“I can feel them feeding me energy, as if the very light is charging me,” he murmured that night, his gaze fixed on the three moons hanging high in the sky. “When you connect to water, you’ll feel them too.”
The moons hung in different phases. Two glowed faintly as slender crescents, while the third beamed, full and radiant.
“Well, at least I’ve got a good teacher,” I replied, committing his cheeky grin to memory.
Leonardo was remarkable during the day, but at night under the moons, he was otherworldly. The moonlight seemed almost possessive, determined to illuminate every one of his beautiful features. His dark hair took on a pure, almost silver sheen, and his skin appeared smooth and flawless. Only his eyes kept their usual color, a watery grey that sparkled in the moon’s glow, leaving me breathless each time.
After the second night of training, I found myself unable to sleep. Though exhaustion gnawed at me, rest wouldn’t come. Leonardo had turned in two hours earlier, and I’d tried to do the same. Our odd relationship had been at a standstill since that night at the oasis, and I had a hunch he was waiting for me to make the next move. It was something I appreciated more than words could capture. Between learning to master these unfamiliar abilities and grappling with the fates of two worlds, I was overwhelmed. Leonardo never pushed the subject, leaving my mind to focus on the trials already before me.
That night, I found myself standing alone on one of the circular platforms that overlooked the forest below. A vibrant garden filled its center, with flowers I’d never seen before in every imaginable color, shape, and size. One bloom reminded me of a lily, though its vivid blue hue glowed softly in the night, casting a gentle light around it.
Leaning against the rope railing, I stared out into the forest, losing myself in thought. The same question tumbled through my mind, a relentless source of turmoil. Which world would I save? The one I’d called home all my life, or this one I was now strangely bound to? The loss of either weighed heavily on me, and the thought only left me more torn than ever.
There had to be a way-a chance to save both realms. The thought of condemning an entire world to its end… it was unbearable. I could either let the Fae realm perish or drain my home of its resources, leaving its people to wither in its wake.
A faint flicker of green sliced through the darkness below, jolting me from my thoughts. I froze, blinking to clear the glowing dots from my sight.
*Did you see that?* Blue’s voice echoed in my mind, her confusion unmistakable.
Just as I began to think I’d imagined it, the glow darted by again, a soft green light weaving through the trees faster than my enhanced vision could track. I could make out the faint trail it left, a lingering glow that clung to the leaves and branches.
*I think I did,* I responded, squinting down below. *But what was it?*
*It doesn’t feel bad,* Blue observed, bolstering my senses to help me see it more clearly.
It was a relief to know my transformation hadn’t affected Blue. She remained firmly in my mind, a trusted companion and confidant. We’d speculated that she might access my magic as well, though neither of us had the strength-or courage-to test that theory. With my energy drained from connecting to Earth, the last thing I wanted was to risk sapping hers too.
For a third time, that gentle glow appeared, darting gracefully between trees and over stray roots. This time, it hesitated, giving me a better glimpse, though I still couldn’t decipher what it was. It seemed to hover above the ground, formless, yet radiant in its green glow-a color unlike anything else in the forest.
It had no face or eyes, yet somehow, I felt it watching me. Hovering in my line of sight, it held there for a moment, then vanished. I moved across the platform to track it, seeing it pause again, almost as if it were beckoning me.
Usually, I wasn’t the type to act recklessly, but there was something about this presence that felt different. Despite Andrea and Adriano’s warnings that echoed in my mind, a pull surged within me.
Then, I felt it-a warmth deep in my core, a rush of gentle energy that heightened my senses. My sight sharpened, my sense of smell grew keener, and I felt a connection to the world around me that was indescribable. Even from the treetops, a subtle tether seemed to anchor me to the ground below. Every tree, every plant and creature-they all glowed with the same connection.
A strong breeze drifted by, carrying the scent of soil, leaves, and water, and I realized-this was life itself, the essence of Earth. Whatever this creature was, it had unknowingly helped me bridge that connection, and I knew I had to follow it.
My gaze darted around, taking in the posted guards stationed around the village. If I moved quickly enough, I could make it down without drawing their notice. No one would expect me to take a risk like this, defying Andrea’s warnings.
*They’re here, but none are watching,* Blue murmured, encouraging my admittedly reckless plan.
Gripping the thick vine that served as a route between the treetops and forest floor, I took a deep breath, stepping off the platform. My stomach flipped as I dropped, branches and leaves brushing my skin, each touch somehow feeding me strength, drawing me deeper into this newfound connection with Earth.
As I landed softly, the forest came alive around me. I could feel everything-like the forest itself was taking a deep breath, exhaling with the night wind. Creatures moved around me, dark and light, each filled with life.