“Besides hiding your horn, what more can you do? With spells, magic I mean?”

Zain and Nyx had settled down at the kitchen table, with Nyx whipping up two parfaits. He then fished two tall spoons from the kitchen drawer and sauntered back to the table, where he placed the filled glasses on the polished wood.

“Besides the simple illusion spell I used today, I also know a few other illusion spells, some summoning and combat spells, and a handful of minor healing spells. And Elrick taught me potion-making.”

Zain’s face lit up. “Can you show me something? Not that that illusion spell wasn’t impressive, but I’m just curious to see what more you can do.”

Nyx watched the boy’s now flustered face with amusement. “I can show you what my home in Silver Garden looked like.”

The redhead nodded eagerly. Nyx’s descriptions of the place and the dream of the previous night made him curious to know what the place looked like, even if it was only through an illusion.

They finished their desserts and then the alicorn closed his eyes, with his palms facing upwards. Silver sparkles, like tiny magical fireflies, appeared around Nyx’s hands, and grew and grew until it had turned into a glittering cloud. Then Nyx blew the cloud away, causing the sparkles to fill up the whole kitchen and suddenly they stood in front of a cozy looking log cabin.

“This was my house once I was old enough to live on my own. Before that I lived in the tower over there.” Nyx pointed up. Behind the log cabin a light grey tower reached high up into the sky, with radiant blue details separating each floor. Zain guessed there were about fifteen floors.

“It’s called the Tower of Foundlings,” The alicorn continued to explain, “That’s where all the hybrid children will be brought to when they arrive here first. Each floor houses a different age with different needs. I left the tower when I was thirty, or fifteen in human years.”

The scene changed and they were now standing in a dark cave, with the only light coming from a gap in the stone ceiling, illuminating a small oasis in the middle of the cave. Water flowed around a small, grass-covered hill with a crystal-bearing tree in the middle. A set of flat stones connected the oasis with the rest of the cave.

“The oasis was my safe spot for when I needed to be alone for a while. Only a few people know about this place, because it’s deeply hidden into the forest. Here I also learned how to summon dwarf cats.”

“Dwarf cats?”

Nyx nodded, grinning at Zain’s curious but weirded out expression. “Dwarf cats are tiny cats native to Silver Garden. An adult dwarf cat fits in your palm easily, and as they hate water, they had trouble crossing the stream. One cat though was so enamoured by my presence that they tried and tried again to cross, but to no avail. That’s when I learned I could summon animals instinctively.”

When Zain looked closely, he could make out a small horde of miniature cats, huddled together in hues of red, black, grey and white. He couldn’t help but squeal at the cuteness in front of him. And then the alicorn’s last words hit him.

“Wait, you could summon already?”

“Hmhm,” Nyx nodded proudly, “Every magical being has a natural connection to one of the seven pillars of magic. To me summoning came natural, and everything else I know, I learned.”

There was just so much that Zain didn’t know, he now realized. Not only alicorns excisted, he had one hella hot one standing in the smack middle of his kitchen, but also other worlds and now even magic was real. He really wanted to ask more, wanting to know about what those magical pillars were, but unfortunately his body decided otherwise. He sunk to the floor without a warning. The illusion was instantly broken.

“Zain! Are you okay?”

The redhead blinked a few times, staring up into the other man’s dark eyes. He could feel Nyx’s strong arms wrapped around him, holding him. It felt pretty nice.

“I’m… not sure what happened.”

Nyx sighed. “At least you’re conscious. Do you hurt anywhere?”

Right on cue a throbbing pain flared up in his skull.

“I think I have a headache.”

Zain watched as the alicorn’s brows knitted themselved into a frown. Even in a bad mood the man still looked handsome. Maybe now was not the time to gush over the other’s looks, but he couldn’t help but do so anyway.

“Maybe the illusion was a tad too strong.I’m sorry, Zain. Let’s get you to bed.”

Nyx hoisted the smaller man up in his arms, carrying him princess style to the bedroom, setting him down carefully onto the soft bedding.

“Do you have any painkillers here?”

Zain wanted to shake his headin response, but soon found that not to be such a good idea with his head still pounding, so he squeaked out his reply: “No, I finished the last strip a few days again when I got a headache from too much studying. Can’t you heal me?”

He watched as Nyx fumbled around with his hands. It was maybe the first time he had seen him so nervous.

“I’m not very good at it.”

“Oh come on, you can’t be that bad at it. You can’t possible make it any worse.”

The alicorn scratched the back of his head.

“Uh, you might end up with some… uh, intense dreams.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad, right? I can handle that! Come, please help me get rid of this stupid headache.”

Zain reached for Nyx’s hand, and Nyx finally caved in. He placed his hands, one on top of the other, on the other’s forhead, and soon the air was filled with silvery glitter again. This time the glitter gathered around Nyx’s hands and then disappeared into Zain. Zain could feel the pain gradually lessen, until there was nothing left. Nyx's spell worked quicker than any regular medicine.

“Wow, it really is gone!”

The alicorn nodded, smiling softly. “Now please sleep, your body needs it.”

Zain smiled and grabbed one of Nyx’s hands in his. “Thank you, Nyx.”

“Happy to help, Zain. Sleep well.”

The redhead did what him was told, and drifted off to sleep as soon as he closed his eyes.