rest of his statement.

“Good morning, Luna,” calls Lucien. “Sorry we woke you.”

“G-Good morning,” I stutter.

“I… I’m going to wash up,” says Arthur. “Uh… good morning, Luna.”

I hear his fading footsteps crunching the earth beneath his boots as he walks away to the nearby river.

“Good morning… Arthur,” I say, awkwardly, knowing Lucien is the only one remaining.

He sighs, as he passes my tent. “I’m sorry we woke you.”

“It’s… alright.”

There’s a tension in the air, and I am grateful for any sound that can fill even a fraction of the unbearable silence between the three of us. I feel Lucien’s gaze on me, but I have already failed to catch him in the act several times.

“Luna,” laughs Arthur.

Now that the silence is broken, I wonder if it would have been better to endure it, than to listen to Arthur.

“Why are you so unusually quiet?”

It was better.

“You’re the one who’s quiet,” I retort, catching a quick glimpse of Lucien.

He immediately averts his gaze from me. His ear tips become dark.

“Look,” says Arthur, more seriously. “I know Lucien confided in you about our close relationship, but believe me, nothing’s happened. I’m a free man.”

I gasp, and look away, wanting to bury myself in a deep hole, or that Gaia will mercifully swallow me whole to remove me from this situation.

“Arthur,” Lucien whispers harshly. “She thought nothing of it, but you’ve made it awkward.”

“He did tell me,” I admit. “I want nothing to do with it.”

“Always the smart ones, huh, Lou?” Arthur lets out a bitter laugh. “I know you know, so let’s just pretend there’s nothing to it.”

“Dammit!” shouts Lucien, angrily. “Can we just be awkwardly quiet for the rest of this trip, please? She didn’t think anything of it until you said something. You’re the one making everything so uncomfortable, and I wish you’d shut up.”

“I’m alright with that,” I mumble. “And he’s right, I didn’t pass any kind of judgment.”

I distract myself by staring off into the forest, and spot the shadowstalker again.

“Nothing happened, Luna!” Arthur whines.

“I didn’t think anything happened, but you sound highly concerned, and you’re making me uncomfortable.”

“See!” Lucien shouts. “Nothing happened, but because you mentioned it, it sounds like something did.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, and we continue to walk in silence.

“Is that the shadowstalker you were talking about?” Arthur exclaims.

Lucien and I wince, feeling pained that he still wants to continue talking with us.

“Tis,” sighs Lucien.

The day felt like endless suffering. The quiet is better than the talking, but the talking is more entertaining. Lucien and Arthur exchange hushed whispers. They’re standing very close, their fingertips brushing past each other as they walk side by side. It reminds me of when my friend got a boyfriend, but they were too embarrassed to share their relationship status with anyone. I felt insignificant. I feel insignificant now. I’m just a passing tree in the forest that surrounds us. Like a disposable character in their romantic tale. I wonder if I should just allow myself to fall behind, and get lost in the sea of people around us.

Our lunch is quiet.

Our dinner is quiet.

Everything is unbearably quiet.

I lie in my tent wanting to scream just to fill the silence. I long for Marcellus’ company. I long for my family. I long to be anywhere else but here.

“Luna,” comes Lucien’s voice from somewhere in the dark.

I remain quiet, pretending to have fallen asleep.

“Luna, I can hear that you’re awake. I know what your breathing sounds like when you’re sleeping.”

“What do you want?” I ask, trying my best to sound irritated, when in fact, his voice is much more preferable to the silence.

“I’ve spoken to your shadowstalker.”

“What?” I gasp quietly, intrigued.

“Shhhh,” he hisses. “If you wake Arthur, he’ll chase it away.”

I creep out of my tent, slip on my boots, and pull my cloak tightly over my body. A distraction from this day is just what I need right now. Lucien’s fingers press something against my lips. It’s a leaf. I take it from his hands, and hold it to my nose. The familiar scent of Nightshade Lumina fills my nose with a fishy smell.

Moments later, I can see in the darkness as well as I can in the light of day. Lucien presses a finger lightly over my lips to quiet me, then takes my wrist. I’ve been transported into another world where it is just the two of us running through an enchanted forest, as he leads me towards the stars.

We travel far from our camp, and towards Selene on the horizon, bright and full and beautiful. My breath is lost when I take in the sight before me; A large waterfall surrounded by lush, flowering plants, the crashing of the waters drowning out all sounds of the surrounding forest.

Lucien turns to face me. His long braid cascades over his shoulder, each strand perfectly in place. His robes billow softly in the breeze. The light of the moon perfectly reflects off his horns and the strands of his hair. His eyes are like the embers of a dying flame. He’s even more breath-taking than the sight before me.

The shadowstalker is a formless mass of darkness that absorbs all light. It has bright, white eyes that seem to pierce my soul with its gaze. Lucien and I stare, approaching hesitantly. Its shape begins to change, and the figure takes my form. A glowing petal surfaces out of the palm of its hand, and it presses the petal into my palm. I glance over at Lucien, who points at his mouth when our eyes meet. He means for me to eat it. I shake my head, having never encountered such a plant, and knowing that by the color and the glow, it has high chances of coming from a poisonous plant. Lucien points at the petal, and then his mouth, convinced I haven’t understood him.

“No,” I hiss, and shake my head.

“Luna, just do it.”

“You eat it!” I whisper harshly, startling the shadowstalker.

It vanishes into a puff of smoke, and reappears poking his head around the trunk of a tree.

“Luna, it’s a blessing from Selene.”

“Blessing? Is that what it said? Did it seem upset with me at all?” I twist the soft petal uneasily between my fingers, and look up at the shadowstalker, still hiding.

The shadowstalker takes Lucien’s shape, and its form points at the flower petal, then points at its mouth. It thinks it needs to teach me how to eat, and begins demonstrating how to chew and swallow.

“It doesn’t have to be today, does it?”

Lucien speaks to it with his hands which make the sounds of a gentle breeze blowing through the trees, and it responds to him with the sound of a thunderstorm. I flinch from the sound of clapping thunder. Lucien ducks and covers his ears. He flicks his fingers, responding with a gentle ripple of raindrops on the surface of water.

“That sounded… not good,” I mutter.

“It said it’s traveled a long way, and will not hesitate to take the gift away.”

“Why me?” I ask, pointing at myself.

A gentle breeze makes the grass ripple around us like waves. Its eyes shut, and it turns away from us.

“He said it is what Selene has told him to do, and he will not question the gods.”

“Selene?” I gasp. “They speak to Selene?”

A small whirlwind surrounds me, and gently blows my hair, as if caressing me.

“It… said they do, but it is not permitted to inquire further. It seems fond of you, though. It seems to know who you are from your time in Bellehaven.”

I twist the petal a few more times in my hand, pinch my nose, and swallow it whole, forcing a smile, as the shadowstalker watches me curiously. Seconds later, it vanishes after it’s convinced I’ve actually swallowed the petal. I go through a mental checklist of healing potions that will save me from an unknown plant poisoning.

“I’ll need marigold petals, and… honey, and-”

“Luna, relax. I think you’re fine.”

“You didn’t just eat the petal,” I say harshly. “Is this how I die?”

My body is plunged into a dark pool of water. The only thing I can see is Selene high in the night sky. I search frantically for land, but Selene only gets closer and larger, until she consumes the sky around me, so bright and full, I need to shield my eyes. Her light is all I can see around me.

“A vessel?” I hear a gentle voice inquire. “Your best one?”

“Yes, Mother,” a soft voice responds.

“She’s perfect, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Mother.”