The snow made the lights around the city shine brighter, in Chrystal’s opinion. Christmas was once her favorite time of year when she lived in her homeland, when she was a child. But right now none of it mattered as Chrystal looked around, lost and scared. She was in some city in some state she didn’t bother to learn the names of. She didn’t know what city bus she took, which way the entrance to the forest was, she just knew she had made it to the old downtown of this strange city she was in. She was too scared to ask for help and just ended up sitting by the fountain with bags full of clothes, blankets, trinkets and books in both arms.

“What do I do? I’m so so so lost! If I could fly then maybe I could go back to the guild house. Now there’s no way I can get home in time.” Chrystal whispered to herself.

All around her people walked by, not bothering to ask her if she was alright or in need of help, no one except a young looking demon with short, black, naturally curly hair that stuck up all over the place. He noticed her sitting by the fountain, trying hard to collect herself but slowly failing. He could see it on her face as fear and panic grew and knew he had to help her. He carefully approached her, getting down on his knees so she wouldn’t have to look up.

“Hey kid, are you lost?” He asked her.

Chrystal looked up at the demon, at first sight she swore it was her abuser but upon a second look he looked more like the guild leader, then she remember a picture she saw of Icarus, Samara and a young looking demon and a pale human. She did her best to calm down, convince herself that he was the demon in the picture.

The demon noticed how scared Chrystal was, he didn’t know what to do until he waved over another person. He told him what was going on. Chrystal looked at him and noticed how he looked like the pale man in the picture. He had thick black hair and pale green eyes. She quickly looked down, trying to figure out what to even say to them. She kept thinking of how to explain everything to them, so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t notice the demon leaving and coming back with a warm drink for her.

“Here, have some hot cocoa, it’ll warm you up.” The demon said, handing her the warm drink.

Chrystal looked at the red paper cup and slowly took it, she didn’t know if he was faking kindness and would dump onto her. When he didn’t, she felt at ease.

“I took the wrong bus.” Chrystal answered.

“Do your parents know where you’re at?” The pale man asked.

“No, they don’t care about me. But my guild leaders don’t know where I'm at.” She said before carefully taking a sip of the drink.

“What’s the name of your guild?” The demon asked.

“Vigila…” Chrystal said. “I went off to buy gifts for those who were staying behind as a way to say thank you.”

The two looked at one another, both had heard from Icarus that they took in a small and timid girl. They had a feeling that this little girl was her, the scared child that now lived in the guild they use to call home. The demon smiled and helped her up.

“Wow, small world. Me and my friend here are from Vigila as well.” The demon smiled.

“We’ll help you get home, although we’re both helplessly lost ourselves.” The pale man said.

“Oh no... “ Chrystal sulked. The two people who could help her were also lost.

“That’s not to say me and Leon won’t try, we’ll get back home in a matter of hours.” The demon said.

“Okay, I just don’t want to make Icarus worry… He took me and when he told me... about... adopting me I vowed to never make him worry… I also vowed that if I wasn’t too scared I would go get everyone gifts, but I took the wrong bus and ended up here.” Chrystal explained.

Leon, the pale man, got down on both knees and looked her in the eyes. “So far you’re being very, very brave. It takes a lot of courage to walk into a store and go shopping when you’re unwell. You’re doing very good right now.” He praised her.

“Thank you, Mr. Leon, sir.” Chrystal said.

Leon laughed. “It’s just Leon, no mister or sir, just Leon. And this is my friend, Theodore. We use to be guild officers, hell we founded the guild along with Icarus and Samara.”

“I’ve seen your picture, it hangs up on the wall in Icarus’ bar.” Chrystal stated. “You look like him, Icarus not Noctus I mean. I guess you look like Noctus too but you look more like Icarus.”

The demon, Theodore, let out a laugh when he heard that. Chrystal figured that he must have heard it all his life and found it funny now.

“Please, Noctus wishes he looked like me.” Theodore said.

Leon helped Chrystal up, dusting the snow and ice that had fallen on her. “We’ll help you get home. Just stick with us.” He said.

Chrystal nodded and took Theodores hand. “It’s Christmas eve, I’m shocked everything is still open.” She commented.

“Not for long. Everything’s set to close soon.” Theodore said.

“Possibly the busses and trains too.” Leon pointed out.

“Maybe flying?” Chrystal asked.

Theodore smiled and quickly ran off to find something to support three people plus bags full of gifts. Leon jut shrugged and watched as the demon ran to the ally to find an old rug to enchant. He was gone along time, long enough for Chrystal to notice a jewelry shop still open. She made a claim about forgetting Samara’s gift and asked Leon to keep an eye on the bags. He agreed and watched as she ran off.

Chrystal open the door, smiling when she heard that they closed in twenty minutes. She knew she had just enough time to ask for directions and buy two more gifts.

“Um, first question. Do you know how to get to the forest? My guild is there and I need to home. Second, how much are those couples bracelets?” She asked.

“Um, I don’t live near the forest, sorry kid. I’ll look up prices for you.” The tired store clerk said.

“Thank you, also how much is wrapping? I don’t think I’ll have time to wrap them.” Chrystal said.

The clerk looked up the pricing, showing her how much it was plus wrapping separately. She smiled and quickly handed over the money. She sat in the chair and talked to the man, telling him how she got lost and was found by two old officers of the guild. They didn’t know how to get back either but they would find a way. The shop owner just listen as he finished wrapping the gifts.

“Try flying above the city, I’m sure you’ll be able to spot your home from the sky.” He suggested.

“We will.” Chrystal said as she was given the nicely wrapped boxes.

“I hope you have a very merry Christmas, little girl.” The clerk said as he went to clean up.

“I hope so too, thank you for listening to me, and thank you for wrapping these for me.” Chrystal said as she ran to the door. “Have a merry Christmas, I hope your family won’t be mad that you’re coming home late.”

The clerk smiled as Chrystal ran out the door and towards the two men waiting for her.

“Did you get the gifts?” Leon asked as Theodore worked on enchanting the old rug.

“Yeah, I did.” Chrystal smiled as she put the boxes in her bags. “I’m ready to go home.”

Theodore nodded, finally getting the enchantment to work on the rug. He first helped Chrystal up, making sure she had a good hold of her bags around her wrist. Leon got up there and got right behind her while Theodore got in front, telling her to hold on to him so she wouldn’t fall off. Chrystal nodded and took a hold of his coat. She closed her eyes as they took off above the city but then soon open them when they were searching for the guild lights.

“I didn’t know the world was so beautiful from above.” She said.

“It’s gonna get a whole lot cooler, just hang on as we fly!” Theodore said as they took off to the only light shining in the forest that lost all it’s green due to the winter.

No cars were on the roads, just mages flying away with flashlights in hand. The two nodded and quickly flew towards the mages. Both announced to return home as they flew past each member of the guild. They looked at the three on the rug and noticed that Chrystal was sitting between them, holding on for dear life. They quickly followed behind and watched as they landed by the opening, where Icarus and Samara stood, waiting for her.

“Chrystal!” The two shouted as they ran towards her.

“Icarus, Samara!” Chrystal got off the rug and quickly ran to hug them. “I’m sorry I left without telling anyone!”

“We’re just glad you’re home.” Samara said.

“Just next time tell us please.” Icarus said.

“I promise.” Chrystal said as they let go. “I had help from two guys who use to be in the guild.”

“Hey bro!” Theodore waved.

“We found her crying in the middle of the city.” Leon explained.

“Glad we got home in time for Christmas Dinner.” Theodore said as guild members came running over.

Everyone was quick to ask if Chrystal was okay, if she was hurt and the newer members asked who Leon and Theodore was. Icarus quickly reassured everyone that she was fine. She wouldn’t do this again. He introduced his brother and Leon as old guild members who, from time to time, would come by for visits. They had picked today to return home, to be with family once more.

Samara quickly ushered Chrystal inside, wanting her to get warm after spending hours outside in the cold. The girl smiled and quickly went in, she wouldn’t budge on where she went, wanting to keep that as a secret from the demon. Samara could only watch Chrystal as she put gifts under the tree. She told Chrystal to go up and get cleaned off once she was done placing all the gifts under the tree, knowing the girl was possibly freezing from her wet clothes.

“I’ll tell you all about my adventure tomorrow, I promise.” Chrystal said as she ran up to her room.