Solace and Nox: A New Light

Chapter 24

Sunshine was here.

The moment he walked into the building, she appeared in front of him. He jumped, but he didn't have the same glint in his eyes. Cytra was too excited to ask him about it.

"Come with me," she said, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the building.

"Cytra, wait," he said, stopping.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He looked extremely uncomfortable. Something was wrong. He wanted to say, but he stopped himself.

"Never mind," he said, dismissing his disturbances. "What did you want to show me?"

She smiled, and held out her hand. "Do you trust me?"

Raiden eyed her hand for a moment, and let out a deep breath. Whatever was bothering him, it was big. He looked at her and smiled. "Yes."

He reached out, grabbed her hand, and Cytra transported them.

Cytra had teleported them to a forest. It was almost dusk, but Cytra was waiting for nightfall. The forest seemed ordinary, but at nightfall, it would be unlike anything anyone had ever seen.

Raiden couldn't seem to figure out what Cytra had done. Cytra knew where they were, so she was able to transport to her destination.

"Where are we?"

"Away from Shodon," Cytra answered simply.

He snorted. "That much is clear."

She smiled and waited. Raiden said he trusted her, so he waited as well. When the sun's rays were finally behind the horizon, it was dark. Their world turned black, and the forest was eerily quiet. It was as if everything around them suddenly went quiet. Cytra took Raiden's hand, letting him know that she was still there.

"What are we waiting for?" he asked.

Cytra shushed him.

Suddenly, among the trees in front of them, a small light came to life. The tiny yellow light slowly floated to the air and began flying like a bug. Then, another light came to life. This one was a bright green. Gradually, one by one, different colored lights came to life around them. A blue light flew directly towards Cytra and Raiden. Raiden gasped at the sight.

In their face was a tiny person. She hovered with the wings of a hummingbird.

A fairy.

The fairy leaned in towards Raiden, and gave him a little peck on the cheek. He smiled brightly, almost as bright as the fairy was glowing.

All around them, these fairies took flight. Cytra watched Raiden as he marvelled at the beautiful creatures. They floated around, their voices like little bells. Their wings were all different. Some were like hummingbirds, like the one that kissed Raiden, others were like butterflies. There was a large variety of fairies, and it was a beautiful sight.

A pink fairy, with the wings of a dragonfly, approached the two of them. "Raiden and Cytra, we've been waiting for people like you to one day arrive." The fairy's voice rang like windchimes.

Cytra smiled as Raiden stared in disbelief.

"How do you know our names?" Raiden asked.

"We've been watching you both for a very long time," the pink fairy replied. "My name is Alayah."

Alayah zipped around the two of them with extreme speed. Her face glowed as she saw Raiden and Cytra together.

"Cytra has been with us before," Alayah explained. "She told us about you, and we wanted you to know us."