Navi's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Navi studied the maps spread across her table and frowned. The blank spaces showed nothing useful. She needed real knowledge, not guesses. Tomorrow she would fly to the Ancient Grove where the oldest fairies gathered. They remembered stories from generations past. One of them might know about passages through the mountains or hidden valleys beyond the charted lands. But first, she needed to prepare the trading post for visitors who might stop by while she was gone. She stepped outside and surveyed the muddy ground near the entrance. A rustic water pump stood there, its metal pipes rusted and wooden base worn smooth by time. The mechanism still worked despite its age. She grabbed the handle and pumped until clear water flowed into the shallow basin below. Any travelers would need fresh water during her absence. She tested the pump three more times to make sure it wouldn't fail. The water ran cold and clean each time. Satisfied, she wiped her hands on her green skirt and looked toward the distant treeline. The Ancient Grove lay half a day's flight north. She would leave at dawn and return before sunset. If the old fairies shared even one useful detail about the uncharted territories, her journey would finally have a true starting point. She walked back inside and rolled up the newest map. That one would come with her tomorrow. The legendary realm felt closer now, no longer just a dream but a destination waiting to be discovered.