Glass or Diamond: Fairy's Wish

Episode 42: The Collector of Maidens

Murtoa of Lakia is but a human warrior who, by some crossing of fate, chance, and good fortune, became a near mythical slayer of the worst monsters of the world. Being a human, though, is but a natural thing. And, like any other human, Murtoa of Lakia fell ill to a disease referred to as the 'demon ash plague'. Not all of the details are known about this fast-moving and dangerous disease, but his companions believe they've found a cure in a small oasis clearing in the great forest.

Murtoa is not skeptical of this, but he is wary of the fairy sage, just as his friends are. However, he has faced much more terrible dangers and lived to tell the tale. Still, he notices when Lykha suddenly stops what she's doing. She seems to be having a conversation with someone, but no one is there. After a moment, she holds her hand out and drops the vial she was just filling. He never heard anything, so it's no surprise that Gyrryth didn't notice. And, Murtoa only suspects that they haven't yet been engaged because he didn't look directly at Lykha. She struggles enough with confidence as it is, so he didn't want her to sense that she needed looked after, but in this case, it's fortunate that he noticed. Without prompting, the young fairy heads towards the entrance to the foggy area, where illusions of one's own thoughts is certainly not the only risk.

Mury stands up, saying to Gyrryth, "Gyrryth, do you think you could find Coco?"

Gyrryth nods, looking up in surprise, "I should have no trouble. I can merely follow the smell of alcohol if nothing else."

The human warrior scoffs, but adds, "Do that, quickly. Lykha just flew back into the fog."

"What? Do you think she's looking for Coco?"

"I don't know, but given the circumstances, we need to figure it out quickly. I'll try to catch up to Lykha. Find Coco and Maerin and make sure they're okay."

"I shall."

Murtoa jogs after the glow fading into the fog representing Lykha. It pains his leg greatly, and he nearly falls a couple times, but he is no stranger to pain. He's heard tales of people who enjoy suffering pain, and often he has wondered if it would make his job any easier.

Regardless, he does his best to follow the path that Lykha flies. She seems to be searching the fog, though not very effectively. She gets caught in circles more than once, and seems to be disoriented.

Of course, Murtoa's own visions and voices plague him as well, but they are almost silent to him. He has tried to let go of that fateful day, to no avail. His life seems to have become full of fateful days since then.

That will never stand in his way, though. Simple fear and a selfish desire to survive left him with no friends at the seeming far end of the world and with very little will to live. He will never succumb to either again. And so, his visions have no power over him, even if they haunt his mind endlessly.

Murtoa only barely glimpses Lykha being hit by a spark, and the young fairy falls into the arms of another. Murtoa drops to a kneel behind a small plant. Thankfully, the elder fairy didn't notice him, and she carries Lykha in through a secret passage in the wall, slowly sinking out of sight. As soon as it vanishes, the warrior approaches. He is able to find the opening, but he can't find a way to open it.

Magic? Most likely. Yanari is no fool, but I can't help but wonder if this place was built by her.

He taps softly on the wall, listening.

No good. The tunnel sounds too narrow for me to fit, anyways.

He looks around.

She seemed to descend... Beneath us? Yes, even a hidden chamber would need ventilation. Up or on this level?