Queen Titania pulled out her spear from Lumi’s chest. The blood that coated the weapon dried up within a few seconds, as if absorbed by the spear itself. 

“Terribly sorry, my dear,” Titania said as Lumi began falling toward the ground. “Only blood can quench the Spear of Lugh once it is drawn. I thank you for your contribution.” 

As Lumi plummeted from the skies, Jolan leapt into the arena. He caught her in his arms before she hit the ground. 

The small fae’s breathing had become ragged, coming out in short, stifled breaths. A trail of blue blood streaked down from the corner of her lips. She sputtered as more blood filled her mouth, her whole body shaking. 

Jolan was stricken with fear and panic,  but he inhaled deeply, then brought a gentle hand over Lumi’s face. He traced his fingers through the air, making elegant motions that resembled a conductor. Soon, streams of glowing liquid dispersed out from his fingers and diffused into Lumi’s skin, and she stopped choking. The blood receded swiftly, and the light traveled down her body, seams binding together and muscle fibers and skin layers regenerated. 

Was Jolan using Undine magic? Yara could barely believe it. The fae, so far, had only been shown to use glamor, specifically in the form of illusions and weapons, but nothing of the elemental variety. Though, the water had this inner glow to it, which she didn’t understand. If the fae could use ancient elven magic, that was worrisome. If this was something else entirely, then she wanted to learn more—perhaps this was something she could use herself. 

Lumi’s breathing slowed, becoming more gentle and less frantic. Jolan smiled, letting out a relieved sigh, and made his way back to the stands. 

The sixth prince was the first to move, running up to Jolan and helping him set Lumi down. Dev carefully moved a strand of hair out of Lumi’s face. 

“Thank you, Jolan. I know we have healers waiting in the wings, but I trust your skill the most.” 

Jolan nodded. “I am always at yours and Lumi’s service.” 

Yara knelt by Lumi and wiped some of the remnant blood off her cheek. Her soft skin felt cold to the touch, but the girl seemed to be sleeping now. She must have passed out from her injuries and the stressful battle. 

“Is she going to be alright?” Yara asked. 

“Yes. I’ve repaired her internal injuries. The complete recovery still requires plenty of rest to activate the water’s full effects, but the immediately life-threatening issues have been dealt with,” Jolan explained.

Yara was impressed. “Amazing. I didn’t know fae used water like the elves.” 

“Water can be used to heal almost anything if infused with enough arcana,” he said. “I’m sure you’re aware.” 

“Yes. Magic derived from Undines tends to be used in curative ways. Though only skilled practitioners can do what you just did. It takes a lot of training to get to that stage,” Yara echoed the knowledge that she had stored away.

Jolan looked at her curiously. “Hmm. Do you use water magicks directly?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you simply summon or transfer water from another source and use that to heal wounds?” Jolan expanded on his original question.

Yara replied, “Generally, yes. If we route it correctly, we can fix most things. We are taught that the route of delivery is the most important part of the process.”

“Huh.” Jolan let out a puff of air. “Uhh. Hm.” 

Dev scratched his head. “What Jolan is trying to say…” He thought for a moment. “No. He’s trying to put it nicely without offending your sensibilities.” 

“Just say it. Please.” Yara smiled to ease the tension Jolan was building within himself. 

“You’re not wrong…” the Autumn fae began. 

“Jolan.” Dev shook his head.

“Okay. You’re wrong. The route matters only a little. Arcana has a way of guiding itself to where it needs to be most. If you administer enough of it, it will direct the flow of the water into the organs, tissues, anything that requires the greatest amount of care.” Jolan seemed like he was having a hard time saying anything remotely rude, and his teeth were grit in frustration. Arcana is the lifeblood of us residents of the Dreaming, so it is the most familiar with how our bodies work. Do you understand?” 

Yara blinked a few times, confused. What was there to misunderstand in what he had said? “Yes. I understand. Arcana is self-directed and it will heal what needs to be healed, essentially.”

“Exactly! Elves can be so intelligent.” Jolan clapped like he was encouraging a small child that had said their first words. 

“Huh?”

“Time to rein it back, Jolan,” Dev cautioned. 

“Apologies. In the fae realms, the elves’ critical thinking skills are usually questioned.” 

“Ahh. Just like how we question fae etiquette and their proclivity toward hmm… deviance.” Yara had heard many stories of fae being hypersexual and participating in all sorts of group activities. 

“Some of us are. Just like with any group, but I wouldn’t say all of us are,” Jolan said. “I now realize I held an unconscious bias toward elven kind, and I am terribly sorry for that misstep.” 

“No apologies necessary. I too held many preconceptions about fae folk before I visited these lands. I still hold many more, I’m sure.” Yara smiled. “I appreciate your honesty, and this does not sour our relations in the slightest.”

“There is no other group of people I would rather face my eventual punishment by the Summer Court than you, Prince Devesh, and our dear sleeping princess, Lumi.” Jolan crouched down, patting Lumi on the head. “She held out much longer than any competitor has against Titania—in the history of the Summer Court.” 

“Indeed. If Titania truly is the strongest, then Lumi must be close in power.”

“And that’s saying a lot,” Dev added. “For as long as I’ve lived, I have not seen anyone lay a scratch upon Queen Titania.” 

Yara glanced at Lumi, who looked so peaceful at that moment, like she was having a relaxing dream about laying in a field somewhere quiet. “I’m glad she’s on our side. I would be afraid to face her in combat.”

“I as well, princess Yara.” Jolan looked at the screens as Queen Titania floated down to the ground. “It seems the queen is approaching us.” 

Everyone went on high alert and turned their attention toward Titania as she approached them. 

“At ease, little ones,” Titania said. “I am here to check on the contestant, Lumi. As this was not a fight to the death, she was allowed to be healed.” 

She looked over Lumi, inspecting her visually without laying a finger on her. “Yes. Her wounds have been taken care of appropriately. Good work—” The queen blinked. “What is your name, Autumn Fae?” 

“Jolan… do you not—” He seemed so dejected at that instant. Like his own mother had forgotten him. 

“Hm, yes. Jolan. You have a talent for healing,” Titania said, then turned away. 

“Mother?” Dev was quiet, but loud enough to be heard. 

Titania looked over her shoulder. “Why did you call me that?” 

“Because you are—”

“I am not your mother.” She looked completely serious. “Do not use such terms in my presence unless you want to be put on trial for treason.” 

Then she tapped her temple. “Oh, yes. You’re the one whose title needs to be revoked. Recite your current title and house.” 

Dev hesitated, before speaking. “Sixth Prince of the Fae, Prince Devesh.” 

“I remember now. The stowaway.” Titania strode up to him, tracing a finger across his chest pocket. After a second, a blue lotus flower emerged from the fabric, glowing with a magnificent hue. She plucked it forcefully and beheld it. 

Then, she crushed the flower in her palm, sprinkling the cobalt-colored dust into the air. “You are now stripped of your title and your rank within the House of Eglantine.” 

A dragonfly drone landed on her shoulder. “Recording status update. Prince Devesh, House of Eglantine, now Devesh, unassigned member of the Summer Court.” 

Jolan put a hand on Dev’s shoulder and leaned his head against the ex-prince’s. The queen scoffed, and then took off into the skies, disappearing from view within a fraction of a second.

“Dev…” Yara couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. 

In that short span of time, the prince had been removed of his pride and joy—his position in the most respected house of the Summer Court, House Eglantine. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how that would feel.

Worry spiked in her mind as she remembered the terms of the peace treaty—they had dictated that Yara was to wed the Sixth Prince of the Fae and make the trip to the Elder Wyrd tree to cement the treaty for good. Without his title, would that make the whole endeavor null? The wedding would not happen if there were no sixth prince to wed, right? 

Yara could feel herself spiraling. She clutched her forehead as a splitting pain kicked in. If this treaty was not sealed, then the war was certain to begin again—which would plunge the entirety of the Dreaming back into chaos. The elves had already lost much—and what was left of House Ellewyn would die with her.