The group woke to soft light peeking through the windows.
As Sollene and Cress stepped into the main living area, they found the Lady placing a tray on the table. She greeted them with a soft smile.
"Morning," she said.
"Morning," they echoed, their voices still touched with sleep.
They sat at the dining table, watching the Lady move quietly around the house. Everything was peaceful. The air held a sweet, unfamiliar floral scent, but distant, like something remembered rather than real.
But even in the calm, something felt off. The Lady's glow was dimmer than the day before, her trail of butterflies fading more quickly with every step.
"We'll wait for the boys to come down, then we'll have breakfast," she said gently. "In the meantime, would you like some tea?"
"That would be nice," they replied in unison.
The Lady nodded and walked toward the kitchen. Her movements were slower today, her usual grace dulled by weariness.
Before she returned, Cael and Thane joined them, settling quietly at the table.
"Where is she?" Thane asked.
"She went to make tea," Cress answered, glancing toward the kitchen. "I think… there's something wrong with her."
When the Lady came back, she offered them a weak but warm smile.
"Tea, anyone?" she asked, setting down a tray with bowls of cut fruit, slices of jam-covered bread, and cups of steaming tea.
The children thanked her and began to eat. The food, like before, didn't taste quite real but familiar. It was like biting into a memory: the sweetness of a fruit once loved, the warmth of bread shared on a cold morning. The flavors danced on the edges of recall, comforting and distant all at once.
The lady noticed that Sollenes expression was different but she brushed it off.
"I don't like how the food here tastes," Cael said, frowning as he poked at a slice of fruit.
"Don't worry you'll get used to it," the Lady reassured him gently. "Like I said yesterday, spirits can't truly taste. They eat the memory of what food used to taste like."
"But we're not spirits," Thane said, placing a piece of fruit in his mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
"You will be," she replied, her voice soft but certain. "Anyone who enters this world becomes a spirit in time."
"Speaking of which... what is this place?" Sollene asked, her tone cautious but curious.
"This world is called Lytherra," the Lady explained. "It has four continents. We're currently in Aurelith the domain of the Poet."
She paused, watching their reactions before continuing.
"The Poet is one of the four great spirits who rule this world. Each rules a continent, each has shaped it in their image. The Poet is... different. Quiet. Elusive. They value beauty in sorrow, truth in contradiction. Aurelith is a land of riddles, half truths, and fragile things that are stronger than they seem."
She rested her hand on the table as if the effort to speak was growing harder.
"In Aurelith, the laws are written in verse, and the winds carry forgotten songs. The Poet rarely speaks, but when they do, the world listens. Their stories don't just entertain they become things. A tale told well in their land can bloom into a tree, or build a bridge over mist."
Then she gave a small smile. "But geography isn't what matters right now."
"Then what is?" Thane asked.
"Before anything else, you need to know how to survive," the Lady said, her voice slowing, turning strained. "This world is made of stories. Everything the trees, the people, the water it all exists because of stories. And in order for you to survive, you must share your own. Spread your tale. Make yourself known."
She paused to cough, the light around her dimming. The shimmering trail of butterflies behind her flickered faintly.
"The more people who know your story, the more powerful you become. When you leave this forest, you'll need to find a way to make sure you're never forgotten. Because if you are…" She looked at each of them in turn. "That's the end of your journey."
A hush settled over the table.
"Oh dear," she said suddenly, glancing out the window. "Would you look at the time? You'll need to get going if you want to reach town before dark."
"Are you alright?" Cress asked, concern clear in her voice.
"I'm fine, darling," the Lady replied with a tired smile. "Don't be too concerned."
"I packed you a bag with supplies, a map, and a few things I thought you might need."
"Wait," Thane said, his voice halting. "How do we get back?"
The Lady paused, surprised by the question. "Back?" she echoed. "Hmm… you wish to return."
She looked at him for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"To be honest, It's been long since met anyone who wanted to go back" she said at last, "I'm not sure I can give you the answer you want. You'll have to grow stronger… and figure it out for yourselves."
"Let me just grab the bag so you can be on your way," the Lady said, standing slowly and making her way out of the room.
"She's obviously not okay," Sollene said, her eyes following the fading shimmer of the Lady's trail.
"What do you think is happening to her? She seems in a hurry to get us out," Cael added, frowning.
"Whatever it is, it's none of our business," Thane said firmly.
"But she helped us," Cress protested, worry in her voice.
"Let's respect her boundaries," Thane replied. "If she wanted us to know, she would've told us. And besides… even if you knew, what would you do? We don't know how to heal spirits."
His words fell heavily between them, and silence settled over the room until the Lady returned, holding a brown, leather-looking bag that had shoulder strap.
"I've packed a few things for your journey," she said, placing the bag on the table. "There's a map," she added, pulling out a rolled piece of parchment, "and some of the tea I had given Cress to drink just steep the leaves in hot water for two minutes."
She spread the map open across the table. It was simple, showing mostly trees and a stream running through them.
"There are other supplies in the bag I think you'll find useful," she continued. "Oh and one more thing: don't let anyone know you're human."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Cael asked.
"You'll have to figure that out," she said, giving them a faint smile. "Now, everyone look at the map."
"Please show me a way out of the forest," the lady said, her voice tinged with a quiet urgency. The others looked at her, confused.
"You have to be polite," the Lady said, as if it was something everyone should know. A single red line started to appear on the map, then the words "Aurelith: Forest of Origins" in the center. Five dots appeared to be clusters at the start of the straight line, which turned to avoid trees and led to a cluster of buildings labeled thistledown.
"Just follow the line," she continued, her voice soft. "It should take you where you're going."
She sank into the chair with a long sigh, the butterflies that had once danced around her dress now still, their glow dimming completely. This silence unsettled everyone.
"Thank you for your help," Sollene said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"It was no trouble," the Lady replied, her tone faint. "But you should hurry if you want to make it to thistledown in time."
They all exchanged quiet goodbyes, and as they left, Thane, holding the map, notice that the four of the dots had started to move along with them.
As they walked, the group chatted. Thane said, "Looks like Cress can walk by herself now. How do you feel?"
Cress smiled, "Yeah, I'm feeling better. It's nice to be able to move on my own. Sorry if I was a bother."
"Not at all," Thane agreed. "You were really light Cress. You should eat more"
But as they walked, Sollene remained silent, her gaze distant. It was clear something was bothering her.
"What's wrong?" Cress asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Oh, nothing," Sollene replied quickly, shaking her head. "I think I left something back at the house. I'll be right back wait for me here."
Before anyone could protest, she turned and dashed back toward the house, the sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.
Sollene's heart beat faster as she neared the house. Something wasn't right with the Lady. She could feel it, like an uneasy weight in the air. The Lady had done so much for them, and though Sollene didn't know how she could help, she felt she had to at least say goodbye properly and thank her, one last time.
Sollene ran through the trees, her breath quick and shallow, the morning light flickering through the canopy above. The path back to the cottage felt longer than before
. When she finally reached the clearing, the house stood quiet, bathed in a warm, fading glow. She hesitated at the door, heart pounding, then pushed it open without knocking. The wooden floor creaked beneath her feet as she stepped inside, the scent of herbs and memory-laced tea still lingering in the air. "Hello?" she called softly, eyes scanning the dim room.