Deep within an ancient forest, a place of unparalleled enchantment lay hidden from the world. Towering trees with luminescent leaves created a canopy that sparkled like a thousand emerald stars. The air shimmered with the faint glow of the flora around, casting a soft, ethereal light upon the forest floor, which was carpeted in a bed of moss that seemed to pulsate with life.

Mystic creatures roamed freely in this secluded paradise; from majestic unicorns, to griffons that flapped their wings in the air. Pegasi danced amongst each other in a flock, and they were accompanied by several other creatures of wonder.

At the heart of this magical glade stood a structure that defied the laws of the mundane world. It was a palace woven from the very essence of nature itself. Vines as thick as a man's arm twisted and spiraled upwards, forming columns and archways that glowed with an inner light. The walls were made of interwoven branches and leaves, creating intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change as one looked at them. Windows of crystal-clear water, held in place by the unseen force of magic, reflected the myriad colors of the surrounding forest.

Atop the highest tower, where the vines converged to form a delicate spire, a certain entity darted gracefully through the air. Her wings, delicate and translucent, caught the light and scattered it in a prism of colors. With a joyful laugh that echoed like the tinkling of tiny bells, she flew towards an entrance formed by two intertwining branches.

She appeared humanoid, but was small—about an inch or two in height—and the way she danced with the wind as she closed in on her destination seemed surreal.

"Hehe!" In a playful glide, she ventured inside.

Inside, the palace was even more breathtaking. The floor was a mosaic of polished gemstones, arranged in a way that depicted the culmination of the beauty that the enchanted forest possessed. Walls of living wood pulsed with a gentle warmth, their surfaces alive with the slow, steady heartbeat of the trees. Hanging from the ceiling, luminous flowers glowed softly, illuminating the space with a warm, golden light.

The figure flew through the grand hall, where the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the sound of a bubbling brook that flowed through the center of the room, its water as clear as crystal and sparkling with flecks of gold. Before long, she arrived at her destination—the Grand Palace!

Within this pristine space, there was enough room to contain the entire population of her people. It had a wonderful warmth to it, with the floors sparkling like fine wine, reflecting the several gems that hung on the ceiling.

More entities like her were stationed beside windows that were systematically aligned high above the ground floor of the hall, and they remained suspended in the air even as she arrived inside.

They donned golden armor, each having staffs that were wielded more like spears than harmless sticks.

The eyes of these Sentinels fell on her, but none of that bothered this one.

She simply gilded forward, her focus on the altar that stood a few meters from her current position. In no time at all, she closed the gap and knelt at the foot of the elevated platform—the place where the Great Throne stood.

"My king… you called for me!"

Right in front of the kneeling girl was a figure—a couple of inches taller than her, but still having a similar build. He had a completely white apparel, adorned with hints of silver, and a golden crown that floated above his head.

Gems decorated his body from head to toe, and even his eyes seemed to be made of crystals.

He sat majestically on the grand chair, his massive wings nearly five times larger than his entire body. His face seemed to glisten like the sun, and his very presence radiated energy and majesty unlike anything one could see beyond the forest.

This was the one who witnessed the beginning and the end—the Fairy King.

"I have had a vision, Fae." He spoke, his voice almost resembling a rather grave whisper. In contrast to his serious countenance, the one called Fae maintained her bright smile and youthful exuberance. The tension within the palace did not seem to affect her in the slightest, even before her king.

"What did you see, my King!"

"..." For a moment, the King said nothing. He merely looked at his subject with his gem-like eyes, before finally closing them and speaking with a sigh.

"War."

The moment he said this, Fae's eyes slightly widened, her countenance swiftly shifting to shock.

"War… you say?"

As she said those words, her body trembled.

"Indeed. It draws near upon us—the time long prophesied from the beginning of days." His tone, his breathing, everything was calm… but the expression on his face showed something else—a graveness that could not be conveyed through words alone.

"Ahh… at long last." Fae's trembling persisted, but her expression of shock transformed into that of delight. The news did not frighten her, neither did it cause her to grieve. Instead, she couldn't be more excited. Her overjoyed face lay bare for all to see.

"The promised days are near!"

"It is too early to rejoice, Fae." The King raised a hand, causing her to instantly cease her commotion and bow her head in understanding and respect.

"The vision was rather unclear, and I am yet to properly interpret its content. Regardless, I see a great darkness visiting our lands. This darkness once came near, but this time… it will enter into the Forest."

"Will The Oracle allow such?" Fae responded with a confused expression.

"The Oracle's pacifism makes her grow impotent as the centuries pass. She is only concerned with the welfare of her own people, as she should be. None of her priorities extend to us Fairies." The King's sighs grew louder.

"This Darkness… will it consume the Elves?"

"No. I did not see that."

"And what of us? Will it consume our lands? Will it ravage our forests and swallow us into its depths?"

Despite saying painting a horrific future with her manner of speech, Fae appeared excited.

Her cheeks burned bright red, and she had a perverted expression on her small, cute face. Her gem-like eyes shone brightly, as she tried her best to conceal her squeals.

The Fairy King noticed this and slightly shook his head.

He understood Fae and her perverted thirst for battle—her never-ending desire to witness and partake in the long-prophesied war. For Fairies, guardians of the Forest who never perished, this was their purpose… but Fae's obsession with it was on another level. She dreamed of that day every waking moment… for the several millennia since her conception.

"That is not for you to know." The Fairy King finally answered.

"Tch."

"What was that?"

"N-nothing, my King!"

The Sentinels couldn't help but groan and frown as they witnessed all of this playing out before them. The sheer recklessness that Fae displayed was unbefitting before their glorious ruler, but none of them could voice a word of complaint.

After all… Fae was the strongest.

Other than the Fairy King, there was none that stood superior to her or was anywhere close to being her equal.

As was the rule of the Forest, those who were weaker had to swallow their thoughts and restrict all the displeasures they had to their imaginations. Besides, if they desired to challenge her, Fae was always up to the challenge.

Every single Sentinel had tried at least once to beat her, but they ended up suffering severe humiliation and punishment that would have killed them if they weren't immortal.

"In any case, Fae… I have a mission for you."

"Ehh? At such a critical juncture? My King… why me?"

"Because, rather unfortunately, you are the most reliable one among the Fairies—the most capable person to fulfill my request."

"U-unfortunately…?!" Fae appeared aghast, but the Fairy King seemed unapologetic about his choice of words.

She simply had to swallow the sentiment as it came.

"The mission requires you to leave the Forest. You will head to the Land of The Elves at a specified period and guide a certain individual here when the time is right.

"Individual? But no one is allowed into the Forest."

In fact, the opposite was also true. No one was ever meant to leave the Forest—including all of the Fairies within its embrace.

At least, not until the end of days.

"This is an exception. As King, I possess the authority to issue that; just as I have authority over the Forest and all that dwell therein."

No one needed a reminder of that. He was their father—the progenitor of all Fairies, and the one who granted them their eternal life from his Primeval Skill.

All Fairies, without exception, bowed their heads the moment he uttered those words.

"Who is this person that I will usher into the forest? What makes them an exception?" Fae asked, her tone still that of reverence, but also of undying curiosity.

"...."

"You can tell me that much, right?"

After pausing for a while, looking at the impatient Fairy with his all-seeing eyes, the King finally parted his lips.

"He is a Singularity—one that by nature should not exist. His name is Rey Skylar… and perhaps he will be the one to save us from inevitable destruction."