7. A glimpse of magic

He wandered away from me a few minutes back and was now gazing towards the crest. We were few steps away from the edge and from there, intuition guideded, we might find an Ascondo in short time, before sunset. If we even manage to light a fire before the lights descend, we're actually good.

I get near him on maybe-too-quiet steps and I relish in the view of his enchantment against the changing colors of any elyrian sunset. He's seen nothing yet. He's startled by the tip of my tail that poked him softly. I retreat with a smile.

-Have you slept a night in these forests until now?

He shivered and I felt my words settle somewhere deep.

-Well....yeah.....they were...let's say unforgettable. To be honest I'm not sure I was in the mood to dwell in this wilderness much longer. Nights are so much shorter where I lived so far and life...different. Nora, have you ever been in other worlds or in between?

-I barely returned a few days ago.

-Where from?

-Avalon.

-Wow, ok. Fuck, well...for Avalon it's not valid, but for the most worlds I lived in it is. Life is simpler, less profound, filled with mundane things, silly dramas and petty scandals, easier to navigate with a common conscience. Days are shorter, nights as well, regular humans live less...intense lives. Elyria feels different for someone who lived more like I just explained...I don' know if you understand, it's like this world demands of me so much more than I am just to be able to exist here.

-Then you're so much more than you believe yourself to be. Elyria demands your truth, that's all.

-This time thing fuck with my brain, honestly. I'm still not accustomed to how days flow around here. I'm adrift, as if waiting for a breeze to set me sailing again.

-How long have you been here?

-A few weeks.

-And what are you doing here, exactly?

-I honestly don't know anymore. Clearly not what I was supposed to. I think I just want a life on my own, to escape rules and orders.

-Then you're likely exactly where you're supposed to be. I know where we can spend this night safe. Are you coming with me?

-I heard rumors that you can find shelter here a stick-throw away. I still wonder what that means. I've seen no shelter in these forests since I came and it sure would've helped the other nights I've spent in the wild.

-Look. Let me show you a bit of my world. Pick a stick yourself. I'm serious, pick one you'd enjoy throwing. Aim high, do your best.

Looks like I've sparked some interest in those icy blue eyes. He's intrigued, but I see he's also a Player. He has that unmistakeable look of loving a good fucking dare. Let's see what he thinks of a little magic.

-Here, take my knife. Carve the stick, make it yours.

With unusual grace for a man of his stature, he tightens his left fist on my dagger and starts carving in a winding motion. He pressed the blade to flick away a splinter and a drop of blood set my dagger alight. He quickly wiped it away, rather concerned then gave it back. I explained further:

-Pick one corner of the sky that feels good for you. Think of what you want this Night to bring you, find a shelter with your intuition. Let your feet tie to the land in which you seek shelter. Let the pulse of the throw come from there.

One breath and he swings the stick in full force over the crest of the Kraten. In a few seconds the stick hits wood, rattling something beyond our horizon.

We get into the main road through a winding path of various forest fruit bushes and hazelnuts, keeping the direction he set.

We decided on collecting firewood for the night, each an armful of them because cold creeps in and we need warmth overnight.

On my way, I plucked some full fists of berries and gulped them down. I drank rainwater out of wild lily flowers and wiped my dirty tail on a sponge of soaked lichens.