Page 122 of Daughter of the Serpent

“Good.” He said. “Now, welcome in the light.”

Soon she felt it, building. Pulsing from his hands, entering her eyes, her mind, and everything attached to her.

“Imagine it as a river, threading through you completely, flooding into every part of you, filling you whole.” he whispered.

As his thumbs lingered, the magic thrummed, charging the air between them.

“Ask it to reveal what lies beyond.”

She felt her senses expand, an unseen veil lifting, and she almost dared to open her eyes - her awareness completely captured by him.

“Soiléir radharc.” Words of a foreign tongue danced from his lips, like sweet honey, warm and rich, and somehow she knew what they meant.

Clear sight.

Swirls of golden light came to life at his words, penetrating her eyes and enveloping them whole. Her head felt swarmed with it, like the energy had reached the furthest depths of her mind, clearing and releasing untapped places she had never known had been dormant.

“How do you feel?” He asked, his words feeling far away, for him to be so intimately close.

“Alive.” She whispered back, afraid to disturb the swirling light. “I feel like something has shifted in my mind. Opened…”

“It has…” He rumbled, mirth deep in his chest. “Do you hear anything?”

She stood still, his hands still encompassing her. She was extremely aware of her surroundings, of his touch. Everything had become heightened, sensitive.

After a moment, a faint sound of music hinted on the breeze. Harp strings plucked, and a voice as high and as sweet as the younglings at the temple halls rang out into the silence. A violin joined in, and soon other instruments chimed, into a plethora of hauntingly beautiful music, festive and jovial. Instantly Sylvie felt her body spring to life, her features glowing as her mouth spread into a curious smile. She looked at Axel, astonished. “I hear it!”

A smile stretched wide on his face, white teeth flashing. She stilled for a moment, as she took it in. She wasn’t sure if she had ever seen him smile - but it was so beautiful, so pure - it made her feel things she hadn’t expected.

Laughter, light as the fluttering of butterfly wings filled her ears, catching Sylvie off guard. Like tinkling bells it danced on the air, a symphony of joy that echoed through the sun - dappled forest. Suddenly, they appeared – miniscule figures, no larger than Sylvie's own pinky finger, shimmering in the sunlight. Their smiles were like sunbeams, their eyes like glittering gems, as their tiny bodies danced and twirled around them. Sylvie’s breath hitched as she caught sight of their wings - translucent and delicate, shimmering with emerald, amethyst, and deep azure. Each gentle beat sent a cascade of glitter rippling through the air.

“Fairies!” Sylvie exclaimed, unable to contain her astonishment. She had heard the stories, but seeing them in the flesh, before her, was astonishing. Fairies had always been well revered and respected by her people, but rare - buried deep in the forest, where only danger lurked and dreamed. It was said that they held the ancient wisdom of nature, capable of both healing and harm, bestowing blessings or wreaking havoc at their whim. Known for their mischievous tendencies, one had to tread carefully, lest they fall prey to their tricks. Yetthese were just stories - and stories she had no way to confirm. As she took in these magnificent creatures now, any apprehension she felt melted away.

One landed on her outstretched hand, singing its fairy song. Its glowing emerald skin was kissed by starlight, and its twinkling eyes spoke promises of joy and contentment. Its hair appeared spun from strands of moonlight, cascading in rich waves of icy silver and blue, adorned in petals and tiny blossoms. The little fairy giggled as more came, pulling at Sylvie’s hair, inspecting her like she was just as of a rarity as she found them.

“They’re... beautiful!” she whispered, barely able to contain her excitement. “How did you even find this place?”

Axel smiled, a glint of wonder in his eyes. “I came upon this grove a few days ago, and felt something different in the air. This whole area is saturated with heavy magic - potent, untouched.”

She watched him as one of the fairies playfully perched on his shoulder, curiously tugging at a strand of his beard, its wings flickering like delicate silk. Before Axel could brush it away, the fairy began braiding it, giggling as it tucked small twigs and wild berries into the strands.

“They’re woodland fairies,” he said, only half - heartedly shooting his tiny creature away. “Unlike dark fairies, they are harmless and curious creatures.”

“They’re extraordinary.” Sylvie smiled, feeling the pull of their energy like an invitation.

He chuckled, extending a hand toward her. “Shall we follow them?”

Sylvie hesitated, watching as a small line of fairies flitted ahead, beckoning her forward with a trail of sparkling dust. She glanced at Axel, excitement blooming in her belly, and reached for his hand, letting his warmth settle the last of her worries as they stepped deeper into the glade. She couldn’t contain the smile that had broken out on her face, indenting her cheeks. It was as if a whole new world had opened up and unfurled around her, and she supposed it trulyhad. Her eyes were no longer her own, her vision no longer dull and dark, but laced with new light. Magic pulsed through the forest, an effortless, graceful energy woven by the listful creatures themselves. Their joy was a living, breathing presence, spreading outward in gentle waves, breathing life everywhere they went. As they walked deeper, a golden glow bathed the trees like the warm summer sun, illuminating every shadowed corner, while the very air shimmered around her. Beneath her feet, lush green moss softened her steps, sparkling with vibrant crystals and gemstones that seemed to greet her. They sparkled and gleamed, their energies whispering,"Welcome."

The air was thick with the delicate perfume of wildflowers - bluebells, daisies, and violets lining the paths, their petals dusted in glitter. Clusters of mossy, fairy - sized homes glowed softly under the shelter of the greenery, tiny mounds nestled into the earth, each surrounded by a path of glowing mushrooms leading toward the heart of the woodland village.

A crystal - clear stream wound nearby, alive with its own sparkle, babbling over smooth stones in laughter and song. By its bank stood a feast - laden table - nuts, fruits, breads, and honey - all fragrant, enticing, and impossibly abundant. The fairies danced ahead, their enthusiasm infectious, even drawing a warm smile from Axel’s lips.

A larger fairy approached Sylvie with an air of authority, her long hair cascading in a tangle of shimmering vines and leaves, adorned with tiny clusters of berries and glinting jewels. Her expression was one of disapproval as her keen gaze swept over Sylvie’s tight - fitting leathers - clearly not the attire for a grand woodland feast. With a slight, mischievous smile, the fairy took Sylvie’s finger, her touch light but firm, prompting her deeper into the grove as if to ready her properly.

"I think they want you to follow," Axel noted, as the fairies took him in the opposite direction. His gaze lingered on her, steady and reassuring.

Sylvie glanced back, nerves twisting in her gut. “Is it wise for us to part from one another?”