The Mixes

Chapter Eight — The Ancient Vale

The Ancient Vale was nothing like Moonclaw Woods.

The moment Elyria and Raven crossed its invisible threshold, the forest shifted—trees growing taller, their trunks carved with runes that pulsed faintly. The air shimmered with color, like sunlight filtered through stained glass.

Raven looked around warily. “Pixie territory. Stay alert. Their magic is… unpredictable.”

Elyria raised an eyebrow. “Unpredictable how?”

Raven gestured vaguely. “They can charm you, confuse you, shrink you, curse you, make you dance until you pass out—”

“Sounds delightful,” she muttered.

They walked deeper into the Vale, following a winding path glowing faintly blue underfoot. Strange flowers curled open as they passed, releasing glittering dust into the air.

A soft, tinkling laugh drifted from somewhere ahead.

“I don’t like this,” Raven said quietly.

Elyria shot him a look. “You don’t like anything.”

He opened his mouth to protest—but then the forest exploded with gold light.

Tiny figures shot out of the trees—pixies—dozens of them, each glowing from within, wings buzzing like insects. They swirled around Elyria and Raven in a dizzying spiral.

“Hybrids are not welcome,” one chimed, hovering inches from Elyria’s nose.

“We’re here for information,” Elyria said calmly. “About the Covenant of Shadow.”

At that, the pixies collectively froze.

Raven muttered, “Well, that got their attention.”

The lead pixie narrowed her glowing eyes. “You seek the mountain of darkness.”

“Yes,” Elyria said. “My sister—”

“We know of the lost twin,” the pixie interrupted sharply. “We have seen her shadow in our dreams.”

Elyria’s heart skipped. “You’ve seen Selene? Where is she?”

The pixie’s expression darkened. “She is bound. Changed. The coven feeds on her magic.”

Raven swore under his breath.

Elyria stepped forward. “Please. I need to find her.”

The pixie fluttered back. “We cannot guide you directly. But we can give you this.”

She touched her tiny hand to Elyria’s chest.

A burning pulse spread through Elyria’s skin—then vanished, leaving behind a faint silver mark glowing over her heart: a crescent surrounded by swirling runes.

“What did you do?” Elyria breathed.

“It is a seeker’s mark,” the pixie said. “It will grow warmer the closer you come to your twin. But be warned—”

Her glow dimmed with fear.

“—others who serve the Shadow will feel it too.”

Elyria swallowed hard. “Why help me at all?”

The pixies shared a strange, silent look.

Then the lead pixie whispered:

“Because your sister dreams through the veil… and in every dream, she calls your name.”

Elyria’s chest tightened painfully.

Before she could speak, the pixies burst upward in a swirl of light and scattered into the forest.

Raven exhaled. “Well. At least we’re not cursed.”

“Not yet,” Elyria said.

The silver mark pulsed once—warm, steady, alive.

And for the first time, she felt something clear and unmistakable.

Selene was close.

Very close.