I couldn't stop myself from staring at everything. Everyone here seemed so normal, like what you'd expect from an average village back in our realm. It was utterly fascinating. There were shops selling all types of things, things I've never seen before or jewellery made out of stones I wouldn't have even imagined existed. Beatrice and Ashwini had to pull me back to the group a couple of times when I didn't even realise I was walking towards whatever was holding my interest.

"Vaden, keep up." Beatrice sighed for what felt the hundredth time making me realise that I was heading towards a small stall stuck in between two bigger and well-made buildings while it was run down and grubby looking.

"Hello my dear." The elderly fairy behind the rugged stall greeted me, wise grey eyes that matched both her hair and wings looking at me with interest.

"Good evening." I greeted back with a soft smile before my eyes started to wonder down over the items that were scattered over a blanket on the ground.

"Vaden." Beatrice called to me.

I looked at her with pleading in my eyes. "Can't I just have a look?" I asked and couldn't help but realise that I sounded like a child.

Beatrice sighed but a slight smile twitched at her lips. "Quickly, before we're left behind."

I grinned at her and lightly grabbed her hand squeezing it in thanks before letting go and squatting down to look closer at the items. I've never seen any of them before. There were strange books that were incredibly thick with metal and leather wrappings to protect the yellowing pages. A rack of strange glass bottles glowing faintly, held what surprised me as an amazing amount of mana inside them. A cloth with something hidden under it though is what caught my attention.

I couldn't look away from the bulge under the cloth that sat closest to the old fairy. I felt the sensation of the liquid mana coming from under the cloth but there was something else that was much darker than anything I've ever felt. Even the dark mana that surrounded Enrique didn't feel as dark as what was under that cloth.

"Ah I see... you can feel it can't you?" The old fairy asked with a wise smile on her wrinkly face.

"Yes I can... how can something feel so pure yet at the same time be so dark?" I asked in awe.

"Would you like to see it?" The fairy merchant asked.

I hesitated. "I'm not sure if I want to... but my curiosity is eating at me." I confessed.

The fairy nodded sagely before pulling the cloth away to reveal a stunning necklace. I sucked in a breath at the sight of it. It was made from pure silver, or something like it, and it was woven so intricately to create wrapping effect when it was wound around someone's neck.

But what truly held my attention was the sight of a small stone that the silver like wire was coiled around. In a spiralling motion the stunning white of the liquid mana spiralled around something that you could literally see suck in the light of the world around it. It was something much much darker than even the blackest of abyss'. It was the purest form of dark mana. I could feel it.

"Your name is Vaden correct?" The fairy asked and I nodded numbly not even questioning how she knew my name. "I can feel a great undertaking ahead of you my girl. You will go through many dark times and a few good ones but you will always keep the essence of the light within you. You yourself are pure on a fundamental level. I can feel it. I want to help you my dear..." I gasped without meaning to as the fairy used the cloth to pick up the necklace. "Here, I offer you this gift that will dilute any attack made with the use of light mana or dark mana. It will not completely protect you from all spells but it will from weaker ones."

"A-Are you sure?" I asked worriedly but I could feel my beast lung at the darkness of the necklace while something else, that same something that protected me from going into the blood haze, call out for the light part.

"Yes my dear, it's calling to you as much as you're calling for it. Please take it." The lovely older fairy smiled warmly at me.

"Thank you so much." I breathed just managing to look away from the necklace and into the grey eyes of the fairy to show how much I truly appreciated what she was giving me.

"You are welcome child." She assured me while I started to reach out for the gift.

I gasped at the first touch of my fingers to the cool wire frame of the necklace but I basically purred once it was around my neck. My beast side and that other side of me felt completely pacified by the feel of the strange spiralling gem against the base of my throat. I looked at the old fairy again and gave a very appeased smile towards her.

She laughed and started to wave me away. "Go now my child, you shouldn't keep the king waiting."

"Thank you again, I will be sure to spread word about your magnificent wares." I assured her.

She cackled some more. "Of course, call me Divanti and they'll know who I am."

"Then goodbye for now Divanti." I said while standing up one hand touching my new necklace in wonderment.

"Good bye, pure child." Divanti waved at me and making me gasp. She just winked at me, which I couldn't help but smile at before turning away and walk to Beatrice who was waiting patiently.

"Wow, that's a strange necklace... how did you buy it?" Beatrice asked eyes immediately drawn to the new piece around my throat.

"She gave it to me." I answered feeling content. "Come on, I believe we have somewhere to be."

Beatrice smiled with me as I slid my hand into hers and we laced our fingers together.

*

Catching up with the others no one else questioned my new accessory so it sat there comforting my soul. I was once again captivated by everything we walked by and soon had to climb another tree to make it up another level. It seemed that with each level we went up the buildings became larger and more stunning than the levels below.

We travelled up four levels before we appeared on the top level where a large archway with mana ruins along the edges was carved into the thick trunk of a massive tree which was the only structure on the top level.

"Bloody hell! It's massive!" Ashwini exclaimed, wide eyed, which I'm sure I mirrored as we looked up at the tree that towered over everything.

Beatrice giggled softly beside me and squeezed my hand where we were still holding them. "Wait till you see inside." She told the excited woman making Ashwini's wide eyed stare turn to her.

"Well then let's go! This is the most exciting thing I've done for ages besides for nearly dying in the hands of those human Hunters!" Ashwini exclaimed and quickly hurried over to Georgia and Orrick who were waiting at the entrance of the archway.

"She calls a near death experience exciting?" I wondered softly out loud.

"Some people are just strange. I blame it on all the potions those witches are always sniffing." Beatrice replied making me laugh softly.

I looked around and found something out of place. If the temple was so important... "I'm surprised there aren't any guards around, especially since it's such a dangerous time at the moment." I commented, finishing my thoughts out loud.

"Most of the guards are probably with the other soldiers on the front line." Beatrice answered my unasked question. "The king would have his royal guards while others would be stationed around important parts within the temple, but the capital hasn't been breached in millennium. All in all, in the first place, the fairy race is a pretty peaceful one and don't usually fight at all. I can understand why they aren't fairing too well at the moment."

I frowned, saddened by the fact that these creatures that glowed and created such beautiful things are being attacked for a reason I don't understand. "Why are the orcs attacking this realm?"

"Orcs are primarily carnivores and eat anything that has meat on it. They find fairy meat to be the best to their liking just after humans." Beatrice spat out in obvious distaste.

I screwed up my face slightly and disgust not knowing how anyone could stomach the thought of actually eating someone. Or maybe I should talk since I do have to drink blood from a human to sustain myself. At least I'm not killing them though.

"Woah!" I heard Ashwini exclaim loudly when they finally walked through the archway.

I mimicked her reaction, only quieter, as we joined the small group in the middle of a large room that was carved out of the trunk of the tree. I was stunned speechless. How was it even possible? Trees growing inside a tree? It was amazing. Silver trees grew all around the open floor of the temple only giving way to a couple of paths that must lead to other places inside the temple. A larger path that showed the smooth glossy surface of the tree trunk bellow our feet lead straight forward and to a staircase that spiralled slightly up to the next floor.

"My father is waiting on the top floor in the royal feshith room." Georgia said while pointing up with a finger. "Come on this way."

We followed Georgia towards the staircase but my mind was swept towards a path through the strange trees right beside the stair case. I felt something calling to me, telling me to follow the path and see where it leads.

I didn't know I was instinctively following the call until I was tugged back by my hand. "Vaden?" Beatrice asked one foot on the first wooden step.

"Huh? Oh sorry." I shook my head when I saw that I was heading down the path instead of up the stairs.

"We can explore after we've spoken to the king." Beatrice suggested to me with a soft smile.

"Oh of course, I don't know why I was heading down there." I shrugged embarrassed.

"Heading where?" Beatrice asked in confusion looking right at the path.

"Um..." I frowned. Does she not see the path? Am I imagining the path? But it's right there, and that calling was making my insides shiver with the need to follow it. "Never mind, let's go." I decided while smiling at Beatrice a little forcefully but I hope it doesn't make her suspicious.

"Okay." Beatrice agreed with a slight smile of her own and started once again up the stairs. I followed her after one more glance down the path that disappeared through the strange silver trees.

The second floor this time wasn't exactly an open space, but a hallway that was large enough to have over ten people walk side by side comfortably. Along the wooden walls of the hallway were doors or archways leading into other rooms.

"What are those rooms?" Ashwini asked while we walked, peaking into every room that had an open door or archway that wasn't covered by a curtain.

"They're prayer rooms, which are used to mourn the dead. Sadly, many of these rooms are in use now thanks to the war." Georgia answered, her voice thick with sadness along with a bitter spike that showed her anger towards what was happening.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Ashwini apologised no longer trying to look into the rooms.

Georgia gave her a soft smile over her shoulder. "It's alright."

At the end of the long hallway and passing a couple of crying fairies who Georgia immediately went over to console. We came to large wooden doors that a giant could probably fit through... I wonder if giants actually exist too... the wonders of the world I thought I knew. These doors had the silvery/white liquid mana curling and carving its way over them while the large handles were made of a fine silver metal I've never seen before.

Two guards, the first I've seen since coming her, stood on either side of the door, stone faced and cautious. One was male and had bright red hair, wearing dark maroon and brown robes with leather armour and a sword at his side while his wings were held together at his back. They were a beautiful combination of reds and browns. The other was female and had shining gold hair tied tightly in a twist against the back of her head. She wore sunflower yellow and white robes under light brown leather amour. She held a bow at her side while two quivers full of arrows were held on her side and diagonally over her back.

"My lady." They both bowed towards Georgia who had stepped forward to lead the way while Orrick was right behind her. They then turned and opened the large doors for us.

"Thank you." Georgia smiled at the guards who smiled back but they were tired and worn.

I smiled at the guards in greeting just to be kind but they just eyed me warily. Beatrice squeezed my hand making me look at her to find a comforting smile on her face before she let go of my hand. I frowned at the loss of contact but at least I was still beside her. Something is better than nothing, I suppose.

My frown quickly turned into a smile at the sight of all the glowing flowers, soft moss and lush grass that made up most of the floor. The mana in this room was full of life and I loved it. Breathing it all in the mana rushed through me taking everything bad I was feeling away. My new necklace hummed against the skin of my neck and I could feel the pure mana inside it reacting to it while the dark mana almost seemed to sulk.

At the back of the full of life room was an oddly shaped tree, which I quickly realised was a chair, or throne of some sort. Flowers and moss grew over the chair tree making it look lovely and inviting.

"I was wondering when you all would arrive." A deep voice commented from the left side of the room.

I turned to find an older, male, fairy squatting beside a group of glowing flowers that seemed to lean right towards him. He was a stunning male, even I could see that, with soft features that softened the hard jawline and sharp cheekbones that would making any human think he was a god. He had long, dark, ocean blue hair that was tied loosely at the base of his neck while the rest of it draped over his shoulder. His wings stood out from his back looking almost like exact replicas of Georgia's. he wore sweeping royal blue robes and had flowers and leaves caught all over it.

"Father." Georgia smiled warmly blue eyes sparkling even more.

The king turned slightly to his daughter with a stunning smile before he stood up and held out his arms on either side of him. Georgia quickly ran over and hugged the much taller man tightly.

"How are you my butterfly?" He asked while wrapping his larger arms around Georgia while placing a loving kiss to the top of her head. It was such an endearing moment I couldn't help but smile and step closer to Beatrice who I felt lean slightly against me. My heart thudded and my stomach quivered, but it felt nice.

"I'm feeling many things at the moment father, but happiness is the largest right now." Georgia answered pulling away from him. "What about yourself? How are you?"

The king sighed sounding and looking tired. "I'm exhausted frankly speaking. I never thought in my thousand-year reign after my mother I would have to go to war after so long a peace."

I'm pretty sure everyone frowned in sympathy for the king. "Well you don't need to worry anymore. We're here to help you." Beatrice spoke up while stepping forward and bowing slightly to the king.

He looked up and smiled at us. "Yes, and I can't thank you enough for coming as soon as you have. I almost convinced myself that lady Aviva would ignore my plea for help because of what I've done to her."

"Don't be stupid father. Aviva isn't that shallow to ignore a plead for help from someone that so desperately needs it. Plus, I wouldn't have forgiven her if she did." Georgia told him while crossing her arms over her chest with a huff.

The king chuckled obviously amused by his daughter. "Yes, I agree I should have known that lady Aviva would never act like that. I can feel though that you two have not mated yet, why is that?"

Georgia blushed a deep red. "None of your business old man!" she exclaimed turning away from him in a huff. I couldn't fight off a chuckle because of how cute she looked at the moment.

"I'm sorry my butterfly." The King laughed but soon his shoulders slumped and a tired sigh left him. "I wish I could keep this atmosphere up since it's such a reprieve from what I've been feeling lately, but sadly, we must go and discuss what I need you all to do."

"Of course your highness." Beatrice agreed her amused smile dropping to a serious line I stepped up to her side and placed a hand on the small of her back.

"Everything will be fine." I smiled at her reassuringly and completely believing my words.

Beatrice nodded. "Yes, I believe it will be... I have to believe it will be."

"Come, we'll discuss this matter in the Map room." The king suggested before heading towards a doorway on the left side of the room. We followed close behind him.

I stopped just as we were passing a window that showed an amazing view of the surrounding forest, but I didn't stop to wonder at the view... my heart stopped in my chest while my body tensed with penetrating fear...

Something... something's out there. Something bad and evil and just plain wrong that the mana inside me is literally shivering in fear.

"Vaden?" I don't want to know what it is. "Vaden, come on." Beatrice called to me. I looked to her slowly frowning.

I have to believe that everything will be okay... I have to.

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