Chapter 16: The toad, a prince and the fairy

Lily scrunched her face as she fanned a small swarm of flies. "Why did I follow you into this mog?" she irritatedly questioned.

"Idril said the witch's house is near here," Arias started. "We should see a wooden shack if we continue on this path."

The green, stagnant water of the swamp didn't pass the prince's knees, but as Lily was a fairy, she was much shorter; the slimy water was already above her waist!

The annoyed expression didn't leave her face as she slapped a mosquito on her cheek. "Did it occur to you that the old shit might've lied?"

"He wouldn't dare," Arias responded with certainty. "Unless he's tired of living."

They waded through the mud, slime, swamp plants, and muck; their feet heavy and trousers soaked.

Arias' red eyes scanned their bushy surroundings, his eyes narrowing as his gaze traveled across the green water. He stopped walking and Lily who was focused on the mosquitos attacking her, walked into his back.

"What the hell?"

Arias shushed her before furrowing his brows, listening carefully to his environment. His left ear twitched as he listened to the swaying of the plants in the water, the buzz of the insects, and the whispers of the wind.

Lily's wide eyes scanned the swamp, but she didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. It was mucky and stinky just like any other swamp. "What is it?" she questioned.

The stagnant water slowly began to push and pull, the surface vibrating with a low monstrous growl. Arias stood very still as he continued to look around, only moving his eyes. "Something's coming toward us," he whispered in his deep voice.

A large, brown toad emerged from the water, extending its limbs, its mouth widely agape as it sprung toward the pair.

"Eek! A frog!" Lily screamed as she hid behind Arias' taller frame, clenching her eyes shut.

"It's a toad," Arias calmly responded. He gently touched the head of the ginormous amphibian while it was in midair and its size reduced to that of a normal toad.

Arias caught it in his hands. He lowered his head in a slight bow, "We didn't mean to intrude on your home."

'Why is he talking to a toad?' Lily thought. She was still hiding behind him.

Just like elves, fairies were one with nature and worshipped the goddess of nature, Mother Earth as well as her animals, but Lily grew up in the bustling city. Most animals terrified her and she hated the rest, especially frogs and toads.

She wasn't like other fairies, more so because she didn't worship their goddess.

"We were directed to this path with the promise that it would lead us to the witch called Cara," Arias explained to the toad.

"This path does lead to the home of the witch," the toad started. "But on the other side of the swamp was a much faster and drier road."

"I see," Arias calmly responded.

Lily couldn't understand anything; to her, the toad was only croaking, but it was having a conversation with Arias.

Arias carefully placed the brown toad back into the water. "Thank you for your help, Murray." His eyes fell on Lily who couldn't look anymore frustrated. "He said we're almost there."

Lily only hmphed in response before storming off, wading through the water ahead of Arias.

It didn't take long for the elf prince to catch up to her. "Murray said there was a faster road on the other side of the swamp."

Lily halted her steps and balled her small hands into fists. She slowly turned her head to look at Arias, her left eye twitching. "W-What did you just say?"

The raging fairy conjured a portal to transport her to the auction building, but Arias stopped her. "Calm down." He lifted the small woman, cradling her in his arms. "The water gets deeper from here."

"That old shit must pay," Lily argued. "You know how much I hate swamps!"

Arias' red eyes landed on her as he questioned, "What's more important right now?"

Lily took a deep breath to calm her raging emotions. "You're right," she calmly started. "I'm sorry." Her disdain for Idril never dissipated, but she was going to put her goddaughter's happiness first.

Finally, the pair could see a small cottage up ahead. Arias put Lily on the ground; she was more than relieved to finally be out of the swamp, but she smelled like she was still in there. Plus, her clothes were soaked!

"I can't intimidate anyone like this," Lily complained. She balled her fists as she swore, "I swear that old bastard is gonna get it when we're done here." She grinned maniacally as she continued, "He's gonna wish he had never been born when I'm done with him."

Arias spun a gold ring on his index finger that was ornamented by a red ruby at its center. A vortex appeared and from it came a change of clothes for them both.

The ring was one of three magical storage items crafted by a talented trio of alchemists. It was a gift to the goddess of the sun when she descended to Earth, but it somehow ended up at an auction.

"You don't have any showers in there?" Lily questioned as she took up the clothes.

It was easy for Arias to get dressed. His wardrobe only consisted of silk white pants ornamented with gold jewelry. He never wore shirts and his age preceded underwear.

"Let's go," he told Lily, but the fairy hadn't even undressed yet.

Lily looked at him as if he was a madman. "I can't just undress here," she argued. "I'm a proper woman." Her eyes quickly scanned the woods, "Block me at least."

"Fine."

Arias stood directly in front of her, but she still wasn't pleased. Lily glared at him, "You were supposed to turn around you pervert."

"I'm gay and married," Arias countered.

Lily puffed her cheeks as she crossed her arms. "That changes nothing; you're still a guy and I'm still a woman."

Arias rolled his eyes before turning around. "We used to shower together when we were kids."

"And I used to play with dolls," Lily countered. "A lot of things change when you get older." She adjusted her dress before stepping from behind Arias, "Let's go."