“The princess was her weakness; she left an open door. It seems she has bought the illusion for the time being. I must tread carefully, though. If she questions her reality even once the illusion could be shattered and she will awaken from her nightmare.”

Rell

“We need only increase our defenses around the castle.” Rell flinched as an older man’s voice boomed in the council hall, snapping her back into focus.

“Increasing defenses will only go so far,” Flain spoke with a sigh. “If Tuulin is capable of practically getting into the castle, even with our greatest magicians on guard for foreign magic, then the princesses may still be in danger despite the increased guard.”

Rune sighed loudly beside Rell as the council members who were gathered around the table argued and bickered over what to do about the previous night’s developments.

Rell leaned over to her sister. “What’s the matter with you? This is serious!” she whispered into the younger princess’s ear.

Rune huffed. “All this time talking when we could be doing something.”

Rell looked around at the people gathered ahead of them before whispering back. “Well that’s why they’re having this meeting; so they can decide what they should be doing!” Rell hissed.

Rune frowned. “I guess…”

“Your majesties, would that make you two more comfortable?”

Rell and Rune suddenly straightened up, eyes going wide as they were addressed. Wait, what were they talking about? She groaned internally as she realized how distracted she had become. If Rune hadn’t been so difficult...

“U-uh, yes! I think that would help a lot!” Rune chimed in.

Rell froze as Rune responded without even knowing what was asked. She shot her sister a look as the men and women at the table exchanged glances.

“Then if the princesses agree, Aevum, you’ll stay on guard here at the castle.” An elderly man tapped the table with his palm. “Cael, you will search for what information you can regarding the magic of Muurin. Flain, you will take the princesses to the northern village of Keshkin.”

“What?” Rell stood up and exclaimed.

“...and we will send a search party into the mountains to find the Arden settlements,” the council member finished what he was saying and gave Rell a rather unimpressed look.

“We can’t just leave the castle! The people of Fendra are counting on us to be here! How would the people feel if their princesses were sent away?” Rell insisted.

“Your majesty,” Flain spoke softly. “The whole point is that nobody is aware you are even gone. We are going to visit the Illusionaries as they are the best suited for masking your presence, and because they could provide some insight as to how we might awaken Lady Madia. You will also have me with you to protect you. Keshkin is also only a day’s ride from here, so you will not be far from home.”

Rell looked at Flain, who as always returned a straight face as he reasoned with her.

“So, we’re going on a trip?” Rune asked.

“Well, you could say that, yes,” Flain mused as he placed a hand to his chin.

Rell felt a hand on her shoulder and she jumped, looking back to find Aevum behind her.

“Ah, sorry. You must still be on edge,” Aevum remarked, before clearing his throat. “You’re much like your mother, Rell; always worrying about your people first, but you’re not the queen yet, nor are you capable of defending yourself if you are attacked.”

Rell winced as he mentioned her mother.

“It would seem that as of late, action has been picking up here in the castle. Ultimately it would be best if the princesses were kept out of harm's way,” Another woman from further down the table spoke.

Rell looked at Rune questioningly, looking for support. Rune returned the look, but she appeared confused. At last, she spoke. “Rell, you like Madia’s type of magic, don’t you?”

The elder princess tilted her head. “Yes, I do.”

“The Illusionaries use magic similar to hers. Maybe you could learn something while you’re there!” Rune said with a smile.

Aevum grinned as he walked around the table. “An excellent idea! You’ve been looking for something to study, haven’t you?” Aevum directed his question to Rell.

Rell leaned back in her chair, narrowing her eyes. “Yes, but I’ve been considering researching heat magic.”

“Why not both?” Rune nudged Rell excitedly.

“Oh, well I suppose…” Rell responded. “And if it will be peaceful there, maybe it will be a good chance to focus on my magic.” Thoughts swam through her mind as she considered the possibilities. And maybe then I can finally catch up to Rune…

“So, your majesties. Will you come with me to Keshkin?” Flain asked from across the table.

Rell finally cracked a reluctant smile and nodded. “Yes, I think we will,” she said looking to her sister.

The grin that spread across Rune’s face was brighter than the sun itself, before she jumped off her chair with glee. “Yes! I’ll go pack my things right away!” Rune said before darting off towards the door.

“Ah- Rune!” Rell called after her, but the younger princess was already gone.

There was a collective chuckle around the table as Rell blushed in embarrassment at her sister's impatience.

“For once, I agree with the child's desire to hurry. I’ll have the stable hands prepare some horses for us immediately,” Flain said as he stood up from his seat in the hall. “We shall depart as soon as you’re ready, your majesty.”

“Why don’t I get my own horse?” Rune shouted indignantly as hooves clopped around them.

“Because there are no horses small enough and you’ve spent hardly an hour on horseback in your life…” Flain grumbled as she took his hand and mounted the horse he was on, sitting in front of him.

Rell let out a quiet yelp as the horse she was sitting on started to trot around the hill just outside the castle gates of its own volition. “H-hey! Take it easy, Fae!” Rell said as she leaned forward and patted the neck of the small cob beneath her.

“She’s excited to be out traveling again,” Flain remarked.

“N-no doubt! Goodness.” Rell laughed a bit as Fae skipped small circles around the outer yard.

“I should remind you, though, to keep your hood up if we’re trying to be discreet!” Flain called to her a short distance away.

“Oh! Right, sorry!” Rell took one hand off the reigns and used it to pull the hood of her green cloak over her head, tugging at the clip just beneath her neck.

“Just until we get out of castle town, then it can come off,” Flain explained.

“Why can’t I wear my blue one?” Rune complained, tugging at the sleeves of her deep red robes.

“You always wear that one; it would be far too obvious,” Flain said. Rune just grunted in response.

Rell, now with both hands on the reigns, managed to steer the horse back over to ease beside Flain. “I’ve not ridden for months, I’m probably gonna get all sore,” Rell complained.

“Well you better get used to it, as it’s almost a full day’s travel to get there, and that’s if we keep to a strong gallop,” Flain said as he gave a light flick to the mustang below. It shuddered anxiously before starting to step forward. Rell followed suit and kept beside him as he reached up and ran his hand through his hair, causing it to quickly loosen and hang down a bit, barely reaching his shoulders.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with messy hair before, Flain!” Rell giggled.

Flain bit his lip and looked away. “Well I’m sure you did back when we first met, but I doubt you’d remember given everything else going on at the time.”

Rell nodded and looked forward again. “Right, well I’ve never seen you in such simple clothes either!”

“As a noble I usually have high standards to appeal to,” Flain pointed out. “Also, I thought I told you to tie your hair back. It’s almost as pale as you are in the sunlight,” he muttered as he spun his finger towards her. In that moment Rell felt her hair moving behind her head as a little blue string floated up out of Flain’s bag and snuck under her hood, before she felt the tug of it as her hair was pulled gently and kept behind her head.

“Oh! I was in such a rush I completely forgot,” Rell made a quick excuse.

“This is important, your majesty. Do you still have the dust Cael gave you at least?” Flain checked.

“Yes sir, it’s right here.” She patted her side where a rope was tied around her waist, a small pouch hanging off the side.

“Good, and Rune, are you certain you have everything?”

Rune flinched in surprise as she smiled awkwardly. “Of course!”

“Excellent. No reason to keep to this slow pace, then. Hya!” He gave the reigns a good whip, immediately sending his mount into a gallop. Rell applied the same motion and let out a gasp as Fae took off at remarkable speed, easily catching up to Flain. As they began to gallop down the hill and into castle town, Rell looked back over her shoulder, daring to look up at the tower high above where Madia was locked in her wakeless sleep.

A long travel it was indeed. By Flain’s insistence, they galloped almost the entire way through the woods, allowing the village to come into sight just as the moon approached its peak. Rune had fallen asleep leaning against Flain, and the only thing keeping Rell awake was the bouncing of the smaller horse beneath her. Rell yawned as her half-closed eyes stared ahead, seeing a few flickering lights ahead. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear them as she focused on the new sight ahead.

“Still awake, your majesty?” Flain’s quiet voice reached her as the horses began to slow down.

“Yes, barely… but what sort of lights are those?” Rell asked as they approached, her sense of wonder only growing as she now saw the shimmering orbs float up just above the roofs of the houses, where they turned a shade of blue.

“That would be the Nullan tribes signature illusion; the firefly spell,” Flain answered.

“What does it do?” Rell asked without taking her eyes off them.

“Well it is a multi-purpose spell mainly used for light, but it is also used to identify the intents of those near, changing colours based on their feelings.”

Rell opened her eyes a bit wider, feeling as though she was wide awake again. “That’s incredible.”

“Madia wasn’t chosen as the Keeper of Mind for nothing; The Nullan tribe has been known to possess sensory capabilities that rival the great magicians. They are, however, a passive clan, and as such keep to themselves,” Flain began. “It’s for that same reason they split to the north, away from the other warring tribes in the south; they wanted no part in the conflict.”

Although he continued speaking, Rell naturally tuned him out as the colours of the lights shifted, and floated through the air above. Most of them were a deep, dark blue, yet there were a few that were closer that radiated a bright pink light.

“Being an outcast never really dampened her spirits from what she’s told me.” Rell snapped back to Flain’s monologue.

“S-sorry… who? I kinda got distracted,” Rell stuttered.

“Madia, of course,” Flain answered swiftly.

“Madia was an outcast? But she’s so kind and talented!” Rell said in surprise.

Flain brushed some hair away from his face. “Well when she was younger, she was actually feared for her ability to read minds. People didn’t like having their thoughts read, you see. Seems to be common with sensory types. It’s why she eventually moved to where she met Aevum in the Callon forest.”

Rell had no response as she looked forward again, until she noticed a man in a long robe - the likes of which trailed on the ground - up ahead. “Hey, there’s someone there waiting for us!” Rell said.

“They could tell we were coming. See how the orbs have turned pink? That indicates fear,” Flain explained.

Rell leaned back in her saddle a bit. “Fear?”

“Yes, no doubt coming from you and your sister.”

“Oh...”

“Could my magic deceive me, or are we blessed by the presence of the Keeper of Law and the two child princesses?” As they approached, the man stepped forward with a hand out towards the approaching traveling party.

“Aye, your magic reads right,” Flain said quietly as he tugged at the leather straps telling his horse to slow to a stop. Rell did just as he, and her little horse eased up before stopping just a bit further back from Flain and to the side.

Now that she had regained her tired senses, she sized the fellow up. He was rather short, his feet not even visible beneath his grey, silken robe, and his sleeves long and hanging open, hiding his hands. What strange garb… the princess thought to herself.

But that wasn’t all that struck her as strange. She finally looked at his face, to find his pupils were grey and clouded over. Now she noticed he wasn’t looking at her, but rather beyond or even through the her. His hair was grey, yet he appeared as though he wasn’t even ten years older than the young Keeper of Law.

“And for what do we owe the pleasure of such nobility visiting our humble village, and during such a chilled evening?” the man wondered, his voice airy and open.

He speaks like Madia does; so soft and quiet! Rell’s mouth opened slightly in awe as she began to take in the sights and folk of the village hidden deep within the woodlands of the north.

“We have come seeking shelter. Is the village elder presently awake?” Flain asked firmly.

The fellow smiled and placed his sleeves together, holding his hands within. “Seek not such a man, for I am he. Celendrin Silk Nullan at your service, my liege.” He gave the slightest bow.

Such a long name. A culture this different so close to us?

“A pleasure, Master Nullan. I am called Flain Traffelin, Keeper of Law, although I gather you’re already plenty aware of that. I know your people's culture; you will not disclose our presence beyond your own community?” Flain asked.

“Of course not, sire. News of your being here will not escape this town. Has something happened at Elra?” Celendrin questioned as he stepped forward and whispered a little.

“Lady Madia Nullan has been entranced in a deep sleep of which she will not awaken from. We fear a breach of security in the castle.” Flain got straight to the point.

“Heavens, Sister Madia under such a spell?”

“Aye. Can you take us somewhere private where we may discuss this and put the young princesses to bed?”

Celendrin nodded anxiously. “Of course, of course. To my home we shall go. It is small, but my children have since left. There is room for the young majesties. Come along,” he said as he turned around and lead the way into town.

Rell could feel her anxiety seeping in as even this quiet man seemed afraid of what was unfolding, a tenseness filling the air that Rell had only felt the night before in Madia’s chambers.

As he led them through the village, Rell pulled her hood back over her head while taking in the sights. Leaves and branches stretched out overhead, hiding the village from view were one to look down upon it. The houses were rough and wooden, largely made up of mud and thin logs and branches, with thatched roofs above. The lights changed to pink, and even a tinge of purple as they passed under them. Ahead a large house rested nestled between two large trees, consisting of a single story surrounded by a fence, once again made from no more than loose branches.

“You may leave your horses just inside the fence here. Come your majesty, I’ll help you down,” Celendrin said, offering his hand to the young princess. She took it reluctantly, before swinging her leg over and hopping off, stumbling a bit as she maintained her balance.

“Thank you, Mr. Nullan.” She nodded with a slight smile. He didn’t return the favor as he walked around back to Flain.

“The princess of shadow sleeps soundly,” he whispered as he extended his arms forward. Flain carefully picked Rune up, lowering her down so that Celendrin could take her in his arms.

As this was happening, Rell tied the reins to one of the branches poking out of the fence, giving it a firm tug before returning to her pony and petting its mane. “There you are, Fae. Uhm, excuse me, sir… is there a well nearby?” she said turning to their host once more.

Without even looking, the man pointed back towards where they came. “Just in the center of the town. If it is too dry, try the one to the north just beyond the market,” he replied.

Rell looked back towards the inner village to see the small circle of stones and rope-tied bucket. She gave the horse another pat. “I’ll be right back, I’m just gonna get you some water,” Rell said with a smile to her steed.

She quickly began jogging towards the well, where she slowed to a halt and looked down. Sure enough, the well seemed to be quite dry, with just the slightest bit of dampness at the bottom. Rell bit her lip before looking over her shoulder to find the other well just beyond some market stalls and a little further into the woods. Every step she took, the lights hovering above seemed to flicker and blink, adjusting to her movements.

Glancing down yet another ring of stones, she found this well quite full of water, so much so she could almost reach down and touch it. She took the wooden bucket and slowly lowered it in. She only got a small helping before turning the crank hanging off the side of the well, pulling it back up with a grunt. Even with this small load it was rather heavy as she untied the bucket, ready to walk back to where the others had settled.

That was, at least, until she heard the deep and distant humming coming from beyond the well. The young princess narrowed her eyes as she slowly placed the bucket down. What on earth? She started to pick up a familiar sensation. A warm, comforting feeling washed over her body as she relaxed. The lights above her turned a deep blue now as she let out a sigh. This feeling; it’s oddly familiar.

Rell began walking, tracing her hand across the well as she stared forward with a mix of curiosity and excitement. Leaves in the trees above swayed and whispered to her, as what sounded like a gentle song echoed through the woods where she walked. I know this voice, but it’s so far away. She didn’t stop her advance as she stepped over roots and branches strewn across the ground. Now she began to pick up speed as the magic she felt emanating from ahead began to overwhelm her with glee. This... this is mother's magic!

She began darting ahead, easily distinguishing the voice now.

O scorched land of fire and fright,

Bend thy knee and tame thy might.

O blessed magic of earth so bare,

Hold the smoke and free the air.

Suddenly with a crash, she broke through a thick layer of shrubs and bushes, which tugged at her robes. She pulled away and smiled brightly before her eyes went wide and her smile vanished. She skidded to a halt as the deep humming rumbled ahead of her.

There, slicing through the clearing was an enormous wall of crystalline magic, radiating and pulsing periodically. The deep reddish-orange hue cast a glow on her face as she gazed through the barrier. There on the other side she saw another forest, but this one burned and crackled silently. What… is this? she wondered to herself as she stared at the mighty wall. It seemed to quiver and shake as she stared at it and slowly approached. Again, she heard her mother's voice and felt the magic, before finally realizing what she was looking at.

A low, yet powerful voice spoke behind her. “This is the enchanted boundary,” Rell squealed as Flain suddenly spoke. She twisted around and backed away from him in surprise.

Flain’s eyes widened as well, before nodding. “Pardon the intrusion,” he apologized. He stared up at the boundary and Rell followed his gaze, before he spoke up again. “You feel your mother's magic, don’t you?”

Rell said nothing and looked down at her feet. Flain seemed to understand and took this as an answer.

O sweet sound of Autumn and Fall,

Hear your daughter and answer our call.

O dear mother of magic and life,

Lend us your spirit and end our strife.

“That muffled song you're hearing; it is a testament to a time when magic was conjured through expression, before reagents had been harnessed. The time in which the second era began…” Flain explained. “Back then, there were many Risilvé like you and your parents. When Harmony still walked the earth, magic was more about the soul and the spirit than the body and the materials you had.”

Rell said nothing, and only continued to stare as she took in the warmth of her mother's voice and presence. Flain scratched his head before placing a hand on her shoulder. “Come, your majesty. We’d best get you to bed.”

“But I want to stay…” Rell whispered. She didn’t turn away.

“I understand, but someone needs to stay with you and your sister, and she is back at the cottage,” Flain reasoned.

Rell slowly turned back to Flain, before wiping her eyes. “Are you sure I can’t stay?”

Flain sighed and crossed his arms. “Just a few moments longer.”

Rell rested her eyes on the glowing barrier again before closing them, taking a breath. “Mother, your magic still stands four hundred years from when you first cast it…” The princess murmured a prayer. “Someday, I’ll have magic just as strong as yours.” Rell paused before opening her eyes with a grin. “And definitely stronger than Rune’s!” The barrier seemed to shiver as Rell stared at it silently, the humming of her mother’s voice being the only response she got.

“Alright, let’s get some sleep, Princess Rell,” Flain said. The child turned around obediently and smiled up at him. Much to her surprise, the Keeper of Law looked back, before showing the slightest smirk, and starting to walk back towards the little town, Rell jogging after him, the orbs on the outskirts turning a bright yellow.

“Flain?”

“Yes Rell?”

“What does yellow mean?”

Flain chuckled softly. “If I had to guess, I’d say confidence.”