•Blazing Tribe Village•
[Gale's POV]
I opened my eyes.
My hands—tiny, delicate, shimmering faintly with residual magic. I was in my fairy size, perched on a tree branch high above the ground. I looked around, taking in my surroundings.
A village sprawled below me, nestled in a valley between two mountains. But it wasn't just any village—a shimmering barrier surrounded it, a dome of protective magic that pulsed with power. An elf village, I realized. The barrier was unmistakably elven craftsmanship.
Something felt wrong. A nagging sense at the back of my mind whispered that I shouldn't be here.
Of course I shouldn't be here, I thought bitterly. I should be in Elphame. If that damn Queen hadn't exiled me, I wouldn't be wandering through foreign lands like a beggar.
I spread my wings and flew toward the barrier. Fairy and elf magic were kin—centuries of alliance meant their barriers recognized us as friends. I passed through effortlessly, the magic parting around me like water.
