“Have you been quiet this whole time, are you still thinking about Chase?” Timothee’s voice startled me, I quickly looked up.
“No, it’s just that there’s another issue that’s really troubling me, Timmy.” I sighed. I felt guilty for not being able to share this burden with Timmy.
Timothee immediately flopped down on the bed. “What’s troubling you?”
“It’s about Fae Aurora.” I hesitantly started, not sure how Timothee would react.
“What about her?” Timmy asked curiously.
I took a deep breath, gathering my courage.
“Fae Aurora, she... she’s transferred her powers to me. And there’s a chance she might lose her elixir because of it.” My voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of my words hung heavily in the air.
Timothee’s eyebrows knit together in confusion.
“Transferred her powers? Lose her elixir?” He repeated, clearly baffled. “I’m not sure I follow. Since when did Fae Aurora start transferring powers and what elixir are we talking about? This sounds like something out of a magic.”
“I know how it sounds, Timmy,” I said, my frustration building. “But I overheard a conversation between Dwarf Altairs and Fae Aurora. They were discussing the transfer. All of Fae Aurora’s power, it’s now inside this necklace.” I pulled the necklace out from under my shirt, letting it catch the light, hoping he’d see the truth in the glimmer.
“This isn’t just some fantasy tale. It’s real, and it’s heavy. Fae Aurora could fade if we don’t figure out how to return her power. And somehow, I’m smack in the middle of this mess.” My voice cracked under the strain, tired of feeling like I was carrying the weight of another world on my shoulders.
“Are you sure?” Timothee raised his brow in disbelief. “This is a lot to take in. So what do we need to do next?”
“Healer Cruz, he... he mentioned he could help,” I confessed, the weight of the decision making my shoulders sag even more. “He said there’s a ritual to keep Fae Aurora immortal, to ensure she doesn’t fade. But—and it’s a big but—it requires a sacrifice. Blood, to be precise, and not just any blood. He said it would need mine, along with half of my newly acquired power. It’s... it’s a dangerous procedure, Timmy. Risky for both me and Fae Aurora.”
Timothee took a moment, his face contorted in thought before he finally responded. “I... I don’t like the sound of that at all. It’s too dangerous. There’s got to be another way, something less... drastic. We can’t just jump into a situation where you or Fae Aurora could get hurt. Maybe there’s something we’re missing, something else that Healer Cruz hasn’t considered. Have you thought about talking to someone else, maybe someone more neutral? I just... I can’t stand the thought of you risking your life over this.”
“What must we do to save Fae Aurora? We cannot stand idly by and risk the loss of her light again. Her essence binds the realms, and without her, darkness will prevail. Time is of the essence we must devise a plan. Who among us knows the path to her salvation?” I asking with annoyed tone in every words.
Timothee stepped forward, his voice calm yet assertive, cutting through the tension in the air.
“I will meet with Healer Cruz at first light tomorrow,” he declared, meeting my gaze with a stern yet reassuring look. “Cruz has old texts and potions that might hold the key to Fae Aurora’s restoration. We’ll leave no stone unturned.”
He then placed a hand on my shoulder, guiding me towards the door. “For now, you need rest. Go to bed, and trust that we are doing everything possible for Aurora. We need you at your best, come dawn.”
I nodded, reluctantly dragged by the weight of Timothee’s words towards the promise of rest. The night greeted me with a cool silence as I lay in bed. Despite the comforting darkness, sleep remained a stranger. My thoughts, restless and wild, danced around the fate of Fae Aurora. The gravity of the situation, the uncertainty of success, and the fear of darkness overpowering the light left me tossing and turning. The night stretched on, a silent witness to my vigil, as I fought an inner battle between hope and dread for what the morning might bring.
“Hey, Timmy...” I called out, unable to stay in the comfort of my bed any longer.
Timothee turning his head to me, concern etched on his face. “Can’t sleep either?”
I nodded, grateful for his understanding.
“I’ve been thinking,” I began, my mind racing with a potential solution. “What if we asked the other Fae realms for help? Surely, they would want to save Fae Aurora as well.”
Timothee slightly chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Do you want to go around the seven lakes to the other side? Because there are no Fae realms left around here. We already have too many problems anyway.”
“Timothee,” I began, my voice heavy with concern, “how are you holding up after learning about Chase’s betrayal? I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to process.”
Timothee’s expression hardened, his jaw clenching in anger. “I appreciate your concern, but there is no time to dwell on it now. I’m okay with that shit.”
As my fingers brushed against Timothee’s, an electric spark seemed to pass between us. Instantly, he turned, encircling my waist with his arms in a fluid, seamless motion. We found ourselves facing each other, caught in a moment that felt suspended in time. The intensity of his gaze held me captive, as if I was the only person in the world that mattered to him.
Timothee’s voice was a soft murmur, breaking the enchanting silence that enveloped us.
“Go back to sleep,” he urged gently, his concern flickering like candlelight in his eyes. He paused, then added with a tender smile, “I can even get you a glass of warm milk if that helps.”
I shook my head, my heart still racing from the unexpected closeness.
“No, thank you,” I replied, finding my own voice amidst the whirlwind of my emotions. “I think I’m far too awake now for sleep to claim me again so easily.”
As I spoke, my gaze couldn’t help but wander over Timothee’s features. The way his hair fell across his forehead, the curve of his lips as he smiled at me, the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath. I felt a surge of affection for him, grateful for his comforting presence in this moment.
Timothee seemed to sense my thoughts and leaned in closer, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Let’s just stay like this for a little while longer,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Why?”