When we finally got back to the city walls

We were greeted by a bunch of guards, and a very angry looking faun

An old faun, to be exact.

She seemed to not care for the obviously out-of-place phoenix that floated beside me.

Nor did she glance at mister Butler.

Only staring at me.

It was actually kinda freaky how much she stared

Even after staying silent for an entire minute.

“Hi”

I tried

“Dont talk”

She replied, still staring.

I gave a sheepish look towards mister Butler,

Please, help.

But when I saw him

I was met with side trotted eyes that seemed to explore everything except for me.

...

I guess I won't get any help there.

Stupid butler.

Looking to the guards standing behind the old faun

I could see them keeping their hands on their bow, staring at mister dragon

At least some were acknowledging the bizarre situation of mister dragon.

Maybe I should call him phoenix now?

Hmm

Yeah, I should, or else I’ll slip up.

Anyway, guys don't worry, he won't do anything

I hope, maybe, probably not.

Then the old faun spoke up

“I thought I told you to not leave, then when I come to your house, I find it empty”

Hehe, well you must be a bit more specific with your words.

“You never told me to-“

“SILENCE”

She yelled, making me shut my mouth quickly.

Whoops

She let a few seconds pass before talking again.

“When I came looking for you, I hear about a human starting a huge dance in the heart of the city”

Yeah, that was really fun.

But I should probably not say that.

“After that, I hear of a girl drinking more beer than a human should be capable off, running through town to who knows where”

That was also pretty fun.

But I should probably not say that either.

“And when I finally get a message about a human and a faun standing outside our gates, I’m met with the same human, the same faun, but an unknown phoenix.”

Hmm

When you put it like that, this looks weird.

“I can exp-“

“I said silence”

She said, not in a yell, but sharp enough to cut stone.

I swallowed, feeling very insecure

Leaving me stunned for a few seconds, she spoke again.

“But you know what, I’m not mad at that. From the first time we met, I knew you where a free soul, someone not bound by anything. I’ve tried nurturing that, protecting you from unknowns.”

From unknowns? Are there like giant invisible soul sucking worms in this city or something?

What are-

“What makes me mad, is a rumour. A rumour about a Faun giving not only his horn away, but also his name. Giving his life away for a human”

Oh

That.

That was not my fault.

“When I learn that the rumour is true, and that non-other than our very special human is the recipient for this trust of faith, I get a little anxious, but not mad.”

Going silent, a quick glance at mister Butler

“Then you know what happens?”

A rhetorical question

That I still answered

“No”

“I learnt that it was my stupid son who had made the sacred vow.”

...

What.

I quickly looked towards mister Butler

Seeing sweat pour from his face down to his neck

Eyes darting everywhere but me and the old faun.

Oh my dragon

It’s true

What the crap.

“So girl, I have been put in a very difficult situation. Either I try to make you stay here and bind yourself to our family.”

Giving me an angry glare

“Or, I let you go. With my only son as your companion”

Going silent at her last words

Looking at me

Still with a hostile glare.

Why does it have to be me,

I mean

I did not do anything.

I just got shot, survived

And then survived even more.

I’ve already done that my entire life so I mean

This should not be any different

But somehow

It was.

You stupid Butler.

Why do you have to put me in such a difficult situation?

And stop being so shameful, say something!

If you are stupid enough to give me your name, at least stand up for yourself

No, stand up for me.

I need some support right now.

Then the old faun sighed

Finaly blinking, taking her eyes away from me.

“To be young. Well, it is not like I am expecting an answer right now. I’ll give you some time”

Then she looked towards her son.

“And you, my son“

Punctuating the last word, making it sink in.

“I am expecting an explanation. A very detailed, explanation”

Then she turned around, waving at the guards, making them take their hands away from their bows and follow behind.

“Oh, and before I forget. Make sure that the phoenix won't be let loose and burn anything. I’ll hold you responsible”

She said, not looking back, with her entourage of guards close behind.

I gave a look towards mister dragon

Seeing his flames get a little brighter

Oh no.

Please don't do anything stupid.

As we got into the city, the old faun took me back to an unknown,

Bar?

Maybe restaurant.

That’s what she said, saying that this is a place for fauns to eat and relax.

But to me, it looks more like a giant guards barrack, as all the people sitting here were armed with bows.

I asked her why they were, which she replied with.

“Keeping you in check”

Then telling me sternly to stay here until she comes back

Taking her son with her as she left, butler giving me a last small smile before disappearing.

Huh

Well, this is weird.

Going up to one of the tables with two sitting fauns, I sat down.

Leaning closer to one of the fauns, saying

“Soo, anything fun you guys do around here?”

But only getting a silent stare in response

Uhuh, so no crowd here

Leaning back on my chair, I embraced myself.

Imitating his stare

“Do you guys know when food arrives? I’m starving”

To that the faun responded, giving me a raised eyebrow

Then pushing a stone towards me

A stone

“Erm, I’m asking about food?”

He gestured towards the stone

Still with a raised eyebrow...

What?

“I don’t understand”

He gave me a sigh, looking annoyed.

Taking the stone from the table

He started absorbing mana from the stone

Oooooh

It’s a mana stone

...

But what the heck, I know you can survive with just mana

But you will still feel like starving.

Is this a mean joke?

“Erm, yeah that is nice and all, but I want something filling, something to make my stomach full.”

At that, he looked at me weird.

Both eyebrows raised, and weirdly

Looking confused.

Wait, these guys don't need food?

Huh

That’s

Very surprising.

Taking a look at mister dragon, I questioned him

“Do Fauns not eat?”

Getting silence in response

Hey, don't you go-

Oh

Oh yeah.

Hehehehehe

Whoops.

Looking back to the faun, he gave me a new weird look

Leaning back a little

...

Great, now I look crazy.

A while later, and a few stones drained

Something new happened

A new faun entered the house.

Greeted with salutes from every faun in the building

The new faun made a gesture, making everyone sit back down again.

The faun came up to me, sitting down with his hands firmly placed on his jaw.

“Hello human, I’ve heard a lot about you”

He said, smiling brightly, eyes looking focused.

His face was very handsome, a little too handsome

As if someone had sculpted it, making it sharper, more even.

Too perfect

I imitated his pose, giving him a big smile in turn.

“Hello Faun, I’ve heard nothing about you”

Getting a big laugh in response, sounding melodic, yet fake.

Expression joyfull, yet his eyes looked focused, to focused to be only joyfull.

“...Haha, yes, I don’t expect you too. But around these parts I’m one of the elders, the chosen few who survived the ritual to become immortal. But you probably already know about that”

Giving me a knowing look, almost smug in his expression

Immortal?

Rituall...

I have no idea what he’s talking about…

I won’t tell him that though.

He’s giving me the creeps.

“Anyway, to make matters short, as we both have little time on our hands. I’m here with a proposal, if you are friendly enough to give me the time of day to listen.”

“Sure”

I responded, still smiling brightly, but feeling a bit

Unnerved

He’s giving me a weird vibe

I think

I think it’s his smile.

It’s fake.

“I was wondering if you could help us Fauns, considering how much we’ve done for you, it should not be that hard to accept”

Uhuh, soo.

“What is the proposal?”

“Oh, not one to mince words I see, I appreciate that. Anyway, we want you to help us with a little problem we have, you’ve probably already seen the blue flames that painted the sky?”

The blue flames that-

Oh, he means mister dragon

“Yes”

“Mmhm, yeah we were wondering if you could help us with that”

A short pause, letting his arms drop onto the table

“What I’m saying, is that we want you to scout and report your findings-“

But before he could finish, the old faun and mister butler came in

And as a repeat of last time, all the guards stood up, saluting

The old faun ignored them, instead glaring at the elder sitting in front of me

Face looking more wrinkled than a blanket

A few seconds ticked by.

“We agreed that I would handle this”

She said, looking at the elder.

He turned around, giving back a big smile and letting his hands float out

“Aaah, my dear elder, it’s good to see you. And yes, we did, but things have changed. You know this.”

He said, smile still big, but eyes narrowing, calculative

More wrinkles crossed her face, looking even angrier

“That does not change the agreement.”

“It does, I’ve got the backing of several other elders, all in agreement that it must be done, and quick”

He quickly responded, ready for the question.

Her eyes darted to me, but just for a second

Keeping a short silence

Then saying.

“This is not something for you to decide, not even with the backing of a few elders. This requires a hearing, we must gather everyone and make a decision”

In response, the elder looked

Angry, the first genuine expression forming on his face

His arms falling down the chair, glaring back at the old faun.

This lasted a few seconds

Guards still saluting, keeping quiet

Mister Butler inching his way towards me.

Hands on bow, eyes narrowing

And both elder glared at each other.

The air was almost sparking

Feeling longer than it actually was.

A few seconds later

The tension was broken

Broken by the handsome elder.

“I see, tradition is tradition”

The only words spoken, swiftly standing up and leaving

Giving a last glare at the old faun

And as he stepped outside

The room breathed a sigh of relief.

Knowing how much power one of the elder held

Not wanting to see it for themselves

But I

I just kinda felt awkward.

The old faun gestured for the guards to stand down and leave

Making us the four only people there.

And I foundt myself with many questions.

Wanting answers

But only asking one.

“What. Just. Happened?”

A short chuckle

The old faun sat down in front of me

Mister Butler to my side

And she answered

“That is a good question.”

...

But not saying anything more

Stupid old lady.

“What now?”

I asked instead.

“Another good question, but to answer it. We must go to the hearing and make a decision about what to do with you.”

What

What to do with me?

“What is a hearing?”

“It’s not a hearing, it’s the hearing.”

Giving me a small knowing look, but pointing a firm finger at me

A second later, she let it fall down, saying

“It is our Fauns way of deciding matters that could change the fate of all Fauns, a tradition uphold by everyone, lest you would face consequences. What is decided at the hearing is above the law.”

Huh

What?

That sounds super important

So that faun was some sort of big shot trying to recruit me?

Or what...

Wait

“Wait, are you telling me I hold the fate of all fauns?”

A big laugh escaped her mouth

A hearty laugh, one that had not left her for weeks.

Maybe months.

“...Hahaha, oh my dear girl, you are something special, never lose that. But no, no you don’t hold the fate of all Fauns”

Then her smile softened, not being as big, but still there

“But you have strength, strength that could save many. And now that my stupid son decided to bond with you, the elders also think you belong to us Fauns, that we hold power over you, that they can order you to do our bidding.”

Oh, that sounds

Very boring

“That does not sound fun.”

A new laugh

Another smile

“Oh haha, no little girl, that would not be fun for you. You would be required to forever listen to us Fauns, obeying orders and keeping the city safe. And with time, you might, “might”, get lucky and get a seat with the elders"

Hmm, so

Wait

I don't understand

Why am I so important for the elders?

Why do they think they can boss me around?

I know that mister Butler was stupid about giving his name.

But.

Is it really that special here?

“Ehm, your loosing me here, I really don’t understand what’s going on. I still dont know why I’m so special for you guys.”

“Oh girl, how can you be so pure while enduring so much suffering?”

I froze at that

Memories flooding back.

But just for a second, shaking my head

Throwing bad thoughts away

Away away, I don't want you a-here!

Hihih, sometimes I even impress myself.

“Well, to make it simple for you. You are very strong, maybe even stronger than us elders. So simplifying things, they want you to find, and if possible, eliminate the one who cast the blue flame-“

At the words “blue flame”, mister butler froze

Tightening his lips, glancing towards me.

Why the look?

Hmm,

Oh

I think-

But before I could finish, the old faun continued

Seemingly not noticing mister Butler reaction

Nor mine.

“...Using any reason that they can come up with to force you to do this. Which I highly disagree with.”

I see I see

...

I don't see

Maybe?

This is annoying.

“Okaaay, I think I understand. But why the hearing?”

“Good question, well to make it simple once again, that shit faced elder out-maneuvered me, taking the matter in his own hands and trying to involve you in our politics. Which he has done now that I’ve had to tell you all this.”

Going quiet at that, almost fuming by the ears

The old faun looked quiet comical

Hehe.

But she has still not answered my question.

“Eeehm, still, why a hearing?”

“Oh, sorry, the hearing. Yeah, the only thing I could think of at the top of my head, was to take this issue to a vote. If we are lucky, all elders will vote to let you be, and that is that. ”

“Aaand if they don’t?”

She went silent at that

Thinking

“Then, it’s up to you”

Hm,

Okay

I think I understand....

I don't understand.

I just wanted to get healed

Why am I suddenly a part of some sort of

Political power play?

This is stupid.

Mister Butler is stupid

Mister Dragon is stupid.

Why is everything so stupid.

Stupid world!