After the Sprite had finished telling her story, she bowed her head in shame as she waited for the Fairy Mother’s punishment.

  There definitely was tension in the air. The house had felt warm and peaceful earlier, but now there was a sense of worry and anxiety. It might have been my imagination, but even the light had gotten slightly dimmer. It was a very uncomfortable feeling, so uncomfortable that I stopped eating my seventh oatcake………..Eh, one more bite.

  *sniff* *cough*

  “You good?”

  Sys tried his best to stifle his sobs.

  Sorry, but that story was so heartbreaking.

  “I guess.”

  Was it really that emotional? Was the story actually gut-wrenching?

  Sure, it was a bit surprising to hear what the Sprite did, but that’s it.

  Though, it’s always been like that for me. I haven’t been able to get affected by stories for a while now. Boredom? Maybe. Maturity? It could be.

  At some point, I stopped enjoying stories.

  But, while the story did generally bore me, I couldn’t stop thinking about something.

  The Fairy Mother knew my name. Sys said that generally, the Fairy Mother knew all that happened in the forest. That’s why she appeared when the Sprite was cornered. That’s why the Sprite worried about using magic.

  So, isn’t it strange that she didn’t know what really happened with the boy?

  I looked at Aelira, ready to ask her about it, but I stopped when I saw that she looked back at me.

  Her knowing eyes told me all that I needed to know.

  Besides, it wasn’t my place to interrupt them.

  Aelira began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can see that you’ve been hurting all this time.”

  The Sprite clutched the fabric of her tunic, fingers trembling. She gave a small nod, sniffling quietly.

  “And for that,” Aelira continued, her tone heavy with remorse, “I must apologize.”

  The Sprite’s eyes widened, lifting her gaze in confusion. “What do you mean, Mother?”

  Aelira closed her eyes, the weight of her words sinking deep. “I was told something long ago, something I took to heart. ‘You cannot change fate.’”

  Fate?

  “It was fate,” she said, opening her eyes with a mournful glint, “that led me to become the guardian of this forest. It was fate that bound me to protect its creatures. It was fate that brought you and your sisters into this world.” She paused, her expression darkening as her eyes settled on the Sprite with sorrow. “And it was fate that forced me to witness you take that boy’s life.”

  The Sprite’s lips trembled. “Y-you……..you knew?”

  Aelirar nodded solemnly. “I watched you leave the safety of the forest. I saw you venture into the village. I saw you follow that child-" She hesitated, her voice faltering. “and I saw you end his life.”

  The Sprite recoiled, her breath caught in her throat. “But—but if you knew, then why did you let me lie? Why didn’t you stop me? Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “I had to remain silent,” Aelira said, voice steady but fragile. “You needed to face the full weight of what you had done. If I had intervened—punished you, forgiven you—you would not be who you are today. You would not have guarded this forest so fiercely if you had not carried the guilt of that day.”

  The Sprite shook her head, disbelief flooding her features. “The grave sin?” Her voice quaked as her hands balled into fists. “Do you have any idea how many nights I’ve lain awake, haunted by the image of his lifeless eyes? Do you know how twisted I feel when my sisters praise me like I’m some noble protector? Do you know how terrified I am every time a human stumbles into our woods?” Her voice broke, choked with emotion. She stared at her mother, eyes wide and frantic. “You let that Half-Elf nearly kill us. You just let it happen. Why?”

  Aelira’s hands trembled slightly, her composure slipping. “Because I knew he wouldn’t. I knew, somehow, he would spare you. He would set you free.”

  “You knew.” The Sprite’s voice was hollow now. “Just like you knew I’d kill that boy. Just like you knew the humans would come. So why?” Her voice rose in anguish. “Why didn’t you stop me? If you had, the humans would have never crossed into our world!”

  “It was fate—”

  The Sprite slammed her hands on the table, making everyone present flinch. “You keep hiding behind fate like it’s the only thing that matters! Can you not speak without fate’s permission? Can you not move unless fate allows it?” Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. “Were you forced to take the forest? Forced to protect it? And—” she hesitated, the next words tearing their way out of her throat, “were you forced to have us?”

  Aelira bit her lip. “I wouldn’t say I was forced to—”

  “It’s fate that made you have us. It’s fate that made you care for us!” the Sprite snapped, voice rising in anguish. “Then tell me, do you actually regret it? Regret us? My sister and I, with our mischief and chaos? Do you hate that you had to raise such unruly, foolish children? Do you hate having a daughter like me?”

  Aelira's expression shifted, a flicker of anger breaking through her sorrow. “Don’t you dare say that again.”

  The Sprite blinked, startled. “But—”

  “Do you truly believe that? Do you honestly think I don’t love you and your siblings?” Her voice cracked now.

  The Sprite faltered. Her lips parted, but no words came. Her mind spun, caught in a storm of memories—moments of comfort, warmth, laughter. Moments that said she was loved. But even so, she pressed on. “Then why?” she demanded. “Why did you let me kill him?”

  Aelira fell silent. A long, aching silence. “.........It was destined,” she finally said, voice barely audible. “The humans were always going to grow wary of us. Their fear was inevitable, and so was their envy. It was only a matter of time before their greed overtook reason, and just as surely, it was only a matter of time before the spirits grew too curious.”

  The Sprite stared at her through tear-filled eyes. “But why me?”

  Aelira winced as her gaze lowered. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice heavy with guilt. “But if I had to give a reason, then perhaps-” Her words slowed. “Perhaps the burden of igniting the conflict between mankind and the spirits was simply placed on you.” She turned away, unable to face the pain in the Sprite’s eyes. “You were………simply misfortunate.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  The Sprite let out a trembling breath, barely able to stand. Her voice dissolved into quiet sobs as her wings trembled with emotion. And before Aelira could speak again, she turned and fled, soaring out of the room and vanishing into the thick forest beyond.

  The Fairy Mother didn’t follow. She just sat there, hands slowly rising to cover her face.

  Maybe she believed she didn’t deserve to.

  I could only stay silent.

  Sys awkwardly hovered around me, while Shade whined quietly and rested his head on my lap.

  Should I stay and continue eating?.........Hmph.

  “Ms. Fairy Mother- oh um, Ms. Aelira.”

  She slowly uncovered her face, glancing up at me with a tired, fragile smile. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, though she tried to pretend otherwise. “Yes?” she murmured.

  "Why am I here?”

  She let out a quiet sigh. “My daughter, after confessing her secret, she intended to ask for permission to travel with you.”

  “What?” I blinked.

  “She believed it was her duty,” Aelira continued, “to mend the broken bond between humans and spirits. And she thought the only way to truly do that was to see the world beyond these woods. She hoped it might be possible if she accompanied you. A striving adventurer.”

  I sat with the weight of her words. “Would you have said yes?”

  “I would have,” she said softly.

  “Because of fate?”

  Her eyes slipped shut. “Yes.”

  I glanced toward the door. The silence in the room grew louder. “Are you going to go after her?”

  She hesitated. “I won’t.”

  “Because of fate?”

  A long pause passed between us. Then, she slowly opened her eyes, something shifting in them. “I would only make things worse if I followed. She has to face this on her own. That’s how she’ll grow. That is how she’ll become strong enough to keep carrying this burden.”

  I took a small bite of food, chewing slowly. “Then, were you afraid? When I almost killed them?”

  She looked directly at me. “I was.”

  “Then why didn’t you stop me?”

  “I knew you wouldn’t.”

  “Because of fate?”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Did you think I was going to go through with it?”

  Her brows furrowed slightly. “At some points, yes. I did consider it.”

  “When you saw them crying,” I asked, “who did you blame? Fate or me?”

  There was a long, fragile silence. “..........No,” she whispered. “I blamed myself.”

  And with that, more tears spilled from her eyes.

  It’s true that fate plays a huge part of our lives. But yet, with every action taken and word spoken, even if orchestrated by a higher power, it is still us that commits them.

  “If I went to the Sprite right now, would it be fate’s doing?”

  She started to speak but then stopped. “I-I don’t know.”

  I got up while grabbing a few more oatcakes. “Fate has certainly been the villain in all of this.”

  I stood in front of her. “But it isn’t the only one. Every evil thought and action we take is ours nonetheless.”

  I rubbed Shade’s back. “But that’s the same for every action backed with goodwill.”

  If fate is the mysterious puppeteer, and we are the unknowing puppets, then, at some point, surely, the strings detach. “It may be true that fate played a role in your affection for your daughters, but is it fully true? Even without fate, would you not have loved them regardless?”

  She held her hands close to her chest. “I believe so.”

  I smiled gently. “Then that’s all.”

  From what I could tell, the Fairy Mother harbored a quiet, aching doubt. She always wondered whether her love for her children was truly hers, or if it was something fate had planted in her heart.

  “You love your daughters, and they love you,” I said with a confident tone. “That bond wasn’t forged by fate. It exists because of your tenderness, your guidance, and your motherhood. And because of their love and admiration for a kind, caring mother.”

  “But—” Her voice cracked as a sob escaped her. “It’s my fault. I should have stepped in. I should have taken her place. I should have saved them before they were ever forced to—” She gasped, as though the very breath burned her chest.

  “Hey.”

  She looked at me with tearful eyes.

  “You told the Sprite the truth, hoping that she could understand why you stayed back due to fate. And yet, you couldn’t accept it either. You haven’t forgiven yourself as well.”

  I held her hand.

  “You’re right. Fate is absolute. The Sprite had to be the one to begin this. And no matter how much you regret it, no matter how badly you wish you could, you can’t take her burden from her. You can’t undo it.”

  She clenched her jaw, teeth grinding. “I know.”

  “Then stop.”

  “Stop?”

  “You can’t change the past, and you can’t erase what she’s done. But what you can do is be there for her. Be the one who comforts her when she can’t sleep. Help her when she struggles with her spells. Stand beside her when she protects this forest. Encourage her when she dares to dream about exploring the world.” I gently squeezed her hands. “Don’t forget this. You’re not just the protector of this forest. You’re not some slave to fate. You’re her mother.”

  Her mouth trembled. “No, I’ve failed her. I forced her to carry so much, to grow up far too quickly, and I made her so afraid she couldn’t even tell me the truth. Not once did she feel she could confide in me. If I’d been a better mother, she would have-” Her voice caught. “She would’ve told me sooner.”

  That was true.

  “Then start now.”

  She stared at me.

  “You already know what to do. You’ve always known. But you waited, hoping she’d grow stronger on her own. You thought she could carry the weight alone. You assumed she’d mature into a spirit strong enough to bear the burden, but that was wrong. You forgot something important.”

  “What is it?” she asked quietly.

  “She’s still your child. And no matter how much she’s endured, she still needs your guidance. She still needs your love.”

  Aelira went still. Then, very slowly, a weak smile began to form. It wasn’t confident, but it contained a slight trace of hope. “Do you think she’ll understand?”

  I looked back to the door. “Since she ran out without saying anything else, I don't think she hates you or anything like that.”

  She wiped at her eyes and released a deep, shaky breath. “Okay, you’re right. I have to be strong when she’s not. I need to be her light in the dark. I have to be her mother…….”

  She stopped suddenly, and her arms began to tremble. “But what if I go to her…....and she really does hate me?”

  I stood up. “She doesn’t,” I said quietly, then offered a small smile. “But it’s okay. I’ll talk to her for you.”

  I turned and walked out of the kitchen, raising a hand behind me as I went. “Consider this a freebie, from yours truly.”

  I wondered if the Fairy Mother found me strange. How did I know so much? How could I speak with such maturity? Why was I so willing to help?

  “However, after this, it’s up to her mother to support her from then on.”

  Maybe it was her maternal heart that allowed her to trust the young boy who stepped calmly out of her home. “Thank you,” she gently called out.

  I lowered my hand and headed to the tree line.

  Sys had a huge grin on his face as he floated on my shoulder

  You did great back there. I didn’t know you had it in you.

  “Eh, it wasn’t much. All she needed was a bit of motivation.”

  No, you’re selling yourself short. That was a very delicate affair, and you somehow not only handled it perfectly, but you’re even going the extra mile by going to the Sprite.

  Sys tried to give me a noogie.

  You’ve changed, Beric.

  Changed, huh?

  I smacked Sys away before tried to give me another noogie. “Anyway, thanks. I’m very much thankful for your support. Hold the applause.”

  Yeah, yeah.

  After arriving at the outskirts of the clearing, I headed-

  Oh shit.

  What? Why’d you stop moving?

  I ran back to the cottage and right to Aelira.

  She was surprised to see me return so soon. “What is it?”

  “Where exactly did the Sprite go?”

  Sys very slowly floated away from me.

  I take it all back.