It looked quite a beautiful sight, especially like being surrounded by the prettiest flowers.
”It seems like whatever he is talking about seems to be interesting. Big Sis Miri, can we go too?” Little Uria asked as she blinked her big round eyes.
”Yes, yes. I want to know what he is saying as well. Please, Big Sis Miri. Big Sis Talia, you also want to listen, right?” Little Pina turned to look over at Talia, who had a subtle smile on her face as she looked at Viktor from afar.
”Okay, okay. Let’s go,” Miri said with a huff though inwardly, she was also curious how this big bad wolf was able to gain her sisters’ attention.
”Of course. But let’s not let them notice,” Talia said with a wink as they all subtly went towards where Viktor was.
A few moments after they left, the Fairy Queen stood in the same spot they were before and looked at Viktor from afar before looking at the large sacred tree in the middle, “Holy Godmother…what are you thinking?…He indeed does seem different…but why…”
—
After some time, Viktor was now standing beside the Fairy Queen, where the two were standing before the Tree of Life.
”Are you feeling comfortable here, Viktor?”
”Of course, beautiful fairy. With the hospitality you have shown me and being near your heavenly presence, how could I not feel comfortable?” Viktor said with a dazzling smile, making Seraphina, who heard his words, especially the part where he addressed her as ‘beautiful fairy’ subtly smile and say, “It seems like it is indeed true that you have a high affinity towards the opposite gender.”
Viktor softly chuckled as he said casually, “It seems like somebody seems to have told you some things about me. But don’t believe them. I am not as bad as they say.”
Seraphina subtly smiled, realizing that it was quite refreshing to talk to him. Any man she had talked to before would desperately try to hide their dark or vile intentions, while some wouldn’t hide them but instead carry them out, though she taught them a lesson.
”So this is where the Holy Godmother rests? And you still have no idea why she wanted me to stay?” Viktor asked as he looked up at the tree, still not being able to see how tall it was.
Seraphina shook her head as she said in a soft voice, “I can only sense her will but not the reason behind it. But she never wills anything for no reason, and I am sure she asked you to stay for a good reason. It seems like you have already made some friends with my daughters. I am sorry if they seemed too wary of you at first, but I had to teach them to be like that so that they would learn to protect themselves. The outside world is not safe like it was in ancient times.”
Viktor’s brows pulled together as he asked, “And how was it during ancient times?”
Seraphina looked up and said, “Our realm was once a part of a bigger realm. It was never this small. In fact, most of the races lived in a single realm…in harmony, and even if small differences or conflicts existed…they never went out of control. But it all changed when humans began to get powerful, learning and mastering secret arts that allowed them to push their limits and gain more power. However, no matter how powerful they got, their lifespans weren’t that long to their liking. They wanted more so that they could get more time to gain even more power. It was a vicious cycle of greed for which they were willing to do anything.”
”So they tried to steal the Fruit of Youth?”
”We actually call it the Fruit of the Blessed One. But that was not the only thing. They even tried to exploit us to the point we were going to be extinct. Of course, not all humans were evil, but we also realized that humans weren’t the only race that possessed selfishness and greed. At that time, when we were in trouble, none of the other races we had a friendship with came to help us. In fact, some of the corrupted ones, among them who had been looking for an opportunity the entire time, tried to join the humans in destroying us and our home.”
”You all couldn’t have stopped them?” Viktor asked since he felt that even the Fairy Queen must possess considerable magic power.
Seraphina placed her hand on her chest as she said in a euphonious tone, “We are not creatures of violence and conflict, and so we are not used to fighting anyone. Our powers are mainly built to protect and cherish life in any form. We also do not desire anything that is not our own. Instead, we sometimes grant wishes to those who desire good things. If someone or even a human farmer wished for a good harvest after working so hard, we would grant it. Or if someone was in deep trouble with evil people, we would help them out. We considered that as our duty and were happy to do it, especially when we considered it as the purpose of our existence. We still want to…but I am afraid of history repeating itself…especially after what happened to the Holy Godmother…”
Viktor sighed as he said, “I understand…your race is so pure and kind…we really do not deserve your help. Well, I don’t want to be the bad guy, so I want to ask you if I can take this fruit with me? A certain someone gave it to me, but I still wanted to know if a stranger like me could take it,” Viktor asked as he showed her the rainbow fruit.
Seraphina looked in his direction and faintly smiled, making it quite a dreamy and pure sight, “You really are different. Even if beings like you possess a long lifespan, most of them won’t hesitate to eat the fruit, especially when they have the chance to gain 100 years’ worth of power. However, you can take it. Consider it a token of gratitude for agreeing to stay for a while. Still, the next time you eat such a fruit, you will only receive half the benefits and so on. But it seems like you don’t plan to eat it…do you?”
”It is for a human…who doesn’t possess an odic heart. I can only hope she can comfortably live for 100 years longer with this,” Viktor said with a slight smile.
”You have a good heart…especially when you are willing to give it to someone whose lifespan might be just a blink of an eye for you.”
Viktor ruefully smiled as he said, “My heart is far from good, beautiful fairy. If you knew my past and the kind of person I have been, I wouldn’t be surprised if you kicked me out.”
”But I know who you are, Viktor. I have already seen a glimpse of your life in the world you have been living in all this while. And it seems…your life is filled with so much pain and tragedy, yet you hide it all under your smile and laughs. I have never met anyone stronger than you…” Seraphina said in a soft silvern voice, making Viktor slowly look at her with a complicated expression.