Between the grass and treetops lies a hidden land. The sun forever shines, and the rain never falls. The winds are gentle and soft, pushing cottonball and marshmellow clouds lazily across the sky.
In a way, you could say the grass in this land was greener than anywhere else. And you wouldn't be wrong. The flowers were in perpetual bloom, and the few ancient trees offered the best place to rest under the sun, which never seemed to move through the sky.
This was the land of 10'000 wings. A land ruled by a lone queen with many children. With many warriors and servants to meet her every need. While the queen and her heirs passed the days in idle bliss. The rest of the kingdom happily worked without complaint. They were, after all, her children, though they weren't her heirs.
Despite its perfection, the land of 10'000 wings had one grave disadvantage. It was all an illusion. Sure enough, the queen and other inhabitants were real. The palace, too, was real. But everything else beyond the palace was an illusion. A facade to prove the kingdom's wealth to onlookers.
The kingdom had long burned through its resources. Everything beyond the palace walls was desolate wasteland. The illusion was maintained by the queen's magic and was her best memory of the land before its destruction.
But the queen's magic is not limitless. In fact, to maintain such a wide, encompassing illusion, much resources are needed. Since these resources can no longer be found within the hidden realm, the warriors venture forth every day. From the realm, they pass into our world, take what they need, and return.
To say they "take" would be an overstatement. In fact, we have little need for the resources they desire. Perhaps because our own world is still overflowing with resources. Nonetheless, once a day, in the morning twilight, when few humans move about, their warriors invade our world.
It would be difficult to see them. As they are often hidden by magic and the shrubs and trees. But you can hear them. Its simple. In the early morning, take a walk near dense shrubs, trees, or flowers. Listen. Do you hear them? Listen again. It's that low droning sound, like tiny aircraft.
Bzzzzz. I know you can't see them, even when you follow the sound. Try squinting and looking towards the sky in the direction of the sound. With luck, you'll be able to see them when they drop their invisibility magic to harvest resources.
Now you're getting the hang of it. Don't lose them! Follow one all the way back to the hidden realm. Why? For the liquid mana they make from our resources. They are always storing more than they can use. Be careful, and they will let you take some from their storehouses.
Let me tell you, the mana from the land of 10'000 wings is absolutely divine.
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