Just like clockwork, the fairies scattered across the field, eager to prove themselves. They moved swiftly, each determined to fulfill Elder Arisa's command.
The open field stretched wide, bordered on the right by the dark forest. Poisonous apple trees stood like silent sentinels, their twisted branches an unmistakable warning. Dark Fairies lurked there—parasites that fed on others. None of us were foolish enough to cross into their territory.
The afternoon sun beat down on us. For the Dark Fairies, it would be unbearable. But we had to return before dusk. That's when they could wander freely. When they hunted—for fairies like us. Merciless, without exception.
Thankfully, they were usually asleep in the afternoon.
To the left stood the Light Fairy Kingdom, bathed in an ethereal glow. Too peaceful for my taste. Theirs was a world untouched by the weight of real decisions. Their greatest dilemma was probably deciding what to have for lunch. They couldn't begin to grasp the gravity of what we were being asked to do.
Far in the distance, beyond an abyss, was where the humans lived. The more adventurous Love Fairies dared to venture there. The others? They wandered through the lost kingdoms behind the Love Fairy domain. Gods knew what creatures lived out there. There was still so much left to discover in our realm.
Still, I stayed close to Doverel. She wasn't as adventurous as the others, but I found her company comforting. She was the only one who didn't press me with naïve expectations.
"What are you going to shoot your arrow at?" she asked, curious.
"Light Fairies," I replied, irritation curling at the edge of my voice.
She laughed, not fully understanding. I didn't want to go after the Dark Fairies. That would never earn Arisa's approval—not to mention, I knew what Dark Fairies were capable of. They had invaded our land once. That memory still lingered like smoke in the air.
I spent the day with Doverel as she paired off Light Fairies with the zeal of someone who truly believed in the system.
"I've made twenty couples!" she beamed.
I yawned, resisting the urge to question her ideals. Instead, I showed her my approach.
"Now, watch me," I said coolly, approaching a pair of quarreling Light Fairies.
"No! You started it! You looked at that other Light Fairy—don't deny it! You want her!" the female snapped.
"No, you're overthinking!" the male barked back.
"I knew I shouldn't have dated someone this handsome!" she cried.
I stepped forward, quiet but firm.
"I'm a Love Fairy. More importantly, a neutral party," I said, glancing between them.
"Did you really mean it? That you didn't want him as your boyfriend?" I asked the female.
"Is that your business?" she retorted.
"Well, if he's available, I might just use these wands to pair him with someone else," I said, voice cool.
She hesitated.
I turned to the male. "What about you? Should I link her with someone else?"
He shook his head, eyes softening as he looked at her.
"So, you two do love each other?" I asked.
"It's just a silly quarrel," the female muttered.
"I actually think she's the most beautiful fairy I've ever seen," the male admitted.
"Then does it matter who he glances at, if his heart already belongs to you?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
"She just glanced at her," she said, quieter now. "Then turned right back to me."
"So, you'll make up and go through life together?" I asked.
They nodded silently.
"Then my work is done. I won't use my spell to tear you apart," I said, stepping back as they walked off hand in hand.
Doverel clapped, watching in awe.
"Communication," I shrugged.
"You see, it takes a lot of time, right?" she said thoughtfully.
"But don't you see? It's real," I argued.
She paused, considering, then turned away.
"Elder Arisa is judging us on quantity, not quality," she murmured, bitterness creeping into her voice.
Her words hung in the air. I felt a sharp pang of frustration. She was just like the rest. Clinging to that logic? Maybe it was easier for her to conform. I refused to.
Then she asked something so obvious I'd somehow missed.
"Why do Light Fairies even come here to sort out their problems?"
I paused.
She was right. That was strange. Was the Light Fairy Kingdom not suitable for open conversations?
I could only wonder.
"Listen, Scarlette… you've been real nice but… how do I say this?" she stammered.
Oh. I think I know where this is going.
"But I think your concern is… there're too many of us here, right?" I said, keeping my tone nonchalant.
She nodded sheepishly.
"We all have a target to hit. It's Day One, but we shouldn't be complacent," she explained.
"Then maybe you should get off these grass plains. Too many of us here," I said, voice laced with disappointment.
I turned away, disillusionment gnawing at me.
"Two hours until dusk, Doverel," I murmured, heart heavy, before walking off.
She nodded and smiled faintly before joining a group headed behind the Love Fairy Kingdom.
Doverel was already bending to these silly ideals. Disappointing, I thought, shaking my head.
Then, in the distance, I spotted a lone Love Fairy.
Edna.
She was heading toward the boundary where the human world met ours.
Or so I thought.
I'd heard the others whisper about her—how competitive she was. I saw it now—driving her forward, reckless and determined. She'd already paired off forty couples. And it was only the first day.
But something felt off.
She was veering too close to the Dark Fairy territory. A mangrove-like tree stood at the edge, its gnarled roots stretching out like fingers.
I didn't know her well, but I recognized that look in her eyes—curiosity pulling her in.
Bad move.
"Hey! You don't want to go there!" I shouted across the field.
She waved me off.
I gave chase, but she ran faster.
"These grounds are mine!" she called back with a grin. "I'll hit my target faster than anyone!"
Then she reached the edge of the mangrove.
I couldn't stop her.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a Dark Fairy, perched on a twisted branch, eyes glinting with hunger.
Before she could react, he swooped down like a shadow. Too fast.
Her scream tore through the air—raw, desperate—as she was dragged into the forest's darkness.
My feet froze. My powers felt like a weak echo of what they used to be. I couldn't breathe. Every instinct screamed to chase after her—but fear held me back.
Memories surged. Dark Fairies slicing through my people like birds caught in barbed wire.
I tried to move. My body wouldn't listen.
I hadn't used real magic in centuries. Not in battle. Not like this.
I was a bird left to die, locked in a cage back then.
Now that I was free, I was the same bird... who had forgotten how to fly.
Maybe the silence had drained me more than I'd known.
Then—silence.
Her screams were gone.
When I finally reached her, the sight of her lifeless body hit me like a wave.
Pale skin. Stiff limbs. Twisted at unnatural angles.
The air around her felt... wrong. Hollow. Dead.
I wanted to scream. To lash out. But nothing came.
My magic—useless.
My presence—pointless.
I crouched beside her, my heart hammering.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
I had failed her.
High above, the Dark Fairy returned, perched lazily on a branch.
"Come tomorrow for your turn," he sneered, voice soaked in cruel amusement.
I clenched my fists, rage bubbling.
But he vanished before I could lift a finger.
And Edna—
Edna was gone too soon.
I stood in the silence.
My power, useless.
My heart, quieter than ever.