The humid air weighs heavily in my lungs as I stride through the unfamiliar treeline. Beautiful flowers of all varieties, some of which I have never seen before, bloom along the overgrown path that has been laid out before me. Strange birdcalls, the grunts of unseen beasts, and a faint music from somewhere off in the distance are the only signs of life, at least the kind that moves. Massive trees, grown to form a tunnel over this twisting path, loom high in the air as their branches hang with fruit so juicy they appear ready to burst apart.

It doesn't take a genius to understand I've stepped into the fabled realms of the Fae, a place full of mysteries the scholars of Morhaine had never been able to fully understand. Unsurprising, given the Fae Folk's reticence to leave this fantastical forest, but if I may be so bold to complain, it also means that I'm stuck here on my own with no useful information. I mean, who sends a scholar, alone at that, into a place saturated with Fae magic with no way of pulling them back if they end up falling into the Verdant Lands!?

I lay a hand onto a nearby tree. Well, arguing with myself isn't going to fix anything. It's better to conserve my energy at the moment, especially since this path is clearly unnatural. Something, or perhaps someone, has a plan for me and I would be a failure of a scholar if I let this opportunity pass me by. What's the worst that could happen? Actually, let's not think about that.

With a quick draw of my robes around myself, I stride boldly forward along the path, my eyes darting from side to side in order to search out any potential threats. What little I do know of the Verdant Lands serves as a reminder that, while the Fae Folk themselves are not usually a threat, there are more than enough beasts roaming around the forest to put a "pep in my step," so to speak.

Soon enough, the path emerges from the forest to reveal a wide clearing, full of what appears to be golden strands of wheat idly swaying in the wind. In the center of this clearing, beneath a sun that shines brightly in an emerald sky, is a large boulder carved into the shape of a throne. Not a human throne, clearly, but one made for some giant kin, as the throne rises fully thrice my height above the ground. The sheer size of this discovery blinds me to the presence of its occupants, one of whom buzzes next to me with an angry "Hey, yes, you there human! Stop ignoring me!"

I look around, unable to see exactly where this voice came from, until a red-robed figure floats in front of my face. His small arms are crossed over his chest, red-tinged wings beating furiously to keep him aloft. Seeing that I've finally seen him, the Fairy speaks up again. "Gods, you humans are so slow to notice things. Know that you stand in the presence of Maxis, herald of the Amber Court!" he says, mouth moving so rapidly it's difficult to understand him. Somewhere behind him, still seated on the large throne, is another Fairy, this one female with purple-tinged wings.