I’ve no idea why another fairy would wish to find me, but as I was told she might be one who I could ask questions of, Nibi and I are currently flying in her indicated direction.Without any description, not even a color, I’m uncertain how I’ll find her, but it shouldn’t take me long to fly across the gde.If I don’t spot anyone prominent before I reach the trees, I’ll simply have to ask another fairy.Or perhaps Nibi, she may have someone in mind, although since she couldn’t speak at all when we departed this pce, I doubt she’s made many friends yet.

  However, before we even leave the springs, my gaze is drawn to a blue fairy hovering slightly above one of the pools we’re about to pass over.Something about her seems different from all the other water fairies, but I’m not certain what it is.At least, not until what my strange eyes have been telling me finally registers.

  Ever since I became a fairy, I’ve always been able to determine the retive size of anything I see, no matter my perspective.Thus, with merely a gnce, I know that all the fairies in my surroundings are nearly the same size as I.This girl beneath me, on the other hand…is a giant!Well, for a fairy, that is.This must surely be who I was told to find.

  Gently, I glide down to the pond’s shore, yet as I do so, the feeling of a truly astonishing amount of magic reaches me, all of it coming from the fairy in front of me.I’m certainly no expert at magic, but I believe she may contain more water energy than the entirety of this gde’s pools combined.Whereas I suspect Nibi would likely be capable of washing away a home in an instant, this fairy would surely be able to destroy my entire vilge if she so desired.Whoever this is, she is not someone to be trifled with.Yet, I don’t find myself to be terrified of her.

  “Oooooh.”

  As Nibi so eloquently put it, something about her stirs up a sense of wonder and amazement within me.Simir to what I felt when Miss Delia first allowed me to watch her create an eborate dress, it’s the feeling that I could learn to do something as extraordinary as she did one day.Or in this particur case, that if I should strive to be like this incredible dy, I could someday reach the same heights.

  Hold on…Quickly, I shake my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts.She’s a fairy, Akari!No matter how amazing she appears to be, she’s likely no different from all the other bastards in this gde.Although, she feels different…

  “You there, do you have a name?”

  Oh, it seems she noticed me staring.Her voice sounds almost gentle for a fairy, at least, less shrill than my own.

  “Yes, Miss.”

  It doesn’t seem appropriate to address her familiarly.

  At my reply, she nds on the surface of the pond and begins walking towards me.As she does so, I notice that her clothing is not the common petal dress that many of the other fairies seem to prefer.No, her incredibly dark blue garment seems to be fashioned from the shimmering essence of water itself, constantly shifting and flowing, yet all the while remaining in the shape of a sleek and elegant gown.

  In only a few moments, she stands before me.

  “Then will you not tell me what it is?”

  “Oh, um, m-my name is Akari, Miss.”

  Now that she’s standing so near, I’m forced to look up in order to meet her deep blue eyes.Considering the top of my head barely reaches her chest, she must be at least several centimeters taller than I.Moreover, though she is not particurly any more “womanly” than I, she is generally rger than me in nearly every way.This, coupled with the fact that her face resembles that of a young woman, causing her to seem older than all the other fairies, makes me feel, somewhat frustratingly, like a child in front of her.The sense of her overwhelming magic only adds to this impression, demanding respect and causing me to be a bit nervous.

  But at my reply, she smiles down at me.

  “Excellent! I believe you may be the one I have been searching for. Tell me, is it true that you were previously human?”

  So she has been looking for me.Why?

  “Yes, Miss.”

  “Intriguing. You even retain the annoying tendency to constantly use an odd title instead of someone’s name.”

  “I-I’m sorry. Wait, you have a name?”

  Uh, that may have been rude.Yet she doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

  *ditiditi*“While true that fairies do not provide names to each other, others tend to create names for those of my stature. Even titles, at times, though they’re often inaccurate. The name given to me that I favor most is Aquia, and you may refer to me as such. And while I prefer the more expedient usage of a simple name, if you feel that you must address me by a title, humans most often refer to me as a fairy queen, as falcious as that is. Do you understand?”

  Queen Aquia?Mum said her birthpce is ruled by a king, and apparently, the uncivilized people to the east have a king and queen.However, I could never fathom how one, or even two, people could possibly rule an entire nation on their own.I’ve heard of how much effort the Senate constantly puts forth as a group, and for only a single, married couple to attempt to do all the work required, not to mention the ck of insight in making decisions…It would be madness!Occasionally, I wonder if it may even be part of the reason Mum came to live here with Pa.However, looking at this fairy…this fairy queen standing in front of me, I feel that she might be able to rule without aid if she so desired.

  “Yes, Aquia”

  She did say that she preferred just her name.Marson, or Sir Marson, does the same with my family, so it’s something I am familiar with.

  “Good.”

  She then looks at Nibi who is standing alongside me, before returning her attention to me.

  “If you were human… Then what is this fairy’s name?”

  Before I can answer, she speaks for herself.

  “Nibi!”

  “Ah, so you have gifted her a name. For one as young as she to have a name has not occurred in quite some time. Quite some time, indeed... And she is even beginning to speak so soon. Fascinating!”

  I didn’t do something wrong by naming her, did I?

  “Does having a name affect a fairy in some way? And how can you tell how old she is?”

  “A name has no direct effect, of course. Yet those who are given, and accept, a name, tend to find their paths linked with the giver for a time. What this will mean between two fairies, I’m quite excited to discover. As for her age, it’s extremely simple. Her energy density, physical appearance, and behavior, along with several minor assumptions based on her chosen essence, easily provide one with a rough estimate. I could tell you if you wish? Would you prefer the time measurement to be in human terms?”

  So Nibi may stay with me longer since I named her?That can’t be the reason she first thought to make me a fairy, yet it may be reted to why she wishes to follow me everywhere.For my other question, I’m not certain I fully understood Aquia’s reply, but I believe she’s saying that she can work out Nibi’s age.

  “Um, yes, please.”

  “Then it seems Nibi is nearly three years old.”

  Three!?She may be childish, but she certainly acts far older than that!If Aquia is correct, than Nibi must surely be the most intelligent three year old I have ever met!

  As I attempt to comprehend this, she continues speaking.

  “Some may mistakenly judge her to be younger, but water fairies often focus on one aspect at a time, skewing their experiences.”

  Younger!?I certainly wouldn’t even consider that!

  But it seems Aquia is confident in her answer.Which is encouraging in regards to learning about myself.Now I simply need to find a way to have her answer more questions, instead of flying off as those other two did.

  “So, it seems you know a lot about fairies?”

  “Certainly! I have been fascinated by our kind for many years. But I have yet to see one quite like you. I highly suspect that your true age does not match your characteristics. They simply mesh in a way that I have never observed before. It’s quite delightful!”

  Wait.Is she saying that I look strange?And why is she excited about that?

  “What do you mean?”

  “To begin with, your facial appearance would dictate that you are of simir age as I, yet your size contradicts this theory, and your magic accumution also speaks to a different age. If the only facts I had were those given by your form, I would be forced to find a middle ground. Perhaps a vague estimate of a thousand years.”

  Huh?Did she just say that I’m a thousand years old?

  “But knowing as I do that you were formed via magically overloading a human, and said process would have had an effect on the formation of your being, I suppose it’s more likely that your years of experience are less than one hundred. Humans have not truly interested me recently, so I can’t be more exact.”

  Yeah, sure, I’m sixteen!Definitely less than a hundred.But, returning to what she said a moment ago…

  “So are you saying that I’m already a, a one thousand year old fairy!?”

  “Your form is simir to one, yes. Though as I said, some of your characteristics are suggestive of an older fairy, and others, a younger one.”

  So if I’m understanding her correctly, not only did they explode my human body, they made this one to be ancient!?But if that is the case…

  “D-does that mean that I’m going to die soon!?”

  I mean, a thousand years!That is far too old!Currently I feel fine, but I don’t know how fairies feel age.This body may just suddenly turn to dust!

  Yet, at my fearful question, her expression becomes one of confusion.

  “How does anything I said correte with you perishing shortly?”

  “You said that I was made to be a thousand years old!”

  “That was a rough estimate, but for the sake of argument, I’ll say yes.”

  “Then I’m an old woman! An elder! Older even than my vilge!”

  “In comparison to your experiences, I suppose so. But while it is true that your form is more progressed than a fledgling, I cannot fathom why you believe that would result in the cessation of its activities.”

  How does she still not understand!?

  Wait a moment...She spoke as if her size showed her to be older than I.So if she’s saying that I’m ancient, yet younger than her, how old is she?Could my first thought all that time ago about a fairy’s lifespan be true?

  “Um, may I ask, how long do fairies typically live?”

  “How long..? Ah! You are referring to a living creatures’ tendency to simply cease functioning after a time. As far as I am aware, fairies do not have that failing. I cannot recall my exact age since my years as a fledging were somewhat…chaotic, but I suspect that I, and some others, are nearly eight thousand years old, and have suffered no degradation due to time.”

  What?

  “I’m sorry, I believe I misheard. How old did you say you are?”

  “In human terms, I estimate that I have existed for eight thousand years.”

  Huh, I did hear correctly the first time…Wait!

  “Eight thousand years!?!”

  I can’t even begin to imagine living that long!It’s difficult even thinking about her being that age!Just how many of my lifetimes has she lived for?How many generations of people has she seen?While Mum gave me a simple grasp of numbers, I’m no merchant, so it would take me some time to work it out.Yet even I can immediately tell that surely none of my known ancestors would have existed yet.Even Koreso itself may not have been founded.

  However, I was right.It seems age will no longer be something that I need fear.At least, not directly.

  While I’m still struggling with her answer, she makes a request.

  “With that confusion alleviated, would you allow me to make a fuller inspection of your form? Your method of formation was unique for a fairy, and your body doesn’t follow the typical patterns, so I would like to observe you more thoroughly. This ought to also enable me to ensure the continued stability of your vortex as well as your overall well-being.”

  Uh…When she speaks, I’m uncertain if she’s perhaps using words unique to fairies or if she simply happens to be a schor, but along with those words that I’m quite sure I’ve never heard before in my life, there is an odd sense of familiarity with their meaning.Not sufficient for me to understand them fully, yet, strangely, still enough for me to guess at her intent.In this case, I believe she’s saying that she wants to check to make sure that I’m healthy.While an eight thousand year old fairy would certainly be one I would expect to notice if there is anything wrong with this new body of mine, I don’t know if I want a stranger looking at me so closely.But, she surely would have the answers I’m seeking…

  Oh, it seems she noticed my hesitation.

  “If you deem this interaction to be too heavily weighted in my favor, I will also agree to provide information in response to any questions regarding fairies that you may ask for the remainder of the day, as long as I consider it to be relevant to you.”

  Is it possible that she can read my mind!?She just offered precisely what I wish for.Well, I don’t think I have much of a choice anymore.Perhaps if I simply think of her as a healer, it will be okay?Yeah, sure, just pretend Mrs. Narissa needs to examine an injury.

  “Um, y-you can, how did you say it, make an inspection, if you answer my questions.”

  “Outstanding! Now then, please remove your garments. They will only impede the process."

  “Erm, right here?”

  “Certainly. Why would we change our location? I have everything necessary for this process currently in my possession.”

  Why would we…*Sigh*She is a fairy that, for all I know, is as old as the freaking world, yet she is still entirely unaware as to why I don’t want to take my clothes off while scores of fairies flit about.

  “Please, may we just go somewhere private?”

  She tilts her head as her eyes examine me.

  “Do you suspect some secret lies within your form? Well, no matter, I will provide a shelter. Would you prefer that Nibi accompanies us or remains here?”

  Do I want the fairy child watching while someone closely examines me?Absolutely not!

  “Nibi, could you wait here for me please?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  At Nibi’s answer, Aquia turns and walks a short distance away from the shore then signals me to come to her.It only takes a moment for me to fly to where she’s standing and hover in pce.But then she points at the water.

  “Please nd here and remain still for a few moments.”

  And how am I supposed to do that!?This is the middle of the pond!Also, unlike her, I don’t know how to control the water to walk as she does.Moreover…

  “I-I can’t swim.”

  *ditiditi*“You need not worry. I will ensure a safe footing for you during this time.”

  Tentatively, I lower myself to the water and pce my toes on the surface.It’s sturdy!The water truly holds me!It still feels wet and a little slippery, and I can see small pnts swirling in the pool directly beneath my feet, yet I do not sink.

  Then, with no further warning, water all around us leaps overhead.Without my sense for magic, I would have thought the water was moving itself, yet I can feel energy pouring from Aquia, even though she makes no physical movements to direct it. With the sound of a rushing stream, water gathers about us till, in mere moments, we’re entirely surrounded by a circur, blue wall.Everything outside of this dome is now heavily blurred, and the sun above is a wavering light shining down through deep blue water.

  As I’m taking in my new surroundings, a small pilr of water sprouts beside me, followed by a ft, still surface appearing atop it.Aquia then gestures me towards it.

  “Please, remove your garments and be seated.”

  Well, she did give me the privacy I asked for.

  Okay, Akari, she’s just a healer.An incredibly ancient healer who, despite appearing to be my age, possibly knows the answers to every question I may have.*Phew*Okay, I can do this.

  I remove my dress and let it fall, where it floats on the surface of the pool.Then I sit where she indicated, finding it simir to the water I was standing on a moment ago.Once I’m comfortably seated, Aquia closes the distance between us, and as she does so, the water beneath me rises, carrying me up till my eyes are level with hers.For a time, Aquia simply gazes into my eyes, but as the moments pass and I begin wondering if I ought to do anything, she finally takes a step back.

  “Extraordinary! You were formed from a human such a short time ago, but your form and energy is fully that of a fairy. Well, I have finished my preliminary assessment. Is there any information you wish to request?”

  Did she simply want to look at my eyes?

  “Do you mean that you are finished already?”

  “Certainly not. But disregarding your true age, I believe your behavior is simir to that of a newly-formed. Typically, they are quite curious about themselves, so with that in mind, I am asking if there is anything in particur you would wish to know? Anything about your form that you would find difficult to discover through your own means?”

  Huh, I suppose a dy this ancient saying that I act like a child is somewhat understandable.Even my oldest ancestor would likely be a child to her, though she be nearly the size of their hand.However, if I’m understanding her correctly, she wants to know if I have any questions about my new body.Well, that’s why I came, so I need to put the awkwardness aside and ask.Perhaps I’ll begin with one of my easier questions.One that is less embarrassing for me to say, that is.

  “Um, how do I say this..? As a human, I had bones that strengthened my body as well as organs that let me survive. My heart in particur was incredibly vital. So my question is…do I still have anything like that as a fairy? Or any vital point? I couldn’t find any indication of my heart anymore.”

  “An excellent question. Allow me to show you something.”

  She stretches her arm into the depths of her watery dress and pulls out an object.Roughly the length of her forearm, it appears to be a bck sack of some kind.After untying the strands keeping it closed, she reaches into it and pulls out a thin bit of metal, nearly the same length as the bag.

  “Iron is frequently a rather frustrating substance, as in its purified state, earth magic holds no direct sway over it. Care must also be taken in its storage, lest it be gradually devoured by water. Yet, on occasion, I find it has its uses.”

  With a casual twist of her wrist, she swings the bar of iron below where my legs hang over the edge of my seat, then calmly holds it at her side.The sunlight glints off of the metal, and only now do I realize that one portion of it appears to have a sharpened edge.*Spsh*Beneath me, I hear the sound of something striking the water, and at the same time, a mild stinging sensation comes from my left leg.Curious as to what caused the noise, I look down, only to see something quite bizarre.Sinking into the depths is what appears to be a white foot, but even as I watch, it dissolves into a shower of sparkling colors that shortly vanish.Then the stinging draws my attention to my leg.A leg that ends much more abruptly than it should.An instant ter, realization dawns.

  This hag just sliced my foot off!!!