The group was ushered through graceful arches and airy hallways, entering the Seelie Queen's castle—a place where nature and artistry blended seamlessly. The interiors echoed the elegance of Rivendell: high vaulted ceilings and delicately curved beams reached up like tree branches, bathed in shafts of gentle, filtered light. Balconies overlooked cascading indoor streams, while stone bridges arched over tranquil pools dotted with floating lilies. Walls and pillars were adorned with carvings of leaves and blossoms, and living vines curled around slender columns, blooming with colorful flowers that scented the air.
Amara, Queen of the Seelies, sat atop a wooden throne grown from the very roots of the castle. Vines and vibrant flowers wound around the seat and its high back, thriving at her touch. She had chosen the form of a red-haired teenager; her long, wavy hair fell in coppery waves over her fair shoulders, catching the golden light. Strands were styled to reveal pointed, elven ears and tattoo-like markings of leafy vines adorned her face, shimmering with a verdant sheen.
Amara greeted Yan Sen warmly, her smile bright and genuine. "Welcome back to the Seelie Court, my dear friend."
Yan Sen smiled in return. "It's wonderful to see you again, Amara."
His students, recognizing the gravity of the moment, bowed deeply. Amara gave a gracious nod, her gaze sweeping over the group.
"I must say," she continued, "I've heard much about your students. They all seem remarkably talented."
Aleksander looked up and spoke with respectful confidence. "So, what made you call me?"
Amara's tone grew serious as she rose from her throne. "Follow me," she said, leading Yan Sen and his students into her private study.
Inside, sunlight poured through tall, arched windows, illuminating scrolls, books, and vibrant maps. The room echoed the ethereal grace of the castle—columns entwined with blooming vines, delicate carvings along the beams, and glass shelves brimming with magical artifacts.
Yan Sen looked around, quietly noting the many changes. "This place has changed a lot," he remarked.
Amara's lips curved in a proud smile. "We followed your designs. Now the Seelie Realm prospers more than ever—even Titania and Oberon envy us."
Yan Sen's gaze drifted to a large map on the wall, riddled with red markings. Amara followed his eyes and spoke, "Have you heard of Gantua?"
"Realm of the Giants," Yan Sen replied without hesitation.
"Yes, that one," Amara confirmed. "Long ago, the Giants lived in the mortal world—but their appetite for not just humans, but also fairies and other beings, led to their exile. One of the Lords of Order locked them away in their own realm."
This story was new to the students, who listened intently.
Amara gestured to the map. "Now, Gantua is colliding with the Seelie Realm. Small portal doors are opening between the worlds, letting Giants invade. We've managed to eliminate fifty of them with my power and help from the guardians you left behind."
She let out a weary sigh. "But their numbers keep growing. Neither I nor the guardians can fight them off forever."
Yan Sen and his students now understood the gravity of her summons and the looming threat to the Seelie Realm.
While Yan Sen and Amara discussed the growing threat of the giants, Amara suddenly paused, her expression sharpening in alert. As ruler of the Seelie Realm, her plant magic allowed her to perceive disturbances anywhere within her domain—every vine and blossom acted as her eyes and ears, relaying sights and sounds to her mind.
She muttered quietly, "The realms are colliding again. Portals are opening."
Yan Sen and his students immediately understood—the giants from Gantua would soon begin pouring into the Seelie Realm once more. The air in the study seemed to tense, as if the very walls were bracing for the coming threat.
Yan Sen and his students hurried toward the portals amid the growing urgency. Amara was already there, coordinating the evacuation. Her voice rang clear with authority: "All children and the elderly, move behind the city walls!"
Her words carried the weight of command, and the Seelie citizens—faces marked with delicate vine tattoos—quickly complied, guiding their vulnerable kin to safety behind the protective barriers of the city.
Other Seelies readied their finely crafted, magically enhanced weapons—spears and bows in hand.
Aleksander readied his sword, gripping its hilt with steady hands. Beside him, Luda drew her Deer Antler bow, the polished wood gleaming faintly, ready to unleash swift, accurate arrows.
Cassandra held her weapon with grace—a large folding fan with wide, curved folds of bright, smooth white that shimmered like fine silk. The edges and ribs were reinforced with gold, ornate and strong. Golden hooks extended from its base like guards, and delicate vine-like patterns ran up its sleek black handle.
As she moved, an ethereal aura emerged from the fan's folds—a translucent blue sheet of water, swirling and rippling as if summoned from thin air. This was no mere accessory; the fan was an instrument of mastery over water itself, capable of shaping slicing blades or protective currents in battle.
Three circular portals shimmered ahead, each one swirling with a luminous, watery blue glow.
The ground rumbled as Amara took the lead, her hands shining with vibrant green energy. From the earth, an impenetrable wall of thick, thorny vines erupted, twisting upward to form a living barrier before her people—a powerful defense against the coming threat.
Through the swirling portals, the giants appeared. Towering four times the height of an average human, they were massive humanoids with exaggerated facial features and thick, leathery brown skin. The giants looked ancient, their forms draped in rough animal skins for everyday wear, but those in war had pieced together crude, colossal suits of plate armor. Despite all coverings, they were perpetually filthy, ignoring even the most basic cleanliness.
The leader, Fallon, was the most imposing. He had two heads: the smaller one, less formed, perched awkwardly beside the main, often mumbling softly with its own thoughts, but unable to fully speak or control their body. The larger head sniffed and got the scent of Seelies.
Spotting the thorny barricade, Fallon bellowed, "Capture all of them! We are going to feast!"
A wave of excitement rippled through the giants as they surged toward the wall, eager and hungry for battle.