Tag

Daisy kneels before me, her delicate hand reaching out. I stare at her, confused but moved by the intensity in her gaze. Without consciously deciding, I extend my hand to her. As soon as our hands meet, her fingers wrap around mine, firm and steady. Her green eyes begin to glow, radiating with an ancient power that feels both familiar and otherworldly.

Her voice is soft but carries the weight of something far greater than either of us. “I, Daisy, pledge my life to you, Queen Lenora of Light. I will respect and defend you until the day I die.”

I blink, speechless. The title—Queen of Light—hangs heavy in the air, wrapping around me like a mantle I’m not sure I’m ready to wear. Before I can respond, she stands and kisses my hand. The gentle touch sends a cascade of sparks racing up my arm, a tingling sensation that shoots straight to my heart, igniting something deep within.

I can feel it—something reaching out, a connection forming. A bond. It’s like a thread, fragile yet strong, tugging at the edges of my consciousness. I meet Daisy’s glowing eyes, and I know, instinctively, that there is no need to resist. The link snaps into place, and in that instant, a pulse of light bursts from us, encasing us in its brilliance.

Suddenly, I know. I know everything about her. Her life flashes before my eyes in a torrent of emotions, memories, and sensations. I feel her struggles, her pain, her joy—everything she has ever experienced floods my heart and mind. I gasp, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it all. The bond between us solidifies, growing stronger by the second, and I realize that Daisy is now a part of me. We are connected in a way that goes beyond words, beyond magic.

Our arms begin to vibrate with energy, a soft hum that fills the space around us. I look down at my teleportation rune, glowing brightly on my skin. To my astonishment, an identical rune begins to etch itself into Daisy’s arm, glowing with the same radiant light. The final pulse of magic encompasses us, and when it fades, we both take a step back, breathless.

Daisy’s eyes return to normal, but the connection remains. We stand in silence for a moment, too overwhelmed to speak. But even without words, I can feel her energy pulsing through me, like a heartbeat we now share. I know she feels it too.

“Close your eyes,” I tell her softly. “Think about being on the other side of the river.”

She looks at me, curious, but obeys. In a blink, she’s gone, and when I turn, there she is—on the opposite bank, standing in awe. A grin spreads across her face as she realizes what just happened.

I teleport to her side, reaching for her arm with a mischievous gleam in my eye. “Tag! Try and catch me!” I laugh before teleporting back to the other side, the air around me crackling with energy.

Daisy’s eyes light up with excitement, and in the next second, she’s gone again, teleporting after me. We race back and forth across the river, playing a game of teleportation tag, giggling like children. The exhilaration of it—the sheer freedom—is intoxicating. Every time she gets close, I vanish, only to reappear on the opposite side, challenging her to catch me again.

Finally, we collapse onto the purple grass, both of us breathless and laughing. Daisy lies on her back, her chest rising and falling as she catches her breath, a wide grin spread across her face. “This teleport business is going to come in very handy,” she says, still laughing. Then, her expression softens, and she turns to me, her voice quiet but filled with conviction. “I can’t explain what came over me. It was like my body took charge, and before I knew it, the words just… flowed out. They came straight from my heart. Ever since I first felt your energy from the lake, I knew… you are our queen.”

I swallow hard, her words sinking deep into me. Queen. The idea feels bizarre, foreign, yet… right. Like it was always meant to be, even if I didn’t realize it.

“Thank you, Daisy,” I say softly, truly grateful for her belief in me. It’s a weight I don’t yet fully understand, but I know it’s one I’ll carry for her—and for all the fairies enslaved by the dark sorcerer.

Daisy sits up, her eyes gleaming with hope. “Do you think you’ll be able to free the others? Help them find their true selves, like you did for me?”

I hesitate. I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t even fully understand what happened between us. But I know I have to try. “I’m not sure,” I admit, “but it’s worth a try.”

She smiles, her faith in me unwavering. “Then let’s go help them, my queen.”

And with that, I know our journey is only just beginning. Together, we will face whatever darkness lies ahead—and we will free the fairies from their chains.