As we emerged from the forest, a towering fortress came into view—its thick yellow bricks bathed in the glow of starlight.

Fireflies flitted around the structure, their soft glows blending with the shifting hues of light spilling from within. Above us, the sky stretched dark and endless, a quiet contrast to the fortress walls rising before us.

The gate was forged from dark metal, pulsing with a faint, cold shimmer. It stood silent and unwelcoming, a sentinel barring our path. Two armored guards flanked the entrance, their rigid stances unwavering as their sharp gazes swept over us.

Scarlette stared at the fortress in wide-eyed awe. I wasn't much better.

"Please, let us in," the Light Fairy—pleaded softly.

One of the guards narrowed his eyes and spoke directly to her. "Who are they, Lumera?"

"A Love Fairy and a Dark Fairy," she answered steadily. "They saved me from a vampire earlier. The Dark Fairy killed it, and the Love Fairy healed me."

Lumera. What a painfully predictable name for a Light Fairy. I bit back a smirk.

One of the guards turned to Scarlette, suspicion flickering in his gaze. "What business does a Dark Fairy have here?"

I silently prayed she'd say something reasonable. She had a game plan—I was sure of it. The problem? She was the worst liar in existence, but I hoped she'd surprise me.

Scarlette gasped dramatically, her hands flying to her hips. "Me? A Dark Fairy? Excuse you! How dare you?"

I nearly choked. She forgot our cover.

Just as I was about to step in, the second guard studied me, then tilted his head. "It can't be him. He seems too… kind to be a Dark Fairy."

The first guard hesitated, then nodded.

Kind? I was not a kind person. What an insult! But emotions will never get the better of me, so I gave a courteous smile. I had to be more composed than the one who can't lie.

Scarlette turned to me with an unreadable expression. I leaned in, my voice low and urgent. "Apply your mind. We've come too far for you to undo everything now."

She straightened, blinking at me blankly. I swear, sometimes she terrifies me. Other times, I just wonder what goes on in the space between her ears.

Then, without missing a beat, she clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You do the talking."

Oh. Now she's being rational. Finally.

Then, as if this were the perfect time—right in front of the guards—Lumera decided to make formal introductions.

What is wrong with her? What's wrong with everyone?

"By the way, I'm Lumera! I didn't get your names earlier." She beamed.

I'm sure her smile was genuine, but we needed names that wouldn't leave a trace. Something that suited our… identities.

"She's Charlotte, and I'm Ravos," I said smoothly, my tone unwavering.

Beside me, Scarlette's eyes went wide.

"Yes, I know. Charlotte sounds almost human, but that's what makes our relationship work," I added, watching as the guards' tension eased slightly.

Come on, you've got to give points to a Dark Fairy trying to be more human. I would know — it's what I've wanted for myself.

"I am Ravos," I continued, pushing through the nausea rising in my throat. "Ra for the sun, and Vos for… full of love."

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted every life decision that had led me here.

"You're a sun full of love?!" Lumera cheered, clapping her hands together.

Oh, fantastic, Lumera. Now we can frolic over rainbows and braid each other's hair. Repulsive.

Scarlette burst out laughing, and I turned to glare at her, my face a picture of pure disgust.

She only laughed harder.

"What's so funny?" one of the guards asked, eyeing Scarlette with suspicion.

"He's making funny faces at me," she snickered, pointing at me like I was some sort of court jester.

I was not making faces. I was suffering.

"Oh, give them a break," Lumera chimed in. "It's been a long day, and they've been bickering non-stop."

Scarlette sighed dramatically. "Can they hurry up?" she muttered—way too loudly.

Oh, here we go again.

"And what's the rush?" the guards asked, now even more suspicious.

"I, uh… need to pee," she blurted out.

No. No, no, no. She did not just say that.

I forced a smile, placing a reassuring (but warning) hand on her shoulder. "Charlotte, love, let the guards do their job. I'm sure there's a washroom inside." My tone was calm, soothing even, but my glare? Pure murder.

The guards exchanged looks before suddenly smiling.

"Oh! A progressive couple! Why didn't you say so? We've let a few in before," one of them said cheerfully.

…Wait. Was that how Dark Fairies had been infiltrating this place? Because these absolute buffoons thought they were just a mixed fairy couple?

Are you kidding me?

"Why didn't you just say so?" the first guard said brightly, unlocking the gate with ease.

It actually worked.

"Don't worry, we don't discriminate," the second guard added, nodding approvingly.

That's the actual problem, isn't it?

"See you around, Charlotte and Ravos!" they called as the gate swung shut behind us.

Scarlette glanced at me, smirking.

I had no words.

As I waved towards them with a forced smile, I muttered under my breath, 'Eat shit and die, you clueless fools.'