The Islands

"I understand that. I meant this...rapid beating in my chest. The feeling something great and intense just happened. What do you call that?"

"Excitement perhaps? Exhilaration?" He threw out as options, "Only you can tell me how you feel..."

"I cannot. I...I do not know or understand the words for it." Terrane stood straight again, ruffling her wings. "Your guess is probably right. You know much more about it then me."

"Oh dear me oh my... seems our intervention is all the more necessary." He tells Shara somberly. "Any clue how we should begin?"

Shara nodded
"I have been here many years. And the palace in which Fafnir resides is protected by a powerful barrier of mist. Maintained by crystals of magichite located on each of Lemures's islands." She explained "breaking those might be a good place to start...but..."

"But...?"

She folded her hands together
"The islands themselves...are alive, in a way. They can cause a variety of things to those who enter them..."
Terrane nodded

"It's true, we Entia do not venture to those islands without protective magic."

"Well than it's quite fortunate you have not one but two djinn here to aide you..." Luxia smiled at her, confident of their chances.

Terrane still looked skeptical
"You really don't know the danger they pose..."

Luxia shook his head and put a hand on her shoulder, "or you don't understand just what a djinn is capable of..."

Terrane snapped sharp eyes to him
"I have heard the legends, but even beings such as you are not above the effects of these islands. Don't be foolish."

"Well, it has been several thousand years since I've been in the world. Maybe some of my magical knowledge needs a proverbial refresher course..."

Terrane let's out a slow breath, as if she was sighing.
""Fafnir is no fool. Likely he has those crystals guarded. Heavily. And unlike many earth rulers he doesn't trust lower Entia to do things for him. By doing everything himself he removes the possibility of betrayal or error." She looked down
"I...do not wish to see you perish so needlessly."

"Seems like he's a wise man. It's a great shame he's wasting his wisdom..."

"I do not know that he is wasting his wisdom..." Terrane said "but he does withold much from us despite saying he values us."

" A real leader would share with his subjects. One who withholds is but a dictator..."

"If that is what you see" Terrane replied with little expression
"Regardless, the closest island Utheu. We should start there."

"Very well, just hold on one moment..." He put his face to his hands and started to rub. As he did, green smoke enveloped his body and once it cleared, a blonde haired young man stood before her. Gone was the man of distinguished age she'd come to know.

Terrane stood there quirking an eyebrow.
"I am...questioning why this action was necessary Luxia. Also, can you explain why I cocked my brow? I have never done that before."

"That my dear is confusion. That is what you feel when there's something you don't quite understand." He smirked, purposefully having not informed her why so she could feel it.

"You see, Djinn give off very distinct magical auras. However by concentrating my magic to maintaining this appearance, I can hide my power as well as my physical self on the off chance I'm recognized..."

"I highly doubt anyone of Lemures would know of you personally." Terrane replied pragmatically

Luxia shrugged with a small laugh, "Maybe it's just the vanity of looking young again. Who can say?"

"Nobody I know of" she replied in a stoic manner.
"We must be discreet, traveling to the various islands does not go unnoticed, especially with the nobles."

"Fear not, I've gone for generations without attracting attention.." Luxia promised her.

"That is unusual given your strong magical scent..." Terrane commented as they exited her home back onto the business filled streets of Lemures's main island