Third Wish: volume Two

Episode 40: carnival

The sharp gasp of fear punctuated the silent night as Leon woke up, drenched in cold sweat. His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, the echoes of his nightmare still reverberating through his mind. The malicious grin on his uncle's face, the threat of violence, the fear - it was all too real. He shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering terror.

Needing some air, Leon pushed off the thin blanket and padded across the cold floor, the wooden planks creaking under his weight. He quietly opened the door to the outside, letting the chill of the night seep into his skin. The sight of the vast, starry sky overhead was a welcome distraction.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a flicker of movement. Turning, he saw the faint glow of Rose, her translucent pink hair gently fluttering in the night breeze. The soft light around her illuminated her delicate features, giving her an eternal beauty.

Rose looked at him, her pastel pink eyes sparkling with curiosity. "It's unlike you to be up at this hour, Leon," she said, her voice as soft as wind rustling through leaves.

Leon shrugged, choosing to lean against the railing, his gaze fixed on the starlit sky. "Needed some fresh air," he muttered, unwilling to share his fear just yet.

Rose floated closer, tilting her head. "You humans and your need for sleep," she said, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "As a fairy, I don't need to sleep, It gives me plenty of time to enjoy the stars of night."

Leon offered her a weak smile, appreciating her effort to lighten the mood. "What's it like, not needing to sleep?"

"Boring at times, but I've found ways to make it interesting," she replied, her gaze drifting towards the stars before she looked back at Leon. "You're evading my question though. What's wrong?"

Leon sighed, looking back at the sky. He hesitated for a moment before he said, "Just a nightmare."

Rose gave him a sympathetic look. "I see," she said softly. "Well, the night has its own way of healing, Leon. Maybe staring at these stars can soothe the images your mind conjures."

They stood together, sharing the silence of the night, each lost in their thoughts under the serene blanket of the starlit sky. It was a moment of peace amidst the chaos, a soft reminder that even in darkness, there's a beacon of comfort if one knows where to look.

As Leon and Rose stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the twinkling stars, Leon felt a growing curiosity burning within him. He wanted to know more about Rose, about her origins and the world she came from. The silence between them became a canvas for his thoughts, and he finally mustered the courage to broach the subject.

"Rose," Leon began, his voice laced with intrigue, "you mentioned earlier that you're a fairy from another world. Could you tell me more about Elysium? What's it like there? Is it anything like the fairy tale."

Rose turned to him, her eyes shimmering with a mix of nostalgia and longing. She let out a wistful sigh. "Elysium... It's a place of wonders and enchantment," she said, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "It's a timeless realm where we would dance all night and sing songs to the Stars, it's a place of unrelenting freedom, that was until…..."

Leon's curiosity deepened as he listened intently, captivated by the vivid imagery Rose's words conjured. He felt a pang of empathy for her, knowing that she had left behind such a fantastical world to embark on a quest to save her best friend.

"Tell me about Kandi," Leon urged gently, sensing that there was more to Rose's story than just the place she called home.

Rose's gaze softened, a bittersweet smile gracing her lips. "Kandi is my best friend and the one who brought me into existence," she explained. "he was a teenager with an unruly spirit, always seeking adventure and mischief. We used to run around Elysium, playing pranks on everyone we met - fairies, Toy folk, and even the occasional half elf."