Life is hectic, and we overlook simple things. We gift flowers to the infirm, the dead, to lovers, and mothers but have you ever considered why? The art of giving a flower carries a tremendous power—it can create joy!

~Blodeuwedd, Goddess of Flowers and Wisdom

“That was very rude.” A woman spoke, and her voice pulled at Crow’s soul. It was like he had pined for her his entire life but somehow forgot about her. I must have her.

Crow slowly opened his eyes and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen sitting atop a magnificent white horse. It was the horse’s breath that he’d smelled, and the water distorted the size of its maw. Even though both horse and woman came from the water, neither of them looked wet. The woman’s long blonde hair flowed with the wind, and her beautiful green eyes sparkled with mischief. Her face was so perfect that it physically hurt him not being able to touch it. Subconsciously, his hands were already reaching out to squeeze her pretty face until it was smashed into a paste. That’s how much he desired her. A rational part of his mind knew that doing so would kill her, but the irrational part didn’t care. It just wanted to hold her until—until Lily appeared…

“Huh?” Crow felt the illusion break, but Lily wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she stood before the woman and pointed as if she was a goddess calling down the wrath of lightning to smite an evil villainess. “What is happening?”

Lily waved a hand back at him as if to shush him.

You uppity little princess! Crow growled in his heart, but he wasn’t angry. He knew she’d saved him from something unexplainable. The angel of his dreams looked more like a succubus now, not that it made her any less pretty. Even Nin had stepped to help. It was only now, after his rationality returned, did he realize Nin’s arms were wrapped around his chest, and her pert boobs smashed into his back.

“So the lady protects you, mortal? What makes you so important?” the woman on the horse asked. Crow felt like he knew who this was, or at least the story of Tír na nÓg came to mind. The realm of eternal youth, in which fairies seduced men and women into entering.

Tír na nÓg was a place where time flowed differently from the outer world. Unlike most realms, the time within was slower than out. Stepping into the realm for only one day was equivalent to a hundred days passing in the primary world. If the rumors were true, that time difference wasn’t the worst part. Stepping on the soil of any land outside Tír na nÓg meant they were banned from returning, and it created a time debt.

A time debt was incurred by the difference between a person’s current age and their actual age as it pertains to the mortal world. No realm could subvert those natural laws, so touching the soil of the mortal worlds meant paying back the debt. Tír na nÓg absorbed all that vitality, luck, and karma, leaving the indebted to rapidly age until they usually die and turn to dust.

“You are a Leanan Sidhe?” If he was right, this woman was a fairy and a muse. Those that joined the Tír na nÓg all led inspired lives, and it was one of the many perks. It was a peaceful life which was why most stayed. It wasn’t like they couldn’t leave either, provided they rode on a horse like this woman did. However, there was one fatal flaw… if they fell off, were pulled down, or climbed off the horse, life would get complicated.

Faries like the Leanan Sidhe weren’t evil, but they were tricksters and used to getting what they wanted.

“You know a lot for a mortal, but did you know you are naked?” The woman laughed, and transparent wings flared out behind her. “You may call me Nessa—”

Crow couldn’t stop himself from laughing. This seductress’s name meant ‘not gentle.’ The irony was too much for him, and even the woman returned his amusement with a bewitching smile. And, sadly, he knew he was naked. Seriously, how could he know a fairy was going to ride out of the pool of water he was about to bathe in?

“If you come with me, I can guarantee you a life free from worry, and I’ll care for you throughout eternity,” Nessa said, and Crow knew that his yearning for just that wasn’t fake. She touched on his one weakness and didn’t need her seductive powers to persuade him, but she didn’t know Crow or his temperament.

“I’ll have to pass.”

“Very well. Then, as per her instruction, if you resisted me, you are to receive a reward. Do you know what it is?”

“No… and who is this ‘her’ person?”

“I cannot tell you, just as the Sluagh couldn’t. This was a test of resolve because she felt you are fickle with women.”

Nin snorted from behind Crow, and Lily looked back at him with an accusing glare.

“Hey, I turned her down, didn’t I?” Crow felt wronged.

“Behind the waterfall is a cave, and inside it, you’ll find your gift. If you don’t know what it is, I’m sure the dragon behind you does.”

Crow nodded.

“You sure you don’t want me? I’m definitely a better lover than your little Fae. I can even change my body size and proportions.” Nessa’s body distorted, and Crow’s eyes bulged out as he watched her breasts grow two sizes. Even Nin and Lily were staring at the woman’s chest. “You are too easy to tease. I am sure I’ll see you around. If you ever want to give all this up and live a life filled with peace, love, and embracing a life of art, I will always welcome you.”

Not giving him a chance to turn her down, she turned the horse and dove back into the large pool of water. The white blob disappeared into the depths.

“Fool,” Nin growled and let Crow go.

“Sorry, but…” Crow grinned. “Want to bathe with me?”

Lily stamped her foot and poked the tip of Crow’s nose.

“You can join us too.”

The little Fae turned bright red from toe to crown and flew off in embarrassment.

“So shameless,” Nin whispered into his ear, and her naked body pressed against his before she picked him up and tossed him into the water. The water made their lovemaking even more sensual than before. Nin’s body twined around him like a serpent, and she brought him to climax in less than ten minutes.

They played for another half an hour before the heat became stifling. Lily had already come back and joined them for a swim. Locating the hidden area behind the waterfall wasn’t that tricky when he had a Fae who could fly around and point out the path. Once she showed them the rocks stacked like stairs, the route became easy to follow. It was an easy thing to overlook. That was how well the cave was hidden.

The mist from the pounding water made it hard to see much of anything. Climbing out of the water, Crow almost slid back in with how slick the stone was. The combination of moss and moisture made those initial steps dangerous. Nin followed with no issue.

Although this world didn’t feel complete, some of its natural beauty, like this waterfall, was amazing. Standing on the ledge that led behind the waterfall, Crow stuck his hand into the falling water. It pounded on his flesh and deeply massaged the tissue in his hand.

Initially, he expected to step behind the water to find a massive cavern but found a cave tunnel that veered to the left and then cut back. It wasn’t a long tunnel, and the cave wasn’t dark. Reaching the switchback, the most significant change was the roaring sound of the waterfall had almost completely disappeared. Mist also ended at the bend and didn’t find its way in—well, not entirely. The cave was still damp and cool, but the water vapor didn’t permeate the air.

At the backside of the cave was a placid body of water almost twice the size of the pool of water they swam in outside. Because that part of the chamber sloped downward, Crow was sure the two bodies of water were the same height. They were probably connected via underwater passageways. That was a guess, but his mana sense could detect the water below the stone he stood on.

None of that was as crucial as the thick rock with a flat top roughly the height of his hip. On it rested a large, irregular-shaped stone the size of his fist. The only distinguishable feature was the slightly off-center hole that went through it. It was so odd that it lacked any symmetry, but within the hole was the real prize. It was filled with a turbulent purple mist, but it maintained a flat surface like a pane of glass.

“A Hag Stone!?” Nin nearly shouted in excitement.

“You know what that is?”

“Yes! Dragon’s used to—well, we don’t need to talk about the history of dragons. They were important to them, but each one can only be used once.”

“What do they do?”

“That… hmm, how to describe it,” Nin didn’t approach the Hag Stone but couldn’t take her eyes off of it either. “They answer a question.”

“That is vague. What kind of question?”

“It is hard to describe because it uses a combination of karma, fate, and you. These are said to have been a fragment of the Void’s origin. Primordials can’t use them, but that doesn’t mean they won’t take them if found—dragons, on the other hand, could and did so every chance they got. It was why we were able to contend against the primordials. These stones would provide the answers we needed when we needed them the most.”

“And it only answers one question?”

“Not necessarily. I’m not the best person to ask about them, because it has been a long time since one of these had been found. But using it, depending on what you want to find, can stay with you indefinitely. A Hag Stone isn’t something you can seek. I don’t know if there is truth to this, but if you try to seek out a Hag Stone, you’ll never find one. Only by not looking will it have an infinitesimal chance of appearing. Once found, whoever puts their eye to that hole and sees beyond will claim it. Because of what they are, dragons would give up their entire hoard for one of these. For most humans, the stone is worthless because they only have dumb thoughts in their brains. Dragons used them to find their path to power.”

“A path to power?” Crow wasn’t really asking but verbalizing his thoughts. Money and worldly possessions were short-sighted goals, and he suspected this was what Nin meant. Humans were inherently greedy. He was different because he wanted something that all the money in the world couldn’t give him.

“Go on, look into it,” Nin urged.

Lily stopped him and pointed at the stone table. On the side were Ogham runes that spelled out one word. Crow wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“What does that say?” Nin asked.

“Gideon.”

“Oh,” Nin frowned but then felt enlightened. “Wait, that’s not a bad thing. Gideon represents a part of you and your path. Think about it. He is the connection you have to your mother and her bloodline. Plus, didn’t you tell me if you know neither yourself nor your enemy, defeat is assured?”

Crow’s furrowed brow smoothed out after hearing that. Every point she made was well reasoned, and Gideon was just a means to an end.

“Well, that puts me at ease. One question. You said that the Hag Stone stays with me—what did you mean?”

“I suppose the most direct meaning is that the stone will appear in your soul—or maybe your Soulscape. But on a deeper level, it binds the answers you seek to you. I don’t like guessing, but it’ll probably bind to your mother’s bloodline. By doing so, it may provide more benefits later and assist you in fully awakening it. Again, that’s just a guess. Even if it’s not, I’m selfishly influencing your mind to think that way. Only an idiot would look for riches or more women…”

“You didn’t have to say that last part,” Crow mumbled. However, he felt more assured after listening to Nin. There was only one nagging doubt, and that was about being unfated. It was doubtful anyone but him could answer those questions. No point in dwelling on it either.

Gathering his thoughts about Gideon, his mother, grandmother, and the bloodline power of the witches, he placed his eye against the hole in the Hag Stone and bore witness to a past and story that would change him forever.