The sweet floral smell of the clovers was very reminiscent of honey as she watched her father slowly teach her how to weave a flower crown using the clover flowers. The results between the father and daughter's flower crowns were very apparent. Her father had managed to create a beautifully full luscious flower crown that would be perfect for her mother to wear. While Epione's flower crown was sparse with flowers and was super stringy because Epione would break the stems so it would rip apart. It was difficult or Epione to wrap her head around how her father made such a pretty flower crown. As Epione was about to chucked away the flower crown seeing how broken it was, "Why did you are upset?" Her father grabbed her flower crown only to see her disappointed face. He inspects it with full intent to see if there was anything wrong, "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong it." Despite this Epione pouted as she dropped her hands to her lap seeing that her father was only trying to appease her.
Epione sighed as she tilted her head with exasperation, "You're only saying that." Lisa had prepared some delicious tea snacks for the father daughter, "Scones!" Epione perked up as she ran to the table leaving behind the flower crown in the ground. The scones were accompanied with some jams made from seasonal fruits. The father and daughter pair were enjoying the beautiful breeze with the delicious scones. It was funny to see that both the father daughter pair were the same, slicing the scone in half, slathering a copious amount of jam before bitting into the scone. Epione was given a book by Lisa who knew what type of books she would enjoy reading, folklore tales from around the empire.
Whilst she was busy reading on her book, flicking through the pages at her own pace. Something was placed on her head. A clover flower crown which was beautiful decorate with lots of clover flowers and clover leaf with a singular four-leaf clover in the centre, "You know flower crowns were the way that I was able to marry your mother?" He stared lovingly at the flower crown that was embellishing his daughters head to which amplified her beauty, "I had nothing but my horrible attempts at making flower crowns." He reminisces about the time went he was younger who was star struck by Epione's mother's beauty and vowed to earn her affections even if it would be difficult. Before he could even tell the story of his love story to his daughter, Epione, who was quickly bombarded by four figures who screamed out with joy.
Her friends. They were crying so much seeing that she was alright after being out of reach from everyone during the civil war. The girls wailed and cried as they clung onto Epione's form. They were very much like sprite who clung to beings with high magic powers, "Who managed to take down the Monciaux Dukedom?" Courtney asked as she wiped off the rest of her tears with her handkerchief. Eventually, the girls calmed down as they were being fed with scone by Epione who smear on plenty of jam and butter. "Because it didn't wasn't any of Second Prince's or the Crown Prince's factions." This bought on more attention on Eos. However, Cybele and Lilith were preoccupied with the scone as they were chasing down the scones with some freshly brewed tea that Lisa made.
Her father stood up from his chair smiling at the scene with his daughter smiling with friends, "I'm going to check up on the soup." He smiled as he took the empty plate of scones before placing the empty teapot and cups, "I'll ring the bell when lunch is ready also everyone can stay for lunch, I made plenty." The girls cheered in unison as they giggled before Epione's father left the girls to spend some time together.
Epoine placed her folklore book down as she stared back at Courtney, "My parents did." The mere thought of going back to the memory of her rescue wasn't pleasant for Epione. The memory was quite scary for Epione. Her answer shocked the girls who stared at Epoine's parents who seemed like normal nobles that lived in the countryside, "Well, my father was top contender as the strongest knight in his time before he left the life as well as my mother who is a High Fairy." She casually commented as one of the pixies who were playing with her hair, placing clovers into her hair to decorate. The careful nature of the pixie calmed down her nerves.
A chuckled rang behind the group of girls, "Indeed your father knight worthy of awe since many wanted to study under his tutelage." The Second Prince now Crown Prince revealed himself to the group who immediately bowed including Epoine who was still had the habits of a thoroughly bred noble, "It's surprising to see that after all these years your father still looks like his prime despite his age." The Crown Prince marvelled at Epoine's father who looked much younger than his age and had a eighteen year old daughter as well. Well, anyone could say that the Ferdinand family was blessed with amazing genes that could bring on the envy of many.
In reality it was just the fact that both Epoine and her father had blood from magic folk which had slow down the ageing significantly combined with the fact that he was also married to a high fairy, "Well it's more like the magic is doing wonders for our family." Epoine knew that magic would slow down the process, however, magic had already been receding over the years since the magic war. So, there wasn't enough magic to allow for a human to live longer than their own life expectancy which was minuscule compared to magic folk. Even Epoine would be granted with a longer life than her own friends.
Lilith went to peer at Epoine's back to see that there were no wings on her back when the Monciuax Duke declared his right to the throne, "Where are your wings?" She inquisitive questioned not knowing what happened to her on the day her parents rescued her. Epione told them the entire story after she had been given her wing after so long placed into a cage for spectators and finally mercenaries had cut out her wings leaving behind scars of that incident. This instantly horrified the girls who instantly went into doting mode; piling on top and hugging her like she was going to disappear.
Courtney went to place her hand on Epione's back, "Does it still hurt?" The deep indent where the scar caved into Epione's back slightly scared her, but she knew that her friend was the only who had to suffer such pain and fear. She clicked her tongue as she tried to phrase her words, but nothing came out as she couldn't imagine something like that happening to her. No one did. Maybe those of the Magic War era but that was centuries ago, and many had already passed or fled to the other realm.
Epoine shook her head in response as to not worry her friends, "It doesn't anymore." The sensation of Courtney sympathetic hand was much less pronounced as any sensation in her back had been dulled, "Sometimes I feel like that my wings were still there." It wasn't there. Doctors would have described her diagnosis symptoms, phantom pain. But it couldn't stop her from reimagining the feeling of her phantom wings. All her friends were fascinated by her vivd description of her wings and how she could fly which them asking the occasional question about her wings.
A chime of a bell was immediately sounded which alerted Epoine, "Lunch is ready!" She stood up as she dusted off the grass that clung to her body, "Come join us for lunch!" Epione lead the way to the house though wasn't as big as most noble house but was comfortable for any large parties of people. It was a simple meal of leek soup which was accompanied by some homemade sourdough bread which was made ahead of them. The bread was made by her mother who was fantastic at making dough with it always being the perfect loaf of bread, however, her cooking skills at anything else wasn't great so her husband was the cook of the house.
Both the butler and Lisa prepared the table for lunch before putting down utensils and bowls ready to be filled with soup. A knock resonated through the house which was answered by Epione who was greeted by a tall figure who wasn't recognisable at first glance because of the horrendous scar on their face before she recognised it to be Casimir, "Oh! Casimir, come join us for dinner!" Welcoming the polite man who nodded his head before entering the house where the butler offered to take Casimir 's cloak and weaponry. Casmir went to greet his majesty before sitting down with everyone at the table including the prince, Epione's friends, the attendants to the house and Epione's family all sat at the table. Each bowl was accompanied with two slices of bread but there was a plate of extra bread which anyone would take if they wanted. Everyone was eating at their own pace enjoying each other's company as the food was continuously being depleted.
Dinner was soon concluded as the dishes and plates were immediately taken away for cleaning, "Epione! Why don't you take your friends and his majesty out to the forest?" Her father suggested as he carried the rest of the plates to the kitchen leaving Epione to entertain the guest. Epione silently nodded as she led the way with her friends following suit. The Crown Prince was intrigued and followed along as well since there were rumours that only the people of this particular village were able to navigate through the Forest of Illusion.
They all exited through the backdoor which led to the entrance to the forest, "Come and assist me." Epione kindly requested the spirits who immediately enchanted the two biggest trees which were canopied over them. A small reservoir of sap was created from both tress which was also enchanted for protection against the illusions. Epione dipped her finger into the sap before drawing a protective sigil on her forehead. It quickly absorbed into her skin began to dimly light up before disappearing, "All of you need to have a protective sigil on before we go in." Epione dipped her finger into the sap repeatedly as she drew the protective sigil on their forehead. The last person was Casmir who was also the tallest so he had to bend down to her level so that she could comfortably draw the sigil on his forehead.
Epione clapped her hand together as spirit gathered around her before assigning themselves to a person. Most of the group members had one spirit assigned to them with the few exceptions of Courtney, Cybele, Lilith and Casmir. However, Casmir was immediately put in a predicament where there were multiple spirits, sprites and fairies wanted to pair with him. This immediately caused a fight with the magic folk who began arguing with each other to who would be assigned with him, "How do I stop them from fighting?" Casmir panicked as he was helpless with dealing with magic folk since it was his first encounter with them. All the girls chuckled watching the helpless man trying to appease the magic folk.
Epione shooed away many of the magic folk, "You are just very liked by magic folk." The magic folk pouted as they flew away, "Though I wouldn't say it a blessing to be very liked by them unless you are magic folk yourself." She then began to walk through the forest being accompanied by some spirits who floated around her head or were sitting on her shoulder. They were guided by the magic folk who pushed pass the forest with ease as they reached forest which was unlike any that they had ever seen before. Illuminated pools of water that lit up the forest without any external source filled with magically creature which swim in both the water as well in the air. There was also an abundance of magic folk who lived freely in the forest who excitedly came to the group seeing people who come from outside of the forest that wasn't from the village.
They placed flower crowns made from cowslips, iris, lavender, and rosemary. All plants which are even in season, however, the Forest of Illusion has magic sustained by the magic folk living in it for centuries enveloping the entire forest that it has provided the perfect climate for any and all plants or flowers to grow. It was a dumbfoundingly magical place that most human wouldn't be able to experience ever in their entire lifetime even this group was fortunate to be able to come in contact with the Ferdinand family as well as befriend them, "So? This is what life could have been like if the Empire haven't initiated the Magic War centuries ago." His majesty marvelled in having the honour to be able to witness such an event like this.
Everyone was mesmerised by all the magic, "But even if the magic war didn't happen then magic folk could still have been taken advantage of." Courtney argued as she turned to the newly crowned Prince who was soon to inherit the throne soon, "Just like Epione the very thing that are a part of them are ripped away and used for people own benefit or profit." This immediately put a dampen into the group's mood, but it made sense. The very wizard had taken her wings to use for himself though his intention was unknown.
A chuckle rung out, "You younglings have not need to worry about things of the past." It an elderly man entered their view the staff that he wields thumped against the ground alerting the rest of the group. It was the very same man that Epione has encounter while she was trying to find the spring crocuses, "It's a thing of the past and the era of magic has long passed." His wings soon trailed behind him though a section of it has been ripped. He was flightless fairy very much like Epione.
Epione nodded agreeing to the old man words are she had noticed the dwindling amount of magic that was now only reserved to a few areas that would also soon disappear as time soon pass by. The existence of magic, fae and the folk that were birthed from the magic would become stories in the future. Myths, legend, and fairy tales.