Fael jogged off toward the lake, his footsteps gradually slowing until he came to a quiet stop by the shore. With a blank expression, he stared at his reflection rippling gently in the water. His brows furrowed.
That was embarrassing... Why didn't the spell work? I'm sure I got the diagram right. The phrases too.
Frustration welled up inside him. He bent down, picked up a small stone, and tossed it into the lake. The water broke with a soft splash, but he didn't even watch it land. Instead, he turned away with a pout, his shoulders a little heavier than before. His boots crunched softly against the forest floor as he wandered aimlessly along the lake's curve. Then, something unusual caught his eye—a massive boulder jutting out near the lakeside, partially wrapped in moss and shadow. Fael's steps slowed. His gaze narrowed as he drew closer.
There was something—no, someone—sitting atop the rock.
Who is that?
Fael slowly walked toward the creature sitting on the rock. It had small arms and legs, shiny orange fur that looked like a fox's hide, and a loose straw hat resting on its head. Its long, drooping ears hung on either side, and it sat with its chin resting on one hand and its legs folded beneath it.
As Fael came closer, the creature flinched slightly. They both stopped moving, staring at each other in silence. The creature's deep blue eyes were fixed on Fael, and Fael found himself staring back.
It was horribly long and awkward.
"Monster!!!"
"You can see me?!"
They both shouted at the same time, pointing at each other with wide eyes and open mouths.
A sudden gust of wind passed through, rustling the trees before fading away, leaving a brief silence behind. The creature stood up and leapt off the rock, landing in front of Fael with a soft thud and his long bushy tail rattling. His face was filled with confusion.
"Wait... you can actually see me?"
Fael nodded.
The creature let out an exaggerated groan and facepalmed. "How is this even possible..." he muttered. Then he pointed at Fael dramatically. "Hey, kiddo—are you sure you're not the monster here?"
Fael blinked at him, baffled.
What is this weird-looking animal even talking about? And how is it talking in the first place?
The creature sighed. "Well, this is a surprise. Who would've thought someone would finally notice my gracious self after centuries of slumber."
"Centuries?!" Fael exclaimed, his voice nearly cracking. His mind was racing with too many thoughts to keep track of.
"What are you, and how are you even talking?" Fael demanded, pointing at the creature like it was some kind of boss monster waiting to be defeated—and looted.
"Whoa, hold your horses, brat," the creature smirked, crossing its tiny arms. "You're the one who barged into my spot, remember?"
Fael exhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm of questions in his head. He stared at the supposedly "gracious" creature with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean by centuries of slumber? Are you some kind of immortal sleepyhead monster?"
The creature groaned in annoyance. "Stop calling me a monster! I have a name—Hain." He pointed at himself with exaggerated flair, smirking proudly as if expecting applause. Fael stepped a little closer and curiously poked one of the creature's drooping ears.
"You definitely feel like a monster to me…"
The creature jolted back, clearly offended. "Hey! Keep your hands to yourself! You should be thankful you can even see me."
Fael blinked, still confused. "What's so strange about that?"
Hain crossed his arms and gave an exaggerated sigh. "I've been sitting on this rock for ages, and not a single soul has ever noticed me—not even those plant women who pass by now and then. You are the first one able see me in a long while."
Yeah, you are definitely a monster then.
Fael pushed aside the mess of thoughts swirling in his head and asked, "How old are you, then?"
Hain blinked a couple of times, tapping a finger thoughtfully against his chin.
"A thousand years? Maybe two. I kinda lost count."
Fael's face twisted in disbelief. "You're saying… you've just been here all that time? Sitting on this rock?"
Hain chuckled at the look of pure confusion spreading across Fael's face.
"Well, yeah. I'm sort of bound to this rock. Or rather… to what's beneath it…" His voice trailed off, the last part barely audible.
Fael just stood there, stunned. "I… I… what…"
His brain short-circuited trying to process everything.
The strange fox-like creature burst into maniacal laughter, the kind that made it sound like he hadn't laughed in centuries. He spread his arms dramatically, spinning once atop the rock.
"What's your name, brat? I shall engrave it upon this majestic stone as a token of my gratitude! Rejoice, you insignificant mongrel!"
"Fael," he muttered, his face contorted with annoyance.
Hain spun around and grabbed a small, sharp stone from the ground, then marched toward the towering rock behind him. With exaggerated care, he began engraving Fael's name onto the surface.
"You should go back to sleep," Fael muttered, unimpressed, his tone flat.
"Oh, don't worry about that, kiddo," Hain replied with a smirk. "I just woke up from a lovely 150-year nap filled with the sweetest dreams. I'm feeling refreshed hehe."
Fael didn't even blink anymore. At this point, nothing surprised him.
Hain glanced over his shoulder, his expression suddenly more serious, though still tinged with mischief. "Also... don't go telling anyone that you can see me, unless you want people thinking you're a delusional little lunatic."
Yeah sure.
Fael glanced around, noticing the wildflowers and tall grasses swaying gently around the base of the massive rock. A few butterflies danced lazily above the blooms, their wings catching the golden sunlight. The serene sight brought him back to the moment—specifically, to the one he'd forgotten in all the chaos: the failed spell. His shoulders slumped slightly as the frustration crept back in.
Just as he opened his mouth to ask Hain if he knew anything about why the spell hadn't worked, a vivid image played in his mind—Hain laughing maniacally, rolling on the rock, probably calling him something ridiculous like "incompetent bug mage" or "the child who made wind instead of magic."
Fael slowly closed his mouth.
I am sure that would happen...
A few moments later, Hain stepped back from the rock, dusting his hands dramatically. Fael's name, etched in uneven but bold strokes, gleamed slightly under the dappled sunlight.
"There!" Hain declared, posing with a hand on his hip. "What do you think of my artistic achievement? Magnificent, isn't it?"
Fael squinted at the crude carving. The letters were a bit wobbly.
"Eh, it's... fine," he replied flatly.
Fael glanced at Hain, who looked slightly disappointed by his lukewarm reaction. "What do you even do here in this remote place?"
"Nothing," Hain replied, crossing his small arms and puffing his cheeks. "There's nothing to do other than sleep."
"That sounds like a really boring life," Fael said, his tone dry and unimpressed.
"Haha, maybe. But getting to sleep peacefully for hundreds of years isn't such a bad deal either," Hain mused with a lazy grin.
Fael looked at him for a moment, then closed his eyes and asked the question that had been bugging him ever since their conversation began. "So, what exactly are you?"
Hain tilted his head back, gazing at the canopy of trees and the sky beyond. A brief silence passed before he smiled softly. "I'm just a majestic wandering spirit."
Fael squinted, unimpressed.
Why does this weird creature keep dodging my questions…?
With a sigh, he asked one more, this time more directly. "What did you mean by being bound to this rock?"
Hain tapped his chin, then grinned mischievously. "Come back tomorrow if you want to know that, hehe."
Fael let out an audible groan and turned around. "Fine, I'm leaving."
He began walking back through the forest, crunching leaves under his feet, while Hain sat atop his rock, watching him get smaller and smaller in the distance.
Just as Fael was nearly out of sight, Hain called out, "You will come back tomorrow, won't you?"
Fael turned his head with an annoyed look. "Yes, I will. See you tomorrow."
Fael turned right as he reached the spot where he had earlier thrown a stone into the lake. He retraced his steps to the small clearing where, not long ago, he had failed to show off his newly learned spell. The memory stung a little, and a flicker of frustration surfaced on his face.
I'll ask Mrs. Marie, he thought with a determined pout. She'll definitely know why it didn't work.
Just a short distance away, Sevah was still gathering herbs, her basket now nearly overflowing. As soon as she noticed him approaching, she smiled and gave him a gentle wave.
"Time to return," she said warmly.
Fael gave a small nod and took her hand without a word. Together, they began walking back along the same forest trail they had taken earlier. The scent of fresh herbs and blossoms from the basket filled the air around them, trailing with each step they took. The silence between them was quiet but comforting, the kind that only comes after a day well spent.
Just as they were about to pass through the hedge gate leading into the Grove's main area, a sudden gust—no, a miniature tornado—rushed past their eyes with a deafening roar. Sevah's expression widened in alarm as the violent wind tore through the path ahead. Fael's mind blanked for a moment, his feet lifting slightly off the ground. Had he not been gripping Sevah's hand, he might've flown off like a loose balloon.
The gale struck a nearby tree with brutal force, splitting it in half. The trunk groaned and snapped, crashing down with a thunderous crack. A cloud of startled birds screeched and scattered into the sky above, their cries echoing through the Grove.
That was close... I really thought I was going to fly off! Fael thought, his heart pounding.
Across the path, on the other side of the now-shattered tree, stood Myne. She was perfectly still, arms at her sides like a statue—except for the twitching corners of her mouth, betraying the storm she'd clearly just unleashed.
"Myne," Sevah's voice was sharp, her brows slanting in disapproval. "I've told you many times—don't practice inside the Grove."
Myne flinched slightly and lowered her head. "I'm sorry…" she mumbled, voice barely above a whisper.
Before the tension could linger, Fael's eyes lit up with excitement. "That was amazing, sister! How did you do that? Teach me too!" he beamed, nearly bouncing in place.
Myne glanced up and let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of her head. "Hehe… I kind of lost control there…"
Sevah exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright, you can show off all you want—just not here."
Myne nodded quickly. "Right! Somewhere else, definitely."
Fael gave Sevah a cheerful wave as he and Myne began heading off in the opposite direction.
"Don't forget to stop by the house for cookies later," Sevah called out. "And tell Lark too!"
"Understood!" Myne replied with a grin, waving back over her shoulder.