The Old Titan and A Kind Fairy

"Treasure cove…?"

Alex glanced back at the grim landscape he had just emerged from, struggling to associate the name with the sight of the dumpsite. The heaps of decaying waste and decomposing bodies hardly resembled anything remotely valuable.

"Hey! Are you listening?!" The older man's sharp and demanding voice cut through Alex's thoughts, and he got up into his face, his face twisted with a mix of anger and suspicion. Alex instinctively recoiled, stepping back, as he hurriedly turned his gaze towards the man who had just raised his voice.

The man stood tall, a titan compared to Alex. Despite the passage of time etched into his weathered features, Alex could sense an unyielding spirit, an unwavering resolve to protect his territory. Probably in his sixties, he possessed a formidable muscular build that defied his age, his broad shoulders and sturdy frame serving as a testament to a lifetime of labour and perseverance.

His hair, a striking shade of pure white, contrasted sharply against his weathered skin. It flows freely, framing his face with wispy strands that dance gently in the breeze. Despite its colour, his hair appears thick and robust, hinting at a vitality that belies his age.

His mere presence commanded respect, and his gaze instilled a sense of reverence in those he looked at. His fierce and piercing eyes burned with a fiery intensity that seemed at odds with his ragged appearance. Deep wrinkles etched his face, each line telling a story of hardship and survival.

Facing his intimidating and overwhelming presence, Alex quickly replied with haste.

"Uh…sorry, I actually don't know myself…"

The older man's expression darkened further, a sneer curling his lips. "HMPH. HUH. You… *scoffs* you don't know. Well, I'll be damned. You brats these days don't even bother to make up good lies anymore, huh?"

"Uh…no, seriously, I don't know how I got in there. I'm sorry if I'm trespassing, but I'm telling the truth." Alex's voice was slightly wavering.

The older man's eyes narrowed, raising an eyebrow as he scrutinised Alex. "I may be old, but I'm no fool, young man. You don't randomly end up in this trash heap of a treasure cove without a reason."

Without thinking, Alex instinctively blurted, "Oh, so you do know it's a trash heap?"

"HUH?! WHATCHA SAY?!" the old man growled, his voice rising angrily.

"OH, sorry! I…I uh... just thought, uh...never mind, I'm very sorry." Alex stammered, his face flushing sheepishly with surprise.

The older man glared at him, still fuming with anger. Alex stood awkwardly, unsure what to say to defuse the situation. He quickly concluded that honesty might be his best option.

"Uh…sir? Look, I…I just woke up in there. I don't remember how I got there. Last I remember, I was…well, somewhere else, and the next, I was in that pile of…uh…stuff."

The older man's gaze relentlessly locked onto Alex, his suspicion not fading one bit, and his eyebrows remained furrowed. "Huh…you know, not that I don't trust you, but there are rules around here, which should damned well be common knowledge. Almost every person that goes in there either has my permission or is dead. So, unless you were dead, got thrown in there, and you obviously somehow aren't dead anymore, you had to have sneaked in there. What other explanation is there?"

Alex swallowed hard, reluctantly, and tried desperately to avoid admitting that he might have somehow come back to life and any possible details about what he remembered. He had no idea if this man was a friend or foe, and based on the interrogation, Alex figured that he was already not making the best impression.

"Oh, Grandpa Jeb…why don't you just cut him some slack today?"

A young, sweet voice suddenly came from behind Alex. As he turned around, he was stunned.

Standing a few meters away was an exceedingly adorable fairy of a girl. Likely in her early teenage years, she had short black hair neatly cropped above her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. Though she was of average height, she seemed pretty petite compared to Alex. Her build was healthy, hinting at someone who had done physical work, but a slight trace of malnutrition was evident in her slender frame.

Her face was a constellation of freckles across her cheeks and nose, giving her an endearing, youthful appearance. Her delicate nose and light dimples deepened when she smiled, adding to her charm. Her bright brown eyes, though relatively small, lit up with a warmth that made them seem like they belonged on a porcelain doll. They curved downward as she smiled, an expression that radiated kindness and care.

She wore clothes that were handmade or repurposed from other garments. The rough stitches and patches spoke of resourcefulness and resilience. The fabric was a mix of faded colours and textures, each part telling stories of their own. Despite the simplicity of her attire, there was an air of dignity and grace about her.

The girl wore no visible accessories, which kept her appearance modest. Yet, her presence was enough to shift the mood. She exuded a shy demeanour, but there was a hint of mischief in her eyes, suggesting a playful side reserved for those she trusted.

"Lydia…" Grandpa Jeb's gruff voice softened as he addressed her. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. Just coming back from the scavengers' market, about to head home and make lunch, and saw my big hulk of a grandpa yelling at an innocent, scared, and hungry-looking guy," she replied, stepping closer to Alex with a mischievous smile.

Her doll-like eyes sparkled in the light, drawing him in. As she approached, a delicate wave of flowery scents wafted into Alex's nose, instantly flushing his cheeks with a warm blush. Seeing the apparent blush, Lydia giggled and stepped away quickly to her grandpa's side.

"He looks lost and confused, Grandpa. Maybe he's telling the truth."

Alex felt a surge of poignancy at her kind words. The intense interrogation earlier had thoroughly put him on edge, but the girl's appearance and presence gave him a glimmer of hope and relief.

"Well… not that I don't understand you," Grandpa Jeb muttered, his suspicion still lingering. "But rules are rules. No one gets in my territory without my say-so. Otherwise, it's a free-for-all chaos."

Lydia gave her grandfather a pleading look. "Can't we make an exception this time? Just look at him."

Grandpa Jeb glared at Alex for a while, then looked back at Lydia's puppy eyes. Then he sighed heavily, his stern facade cracking just a bit.

"Alright, alright. You win. I'll let this transgression slide just this once. Now that I look at him, he seems rather harmless...and extremely worn out. Hey, you okay?"

"Oh, oh no, hey, you feel okay there?" Lydia asked with concern.

Alex stared blankly at them both, momentarily wondering what they were worried about. Then, a wave of relief washed over him, followed by an overwhelming faintness. His legs gave way, and he felt himself falling backwards, the ground rushing to meet him.

The last thing he remembered was the two panicked cries echoing in his ears before everything faded to black.

This time, however, the darkness felt surprisingly peaceful.