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Layla stifled a yawn as she walked up the path to her parent’s house. They didn’t live too far from the northern port of Sumeru, and lived a quiet life growing coco beans. Like many Sumeru houses, it was built out of the base of a large tree, a mixture of dark redwood walls and white stone foundations.
She pondered what she would say to her parents about her latest adventure. It had occurred to her that she may not have been told of her family history for a good reason. Tulaytullah was a diverse place where many types of people coexisted, so if it was obvious to Thoth that she had descended from that specific group of people, something must have happened to her ancestors that lived elsewhere.
She shook out another yawn before unlocking the door. “Mother? Father?” The foyer and visible areas of the kitchen were empty. The house smelled of coffee beans, and she instantly craved a cup of her father’s special brew.
“Layla! Darling is that you?” Her mother called, and a swift pitter patter of steps rushed down the spiral staircase. Her mom brightened with a big smile at the sight of her daughter.
Layla tilted her head at her and took in her appearance with a new analytical eye. Layla’s mom looked exactly like her, just taller and older, and with one hair-drill instead of two. She never thought much of it before, it made sense for Layla to look like her mom, but now knowing the blue hair and pointed ears were indicative of her heritage made her see the features in a new light.
She scooped her up in a hug. “Oh, I’m so happy my little scholar is safe! The General told us about what happened.”
Mother felt cold, a comforting cold like when pillows and blankets have that nice chill that slows the heart. Her eyes instantly fluttered closed and relaxed as she returned the hug. “He did?” She sleepily asked, then her eyes flickered open again. “Wait, he did?” She pulled her head away and looked up at her.
“Yes, but I want to hear about it from you. Let me get your father, why don’t you start up some coffee?”
Layla did so, and before long the three of them were sitting around the dinner table. Layla recounted her latest adventure, meeting Thoth, but leaving out the question of her ancestry.
Her father looked like a normal Sumerian, with dusty brown hair and tan robes. The only thing that made him stand out was the low-hanging golden star earring Mother had gotten him as a wedding gift that was attached with three studs. It was strangely gaudy and loud for a farmer to wear, but Layla though that may have been the point, her mom stuck her claim.
Mother hummed and ran her hand through Father’s hair, she bit her lip and looked away. “I’m sorry you went through that, I know it must have been scary for you to lose control of your mind like that.”
Layla looked away. How many moons are there in the sky? She had a hunch there was more to that statement than what Thoth implied. It was scary to not control what knowledge flowed through her mind, her mind was her greatest tool after all, but it was also something she was used to by now. The Knowledge Fairy knocking her out and completing her work, in her own handwriting no less, was becoming a more common occurrence. What scared her more is now she gained a comparison point, she could feel the difference between knowledge coming from elsewhere… compared to it coming from within. She shook out her head and sipped more coffee. “Yes, but I had a lot of friends there to help me.” She took another big gulp.
Father’s mouth trended down. “The General’s letter also mentioned that you expressed concern over a research topic, despite being put on academic rest-”
Her eyes widened, caught, actually caught. She forced a smile. “It’s ok, you uhm… you know me, I have to be working on something. I’m just getting a head start before I’m really back.” She sipped more coffee and didn’t meet his eyes.
Her parents gave each other a look, they were one of those couples that could have silent discussions. This look was a specific one, the ‘we let her drink too much coffee growing up’ look. “Sweetie, you’ve been going to the college for three years now, and already have a masters. Now I hear you’re looking at a second doctorate before even finishing the first.”
“It’s ok, the Academia is paying for it.” She rushed out, they have had this conversation before, and she never liked having it. Mostly because deep down she knew they were right, she could feel her eyelids begging to shut even as she drank coffee. She grew to be afraid of sleep, she knew she was a sleepwalker, and hated waking up in strange places and having people she didn’t know recognize her. Her reflection in the muddy liquid made her eyes look more sunken. She huffed. “I… I have… I came here to ask you, Mother, you a question about something. I wanted to look into something while I’m still on rest.” She looked up and met her eyes.
They still looked sad, but also resigned, knowing how stubborn Layla could be, it’s how she got her vision after all. “Of course sweetie, you can ask me anything.”
“I discovered that our family descends from Tulaytullah, that our blue hair and pointed ears is from a specific group of people from there. I wanted to know what it all means, who we were.”
Mom and dad had another silent exchange. Mother broke eye contact first, looking away with a grimace. Layla blinked in shock, her mom looked so… fragile. It was such an alien look for the woman that was her source of comfort throughout her childhood.
Father cleared his throat. “We weren’t sure when we would have this conversation. At first, we looked for signs you took after your mother in more ways than looks. Then we thought we would tell you when you became an adult, but you were stressing so much about going to the Academia that we decided against leaving you with that. We settled on waiting until you asked, an inevitability.”
“Why…?” Layla breathed the question. “Is it that horrible?”
“It is a tough subject for your mother.” He looked to her with sad eyes.
“Mom?”
She choked out a sob and wiped her eyes. “Sweetie…” She took a difficult breath and dared to meet her eyes, they looked so much sadder than Layla had ever seen them. “I’m… I’m much older than I look…”
The gears turned in Layla’s head as she stared into her mother’s eyes. They weren’t just sadder, they were older, much too old. “You’re a long-life species… and-” She glanced at her dad. “We’re not.”
Her mom nodded, and dad handed her a neckerchief to wipe her eyes with.
Layla’s mind reeled from the implications, and her sadness grew to match her mothers. When Layla and her father would grow old and eventually die, her mother would look much the same. “How… how do you know I’m not like mom?” She winced, it felt like a selfish question but her genuine curiosity got the better of her.
Dad rubbed Mom’s back as she spoke. “The Fae are elemental life forms, we can control the elements without a Vision and can perform certain magic with it.” She held up her hand and snowflakes began to dance around her fingers. She dissipated it with a clench of her fist. “I’ve never had much talent with it, but Fae children often accidently use such magic, you never did.”
Father forced a smile. “When you got your vision, we thought that the gods were righting that injustice in a way.”
Layla took out her vision and looked at it in a new light. “Then… can you teach me anyway?”
Mother blinked in surprise. “Teach you what?”
“Fae magic. I would like to learn about our people, our history. Even if I’m not quite… like you. I have a vision, and all elemental energies act the same.” Layla insisted.
“Well, I know the Fae originated in Hyperborea, but when it comes to Fae magic I am a bit of a klutz. I’m not-” She looked up and sat straighter like she just had an idea, she whipped her head to dad.
“Oh, there’s an idea.” He blinked, then his eyes moved back to Layla. “Layla, General Cyno has told us of some discussions he had with your professors. There are serious considerations to force you to take a sabbatical.”
Layla shot up from her chair. “No! No, no, no, no, no!” She pulled at her hair and her eyes stung. “I’m going to fall behind! I-I need-” Her vision blurred and she almost fell over.
Mother rushed to her and steadied her shoulders before she could collapse. “You aren’t behind my little scholar, not even close. You could take three years off before your peers can even match you. Your professors are just looking out for you.” She rubbed her head.
“What do they expect me to do?! They want me to just stop for a whole year! I don’t even know what I would do with myself if I’m not moving forward with my thesis!”
Her dad mumbled, “That’s the point.” Then he stood and held her hand. “They aren’t telling you to stop, just take a break. I also think your mother just had an idea of what you could do with that year.”
Layla blinked the tears out of her eyes and hissed. “What? You said you didn’t know Fae magic.” She frowned at her.
“I’m dreadful at it… but my brother could teach you.”
She shook her head. “I have an uncle?”
She nodded and kissed the top of her head. “He’s a bit of an odd one, but he would be willing to teach you. You would still be studying and learning, but I think some time away from Sumeru would do you some good, what do you think?”
“Away from Sumeru?” She tilted her head.
“He lives in Nod Krai.”
======
Layla thought she was nuts.
The metal ship groaned under her feet as it puttered off past the lush green and brown sand of Sumeru, through the space between that and Fontaine, all the way to Nod Krai.
She kept telling herself she should’ve fought harder against taking a gap year, but her professors were all in agreement. It -admittedly- was absurd that the second she’s put on academic rest she gets trapped in an old ruin and force-fed knowledge that could’ve driven her insane. Madam Faruzan was livid after hearing the story, even if the other Professors wanted Layla to stay, Madam Faruzan likely would’ve gotten her way somehow.
“What were you THINKING young lady!?!”
She shivered. She could still hear the echoes of her voice. The lecture was likely to haunt her for the rest of her days.
It was bad enough to be forced to take a sabbatical, but it was another thing to leave Sumeru behind on yet another forced vacation. She did want to learn her family history, and she would’ve been bored out of her mind helping with the coco farm, but still… she already missed her parents, and the soft greens and music of her home. Part of her wanted to spend as much time with her mom as possible, after receiving such a stark reminder of how limited that time was.
Nod Krai loomed in the distance as a dark blue lump against the night sky, the metal skyscrapers rose from the island like claws encasing the bustling hub of trade. Nervousness bubbled in her stomach as the ship grew closer and the details revealed themselves. There was a soft purple glow coming from the dock.
“He’ll be holding a lantern and aura farming, but don’t let that fool you, he’s a dork.”
Aura farm he did. Flins stood at the end of the dock holding his lantern, like a small lighthouse against the dark. The purple shadows flickered over his face, making his expression unreadable. His coat and hair flickered gently in the sea breeze. The color of his hair and eyes sold the family resemblance, but Layla noted he did not have the pointed ears shared by herself and her mom.
The boat rumbled into place next to the dock and dropped anchor with a loud splash and thud. The other passengers started to make their way off after the gangway unfolded, various merchants and researchers, she doubted that anyone else was here for a family visit.
She tugged her suitcase through the crowd until she stood in front of Flins. He was taller than her by a significant amount, and was looking down at her with curiosity, sizing her up. Certainly got my height from my dad’s side. “Thank you for agreeing to teach me and letting me board with you s-sir…” She wobbled on her feet a little, but tried for a slight bow while keeping a hand on her luggage. She read that thieves were abundant in Nod Krai.
He smirked with a huff. “It’s no issue, I am happy to finally meet my niece. I am impressed with your desire to learn despite being a human- according to my sister at least. We’ll see about making a Fae out of you yet.” His eyes darted around. “Although, try not to spread that around, I try to keep my heritage under wraps.” For a moment, his ears suddenly became pointed, before going back to a human rounded shape.
She nodded multiple times, already impressed with the shape-shifting on display. “I see sir, I’ll do my best.”
“Please, drop the formalities. Just call me Flins, or Uncle- Scratch that, definitely call me Uncle in front of Varka. I would like to see if it annoys him.” His grin widened and he started to step down the dock. “Let’s go kiddo, I’ll show you around Nasha Town, then we’ll make a stop at the Curatorium. Then we can take a small boat up to the lighthouse. I keep many records there and we can train without trouble finding us.”
She nervously looked around at the strangers that littered the dock. It was a little odd to see thugs that look like thugs, a lot of the bad apples around the Academia took a more subtle approach. “Does trouble find you often?”
“It’s been nothing but trouble lately, you came at a good time. We just finished a tough fight with one of the Five Sinners of Khaenri’ah, and a top-ranked Fatui Harbinger, it wasn’t easy, but it should be over now.”
“The Five Sinners?” She asked.
“During the cataclysm five-hundred years ago, five people gained Transcendent Abyssal Power, a power that surpasses the Archons. Rerir tried to make a comeback, even though we crippled him in so many ways, it took the strongest of us here in Nod Krai just to banish him again. We couldn’t even defeat him for good.”
She shivered. “That sounds horrible, I don’t think I could do anything like that.”
“Not yet Layla, not yet.”
She hunched in on herself. “I doubt it, even if I was that strong, I think I would be too scared to fight.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, you fought in that one tournament, right? Besides-” He turned to face her. “Sometimes it’s not about being brave or wanting to fight, it’s about knowing you are strong enough to do something, and not being able to live with yourself if you did nothing. I get the feeling you know something about that.”
Her hand moved to her vision and she held it. “I do…”
“That’s what motivates me at least. I don’t really get Humans all that well, and I really do prefer a quiet life where I’m on my own without responsibility on my shoulders, but I also think I would hate who I was if I didn’t care.”
Layla looked down and pondered his words for a moment. She wanted to train with Flins to learn about her heritage, but what would happen after? She didn’t really consider that she would be a stronger Allogene after this. Would that affect some of her choices going forward?
He patted her head. “You’re overthinking it. Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “I don’t really eat much. I’ve gone days without eating when working on a paper, it worries my friends.”
He hummed to himself while moving his skeptical eyes away from her. “Well, you’re in good company since I don’t eat at all, don’t get the appeal. Still, one of my friends gives out free meals if you change your mind.” He guided her further into Nasha town.
Layla took in the sights. The large blacksmithy, the Kuuvahki canon that towered over every other building, the Kuuhenki that darted in and out of view. The little creatures reminded Layla of the legends of the Aranara.
Eventually, they stepped up some stairs to the Curatorium entrance. Flins cleared his throat. “The Curatorium of Secrets is home to a couple of information brokers that have a unique set of skills. I will be meeting with the boss privately, I am afraid that some of what may come up in conversation is on a need-to-know basis.”
How many moons are there in the sky? The question surfaced in her mind without her consent. She tilted her head. “Is there anything you can tell me?”
“I suppose. To my knowledge, Thoth was a Moon Emissary, I would like Nefer’s input on some of what happened to you. By all accounts, it is a rather strange occurrence.”
“Ok… I’ll trust you.” Layla nodded to herself and nervously gripped her suitcase.
He smiled without worry. “Fret not, my young niece. Investigating rogue gods has become something I am quite practiced in.” He pushed open the door.
Jahoda screamed and frantically slammed shut the Light Novel she was reading and hid it under the desk. She plastered a smile over her face. “H-Hey Flins. Just in-” She looked at the appointment book in front of her. “A little early to your appointment. Welcome, welcome!”
“Hello to you too, I must say, excellent taste in novels.” Flins’ grin turned mischievous.
Color drained from her face, her stare became a thousand yards away. “Y-You saw?”
“Of course not, I am merely jesting at your expense. You reaction made it easy to guess the contents were of an illicit sort.”
She huffed and puffed out her cheeks. “I’ll get you back one of these days.”
“I look forward to it. Is Nefer ready for me?”
“Yeah, go right in.”
He nodded. “Please keep my niece company while she waits.” He disappeared behind the curtains of Nefer’s office.
Jahoda’s gaze snapped to Layla, as though just noticing her. “Oh, hey, I’ll uhm. I’ll get some tea ready.” She dashed off. “Take a seat wherever you want!”
Layla fidgeted before deciding to sit on one of the couches. How many moons are there in the sky? She wondered if the discussion Flins and Nefer were having pertained to that question. She trusted that the Academia held an impressively vast collection of knowledge within, but well kept secrets were something that may be out of their reach. To her, it made sense for Flins to consult Nefer.
Ashru jumped onto the couch next to her, and tilted his curious little head at her.
She reached out her hand and patted his head.
“I see you’ve met Ashru.” Jahoda commented as she set out some tea. “He’s our little mascot.”
“He is very cute.” She agreed and picked up a teacup.
“I didn’t know Flins had a niece.” She sat across from her.
“I didn’t know I had an uncle for the longest time.” She cleared her throat. “Oh sorry, I’ve been rude.” She straightened up a little. “My name is Layla, I am a student of the Sumeru Academia. It’s nice to meet you, may I have you name?”
Jahoda froze and her eyes widened for a second, her teacup started shaking a little. “Uhm, ah-” She took a moment to think through her response, then she spoke carefully. “No, you may not. You are allowed to know what my name is. It’s Jahoda.” She squeezed her eyes shut while her teacup shook violently.
She tilted her head. “What?”
“Is that not a thing?” She peeked an eye open.
“Is what- what do you mean?”
“The Fae thing!” She hissed. “I read that Fae will ask to ‘have’ your name, then if you give it they’ll literally take it!”
“I’m not sure, I was not aware I had Fae ancestry until recently. Uhm… how would a Fae ‘literally’ take your name?”
“I don’t know! You’re the Fae here!”
“I’m not actually. As I understand it, I took after my human father. My mother is a Fae though.”
“Oh, wait, so you aren’t like super magical and mischievous like Flins?” She looked her up and down. “You sure look the part though.”
“I take after my mom in looks.” She looked away and played with her hair, suddenly self-conscious. “I assure you I am just a normal student.”
“From Sumeru you said. Kind of a long way from home, I’m guessing you wanted to meet Flins? That’s quite the trip.”
“Yes, to learn about my family history. This isn’t the first time I have made such a long trip, I visited Inazuma about a year ago.” Not that the therapy really did much. “… But I do miss home a lot when I’m away like this, the sights and smells of the land of knowledge.” She sighed. “My betters insist though.”
“Homesick huh? I think I’ve got something to help with that.” Jahoda hopped up and disappeared into one of the back rooms, before coming back out with a Sumeru incense lantern. “I think I remember how this works, boss Nef showed me once.” She set up the lantern on the table and successfully lit up the incense. “Ta-da!”
The smell of home quickly filled the room, and Layla let out a sigh of contentment. She did not normally take part in incense, as sleeping wasn’t something she sought out. This time however, it did wonders for her nerves from being in a new region. “Thank you Jahoda.”
“No problem!” She saluted with a big smile.
Layla sipped her tea and let her eyes close as she settled into the couch. She wasn’t sure how much time was passing, but she appreciated Jahoda letting her relax.
“Feeling comfortable, my most precious Layla?” A voice whispered into her ear.
“What?” Her eyes snapped open, but she couldn’t see anything. It was dark, pitch black.
Jahoda blinked. “I didn’t say anything.”
Layla barely heard her voice, as though it was far away. She shot to her feet and tried to find her, but the room was still dark. She tried to step forward but her shin banged against the coffee table. She squeezed her eyes shut and dropped her teacup. As she reached down to rub her shin, she felt a finger trace up her neck and a hand cup her chin.
“Why are you trying to find me, I wonder?”
Layla whipped her head to the source of the touch, but nothing was there. Then she saw a faint blue light and ran towards it.
Someone who looked exactly like her was facing the doorway out of the Curatorium of Secrets, the door barely visible from the blue light. They were holding a lantern, a box Sumerian design with intricate mesh making up the housing for the blue and white flame within. Instead of the traditional golds and greens, it was made of silver and blues. “You are never this awake while sleeping, curious. Do you really dare to follow me, beautiful Layla?” She looked over her shoulder at her, a small grin on her lips. “It would be safer if you stayed asleep and let me work.”
Layla gasped, suddenly she knew who this was. “The Knowledge Fairy? Why… why do you look like me?”
She shook her head and opened the door. “Dangerous questions have dangerous answers, my dear.” She stepped out the door.
“Wait!” Layla ran after her, going past the door, suddenly only the lantern was left, floating further away into the dark. She took off sprinting into the dark.
======
“You drugged her!?” Nefer hissed down at Jahoda.
“Not on purpose!” Jahoda cried. “Why do you have drugs just laying around like that?!”
“It’s not-” Nefer pinched her nose. “It’s a special type of incense some scholars use for visionary meditation, it’s not really drugs.”
“You just said I ‘drugged’ her!”
“It’s the principle of the action!”
Flins sighed. “My sister is going to kill me. Please you two, the priority is finding her. I will try to follow her trail, but I beg of you to rally our other allies in this.”
“Oh course.” Nefer assured. “I’ll contact Lauma, she can use the animals.”
“Thank you.” He vanished.
======
Layla ran for what felt like hours. Despite her efforts, the lantern kept moving further and further way until the dot of blue light faded.
She tripped over a rock and went tumbling down a hill. She felt the grass under her give way to rough gravel, and she threw her arms over her head to manifest her shield. Her shield bounced against a hard boulder, sending an icy crack through it and stopping her momentum. She rolled over onto her back and shook out her head before opening her eyes again.
It was still dark, but not the same pitch black she just experienced. This dark was like a purple fog over the landscape, and it seemed more real. She could feel her mind clearing up, and quickly put together what type of incense that was.
A wretched howl pierced through the fog, sending a sharp chill of panic down her spine.
She quickly pushed herself to her feet and refreshed her shield. With a wave of her hands she readied a volley of Cryo Stars and summoned her Dull Blade. She quickly scanned her surroundings, but the purple fog obscured most of the terrain. The ground in her immediate vicinity had purple veins of Abyss weaving through the dirt, and ghosts of hands reaching out. She swallowed some bile and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
Another howl in the distance shocked her system. She whipped around and pointed her shaking sword in the direction it came from.
Beasts of the Wild Hunt emerged, gargantuan humanoids with purple flames of Abyss leaking from their stumped necks. She flung her hand out and the volley of stars launched, but merely shattered against the beasts without doing any real damage. With shaking feet she took a couple steps back, but more growls sounded from behind her, stopping her before she could run.
“Be gone, shadow of darkness!” A burst of golden light shot forth a small bird creature. The bird left a trail of gold as it pierced through the various wild hunt beasts. A man in a faded brown coat joined the battle, slashing across the beasts with a cross-spear Layla recalled seeing in Inazuma. He turned to her, and she found herself drawn to his uniquely colored eyes. They made her think of a whirlpool, leading to where, she didn’t know. For a moment, he seemed perplexed by her appearance. “Are you injured?”
She shook her head.
“Good.” He quickly turned back to the beasts and readied his spear. “I’ll escort you out, this patch of Wild Hunt is too severe. Light the way Aedon!” The bird swooped in and shot a horizontal beam that cut through the fog. He quickly grabbed her hand, making her realize that in her shock she dropped her shield, then he started running with her in tow.
“What’s your name?” Layla asked, fighting down her blush.
He took an extra moment to scan their surroundings before responding. “Illuga, my squad got the other civilians out.”
She gasped. “Look out!” She pulled him back just before the club from a large beast decimated the ground where he was about to run.
“Thanks.” He didn’t hesitate before slashing apart the large monster. His lantern manifested in his off hand, and with a flourish, Aedon shot out like a bullet and pierced through a trio of smaller monsters. He glanced at her with wide eyes, and dropped his lantern to grab her arm and force her behind him. He stabbed out his spear in the same motion, impaling the smaller monster that ambushed her. He looked at her. “Are you alr-” With a yelp, he pushed her away, just as a club was swung down between them. He tried to deflect the next strike, but a spike jutting out of the creature’s arm cut his eyebrow.
Layla rolled and her leg hit his discarded lantern, noticing Aedon was back inside it. “Illuga!” She threw his lantern to him.
He caught it, and discharged a blast of light that allowed him to slice right through the beast. He took a second to breathe as it disintegrated, and he dabbed a finger over the cut on his eyebrow. He cursed the unlucky location of the cut, the excessive bleeding from the area was obscuring his eye.
Layla shouted and threw herself in front of him, manifesting a shield right before a big hit could connect. The shield shattered and the two were flung away until Illuga’s back hit a tree, and Layla’s back hit Illuga. The monster rushed them and swung down their club. Layla held up her hands and created another shield just in time, the attacks bounced off but she grimaced with effort and cracks started to show.
Illuga mumbled a curse of self-loathing, hating how quickly his new blind spot was exploited. “Keep that up.” He scooped her into his arms, hugging her close to his chest, and started running.
A few smaller monsters dove at them, but were stopped by the shield. Layla grimaced with every impact, but kept up the shield regardless.
“Hey!? Is that him!?” Someone shouted in the distance.
Illuga’s heart soared as he saw his squad, keeping a line at the edge of the fog. He sprinted past them, and felt his legs finally start to give out after a day of fighting. He fell to his knees and squeezed his eyes shut. He listened for the voices of his comrades, the distant voices of reinforcing squads, and the small voices of comfort civilian parents gave their kids. They made it. “Thank the archons.” He hugged Layla close, gripping onto her like a lifeline.
Layla’s face burst into crimson, all the way to the tips of her pointy ears. “Uhm… Illuga?”
He blinked, and cursed as more blood got into his eye. “Sorry, sorry.”
“I’m sorry!” Layla wiggled out of his grip and knelt before him. “Is you eye ok?” She reached her hand out, but pulled back, unsure what to do.
He shook his head. “My eye is ok. Eyebrow cuts just bleed a lot…”
“That they do, Leader.” A female Ratnik knelt next to him and took out a case of medical supplies, quickly cleaning and dressing the wound. She gave Layla the side eye as she did so. “This is the straggler that lady reported.”
“Yeah, aren’t you glad now that I went back in to get her?” Illuga asked, half-rhetorically.
“Not really.” She smiled, her answer just to spite him. “I know we say that we’ll follow you to hell and back, but if you could stop diving into hell every five minutes, I think we’d all appreciate it.”
He started a bitter chuckle that was interrupted by the dabbing of alcohol. He winced away from the cleaning cloth. “I’m ok, check on her, please.”
Layla held up her hands in surrender. “I am uninjured, I-I’m ok.”
The Ratnik sighed. “If you say so, I’ll take my leave.” She took her case of supplies and moved towards some of the other Ratnik.
Layla sat back and hugged her knees to her chest, feeling a profound embarrassment at the recent events. She shivered at the thought of her strange vision, of the Knowledge Fairy looking like her, being her. It felt like the incense conjured a nightmare of her deepest fears.
Illuga stood. “Here, you must be cold.” He took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. He summoned his lantern out of his Vision and placed in on the ground in front of her. Aedon let out an indignant squeak. “I know, sorry for dropping you earlier.” He sat down next to Layla, with a respectable gap between them.
Layla blushed and looked away.
“That was your first time seeing the Wild Hunt.” It wasn’t a question, he gazed at the two reinforcement squads prepping to go in, the night sky and new moon that hung over their struggles. “It was bad today, I would’ve died if it weren’t for your shields, so thank you.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m thanking you and that’s final.”
He smiled and let out a huff.
“I shouldn’t’ve even been there. I was being stupid.” Frustrated tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “I should just accept that I’ll never know what’s really wrong with me… I’m just… so tired of being tired…”
Illuga felt his heart tug at those words. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you.”
“You can’t know that. Most of my peers don’t even know who I am, they think I’m a pushover just because I’m tired all the time. You just met me.” She weakly argued.
“Well, I could learn your name. It would be a start.”
She blushed and buried her forehead into her knees. “It’s Layla.”
He stood and grabbed his lantern. “Well Layla, how about I take you somewhere to eat? It’s a Lightkeeper tradition to eat your fill after surviving an encounter with the Wild Hunt.” He held out his hand to her.
It took her a moment to realize she was wearing his coat now, so his arms were bare. Scars were plentiful across his skin, records of his countless battles with the Wild Hunt. “Ok…” She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet.
======
It did not quite fully register to Layla that they were still holding hands, and she was still wearing his coat, until he brought her into Nasha town and people started staring. She quickly realized that this Illuga person was well known among the people of Nod Krai. She wondered if that was indicative of how widespread the Wild Hunt was, if most people at least know of a Lightkeeper ‘Leader’. The feeling of being watched was palpable.
He led her up a couple flights of stairs to a restaurant with an outdoor dining area, there was a woman behind the counter working with a man who was kneading dough. “Hello Katya.” He greeted politely.
The woman’s eyes quickly darted between his scared arms, to Layla, to the coat she wore, to their intertwined hands. She blinked rapidly, then shook out her head. “W-Welcome Squad Leader Illuga.” Katya put some unnecessary emphasis on his title, and kept her wide eyes on them as she reached out her arm to frantically slap the back of the man kneading dough. “Who is this lovely lady with you?” The man paused his work and looked at their intertwined hands with wide eyes.
“This is Layla, we just got back from an awful Wild Hunt outbreak. I’ll just take a Nod Krai Hot Dog.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Take your time, everything is good here.”
Layla shook out her head from overanalyzing the workers’ reactions to them. “I’ll take the same.”
Illuga let go of her hand to take out his wallet and pay. Layla felt her heart sink into her chest at the lack of contact, making her think she was more affected by her near-death experience than she initially thought. Illuga finished paying and led her over to one of the two person tables. Layla could still hear the workers gossip as they walked away.
Katya grabbed a fistful of the man’s apron and braced herself with a hand on the counter. “Oh my gods.” She wheezed out.
“I didn’t think Illuga-” Her coworker shook out his head. “I’m not sure what I thought, he’s always so focused on his work.”
She glared at him. “These hot dogs are going to be the best hot dogs you’ve made in your life! He has chosen us for this date, and I refuse to let him down!”
Layla blushed as she sat down at the table, sure that they didn’t know she could still hear them. Date? Is that what this is? Illuga only mentioned a meal being a Lightkeeper tradition. Besides, we only just met. I guess going through a life-or-death experience can bring people closer. How do I clarify though? I can’t just ask him. She shook her head helplessly.
“Still thinking about what happened?” Illuga asked.
“Uhm, yeah… I’m not from Nod Krai, so I’ve only heard about the Wild Hunt through textbooks.” She tapped her fingers together.
“Huh, I took you for a local, you look a little like-” He cut himself off. “Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Layla paused, thinking of ways to naturally probe more information out of him. “Sumeru. I’m a student at the Academia, I’ve been going for three years, so I’m only twenty-one.”
He smiled softly. “I’m only twenty-two myself, I’m the youngest Squad Leader. A lot of people still treat me like a kid; a lot of people knew me as a kid so it’s hard to break that first impression. Is it the same for you?”
“A little, I have my masters, but I still feel behind. So many professors just have so much experience over me, it’s hard to get my thoughts heard.” So, he is around my age at least, so this could be a socially acceptable date. She ran her eyes over his face and torso. He has a timeless face, he could’ve been anywhere from a traumatized fifteen-year-old to a… well, a traumatized thirty-year-old.
“I know that feeling all too well, I can only hope it will change for both of us one day.” He noticed her staring and stared right back.
Katya approached the table with baskets of hot dogs and fries. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your dinning experience perfect!” She forced a bright smile.
Illuga cleared his throat and looked away, a slight blush dusting his cheeks. “Thank you, I think we’re good.”
Layla nodded, prompting Katya to silently slide away, but Katya’s eyes were still on them as she slipped back behind the counter.
“What is Sumeru like? I’ve never been.” Illuga asked and took a small and careful bite from the hot dog, his eyes darted to her, as though gauging her reaction.
“It’s green and warm. It always smells good in Sumeru, whether it is the incense burners, or the plant life…” She felt the home sickness well up. “Growing up, I lived on my dad’s coco farm and learned a lot about agriculture and how to make a good cup of coffee, but I was always fascinated with the stars. So I eventually went to school to study them.” She nibbled on a fry. “Did you grow up in Nod Krai? What was that like?”
He grimaced and looked away. “Truthfully, I have forgotten much of my early years. A lot of bad happened… and I think that deep down, I don’t really want to remember.” He let out a long and steady breath. “I’ve wanted to be a Lightkeeper since I was a teenager. I helped in the kitchens back then, watching and waiting for my chance to join them at the table.”
“Did you envy them?”
He shook his head. “No, not at all. Those that sat at the table seasoned those feasts with their tears. I just felt like I had to fight with them, it’s my calling. I hope to see the eradication of the Wild Hunt in my lifetime. I believe we can do it, now that Flins has discovered the cause.”
Layla gasped. “Oh no!”
He blinked and tensed. “What? What’s wrong?”
“When I went into the Wild Hunt I…” Was high as a kite. “I was lost, and Flins is probably looking for me. I should go.” She started to get up.
“Hold on a second.” He reached out and grabbed her wrist, he startled when he noticed what he’d done and immediately let go. “When you’re lost, it’s generally best to stay in one place. If both the lost and the seeker are moving, it decreases the odds they’ll run into each other. I can have the other Ratniki let him know you’re safe if they see him, and you are safe now. I’ll stay with you until Flins finds you.”
Layla paused for a moment, staring at him.
He broke eye contact. “I-I.” He cleared his throat. “I won’t keep you if you really want to leave though.”
She spoke with barely a whisper. “Do you want me to stay?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Uhm… yes, I suppose I do. I would like to learn more about you- and y-you seem tired, you should rest.” He hastily added the last part.
“Ok…” She sat back down with ridged posture and a blank face, but internally she was screaming. This is totally a date! Even if neither of us are willing to admit it! What do I do?! She tried to think of other people she knows who are in relationships. Hat Guy and Mona?
“What are you looking at worm?”
She looked at Illuga and tried to find any similarities between the two men. Nope! Alhaitham and Kaveh?
“What did that moron do this time? I swear, he has no manners!”
She buried her face in her hands. I have no good role models!
Illuga knit his eyebrows with concern, then he scooted Layla’s basked of food away. “Hey, if you want to rest, please do. I’ll keep watch.”
She pulled her hands away and nodded. “Please, uhm… promise me you won’t let me go anywhere?”
He leaned back with a little confusion. “I promise, I’ll keep you safe.”
“Ok, thank you…” She folded her arms on the table and rested her head down, finally closing her eyes after a long day.
Illuga looked at Layla’s barely touched basket of food and scooted it towards himself and started eating. After all that she didn’t have an appetite? He wondered to himself. I guess Flins doesn’t eat much either.
Layla stirred and sat up with a yawn, she stretched her arm over her head.
He frowned. She wasn’t asleep for long. “Layla, are you alright?”
She leaned forward and rested her elbow on the table and placed her chin in her hand. She smiled at him with lidded eyes. “Layla is fine.” Her eyes ran a train over his arm and she bit her lip. “So you’re Illuga hmm.”
He narrowed his eyes and his hand itched for his lantern. “What are you?” He felt panic well up, but hesitated. He knew right away this wasn’t a threat to be fought head on.
“Calm down. In a way, I am still Layla. We’re two halves of a whole, we complete each other.” She traced her nail on the table, drawing a star pattern. “She doesn’t know I exist right now, but she suspects, she’s just as smart as me after all. She’ll discover the truth soon if she stays on this path, so I think this will be the only time we get to talk.”
“About what exactly?” He leaned forward and clenched his fists on the table, his mind still racing.
“I said calm down.” She leveled a stern look at him. “I promise, I only want what’s best for my dearest Layla.” She reached over a hand and gently held his wrist, rubbing a finger over a scar. “You have attachment issues, don’t you? You aren’t willing to let go of anything, not your precious Lantern, not your Inazuman spear the Traveler gifted you.”
He tensed his shoulders. “How did you know that?” He hissed; he was furious that he couldn’t deny her.
“Magic.” She looked into his eyes and smiled wider. “I also know that you now feel the same for Layla. You saved her life, and now you feel more responsibility for her than you realistically should. You feel she’s yours, just as she is mine.”
This time he could deny her. “She isn’t mine; she’s her own person. I can tell she’s smart, and I relate to her. I’m not… possessive, I just care. I won’t apologize for caring about people, it’s why I’m a Lightkeeper.”
“You ‘just care’ hmm?” She stood up, his coat falling from her shoulders. She leaned over the table, placing a knee on it so she hovered over him, and ran her hand up his arm and to his shoulder. “I must ask, Lightkeeper Illuga.” She moved her hand around his neck, the touch was gentle, but the threat was felt. “What are your intentions with My Layla?”
He met her gaze with narrow eyes. “I wish to be friends with her. From the beginning I suspected her relation to Flins, and I am looking forward to learning about his family. Flins is my best friend, and I would like to add Layla to that.”
She held his gaze for a long moment, then leaned back a little and chuckled. “How honest of you. I have to say, the chivalry really does it for me.”
He leaned back but flinched when her hand firmed behind his neck.
She leaned back into his personal space, moving her mouth right next to his ear. “By the way, Flins has been watching us the whole time. I imagine he wants to give you the same interrogation.” She pressed her lips to his cheek. “You have my blessing, hero with the illuminating heart, take care.” She sat back down, and with unnatural smoothness as though time was moving backwards, she laid her folded arms and head back on the table. She was asleep once again.
He took a breath and let his shoulders down.
Flins appeared behind him, his face shrouded in a jagged Electro smile. He firmly placed his hands on Illuga’s shoulders. “What are you doing with my poor innocent niece?”
Illuga didn’t even flinch. “Please Flins, you know I did nothing untoward.”
He chuckled to himself and let the scary effects evaporate. “Of course, Young Master, I know you were a role model for all gentlemen everywhere. I still have much to learn from you.” He patted him on the back.
Illuga stood, but kept his eyes on Layla, filled with worry. “Do you know what that was? Who that really was?”
He sighed. “Yes, it’s as I suspected. I cannot blame my sister; she is much younger than I and has limited knowledge of what we are. The children of the mortal and immortal are destined to lead difficult lives. I must take her to the lighthouse and resolve this.” He carefully picked Layla up out of her chair. “You are welcome to come and see for yourself what we are, Young Master, I imagine she would appreciate a friend’s support.”
He picked up his coat and smoothly put it on. “Of course. I’ll help in any way I can.”
======
Flins gently placed Layla in a bed of white flowers. “It’s fortunate she’s still asleep.” They were in the center of the graveyard; the lighthouse loomed over them.
“What happens next?” Illuga asked.
“I start the ritual; the rest will be up to her.” He took long wooden poles with cloth wrapped around once end and stuck them into the ground in a circle around her.
“I mean more specifically than that.”
“Generally, this ritual is used as a disciplinary tool for parents.” He finished staking in the torches and moved onto sprinkling an unknown powder over the flowers.
Illuga blinked rapidly. “Wait what?”
He chuckled. “Think of it as a way to lock two siblings in a room and force them to talk out their issues. There are other methods we can try to get the desired result, but willful cooperation would be preferred.”
“So, you are locking Layla and the Other Layla in a room together and just… hoping they come to an understanding?”
“From what the ‘Other’ Layla said in her conversation with you, I find this to be the most reasonable approach. If she truly does have Layla’s best interests at heart, I hope they will have a productive discussion. Is this unsatisfactory for you?”
“No, it makes sense, it’s just… what if she’s lying? Or what if something just- goes wrong?”
“Then you’ll have to trust me, Young Master.” Flins produced his lantern and the purple and blue flames within flared in intensity.
The ghosts dotting the graveyard began to vibrate with agitation, and a chill swept through the air, ruffling the flowers around Layla’s body.
Flins held up his hand, and Electro flames danced along his fingertips. His eyes and the inside of his mouth gave off a blue glow as he began to chant in the Fae language. Flame circled from his palm and ignited the torches around Layla. Arcs of electricity sprouted from the torches like ball lightning. The ghosts began to moan a song, the tone straddling the line between melancholic and hopeful.
Illuga took a breath. “You can do it Layla.”
It was dark, pitch black without a light in sight.
Layla wobbled somewhat as she wandered around the space, unsure of where the ground was. “Hello!?” She called out, hugging her hands close to her chest.
“So, it’s come to this, my dearest Layla.”
Layla gasped as the person manifested before her. “The Knowledge Fairy.”
“What a silly nickname.” She spread out her arms and shook her head. “There is nothing that I know that you don’t. After all, I am thou, and thou art it. You know what I really am, just think about it for a second.”
“You’re my sleepwalker. When I-” She swallowed some bile. “When I wake up in a weird place, or those people in the village that claimed I saved them, that’s you.”
“Getting warmer.” She smiled.
“You’re my Fae powers.” Her eyes widened.
“You got it!” She laughed to herself. “Oh beautiful Layla, we’ve been long overdue for a conversation. Just like how Mom and Dad put off talking about our heritage, I too, have been avoiding this. I truly never wanted you to know I existed.”
“That’s why the therapy didn’t work.”
She busted out laughing. “Quite right, that Youkai couldn’t do a thing to me. Not to mention I am an intrinsic part of you. To get rid of me, she would have to get rid of you. Simply eating me was out of the question, even if she could match me in magical strength.”
Her throat felt dry, tears threatened to spill over. “Why?”
She stepped closer to her. “It’s ok, use your words.”
“All the sleepless nights, all the stress and fear. I was afraid of you before even knowing you existed! Why are you separate consciousness at all?! Why couldn’t I have just been a Fae from the start! I could’ve been strong and smart, and it would’ve just been me! Not you!”
“You deserve better than that!” She shouted back. “You shouldn’t have to be strong or smart! You deserve the world!” She started pacing back and forth. “All your professors do is ask you to ‘prove it’, ‘prove it’, ‘prove it’!” She stomped her foot. “Prove what?! That you deserve to succeed? The you deserve to have the life you want? That you deserve to have your ideas heard!?”
Layla balked at her. “That’s what you’re protecting me from?! From school!? I like school!”
“I’m protecting you from life! If I just let you use me, do you know what would happen?” She shook with rage. “You’d see the end of eternity! You’d watch all your friends die before you! You would live your whole life in service of others. ‘Oh pretty please miss Knowledge Fae, do my homework for me’, and you know what? You’d do it. I know because I’ve been doing it! You are a good person Layla, and people are going to take that as an invitation to use and abuse you.”
“You think I’m too weak to handle it.” Layla accused. “So you’ve just decided to bare my burdens for me.”
She gritted her teeth. “Yes, that’s exactly it.”
“And you didn’t think to include me in the decision making process?!”
That gave her pause. “Well, I am you, so I know that you would come to the same conclusion, if you knew what I did of course.” She folded her arms.
“You are a part of me but you’re not all of me. You are missing my humanity, that’s what you’re not getting. Being human is overcoming obstacles to achieving our goals. I will become a top astronomer, and I don’t want you to take away meaning from that by protecting me from the struggle I need to experience to earn that degree.”
“That degree would be meaningless regardless, you don’t know what I know.”
“But you’re me, right? What could you know that I don’t?”
“How many moons are there in the sky?”
Layla froze.
“You’re right, there is nothing that I know that you don’t, but I have been protecting you from realizing the truth. You’ve had all the pieces to put it together all this time, you’re a smart girl, but I’ve been protecting you… I don’t want your dreams to be shattered, but since you insist…” She took a breath. “The sky is fake. Your whole career, your whole dream, has been an illusion. The three Moon Sisters were shattered, and the veil hid them from us. Your last three years of struggles and sleepless nights, the Masters Degree you worked so hard for, it’s all been for nothing.”
Layla looked down at her shaking fists.
“It hurts, I can feel how much it hurts.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I know you’re thinking about telling everyone, and I know… that you know… no one will believe you. You are alone with this truth, and helpless to do anything about it.”
“What’s beyond the false sky?” She whispered.
“I… we, don’t know.”
She looked up and met her eyes, a fierce determination in her golden irises. “Why don’t we find out?”
She paused, her mouth slightly open. Then she chuckled. “So this is the path you will walk… Perfectly human in every way…”
“Are you going to stop me?”
She shook her head. “No, but since you like school so much. I think I have one final test for you; find me and tell me my name. Then I’ll know you can handle this power.”
“That’s it?”
“You’ve grown beyond me, beautiful Layla…” She cupped her cheek. “I could never have imagined a world beyond the false sky, but you just did.” Her form dissolved into stardust that floated away into the darkness.
In an instant, a blizzard swept through the mindscape, harsh winds and snow scraped against Layla’s skin. She threw up a shield, but it shattered in an instant. She kept her arms over her face and turned around, desperately looking for her. “Knowledge Fairy!”
There was no answer beyond the howling winds and darkness.
She started to step forward, but it was a struggle to move. She felt the snowflakes stab at her skin, and the cold slowing her blood. She could barely breathe, the wind taking the air from her lungs.
“Layla!” A golden light flashed in the distance.
Layla’s eyes widened. “Illuga?!”
The storm lessened as the light from his lantern grew close. Her knees buckled and she started to fall, but he quickly wrapped an arm around her side and supported her. “I got you.” He assured and held up his lantern.
“How are you here?!”
“Part of the ritual. Flins forced you and your other self to talk. He sensed you were fading, so he sent me in as a ‘mediator’.” He quickly explained.
Her lower lip quivered. “But, this is a test, I have to pass it!”
“There’s nothing wrong with getting help from a friend.” He spoke with the upmost sincerity. “What’s the test?”
She took a breath and nodded. “She told me to find her and say her name. I can’t see anything though; I wouldn’t know where to start.”
He looked at his lantern. “I don’t know if this would work, since it doesn’t even work with Flins’ Fae lantern, but Ratnik can locate each other through their lanterns. Let me try something.” He held his lantern aloft. “Those that want to be found! Shine your light!” His lantern let out a flash of gold.
After a moment, a blue star twinkled in the distance, a shimmering reflection. “There!” Layla pointed.
Illuga nodded, but felt his teeth chattering from the cold. “Together.” Is all he could say. They started to step forward in unison.
Layla wrapped her arm around him, and supported him in turn when his legs started to fail. The wind and cold only intensified as they got closer to the star.
Illuga’s lantern began to flicker, and the storm guested with every dimming. “Damn.”
“Aedon?” Layla asked. “Is he ok?”
He shook his head. “Aedon couldn’t come with; it’s a consciousness transfer thing. I’m trying my best with my Vision but…” His lantern sparked, then snapped, the light dying completely.
She gritted her teeth, but with that action she could feel frost forming against the bone. She glanced at Illuga’s face, and gasped in shock.
Pieces of his skin were pealing away like ribbons, under them was only darkness. “I’m running out of time, Flins only gave me a couple minutes.” He coughed, and another ribbon tore off. He looked into her eyes. “You can get there, I believe in you.” He then faded away.
Layla almost fell forward without the support, but she stumbled to her feet and kept going towards the star she saw. She reached out her hand to it, desperate to grab it.
The motion made her remember when she stargazed with her mom when she was little. The tiny girl would sit on her mother’s lap and reach for the stars in the sky as they appeared one by one.
“The first star that shines can grant you a wish, anything you want. Just repeat after me.”
Layla coughed but felt compelled to do what her mother said. “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…”
She got closer, close enough to see the star for what it really was. A lantern, a traditional Sumeru mesh box design, but silver and blue instead of the usual golds and greens. A lantern just for her, one she could hang the stars in the sky with. The outside shone with metallic sheen, but within was dark.
“I wish I may… I wish I might…” The blizzard seemed to originate from the lantern, shooting out cold and snow out of its dark interior.
She finally grabbed onto the handle. “Grant this wish I wish tonight! Alzil!”
The blizzard stopped all at once, and the lantern ignited. A cold blue flame burned within, and swirled out through the black void.
The void began to burn away like ash, revealing the horizons of Nod Krai, and the foliage of the graveyard. Flins and Illuga stood nearby, Aedon hovering at Illuga’s shoulder.
Layla found herself standing upon a white flowerbed, surrounded by torches lit by icy flames that matched her lantern. She looked down at the handheld light source and felt herself drawn to it, the lantern felt like a part of herself, an extra heart that beat within its cage. “The Knowledge Fae… Alzil…” She whispered.
Flins breathed a sigh of relief and placed a hand over his heart as he gazed up at the sky. “With the New Moon as our witness; a new Fae has been born.” He stepped closer. “Move carefully Layla, you are an elemental being now, it may take some getting used to after being human for so long.”
“A human turned into an elemental being?” Illuga asked, with his hand on his chin. “I’ve read legends of Allogenes shattering their Visions and attaining godhood, is this similar to that?”
He shook his head. “Ostensibly, you could make that comparison, but a Fae would be no match for a Genshin. Regardless, as far as I know, there hasn’t been a new Genshin for as long as I’ve been alive.”
Layla tried to take a step forward, but suddenly her whole body dissolved into Cryo flames and entered the lantern. She screamed as the lantern dropped onto the flowers. “What do I do?!” The lantern vibrated with her shouts.
Flins chuckled and looked down at the lantern that was his niece. “Think about your body and take a deep breath. Imagine blowing up a balloon as you exhale.”
Layla paused for a moment, then her body manifested out of the Cryo flames. She stumbled on her feet. “I feel so…” She collapsed.
Illuga dashed in and caught her. “Are you- She’s… she’s asleep.” Sure enough, she was snoring in his arms.
“She has been at war with herself all this time… I imagine she hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in years. Please, carry her to the lighthouse.” He led the way through the graveyard. “When she wakes, she will have a lot of training to do.”