Chapter 13

The early afternoon was sunny and warm as Sage and I strolled along the dirt path through the woods.

The vibrant greens and browns of the surrounding plants and trees seemed to glow under the rays of sunlight filtering through the high leaves.

But my attention wasn't on any of that. I was more excited about what I was about to experience.

“You look pretty happy. Haven’t you been to a festival before?” Sage asked.

I glanced at the fox walking beside me.

He was about a foot taller than me, and that knowing smile he’d been wearing since he showed up at the palace was still on his face, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement.

His silver hair and tails shimmered in the sunlight.

I stopped and smiled at him. “I’ve never had the chance to do anything like this before. I hadn’t even been to a town before I came here,” I replied.

“Really?” Sage looked at me more closely. “I wouldn’t have guessed you were from the countryside.

“Most human girls I’ve seen from those places are pretty plain.”

“You’re pretty blunt, aren’t you? Don’t you realize those girls don’t have any other life?” I shot back.

Sage’s amusement didn’t fade. “I can’t deny that I have a habit of judging others.”

I sighed, looking down at my dress for a moment. With such a beautiful dress and being so clean and well cared for, I could see how he might forget where I came from.

My thoughts drifted back to earlier, when I was getting ready to leave with him.

Edifel had been really excited for me, telling me how fun these festivals could be, especially when they were hosted by the fairies.

While there were many different kinds, most were very talented and loved hosting these events for the creatures that lived around their glens.

And then there was the prospect of me attending this one. Just as Sage had pointed out, she reminded me of my new status in this world, especially in these lands.

For that, I needed to look the part.

“Let’s find a dress that’s perfect for the occasion, then we’ll fix your hair. They’ll see how stunning Lord Jekia’s bride is,” she’d said.

She was true to her word. The dress she picked for me was both beautiful and comfortable, light blue with a front that came just to my knees and a longer back that fell to my ankles.

The top had short sleeves, and the collar exposed the tops of my breasts, but it didn’t feel as revealing as many of the other dresses I had.

Besides, I was starting to realize that showing some skin was normal here.

Sage was always around with half of his shirt unbuttoned, and when I thought about it, Jekia often did the same.

If Edifel was any indication, the women here weren’t shy about their bodies either.

“As I said,” I continued. “You can be pretty blunt. I wonder if that’s why Edifel feels the way she does about you.”

Sage laughed. “I can’t deny that I tend to rub her the wrong way, and I’ll admit I’m at fault. But I really do like that spider.

“Not only has she grown into a beautiful creature, but she’s also as caring as she is powerful. Jekia made a great choice in taking her in.”

“Are all spiders like Edifel?” I asked as we started walking again.

“They can be similar, and I’ve never had a problem with them, but they do tend to be feared by those who don’t understand them.

“It’s kind of funny. I’ve found over the centuries that the ones to really watch out for are those who put on a good front and then stab you in the back,” Sage replied.

“You make it sound like this world is as ruthless as mine when it comes to people using others,” I observed.

“It can be, but don’t worry about it. You’ll never have to deal with that kind of thing with Jekia by your side, and me as your friend,” Sage assured me.

His words made me stop in my tracks.

“You consider me a friend?”

Sage stopped and turned to me, smiling as he gently stroked my right cheek. “Of course I do. While I enjoy calling you a lover, I also enjoy your company.

“You have a calming effect on me, which very few have ever been able to do, so it’s only natural that I’d consider you a friend.”

A warm feeling spread through my heart as I looked into his eyes. He meant every word. I couldn’t describe the joy I felt at hearing this. I’d never had a friend before.

The other kids in my area had always shunned me, even throwing rocks and mud at me just because they could.

To think that someone, even if he was a fox, cared about me in this way was humbling.

“Thank you so much. I appreciate it. I’ve never had any friends before,” I confessed, holding my hands to my chest.

“Maybe that’s because the people in your world were too blind to see your true worth,” Sage suggested.

He gave me a gentle kiss between my eyes. “Let’s keep going. We’re almost there, and I can hear the music now.”

He was right. I could hear the faint sound of music too. It made me smile.

“Yes. I can’t wait to see this,” I agreed eagerly.

It wasn’t long before we reached the glen where the fairies lived.

Sage pushed aside one of the large leaves that covered the entrance to the glen, and I gazed in wonder as the village came into view.

Even though I’d never seen a village in my own world, I had a feeling this one was both very similar and very different.

There were many homes and shops built up in the glen, which was quite large and open. A dirt road led down to the entrance, where a large archway stood.

Ribbons of all colors were wrapped around it, along with bright green vines. Music floated from the streets, along with the sound of many creatures chatting.

Sage and I strolled hand in hand through the archway. I was captivated by the sights that unfolded before me.

There was a variety of creatures, each with a touch of human-like features.

Some, like Sage and Jekia, had animal characteristics, but they were diverse, resembling cats, birds, and even insects like butterflies and ants.

But what truly caught my eye were the beings I was sure were fairies.

They were scattered throughout the village, some tending to stalls selling a variety of goods, from clothes and jewelry to exotic foods, while others danced and played instruments.

Their attire ranged from elegant to quite revealing, especially the younger females.

They wore flowing skirts that swirled around them as they danced, their tops barely covering their breasts, leaving their bellies exposed.

Colorful sashes were draped around their arms, matching the vibrant hues of their glittering outfits.

In appearance, the fairies were similar to humans, their skin tones varied from pale to dark, and their faces and bodies were alike.

But they all had pointed ears, and many of the women had long, curled black eyelashes. Their eyes were a spectrum of colors unseen in humans, from purple to bright green to vivid pink.

In short, they were all breathtakingly beautiful.

Sage chuckled as he caught me staring, standing beside me near the archway.

“They’re quite beautiful creatures, aren’t they?” he remarked.

“They truly are.” I nodded, still in awe.

“Let’s go further in. I think you’ll enjoy what they have to offer here,” Sage suggested, tugging my hand gently.

I followed him into the village, feeling a bit apprehensive. I could feel eyes on us, even if it was just a few at first.

Could they tell right away that I was human?

I thought they probably could.

Sage led me to a stall selling clothes and jewelry.

The fairy behind the counter was a beautiful woman in a long, elegant silver dress held up by thin straps.

Her long, fair hair cascaded over her shoulders and back, and her bright green eyes lit up when she saw Sage.

“Oh my, you did come after all. It’s been so long, Sage,” she greeted him warmly.

“It certainly has. How have you been, Lucia?” Sage responded, returning her smile.

“I’ve been well,” the fairy replied. Her gaze then shifted to me, and surprise flickered in her eyes. “Goodness, you’ve brought beautiful company with you.”

Sage looked smug. “I like to think I always keep beautiful company. But yes, she most certainly is.”

“You’re too much sometimes,” the fairy woman teased him. She was studying me closely as she spoke. “I hope I’m not being rude, but I have to ask. You’re a human woman, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yes, I am,” I confirmed.

“How lovely. We don’t often have human women on this side, especially one so beautiful,” the fairy continued. She glanced at Sage. “Did you bring her to this side?”

Sage shook his head. “Not at all. She’s Lord Jekia’s new bride. I’m sure you’ve heard the news.”

His words drew the attention of those nearby, and the fairy woman stared in wonder. I stayed still, feeling increasingly awkward.

What would they think of me now that they knew who I was?

“Wow,” another fairy woman nearby finally said. “You’re Lord Jekia’s new bride?”

“She’s as lovely as we’ve heard!” another exclaimed.

The fairy woman at the stall quickly spoke up as more gathered around us.

“Now, now! Don’t crowd our lady! You wouldn’t like it if it were done to you, and it’s an honor that she’s come to our festival!

“If you want to talk to her, do it respectfully!” she reminded them.

This was different. They all seemed to listen to her without question and backed off a bit, though they still wanted to catch a glimpse of me.

Sage looked amused as he watched all of this. “It seems the rumors of Lana’s arrival have stirred many hearts,” he commented.

“You know that well,” the fairy woman responded.

She looked to her left, where a male fairy was standing and watching us. His skin was darker, and he had deep brown eyes and dark brown hair.

“Lucas, could you watch the stand for a bit? I’d like to talk to our lady.”

The fairy immediately bowed in agreement. “Yes, of course, my lady.”

The fairy woman stepped out and led us to a nearby building, opening the door and inviting us inside.

The scent of incense filled the air as I entered, and I saw that it was a dining area. There were round tables and a bar.

I admit, seeing the bar made me uncomfortable. It brought back memories of my father’s drunkenness.

There were other creatures in the dining area, enjoying meals at the tables, which had candles in the center for extra light.

They noticed us as we entered, but they didn’t do much, just nodded and smiled at us.

The fairy woman returned their smiles as she led Sage and me to a table near one of the large windows.

“I apologize for the commotion outside, but I’m sure you understand their curiosity.

“I’m surprised myself. I’d hoped to meet you one day, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon,” she said as we sat down.

“I’m flattered, but I didn’t expect such a warm reception,” I admitted.

“That’s understandable. You’re still adjusting to your role in this world, and you haven’t been outside the palace much.

“That might be a mistake on Jekia’s part. Most in this world wouldn’t want to harm you,” Sage added.

The fairy woman agreed. “No, not many would, even if you are human.

“Disrespecting Lord Jekia would be unthinkable, and anyone he chose to love would be held in high regard. She would be celebrated.”

Sage laughed lightly. “Considering the number of women he’s rejected over the centuries, I’m sure everyone believes that now.”

“I’ve heard the same,” I said, studying the fairy in front of me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Oh, how rude of me!” the fairy giggled. “I’m Lucia. My husband Marcio and I lead this fairy glen.”

That explained why the others had listened to her so readily. She was the wife of the leader here.

I wondered what he looked like. She was so beautiful, he must have been handsome too.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lucia. I know you already know, but I’m Lana,” I replied.

“Yes, we’ve heard a lot about you in the past few weeks. It’s been quite thrilling for us to learn that Lord Jekia has chosen a wife, even if none of us expected her to be a human.

“But that seems fitting to most of us. If a human has captured his attention, then she must be quite special,” Lucia said.

“I’m not sure what that could be,” I admitted. “I’m still figuring out my place here with him.

“But I’ve been very curious about this world, and I’m fascinated by what I’ve seen so far. Your village is beautiful, and its inhabitants are too.

“I grew up hearing stories about fairies, but I could never quite imagine what real fairies looked like until now.”

Lucia sighed. “I understand.

“There have been many stories about the Fae in recent centuries, but unfortunately, many of them are quite inaccurate.

“I’m not sure why that is, and neither are many others. Perhaps some have spread lies among the humans for their own reasons.”

“That seems to happen with many creatures these days, although I do blame some of them for it.

“They sometimes do things to spur humans into believing falsehoods and even turning on each other because of them,” Sage added.

“Very true,” Lucia agreed. She then changed the subject. “But we’re thrilled to have you here, Lana.

“As I said, many of us have been eager to meet you and get to know you, and we hope you enjoy your time with us.

“I know that being in this world may be a big adjustment for you, but we hope we can help you feel at home.”

“I would like that. I already like what I’ve seen of this world, even if my arrival was a bit scary at first.

“It’s not just beautiful, but I feel like I can be more myself here,” I told her.

“I’m sure you understand some of what Lana is saying.

“She was from the poorest class of humans in her world, so it’s been an adjustment for her to feel her worth in this one,” Sage informed her.

Lucia nodded slowly. “Ah, I see what you mean, and yes, we all want Lana to feel valued here, unlike how she was made to feel in the mortal world,” she agreed.

She slowly stood up, and Sage helped me to my feet. “Let me show you around our village, Lana. I’m sure you’ll enjoy our festival.”

She was right. In the next few hours, I had more fun than I’d ever had in my life, and I felt incredibly welcomed by everyone there.

The creatures at the festival were friendly to me and each other, and they didn’t crowd me, just as Lucia had asked.

When they approached me, it was with warm smiles and small talk, mostly asking about my stay in this world and sharing insights about their kind and where they came from.

I was fascinated to learn so much about them, and it felt wonderful to be accepted.

Sage stayed close, but I noticed he was also mingling with others there. I didn’t mind too much.

Lucia stayed by my side, and I was comfortable spending time with her.

“This is a beautiful village. Do all fairies have villages like this?” I asked as we walked together in a quieter area near the festival.

It was nice to dance and chat with others, but it was also good to have a break.

“It depends on the type of Fae. We’re woodland fairies, so glens like this are perfect for us.

“But if you’re talking about water Fae, they live behind waterfalls, and sky Fae have homes in the clouds,” Lucia explained.

“It sounds like there are many different types of Fae,” I observed.

“Oh yes. You’d be surprised at the diversity among those who live here. But we’ve also learned that we need to cooperate to maintain peace.

“That’s why rulers like Lord Jekia are so important.

“They ensure cooperation and prevent any creatures from taking advantage of others or causing harm,” Lucia explained.

This was interesting. I’d heard a bit about Jekia’s role as a ruler, but I didn’t fully understand it.

Was this why he was so busy sometimes, because he was trying to maintain peace for all these creatures? Had he taken on such a heavy burden even after his own terrible loss?

The sound of children’s voices brought me back to the present. Lucia and I looked ahead to see a small figure darting around a building.

She was a vision in white, a young girl. She fell forward as something hit her in the back, and I quickly realized that her lower half was like Edifel’s.

She was a spider.

Two children rounded the bend, rocks still clutched in their hands. They looked like fairy children, both boys, and they were taunting the spider girl.

“Scram!” one of them shouted. “We don’t want to be your dinner!”

The spider girl huddled down, covering her head and shaking with fear. I couldn’t stand by and watch. I stepped forward, knelt beside her, and shot a glare at the boys.

“Back off! Leave her alone!” I commanded.

The boys looked shocked. Their arms dropped, and the rocks tumbled from their hands.

Lucia stormed over, her hand flying up to smack both boys across their faces.

“You were told to leave her alone! And you dare to torment her in front of Lord Jekia’s bride? You should be ashamed!” she scolded.

“W-we didn’t mean to…,” one of them stammered.

“Save your excuses! I know better!” Lucia cut him off.

She pointed to the side. “Go to your mother. If you’re not there when I check, you’ll wish this was your punishment!”

The boys didn’t argue. They just scampered off. I looked down at the spider girl, who was watching them run away with tears in her eyes.

Up close, she was beautiful. Unlike Edifel, her entire body was a pure white, including her long hair. But her large eyes were a deep blue. She wore a simple pale blue top and, like Edifel, had four arms.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I asked gently.

“Y-yes,” she whispered.

Lucia joined us, kneeling down and brushing the girl’s hair back from her face.

“My dear, I’m so sorry they keep treating you this way. I thought the last punishment would have stopped them,” she apologized.

“They’ve done this before?” I asked.

“Sadly, yes,” Lucia admitted. “This is Vishu. We found her in the forest recently. She’s an orphaned spider.

“It seems her colony was wiped out by the remaining lycans. We’ve done what we can for her, but we haven’t been able to find any spiders to take her in.”

“The lycans are still doing that?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. Lord Jekia has been trying to wipe out the rest of them, but recent events have made it hard to find them,” Lucia explained.

I looked at Vishu, who was now standing. She was such a beautiful little spider, but her eyes were so sad. I could tell she was lonely. It must have been hard for her here.

“Lucia, do you know Edifel, the spider who serves Lord Jekia at the palace?” I asked.

“Yes, I’ve met her a few times. She’s a lovely creature,” Lucia replied.

“Do you think she might want to take in Vishu? I wouldn’t mind having her at the palace,” I suggested. I smiled at Vishu. “Would you like that?”

“Ah, so you want to take her in? That could be good. I doubt Edifel would object. She’s very maternal,” Sage commented.

I realized he was sitting on the roof of a nearby building. He must have been watching the whole time.

“If you both think Edifel would be okay with it, then I’m fine with you taking Vishu. Is that what you want, sweetheart?” Lucia asked Vishu.

“Yes!” Vishu said eagerly. “I’d love that! I’d love to have a home!”

I smiled as I stood up and picked her up. She hugged me right away, seeming comforted. I had to admit, I liked the feeling.

In many ways, this child was like me. If I could help her, if I could be there for her, then I would.

Sage jumped down to join us, letting out a quiet sigh. “Well, I didn’t expect we’d be bringing home a little one like this, but I don’t see any harm in it.

“Edifel will take good care of her, and I bet she could train her to help watch over the palace grounds. That would be good for everyone,” he said.

“I agree,” I said.

Neither of us had expected this, but as I looked at the spider child clinging to me, I felt a sense of joy.

I had been able to help this little girl, and I looked forward to getting to know her better.