The key turns with a satisfying click, marking the end of yet another day. I set off along the patterned brick streets that lead to our leylines. Shiro swims ahead of me anxiously. I wonder if Shiro is simply projecting my feelings, or if it has it's own.

We reach the leyline and Shiro immediately begins to expand. Its small biomagnetic Mineral core melts into a small "boat", aether pulsing over the top to create a pod-like cabin. Oars spike outfrom its body with aether connecting them to the body creating fins. I hop into the carriage, going right through the "bubble" on top.

Floating lazily inside, I mentally will Shiro to go forward. There's no inertia, it's like floating on a cloud.

The hardest part of guiding Shiro is not falling asleep mid-route. I've done it before, and woke up flying face-first into the ground when Shiro condensed. They only stay in-form as long as you're conscious.

The leyline shimmers like the borealis all around, pulsing out of the Earth... And the entire sky is visible through the transparent canopy, The Twin Moons just starting to rise over the horizon... They look brilliant against the galactic backdrop. I wave up jokingly, knowing I'm too far for their denizens to see. Old habits die hard, I suppose.

I make it to my street and Shiro hums to a stop, as though to say "this is as far as I go". I hop out, and it reverts back.

Lights line the street, illuminating bits of the Mepple Trees, bursting with sweet, violet blossoms.

At home Stella is sitting out front with her two Harbit pups; their eyes fixed on the rope in her hand like their life depends on it... The little guys appear to be half rabbit, half horse, and 100% fluff and bounce. They trill excitedly when they notice me, just as Stella throws the toy across the garden. They chase after it neck-in-neck , until Vik jumps and catches it midair. Shisa huffs and tries to steal it. They bring it over to me, each holding an end of the rope in their fuzzy faces. I look down at them, scratching their perky ears before grabbing the rope. The moment I touch it, they're off to a running start. Shisa catches it, and an epic tug-of-war ensues.

"Hey Caret!" Stella says, standing and stretching, "Mind if I ask you a favor?"

My home away from home doubles as my work away from work! It's alright though, Stella is cool.

"Sure, what is it?" I reply.

"Before opening the shop tomorrow, could you run by the Farmer's Market and pick up these herbs? This should cover the costs..."

She hands me a scavenger hunt, and an envelope with some kin. My calculations estimate that the task will push my routine forward by approximately 50 minutes. Darn. I have wanted to visit it, but always work on the weekends. This will be a nice chance...

"Thanks! Check with the fae first- they'll have most of it. Hey!! You two!! Knock it off!" St

They're nibbling on the neighbor's hedge, as she gives them The Look saying, "Inside! Come on."

I laugh as they run back with mouthfuls of leaves.

~ × ~ × ~ × ~ × ~ × ~ × ~ × ~ ×

I made it bright and early... But I still feel late to the party!

Circa Park burst with a rainbow of tents and denizens. Half the stores run by larger races-orcs, ents, and half-Giants... The other half split between medium and small races. The teeny fae have an entire multi-tiered market in the space of a couple stalls. It smells like fresh flowers, herbs and berries.

As I'm peering in, admiring them flitting around... One flies right up to me, her leaf-like wings match her plant's race- Thyme.

Shiro swims up to her, amplifying her voice in my mind, "Welcome to the Scarborough Faerie's! What can I get for ya?"

"I'm looking for these... If you have any of them?"

I hold up the list, its larger than she is! She puts a mark next to the ones they have using large, full-bodied motions. Then she jots them down on the tiniest notepad I've ever seen.

She salutes me, and buzzes off.

I look at the list, about half of it is marked off... And she wrote a couple notes next to some remaining ones, referring me to booths that might have the other items. While I'm still reading over the note, I see a group of bee-like fae come over and look at my list. They point to the referrals, and give me a thumbs up before buzzing off.

The Thyme fairy is time efficient- some ant-fae are carrying big bundles of herbs, labeled by weight and type. The bees come back with an elf carrying the rest of the goods. My 50 minute estimation had been way off- I'd underestimated their efficiency, they were done in 10... leaving me plenty of time to roam around the organized chaos before opening.