Judith
He had stopped in the Shifting Forest after the long journey on horseback that had departed from the city of Kahlo, making the animal water near the river, so as to give him time to recover his energy and be ready for the journey again. Fortunately, the city was not far away.

Meanwhile, he wandered nearby to collect some flowers and herbs, carefully selecting them so as not to take what had already faded for some time. After all, his blends had to be effective and error-free.
As time passed, his bag was filling up more and more, leaving very little room for more, but he was sure he could add more, in the end, he would not waste the opportunity of that momentary break. 
Reflecting, he went to a group of mushrooms, namely amanita muscaria. They could always come in handy for his poisons, as much as he was a healer, he had never promised to be a saint.
Kneeling, he extended his glove-covered hand towards one of them, trying to detach gently from the ground.
Richard
The little mushroom fairy seemed to be resting from a long day of walking and building a little cottage, almost looking like a little doll house. It's tough when you're short, wingless and people hunt you down.

Hiding herself among multiple mushrooms of her kind, she drifted into a deep sleep... Something that always made her happy, wake up to the peaceful forest.

Was this time peaceful though?
As Alex attempted to pull out the mushroom, it had to just be her. He didn't even need to struggle, it snapped right on his hand. If he examined closer, that wasn't even a mushroom... It was a tiny person! Almost five apples tall, still sleeping on his hand.

Who could've thought, a tiny mushroom girl appearing out of nowhere. She seemed fragile, cute even, but it was just like holding a miniature.
Judith
Surprised by what he had in his hands, he raised an eyebrow as his eyes studied the little creature that seemed to be blissfully resting, until he got in the way.

《 Look at this...》 His words revealed a hint of curiosity, loosening his grip to not cause any harm and opening more the palm of the hand. 
He could assume it was a fairy, but he had to admit that it was rare to meet one with such a look. Fortunately he had noticed in time, otherwise he would have accidentally transformed into a mixture that poor creature.

《 I'm sorry for interrupting your rest, isn't it dangerous for you when people are picking plants? 》
Richard
The mushroom began to stretch as she heard a voice, raising herself up on his palm and rubbing her eyes. Looking up and down, side to side, she then noticed the guy.

At first she did a small scream of spook, then seemed to calm down.
"You scared Kinoko! Geez... Kinoko didn't expect to meet someone while she slept, hehe! Who are you?"

Seems like she only spoke in third person... A critter that lived away from humanity wouldn't even know about grammar.
Judith
《 So Kinoko is your name... 》he narrowly cleared his throat, ready to answer the more than legitimate question asked by the little girl.
Noticing that she was speaking in the third person, maybe it was better to avoid too complicated presentations, moreover, she had only just woken up.

《 My name is Alexander, nice to meet you. I apologize for scaring you, but I didn't notice at first that you were, well, not exactly a... Mushroom.》
Richard
"Oh, Kinoko is Kinoko! She accepts the apology!"
She stood up on his palm, smiling like a little kid, her whole body was relatively small compared to the big mushroom cap.

"So you are Alexander... From where? What are you? Does Kinoko know you? So many questions, Kinoko loves meeting new people!"
Judith
《I am from Celestia, precisely from the city that is beyond this forest.》He replied with a soft tone, didn't want to scare such little creature with his usual cold manners. Besides, he was the one that interrupted suddendly her sleep.

《What am I? Well... A man with some magic. I work as a healer, mostly.》Alexander was trying to he simple as possible. In the meanwhile, he sat on the soft ground, crossing his legs and mantaining his hand still to not let her fall over.

《We never met, this is the first time. You can ask as much as you want, but... What are you? You are curious, I have to admit.》
Richard
She gasped in surprise, jumping up to the top of his head and examining his hair.
"So Alexander is from Celestia, and a healer! Sooo cool!"

The little critter was joyful, overly excited with the thought of meeting someone new.
"Kinoko then never met Alexander!"

For a second, she stopped, reflecting on the question.
"Kinoko is Kinoko, they call her a... Mushy... Room? She believes it's a good thing! And Kinoko wants to know EVERYTHING!"
Judith
He let Kinoko study him, having no problems into lifting her a little to the level of his face so that she could jump safely.
His hair were red as fire, long and curly, covering his shoulders most of times. 

《Well, we have enough time. You ask, I answer, Kinoko.》He replied, making appear his diary and a pen.

《Would be bad if I draw you?》
Richard
"Oooh, draw? What is draw? Kinoko likes that word!"
She was so new to life, but at the same time, so ancient... More than ten thousand years inside of a forest.
Judith
《You see... Drawing means this...》He lifted the pen, starting to draw Kinoko on a empty page, adding slowly some details of the forest around her, even the other mushrooms she was sleeping in the between.
Actions would speak more than words, he knew how to show the meaning.
Richard
"So that is drawing...? And this is Kinoko?"
She pointed to the mushroom woman on the page.

"Kinoko is cute! Alexander too! Heh!"
She smiled, watching the sketch take form.
Judith
《Exactly, this is Kinoko and her forest.》He added, continuing the sketch calmly, adding every detail as the page started to be filled.

《Thank you, Kinoko, even if I don't find myself "Cute". Well, tell me, how long have you been here?》He curiously asked with a genuine tone of voice. Fairies had a very short life, after all. That's what he knew from his studies.
Richard
"Awnnn! Kinoko likes it!"
She smiled, laying on his hair.

"Hmmm... Kinoko doesn't really know. It's been a loooong time!"
That girl didn't even know she was a fairy, or at least an entity similar to those.
Judith
He added the name "Kinoko" On one side of the page when the sketch was finished, thinking about her answer to his question.
His curiosity toward the mushroom-girl was a little more enlighted.

《That is your name in the common language.》He said, pointing with a finger at the letters.

《Want to keep it?》
Richard
"Oh? Keep the- draw... Ing? Kinoko appreciates it, but Alexander should keep it! He will remember Kinoko like that!"
The little mushroom girl smiled.

"Doesn't Alexander need to go to... Celestia?"
Judith
He tapped a finger on his chin, bringing out from the bag a flower, specifically an Alstroemeria.
He gently poked it with the index, causing a glow effect on the petals. The plant would not cease to be as beautiful as before, preserved forever. 

《Take this, so you'll remember about me in some way.》He lifted the flower, realizing after that, in fact, he had to return to Celestia.

《You are right, I have to keep going. Promise to be more careful where you sleep, wouldn't be nice to be picked up again.》
Richard
Kinoko's eyes shines in amazement with the flower, jumping down to the ground as she bowed to him.
"Kinoko will remember friend Alexander until they meet again! And Kinoko promises to be careful!"

With a child-like smile, she bounced off to a corner of the forest, nearby her new tiny cottage in the making, planting the flower right there.
Carla
[[ ALEX ADOPT KINOKO PETITION
Judith
He made disappear the diary, standing up as he placed a hand on his jacket to brush off a little of dust.
Before returning to his horse, his gaze pointed Kinoko as his hand lifted to the air, waving.
She was an interesting creature, maybe he would've visited sometimes to know more.

《See you soon, Kinoko. Have a good day.》

After, he walked back to the horse, now fully rinvigorated and ready for the last goal: City of Lights.