Pillar of Yita

The greatest foes of the ogre and rat people were the cloud dragon, the two split the mountain area, while on the surface, humans and fairies lived. This place also counted as a legendary fairyland—

Brown-Red Forest.

Stories about fairies here were well-known, fairies and humans lived in harmony, with curiosity driving these little beings into the society of humans. They didn’t stay long but would always leave behind strange little gifts.

Some of these lively little beings were a headache on one hand, but on the other, they brought positive change. Fairies sang in the forests at night, held banquets, and invited humans to join.

Those invited were often blessed with good fortune for a while, so wild fairies were viewed as symbols of good luck.

Moreover, the magic of the fairies affected plant growth, making crops thrive, so farmers generally welcomed these little guests.

One evening, while passing through forests with melting snow, Fang Hong saw these legendary little creatures for himself, singing in the woods, each like Miss Tata, but much more lively, illuminating floating magical lights with a wave.

Those glowing crystals floated in mid-air, and there were curly glowing plants growing from the rocks.

In the distance, on a giant mushroom—almost as big as his desk on the Seven Seas Traveler—the fairies held a small banquet, singing cute and teasing lyrics, improvising as they went.

For fairies are natural-born artists.

They also saw Fang Hong and included him in the song from afar, playfully mocking him as the knight’s solemn sidekick, prone to a misstep and falling into the mud.

As for the knight, it was naturally Odin, but he didn’t fare much better, soon becoming Eteliria’s Don Quixote, challenging evil dragons and giants alike, gaining no favor each time.

The fairies laughed gleefully.

Fang Hong found it amusing, but Odin drew his sword, ready to march over—Fang Hong hurriedly grabbed him: ”What are you doing? They’re just joking.”

”Just scare them a little, you’ll get used to it after a few times.” Odin glanced at him and replied.

Sure enough, seeing Odin angry, the fairies giggled and scattered.

However, Fang Hong felt a bit regretful, thinking the fairies originally intended to invite them to the banquet. Although the rumored good luck from attending was just that—a rumor, some things are better believed than not?

A night passed without words.

The next morning, Fang Hong encountered these little creatures again.

They sat on the leaves by the roadside, swinging their little feet, curiously watching him, holding Star Dew in their hands—a beautiful substance fairies collected from dew and starlight, said to provide precious enhancements.

Fang Hong had tasted it a few times before, given by Miss Tata, but it couldn’t match the magic power of wild fairies, only slightly sweet, melting upon entry.

Seeing these fairies eagerly watching him, Fang Hong knew they wanted to exchange something with him—fairies loved jewels, but unlike thieving thrushes and ravens, they preferred fair trade, item for item.

Moreover, they didn’t care about the jewels’ worth; mortal values held no meaning to them. They simply loved colorful and shiny things.

Just so, he had some worthless colorful gemstones on hand, so he gave each little creature one.

The fairies carefully placed the Star Dew in his palm, gesturing for him to drink it.

Fang Hong tilted his head and drank it all, checking his status to find it boosted some willpower or something. These buffs would wear off before sunset. The fairies, delighted, started to sing.

The content was still teasing him—

The singing woke Odin, who looked at him with mild annoyance, wondering how he always ended up in cahoots with those lovable, noisy little creatures. The fairies seemed to see Tata, who was invisible beside Fang Hong, and greeted her warmly.

Fang Hong, curious, asked: ”Do they know you?”

Miss Tata’s emerald eyes were calm like water, nodding: ”All fairies were born from the World Tree; we are aware of every kin’s existence upon birth. Though I am of dragon soul, I was also born from a fairy’s soul.”

Fang Hong nodded in understanding.

With the fairies chattering away as they left, Fang Hong reluctantly continued his journey with Odin.

Odin looked at him somewhat speechless, asking: ”Do you really like fairies?”

”They’re so friendly.” Fang Hong replied, unlocking his water flask and taking a sip. He lifted the flask again, tilted it, and found it empty to the last drop.

Yet, Odin handed him a mirror.

Fang Hong, puzzled, took the mirror, and couldn’t help but spray water from his mouth in surprise. On his head had grown a pair of pointy, furry ears, twitching—raccoon ears, no less.

He almost immediately realized it had to be thanks to the ’merits’ of the Star Dew.

The fairies’ pranks were truly unavoidable.

Amused and helpless, Fang Hong knew it was just a small episode, nothing too serious, only slightly bothersome. Moreover, that day seemed truly lucky; not long after descending the mountain, he saw the cloud dragon emerging from the clouds—

It was an incredibly beautiful creature, shimmering like it was silver-cast, elegantly circling the mountain peak before disappearing behind the snow-capped Holy Bow Peak.