Life may fade, but words may not
Butterbell felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation as he gazed into Orochi's true form, confronting her colossal yellow and red eyes. Paralyzed by fear, he found himself rooted to the spot. Orochi, sensing his trepidation, gracefully slithered closer and spoke in a surprisingly gentle tone, "This is the safe alternative I was talking about. Climb on my nose."
Shaken but determined, Butterbell managed to break free from his stupor. With a gulp, he summoned the courage to climb onto Orochi's nose, his hands gripping tightly, as if his very life depended on it. Orochi, her massive head now lifted, urged him, "Hold tightly."
In the midst of their journey, Butterbell momentarily lost his balance, but he quickly recovered by clutching onto Orochi's nose with a desperate resolve. Orochi, with deliberate movements, navigated towards a wide canal, skillfully keeping her front body away from the ominous black water.
As Butterbell glanced down into the dark depths below, fear gripped him, not for his own well-being, but for the safety of his queen. The prospect of falling into the canal threatened to shatter his ability to fulfill his duty. Despite his inner turmoil, he forced his gaze forward, focusing on Orochi's determined path.
Orochi reached the other side, most of her massive body still anchored on the opposite bank, her front section now in the center of the forest. With a graceful descent, she lowered her head to the ground, allowing Butterbell to carefully climb down her nose. Unfazed by the imposing presence of the Serpent Forest queen in her true form, he surveyed the landscape and noticed a significant portion of Orochi's body lingering on the other side of the canal.
Concern etched across his features, Butterbell couldn't help but ask, "Do you need any help?"
Orochi, maintaining her enigmatic hissing tone, replied instantly, "No."
Butterbell maintained a stoic silence as Orochi retracted her front body to the other side of the canal, seamlessly transitioning back to her humanoid form. Observing the transformation with furrowed eyebrows, he couldn't help but wonder, "How's she going to cross now?"
His inquiry was swiftly answered as Orochi unleashed her Mirage ability, a skill she had demonstrated during her intense battle with the giant spider in the forest. A singular, lifelike copy of Orochi materialized, linked to her by a slender thread of light. The spectral doppelganger moved effortlessly through the canal, leaving no trace or ripple in its wake, reaching the opposite side in the blink of an eye.
In a seamless exchange, Orochi swapped places with her mirage, appearing instantly at the center of the forest. With a decisive tone, she declared, "Let's go," dispelling the mirage and causing it to vanish from the other side of the canal.
Butterbell, awestruck by Orochi's mastery of her abilities, responded promptly, "Yes, Ma'am." Together, they proceeded towards the location where the coveted artifact awaited.
The enclave housing the artifact had the form of a weathered gazebo crafted from ancient rocks, adorned with mosses and flourishing flora. Amidst the rugged stones, a cylindrical black rock stood at the gazebo's center, distinguished by its impeccable shine, untouched by the encroaching wilderness. Unlike its companions, this rock, hardly two feet in diameter and three feet in height, seemed to have emerged organically from the earth, rather than merely placed within the structure.
The first to arrive at the mystical gazebo was Moonlight. A wave of surprise crossed her face as she realized she stood alone. Frowning in concern, she whispered to herself, "Am I at the right place?" Her gaze darted around in search of any sign of others.
Uncertain of her next move, Moonlight seated herself within the gazebo, leaning against the mysterious cylindrical object. As she contemplated her predicament and worried about the well-being of Creambell and Butterbell, her head hung low, focused on the verdant ground beneath her. In the midst of her silent reverie, a familiar voice resonated in her mind, "I didn't know you would be the first one to reach here."
Startled, Moonlight lifted her head and scanned her surroundings. Before her, Creambell approached with an infectious smile, accompanied by Finn, Kestrel, and the bandit. Another voice echoed in their minds, "Seems like we are the last ones to reach."
Creambell and Moonlight turned to witness the arrival of Butterbell, accompanied by Orochi.
As the group collectively reached the gazebo, a collective sigh of relief escaped their lips. However, Moonlight, noticing a few absent faces, couldn't help but inquire, "Weren't there more of your people?" Her gaze focused on the bandit, seeking an explanation.
In response, the bandit took a deep breath and delivered a somber reply, "They couldn't make it."
Moonlight's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Even Crow!"
Creambell interjected before the bandit could respond, "The person we thought was Crow was not the real Crow."
Perplexed, Moonlight questioned, "Then who is the real Crow?"
"He's back at Shap," the bandit disclosed.
Kestrel, taken aback, chimed in, "But didn't you say nobody knows who the real Crow is?"
Ignoring Kestrel's question, the bandit reiterated, "He's back at Shap."
Baffled, Kestrel tried once more, "But-"
Interrupting her, the bandit maintained his stance, "He's back at Shap."
Realizing the futility of further inquiry, Kestrel sighed in disappointment and resignedly stated, "Whatever."
The pixies, unaffected by the revelation about Crow and his followers, harbored a different curiosity. Butterbell turned to Moonlight, a question lingering in his eyes, "My queen, did the bandit who accompanied you perish?"
"I was alone when I spawned in the forest," Moonlight informed, catching everyone off guard. Even Finn and the pixies wore expressions of surprise, and Kestrel's eyes widened. "You mean you came through the forest all by yourself?" Kestrel inquired, curiosity etched on her face.
"Yes," Moonlight replied.
"And you didn't encounter any wild creatures?" Kestrel pressed further.
"I did encounter one, but it was strange," Moonlight began. "There was this huge lawn in the forest."
Before she could elaborate, the bandit interrupted with a shout of surprise, "WHAT! YOU CAME THROUGH THE DECEIVING LAWN!"
Moonlight locked eyes with the bandit and casually responded, "That's a good name for it."
"Never mind the name. What's more surprising is you ventured there alone and emerged unscathed," the bandit exclaimed. "Didn't you encounter any strange creatures there?"
Moonlight shared her encounter, mentioning a peculiar creature and a horde of undead. Remarkably, they allowed her to pass unharmed. The bandit, along with the rest, fell into a stunned silence. After a brief pause, Kestrel broke the stillness, suggesting, "Maybe this forest is kind to pixie queens."
"Perhaps you're right," the bandit added, deep in thought. "Maybe there's a reason why the artifact only responds to pixies."
"But where is the artifact?" Butterbell inquired.
"That's the artifact," the bandit replied, pointing towards the black cylindrical rock at the gazebo's center, revealing the true essence of their quest.
All eyes fixated on the seemingly ordinary rock, disappointment etched on Butterbell's face. "That!" he exclaimed, expressing his discontent.
"Yes," the bandit confirmed.
Moonlight, undeterred, inquired, "Alright. How do we activate it then?"
"A pixie has to just place their palm on the top of this rock, and the artifact will respond," explained the bandit. "But it never opened."
Creambell, puzzled, questioned, "How come this artifact never opened for the other pixies?"
"We don't know," the bandit admitted. "But, I believe this time it will be different." He shifted his gaze to Moonlight and added, "We've never had a pixie queen before."
Determined to proceed, Moonlight took a deep breath and began to approach the rock. Before she could take another step, Butterbell stepped forward, blocking her path. "With all due respect, my queen. Let me go first," he insisted, moving towards the rock.
As Butterbell reached the artifact, a collective thrill hung in the air. He took a deep breath and placed his palm on the rock, capturing everyone's attention. The rock responded by glowing with a brilliant blue light, causing surprise to ripple through the onlookers. Kestrel and the bandit, however, remained calm, as if they had anticipated this. Butterbell, interpreting the glow as a sign of success, broke into a triumphant smile.
After a few suspenseful seconds, the rock ceased its glow. The smile on Butterbell's face faded, replaced by a look of confusion. He turned to the bandit and asked, "What happened?"
"Seems like it didn't open," the bandit replied.
"But, how could that be?" Butterbell questioned in disbelief.
"Like I said, it responds to all pixies. But, it has never opened," the bandit reiterated, unveiling the mystifying nature of the elusive artifact.
In an instant, Moonlight took charge, declaring, "Let me try," as she approached the enigmatic rock. Despite her determination, Butterbell persistently attempted to dissuade her, expressing concern, "Please stop, my queen. What if something happens to you?" He turned to Creambell, suggesting, "Creambell, why don't you try."
"I'm pretty sure the result will be the same," the bandit interjected.
"No, it will not," Butterbell insisted, determined to protect his queen.
Undeterred, Moonlight stood right before the glowing rock, with Butterbell by her side. Sensing his worry, she gently cupped his face, assuring him with a smile, "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to me."
Butterbell, finding solace in her words, relaxed as Moonlight slowly placed her palm on the rock. The collective gaze of the onlookers intensified, their hearts pounding in anticipation. The quest to unveil the mysteries held within the artifact had reached a critical juncture.
To the amazement of everyone present, the rock did not radiate the expected blue glow. Instead, it shimmered with a mesmerizing golden light. Unbeknownst to all observers except Moonlight, an additional layer of magic unfolded, revealing something extraordinary concealed within the depths of the artifact.
In an abrupt shift, Moonlight found herself submerged in an unfamiliar, dark world, surrounded by an ominous blackish water that encircled the center of the forest. A disorienting scene unfolded as she looked around to find everyone else vanished, leaving her alone in this surreal aquatic expanse.
Unable to comprehend the bizarre turn of events, Moonlight felt the chill and wetness of the water against her skin, somehow able to breathe within the mysterious darkness.
Suddenly, the suffocating darkness began to dissipate, revealing a clearer underwater realm. The crystalline waters unveiled a haunting scene — humanoid skeletons scattered across the lakebed, with a colossal sand dune standing prominently in front of her. Behind this sandy barrier, the brilliance of golden light emanated, captivating Moonlight's attention.
Eager to uncover the source of this mysterious radiance, Moonlight approached the sand dune. However, her progress was interrupted as the seemingly inert dune began to shift. Startled, she halted, watching the sand transform before her eyes. The once-disguised entity revealed itself to be a massive kraken, its body concealed beneath a cloak of sand. As the grains slid away, the kraken's immense form emerged, fixing its huge black eyes directly on Moonlight.
Frozen in uncertainty, Moonlight stood motionless. To her surprise, the kraken gracefully moved aside, unveiling the true spectacle behind it. A golden throne, elevated by two steps above the lake's floor, glistened with an ethereal light. At the pinnacle of the throne, ancient inscriptions adorned the surface in a language unfamiliar to the living.
Driven by an inexplicable force, Moonlight approached the throne to decipher the ancient words. Although the language was archaic and rarely understood by the living, Moonlight found herself able to read the inscription.
It declared, "Life may fade, but words may not."
Overwhelmed by the profound message etched on the golden throne, tears streamed down Moonlight's cheeks, her emotions swelling in an inexplicable wave. The ancient words resonated deeply within her, stirring a cascade of feelings she couldn't fully comprehend. Driven by an overwhelming urge, she felt compelled to act.
Gathering her emotions, Moonlight joined her hands together in a prayer-like gesture. Her knees bent, and she prostrated herself on the lake's floor. Her hands were delicately folded, pointing towards the throne, while her face remained bowed in reverence. The underwater world witnessed a pixie queen, humbled and moved by the mystical wisdom of the ancient inscription, surrendering to the depths of emotion that surged within her. The sound of her quiet sobs echoed in the tranquil underwater realm, as Moonlight immersed herself in a moment of profound connection with the enigmatic power that surrounded the golden throne.