It was Friday, also known as Graduation Day. I wasn't able to go, and everyone knew it so they made sure to stop by Trinity and see me. It made me feel good that others took time out of their busy day to let me know that I was important to them. Even though I was missing out, I had some strong love and support from my friends and that made up for it. Well, kind of. I still feel odd. It's like my old life never was. A switch was thrown and I was forced to discard it.
I did get some good news though: my hiding can end as the college school year begins. It was decided that waiting the summer for my diagnosis to play out would be good enough. It seems a bit sudden to me, but Mom and Dad explained it to me and it made sense. Since I was ghost white and huge, I was obviously affected by a pigment issue and gigantism. Just looking at me proved the medical explanation so the timing is relatively unimportant. The results are undisputable.
For me, knowing that I can't venture out from Trinity for the summer just means I can throw myself into working to make Trinity what I want it to be. I am not a contractor and I am unfortunately unskilled labor. I can't build or fix anything. The labor that I can provide is pretty extreme. I'm like my own diesel backhoe except without requiring the diesel and belching gouts of black smoke. I can move just about anything with my hands.
I wanted a creek flowing through our wild courtyard. To come up with a solution, I would need to question Mona. I walked into the forest, headed for The Grove. Tall trees, though not virgin looking giants like I wanted, stood as sentinels around The Grove. Ferns grew all around them and moss covered the ground everywhere. Smaller ferns actually grew along the trunks and branches of the trees as well, like they had hairy arms except it was fern and moss growth. The forest was so lush that green grew on top of green on top of green and the varying colors of green really made the forest look ethereal. Once the fairies started popping out, it totally set off the whole sight.
"My King!" said Mona. She was very happy to see me. She always is.
"Hey Mona. How are you and the new fairies doing? Everyone acclimating well?" I was genuinely concerned. After all, I did create all of her sisters just two days ago. Now there were twenty-five fairies I think.
Mona was flying right at me and collided with my face, planting a huge kiss there. Well, It was an enthusiastic kiss, let's say. She's only about twelve inches tall so huge probably isn't the best adjective. "How can I be of service to you, My King?"
"Are there any springs that you know of in this forests? I want to make a flowing creek and need a spring or two to dig out and get some freshwater." Mona's eyes lit up as I asked her.
"Yes, Sire. There is a small spring further in from The Grove." She fluttered out of The Grove and further into the forest. A couple dozen fairies all flowed with us as I scrambled to keep up with her but also not trample anything in the forest.. To be honest, mosses are extremely durable once they are established. My heavy steps compress it but it always springs back fine. I certainly love how the moss feels on my feet. Only wearing a kilt, I get to experience the forest on its level. I am really enjoying the primal feel of just wearing a kilt. I feel free. The lack of restriction is helpful for physical activities. I am highly flexible in this thing.
Before long, we get to the spring that Mona was talking about. It's a wet spot in the forest. LIke the moss carpet got peed on by a large dog and it's kind of sopping in one area. "Really, Mona? This is all I have to work with?"
Mona shrugged, "It's the only spring in the forest. It's perfectly clean water. I can assure you of that."
"I believe you, Princess. I was just hoping that it would be more substantial. We need a decent volume of water and this little trickle isn't going to cut it. I don't want to excavate a huge hole or adulterate the forest just to get a creek flowing." I stared at it for a while. The fairies all were very vocal about telling me that they wished it was what I wanted. Before long I was covered in them, all of them squeaking and jabbering about how they would like a nice spring or how bad they felt about me not getting what I wanted. It was a bit too much all of a sudden and I wanted an escape from all the tiny woman voices all around me.
"Ok thanks for your help. I am going to go and think about a course of action." I made my escape as fast as I could. Who would have known it but being surrounded by two dozen women was a bit much when they all wanted to talk at the same time. For a brief moment as I found quiter parts of the forest I wondered if I need some small dudes to occupy all the tiny women. I kind of shuddered as I considered it-I'm glad they can't reproduce, quickly reminding myself that fairies are really not equipped for sex. The last thing I need was a gaggle of tiny dudes all chattering away too.
Soon I started feeling guilty. I was the King of the Fae. How could I be annoyed by fairies? What the hell kind of King am I? Shouldn't I want to be covered in fairies? They should make me feel complete or something. I kept walking, just going where ever as I thought about being a King that was annoyed by his subjects. WIthout really thinking about it, I found myself in the basement of the school building.
I heard something faintly. Or did I? For a while I wasn't sure. I found myself wishing that I had Hyena hearing. I would be able to know what direction it was coming from or at least I wouldn't doubt myself whether I was hearing anything at all. I'm Arcane, right?
I held still for moment to consider my magical energies. The last spell I did nearly killed Mona. How did I do it? I didn't stop to consider my energies first, that's for sure. I decided to wait again for a faint sound and then just react to use my power.
