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Pebbles and twigs scratched Wise’s bare feet as he walked down the uneven road. The scrapes and pain from the stones were negligible compared to the tickle of grass and ether. Wise closed his eyes and he could still see his surroundings clearly. The village was behind him with Calydon’s castle towering beyond that. He was miles away yet he still warily looked back to ensure that no one was following him. The shifting ether would tell him long before someone approached him but he wanted to be cautious.
Even lost in thought, he used the hidden path enough for his feet to follow the route on its own. He absorbed ether energy from the earth beneath his feet. As a Proxy and nymph, he was able to channel his senses through ether. He needed to keep his identity a secret so he seldom visited the village. He couldn’t risk someone following him to his home near the Tree Hollow.
He arrived at the edge of a river. A fallen tree stretched across the water and acted as a bridge for him. When he stepped onto the bark, the world around him became hazy. His senses returned to that of a human. He took one final glance behind him.
Flags flew over the castle. The village had been bustling with a festive atmosphere lately. Over the past week, the Sons of Calydon had been preparing a welcoming ceremony for their new Champion. The Sons of Calydon governed the village and their Champion had a unique role of fighting beasts that escaped the Tree Hollow. It was a dangerous job so the village would hold a festival and masquerade ball.
It was tradition to hold a festival whenever a new Champion was named. The pessimistic side of Wise thought that it was a disingenuous gesture. The title of Champion was closer to a death sentence because they faced beasts from the Tree Hollow every day. A single night of drinking and dancing was nothing more than a facade of a feast.
Wise recalled a time when he thought he could save Champions. Would his teacher have laughed at the foolish dream or simply pity his naivety?
He had outgrown fairy tales centuries ago but he would never forget one story. The image of a nutcracker dancing with a ballerina played on his mind. What would it be like? Wise took three practised steps forward and performed a fouette de jambe en tourant. He completed the spin and came to a graceful stop, playing a pointed foot on the bark for balance. He measured the tree with his eyes and wondered how many jeté it would take to cross.
“Don’t you need more space to dance?” The unfamiliar voice startled Wise. He hadn’t heard someone approach the lake so he assumed he was alone. Wise turned to face the person but he couldn’t maintain his momentum in his haste. The wet bark didn’t give him enough traction and he slipped towards the water. He blindly flailed his arm to catch himself.
When he crashed into the lake, the freezing cold water made it difficult for him to orientate himself. He struggled against the current until he felt a warm grip encircle his wrist. Wise was pulled to the surface and he broke through the water coughing. The hand on his wrist moved to his back and eased the bite of the cold water.
“I didn’t think I would scare you so much that you’d jump into the water to escape.” The man circled his arm around Wise’s waist and pulled him closer to the shore where it was shallow enough for them to stand. He patted his back again. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You just surprised me.” Wise answered once the water was free from his lungs and he could breathe. Though, when he looked up at the man, he found his breath stolen once again. He didn’t recognize the handsome man in front of him. He was taller than him and his wet clothes clung to his strong muscles. His dark hair was also wet and seemed to be as easily maintained as that easy smile he gave him. The sunglasses he wore weren’t able to hide his green eyes when they were so close.
“I think I should still apologize.” His voice was like honey but Wise raised a brow at his apology. The fall was an accident and neither of them was hurt. The man lifted his hand and wiped away a water drop from Wise’s hair. “I heard Proxies live in the Tree Hollow. I never expected to find a water fairy dancing here. It’s dangerous here so I can walk you back to the village. My name’s Lighter.”
“There’s no need!” He stiffened when he called him a fairy. He hoped that his quick rejection wouldn’t make Lighter suspicious. The man’s armour and strong build told him that the stranger was a knight. Most would happily accept his offer and take the hand he held out to him. Wise slowly drew back. “I actually live on a nearby farm. It’s far enough from the Hollow so Proxies and demons won’t target me.”
Before Lighter could say anything further, Wise climbed up the riverbank and onto the grassy slope. His clothes clung to his body and he did his best to wring the water from his shirt. Lighter rested his arms on the riverbank but he didn’t follow him out of the lake. His green eyes skimmed over Wise and he wondered if he could see through him in that moment. A farmer wouldn’t be wearing a silk tunic or walking barefoot. If Lighter suspected that he was lying, he didn’t say anything.
“Goodbye, Lighter. You should head back to your own home before the lake gives you a cold.” Wise warned him. For a moment, Lighter thought that his turquoise eyes became a vibrant blue. The colour settled back to a soft green so Lighter assumed that it was merely a change in lighting.
He watched Wise run back to the main road. Lighter considered following him to walk him home. He was brought to the city only that morning and he didn’t know many people. When he saw someone dancing on the river, he thought he could make one friend before Big Daddy formally introduced him to the city. Was fate mocking him with that first encounter?
Lighter leaned back and just floated in the river, enjoying the quiet and peace of the slow current. He knew that it would be a long time before he would be able to feel that again. Big Daddy asked if he wanted to become the city’s new Champion. It wasn’t much of a choice for Lighter. Between his debt and underground fighting ring, even the dangerous role of Champion was better than his old life.
He closed his eyes and pictured the man dancing over the tree trunk. His movements were graceful and fluid as if he truly was a water fairy. He would’ve liked to dance with him one day.
“A new commission arrived while you were gone.” Belle said when Wise returned home. A toy bunny ran to greet him and he leaned down to gently pat its ears. She turned in her chair and raised a brow when she saw him. “Did something happen on your errand? You're back late and completely soaked.”
“I ran into a little trouble on the way home.” Wise shrugged. When he saw worry cross his sister’s face, he quickly added: “Nothing dangerous happened. The village was more crowded since they’re holding a festival for the new Champion. There was a knight patrolling the river and I accidentally fell in when I saw him. He called me a water fairy.”
“A fairy? That knight must be infatuated with you to give you a wonderful nickname. Fairies are beautiful, strong and intelligent.” Fairy said proudly. A small cluster of stardust settled onto Wise’s shoulder. He wasn’t startled by the anomaly since it made itself home in the Tree Hollow months ago. “Will you meet him again? He has good taste.”
“The man was a knight and it’ll be dangerous if he learns who we are. We shouldn’t go back into the village for a few weeks. They’re welcoming a new Champion. People are going to watch the Hollow closer now that the role has been filled. Commissions might be slower until Hollow Raiders decide if they can trust the Sons of Calydon.” Wise changed the focus from the knight to the Champion.
“You should’ve said that sooner before Fairy took another commission this morning. The client left just as you returned.” Belle said and held up a folder. She slipped out a photo of a blond woman. “The client is from the Montefio family and they want us to find their daughter, Luciana.”
“Did she get lost and enter the Tree Hollow? We should go find her before the demons can.”
Wise and his sister were nymphs but they didn’t live in the Tree Hollow. They lived as humans on a small farm near the Hollow and took odd jobs helping people. Most of their clients were merchants who needed someone to guide them through the Hollow.
“Luciana isn’t lost in the Tree Hollow. Her parents believe that she has been kidnapped by the Sons of Calydon. They want us to find proof to bring against Caesar and her knights.” Gathering information was an easy task for them. They were nymphs and they had a unique connection to ether flowing through the world. However, finding information on the Sons of Calydon could be difficult even for them. The castle was well guarded and they would be arrested for trespassing in the castle.
Fairy spoke up. She spoke in a proud and boastful tone. “Belle was going to reject the commission because of the risks. But Fairy was the one who came up with a perfect plan. The Sons of Calydon are holding a masquerade ball for the Champion. That will be the perfect opportunity for you to enter their stronghold and search for Luciana.”
“Everyone will be wearing masks so we can keep our identity hidden without being suspicious.” Wise said but he still had reservations. “But we’ll need official invitations. Neither Belle nor I have something extravagant enough for a masquerade ball.”
“Leave that to Fairy!”
“Remember, Fairy’s magic will only last until midnight. Meet me here before the clock chimes eleven.” Wise warned his sister in a hushed whisper. He held onto her hand tightly as they climbed down from a large tree. They used their ability to sense changes in Ether to evade the knights patrolling the wall. If only climbing over the wall was as simple. He was out of breath from climbing the wall in his suit.
Wise still had reservations about the plan. Only highborn families were invited so they could be charged with trespassing. It was too late to return now that they were in the castle’s garden. He could hear the band from across the grove from where it flowed out of the open courtyard. The ball had already started and he hoped that they would be able to blend in with the crowd.
Worried for his sister, he adjusted the clip in her short hair. The gem shone with Fairy’s power. They went over the plan a thousand times that afternoon but he repeated it once more. “Keep the Sons of Calydon distracted. However, don’t do anything that would risk your safety. The commission money isn’t worth going to prison. I’ll be out here so use Fairy to contact me if you need anything.”
“Leave the reconnaissance to me.” Belle said more confidently than Wise felt. No matter how much he trusted his sister, it made him uneasy to watch her enter the castle alone. Their plan was to split the tasks in two: one would mingle with the Sons of Calydon for information while the other searched the castle with Eous. Since Belle was more sociable, she volunteered for the former role.
They said goodbye to each other before she picked up her skirt and made her way to the castle. She walked up the grand stairway towards the ball. The castle seemed to glimmer like moonlight in the night. Even in a world of magic, he would describe it as enchanting. He had seen the castle on visits to the village but this was the first time he was so close to it. However, he wasn’t focused on its beauty. He thought of the number of guards and how difficult it would be to sneak through the castle.
Wise searched for a secluded corner of the garden where he could hide himself. After following the hedges, he found himself in an empty gazebo. The courtyard was empty and Wise allowed himself to relax. He placed Eous on the ground and knelt in front of the short rabbit. His eyes shone blue as he linked their senses together. His vision was replaced by Eous’s.
He instructed the rabbit to enter the castle and it ran through the garden. It would be easier for Eous to search for Lucy rather than himself. Wise could no longer see the garden so he gripped the pillar of the gazebo. Linking his senses with Eous was useful for reconnaissance, he felt far more vulnerable alone. He carefully lowered himself onto a bench.
Through Eous’s eyes, he was able to see the roaring party that was meters away from him. He didn’t have the layout of the castle so they needed to be thorough while they searched the room. Wise made a map of the castle in his mind using the flow of Ether. He instructed Eous to follow the path with the strongest fire energy that might’ve been left behind by Luciana.
“I must be lucky to find two water fairies in one day.”
The familiar voice shocked Wise enough for him to break his link with Eous. The garden slowly came back into focus and he found a handsome man standing in front of him. Lighter no longer wore armour yet Wise still recognized him from their encounter at the river. To his confusion, Lighter didn’t wear a mask for the masquerade ball.
Fairy, tell Belle to find Eous and leave the ball immediately. Wise quickly sent the message through the ether veins in the ground. He hoped that Belle would receive it quickly enough.
Lighter bowed to him as though he were a nobleman. Wise looked down at his formal waistcoat made from Fairy’s magic. He needed to play the role and placed his fingers in the hand that Lighter held out to him. His heart quickened when Lighter kissed his fingertips. He told himself that it was merely a polite gesture expected from nobles. But his own reaction to such a small kiss confused him. Could it be fear that Lighter would see through him or how handsome the man was?
In the short moment that it took for Lighter to pull him to his feet, Wise’s mind raced with a thousand excuses for why he was in the garden instead of the ball. “I’m not one for crowded parties like this. My sister wanted to come and she needed a chaperon. I stepped out for fresh air and to rest my feet. I should return to the ballroom and my sister.”
“When you and your sister leave, will you use the tree or the front door?” His direct question was spoken in an even voice but it caused a rock to drop in Wise’s stomach. He warily looked at his hand in Lighter’s grip. He expected the knight to drag him to Caesar and have them publicly arrested. Wise silently berated himself for being so careless. Even if he was dressed as a prince, Lighter would know the truth because they met at the lake.
To Wise’s surprise, Lighter moved his hand to the crook of his arm as though he was going to escort him to the ball. “Don’t worry, neither of us should be here. I’ll keep your secret. I don’t like crowded parties as well. My friends said that I have to come because it’s tradition. But Princess Lucy can’t drag me back if I’m helping a lost water fairy.”
Wise almost corrected him that he was a nymph but he stopped himself. He stared at Lighter’s face, searching for a hint of what his true intention could be. He decided to trust him for now and followed him out of a gazebo. They entered the garden where grand statues overshadowed colourful flowers. He could easily imagine the fairy tale scene the flowers would create in the daylight. In the moonlight, Wise’s eyes immediately fell onto the fountain.
He stopped at the rim of the fountain and watched the light reflecting in the water. Golden candles, elegant dresses and multicoloured gems from the ballroom blended together. Wise touched the water, causing ripples to distort the image. When the fountain settled, he saw Lighter framed by the stars above. Wise looked up and their eyes met.
“My name is Wise. It’s better than being called a fairy.”
“I meant no offense with the nickname. Your dance was graceful like a fairy dancing so that was the first name I thought of.”
“Oh,” Wise felt heat rise onto his cheeks. “My friend would be proud to hear that compliment.”
“You don’t like it?” He asked and his brows drew together. Lighter hadn’t meant to hurt him with such a simple name. He didn’t know why it made Wise frown but the hesitant expression tugged something in Lighter. He held out his hand to Wise. “Can I make it up for you with a dance?”
The logical side of Wise knew that it was best to find a way to leave. Despite that, Wise stepped into his arms and placed his hands on Lighter’s broad shoulders. Perhaps it was the music or dreamlike lighting from the ballroom slipping into the garden. He placed his hand on his waist and led him through the steps. They found that matching the other’s pace came naturally. They circled the courtyard together and Wise relaxed into the moment.
As they danced, they spoke. “You’re a strange knight, Lighter. Most would follow their duty and have me arrested for trespassing. I’m grateful that you’re not chasing me and my sister out of the castle. The only thing is… Can I ask why? Are the Sons of Calydon cruel so you don’t feel loyalty to them?”
“Big Daddy saved my life. I would be dead in an arena if he hadn’t paid off my debt. Caesar and the others have been kind to me ever since I came.” The way he spoke of the castle confused Wise further. He wanted to probe for more information about Luciana. He only found himself lost with Lighter’s intention. What could he want from a simple dance and protecting him from arrest?
Lighter lifted their linked hand above Wise’s head and turned him in a circle. They came together again and he wrapped one arm around his waist. He wasn’t surprised by how strong his arms were because Lighter was a knight. Yet, his hands were also light and gentle as he led him through the dance. Wise couldn’t remember the last time when he had so much fun dancing. They flew from one song to the next, discussing the Sons of Calydon between steps.
“I heard that the King family has a rivalry with the Montefio. Do you think one would attack the other or do anything to provoke them? As a farmer, my home and land would be destroyed if a war starts.” Wise tried to keep his suggestion vague. It was uncertain how much a knight could tell him but he took the opportunity to ask.
“We have ways to keep the Montefio under control.” Lighter thought the reassurance would make him happy. Instead of that, he felt Wise’s fingers tremble against his shoulder. He leaned down to see his face better in the moonlight. At the same time, Wise tilted his head back to look at him. They were close enough for him to feel his breath against his lips.
“You have Luciana de Montefio prisoner?”
The accusation shocked Lighter and he couldn’t react when Wise suddenly pushed him away. He found his footing again almost immediately. Wise turned on his heel and ran from him. He stepped into the fountain and ran through the falling water. Lighter dashed around the fountain, expecting to meet him on the other side. However, he had seemingly disappeared. Lighter found himself alone in the quiet courtyard.
Behind Lighter, the clocker tower rang twelve times.
Wise was certain that he would faint with exhaustion. Between transforming into a nymph and flying above the gate, he was tired. They didn’t have physical evidence that the Sons of Calydon was holding Luciana hostage but Lighter’s words confirmed it. They would need to create another plan to enter the castle. He was too worried for his family to think of that and he only wanted to return home.
To his relief, he found his sister waiting for him at the fallen tree. He only allowed himself to rest now that he was certain that they were safe. They were a fair distance from the castle and Lighter hadn’t followed him at least. However, the brief reprieve he felt disappeared once he was closer. Belle stood alone on the fallen tree.
“Belle, where’s Eous?”
“I thought he was with you.”
They had lost Eous at the ball.