Let's make this clear. This means that—
"Excuse me, but then… your brother?" Dorcha asks. "Is he in the Realm of the Great Light too? If so, how do we reach him?"
"No, young Dorcha. He… could not ascend there."
"Why?" the girl asks.
"You ask too many questions, young Aileen."
"Right? I think so too," I tease her. Way too many.
"Oh, very funny…"
Got her. Right where it hurts. But she doesn't stop—if anything, she looks energized.
"But if I'm partly an elf, why do I struggle so much with magic?"
"Magic must be wanted," the elf answers calmly. "And often, you do not want what you want strongly enough."
She turns serious.
"That's not entirely true," she replies. "If I decide, for example, to transform…"
She looks around for inspiration, then turns to me. And now what does she want?
"…him—yes—into a frog… even if I focus, nothing happens! Look!"
A frog? Me? As if I'd let Urchoicha try that, let alone her. And besides—there's no way she could pull off something that complex.
Even Baelkers is about to burst out laughing. She doesn't notice. Not at all.
She raises her arms solemnly to the sky, concentrates, and directs the absolute nothing in her hands at me.
We wait for her to realize it on her own.
She peeks through one eye… and looks disappointed. That's priceless.
"See? Nothing happened. And I really wanted it to work! I just can't do it."
Baelkers laughs openly. I like this elf.
"Of course you can't," he says. "That isn't magic. Why don't you ask Dorcha to show you what real magic looks like?"
What? Don't tell me—he's already figured out who I am. By every storm ever raised. Now I can't pretend anymore.
"You can use magic? Really? Show me, please!"
Denial is my only way out.
"Well, I actually—"
As if that would help. Cursed elf.
"Without fear," he adds. "There is no judgment here."
Judgment? Who cares about judgment… Ugh. Fine.
I extend my arm toward the cold brazier. The fire sparks to life.
"Interesting. You can command fire," Baelkers says. "But you can do more than that, can't you?"
His gaze is piercing. What does he want from me?
How much does he know? Is there anything I can really hide from him?
Urchoicha's words echo in my head: 'You're nothing but arrogance. You need to learn to shield yourself—thoughts and actions alike. A true mage would tear you apart. Train harder.'
If I'd listened to her even once, I wouldn't be in this situation now.
"Oh, not much really," I try to bluff. "Some defensive magic and… well, yes, I know herbs."
I can't tell whether he believes me. His expression is unreadable—but not hostile.
"On your journey, these skills will serve you well," he says. "Now… you wish to speak with Aeltiàfisar. That will not be simple. Since Aer ascended to the Realm of the Great Light, my brother entrusted his essence to the care of the Dream Elves. He rarely withdraws from it. Nalar will guide you to the Clearing of the Sequoias. That is where he dwells. Once there, she will leave you alone. Dorcha, at that moment you must clearly imagine Aileen being wrapped in a cloud. The rest will be done by them. Whether Aeltiàfisar will agree to receive you…"
He pauses.
"…that, I cannot promise. Go now."
The King dismisses us with a slight nod and returns to meditation in the shadowed heart of the trunk.
It's clear to me that, for him, this is finished.
-----
Nalar leads us to the Clearing of the Sequoias, then leaves without another word.
It's a wide, circular space, encircled by ancient, towering sequoias standing close together, like silent sentinels.
At the center of the clearing, a rose garden forms a natural frame around another rounded space, with a small opening that leads inside.
It's perfect.
I take the girl by the hand and guide her in.
"Sit," I tell her.
She looks at me, anxious. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes shining—almost pleading. I need to calm her.
"Easy. There's nothing to be afraid of."
She exhales. She already seems steadier. Good.
She sits cross-legged on the grass.
I sit in front of her, mirroring her position.
Then I place my hands upon her.
-----
I feel like I'm floating…
I'm inside a soft, pale-blue cloud, lit by tiny, blinking lights.
They come from very small children, dressed in green, with pointed hats and shoes. They must be the Dream Elves. They're adorable.
Their voices are thin and light, and they dart around, swapping places at incredible speed.
Every time they pass, they leave a glowing trail behind them.
I can't stop watching them… they're almost… hypnotic.
I want to do what they do too.
I slip into their trail and match their speed.
It's fast. Spinning. Faster and faster. I'm losing control.
Oh—my head is spinning!
I'm shooting through space like a wild arrow. I have to stop!
How do I stop?
I can't!
I'm suffocating—I can't breathe!
Then—him.
One of the little ones moves in front of me and takes my hand.
I can't believe it—we stop. Thank the skies.
He hugs me. He's so gentle.
And now? He takes both my hands and… points at the others.
They're dancing. A wild, ancient dance.
I want to do it too.
I accept the little one's invitation, and we dance together.
"The answer is inside you… look for it in your dreams."
What does that mean? I don't understand… it echoes… and then—
-----
I wake up. I'm sitting on the grass again, facing Dorcha.
He's watching me. Tense.
"So?"
So… well. If I'm supposed to look for the answer in my dreams, I guess that means…
"I need to sleep."
He makes a strange face. Almost angry. Why? I don't understand.
"Sleep? Come on—can't you see time has shifted again? Another season has almost passed since we left! Forget it, let's go back. You can tell me on the way."
He grabs my hand hard and starts pulling me along.
It hurts! Let go—stop it, damn it, stop!
"No, you don't get it—stop! Stop, I said!"
I yank his arm sharply and break free.
He stops and turns, all smug.
"What is it, princess? Tired already? Can't take another step?"
How dare he?
"Why do you never listen to me? I didn't say I need to sleep because I'm tired! I have to sleep because the elves told me: 'look in your dreams'! Do you understand? And how am I supposed to dream if I don't sleep?!"
I'm furious.
-----
She looks ridiculous—chin lifted, arms crossed, sulking like that.
But she's strong, too.
Alright. Fine. I admit it. I was wrong.
"Then I owe you an apology. Will you accept it, Princess?"
She puts on another pout, but I can tell the storm has already passed.
"Fine. On one condition: you help me find a quiet place where I can dream."
And to do that… I'll have to reveal myself for what I truly am. Completely.
No matter. Baelkers already told her more than enough about me.
"Alright. Leave it to me. Follow me."
I lead her back to the center of the rose garden.
We stop, facing each other, a few steps apart.
She looks at me. Confused—but trusting.
We begin.
-----
Dorcha raises his hands above his head.
He turns, facing a different direction each time, and shouts to the sky.
"Water, Air, Earth, Fire!"
Then his hands trace a whirling circle.
"So that she may find the dwelling of the Great Knight, grant Aileen your protection!"
From the edges of the circle, a translucent green sphere takes shape and—
Where did he go?
He's gone! What do I do now? Where do I find him?
Did something happen to him?!
"Dorcha… Dorcha, where are you?!"
He suddenly appears, as if peeking through a curtain—just his head, part of his body, and an arm beckoning me inside.
I don't understand.
"You… I… but—"
"Come. Don't be afraid."
He takes my hand and gently draws me toward him.
Now that he's beside me again, I feel calmer.
With a brief motion of his hand, he seals the sphere.
It's as if a veil has closed over the outside world.
We're in a warm, spacious, welcoming room, with softly rounded walls.
And there's my bed. But how—
"What does this mean…?" I whisper.
"Baelkers told you I'm a bit of a mage, didn't he? Here you're safe, and you can sleep without worry. And whatever you dream inside this sphere, you won't forget it."
"And what will you do?"
"I'll watch over your dreams. We're safe, but elves are unpredictable—you never know. Come on, lie down."
I sit on the bed.
I'm so sleepy…
I lie down.
Everything grows muffled.
-----
She's asleep.
Perfect.
Now… we wait.