CHAPTER 494: SOME FAIRY DUST

Edgar pulled the reins back from a distance that was sufficient for his horse to stop near the women without any issues.

"I am coming with you," he stated, his signature sweet smile nowhere to be found on his features.

"We are going beyond the border, Edgar," Arabella looked him in the eyes.

"I’ve heard what you said in the foyer. You weren’t particularly careful when speaking. In fact, I doubt I am the only one that caught your conversation,"

True, that was. Arabella was quite reckless, barging in like that and speaking in the foyer instead of private quarters.

The thought that it might cost her down the line tied her already irritable guts into an unsolvable knot.

"If it comes to that," Morgana pushed a sigh, gathering the attention of everyone, "I might have something that will allow us to cross over to Lustris even if the border is sealed,"

"As in teleportation magic?" Allegra’s lips remained apart.

The curious eyes on her glistened under the moonlight, almost all unblinkingly. Naturally, intrigued as there was truly no such magic. Full organic body teleportation remained a dream. An unachievable one that far in history for no matter how much witches from every corner of Solis Aevum theorized and experimented to push the subject ahead, none of their efforts ever seemed to yield favorable results.

"That is impossible!" Ada whispered.

"We have no time to discuss such things," Arabella called them back to the reality of things and time, "We must travel down the valley without delay," she gently tugged and swayed the reins to command movement from her horse, "I won’t repeat myself again. None of you have to or even should come for that matter. Most of us here know what that place is like," she said while turning around before tapping the mount with her heels in order for it to start galloping away.

They all followed behind her until the Fata village came into view. Arabella thanked universe for the natural light provided by the moon, eliminating the need for manmade flames.

Much to her relief, Liriel was present in the village. Then again, fairies weren’t nocturnal creatures. Finding her home was more than sheer luck.

The village buzzed with life a lot more than usual, especially since it was nighttime where the sparkly little things were supposed to go to sleep.

That did, somewhat, alarm Arabella and the others. That was until they got to meet with their leader.

"What in the world brought you out here at such an hour?" the older fairy asked as the younger ones zoomed past her and squished themselves straight against Arabella’s body.

The young woman didn’t mind the attention but returned no smiles or joy which left some of the fairies concerned. Among them Floriel and Ariel who had spent the most time in her company.

"Is everything alright?" one of them asked.

"You all seem... Gloomy," the other looked between the visitors’ faces.

"Not really," Arabella shook her head, "But I am afraid we don’t have any spare time. I was hoping we could speak with Liriel privately,"

Liriel’s brows furrowed. She did not hesitate for a second and invited their guests to a quieter area, more isolated from the village in order to have some peace.

"I was hoping you could help us," Arabella started without sitting down.

"I will assist in any way I can, but please, explain to me what happened? What is it you need my help for?"

"Silas has been taken by the prince of Lustris and we are going to retrieve him,"

Liriel’s eyes were already wide by the time Arabella shared the news of Silas’ abduction.

"The first thing I hoped to get from you was your silence. At least until we manage to cross the border,"

The fairy did not skip a beat, "No, that goes without saying. If what you told me is true then there is nothing the syndicate can do to get him back without triggering another violent war,"

Another wave of relief, albeit small and short-lived, washed over Arabella upon hearing those words.

"The second thing I hope to acquire from you is some fairy powder to exact some wishes and enchantments where witchcraft will fail,"

That was it. That was all they needed to be on their way without further delay, however, and before Liriel could agree or decline, a little voice came from behind one of the large plants separating them from the rest of the village.

The familiar voice belonged to none other than Floriel who had been eavesdropping on them from the start, "I will come with you!" she squeaked.

"Absolutely not! Lustris is hardly a good place for humans as it is! To a fairy-"

"I am doing it for Silas!" although meek, Floriel’s tone left no room for doubt; She meant every word as her eyes beat with determination.

In front of such stubbornness, Arabella turned to Liriel, "Won’t you say something? We are going on no picnic!"

In response, Liriel said nothing and merely glared at Floriel. For a moment, there was nothing but straining silence as the two fairies finished their intense staring contest.

"Very well then," in the end, the older fairy sighed, "You won’t have any need for extra fairy dust if a fairy joins your party,"

"What?" Arabella’s face snapped between Liriel and Floriel who were done with the glaring and moved on to nodding and smiling at each other.

"Well, like she said," Liriel finally locked Arabella’s attention onto herself, "She is doing it for Silas. We owe him and his family a lot as well, you know,"

Every time, Arabella was left with no other choice but to conceit and take whoever insisted on coming along. The alternative would have been both energy and time consuming anyways and so, she stuck to warnings and disclaimers, spitting the words with a lot of condemnation which earned her a demeanor that was a far cry from her natural sweet self.