Alder asks to do... what?!

The path ahead seemed to stretch for miles. Being out of the woods meant rolling fields of green, whatever harvest the nearest village was growing, and flowers. It almost reminded me of the path that led back home. 

I twirled one of my daggers in my hand as we walked. It had been several days since we left the first village. We've passed around two more since then. Not once did I try to play music for them. I didn't want to. Something just didn't feel right. The temple, the Apostle, and that Divine Sister had left my mind scrambled. I looked behind me.

Nothing. 

"Have you meditated recently?"

I kept twirling the dagger. Flops was in Stolas's arms who was walking ahead of me. Alder was walking beside me. So what was I hearing? Or, what was I not hearing? The forest wasn't necessarily quiet. There were all sorts of sounds. Twigs snapping, tiny animals flitting across the forest floor, birds chirping in the treetops, and fairies plotting the demise of the next traveler. Normal forest sounds.

But I was out of the forest. And it was so eerily silent. It almost made me uneasy. I looked behind me again. There were some bushes, several scattered trees, and no one on the path. Still nothing. It should have put me at ease. And yet, I felt anything but.

"Cahira?"

"Hmm?" I looked over at Alder. "Did you say something?"

He shook his head. "I asked if you have been meditating recently."

"Yeah, yeah. I've been trying." I sheathed the dagger into its holster on my belt.

"Let me teach you something new. Watch closely."

I glanced behind me one more time before looking at Alder. He lifted his hand. Small glowing green vines sprouted from his fingertips. They wrapped around his fingers before converging into a ball in his palm. He laid his hand out flat, his palm facing upwards. The ball of vines shifted until it morphed into the shape of a mushroom pygmy.

Alder held up his hand. "The use of magic does not have to be useful. Using it for fun or entertainment is acceptable as well."

"Oh, neat."

"You have been able to channel your magic well." The small creature began to dance. "I believe you will be able to create cute apparitions such as this one."

"Sure. I'll try it sometime."

Alder frowned. I looked at the little creature before focusing back on the trail ahead. But not before glancing behind me. Still nothing. The Apostle's words once again flashed in my mind. What did he mean by false dreams? My dreams felt pretty real. I was almost close to achieving my dream of being a bard in the capital city. There was nothing stopping me. Unless…

"Cahira!"

I blinked and looked behind me. Stolas and Alder had stopped walking. "Huh? What is it?"

Stolas scoffed. "We've been calling you. We're stopping for the night."

"Sorry." I walked over to them. "Daydreaming."

"Sure you are." Stolas set Flops down, who started to eat some grass. "You've never been this airheaded."

I rolled my eyes and took off my pack. "I'm not airheaded. Do I have to be talking or singing constantly?"

"No, but it's weird when you're just completely silent."

"Enough, you two." Alder went to you. "There is no need to bicker."

Stolas waved him off and sat down. "I'm gonna set up camp and make us dinner."

"I can help." I looked up to the sky and mumbled to myself. "Didn't even realize it was so late." 

"Ah, wait a moment." Alder placed a hand on your shoulder. "How is your arm?"

I shrugged. "Feels fine."

"Really?" He crossed his arms. "How about we see if it is truly okay?"

"Alder, you healed me. Why wouldn't it be okay?"

"I am just curious. How about we spar?"

That made my shoulders stiffen. I stared at him. "You want to… fight?"

"I do."

"But-"

"What?" He gave you a rare smirk. "Can you not handle it?"

Stolas gave a low whistle. "Ooo, that Fairy King is taunting you!"

"Shut up!" I crossed my arms.

"Free entertainment." Stolas shrugged and started to make a fire.

Alder uncrossed his arms and rolled his shoulders back. "Come now, Cahira. Show me your skill. Or are you scared?"

My face turned red. I've never seen this side of Alder before. He never teased me like this. He was more of the encouraging type, pushing me to do better in a nice way. Stolas was the one who always taunted me. It almost felt unnatural. Why did everything feel unnatural? It was uncomfortable. I looked up at Alder. He had a determined look on his face.

"No weapons?" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you can handle hand to hand combat?"

"I think I can fight against a guy who hasn't fought in… what, over a thousand years?" I tilted my head, pretending to think. "This'll be easy."

"Oh, she's gonna get her ass beat." Stolas looked down at Flops, who settled down next to him. "Wanna take bets?"

Before I could get into a fighting stance, Alder lunged at me. I knew he wasn't weak. His magic during fights proved that. It wasn't any surprise that the Fairy King was nimble on his feet as well. I lifted my arms, blocking a punch aimed at my side. All the training that Stolas gave me kicked in. I moved backwards, ducking and dodging his punches.

My body moved faster than when I first met them. I had recovered from using too much magic at the village and was light on my feet. Alder was even lighter. I wasn't sure how much he practiced fighting in his many years of fighting, but I knew my skill wasn't at the same level. I tried to get in a punch as I moved to the side. He dodged it and grabbed my arm.

"You have gotten faster, little blossom."

I hit his elbow, his arm bending and allowing me to jump back. "Traveling has built my stamina."

Stolas clapped his hands. "Good move, Cahira!"

Alder grinned. He looked like he was having fun. I furrowed my eyebrows. If all these battles taught me anything, it was that even the smallest distractions left openings. I jabbed his side before sending an uppercut towards his chin. He grunted in surprise and shoved me backwards. I stumbled backwards.

Before I could even run forward again, vines shot from Adler's arms. The tattoos on his forearms glowed as I dropped down to the ground to avoid them. The vines retracted. I stood up, glaring at Alder. He took the chance to shoot vines out again. I tried to funnel my magic and create some sort of shield, but I wasn't nearly quick enough. The vines wrapped around me. I struggled as he dragged me towards him.

I let out a curse. "Hey! No magic!!"

Alder chuckled. "You have to be prepared for anything, little blossom."

"Cheater." I mumbled.

"You did good." He brought me up to his chest, the vines disappearing. "If you were fighting anyone else, you would have won."

"Besides me." Stolas added.

I sighed and stepped back from Alder. "Thanks."

"Now that we have worked up an appetite, let us eat."

We all sat around the fire. The sun was dipping below the horizon, stars appearing in the sky. Now that Alder wasn't preoccupying me with sparring, my senses were back on alert. Flops hopped up onto my lap and nuzzled against me. My fingers ran through her fur. Stolas and Alder were talking to each other, but their voices faded to almost nothing. My head whipped behind me as I heard the sound of a stick snapping. There was nothing there. But I knew better. I knew that I needed to trust my gut.

Someone was following us.