Exemplar Hall, Tome 3 : The Makings of a Magi Knight

When we head toward the back of the building, I catch sight of the Genesis tree and suck in a breath.

Ohmygoodness.

Since the first time I saw the enchanted tree growing up through the old stone floor of the castle four months ago, I thought it was breathtaking.

Now, it’s freaking unbelievable.

It looks Photoshopped… as if Monet spent the past week adding in forgotten details. The giant tree, which was jaw-droppingly impressive before, has grown taller and fuller, the glass ceiling rising higher to accommodate the stretching limbs.

Maybe it’s the way the sun streams in from the glass ceiling, spotlighting the tree as if from the heavens. Or how the thick, lush foliage is spattered with a multitude of colorful blooms floating above our heads. Or maybe it’s the succulence of the fragrant air as I pull it into my lungs.

The atrium is alive and heaving with the emotional essence of joyous activity. Birds and butterflies dance and swoop happily above, too many to count. Beetles and bumblebees buzz in the mix as well, and I wonder where they all came from.

A brilliantly colored butterfly glides down from the lower branches of the tree towards us, swooping in the air once almost playfully. As it comes closer, I realize it isn’t a butterfly at all.

It’s… well, I’m not sure what it is.

I put my hand out for the creature, and it lands on me with fuzzy little legs. It has a nest of tangled twigs as hair piled above a little face with large eyes, no nose, and tiny little lips. Sprouting from its back are three pairs of delicate, purple iridescent wings that flap gently, tickling against my fingertips.

When it settles, it peers up at me and blinks.

“Hello there.” I look to River, the six-winged creature still perched on my hand. “What are they?”

“Sprites.” River watches with amusement as Wyatt and I interact with the sprites. A few more of them swoop lower to observe us until we’re surrounded by a huddle of tiny, winged creatures.