this is just me fleshing out the universe and seeing what i want the characters and story aspects are going to be like. i do want to add fairfolk who are the minigods of this world and i do want Rio to have a connection with them. Arc 0 won't be officially canon, but will have parts that will become canon or at least polished into canon. without futher adu here
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Rio regretted riding today. In all honesty he should have expected this. Warren, the stable head, had told him before he took Luma out that she was feeling annoyed and Whimsy had mentioned it smelled like rain. The little fairy had failed to mention it was a raging thunderstorm. Luma hated thunder more than she hated him. (He still didn't know what the mare had against him. He got along well with all the other horses.) She had bucked him and his pack off her back when the first crack of thunder hit, leaving him lost in the woods she had wandered into without any guards. After trudging through the thick forest, her managed to find a cave to bunk out in.

Rio tossed of the heavy cloak, dripping with rainwater. It had absorbed majority of the water, allowing for some of his inner wear to still be dry. He shrugged off the damp outer wear and searched his bag for something to use for a fire. As long as he can stay warm and wait out the storm, he would be able to find some wood fae to guide him in exchange for the sugar and apples he brought with him. There was a flare, but it was to wet to use right now so Rio set it back inside the pack. A first aid kit, some dried meat, his fan, a small sack of coins, and some fire tokens. Rio lit up when he saw the fire tokens and placed on the cave floor. He gathered a few dead leaves and twigs to center the fire token and muttered the command.

"Pyran."

The fire token lit up and Rio let out a satisfied sigh. He curled up by the fire and glanced out the cave opening. The sun had finally set from behind the thick storm clouds. Lightning flashed and a crack of thunder rang out followed by a wolf's howl. Rio scrunched up and scooted closer to his dagger, leaving it slightly unsheathed.

While he was chewing on a stick of dried meat, he heard a rustle of the nearby brush and grabbed onto his dagger. The rustling stopped as the creature emerged. Rio hawked at the sight of a lunar horse. Its obsidian coat and mane with speckled white gave off a soft glow and its pale blue eyes zeroed in on him. The held gazes before it trotted up to his cave and settled down on the other side of the fire. Rio raised and eye, but tossed it an apple and went back chewing on the meat. They sat in silence together, Rio occasionally shifting in attempt at getting more comfortable to sleep.

The horse gazed intently at him before nickering at him. Rio sat up curious and crawled towards it.

"Hey, what's the matter."

He rubbed her snout before it nickered again and hooked its head on his shoulder to force him down. The horses body was more comfortable than the lightly damp pack and he was already feeling tired. The rise in fall of the horse breathing gently lulled him to sleep.

When he woke up, the first thing Rio noticed was the horse was walking as he was draped across its back. The second thing he noticed was a woman's voice humming and the occasional bark of a wolf.

He sat up slowly, strangely not feeling to be in any danger. The horse felt him shift and trotted up to the woman in front of them. Rio eyed her curiously. Silver hair, tanned skin, pointed ears; she was a moon spirit. She glanced up at them and smiled, her pale blue eyes crinkling. The wolf cocked its head at him.

"Good to see you are awake. As much as I love Aca and Muro, I was hoping for some conversation. I'm Evana, what are you doing out here in the woods at night?" Her voice was accented slightly.

"My name is Rio. I was out riding earlier today when the storm rolled in a spooked my horse. While I was able to get one of the packs, she took the one with the guide charm. I decided to wait out the night and see if I could make a trade with the fae to guide me out." She perked up at that.

"The fae? Don't you know better than to associate with those wee lil' tricksters? Where are you from, love?"

"Majority of the fae and spirits I've met seem to like me. I used to like in the capital. Now I live in the palace." She cocked an eye before squinting at his words.

"Hold on a second there, love. I remember some spirits gossiping about a Dusted consort living in the palace grounds. Pretty, long black hair that is fun to braid, hazel eyes with the cutest little specks of gold," Rio flushed and looked away, "They never mentioned it was a lad and not a lassie. Shouldn't you have guards or something?"

"Luma hates them so she always leaves them behind. In my opinion, she hates all of us and like causing trouble. So Evana, where are we off to."

She snorted, "Where do ya think? It's cold and wet out here. I had to wait for the rain to finally stop before coming out because Muro here is a little princess who hates water. I would be at home, warm and comfy, if Aca darling hadn't startled due to the thunder. Surprised she let you bunk with her, let alone use her as a pillow. Guessing because you are a Dusted."

Rio hummed and rubbed Aca's neck. "Thank you dear for gracing me with comfort and hospitality. I shall insure you apples and sugar cubes to your hearts content." The mare whinnied and Evana chuckled.

They mindlessly chatted and gossiped until they made it to Evana's house. The main part branched off from a large tree that seemed to be hollowed partially to make room for more space. Evana guided him into the house and gave him a pair of men's clothing, her brother's, to put on while she went to settle Aca down to rest. Muro was left inside with him and made himself busy forcing Rio to play tug of war with him. Rio sighed and after the third time loosing, gave up and rested in a chair. Muro whined, but buried his head in Rio's lap while he gave him scratches behind the ears. Evana chuckled when she returned and set on some tea.

"Aren't you just the animal whisper, love? You charmed both of those stubborn rascals in one night." She strolled to the bathroom and picked up the discarded clothing. "Better get these washed so you can return home tomorrow. I don't think the king will like you returning in some other man's clothing."

Rio ignored her wink and stared at the content wolf that was nestled into his lap. "I doubt he would care, let alone notice. While we are married, yes, it is more of a power move rather than actual affection. I rarely see King Lucian outside of official business."

Evana huffed. "Well, love, you can alway come visit me if you are feeling lonely. Come, come. Let's get you a Woodwing Ring," she said while dragging Rio from his seat. Muro padded away and whined loudly, but was ignored. She brought him to the tree interior of the house. It was filled with shelves and chests of little nicknacks and lit with hanging jars of glowing blue water and the yellow glowbugs that made it their home. She rustled through on of the chest before pulling out a small jewelry box. After grabbing something from it, she grabbed Paris's right hand and slipped the ring onto his middle finger.

It was a small, opal ring with swirl carvings around it. The center piece was a thin little butterfly, or petalwing as the fairfolk call them, with gem dust glistening in the pale gold wings. Rio stared at it in awe. Evana chuckled and pulled a small bag out of the jewelry box. She pinched out a little dust a sprinkled on the ring before packing everything back up. As she lead him out, she explained.

"Woodwings are just like petalwings, they are just don't exist and like trees not flowers. Woodwing Rings are helpful to the forest community of fairfolk due to us not living close by to each other and our the forest being a maze to those who aren't familiar. Even I get lost sometimes. Once your find your home tree, you take a bit of the bark and grind it. Then all you have to do is sprinkle the dust into the ring and the woodwing will remember where that wood came from. To actually send out the woodwing, you have to tap on its wings and call out the tree's name. My tree's name is Opi. I'm sure the fae in the castle can tell you the name of the tree you pick to be your root."

Rio gave her teary eyed smile and a hug. It took a second to relax into it but seconds later she squeezed back. Rio quietly mumbled thank yous into her shoulders as she rubbed his back.

When they settled back down and regrouped into the living room, Muro had made his way into Rio's arms and they drank the now slightly cool tea.

"I sorry I threw myself at you. I was just so happy, you know. The palace is so lonely. All the staff pretty much hate me because of the house I represent. I'm not allowed anywhere near of the other concubines because they think I'm going to try to do something to them and the servants feel offended to have to serve me when I'm one of them. The stable head only likes me because the animals are more obedient when I'm there. Don't even mention the king." He buried his cheek into Muro's fur. "Only the fae or animals like me and even then it's because I was dusted with some poor pixie's wing powder."

Evana sat next to him and rubbed his back. Rio sniffled as he scratched Muro's belly, still staying gently through his breakdown. "Pixies offer there wings for a certain child to be dusted when they get old. They look at the hearts of young children and add a hint of magic to their auras so other fairfolk can see what they saw. The dust is what makes them approach, the person is what makes them stay. Humans can't see auras like we can. It makes them less likely to approach. They miss so much because of it," she said. Her hands guided Rio's gaze towards hers. Hazel met pale blue. "However when they do approach, it makes their bonds so much closer. Rio, if they don't step up then you do it. And if they are idiots and don't like you then go to those who do. What, love? You saying the fairfolk ain't good enough for ya?"

Rio giggled and hugged her again. "You all are more than enough. And it feels better knowing I wasn't born out of the theft of a pixie's wings. You really think they will warm up to me?"

Evana picked up their cups to refill them. "As long as there is an effort made. But don't just do anything for the sake of becoming popular. Do it for a reason you yourself could respect. And do something you can respect. Don't go running around bribing and spreading bad rumors for people. It messes with your aura."

Rio nodded then yawned. "You think Muro will let me share a bed with him. Wolves have very soft fur."

"Muro there is an Enchanted Lupin. He isn't from here. He was an escapee from a mean ol' master that rightfully got his leg bitten and scratched till it couldn't be used. Such a fiere wolf boy. Isn't that right." She peppered the grinning wolf's head in kisses and ruffled his neck.

Rio stared at Muro in pity, but at look at his happy face and the pity washed away. He was clearly happy with his new owner. Taking the last sip of his tea he sat up and placed it in the sink to wash it. By the time Evana had come to check on him, he was halfway done with the rest of the dishes.

"Are you sure the palace doesn't want you because we can pretend you died in this forest. I need some help with the chores, love."

"Didn't you just give me a whole talk of not giving up? I'll help you out when I come to visit."

Evana dramatically groaned, but let him finish. Free labor was free labor.

When he was done, she sent him off to bed.

"We will be off in the morning. Muro and Aca are nocturnal so we will take my other lovely horse, Myst. While I like being up and playing with them, I need to sleep to so we can make the trip. G'night, love."

"Night, Eva."

The trek back went fine. Myst liked Rio and it only took an hour and a half to get out of the forest and another hour to get the palace gates. He said his goodbyes and they parted ways.

Luma had managed to to get back home happily without him and nobody had missed his presence other than the fae. They where happy to bring him to their favorite flower tree to imprint into his ring. It's name was Lalin.

While there was no scandalous rumors involving Evana, there was one with who this mysterious man named Muro was. Rio only revealed that he has just Evana's pet wolf when the other concubines began trying to accuse him of infidelity. The hint of a smirk on Lucian's face made listening to fae's little plan worth it. And watching the concubines try to back track to avoid embarrassing themselves also was worth it.