All the paths seemed to lead into the woods.
There, I had felt safe for so many years. There, I had escaped when I had been forced to marry Prince Jonah. And there, I had found my way back home.
The brothers, Tryx and Galaga were waiting for me impatiently right at the place where, a few hours earlier, we had agreed to meet Rayn.
Rayn, where was Rayn?
'Is everything all right?' Russell asked me as soon as he saw me.
'Let's just say that when we get back, the Comrades may be a bit angry,' I answered him honestly.
'If we come back,' said Rich, half as a joke, half as fear.
'Where is he?' I questioned Tryx.
Knowing her story, I knew she would figure out if the delay was something to worry about or not.
'He' s probably waiting to make his dramatic entrance.'
Good, there was no need to worry, he would show up soon enough.
'Here you are,' Russell told me, handing me a silver dagger, 'it's small but it' s a good idea in case you need it.'
I had not noticed the sword hanging from his hip, he was always carrying his bow, but this time he had armed himself twice as much.
Everyone was armed, including Tryx, who was carrying blades hanging from her black dress. Galaga had not bothered to hide the two large swords that were criss-crossing behind her back. The brothers were equally armed.
Even if it was not so, it seemed that they were preparing to go to war.
Just as Tryx predicted, Rayn appeared jumping from the top of a tree. He landed heavily on the ground and got up slowly.
'Blessed are the legs, once you have them, you value them.'
'Where were you? Where is your friend?' I completely ignored his words and went straight to question him.
'Polar is not coming. It' s only me.'
Before I could complain about it, Tryx stepped forward, punched Rayn in the shoulder and yelled at him:
'You're both the worst! She told you to come, how hard could it be for him to come?'
'It wasn't his call,' said Rayn rubbing his shoulder, 'it was Caelus, he didn't let him come. He wanted to come and see you Tryx, I swear...'
'Why didn't Caelus let him?' I crossed my arms, looking at him threateningly.
Rayn looked down at his shoes, trying to formulate an excuse.
'I don't know, he doesn't usually tell us why he made his decisions, he just tells you what to do and what not to do.'
I approached Rayn and confronted him.
'Aren't you ashamed of not having control over your own life?'
Rayn looked up, defiant.
'You have no idea what it's like to grow up where we did, what we had to go through...if you had gone through that, you would have done everything Caelus says too. He's the only one who can protect us.'
'What do you mean by that?'
Tryx came between us.
'Your Majesty, as much as I would like to punch him and yell at him much more, we have no time to lose.'
I knew Tryx was right. Not only did we have no time because of the curse itself, but surely the Comrades would have found a way to get out of their house and get all the inhabitants of Crescendo to look for me.
'I will not forget about this,' I threatened him with my finger.
I didn't want things to change, but it was impossible to deny that I felt changed. I felt a little stronger, a little more confident. I was starting to feel more Gaia than Milaia.
'Where is the artifact?'
From a bag hanging on his left shoulder, Rayn pulled out a small black sphere. He put it down on the floor and stepped on it with his right foot.
'See? It's broken.'
I bent down to the height of the sphere and examined it, pretending to understand what it meant.
'You have no idea how it works, do you?'
'Don't talk to her like she's your friend, she's not your friend, she's a Princess, so treat her like one.' Russell took two steps towards Rayn until I stopped him with my hand.
'Please control your lover,' said Rayn in a mocking tone.
Aaron and Rich giggled at the remark. Fred looked away and Galaga and Tryx were absolutely silent.
'You control yourself or the next thing I'll create is a cloud that will throw lightnings at you all day long.'
Rayn smiled at me maliciously.
I didn't dare look at Russell.
Was he my lover? Would he feel that way about me?
If I had to describe my relationship with Russell, what would I say? Was he my savior? My friend? My hunting partner?
No, I knew deep down that he was something else, but I couldn't expect him to feel the same way just because I felt that way.
I wanted him to be the one to choose me.
I tried to stop thinking about it. I was afraid my magic would get out of control. If I really wanted him to confess his feelings to me, would that happen? Did I have control over other people's decisions?
'Listen to me,' I continued, 'I don't care how you handle yourself in your kingdom, or how you treat other people, you will treat me with respect, and I will treat you the same way. If you help me, I will never forget that you helped me, and I will owe you for it.'
Greed and opportunism were drawn on the face of the Lost Man, who knew my words were true just by looking at me.
You have to press it twice with your foot, then walk away and the portal forms. But no matter how much I press, nothing happens. And how is the portal formed? I mean, what kind of magic is used? Rayn didn't know the answer. I could tell by the way he looked for Tryx's help. Fairy dust, it's encapsulated inside, when you step on it you spray it up and it forms the portal. But each portal is imprinted with the fairy who lent her powder. If there are no more remnants inside, and without the fairy to produce more, it is impossible for it to work. You are a fairy, you can do it. I told her very confidently. You gave me back my wings, if anyone can work miracles, it is you. Rayn turned his gaze on me. You gave her back her wings? How? Why? His reaction was strange, but it didn't take me long to understand it. For him, everything was done with a purpose, always to gain something in return. Everything was done for something. Because she is my friend,' I answered without hesitation. I noticed how Tryx's face lit up. It was true, she was my friend, everyone was, except Russell, who was something else, something I still didn't dare say in words. Rayn remained silent, thoughtful.
'Well, then we'll see if I can create fairy dust.'
I have never seen even one image of fairy dust.
The books on which I had based my knowledge of the world had forgotten to mention several things, including magic. It wasn't something they forgot to write about, it was something specifically left out.
I bent down and put my hands on the sphere. I closed my eyes and concentrated.
I knew everyone was watching me. The pressure I felt at that moment was extreme. If I failed, if I couldn't do it, the whole mission would be cancelled.
Fairy dust.
I thought about it again and again and nothing happened.
Fairy dust.
Again, nothing happened.
Maybe I couldn't do it, maybe it was something beyond my powers.
I just want a portal.
A portal that will take me to Crescendo, to old Crescendo.
A portal.
A portal.
'Your Majesty!' Galaga's voice brought me out of my trance.
I opened my eyes, and beside me, a violet orb was approaching.
At first small, it grew and grew until it was as big as me.
'What is that?' I asked, a little terrified.
'It's a portal,' Rayn stammered. 'You created a portal all by yourself.'
None seemed surprised, except Rayn and obviously me. I didn't understand how he started out wanting to create fairy dust and ended up with a supposed portal. Was it really a portal?
'Let's go,' said Aaron, tightening his sword on his hip.
'Wait! We don't know... I mean, I have no idea how...'
Everything was happening so fast. How could they be so willing to take such a risk?
'We trust you, Your Majesty,' said Tryx, before stepping into the orb.
She vanished instantly.
'No!' I shouted. 'Wait, please, I don't even know how...'
Aaron took Rich's arm and Fred followed. The three of them entered the so-called portal and disappeared.
'Don't stay behind, Your Majesty,' Galaga told me before pushing Rayn into the orb, quickly following him.
Only Russell and I were left behind.
We looked into each other's eyes.
He could read my fear and confusion. What if the portal didn't lead us where I wanted it to? What if everyone was dead because of me?
Russell took my hand gently and squeezed it hard.
'Let's do it together,' he said and looked at the portal.
'I don't know what will happen,' I confessed in a trembling voice.
'I trust you,' he replied kissing my hand and we both jumped into the portal.