A Stranger in the Shadows

The soft hum of the academy at night was a lullaby of rustling leaves, murmured laughter, and the faint hum of distant wards. Beneath the canopy of starlight, a shadow darted through the corridors, her movements silent as a predator's. She pressed herself against a stone wall, her breath steady, her heart calm. The flicker of a torch illuminated her face for a moment, revealing features both ethereal and human—pale green eyes glowing faintly in the dark and skin that shimmered like water kissed by moonlight.

She was a lesser fey, born of the rivers and streams, her name unspoken as she moved with purpose. Tonight, she was not merely a wanderer but a scout on a mission. Rumors had reached the Fey Woods of demons gathering near the academy, their malice coiling like a storm. And where demons gathered, chaos was sure to follow.

Her task was simple: discern the target of their malice. Yet as she crept along the shadowy halls, her fey senses tingled with unease. Something powerful lingered here, a presence she couldn't ignore.

Her gaze flitted to the courtyard below. A boy stood alone, his silver hair catching the moon's faint glow. He seemed ordinary, perhaps a student taking a moment of solitude. But as she studied him, a ripple of recognition coursed through her.

The aura surrounding him was unmistakable—ancient, commanding, and utterly fey. No human should carry such a presence, and yet here it was. Her knees nearly buckled as she realized the implications. Was he the reason for the demonic presence? Could this boy somehow be tied to the unrest she was sent to investigate?

Her breath hitched. Demons were the descendants of Fergus Mor's monstrous army, twisted remnants of creatures once bound to him. They carried grudges as old as their bloodlines, driven by a bitter thirst for vengeance and a chaotic hunger for destruction. If they were drawn to this boy, there must be a reason.

The boy's shoulders tensed as though sensing her presence, but he did not look up. She melted further into the shadows, knowing she couldn't risk being seen. Her mission had changed. If the demons were targeting him, it wasn't just his life at stake—it was the balance of the natural world.

With practiced ease, she began weaving fey magic into the air, drawing power from the trees and the earth beneath her feet. Subtle and nearly imperceptible barriers shimmered around the academy. They wouldn't stop the demons but could slow them, buying the boy precious time.

"Who are you, and what are you doing?"

The voice came from behind her, soft yet firm. She spun around, her hand instinctively taking on a defensive combat stance. A tiny sprite hovered before her, her form delicate and shimmering with an emerald glow. The sprite's wings beat softly, but her golden eyes were sharp.

"My name is Abhainn," she said, lowering her hands but not her guard. "It means an endless source of water in human tongue. And you are?"

The sprite's lips curved into a sly smile. "Leanan. Now, answer my question, Abhainn. What are you doing here?"

Abhainn hesitated. This sprite didn't feel threatening, but her presence was unsettling. "I'm protecting someone," she said cautiously. "There's a boy in this academy who carries a fey lord's aura. The demons are drawn to him, and I intend to ensure he survives."

Leanan's expression remained unreadable, but her wings fluttered faintly. "Interesting. You're a lesser fey, aren't you? And yet you've taken quite the interest in this boy."

Abhainn straightened, her voice firm. "It's not about interest. It's about duty. I'll report what I've seen to the Council of Elders. They'll know what to do." She glanced at Leanan. "You travel with him, don't you? What's your role in this?"

Leanan smirked, though her golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "I'm merely his guide."

Unsure what to make of the sprite's cryptic answer, Abhainn turned on her heel and disappeared into the night.

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The Council of Elders convened in a grove deep within the Fey Woods, their forms blending seamlessly with the ancient trees. Abhainn knelt before them, her voice steady as she recounted her findings.

"A boy at the academy carries the aura of a fey lord. He is human but unmistakably touched by ancient power. He also has a sprite named Leanan accompanying him."

The elders erupted into murmurs, their calm shattered by her words. Sharp with disbelief, one elder barked, "You mean to tell us that Leanan follows this boy? You didn't think to investigate further?"

Abhainn blinked, startled by their intensity. "I… I didn't realize it was urgent. I thought the sprite was just a companion."

The oldest elder's voice silenced the grove. "Leanan was no mere companion. She was Fergus Mor's right hand, his confidante. If she follows this boy, it can only mean one thing. That boy is Fergus Mor reborn."

Abhainn's heart sank as the weight of her discovery settled over her. The boy she had tried to protect wasn't just any reincarnation. He was the strongest fey lord in history—a figure of both power and devastation. And the demons would stop at nothing to destroy him.

The eldest elder spoke again, his voice filled with reverence and urgency. "We must ensure his survival until he regains his former strength. If the demons find him before he is ready, it could spell disaster for both our world and theirs."

Another elder, her voice softer but resolute, added, "We should not draw too much attention to him. Instead, we must act subtly. Abhainn, you have already been to the academy. You will go undercover as a transfer student to watch over him."

Abhainn's eyes widened. "Undercover? How will I manage without support?"

The elder smiled faintly, gesturing toward the trees surrounding them. "You will not be alone. Through long-distance plant transfer magic, we can provide assistance if a threat arises that you cannot handle. The forest will be your ally."

The council murmured in agreement, their ancient wisdom converging on this decision. The eldest elder nodded. "It is decided. Abhainn, you will protect the reborn Fergus Mor. Ensure his survival and strength, for the fate of all hangs in the balance."

Abhainn bowed deeply, her heart heavy with the enormity of the task ahead. "I will not fail," she vowed. The council dispersed, leaving her alone beneath the towering trees, the weight of her mission pressing down on her shoulders like the ancient branches above.