The gates of Doras Dhagda stood firm in the fading light, their stones humming with quiet magic. Ancient runes pulsed along the frame, sensing our approach.
Beyond them, the settlement bustled with a mix of Celtic heritage and glowing enchantments. The air itself felt charged with anticipation.
As we approached, watchmen on the walls spotted us and shouted a signal. Their calls echoed from one guard to another, growing into cheers.
By the time we reached the entrance, the gates swung open, and a surge of familiar faces rushed forward, smiling brighter than the twilight.
Lillia darted out first, her green eyes shining with relief. Dark curls bounced as she ran, silent joy lighting her features.
She hurled herself into my arms, her expression saying more than any words. Without hesitation, I held her tight, warmth flowing between us.
The way she leaned against me felt like returning home after a long storm. She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, and the small gesture left me breathless.
Before I realized it, I spun her in a light arc, surprised at how easily she glided in my arms. Her silent laughter sparkled in her eyes, stirring a gentle longing in my chest.
It reminded me of something I hadn't known I missed. As Lillia stepped back, her fingers trailed on mine for a moment, a silent promise I wasn't ready to break.
Then Rauri stepped forward, his usual energy charging the moment like a bright flare.
"There you are!" he called, seizing Hamish's arm in a solid greeting. "You've been gone over a week. We were about to send a search party."
He turned to Chaucer next. "And you, Rat Assassin—I was sure you'd come back in one piece."
Chaucer put a hand to his chest in mock offense. "One piece? I'm the star here! Let it be known the Fairy Queen herself fell by my hand."
This made those nearby laugh as though he'd delivered the best punchline. Then he hurried to the kobold patrols, who greeted him with cheers.
Standing on a crate, he launched into a vivid tale of our exploits, his voice carrying proudly. Snow made her way through the crowd, staff tapping gently against the stones.
She found Sorcha near the hearth, where flames danced like they were listening in. Snow's words spilled out quickly.
"Sorcha, you won't believe what we discovered—her sanctum, her treasure, everything. It was incredible. And terrifying. I learned so much."
She clutched her staff, traces of frost still at her fingertips. Sorcha nodded, calm and watchful.
She encouraged Snow with small smiles, letting her recount every detail. Her wise eyes reflected the firelight, as though she saw even deeper truths behind Snow's story.
We started to settle, the clan slowly gathering around. Soon, Moira's voice filled our thoughts.
It was both kind and commanding, like a guiding hand placed gently on our shoulders.
"You have served Albion well, my chosen," she said, her tone echoing through our minds. "The west was unknown to us, and now its secrets are revealed. For your bravery, you are granted fresh wisdom and a token of Albion's power."
A golden light enveloped each of us, warm as morning sun. Our thoughts felt clearer, as though new knowledge had been woven into our minds.
Tangible gifts appeared in our hands, each humming with promise. I turned over the Amulet of Resonant Recall, a fine silver chain that gleamed like captured moonlight.
It granted perfect memory of anything learned in the last week—an archaeologist's treasure indeed.
"This will be a great help," I murmured, slipping it on. I tested it, recalling the Fairy Queen's sanctum with perfect clarity, down to every twisting corridor.
Hamish flexed his fingers in brand-new Radiant Gauntlets. Runes glowed across the backs, a steady light pushing away shadows.
"These are more than armor," he said, voice soft with respect. "I think they'll prove handy against anything dark."
He clenched his fists, and a pulse of light rippled across them, sending a few startled kobolds scurrying. Snow's new Orb of Perpetual Frost hovered close to her chest, gently chilling the air.
"It fits right in with what I've been practicing," she said, storing it in a pouch at her belt. Tiny flakes swirled around her wrist, a playful glimpse of the frosts she could conjure.
Chaucer swept a Cloak of Shadows over his shoulders, the fabric shifting like living shade.
"Well, if I wasn't sneaky enough before, I am now," he joked, winking at the onlookers. He pulled it tight, disappeared for a second, and reappeared with a dramatic bow that made people laugh.
Langston stood off to one side, staring at the strange bracelet he'd taken from the Fairy Queen. Its metal surface caught the firelight, runes pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He lifted a hand, and the veins on his wrist glowed blue when they neared dense magic. The bracelet seemed to respond to something in his blood.
During one battle, I saw it release spinning threads that siphoned magical energy to form electric blasts. That sight still sent a shiver up my spine.
Now, he studied it with a mix of fascination and fear, jaw set tight.
"What do you think it does?" I asked, keeping my voice calm.
Langston's eyes never left the device. "It's beyond what I expected. Advanced. And dangerous."
I noticed a dim glow under his skin. "You should let Sorcha look at it," I offered.
"No," he snapped, cradling it protectively. "I'll handle it myself."
His words were sharp, but the way he held it spoke of alarm as much as anger. Hamish's voice cut through the tension.
"Oy, Langston! Your new partner's acting up again. Maybe sweet-talk her a bit?"
There was rough humor in his tone, but also concern. Langston glared back, muttering something I couldn't hear.
Finally, he strode away, leaving the rest of us to the clan's welcome and the feast that followed. The gathering soon came alive with the clan's best fare: fresh bread, roasted meats, and richly spiced stews.
The flavors could've been simple talent, or they could've been boosted by a touch of magic. Either way, they warmed me to the bone.
Chaucer instantly declared himself the best dancer, leading a swirl of spins and dips that even the kobolds tried to copy. Rauri and Hamish battled for attention from a group of clan women and curious kobolds.
Lillia and I found a quiet spot, letting the music lull us into a gentle sway. Her silent laughter matched the soft instruments.
I guided her behind a tent, where the world felt more still. Her green eyes sparkled in the firelight, her raven curls framing her face.
I drew her close, the pulse of music fading as my heart pounded in my ears. Without thinking, I kissed her—a light brush of lips, a question I hadn't known I wanted to ask.
Pulling back, I saw her cheeks color at first, then brighten in a smile that could have lit the entire grove. She looped her arms around my neck and kissed me again, passion flaring like a spark in dry leaves.
Her warmth ran through me, stronger than any campfire. I let myself go for a moment, heart settling into a new harmony with hers.
Then Moira's gentle whistle sounded in our minds, a soft nudge that shattered the spell. Lillia huffed wordlessly, her face flushing, and we returned to the party, hand in hand.
She brought me a cup of sweet mead, the honeyed taste matching her grin. Nearby, Snow held off a series of polite suitors, each attempt bolder than the last.
She responded with kind gestures, sending them away disappointed but respectful. Later, I noticed Langston sitting at the edge of the celebrations, an outsider in his own mind.
He watched the singing and dancing with a distant stare, as though he wanted to join but didn't know how. His eyes flicked to the bracelet on his wrist, confusion and longing in his expression.
He'd always trusted science and logic. Now he was face-to-face with a world that neither obeyed nor cared about those rules.
I recalled telling him, "Magic's only limit is imagination." Judging by the storm behind his gaze, those words had stayed with him.
He brushed a hand across the device, the runes lighting up faintly. Doubts and questions seemed to weigh on him.
Quietly, he muttered something about imagination being wider than knowledge, sounding as though it made him feel lost. As the feast drew to a close, clan members drifted to their tents, laughter trailing off with the smoke.
The air stilled, carrying the warmth of shared stories and the promise of tomorrow. Lillia and I exchanged a lingering look before she returned to her family, leaving my hand cold where hers had been.
Though it was late, I still felt drawn to the Fairy Sanctum core. I reached into my pocket dimension, retrieving the relic we'd taken from the Queen.
STEVE's loud voice boomed in my ear, trying to deliver the week's reports and criticize Ewan MacEwan's leadership style.
"Inefficient," he declared in that dry tone of his. "Too focused on worker morale."
I hushed him, promising to review it in the morning. My mind was already on the core and its lingering menace.
Inside DAVE's sanctum, the cheerful crystal greeted me with eager light.
"Ah, My Lord! Finder of secrets, master of possibilities! How may I serve?"
"You can start by easing up on the compliments," I said, holding out the Fairy Sanctum core. Its surface rippled with dark energy, remnants of the Queen's power still active within.
DAVE's light dimmed instantly. "This is worse than anything we've absorbed before," he said, voice suddenly serious. "That hatred still lives inside it."
I placed a hand on his crystal surface. "We'll go slow. If it becomes too risky, we stop. But we have to see if there's anything useful in there. And I trust you."
DAVE brightened a bit at that, though worry still colored his glow. "I'll do what I can, My Lord," he said, filaments of light extending from his form.
Each strand reached for the dark core, starting to pull in its power a little at a time. The air crackled with unseen power as DAVE's light touched the darkness.
Each strand trembled when it contacted the core's surface. I channeled steady flows of light and earth magic, creating a barrier between DAVE and the corrupting influence.
The strain made my vision blur at the edges. Even with our precautions, the core pulsed with increasing strength.
"My Lord," DAVE's voice wavered slightly, "I'm detecting unusual patterns beneath the surface. This corruption feels... deliberate."
Even then, concern gnawed at my insides. This core wasn't just magical material – it was a vessel for something we barely understood.
I risked losing DAVE to it if something went wrong. But I held my ground, channeling energy into him, determined not to let the Fairy Queen's final curse remain unchecked.
The core pulsed again, stronger this time. DAVE's light flickered, just for a moment.
"There's something else inside," he whispered. "Something waiting."