Following northwards once again, Undead trails forward. Trees after trees drown his vision. Just as the forest is about to swallow him whole, there's a clearing,
A lake reflecting the pride of the sun weaves in between the trees until finally coming into view. Winds gently pushing the tree, stray leaves carried within it, finally resting atop the water. Ripples spreading out on the still surface.
The soft giggles of a fairy drift along the wind. Tracing the sound, there lies a fairy unusually larger compared to the ones Undead saw before. Green hair reminiscent of fresh spring and equally refreshing leotard clothing her body.
Her doll-like feet splash about the water as she flies over it. Perhaps feeling Undead's gaze, only then does she stop playing, warily hovering over. Before she can even get a chance to speak, Undead talks first.
"Prayer Master sent me. He said a fairy known as leaf could help me on my way to Fort Ivern"
Hearing Prayer Master's name come out his mouth seems to calm her down, her wary face now melting into a mischievous grin Undead moves closer until he's only a few feet away, looking at the fairy in front of him.
"Prayer Master? What's that hopeless old rabbit doing now, sending such an innocent and cute fairy to certain doom!"
Her sudden shift in tone jars him — emotions rising and fading far too quickly to name. Was the wariness all an act? Before he can question further, the green fairy flies directly in front of his face.
"So that wilful old rabbit sent you? …Then I suppose I could give you my help. Not that you could refuse anyway, considering that stubborn rabbit asked me for help."
Undeads gaze flickers for half a second, Leafs chest coming into view — reflex more than though — before snapping back to her eyes. Thankfully his helmet covers his whole face so it's hard to tell where he's looking.
Letting out a short giggle, with a sly grin, Leaf floats a few feet away. Eyes never leaving Undeads.
"So, what is your name? My armoured knight."
The sound of metal shifts as he clears his throat — an oddly human gesture from something so… rotten. He lifts his helmet, the light catching on his eyes dulled by rot.
"My name is Undead."
Still keeping his words curt, he turns back around, heading back to Prayer Master. Expecting Leaf to follow on her own; and that she does.
——
With flair tainting his voice, Prayer Master spins a tale to entertain the children of the forest sitting around him — some already nodding off>
Pausing for dramatic affect, in a deep voice he continues. "CRACK!!! A being far grander than any god is overthrown! Now, where she and he most beloved subject had met for tea collapses."
Before he can tell anymore, the endless chattering of a fairy mingle with the heavy footsteps of a knight.
Even throughout Leafs endless chatter, Undead focuses on what he heard of Prayer Masters tale.
Once again sitting in front of the rabbit, Undead questions. "Rabbit, what was the tale you just told?"
Blinking his beady red eyes, Prayer Master casts a suspicious gaze at Undead.
"It was just a tale I've made up to entertain the children of the forest. They have long since grown bored of playing pranks on me." Prayer Master's voice holds a melancholic tone as he looks back on fond memories.
shaking his head, he focuses his attention on Undead once again.
"Why do you ask? You don't look the type to be interested in such childish matters."
Pausing for a second, Undead's eyes lose their light before reigniting—too fast for anyone to notice. "Just curiosity."
Leaf's mischievous gaze latches onto the back of Undeads head.
Her voice taking on a teasing tone, she plops herself on top of Undead's helmet, lowering her head so she can peer into his helmet. "Oh? Is my mysterious knight still a child at heart? Why would you want to listen to such a boring tale?"
Ignoring Leaf's failure at trying to stoke a reaction, he once more probes about the tale. "Would you mind telling me that tale?"
"Well, I guess. It's not too much trouble for me, but it can happen tomorrow. The sun has already started to set and the children are tired."
Watching the last of the fairies fall asleep, he quietly picks a few leafs of a nearby tree, using them as blankets for them.
"you. Where should you rest for the night." Mutters Prayer master, his words barely audible to others.
"aha! Just southeast is a dungeon from an age long forgotten. You can use that as shelter for now, Leaf used to play around there when she was young. She can lead you there"
"See! You already need my help. Told you." With a smug grin, Lead leaves Undead's helm, twirling in the air and looking at him expectedly.
"well follow along then, my loyal knight!"
Sitting back on his head, she points in the direction of where the ruins lay. The whole act of twirling off his head? Pointless. Following the way She leads, eventually they make their way to three walls.
If there were 4 walls, it would be an isolated box, However, due to lacking one, there's an opening. Where the fourth wall should be, instead there's a metal trapdoor with a rusted lock.
easily kick the lock open, Undead enters the dungeon. Countless stairs lead forward, dust layering each step.
Undead pays no head yet Leaf keeps letting out small sneezes. After who knows how many sneezes, she's had enough. "AHHHH STUPID DUST!!!"
mimicking a gun with her hand, she 'shoots'. Instantly a strong breeze sweeps through the stairs, causing the dust to be swept along with it.
undeterred, Undead's steps don't stop, yet he can't help but ask. "What did you just do?"
"hmm? And why should I tell you?" Leaf teases, her small fits knocking against the top of his helm. "Ladies secret~"
"…Alright…"
Not planning to entertain Leaf's delusions, he quietly walks down while she continues to chatter on. Finally he sees the end. Countless torches line the wall with cells lined in rows of two. More dust coating each and every little thing in here.
Leaf, seemingly anticipating this, springs up from Undead's helm and begins to rapid fire her wind blast, shooting all the dust towards the entrance and up the stairs.
Watching this with an eerie silence, Undead watches as leaf wearily floats back atop his head, sprawled out like a star.
"hahhhhhh. Damn dust couldn't last against the mighty Leaf!"
Entering the closest cell, the bed is just a rag on the floor. Looking at this sight, at least it's more homely than his old cell.
"Ehhh…? Is this really where we're sleeping? You can't be serious! Undead, answer me!!!"
musing this, Undead lays down. Ignoring the chattering fairy as he closes his eyes.