One more obstacle to her escape

Lux holds her breath. Footsteps through the mist-shrouded trees, coming closer, ever closer. She grits her teeth to stifle a groan. Still invisible, for the moment, but – in this land of fey and illusions, who knows what creatures might be lurking around that can see right through such a spell?

Painfully, she rises to half-stand, steadying herself against the tree behind her. The fairy lance in her hand, gripped tightly, her only weapon. She isn’t sure she’d trust herself to do any more magic right now. She doesn’t feel like she has much fire or brimstone left in her.

Closer, closer. Boots crunching the undergrowth with no thought of stealth, no fear. And then—

She sees him. A man – a gnome, half of even Lux’s limited height, though his bearing suggests he fancies himself much grander. He’s wearing a heavy grey-brown robe, and a backpack about as big as he is – and a pair of goggles with thick green lenses that catch the half-light oddly.

“Watch out, Lux,” Minn whispers, hovering at her ear. “He’s the darts guy.”

Lux doesn’t immediately register what that means – the stinging dart a distant memory in her long ordeal. Warily, moving a hand to shield herself, she watches the gnome approach. The glass of his goggles glitters. Can he see her – ?

“On your feet, girl.” He speaks with an air of impatient authority. Sure enough, he’s looking straight at her. And, goggles or no, it’s obvious that his eyes aren’t on her face. “No wasting time, now.”

“Please.” Lux’s voice emerges as a hoarse whisper. A shiver goes through her as her spell fizzles out; her pale body fading into plain view, completely exposed. “I was just— I need help…”

“Clearly you do,” the gnome retorts. “You’ve strayed from the bounds of my experiment. I’ll be taking you back, now. Unless…” He tilts his head slightly. “I’ll need to clean you up a little, but maybe I can find a different use for you. If you’ll promise to be a good girl.”

Lux is too drained to feel anger. Ice burns in her veins. She sighs, and with all her fading strength she flicks the little lance through the air towards the gnome.

With a tink, the tip bounces off his chest. There’s a tiny puff of glittering dust. The gnome glances down at the fallen weapon, and scoffs. Then he topples over, his face planting itself heavily in the dirt.

Lux slumps back against the tree. She wants to taunt, to yell, to scream ****, but all that comes up is a wrenching sob. She squeezes her eyes shut and hugs her knees to herself, too tired to even think of what will happen if the mites come looking.