Chapter 43: The Fairy Village [II]
–Chapter 43–
Title>> The Fairy Village [II]
The escort’s line suddenly got tighter and they gave Xavier little to no opportunity to watch and study the route ahead.
So Xavier did what Hunter X had always done best. He speedran the observations.
The narrow woodland trail gradually gave way to carefully woven root paths that curled around enormous living trees instead of cutting through them.
More than once, Xavier had to turn his shoulders slightly just to avoid brushing against low-hanging branches that had clearly been grown for fairy-sized residents rather than humans.
Even as he struggled, not even once did the escort slow down for him. Fiona that was almost same size didn’t struggle either.
A few more steps later, Xavier felt something strange. There was no wall or gate neither was there a barrier standing in his way.
Yet the moment his foot crossed an invisible point along the winding path, the atmosphere around him shifted ever so slightly.
It wasn’t something he could properly explain. But it felt like a repellent held his footing in place for only a second or two then it disappeared.
The sudden clarity he got was like walking from one room into another through a doorway that wasn’t physically there.
Hanging on his HUD the evidence of the feeling manifested.
[ Location Discovered]
[Fairy Village I]
[Status: Hidden Settlement]
Xavier’s eyes lingered on the notification for only a second before understanding subtly settled in.
"So that’s it..."
The system hadn’t recognized the village from way back at the cliff.
Not from the garden where he’d first regained consciousness. And not even while he was being escorted through its outer perimeter.
It was only now. Just after he’d crossed whatever invisible threshold the fairies themselves hadn’t even acknowledged.
That recognition became evident. If that was the case, could he reach "V" again.
’Wait...I can’t reach her unless she does it first..’
Xavier sighed deeply, while his gaze swept across the settlement ahead without slowing his pace for a second.
One thing was certain about this place. The concealment over it wasn’t child’s play and whatever protected this place wasn’t merely hiding it from wandering eyes.
Because even the System itself hadn’t been capable of registering its existence until he stepped inside.
Who would have thought...
One leap of faith had turned him into Indiana Jones.
Xavier shook his head they went down a winding path that gradually descended deeper into a valley.
A broad root bridge curved naturally between two colossal trees whose canopies had long since grown into one another, forming a living ceiling of emerald leaves above the procession.
Xavier followed the escorts across without a word. As they reached the other side, the village finally opened itself to him.
’Beautiful!’ Xavier said inwardly as he saw the settlement as a whole rather than scattered pieces.
The homes of the fairies weren’t carved into the trees. They were the trees.
Trees with massive trunks had been carefully guided over the years into walls, roofs and archways, the living wood bending and twisting into homes that were just as alive as the forest around them.
Elevated walkways wound between the upper levels, linking one home to another high above the ground.
Below, narrow streams flowed gently through the village, replacing roads entirely as polished stone crossings and smaller root bridges connected different sections of the settlement.
Further into the valley, terraces had been carved directly into the cliffside itself, each level supporting more homes, gardens and lookout platforms that blended so naturally into the landscape they almost disappeared against the rock.
"Beautiful," said openly without meaning to.
At this point, it wasn’t just the splendid greenery that caught his eye but how it was built for more.
Xavier paid attention to how the bridges narrowed at key points. How each elevated path overlooked almost every approach into the village.
Even the terraces could double as natural defensive positions.
Every piece of struggle was finely designed to the latter. Nothing had been placed carelessly.
’So this is their work?’ Xavier’s mind flashed back to his parents.
A combination of both beauty and protection.
Xavier glanced once more at the living village stretching around him.
’it wasn’t built to just be impressive but to survive as well.’
***
They hadn’t walked much farther before another familiar notification quietly appeared at the edge of Xavier’s vision.
Ding!
[New Quests Available]
[Settlement Quests Unlocked]
[Fairy Village I]
Xavier’s steps almost came to a halt before he caught himself and kept moving with the procession.
His eyes remained on the notification for only a brief moment.
"...Interesting."
He had entered fairy settlements before, during previous playthroughs.
But never had the System offered settlement quests.
Back then, he’d simply assumed it was because of his race, his choices or some hidden faction requirement he hadn’t fulfilled.
Honestly it was something to look forward to. It seems [Fairy Village I] was more than what meets the eye.
Xavier dismissed the interface without opening a single quest.
There would be time for that later.
Right now...
He had a far more immediate problems which included unlocking his Bloodline class and a certain Fairy chief.
***
After some time, the escort eventually slowed near the eastern side of the village where a towering cliff face met the edge of the settlement.
Built against the natural stone was a modest alcove, its walls shaped from the cliff itself while a leafy canopy stretched overhead, sheltering the entrance from the elements.
It wasn’t a prison by any means. There were no iron bars or chains. And definitely no heavy metal doors.
It was just a simple shelter with enough room for a bed, a table and maybe a drawer.
Furthermore, it was open to the village, easy to watch and guard.
Following Fiona’s lead, the escorts finally came to a halt as Fiona turned to face him.
"You’ll stay here," she said calmly. "Until we’ve decided what else to do with you."
Xavier remained quiet as his eyes locked on her emerald eyes and then drifted to his own hands.
The cuts left by the jagged rocks during his fall had already sealed over awhile back.
The bullet wound beneath his torn shirt no longer throbbed like before.
His body was in better shape than before and that was his Ace in the plan he had in mind.
Lifting his eyes slowly, he met her gaze again. If she was as observant as she appeared...
She would’ve noticed it too.
And if she had then it was time to rein her into his plan.
"I can heal your wings," the words left his mouth without ceremony or effort.
As though he were pointing out the location of the nearest stream rather than offering something that caused nearly every fairy present to stiffen.
"No," the pregnant fairy from earlier spoke out first.
"Chief, don’t," Another chipped in.
The two voices overlapped almost immediately.
Then a third, quieter than the others, slipped through the brief commotion.
"You ignored treatment once already, Chief."
It wasn’t a warning as Xavier expected but a statement he actually couldn’t understand.
But to his bewilderment, nobody argued with that voice.
Instead, silence settled over the gathering.
And for the first time since Xavier had spoken, Fiona’s eyes shifted from his face to his hands before returning to meet his gaze once more.
She studied him closely, watching his every move, not with belief but actual consideration.
Her lips slowly opened to speak as she tilted her head.
--End of Chapter--