Toward the sea

That little fairy entered the heart of the knight and with tenderness caressed the wounds that bent his will and broke his spirit.

When that graceful creature came back out, she found that the knight, surprised by such a beautiful appearance, was looking at her intently.

His eyes no longer had tears, and a sort of smile was beginning to form on his face, which made the little fairy feel pleased that she had given a little relief to the sad knight, although she well knew that it was not her place to fully heal his wounds.



The two beings talked a bit about their past, about dreams, about the withered leaves of the forest that even in spring did not stop falling to the ground, carpeting it with ochre colors.

A shadow of doubt crossed the knight’s face as he looked at the fairy’s face, whose gaze was lost in the sunset.

-May I ask you something? - said the knight.

The little creature looked at him curiously and nodded.

-What does a fairy as beautiful as you do in a forest as dark as this one? -

The fairy lowered her gaze and made a wry face as if recalling bitter moments.

-I’m sorry if I touched a sensitive point - intervened the knight immediately. -It’s just that as a child I always believed fairies lived in the most beautiful gardens, playing under the light of the sun. -

-I’m alone… - she replied - The rest of the fairies have stayed to play happily among the flowers while I go in search of something very special. -

-If you tell me, maybe I can help you find it. -

-I’m looking for a world where everyone is purple and people smell of purple incense. -

The knight kept a thoughtful silence. How much he would have wished to know the location of that world, to take the little fairy there and see her smile. However, the wishes of a fairy are beyond the capabilities of a mortal knight.

-I’m sorry… I don’t know how to help you, but if you ever need me, I’ll put my sword, my yemo, and my life at your service-

The fairy thanked the gesture, trying to minimize the value of her actions, but the knight would always have a debt to that tiny fairy who found him in such a dark place, on the edge of madness and death. The knight would always remember the way she caressed his wounds and kissed his heart, giving him a small relief that gave him the strength to rise and fight.

The knight got up and began to advance with steady steps out of the forest with the fairy following him.

When he reached the edge of the forest, the knight stopped to say goodbye to the fairy, who still had a quest to undertake.

-Where are you going now?- asked the fairy.
-I don’t know, but I won’t stay waiting for my fate; instead, I’ll go meet it-

Saying this, he extended a tiny flower to the fairy, whom she took into her hands with joy. She lifted her face, happy to see the knight with determination in her eyes and strength in her heart.

Then the fairy approached a little closer to the knight and, with a tenderness that only a supernatural being could possess, she kissed the knight on one of his lips. The knight smiled at that gesture and reaffirmed his debt to her.

The fairy raised her flight and went toward the unknown, carrying with her that small flower.

The knight, not finding any path, began to walk aimlessly, carrying with him the memory of that sweet fairy.

After some time, his steps led him to the shores of the sea, where he sat to enjoy the sound of the waves that bathed the white sands of the world.

There, dozing between the whisper of the wind and the tinkling of the stars, a soft song reached him.

The knight sharpened his gaze, searching for the origin of that sweet melody. He couldn’t see anything in the darkness, but that tune and the sweet fragrance that accompanied him seemed to come from beyond the sea.

 Image property of Marco Antonio Pinto