They possess the power to conjure fear itself.
Tabitha Wysteria
Kage trailed silently behind Arden Briar, their path winding deeper into the Kingdom of Fauna, steering steadily towards Hollowmere. He couldn’t quite understand why the Fae had chosen such a meandering course, certainly not the most direct route to the Kingdom of Ice. Had they ventured through Floridia, they might have reached the border in less than a week. But this? This was a path carved by caution, not convenience. Then again, if Arden feared the Black Lotus was on his scent, keeping well away from the city where the king himself resided was likely the wiser gamble.
Still, if what Kage had read was true, if the Black Lotus were indeed hunting Arden, then no corner of the eight kingdomswould be sanctuary enough.
Hollowmere had long fascinated Kage. The Fae were known for their cities hidden in plain sight, veiled beneath illusions or tucked within impossible architecture. Hollowmere, he recalled, was said to lie beneath the skin of the earth, a subterranean marvel accessed only through the hollows of ancient trees in a particular stretch of woodland. Yet the details eluded him. Could it be entered through any tree? Was the path ever shifting? Cloaked in old, elusive magic, it remained a mystery even to the most devoted scholars.
The forest they now walked through was thick and shadowed, but it was not part of the famed Forest of Endless Trees. Kage tried to conjure a mental map, tracing borders and names, but the thought was fleeting, slippery.
An owl’s low hoot echoed through the canopy, and Kage’s head lifted instinctively. What was it he’d been trying to remember? The thought fluttered away like mist, lost to the quiet murmur of the woods.
‘It’s called the Forest of Forgetful Hollows,’ Arden said over his shoulder. ‘The Fae wove enchantments through its roots and branches, so that no one not of our kind can ever recall the path to Hollowmere. Even the forest’s name and location slip from memory the moment one sets foot outside its borders. You may remember the city, but the road to it will forever elude you. Try again, and you’ll find yourself hopelessly lost.’
Kage gave a silent nod, his boots soft against the moss-laced earth as he followed in Arden’s wake. The forest, for all its mystique, was remarkably unremarkable with no vibrant blossoms or curious flora, no humming magic thrumming beneath the soil. The trees were indistinguishable from one another, stretching skyward with uniform indifference. An owl blinked lazily from its perch above. The entire place wasfittingly forgettable.
Kage snorted quietly at the irony.
Arden came to a halt before a gnarled tree, its bark cracked open by a hollow wide enough to swallow a full-grown man. He turned with a faint smirk. ‘Who’s feeling brave, then?’
Kage raised an eyebrow just as his crow landed by his feet, its shadowy form hunching low, trying its best to disappear behind him like a child refusing a bath. ‘You’re already dead,’ Kage muttered. The bird gave an indignant caw, flapping its wings before it caught Arden’s eye and promptly took to the air, flitting to a branch just out of reach.
‘Coward,’ Kage mumbled, scratching the wolf’s leg with absent affection.
‘I suppose I’ll go first,’ Arden sighed, rolling his eyes. ‘Just climb through. You’ll find yourself in Hollowmere within moments.’
Kage inclined his head. The Fae turned and stepped into the hollow, his form swallowed instantly by its shadowy mouth.
With growing curiosity, Kage stepped forward. To any onlooker, it would appear no more than the hollow of a tree. Dark, earthen, and entirely ordinary. He stood beside the wolf, offering a quick pat to the soft white fur. ‘Come on, boy.’
The wolf didn’t hesitate. With a single graceful bound, it leapt into the tree and vanished into the gloom. The hollow seemed to stretch for a moment, enlarging itself to allow the enormous beast through before dissolving back into its original size.
Kage turned to fix his attention on the crow perched overhead. ‘Are you coming or not, Spirox?’
The bird responded with a sharp, indignant caw, ruffling its feathers as though offended.
‘Suit yourself,’ Kage muttered, turning back to face thehollow. Yet no sooner had he taken a step than he heard the tell-tale swoop of wings behind him. He sighed as Spirox, with all the reluctant grace of a creature who'd rather not admit his loyalty, swept into the dark opening and vanished from sight.
With a resigned breath, Kage followed. The hollow closed around him like a clenched fist, the tree’s wooden walls brushing against his limbs, cool and damp. He paused, crouched in the close quarters, casting a last glance over his shoulder at the forest beyond.
Nothing changed.
Then, in the space between heartbeats, the world shifted.
Darkness enveloped him, pure and whole, swallowing sight, sound, and breath. For a moment, Kage couldn’t tell whether his eyes were open or shut. Then, just as swiftly, a light broke through, and the world returned.
He was still within the hollow, but the forest was gone. In its place rose a subterranean haven: every wall and surface carved from stone and rich, veined earth. The tree he had emerged from now stood alone atop a grassy mound, its roots coiled around steps that descended into a wide basin where vibrant waters shimmered like liquid jewels. Beyond, he caught sight of lush lawns and cobbled paths meandering between charming buildings, each aglow with warm lanternlight and filled with the distant hum of laughter.
Kage barely had time to marvel before a sharp prick warned him of Spirox's talons digging irritably into his shoulder. He reached up with a growl and shrugged the crow away. Below, the wolf stood tense at the base of the hill, a low growl rumbling in its throat, ears pinned towards a narrow, unlit alleyway between two vine-wrapped cottages of timber and stone.
The spell of awe quickly fractured. Kage descended thesteps, instincts sharpening, the scent of something wrong heavy in the air. He moved towards the alley, each step silent and measured, his senses flaring.
And there, crumpled against the cold stone, lay Arden, unconscious.
Kage turned slowly on his heels, the fine hairs on the back of his neck bristling as the air shifted, subtle but unmistakable. His eyes narrowed to slits just as a figure descended from the rooftop, landing mere inches before him with feline grace.
‘You don’t want to fight me,’ he said, voice low and edged with warning.
