Chapter 23

[Small village; Foot of the sacred mountain.]

Haven't you heard? There's an Ancient Faerie that was living in the heart of the mountain. The mountain was in between the Empyrean City and the small town of Reice.

People are always talking about it. Ancient Faerie lives in the heart of the mountain. Many people believe that if you go there and make a wish, the Faerie will grant your wish. But for me, to grant a wish. You have to work harder. Actually, my dream was to open my own restaurant in the city but I hope it won't help me with that. The only thing that I can do to fulfil my wish is to work harder every day and someday, people will come and visit my restaurant with a full smile on their faces.

"Flander, can you give me my medicine?"

"Yes, mother."

I'm Flander, a small young boy from the sacred mountain's foothills. I live with my mother, who has a serious illness. I care for her while working. To make a living, I sell charcoal to the village. Despite the fact that life has been difficult for us, I have not given up on my dream. Someday, I'll start my own restaurant, and we'll live in the city full-time.

"Here… Mother."

Mother's medicine will only last for this evening. I have to do something about this.

"Mother, Aunt Sally gave us food for the evening. She said she cooked plenty for us and her family."

"Is that so? …Kuho..kuho… She's such a fine friend, we should do the same thing someday…" mother won't stop coughing, she even previous cough blood. I wish she is cured soon.

"Yes! That's why I'm going to open my own restaurant and share my specialty with Aunt Sally."

"Flander… you're such a good boy…"

Oh yeah, I have to tell her that I need to go to the heart of the mountain tomorrow to get some medicinal herbs.

"Mother. I'm going to the heart of the mountain tomorrow to get some medicinal herbs."

"Oh, we've run out of medicine? Is it not dangerous in the mountains, you probably shouldn't go there."

"It's alright, mother. Your child is tougher than you've thought."

Besides, if the rumors are true. There's a faerie living in the mountain, she will protect me from any harm. Most fairy tales I've read about faeries depict them as guardians who protect humanity. Let's continue with that notion and move forward with it tomorrow.

***

I got up early and packed my belongings for the trip to obtain the therapeutic herbs. Bread and water are also on the list. When I'm finished putting everything in my bag. I leave the house to begin my morning journey.

The pleasant morning air from the mountain was the first thing that welcomed me. The birds are chirping, and there's a bit of fog in my path. The water sound of a nearby river was strong enough for me to hear in the morning. Everything appears to be calm, and I doubt that anything bad will happen to me. Just like any typical day when I go up mountains.

"Now then, where do those herbs grow?" My eyes roamed, searching for the herbs I always pick for my mother.

The herbs I collect for her have a purplish rear of the leaves and a sharp green tip. Herbalists always claim that these plants were planted by some kind of special people who keep the mountain's fresh breeze. However, no one has proven that these kinds of herbs cure sickness. Mother's health was improving in certain ways though.

"Hmm... it should be here somewhere," I think. There's a lot of grass here, but I'm sure I can find those one-of-a-kind herbs. "Ah! They're right there! "And, as I already stated, the special herbs are all sprouted near the riverside.

I dashed to the riverbank to get the herbs I needed. I slung the bag over my shoulder and began collecting the plants from their roots. There's a lot of it, which is why I should gather all I can for my mother. While I was at it, I started to hum a beautiful melody. Just to refresh and avoid myself from being scared.

People in the town were not only discussing the ancient faeries they saw in this area, but they were also worried about the Schattens that resided in this mountain. I'm also anxious about my safety; as my mother warned, I could be attacked by the Schatten, which is why I'm hurrying.

"But if it is this peaceful then, I doubt something will happen."

I've gathered enough herbs and when I'm done, I sealed the herbs carefully in my bag. Sighed, "I'll go back."

As I return to the riverbank. All of a sudden, I heard a water-like noise, and even a droplet of water strangely pouring onto me. When I looked back, the water had formed into a massive wave that would soon engulf me.

"T-this can't be real…"

All I can do is stand there and wait to be hit by this rogue water.

**************

My breathing could still be heard. I lifted both of my arms to examine if they were still intact as I opened my eyes slightly. I saw that it was dark in the backdrop and that strange small light was glowing.

"Are you still alive, human boy?" Then I saw a human figure appear out of nowhere. My vision is gradually becoming clearer. The woman has gorgeous seductive bluish eyes, messy black hair, and white pale skin.

"W-who are you?"

"I am the Faerie who will punish you for taking those flowers without my permission."

I didn't panic when the woman started talking to me, even when she mentioned that she was a Faerie. Wait, a Faerie?

"Faerie? A real Faerie?!"

"You haven't seen one?"

I sat down and watched her. "H-hey!" I said as she was bringing out the herbs I had collected from the riverside. "That is..." Her skin had dragon scales on her arm, and they were shimmering.

"How do you intend to use these flowers?"

"The herbalist said that those flowers can cure any illness."

The woman looked at me with a shocked expression. She didn't say anything at first, but then she began giggling as if I had said something ridiculous for her to laugh at.

"Y-you said these flowers can cure any human illness? What a silly thing to believe in. These blossoms contain a lethal poison that can kill any weak being."

I couldn't stop myself from being enraged the instant I heard her. "What? You're lying, right? My mother's health is improving, according to the herbalist. How could you possibly say those are—."

My words were cut off when she clutched the herbs hard in her hands. For whatever reason, the flowers started a fire. "These flowers represent human sin. Every human who dies in the mountain will be transformed into one of them. These flowers contain the person's regrets and flaws."

"N-no way…"

"They committed suicide here on this mountain. They desired to be at peace, so I gave them the opportunity to become a part of this mountain and blossom into a beautiful flower."

"T-then, what about my mother? S…she can't just die yet!"

"Is your mother important to you?" I jumped to my feet as quickly as I could. And just as I was about to go, she stopped me with a simple yet profound question.

"She is, indeed! She is the most generous person in the world! I can't just let her go! I will do everything in my power to ensure that she lives a long and happy life."

"Alright then."

She walked straight in front of me. I'm not sure what she's thinking. She grabbed my face gently and lifted, her face gradually approaching mine as she didn't think twice about giving me a strange gentle kiss directly on my lips.

I could feel my face starting to heat, but I couldn't show her that I'm flustered.

"I have received your wish and now I will grant it for you. Deliver the cure to your mother for me."

My wish? Did she think that?

"W…what am I supposed to do to deliver the…"

"Just like what I did."

"Ehhh?!"

*********

I didn't know that Faerie was kind enough to give me the cure I was hoping for my mother. Who would have thought I would be able to stumble with the Faerie after that weird water wave? Even though I didn't ask for it, she just gave me my wish.

Running down to the path, I couldn't stop holding my lips because of the kiss I received from Faerie.

"With this. I could finally cure my mother. Wait for me, mother! You will be cured at last."

However…

My lofty hopes of treating my mother were shattered the moment I saw her lying in the dirt with no sign of life. As I noticed her right hand was separated from her right arm, she was bathing in her own blood.

I couldn't scream or cry at all. I can only stare down at the lifeless body she had.

"Burn everything! Don't let anyone live!"

I didn't realize our village was being assaulted by bandits until I heard them nearby. They began to set fire to everything and everyone.

"Those people!" Engulfed in a fit of rage at the moment and that's all I could do. I'm out for vengeance, and I'm going to kill them all.

I raced to the kitchen to get the sharp knife, and then I went looking for those murderers. As I witnessed one of them stabbing a kid while laughing so hard. "Youuu!!! " I rushed forward to the bandit, yelling wildly, without thinking of a good plan.

"Aaaahh!!!"

[Shot by an arrow]

My body slammed to the ground helplessly.

"Oh! That helped me. Thanks."

"Shss. You should be careful, of course, these lowborn will want to kill us."

I couldn't move, and I'm sure I'm not dead yet, but the sting from the shot arrow part is still in my body. I noticed one of them approaching me, and he stepped on my face and even kicked me.

"These lowborn are seriously annoying. I'm glad that the Empire decided to abandon them."

The Empire…Empire!

The hatred in my heart is eating me up; I want revenge, but...my body can't do anything.

When those rascals fled, I was left alone in the burning village with my consciousness. My tears had finally served me, and I was able to cry.

"Why…why?"

Everyone is dead, and I couldn't do a single thing…

My eyes gradually closed, I'm weary, and I'm sure my breathing would soon come to a screeching halt, but then I heard a familiar voice.

"Hello, are you still alive… human boy?"

She's here?

When I opened my eyes, her face was all I could see.

"The Faerie."