I woke in the middle of the night, unsure of what had disturbed me. But then I heard Shade growling low and steady, and a suspicion immediately stirred in my mind.

  He wasn’t barking or lunging, just snarling under his breath, so whoever, or whatever, was out there likely wasn’t a threat, but just stubborn enough not to leave.

  Blinking the sleep from my eyes, I pushed myself up and scanned the darkness. That’s when I saw it: a fox, small and hesitant, lowering its head beneath Shade’s intense gaze.

  What was going on?

  “Shade, stand down.”

  Shade stopped snarling as I got up to see for myself.

  As soon as it noticed I was awake, the fox lifted its head and turned away, but only for a moment. It then glanced back over its shoulder and locked its expectant eyes with mine.

  Did it want me to follow it?

  Well, that’s weird.

  Sys appeared on my side with a nightcap on his head.

  *yawn* That’s no ordinary fox. I sense a spirit’s touch on it.

  “A spirit’s touch?”

  I looked at the fox.

  It started moving in a certain direction, deeper into the trees.

  “.......So, should I follow it?”

  Sys took off his nightcap.

  Be for real. I know you want to follow it.

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  After snuffing the flames and cleaning up the campfire, I got on Shade. With Sys still yawning next to my ear, I followed the small fox.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The fox led me on quite an unusual journey. Even though it was the middle of the night and there wasn’t a single source of light to guide us, I couldn’t shake the unsettling sense that I was beginning to forget where we were, or worse, that we were going in circles. Each time we leapt over a river, a flicker of doubt crept in.

  “Didn’t we already jump this one?” I murmured to myself. “Or is it a different one?”

  The same eerie feeling returned when we passed a wall of thick, tangled thorns.

  “Haven’t I seen this before?” I asked quietly, glancing around for any sign of familiarity.

  Was my memory being messed with?

  After quite a considerable time of traveling, with Sys having fallen asleep again multiple times, we arrived at a clearing deep within the woods. And right in the center of it was a small cottage. It was strange how I could see it so easily, even with the pale blue light that shone from a lamp at the front. It was also weird how the building looked like, rather than being manually put together, it had grown there.

  The cottage stood low and nestled, its walls thick and whitewashed, their surface softened by creeping moss and ivy that curled along the base and stretched up toward the roof. In some places, the vines had managed to woven themselves into the thatch.

  The roof was deep and thatched, sloping in uneven layers that gave the house an irregular silhouette. Its surface was darkened by years of sun and rain, with tufts of green poking through where moss and small wildflowers had taken hold. Near the middle, the thatch rose into a slight peak, broken only by the chimney, a squat, rounded stack of stone that leaned ever so slightly to one side and exhaled the scent of woodsmoke.

  The timbers that framed the house were thick and knotted, worn smooth in places and split in others. They jutted out under the roof’s edge, casting soft, cool shadows over the walls.

  The windows were uneven in shape, some round, others oval or gently arched, each set deep into the walls with darkened wooden frames. The glass was wavy and imperfect, yet it still managed to reflect the flowers planted outside.

  The garden was massive yet calm, with tall foxgloves swaying gently beside pale rose bushes that climbed the walls in soft arcs of pink and white. Clusters of buttercups and yellow primrose spilled over the wooden fencing that closed it off, while creeping thyme and violets wove along the narrow stone path. Bluebells gently swayed in the dappled shade, and fern fronds curled nearby the lily of the valley section which glowed faintly in the dim light.

  Surrounding the entire clearing was a low stone wall, half-swallowed by earth and moss. Birds nested freely on it, and squirrels treated the rafters like highways. The wall served more as a welcoming invitation rather than keeping trespassers out. And if you looked closer, there was strange writing on them.

  The whole sight was mesmerizing to see, yet I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was strange about it.

  “This reminds me of the witch from Hansel and Grethel.”

  Oh please, why would a child-eating witch be out here?

  “A fox led me here, and I was told numerous times that there were dangerous entities in the forest. Doesn’t it sound a little strange to you?”

  Sys let out another huge yawn.

  I’m sure it’s nothing. Let’s just see if anyone’s inside.

  Just like that, Sys flew off to the front door.

  I looked at the fox.

  It simply sat down and looked back up at me. Its role was done.

  Should I really go there? I feel like I should just le-

  You coming or what?

  Bruh.

  Quickly making my way, avoiding all of the sleeping critters on the ground, I caught up with Sys. Shade was whimpering the entire way through, and it also sounded like he also thought something was off, or maybe he just got hungry from seeing all of the sleeping prey.

  We were on a small front porch like area, next to a wooden chair carved from a single fallen trunk that sat beside a small table of woven willow. Tea cups were set on it, as if whoever inside was expecting company.

  The door was wooden, rounded at the top and made from wide, weathered planks. Its handle was of greened brass, simple and worn. Around it, flowering plants had crept into the cracks, as if the house welcomed them rather than kept them out.

  “Hello?”

  No answer.

  Try knocking.

  “I’m not touching that door.”

  Why not?

  “Dude, do you see the state of it? I’m probably going to contract some unknown disease if I touch it.”

  Ugh.

  Sys flew close to the door.

  Beep boop bada bum ts.

  He looked back at me.

  I’ve analyzed it, and I can assure you that there is no risk of disease if you touch it.

  I looked at him.

  He continued to stare at me.

  “Sure.”

  I knocked on the door a few times.

  Huh, I guess no one’s actually-

  The door flew open, almost hitting me in my face. Behind it was a woman.

  She stood tall and slender in the doorway, her six-foot frame surprising me even more. Her skin was smooth and pale, with the slightest tint of moss green, like light filtered through leaves. Translucent wings arched from her back, reminding me of a dragonfly but vast and slow-moving. Her hair flowed long and loose, a deep woodland brown threaded with silver strands and tiny blossoms, shifting gently even in still air. She wore a gown of silk, so fine it moved like water, dyed in white but it had a pink tone to it. Her eyes, wide and calm, were white, but not like my summons. They were warm and alive, and they looked at me with an interested look.

  She smiled at me.

  “What made a young boy like you come knocking on my door at such late hours?”

  “I…...uh-I saw this-”

  Sys merely looked at me with judging eyes.

  I pulled myself together.

  “I followed this fox here. I don’t know if you know it or not but-”

  She made a soft whistle and the fox came marching over. Spinning around the woman while caressing her legs with its tail, it made soft whimpers.

  “Thank you, Wellis.” She stooped down to pet it.

  “So-”

  She looked back up at me. “Oh, sorry. I’m the Fairy Mother of this forest, but you can simply call me Aelira.”

  “Fairy Mo-”

  THE FAIRY MOTHER?!

  My ears were almost blown off by Sys, though what really surprised me was how he swelled to the size of a large balloon.

  “I’m guessing you know who she is?”

  Sys flew around in a rapid zig zag motion.

  Of course I know her!

  He finally stopped and pointed right at her.

  The Fairy Mother is the most powerful spirit in the entire forest! No other spirit even comes close. She’s also the mother of every spirit within the forest, which is how she got her name in the first place. According to the old stories, back when the world was still being shaped and forests were first coming into existence, a Fairy Mother was born alongside each one, to be both the protector and ruler.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “And she’s just chilling in this worn-down cottage?”

  Sys paused at that.

  Well, that is kind of strange, but do you remember how we kept feeling lost coming here? Maybe she uses magic to make it so that no one can come here, unless she wants them to.

  “That could be-”

  “And who’s this?” Aelira gently scratched the bottom of Shade’s neck.

  “Oh, I like her.” Shade said with a very happy look.

  How did she know that was Shade’s favorite spot?

  Aelira stood up quickly with a bright smile. “Well, what are you still doing out there? Come on in! It’s too late for a young boy like you to still be out.”

  “Uh, actually, I just-”

  Quickly humming a melody, she pulled me inside before I could respond and closed the door with a soft click.

  The air was warm, thick with the scent of dried herbs, firewood, and sweet things I couldn’t name. The hallway curved like the inside of an old tree, and the flooring throughout the cottage was a blend of polished wood and smooth, warm stone. As for the wooden walls, in some places, they gave way to cool, rounded stone, especially near the hearth and windows, with moss curling gently between the cracks. Woven rugs lay scattered across it all, their coloring and designs reminding me of the elven rugs our house had.

  Bundles of flowers and herbs hung from the beams overhead, swaying gently as we passed, brushing my shoulders with petals and stems. Small birds perched along the rafters, watching silently with glittering black eyes, their feathers puffed in cozy stillness. A gray cat blinked up at me from atop a windowsill, tail flicking lazily, while another dozed on a velvet cushion near the base of a bookcase. As we moved through the house, faint flashes of light flitted past, tiny, fast, and soundless, disappearing behind curtains or slipping through doorways, like fireflies, or perhaps other spirits.

  Heading deeper, we passed a room filled with books, a personal library. Shelves curved along the walls, heavy with books, bottles, feathers, and tiny carved animals. Lanterns floated above, allowing me to see the rest of the rooms. I saw what looked like a bathing chamber with a still pool glowing faintly blue, a loft filled with dangling vines and hammocks woven from silk and moss, and a room full of music—stringed instruments shaped like branches, and a flute that played a single soft note as we walked by.

  Aelira led me to the kitchen and placed me on a small chair. The kitchen was warm and fragrant, tucked beneath a low arch where dried herbs hung in thick bundles from the ceiling—lavender, rosemary, thyme, and other mysterious herbs. Open shelves lined the walls, cluttered with earthenware bowls, glass jars filled with preserved fruits and glowing powders, and wooden utensils long worn out. A large stone sink sat beneath a wide window, its basin darkened, while ivy crept in through the sill as if the outside wanted in. The countertops were rough-hewn wood, scratched and stained with honest use, and a wide iron stove rested at the far end.

  “You must be starving from such a long journey!” Aelira asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “Actually, I’m not all that-”

  “Nonsense!”

  Retrieving a wooden tray from a shelf, she placed a plate lined with warm oatcakes, soft and slightly sweet, drizzled with honey and dusted with crushed lavender. Beside them, a bowl of wild berry compote, deep red and purple, still warm, the scent rich with rosemary and a hint of clove. There was also a small cup, which its scent I recognized as herbal tea.

  She also prepared a small wooden bowl filled with fresh venison, tender and raw, but lightly anointed with crushed herbs for Shade.

  “Please, eat up!” Aelira requested with a beaming smile. She took her own seat in front of me, humming while waiting for me to eat.

  “Hey, Sys.”

  Sys was busy flying all around the place, his eyes shining with excitement over seeing a Fairy Mother’s home for the first time.

  What?

  “Are you sure she’s not a child-eating witch?”

  His body whipped around to face me.

  Why do you still think that?

  “The witch in Hansel and Gretel also made them eat before trying to cook them.”

  It’s just a weird coincidence.

  “Shade, I’m not wrong am I? Don’t you also think something’s-”

  Shade was too busy chowing down on his meal to answer.

  “You must be tired. Do you want me to prepare a bed for you?” Aelira asked.

  “Oh, no, I should be returning home anyway.”

  “Why, I can’t let you go home now.”

  ……..Uh?

  I looked at Sys.

  Finally, he started to acknowledge the strangeness of this.

  Ask her why.

  I swallowed quietly. “May I ask why?”

  She paused.

  Shade got up, sensing my growing fear.

  “Isn’t it obvious? It’s too dark for you to go. I can’t let such a young boy leave at such a dangerous time.”

  Sys moved to my shoulder.

  She doesn’t seem like she’s lying.

  “So, is she good or not?”

  Well, there are forest witches known as Hearthlings that disguise themselves as welcoming women to unsuspecting travelers.

  “..........And you decide to tell me that now?”

  Hearthlings aren’t usually this skilled. From the state of her home and the interior, I really thought that she was a Fairy Mother.

  “Then, is she not?”

  Sys’ face scrunched up.

  How about this? Summon Rogue and ask for another meal for him. Then, when she’s turned around, quickly run to the window behind us and try to escape.

  “I don’t think it’d take long for her to prepare a meal for a small rat.”

  Then, you got something else?

  I cleared my throat. “Sorry, but could you prepare something else? I’m allergic to honey.”

  The “Fairy Mother” put her hands together. “Oh, I apologize. I didn’t know.” She quickly retrieved the tray. “I’ll whip up something else then.”

  The moment she turned her back, we sprang into action. Shade crouched low, muscles coiled like a spring, and I launched off his back, soaring toward the window in one fluid motion. As I flew, I summoned a small mana missile into my palm, its glow flickering against the dark. Without hesitation, I aimed and fired, hoping the blast would be just strong enough to blow the window open.

  But I was stunned when it had no effect.

  I face planted right into the unaffected window, which admittedly, hurt like a bitch.

  “Uhm?” The “Fairy Mother’s” voice ranged out when she saw me on the ground.

  What happened?

  I quickly got up and stayed near Shade. Making sure my nose wasn’t broken, I prepared another mana missile.

  “My attack had no effect on that window.”

  What?!

  Sys flew to the window in a panic, doing his best to analyze what had just happened.

  The “Fairy Mother’s” face was a bit confused when she saw me in an aggressive stance. “Are you alright?”

  I aimed my finger at her. “Are you a Hearthling?”

  She froze. “A Hearthling?”

  “Yeah, a Hearthling.”

  The air was tense……….or at least for me anyway, since she started laughing.

  “A-a Hearthling?” She almost dropped her tray from how funny she found the situation.

  For some odd reason, her laughter reminded me of my own mother.

  Oh shit.

  I turned to Sys. “What is it?”

  There’s runes on the window, or rather, on the entire house.

  “And?”

  These aren’t just any ordinary runes, and it’d take more than an ordinary witch to cover an entire house with it. These runes can shield against most offensive spells.

  “........So what you’re saying is-”

  Yeah.

  He turned to me with a shy look.

  She actually is the Fairy Mother.

  I turned back to the Fairy Mother who was still laughing at what I had said.

  Hey, your ear is becoming red. Are you embarrassed from-

  I didn’t hear the rest of what he said, since I punched him out cold.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  After I explained my actions to Aelira, we sat peacefully down on the table. I also asked for the oatcakes again since they looked pretty good.

  “So, why did you make me come here?” I asked. Dang they were good.

  “I didn’t call for you.” She replied.

  I took another oatcake. “Huh? But wasn’t it you that made the fox lead me here?”

  “Oh, I know Wellis, but I wasn’t the one that sent him to you.” She said with a small smile.

  “Then, who-”

  “Mother!” I heard a familiar voice yell.

  Our eyes moved to the front door to see a streak of green light that shot right in, racing straight toward us, only to stop abruptly, hovering just inches away.

  It was the Sprite.

  “What are you doing-” I started saying, but I realized midway what was going on.

  She was the one that sent that fox. She sent for me to meet her mother. But why?

  The Sprite bowed before Aelira. “I apologize for my sudden presence, and for imposing this Half-Elf on you.”

  Aelira simply shook her head. “No, no, it’s alright. You shouldn’t need a reason for visiting your own mother.” Her warm and cheery eyes suddenly became strict. “However, don’t you feel you should apologize for something else?”

  The Sprite faltered. “I uh, I don’t-”

  I continued to eat the oatcakes as I watched the entire thing.

  “How long has it been since the last time you visited me? Have you ever considered sending me notes? To let me know how you’ve been doing?”

  The Sprite blushed. “I didn’t want to bother you……..”

  “You not visiting every once in a while is what bothered me.” Aelira pinched the Sprite’s ears. “Do you know how many times I wondered if you were doing well? At least your sisters sent notes every few weeks. You haven’t even sent a note in years!” She pouted the same way my mom did.

  “I’m sorry. Ever since-” The Sprite stopped herself. She awkwardly floated to the table.

  Aelira took on a more serious tone. “.......I see.”

  Yeah, I knew it was real now. There really was a chill to the wind.

  Are they really that good?

  I stuffed my face with more oatcakes. “They’re decent.”

  “Well, my daughter, you’ve brought this young boy to me for a reason. Would you mind telling us why? I’m sure our friend here would like to sleep soon. I already know what he did to your sanctuary, so you can go ahead and skip that.”

  I almost choked on an oatcake. She knew?

  She looked at me with a warm smile. “Oh, don’t worry, Beric, I don’t hold any resentment towards you. You did scare me towards the end, but you didn’t end up doing anything drastic. You also made the sanctuary even better, so I’d like to thank you for that as well.”

  She knew all of that, and yet she still welcomed me?...........Wait, how does she know my name?

  Fairy Mothers typically know everything that happens in their forest.

  “Anyway,” She turned to the Sprite, “Would you kindly explain everything to us?”

  The Sprite nervously fidgeted with her fingers. “Of course.” She took a deep breath.

  “I’d like to apologize first.”

  Aelira’s eyes glossed over. “For what?”

  “I lied a long time ago, and it’s………hurt many ever since.” The Sprite cast her eyes down.

  Aelira’s face didn’t change. "I see. What is that lie?”

  The Sprite took a deep breath.

  She then told a story. A story of a curious young spirit. A story of disobeying a simple law. A story of killing someone. A story of lying to cover it up.

  Her story.

  The sin of the Sprite.