After talking for a while with Victoria, I needed air. My mind was still burning with thoughts I couldn't manage to put in order, so I headed toward the lower part of the forest hoping to clear it a little. The wind there always blew cooler, as if it had learned to calm restless souls since ancient times.
As I walked among the tall and gnarled trunks, a murmur forced me to stop. Off to the side of the path, almost hidden by shadow and a small outer wooden fence, I made out three people arguing. They looked like adventurers: two men and a woman. They wore light armor, bulky backpacks and an air of exhaustion that you only get from living on dangerous roads. Their voices were low, tense; they seemed to be deliberating about some important matter.
I passed sideways, pretending I hadn't noticed them, and kept walking until I entered an area of the forest I hadn't explored yet. The vegetation was thicker, the light softer, almost silvery. And there, right after crossing a natural arch made by two huge roots, I heard the splashing of water.
Before me stretched a small lake, so clear it reflected the sky like a freshly polished mirror. And on its shore, hopping in the water like a carefree kid, there was a small luminous figure.
I got a little closer and then I saw her clearly: Leaf.
The tiny fairy was completely wet, laughing while taking an improvised bath, shaking herself among the lake's ripples.
—Hmm? —she suddenly murmured as she turned her head.
She had noticed my presence. I froze a few meters away, not knowing whether to move forward or back away. Her, naked, with the body of a tiny maiden and the magical glow that always surrounded her… well, she drew way too much attention. So much that I looked away on reflex, as if my eyes were burning.
Leaf gave me a mischievous smile.
—Ohh, it's you! —she exclaimed, as if she had been waiting for me—. The water in this lake feels super good! Come for a while! We can play together!
She spoke with that innocence only she could have, without imagining that her wet appearance made my mind waver. No matter how much she was a fairy, her figure was too… human. Too feminine.
I turned a little, trying to play it off.
—Hehe… What's wrong? —she asked in a singsong voice—. Did you get aroused seeing a naked fairy?
—No, no, no! You're wrong —I answered quickly, hands raised.
But that only ignited her teasing side even more.
—Naughty. Lewd. Lustful. Pervert. Peeerrvert. Peeervertt~ —she sang, swaying in the water as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
I felt it was better to run away before the situation got worse and someone else heard that list of erotic insults.
—Ahhh, wait~ —she complained when she saw me back away—. Did you get angry? Hehehe… Please come back… And here I wanted you to look at me more.
I heard her laugh behind me while I fled the place, slipping a little on the wet leaves. Leaf kept provoking me as if it were a game, trying to convince me to stay. Me, on the other hand, just wanted to avoid absurd rumors about "the undead who spies on naked fairies."
When I finally got far enough from the lake, I returned to the main path and went back toward where I had seen the group of three adventurers. I wanted to talk to them, meet new faces, and maybe understand what they had been discussing.
As I got closer, their voices became clear.
—Hmm-hmm… Men turning into demon-beasts… even now it sounds unbelievable, don't you think? —one of them was saying.
It seemed a heavy, complicated conversation, perhaps full of superstition… but upon hearing my footsteps they all fell silent immediately. Silence dropped over them like a blanket.
I stood in front of the group not quite knowing how to greet them.
—Uh… hello, nice to meet you…
The three looked at me with a mix of curiosity and caution. I didn't know if it was because of my undead appearance or simply because they weren't expecting company.
One of the men stepped forward.
—Ahh, nice to meet you… undead —he said naturally.
He had eyes that seemed to measure everything.
—As you can see, we're just knights… guardians, actually —he continued—. We're protecting Saint Catherine on her journey. Let me introduce us: the woman beside me is called Catherine, my friend here is Ox, and I'm Belior… —He stopped, looked me up and down and smiled—. Hey, looking at you… you seem very capable. What do you say? Want to join the lady's escort?
It caught me off guard.
—Uh… sure, of course. I don't think it's a bad idea if you need help.
Belior burst out laughing at my words.
—Hahaha! Just kidding, just kidding. Sorry. My lady, Ox and I are already a team. I'd never ask a stranger to join us.
I rolled my eyes a little, not knowing if he was trying to be funny or just weird.
The woman in the group stepped forward to apologize.
—Sorry about my companion —she said softly—. Forgive his attitude, he's just very happy about completing this mission.
I looked at her more closely. She had long purple hair that fell to the upper part of her back. Her eyes were light red, but the most striking thing were her pupils: white, bright, as if they held light inside. A rare, almost divine trait.
Also, her figure was elegant and well-formed, especially her chest; a detail hard to ignore even if one tried. She wore a white robe that covered her entire body and a veil of the same color, embroidered with golden threads that framed her face. Around her neck, a cross-shaped necklace rested on her skin like a sacred seal.
She had presence. One of those born from calm and faith.
—Don't worry, it's fine, no problem —I replied.
She smiled with relief.
—I see… thank you. Isn't this forest comforting? Its tranquility heals the soul. As my companion said, I'm Catherine. I'm visiting from Alexandria. Maybe you've heard of me?
Truth was I had never heard her name. And if I had, I had already forgotten it completely. But telling her that in front of those shining eyes felt cruel. I didn't have the heart to extinguish that spark.
—Uh… sure, I've heard of you —I lied gently.
She lit up.
—Oh, I'm glad to hear that. I certainly want to share God's teachings with you someday. But right now I'm in a hurry. Maybe when we meet again…
—Yes, of course —I nodded—. When we see each other again I'll listen to whatever teachings you have for me. So see you later.
I said goodbye with a slight bow and began walking away from the group. As I moved down the path, I could hear them resume their practice and conversations.
They mentioned they were heading to Elixir, the cemetery city.
That name echoed in my mind like an unsettling echo.
And so, between the murmur of the forest and the persistent memory of the water where Leaf had been completely naked, I continued on my way.