"Wait—what?" I mumble, like someone just bonked me in the face with a soccer ball. I finally lower my arm.
"I'm still your fairy, even after all these years," Fiore continues, resolute. "I've been hidden behind the Veil all this time, but I never stopped protecting you. Speaking of protection, I'd get out of here if I were you. There's a strange vibe. I wouldn't want any demons lurking around," he says, scanning the area cautiously.
My brain feels like it's in a vacuum.
My fairy? Protecting me? The Veil? Demons lurking?
Okay, it's official: I hit my head. Romina was right—I'm full-on hallucinating.
Or… maybe I've ended up in an alternate timeline—one with sprites, magic, unicorns, and rainbow dreams.
I shake my head hard.
Or maybe, Milo, this guy is just a fanciful liar. Nothing that a couple of sharp questions can't clarify.
I scrutinize him, moving cautiously. The ears… they really are pointed. I edge a little closer.
They don't look like makeup or a cosplay accessory. But hold on—let's not jump to "fairy ears" just yet…
"What do you mean, my fairy?" I start, trying to see how far he'll carry this act.
"I chose you when you were a kid. Since then, my job has been to protect you. It's the Fairy Code."
"The Fairy Code?" I repeat, like a parrot.
"Yeah. It's nothing written down — just something we pass along by word of mouth. For example, when you meet a child and test them with an act of kindness, and they prove to have a pure heart, then it's part of the Code to protect them for life. Like a guardian angel."
"Right, makes sense… sort of… intuitive, if you think about it. And the Veil—what exactly is that?"
"The Veil separates the Real World from the Fantastic World, where we magical creatures live," Fiore explains again.
"We? You mean there are other… creatures?"
"Of course. Sprites, nymphs, orcs… Fairies, too — but none of them pull off style like I do," he adds, cocky, smiling smugly as he leans a little closer.
I blush and step back. That smile should be illegal.
I blink, then continue my interrogation.
"All these fantastic creatures… You don't see them around."
"Correct."
"So, by that logic, if you're a fairy, I shouldn't be able to see you. Yet I do."
"That's right."
"So why can I see you, then?"
"Good question… I feel a bit like Hagrid, actually," he says, pausing theatrically. "You are an Intuitive, Milo."
I stay silent for a moment.
"I'm… what?"
"An Intuitive. A human with heightened intuition. You can perceive the Fantastic World, lift the Veil at will. That's why you can see me."
A gust of wind hits us, icy for June in Padua. Fiore glances up at the sky, alarmed.
"Pffff! I can't go on!" I burst into a loud laugh.
"What do you mean?" Fiore asks, his gaze sharp and puzzled.
"Well, you're an excellent actor. Ten out of ten," I reply, giving a mock applause.
"Ah!" he clicks his tongue, eyebrows furrowed. "You don't believe me! You think I'm lying?"
"Well, yeah."
"And why would I do that, excuse me?" His tone hardens. He steps closer. This guy gets heated fast. Hit the 'liar' button, and he's instantly annoyed.
"For fun? To mess with me?" I reply, shrugging, indifferent. "Sorry, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm not eleven, and I don't live in a cupboard waiting for a letter. I'm twenty-five, and fantasy is actually the last genre I watch on streaming."
I stare at him mockingly, hoping my words irritate him as much as seeing him everywhere has irritated me over the past weeks.
If we hadn't been so caught up in our little performance, we might have noticed the bush near the parking lot… shifting.
"Do as you please then, ungrateful!" Fiore snaps, jabbing a finger at my chest. "Know this: if it weren't for the Code, I'd have let you go years ago! You always hang back, waiting for someone to notice you, but you never make yourself seen."
His scorn hits me like a punch, and for a heartbeat my confidence falters.
"You torment yourself constantly, as if condemned to sadness. As if happiness were forbidden to you. Watching you waste your life is torture, Milo. Believe me!"
"W-well, nobody asked you to follow me," I stammer, defensive. "Especially if I'm this unbearable!" I brush his hand away sharply. Enough. Time to end this charade.
"All this little act just to tell you: stay away from me!" I bark. "And if we really did know each other as kids… if we were truly friends, we wouldn't have lost touch. I'm leaving. Don't follow me."
I pivot and stride back toward the Fairgrounds.
"Milo, watch out!"
It happens in an instant. A blinding flash, a crushing force—I'm slammed backward, hitting the ground hard on my back. Shock steals my breath. Panic grips me.
Fiore is already sprinting. "Hey, don't die on me! You okay?"
"What… happened?" I gasp, my voice choking off.
Something groans nearby. A creature over two meters tall, sinewy and unnervingly limber, with jagged horns from its head. Its grin is wrong—hungry, unnatural, inhuman. In one hand, five candles fuse to its fingers, flickering with grotesque light. Shadows dance across its body, amplifying the horror.
"If you can get up, run. I'll hold it off," Fiore says, eyes never leaving the creature. Yet his hand grips my shoulder tightly.
Then he charges. Fiore's body collides with the monster with a sharp impact.
I watch him move as if I'm outside my own body. Punches. Kicks. He's clearly trained in martial arts, every strike precise, like a pro.
But even with that skill, I can tell it's not enough.
So, without thinking — despite (A) I'm just an ordinary guy, (B) I have no clue what's going on, and (C) I'm terrified — I look around to see if I can help.
Between some trash, I spot an empty glass bottle. I dive for it, ready to throw it; maybe he can use it.
Too late. The abomination knocks him down, its fingers blazing inches from his face, the other hand clamped around his throat.
My legs move on autopilot. I rush forward, bottle in hand, smashing it against the monster's head with everything I've got.
The creature gasps, more shocked than hurt. But it's enough: it loosens its grip on Fiore. Now it's coming straight for me.
Brilliant, Milo. Really top-tier thinking.
I'm face-to-face with the beast, frozen in terror. It lunges, triumphant grin wide. I raise my hand instinctively to block…
A beam of light bursts from my palm, incinerating the monster.
I feel my skin sizzle a little.
All that's left is a pile of dust.
A gentle breeze blows, scattering the ashes across the parking lot. The only sound: our heavy breathing.
"What… the hell… was… that… thing?" I finally manage to say.
"The creature you just fried—a demon," Fiore replies, rubbing his neck. "That stellar beam from your hand… no idea."