Leila guided Jordan through the village, her tiny feet light on the soft, mossy ground. Everywhere Jordan looked, there was a new wonder. The village was vibrant and alive, every corner filled with life and color. Tiny homes were nestled into tree roots and perched in the crooks of branches, their roofs woven from leaves and flowers, glowing softly with magical lights. Small streams trickled through the village, reflecting the gentle glow of the luminescent plants that grew around them. Everything was so green and lush; it was as if the village had been carved out of a living emerald.

Jordan felt a mixture of awe and melancholy wash over him. He had never seen anything like this before. He could feel the magic in the air, a soft hum that seemed to vibrate with every breath he took. But as beautiful as it all was, he wished more than anything that he could share this moment with Alice. He imagined the look on her face if she were here, the way her blue eyes would light up with excitement and wonder. He shared everything with her, and she with him; that was what he loved so much about her—their easy, natural connection. The thought of her missing out on something like this made his chest ache.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice when Leila stopped walking. “Hey,” she called, snapping her fingers to get his attention. “Earth to Jordan! You’re daydreaming again.”

Jordan blinked and looked at her, feeling a bit sheepish. “Sorry, just… got lost in my head.”

Leila smirked. “Well, snap out of it. We’re going to my cottage now,” she said, nodding toward a small, charming little house nestled against the base of a tree. Vines with tiny flowers climbed up the sides, and a soft light glowed from the windows.

As they approached, Leila paused and turned to Jordan, her expression becoming more serious. “Listen, I want you to be honest with my little sister, okay? She’s very curious about the world outside our village, since she’s… well, she’s not able to see it herself.”

Jordan frowned, a mix of curiosity and concern on his face. “Why not?” he asked. “Is she… sick or something?”

Leila nodded, her face clouded with a hint of sadness. “Yeah, she’s been frail and sickly for as long as I can remember. It’s why she stays inside most of the time.”

“Can’t your magic cure her?” Jordan asked, feeling a pang of empathy for the girl he hadn’t even met yet. He’d already seen what their magic could do; surely it could help her too.

Leila sighed softly. “Magic can do many wondrous things, but it can’t cure certain things like sickness. It’s not meant to disrupt the natural balance of life,” she explained, her voice carrying a note of wisdom that seemed beyond her years. “We’re not supposed to interfere in that way.”

Jordan considered her words, realizing he hadn’t thought about magic like that. “I thought magic would be a miracle cure to anything, guess I never really saw it that way,” he admitted.

Leila nodded. “Most humans wouldn't, once they become aware of it. But maybe your current state will give you a different perspective on a lot of things,” she added with a small smile.

Jordan nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah… I guess I’ve only thought of being shrunk as a curse so far. But I am seeing things from a new point of view. I just hope… I hope I can tell Alice about all of this when things blow over. She’d love to see this place.”

Leila gave him a knowing smile. “I'm sure you will,” she said quietly, before leading him up a small path that led to her cottage.

They reached the door, and Leila pushed it open gently, the wooden door creaking softly on its hinges. Inside, the cottage was cozy and warm, filled with soft light from a small fire crackling in the hearth. The walls were lined with shelves of books and jars filled with herbs and flowers, and there was a small bed in the corner, draped with a colorful quilt.

On the bed, propped up by a pile of soft cushions, was a tiny girl with bright red hair that matched Leila’s. She looked frail, her skin pale, but her green eyes were lively and curious. She turned her head toward them as they entered, a small smile breaking across her face.

“Hey, Elsie,” Leila greeted softly, her voice full of warmth. “I brought someone for you to meet.”

Elsie’s eyes widened with excitement as she looked at Jordan, her smile growing. “Is he… from outside?” she asked, her voice small but filled with wonder.

Leila nodded, guiding Jordan forward. “Yep, he’s got lots of stories to tell you,” she said, casting a quick, reassuring glance at Jordan.

Jordan stepped closer, feeling both nervous and a bit honored. He smiled at Elsie. “Hi,” he said softly, “I’m Jordan. And, yeah, I guess I’ve seen a lot of things from outside your village. I’d be happy to share them with you.”

Elsie beamed, her eyes shining with interest. “I can’t wait, I'd love to hear all about it” she whispered, and Jordan felt a warm sense of purpose settle over him. For now, at least, he could do something good in this strange, small world he found himself in.

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After their initial meeting, Jordan had shared a few stories with Elsie—about his life, the world outside the village, and the things he and Alice did together. He’d described the video games they played, the way they spent hours just talking about everything and nothing, the little jokes only they understood. Elsie had listened with wide-eyed wonder, her curiosity insatiable, but before he could delve too deeply, Leila gently cut the conversation short.

"That's enough for tonight," Leila had said softly. "Elsie needs her rest, and you do too, Jordan. It's been a long day."

Elsie had pouted but agreed, and made Jordan promise to tell her more stories later. As they settled in for the night, Jordan felt exhaustion creep over him like a heavy blanket. He felt his eyelids getting heavy, the weight of the day pulling him under.

As he was starting to doze off, his mind went towards Alice. He hoped she was doing alright without him, she must be worried sick right about now but there really wasn't anything he could do right now. He'd have to make sure to apologize to her when this was all over, he thought to himself as he eventually fell asleep.

 The next morning, Jordan woke up on the small, makeshift bed that Leila had prepared for him. He rubbed his eyes, taking in the room bathed in the soft, golden light of early morning. Beside him, on the larger bed, Elsie and Leila lay snuggled up together, their red hair tangled and faces peaceful in sleep. It was an endearing sight, the two sisters sharing a quiet moment of rest, and Jordan felt a small smile tugging at his lips.

Watching them, it finally clicked. He understood why Leila had sent him on such a strange task—getting the piece of chocolate and bringing it back through such danger. It was all for Elsie. Leila wanted to bring her little sister pieces of the outside world, bits of joy and new experiences she could never have otherwise. He’d been wrong about Leila, assuming she was only out to embarrass him or cause trouble. She had only been looking out for someone she loved, just like he would have done for Alice.

Just then, Elsie stirred and opened her eyes. She saw Jordan and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Jordan," she whispered, her voice still sleepy. "How are you?"

Jordan returned her smile. "I'm hanging in there," he replied, his tone light despite the oddness of his situation. “Considering, you know… everything.”

Elsie’s face fell a little. "I'm sorry about what my sister did to you," she said quietly, looking over at Leila, who still seemed to be asleep. "She meant no harm. She's a good person… she just gets scared when she feels like she has to protect me."

Jordan nodded, understanding more than he had the day before. "It's okay," he reassured her. “I get it now. I know how it feels to care about someone so much that you’d do anything for them.”

Elsie tilted her head, intrigued. “Do you have a special person too?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Jordan hesitated for a moment, but then found himself opening up. “Yeah,” he began slowly, “her name is Alice. She’s my best friend… maybe even more, if I’m honest with myself. We’ve known each other for years. She’s always been there for me, always had my back. And now… now she’s hurting because she thinks I abandoned her.”

He told Elsie about Alice, about their close bond and all the little things that made their friendship so special. He explained how he’d tried to chase after Alice yesterday, how he’d held onto her ankle bracelet in a desperate attempt not to lose her, and how it had broken his heart to see her so sad, believing he’d just disappeared.

Elsie listened with awe, her green eyes wide as she took in every word. "Wow," she murmured, once he had finished. “She sounds like she really cares about you, she seems amazing.”

Jordan smiled, feeling a warmth spread in his chest. “She really is,” he agreed softly. “I just hope I can get back to her soon, tell her the truth, and make everything right again.”

Leila, who had been quietly awake for some time, turned over and gave Jordan a soft, appreciative look. “Thanks for sharing, Jordan,” she said. “I’m starting to see why you care about her so much.”

Jordan glanced at her, surprised that Leila was awake but smiled. “I understand more about you too now,” he replied. “About why you did what you did. I’m sorry if I misunderstood your intentions.”

Leila nodded. “No harm done… it's not like you knew what you were in for when I sent you to fetch chocolate from right near your friend” she said with a wry smile.

Before Jordan could respond, the door to the cottage burst open, and one of the male Fey villagers rushed inside, panting heavily. “I’m sorry to intrude, Leila, but there’s a situation!” he blurted out, his face filled with worry. “One of the younglings ventured out too far… near the edge of the forest!”

Leila’s expression immediately grew serious. “What? How far out?” she asked, standing up quickly.

The villager swallowed, trying to catch his breath. “Almost to the human side,” he replied. “They could be in danger.”

Jordan felt a jolt of concern shoot through him. He'd experienced the danger of wandering too far and finding himself in trouble not so long ago. “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked, instinctively.

Leila turned to him, a mixture of surprise and gratitude in her eyes. “Maybe,” she replied, her voice urgent. “But we have to move fast. Come on, we don’t have much time.”

With that, they all hurried out of the cottage, Jordan’s heart racing with a new sense of purpose. They had to get to the youngling and fast, before something or someone else did.