The Incandescent | Book 7 | The Fairy arc

Chapter 8 ~ The Immortal Truth

Ireyna landed atop the Decuir spaceship, the Rose Wing. Her wings glowed as she walked around, inspecting the ship to make sure she had repaired everything. She was just about to drop down and go inside when she felt a wind current behind her.

Ireyna turned around, the wind current carrying an invisible person that materialized into the form of the Glittered Inktraitor. He levitated for a moment as the wind slowly lowered him, his long shimmery black trench coat propelled forward by the wind, his boots resting lightly on the ship.

The wind blew at Ireyna's long hair, touching the rose-shaped pearls in her hair. Ireyna pushed her hair back, rejecting the wind's caress. She looked in surprise at the Glittered Inktraitor as he stood facing her, the wind ceasing their daring hold on his glittery trench coat.

"Ireyna Roseshimmer. Prized energy manipulator, now a distinguished writer. How delightful our paths should cross again," said the Glittered Inktraitor, taking off his fedora and holding it in his hand. He looked entirely pleased, his gaze fixed dotingly on Ireyna.

"Casim Dorono, the Glittered Inktraitor," said Ireyna, instantly recognizing him. She began to glow, gathering her power in case she needed to defend herself. "What are you doing here?"

"I followed a young private detective, her brother, and a floating dishcloth. Imagine my surprise when they led me to my former colleague from Energemnolog." Casim grinned as a thin hand reached to sweep blond bangs out of his eyes, doing so in a flirty manner. "My offer of a date still stands, if you're interested."

"I'm happily married," Ireyna informed, showing her sparkly wedding ring. "Like I told you years ago, I have no interest and never will. Find someone else to lust after. Only my husband will have me."

"Noted," Casim said, holding his hands up in surrender. "I will respect your wishes."

Ireyna eyed him carefully, not relaxing her guarded stance. It was unclear whether he was genuine or manipulative. Ireyna assumed the latter, knowing the Glittered Inktraitor was one to serve his own interests. "That's not why you came here. Why follow Killian's children? Why linger on planet Monshalow? What do you want?"

"A date," Casim said boldly, keeping his face as innocent as possible. When Ireyna continued to glare impassively, Casim chuckled in amusement. "Power, fairy. That is what I want. And you, Ireyna, have the greatest power of all the fairies. One might wonder the origin of such a fairy."

"You already know I was born in a fairy village on planet Monshalow. I have lived here my entire life. I traveled to different planets for work purposes, but I did not come from another realm, if that's what you're implying."

Casim's smile was a mirage that faded in and out of the sunlight, reflective like a lenticular sticker. "And yet, the mystery remains as to the source of your great power."

A purple glow flashed in Ireyna's steel blue eyes. "I am simply lucky," she said, putting sarcastic emphasis on the word.

The Glittered Inktraitor came closer, standing a few breaths away from Ireyna. He raised his head high as he studied her purple glow, admiration shining in his glittery topaz eyes. He smelled of bergamot, clementine, yuzu, vanilla, and sandalwood, exactly like the sunshine he thrived in. Despite the warm weather, he always wore a glittery black trench coat, the dark color collecting the sunlight to fuel his energy gathered from the mysterious glowing blue butterflies.

"Such raw power. You don't intend to harness it?" Casim asked.

"I did, in the past," Ireyna stated.

"But you don't anymore, not since you married Killian." Casim's voice took on a deceptive nonchalant tone as he considered a possible way to grant his advantage, now that he found the power source he needed in the form of a powerful fairy. "So much power within you. You do know your fairy kind has exceptionally long lifespans. Since you have so much power, one might think you are immortal. Though quite rare, immortality is not unusual amongst fairies."