The Baby Isn’t Yours

Hemmie opened her mouth cautiously, seeming bewildered.

“Did you, by any chance, see an illusion?”

‘Illusion? Was it an illusion?’

Kalia pondered the question seriously before shaking her head.

“I’ve heard that illusions in the Fairy Forest usually show the person or thing you desire the most. But what I saw earlier was a stranger, and, above all, she looked like a fairy.”

“Ah, could it be that she’s a resident of this forest, maybe a fairy?”

“Likely.”

That was the most plausible hypothesis. However, a fully developed fairy wandering alone through the forest was somewhat unusual. Fairies of that size were typically higher-level fairies, part of the so-called ‘Fairy Folk.’

They were known for their strong bonds and generally didn’t roam alone.

‘Which means…’

There might be other fairy folk nearby.

Kalia heightened her senses, scanning her surroundings carefully. However, she couldn’t feel the presence or energy of any other fairy folk. The only thing she noticed was a bit closer now, behind a tree, the light yellow strands of hair.

‘…Why is she there?’

As Kalia watched her with a puzzled face, she looked down a little, towards the face of the fairy who was looking at her, and the woman stopped.

She was shy, hid again behind a tree and kicked her feet.

Kalia didn’t hear the sound it made, but somehow it seemed like the fairy was screaming with excitement.

‘Must it be an illusion too?’

Kalia frowned as she looked behind the tree more.

Was she trying to hide or not?

‘Is she hiding or not? I thought she left but she actually came closer. She’s close enough to be observed…’

Right now, the fairy was hiding behind a tree so slender it couldn’t cover her entire body. 

Parts of her hair and clothes peaked out from behind both sides of the tree. Dirt splashed everytime she stamped her feet. Truthfully, it was no different from signalling ‘I’m here’ with her body even though she was hiding.

Hemmie, who watched Kalia give a light sigh, tilted her head and thought the whole thing was strange.

“Hey, Kallia. What’s over there?”
“Hemmie. Behind that tree, you really can’t see that woman – no – that fairy?”

“Behind the tree? There’s nothing there.”

Hemmie replied as if she had no idea what was going on.

Kalia’s gaze couldn’t help but slide back and forth between Hemmie and the woman behind the tree.

After a few moments of silence, Kalia asked again:

“…Hemmie. You really can’t see anything?”

“Huh? Yes, there’s nothing… Why- what am I supposed to look at but am not seeing?”

At Hemmie’s unconfident reply, Kalia blinked in confusion.

‘What is this? Am I really seeing an illusion right now?’

Kalia turned back to the tree with a bewildered look. The hiding woman stuck her head out for another look again.

Then the fairy playfully waved her hand.

Kalia, with a slightly puzzled expression, stared at the hidden figure. The fairy, awkwardly, brought her hand down and scratched her cheek, her gaze darting around, her eyes seeming somewhat troubled.

‘…What is that creature?’

Observing from a distance, it didn’t seem like the creature was attempting to hide or disguise itself further.

After a brief pause, Kalia turned her head away. The situation wasn’t important.

‘First, let’s find the children.’

It didn’t seem like the creature was calling for others or friends, so Kalia focused on finding the kids, leaving the peculiar fairy behind.

* * *

“Tsk.”

Standing on a broken path, Kalia paused for a moment. Encountering the odd fairy had caused her to lose the wolf’s track .

She stood still on the broken path, examining her surroundings. With heightened senses, she could faintly detect a scent in the air. It was a mixture of blood and water.

“I can hear water sounds from over there. Let’s go that way first, Hemmie.”

The wolf may have gone towards the sound of water either to wash its blood or it was thirsty because of its heavy bleeding. Either way, it would be better to go towards sources of water first.

‘I hope the children are safe.’

Other than the monster that had attacked her earlier, Kalia hadn’t known there were more of them. That’s why she hurried to find the children.

However, just as she was about to take a step forward, something firmly gripped her wrist.

“…!”

Well, not exactly gripped. A hand did touch Kalia’s wrist, but it wasn’t the texture of a hand.

Kalia turned her head to look at the figure who had just caught her wrist.

For some reason, the fairy had gotten so close that it was impossible to tell when she approached, and she had grabbed Kalia’s wrist with all her might.

Upon closer inspection, the fairy barely seemed to have a presence.

Given the faint presence, it seemed like the fairy had weak powers.

However, at that moment, Sasha started to act up, as if it were responding to the fairy right in front of them.

‘Is it because of elven blood?’

Sasha had a hint of elf blood in him, but she didn’t realize that it would react this way. However, the connection couldn’t be too strong…

Kalia looked strangely at the fairy. She was slightly smaller than Kalia, somewhat larger than Hemmie, and had the appearance of a young adult woman. But her face looked quite youthful and innocent, somewhere between a teenager and someone in their twenties. There was no hint of malice or mischief in her expression. Rather, she exuded an oddly strong sense of affection.

“What are you doing?”

Kalia was caught by the fairy and her wrist was lifted, but that didn’t mean she would be dragged off by the fairy. She stood there motionless, staring at this mysterious creature with sullen eyes.

On the other hand, Hemmie looked at Kalia’s hand, which to her, was floating in mid-air in front of Kalia and wondered what was wrong with her.

“Why are you standing like that? Kalia? Oh! I-is it what you were saying earlier? Don’t tell me that fairy is holding your hand?”

Surprised, Hemmie swung her long sword blindly through the air, trying to drive back the fairy who was only visible to Kalia’s eyes.

As if annoyed by the recklessly swinging sword, the fairy glared at Hemmie and swung her foot out. Hemmie, who was still wielding her sword, got kicked by the fairy and was pushed backwards.

“Ouch! Who did that? Was it you, fairy? Show yourself!”

Hemmie shouted, threatening the invisible presence in the air with her sword. Meanwhile, the fairy went to Hemmie and stuck her tongue out at her.

Kalia watched the comical scuffle between Hemmie and the invisible fairy and shook her head.

Ignoring Hemmie, Kalia tried to move forward, but the fairy gripped her wrist with even stronger force and motioned for her to follow.

“Can’t you speak?” Kalia asked somewhat politely.

The fairy hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.

-Briefly.-

A soft murmur, as if a whispering breeze, reached Kalia’s ears.

Kalia nodded, understanding, but spoke in a stern tone:

“I don’t have time to play right now. I need to find the lost children.”

The fairy hesitated for a moment, then nodded as if agreeing. She thumped her chest and pointed in the direction she wanted Kalia to follow.

‘Can I trust her?’

As she was deliberating, the fairy seemed to glimpse Kalia’s suspicions from her facial expression and made a desperate face.

‘Well, the tracks are cut off here anyway. I could go in any direction from here.’

Kalia was filled with a mix of emotions. It was a gamble to follow this strange fairy, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility that the fairy might know something about the children.

“All right, I’ll follow you. But if there are no children there or if you’re playing a joke…”

She decided to proceed, but her dry tone conveyed a subtle threat:

“I will harm you if there’s nothing there.”

If this fairy could lead them to where the children were, that would be a tremendous help. However, if this turned out to be a prank or falsehood, they would be facing great risks.

There was nothing to fear if it was just her and Hemmie but, she had to be more harsh than usual because the children’s lives were at stake. It was a gamble, following this strange fairy now…

Somehow, Kalia felt that she could trust in this strange fairy. The strange fairy made eye contact with her and responded to Kalia with a big smile. She then motioned with her head and pursued her lips.

-This way.-

Kalia, who was staring at the beckoning fairy, followed slowly behind her with Hemmie.

* * *

They arrived at a vast flower pond. It was as if all the colors of the world had gathered in one place, with countless flowers spreading like a wildfire.

The air was filled with the scent of flowers, tickling Kalia’s senses. The variety of colors, fragrances, and scenery seemed overwhelming, making her head spin.

The gently swaying flowers in the breeze seemed to welcome the three newcomers.

Hemmie’s mouth hung open in awe. The only word she managed to utter was ‘Wow.’

Indeed, the scene was so mesmerizing that it left Hemmie, or anyone else for that matter, almost speechless. Everything, from the sound of the rustling flowers to their fragrances and colors, was perfect.

Even the graceful movements of the flower spirits that soared above the flowers, all harmoniously surrounding Kalia at the center, seemed like they belonged there.

Amidst everything, Kalia stood absentmindedly in the middle of the field, like a fairy born and raised there.