Chapter Text
At the edge of town stood an extremely tall man, his hair tied up in a bun. He had come to investigate rumors of a plant that drained vitality. It didn’t take long for him to let out a small sigh. “Found you”
Carefully he made his way in. making sure not to step on a vine or plant. The air was rich with mana which was becoming rarer and rarer in this ever-evolving world. He was surprised to see there were still some people living in town. Mostly children and most of them having been changed by the magic swirling around. Humans were not designed to be around it all the time without training.
“Excuse me” the man bent down as to not tower over the child. “Do you know what’s causing this?”
They cautiously nodded and held out a hand.
The child pointed at the crumbling ruins of a greenhouse. Covered in vines and thorns like a protective barrier. “She keeps us safe” they said weakly. “don’t hurt her, she already cries all the time.”
He patted the child on the head. “I may end up making her cry a little, but I am here to help. Thank you for showing this to me.”
The child nodded and walked off.
Inside the greenhouse was quite marvelous. Rare healing herbs that had been lost to time were growing in abundance. A faint glow was coming off the statue in the center as all her magic went into feeding the garden. A noise similar to crying could be heard in the room yet it did not react to the man entering.
“My first time was difficult too” he made his way to the statue and gently placed a hand on the weapon. A flood of emotion ran through him. Fear, anger, hatred, love. They had all bled into the blade giving it an odd power. Over and over the voice called out.
‘I just wanted to help’ over and over.
“You did your best, but it’s time to let go” he very slowly pulled on the blade. At first it wouldn’t budge but He would not be deterred. “Your fear is holding you to this stone, Please Ciellarian.”
It had been centuries since she had heard her name. The magic in the room began to calm down. The holy sword began to lose its glow and slowly slid out. “that’s right” he gently took her outstretched hand. “There is nothing to fear anymore.”
With a quick motion the blade was out. The light held within completely faded and it crumbled into rusted chunks shortly after.
The statue didn’t move for what felt like ages until small cracks started to form. It first flaked off her hands and feet. She was trembling as skin that had a layer of stony protection was now exposed.
As her face cleared, she looked at who had finally released her seal. “Dad?” Her voice was so rough.
“Sorry I took so long, while not as bad as your situation I found myself in a bit of a pickle” Aloe brushes some flakes of stone out of her hair.
“Dad!” She managed to squeak out again as she sobbed even more and tried to move to hug him, but her body wouldn’t listen. She looked around horrified. “I did this? I just… wanted to protect the garden.”
He held her close. “You did, though it looks like you went a bit overboard. It will take a while to make up for the damage. Are you prepared?” His voice was a little stern but also so very kind.
“Yes” she slowly looked down at the plants she had been protecting. “I can’t wait to travel the world with you again.” She felt herself trembling “I don’t want to stay in one place for so long ever again” she cried more and the vines that threatened to harm any threats began to wither.
Aloe Wrapped her in his cape as the weather was cool and her clothing had rotted away centuries ago. As he left the greenhouse five children stood outside, worried that their protector was no longer there. “You are welcome to tag along” Aloe informed. “Or you can keep tending to the garden, The magic should last for the rest of your life span.”
The children muttered but all decided to stay. “She would be sad if the plants died right?” the one that led Aloe stepped forward. “We are hoping that next time she visits she will be able to smile.”
Ciella looked at them. “Is it really ok for me to leave?” she asked Aloe.
“Do you want to stay?” she shook her head slowly. “How about this, you tell me about all the things you saw in these past thousand years or so… then you don’t have to carry that memory alone”
She was shocked to hear how long it had been since they parted ways. “Right… Then I’ll tell you everything from the beginning” he carried her into the forest and after making their way to a little log cabin that had seen better days. He put on a cup of tea in a rather fancy antique tea set and shared stories of their misadventures.
It took about a month before Ciella was back to moving around like normal, another month for the hole in her chest to fully close. Once again, she was cleaning up the house, making sure nothing with take over in their absence. “You sure you are ready to travel again so soon?” Aloe smiled knowing that once his daughter had an idea, she would run with it.
“Yes, less people are able to stumble in here since they are afraid to go into forests” She ignored the fact that she was partially to blame for people’s fear of plants. She looked down. “I did a lot of damage both by killing innocents and for not being able to help those in need. It’s time to make up for that” she made sure their small wagon was packed full of tools and plants. “Plus, a thousand years may not mean much to us, but Humans change so much in that time! I want to see it all” she had the biggest smile she had ever had in ages. “Also, Garreth or Albert may have reincarnated! It would be fun to meet them again, even if they don’t remember me.” though she knew it was unlikely as she looked up at the sky and smiled.
The idea of possibly sharing the sky with those she cared about meant the world to her right now. Even if it took another thousand years to see them. One thousand years was nothing to a fairy.
