As we emerge from the forest, a towering fortress comes into view—its thick yellow bricks glowing under the starlight.
Fireflies flit around the structure, their soft lights blending with the shifting hues spilling from within. Above us, the sky stretches dark and endless, a quiet contrast to the fortress walls rising before us.
The gate is forged from dark metal, pulsing with a faint, cold shimmer. It stands silent and unwelcoming, a sentinel barring our path. Two armored guards flank the entrance, their rigid stances unwavering as their sharp gazes sweep over us.
Scarlette stares at the fortress in wide‑eyed awe. I'm not much better.
"Please, let us in," the Light Fairy pleads softly.
One of the guards narrows his eyes and addresses her directly. "Who are they, Lumera?"
"A Love Fairy and a Dark Fairy," she answers steadily. "They saved me from a vampire earlier. The Dark Fairy killed it, and the Love Fairy healed me."
Lumera. What a painfully predictable name for a Light Fairy. I bite back a smirk.
One of the guards turns to Scarlette, suspicion flickering in his gaze. "What business does a Dark Fairy have here?"
I silently pray she says something reasonable. She has a game plan—I'm sure of it. The problem is, she's the worst liar in existence. But maybe—just maybe—she'll surprise me.
Scarlette gasps dramatically, hands flying to her hips. "Me? A Dark Fairy? Excuse you! How dare you?"
I nearly choke. She forgets our cover entirely.
Before I can intervene, the second guard studies me, then tilts his head. "It can't be him. He seems too… kind to be a Dark Fairy."
The first guard hesitates, then nods.
Kind? I am not a kind person. What an insult. But emotions never get the better of me, so I give a courteous smile. I have to be more composed than the one who can't lie.
Scarlette turns to me with an unreadable expression. I lean in, my voice low and urgent. "Apply your mind. We've come too far for you to undo everything now."
She straightens, blinking at me blankly. I swear, sometimes she terrifies me. Other times, I just wonder what goes on in the space between her ears.
Then, without missing a beat, she claps a hand on my shoulder. "You do the talking."
Oh. Now she's being rational. Finally.
Then—because the universe hates me—Lumera decides now is the perfect time to make formal introductions.
What is wrong with her? What's wrong with everyone?
"By the way, I'm Lumera! I didn't get your names earlier," she beams.
I'm sure her smile is genuine, but we need names that won't leave a trace. Something that suits our… identities.
"She's Charlotte, and I'm Ravos," I say smoothly, my tone unwavering.
Beside me, Scarlette's eyes go wide.
"Yes, I know. Charlotte sounds almost human, but that's what makes our relationship work," I add, watching the guards' tension ease.
Come on, you have to give points to a Dark Fairy trying to be more human. I would know—it's what I've wanted for myself.
"I am Ravos," I continue, pushing through the nausea twisting in my stomach. "Ra for the sun, and Vos for… full of love."
The moment I say it, I regret every decision that has led me to this point.
"You're a sun full of love?!" Lumera cheers, clapping her hands.
Oh, fantastic, Lumera. Now we can frolic over rainbows and braid each other's hair. Repulsive.
Scarlette bursts out laughing, and I turn to glare at her, my expression pure disgust.
She only laughs harder.
"What's so funny?" one of the guards asks, eyeing her suspiciously.
"He's making funny faces at me," she snickers, pointing at me like I'm some sort of court jester.
I am not making faces. I am suffering.
"Oh, give them a break," Lumera chimes in. "It's been a long day, and they've been bickering nonstop."
Scarlette sighs dramatically. "Can they hurry up?" she mutters—far too loudly.
Here we go again.
"And what's the rush?" a guard asks, even more suspicious now.
"I, uh… need to pee," she blurts.
No. No, no, no. She did not just say that.
I force a smile, placing a reassuring (but warning) hand on her shoulder. "Charlotte, love, let the guards do their job. I'm sure there's a washroom inside."
My tone is calm, soothing even—but my glare? Pure murder.
The guards exchange looks before suddenly smiling.
"Oh! A progressive couple! Why didn't you say so? We've let a few in before," one says cheerfully.
…Wait. Is that how Dark Fairies have been infiltrating this place? Because these absolute buffoons think they're just mixed‑fairy couples?
Are you kidding me?
"Why didn't you just say so?" the first guard says brightly, unlocking the gate.
It actually works.
"Don't worry, we don't discriminate," the second adds proudly.
That's the actual problem, isn't it?
"See you around, Charlotte and Ravos!" they call as the gate swings shut behind us.
Scarlette glances at me, smirking.
I have no words.
As I wave toward them with a forced smile, I mutter under my breath, "Eat shit and die, you clueless fools."