---Excerpt from a series of research papers, written over a period of a few days---

Thus far, the flora and fauna have been nothing of PARTICULAR note, but I will nevertheless dutifully keep the information regarding them all in the appendix of this paperwork. I admit to being a little concerned exploring such an area solo, but as predicted, the enyos are quite passive and have not cause my or my belongings harm.

The enyos have been quite a curious lot. While their presence is a little unnerving, they do not seem to be hostile toward me. It is odd; usually enyos tend not to be seen by humans, but these ones appear to be interested about my presence here rather than threatened by it. I can only hope this is a good sign, but I'll need to keep my wits about me nevertheless.

-

My horse appears to be a little strained from the trip, so I've decided to extend my stay for awhile. If there's one thing that frightens enyos away more than humans, it's an annoyed horse. I suspect we'll be left alone.

-

Been really enjoying the fruit around here. The multi-hued apples have been particularly pleasant. Just the right bit of tartness to them. I'll make note of the trees bearing these apples in the plants section.

On another note, I've been watching the enyos for a day or so, and I've been finding myself amused at their antics. Considering their simple minds, they have a surprisingly organized style of play with one another. Almost as if they're creating games on the fly.

-

These blasted enyos like to make a lot of noise. They don't vocalize more than an occasional screeing noise once in awhile, but they tend to roughhouse a lot with an impressive fervor. I'll be glad to be away from these things.

But also a little sad, just the same.

-

My horse is more lethargic than I expected. The enyos are nevertheless keeping their distance from it, which is just as well. I'm going to keep a close eye on things. The enyos seem more quiet and watchful than they have been in the past day or so. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I was concerned, but I've also been thinking...

...No, nevermind. My mind latches onto stupid ideas sometimes.

I'm going to keep my weapon near me just the same. No sense throwing caution to the wind on this.

-

It's not my imagination. The enyos have been very quiet lately. Maybe there's some kind of predator about? My horse seems to be aware of something as well. It's not eating and it drinks very little. Even around enyos horses aren't usually this uncomfortable. I'm not expert on horses, but even I know something is terribly, terribly wrong.

-

I awoke with a horrible fright to see a series of enyos scratching at my tent door. Their eyes were flashing a bright golden color! To my surprise, I actually found myself recognizing some of them. I couldn't fathom when this intrusion meant, but amazingly, they all remained at the door of the tent rather than bursting in. The entire lot of them were staring at me, their devilish faces inscrutable. I began to reach for my short sword, but for some reason, I simply stood up, empty-handed, instead.

The enyos stared at me, unmoving. I took a step forward; they fluttered back a little from the tent flap. I took another step and again they slowly backed away. They were... giving way to me! I knew that walking into a group of enyos... especially while unarmed... was a terrible idea, but for some reason I felt no fear. And as I stepped out into the morning sunlight, the enyos kept a respectful distance from me. Even when I stepped into the group of them, not a single enyo made a move to descend upon me and strike.

The enyos didn't make a noise, even as they fluttered around me. But things were not silent. To my stunned astonishment, I heard a deep, rasping, wheezing noise.

Acting on impulse, I ran toward it. And again, the enyos made a path. They seemed... RESPECTFUL in a way. Like they wanted to console me but didn't know how. And within seconds I found out why.

There was my horse, collapsed on its side, breathing its last breaths. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. At first I thought that the little monsters had gone and done it. They had slaughtered the horse and might come for me next. But that thought lasted for scarcely over a second. Even if the tiny enyos weren't terrified of horses, it was clear that my horse... far from being merely fatigued... had been sick. The illness had come on so fast, I didn't even realize it. How could I have been so STUPID!?

With a heavy heart, I stood up and looked at the enyos who still surrounded me. Tears were in my eyes. While their expressionless faces remained the same, now the eyes on each and every one of them had changed to a soft sort of dark purple color.

I didn't understand it, but for awhile, I didn't care. I just went back into my tent and fell asleep again.

...Time passed, and then something happened that I can't even begin to fathom.

It was a little bit later, after I woke up. Looking outside the tent flaps from my sleeping bag, I could see the enyos were no longer there.

I got up to move outside and get packed. It would be a long haul to get back home on foot and I had to prioritize whatever equipment I was going to bring. When I got to the entrance, however, my body froze and everything came to a complete halt.

There, of to the side, was a small collection of apples - just the kind I enjoy - sitting in a little pile. Next to it were a couple of shiny stones, a few sticks, some flower pedals, and other assorted items in tiny little groups.

It became hard to see, and I soon realized why. My eyes were watering.

Did the enyos...

-

The enyos had left me in peace for the rest of the evening, even though I knew that was when they were most active. And as I was munching an apple and looking over a particularly shiny bit of metal in one of the piles, I decided maybe I wasn't feeling in such a hurry to get packed again after all.

I don't know what this could mean, but I'm going to stay a little bit longer.

I want to see if I'm right.

-

Woke up to an astonishing surprise. While I'd expected to be out all day with a spade in hand burying that horse, I found out there was no need. The horse was gone! At first I thought that perhaps it had somehow been alive after all and had just ran off, but the soil around it was soft and not a single new hoofprint lead in any direction. No animals got it either because there was no blood or remains of it. The only thing that seemed out of place was a couple of divots next to the horse which very will could have been from...

...Maybe I should leave after all.

-

The enyos have gotten more and more confident around me in the past day or so. I think I've gotten to see each and every one of them multiple times. But there is one in particular that is always around me. Even during the mornings, I find it sleeping in the trees closest to my tent.

That little black enyo has such a shiny hide on it. Almost glistening. It's really quite beautiful. But more importantly, there's just something calming about looking at it.

I hate to admit this, but there have been a couple of times where I've been so wrapped up in my research papers that I barely noticed it had been sitting or even sleeping right next to me. This might not have been so terrible, but I went and did something stupid a couple of minutes ago.

I didn't realize I was doing it, I assure you! I was reading through my papers about some of the vegetation when I suddenly noticed I was... well... PETTING the little enyo. There it was, underneath my hand, and there I was, suddenly realizing what I was doing and looking at it with a dumbfounded expression on my face. I expected myself to jump to my feet in alarm and back away, but I realized I didn't feel such a need. ...I wasn't scared of this.

Can an enyo be tamed? Would I be foolish to try? I don't know. But I feel happy around it. I'll love to keep it near me. If only...

...Nevermind.

-

I woke up from a dream a little while ago. And after the dream, things became a little weird. I was flying around and looked down and saw... ME. I saw me far below, setting up my tent and stealing glances upward. And in a bizarre sort of surreal moment, I locked eyes with myself. My flying up above and the other me, down below.

...Yeah. It goes without saying. I was an enyo in that dream. Doesn't take a genius to understand that. But like I said, the dream itself wasn't the weird part.

The weird part was seeing that I had fallen asleep while reading and the little black enyo had fallen asleep under my hand as I was petting it.

...I don't want to leave this enyo behind. I have to admit it. I can only stay a day longer, but... I want it to come with me. Maybe I can find a way to keep it concealed or even maybe gather people's trust of it. I don't know. But...

Yeah. So much for being a dispassionate observer.

The only other solution...

...

-

Afternoon now. Final day before supplies run out and I need to head home.

I'm torn. I know I can't bring the enyo with me. Even though it's clear it wanted to come. Can I even make it go away if I tried? It's grown very attached to me.

Okay, look. It's time to be honest with myself. We've grown attached to each other.

I get it. I understand what this means, okay? I know what enyos are rumored to do. Whenever these notes are read by someone, they're going to arrive at the obvious conclusion. And they're going to think I was manipulated by them to do it. But I'm telling you right now it's not that simple!

I'm not being tricked into this. The enyos are just very simple creatures, not masterminds. The truth is, I'm scared beyond words about the ideas in my head. But they're MY ideas. They came naturally to me over time. I understand what I'd be giving up if this is possible.

But... even as I write this, I'm looking at the little black enyo, and it's looking at me. We both seem to be waiting for each other. It's not impatient. It's not even giving me its full attention, honestly. But it is watching and it is waiting.

You don't understand. You really don't. If I told the little enyo to go away... to leave my tent and just go away... it would do so. So, whatever stupid thing I'm considering doing, please... I beg of you... blame ME for it. Not the enyo. It's not its fault. We didn't mean this to happen. Neither of us.

-

The other enyos are gathered around. I think they know what is going to happen.

I'm shaking all over. I'm trembling and more frightened than I ever remember being. And I think the enyo is the same. But it's still waiting.

So, let me do my due diligence and explain what I'm experiencing as best I can. I understand the enyo. I really understand it. Right now our minds are... how do I put this?... matching up. I even tested this. I thought very hard to it to raise its right hand-paw, and it did so. Thought about it raising a wing, and it did so. It's responding to what I'm thinking. And I'm understanding what it is desiring. It feels comfortable and natural.


Just now, I thought for it to fly to my shoulder and now it is peering over this writing as if it were able to understand it. It's not, though. It's just an enyo. And I'm just a human.

...Okay. I think we're both ready.

Yes. I know I'm a fool for allowing this, but it's okay. I feel more calm and at ease than I thought.

Am I going to regret this decision? I don't know. But no matter what happens, I'm going to do my best to make a record of it.

My enyo and I will become an enyo-demon... together. Wish me luck.

-

---The final log entry is written in extremely shaky and slightly sloppy lettering.---

It's beautiful.... ...I don't regret this. ...But did I do the right thing? I'm... I'm scared. Nervous. But I'm happy.

---End of journal---

---

The newborn Istrala who was once an explorer by the name of Frey held out its hand. Closing its eyes, it felt a powerful magic all around it. Acting on new impulses, it felt its mind giving shape to some of the power, compressing it. Not for any purpose; just... testing. And sure enough, when it opened its eyes again, an orb of energy hovered above its new, demonic hand.

The Istrala stared at the energy ball in its hands in both wonderment as well as a little fear. Even as the reality of its new life dawned on it, it couldn't help but smile. Frey liked this. Whatever else, it meant they could be with their little enyo friends as long as they wanted.

"<I'm... one of you guys now, aren't I?>" the Istrala said, surprised at how soft and even slightly wispy their new voice was. The new language was intriguing as well. "<Well... I mean... One of your bigger cousins, at least.>" Frey chuckled. All around, the enyos remained passive in their expressions, but their bright turquoise eyes showed that they were all happy, too.

With a flick of their wrist, Frey let the magic ball dissipate harmlessly into the air. Now they smiled up at their friends. "<I guess now is as good a time as any to learn about my new life. Come on, guys. Let's get going. But first, I have some paperwork to drop off.>"

---

Artwork and shjort story commission for  Nightgail96