Light and dark (bangpink)

24🌷

JISOO

For the past few days, my routine has been relentless and unchanged: wake up, get everyone moving, read, fight, and finally sleep. Today felt no different. I walked to the library, sinking into one of the well-worn chairs with a book in hand. Though I'd already read everything here, I kept going over them, in case I missed anything important.

Just as I settled into reading, a strange, bright light caught my eye through the window. I looked up, squinting. Something was flying? Curiosity got the best of me, and I set down the book, heading outside to check it out.

To my surprise, I saw a bee darting around, frantically chasing what looked like a small, glowing orb of light. As I watched, the orb veered in my direction, and before I knew it, I saw a tiny, fluffy face—a flying squirrel zooming toward me at full speed. It looked surprised just as it crashed into me, and the impact sent me falling backward. I squeezed my eyes shut, but when I opened them again, everything was different.

"Congratulations, Princess of Winds!" a voice echoed from nowhere. "You are the last princess to find your bonded fairy animal! Your powers are now connected. When you can transform into a fairy, your flying squirrel will become a magical creature!"

I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but saw nothing.

"Hello! I'm Flitter, nice to meet you, Jisoo!" The squirrel's sudden, cheerful voice caught me completely off guard.

"Oh, uh, hi!" I stammered, realizing with a start that I was somehow back outside the cabin. Flitter followed eagerly as I walked inside, her tiny wings buzzing with excitement.

The moment we entered, Jungkook looked up, his eyes widening in horror. "Is that a flying rat?" he yelped, leaping onto a chair and wielding a baguette like a sword.

Flitter's eyes narrowed indignantly. "Did that ugly, bunny-looking creature just call me a rat?" she huffed, and I burst out laughing.

"That's Flitter, my fairy animal—and she's a flying squirrel, not a rat. Calm down, Jungkook."

Lisa, who had watched the whole exchange, couldn't contain her laughter either. With a dramatic eye-roll, Jungkook tore off a piece of bread and tossed it in Lisa's direction.

I headed back to my room, with Flitter following behind. Sitting on the bed, I turned to her. "So... do you know anything about the prophecy? Or the fairy stuff?"

Flitter nodded. "When you become a fairy, we fairy animals act as a key—a gateway to the underworld. It means you can visit anyone who's been banished there or banish villains yourself."

I nodded slowly, absorbing the information. Everything was starting to come together.