It was the second day since Edna's death.
The night had fallen, but I couldn't shake the feeling of her absence. The others seemed to sleep quickly, as though nothing had happened. As if she had never been here at all.
"Better rest up! We need to up our numbers! Tomorrow's the last day!" a fairy called to another.
Doverel still hadn't said a word to me. I watched her as she greeted Gervan and Lucien goodnight.
Since when had they become so close?
Oh, wait—nevermind. Of course. They were the top scorers, just behind her.
Soon, all the Love Fairies were asleep. All except me.
I sat up and glanced across the room to the bed in the farthest corner. Edna's bed.
Was I the only one who noticed the empty space?
Maybe I was. Because all anyone talked about was numbers. Not a single person had mentioned her since that day. How could they just forget?
It wasn't just the silence—it was the way it settled. Like her name had become something shameful. Something erased.
I thought I saw Doverel hesitate once, when she passed Edna's bed. Her eyes lingered. But she didn't say a word.
Not even a whisper.
I struggled to fall asleep, tossing and turning. I needed the rest—only so I could practice the next day. Not because of some numbers game.
Morning came, and I barely slept. But some of us were up earlier than the others. Needless to say, I was still under my sheets, snoozing away.
Arisa stormed into our dorm room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, waking the few of us still asleep.
Did she even sleep at all? Was there no end to her insufferable presence?
The whole world didn't need to know you woke up at 5 a.m., I thought. Delirious woman.
"I have an announcement to make," she said in her fake posh voice, as if the world needed reminding she had authority over us.
Her eyes flickered to me, and my skin crawled.
"I will personally be following those of you who have not made a single couple yet," she declared, her voice dripping with superiority. "Fortunately, there is only one of you."
She looked straight at me, and the entire room held its breath.
The tension was palpable. I could feel the weight of their stares—some nervous, some indifferent. No one dared speak out. No one challenged her. Not that I was about to.
But as Arisa's eyes locked with mine, something shifted inside me. Her words didn't hurt anymore. Not that it mattered previously, but I was now numb to it.
I was done with the rules. Done with the kingdom's petty games. Done with pretending that any of this mattered.
I wasn't going to be another pawn in their game. Not anymore.
So, I stormed out in my red dress and headed to the field.
Yes, I was earlier than usual. But I needed to get that woman off my back.
Arisa followed me, but she was too slow.
Of course she was.
How could she possibly keep up with the first Love Fairy in existence?
Then, the most irritating sight appeared before me.
Yes, in broad daylight, right there in the open field outside the Love Fairy Kingdom.
A sudden rustling broke the quiet.
A pair of fairies, clad in robes of white and gold, emerged into view.
Well—almost together.
The male stumbled, struggling to match the brisk pace of the female, his wings fluttering in anxious bursts.
"I… I—" he stammered, reaching for her. "I'm sorry!"
"You should be," she shot back, barely sparing him a glance. "You left me alone to deal with your human friends!"
I turned toward the poison apple tree in the distance and noticed the same Dark Fairy lazily napping on its branch. He sat up and looked in my direction curiously.
Too far away to hear. Or so I thought.
"Light Fairies," I muttered. "Always so dramatic."
Then I heard it—a quiet chuckle coming from his direction.
Wait. He could hear me?
...Crap.
Suddenly, Elder Arisa caught up, breath sharp and impatient.
"Child," she intoned, her voice edged with irritation, "what in the world are you waiting for? Need I remind you that we have a duty to maintain balance?"
Yeah, I'll do it. But not now—and certainly not because you asked, I thought.
"Oh, Elder Arisa," I sighed, tilting my head with exaggerated drama, "this is the best entertainment I've had in weeks! Can't I let them bicker a little longer before I fix it? A few moments won't hurt."
I clasped my hands together, eyes wide with mock innocence.
The elder's gaze sharpened.
A long pause.
Then, with a weary shake of her head, Arisa exhaled. > "Fine. But make sure you do it."
Seeing Arisa compromise gave me a bit of joy. Watching bickering fairies, on the other hand, was delightful entertainment.
"Yes! Thank you, thank you!" I giggled, unable to hold back my joy, spinning back toward the bickering pair, eyes practically glowing with delight.
Arisa didn't linger. She was probably annoyed.
With a curt turn, she vanished into the distance like a wisp of golden light.
"Ha. More than a few moments now," I muttered to myself. "Let's see how long this can go on."
I gave an exasperated sigh before saying my thoughts out loud.
"Why do Love Fairies always have to fix these romantic disasters? For the continued existence of fairies, no less. Hasn't anyone heard of free will? Or, I don't know… communication?"
I didn't care if that Dark Fairy busybody could hear me. Or judge me. Arisa was long gone anyway.
The fight dragged on.
"I will not forgive you until you kneel!" the female Light Fairy declared, arms crossed, wings twitching with self-righteous irritation.
Oh, come on.
I get it, you're hurt, but now you're just giving stage directions for a romance drama.
Ugh. Now that's just annoying. I muttered again.
My fingers curled around my wand, eyes narrowing with mischief.
"Impertinent little Light Fairy diva… Let's fix that attitude first."
With a flick of my wrist, a pulse of shimmering magic rippled through the air. The female fairy's posture slackened. Her irritation didn't fade—it was yanked from her, stripped away like an unwanted weed.
Her glare dulled. Her lips quivered.
And then—tears.
A flood of them, spilling down her cheeks in great, heaving sobs.
The male fairy stiffened, his wings snapping rigid. > "W-what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"I thought you didn't love me anymore," she whimpered, her voice trembling with raw, gut-wrenching despair. "I thought you left me for someone else…!"
"Ah, a little love-sick spell. That should do the trick." I tapped my chin, utterly pleased. That's the result of countless practices. I could feel my magic flow again.
The sobbing escalated—sharp enough to shatter glass.
The male fairy looked stricken, helpless, his earlier frustration melting into panic.
Ugh. I might've overdone it. That's just an awful sound.
If not for Arisa or that awful noise, I might've taken longer.
With a flick of my wand, the sobbing fairy blinked, dazed, as if waking from a strange, lingering dream.
Within seconds, she flung herself into her partner's arms, clinging to him with almost manic devotion.
"I'm sorry, my love! I wasn't being very understanding," she sniffled.
The male fairy hesitated. His arms were stiff at first—but then, he wrapped them around her, murmuring, > "You know I love you."
I made an exaggerated gagging noise, rolling my eyes.
"Ugh. So corny," I muttered, a trace of distaste creeping into my voice. "You Light Fairies are impossible."
I know. Yes, I eventually did one of those hypocritical spells and erased their free will—but they were asking for it.
Then, I remembered that Dark Fairy who had chuckled earlier.
How did he even hear me from that distance?
Was he still watching?
I glanced back.
Yep—still lounging on that same twisted poison apple tree like he hadn't moved an inch.
Lounging at 11am? Figures. Very on-brand.
Honestly, if Arisa hadn't yanked us out of bed, I might've done the same.
Strange guy, though. He was always there. On the edge of things. Watching. Never saying a word.
Not sure if it was creepy or just... odd.
But I got the sense he wasn't like the others.
Was I really doing something that is catching his attention?
Am I becoming something more than I realised?
Or am I just heading down a darker path—and he's the only one who sees it?
Maybe that's why I kept noticing.
With my work done, I vanished.