The Elementiels

Ch. 2: THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Early the next day, Jason left the kingdom and rode south to Stacey's house. Her upcoming wedding was the talk of the family, and Jason had been entrusted with the most important task: delivering the cake.

By midday, he arrived at her place, nestled in a tranquil setting that seemed untouched by time. The small cottage stood proudly at the edge of a field filled with maize, the tall stalks swaying gently in the breeze.

Beyond the field, a dense forest stretched into the horizon, its towering trees forming a wall of deep green that shimmered under the sunlight.

Stacey's fiancé, Jonathan Taylor, opened the door with a welcoming smile. He was tall and well-built, his chiseled features softened by the warmth in his eyes. His dark hair was slicked back, and his finely tailored tunic hinted at his noble background.

"Jason! Just the person I wanted to see. Come in, we've been waiting for you," Jonathan said, ushering him inside.

"Thanks Jon. So... where's the lucky lady?" he teases him with a sassy look on he's face.

The two of them goof off until Stacey appeared, her presence like a burst of sunlight in the room. Her long, fiery orange hair was intricately braided, and her blue eyes sparkled with joy. She greeted Jason with a playful ruffle of his hair. "Look at you, all grown up, my little wildfire."

Jason blushed, ducking away from her teasing touch. "Come on, Sis. I'm not a kid anymore."

Stacey grinned, clearly enjoying his embarrassment. “Oh, really?” she teased, ruffling his hair even more. “You’ll always be my little wildfire.”

Jason groaned, finally succeeding in removing her hand. “Alright, alright! Enough with the hair thing!”

“Okay, okay, don’t cry, you big baby,” she said, laughing as she stepped back, hands raised in mock surrender.

The three of them settled at the table, and Jason leaned forward with a playful smile. “Alright,” he said, resting his elbows on the wooden surface, “let’s get down to business. What flavor should the wedding cake be?”

Jonathan didn’t miss a beat. “Banana,” he declared, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world. “A truly magnificent flavor, don’t you think?”

Stacey raised an eyebrow at him, a teasing grin curling on her lips. “Oh, come on, honey. Banana? Really? Vanilla is the classic choice—it’s timeless, elegant, and, let’s be honest, the best.”

Their playful banter continued, each defending their choice with increasing fervor, until Jason finally intervened, raising a hand for peace. “Alright, alright, you two lovebirds. I’ve got the perfect solution. Two layers. The first will be vanilla for Stacey, and the second will be banana for Jonathan. Deal?”

Jonathan and Stacey exchanged a glance, their stubbornness giving way to a unified smile. “Deal,” they chimed in unison.

Laughter rippled through the room, but Jason soon pushed back his chair. “Well, I should be heading back.”

Stacey’s eyes widened in mock dismay. “Leaving so soon?” she asked, a pout forming on her lips. “You just got here, wildfire. Stay a little longer.”

Jonathan joined her plea, both of them fixing Jason with exaggerated puppy-dog eyes. Jason sighed, shaking his head with a grin. “You two are impossible,” he said, laughing. “Alright, fine. I’ll stay.”

As Stacey brought out food, the three of them fell into easy conversation, their voices mingling with the soft creak of the old wooden chairs. After a while, Stacey leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “This is nice and all, but… everything’s a bit dull. Let’s play some music.”