by Moshe Harel
We then approached the village, and I could suddenly understand everything and talk just the same. It required a conscious effort to try to listen to the sounds and not the words. They were the same as before, only now they made perfect sense.
I soon spotted my friend Ella. I landed nearby and transformed into my elfin form. Ella greeted me with a smile. Since learning to look like one of them, the elves regarded me no longer as a tiny fairy, but as a young elven maiden, one who still has a lot to learn, but an equal in every sense.
We chatted a bit, and then I asked her, “Do you know why I can understand every language spoken in Avalon? Before I visited here, and even now, I only knew one language. I had some lessons where I was taught another language, but I was no good at it. Can you explain?”
Ella smiled again. “You are very observant. Nobody has ever asked me that question, and I’ve heard of no other elf being asked. It all goes back to the origins, or as far back as anybody can recall.” She seemed to concentrate for a moment as if trying to reach deep into her vast memory. “Avalon is not a natural world. It was not created by the forces of nature doing their stuff as other worlds happened. Avalon was created by magic. Who or what directed that magic is unknown, but it’s clear that Avalon was intended for all magical creatures to live in harmony.
“Alas, even the greatest magic can’t last forever, and natural forces still prevail, even in here. As the benevolent magic started to fade, evolution made new species appear. The goblins evolved from either gnomes or dwarves—that is not quite clear; pixies separated from fairies; some flying lizards turned into dragons and even a few herbs and trees changed their nature. Yet all creatures capable of speech keep that magic active—the one allowing them to understand and speak whatever language the other species use.”
I felt like I could add a bit to her knowledge. “I think it is a kind of limited-range magic. Before coming here, I tried to listen from a distance. I could hear you quite clearly, but it was a strange language that I couldn’t understand, yet now we’re both conversing in it.”
“Are you sure? I’ve never heard of this before. I wonder if anybody has.”
I shrugged. “When concentrating really hard, I can still notice the sounds we are speaking. They are nothing like I’ve heard anywhere else. I can even converse with fairies originating in countries where my language is not common, yet we understand each other perfectly, while if I visit those countries, I’m quite lost due to the language barrier.”
Ella smiled appreciatively. “Well, Sophie, you never cease amazing me. I believe you have a great future awaiting you.”
Although she seemed happy to predict it, I wasn’t so sure. Gran had already expressed her expectations of me, my parents had expectations, and now my elfin friend. It seemed too much of a burden for my small frame. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
Emily, my small sister, had always looked up at me. Being eight years older than her made it natural, and she had never been too much of a nuisance like my brother tended to be just too often. Ever since she was told about me being a fairy, she was admiring me even more, which I found a bit disturbing. Gran had told me that Emily was probably not a fairy, although she couldn’t be sure. After spending some time with other young fairies, I was feeling that I could already sense fairy magic in others, but I didn’t sense any of it in Emily. I remembered Gran saying that fairy traits were not strictly genetic. As much as I appreciated Gran, I wasn’t sure she was right about it, yet I needed to learn some more before I could form an opinion.
Before finding I was a fairy, I had been considering dropping Biology and taking some other science instead for the last two years at high school. I had no interest in animals and was just bored by the subject, although I managed not to let it show in my grades. Discovering I was a fairy, and then the summer Fairy Club, made me forget to handle the formalities for dropping that subject. At first, I was quite sorry I hadn’t done it, as I had more than enough on my plate, even without school stuff.
Then, I helped that cat, healing it from what could easily turn into mortal wounds. This re-ignited my interest in biology. I was sure that I couldn’t have healed that cat if I didn’t know at least a bit about how its body functioned. I then re-read all the books that I had on Biology, paying special attention to any details that could help me heal injuries and even illnesses. That helped me quite a bit when I tried to save Mom’s grandparents, after their accident.
This time, we were learning about genetics—the way that children inherit their parents’ traits. It was fascinating. In a way, I could now understand how I resembled each of my parents and why my siblings had some different traits. Still, the one I was most interested in was the one that made me a fairy.
Gran had already told me that her parents and her grandparents had no magic in them. I realized that I never really talked with Dad about his family. Dad had four siblings and more than eight uncles and aunts, but I knew next to nothing about most of them.
During a cold winter afternoon, I found him looking gloomily at the rain that kept him from tending our backyard, as he liked to do at weekends. “Dad, I’d like some quality time with you,” I told him.
Dad turned to me and smiled. “Of course, dear. I’m glad you still find interest in this old man after getting yourself that nice young boyfriend.”
I frowned at him. “First of all—you’re not old. We’ve just celebrated your fortieth. Second—Brian is more than my boyfriend, he’s my mate for life. We’re going to officially marry once we’re both old enough, but that doesn’t change anything.”
His smile broadened. “I know, dear. Don’t I have the right to occasionally tease my daughter?”
“Sure you have.” I led him to the sofa and cuddled at his side, the way I had used to do since I could remember. Dad seemed to like it, as usual. He put his arm on my shoulders and hugged me tighter. “What did you have in mind?” he asked.
I smiled internally. Dad had a way of knowing what I thought even without speaking, and he probably sensed that I wanted us to talk, not to just cuddle. “I was becoming aware of knowing very little about my family on your side. I mean, I know your siblings and their children, to some degree, but that’s about it. Can you tell me a bit about your childhood, your parents, your aunts, and uncles, and so forth?”
“What made you suddenly want to find some more about them? You’ve not been too interested before, you know.”
I knew he would notice, so I had my answer ready. “It may be part of growing up. I think that helping Gran with her parents after the accident made me more aware of all that I missed. I’d like to know some more.”
“And . . .?” he prompted me.
“I have an idea about the way fairy qualities pass through generations, but I need more information to see if it is any good.”
“So, you want to know if there ever was any other fairy in my family?”
I laughed. “I’d like to, but I’m sure you don’t know of any, or you would have told me soon after finding that I was a fairy. Still, you may have some information that may hint at certain directions, which I may later pursue.”
Dad nodded understandingly. “None of my siblings has that quality. You said it shows like two faint lines between the shoulders, seen only by other fairies, yet you’ve seen them all at the pool during the summer. I don’t think you found those markings on any of them.”
I nodded. He probably couldn’t see it, the way I was cuddled into his side, like a small child, but he could certainly feel my movement.
“I don’t think any of my parents was a fairy either. Except for an annual conference that my dad used to go to, they never left home alone for more than a few hours. I know very little about dad’s parents. Both died when he was very young and he was raised by his aunt, along with his siblings. He had another aunt whose existence was kept secret from him until he reached seventeen. She was considered an immoral woman, having had a child out of wedlock, and quite young at that. She may still be al
ive, I think. She only had one child, and he died in a car-accident before reaching adulthood. Since then, she was almost constantly traveling, rarely being seen at home, and yet she seemed to have a very good financial position, becoming a very respectable citizen in the town she was living in, despite her family.”
I thought this one might have been a fairy. Her story was a bit too similar to Gran’s to be merely a coincidence. “Do you know her name?”
Dad shook his head. “Sorry, honey. I’ll need to ask a few of the older members of the family about that. My sister had once traced the family tree when she was still in school. I’ll see if she still has it.”
Dad had little more information, yet he managed to find that family tree for me, including all the names and the relevant dates. My aunt, who made that family tree, had been extremely meticulous, as she was still, doing some archaeological restorations for many museums.
I used that information to check with the Fairy registry at the Fairy palace in Avalon. Dad’s aunt was a registered fairy, it turned out. I would have liked to speak with her, but she was suffering from Alzheimer’s and could no longer answer any of my questions. As much as I wanted to heal her, this was something I knew nothing about and I dared not intervene, for fear I might do her more damage.
I also found that Dad’s grandmother had been a fairy, yet her death had nothing to do with it—she had died with her husband during an earthquake.
I still presented my theory to Gran, the next time she came.
“I believe that being a fairy is hereditary, yet like other genetic traits, one needs to get it from both parents for it to manifest itself. You see, when both parents are fairies, like Brian’s, the children inherit that trait. When only one of the parents is a fairy, the child will carry the trait-like Mom—but not display it. In my case, Mom has the fairy trait hidden, and Dad as well, that’s why one of four of their children has a chance to inherit that trait—me, in this case. As it is a statistical chance, it doesn’t preclude that either or both of my siblings will be fairies as well, although the chance is quite low.”
Gran listened attentively. “That’s a very plausible theory. I’d like you to write it down, with some more explanations about how it stays hidden and how it comes to light, along with some drawings and diagrams. Even without some experimental data, that we can’t find due to the secrecy, it may prove the first serious attempt to find the logic behind this. I’m really proud of you!”
19 Summer Vacation
Brian was going to finish high school at the end of the school year. I had another year before that would happen. I dreaded the next term when Brian would probably go to college, leaving me behind. Although we could make portals and visit each other every day, if we wanted to, I wasn’t sure it was advisable. At college, as far as I knew, students lived in the dorms, where each had at least one dorm-mate. I couldn’t possibly pop-in and let others find we were magical. Whatever they would think, it was bound to end badly.
Brian surprised me. “I’ll take this year off, so we can get married, once you finish school, and then attend college as a married couple.”
Although he had never really proposed, once we were magically bound, it was just natural for us to become married, and we both considered it the next step in our life as a couple. Still, I didn’t expect this to happen so soon. “I thought we would only get married after college,” I said, sounding quite confused.
“Why wait? As a married couple, no college will try to separate us, but as boyfriend and girlfriend, they are bound to put us in separate dorms. I wouldn’t like that, and I’m sure you feel the same.”
I didn’t answer. I just kissed him for all my worth. Once we broke up the kiss and I calmed down a bit, I was finally able to pay attention to his first sentence. “If you don’t go to college, what do you intend to do this year?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure. I may study some more fairy lore; I may try to read ahead some of what I need to during my academic studies. I also considered taking a temporary job, to help my parents with tuition.”
Gran, who was present, finally had something to say. “I have a summer job for both of you.”
As we turned our questioning gaze at her, she smiled and explained. “Like last summer, I found a few young fairies who need to properly learn what you’ve learned at the club. I’ll give the introduction and I’ll take them to Avalon, but I’d like you to teach them. As my Juniors, it is good training, and the best way to learn something is when you try to teach it to others.”
I wasn’t sure I liked her idea. Sure, we had planned on doing some more studies of Fairy stuff, but it was mainly to get some rest, tan, visit the pool or a beach daily and have as much fun as possible. Becoming teachers had never figured in our plans.
“You’ll still have most weekends free, and I intend to officially hire you and pay for your services,” Gran added, hoping to make it more acceptable.
There was no way I could refuse. I would have done this for Gran, regardless of fairies and of payment, and I was sure she knew it. “Well, what do you want us to do?” I asked, feeling defeated.
Gran smiled at me and opened her arms for a hug, as she’d been doing since I was a small child. I still couldn’t resist it. I stepped into her hug, immediately feeling calmer and more eager to do what she wanted us to. Brian was still standing as before, not quite sure what to do. Gran opened an arm, inviting him into the hug as well.
We stood that way for a bit. It may have looked awkward, as we were both much taller than Gran, but her hug was comforting and invigorating. I was never sure if it was just her love, or there was some additional magic in there.
As we parted, we all sat down, and Gran explained. “I’ve found a few more young fairies that can benefit from the club. Twelve girls and two boys. They’ve all got the initial information on time, to prevent unwelcome results, but they need more information and more training. I’ve become too busy lately, and I can’t give them the attention they deserve. Luckily, you can do just fine in my place, and having Brian with you can certainly help with the boys.”
I didn’t feel too confident, yet I noticed that Brian was already contemplating the situation and he seemed to like it. Well, no young man would oppose seeing a group of girls in the buff, as they would surely need to stay naked until they would be able to adjust their clothing when they changed size. I knew it was not his main reason, though. From the few times that he tried to help me when I had a bit of difficulty with new subjects at school, I knew that he liked to teach and to pass his knowledge to others. It was also a kind of pride for him.
“And what about our plans for the summer?” I was still a bit stubborn.
“You can just move them around a bit. Get your tan in the afternoon, when the sun’s radiation is safer; use portals to reach the seashore without spending hours on the road; you can still meet your friends every evening, except during our field trips. You may even have a party and play ‘Truth or Dare’ if you want.”
We both blushed at her last sentence, but Brian wouldn’t let that bother him. “Do you have a written curriculum?”
“I have, as well as some other written material. I’ll give it to you after you finish your last exams. You’ll have the first week of vacation to get ready, as we open the club only on the second.”
I had to inform my friends. “Gran found us a job for the summer. We shall both be busy most mornings, but we can still meet in the afternoons or evenings.”
“That’s alright with me,” Debbie said. “I only wake up at eleven, during vacations. You’ll have to wake up early, though.”
“Yes, quite early.” I made it sound sad, but I actually felt quite a bit glad. Although I was apprehensive at the sudden responsibility set on me, I was also looking forward to that. With some luck, one or more of these young fairies could become my friends for life, just like a few of those we had met the previous summer.
Still, we first had Brian’s graduation ball. I helped him choose som
e very nice clothes, and he helped me with my ball-gown. It wasn’t as daring as I would have liked, due to school regulations, but it still had a very low neckline, displaying the upper part of my boobs quite nicely, and the back was almost completely bared, covered with only a few strips of cloth to hold the dress together. The material was very thin, only a bit opaque over my chest and my crotch, yet it was sparkling with many small crystals, distracting whoever wanted to see some more. It was elegant and sexy and I knew many boys would envy Brian for being with me.
And it really was perfect. Brian looked dashing like he was a Hollywood star. All the girls seemed like they would have gladly changed places with me, even most of those who had boyfriends. The boys—well, they seemed dazed, almost drooling at my sight and almost forgetting their dates. I had to use a bit of magic to make them more attentive at their own dates and less at me. It worked nicely, though, helping the girls accept me and compliment my dress and my figure.
“A year ago, you seemed as uninteresting as a little girl, and now you are the personification of the ideal young woman,” some told me. I also heard someone saying, “I’m glad to have a chance at college, at least for a year, until she graduates and goes to college herself. With some luck, maybe she’ll choose a different college, or else I may not have a chance.” It was flattering, but it also worried me. I liked looking smashing and impressing everybody if only to make Brian prouder, but I didn’t want it to make girls (or women) envy me, avoid me or hate me as a fairy, I needed the companionship of other females and I cherished it. I wondered if I could have done things a bit differently.
We had a few more days of leisure before Gran came with a thick pack of papers. “I’ll be with them the first day and introduce them to the idea of being a fairy and what it may mean for them. You’ll be on your own from the second day, although I may pop in for a visit. I’ll handle the field trips.”
