As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting the village in a golden glow, the villagers gathered at the edge of the Moonlite Maiden's Forest. The air was crisp with the scent of pine and the lingering warmth of a spring day. Marcelia stood beside Rayner, her eyes scanning the crowd. It was as if the entire village had come to bid him farewell, from the elders who had seen him grow up, to the children who always found him fascinating, fae tricks and all.
The village elder and chief, a wizened woman named Elda, stepped forward. She carried a worn, leather-bound book in her hands, her wrinkled face soft with a bittersweet smile. Rayner, for the first time in days, seemed oddly still-no playful grin or sarcastic comment to break the moment.
"Rayner," Elda began, her voice rich with the weight of years, "You've been a part of this village for so long that we can hardly imagine the days before you arrived. You've helped us in ways both magical and mundane. And for that, we are forever grateful."
There were nods from the villagers, and a few quiet murmurs of agreement. Marcelia could see Rayner's jaw tighten, the way his gaze dropped slightly to the ground. She reached out, gently touching his arm, feeling the emotions swirling within him.
Elda extended the book toward Rayner, her hand trembling slightly. "We've gathered the recipes of all the meals you've loved the most. You may not have been born here, but you've been our child nonetheless. We want you to take this with you, so that wherever you go, you'll have a piece of home."
Rayner stared at the book for a long moment, then slowly took it from her hands, his fingers brushing over the worn leather cover. "I… didn't expect this," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, betraying the flood of emotions he struggled to hide. "You know… I don't need a cookbook to remember all of you."
The villagers chuckled softly, and Elda's eyes twinkled. "Oh, we know. But humor an old woman. And one more thing-we expect to see you at least once a year, Marcelia, make sure of it."
Marcelia smiled warmly, looking from the Elder to Rayner. "You can count on me," she said, nudging him gently.
"No running off and forgetting about us," said the same little girl that asked Marcelia when they first entered the village if she was going to be a fairy Princess.
Rayner finally cracked a smile, though it was softer, more genuine then his usual mischievous smirks. "I wouldn't dream of it. Besides," he added, holding the cookbook up, "where else would I get food this good?"
The villagers laughed, and a few stepped forward to give him final hugs and well-wishes. Marcelia could feel the weight of the moment, the depth of Rayner's connection to these people who had taken him in when he had been lost and alone. As they turned to leave, Marcelia glanced back at the village, feeling the warmth of their love and care lingering in the air.
Rayner turned back, unable to leave just yet, and stepped toward Elda, pulling her into one last hug. It was tender and tight, the kind of hug that held a lifetime of unspoken gratitude. And then, finally, the dam broke. Tears, long held back by decades of fae pride, flowed freely down his cheeks. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Thank you all… for everything." Elda's frail hand reached up to pat his back gently, her smile kind and understanding. But Rayner, ever the fae, tried to inject some of his old mischief into the moment, even if he couldn't quite hide the tremble in his voice. "But… please, remember… it's not safe to thank the fae." He paused, sniffing as he pulled back from the embrace, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm the only exception to that rule."
The attempt at humor faltered as his voice wavered, and the villagers, instead of laughing, smiled with warmth and understanding. The love and care in their eyes was evident, the kind of love that words could never truly capture.
Marcelia stood by his side, offering quiet support, sensing how much this moment meant to him. She didn't need to say anything-her presence alone was enough.
Rayner took a deep breath and finally turned away, feeling the weight of the farewell in his heart, but knowing, in some way, these people would always be with him. As he and Marcelia walked into the forest, toward whatever awaited them, the echoes of home lingered in the air, warm and ever-present.
As they walked deeper into the Moonlit Maiden's Forest, the trees seemed to sway gently, their leaves rustling as if whispering a soft goodbye to Rayner. The sunlight filtered through the canopy in golden patches, but the air held a lingering sadness, the forest itself mourning his departure yet celebrating his new journey.
Marcelia's voice filled the quiet, her tone light and joyful as she spoke about her family. "My father, Cedric, runs a bard school in the capital. It's not just for magic-he believes everyone should have access to education, even if they can't use magic."
Rayner tilted his head, his steps light on the forest floor. "A school that teaches more than just magic? That's uncommon. Your father sounds rather different from most humans I've met."
Marcelia nodded, fond smile touching her lips. "He is. He's dedicated his life to making sure people are taken care of, and not just with healing magic. I want to help others, ease pain… It feels like my purpose." Rayner remained quiet, his golden eyes flickering to the ground. Family was a strange concept to him, especially one as close-knit as hers. "And your siblings? You said you have a few?"
"Oh yes!" Marcelia's eyes lit up. "I have two full siblings, Vincent and Willow. Vincent is a paladin, very duty-bound, while Willow married into royalty." She chuckled, "She's much more serious than I am, but I admire her strength. Then there's Julius, my stepbrother. He's a bit of a hermit, always wrapped up in ancient text. And the triplets-they're off at school now."
Rayner's brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "So, your family… it's all blended together? Humans don't usually… remain this close when their lives change, do they?"
Marcelia paused for a moment, considering his question. "I suppose this is a bit different, but it works for us. My stepmother, Rellia, has been in my life since I was little, and we all love each other deeply. I guess you could say we're bonded not just by blood, but by choice too."
Rayner hummed thoughtfully, his confusion giving way to curiosity. "A family by choice. That sounds… foreign, but… comforting, I think." His voice trailed off, and for a brief moment, the sadness returned to his eyes. But he quickly shook it away, his lips curling into a small smile. "Your world is strange, Marcelia. But it seems a lot warmer than I expected."
Marcelia smiled back, her heart swelling with warmth. "It's a world you're part of now, Rayner. Whether you're ready for it or not."
He glanced at her, a hint of his usual playful mischief returning. "Well, I suppose if I can survive Lucillia, I can handle anything."
They both laughed, the tension easing as they continued their walk home, a word Rayner was excited to call something again.
It took them a few days to get to the forest outside the manor, the smell of junipers and cedar trees fill their senses along with the smell of something burning.
Rayner's stomach twisted with unease as they made their way through the last stretch of forest. The ravens, who had seemed a familiar and comforting presence before, now circled overhead with a somber heaviness. Their cries were mournful, echoing through the woods like a lament for a tragedy he couldn't yet comprehend.
"The magic cries out," one raven croaked, its voice hoarse with sorrow. "Foolish mortal hands have unleashed the past!" Another flapped its wings, adding to the cacophony, "The child awakens, and the blood of the fallen calls for justice."
Rayner's heart raced as he listened, the ominous words barely registering in his mind. Before he could deepher their meaning, they spotted the manor up ahead, engulfed in flames. Marcelia broke into a sprint toward the manor, her expression a mix of fear and determination.
"No! This can't be happening," she clutched Theo's sword tightly, ready to fight against the flames that engulfed her home.
"Marcelia, stop!" Rayner shouted, panic flooding his voice. He rushed to her side, gasping her arm tightly to hold her back. "You can't go in there! It's too dangerous!"
She struggled against his grip, her eyes wide with desperation. "I have to go! They might still be inside. I have to save them!"
"Listen to me!" Rayner pleaded, urgency lacing his tone as he finally understood the raven's laments. "This fire-it's magical in origin. It was caused by a magical burst due to an improperly undone seal. The one who could have survived this would be the one who broke it."
Marcelia's resolve faltered as the weight of his words sank in. "Julius… he… his translations… no.." her voice trembled, torn between anger and despair.
Before she could respond, the flames licked higher, the heat radiating around them. Rayner held her and let her cry, trying to figure out what could have been unsealed. Her screams of pain and sorrow made it hard for him to maintain his humanoid form, his grip on the situation slipping as the weight of her anguish pressed down on him.
The ravens continued their mournful cries overhead, their warnings lost in the chaos, leaving Rayner with a foreboding sense of dread as they faced the devastation before them.
Marcelia collapsed to her knees, the weight of the world crashing around her. Her cries filled the air, a mournful wail that pierced through the crackling flames, echoing like a tragic bell tolling for the lost. Rayner knelt beside her, enveloping her in his arms, desperate to offer some measure of comfort amid the devastation.
"Damn the Magistrate!" she cried, her voice raw with grief and anger. "They should have known better than to rush Julius! They put him in danger-everyone in danger!" Rayner held her tightly, feeling the tremors of her anguish ripple through him. "I know, my Tyngan," he whispered softly, struggling to keep his own emotions in check. "But we can't change what happened. We need to focus on what we can do now."
As she sobbed, looking toward the burning remnants of her home, the flames dancin like malevolent spirits. "We have to find Julius. He might be-"
"He could be trapped in there!" Marcelia interjected, her fear igniting her spirit once more. She struggled to rise, determination sparking in her eyes, but Rayner held her firm.
"You can't go in there! Not like this!" His voice was steady, but his heart ached for her pain. "We have to think this through. If the seal was broken, there might be more at play than just the fire. We need to understand what we're dealing with first."
Marcelia breath hitched, torn between the instinct to save her family and the reality of their dire situation. The ravens circled overhead, their cries still echoing the sorrow of the fallen as Rayner tightened his hold, trying to be her anchor amidst the storm.