The Higher Plain Ch 13: The End Of An Exhausting Day!

(Faylina)

It had been an exhausting day, though I wasn't sure if it was my body or my heart that felt heavier. Maybe both. As I stood outside Krelzor's partially rebuilt house, the warm orange glow of the setting sun cast long shadows across the battered farm. My hands—or rather, my oversized hands in my slightly larger form—ached a little, but I ignored the strain. I'd caused all of this, so the least I could do was help fix it.

Krelzor was still working on a particularly stubborn beam, grumbling under his breath as he hammered it into place. Despite everything, he'd been remarkably calm all day, not raising his voice once. If anything, his little muttered quips had kept me from spiraling into self-pity. He'd glance at me now and then, making some wry comment about how my "house-lifting technique" could use refinement or how I shouldn't quit my day job as a Titan.

I smiled softly as I watched him work. Krelzor was such an odd mix of things—grumpy and sarcastic, sure, but also patient in a way I wasn't used to. Humans weren't supposed to be this resilient, not in my mind. I'd spent my whole life imagining them as fragile beings, prone to crumbling under the slightest pressure. Yet here he was, rebuilding his home without complaint after I had trampled all over it.

The world wasn't anything like I'd imagined. It was fragile, yes, but not weak. And as I watched Krelzor brush a bit of dirt off his sleeve and mutter something about how the next storm would probably take the roof off again, I felt... comforted.

"Krelzor," I called, picking up a massive section of the wall he'd been struggling with earlier. I barely had to exert any effort to hold it steady as he fastened it in place. "Are all humans as stubborn as you?"

He glanced at me, wiping sweat from his brow. "Most of us, yeah. But some of us are better at it than others."

I laughed, the sound rumbling louder than I intended. "I'll take your word for it."

By the time we finished, the house was, well, livable. The roof was on, the walls were upright, and there was even a door hanging on its hinges again. It wasn't perfect—far from it—but it stood tall against the backdrop of a landscape I'd scarred beyond recognition. The farm would take more time to repair, but at least Krelzor had a place to sleep tonight.

As we cleaned up the tools and debris, I noticed Krelzor taking a few extra moments to examine the fields. His hands rested on his hips, his face scrunched up in thought. I couldn't tell if he was calculating how much work he had ahead of him or just mourning the damage. Either way, I gave him some space.

I needed some space myself.

Walking up to the blue hills nearby, I sat down and stared at the setting sun. Its light bathed the land in hues of gold and pink, making the craters and flattened trees look almost... peaceful. But I couldn't shake the regret that weighed on me.

What would my father think? How was he handling the news that his daughter had gone to the lower world, breaking one of the most important rules of our kind? The Xylarion elders had been strict about the boundary between worlds.

Was it because of our size? I'd always assumed so. It made sense—look at what I'd done without even trying. But sitting here now, I wondered if there was more to it. Maybe it wasn't just about protecting humans. Maybe it was about protecting us from the guilt of hurting them.

I sighed, pulling my knees up to my chest. "I should've just followed the rules," I muttered.

The words felt heavy in my mouth. I didn't want to leave, but what choice did I have? "I guess I should go back and face the music." Standing up, I dusted myself off and stared at the horizon. It wasn't like I could undo what I'd done, but maybe I could make things right by returning home.

"Going somewhere?"

I turned to see Krelzor standing a few feet away, his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised. He looked tired, but there was a curious gleam in his eyes.

"I was just..." I hesitated, unsure how to phrase it. "I think it's best if I go back home. I've already caused enough damage here. More than enough."

He didn't respond right away, and the silence stretched between us. I shifted on my feet, feeling more vulnerable than I ever had—even when I'd been towering over mountains.

Finally, Krelzor sighed and uncrossed his arms. "Look, Faylina... there's still a lot of work to be done around here. The fields are a mess, the barn's half gone, and I'm going to need a lot of help fixing it all."

I blinked at him. "Are you saying... you want me to stay?"

"Why not?" He shrugged, glancing away. "You're strong, you're willing to help, and... well, you're not bad company."

For a moment, I just stared at him. Then, without thinking, I scooped him up in my arms and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing his tiny frame against my chest. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with relief and gratitude.

"Okay, okay, enough!" he sputtered, his voice muffled. "Can't breathe here!"

I quickly set him down, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry," I said, clasping my hands behind my back.

He cleared his throat, brushing himself off like he hadn't just been squished against me. "Yeah, well... let's just go home. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

I smiled, falling into step beside him as we made our way back to the house. For the first time since I'd arrived in the human world, I felt a little lighter. Maybe I wasn't the disaster I'd thought I was. Maybe I still had a chance to make things right—not just for Krelzor, but for myself too.