As Arad walked outside, the people around the church started cheering and shouting. The soldiers struggled to keep them on the sidewalks, blocking them from rushing toward Arad.
Arad's eyes panned around, glowing with a purple hue as they scanned the air for magic. He could see strands of green wind magic trailing in the streets, guiding him through the buildings to where Zephyr was.
^Aella and the rest are still inside the church. What is that fairy doing?^ He took one step forward, disappearing like he never was there.
The people fell silent, then all screamed, an event he less magic-savvy folks could realize. It wasn't a normal teleportation spell. Chant-less and fluidly mixed into his motion, the epitome of what mages strive for.
On the other side of the city, Zephyr sat on a table, munching on the side of a whole roasted turkey. She waved one finger, and the whole thing got smaller, fitting in her mouth. She munched, then spat the bones out, each one getting back to their original size the moment they got out of her lips. It looked like a magic trick, which it was.
"Where is she fitting all of that?" The maid serving her the food mumbled, walking toward the table with another turkey, looking back at the pile of bones. "Two cows, thirty chickens, and now this is the fifth turkey,"
"Don't forget the salad, drinks, and bread. Count everything," Zephyr looked at the pain, patting her stomach, "I still have a lot to go. Is the lamb done yet? I have a wedding to attend,"
"Almost done, please eat this first," She laid the turkey on the table, staring at Zephyr with a strange glare, "Do you need anything else?"
"If you have honey, I'll have a barrel or two," Zephyr lifted two fingers.
"I would have kicked you out if you didn't already pay," The maid sighed, remembering how Zephyr dropped them a bag of gold. ^She hadn't even reached half what she paid for. How much can this thing eat?^
As the maid walked away, she hit something large, hard. She looked up, seeing Arad looking at her with a smile, "Are you okay?"
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She screamed her lungs out, terrified. Her mind instantly recognized Arad and panicked.
Zephyr turned toward them and waved her hand, [Calm]
The maid could feel her head clear out like water washing dirt from stones. She blinked, staring at Arad with a blank face, "What?" She mumbled.
"I came looking for Zephyr, no need to be scared," Arad walked past her and sat facing Zephyr, "What are you doing?"
Zephyr looked at the maid, "I can smell the lambs from here! Bring them on!" She waved her hand, shouting, and the maid rushed back to the kitchen, confused at everything.
"Answer," Arad sighed, looking at the pile of bones left by Zephyr, "Aren't you like the elves? Only eating plants or something?"
"I can indeed live on the morning dew alone," Zephyr smiled, "One lick off a grass blade a day is enough to keep me alive and well,"
"Then?" He pointed at the bones, "You're too small. I doubt you can use all that food," He lifted an eyebrow, "Where is it even going?"
"First thing you got wrong," Zephyr lifted a finger, eating the turkey's leg. "Elves and pixies are herbivores, but we fairies are omnivores. I for one prefer flower nectar over all else,"
"I saw you suck on flowers before,"
"Second thing you got wrong," She spat a bone out, "I probably need more food than you, especially when I intend to fight," The bone she spat returned to its original size, falling into the pile.
"Aella's mana isn't enough to sustain me at full power, and neither is you. That's why I need to eat, and a lot," She kept eating, "To put it simply, I'm bulking up before Vlad shows up again,"
"I'll be the one to put an end to him," Arad growled.
"I'm not counting on that," Zephyr smiled, "And, I don't want to see Aella sad, so I'll be taking care of him,"
"I'll kill him first," Arad glared at her, and she giggled, "I'll let you try, but I'm not letting Vlad kill anyone,"
"He won't, now let's head back. I need you to help Isdis fit in her dress."Arad stood.
"Wait a moment," She looked back, seeing the maid from before approaching with five other people, dragging two roasted lambs on a massive tray.
"It's here!" Zephyr waved her hand, pulling the two roasted lambs with her wind. Right in front of the maids, the two lambs shrunk to be as small as bugs, flying toward Zephyr's mouth.
"Where is the sauce?" Zephyr stared at them.
"Where is the lamb sauce!" Zephyr lifted the whole tray with her winds, finding the small pot hidden in the lower section, "I knew he put it somewhere."
She pulled it toward her and drank the whole thing, spitting the lambs' bones right after.
"Seeing you eat is horrifying," Arad said, looking at her thinking, ^Do I look like that when eating? No, I eat the bones as well,^
Zephyr shrank the wine and honey barrels into tiny cups in her hand and drank them whole, wiping her lips clean with a massive smile on her face. "It's been a while since I had a full meal,"
"Will this really make you stronger?" Arad stood.
Zephyr stared at him with a smile.
Arad was watching her magic flowing like normal, green waves of wind-aligned mana pulsing from her body. Nothing out of the ordinary, but then, everything in his field of vision turned green, then shifted into a blue color. He couldn't breathe and could feel all of his body itching under massive pressure.
He jumped back as far as he could, but the feeling didn't change. He looked up, seeing Zephyr's massive hand falling upon his head. He closed his eyes, trying to conjure a barrier to protect himself, but then felt her tiny hand on his forehead. "Calm down, it's just the side of my mana. Shut your void eyes and take a deep breath. I'm still small, and no matter how much of my mana is in the air, you can still breathe it normally."
As Arad opened his eyes, he could see Zephyr floating in front of his face, two holes left on the ground where he stood before he jumped.
"Might not look like it, but I'm a world power, keep that in mind," She smiled.