Time Is Always With You – Episode #9: The Pilgrim And The Fairy Who Knew Too Much

More about Time Is Always With You – Episode #9: The Pilgrim And The Fairy Who Knew Too Much

The Pilgrim emerged from the Gate of Stars and, almost at once, lost his way.

After wandering for what felt like ten minutes, he arrived at a broken stone bridge. Below and beyond stretched a vastness of light and depth, but Astral City was nowhere to be seen.

Then the air itself began to sing.

An angelic, melodic hymn rose around him, carried by an ethereal and beautiful voice of a fairy:

Líora thim, líora thán, silvae nórim shae,
Mórrel kai’eth falen, suil naer en-dae.
Tírra ven, tírra vae, luneth ringa lîn,
Colúr ven fae-lír, orbis wan and thin.

The Pilgrim’s internal translator stirred to life:

“Life withers quickly and comes to little, like dew at daybreak.
So dance and sing as you pass through it.
Fairies are playful and troublesome,
Yet without them, the world loses all its colour.”

He had heard of Fairies before. High-strung beings of extraordinary beauty and panache, said to be equal parts charm and complication.

He called out into the shimmering air.

“Greetings, dear one.”

The voice answered, warm with amusement.

“Stars awake! A stranger in a strange land. Must be my lucky day. Dance the air! Allegra’s my name.”

“Delighted to meet you, Allegra,” the Pilgrim replied.

“And you,” she said lightly, “are the mysterious Pilgrim, bound for the Eternal City, seeking an audience with the Supreme Time Lord. My wings won’t sit still!”

The Pilgrim frowned. “Who told you all this?”

“We Fairies talk,” Allegra said, as if explaining gravity. “All day, all night, about everything. Seraphina told me your story. The Chosen Pilgrim, meeting the omnipotent, mysterious Being called the Supreme Time Lord. Glitter me sideways!”

The Pilgrim sighed, impatience sharpening his voice. “So you have nothing better to do than gossip about my pilgrimage all day long. Unbelievable.”

Allegra’s tone cooled, just a touch.

“Of course. By the cracked moon. You’re so special. The Chosen One. Oh, sing-sing-sing!”

She paused, then added with a smile he could hear: “Tell me then, if you’re so unique, why are you running in circles like a broken clock?”

She gestured vaguely into the distance.

“But let’s not keep the Grand Master waiting. Astral City is right over there, on the other side.

You missed the sign. “Special,” she chuckled. “Pilgrim, your name’s been whispered to chance. May time fold gently around you.”

The air fell quiet.

The Pilgrim felt relief at her departure, and gratitude too, for this oddly shaped piece of guidance and kind farewell. He turned toward the unseen city.

Cycle follows cycle in endless renewal, as time pursues its own unpredictable course.

Next stop: Astral City.

TIME IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.
---------------------------------------------------
Feel free to use the "Try" button, but please credit me - ©Chris M - as the original author of this prompt.
---------------------------------------------------
©Chris M *2026 - All rights reserved.