If you ever want to understand how quickly a murder swamp can throw a party, just save a fairy. I woke to the sound of chimes and drums courtesy of the fae, who'd declared a Festival of Shadows in my honor. The entire clearing was transformed: glowing lanterns hung from every branch, tables groaned under the weight of food, and a hundred tiny voices chanted my name. My dragon basked in the attention, her wings glittering with fairy dust.
I stumbled through the morning, accepting garlands and awkward hugs. The fairies pulled me into dances, their feet barely touching the ground. Even the local predators kept their distance, watching the celebrations with wary respect. The world spirit, Aetheria, sent a cool breeze scented with wildflowers a rare show of approval.
During the festivities, the eldest fairy took my hand, leading me to the heart of the clearing. "Knox of Ash and Shadow," she intoned, "you have brought hope to this place. Will you accept our blessing?"
I hesitated. My dragon pressed close, her tail coiling around my ankle. I nodded.
A ripple of magic swept through the crowd. The fairies sang, their voices rising in a harmony that made the very air shimmer. The blessing settled over me: a warmth that sank into my bones, easing my aches, softening the old scars. For a moment, I felt… whole.
The System chimed:
[Major Blessing Received: Shadowfen's Embrace – Increased resistance to corruption and despair.
Minor Healing: Emotional wounds soothed (temporary).]
For the first time in years, the pain dulled. I let myself dance, awkward but earnest, my dragon twining around me as laughter echoed through the swamp.
As night fell, I wandered away from the fire, seeking quiet. The sky above Shadowfen rippled with strange lights, and a figure appeared at the edge of my vision, a woman with hair like midnight and eyes full of sorrow.
"Do you remember me?" she asked, her voice as soft as falling leaves.
I shook my head, but my heart ached with recognition.
"I chose you," she whispered, "because you were broken. Because you kept going anyway." Her hand brushed my cheek, a touch colder than memory. "Don't forget me, Knox. I broke the rules for you."
I reached for her, but she vanished with the dawn. The System chimed:
[Connection unstable. Divine interference increasing.]
I returned to the festival, my joy tinged with longing, my legend growing even as the past refused to let go.