A slightly mature-looking wind fairy approached, her figure graceful and elegant. Although fairies are considered immortal and ageless, their experiences shape their demeanour. This particular fairy, though possibly centuries old, appeared to have the charm of a woman in her twenties.
As soon as Leah saw her, she immediately stood up and addressed her with respect. "Village Chief," Leah greeted, revealing the woman's role.
Morgan and Lott exchanged glances, now realizing that the fairy before them was the village chief. The chief, however, seemed to assess them with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity. Her eyes shifted between Morgan, who was dressed simply, and Lott, whose entire body was covered in iron armour, as though he didn't want to be recognized. Her expression gave away her uncertainty about their true strength and their identities.
The village chief smiled politely, yet her tone carried a hint of doubt as she said, "If it weren't for you today, we might have lost a very precious villager. We owe you our gratitude, and I will make sure you're well taken care of."
Leah, feeling pride in their accomplishment, puffed out her chest at the village chief's praise. But Morgan, sharp as ever, detected the chief's underlying scepticism. Her smile never faltered as she responded, "It seems like the village chief doesn't fully trust in our strength."
The village chief's expression stiffened, revealing that Morgan had hit the mark. Though she tried to recover, it was clear she had been underestimating them. "How could I think that?" she stammered, though the truth was evident.
Morgan, however, knew how to handle such situations. Rather than becoming defensive, she decided to give a display of power. Standing tall, she picked up her staff with a graceful flick of her wrist and muttered a spell. In an instant, a purple-black energy sphere formed in her hand and shot towards a nearby mountain range.
The ball of energy moved with lightning speed, striking the hillside in a blinding explosion. The purple-black light illuminated the sky, and moments later, the ground shook as the thunderous sound of the explosion echoed across the landscape. A huge cloud of smoke rose from the impact, drawing the attention of everyone in the fairy village.
When the dust finally settled, all eyes were on the massive crater left on the hillside. The destruction was so immense that the area of the explosion was almost the same size as the village itself.
The fairies were stunned into silence. The sheer destructive power Morgan had displayed was overwhelming. Even the village chief's face paled, her previous arrogance disappearing. She had thought Morgan might be powerful, but nothing on this scale. If Morgan wanted to, she could destroy the entire village in the blink of an eye.
The village chief felt a cold sweat break out on her skin. She realized how foolish her earlier doubts had been. If Morgan or Lott had any ill intent, they could wipe out the whole village effortlessly. She mentally cursed herself for testing such power.
Morgan, meanwhile, revelled in the reaction of the onlookers. She had masterfully handled the situation, leaving no room for further doubt. The village chief, now visibly shaken, quickly changed her tone, her face adopting a more respectful demeanour.
"I apologize," the chief said, bowing slightly. "I shouldn't have doubted you."
Morgan, maintaining her poise, waved off the apology. "It's nothing. You were just doing what a village chief should do."
"Thank you for your understanding," the chief replied with a bow, grateful that Morgan hadn't taken offence. She quickly turned to Leah and instructed, "Leah, please show our honoured guests around the village."
"Of course," Leah responded enthusiastically.
As the chief left, she immediately called for her subordinates and cast a protective magic spell to ensure their conversation wouldn't be overheard. "We must inform the patriarch of what happened here," she ordered her confidants. "This level of power… it's too dangerous. We need to understand their true intentions, and if possible, ensure they're on our side."
Back with Leah, she now gazed at Morgan with awe and reverence. The sheer display of power had completely changed her demeanour. Gone was any sense of casual interaction; Leah now regarded Morgan with deep respect.
"Where would you like to visit first?" Leah asked eagerly, almost tripping over her words to be helpful.
Morgan smiled, appreciating the change in attitude. "We'll just look around for now," she said. "By the way, do you have any fairies from the Earth Clan here? We'll need a place to stay, and I assume we'll need their help to build a home."
Leah's face lit up. "You're staying?" she asked, her excitement evident. "Yes, we have Earth Clan fairies here. I'll fetch them for you right away to help with the construction!"
As Leah led them further into the village, the atmosphere had completely shifted. The fairies now treated Morgan and Lott with the utmost respect, knowing they were in the presence of someone with immense power.
A mysterious figure approached the village. A petite girl emerged from a monstrous creature, her clean, jade-like feet gleaming in the sunlight. It was Melusine.
After parting ways with Lancelot following their battle, Melusine had been searching for Morgan, believing she might hold answers to her situation. Though taken in by the Wind Clan's patriarch, Melusine was an independent spirit, free to do as she pleased. Now, she was determined to find Morgan, regardless of what awaited her.
Her presence would soon bring new challenges to Morgan and Lott's already complex journey.