Blessing and Curse

Paul, setting aside his grievance, turned to Dellie, his voice trembling. "Help me find my parents," he pleaded.

As they continued, they came across the slain sentries, many of whom Paul knew well. They had been like big brothers to him, making the sight of their scattered body parts even more distressing.

Dellie, surveying the area, was also overcome with sorrow at the sight of the lifeless bodies strewn around. Feeling a deep sense of sadness, she sought solace in Paul's embrace as they continued their search.

They scoured the area near the last place Paul had seen his father. Every step revealed more dead sentries, grim reminders of the recent dragon attack. Approaching the river, they found it blocked by a jumble of stones and debris. The sight of the destroyed walls only added to the sense of desolation.

Three days had passed since the terrifying assault, and the once-thriving village now lay in ruins. The burning houses had been reduced to smoldering ashes, and the lush greens of the farm were nowhere to be seen.

When they finally reached Paul's home, he was devastated to find that the house had been severely damaged. Large rubble blocked their path to the entrance. Paul implored Dellie to use her powers to clear the debris.

Dellie nodded and extended her hand, coaxing vines to shift the rubble. Once the path was clear, Paul frantically rushed inside. He was relieved to find that the interior of the house was not damaged. Still, he desperately searched for any sign of his mother or any clues as to where she might be. Despite their efforts, they found nothing.

Paul felt immense gratitude to the gods that his mother was not among the dead, clinging to the hope that she might still be alive. Despite searching all day through every house, he could not find his parents; they were missing. Instead, he saw many dead bodies of his fellow villagers and some strangers clad in matching armor, which left him uneasy. It dawned on him that these could be the outsiders Mr. Ben had mentioned, the ones spotted by a scout bird in the woods.

The two decided to rest for a while, sitting outside the last home they searched. Paul couldn't shake the feeling that these strangers were responsible for the disappearance of his parents, the destruction of his beloved village, and the loss of his own legs.

Dellie watched as Paul's expression transformed into anger, and fear washed over her. She saw the seething rage in his eyes, hinting at a deadly resolve. Despite her own fear, she tried to soothe and calm him.

"I will avenge all of them!" Paul declared loudly, but the anger in him slowly dissipated as he noticed Dellie's frightened expression.

"I'm sorry, Dellie. I was just overwhelmed with anger towards those responsible for this crime," he said in a much calmer tone. "Could you please help me pay my respects to the fallen and assist me in burying each of them?"

Dellie agreed and helped Paul gather the villagers' bodies, placing them in the middle of the village. They then held a burial ceremony for the slain people of Omp. As they began the burial, they offered prayers to the Goddess Fay, imploring her to ensure the peaceful rest of the departed souls.

"I pray to you, Goddess of Nature, heed my plea and aid me in seeking justice for my people. Grant me a gift that will help me uncover the truth and bring about justice. I implore you, Goddess, bless me with hope."

As Paul silently prayed, Dellie summoned trees to grow atop the villagers' tombs, envisioning them as symbols of rebirth in their next life.

When Dellie glanced back at Paul, she saw a breathtaking, radiant figure approaching him. To her astonishment, the figure looked back at her, revealing itself to be none other than Dellie's mother, Fay, the Goddess of Nature and mother of all Fairies. With a gentle wave and a kiss, Fay faded away as Dellie wept, overwhelmed with emotion. Simultaneously, Paul began to emit a radiant glow, enveloping the surroundings with a mystical aura.

As Paul focused on his prayers, he felt a strange sensation of weightlessness, as if an invisible force was lifting him from the ground. Confusion quickly turned to panic as he opened his eyes to see that he was hovering five feet above the ground. His initial calm gave way to a desperate cry for help, his voice trembling with fear.

Dellie, still in tears and lost in thought, was jolted by Paul's scream. Initially confused about why Paul, who lacked wings, was floating in mid-air, she soon remembered her mother's touch and smiled with relief, realizing that Paul had been blessed.

"Dellie, help me!" Paul shouted. Reacting quickly, Dellie used her vines to assist Paul in descending. Unable to speak, she communicated through gestures, trying to convey what she had witnessed. It took a while for Paul to understand her message.

Paul was completely taken by surprise upon learning that Goddess Fay had touched him. It was truly unbelievable to him. He couldn't recall sensing anything at that moment and sought confirmation. His initial shock gradually transformed into pure amazement as the reality of being blessed by the Goddess sank in. Overwhelmed by this extraordinary experience, Paul felt compelled to seek out Dellie, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of his newfound abilities. He was now considered to be "gifted" with the rare ability of flight, previously unheard of in the village.

***

Over the course of a week, Paul trained to fly with Dellie's assistance. She was responsible for catching him with vines if he fell. As a result, Paul no longer needed the temporary vines to walk and could now float effortlessly. Dellie also shared her own flying techniques and provided Paul with valuable tips, sparking new ideas for improving his skills. Their collaboration and Paul's determination paid off, and he eventually mastered the art of flight.

Paul gazed at Dellie with deep gratitude, marveling at how far he had come in just a week. "I think I can manage on my own now, Dellie. Thank you for everything," he said, his voice filled with newfound confidence.

Overwhelmed with joy at Paul's remarkable progress, Dellie enveloped him in a warm hug, her eyes sparkling with pride and affection.

After their friendly embrace, Paul shared his plan to set out the following morning in search of his family. To express his gratitude, he offered Dellie a bag of coins as a token of his appreciation for her help and healing. However, Dellie gracefully declined the offer, shaking her head gently to indicate she needed no reward. In response, she tenderly embraced and kissed him. Both were overcome by a wave of emotion.

"Do you want to come with me?" Paul inquired, his eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope as he envisioned a future with Dellie by his side. In a sad gesture, Dellie used her body language to convey that she could not leave the forest, as doing so would lead to her demise. She revealed that fairies were forbidden to leave Timul, as departing from it would result in their inevitable death.

Paul's heart ached at the thought of parting ways, and he embraced Dellie one more time, holding her tightly as if trying to memorize the moment. With a heavy sigh, he gently pulled away and looked at her with a mixture of sadness and determination.

A heavy silence lingered between them, both feeling the sting of their unavoidable goodbye. To lift their spirits, Paul decided to change the subject. "Do you want to do something enjoyable?" he asked. Dellie nodded in response.

"Help me scavenge my village for anything useful for my journey," he requested.

Dellie smiled at the suggestion, and they spent half a day combing the area. Their search yielded many coins, his father's bow, and a jar of cocoa powder along with a letter from his mother. Sitting in the corner of a building, Paul opened the letter slowly, and Dellie, noticing his silence, looked back at him with concern. Their initial smiles faded as they read the letter together.

"Paul," he read aloud, "I know you have many unanswered questions about our family history. It's time for you to know the truth I've been holding back. I've struggled to find the courage to reveal everything, but I realized that I simply can't. I deeply regret this and hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

He paused, feeling the weight of her words. He took a deep breath and continued.

"The secret hidden in our eyes is tied to our royal lineage, and our bloodline has been relentlessly pursued by enemies seeking to eradicate every last one of our ancestors. You and I are the only remaining descendants, the last vestiges of our family's legacy. Your father and I found each other amidst the chaos, and our love blossomed as I evaded those who sought to extinguish my existence. I've been hunted relentlessly, and Omp is the only place that has provided us with shelter. If you ever decide to explore the world, remember to guard the secret hidden within your eyes, for it holds the power to…"

The letter abruptly ended, the lower portion wet and torn. Paul was devastated by the news his mother had shared. He searched frantically for the missing part of the paper but couldn't find it. As evening descended and the shadows lengthened, Paul and Dellie decided to rest. Despite his exhaustion, Paul fell into a restless sleep, his mind tormented by thoughts of slaying a dragon, finding his parents, and uncovering the truth about his eyes.

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Paul awoke to the soft chirping of birds outside the broken window. A mix of nervousness and determination filled him as he prepared food and gathered supplies for his impending journey.

Meanwhile, Dellie, who had formed a deep bond with Paul, felt a profound sadness at the thought of not being able to accompany him. Watching Paul prepare to depart, the weight of loneliness settled heavily upon her. Conflicted emotions swirled inside her. The new and uncertain feelings she harbored for Paul clashed with the fear of losing the only true friend she had ever known.

As Paul packed the last of his supplies, he turned to Dellie, sensing her turmoil. "I'll come back, I promise," he said, his voice soft yet resolute. Dellie nodded, though her heart ached with the knowledge that promises could be hard to keep in such a dangerous world.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she bid him a bittersweet farewell, her heart heavy with the thought of being alone once more. 

"It's alright, Dellie," Paul assured her, embracing her tiny body with his cheek and hands as she mustered a small, brave smile. Dellie carefully presented Paul with three small crafted healing potions and two carved wooden legs she had spent the night creating while he slept. 

Gratefully accepting the potions and feeling thankful at the sight of the wooden legs, Paul expressed his heartfelt thanks. "You're the best, Dellie. I promise I will always take care of myself." Dellie beamed with pride as she gently assisted Paul in attaching the wooden legs to his knees, ensuring they fit snugly for the journey ahead.

Paul carefully gathered his belongings, making sure not to forget his father's weathered leather bag, finely crafted bow, quiver of arrows, and a small amount of his mother's cocoa powder as he hid the large jar of cocoa powder somewhere in the house. With everything in tow, he prepared to embark on his journey.

Paul then tested his newly fashioned wooden legs. Though he didn't really need them, he opted to use them to blend in. He struggled to maintain control and steady himself. Frustrated, he pondered his options until a spark of ingenuity struck him. Using his newly blessed flight ability to compensate for the rigid nature of the wooden legs, Paul finally found harmony between the artificial limbs and the bending joints of his knees, allowing him to confidently take his first steps on his own two feet.

"Watch me, Dellie! I'm walking on my own again," Paul exclaimed with joy as he took a few steps. "You've made my life so much easier. I had been wondering for days how I would manage to travel without my legs, but with these prosthetic legs, it feels like I can be normal again. Thank you so much, Dellie. You truly are my lifesaver." He spoke with gratitude, gently patting Dellie's tiny head. "I'll come to visit you again soon," he promised, smiling at his faithful companion.

Dellie's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she put on a brave smile, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of Paul. She found solace in the fact that she had brought a moment of happiness to Paul before his departure on a long and uncertain journey. As she looked at him, she mustered a smile and brushed away her tears, silently wishing she could accompany him and provide support. She held onto the hope that he would keep his promise to return to her once he had completed his quest to find his parents.

With a farewell wave, Paul departed, his heart heavy with the bittersweet feeling of leaving Dellie behind. As he flew off, he watched as Dellie waved back until she was but a tiny glowing light in the distance. The mix of emotions weighed on him as he left, but the thought of returning to her kept his resolve strong.