Homecoming at the Hometree
The forests of the island blended almost perfectly with the growing outskirts of Arbor. Home-trees stood next to their regular kin, though one took vastly more space than the other. Dirt paths snaked their way from drapes and door towards half-stone paths, which would inevitably lead to the fully hardened paths leading towards the center of ever-illuminated Arbor. Here the simple folk lived. People who cared less for the hustle and bustle of the center of the Evergrowing City. They had families and children playing happily between the trees and the grass plaza-clearings.
What marked it most as Arbor was the smell and the noise. Through the trees the scent of turmeric, garlic and nutmeg beckoned all those who wished to come. In the open plazas-clearings people sat on their benches drinking the Arborian Fruit Wines, with as many tastes as there could be, while tasting the served snacks made of bellpeppers, sun-dried tomatoes and marinaded olives.
Ayre’s mouth began to water at all the delicious aromas. Her belly grumbled in protest. How long had it been since she had eaten? How long since Ida? She turned to her twin, who walked by her side. She hugged herself and looked down at the ground, staff gripped tight to her chest. A sense of pain welled inside Ayre’s heart. Ever since they had seen the faces of the people, many had stopped whatever they were doing to look at the two. Curiosity and perhaps fear had driven most to linger and Ida grew all the more uncomfortable. Ayre wished they had been given long cloaks instead, though her horn still would have been revealed.
She looked ahead again, they were drawing ever nearer to the World Tree, it's great boughs overhead. Food and drink could wait, she needed to get Ida home. And father, he would be waiting for them. Then they could eat and rest. It felt like a lifetime since she had just sat down without worry.
She looked back to her sister, Ida had dropped her hands to her side. Her shoulders drooped forward. Evidently she had given up trying to look inauspicious. Ayre took that as a sign and grabbed her hand. The cold metal warmed quickly in her grip and she gave it a squeeze. “We'll be home soon and there we shall have a feast with father. We'll get to sleep in our beds and look out on all that's changed!” She said with cheer. Ida looked up, lips pursed and gave a small nod. Ayre frowned. “I know this isn't how we wanted to come back, Ida. But… It'll be better now. You'll see.” Her sister gave no answer but she didn't let go.
The closer they got to the Tree of Life, the more eyes were drawn towards the twins. Ida dipped her head to avoid eye contact but Ayre held her chin high. The home-trees grew bigger and bigger, as age and greensingers had more time to feed them. Entire estates with hedged yards began to form around them. Arbor had changed significantly since they last had been there and a feeling of uncertainty began to creep into Ayre’s bones. How long had they been gone?
Though, blessedly, landmarks like the Forge could still easily be spotted. Over it all loomed the Tree of the Firmaments, a name they had heard whispered as they walked. Due to its size its trunk looked slender. Yet, even here the myriad of spices could be smelled and that was at least some normalcy amongst all the changes.
Plaza-clearings gave way to bazaars and meadow markets, where goods from across the Land of Origins could be found. Ayre made a note of many, she'd have to venture out and see what was for sale once they were properly settled. Then came the central boulevard, which led from the Tree of the Firmaments down to the Tree of Life. Had it always been so hilly? As they got closer though, the truth revealed itself. Ayre felt her heart drop.
The Tree was still sealed.
“That's not…” Ayre began to speak but words failed her. She felt Ida’s hand tighten around her own. She couldn't believe it and she wouldn't.
She rushed forward to the sudden surprise of Ida who gave a small yelp and led them up to the great entrance. Webbed with ivory silk. A crowd had parted as they went and now many were gathering. How quickly word spread.
“No no no no…!” Ayre cried.
“Ayre…” Ida called her name. She didn't acknowledge it. Instead Ayre began to paw at the amulet around her chest. Her heartbeat thundered. Her mind was a flurry of thoughts. The tree was shut. If the tree was shut, their father… no no no, it had only been a day, two at most. He'd be alive. He was alive!
“We have to get him out!” Ayre declared. Some in the crowd yelled in protest. Others told them to stop. No one stepped forward.
“Ayre…” Ida hissed. Her voice a cold reassurance. She had to get her sister up there. To their home. To see their father. So their father could tell her he loved her. That he wanted her to be happy. She couldn't be sad. She couldn't!
She unsheathed her sword without thinking and rose it high before the webs. Many in the crowd shrieked as the blade burned bright. Some called for the death guard, others stood dumbfounded. Ayre didn't care. She'd get into the tree and save her father. As she brought the sword down however, Ida caught her arm and momentum stopped. Her sister had stopped her. Ida, the one she kept failing.
“Ayre… Don't. He's not…” Ida struggled with her words, face pained. “We both saw how much of Arbor has grown, Ayre. If he didn't get out… He's…”
“Don't say it.” She pleaded.
“...Dead.” Ida's voice rang with truth. But Ayre, she didn't want to believe. A laugh escaped Ayre’s lips. Her sword shook free from her hand, clattering to a stop on the wood. She looked at the remaining crowd in rapt fascination. No one stepped forward. No one wanted to help. Then Ayre broke down completely. Defeated. Something broke inside that would never be able to be fixed. She was a murderer, she was a failure, she had let their father die.
Ida grabbed her other arm and rubbed in a gesture of comfort. Ida, one she couldn't even hug.
“Ayre. Ida.” A voice rang out. From the bustle of the crowd the bone-white haired elf stepped, wielding a thin, metallic spear. He looked tired but his eyes were still filled with vigor. It was Aenos. He stepped closer to the twins, mostly to get out of the crowd but he kept a respectable distance. “You’ve been away for quite some time but Arbor is glad you are back. Irrithae would like to speak to you, if you can spare the time.”
Ayre let her sister talk for the both of them. “Aenos… Finally a welcome face. As you can guess, we happen to be free.” She said, gesturing to the Tree of Life. “But who's Irrithae?”
The elf led them off to the side, along the walled-away Wellspring that surrounded the Tree of Life. In only a few minutes they reached the large willow-like home-tree. It was a busy place, with a myriad of young people coming and going. Some of them held wands in various states of artisanality. Others walked with runestone-filled pouches. They were talking and laughing, on the green clearing in front of the willow, where a large white-stone statue of a Syllianth stood with her hand reaching downwards. “That’s Irrithae. Steward of Arbor.” Aenos explained.
A dozen eyes of the Willow students followed the twins. Not with fear or apprehension but with open curiosity. Aenos didn’t give them time though. He led them into the Willow, then through a near-labyrinth of corridors. Home-trees served as houses and buildings, but their internal architecture was vastly different. They rose, twisted and dropped again. Most rooms’ floors were not aligned with the room next to them.
Aenos led them through the labyrinthine building until they reached a cozy parlor. Its walls were covered from floor to ceiling by building, hexagonal bookshelves made of beeswax holding a rainbow-colored selection of books and scrolls. At the center stood a solid stump of tree holding, with young branches, a marble slate upon which three cups and a steaming kettle sat. The table was surrounded by three comfortably looking chairs. “Irrithae will be with you shortly.” Aenos said, ushering the twins inside.
Ayre’s eyes fell upon the slate but she was no longer thirsty. If anything, she felt like she was going to be sick. Ida guided her to a chair and sat her down, before taking her own seat next to Ayre. Silence fell, uncomfortable as could be.
Eventually she found herself muttering, “Something was off with Aenos… He never used to be so…”
“So reserved? And his hair… ” Ida finished.
“White.” Ayre said. She shifted in her chair. She sighed, a wave of grief settling in. She said, voice hoarse, “Nothing is going to be the same as it was before.”
To that, Ida did not answer. Instead, her twin silently took her hand. A tear rolled down her cheek, as they waited for the Syllianth to show.
“Oh great goddess I am so sorry!” Irrithae exclaimed the moment she entered the parlor. She had let them wait for five minutes. The Syllianth quickly closed the door behind her again, locking out the noise and hussle outside. “If I had known you would return today, I would not have taken that meeting up in the Tree of Firmaments. I hope you’re hungry, someone should arrive shortly with a cake.”
Irrithae walked up to the parlor table and poured some tea out into the three cups, then moved one to each twin and took her own as she leaned back into the chair. “Right, Ayre and Ida.” The Syllianth said, sounding a lot less hurried now. “Finally we meet. Aenos tells me you don’t know who I am so allow me to introduce myself: I am Irrithae. Chosen Prophetess of Allianthé and Steward of Arbor. The goddess assigned to me the task to govern Arbor while she remained in the tree to heal. Now, you’ve both been away for quite some time, so if you have questions I will do my best to give you any and all answers I can.” They certainly looked like each other but there were many differences. One of fiery hair, like the other elves but somehow richer in color, more vibrant with striking orange eyes. Such eyes, so distant. The other had hair of palest white, almost as if cold could be a color.
“We have no were else to go.” Said the redheaded twin, Ayre, her quiet voice tinged with bitterness and an edge. Ida, her horn sparkling in the light, gave her sister a glare before looking at Irrithae. “Do you have any water?” She asked, her own voice husky and a tad hoarse.
“Water? Yes of course.” Irrithae said as she got up and left the room for a moment. In a blink she was back carrying a wooden plate with three glasses and a pitcher filled with crystal clear water. She put it on the marble table and poured a glass for Ida, then she took her seat again. Ida drank from the cup in one deep draw. She then poured herself another glass, drained it and then poured again. “As for a place to go, Arbor could still be your home. If you wish to stay, I can offer you some purpose.” Her eyes turned to Ayre with worry. “Is that something you’d want?”
Ayre’s eyes met her own and she could see the flame within them. She opened her mouth to speak but Ida cut her off, “Thank you for the water. It’s nice to meet you, Irrithae. I did not know our goddess had a chosen one. How long has it been since she began healing?”
“A few months now, nearing a year. Though truth be told, I am unsure how long a god needs to heal.” Irrithae said. She was still facing Ayre, but her eyes were looking at the unicorn girl now. What role did each of them play towards the other? “It happened when the Tree was sealed. Aenos and I were both chosen. Me, to lead. Him, to… do what must be done.” It was clear from her words that Aenos’ duty was not something she wished to talk about. “Perhaps I should ask you first then, Ida. What would you like to do now that you’ve returned to Arbor?”
Ida’s eyes grew distant, a weariness seemed to come over her features. It was Ayre who piped up. “It’s almost been a year…?” she asked but to none other than herself. “But we… I… I just went down and… What happened when we fell?” She had turned to her sister. Ida remained withdrawn. “Ida…” Ayre spoke and shook her arm. There was no response. She looked back at Irrithae. “D-Did anyone make it out of the tree? When it was sealed.” She stood and her hands fell on the marble, jostling all the cups and liquid, her own cup of water spilling. “Was anyone saved?” She asked, raising her voice.
“You know the answer.” Ida whispered, remaining still.
If Ayre had heard her, she made no appearance of doing so. Instead, steam began to rise from where the water had settled around her arms. “Please.” She choked.
“A great many people made it out of the tree.” Irrithae said truthfully, though there was still great sorrow in her voice. “But I know what you want to know. I am sorry, Ayre. Your father didn’t make it.”
Silence fell. Ayre’s face became a mask of disbelief. Then she let go of the table and fell back into her chair. She leaned forward, covering her face with her hands and wept. A metallic hand fell upon her back. Ida swirled in soothing strokes and looked at Irrithae. “Could you… Could you give us a moment, please?”
“Of course.” Irrithae said as she got up. Quietly she walked to the door and opened it, but turned around before she left. “If there’s anything you need, I’ll be right outside. Take all the time you need though. It doesn’t matter if you need hours. I’ll be waiting.”
The sun peaked high overhead before Ida came to the door. Irrithae knew there had been some terse conversations by the sound of their voices rising and lower. For the past few, it had gone into a silent lull. Ida had pink rings around her eyes but she gave the Syllianth a small nod, “Thank you for that. She’s… Okay now.” Upon entering the room, she saw that Ayre looked utterly deflated. Hollow around the eyes and her skin paled. “We had some thoughts about what you said.” Ida sat back down. “About what we wanted to do. But the simple truth is, we don’t know. Yesterday, for us, was a different Arbor. Today, we’re orphans without a home.”
It hurt Irrithae’s heart to see Ayre so. It hurt her to see anyone so. Though right now there was little she could actually do. Ida seemed to be far more receptive to what she would offer right now. “Arbor has changed quite a lot, quite fast. I agree. Though in a way it’s still the same Arbor you knew from before. Just… a little bigger.” Irrithae said as she took her seat as well. “As for what to do, I have a few proposals.”
“First there’s something that is brewing in the Tree of the Firmaments. It reaches far above Galbar, to a place where you’re weightless. I can’t say much right now. Perhaps I could show you later. But it’d be an opportunity for a great adventure.” Ida’s brows furrowed ever so slightly at that and Ayre had no response at all.
She moved on. “I’m also sure that someone with your particular talents would be valued greatly at the Divinium Forge, Ayre. I’d have no doubt that my kind would gladly accept you there.” To that, Ayre met her eyes. She gave a small tug at her lips but that was about the extent of a response.
“You could also pick up a regular vocation, if you so wish.” It was clear from Irrithae’s tone that she considered this - in her opinion - the least interesting opinion. Still, she put it forth. “The city could always use more gatherers, potters, scribes or any other sort of simple workers.” The twins remained silent, watching her.
“Or you could come here to Willow. It’s a place of learning and understanding of the many magical arts, like Greensinging or Runecrafting. Your services would be greatly valued by Arbor.” As if it was jealous, the iridescent waters of the Wellspring flared, casting the whole room - that was overlooking the Wellspring on one side - in a myriad of colors for a moment. Ida’s eyes snapped to it. Irrithae let out a sigh and then added: “You could also join the study of the Wellspring. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it, but it comes with a warning: the Wellspring is exceedingly powerful. I’d caution against it.”
Ayre joined her sister’s gaze and for a time they just looked in that direction. Uncannily, they both looked back at her at about the same time and then they both spoke at the same time. Ayre said, “The Wellspring is too dangerous.” While Ida said, “Has anyone gone in?” They then both looked at eachother, eyes intent upon the other. Some sort of inner conversation only one could have with their twin.
Irrithae’s own eyes first looked at Ayre. “Very.” She said. She had put every bit of gravitas and weight upon that one word to make sure that the gravity of the situation was not lost on either of them. “You might drown if you go in or the Wellspring’s magic might devour you absolutely. If you are able to get out, the magic is a part of you forever. You will begin to mutate depending on how you use the gift. Your very mind and soul will change. There are ways to combat it but… they’re not perfect.” In fact they were largely fruitless but in her shame Irrithae did not wish to say that. In fact, she hid the biggest shame. The monstrous transformation at the end of the road. No more than a handful of Maecari had spawned in the last year. It had been too many already. Aenos had done his duty there, swiftly and without reservations. Since then Irrithae had covered up the truth of the Wellspring and cordoned it off.
However, she vowed to keep only the secrets she absolutely must for her own people. So her eyes then turned to Ida. “Yes. In the past, people have gone in and gained access to the Arcane abilities of the Wellspring. However, these days one must go through months, if not years of rigorous training. One must comprehend the fullest extent of the dangers first. Do you understand, Ida?”
Ida looked at her, nostrils flaring. She opened her mouth as if to protest but she shut it and in one moment she was back to her reserved self. “I understand, better than most. The Wellspring is not the only gift of Mae-Alari.” She outstretched her hand and then a finger, touching the almost empty water pitcher. The liquid inside began to freeze, the temperature in the room plummeting. When the water was frozen solid and frost had covered the glass, Ida leaned back.
“Was that necessary?” Ayre complained, wisps of steam came off her, as if she was a furnace on a cold morning.
Ida gave her a glance. “I was just curious.” She eventually said.
“I know.” Ayre said in a softer tone. She then stood. “If it isn’t too much to ask, could we perhaps have a room and take up this conversation tomorrow? I guess it’s been some time since I got to sleep in an actual bed.”
“Of course!” Irrithae said, letting her joyous self return as she got up from her chair. “You don’t need to make a decision right away. All I want is for the both of you to know that Arbor can still be a home if you want it to be. Anyway.” She clapped twice, and from an unobserved corner of the room something suddenly moved. It was a fairy that seemingly had either been unseen this entire time or simply appeared out of nowhere. “Uaisle, please show Ayre and Ida to their room.”
The two girls looked at the fairy dumbfounded. Taking offense, the fairy huffed, “Well, you would have seen me if you had looked!”
The day came and went. Even in the perpetual light of Arbor, the shadows still lengthened. The streets changed course. Black shades were pulled over windows as none could escape the confines of sleep. Ayre and Ida had not left their room since bathing. Food had been brought to them, as well as water. They took no visitors and they sought no one out. Ayre had closed the curtains and night drifted in.
Ida chimed, “Maybe just… Leave it open a crack?”
Ayre nodded and a singular beam of light cut the darkness of the room in half. They settled down in separate beds, the pillows lush and inviting.
“It feels like it's been forever.” Ayre yawned.
“I know what you mean.” Ida said, staring up at the ceiling.
“Goodnight… Love you.” Ayre murmured.
“Night. Love you too.” Ida replied.
Soon enough she heard her sister’s breathing deepen but the same did not come for Ida. She noted every root and bough in the ceiling, every small thing that crawled, every color in the dark but sleep did not come. She tried turning onto her side. She shut her eyes. It evaded her like a grasshopper. So close, yet out of reach.
She knew not how much time had passed before she threw the covers off of herself. She touched her chin and shuddered. She brought her hand up before her eyes and flexed her fingers. Metal. She was made of some sort of metal. What had happened to her arms? She did not like the metal. It was too foreign… Too wrong. She needed to fix them. Her face. Her back. She didn’t want the ridicule. She saw how those people stared and stared and stared at her. Horrified. Pitying. Her fingers closed into a fist.
She knew what she had to do. She turned her head to gaze upon her sister, only to find two glowing orange orbs gazing back.
“What are you doing?” Ayre whispered.
A complication. Ida sat up. “I can’t sleep. I think I’m going to go for a walk.” she sighed, putting on her best performance.
Ayre studied her, rising slightly. “I’ll join you.”
“No.” Ida said, too quickly. She gulped and quickly added, “I don’t need a babysitter. Go back to bed.”
Ayre glowered and turned away from her, pulling the sheets over her frame. “Fine. Suit yourself. Don’t come crying to your big sister when someone looks at you the wrong way.”
Ida winced. She hadn’t meant to be so mean but now… Oh now she felt no guilt in lying. She pulled on her stuff, being as loud as she possibly could, mumbling about their age difference. She would leave the staff behind, it would just draw attention to herself.
“Seconds… Minutes… big sister… Hmpmmh.” She walked to the door, opened it and slammed it shut. Then she stood in that doorway, leaned back on the door. She knew, if she was smart, that she should go back in there and sleep. But if there was a chance she could change herself, get her arms back… She had to do it.
It took a moment but eventually she found the way towards the Wellspring, acting as oblivious and nonchalant as she could to those she came across. This path eventually led to a corridor which was flanked by busts of various Wellspring-blessed wizards. It glorified them, but these busts also served as a warning. The wizards were shown with their mutations. They were many-eyed or had scales growing from their skin. It served as a warning and a reminder. Both of which Ida ignored. She was chosen by Mae-Alari, none of that would happen to her. She was sure of it. At the end of the hall was a large double door, blocked by a heavy, carved beam.
Panic bloomed within her. It looked way too heavy to even move and she was… She looked at her hands again. An expression of doubt on her face but she placed them underneath the beam and lifted. The beam began to move and she gritted her teeth as the weight of it pressed into her. Once she got it over the metal that kept it in place, she let it fall. A large boom echoed and she winced. It was now or never. She pushed the doors open.
“Stop!”
Irrithae’s voice boomed through the corridor. She was standing on the opposite side. “Don’t do this, Ida.” She said, as she slowly approached the girl. “I can only imagine how you feel, Ida. But the Wellspring is not the answer. Please, come back. Whatever’s driving you into those waters, we can talk about it. I can help you.”
Ida ignored Irrithae and strode into the round, half-open chamber. On the other side stairs descended into the Wellspring. Its gleaming waters were ever inviting. Then they were locked out, as roots and vines shot out from the ground and the ceiling to seal away the Wellspring. Irrithae stood with one arm outstretched and her fist clenched shut. “I won’t let you enter the Wellspring, Ida. There are other ways.” The Syllian said as she stepped closer. “Please, it’s not yet too late.”
Ida spun upon Irrithae then. None of the frost and calm remained in her face. Just bitter cold. Her eyes narrowed at the greensinger. She spoke with ice in her veins, “Don’t talk to me like you know me. You don’t. You can’t help me. Not you. Not Ayre. Not even the Goddess. Now let me through.”
“No.” Irrithae was getting more persistent. She bridged the distance between her and Ida fast. “I can help you. I will help you! But you have to step away from the Wellspring.” She managed to get into the round room. “Ida.” she said the name with pure pity. “If you step into those waters I promise you that you will regret it.”
“I don’t want your pity!” She raised her voice before taking a step back. Her hands were shaking as she grabbed the part of her shirt that met her shoulder and tore. The metal of her arm was dark in the light, pulsing with green veins. She tore free the cloth on her other arm too. “Look at me. Just look at me! I don’t want to look like this.” Her voice shook with anger and frustration. “I was already a freak before and now and now… Just look at me. I made us fall. I went down into the dark. I met Mae-Alari. I took the frost and do you know what I did with it? I slew those demons that attacked the innocents. I had no mercy in my heart for them. I sullied myself! And because I wasn’t with my sister, she came to find me and she was forced to do the same. I made her a killer. And then we were punished, by that… by that…” her voice shook, “By Bael-Davaur. A foul black thing. He wanted us to be his wives. How he talked… It was like being bathed in oil… No matter how much you want to be cleansed-” She gagged and began to shake her head.
“We tried to run but he caught us and I… I made us fall.” She gripped her head. “And I can’t… I can’t remember…! Why can’t I remember what happened?” She cried. “What happened to my arms?” Crystalline tears fell down her face, shattering as they hit the floor with tiny tinks.
“Ida, you were never a freak. You were born wondrous in a miracle-filled world.” Irrithae said, keeping her own voice calm. Slowly she approached the unicorn girl. “You’ve been through so much. Too much. I think so much has happened to you, and your life has been going so fast that you’re afraid to slow down but Ida-” Irrithae was close to her now, and took one of her hands in hers. “You’re home here. You can rest. You can take your time. And with the help of the others here at Willow and the goddess we can try and fix this.” As a sign that she did trust Ida, she released the grip on the plants. As she unclenched her fist the wall of roots and vines uncoiled itself, revealing the Wellspring again. “What do you think, Ida? Shall we take a step back and go a little slower for once? A little more controlled?”
Irrithae’s grip on the vines above was not entirely gone though. They still writhed above in the shadow darkness of the ceiling. Ready to move and coil once again in a moment’s notice. Ida, for her part, did not withdraw herself from Irrithae’s touch. Instead, the cold girl hugged her, wrapping her arms tight. She was afraid and trembling.
Then there came the sound of hasty footsteps and a gasp from down the tunnel. It was Ayre, eyes burning bright. Before the two embraced could even react, Ayre was already running towards them. “Get away from her!” She shouted. Ida withdrew from Irrithae and moved in front of her, wherein she confronted Ayre. The roots tensed.
“What are you doing, Ayre!” Ida shouted.
Ayre arrived in front of her twin, glowering at Irrithae.
“I came to find you. I shouldn’t have let you go out by yourself. And now I find you with her, at this hellish place? Do you have any idea what it will do to you?” She pointed a finger at Irrithae and looked at her, “It was you, wasn’t it!” she shouted. “You talk a big game, oh prophet of Arbor but you just want power. I saw through you the moment you walked into that room. Now you’d put her up to this!” Ayre’s eyes were wild, as if the flame within her danced to a beat of madness. Something was wrong. Ayre was clutching something underneath her shirt at her chest. She kept blinking and there was perspiration on her forehead.
“Ayre!” Ida shouted, “Stop this! That’s not- That’s not what this is about!”
“Then explain the vines!” Ayre pointed up at the ceiling. “They’d drag you in when you’d refuse! Why can’t you see that? She’s trying to use us Ida! Just like he would have.” Ayre tried to move past Ida but she stood her ground. Irrithae couldn’t see Ida’s face but the girl tensed at the her sister’s use of he. The demon.
“W-What’s come over you!” Ida said. “These are baseless accusations and you won’t even stop to hear me!”
“Ayre, you’re making a mistake.” Irrithae said, her own calm voice trying to calm the phoenix beastgirl.
“I have to stop her. Move.” Ayre commanded, ignoring what she had said. When Ida didn’t move, Ayre tried to move past her again and this time, Ida pushed her back.
A look of shock appeared across Ayre’s face and then it became anger unlike anything Irrithae had seen yet. The twin of flame reared back and then pushed Ida. Ida for her credit, attempted to stand her ground but it came too suddenly and she went backwards, right into the Syllianth.
The world slowed down for Irrithae. She lost her footing. The force knocked into her was too great. Vines from above reached out. Ida was falling too, right over her. Irrithae curled her fingers. The vines got closer and closer. Every second took a breath of its own. Then the vines wove themselves close right in front of Irrithae. Ida’s fall was blocked and the last thing Irrithae saw was that she had at least saved the girl, who had turned with horror in her eyes to look upon the one she had just embraced. The one who had just saved her. Irrithae fell with a smile on her face.
But right before she touched the Wellspring’s waters, a green glow emanated from her eyes.
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