In Loki's Honor

"She needs a name!" Barbara clamored, then asked the fairy. "Do you wish to pick your own name?"

She shook her head, the feather barbs somehow acquiring a softness and lightness that made them flow as fairy hair should. "No. I want mom to give me a name!"

Barbara looked at me. I racked my brain for my knowledge of Elvish. Nenandil meant "Water friend" and I wanted to name this fairy using the same root.

"Your name will be 'Miriel Eilian.',"I declared. "It means 'Jewel that sparkles like rainbows'. Because that's what you are for us, in both the literal and figurative meaning. Welcome, Miriel. We wish you to be happy."

"Uh!" Miriel agreed with a wide grin. "Thank you for my name, my body, and my life!"

It was undeniable that Miriel was alive. I could even see her soul.

"This requires a celebration!" Barbara said.

"I think I need to send some letters too," I added. "Let people know that maybe a new breed of fairy will start spawning around the world.

While Miriel flew around the workshop without a care in the world, I worried about what the future held for these Crystal fairies. When one's whole body was made of precious materials, to what lengths would people go to obtain them? A body of diamond, wings of Truesilver. A [Goddess Tear] as her Core. This fairy's body was worth more than most dragon corpses. I had to do something.

"Miriel, come here, please," I called and offered my hand for her to land.

"Yes, mom?" She knelt and sat obediently on my hand.

"I need to do something to you. Stand still."

It was for the best. People would inevitably murder crystal fairies for their bodies. What I needed to do was make an example of the first dozen idiots. I kissed Miriel's head and cast a curse laced with my Divinity.

"The Crystal fairies are my children. Anyone who slays a Crystal Fairy shall see the treasure corpse they seek, all their wealth, their very bodies, and lives forfeit. Those who assist in or commission the kill shall be guilty as well. All they coveted and hoarded shall turn into worthless pebbles. The murderers' names and reason shall be known to the thousand closest [Priests] of my Church. This is a Law by the Matriarch. Let it be known across the world."

I could probably make it into an indestructible stone to leave the bodies as an example but Rosalinda's tale taught me the dangers of indestructible objects. But all their wealth, including real estate. I doubt another noble will go after a crystal fairy the moment they learn their neighbor's mansion, estate, treasury and the very clothes on their family's bodies turned to stones and they are now shunned by the Church.

My voice reverberated through the whole world. In every church, temple, and shrine in my honor, it was heard. I was sure the interested parties would soon know of their existence. Miriel would be the only one for a while. I doubt an adequate spawning location for crystal fairies already existed in the world but it was possible.

Only a Crystal Fairy who died of natural causes would leave her priceless body behind, untouched.

"Go, Miriel. Stay with Barbara. My time is almost over."

I let Netherbane take over.

*

*

We recalled all the Aspects abroad and sent invitations to the Elder Fairies, the Queens of Fulgen, King Hamilton, the mermaid Queen, the King of Ackerton, and the King of Auvani. At Rosewise's insistence, we also invited the Queen of Yutis, the nation the survivors from Windemere founded.

I said tomorrow but one didn't organize and host a party with leaders from all three continents in a day. No. we needed to create accommodations for those rulers and their retinue, set the logistics for their transportation, and grow a tall oak so the elves could bridge through [Tree Gateway].

The first to arrive were the Elder fairies. Barbara and I were at the castle gardens when I called them. They came the moment I triggered the summoning Perk, without the usual delay.

"Let me see her!" Lorelai, the elder Spriggan and elder of the Earth element said.

Miriel was hideen behind Barbara. The elder fairies sensed the crystal fairy's presence and flew around Barbara, except for Daphne the dryad who appeared tall as the Halfling. Miriel let a yelp when the other fairies surrounded her.

"It's okay," Barbara said, moving out of the way so the Dryad could go and harass the newborn fairy with her sisters.

"Blessed child!" Brenna exulted. "Your inner light is more beautiful than the most sublime flame."

"What is your name, young one? Do you recognize us?" Doris, Nenandil's mom asked.

I had a bone to pick with that Water bitch. She attempted to separate Nenandil and me and when that didn't work because Nenandil didn't want to break our pact, she hid her presence, pushing the responsibility of being the elder of Ice to my familiar. But today was Miriel's day and I had an eternity to settle this score.

"I'm Miriel, madam," Miriel said.

"Earth, Light, Holy, Crystal, Force, Metal," Daphne said. "This child's magic is potent and diverse."

"Her wings are Truesilver," Lorelai added. "Her Core is Divine in nature. She shall not be corrupted."

"Yes, I can see," Brenna mumbled. "Yes! Her Light will dispel the Darkness. Demons will shy away from her brethren."

"You are a boon upon this world, Miriel," Doris said, taking the crystal fairy's diamond hand. "We should bless her, sisters."

The five elder fairies were in agreement.

"May your light shine in the darkest recesses of the world," Brenna, the Queen of the Empire fairies cast her blessing. Which actually begs the question, how did they survive the Cataclysm? Was Neep the Brownie alright?

"May your gemstones resist any pickaxe or weapon," Lorelai blessed.

"May your wings cut through corruption as the wind cuts through a forest," Nephele, the Sylph, elder of Wind added.

"May you stand tall against adversity, stalwart and defiant like the tallest trees in the world," Daphne declared.

"Born of a tear, shed by a Goddess for love," Doris started. "Shaped by the hands and magic of two lovers. May your heart be as malleable and serene as a lake's surface so it never knows fear or despair. Even when you find yourself alone, you shall never be lonely."

The amount of magic they committed to these blessings was staggering. Compared to the starved misers who held Alloralla for years underneath Fulgen, it was like they were billionaires. They all became perks for Miriel. I could cheat and use my System Administrator powers but a parent should respect their child's privacy.

Miriel lowered her head. "Thank you, godmothers. I'm honored and humbled by your generosity."

Me too, Miriel. Me too.

*

*

The godmothers not only stayed in Clovehaven but also set out to create a fairy forest and a ring of mushrooms so they could teleport to and fro. It wasn't a bad idea. Miriel went with them to learn the ways of a fairy and Lorelai promised me she would set up a cave in the grove where crystal fairies would spawn naturally. As well as every other kind of fairy. Things in Clovehaven were bound to become interesting. Fortunately, the Halflings wouldn't mind a bit of well-intentioned fairy mischief.

Holding Barbara's hand, we watched until the fairies vanished behind a hill.

"I'm afraid we'll run out of space on this island soon," Barbara said, breaking the silence. "Will she be alright?"

"Miriel?"

"Uh-hum."

"Before Lorelai blessed her, she was the second toughest creature in this world. Seriously, she is made of magically-reinforced diamond. Self-healing too. Now, after that blessing? I'm afraid the only reason I can endure more damage than her is that I have a bigger HP pool."

Barbara laughed, then glared at me. "You are exaggerating."

"I am. But if Miriel picks a good Class and invests in some defense and HP..."

"She's too young."

"Fairies are born as adults. They pick their Classes soon after. Miriel is only waiting because I asked her to."

"We still have an unused tear," she remarked. "We should try to make a combat golem this time. Will it become alive too?"

"I doubt it. Miriel was a one-off thing. One of the rules of this world is that the first of everything has some leeway. I was the first creature to become sentient in this world, for example."

Barbara turned around and pulled me along, "Let's go then. We have a feast to prepare, [Kings] and [Queens] to host."

*

*

We didn't see Miriel for a week. But before our daughter came back, we saw the curious pixies flying around. The people of Clovehaven had advanced warnings and tried to accommodate the fairies. It would be a rough adaptation time. The newly-spawned fairies would try and see their limits, and the people would need to learn the wee folk was children in more than one way. The fact they were invisible to the common folk was troubling, though.

But they could sense me and showed proper deference. I could see them and tolerated no mischief in the castle grounds. The pixies and other fairies quickly learned that they would be excluded from the Mana Wellspring if they acted up.

With Earth magic and a ridiculously skilled caster who once built a nation's worth of housing, we adapted some of the counterweight castles for the dignitaries and their retinue. The [Kings] and [Queens] would stay spread out around Clovehaven. The distance was just a few kilometers and they could cross it really fast if they needed. But it was far enough that eavesdropping and weird shenanigans like assassinations would be harder to pull off.

I wasn't that worried. We had all the Aspects in hand and though they didn't have most of each other's Perks as I did, they still remembered the cloak and dagger games I played living their lives. I would like to say that every one of them (except Lily) was a trained [Assassin] like Apricot or me but it was just Apricot and me. If push came to shove, I could raise people from the dead.

I "wore" Haru's form. It would be awkward to use one of the Aspects and I was playing Goddess. The first to arrive were the High Elves of Fulgen. We went to the oaks we grew to serve as gateways between the ancestral elven woods and Clovehaven island. Sariandi, the four Season Queens, and a guest I wasn't expecting. When I saw him, I knew I had to let mom out.

*

*

"Renyn!" I shouted and launched myself at the poet's neck. "You're still alive!"

He hugged me back.

"Time may pass and collect its toll

But the living still remember

How they befriended an Old Soul

Whose joy burns so bright, eternal ember."

"I missed you, old friend. It's been what? Three thousand years? Congratulations on reaching Level 100!"

"You shine so brightly I think I'm blind

Your soul weighing so light fills me with joy

I do not lie, leveling up was quite a grind

But this old elf now feels like a young boy."

I cast my gaze above, at the vaulted heavens and traced the planetary ring with my eyes. "I am very happy. I have all my important people here but two. Duty split us apart but our hearts are still connected."

"Oh, there I see, hidden by the bright spark

The pain of souls by tragedy pulled apart

A shadow of a longing, Saudade so dark

How hungry for love is your bleeding heart."

Renyn studied pain for centuries. He understood hundreds of types of pain, traveled the world collecting stories, seeing into the souls of those who were hurting. He compiled those stories into cautionary tales and theatrical plays so dark it made the audience live his source's plights. He was misunderstood and hunted but his goals were sublime. By exposing people to controlled misery and sadness, he hoped to get them inured and more resilient to tragedy and pain. To toughen up their sanity, to help them endure and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

His words often struck the core of the problem unapologetically. But he had a skill, or a Perk, or a Proficiency that made the hurting person understand that he felt what they felt, he understood their pain. When mired in the dark of their most troubled time, sometimes knowing someone truly got them, that a shared burden was a lighter one. Renyn was an amazing person. But now I had to make room. Because...

A black werecat pounced on the elf.

"Renyn!" Lily hugged the elf. "Oh, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too my little monster hunter

Our little Hero of the battle for Fulgen

I wish nothing more than to hug this panther

Make sure her face is never sullen."

Stepping to the side, I addressed the [Queen] of all Elves. "Daughter."

Sariandi nodded. "Your blessing, mother."

"May the Goddess bless you," I said and did. "Welcome to Clovehaven, [Queen] Sariandi. May our friendship stand tall like the home-trees."

"Thank you, mother. We missed you."

I'm sure they did. The world was going to shit and literally breaking apart. Souls were stolen daily by the demons, their woods were a thousand kilometers to a fucking huge magical storm, and they missed the one creature who could fix it. Though if things were really dire, they could pray and give Nenandil and Pandora some faith, right? They spent thousands of years paying lip service to Yznera, going as far as naming the world after her to appease the invading gods.

"I'm still not back in full. The Broodmother left a nasty scar on both the world and my soul. But I'm indelible from this world. I'll always be around, somewhere."

I made a pause. I had to ask. Accuse. Vent.

Was her one-word answer which explained it all.

The elves of Fulgen were also bound by old covenants with the elder fairies. It was a complicated situation, between Doris and me. On one hand, she had no business meddling in my relationship with Nenandil. On the other hand, could I fault a mother for worrying about what a mortal with airs of being a deity would do to her daughter?

I hugged Sariandi, then sidestepped to look at the Season Queens. Each of them had their pink hair shaded and styled differently, representing their season. "Granddaughters."

The four curtsied. "Grandmother. Your blessing."

I cast a blessing on them. "Now, come here and give me a hug, children." Yes. Those ancient millennia-old elves were children to me. Born of Alloralla's eggs implanted on belly donors. A sub-species reborn from the grave. I kissed each of their foreheads.

"You are welcome here. In Clovehaven and in my heart, today and always. Those are not idle words. What happened happened, and we are wiser for that."

Sariandi raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. Nobody but those with a perception like mine or an attunement to body language like Renyn would notice. The elven [Poet] winked at me. I met Sariandi's gaze and grinned.

"Two thousand years locked in a book do that to people, okay?"