“Are you sure that you are well enough to do this? I can take you back to your room or the Healing ward.”

  Dyani growled and shouldered past Britt. “I am perfectly fine, thanks. Can we just get a move on? I want to get away from all the questions and the stares.”

  The past week had been brutal from the moment she woke up in the white-walled room. Especially since the Headmistress decided to question her, it had taken some fast talking to ensure that Professor Bertani remained out of the warpath once Etara knew the reason behind her collapse. At least, she knew it was due to her magic lashing out. No one knew the true reason behind it other than the Goddess and Dyani doubted the deity would be inclined to speak about it.

  The explanation consisted of her trying to meditate and tapping into the ley line, which was written off as her naivety to what they were.

  Britt’s huff was enough to know his annoyance with the topic. Dyani was in the same state, except it was frustration with everyone else rather than herself. It wasn’t her fault that magic liked to blow up around her or that weird things kept happening. Dyani felt the ghost of the magic that had scared her that day and she shivered. Noticing this, Britt stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  “I worry over you. You know this, Dyani. I cannot help it. You are getting hurt or into trouble every corner that we seem to turn.”

  Dyani protested in indignation, “Hey! Trouble finds me. Especially if it involves magic. Don’t blame the victim in all of this.”

  A single eyebrow rose and Britt gave her a disbelieving stare. Dyani flushed and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear.

  “I know that Bertani was teaching you about Samhain, but of course, that got interrupted. It’s up to me to get you caught up before the night arrives. We will head into the local forest to gather the rare herbs that need to be harvested as fresh as possible.”

  They trudged along, with a few others being sighted now and then. It was Professor Bertani’s senior class. She explained that they were the ones tasked with gathering the very plants that Britt was teaching her about. She just couldn’t teach it to Dyani herself since Dyani was in a lower class.

  “We’ll go deeper into the forest than the other students. I wanted to do this to get us out of the wards from the school but also because the deeper sections have a greater concentration of raw Wild Magic. It changes the properties of the flora to be more potent.”

  “Why do we need more potent materials if the senior class collects the same ingredients?”

  Britt gave her a secretive smile and continued walking through the underbrush. Thickets of thorns caught on her pants and some on her sleeves. Dyani cursed and pushed her way through, only to trip on an upturned root. Strong hands caught her before she crashed and righted her. He was laughing as she scowled at him

  “You really can't stay out of trouble. What am I going to do with you, Dyani?” He sighed with a slight smile.

  "Put a leash on me? Make it really pretty and then I can show it off while you can have me within reach."

  It was very apparent that Britt was not expecting the response from her and proceeded to let go of her arm. In doing so, Dyani dropped to the ground like a sack of bricks again.

  "Hey!"

  Britt muttered apologies but his face had a clear red tint. Dyani snickered.

  Dyani: 1 - Britt: 1.

  She had evened the score. Dyani stood up and brushed the dirt and leaves off of her clothes. Thankfully, the jeans were something that the magical world had borrowed from the nonmagical. It was getting colder out and one of those times that warmer clothes were needed. For that, Dyani was incredibly grateful that the magical world had a penchant for borrowing things.

  Britt had gathered himself and was ahead of her. The sun was higher, barely past the high noon mark. It was warmer out than it had been the past few days. Although, with the forest growing denser with each step, the cold was starting to settle in. Shivering, Dyani trotted to catch up to Britt.

  "How much further?"

  Britt raised an eyebrow before smirking, "Got cold feet?"

  Dyani straightened her jacket and flounced off with a huff.

  Britt: 2 - Dyani: 1

  "I happened to want to learn more rather than stroll through an unknown forest with any number of creatures that could be here."

  "There's nothing that will harm you in this forest, Dyani. The school made sure of it." There was a bitterness to the statement. Dyani felt her heart constrict at the silent answer to the destruction of creatures. Even if they had been dangerous, that did not mean that they were to be chased or poached from their home. Britt had a gentle hold of her elbow to draw her attention. She stopped walking and looked up at him.

  "Do not worry about the creatures. They were not harmed as I am sure that you are assuming. Instead, some wards prevent them from roaming the grounds close to the school. I cannot speak for the place we are going to, though."

  "What?" Dyani squeaked.

  Britt patted her back and wrapped her arm around her shoulders, saying, "Stop fretting so much. You'll be safe."

  "I don't know, Britt. You're not making it seem like I should be feeling that." Dyani quipped.

  Dyani: 2 - Britt: 2

  As they continued walking through the brush, Dyani noticed it was getting denser but warmer. She had expected to come across areas that were chilled and overcast. Instead, there were pockets of sunbeams streaming through the canopy. Another beautiful thing she found was that the trees grew taller and more solid. Their branches reached higher, with many vines growing all around. A babbling brook was nearby and Dyani wished she could hop out of her boots to dip her toes in.

  The air grew warmer and warmer, enough that Dyani started to shed her outer clothing. Britt walked without a care, and Dyani grumbled about unnatural men. A chuckle was her response. Her coat was the first thing to be discarded, followed quickly by the jumper. Underneath, she wore a shirt and acknowledged that it may come down to her camisole. Unfortunately, the jeans could not be shed into a different clothing.

  Shrinking the extra clothes, Dyani carefully tucked them into her pockets. A light sweat had broken over her brow and Dyani wanted some water.

  "Britt, seriously, how much longer?"

  The man turned around and Dyani sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyes were wide as she gazed at him. The magic swirled around him in a beautiful emerald haze, only accented with the sun caressing his lighter skin. For a moment, Britt was not there. It was a man that thrived in his element. He looked to be at peace and home with his surroundings. Dyani had suspected that Britt was more than he seemed but this just edged her idea into the reality box. Britt was not human. There was no way that someone so connected with nature was strictly human.

  Bright emerald eyes met with hers and their connection snapped into place. Much like the first time that Britt’s mind touched hers, Dyani felt her knees go weak. This was his element and he had shown her before. This was otherworldly. This wasn’t a human being comfortable. This was a magical being that resonated with their element. The gentle warmth of Britt’s mind within her mindscape was intoxicating. Naturally, they drew closer together and she was in front of him without noticing that she was the one who had moved. Dyani’s focus was on the ethereal being in front of her.

  There was a shimmer around them as Britt’s mind melded with her thoughts. His worry and nervousness. The feelings they hid from each other rose to the surface. She knew how much she meant to him and he now knew how much Britt had kept her sane within this new world. He meant everything to her and she to him. It was the first time she felt their mutual fondness for one another. It was breathtaking.

  Britt leaned his forehead down so that it rested against hers. Their eyes closed and it was just the two of them basking in the magic that was building. No words were needed. Not with every thought known to the other. It was riveting to let her mind loose and know there was only acceptance. A sense of always floated through their connection and Dyani reciprocated with the same sentiment.

  Their breathing and heartbeats synced up for just that small amount of time but it was an experience beyond words. When he pulled away and the moment faded, Dyani felt the loss. Britt’s fingertips traced down her jaw and neck before he placed a kiss on her forehead.

  “We need to get going. It’s close and our time is growing short.”

  Dyani could only nod, the magic still swirling around and within her body. He took hold of her hand and pulled the dazed girl along.

  The heat of the forest grew hotter and hotter until Dyani was drenched in sweat from the condensation. It wasn’t the cold winter weather but instead, it was walking through the rainforest in the Amazon. When Britt stepped to the side, Dyani felt the world around her shift. A transparent barrier of magic and trees surrounded a beautiful grove. It was filled with magical creatures and flowers. It was the vision of fantasy that Dyani had always wondered if it existed in this magical world.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “I’ve never dreamed of something so beautiful.”

  Britt chuckled and pulled her close to the edge of the grove. Dyani didn’t want to go through the magic and into the picturesque place as she was afraid she would disturb it.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "You won't."

  Dyani flushed, not realizing that he could hear her thoughts still.

  "I can't, but you make it visible on your face. Granted, when we step into that grove, everything will fall. All glamours and shields. So, do not be surprised that you can hear my thoughts or that I can hear yours. You may hear the whispers of those around you."

  Dyani could only nod and stare at the site in front of her. There was no blinking because if she did, then it would disappear. That's how it worked. Britt rolled his eyes and pulled her into the grove, through the magical wards surrounding the area. At first, it was a blast of sun and fresh air. It went from a hot rainforest to a warm, grassy summer.

  The quiet around her burst in a flurry of sounds and calls. The creatures looked up from grazing or lounging to see the newcomers. Dyani twirled around to look at everything she could set her eyes on. It was full of magic and the familiar pulse of her magic called to it. The air around her shifted and Dyani saw her aura for the first time in a while. It was a silvery black that bled into other colors. It was much like a sleek oil slick if it was liquid silver. Britt stared at her in surprise, not seeing her full aura before.

  Dyani stared back at Britt when she realized he also had to wear glamours. The handsome man before was nowhere compared to the man who stood in front of her. His hair was long, reaching his waist. Eyes were ethereal in their green color. The part that confirmed what she had suspected was one of the first things she noticed. His ears were long and pointed.

  “You’re an Elf.”

  Britt gave her a slight smile, “Yes. I am surprised you had not worked that out long before now.”

  “I had a suspicion but I was not sure.”

  “Mainly, it was because you are unfamiliar with Beings and identifying. The only reason you suspected was due to Nature shifting.”

  “Is that what you call it?”

  Britt rubbed the back of his neck. “Not quite, but it is close enough to that in English. It doesn’t translate well from the Verdanthian language.”

  “I wish you would have told me,” Dyani whispered, reaching out to touch his face. It was surreal to see him and know that this man was the same one that she had come to know. He was similar, but something else in his features made him slightly unrecognizable. Her fingers brushed against his cheek and traced his sharp jaw. Seeing the back of her hands startled her.

  Looking down, Dyani realized that the glamour over her runic scars had disappeared and was glowing the same color as her aura. She watched as Britt’s hands took her wrists, raising her arms so that he could run his hands over the scars. Dyani shivered at the contact. Her magic reacted, reaching out to him as it danced over his skin. Britt’s magic joined with it and they watched as their auras merged briefly.

  Crooning could be heard, a small voice among the group that broke the moment. Dyani turned and looked at a nearby tree, where a young bird was warbling down at them. It was a beautiful song that Dyani thought had a sliver of magic to it. The sound was young, like a child singer, but it was pleasant nonetheless. That was until it became a frantic chirp. Seeing the chick waddle forward, Dyani moved before she could think of doing so. The chick plummeted over the edge of the nest and off the high branch. Screeches of fear permeated the area and there were cries of horror from the other creatures. Dyani slammed into the tree with a jolt to her shoulder as she cradled the small chick. It was frantic but calmed the moment that it saw it was safe.

  As Britt ran over to her, Dyani slid down the tree with heavy breaths.

  “Are you okay? Did you catch him?”

  Dyani smiled and looked down at the tiny bundle in her hands. It was a striking green with blue and yellow feathers. The interesting part was that it looked like a baby swan, except for some apparent differences. A shifting of air and a flash of fire had Dyani curling around the chick to protect it. Twin screeches had her looking up at the beautiful sight before her. Two larger swan-like birds, one that looked much like the chick in its coloring while the other was a stunning red and orange. Dyani stared at them and the baby, understanding dawning in her head.

  “Phoenix.”

  “That’s right. They are one of the few that live in the forest,” Britt stated as he crouched down. The two that Dyani thought were the parents landed close to her knee.

  “How’s your shoulder? I know you took a hard hit.”

  “It’s sore but it’ll be okay after a few days.”

  The two adult Phoenix stretched out their wings, and Dyani gaped as their forms shifted into human bodies.

  “We thank you for saving our child.”

  Dyani could only nod at them while handing the baby to the woman. The chick chirped and tweeted at her in happiness. The parents smiled down at the baby and nuzzled him with their faces.

  “How?” Dyani squeaked.

  Britt chuckled, knowing what she was asking.

  “Phoenix are Immortals in a way. They are not like deities, but they are very long-lived. Many such Beings are. Some have multiple forms that they can take. With the Phoenix, they can take the form of a human after their first maturity or rebirth. That occurs around the first hundred years. After that, they can shift into human form for the lifetime of a human.”

  Britt paused and gave a slight hum while watching the Phoenix family, “Depending upon the age, it can be around their two hundredth birthday to their two hundred and fiftieth. Their second maturity is what we would call human death and they are reborn back into their Phoenix form. The final maturity occurs when they find their mate and both can retake their human form after that rebirth. The final maturity is where they gain the ability to reproduce.”

  The other male looked up from inspecting the child, “That is correct, Master Elf. It is pleasant to see you again this year. Are you preparing for the upcoming Samhain?”

  She watched the two of them converse about the upcoming holiday. The mother was fussing over the baby, and Dyani felt a pang of longing. The conversation petered off as the males looked at her, and the mother smiled at Dyani.

  “Would you like to know a bit more? I feel like we owe you so much for saving him.”

  “How old is he?”

  “By human standards, he is just under two years of age. In actual years, it has been ten.”

  Dyani’s eyebrows rose. It was a much different aging process than humans. Granted, she had expected that since they were not exactly human, it was still surprising to learn. Britt sat down next to her and traced a hand up her arm. She shivered and looked down, seeing that the shoulder was beginning to show signs of bruising.

  There was a distressed noise and a delicate hand reached out. The magic shimmered around the mother’s hand before she placed it on Dyani’s shoulder. It was cool to the touch before it got warm, like a nice heating pad. The purpling color started to fade before her eyes, as well as the minor scratches.

  “There. That should be much better.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “We should be thanking you. If you give us a moment to talk?”

  “Of course!”

  Britt helped Dyani stand while the chick's parents stepped to the side. Their whispers were low as they spoke with one another.

  “You were lucky you didn’t dislocate your shoulder,” Britt commented.

  “I know. Thankfully, it didn’t. At least the baby is safe. I moved before I even realized what I was doing.”

  Britt hummed thoughtfully, “It was a good thing that you did. That would have had devastating results had you not acted so fast.”

  Dyani understood, but there must have been something on her face that made him smile slightly.

  “As you know, their ages and maturity cycles are very long.”

  Dyani nodded, trying to figure out where this was headed.

  “Then you understand that finding their mate can take between three hundred to four hundred years. That is if they are lucky.”

  “I see,” Dyani hummed.

  “Ah, but I don’t believe that it has clicked yet. I am saying that this Phoenix is one of the youngest born in the last century. I believe the last Phoenix born was a few decades ago. They are very slow to reproduce and take many years to conceive another. You most likely saved his life. In doing so, you helped preserve their race and prevented a large mourning through the community.”

  “He is correct. There are fewer than two dozen children Phoenix born in this last century. We owe you a debt.”

  Dyani opened her mouth to deny the debt when Britt touched her shoulder to stem her protest.

  “What are the conditions?” He responded for her.

  “Nothing that is to go against the community or our own beliefs. We cannot kill or be asked to harm.”

  “That is fair.”

  Dyani wanted to speak, but a subtle shake of his head made her wait.

  “Knowledge of your names would suffice, along with being able to call you in a time of need where healing would be the focus. In addition, it could be to repay the life debt, which consists of saving her life. As of right now, that would be three life debts that shall be passed on through her line until they are fulfilled.”

  “We agree to this. In addition, we wish to bestow a mark in good faith. That she may be recognized as a friend of the Phoenix. Our final gift is to be a piece of magic that links us to her so that we may always know of her health and she can use it to tap into the magic of the Phoenix when needed.”

  “Agreed.” The magic swirled around them and settled over Dyani and the Phoenix family. There was a sharp sting along her brow, forehead, and chin. She reached up to touch a slightly raised mark. Tracing her fingers down, Britt looked at her with an assessing gaze. His fingers joined hers where they outlined the brow before moving to the lines on her chin. A wave of his hand and there was a mirror in her hand. Dyani raised it, knowing she needed to know what she looked like before returning.

  The marking took up a good portion of her forehead, looking much like a stylized delicate drawing of a Phoenix rising. A combination of emerald green and darker red shifted the colors when she moved. The tail feathers went midway down the bridge of her nose into a point. The lines were thin and looked like they were carefully drawn. On her chin were two stripes, one that was red and the other being green. The marking shimmered with magic. On the outer side of the stripe were three dots of the other color.

  “It’s breathtaking.”

  Dyani looked up to see the parents sitting on the grove's floor. Magic merged in front of the parents. It swirled and danced between them. A small piece from the chick joined and a white flash blinded them. It was the mother who leaned forward to present the gift. In her hands was a sleek silver choker-style necklace with a beautiful red and green opal in the center. It was basic but straightforward that the silver was formed in the shape of wings. The woman reached up and snapped it around Dyani’s neck.

  “This necklace is connected to the three of us. It holds a piece of our magic and that is something that you will be able to tap into. It can replenish itself when it is running low and only upon shattering will it be unusable. Should it shatter, please call for us. It is close to being indestructible but still can be damaged.”

  The male took over when she paused.

  “You could consider this as a focus, if you will. I want to state that this will allow you to travel as the Phoenix does but will drain it more frequently if you do. Your healing spells will also be enhanced when you use it as a focus.”

  Dyani felt the magic of the gift settle over her, “This is too much. I feel like I owe you instead.”

  Britt placed a hand on hers, “I know that it seems like that, but you did not get as much as a life debt usually requires. They understand that this is overwhelming for you.”

  “We do know and also acknowledge that the debt is not settled unless it’s more than what we have already bargained for or that her life is saved up to three times.” She looked at Dyani, “You will get used to things quickly. Right now, this is enough for you. We ask you not to remove the necklace or hide the markings.”

  “Of course. I am honored that you gave these to me.”

  “You saved our child and our community owes it to you to honor that.”

  Britt placed a hand on the back of her neck, and Dyani nodded without saying a word. It was too much for her, but they admitted it was not enough. The culture was still too new to her, and dismissing their gifts was rude.

  “I appreciate this.”

  The family stood up and Dyani shook their hands.

  “You may call upon us. I am Arlyne, and this is my mate Erteos. The small one here is Michiko.” Arlyne turned her focus to Britt. “You will be watching over her, yes?”

  “I am her teacher at the moment. I will be guiding her through many things.”

  She gave a knowing smile that confused them before Arlyne nodded.

  “We need to take care of Michiko and keep together for the evening. We thank you again for your aid and hope to see you soon. That does not mean life-threatening danger.”

  They chuckled before the parents shifted back into their Phoenix form. Michiko was in Arlyne’s beak, chirping happily at the two humans. They took off and up into the nest that teetered on the edge of the branch. Erteos straightened the nest and used magic to stick it in place.

  "Come, let's collect the flowers and plants that are needed. You've had enough excitement for today. It'll be dark soon."

  Dyani's brow furrowed at that, "We just got here and left at midday."

  There was a chortle. Britt threaded his arm through hers and guided her to another part of the grove.

  "Time moves differently in this place. You will find that it moves much slower than outside. It will be very dark when we return to the school."

  Magic was phenomenal and no one could convince her otherwise.