The lights hanging on buildings illuminated the streets more than the soft pink glow from light poles. The moon hung full in the sky radiating the same brightness as the citizens walking around. As we walked and continued to explore the city at night I informed Stella of the disappearances.
"That's terrible. Someone is really going out of their way to take people and they are strong enough for authorities to be unable to find them."
Stella's hand reached for mine but I put it in my pocket. She in turn just stepped closer.
We watched almost everything in the streets. So much so that if there were a section in our status for perception it would be marked as exceptional. Because of this I noticed a woman about five five, long black wavy and braided hair that stretched to her feet, wearing a black Victorian dress, ran into an alley avoiding everyone else's gaze.
"Heo."
"Yeah I saw that too."
"The people don't look like they even see someone running like that as wrong. Maybe it's the kidnapper…"
I pulled my hand out of its pocket and grabbed Stella's, pulling us forward and towards the alley. Once we had momentum I let go and once we were in the alley I formed a fire dagger.
The alley was strangely dark for Fayha's standards but that was probably intentional given the Halloween inspiration. My dagger cut through the darkness, a glimpse of a silhouette ducked behind a turn. We followed by jumping over trash cans and scraping our arms on the slowly shirking walls of the alley. I hit the end of the alley and quickly flashed a harmless flame out, brightening the entire area.
The small alley opened into a circular opening surrounded by the walls of buildings. The lights in the buildings shined but didn't interact with the opening like where we were didn't exist. The woman was gone and all that was left was a jack-o'- lantern with circular glasses over the holes carved out for its eyes.
I slowed down and looked around. Stella casted a shield above us just for the chance someone might try to jump on us.
"Where'd she go?" I asked, my light dimming to a warm radiance.
"You were in front of me I couldn't tell more than you."
"You think she might be the one doing the kidnappings?"
"Probably but why could we see her but others couldn't. We aren't special in any way besides our horns."
"Maybe she has to cast on you to be blind and since we just got here we haven't had it casted on us?"
"We've been outside a lot and went to some famous places in the capital. I'd be surprised if she got everyone but us."
"Well, let's go report it at least."
I glanced up at the tall buildings, cursing my weakness for not being able to jump above them in one leap. I could, just by using all my magic but that wouldn't let me keep running for long enough. I released my dagger.
We turned to walk back. Giggling resounded behind us. We both quickly turned around and I threw a flash of light back out. This time purposefully trying to blind whoever was there. Another voice of laughter resounded, giggling in the same way but from a clearly different male voice.
All that was there was the pumpkin. Its mouth was moving and its eyes were squinting with joy.
"You were close, I saw it. I know where she went but you won't." The pumpkin said giggling with the same male voice as we just heard.
"Pumpkins don't talk in Fayha." Stella said, with a surprising amount of seriousness for a pumpkin.
"Oh, the lord doesn't wish for you to catch her so here's her message." The pumpkin cleared his throat apparently, giggled and said, "if you wish to seek the Night Queen you must be more than happy, and follow the inside at next. Though a light must be on doesn't mean that you're home. If you were to recite perceptive, doubt, I'm, You're, follow, and joy you could find my truth, but your eye might turn a show and the world shall shrink." The pumpkin coughed? And said "Don't ask flame born, because I don't offer hints."
"…"
Me and Stella glanced at each other and back at the pumpkin.
The pumpkin's eyes squinted at us then said a little louder. "If you wish to seek the night Queen you must be more than happy, and follow the inside at next. Though a light must be on doesn't mean that you're home. If you were to recite perceptive, doubt, I'm, You're, follow, and joy you could find my truth, but your eye might turn a show and the world shall shrink." His eyes narrowed, he rocked and knocked his glasses up.
"We heard you. I think." Me and Stella looked at each other once more. "Even criminals have a performance to give." Stella shook her head at me, then we turned back to the pumpkin.
"How are you talking?" Stella asked.
The pumpkin's eyes squinted in a way that looked like they were raising an eyebrow. "Because I'm the quizzical pumpkin, granted life from the Queen of the Night."
"Magic to make life? That's never been made before." A shiver as cold as the Hero of Chaos' prison ran down our spine.
"Yes, but that's not the point. You must solve this riddle to reach the Queen of the Night."
"That's outside our pay grade. I at least know I have a limit." I said, Stella finding my hand in the process, as we started to leave.
"Wait! You've been chosen. You can't just not follow this riddle now." Stella's face sank like a defenseless animal on the verge of tears.
"Simply, we're good. The authorities can handle this."
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Sweat somehow fell off its face.
Amused, I turned back, "why? You're already plenty known."
"Oh.. there's no way…"
The pumpkin started mumbling. The glasses on its face started to fall. It rambled as we walked back down the alley. Once we got back to the turn the brick walls blocked off the way back. Another round of giggling from the pumpkin echoed back towards us.
"You won't leave unless you accept the riddle and follow it." It continued to giggle.
Pulling Stella up with me I blasted fire from my legs up. My magic continued to drain more than I wanted and we shot over the roofs. I felt the effect of magic sickness and the flames stopped completely before somehow never reaching the roof. It was spacial méjett.
The moisture in the air being burned up along with the dirt of the alley. In all of Fayhian fashion, it smelled like marshmallows. The wind blew my hair back and scratched my open eyes.
As we came down, we moved like we were swimming in the air. Yet my hands only hit an invisible wall. I pulled Stella closer to me and tried to use more fire to stop our landing but a wave of magic sickness stopped me in the moment.
"I got you."
Stella formed a shield and we landed on top of it. The flame burned my clothes before I stood up. She lowered us down and I jumped down quicker. Keeping myself from needing new shoes.
"Just accept the riddle. It's from the Queen of the Night herself." The pest- ering pumpkin echoed down the alley.
"This is probably how the others got taken." I said, examining my clothes.
"W-what choice do we have now? We're o-out of magic and I don't stand a chance against someone with that type of magic."
"Of course the pumpkin has special magic. That's just awesome."
"L-let's just hope we can s-s-solve this riddle." Stella squeezed out.
We might get cursed or something. "I never trusted a talking pumpkin before but I'll definitely not trust one that keeps us trapped until we attempt his riddle."
Stella's worried face continued to sweat and shriek. I tried to calm her down but all that I could get from her was quick sharp breaths. Tears welled up in her eyes and she dropped to the ground.
"Stella!"
Her body held together in the fetal position, hiding from what was around her. I'll have to attempt the riddle. Maybe she will be fine if I only try. Walking up to the pumpkin it rocked slightly lifting its glances up.
"Do you wish to attempt the riddle now?"
"Yes."
"Alright then. We'll see you."
"Huh?"
I blinked, then me and Stella were at the entrance to the alley. Right in my hands was a wad of cash. Stella's face looked up and then at me. Relieved she stood up holding me half way till she was wrapping me in a full hug. I held her back, my horns scraped hers for a second before I released them.