"The three of you don't seem to have wings," the fairy man says, placing a hand on his chin. "Are you hiding them under your clothes?"
Terra's breath catches in her throat. That's something they can't lie about. Is it already over? Is this… thing going to realize they don't belong and send them wherever the rest of the humans went?
"No," the professor answers, making Terra's heart skip a beat.
He walks closer to them. "I see. Are you half-fanice, then?"
"Yes, that's right." the professor answers instantly. Terra remembers the section on half-fairies this morning. That's right, they don't always have wings. she thinks. So, that's the angle Professor Faramund is playing. "We've been in hiding for a long time. Surely, you can understand that due to… past circumstances."
The creature pauses for a moment, narrowing his gaze. For a moment, pink particles appear in the air. His eyes sparkle with flecks of them, and he analyzes the professor closely, as if looking for something. This fairy, no, fanice, is terrifying, with his tall physique, roots covering his skin, and enormous wings spread as wide as a car, yet impressively, Professor Faramund doesn't even flinch.
Seeming satisfied, the fanice folds his wings behind his back, and his gaze softens. "Yes, I understand. Well, come with me then. We could use some help down in the village. I will escort the three of you there."
The professor steps forward, following him as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Terra simmers with rage, but she pushes it down. She has no idea how the professor got this man not to be suspicious of them, but she's just going to pretend she knows what's going on for now, at least until they can find a moment in private to ask questions. She makes eye contact with Eila. The little girl is trembling like a leaf. Terra places a finger over her mouth, signaling not to say anything that could give them away. Her sister nods faintly.
They walk across the street—past the smoking, empty vehicles and already collapsing buildings. To think that only a few minutes ago, this was a bustling city. Now, they could be the only humans left. She has no idea how they didn't disappear, but she knows it has everything to do with the professor. From the strange fairy lecture to her seeming to know precisely when this apocalypse would happen, she's obviously involved. Terra glares at Professor Faramund's back as she walks in front of them, telling the man about how humanity's downfall was inevitable. He agrees wholeheartedly. Meanwhile, Terra clenches her fists. What have these creatures done with the people of this city? Are they dead? Gone from existence? She clenches her fists tighter, resentful of the fanice man's nonchalant attitude to her people being wiped out. However, before she can go any further, Eila grabs one of her balled-up hands and squeezes it. Her wide, little brown eyes say, No. Not now.
Terra returns to reality. She squeezes Eila's hand, taking a deep breath. Her sister is right. Now's not the time to lose her cool. The professor knew this was going to happen, so she must have a plan. For now, Terra should use the information she learned from this morning's lecture and try not to arouse suspicion. Then, when they get a moment alone, she can get a full explanation.
The group makes their way down a road winding around the mountain. On the way, they weave past the rubble of crashed cars and broken pieces of road. Lower and lower they tread until they reach a rather old-looking house at the bottom of the mountain. Much like the mall, this place is made of brick and stone. It looks like a one-bedroom home, two at the most. It would have been cheap on the housing market, but Terra doesn't recall seeing anything like this for sale. The man opens the rickety wooden door with a loud creeeaaakkk, and the others wince at the sound. He gestures for them to come inside and promptly closes it behind them.
The house really does feel like a snapshot of ancient human history. The inner walls are made of plaster painted white, while the floors are hardwood. The use of wood in homes is banned because trees are rare on this planet. They can only grow in the habitable zone, which is becoming increasingly populated. However, here it is anyway. How did this home go undetected by the police?
The fanice escorts them, steps to the center of the room, and stretches out his wings. They shimmer in different shades of aqua in the light trickling from the glass windows. Strangely, there doesn't seem to be any furniture in this house: only the floors and walls, and now they are standing in the center, extremely out of place.
"I'm Gabriel, by the way," he says. "The entrance to the village is just down the hall. Are you ready to see it?"
The professor bows slightly. "It's good to meet you, Gabriel. I'm Damira, and these are my kids, Terra and Eila. They've lived on the surface their whole lives, so this will be a new experience for them."
Kids? Terra thinks, looking between them and the professor. Gabriel looks more related to Professor Faramund than they do. Is he really going to buy such a blatant lie?
"Oh, I see," he says, looking at the two of them. "So, that makes you a half-fanice, and them quarter-fanice? The three of you get more interesting by the minute. You must have spent your whole lives on the surface. I'm jealous."
It looks like he bought it. Gabriel seems gullible, which is a good thing right now. Terra hopes he stays that way.
"Yes, that is correct," the professor responds. "Please bear with me as well. It has been a long time since I've been to the village. You know, because of previous events."
"Of course. I promise things will be different now that the humans are gone. Whether you're a quarter or half-fanice, you will be accepted. The world is about to be completely transformed. Now, let's head downstairs."
Gabriel folds his wings behind his back again and heads down a narrow hallway coming out of the back of the room. With no choice but to follow, the trio keeps up their charade. The hall appears to end abruptly, with no other entrances in sight. That is until Gabriel grips what seems to be a loose floorboard and pulls up an entire secret door with it. It was so well-blended into the floor; Terra didn't notice it until now. Gabriel grunts and heaves the massive door up against the wall. "No need to close it. This place doesn't have to be a secret anymore." He grabs a lantern hanging on the wall, and seemingly on its own, the lantern lights itself.
Terra squints, trying to spot a secret fuel source. All technology has stopped working, so how did that lantern light itself just now? Gabriel mentioned "magic" earlier, but magic is scientifically implausible. Unless… she recalls the professor's lecture earlier. Is that what she was trying to warn Terra about? That, in some way, magic is possible, and there were people who could use it right under their noses? This doesn't feel real.
As they head down the ancient wooden stairway, Gabriel stays silent for a few minutes. Then, nerve-rackingly, he looks back at the two girls. "How old are you two?"
Terra tenses. "I'm twenty-one, and my sister is six."
"Interesting. I'm nineteen. It'll be nice to have someone else close to my age around. Tell me, Terra, are you nervous to come to the village?"
She flinches at the sound of her name uttered by this creature. "N-No, it sounds… fun." She squeezes Eila's hand a little tighter.
"No need to lie," Gabriel says. "Look, I'm sure your mother told you both about how halflings used to be treated in the past. It must be hard to accept that we're different now, but you will see when we get there. I'm sure many will be curious about you. Most of them haven't seen the sky in years. They will have much to ask you, as do I." He slows down until he's walking next to Terra and Eila. The roots on his face are a deep umber in the torchlight, and his turquoise eyes shimmer with orange. "What did you used to do in the city?"
Terra tenses at how close he is. To walk next to each other in this narrow corridor, their shoulders have to be nearly touching. She's unsure if she can hide how tense she is when this thing is so close. "Wh-What do you mean?"
"I hear humans give out something called 'jobs'. What role did you have in the community?"
Terra meets the professor's gaze, wondering if it would be okay to talk about herself. The professor nods in approval. So, she chooses to answer honestly. "Oh, well, I was a university student. I was studying to be a doctor."
"A… doctor?"
"You know, one who gives medicine to people and helps heal them when they're sick."
"Ohhh, a medic!" Gabriel proclaims. "A very admirable art. I would love to learn more about it. Everyone should have medical skills. After all, that knowledge can save lives. You will be an asset to our community, indeed."
Terra looks at the floor. She wasn't studying medicine for a reason as noble as that. It was only to provide for her family. Doctor was one of the most esteemed professions in Nadura City. If she had managed to become one… what happened to her and Eila all those years ago would never happen again. She supposes none of that matters now, though. All that studying, wasted.
"Did I say something to offend you?" Gabriel asks. The firelight flickers with his hardening expression.
Terra scrambles for an excuse. "I was just thinking about school. It was difficult, and it's a shame I never got to finish."
"It's a shame?" he says, raising an eyebrow. "All fae folk have known The Vanishing would happen for decades now. You could have planned around it. Why were you unable to finish?"
Realizing she's made a mistake, Terra's breath catches in her throat, but before she can stammer into a poorly thought-out excuse, the professor comes to her rescue. "Oh, my girls have never been good with planning. I told her to finish school before today, but she kept putting it off. Now we're here. Do not worry, though. I'm sure she and Eila will be an asset to the community regardless."
"I… see." Gabriel says. "Well, don't procrastinate here. The people do not take kindly to that." Finally, he makes his way to the front again. Terra exhales, her heart pounding through her chest. She wonders how her little sister is holding up in all of this. After all, this must be hard to handle for a six-year-old. Terra checks on Eila, who seems to be staring ahead in a trance. She waves a hand over her face, and Eila looks up at her. "It's so pretty."
"What is?" she whispers.
"It's like the playground, but better," Eila says, pointing ahead of them.
Terra looks forward and notices the tunnel expanding. Ahead of them is a vast open cavern, and every inch of it is covered in plants. Light bugs fly all around, illuminating several small cottages surrounding a winding dirt road. Flowers of all colors of the rainbow cover the ground, and dozens of winged creatures, just like Gabriel, tend to them.
"We've made it," Gabriel says. "Welcome to Faecliff Village."
…
Faecliff Village looks straight out of a fantasy world.
Immediately, Terra can tell where the place got its name from. As they walk across the dirt path, past the foliage-covered cottages, she spots a steep drop ahead. A massive cliff divides the village into two, and at the bottom of that drop is a gorgeous fountain with a life-sized statue of two fairies: one, a gruff-looking woman with long blonde hair, and the other, a feminine-looking man with side-swept brown hair. They both wear crowns on their heads. Around the fountain is a plaza where some fanice play music while others dance around with glee. Others still, are rushing out of their homes with bags in hand. "Today is the day!" some scream. "We're finally free!"
This whole time… this place was right under Nadura City, and no one knew? How is that possible? Terra stares at the professor as if begging for answers now. However, all she does is look behind them.
A crowd has gathered. Following them are dozens of fanice. Some have blue wings, others yellow, green, and orange. Some appear to be old, like the professor, while others are young children, like Eila. A few even attempt to approach her, and Terra raises an arm in front of her sister. They don't even know what these things are. She won't let them touch her.
They all talk at the same time.
"Who are these people?"
"Are they half-fanice?"
"Where did they come from? I haven't heard of a half-fanice being born in ages."
"They have no wings! How strange."
"They aren't on the humans' side, are they?"
Before the crowd can overwhelm them, Gabriel steps in between. "Back up. They're new here. Do not overwhelm them."
The aggressive crowd backs away instantly. Their talking turns to whispering among them, as if they're afraid for him to hear.
Flutter flutter
Then Terra hears the beating of wings, and from the higher points of the cavern, a massive figure lands in front of them. "Go back to packing your things, everyone," she commands. "This does not concern you." At that command, the crowd disperses.
The most noticeable thing about this fanice is those violet and yellow wings. They're a different color combination than anyone else in the cavern, and they match her tawny skin and bronze roots perfectly. On either of her broad shoulders are tattoos of leaves, flowers, and mushrooms intertwined with the roots, and her face is round with a square jawline. Her dark brown hair is shaved on either side of her head, and her eyes, perfectly matching the bright purple in her wings, are narrow and piercing, as if she's sizing them up with her gaze alone. Finally, there seems to be an axe strapped to her back. It's longer than Eila, and the blade is out for all to see, shimmering in the cave light.
She walks up to them and standing up straight; she's even taller than Gabriel. She's well past six feet, easily dwarfing Terra, Eila, and the professor. "I'm Michaela," she says, stretching out a hand. Terra takes it, and it's the tightest handshake imaginable. It's almost as if she's trying to crush her.
"Gabriel," she says, turning to him. "Who are these… halflings, and where have you been? You should have been back from the surface half an hour ago."
He smiles nervously. "Well, after The Vanishing, I found these folks. They looked like they needed some help. This is Damira. She's a half-fanice, and these are her kids: Terra and Eila. They're quarter-fanice, but still fae nonetheless."
"And you brought them down here? Why? When your father finds out—"
"My father promised to turn over a new leaf after The Vanishing," Gabriel interrupts. "So, you should, too. All the humans are gone. That's for sure. So these people are one of us even if they have human blood. There's no need for his arbitrary rules or anyone's prejudice anymore, okay?"
Michaela scoffs. "Even so, it's not your responsibility to care for them. Let someone else—"
"I am exactly where I want to be. Now go, Michaela. I will call you when you are needed."
"But sire, you—"
"That's an order," he declares.
Michaela's face falls. "Fine, but you will meet with us after they get settled. Come soon. I will not wait long." With one last disdainful glance at Terra and her family, she flies back toward the ceiling. Terra now realizes how much is up there. It must be hundreds of feet tall, and in every nook and cranny, there's either a massive plant or a house in the walls. The fae folk fly from home to home and plant to plant as if it's as natural as walking. For them, it probably is.
"I thought you said they'd be more accepting," the professor states.
"It's… a work in progress," Gabriel says, scratching his head. "Anyway, why don't I show you to your lodgings? Many people are moving to the surface today, so there are a lot of open cottages. I'd like the three of you to get a taste of village life, at least for a little while. That way, once we start building on the surface, you'll know what to expect. What do you think?"
Terra and Eila both look to the professor. She smirks, lengthening the wrinkles on her face. "Yes, that would be perfect. Please point us to an empty cottage, preferably one on the ground."
"Of course," he says, chuckling. "That's a given." He leads them on a path across the cliffside until they come across a cabin nestled against the wall. Terra would have preferred their home not to be next to a one-hundred-foot drop, but at the very least, there are several trees between the cottage and certain death, so it's probably good enough. She'll need to make some rules with Eila not to climb those particular trees, though.
"Will this do?" he asks.
"It will do nicely, thank you." The professor glances around, and so does Terra. To the left of the home is a small fenced-in yard with a sandbox. It looks like it's been used recently, too. Beyond that is more foliage. It gets thicker as it grows further from the house. There don't seem to be any close neighbors, which Terra greatly appreciates. Perhaps Gabriel did that on purpose because of what happened earlier. Regardless of the reason, he's considerate for someone involved in Nadura City's disappearance.
"I will leave you all now," Gabriel says. He bows and spreads his wings. "I will come back to check on you all in the evening. I should appease Michaela and my other guards. Goodbye!" Before they can respond, he spreads his wings and takes off, flying towards the ceiling and back the way they came. Terra exhales as if she's been holding her breath all day. They had too many close calls there, and she has about a million questions for the professor.
Professor Faramund practically shoves them inside and slams the door behind them. The cottage's interior is just as cute and full of nature as the exterior, with plants spreading out of their pots and across the walls and lingering over the couches and one-person beds scattered across the room. The professor collapses at a desk with a lit candle and sighs loudly. The girls sit on the couch nearby, and for a moment, none of them say anything. Terra was so angry earlier—furious that the professor hadn't told her about any of this. Then, she was terrified when she said the wrong thing and almost got them caught. Now, she's mostly feeling grateful they're alive.
Then, Eila begins to cry.
The tears burst from her eyes like a broken dam, and she grabs Terra's shirt sleeve. "Wh-What's going to happen to us?"
Terra throws her arms around her sister. Little Eila handled that situation so well that she almost forgot: she's only six. This must be even more confusing to her than either of them. "It's going to be okay," Terra says. "This is just a game, alright? We're fanice now. Not humans. We're going to pretend we fit in with them and that we belong, much like how you pretend to be the mom when you play house with your friends. Can you do that for me, Eila?"
The brave little girl sniffles, and then nods slowly. "I'm good at pretending, but… where did everyone go?"
Terra wonders the same thing, and they both turn to the professor. "Professor Faramund," she starts. "It's safe to talk here, right?"
The professor nods. "If you haven't already guessed, all electronics are down. At least, the ones we're familiar with. The fanice have no way of listening in. We can talk freely now."
"Then, are you finally going to fill us in? That was terrifying, you know. You could have warned us this was going to happen and, I don't know, told us what to expect. I almost got us caught back there because I have no idea what is happening."
"Yeah, why didn't you tell us?" Eila asks.
"If I had, would you even have believed me?" the professor asks. "You hardly accepted that lecture I did on fae this morning, Terra. I said as much as possible, but you would never have listened if I had told you they were about to take over."
Terra grits her teeth. "Well, we're listening now. You have to tell us what's going on. Who are these 'fanice' people? Why are they taking over now, and… where did the citizens of Nadura City go?"
The professor looks out a window that sits next to the desk. Vines cover their view to the outside, making the window objectively pointless, but it looks nice, nonetheless. "Those questions all have complicated answers, but I'll start with this: the people who disappeared; they're alive. They still live, and we're going to rescue them."