Inside there was a table with several chairs surrounding it. The man sat on one end, gesturing for me and Sora to join him. 

“First, let me welcome you to our little camp here. Emelina and Dominic can help you and your friends learn our cave system. It can be disorienting to newcomers.

“I’m Ixon Diligent, Master at the academy I own. Arwen, Ozani, and Aratazz are all my students and I’m glad they were able to get you two here safely. Now, please tell your story.” 

Sora’s head was ducked down so I took the lead. From leaving Home Tree, to meeting the dragons to us running from the goblins. Both men stayed silent, Ixon nodding from time to time as Sora stayed silent. 

“Such brave children you are. I will assume you are planning on joining our cause? It makes the most sense for you Sorata, considering your history.” 

I glanced over, watching as he tensed and relaxed his fists under the table. Something was bothering him; I would have to talk to him later. 

“It is late, so I will let you and the others sleep and rest. Tomorrow, we can talk about plans and let you meet the others here.” He stood, a peaceful smile on his face. “Welcome to the Liberation, Sorata and Yasmin White Willow.” 

We stood and left the room, meeting Dominic in the hallway. 

“We don’t have too much space down here so we are sharing rooms. The angel can come with me while you pixie will room with the girls. Tomorrow we can go touring!” 

Humans, how could they be so ignorant? Sora’s back was tight, it looked like he was seconds from decking the guy. For once, I could agree; humans kept treating us like we were some kinds of animal. 

Dominic led the way, pointing down the hall to where the girls were staying. Before I could hug Sora goodnight, he stormed off with Dominic following him. I let out a sigh, and let him pout on his own. 

“Hey there roomie!” 

“Don’t mind the vines, they always end up growing when I sleep.” 

I looked over at Ozani who just rolled her eyes and turned over on her bed, facing the cave wall. Four beds were lined up with space for bags or chests between each of them. Ozani took the far left with Aratazz next to her. Emelina was on the far right, leaving me in between Aratazz and Emelina. 

I flew over to the bed, setting down my leaf bags and facing the two girls. 

“I know what we should do! We should have a sleep over!” 

“But we already are, Tazz. We were all asigned this room.” 

Tazz threw her pillow, hitting Emelina in the face. “I know that! But, like, we could play sleep over games and that sort of stuff. Pillow fights, Show or Tell, gossip about crushes; that sort of thing.” 

“Oh.” Emelina tossed the pillow back. “Sure! Then we can get to know each other better. You start then, Tazzy.” 

Aratazz shook off her robe, tossing it over to Ozani. With a giggle, she dimmed the magic lights, leaving the room just bright enough to see each other. She jumped over to my bed, waving Emelina over. 

“So, show or tell or would you rather or gargoyle in the graveyard?” 

“Considering none of us really know the tunnels, we probably don’t want to get lost by playing gargoyle in the graveyard.” Ozani’s voice was muffled by Aratazz’s robes, but she had a point.  

“I know the tunnels!” 

“Yeah, but if you are the one looking for us, we would all get lost. So, lets do show or tell! Emmy, show or tell!” 

“Um, tell.” 

“If you don’t you have to do a show that is even worse, alright?” Emmy nodded and leaned closer to Tazz. “Tell me, how do you know that other language? The one you spoke in when you first met Sora?” 

Emelina slouched and looked down at her hands. 

“It’s not something I can really hide, but I’m not fully human. My mother is a nymph, or at least she was. During the war, she met my father and fell in love with the human, and they got me. But the angels lost and, in his anger, the first dragon king attacked with his fire breathe. I’m not attached to a plant like the other nymphs, I could run when they couldn’t” 

“Before all of this, I was raised with the other nymphs. Angel Grace is actually my native tongue, everyone spoke it. I was taught songs, chants and prayers in Engillast, the language of the angels.”  

She ended with a smile on her face, while I focused on her story of the first dragon king. 

Qoro Makiya, the Braveheart was the king of Brighster until he turns his hatred towards the angels. No one knew why, but because of those three years of war, everything changed. He became the Lord of Fire, burning down everything he touched. He was killed in the last battle, though his queen Tokessi Makiya the Vengefull took over. Once every angel was gone, she claimed the title Queen of All.  

“Ok, Tazzy.” I looked up at Emelina’s words. “Show or tell?” 

“Wow, nothing for me?” 

“Sorry Mina, I gotta make her do something now. So, Show or tell?” 

Tazz looked over her shoulder at Zani before smiling. “Show.” 

“Show me that you can crawl over Ozani and give her a kiss.” Okay, Emelina was ready to make things more fun. I almost wanted to do a show as well, just to see what she would want me to do.  

Tazz's pale face turned bright red as she looked back at her friend. 

“I’m, um I think she’s asleep and I don’t want to bother her.” Her voice trailed off and she rubbed her neck. 

“Actually,” Zani’s voice was small as she kept facing the wall. “I’m still awake.” 

Silence hung thick in the air as Tazz stared at her hands. Then, she took a deep breath and crawled over her bed and stopping at Zani’s feet. Zani was now on her back, propped up on her arms as Tazz paused. Both girls were red in the face and Emelina had a smug look on her face. 

“And you gotta put on a show, Tazzy.” 

She hung her head, before looking up and moving on her hands and knees. Tazz swung her hips with her back arched as she slowly climbed up Zani’s body; her undershirt was even a little open at the top. 

Finally, Tazz reached Zani and leaned down, connecting their lips. Two seconds later, she pulled up, gave a smile and leaped back over to my bed. 

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” 

Zani touched her lips before turning back to the wall; Tazz seemed focused on her hands. 

“I guess it’s my turn again?” 

Please, there was so much tension now because of the last show. 

“Yasmin, show or tell.” 

“Tell.” 

“Perfect. Tell me your most embarrassing story that happened on Kirham. And details must be included.” 

Oh, not so easy for me then. 

“Alright, but you guys can’t judge me after this.”  

“Fairies have long periods between children so my siblings are hundreds of years older than me. As a child, I didn’t really understand this, I thought the adults that visited or friends of my parents. My niece, Lella was always visiting but I never thought she was visiting her grandparents.

“One time, I was about 10 and this was before I met Sora. I was basically a child in fairy years. Anyway, I left my room and saw this baby sitting on the floor, eating my sweet grass treat.

“I was so upset, I stomped right over to him, snatched it out of his mouth and began to yell. Something about how he was stealing my stuff and he needed to find his Chi Chi and leave. The poor boy then began to cry, screaming for his Chitera.” 

“Wait, what’s a chi chi and chitera?” 

“Oh, basically the words you use for mama and mother. Renri is like father I guess.” Tazz nodded and I continued. 

“So, I ate the sweet grass, watching this baby cry in front of me. My chitera flies in with Lella on her heels. At first, I was proud to be protecing my home but when they explained things and that I was related to Lella and her son, oh Mista, I was so embarrassed!” 

Tazz and Emelina began to laugh as I told my story. I even chuckled at how silly younger me was. 

“Blaze was a nephew of mine and he was five! For us, he had only lived on human year with us. For the months that followed, he was terrified of me until he found out it was just a mistake. I also avoided him and Lella, I thought she would be mad that I made her baby cry. Apparently, she and my parents had a great laugh when they told Mayten, Lella’s chitera and my sibling.” 

“Now then, Tazz, show or tell.” Emelina let out a whine but I only snickered. “Payback Emelina.” 

“Fine, tell.” 

“Tell me, have you ever cheated on any tests.” 

She went quiet, looking up at Emelina. “This doesn’t leave this room, promise me you guys.” 

Emelina nodded, leaning in as Tazz lowered her voice, telling her secret. 

“I. I have never cheated before.” 

She laughed as Emelina groaned, leaning back. “I really thought I would finally get something on you but you’re too good for that I guess.” 

“Nah, more like too nervous. I wasn’t the best student but I was always more afraid of getting caught. Emmy, your turn. Show or tell.” 

“Show. I can handle it.” 

“Show me your impression on Arwen.” 

We all let out giggles, excited for how Emelina would act. For some reason, she wrapped two vines around her eyes like glasses; Arwen didn’t wear glasses. 

“Excuse me.” She made a snorting sound and pushed the ‘glasses’ up her nose. “Teacher, I believe you did the spell wrong. You see, you have to chant it with a long ‘a’ sound and hold out the ‘s’ sound at the end. Otherwise, we may all die.” 

She held a stern face for two seconds before we all broke, laughing at the impression. I hadn’t known Arwen for long, but he seemed to think if anything went wrong, it would kill us all. 

“Hilarious.” I clutched at my stomach as it cramped. “But he, Arwen doesn’t wear-” 

“He used to, so did I until we learned a seeing sign. You draw it on your forehead and it makes a shield that acts like glasses. Before that though, he was always doing that thing; pushing them further up his nose.” 

“Enough about him, it’s my turn! Yasmin, show or tell?” 

“Show, do your worst Emelina.” 

She tapped her chin as she pondered and I was suddenly worried when she smirked. Last time, she really embarrassed Tazz, but she was so nice. She wouldn’t do that to me, the cute little fairy, right? 

“Show me that you can go over to the boys and tell Arwen that you can’t sleep alone and you want him to come over here to keep you safe. And you have to wear his robes that we all know you still have.” 

Never mind, this girl was not a creature of Kirham.  

“But, I can’t. I mean, if I do that we can’t play anymore.” Please don’t make me go, please don’t make me go! 

“Oh, I think I’m okay with that, how about you, Tazz?” Both women nodded, a terrible smile on their faces. 

“I agree dear Emmy. Now, are you gonna show or should I come up with something worse. Maybe, wear nothing under his robes?” 

Nope, this girl was evil. 

I glared at her, hoping she felt bad about this. Judging from her smile, she didn’t feel one ounce of shame. I pulled the robe out of my bag that I did still have and stomped out of the room, sticking my tongue out at the two smirking girls. 

Okay, I could do this. Just say I was nervous, that couldn’t be too bad. 

Right?