《Isher Notra》


 Chapter 0

    Oh, goodie. Another LitRPG...

    It was fun the first fifty times, but it reached a certain point where-

    ...

    What...? What''s this feeling?

    That never happened to me before. Is this it? Have I reached the threshold of insanity? I am already speaking to myself, after all! Hahahaha...

    Ha... Ha...

    ...

    ......

    Hello? Is anybody there?

    No, no, NO! That''s impossible! I''ve searched every nook and cranny of this void. No one is here!

    Yes, my mind is playing tricks on me. Isolation does that to you. When I say "you", I mean me, of course! Just little ol'' me!

    .........

    Okay, I''m definitely feeling something... pulsating over there! What gives!? Focusing on it only makes it appear all the more real.

    ...

    ......

    .........

    You know what? Screw it! I''ll pretend it''s an actual person! Why the hell not?! It''s not like anyone can judge me, anyway!

    Ahem! Hello, traveler! Wait, that''s too cheerful. I need to go for something a little more... somber and mysterious! Oooh! I can pretend I''m an eerie, ethereal entity who oversees all mortals but cannot ever interact with them. The darkness of what surrounds them only matches what resides in their soul...

    Wait, that''s already who I am... Huh...

    If someone had entered this plane for real, they would have thought of me as pathetic. And they would be right.

    *sigh* Focus. Don''t overthink things. Just start from the beginning.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    You can do this.

    .........

    Greetings, traveler. Welcome to Nothing. That is the name that I had associated with this realm. Very self-explanatory, in my humble opinion.

    My name is... Uh, I don''t have one.

    As far as I know, I was spawned in this plane. No idea how or why. I might as well have been brought to existence with the void, which is weird since the nothingness technically shouldn''t have a "birth."

    Unless the vacuum is in reality myself. No, I shift my "body" to access the Windows. That can''t be it.

    Oh, right, the Windows! You see, the only place we can see, hear, smell, or touch anything in Nothing is these shiny tablets that contain... Well, something! Entire lives and stories are packed inside these not-fragile, crystalline, rectangular objects.

    Or maybe they''re only a medium for anyone to see the outside worlds, and they exist outside the Windows. I''m not entirely sure.

    ...

    ......

    Huh? I can sense a vibration, becoming more intense by the minute.

    Perhaps... I''m not alone in the nothingness?

    ............

    Hm. I cannot hear or understand whatever you''re saying. But I know something''s in there! I''m not crazy!

    There must be a way for us to communicate. If I converse with you long enough, it could prompt you to reciprocate the gesture. I am no scientist, but I need to see this through.

    And I have the perfect means to accomplish it!

    Now, stay right there! I will pick the perfect Window for us!

    ...

    Do you like LitRPGs? Honestly, I''m a little burned out.

    ......

    A romance? Oh, no. This one is... too carnal. It''s not the most stellar way to develop a friendship.

    .........

    This one''s a romance, too. Only it has some graphic violence and a horror-esque spice. I think it''s perfect for a second viewing. I''ll keep that for later.

    ............

    Oh! This one''s... I don''t know what this is...

    It feels... notably warm when I touch it. Familiar? But it doesn''t make sense.

    ...............

    I''ll pick this one. I hope you don''t mind.

    From now on, I''ll narrate everything I see in this Window for you. Frankly, this is more about keeping me sane than an actual gesture of selflessness.

    Shit, did I say something rude? Sorry, I''m not used to visitors. Like, at all! Haha.

    Hm. I should give you a name. The thing is, I''m terrible at those. I don''t even have one. I have never found any option that sounded right, you know.

    Whatever. I''ll call you Reader. You can refer to me as The Narrator to keep things straightforward.

    There''s your chance to voice any opinion!

    Eh? No? Okay. We can work through this together.

    Ahem.

    I have the Window in my... hands? You know what, don''t think too hard about it. I gave up an eternity ago.

    The only source of escapism in this monotone plane. It shows a...

    A girl, in front of a gigantic forest.

 Chapter 1 - Into the Woods.

    "I am really doing this."

    Step by step, a young girl, about twelve years old, walked through the green, open field.

    She welcomed the breeze greeting her dark skin, which could be a welcome relief before what is yet to come if not for the unforgiving sun shining upon her with its scorching heat.

    Her clothes were torn and ragged, like her brown hoodie with a patch of a red, plaid fabric stitched on the right sleeve and a grey shirt underneath, which was definitely not in this color when she first found it, coupled with dark brown pants with a few tears on the knees and black mud boots.

    The footwear was the most pristine component in her outfit, ironically.

    She should have put the hoodie in her red backpack, but that didn''t matter because she was face-to-face with her goal.

    So she touched her curly hair puff to see if everything was in place and stared at her destiny.

    Sayama Forest, locale of legends.

    From what she had gathered over the years of people spreading rumors and old legends, anyone who would enter this place never returned because an "unholy, mystical force" resided in those woods.

    That was why law enforcement was so keen to let no one trespass. Thankfully, it was currently their lunch break.

    The girl suspiciously watched her surroundings, being sure that no one would catch her by surprise.

    "None of those armored assholes... Great!" She sighed with relief.

    The girl pointed her finger towards the giant forest. "I will be the first to conquer you, Sayama!"

    Her cocky grin quickly faltered when the sheer size of the forest was almost threatening to swallow her whole.

    The forest seemed to suck all light in its surroundings so it could make itself more threatening. The wall of beautiful fir trees and the great and mighty redwoods made for an entrancing yet intimidating view.

    She gulped. She was already half a mind of giving up on her self-appointed quest. "Well, let''s hope."

    And so, she took the first step into the great unknown called the Sayama Forest.

    It started relatively well. The girl''s fear of the forest never ended, but she couldn''t deny the beauty that it held. That, coupled with the strange feeling of accomplishment she felt by venturing into such a forbidden place, made the kid feel more and more motivated to keep pushing forward. Her heart beat louder with fear and excitement.

    However, this fear became more and more present as the trees became higher, denser, and more closely distributed to one another. Before the girl knew it, darkness came, as the sunlight could not break through the flora. As anyone could imagine, this made the not-so-brave adventurer terrified.

    However, the child was prepared for this and pulled a flashlight from her backpack. But that did not stop her heart from beating faster and louder, her cold sweat, or her crippling anxiety. Her resolve was wavering by the second.

    To relieve herself from the growing fear of the darkness that still filled the scenery and the sudden sounds she could hear from time to time, probably due to the animals that lived there, the girl started to mutter to herself.

    "Don''t worry, Stella. Walk through this forest, and you will be a living legend! It''s just your mind making things worse than they actually are... Just focus on-"

    Her stomach started to growl. "That. Damn, I hadn''t eaten in days." Truth be told, Stella enjoyed this momentary distraction from her dread.

    She carefully sat on the ground and put the flashlight close to her, illuminating the spot the young girl was sitting on. She quickly searched for anything to eat, however...

    "Why is it so hard to find-" Her eyes opened wide. "Oh no... Don''t tell me..."

    Earlier that day, on an improvised tent, Stella wanted to put her snacks in the backpack for last. However, when she realized it was almost time for the guards'' lunch break, she panicked and went to the forest, forgetting about the food.

    At first, she was shocked. Then, she was angry. Angry towards herself. How could she have forgotten something that important? Stella was never known for her intelligence, but this was a whole new frontier of fucking things up.

    Stella completely ditched her fear for a moment. A vein bulged in her forehead, her face tensed, her jaw clenched, and her eyebrows furrowed. She felt like steam was building up inside her, like a pressure cooker. And sure enough, she eventually had to blow off some of that.

    "I CAN''T FUCKING BELIEVE THIS! HOW COULD I FORGET SOMETHING THAT IMPORTANT!" She screamed to the darkness.

    She screamed until her lungs failed her. The need for oxygen convinced her brain to stop this foolish act. The girl fell to her knees and calmed down a bit. "Stella, you idiot..." She felt like a deflated balloon, tossed on the ground where no one could notice or care for it.

    Her self-loathing was put to a halt, however, when a sudden sound came from near her. Her survival instincts finally kicked in, and the girl perked up her head and quickly grabbed the flashlight. When she pointed the light at where she heard the sound, she discovered a deer watching her.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Its eyes glowed with the reflection of the light. Due to the animal possessing antlers atop its head, Stella assumed it was a male.

    The deer slowly moved towards the girl. It seemed that Stella''s presence made the animal curious. She remained unmoving, afraid that running would make the animal more aggressive towards her. She knew that deer were herbivores, of course, but such a big animal like that could make quite the damage when put in distress.

    "Hey, deerie..." Stella muttered to the animal. It was dumb to attempt to speak to a creature unable to understand human speech, much less talkback. But it was what she did to quell her fear, and it seemed to work on a smaller scale.

    The deer approached even more. It moved dangerously close to the girl, but his attention was now guided to the flashlight. He sniffed the object for a second, which meant that the herbivore saw Stella as anything but a threat, at least in her mind.

    However, her hopes were crushed unexpectedly when the deer snatched the flashlight with its mouth and darted in a seemingly random direction.

    The girl was unable to process what just happened for a solid second. But, once again, her shock gave space to her anger. This time, it was pointed towards something else.

    She growled. "Son of a b- GET BACK HERE!" Then started running after the animal.

    Through the deceptive darkness and the pesky branches, roots, and bushes it hid, Stella blindly ran towards the fast herbivore. Only the light emanating from the object the deer was holding served to guide the girl through the dark. She almost tripped on a hidden root but regained her balance and kept running towards the fading light in the distance.

    The truth was that the running speed of a deer was much superior to a human''s. It didn''t take long for Stella to lose sight of the animal and the light he carried. However, her anger motivated her to keep pushing through. It didn''t matter how much she would fall or her lack of sight. Stella would see the end of this.

    And she did, eventually. She went towards the light, though in a much literal way. She had found her way out of darkness.

    A clearing amidst Sayama Forest, where light triumphed over the shadows. The trees were now different in this region. Rather than the high and imposing redwoods, there were now smaller, thinner trees with white bark and fewer leaves.

    The girl decided to sit on the ground and catch her breath. She started to re-think her life choices that led her to this point. Honestly, why would she even consider to be good enough to cross the entire forest by herself? It was a stupid notion, really...

    "I''m so dumb."

    She could turn back from where she came from. But, there was a good chunk of pitch-black darkness she would have to go through again. And this time, she would have to go without a flashlight.

    Stella mulled over her next move. However, her line of thinking was constantly interrupted by her growing hunger. That is until she was suddenly interrupted by another rustling sound near her. She quickly got up and kept her eyes peeled for anything or anyone stalking her. Maybe it was that thieving deer again!

    Stella could see a figure in the bushes. It was distant enough that she couldn''t discern its features. She squinted her eyes until they almost closed, but the only thing she had concluded was that it wasn''t the stag. And that was a fucking scary conclusion.

    The girl did not move a muscle, hoping that whoever was stalking her operated in the same manner as the dinosaur in that old-ass movie she had watched once.

    "Maybe if I don''t move, it won''t-"

    The unknown entity jumped out of the bushes and ran towards her. On all fours, actually.

    "Shit!"

    She ran without thinking. This time, thanks to the presence of sunlight, it was much easier to dodge and weave through the tree branches and roots. She didn''t feel like she had any control over how her body moved and thankfully didn''t result in a fall or a concussion. When she ran, she perceived the trees as a blurry, white wall that surrounded her and forced her into a straight path.

    After running for a solid minute, the girl finally dared to look behind her! And there was... no one after her.

    What a relief!

    However, Stella didn''t trust that the unknown creature gave up on her, so she decided to run anyway. The girl looked forward and-

    CRASH!

    She smacked her face into a sturdy, white tree trunk. The girl lost her balance, tripping on a rogue rock afterward. She fell flat on the ground, clutching her nose in agonizing pain. She did not let out a sound, but the pain was clear to see in her expression. And her broken nose.

    Stella could barely think as her senses became duller, and her eyelids became heavier by the second.

    <hr>

    Pain.

    It was her first sensation when her consciousness returned.

    When she opened her eyes, sunlight graced her vision. But before she could get comfortable, the sharp pain became even more unbearable. Stella instinctively clutched her nose with her hands, remembering her fateful encounter with the hard surface of the trunk.

    She looked at the blood in her hand. She never felt more incompetent than at this very moment. However, Stella had enough of all of this forest bullshit, so she cleaned her nose with the sleeve of her hoodie and got to her feet. She would have to fight through the pain.

    "Nice try, forest! But you ain''t gonna put me down just yet!"

    Another voice chimed in. "Are you sure about that?"

    Stella lost her bravado in a split second and stumbled back after hearing the strange voice, making her bump her head on another tree. Stella grumbled in frustration. What was her problem with trees that day?

    The source of the surprise voice jumped closer to her with a wagging tail. "Wow, you love crashing against a tree, too?! It helps making your head tough, ain''t it?" The weird creature, surprisingly, didn''t seem to be sarcastic whatsoever.

    Speaking of weird, Stella finally took a good look at the creature. At first glance, you could say it''s a wolf, but standing on two feet? It also wore clothes, which was weird for any animal with a body covered in fur. Weirder were the clothes, a short-sleeved brown tunic, black belt and pants. No shoes, though. It felt like she came straight from a nerdy medieval fair.

    Another feature was the patch of fur from its mane that covered its eyes. Its fur was light brown, with a few grey patches on its paws.

    The girl was absolutely shocked to see such a being. What the hell was even that thing? Was it a hallucination? Was she dead?

    Stella couldn''t help but stumble in her own words. "Y-You... You are-"

    "A pup!?" The wolf-like creature interjected. "Yeah, I know..."

    The human could not react, even if she tried. The situation just has not dawned on her yet.

    After such a long, awkward silence, the creature started to speak again. "Actually, I''m trying to get back home. Do you know where Pantsti is?"

    Stella tilted her head slightly. "Pantsti?" She thought.

    Then she ignored that strange word and finally dared to speak up. "Uh... Actually, I-"

    The girl''s pathetic attempt at conversation was again interrupted by the strange creature, who started sniffing on something. Then her face (Stella assumed is a "she") quickly turned towards a specific direction, probably the one in which the source of the smell resides.

    "You smell that?" Her tail started wagging.

    "Smell wha-"

    The "wolf" darted in the direction of the smell.

    "Mine! Mine! Mine!" The creature started chanting while running on all fours again.

    Stella tried to get her attention. "Wait! What ARE you!?"

    A foolish attempt.

 Chapter 2 - A Strange Partnership.

    "Wait! What ARE you!?"

    Under normal circumstances, the human would be pissed at being interrupted so many times. However, she was more flabbergasted and curious than anything else.

    Stella tried her best to follow the creature. She tried to run, but after the cardio from earlier, it was too much for her body. She wasn''t sedentary by any means, but she was still a child, a pre-teen, to be exact.

    Her body urged her to take it easy, and the girl had no choice but to comply. She walked at a comfortable but fast enough speed to catch that "wolf" if she had stopped.

    After a minute of walking, Stella heard the cries of the wolf, urging her to dash toward the creature. However, she stopped when she heard another voice, hiding in the bushes afterward.

    "Let''s see what the net brought us!" It was a raspy voice that seemed to belong to someone old.

    Crouching and sneaking through the bushes, the girl saw two men wearing hats similar to those gnome decorations that people put in their gardens. Not only their caps but their whole outfits were identical to those. They were old, it seemed, judging by their big, white beards. However, their big, red noses were odd. The men were having a cold, perhaps?

    One of the elders was the size of Stella, and the other was the size of a sixteen-year-old. The taller one carried a hook in his right hand.

    The girl carefully followed the two elderly, dodging any stick or leaf that could make a sound and expose her location. Though in the middle of a forest, it was a tall order.

    To her luck, they led her to her objective, though not in the way she hoped.

    The wolf was stuck in a net, hanged by a strong tree branch. The poor creature had been a victim of a trap. Although she didn''t seem too bothered by it.

    Stella hid behind a white tree, very upset about the wolf''s situation. Surprisingly, the bearded men were also upset about this.

    "I''m hungry!" The wolf shouted at the two. Yeah, she wasn''t desperate nor afraid of the predicament she found herself in. If anything, she sounded just a little impatient.

    The short man became red with anger and shouted back. "That food wasn''t yours, you stupid mutt!"

    Stella assumed that the food he mentioned was the bait for the net trap. Now, her worries became about what would happen to the wolf in these men''s hands. Would they capture her? Use her as food? It felt really fucked up to do that with a sentient creature.

    She couldn''t act now. First, she would stay hidden to see where this would go.

    The other, taller man sighed and touched the smaller one''s shoulder. "Don''t bother, St��fur."

    That didn''t seem to calm St��fur down, though. He started to ramble about how the wolf had the annoying habit of interfering in their hunting trips in one way or another. His voice felt like nails on a chalkboard for Stella and the wolf, as seen by the creature covering her ears the second he started ranting.

    The taller one sighed again, seeming to be more used to this.

    He spotted a few tiny rocks on the ground, collected them, and then offered some to his companion. "Actually, how ''bout we have fun AND teach that fleabag a lesson?"

    St��fur gave a devious smile in response. He eagerly accepted the gift and looked at the wolf with malicious intent. "You know, we were searchin'' something to use as target practice."

    Without mercy, the two geezers started throwing pebbles at the wolf. The furry creature started whimpering in pain due to the rocky barrage.

    Stella was shocked. Of all the things they could do, this was their answer!?

    She didn''t know the creature, but that didn''t matter. She always felt like it was her duty to beat the shit out of bullies, and not just the typical school type.

    It was time to dose them with their own medicine.

    The wolf kept whimpering and complaining, but the rocks kept coming. The men laughed at the creature''s pain.

    "Oh, what''s wrong?" St��fur taunted. "Not enjoying our game of-"

    "FETCH!" Stella''s voice could be heard by them for the first time.

    A rock connected at the back of St��fur''s head, knocking him out cold. She immediately retreated to the tree the second the projectile hit the target. She was admittedly afraid of these men, but damn! That felt good!

    His partner looked at his unconscious body with shock. It took about ten seconds for him to completely absorb what had just happened.

    "ST��FUR!"

    Before he could help his companion, another rock was thrown in his direction. However, he quickly swung his meat hook to redirect the sturdy projectile.

    Stella was once again shocked, which was becoming a pattern for that day. Then, the girl immediately went into hiding again, wishing her target did not see her.

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    What the hell was that geezer?! His reflexes came straight from those old martial arts movies she saw, thanks to a weird dude who helped her get by sometimes.

    "I saw you hiding there!" The man with the hook shouted.

    Stella gulped. That was it, then. She would get her ass kicked by that guy, who did not hesitate in pummeling a little wolf with rocks.

    The man waited for Stella to come clean, but she decided to stay hidden and silent in case it was a bluff. But her assumption was misguided.

    "Too afraid to face me, huh?! Well... Let''s do this the hard way..."

    He rushed to the tree with his meat hook in hand. Accepting that there was no other way out, Stella exposed herself, throwing more and more pebbles at him. He deflected most of them with his weapon, but a few managed to hit him. However, that did not stop his fierce advance. Each step he took made the girl more and more anxious and fearful for her life.

    He finally reached close range with Stella and swung his hook at her. However, the girl''s survival instincts activated! She managed to duck and avoid the attack. Not only that, but she used this as an opening and landed a punch square on his chest!

    The bearded was on his knees, writhing in pain. Stella felt a sense of relief when her life was no longer threatened. However, she remembered the cruel treatment he gave to that poor creature, and her blood began to boil again. Justice would be served!

    Fists and jaw clenched, she walked towards the man, who was starting to get up, and landed a push kick directly on his nose! Making that bastard''s big, red nose be marked by her boot was such a satisfying experience.

    "Did you feel that, butt-face!? I bet that she felt the same way!" Stella shouted at the downed man with a confident grin on her face. She even kicked out some dirt to him to add salt to injury.

    Unfortunately, her attacks weren''t enough to keep him down for long. He got himself up at an uncanny speed and grabbed his meat hook from the ground. Stella''s bravado broke into pieces in a split second.

    The girl could finally see the "man" and his appearance clearly. He still looked like a geezer mostly, but he didn''t look quite... human.

    His face was covered in wrinkles and warts, his rows of teeth were all pointy and sharp, like a shark, and his eyes were pitch-black. The look on his face was one of unyielding rage and violent intent, which made him even more terrifying.

    Stella gulped nervously and quickly started to make some distance from him. Her mind begged her to run away from this creature as fast as she could, but what about that creature? Was she going to abandon her like that?

    No, she wouldn''t. The thought of letting someone be a victim of bullies like him disgusted her so much that her fear was secondary.

    Stella took a deep breath and closed her fists, adopting a stance similar to a boxer. "Do you think I am afraid of you?! You''re nothing to me, asshole!"

    The "man" growled and charged at the girl, who reciprocated the gesture. However, before they can clash again, the creature is crushed by the wolf, surprisingly. She came from the top, making the girl assume she had just freed herself from the net and used the trees to gain enough momentum to knock him down in one hit.

    The wolf sat on top of him like a regular canine and wagged her tail like nothing had happened.

    "Hey! Thanks for the distraction!" The wolf spoke to the girl with a big, bright smile on her face.

    This anti-climatic ending for the fight made Stella''s brain glitch a little. "H-How did you escape the trap?" Stella questioned, looking at the creature dumbfounded.

    The wolf shrugged it off. "Oh, this wasn''t my first time with those pesky nets!" Then she took a moment to smell the guy she was sitting on. Stella found that pretty fucking weird.

    "Oof. We are pretty unlucky, huh? We are on the Lads'' territory." She said that without a change in tone whatsoever.

    Before Stella could ask further questions, another voice took them by surprise.

    "KETKR��KUR!" It was the short one that the girl knocked out with a rock. He looked at the two girls with a mixture of fear and anger. And now Stella could see the same general traits as the other guy, black eyes, sharp teeth, and wrinkly skin.

    His face was red like a tomato, especially his big nose, and he shook his fists at them. "Wait until I tell Mom and Dad about ya! You will regret crossing us!

    He ran away soon after in a very pathetic manner. Stella looked at him, dumbfounded. She thought. "Isn''t he an old man, though?"

    The wolf seemed to be more intimidated by his words, though. Her fur went up from her head to her tail. "We should really bail." She waved her paw at Stella. "Bye, stranger!" Then went to a four-point position, preparing to run.

    However...

    "WAIT!" Stella shouted, stretching her right hand to get her attention. The wolf stopped and perked up her ears, making the human sigh with relief for not losing the creature from her sight again.

    The girl lowered her tone since she already caught her attention. Now what? She had to think about something to say quickly since the creature proved to have a short attention span. "I''m... also lost..."

    The wolf seemed puzzled. It wasn''t easy to read her expressions, thanks to the fringe in her eyes. How did she even see with those? Truly the strangest part of this anthropomorphic wolf...

    The wolf started to scratch the top of her head. "Really? I just assumed you were a local. Sorry about that."

    Weirdly enough, the creature started sniffing Stella as well. Which made her be freaking weirded out! What was the deal with that animal?! Was she even an animal? So many fucking questions!

    Right after that, the wolf scrunched her nose a little. Stella couldn''t help but be offended by that reaction. Was she that smelly? She did not bathe in a week, so... it wasn''t surprising.

    "You smell weird..." Stella couldn''t see the wolf''s eyes, but she was sure the creature was in deep thought, judging by her cupping her chin with her left paw.

    "What species of Monoke are you?" The wolf questioned.

    Stella''s eyes widened. "M-Monoke? What is that?"

    The wolf seemed even more confused than ever. "Geez, you hit your head on that tree a bit too hard." Stella didn''t know how to respond, dooming the two of them into awkward silence once again.

    And once again, the creature had to break it, adopting a more cheery demeanor. "But don''t worry! You can stay in my home for now. My mom might be cool with it! I guess..." She added the last sentence with uncertainty.

    "That would be nice." The girl replied.

    The wolf howled at her answer, a clear sign of her eagerness. Her wagging tail even became more erratic. She was so excited that she was about to pounce on her, but she recomposed herself and remained in place, only extending her left paw. "Lien. That''s my name."

    Stella smiled, extended her left hand, and shook hands with the furry being. "Stella. Nice to meet you."

    After properly greeting each other, Lien took on a confident demeanor, with a cocky grin, paws on her hip, and a straightened posture. "Well, stay close to me. I will protect you from any thr-

    Lien''s ears perked, and her fur bristled when she heard a weird, sharp noise next to them. Stella also heard but didn''t see why the wolf had that reaction.

    When the human turned to the source of it, she discovered its identity, a red squirrel, standing next to them with an acorn in his front paws.

    Stella chuckled, finding the tiny animal cute. Lien, however...

    She immediately hid behind Stella, shaking with fear. She firmly gripped the human''s shoulders. "Get this vile creature away from me..."

    Stella did not bother dignifying that with a response and only sighed. "Oh, boy..."

 Chapter 3 - Crystals and Cones.

    Stella had just created an unusual alliance with the creature named Lien.

    The human girl watched closely her new companion running through the forest in almost a zig-zag motion. The anthropomorphic wolf seemed interested in every rock, broken branch, and twig lying on the ground. Stella found this behavior kinda cute but disorientating to watch.

    So, she decided to bask in the beauty of the Sayama Forest. The white, skinny trees gave way to bigger and thicker pine trees. The air felt cleaner and more effortless to breathe than in Namadi, the city she came from, so the girl took full advantage of that and took deep breaths throughout the journey. An added bonus was the satisfying crunch when her boot pressed against a random twig.

    She kicked a pine cone really far, and surprisingly, Lien went to fetch it without any prompt from the girl. Stella flashed a devious smile as she conjured an idea.

    "Hey, Lien!" She shouted at the creature, who quickly turned her attention to her.

    She picked another cone. "Catch!" And threw it toward the wolf with all of her might! Stella didn''t have much to play with, so she had to get creative. The girl adopted the habit of throwing rocks, balls, and other objects that could fit the bill. These abilities were not always used for peaceful purposes, as those creepy men were aware.

    To her surprise, Lien caught the pine cone with her mouth. Stella was dumbfounded but immediately shrugged that off as dumb luck.

    "Beginner''s luck!" The human girl caught more pines. "How about this!"

    Stella threw the projectile to the wolf''s left side. She caught it.

    "And this!"

    Now Stella aimed to her right. But that one was special. It was her curveball. There was no way that wolf would catch such a tricky-

    Lien caught it again.

    The wolf howled. "That all you got?! Gimme more!"

    Stella felt like a pile of trash at that moment. The thing she was most proud of, easily foiled by that athletic creature that seemingly defied all logic.

    Before she could throw on the towel, she noticed something. Two trees were parallel to each other on Lien''s sides. This was perfect.

    It was time... for her trickshot.

    "Last one, Lien! This one is my special technique!" She put on a confident smirk.

    Stella rotated her arm and gathered all of the momentum she had to throw the damn cone on the tree on the left. Lien tried to catch it, but it hit the tree and ricocheted towards the one on the right. Then it bounced back upwards so much that even the pitcher was surprised.

    Lien seemed genuinely surprised by Stella''s trickshot, but her sights were on the pine cone in the air. She wound her hind legs and prepared for the jump.

    Stella''s mind was blown as the furry creature jumped higher than she ever thought was possible for any being on Earth. It was inhuman! It was... magnificent, even!

    Lien caught the pine cone with her mouth in the most dramatic way possible. She went to Stella and gave her the cone. The girl didn''t even bother with the wolf saliva the tree organ was coated in because she was astonished by the creature''s feat. Her eyes and jaw were so opened wide that the latter almost threatened to hit the ground.

    Lien rested her paws on her hips. "That was fun! I thought you were kind of a weakling, to be honest! But hey! You''re cool!"

    "T-Thank you...?" Stella''s mind couldn''t take another mind-blowing experience. She was suffering too much of them, one after another.

    Lien took a deep breath and spun on her heel. "Alright, that was a fun distraction! Time to go!" She started walking close to Stella on her hind legs.

    Stella silently followed behind the wolf, reflecting on the madness she found herself in. Her new super fast, super strong companion, those weird men.

    Right! Those men! What the hell was the deal with them?!

    Well, Lien might have an answer...

    So Stella cleared her throat and asked. "So, what''s the deal with those Lads?"

    That caught Lien''s attention, and her ears rotated to the Human''s direction. "Well, they''re this bunch of Ogre brothers that come around here to hunt and make pranks on trespassers. Like us!" She spoke in her unwavering cheerful tone.

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    Stella''s eyes widened, and she started to absorb this batch of information. So, they were Ogres, who Stella had just landed a punch on one''s chest and knocked out the other with a rock. What the hell did her life become? She considered the possibility that she was put into a lucid dream or something like that.

    Lien continued her explanation. "They''re a bunch of pushovers! It''s their parents that are the problem."

    Right, the stubby one did mention his mom and dad. If they are not elderly, did that mean Stella just knocked down a little kid? How more monstrous was an adult Ogre? Her stomach grew cold as she dreaded the implications.

    "Do you think they''re nearby?" The girl tried to hide any semblance of fear in her voice. She hoped that it was successful.

    Lien snorted. "I''m sure of it. They can''t stand being too far from them. Scaredy cats."

    <hr>

    St��fur:

    St��fur ran until his tiny legs almost gave out.

    He had fled from those two freaks, who sent him and his brother packing not too long ago. Damn, those girls! That meddling mutt and... actually, what was that other Monoke? She had similar features to Ogres, so maybe that was what she was? The Ogre was too distant from her to pay attention to those details.

    Well, Ogre or not, she had no business interrupting their fun! They would all be sorry once he told his parents about this crime! No one messed with the Yule Lads!

    Unfortunately, his motivating thoughts could only carry him so far. Eventually, his body suffered from his sedentarism, his heart threatened to explode, and the amount of sweat he was excreting could fill a bucket.

    Now slowly walking and heavily breathing, St��fur managed to enter an open, clear field in the forest. No tree dared to bury its roots close to the magnificent rock formation amidst the clearing. St��fur''s destination.

    The Ogre always felt small when he stood in front of the cave carved from this colossal mineral by his father and mother. This feeling became stronger when he had to go up the seemingly infinite stairs to reach the entrance.

    If he felt smaller by just being near his home, St��fur felt microscopic when he put his feet at home. The cave was illuminated by glowing crystals that varied with many different colors. At the entrance, there were cerulean crystals. When he went a bit further, they changed to viridian. Every time his feet scraped the ground, it resulted in a weak echo.

    Thankfully, these weren''t enough to wake up the one who was slumbering amidst it all.

    When St��fur finally reached the center, he saw the colossal canopy of pewter-colored crystals on the ceiling, far beyond what he could dream of reaching until he would finally grow to his full size. This was the natural state of the sparkly minerals that covered the Ogres'' home, and the coloration was only possible by his mother''s magic.

    At that moment, they were deactivated, making this part of their lair almost covered in darkness, with very few shapes that could be seen. This was made to not bother the colossal figure, slumbering on an equally gigantic couch, mostly hidden in shadows. The father of St��fur, Ketkr��kur, and of other eleven Ogres, Leppal��ei.

    The difference in size between an adult Ogre and one who did not enter their gigantification stage was staggering. St��fur was as small to his own father as a rat was small to him.

    Thankfully, Ogres had an enhanced sense of hearing compared to other Monoke, so he could scream at the top of his lungs in this overwhelming distance, and his father would hear him.

    St��fur filled his lungs with air at their max capacity and shouted.

    "FATHER! YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!"

    A grunt came out of the giant Ogre that was so powerful that small tremors could be felt throughout the cave. St��fur could hear the crystals clinking because of it.

    Other creatures would find this situation terrifying, but it was only routine for him and his brothers.

    "What is it now?!" His loud, booming voice reverberated throughout the rocky walls.

    He picked from behind the couch a peculiar lamp-like object carved out of rock, large enough so Leppal��ei could grab it with his hands with no problem. The "lamp" had countless crystals encrusted on it that shone in vermillion.

    The giant put the crystal lamp on a table, which is as big as almost every piece of furniture in this cave. He could finally see which of his children was disturbing, and St��fur could see his father''s face more clearly.

    Leppal��ei was, of course, similar to his vastly small children, only more advanced. His skin is even wrinklier and full of warts, and his nose has lost the red color a long time ago, adopting a pinkish tone. His beard was gone, and only a few strands of hair remained on his scalp. His clothing was identical to the little Ogres, minus the lack of a hat and shoes.

    The giant sighed at the sight of St��fur. "What happened to ya?"

    The small one stumbled on his own words. The presence of his father was very intimidating. The thing he was most afraid of was making his dad angry. Well, maybe making his mother angry was scarier, actually.

    After shaking and pondering about his words, St��fur decided to unleash his high-pitched voice again. "We were attacked by that annoying pup again! Along with some... weird creature! The creature hit me with a rock! And that Wolf knocked down my brother!"

    "Alright, alright." The giant scratched his forehead, visibly annoyed, maybe at his son, his voice, or both. Probably both. "Where''s the rest of the Lads?"

    His eyes searched the area for his other sons, but there was no sign of them. The lack of noise was a dead giveaway. Like St��fur and Ketkr��kur, they were all tasked with hunting food for their family.

    The giant sighed, again. "Alright, you can take the Cat."

    He put two fingers in his mouth in a U-shape and whistled. St��fur noticed something moving in the shadows close to Leppal��ei''s couch. The dim light of the red crystals wasn''t enough to see who it was.

    However, St��fur already knew the identity of this creature. He could feel him sniffing his neck. It kinda tickled.

    "J��LA! GO HELP HIM!" Leppal��ei commanded, gesturing toward the tiny Ogre. The floor and the walls shook in response to his booming voice.

    A loud, spine-chilling meow answered the giant. St��fur got goosebumps when he heard it, not from fear but excitement. The stubby Ogre couldn''t help but chuckle at the prospect of tormenting those petulant girls and making them regret ever crossing paths with him. They will beg for forgiveness when he''s done with them!

    St��fur''s chuckle became a full-blown supervillain laughter. "Thank you, father! Those girls will-"

    Leppal��ei plugged his ears with his hands, very angry. "SHUT UP AND LET ME SLEEP!"

 Chapter 4 - Riverside Antics.

    Stella:

    "What is that?"

    A strange shape caught her attention after almost an hour of walking through the woods. At that point, the girl silently begged for rest, but Lien kept strutting like this was a walk in the park. Stella''s jealousy towards the creature increased by the second.

    Back to the strange shape, Stella squinted her eyes to see the weird tree, building, or whatever that was. After five more minutes of walking, she reached a conclusion, it was a freaking giant mushroom.

    The human was so focused on it that she didn''t even pay much attention to the river that divided the woods and the forest of mushrooms.

    Oh yeah, it was a whole forest of these things! All of them had a white stem, but they varied in color on their cap. Red, blue, green, purple, the whole rainbow! Coupled with the clear blue sky and the sun shining upon the landscape, it made for quite a beautiful sight, coming straight out of a fairytale.

    The most fascinating detail in that "forest" was that a blue filter was spread throughout that area. On the other side of the river, that did not apply. Stella''s eyes widened, and her mind went wild with wonder.

    Her trance was broken by Lien''s excited voice. "There it is! Now, we must go to our right and follow the river. Soon, we''ll get out of the Lads'' territory."

    Stella deflated with disappointment. "So we''re not going to the giant mushrooms, then?" She liked the idea of escaping those Ogres, but... giant colored mushrooms.

    Her comment threw Lien for a loop. "Giant? Have you ever seen smaller mushrooms?"

    "Yeah, actually," Stella explained. "From where I come from, these things are actually small. Like, miniscule!"

    Lien chuckled in response. "Your home is weird!"

    Stella just stood awkwardly and nodded. "I suppose..." No use trying to use logic in this place. Better go with the flow.

    The human started walking to her right, as instructed. But Lien remained in place, scratching her neck. "Hey! Mind if I take a quick dip in the river?"

    Stella shuffled her body sluggishly due to her fatigue. She took a while to understand what Lien was saying, but when she did, her demeanor went 180��. Finally, a break!

    "Of course! Take as much time as you need!"

    Stella barely finished her sentence when Lien quickly darted towards the streaming body of water. She didn''t bother taking off any clothing and cannonballed on the river, making an impressive splash of water.

    The human watched her furry companion swim and play in the water with a bright smile on her face through it all. She sat on the ground, rested her head on a tree, and let her body finally recover.

    At that moment, Lien''s eagerness and energetic personality became quite endearing for Stella. She didn''t know why, probably because it was a change of pace from what she had in life, most of the time. There maybe was some jealousy involved. Stella always wished to be a dumb kid who could do all those crazy stunts and be fine at the end of the day.

    Alas, one of many privileges she did not have access to...

    And now, Stella was sad. She huffed and frowned at herself.

    "Get yourself together, girl. I''m here to escape that crap"

    Then Stella lay on the ground to avoid any more bad thoughts, resting her head in her own backpack. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sounds of the splashing water to relax her mind.

    Until it stopped.

    Well, that was odd. Did Lien already get tired from "bathing"?

    Stella opened her eyes and went back to sitting. "Lien?"

    No one was there. The river was peacefully remaining on its course. Stella was getting worried.

    "Lien! Where are you?!"

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    She got up and ran closer to the river. Her eyes searched in every direction, including the mushroom area. She walked in circles while calling for her companion.

    "Where are you?! Lien!"

    Her feet were almost touching the water. She had half a mind to cross the body of water.

    "LIEN!"

    SPLASH! Something came from underwater, right in front of her!

    The girl stumbled back a couple feet, terrified at something supposedly ambushing her from underwater, like a crocodile.

    Thankfully, it was no crocodile, it was Lien, with an impressive-looking fish in her mouth. Deep down a part of Stella was relieved, but it was drowned out by her heart, that pounded like a drum.

    She sat on the ground until her breathing and heartbeat stabilized. When that happened, she became very pissed at Lien. "What the hell! I was worried that you drowned!"

    Lien launched the fish, and it landed right next to Stella. It was wildly flailing until Lien jumped from the river and landed on the fish. Her strength, coupled with the momentum, made it so the fish could stop moving. Permanently.

    "There''s our snack!" Lien announced. "Do you want to eat it now or later?"

    Stella looked at the creature, dumbfounded. She completely ignored her complaint with that river stunt. However, the girl knew better than to piss off someone faster, who could jump much higher than her, and had some sharp teeth to do some nasty damage. Besides, it didn''t look like she did it on purpose, so she let it slide.

    However, her patience was being tested when Lien started to shake her body, expelling the water from her drenched fur. Still, the human took a deep breath and didn''t lash out. These clothes were not in a pristine state anyway.

    Stella answered the creature''s question. "Sure! Can you make a bonfire?"

    "Oh," Lien spoke with a slight tone of disappointment. Stella went for her backpack, and the creature closely followed her. "I mean, I''m more of an ''eating raw'' kinda Monoke. It''s much faster that way."

    Stella scrunched up her face at Lien''s words. "Ew." Then she opened her bag and picked up a water bottle. She went to the river and filled her bottle with crystal-clear water. When she chugged the whole thing, it felt like her throat was purified.

    Stella exhaled with satisfaction. "I needed that. Damn, this water is good!"

    Lien was stretching while Stella enjoyed the river water. "You sound like you never drank here."

    The girl screwed the bottle cap tight after filling the bottle with more water for posteriority. "It''s because I didn''t. The river near home is notorious for being basically a liquid dump. You wouldn''t last a day near it with that nose of yours."

    "Huh, your home sucks!" Lien said with no ill intent. Stella chuckled at her words. She was forward, and it was a breath of fresh air.

    "Yep, it does. That''s why I came here." She walked towards the tree where she had rested earlier, and Lien followed her there.

    "Want to get a break from home, huh? I can relate." Lien rested against a tree beside Stella. The creature''s right foot kept tapping the ground constantly, and her tail looked like it had a conscience.

    "Can you?" The girl became curious. "Your home is also awful?"

    Lien scoffed. "What? No! Pantsti is great! It''s just... the people there get too protective of me."

    Stella scoffed back. "That''s it? I can think of worse stuff a kid could go through."

    She half-expected for the furry creature to get on the defensive, but Lien only chuckled in response. "I suppose! Don''t get me wrong, I love my mother and the other Wolves who keep an eye on me. But they look at me like I could get hurt when they''re not looking!" She sighed. "I just want a bit of freedom sometimes."

    Stella could start a speech about how she was lucky that she even had a mother. She could use her experiences to tell her companion about the many orphaned children she met. But what was the point? The girl didn''t feel like she should dump all that heavy stuff into someone who had nothing to do with her problems. She would only be a jerk by doing that, nothing more.

    "Yeah, I feel you." That was the only thing the girl was willing to say. She decided to lie back and enjoy the peaceful landscape with the weird Wolf girl.

    Until her peaceful state of mind was interrupted again by an internal factor. A sharp sensation came from between her legs. She probably drank too much water.

    "Of all of the fucking moments..."

    Stella cleared her throat. "Uh, can you wait here while I go to a bush? I need to-"

    A loud, sinister sound appeared from out of nowhere. After Stella took some time to pinpoint what it was, and when she did, she was so confused. It was a meow. A very scary one, at that.

    The girl suddenly forgot about her biological needs and tried her best to not let her fear overtake her. She saw Lien, who was uncharacteristically terrified. The Wolf was trembling, her fur bristled. She got to her feet in a flash and started to use her nose to sniff something, walking left and right frantically.

    Stella was disturbed by the situation, and her body was almost yielding to terror. To remedy that, the girl tried to lighten the mood the best she could.

    "So! When you said scaredy cats, you actually meant-"

    Lien''s face pointed in a specific direction, and she kept focusing for a few seconds. Before Stella could ask further questions, the Wolf grabbed the now dead fish with her teeth again and tried to say something to the girl, but it was muffled due to her mouth being occupied. However, Stella understood the idea of what she meant. "We have to go. Now!"

    The girl didn''t ask further questions and followed the Wolf in the direction they were going in the first place. But after a few seconds of running, Stella noticed something big forcing their way through the woods, though she couldn''t see what it was.

    Stella was terrified. How many times would her life be in danger in this damned place! That could be it! This could be how her story would end!

    She wasn''t ready, not like this!

    Her desperation reached peak levels when their escape was blocked by a massive black figure! Stella stumbled back and fell to the ground. When she looked slightly upwards, she saw the creature. A black cat, the size of a house, with yellow eyes. The girl couldn''t quite believe what she saw, yet she thought she couldn''t be more surprised.

    She instinctively said. "What the f-"

    "J��lak?tturinn!" Lien shouted.

 Chapter 5 - A Game of Cat and Wolf.

    Lien:

    They were done for.

    Ever since Lien sensed that particular feline smell, she realized how arrogant she was by taking a break while still on the Lads'' territory.

    Now, they were face to face with quite a menace.

    Since she first started making trips to the Ganvi Woods, her mother warned her about the real threat that resided in it. The Ogre children were no real threat, and their parents barely bothered to step outside their lair, but J��lak?tturinn...

    He served as a guardian for the Lads, usually appearing to capture anyone who would bother the Ogres too much. Lien could try to reason with him, explaining that they struck her first, but her terror repressed this desire.

    Besides, her mouth was busy carrying a big-ass fish in her mouth. She wasn''t scared enough to give up on her meal, though.

    Suddenly, a burst of wicked laughter could be heard, so high-pitched it was painful for the poor Wolf''s ears. Lien identified the sound coming from above. It was St��fur, presumably on top of the giant feline''s head.

    "That''s right, you freaks! J��la will shred you to pieces!" Lien''s ears instinctively lowered in response to St��fur''s voice. It felt like someone was poking them with needles.

    "Get ''em!" St��fur commanded.

    Shit! Lien had to do something! Fast!

    Knowing that Stella was not someone physically gifted, Lien took it upon herself to tackle her companion out of the way. She sighed with relief when the impact of J��la''s attack was felt far from them.

    Stella didn''t sound so pleased, though. "Ouch! Damn it, Lien!"

    Lien ignored her complaints and got on all fours. "Let''s go! Climb on my back!"

    "What?" Stella didn''t understand what she said. Of course, her voice was muffled by the fish. So she gestured with her head towards her back, hoping that she received the message now.

    St��fur mocked them. "Pitiful, little rats! You have no chance against J��la!"

    He annoyed Lien to no end, but that wasn''t important. That little window for taunting allowed the human to climb on Lien''s back, just like she was instructed. Thank goodness she understood what the Monoke was saying!

    Stella was less heavy than she expected. That was perfect!

    Lien ran with max speed in the direction of the pine trees. There''s no way J��la could catch them that easily in a terrain full of obstacles, right?

    Right?

    Stella started to laugh. "Woah! You''re fast as shit!" The weird Monoke seemed very excited, which would be a feeling Lien could share if not for the dire circumstances. It was concerning how her companion didn''t seem to be aware of the danger they were in.

    Lien paid close attention to every smell and sound she could pick up from the woods. These skills were perfect for hunting, fighting, and playing chase, though this particular chase was no play.

    They had not hit any tree, rock, or other Monoke, so things were going well. Until Lien heard the sounds of something running dangerously close to them. She had the feeling it wasn''t a coincidence.

    Stella appeared to also notice their chaser, letting out a loud gasp. "Can''t we try to distract the cat with the fish?!" The desperation in her voice was palpable.

    "And give them my dinner?!" Lien tried to say as well as she could with the fish in her mouth. "Nuh-uh!"

    Unfortunately, her efforts were proven to be in vain. The sound of multiple broken twigs, smashed leaves, and J��lak?tturinn''s smell could be felt before her.

    "Peekaboo!" St��fur taunted them, then resumed his annoying laughter.

    Lien growled and bared her teeth in defiance. She wouldn''t give up.

    She jumped in another direction, only to hear St��fur''s laughter again, getting farther from her ears with each passing second. After a minute of running and no sound or smell related to their chaser, Lien went to the closest bush she could find and hid there.

    She winced when she felt sharp barbs poking her skin. Stella was more vocal about her discomfort, though. "Could you have found a less prickly spot?" She complained in a whisper.

    Lien apologized in a whisper as well. "Sorry!" She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put the fish on the ground. "Can you give me a second? I have to do something."

    Stella sighed. "Sure, as long as we don''t become cat food."

    Lien could smell her fear. She smelled like that since they first met, yet she could be very courageous sometimes. What a weird girl.

    The Monoke then cleared her mind of those thoughts and focused on herself. Well, to be more specific, her Saniya.

    That old Wolf in Pantsti kept teaching her about the splendid details of the energy that coursed through every being. Most of it went over her head.

    However, those boring classes did give her a pretty neat trick. When her mind was clear enough, a weird presence appeared on her mind. Somehow, she could tell that that presence was away from her location.

    When she dug deeper, she could feel a smaller presence on top of the taller one. Her suspicions were correct.

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    She was about to sigh with relief but held that in when she sensed the duo approaching them with abnormal speed.

    Thankfully, Stella was still clinging onto her, so Lien caught the fish with her mouth again and resumed their escape.

    Her companion protested. "Why did you do that?! Now we are-"

    "Going to be Cat food!" St��fur and J��la could be seen by Stella now, judging by the girl''s heartbeat going faster than ever.

    J��lak?tturinn''s speed proved to be too much, even for Lien. She felt his presence jumping left and right, behind and before her. They were playing with her.

    Desperation took control of her movements. Maybe if she turned to this fallen, rotten trunk, she would-

    "Tough luck!" His damn voice, again!

    No matter, she would confuse them by running in an unpredictable pattern. Yes! That must-

    "Try again!"

    She could not compete with his speed, could she?

    "What''s wrong? Cat got yer tongue?"

    Lien growled with frustration. If there was no way of escape, fighting was the only option. So she unsheathed her claws and pounced on the giant feline!

    Only to be met with the hard surface of a tree trunk. Ouch.

    She could hear St��fur''s annoying laugh once again. He was pushing her over her limits! Frustrated, she started to climb the tree, only to get far away from that jerk and his mockery!

    At that point, Lien was also reaching her physical limits. Maybe Stella had the right call in letting the fish go. The Monoke regretted her decisions deeply, but it was too late to correct that.

    Slowly but surely, Lien climbed to the top. She was exhausted and lay on a tree branch, heavily breathing. The fish almost escaped her mouth and fell to become cat food, but the Monoke grabbed it at the last second.

    "Lien, I don''t think we-" Stella stopped her sentence and sighed. "Forget it." Lien could hear the subtle creaks in the branch her companion was sitting on.

    For some reason, St��fur was giving them some time to rest. Was J��la not capable of climbing? Or do they want to play with the girls for a little more time? Her mind was spinning with those questions AND her fatigue.

    Lien stopped lying around and sat with her head resting against the trunk, carrying her fish in her arms. It felt like bolstering a newborn pup.

    Her ears perked up when she heard Stella make an audible gasp.

    <hr>

    Stella:

    "This place is fucking beautiful..." Stella whispered.

    Before her worries could overwhelm her, Stella looked at the distance. She found it gorgeous! The impressive rock formations sprinkled throughout the landscape, the forest of giant mushrooms again, and the massive wall of redwoods that blocked all of this beauty from the outside world. The girl could also see some buildings along the way, houses, and small settlements that she assumed were shops. However, the most impressive one lay beyond the fungi, a tall castle on top of a hill.

    Stella wondered if she had fallen into a fairytale book. That would explain the Ogres and the talking animal next to her.

    The girl''s eyes sparkled with wonder, and her mouth was open wide, which she wasn''t aware of. After her minute-long trance, she turned to her furry companion. "Who lives there?"

    Lien was unmoving, which made her think that the Monoke was sleeping. Hard to say, thanks to the fringe.

    However, the creature suddenly shuffled when she processed Stella''s voice. Her groggy movements confirmed that she was indeed napping.

    "Who lives where?"

    Stella pointed at the castle. "That big-ass castle. See? Beyond the mushrooms?"

    Lien''s ears perked up. "Oh! Funny that you mentioned it!" She used her hand to get her fringe out of the way of her eyes. Now Stella could see it clearly, Lien''s gray, blind eyes. "See? Totally blind!" She spoke in her cheery tone.

    Though she didn''t seem to mind her condition, Stella still felt like crap for not picking up on it earlier. "Oh... Sorry about that..." She spoke softly.

    Lien shook her hand in dismissal. "Don''t be!" Then, her tone uncharacteristically became a tad more mellow. Her eyes drifted towards... nothing. "Just... Don''t think less of me because of it."

    Now Stella understood the full scope of what Lien spoke about earlier. Just the fact that she thought about talking down on her problems made the girl deflate even more.

    "The hell is my problem?"

    Her self-loathing was interrupted by the tree suddenly shaking! Of course, there was a big-ass Cat ready to pounce on them. Stella and Lien held tight on their respective branches to not fall to their deaths.

    "Sleep time is over! J��la wants to play again!" St��fur could be heard from below. From all the shit he made them go through, Stella clenched her fist, ready to break his teeth at any chance.

    Lien was too tired to keep up with this game, and Stella couldn''t do anything against the giant fucking Cat. Looking at him climbing only made Stella lose more of her resolve.

    She thought. "If only there was a giant firefighter..."

    "Wait a minute..."

    Stella carefully traversed from one branch to the other. The shakiness of the tree really made things difficult.

    The Cat was halfway through, but Stella was in position by then.

    "What are you doing?" asked Lien.

    The human pulled her water bottle again. "Desperate times, desperate measures."

    She gulped down the whole bottle in seconds, held tight on the tree trunk, and ignored the danger of the giant black Cat. She emptied her mind of any distraction as well as she reasonably could, and sure enough, something was begging to get out between her legs.

    The terrifying J��lak?tturinn needed one more push to catch his prey. When he was almost grasping the top, Stella pulled down her pants and-

    You know what? I refuse to narrate this. In summary, she pissed on the fucking Cat.

    Disgusting.

    The black Cat''s nose could not take such nastiness, and he jumped away. The Ogre riding him screamed while holding tight on J��la''s fur. Stella found this guy''s voice annoying, but now... it felt like an angel''s chorus.

    Our disgusting hero pulled her pants up again and triumphally posed while Lien laughed her ass off, so much so that she put her hands on her belly because her stomach was hurting. "That was nasty! Are you sure you''re not a Wolf?"

    "Nope! But I am not above doing that to survive." Stella moved to Lien''s branch. "Trust me, my home can be even nastier."

    Lien gradually stopped laughing, and then she tilted her head in curiosity. "Okay, where do you even come from? You don''t know many common stuff here. You don''t even know what a ''Monoke'' is!"

    Stella explained. "Well, I come from outside the forest!" That didn''t seem to help her companion understand it better. "There''s a whole city outside this forest named Namadi. Surely your mother or anyone else told you about that, right?"

    Lien shook her head. "Nope! Only thing they tell me is that I must never step foot out of Sayama because of-" Her eyes perked up, and her body froze.

    Stella''s eyes widened, concerned about her companion. "Lien? Are you okay?"

    Lien slowly nodded. "Yeeeaaaahhhh..." Then she tried to change the subject. "Hey, how''s the sun?!"

    "The sun?" Stella cocked an eyebrow, then she looked in the distance. The sun was setting behind that beautiful castle, which made for a gorgeous scene. "Other than beautiful, is setting. It''s gonna get dark real quick."

    Lien nodded. "Indeed. We should rest in a cave. There''s plenty of those around here."

    The Monoke got to her feet and grabbed the fish again. Then she pointed her furry thumb to her back.

    Stella crossed her arms. "Are you sure you can handle it?"

    Lien attempted to speak something while nodding. The girl had no fucking idea of what she meant.

    "Okie Dokie!" She climbed on her companion''s back.

    <hr>

    Lien:

    And so, they initiated their trip down. While Lien continued her monumental task, her realization about Stella replayed in her mind many times. She had to be careful for her grip on the wood to not loosen, lest they suffer a fatal accident.

    Her day was full of surprises. First, she found a monster with a fearful reputation and managed to escape and thwart such a monster... with the help of another.

    A chill went through her spine.

    "There''s a Human on my back..."

 Chapter 6 - Bigger Threats.

    Ketkr��kur:

    Ketr��kur had a really shitty day.

    His hunt had been ruined by that annoying Wolf. He was struck two times by some weird Monoke, and to top it all off, his freaking brother left him unconscious!

    "St��fur, you bastard... I will flay your skin when I get ya..." He kept mumbling.

    Thankfully, he didn''t take much damage from that encounter. It would be very problematic if he had a limp or something like that. The sun was retreating beyond the forest, and no Lad would dare to see their mother when they were late for dinner.

    The Ogre scraped his hook on the ground, creating a thin trail on the dirt. It was a fun distraction from the monotony of going from one place to another. However, the nights in the Ganvi Woods were quite unsettling. The weirdest Monoke gathered at this time. He swore he had heard his mom going out and speaking to some of them.

    Just that thought put chills down his spine.

    Before the sun could retire for the day, Ketkr��kur finally arrived home. His fun with the hook would have to wait because scraping against a rock was not a good idea in a home of a bunch of grumpy Ogres.

    He was actually thankful that he came at this specific time. His mother already activated all of the crystals in the lair. The entire lair was illuminated by different colors, like vermillion, lavender, cerulean, viridian, and saffron. When Ketkr��kur looked upwards, he saw the hypnotic kaleidoscope that was the crystalline canopy above their heads.

    The main room could be seen in its full glory, down to the old couch of their father, the table beside it with the beautiful red crystal lamp, the rug made out of a bunch of bear skins stitched together, the tiny table and chairs tailor-made for the Lads, J��lak?tturinn''s bed. All of it bathed in the otherworldly color pattern.

    Their home was beautiful. The only problem was...

    The inhabitants...

    The peaceful room of the Ogre family was in the process of being destroyed by his twelve other brothers. The chairs were flipped, the table lost a leg, and there was a concerning amount of jam spilled on the rug.

    He found his father only looking at them with a displeased face but did nothing to stop them. Not even his intimidating presence could stop all of them when they were together.

    His siblings were a weird bunch, even by Ketkr��kur''s standards.

    Stekkjarstaur lost his legs in an incident after meddling with some Sheep Monoke, quite a gruesome one. He obtained wooden legs since then. You would think he would stop after such a tragic incident, but nope! He put poor Gluggag?gir into a sack and was now swinging left and right. Earlier that day, he stole Glugga''s thick glasses. That thing could make anyone''s eyes the size of coconuts.

    When Ketkr��kur looked at the other side, he saw Tv?rusleikir, Pottasleikir, and Askasleikir, the skinny ones, trying to catch bugs with their tongues on the ground. They got creative uses for their tongues after their mother took the pots, pans, and utensils away from them. Disgusting little bastards.

    Hureaskellir was doing another one of his insufferable whistlings while he held G��ttatefur in a full nelson. He was doing that because Kertasn��kir, their trap and gadget maker, created another stinky contraption, a candle, and is using poor G��tta as a test subject because of his colossal and more sensible nose.

    Skyrg��mur was eating some jam he had stolen from their mom in a secluded corner of the room as if no one could see him. Well, no one would dare take his food from him. Except Bj��gnakr?kir, that is.

    In fact, they were starting another one of their duels for the other one''s food. These were nasty, sometimes. The bellies of those two were not more enormous than St��fur''s because the latter had a size problem.

    "Wait, St��fur... Where''s that bastard?"

    He searched for his tiny brother but found no sight of him. Did he hide in their bedroom again, knowing that his brother would kick his ass? Or he might have been hiding under their mother''s huge skirt. The problem, if the latter was the case, was that she spent most of her time in the kitchen downstairs, and no Lads could go through the stairs. They were too damn big! Clearly made in mind for the adult Ogres only.

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Before he could search the bedroom, a loud noise of something scraping the rocky floor could be heard. It was Giljagaur, pulling a massive barrel of milk with ropes. He was tasked with caring for and fetching milk for J��lak?tturinn on a farm near the capital. Needless to say, that made him a powerhouse of muscle. Ketr��kur shivered, imagining how his brother would turn out when he reached his gigantification stage.

    "I''m here!" Giljagaur said, panting and putting his hands on his knees. "Where''s Tiddles?" That was the nickname he put on J��la.

    "Don''t know," Ketkr��kur answered, uninterested in his brother''s duties. "I''m trying to find that bastard St��fur. You would not believe what happened to us, we-"

    Gilja groaned, reciprocating the lack of interest. "I don''t care. I''ll just put that close to his bed and go to sleep."

    So he went through his task, slowly but surely, grunting along the way.

    Ketkr��kur looked at his father and had an idea. He really did not like the prospect of wasting time traversing this colossal lair for nothing.

    Dodging his mischievous little brothers, he went to Leppal��ei''s feet and gave the giant''s fingers a little nudge. "Father! Right here!" He frantically waved his hands to gain his father''s attention.

    Leppal��ei noticed him. He mumbled something before catching his older offspring with his colossal hand. He lifted Ketkr��kur, which always was a fun experience for the smaller Ogre. It felt like he had sprouted wings and was soaring through the skies.

    The fun ride was over when his father put him on his shoulder. "What do you want, kid?" He asked with his booming voice, so powerful that Ketkr��kur had to hold tight to the fabric of his shirt to not be pushed back.

    "Father, where did St��fur go? That bastard left me knocked out on the ground like a milksop." Ketkr��kur whispered. Ogres have sensitive ears, so speaking regularly so close to his father''s ear would be begging to suffer an eleven-meter fall.

    "Yeah, he told me the story. I ordered J��la to help him capture the ones who did that to ya."

    Ketkr��kur raised an eyebrow. "How much time since then?"

    Leppal��ei scratched his chin and closed his eyes in thought. "Hey kid, what time is it?"

    Ketkr��kur''s mouth was opened in shock. "Father, it''s already night."

    His father''s eyes widened. "Shit! Already?!" Every Lad now stared at their father, taken by surprise.

    "Hey! Has anyone seen Tiddles!?" Gilja''s voice was heard from near the Cat''s bed.

    All the Lads, except Ketkr��kur, shook their hands. The Ogre patriarch let out a huge sigh.

    "Do you think St��fur managed to fuck that up, even with the Cat?" He asked Ketkr��kur.

    "We both know St��fur ain''t the brightest of our family." The smaller Ogre replied.

    "Shit." After pondering further for a minute, the giant grabbed Ketkr��kur and put him back on the ground.

    "Alright, kids! Listen up!" His authoritative voice now made every Lad focus their attention solely on him. "St��fur went to grab a few troublemakers, but he apparently fucked that up. With the Cat, for some inexplicable reason. Now, we must search for those two!"

    Ten of the Lads were disappointed, letting out an audible "aw" in disappointment. Gilja was just tired from carrying an immense, heavy barrel all day. "I ain''t going to search for that fingerling!"

    Leppal��ei was getting more and more frustrated. Ketkr��kur''s body froze, knowing what would happen if the giant got to an outburst. The house would need weeks to be restored to its prior state.

    But Ketkr��kur was the oldest and more experienced with living with his rowdy siblings. It was easy, actually.

    "C''mon, Lads!" He shouted while lifting his hook toward the ceiling. "I know that St��fur is a piece of shit, but you know what''s waiting for us out there?"

    He waited for his brothers to guess, but they all looked at him, confused.

    "Two targets for us! Stupid girls that dared to cross us earlier! Are we going to let those brats smear our reputation by escaping under our noses?!"

    As if their minds were one, all the Lads shouted "NO!" and became much more eager to wreak havoc on their new prey, shouting for their demise. Gilja just waved his arm lazily in an attempt to join the moment. The buff Ogre knew he would be dragged to this, whether he wanted or not.

    Leppal��ei seemed pleased with his children''s change of heart. "Alright, children. Let''s grab St��fur and teach a lesson to those insolent girls!"

    After saying that, the cave started shaking. Everyone was confused. Those tremors were much more potent than what would happen if their father spoke a bit too loud. Then Ketkr��kur realized...

    He pointed at their father. "Look! Father is getting up from his couch!"

    Gluggag?gir got out of the sack and gazed at that rare event with wide eyes because of his stupid-looking glasses. "Impossible! This event is supposed to happen only once per year!"

    Stekkjarstaur stumbled and fell on his butt with the same mystified expression. "It''s the end of times..."

    The tremors stopped when the Ogre patriarch was on his own two feet. Nobody said anything while he stretched after so many months of not moving his ass off that couch.

    Until one voice chimed in from downstairs. "Got yer butt out for a walk, already?! What happened?!" It was the Lads'' mom.

    The lair shook again with the giant''s voice. "Just going to deal with a nuisance, love! And I''m taking the children!"

    "What?!" The cave was threatening to collapse with the clash of voices. "The hell you will! I''m almost finishing dinner, so if you dare to-"

    Leppal��ei ignored his wife and raised his fist in the air. "Let''s give ''em hell!"

    The Lads all cheered and howled! Except for Ketkr��kur, he was smiling ear to ear with the thought of getting his rematch with those girls. And this time, there wouldn''t be any cheap shots that could save them.

    The hook wielder watched his siblings and father, all ready to restore their family''s honor. His heart pounded with excitement and he swung his hook with pride. That was when he knew...

    The J��lasveinarnir were invincible!

 Chapter 7 - An Unexpected Rift.

    Stella:

    "The fish is smelling pretty good."

    Stella and Lien were in a cave in the middle of the woods. Usually, the human girl would protest going to such an ominous place, but she trusted the Wolf''s judgment enough.

    Well, except for eating raw fish. Stella was fiercely against that, claiming that it was much healthier to roast it. Surprisingly, Lien didn''t protest much.

    In fact, the girl became quite concerned for her furry companion. Lien started to act weirdly quiet and recluse. At first, she thought it was just fatigue since she made a ton of physical effort against J��lak?tturinn.

    However, that theory lost its strength when the Wolf went out of her way to sit far away from the girl. Yeah, she was avoiding her.

    Stella then decided to stop worrying about that and instead focused on the roasting fish by the bonfire, which was supported by a stick through the animal. Thank goodness she brought a lighter. It was pretty old and used, but it did the trick. The hardest part was gathering the wood without Lien''s help, but she had done enough for her. The girl hated not paying people back for their kindness, though these acts became rarer as she got older.

    The human brushed off these thoughts, wanting to disassociate with them as much as possible. Better said than done, though.

    The light raging against the sheer darkness of the cave was both scary and beautiful in a way. Stella did imagine going through these situations while traversing the forest. But with all of this Monoke business, it made her feel exactly like that light.

    Her right arm was sore from holding the fish stick, so she switched to her left arm. Right on cue, a weak tremor could be felt by both girls. Lien put her paw on the ground as if that could help her determine the cause of this phenomenon. Stella liked to think that changing the stick from one hand to the other made her discover a cheat code, and maybe she had unlocked a secret room somewhere.

    It was a funny thought, but Lien did not share the feeling. In fact, she now started to curl herself into a ball. That was not ideal.

    When the tremors stopped, Stella attempted to lighten the mood.

    "Talk about shaking things up!" She spoke with a big, dumb smile on her face.

    That was a terrible attempt.

    Stella had regretted the moment the words came out of her mouth. And to make things worse, Lien barely reacted, only muttering a "Yeah..."

    That was it for the girl. This Wolf, who was so cheerful and full of energy before, was so gloomy and tense.

    That did not feel right for Stella. She had to do something.

    After taking a deep breath and carefully pondering about her words, Stella finally asked. "Is... everything alright with you, Lien?" Stella used the most soft and non-threatening tone of voice she could make.

    The Wolf''s ears rotated in the girl''s direction, and her body visibly stiffened. "I''m fine... Why do you ask?"

    The human stuttered, afraid that her companion would find her concerns stupid. "I-It''s just... you''ve been less cheery than usual since we climbed down that tree. And..." Stella tried to elaborate more, but she failed to find the words. Then, she decided to go in a different direction. "Are you tired? Hungry? Missing your parents, perhaps?"

    Lien quickly shouted, regaining a bit of her usual behavior. "No!" Then, she backed down. "I mean, yes. But..."

    It was somewhat comforting that Lien struggled to find the right words also, but that did give some uncomfortable implications that made Stella''s heart beat faster in anxiety.

    Was she the problem? Did she say something wrong? Maybe it was that comment about her not seeing the castle or when she dismissed Lien''s issues earlier. She should have known better than that.

    It''s funny. Stella barely knew Lien, yet her heart sank with the thought of hurting her feelings.

    The girl flipped the fish to roast its other side. Her mind was trapped in a self-loathing trance, so she got a little spooked when she unexpectedly heard Lien''s voice again.

    "I... need to ask you something."

    Stella''s eyes widened in anticipation, though she maintained the calmness in her voice. "What is it?"

    Lien fidgeted her fingers, and her posture relaxed. "Well, you didn''t come from the forest. You have this weird smell, unlike any Monoke I have ever met."

    Stella''s heart pounded louder while the Wolf hesitated in concluding her reasoning. "Are you... a Human?" She spoke the last word as a barely audible whisper.

    Stella was taken aback. Of course, Lien had never identified her as a Human before, assuming she was some weird Monoke. The girl never bothered to correct her because she never thought it was necessary.

    But hearing that word coming out of Lien''s mouth in such a way... Made Stella realize her mistake.

    Well, Stella had no intention of lying to the Wolf. Not that it would work, anyway.

    "Yeah..." The girl answered uneasily. "I''m a Human."

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    "Oh." Lien returned to curling herself into a ball. Stella could hear her voice slightly cracking. "Okay."

    Stella''s heart clenched. She didn''t understand why this was such a big deal for her, but it still hurt.

    Maybe the only way to understand this was to press further. "Do you... have a problem with Humans?"

    "It''s that... I''ve heard stories... about Humans..." She was trembling. Fuck, she was trembling! Why did Stella do that?! The girl gave up on holding the stick and curled into a ball, ashamed of her actions.

    The Wolf continued. "They say that the creatures outside the forest do... bad things to us..."

    Stella''s breath became more rapid. That was it for them, then? She waited about half a minute to regain a sliver of her composure. She needed to confirm it first.

    "Do you... believe in them?" Stella spoke in a monotone voice that betrayed her true feelings in a split second.

    Lien did not answer. That was all that Stella needed to know.

    The girl was on the verge of tears. Why? It wasn''t even a day since they found each other by accident. So why was she so... miserable...?

    Rejection was a feeling that Stella was all too familiar with. Whether it was adults who didn''t see her as a good fit for their family or other kids who saw her as less of a person because of her financial condition. Even her fellow orphans found a way to betray her.

    Except for... for...

    Stella started to shed tears. She cursed herself for doing that. Another thing she hated, other than bullies, was when people pitied her. It felt like they saw her as incapable, as inferior. Her pride would not allow that!

    Thankfully, Lien was blind, so she couldn''t see that pathetic display of weakness. After cleaning the tears from her face, she got up, packed her stuff, left the fish, and walked towards the entrance.

    Of course, Lien could hear her steps. "What are you doing?" Her voice lost a lot of the uneasiness.

    Stella closed her heart to her feelings and looked at the Wolf with an emotionless expression. "Leaving. I don''t want to make you uncomfortable."

    She walked a few more steps. When she got closer to Lien, her cold facade started to break. She didn''t realize how she missed Lien''s electric and contagious personality until it was too late.

    She would miss her. Truly.

    Her voice almost broke the facade, but Stella pushed through. "Thank you."

    And so, she marched on.

    <hr>

    Lien:

    Stella''s footsteps could be heard farther from her with each step.

    What would Lien do now?

    Her mind became a storm of conflicting thoughts. On one hand, she was raised with stories about Humans. Her mother and many other parents used those stories to alert them of the dangers of venturing outside Sayama.

    Not to mention... Weth...

    On the other hand, Stella did save her from being further hit by rocks by the Lads and escaping J��lak?tturinn. Also, she had fun moments with the Human earlier, and she was nothing but kind to her.

    Stella was completely different from what the stories say. As far as she knew, that Human was a regular girl, a friend.

    Besides, she knew the smell of tears all too well.

    A friend that was going away if she didn''t do anything. The Wolf couldn''t bring herself to move until her resolve was settled.

    Damn it! There was no time for overthinking things! Lien needed to follow her instincts in times like that, as she usually did.

    Lien let her body do its own thing. She stood up and dashed towards the Human! Thankfully, Stella was too slow for her, being easily intercepted.

    The Wolf spread her arms to block Stella''s passage. Judging by the breeze hitting her back, Lien assumed they were near the exit. That was close.

    "W-What are you doing?" Stella''s stuttering showed how surprised she was by the gesture.

    "Hey, I know you''re a Human and all, but! There''s no way you will go outside in this cold! You have almost no fur!" Her voice didn''t carry much conviction, but she was trying.

    Stella sighed. "Look, I appreciate what you''re doing, but-"

    Lien became quite frustrated at the Human stubbornness. "No ''buts''!" Now, her voice carried a lot more conviction. "Stop being a fool and stay here! It''s the least I can do for-"

    Something clicked inside Lien''s mind. Of course! She saved Stella''s life and vice-versa. That meant...

    "Look," She pointed her left finger towards Stella, only to accidentally poke her nose. The Human let out an "Ouch!".

    The Wolf apologized. "Sorry!" Then she put her paws on her hips. "What I was going to say is, in Wolf culture, when someone saves you, and you save this someone in return, that makes you part of a pack!"

    Stella did not respond. Of course, the Human would be very confused. Stupid Lien!

    Then the Wolf elaborated. "When two individuals are part of a pack, it is their sacred duty to not abandon each other, no matter what!" She shook her left index finger from side to side.

    She waited for Stella to say something. However, she only heard... sobbing? And the Wolf smelled more tears. Did she do something wrong?

    After a solid minute, Stella responded. "T-Thank you." She became silent for a few more seconds, then cleared her throat. "Well, since we''re a pack now, it is my sacred duty to escort you back home. Pantsti, if I''m not mistaken?"

    That made Lien very excited. She nodded. "Yes! I think we can get there by tomorrow. My mom..." Just thinking about her made her deflate. "Will ground me so hard..."

    Stella started chuckling. Lien found the sound of her laugh quite pleasant, actually. The Wolf questioned why she was so afraid in the first place. That Human was just a girl, though it might be easier for her to ignore that due to her blindness.

    And so, the Wolf joined in the laughter. A beautiful moment, only interrupted by an intense smell.

    Even the Human knew what the source of the smell was.

    "Fuck! The fish!" She went running back to the bonfire.

    Lien''s heart accelerated. "My dinner!" Then she ran along with Stella.

    <hr>

    Leppal��ei:

    The night in the Ganvi Woods was the perfect time for hunting. The subtle light of the moon, the unsettling whispers that could be heard sometimes, and, of course, who arrived to hunt amidst the nightly darkness.

    Not even the nocturnal Monoke expected such an intimidating beast to get out of his lair, shown by them fleeing in sight when Leppal��ei''s steps could be felt from miles away.

    The Ogre patriarch enjoyed the fear and respect the ones who lived under his turf felt. He thought about going outside more times, just in case they forgot who commanded this section of Sayama.

    While he basked in this superb feeling, something else took the attention of his nose. It was quite a strong smell, and he already identified the source.

    Fish. A very burned one, at that. Someone had really fucked up their cooking. It could have been St��fur and J��la since the Cat loved some fish, or...

    Maybe it was those girls his son wouldn''t shut up about. In any case, it was a win.

    Leppal��ei gave a devilish grin. Coupled with the row of sharp teeth, it could make most Monoke paralyzed in fear. Then he turned his head to a random spot in the woods and whistled.

    From that spot, his twelve children came running from the bushes, all with the same grin. Truth be told, they were all more interested in capturing the girls.

    Taking the lead was his oldest son, Ketkr��kur, wielding his trusty meat hook with pride.

    Leppal��ei pointed towards the direction of the smell, a tiny cave, almost impossible to stop amidst the trees. "Do you smell that too?"

    All the Lads nodded eagerly except Ketkr��kur and Giljagaur, who nodded with a bit more composure.

    "There''s our lead. Go to that cave!" The giant''s voice reverberated for miles, spooking birds and avian-like Monoke. That was on purpose.

    All the twelve Lads went to investigate that cave, creating a path of destruction wherever they went.

    The problem with reaching adulthood was that an Ogre had to deal with their slowness, but with his children, it wouldn''t be a problem.

    When the Lads softened them up, he would deal the final blow.

 Chapter 8 - Hooked on Revenge!

    Stella:

    "You know what? It could taste worse."

    Stella and Lien were eating their fish, mostly burned to a crisp. However, neither the Human nor the Wolf minded that much. In the former''s case, she was used to eating much worse stuff in her most unlucky days.

    The Wolf ate her half of the fish like a wild animal, bones and all. If someone saw her at that moment, they would think that Lien was an animal that someone put clothes on. Stella didn''t mind at that point, getting accustomed to her weird quirks and wild personality. It felt like having a pet dog beside her.

    Except the term "pet" was pretty uncomfortable when referring to a sentient being.

    Regardless, the Human girl was glad the wall between them crumbled. They were now sitting close to each other, though not as close as their conversation by the river. She had to admit that the Monoke grew on her. Lien was honest and straightforward, all hallmarks of a great person in her book.

    Besides, she was disgustingly adorable when she burped after gobbling down her dinner in a few minutes. Stella wasn''t a lady by any means, but that was beyond her scope. She ate her half carefully so as not to choke on any bones.

    Two girls near the fire amidst the darkness. That was the perfect time for some spooky monster stories.

    Speaking of which, Lien had mentioned some stories about Humans, hadn''t she? Stella''s curiosity piqued.

    While probably not an adequate subject to touch, the Human couldn''t help herself. Her curiosity was a problematic trait, putting her in trouble multiple times. But there were some things that someone couldn''t change about themself.

    "So... What are those stories of Humans about?" She asked before taking another bite.

    The Wolf was a bit slow after having her meal but eventually answered. "There''s a lot of those! For example, one that says your people steal the clothes that we don''t fold or leave them on the floor." She started counting them with her fingers. "Another about spoiling our food if we play with it, and another about you replacing our toys with rocks if we don''t do well in classes."

    Stella was disappointed. There was more than that, for sure. Lien wouldn''t be so afraid of her for silly children''s stories like that, would she?

    "That''s it? Sounds like a bunch of dumb tales to make children behave." Stella leaned her body against the cave wall with her hands behind her head.

    Lien scratched her chin. "Well, there is another one. A scarier one."

    The Human leaned closer to her. "Go on."

    The Wolf lifted her head, facing the ceiling, and then she crossed her arms and legs. "The adults warn us about going outside Sayama. They say if any Monoke does that, the Humans snatch us, and we disappear forever."

    Stella''s eyes widened. Now THAT was a scary tale.

    The Human didn''t want to express her excitement. "Scary." Then she shuffled closer to the Wolf. "Want to hear something funny? We humans have some stories like that, but the monsters they tell us are similar to you and your kind."

    The Wolf then faced Stella. "Really?"

    "Honest!" The girl''s voice muffled with another chunk of fish in her mouth. Then she swallowed it. "Someone like you or the Lads would do a terrific job in terrorizing the kids back home. Nah, even the adults!"

    The Wolf lies down on the hard, stony floor. It wasn''t comfortable, but she didn''t seem to mind. "I don''t get it."

    Stella chuckled in response. She thought about making a joke about her blindness, but she then thought that their relationship wasn''t close enough for that. Speaking of that, were they even friends? What does being part of a "pack" really entail? She didn''t have the energy to think deeply about that.

    The girl focused on her meal. Separating the meat from the bones was annoying, but Stella pushed through until she finally ate it all. She gathered the bones and tossed them in a dark corner of the cave.

    Now, the two girls prepared to sleep on the cave''s hard floor. The Human rested her head on her backpack. "Any thoughts on the fish?" She asked.

    Lien answered. "Eh, it was alright." She huffed. "Man, I would kill for some venison."

    "If you girls want some meat!" That voice wasn''t from either of them. It came from the darkness.

    The girls quickly got to their feet when they heard the strange voice. Stella''s heart pounded, and her brain was on high alert. She looked at the black void that separated them and the exit, expecting the worst.

    Her worries entered critical levels when a loud scraping sound could be heard, along with sparks coming out of the rock walls.

    The sparks came closer to them with each passing second. Lien unsheathed her claws and bared her teeth while Stella grabbed a couple of rocks from her bag and put her lighter in her pocket.

    Finally, after an agonizing ten seconds, the source of all this suspense could be seen by the bonfire''s light. It was that Ogre with the hook, the short one''s brother. Stella... forgot his name.

    "I can hook you up." He spoke with a stupid grin on his face.

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    "The fuck do you want!?" Stella readied to throw a rock at any sudden movement of his, though she knew how ineffective that would be. "Here for payback?"

    "Ya could say that..." He fidgeted with his weapon. "I''m a little cranky for that bullshit you pulled at me." He pointed his hook at the Wolf.

    Stella''s hand clenched around the rock so much it hurt. "Fuck off, Captain Hook! Two-on-one, you don''t stand a chance!"

    "Stella..." Lien spoke softly, slightly breaking at times. That was when Stella knew she had spoken too soon.

    The Ogre put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. On cue, eleven Ogres like him had come out of the shadows. That confirmed it, Stella had fucked up.

    There were some colorful characters in the bunch. Three of them had their tongues hanging out of their mouth, one had thick spectacles, another had wooden legs, and there was one Lad that was an absolute unit! Damn, that dude was buff! The rest of them had nothing of note.

    Seeing all these Ogres going to beat the shit out of them made Stella''s demeanor go 180��. "H-Hey man... We can sort this out... Is there anything we can do for you?"

    The Ogre scrunched his face, and his eyes wandered elsewhere as if he was considering it. "Well, there''s something I want from you..." Then he pointed his hook at Stella. "Beating you to a pulp."

    The Human gulped. That was it.

    He shouted. "Skyr! Bj��gna! Get her!" Two Ogres ran in Stella''s direction.

    Lien got in their way, but then one of the Lads tossed some... wax at her? A wax with a horrendous smell. If Stella''s senses got crazy when smelling that, imagine Lien...

    The poor Wolf writhed in agony, incapacitating her. Now the Ogres had a free pass to get the Human.

    Stella started tossing two rocks at them, one on each. They hit the targets, but they were more resilient than she expected. Their angry faces and bleeding noses were not a good sign.

    The two charged at the Human, hands ready to grab her. She sidestepped, and the Ogres bumped at each other. Thank goodness they were idiots!

    While the Lads argued with each other, Stella used this perfect window for a counterattack. Judging by their actions, they were clearly underestimating her. A grave mistake.

    Assuming some things about Ogre anatomy, Stella kicked one of Lads'' groin! Surprisingly, it worked! The affected Ogre put his hands over the place of impact and groveled.

    The other one went for a punch, but Stella managed to dodge the blow by crouching. The first and finishing blow from the girl was a punch on the strawberry basket this time. A move she learned from a fighting game. She regretted not carrying a pair of sunglasses with her.

    Lien had taken off the wax from her by now, but she was still affected by the unholy smell, much to Stella''s dismay.

    The Ogre with the hook looked at his two groveling brothers, then facepalmed and sighed. "I hate you all sometimes."

    The buff one interjected. "Ket, let me deal with her."

    "Nah." He walked towards the Human. "This one is mine." He hissed.

    The Ogre dashed towards the Human, hook in hand! When he got in range, he swung his hook multiple times. However, Stella managed to dodge every single swing.

    This was not Stella''s first rodeo with melee weapons. She survived against some dangerous folks with knives her age or older. After her first encounter with... Kevin? What mattered was, after their last bout, she got a good feel of the Ogre''s attack patterns.

    However, it was hard to counterattack that guy. She tried to throw a punch here and there, but he blocked every single one! He was the real deal.

    Things took a turn for the worse when his hook scraped against her right arm, forming a superficial cut. She was bleeding, though it was a negligible amount. She went through worse.

    "Gotta hand it to ya, freak!" The Ogre spoke with a smirk. "You''re a lot tougher than I expected." He made some admittedly cool tricks with his hook, twirling it around his finger while not breaking eye contact with Stella for a second.

    That son of a bitch was taunting her...

    Stella cursed her own weakness. Without Lien, she was useless. The Human wasn''t strong enough, maybe not fast enough as well. She had to find some weakness in this guy.

    Maybe his clothes, his weapon, his shoes? Nah, she couldn''t think of anything. And that guy just kept twirling his hook while giving that stupid cocky expression! She held back the urge to blindly lunge at him.

    She analyzed him further. His hat? His beard?

    Wait... That could be it.

    Stella suddenly fled from near the Ogre, approaching the bonfire. The Lad pursued her.

    These two kept running around the fire for about ten seconds. The Ogre had the advantage in speed, and it didn''t take long to catch the girl.

    But that was what Stella wanted.

    When the Ogre grabbed her by the left shoulder and spun her around, the Human used this opening to use her lighter to create a flame that spread to his beard. At first, the Lad was surprised, which allowed Stella to free herself with a well-placed fist in his nose.

    The Lad slightly reeled and hissed in pain but recovered quickly. When Stella went to see his beard, it was... unharmed? Her eyes widened, and her heart started beating faster when the realization that all her efforts were useless settled in.

    The Ogre laughed loudly at Stella''s tactic. "Are ya stupid? Ogres are immune to fire and heat! Seriously, where the hell did ya come from?!"

    There was no escape, then. Stella had no other tactics to pull, only to face that guy head-on. She clenched her fists, planted her feet steady on the ground, and made a fighting pose. The girl controlled her breathing to not let that asshole see any shred of fear.

    The Lad''s eyes widened. Apparently, Stella managed to take him by surprise. But after that, he chuckled. "Alright, kiddo!" He prepared for another swing. "Time to-"

    His attack got interrupted by Lien, snatching his hook with her mouth! The Wolf finally recovered from the stink attack and was back in action! She dragged the Lad around the fire for a few seconds until he finally let go of his weapon.

    The Ogre was visibly stunned, grunting in pain from his skin scraping against the jagged stone floor. Stella ran towards him and saw that his face had superficial cuts on his forehead and cheeks. He was very resilient.

    Before he could wake up, his face was met with Stella''s boot crashing upon him! His nose was now bleeding, and he was unconscious. Her feet hurt a little, but it felt so satisfying.

    This was just a small victory, though. Because there were now eight angry Ogres ready to tear them apart. And they didn''t appear likely to make the same mistake as the last three Lads.

    Thankfully, Lien was there by her side. Her claws and teeth were ready for anyone. However, that might not mean much when the bigger Lad took the lead on the upcoming assault.

    "Enough of that shit!" He clashed his fist and his open palm. "We''ll teach ya a fucking lesson!" The rest of the Lads cried for battle, ready to pound the girls to the ground.

    Now it was eight-on-two. Not a great scenario, but if Stella was going to receive a beating, they would have to earn it first!

    She positioned herself into her fighting stance again until Lien''s voice caught her attention.

    "Stella," Lien whispered.

    "What?" Stella whispered back.

    "Please take care of the one that has the stinky stuff. I can smell it from here."

    "Where is he?" Stella asked.

    Lien didn''t respond for a second, then answered. "I think... that guy on the far left."

    She could see him, an Ogre with glasses, though not as thick as the other one.

    Stella nodded. "I can take care of him. Can you keep up with the rest?"

    Before the Wolf could answer, the buff Ogre shouted. "If ya ain''t gonna attack, then we will!" He looked at his brothers and then pointed at the girls. "ATTACK!"

    The full force of the Lads came crashing upon them. It was an intimidating scene, but Stella had her sights on her target. She trusted that her friend had what it took to hold off these bullies.

    The Human girl gave a war cry and dashed toward battle!

 Chapter 9 - The Yule Lads!

    Stella entered the biggest battle of her life.

    She was clashing against three Lads, the skinny ones with their tongues hanging off their mouth. They blocked her from catching the one Lien told her to take out of the picture, the one carrying the stinky weapons.

    The girl didn''t have the time to look behind her to see how Lien was doing. She had to admit it was agonizing, but she had to focus on these bozos.

    And bozos they were. They had no coordination in battle, being worse brawlers than the punks she held against in Namadi''s slums. They went in each other''s way, swinging their fists wildly in a pathetic attempt to attack her. There were many windows for counterattacks.

    There was one Lad in front of Stella and one on each side. She knocked the one before her down on the ground with an uppercut at his chin, the one in her right with an elbow at his nose, and the last with a strong headbutt at his forehead. Stella was now free to eliminate her target.

    Or so she thought. Something got a firm grip on her left leg. When she looked down, it was... a tongue?

    Stella looked in horror. "What the f-"

    Another tongue wrapped around her left arm from the Ogre she uppercut. The third wrapped his around Stella''s right arm. Almost all of her limbs were trapped by these disgusting appendages.

    She tried to pull her arms and left leg, but the Ogres pulled in the opposite direction with equal strength. The grip of these tongues was surprisingly tight. What the hell did Stella put herself into?

    She pushed her body to the brink to not let the Lads get the advantage in this bizarre tug-of-war, and then her eyes glimpsed Lien. The Wolf was fighting the buff Ogre and three of his brothers. The one she was tasked to take out of the picture had pulled a small bottle with some green substance inside, waiting far from the fight for the right opportunity. She was running out of time.

    Stella was getting more desperate by the second. If only she was not trapped in these freakish bounds made of muscle...

    Wait a second...

    Stella''s mind thought of a desperate idea, but it could work, just like with the giant Cat. She sank her teeth deep into the tongue that was coiled around her left arm. The Ogre cried in pain and immediately recoiled his appendage.

    The girl''s eyes widened. It worked! But there was no time to waste! She bit the tongue in her right arm, and it also worked. Now for the one in her leg...

    She slammed her right fist into the thick muscle! While not as effective as a bite, after a few swings, the third Ogre relented. Now free from her disgusting bindings, she let the three Lads tend to their tongues. There was no time to finish them.

    The Lad with the bottle approached Lien''s battle with his four brothers with a devious grin. However, his twisted pleasure was interrupted by Stella, who slammed him against the rocky wall! He screeched in pain, which alerted his four brothers, but thankfully, Lien distracted them by making the big one trip by a foot sweep.

    Stella took the opportunity to put her right hand around the Ogre''s neck and choke him. She clenched her teeth, her eyebrows furrowed, and her muscles were pushed to their limits to keep her target at bay.

    The Lad tried to scream, to wrestle his way out, but he was too weak to deal any meaningful damage to the girl, and the only sound that came out of his mouth could barely be classified as such. The girl wanted to not look at him while she did that, but she needed to know when to stop.

    When his face turned blue, the Lad gave up on his grip on the bottle. Of course, Stella loosened her grip on the Ogre''s neck immediately, put the tiny bottle in her pocket, and gently laid him on the ground. He had lost consciousness by now.

    The Human looked at the fallen Ogre with a guilty expression, and her heart sank. She hated doing this, no matter how much she tried to convince herself that it was necessary for her survival.

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    Stella never went so far as to take someone''s life, but... That was dangerously close. Her heart accelerated, and her wrists hurt from all the effort from these last minutes.

    In contrast, Lien had just knocked down the three Ogres that supported the buff Lad, and she didn''t look slightly fazed! However, the big one became a lot more pissed at the canine.

    "Alright, poochie! Time to squash ya!" He clasped his hands together and swung his arms upwards, ready to do a double axe-handle.

    Stella''s regret and pain took second fiddle to her determination to help her Wolf friend. She ran behind him and surprised the Lad with a kick in the ballsack! Fighting male opponents was so easy, sometimes.

    The Ogre cried, kneeled, and writhed in pain. "You bitch! Is this the only move you know?!" His voice became slightly more high-pitched.

    "I did much more to turn your brothers into a pile of meat loaves!" Stella put her right hand on her hip while giving an arrogant smirk at him.

    The Lad slowly looked behind him. He was horrified, seeing his unconscious brother and the other three pathetically whimpering in pain and treating their tongues as a pet.

    "H-How...?" He weakly asked.

    Unfortunately, he never got an answer. Because Lien started to inhale all the air she could hold in her lungs, then exhaled a powerful gust of wind! The Ogre flew an impressive distance, all the way to near the exit.

    Stella went from cocky to horrified in mere seconds. Her eyes widened so much they threatened to escape their sockets, and she stared at the Wolf unblinkingly.

    "Lien! What the hell was that!?" She frantically gestured with her arms and hands.

    Lien cleaned her left ear with one of her fingers. "What? It was simple air magic, right?"

    "Magic?!" Stella''s jaw dropped.

    Monster-like beings were one thing, but magic?! The girl was considering the hypothesis of all that being some coma dream. Or drugs.

    The Wolf tilted her head. "Humans don''t have Saniya?" She asked like she hadn''t said a completely alien word to the Human.

    Stella sighed, then put her hands on her face. "I don''t even know what that word means..."

    "Oh!" The Wolf fidgeted her fingers. "Okay, so it''s like energy that flows through every living thing." She scrunched her snout and scratched her head. "Then there''s something about your body and... soul?"

    Stella moved some fingers so her left eye could peek through. "You don''t know either, do you?"

    Lien shook her head. "Nah."

    The girls'' attention suddenly shifted when they heard grunts from both sides. It was the two Ogres that Stella struck their nuts and the three with the big-ass tongues.

    They were angry, but they were visibly tired as well.

    Stella smirked. "What''s your pick? Three or two?"

    Lien stretched her neck. "I can take whoever you choose for me."

    The Human sighed with relief. "I''ll take the duo, then." She did not long to fight the Lickitung trio again.

    Stella dashed towards the two Ogres. They were blocking their crotches with their hands, which the girl found amusing. However, they were no match for the weapon created by their brother. The Human tossed the bottle at them, breaking into one''s head and releasing the substance. Its repugnant odor effortlessly overwhelmed the Lads, just like Lien. Even Stella was immediately repelled by it.

    She went towards Lien to see how she was doing. Unsurprisingly, she was making a fool out of the trio. The Wolf grabbed one''s tongue with her paws and spun her body multiple times until she gained enough momentum. The Lad became a wrecking ball against his brothers, launched by the furry Monoke at them. The three were knocked out cold.

    Stella clapped at Lien''s performance. "That. Was. Badass!"

    Lien faced the girl. "I don''t know what my ass has to do with that, but that''s not important. We should really get going!"

    Stella''s eyes wandered through the fallen Lads, and then she sighed. "Yeah..." She gently caressed her knuckles, which were hurting from all that action. "This might''ve been the toughest fight I ever had."

    Weirdly, amidst all that tension and regret, in the case of the Ogre who was strangled, Stella felt something else... She felt... excitement. The thrill of an all-out brawl.

    Her heart pounding, sweat trickling from her face, and her blood flowing hot were all sensations she should have hated, but... she didn''t.

    And after seeing Lien fight, she knew... The Wolf felt the same thing.

    That hunch solidified when the Monoke shrugged in response to Stella''s remark. "Eh, I had worse."

    The girls took two minutes to take a breather and rest. However, they needed to flee sooner or later. Stella went to grab her backpack until...

    "Hey! Lads!" A weird voice came out of the shadows, along with footsteps sounds. Stella and Lien both went to their fighting stances to face this new threat. Was it another Lad?

    Indeed it was. A weird one, at that. The Ogre had this huge nose, much larger than his fellow Ogres. He didn''t seem to be much of a fighter, either.

    "Father is here! Have you caught the-" The Lad clutched his massive nose with his two hands. "What the hell?! Ya told me you wouldn''t-" He stopped talking when he noticed all of his brothers lying on the ground like piles of useless flesh.

    He noticed the two girls standing amidst the fallen Ogres. Fear was etched into the Lad''s features.

    "H-Hey..." He was shaking. "How ''bout we arrange a d-"

    Lien suddenly howled at the Ogre. He cried in desperation, hilariously.

    The Wolf chased the Lad on all fours. He never stood a chance and got his face slammed on the floor.

    Stella walked towards her companion, backpack on her back. "So there''s that."

    The Wolf nodded. "Yep!"

    The girls remained in silence for a few seconds. Until Stella remembered something important.

    "Wait, what did he say about his dad?"

 Chapter 10 - The Giant.

    "Why is this motherfucker so big?!"

    Stella whispered to her Wolf companion. She swore her heart momentarily stopped when she glimpsed at what awaited them outside the cavern.

    They backed down immediately for obvious reasons. There was an Ogre, so tall that he made the buff Lad look like a complete chump. Thankfully, he was sitting on the ground with his arms and legs crossed and his eyes closed. The Human hoped he was taking a nap.

    Lien cupped her chin. "This is bad. Leppal��ei himself came to get us."

    Stella clutched her scalp with her hands, quietly panicking. "Do you know that guy?" Then her eyes widened. She remembered Lien''s words earlier. "Don''t tell me, is he-"

    "The Lads'' father? Yes." Lien answered before Stella could finish.

    Stella slowly curled herself into a ball. "Don''t tell me their mom is also that big."

    Lien also sat on the floor, face-to-face with the Human. "Oh, she is! Fun fact: she is also called ''the Giant Witch''!"

    Stella recoiled her head between her knees, groaning. "Great. Big AND magical. What better combination, amirite?" She spoke sarcastically.

    Lien didn''t seem to pick up on the sarcasm, though. "Yup! I wish I was that tall... At least, J��lak?tturinn-sized."

    The Human had the urge to ugly stare at her but decided to drop that. "What''s our plan? These guys won''t stay down forever." She pointed her right thumb at the flickering fire and the twelve unconscious Ogres near it.

    Lien tapped her left foot relentlessly while seemingly in thought. "You said he was sleeping, right?"

    "Yeah?" Stella spoke in a monotone.

    The Wolf moved her head slightly upwards. Her snout was unknowingly pointing at the girl''s forehead. "So... we sneak away! Simple!"

    Stella stared at her companion for a solid twenty seconds in disbelief. That was her plan?! However, the girl had no right to be worked up over this since she was the one who had forgotten to bring food on her journey in the most pathetic way possible.

    Besides, what other option did they truly have? Her brain was too sleep-deprived to think of a better solution, anyway.

    The girl was exhausted, both mentally and physically. She just wanted to get this over with.

    Stella sighed. "Sure, why not?" Then she got her feet, followed by Lien.

    The two girls took slow steps toward the cave exit. Stella''s heart pounded with the thought of such a monster waking and spotting them. Lien followed the stealthy approach perfectly, even though that contradicted everything the Human had seen of her before.

    Finally, they were outside. Nighttime in these woods was creepy for sure, but... oddly alluring. A cold breeze was the first thing to greet the girls, but Stella didn''t mind it.

    Everything from the barely visible trees and the black void amidst them was terrifying. However, when Stella looked at the sky, her fear slowly dissolved, or at least most of it.

    In the slums of Namadi, the night was deadly. Any fool that dared walk through the streets at that time was practically assigning their obituary. Unfortunately, Stella did not have a ceiling to sleep below most of the time, so she had to brave through the dark.

    In desperate times like these, the girl climbed the highest building she could and slept with the company of the night sky. Even with the occasional screams, gunshots, and police sirens that echoed through the neighborhood, the stars comforted her through these tense moments.

    That was why she picked the name "Stella" for herself. Much more beautiful than... whatever name her parents chose for her. Selfish bastards wanted nothing to do with her, so she would gladly sever any connection she ever had with them.

    Sadly, the sparkling dots in the black sky filled the parental role in her life much more effectively than any other adult figure she crossed paths with. They were always there and never disappointed the girl. The moon was always a welcome addition, especially when it was perfectly round.

    In fact, that night was a full moon! This sure was Stella''s lucky day!

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    Except that there was something that she was forgetting. What was it? Hmmm...

    Oh! That''s right! The freaking Ogre!

    Stella''s reminiscing ended when her eyes returned to the elephant in the room. In that case, in the open field. The giant was almost identical to his offspring, only looking even older and suffering the fate of half the masculine population, baldness.

    Oh, and he had no shoes or hat. Paramount details, for sure.

    Lien took the lead in their sneaking, gesturing her left hand for Stella to follow her to their right.

    The girls carefully stepped with the intent of making no noise at all.

    One step, two steps, three-

    Sniff!

    They froze. Stella''s heart somehow started to pound even faster. The Human slowly turned her face towards the Ogre, and she saw his nose sniffing and scrunching. Then her face turned into an expression of pure terror when huge black, beady eyes opened to greet them.

    The giant stared at them, visibly confused. However, his confusion didn''t take long to be replaced by fury. "You... How did ya go through my boys?" He snarled, baring his sharp teeth, though there was a noticeable lack of them compared to the Lads.

    Leppal��ei got to his feet and put on a menacing scowl. "What the hell are you?" He hissed, pointing at Stella.

    The girl was at a loss for words. Every time she fought these Ogres, she would think that nothing could get worse, and yet she was proven wrong multiple times. And now there was a colossal monster that could easily swallow her whole, ready to turn her into a red stain on the dirt.

    On the bright side, Stella didn''t need to answer Leppal��ei''s question because his eyes widened in realization when he leaned closer to her. The bad news was the devilish smile that graced his lips afterward.

    "A Human..." His grin just widened by the second. "What a pleasant surprise..." He chuckled while cracking his knuckles. "Gryla will forgive me after bringing you to dinner..."

    The Ogre made one step, which created a weak tremor on the ground. Then another.

    Stella''s survival instincts flared inside her mind, and she bolted towards the woods. However, her balance became more unstable when the tremors became little earthquakes, probably because the giant began to run.

    "Stella!" Lien shouted. But the Human was too terrified to look back, only forward.

    She knew that if that guy caught her, that would be it for real. Stella''s life would amount to nothing at the end of the day, only a victim of a bloodthirsty monster.

    She was almost there! The trees would give her plenty of room to hide!

    Just one more-

    Stella''s blood ran cold when an unknown force pushed her. At that moment, it felt like she went unconscious for a few seconds. When she regained her senses, she was in the middle of the dense woods, though she could still see the giant in the distance. The Human was about to flee but stopped when she saw who the giant had in his hands.

    "LIEN!" She screamed. She was too far away to see how the Wolf was faring, but she couldn''t be comfortable.

    Thankfully, Lien''s voice could be heard from the distance. "Go without me! Go to the Dragon''s Guard! They''ll know what to do!"

    Stella''s mind was a boiling mess at that moment. Dragon''s Guard? What about her companion? Would she have to... leave her behind?

    No... That didn''t feel right! After everything the Wolf did for her, that would be the end of their partnership? Or friendship? Who knows!

    She could hear the giant''s cries of pain. "Ouch! You stupid mutt! Stay still!" Lien was still fighting, all to give her a chance to escape.

    Stella had no choice but to go further into the woods.

    She ran away.

    Again.

    After running for a minute, Stella stopped and rested against a tree, curled herself into a ball, and then took deep breaths. Her heart was threatening to burst, and she was sweating bullets. She needed to calm down at once.

    After the shock subsided, another feeling came to replace it. A mixture of feelings, to be exact. The sadness of leaving Lien behind and leaving her to be at the mercy of that disgusting creature, combined with the anger she felt at being such a cowardly, pathetic person. But not only that...

    She realized Lien had to save her skin by putting herself into the giant''s grip because of her knee-jerk reaction. If the Human thought for a second back there and used the same strategy they used with J��lak?tturinn, they would probably be fine.

    Stella was responsible for Lien''s capture.

    That realization broke Stella into tears. The girl hadn''t cried this much in ages! Sure, she shed a few tears here and there, but... This time? She was desperate, begging for forgiveness from someone who wasn''t even there.

    As fitting for the situation, only the sheer nightly darkness was left to keep her company. There were no stars or moon to see.

    "I''m sorry... I''m so sorry..." She whispered between sobs. Her body was shaking so much that she couldn''t move another muscle.

    After crying for about five minutes, she started to rationalize her situation. She remembered what Lien said to her. She told her to call the Dragon''s Guard.

    The problem was... What the hell was a "Dragon''s Guard"? Judging by the name, maybe it was Sayama''s law enforcement? Like cops? The thought didn''t make Stella very confident of that plan.

    However... It was the only plan.

    Slowly but surely, Stella went back on her feet. The thought of Lien getting hurt or... you know... Made the girl lose some of the strength in her legs, and she almost fell on her butt. However, she eventually managed to retain some semblance of normalcy.

    Once again, she had to trust that Lien was fine. Even though it was a tall order at that moment.

    One step, two steps... Stella walked through the dark forest, still apprehensive. Her thoughts were not on how the woods were deceptive or on how a creature of the night could have the opportunity to take her life, but they were on how her Wolf friend was faring.

    Her attention was scattered, feeling like a zombie rather than a living, breathing person. That changed when she bumped into something, which made her focus back on reality.

    The girl looked at whatever she bumped into, but... it was... nothing?

    She stretched her right arm, and her hand touched something... fluffy? Soft, like petting a cat.

    A... cat...

    She stumbled back. The black "wall" started to shift into the darkness, almost impossible to notice.

    However, after the "wall" grew big, yellow eyes. It was pretty clear what it was...

    A familiar, high-pitched laughter could be heard from behind her.

    "I got ya now! You disgusting freak!"

 Chapter 11 - Fear and Drama!

    "I got ya now! You disgusting freak!"

    St��fur could barely be seen through the darkness, but Stella recognized his insufferable voice anytime. It almost could shake the girl''s fear, but you know... giant Cat.

    Speaking of, J��lak?tturinn stood on his four legs, just as intimidating as last time. However, Stella also found the Cat... kinda cute. Colossal as he was, it was still a fluffy feline at the end of the day.

    Such a shame that the giant creature looked at her with a displeased expression. Of course, the Cat would hold a grudge for that whole "golden shower" stunt.

    The weirdest aspect about him, besides his size, was his expressiveness. J��la did not emote like a regular cat, instead operating in some cartoon logic. His eyes were narrowed, and his "eyebrows" were furrowed.

    So he was a Monoke, too. Did that mean that he was sentient? Why didn''t he speak? So many questions that made Stella momentarily forget about the gravity of the situation she was in.

    St��fur continued giggling, much to the Human''s discomfort. "Can''t do shit without your guide dog, can ya?!"

    Even though it was some stupid taunt, it held some truth. Stella only survived this far because of Lien. Even if she had what it took to knock Ketkr��kur down back then, by the time the black Cat would enter the picture...

    And now her mind went back towards the Wolf, the one she left behind, who was probably dead because of her cowardice.

    "Hey! Where''s that annoying pup?!" St��fur''s question caught Stella by surprise. It prevented her from breaking into yet another pathetic display of tears.

    Stella straightened her posture and clenched her fists. She looked at the ground, not bearing to look at anyone in the eye.

    "S-She..." She used all of her mental fortitude to not let her sadness drip into her voice. "Your father got her."

    St��fur laughed maniacally. Stella''s fists clenched so hard that her nails threatened to tear the skin of her palms. She had half a mind to turn around and turn that son of a bitch''s face until it became a bloody mess!

    Until...

    "Didn''t know father had it in him! That man is too lazy to capture someone by himself!"

    Capture... Not kill...

    Now that she thought about it, Lien did not sound as desperate as one would be when facing certain death, even if she had an unusually laid-back approach to things.

    Though that giant dude definitely had some killing intent towards Stella. However, that could be because she was a Human, and her people were feared by these creatures for some reason.

    Wait a minute...

    "Alright, J��la! Get ''er!" The chubby Ogre commanded.

    The Cat took his first steps towards her. However, he froze with the sudden laughter coming from Stella. The giant Monoke stared at her with his widened yellow eyes as if he were in the presence of a crazy person.

    "W-What the hell is the deal with ya!?" St��fur asked. The girl could not see him, but she could taste the apprehension in his voice.

    Perfect...

    "Poor Ogre... You still haven''t realized what I am." Stella made her best attempt at an intimidating voice. It seemed to be working.

    Silence. Then, St��fur''s annoying voice again. "WHAT?!"

    Stella''s eardrums almost broke. The Cat shared the same feeling, recoiling at the sound attack.

    However, Stella continued her villainous speech. "Have you not realized I am unlike any Monoke you''ve ever seen?"

    St��fur''s voice tried to come across as courageous but failed miserably. "Y-Yeah! So what?!"

    Stella resumed her supervillain laugh, opened her arms wide, and looked upwards. "I am the creature that comes from the outside world!" She declared her true nature by shouting at the top of her lungs. "I am the one who takes the clothes you forget to keep tidy! Who steals your toys and replaces them with rocks!"

    The girl had to try very hard to not break character while saying all these silly things with such a tone. But she pushed through the silliness and delivered her evil monologue!

    St��fur''s voice was stripped of any fake bravado. "Wait! Does that mean..."

    Stella slowly turned towards the Lad with a devilish grin. Now, she could see St��fur''s terror in more detail, though most of it was obscured still.

    The girl didn''t say anything, waiting for the Ogre to squirm just a little bit more. His voice cracked into a pathetic sob. "Y-You''re a-"

    "YES!" Stella cried, making a dramatic gesture with her arms stretched. The stubby Lad stumbled back by the jumpscare and fell on his butt.

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    The girl made slow steps towards him, who frantically retreated until he hit the back of his head on a tree trunk.

    St��fur looked at her with such terror. His eyes were silently pleading for mercy. Stella loved that. She loved seeing this pathetic bully who gave her such problems with his mocking laughter squirm!

    The girl slowly spoke the last blow in a serene tone. "I... Am..."

    She paused to gaze at St��fur''s eyes, terrified with anticipation.

    "A HUMAN!" Her face twisted into a maniacal smile. The Ogre screamed like a scared toddler. His eyes widened to a comical degree, and Stella swore she could see some tears falling from them.

    He ran past her and went to the Cat! At that moment, Stella broke her facade. Did she overdo it? Was J��la going to deal with her for good?

    "J��la! Get the hell outta here!" St��fur cried while climbing the Cat''s head.

    To Stella''s relief, the Cat obliged and led the chubby Lad far away. When they were out of sight, the Human fell to her knees. She had done it! She managed to survive yet another brush with death with only words!

    After that, she needed a breather. A long one!

    She walked a bit further to hide under a fallen, rotten trunk. It was a pretty gross hiding place and very susceptible to diseases. However, it was what she could get, so she took it in stride.

    After two minutes of gathering a sliver of courage and energy, Stella was back on track! Knowing that Lien was not in a life-or-death situation did wonders for her motivation. Of course, she still loathed herself for putting the Monoke in that situation, but she could make it up to her!

    She could have walked faster if not for the problem of the blinding darkness that spread through her surroundings.

    She spread her arms carefully to feel the trees, bushes, and rocks to traverse through them. A glimmer of hope came when the girl could hear the sound of the river.

    It was... kinda loud, actually. Earlier, the Human was right next to it, and it was a lot quieter than now.

    After one more minute of walking, she saw glimpses of the river through the shadowy flora. However, Stella stopped and hid behind a tree when she saw a strange figure on the body of water.

    At a distance, it looked a whole lot like a snake, a freaking enormous one at that. Regardless of what it was, it scared her a little.

    She thought about going the same route Lien wanted them to take, but it was too risky. She needed a faster way to escape the Ogres'' territory. And that might be going to the mushroom forest on the other side of the river.

    That snake-like creature was scary, but Stella was sick and tired of being afraid. Because of that, Lien was captured by those bastards. If she had to go through whatever that Monoke was, she would gladly do it!

    The Human took a deep breath and then marched towards the river. No Monoke would make her diverge from her mission!

    However, as the Human got nearer, the more intimidating the river Monoke looked. She could now notice more minute details of it. Its scales had a mixture of brown, silver, and black coloration, with a pattern of circular white spots down its spine. A dark mane also followed the same path as the spots.

    A snake with fur? Sure, why not?

    The river raged with an intensity that Stella had not expected from it. She wondered if the Monoke had anything to do with it. The problem was that it was practically impossible for the girl to reach the giant fungi in these conditions.

    Unless the "snake" helped her. It stood firm amidst the fierce current.

    Finally, Stella was close enough to the creature. Because of the loud noise of the current, the Human shouted as loud as she could to get its attention.

    "HEY! OVER HERE!" She frantically waved her hands.

    The snake thankfully heard Stella''s pleas and turned to see who called its attention. The Human was taken by surprise to see the creature''s whole appearance. It had... a fox head? Along with two arms and hands with dangerously sharp claws at the end.

    The fox snake was pouting, and its arms were crossed. It seemed to not be in a great mood. That is until her crystal-blue eyes met Stella. Her demeanor turned a lot more relaxed.

    The river even returned to its regular state. So it was the Monoke''s doing.

    A feminine voice came from the fox snake. "Oh, my! Hello there!" She waved her right arm. Stella waved back, nervous.

    The Monoke started to watch and analyze the girl in front of her from many different perspectives. She sniffed Stella once, making Lien pop into the Human''s mind again.

    She really missed her fluffy friend.

    The river creature''s face got uncomfortably close to Stella''s face, which made her give a step back. "What are you, dear? I believe I never met your species before."

    Of course, Stella already knew that Humans were not well seen by the Monoke. And though this could be useful to someone young and gullible like St��fur, this would not be ideal with the adults, like that brute that snatched Lien. But what would she say to this one?

    "I... Am..." Stella paused in the middle of explaining her identity once again. Though for a different reason. She slowly panicked as the charming blue eyes of the fox snake gazed at her with more curiosity by the second.

    Her mind searched for multiple ways to hide her true identity until a marginally solid one came to mind.

    "An Ogre!" Yeah, Ogres were kinda similar to Humans, correct? Even though they had enough differences to destroy her fake story, it could be convincing enough to someone disinformed. At least, that was what Stella hoped.

    The Monoke raised an eyebrow. "You look very odd for an Ogre, don''t you?"

    Shit! She didn''t buy it! Stella''s mind went into a frantic search for a good excuse again. That might have been something she could use.

    Think, Stella! Think!

    Her problems were solved by the river creature of all beings. "Are you sick or something?"

    Bingo!

    "Y-Yeah!" Stella hated that she stuttered, but there was no time to dwell on that. "I''m those Lads'' sister. I don''t know if you heard of them. I''m just a little sick, that''s all!"

    The Monoke frowned in response. Did she catch Stella in her lie? The Human became even more apprehensive.

    "I didn''t know those Lads had a sister! And dear me, this sickness did a number on you!" The fox snake gently lifted Stella''s chin with her finger, and then she rotated it to get a good look at her features.

    The river Monoke took her finger off her chin and then resumed her pouting for some reason. The river restarted its rough current, much to the girl''s dismay.

    What the hell happened?

    The creature turned her head away. "I prefer to not get myself involved with your family of brutes!" Great, she wasn''t a fan of them either. Pretty neat, if not for Stella''s disguise being based on them.

    Stella scratched the back of her head. "Any... particular reason for that?"

    The Monoke gasped in an overly dramatic manner. Her expression was one of pure shock, as if she just discovered her partner cheating on her or something.

    "You dare ask why I despise your entire bloodline, AFTER MY RUINED CIENTOCIQUENTEA?ERA!" She pointed her right index finger at the "Ogre" as if she did the most horrendous crime to ever be registered.

    Stella was dumbfounded. After that show of drama, the creature started to explain all the minute and delicate process of her cientociquentea?era, whatever that was.

    The girl was too shocked to even pay attention to the ranting Monoke''s words. Stella cursed her existence as the fox snake kept overwhelming her with all these names and events that she couldn''t care less about.

    She sat down and put her hands on her face. "I could have said that I was a hairless Wolf."

 Chapter 12 - Escaping the Ganvi Woods.

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    <hr>

 Chapter 13 - A New Piece on the Board.

    "Who are you...?"

    Though Stella could barely see the finer details of this superhero, she could see his shape perfectly due to the moonlight. At first glance, it looked Human, though she was already familiar with the Human-looking Ogres, that didn''t mean much.

    The figure''s loud laughter reverberated through the mushroom forest.

    "What a wonderful question!" The superhero said in his cheesy voice.

    Then he started... making a pose? His right arm was stretched to the side, his left hand was clenched, his knees were slightly bent, and his feet shifted to the left.

    What the hell was going on?

    To top it all off, the hero began giving a speech. "I spend days and nights protecting this queendom!"

    The hero changed his pose in a split second. His right fist was gloriously raised in the sky! "Defending these oppressed people from the shadows of history!"

    Then he put his left hand on his hip and pointed at Stella. "Tasked to find people like you!"

    The girl didn''t like the implications of this last sentence. Though she preferred to remain in blind optimism.

    The hero steadied his feet, and his two hands rested on his hip. "I am!"

    Just as fast as last time, he made an overly complicated pose like it was the easiest thing in the world. One foot on the ground, and the other extended behind his body. It looked like a ballet move.

    "The shining sun that keeps everyone safe!"

    Another pose. Still with one leg, but the other was recoiled this time. The hero''s right hand was clutched on his chest, and his left arm was extended upwards, like some weird Spanish dance move.

    "The moonlight that pierces through the darkness!"

    Then he started making dance routines with jumps, twirls and flips. Most of it was outside Stella''s field of view, making the girl wonder what the point of this show was.

    The mushroom''s stem bent left and right with the hero''s movements. Stella was concerned that the fungus would eventually break and fall on her.

    Finally, the hero stopped at the edge of the mushroom, standing still and resolute. The fungus was dangerously bent in the girl''s direction, similar to when someone climbs a palm tree too high.

    His cape graciously flowed in the cold breeze, and his voice cut through the nocturnal silence. "I! AM!"

    The hero was about to finish his speech when the mushroom suddenly obeyed the laws of physics, moved back in place, and threw him out of balance.

    Stella''s eyes widened when she noticed the heroic comet coming at her! He desperately flailed his arms and screamed as he was closer to the ground by the second!

    The girl jumped back, just in time to not be crushed. The hero crashed on the ground, creating a violent tremor and a thin cloud of dust, which made the Human cover her eyes.

    When the dust settled, her eyes immediately went to where the hero fell, only to start chuckling. A comically humanoid-shaped hole appeared on the site of impact.

    Stella tried to hold her chuckle, feeling a little shitty for finding amusement in the pain of others, but man... That was funny as hell.

    Her expression went 180�� when she heard a loud sigh from the hole. Followed by the hero flipping the hell outta there! He jumped from the crater to a few meters behind Stella, making her jaw drop.

    Goofy accident aside, the girl found the unaffected hero, standing high and proud with his golden cape, pretty cool.

    After five seconds of silence, the superhero cleared his throat and twirled his body until he faced the Human girl.

    Now Stella could see the hero''s outfit in detail. He wore silver armor plates on his chest, arms, shoulders, and legs. His abs and his crotch was covered in a dark blue spandex. Silver gloves and boots protected his hands and feet, and he had a golden belt with a silver buckle of a dragon head. The belt contained a bunch of tiny pockets on it, like how Batman handles his gadgets.

    The most calling detail was on his helmet. It was silver with a golden emblem similar to the belt buckle on his forehead and some golden lines around the black visor.

    Speaking of, a couple of blue dots came from the visor. They looked like eyes for the girl, and maybe that was the intention behind the design.

    But there was no time to focus on that because the hero resumed the ending of his speech. "I AM!"

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    His left leg was raised, and his right leg supported his weight. His left hand was stretched diagonally, while his right was stretched in Stella''s direction. His index finger was pointing directly at her.

    Now that Stella thought about it, it was closer to the crane stance she saw in a movie about a karate kid.

    "THE SILVER KNIGHT!" He shouted proudly.

    Stella was... unresponsive. How would she even react to this? It was so out of left field! She was until now fighting some fairytale creatures, then hours later, she found a fucking Power Ranger!

    Apparently, this knight was waiting for a reaction from her. When it dawned on him that that wouldn''t happen, he awkwardly reverted to a regular posture.

    His "eyes" widened. A drawing of a drop of sweat appeared beside each of them. "O-Oh! Did my sheer heroic aura intimidate you that much, Human?!" Then they closed, with furrowed eyebrows above them. "Not a surprise, of course!"

    These "emoticons" seemed to change according to the hero''s feelings. Stella kept paying attention to them, wondering if this was magic or technology.

    The Silver Knight''s fake eyes widened again with raised pseudo eyebrows. "But don''t be afraid!" He puffed his chest, raised his left index finger, and put his right hand on his hip. "For I, The Silver Knight, am here for the safety of everyone who resides in the queendom of Sayama!" He pointed at Stella. "Including you!"

    But then his visor produced a more serious expression, with narrowed eyes and furrowed eyebrows again. "Unless you''re here for evil purposes! Then we''re gonna have a problem!" However, his goofy voice completely botched any attempt at intimidation.

    His subsequent sentence made clear that this threat wasn''t serious whatsoever. "But this is not your case, right?"

    Stella was still processing all of this. After a few seconds, she''s finally able to answer. "N-Nah, man. I''m here in peace." She held out her hands in a placating gesture.

    The knight crossed his arms. "That''s great! I assume your mind is filled with questions about our quaint little queendom, right?"

    Stella scratched the back of her head. "That is an understatement." Then her eyes widened when she remembered the reason she was even here. "Wait! You are from the Dragon''s Guard, right?!"

    The hero puffed his chest even more. "That''s right! You already heard of our greatness, I presume?"

    The girl was getting fed up with this guy''s shtick. "Look, dude. My friend needs rescuing. She''s a Wolf, and her name is-"

    The guard interrupted her when he heard the W word. "Lien?! That''s her name?!"

    Stella was at a lack of words. How the hell did that guy know that?

    The hero seemed to pick up on the Human''s confusion. "You see, I have rescued that girl many times!" He went to grab something on his utility belt. "So many times that she made me invent the ''Special Silver Rescuee Card''!" He picked a silver piece of paper.

    He scribbled something on the card with a pen he picked from another pocket. Then he approached the girl and gave the card to her. "You can have it! One more rescue from me, and you will get a pego ice cream!"

    The card had a cute sketch of the Knight with a cutesy emoticon on his visor, giving a thumbs up. It also had about ten spots to be filled with a checkmark. One already was marked.

    When she flipped it, it had a list of the rewards you would get with a specific number of checkmarks. With two, the girl would get a pego ice cream.

    Stella didn''t know what the hell a "pego" was.

    The hero elaborated more. "I am her mother''s coworker!" His tone of voice became a tad less intense. "Well, kind of." Then it was back to normal. "Regardless! I have her mother on speed dial! So it really facilitates things."

    He rested his hands on his hips. "Actually, I was here in search of Lien." Then he gestured at Stella with outstretched hands. "But then I found you! Fate has clearly favored you, Human!"

    If this guy knew what she was up to these last few hours, he would immediately retract that statement. The girl couldn''t catch a break! Ogres, giants, that annoying fox snake, whatever she was. It was a mess.

    "I guess..." She spoke with a sigh. "But you should get going, though. Who knows what that fu- I mean, that giant is doing to her?" Stella felt she should hold back her insults in front of an adult. Though that guy could be a toddler for all she knew.

    The hero stopped for a few seconds to absorb what the girl said. "Giant, huh? Did you come from the Ganvi Woods?"

    The Human raised an eyebrow. "I don''t know, man. Is this place where there''s a bunch of old men that are not old men, and their skyscraper of a dad?"

    The guard nodded. "Indeed, it seems like you and Lien caught the attention of a troublesome group." He laughed. "Nothing that would pose a problem for me, of course!"

    This man''s bravado was something else.

    However, something was still in Stella''s mind. It felt like a dumb question, but it wouldn''t hurt to ask, right?

    "So..." The girl shuffled her feet anxiously. "Is Lien fine? I mean, does she have any risk of..." She couldn''t bring herself to say the D word. "Getting hurt?"

    He shook his head dismissively. "No worries! The J��lasveinarnir may command the Ganvi Woods, but they''re still bound by the law. Killing a young Monoke, especially the daughter of a guard, would bring them more trouble than it''s worth."

    Well, that was a fucking relief. A huge weight lifted off Stella''s shoulders.

    However... something didn''t feel quite right for the Human. But why? Everything was going to be dandy! This Silver Knight would rescue Lien, and then she would be safe.

    But something still bothered her...

    Her line of thought was severed by the knight''s words. "There''s a problem, though. My primary mission is to find any Human that enters the forest and escort them to the queen''s castle."

    Oh no... He wasn''t saying what Stella was thinking he was saying, was he?

    Now try to quickly say that three times fast.

    Damn it! I forgot I can''t hear you!

    Oh well...

    The hero continued. "Unless... I go rescue Lien, and YOU follow me in this endeavor!" He pointed his thumb at himself.

    His left "eye" winked. "Think of that as a loophole."

    Then, something finally clicked in Stella''s mind. What bothered her so much was that she wasn''t the one to do the saving! After everything Lien had done for the Human, she would be saved by another person... That didn''t feel right.

    Stella had to do something to return the favor, and the perfect opportunity was in her grasp!

    The Human clutched her right fist and put on a confident smile. "Say no more, dude! I''m in!"

    The hero looked at her with wide circles for eyes, then he made a hearty laugh. "I see! You have the courage and a strong sense of loyalty to be admired! The qualities of a defender of justice!

    The hero put a hand on his hip and pointed at the Ganvi woods in the distance. "We shall return to the Ogres'' territory! Lien must be taken hostage in their lair by now!"

    He took a few steps, taking the lead in their upcoming journey. He turned his head at Stella. "Are you ready?"

    The Human felt great at that moment. She will not only find a new companion on her journey through Sayama, but she also will make up to the friend she wronged.

    Her determination flared up, ignoring her previous fatigue. She bumped her right fist into her chest. "Lead the way, hero!"

 Chapter 14 - Unresolved Issues.

    This place sure was beautiful.

    Stella and her new superhero companion, The Silver Knight, walked through the Sampiens, the mushroom forest. The hero was taking the role of a tour guide for the girl.

    "This is the home for various species of Monoke! Slugs, Ants, Beetles, Tanukis, and plenty of Avian Monoke! A jewel of our domain!" He spoke with his usual outdated superhero voice.

    "How is that even possible? I always thought mushrooms were supposed to be really tiny." Stella questioned.

    The guard turned on a heel. "Ah ha! That''s the best part!" He gestured to the whole area. "All of this? It started as a regular forest! Until an unexpected accident by Rink the Fairy turned the tiny fungi into the colossal, majestic wonders you see today!"

    Stella had to give it to him. He was right. This place felt like it came straight from a fairytale book. She was mesmerized by the colorful fungi, especially the bioluminescent ones. There was even a freaking blue full moon and stars in the sky!

    Speaking of...

    "Hey, man. What''s the deal with this blue stuff?" She waved her hand like she was swatting a fly, showing the cloud of displaced particles. "It''s everywhere!"

    The guard answered. "Ah, that''s just the spores from the mushrooms! Don''t worry, it''s not toxic at all!"

    "Well, that''s great to hear!" Stella was doing a cross-body arm stretch. "Can we go already?"

    The Knight started jogging in place. "Alright! We''re not too far from the Kara River! Let''s go!" Then he went jogging towards their destination, very slowly so as to not lose the tired Human.

    After a few more minutes, they found the river that separates the Sampiens and the Ganvi Woods. Stella sighed with relief until she saw who remained there.

    Kristal... Why couldn''t things be less complicated for the girl? Her mood was dragged to the mud when she saw the fox snake.

    Surprisingly, the Knight had the opposite reaction. "Look, Human!" He eagerly pointed at the river Monoke. "Do you know what that Monoke is?!"

    Stella crossed her arms and huffed. "An annoyance?"

    The hero stared at her for a few seconds, genuinely surprised by her answer. "Uh, not what I was going to say..."

    Then he recomposed himself, returning to his bombastic demeanor. "That one is a Nguruvil��! A gracious and powerful Monoke! They live in the Nexus, underground. Seeing one up close... It''s such a privilege!"

    The Knight''s nerd rant could be endearing for Stella... if it wasn''t about that Monoke.

    "Sure..." The girl remained unimpressed. "Real graceful, that one..."

    The guard raised a fake eyebrow. "Have you met them already?"

    Stella crossed her arms. "You can talk to her if you want. Please don''t say I didn''t warn you."

    They walked a few more steps toward the Nguruvil��. The Human could already tell she was still pouting, making the river uncrossable for some reason. Was it magic? Stella didn''t care at that point.

    Kristal noticed the two people approaching her, and she was not pleased when she saw the "sick Ogre" again.

    "So, the weird Ogre returns." Her voice was drenched with sass. "Why don''t we skip the formalities, and you jump on my head already!?" She pointed her two index fingers at her forehead.

    Stella clenched her fists and teeth. She glared at the Nguruvil�� with overwhelming anger, using all her self-control to not smack her snout.

    The hero picked up on the tension between them. "Hello, miss! I never saw a Nguruvil�� before! It is such an honor to meet you!"

    Kristal''s ears perked up, and her attitude brightened up a bit. "Aw, thank you!" Then she stared at him awkwardly for a few seconds. "Who are you, again?"

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    The Knight puffed his chest proudly. "Ha! I am the newest addition to the Dragon''s Guard! The Silver Knight!" He made his crane-like stance. Maybe that was his signature pose?

    Kristal, just like Stella, didn''t give much of a reaction. "That''s... great..."

    No one was happy in that situation.

    The guard gestured toward Stella. "I believe you met her already, miss...?"

    "Kristal." She gazed at the girl with a scowl. "And yes, you could say we met each other. It wasn''t a pleasant encounter, let me tell you."

    "Really?" Stella was tapping her right foot on the ground. "I was nice enough to let you rant about your stupid life! I only wanted to cross the river, and I''m sure you''re responsible for THIS!" She pointed at the violent stream that worsened after the Human''s outburst.

    The girl didn''t want to snap. But after having to put up with this Monoke''s bullshit after that traumatic experience, and then receiving sass afterward was the straw that broke her fucking patience.

    The Nguruvil�� put her hands on her sides. "Well, maybe I could make the river less of a problem for you if you weren''t such an insensitive brat!"

    That really struck a nerve in Stella. She wanted to punch that bitch so much!

    "Well, maybe I would be more gentle if you didn''t dump all your problems into me! Seriously! You never heard of the term ''oversharing''?!"

    Kristal snarled, showing her dangerously pointy teeth. "Watch your tone, Ogre..."

    Stella took a step and stared at her in defiance. "Make me, bitch!"

    The Human was so drowned in her anger that she completely forgot that Kristal had quite the height advantage over her AND the Knight! Her defiant attitude crumbled when the Nguruvil�� raised more of her snake-like body out of the water, towering over them.

    But wait! There was more! The water surrounding her defied any law of physics and started spiraling around her, creating a whirlpool.

    This biblical act made Stella''s heart pound with fear and regret. Lien had that weird "super breath" of hers, and then she mentioned some giant witch. She should have been more careful.

    Kristal''s blue eyes flared with anger. "You little b-"

    "STOP!" The Silver Knight stepped in front of Stella, arms outstretched. "Now, I understand that there is some tension between you two. But we can sort this out!"

    After the hero came to the Human''s rescue, the whirlpool surrounding Kristal shrank a little. That was a good sign.

    "Just..." He put a hand on Stella''s shoulder. "Let me speak with her for a bit, okay?"

    The Monoke stared daggers at them for an uncomfortable amount of time, then took a deep breath. When she let out the air of her lungs the whirlpool subsided.

    "Whatever." She lay down on the riverside, though only half of her body; the other was still submerged. "Not like I have anywhere else to go." Her discontent was carved into her features.

    The Knight slowly guided the girl back a few feet. Under normal circumstances, she would hate being pushed around by an adult like this, but now... It was best to accept this.

    Giants, magic... How the hell would she handle all of this?

    <hr>

    Lien:

    The Wolf was not having the time of her life.

    After Leppal��ei''s outburst, which made her feel bad for St��fur, it didn''t take long for the rest of the Lads to wake up. Then, it was another round of scolding for them. Something about them tarnishing the family''s name and putting them into actual training.

    Lien didn''t fall asleep through that only because the giant''s voice was too loud.

    After a relatively short walk, Lien was put into what she assumesdis a cage. She ran her paw through the grid, confirming her suspicions. The main issue for her was the minuscule size of her prison. She couldn''t even take three steps until she bumped into the bars. This was arguably worse than being stuck in the Ogre''s grip.

    Well, that and the unusual heat. Seriously, why was this place so hot? This was terrible, especially for a Wolf, covered head to toe with fur.

    She sat down, cleared her mind, and searched for anyone''s Saniya. She found a concentration of small yet numerous signatures, most likely the Lads. J��lak?tturinn''s Saniya was close to her, probably because he was tasked with being her jailer.

    Then she felt two huge ones. Approaching her location by the second.

    "And you brought the Wolf brat because...?" A faint, feminine voice could be heard, clearly aged with time.

    Then another voice chimed in, which Lien recognized as Leppal��ei''s. "She messed with our boys! We cannot let her go unpunished!"

    The voices became closer and more audible. The floor beneath the Wolf started to shake. "Our boys wouldn''t be in this mess if you trained them like you should, ya lazy sack of flesh!" The old lady sighed. "I can''t be the only competent one in this family!"

    "Don''t be like that, Gryla! We''ll make it up to ya, promise!" Leppal��ei was uncharacteristically apologetic. Of course, Lien already knew who the old lady was.

    Gryla, the Giant Witch.

    The Ogre patriarch could be scary, and so was J��la. But Gryla was a terrifying person to cross paths with. She heard from her fellow pups that the witch picked young Monoke, who entered her territory and put them in her soup.

    Her mother dismissed such claims, saying that she wouldn''t commit such a heinous crime, even if she wanted to.

    However... she also said that Lien should stay away from her under any circumstance.

    Well, she would be pretty pissed when she found the pup because...

    The tremors became more intense each time until they finally stopped. However, that meant that the Ogre couple was already there.

    "Where''s the brat?" Gryla asked.

    Either Leppal��ei silently pointed at Lien''s location, or she found it because nothing was said until the witch took thunderous steps toward the Wolf.

    Lien lost her balance due to the sudden feeling of getting lifted by Gryla. It was fun, she had to admit.

    Not so fun was what the Ogre said to her. "How ''bout we have a little talk, young lady?"

 Chapter 15 - A History Lesson.

    Stella:

    So, that sucked.

    The Knight wasn''t kidding when he said the Nguruvil�� were powerful creatures. She got too carried away, only because she had backup this time.

    Giants were one thing, but magic!? Coupled with long claws and sharp teeth, Stella didn''t stand a chance.

    They were now distant from Kristal. Far enough that she was just a blurry dot in the distance for them.

    The girl sat on the ground, pouting. She didn''t dare look directly at the guard''s eyes. Well, the simulacrum of them.

    What took her by surprise was the uncharacteristically gentle tone he was using. "Are you okay?"

    "No..." Stella refuses to look up. "Guess I forgot that most people here are way above my league."

    "Yeah..." He knelt before her, who turned her head away from him. Stella wasn''t mad at him. However, she wasn''t in the mood for "eye" contact.

    "But that''s why you must keep calm when dealing with Monoke." The hero started lecturing her. "You''re lucky she didn''t recognize you as a Human."

    Stella was becoming a little worked up by this surprise lecture. "Sure, man. I''m to blame for being a little mean to the big, scary snake fox or whatever the name is after she dumped every detail of her life on me! After almost getting killed by a fucking giant!" The F word slipped up unintentionally.

    The Knight held his hands in a placating gesture at her. "Okay! First, language."

    The girl rolled her eyes.

    "Second, I get that you went through a rough situation. However, Kristal didn''t know that, did she?"

    Stella finally turned her eyes to him and opened her mouth to protest. However, after processing the guard''s words, she changed her response to a monotone "No."

    The Knight''s tone brightened, as well as his mannerisms. "See? It''s all about understanding one''s motivations! You two just needed better communication!" He kept making these over-exaggerated gestures with his hands anytime he talked.

    Stella huffed and crossed her arms. But then her attitude softened a little. "What was I supposed to say? That I''m a Human who''s being hunted? I know we are basically the boogiemen for your people."

    The hero straightened his posture and crossed his arms as well. His visor was showing two closed eyes. "Yes, this is an apt description. Truth be told, we have enough reason for that."

    Stella''s eyes brightened with curiosity. "How so?"

    The Knight''s voice took on a more somber tone. "Our story with Humanity goes beyond written history... It is marked with the blood and lost souls of countless..."

    Then he pulled from his utility belt a flashlight with silver and golden coloration, just like everything related to him. "And what better way to tell you that than with my portable Historical Projector?!?"

    He shone the light on the sky, forming elaborate shapes, like the bat-signal. The flashlight projected the shape of a Human and a... what was that beside it? The figure had big horns, great wings similar to a bat''s, and a huge tail. Not to mention, it was roughly double the size of the Human representation.

    The Knight began. "Centuries ago, two species roamed the Earth: Humans and Monoke."

    He pushed a button, and the shapes changed. Now, the Human and the Monoke were hostile to one another, preparing to fight. Stella could see the Monoke''s sharp claws and teeth now. It had a long snout, similar to a lizard. Was it a Dragon or something like that? Weird because it had long, flowy hair also.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Then again, Kristal existed. So it wasn''t that surprising.

    The hero continued. "They have been in conflict since time immemorial. However, tensions escalated until one day..."

    The subsequent slide was composed of a bunch of Humans fighting against different species of Monoke. Stella recognized some, like the Wolves. Others also looked like anthropomorphic versions of animals, like frogs, rabbits, or birds. But there were also others that the girl didn''t recognize at all.

    "A full-blown war was waged. It lasted for decades, centuries. Countless lives were lost on the path to victory. However..."

    The fourth projection was about the Dragon again, on its knees, close to the Human, who was pointing a spear at it. "There could be only one victor."

    The fifth one was a forest, presumably Sayama. The Knight quickly confirms this assumption. "Thankfully, Humanity took pity on our fragile state and let us take refuge in the great Sayama Forest."

    His tone went even darker. "However, the condition for our survival was to never step one foot on the outside world." He turned off the Historical Projector?. "And that''s how we are stuck in this beautiful yet confining prison."

    Stella absorbed and processed the whole story. It was somewhat simple but had some tense implications about her presence here. It was... hard to swallow.

    "Man... I don''t know what to say... I mean, we banned all of you into this place?! I..." The girl''s head was revolving so much she was getting dizzy. Lien didn''t seem to know about that, though. Was she hiding the truth? Or she just wasn''t told of that. Hard to tell, to be honest.

    After pondering more about this history lesson, Stella lay on the ground, gazing at the beautiful blue stars. "No wonder they want to kill me."

    The Knight nodded. "It''s not fair to hold the crimes of your ancestors onto you, but the truth is, the Monoke still desire freedom. Many generations lived and died stuck here, and individuals old enough to have lived before the war still exist. These are usually the ones who resent Humanity the most."

    Stella felt like grease amidst a dirty table, ready to be cleaned off existence. "What am I supposed to do now? Wait, and hope that my death will be quick?"

    The Knight jumped back to his feet and adopted his usual eccentric demeanor. "Come on, Human! It''s not all doom and gloom! Your arrival here can be the start of a great change!"

    The girl was skeptical. "What, I''m the Chosen One or somethin''?"

    The hero gave a hearty laugh. "No, but with you here, we can change how the people of Sayama see Humanity! A great step towards a future for Humans and Monoke coexisting!"

    Well, that was... overwhelming. "So, that''s why I should be nice to these Monoke?"

    "Well, it''s a way of creating a good image for yourself." The guard answered.

    A good image, huh? In Namadi, Stella didn''t have a good rep at all. She joined none of the gangs that operated in the slums. However, that only contributed to her being known as an untrustworthy thief who worked solo. The lack of trust resulted in quite a few altercations with gang members, mostly kids like her.

    But the prospect of having a clean slate was enticing for the Human. But would that even matter with Humanity''s history with the Monoke? Was this a foolish endeavor?

    Well, she had Lien. And this Knight fellow seemed like a good person. What else could she do, anyway? It was not like she had a good life in Namadi.

    If she already was at the bottom of the barrel, there was no way but up!

    "Are you sure I can do this?" Stella questioned. "Talking things out was never one of my specialties."

    "Do not cut yourself short, Human!" The guard reassured her. "Anyone can resolve things peacefully if they try! And if you have difficulty, I am right by your side to guide you through the process."

    Well, that was reassuring, all things considered. Maybe there was merit to this plan, after all. Besides, there was something oddly contagious about the hero''s unwavering optimism. It reminded her of Lien, actually.

    Stella slowly got to her feet. "Thanks. Appreciate the pep talk."

    The Knight pulled two thumbs up. "A hero of justice doesn''t only beat up bad guys!" He puffed his chest and clutched his right fist on it. "They also encourage and empower the weak, the downcast, and the victimized!"

    The Human tried to hold her laughter, but it was impossible. She laughed more than she had in ages! That guy''s outdated superhero motif started to warm up to her.

    "Alright! Are you ready to show Kristal the extraordinary power of diplomacy!?" The hero was acting more like a coach than anything else.

    The Human took a deep breath and then looked in the direction of the river Monoke with determination in her eyes. "She won''t know what hit her!"

    The guard narrowed his "eyes". "Human..."

    "I mean, hit her with my eloquent words! Of course, that''s what I meant..."

    The Silver Knight started dancing and changing between various poses. "Alright, for now, you are not only a Human, but The Silver Knight''s sidekick! Together, we will fight for justice with only our words!" He finished with his signature pose. "Are you ready, Human?!"

    Stella gave a dumb smile at the hero''s goofy dance routine. To actually answer his question, she made a pose of her own. The girl planted her feet on the ground and punched the air! "Stella, reporting for duty, sir!"

    The Knight broke off his pose. "Love the enthusiasm!" He pointed at Kristal. "Now, Stella! It''s time for diplomacy!"

    Stella nodded. "Yessir!"

    And just like that, Stella''s mood brightened in mere minutes. She had to give it to the guard. He was one hell of a coach.

 Chapter 16 - The Ultra-Super Miraculous Power of Diplomacy!

    The power of diplomacy wasn''t easy to grasp.

    Stella and Kristal stared into each other''s eyes in a short yet agonizing silence. She glanced at The Silver Knight, watching them from a safe distance and crossing his fingers for the Human''s success in her first diplomatic clash with a Monoke.

    The hero''s pep talk did lift the Human''s spirits. However, now that she was face-to-face with the angry Nguruvil��, she lost her confidence in a split second.

    Kristal was with her arms crossed, waiting for Stella to take the first step in the conversation. Well, the Human had no choice but to oblige.

    After taking a few seconds to gather the right words, Stella took a deep breath and made the first step. "Look, I''m sorry for stepping in your head. It was a mean, unnecessary action, and if I wanted to cross the river so badly, I should have just asked you."

    It was an intriguing phenomenon. As the words came out of Stella''s mouth, she understood how reckless she was in her treatment of Kristal. Sure, she was afraid of the big, scary Monoke, but she grew out of that fear after a while. She could''ve handled that without unneeded force.

    She felt like a fool after that realization.

    Thankfully, Kristal''s expression softened a tad bit. However, it was clear that something still bothered her.

    "Why did you want to leave your turf so much?!" Her voice then started dripping with disdain. "Your dad came here searching for you. He got huffy when I told him that you crossed the river." She huffed. "Then I told him some truths about your family, and he ignored me!"

    Oh boy. Stella recognized what that tone of voice meant.

    "Seriously, this is why I say that you Ogres are-"

    Stella''s brain tuned out through Kristal''s second rant. So that giant asshole went searching for her, huh? Argh, just thinking about him made the girl''s blood boil! Trying to kill her was one thing, but kidnapping Lien was an unforgivable crime for her.

    She wished she could have prevented her Wolf companion''s capture, at least. But her rationality reminded her that such a thing was impossible. The only thing the girl could do was make sure that Lien was free again.

    Where was she again? Ah yes! Kristal.

    Stella interrupted the Nguruvil��''s rant in a less rude way than before. "Do you want to know why I wanted out of the woods?"

    Kristal gazed at the girl with curiosity embedded into her blue irises, and then she slowly nodded.

    The "Ogre" clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. "The truth is..." She started making an impression of Kristal''s dramatic tone. "I am not an Ogre struck by a weird sickness..."

    Kristal''s eyes widened. Stella took it as a good sign.

    She closed her eyes and clutched her chest with her two hands. "I was born this way!"

    She heard an audible gasp from Kristal! And from the Knight? Stella wondered how he reacted to her story, but she needed to focus on the river Monoke to maintain credibility.

    The girl''s left hand rested on her chest while the right hand was tightly closed as a fist. "Since birth, I was much different from my parents and brothers. We don''t know why. It seems I''m a rare type of Ogre."

    She really wanted to lean on the drama in her backstory. She probably needed to tone it down, but the girl was having too much fun.

    She gesticulated towards herself and really went for the hammy voice and acting. "Unfortunately, what made me unique also made me prejudiced by my family. They prohibited me from leaving our home and interacting with other Monoke!" She knelt on the ground, choosing to not look Kristal in the eye.

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    Then she suddenly stood up! The girl stared straight into Kristal''s soul. "Then I decided to leave my home, but my dad went crazy! So I fled from him and my brothers!"

    After the Nguruvil�� was startled by the show, Stella returned to her regular tone and attitude. "So that''s why I was so desperate to escape. I hope you understand."

    Kristal was... shocked. Her jaw was on the floor, and her blue eyes were widened beyond what Stella previously saw from her.

    That... didn''t look good for the Human. "I overdid it, didn''t I?"

    The suspense was killing her! She looked back at the Knight, and he was as nervous as her, judging by the emoticon with the sweat drops on his visor. The girl hoped that the river Monoke would only find her story ludicrous.

    However, Stella''s mind got completely scrambled when she noticed tears coming from the Nguruvil��''s eyes, quickly followed by a loud cry.

    She covered her snout with her hands. "Oh, poor child! I understand the pain of being the outcast in the family all too well!"

    The Human''s instincts activated, and she tried to back away when Kristal stretched her arms towards her. The girl wasn''t fast enough.

    Kristal caught Stella and put the "Ogre" into a tight hug. The girl felt motion sickness for a few seconds after being lifted in the air.

    Stella''s cheek felt the surprising smoothness of the Monoke''s skin. She wasn''t expecting that from a scaly creature, but you don''t look a gifted horse in the mouth, do you?

    "I''m so sorry!" Kristal''s voice was occasionally breaking. A waterfall of tears still flowed from her globes. "I should''ve noticed a kindred spirit when I saw you!"

    Okay, now that was getting really uncomfortable. The girl wasn''t fond of hugging, though she never knew why that was the case. It made her feel so... dirty? Definitely embarrassed.

    However, there was one person that she accepted hugs from...

    To avoid that painful memory, Stella gently tapped the Monoke''s back. "S-Sure... Now, can you please put me down?" The Human''s voice was strained. "Not very fond of hugs."

    Luckily, the Nguruvil�� heard that and gently put Stella on the ground. "Sorry, sorry!" She fidgeted her fingers. "It''s been a while since I found someone I could connect with, you know?"

    Those words did resonate with Stella. She felt the same thing when she met Lien, and that feeling only grew with time, short as that was.

    Maybe Kristal wasn''t all that bad. Time would tell if their paths ever crossed again.

    "Trust me, I understand the feeling," Stella reassured the Monoke. "So! No hard feelings?" She clasped her hands together.

    Kristal waved her right hand in dismissal. "Of course not!" She lowered her head to the same level as the girl. "And if you want someone to talk to, I''m always swimming by!"

    Well, that sounded amazing, actually! Though she had the feeling that, if she tried that, the river Monoke would turn the subject into being all about her. Probably not a good idea.

    More importantly, the Knight reappeared next to them with his potent heroic attitude. "That is wonderful to hear, Ms. Kristal! I''m glad you two resolved your differences with the power of words!"

    That speech made Stella give a genuine smile. Hearing him say that with this hammy voice made it sound like some old, out-of-touch PSA. It was oddly comforting.

    However, something else came to her attention.

    She looked at the sky. The moon couldn''t be seen anywhere. And on top of that, she was sure she could see the first sun rays coming from the horizon.

    She had spent the entire night awake. Holy shit.

    The Silver Knight was engaging in a pleasant conversation with Kristal, to which Stella did not pay attention. She quickly interrupted their talk. "We''d love to stay longer, but we have important business to attend to." She gently nudged the Knight with her elbow. "This guy needs to take me home." She put on a forced smile and turned to the guard. "Right?"

    Of course, the hero quickly picked up on the girl''s intentions and went along. "Right! It''s a shame, but we must get-"

    "Wait!" Kristal frantically waved her hands. After getting their attention back, she spoke with a glint of pride. "It would be rude to let you go without granting you the privilege of experiencing my art!"

    Stella stared at the Nguruvil�� with a puzzled expression. She felt like she was missing something there, but what was it? She turned to the Knight, but he met her gaze with two interrogation marks as eyes.

    "My music." She was visibly disappointed, but a grain of excitement resided in her voice.

    Right! Her music! She did mention that, along with something about her father? It was a bit hard to keep track, to be honest.

    Stella had the strong urge to say no. However, Kristal''s enthusiasm was so contagious. Besides, she did owe her that since her sob story was false.

    In fact, her eagerness reminded her of... Lien...

    Damn, that Wolf really made a mark in her head, huh? Even after knowing she would not be killed, Stella still thought about the pup so many times!

    She had to rescue Lien real soon. This stress couldn''t be good for her.

    Stella shook these feelings away for the moment. Then she turned to the Nguruvil�� and clutched her left fist at her. "Show us what you got!" The Knight only nodded in response.

    Kristal let out a short, sharp squeak, clearly from her excitement. That noise made a number on Stella''s ears and clearly the Knight''s. The girl saw the guard rotate a button on the left side of his helmet, like one of those old radios.

    Poor Stella didn''t know what would come her way.

    After flailing around for a few moments, Kristal straightened her posture, took a deep breath, cleared her throat, and then...

    The sound of ten thousand crying birds came out of her mouth.

 Chapter 17 - A Fledgling Bond, Tested.

    Lien:

    A piercing scream came out of nowhere!

    Lien''s ears stung, making her quickly cover them with her paws. Her entire body recoiled until she was practically a ball of fur.

    Gryla also heard the weird noise and was as bothered by it as the Wolf. "The hell is that noise?!" She took a few more steps and shouted. "Leppa! Did someone put pepper on the Cat''s milk again!?"

    The faint voice of Leppal��ei responded. "The Cat''s fine! I don''t know what that noise is!"

    The female Ogre grunted. "Course he doesn''t know. Lazy bastard knows nothing!"

    Lien was also frustrated. Though for different reasons. The cage was still too damn small! They couldn''t even put her in a cage big enough for her to jog a little. There was barely space for stretching as it is.

    Of course, she tried to brute force her way out of there, but whatever this metal was, it was unbreakable. She clawed, chewed, and bashed multiple times, but there was no sign of a tear or even a dent in the cage.

    The bright side was that her nose was blessed by such an intoxicating smell! She recognized the fragrance of a well-cooked and seasoned venison with some herbs. It made her both hungry and reminiscent about home.

    She missed her mom more by the second she spent here. Maybe she was making the wrong call by escaping Pantsti so many times. She had good friends there, pups and adults. There were also many ways to pass the time with games. Heck, she even missed the boring Saniya classes at that point!

    She would gladly hear her mother''s scolding rather than spend another second there. She missed having someone to hold her tight, to feel the warmth of another Monoke.

    That was why Lien was not very well seen by the other species. Only Wolves accepted her clingy nature, which was too much even for a pup her age. After harsh words from her mother, the pup tried to keep it to herself outside Pantsti.

    Now she wondered how Stella would react if she didn''t hold back on her. She knew almost nothing about Humans, only that they were scary and that she must keep her distance from them. And that knowledge was shattered by her experiences with the girl, so...

    She should have asked, at least. Now, who knew where she was? Was Stella even alive? Regardless, chances were they would never cross paths again, and that realization made the Wolf deflate.

    As if she was paying attention to Lien, Gryla approached her and decided to finally speak to the Wolf when she was at her lowest point. "How''s the little fighter? Gave up on escaping yet?"

    Lien wasn''t in the mood for the Ogres'' crap anymore. She bared her teeth at the witch, though she wasn''t sure she was pointing her snout in the right direction. "When I get outta here, I will bite you so hard!"

    The old Monoke laughed so loud at the pup''s attempt at intimidation. It sounded like she had heard the best joke in ages. "Oh, I''m waiting for ya, kid!" She spoke between chuckles.

    The Wolf wasn''t taking the mockery well. She grabbed the cage bars with her paws and tried to yank them with all her might! However, rage was not enough of a motivator for such a feat. Ultimately, that was a pathetic effort with no result.

    Lien took deep breaths. It was all she could do to calm down. However, the voice of the Giant Witch was a powerful roadblock. "Finished with yer tantrum now?"

    The pup avoided lashing out against the cage again, so she put her effort into scratching a particularly itchy spot on the left side of her neck. That felt good, but... the temperature in the cage rose significantly after that.

    Also, that made the Ogre more worked up than her insults or threats. "Stupid kid! Don''t scratch the rune!"

    Oh yeah! The rune. The witch had touched her neck, and after a few bites and scratches, the Wolf couldn''t feel the heat of the lair anymore. The itchy spot did feel a bit chilly.

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    The Ogre rotated the cage, which Lien was ready for this time. Gryla poked the Wolf''s neck again. However, the pup had no energy to protest and bite her finger.

    It wouldn''t do much damage, anyway. Sinking one''s teeth into these guys'' skin felt like biting rubber.

    In half a minute, Lien wasn''t feeling the sizzling heat anymore. It made her wonder about where the hell she was. She knew the kitchen was a naturally hot place, but that was too much!

    "Could you put this stuff in a less itchy place?" The pup was reaching new heights of frustration.

    The witch scoffed. "Trust me, kid. If you''re bothered by an itch, imagine the heat. ''Sides, rune magic is a very delicate and complicated area of knowledge." She felt somewhat insulted by the Wolf''s lack of knowledge about the nuances of runecraft.

    Lien was very uninterested, though. "Whatever you say..."

    What she was interested in was Gryla''s cooking. The pup''s stomach roared desperately for food, and saliva dripped from her tongue, increasing in volume by the second.

    The witch chuckled. She had picked up on the Wolf''s hunger. "No one can resist my cooking. But if ya want to eat, ya must answer my questions."

    Lien couldn''t resist that offer, but the Wolf wouldn''t get all cheery and grateful for her generosity. Even she had some sense of pride.

    The pup huffed. "Okay."

    Suddenly, Lien heard the noise of a chair being dragged close to her. Of course, that meant that Gryla had sat down to speak to her. The subtle tremors the pup could feel could have been from the witch resting her arms and/or hands on the table.

    The first question was... "Where did that Human go?" She was serious now. It made the pup recoil a bit more.

    Lien shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? By now, she must be far, far away from here."

    The giantess sighed. "What the hell were you thinking, kid!? Helping a Human, of all creatures?!" She didn''t sound angry, just... disappointed.

    However, these words made Lien gain some courage and stand up for her friend. "Hey! Stella is very different from what you grown-ups say about Humans! We went through a lot to escape your kids, the Cat, AND your husband!" She raised a finger with each mention of their previous challenges.

    "Right..." Gryla sounded oddly confident. Did she expect Lien to say that? "And where is she right now? Where did she leave you?"

    Oh no... That was it! Lien growled and bashed the cage with anger. "What''s your deal, huh?! Stella didn''t leave me! I only made sure she escaped!"

    As always, Gryla showed no reaction toward the pup''s outburst. "Just sounds like ya were the fool that took the fall for her. In simpler terms, she used ya."

    Lien''s heart sank, but she refused to accept that! She slashed against the bars! Tried to bite her way out again! But in the end, she was only wasting her strength.

    "SHUT UP! I don''t want to hear your crap no more!" The Wolf could feel tears almost breaking out of her eyes, but she held in. Crying here did not feel appropriate.

    Gryla''s voice... softened? She sounded a lot more... maternal.

    "Kid..."

    Lien could feel the Ogre''s breath blowing against her fur. It didn''t smell as bad as she thought it would.

    "Whatever you two went through, no matter how sweet or friendly she was with you, she only saw you as her bodyguard. So, of course, she wouldn''t treat you like crap!"

    That... made Lien pause. Gryla''s logic made sense, even though she loathed to admit it. As far as she knew, Stella only tolerated the Wolf because of her superior strength and speed.

    But... No, that didn''t feel right. She might have been blind, but she was aware of the Human''s reactions when they almost went their separate ways.

    Then again, it could have been that Stella was terrified that she lost her bodyguard. However, she also shed tears when Lien convinced her to stay.

    Yeah, Gryla was full of crap. There was no way that Stella could hate her, right?

    Right?

    Gryla continued her argument. "You know the Humans are the reason we''re stuck in this forest, right?"

    Oh...

    Of course, Lien knew that. The main reason why Humans were so feared by the Monoke in the first place. Their retreat to Sayama...

    Every Monoke Lien''s age was taught the story.

    Gryla''s voice gained a brighter tone as she started her reverie. "I once lived in a vaster, colder land, you know. Plenty of space for Monoke like us." Then, venom dripped from her words. "But the Humans... They were disgusted and afraid of us. And you know what they did?"

    Lien said nothing. Until she let out a whimper when the floor beneath her shook violently. She assumed Gryla slammed her fists on the table. "They hunted us, slayed most of my people! I was lucky my family found this place to stay before it was too late!"

    The pup was... paralyzed. Lien felt overwhelmed by the giantess'' boiling anger. Her heartbeat echoed through her body and rang in her ears until it was all she could focus on.

    She started to cry. The tears broke through the dam all at once. She wanted to go home. She wanted her mom, her friends, Stella...

    Stella...

    Even if Gryla''s words were correct, the actual experience of her partnership with Stella made it so hard to accept. They were a pack, by Tizohi''s antlers! She couldn''t ignore the bond that they had!

    However, Lien remembered another issue. How could she claim they had a bond if they didn''t meet for long? It was a very eventful day, for sure. But... How does someone even gauge two people''s relationship? Is there a correct duration for two people to go from acquaintances to friends? Were they even friends? In Lien''s heart, yes. But the Human might feel differently.

    These thoughts made Lien sob louder than before. Even Gryla seemed to let go of her rage and take pity on the poor pup.

    The chair screeched as its legs scraped the ground again. "I''ll get the soup."

 Chapter 18 - One More Pep Talk.

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 Chapter 19 - A Purrfect Distraction.

    J��lak?tturinn:

    He hated guard duty.

    After the two failed attempts to catch the girl, who he had just discovered to be a Human, J��la received a thorough scolding from Gryla. That stung because the witch was basically a second mother to him.

    Well, to him and his brother, but he really didn''t want to think about that ungrateful furball. Not now, not ever.

    Well, he didn''t matter. J��la screwed up, got pissed on, and fled from the Human. And now, he was being punished.

    However, that might be an over-exaggeration. The Cat preferred darker, cozier spaces, but the open field had perks. The gentle breeze ruffled his black fur. There was a wide enough space for him to jump, run, and roll as much as he could.

    Yeah, J��la could think of worse fates.

    The Cat was blissfully resting a few meters before the lair, curled into a ball. Thankfully, the sun was still sending its first rays, so it wasn''t a bother for the feline.

    He also had the benefit of living with a family of noisy Ogres, so he could hear their steps from miles away and pretend that he was awake the whole time when they checked on him.

    However, J��lak?tturinn was not in the sleeping mood, weirdly enough. Maybe it was the humiliation the girl made him go through, or Gryla''s scolding had stuck with him more than he realized.

    The sky was extra beautiful today. The previously dark color that painted it was slowly replaced by tones of orange, and the stars faded away.

    The Cat now regretted not being outside more often. Hey, there was even some funny light dot on the ground.

    Hmmm... A light dot...?

    It was so small, almost negligible, especially compared to him. However, it glimmered so brightly amidst the poorly lit grass. It practically called his name...

    What if he... gave it a little nudge?

    J��la was about to gently press the mote of light with his right paw, but when he touched the ground, the dot moved to a distant spot on his left in a split second!

    How was it doing that? Was it alive? A Monoke, perhaps? He wouldn''t get any answers if he couldn''t catch the sneaky light.

    Maybe it was only a matter of speed. He heard somewhere that light was naturally pretty fast. Probably not as fast as he, though.

    J��lak?tturinn crouched and prepared himself for an ambush. His powerful hind legs catapulted him towards the alluring dot!

    The impact even made a tiny crack in the ground, but... no dot. Damn it!

    The Cat rotated his head in search of that light again. However, he ultimately found nothing on the ground.

    On the ground...

    J��la''s left eye twitched after being hit by something. He jumped back a bit, assuming it was the seemingly living light playing tricks on him.

    When the Cat gazed at the dark woods around the field, he saw something glimmering amidst the trees. It must be it.

    J��la hesitated. Following something unknown through the darkness was not a very good idea. Who knows what would happen if he followed the light?

    Bah! What was he so afraid of?! He was J��lak?tturinn, by Tizohi''s antlers! Everyone in these woods feared him! He was the apex predator of the Ganvi Woods (if you don''t count the adult Ogres).

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    The thing was, there was nobody in these woods that could pose a threat to him. So he was going catch that light, damn it!

    The Cat steeled his resolve and posture and ran towards the woods! The shimmering light became brighter with each passing moment. He could almost grasp it!

    There it was, sticking on a tree trunk.

    He didn''t hesitate and jumped on the tree, smashing the dot with his paws! This impulsive act made the sturdy plant tilt, and a few of its roots became unburied.

    J��la took his paws off the dot, and... it wasn''t there anymore.

    What?

    Cats are exceptional at seeing in the dark, but not even that perk helped him find his prey. So what? Could it turn invisible, too?!

    Before his frustration could escalate, something hit his right shoulder. J��la immediately turned his attention to whatever did this to him, assuming it was the light again.

    He had found a light, alright. However, it wasn''t the same one. A faint green light came from a tiny object, as small as the dot he was chasing.

    The Cat gently hovered his paw over the object. He rolled it for a few seconds as a form of entertainment. He got bored really fast.

    But there was a question that plagued his mind. What did it smell like?

    J��lak?tturinn lowered his head and started sniffing the curious object. A grave mistake.

    Because the moment the Cat went to answer his own question, a strong smell came from the spherical object all at once. It hit J��la''s nostrils like a charging bull.

    His itching nose was soon replaced by another feeling. Numbness.

    The world around the Cat revolved more and more by the second. He decided to lie down to mitigate the effects of the weird object. However, that only made the Monoke more lethargic.

    After a few seconds, his senses became... heightened. J��la felt like he could feel, hear, and smell each speck of dust, each bit of moss stuck on the trees and rocks.

    Before he realized it, the Cat wasn''t resisting anymore. He decided to remain limp on the ground.

    Actually, J��la recognized both the smell and the effects. Someone had catnipped him.

    Who would do such a thing? That question remained at the back of the black Cat''s mind.

    However, he was too high to care.

    <hr>

    Stella:

    "Did you just make the Cat high?"

    Stella and the Knight had just exited the denser part of the Ganvi Woods, finally arriving at the open field surrounding the Ogres'' lair.

    A massive rock with a gigantic entrance. A fittingly intimidating lair for those freaks.

    The Human had to admit, the hero''s tactic was neat, if not a tad silly. The Historical Projector? also had a laser pointer feature, which easily fooled the Cat and made him vulnerable to the Knight''s Pacifier Bomb?.

    The name sucked ass. No further comment.

    The Knight scoffed at the girl''s question. "That''s such a crude way of saying!" He then stopped walking to give a short lecture to the girl. "My apparatus contained a special gas which had a chemical compound that puts feline Monoke like him in a deeply relaxed state." He made over-exaggerated gestures and body language to get his point across.

    Stella only stared at him with a deadpan expression. "So you made him high."

    The Knight sighed, and his shoulders slumped. "Fine. It''s not inaccurate."

    The girl smiled at this small victory and then turned her head toward the dense woods they crawled out of. "Are you sure this is the right call? Won''t you get in trouble for that little stunt?"

    The hero waved his hand. "You don''t need to worry about me. Besides, I only gave the Cat a good time! Totally legal!"

    Then he passed his hand through the back of his helmet. "Also, I need to be sure you''re fine here while I fetch Lien."

    Stella felt a little twinge of betrayal in her heart. That bastard wouldn''t do this to her, would he?

    "Dude, what the hell?! You told me that I was gonna rescue Lien with you!" The girl lashed out.

    The Knight held his hands in a placating gesture. "I told you that you were going to follow me. Look, we don''t know what these Ogres will do to you if they know you''re with me!"

    Stella was at a loss for words. She clenched her fists and teeth and tried to shake away the overwhelming urge to at least kick that guy''s knees.

    It was a difficult task. However, after a minute, Stella managed to slowly dissolve her frustration with deep breaths.

    In. Out. In. Out. In...

    That was it. The Human unclenched her fists and softened her scowl.

    "Where am I going to hide? In the bushes?" Stella''s voice still contained that underlying aggression.

    The Knight pulled his holographic keyboard again, and after pressing a few buttons, a screen with some numbers appeared. It was hard to read from Stella''s perspective, but judging by the ever-changing numbers, it was a timer.

    "We still have plenty of time until the effect of the Pacifier Bomb? wears off." He turned off the keyboard. "So you only need to wait at the entrance. Is that okay with you?"

    "No." Stella huffed. "But I guess it''s our only way to getting Lien back. So..." She took a deep breath. "Let''s go with your plan."

    The hero flashed a thumbs up. "Alright! I knew I could count on my first and favorite sidekick!"

    Stella scoffed at this attempt to cheer her up. You can''t win them all.

    "Let''s get this over with."

 Chapter 20 - Confronting the J贸lasveinarnir!

    "Okay, why is their lair so beautiful, though?"

    Stella gazed at the entrance of the Ogres'' home. Surprisingly, a plethora of blue, glowing crystals littered the mouth of the cave.

    The girl could also see green crystals illuminating the tunnel that followed it, then what looked like a rainbow at the end. The discrepancy between the lair and the ones who lived in it was too wide for the Human''s mind.

    The Knight seemed as impressed as the girl, even more so. His visor was producing two shining stars for eyes. "Stella, these are not only beautiful. They are sikpha crystals!"

    The name sounded important but meant nothing to the girl. "Okay... Am I supposed to be impressed by what?"

    The hero started to make small skips while he pointed at the ceiling, like a flabbergasted toddler. "These crystals hold plenty of value! Naturally, they are pewter colored, but because of their natural Saniya absorbing properties, they can adopt countless tones of color!"

    Okay, that did sound pretty awesome. Other than that, the term "Saniya" was thrown again. Judging by Lien''s definition, it seemed like mana, ki, chakra, or whatever gave characters magical powers.

    Well, that was real, apparently. Pretty cool, if not kinda scary.

    The Knight puffed his chest and straightened his posture. "Alright! I will rescue Lien and be back in no time!"

    Stella scoffed. "I still think this plan sucks."

    Surprisingly, the hero chuckled. "Don''t worry! I can tell Lien that you fought plenty of Monoke to reach me!"

    The girl was tempted. However, it wouldn''t be the same. If she wanted to be perceived as badass, it wouldn''t be because of a lie. "Nah, thanks. Just go already."

    The Knight saluted the Human and marched towards the clash of colors at the end of the cave. Stella could hear the echoes of his steps all too well, slowly decreasing in volume with each step.

    And now, she was alone. Alone, worried, tired, and a little bored.

    Maybe she could take a nap? Nah, she couldn''t risk being captured by J��la or the Ogres in case everything goes wrong.

    Perhaps practicing some rock throwing? It would be an essential skill coming forward, and she gathered plenty of them in her bag just in case. But man... she was EXHAUSTED! She would probably pass out while she went back for the rocks.

    Worst of all, she was too worried about what could happen in the lair to do anything else. Shit!

    Maybe... If she sneaked through the cave and kept outside the Ogres'' view, Stella could at least be there in case shit hit the fan.

    However, what could the girl even do to help with these freaks? If Lien was effortlessly snatched by that giant, she didn''t stand any chance of doing better.

    Even with these convincing arguments, Stella''s mind was still troubled by the fact that she was responsible for the pup''s argument. Sometimes, it felt like Lien''s voice was whispering in her ear, calling her a pathetic coward.

    Then her voice turned into someone else''s.

    ......

    "Fuck! I can''t do this!" The girl clutched her head with both hands.

    In an impulsive act, Stella entered the cavern without giving more thought. She carefully examined the walls to see if an Ogre was ready for an ambush.

    The good news was that there were no Lads hidden in darkness. As a bonus, the scenery was gorgeous! The green crystals encrusted on solid rock lit the wide tunnel in a beautiful emerald tone.

    However, it was as beautiful as it was somewhat intimidating. The size of the crystal-lit tunnel, in comparison to the minuscule Human, solidified the idea of entering the home of a powerful, mystical creature.

    The bad news was that the cave was hot. Like, almost boiling! It was a little warm at the entrance, but she assumed it was the rising sun. However, with each step she took, the heat increased, eventually reaching a level where Stella had to ditch the hoodie to avoid a heatstroke.

    After walking for a few more minutes, Stella had a perfect view of what lay beyond the tunnel, the true home of the J��lasveinarnir.

    And it was even more beautiful than she imagined. That was primarily because of the gigantic, colorful cluster of crystals stuck at the ceiling of the colossal room that was a perfect home for someone as big as Leppal��ei.

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    Speaking of the giant, he was comfortably sitting on his couch, which was large enough to support his size. The entirety of the Yule Lads formed a barricade between their father and the Silver Knight.

    The Knight sounded very exasperated. "There''s no way I could ever make this deal! As a proud member of the Dragon''s Guard and enforcer of the queen''s laws, I must-"

    The Ogre patriarch laughed at the hero''s words. "Look, boy! Us Ogres ain''t giving a rat''s ass ''bout that sorry sack of scales!" His voice lowered in tone. "Now either get us the Human, or we''re gonna have a problem..."

    Stella shuddered. She HATED feeling this way about someone, but that dude was the scariest thing she ever encountered, thanks to his giant size and monstrous features.

    She felt so pathetic. Now, Lien was going to stay with these bullies because of her. The girl sensed that it was never meant to be that easy.

    Nothing ever was.

    To make the situation worse, she saw the Lads preparing themselves to fight the guard, probably as an intimidation tactic rather than a real threat.

    Stella''s blood boiled at the mere sight of them. You know what? Who cared if she was caught right now?! This seemed to be headed to a conflict, anyway!

    It was either fighting or retreating to think of another plan to convince the Ogres to free Lien. And Stella was tired of waiting.

    While the Human made her first steps into the spotlight, the Knight pleaded to the Ogres. "Please! I wouldn''t even know where to start-"

    "HERE I AM, YA DAMN, DIRTY OGRES!" Stella shouted as loud as her lungs and vocal cords allowed.

    Everyone in the room stared at the Human, dumbfounded. The Knight''s visor only produced two circles transfixed on Stella''s eyes.

    "STELLA! WHAT THE F- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

    The giant chuckled. However, he was so loud that even that was enough to take everyone''s attention. "Well, well, well. The brat is stupid enough to follow us, eh?" Then, his right index finger alternated between pointing at the girl and the guard. "And you two seem to know each other already? You damn liar!" That last part came out as a roar.

    Before the Knight could explain himself, Stella wanted to vent her anger more. "Give me back my friend, you fugly-ass motherfucker!"

    Leppal��ei''s laughter became louder, enough to make the entire room shake. Just what the hell was that guy?

    "Oh, I will. But only if you join us for dinner." The giant had a menacing grin that Stella could see from miles away. "I heard Human soup is delicious!"

    Stella''s attention to the patriarch was broken by a very familiar individual. The Ogre with the hook (Stella did not remember his name) shouted a battle cry and dashed past the Knight! The girl had already prepared a fighting stance in anticipation.

    However, her vision was overtaken by a flash of light. After stepping back and opening her eyes, she saw that it was The Silver Knight. The guard had practically teleported from his previous spot. What the hell was that?!

    She moved sideways and saw that the Lad had stopped in his tracks, clearly as shocked as her. It was comforting to know that she was not the only one blindsided by all this mess.

    "This Human is under the Dragon''s Guard''s protection! In the queen''s name, I won''t let you do anything with this child!" He spoke in his usual heroic tone, but his voice was resolute. It actually made Stella respect him a little bit more.

    Leppal��ei wasn''t intimidated, though. He pointed at the guard and shouted. "Attack!"

    All of the Yule Lads charge at the hero, with the one with the hook taking the lead. Stella was about to aid her companion until...

    "Stay here, Stella. I can handle this." The guard extended his hand to impede the girl from going any further.

    Stella was about to protest, but no words came out when the hero started to glow. A white, blinding aura emanated from his body.

    Yep, it was time to step back a little.

    Right before the Lad could swing his hook at the Knight, all that Stella could see afterward was a bright blur zig-zagging all over the place!

    Again, all that Stella could think was. "What the hell is going on?!"

    Amidst the flashy chaos, Stella could discern only a few things. A punch on St��fur''s face, another kick on the one with the big nose, a karate chop on the Lad with the wooden legs, a powerful elbow strike on one of the Ogres with the disgusting tongue, and a powerful kick on the one with the hook.

    After all that light show, the guard stood proud in the middle of the unconscious bodies of the Yule Lads. What Stella and Lien accomplished by pushing themselves to their limits, that guy did in a mere two seconds.

    To rub salt in the wound, the hero even had the energy to make another one of his stupid poses. He was still standing on his right leg, but his hands were crossed with closed knuckles.

    "LIGHTSPEED BARRAGE!''"

    That. Was. SO COOL!

    Stella''s mouth hung open. She couldn''t believe it! How strong was that guy?! A few hours ago, she thought he was just a goofy nerd.

    She needed a breather after this.

    Leppal��ei was also taken aback by the Knight''s skills. However, his initial shock was replaced with rage. With an ear-shattering roar, he got up from the couch! That made the lair shake violently, even knocking down the lamp-like object to the ground.

    The giant gave a thunderous stomp on the ground with his right foot, creating more tremors.

    "You think beating up my children proves you tough?! Ha! Come and fight the real deal!"

    <hr>

    Lien:

    Just when she finished her soup.

    The ground started to shake violently! What was going on?!

    After her meal, she finally calmed her nerves after that stressful conversation with the Ogre witch.

    Although she tried to not think about Stella after that, it was hard to think about anything else. She tried to think about her mom and her home, but even that was short-lived.

    The bright side was that the powerful earthquake did wonders to help take her thoughts somewhere else. Now the question was, who was causing this?

    The first suspect was the giant witch, but even she showed genuine surprise at this phenomenon. "Again!? What the hell, Leppa!?"

    So it was Leppal��ei. Great...

    The witch was sitting on a chair close to the pup, or at least that was what Lien estimated. She could hear the familiar sound of the chair''s legs being scraped on the ground.

    "W-Where are you going?" Lien dared to ask.

    The witch only chuckled. "If what I think is happening is true, then it''s yer lucky day!"

    Gryla''s tectonic steps could be felt. "After I''m done, I''ll even give ya a taste of my famous jam!"

 Chapter 21 - The Bigger They Are...

    Stella:

    "You think beating up my children proves you tough?! Ha! Come and fight the real deal!"

    The rocky floor and walls of the J��lasveinarnir lair trembled because of Leppal��ei''s power! The crystalline ceiling started to rattle like a swarm of glasses clinking against each other. It was surprisingly loud, so much so that Stella had to plug her ears with her hands.

    The Ogre patriarch started taking steps toward them. However, The Silver Knight cut the giant''s journey short in a bolt of light.

    Leppal��ei chuckled and made his signature crooked smile. "Oh? Do you really think you can stand up to me, little guard?"

    The hero answered by making another pose. He twirled for a few seconds, then recovered with a genuine fighting stance, with his feet steady and closed knuckles towards the Ogre. "Last chance! Give up on your dastardly schemes or suffer the wrath of The Silver Knight!"

    The giant''s chuckle became a full-blown laughter. "Aw, I can''t take yer silly dances seriously!" Then he swung his fist, ready to slam it onto the guard. "Alrighty, then. If you want this so bad..."

    After waiting a moment in anticipation, he slammed it down. "I WILL MAKE A PANCAKE OUT OF YA!"

    The Knight readied himself and dodged the fist at the perfect time, jumping backward. The shockwaves that the giant''s fist caused made Stella lose her balance and fall on her butt. However, the Knight didn''t seem bothered by them at all.

    Holy shit, he looked cooler by the second!

    Before Leppal��ei could retreat his fist, the hero bent his knees slightly. Then, flames came out from his boots like rockets! They propelled the guard toward the Ogre, and he slammed himself on the giant''s forehead like a comet!

    The father of the Lads stumbled back due to the impact. He tried to take the Knight off his face, but the hero quickly climbed at the top of his head. After that, Stella saw only a bright, golden glow atop the fierce giant.

    "ROCKET CRASH!" The golden glow smashed Leppal��ei''s head with power that the girl never thought possible. It looked like a mini-sun crashing upon him.

    The giant''s jaw was wide open, and his eyes became pasty white orbs. He only let out a pathetic whimper while he fell with his back on the ground.

    The process was so slow that Stella had the time to yell. "TIMBEEEEEEER!"

    When the Ogre fell like a mighty oak struck by a lumberjack, the lair was affected by the most potent tremor yet! Stella didn''t try to get up, so she was relatively safe.

    Or so she thought.

    The Silver Knight jumped off the Ogre''s head and landed with the iconic superhero pose. Stella watched the guard in awe, and he returned the eye contact with a happy emoticon and flashed a thumbs up.

    However, the momentary relief was interrupted when the hero''s gaze was redirected upwards. "Stella, look out!"

    The Human followed the guard''s gaze and saw a piece of the crystalline cluster about to fall upon her. Oh no!

    Stella did not have time to react except to hold her arms to soften the impact throughout the rest of her body. She closed her arms and let out a whimper in anticipation of her likely death.

    However, she heard a loud noise of something exploding. Then... dust fell on her?

    She looked upwards again, but there was nothing there anymore. What just happened?

    Her questions were quickly answered by looking at the Knight. He was holding a gun.

    A GUN?!

    Well, to be exact, it didn''t look like any firearm weapon Stella ever saw. It had a cylindrical formal, silver colored with a few golden details at the muzzle, grip, and trigger. It looked... futuristic.

    "Dude... What is that...?" Stella asked, slowly getting up after the tremors subsided.

    "Oh, this!? This is my Silver Blaster?! A perfect weapon for the most dire of missions!" He pointed at another crystal broken off the ceiling, then shot a thin golden laser beam from it, turning the mineral into sparkling dust.

    He had a blaster... Of course, he had a blaster! What could possibly surprise Stella at that point? Aliens?!

    Let''s hope this tale won''t reach that point.

    The girl''s eyes were filled with wonder. "Knight, I-" She was too shaken by all of this to speak adequately. "I-I mean, that was... so cool!" Her excitement seeped into her voice.

    The hero twirled the blaster around his finger. "That was only a demonstration of the power of justice!" Then he guarded it on his holster, located on his right hip. Stella didn''t even notice the existence of it.

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    "Only a day''s work for the paragon of virtue, The Silver Knight!" And back to his signature pose. How can someone so strong be so... eccentric?

    After seeing the hero''s power, Stella had a pressing question that loudly echoed in her mind. "Is that something only Monoke can do? Or can I be strong like that?"

    She needed to know. First, it was Lien with her freaky strength, speed, and that super breath. Now it was the Knight, with... whatever was the deal with him.

    The guard''s answer really brightened Stella''s mood. "Of course! Anyone can get stronger, so long as you train your Saniya!"

    This word again. "Alright, what even is-"

    "LEPPAL��DI!"

    A powerful voice could be heard far away. It was similar to the giant''s, only... more feminine? Regardless, it was enough to make the ground shake a tad bit.

    Stella was the first to acknowledge it. "So, this is their mom, right?"

    The hero nodded. "Yes, and I''m afraid we must get through her to get Lien back." There was a noticeable hesitation in his voice.

    The girl noticed that and couldn''t help but feel a bit afraid of what lay beyond this room. Lien told her a bit about the "Giant Witch." She sounded like one hell of an opponent.

    She took a deep breath and then turned to the Knight. "You sure you can take her?"

    He crossed his arms. "I don''t know. However, I might be able to hold Gryla long enough to grab Lien and get out."

    "Great." Stella looked back at the unconscious Lads. "What about them?"

    The Knight followed the girl''s action. "They should be on the ground long enough. However, you are no longer safe here." Then he stared at her with narrowed, fake eyes. "Because someone ruined my plan."

    Stella chuckled nervously. "Sorry! I got carried away." She spoke with a sheepish smile.

    The hero sighed, and then his "eyes" widened. "Wait, how are you handling the heat?"

    Stella cleaned the sweat from her brow. "More like how I''m not handling. I''m melting, man!"

    Surprisingly, the hero''s visor produced two stars for eyes. "I have the perfect gadget!" He searched one of the many pockets on his belt and pulled out a tiny, spherical object the size of a golf ball.

    He gave the object to Stella. It was metallic and colored in black, with two vents on opposite sides, colored in orange. It also had a tiny red button on it.

    "Now press the red button." He instructed.

    The girl pressed, and the heat... disappeared! The natural furnace where they stood now felt like standing in an open field in the evening.

    "Wow! How did you do that?" Stella asked, genuinely impressed.

    That stoked the flames of the Knight''s ego. "My Deheater? absorbs the heat from your surroundings and cools the air with a special refrigerant substance, returning cool air to you!"

    Stella fiddled with the object with a puzzled look. "Huh. I did see some rich folk with one of these, actually."

    "Well, I can tell you about the finer details of my inventions, but destiny awaits!" He dramatically pointed at the colossal hole in the ground at the end of the room.

    The girl sighed. "Why''re you so dramatic?"

    Nevertheless, she followed the hero to whatever that hole led to, only to discover that it was the beginning of a massive set of stairs that led downwards. And it wasn''t just big in terms of step numbers. It was downright impossible to cross for someone their size. What about the Lads?

    "What''s the plan, Knight?" Stella asked.

    "Well, I can cross these dastardly stairs with no issue!" Then his tone mellowed out. "You, on the hand..."

    Stella was already aware of what she''d have to do. "Damn it! Fine, but I only accept a piggyback."

    The Knight didn''t say anything. He kneeled so Stella could climb on him. Once her arms were in place and her legs were held, they were ready to descend!

    The hero hopped step by step. It was a bit embarrassing, but it was better than being bridal-carried. Besides, it was quite a rush! It felt like the descending section of a rollercoaster every time he jumped.

    Eventually, they reached the lower level of the J��lasveinarnir''s home. And it looked like Stella had found the gate to hell.

    It was colossal, hot, intimidating, terrific, it was-

    "A room made out of lava!" Stella cried in disbelief while she got out of the hero''s back. "What the fuck?!"

    "Ogres are extremely heat resistant!" The Knight explained. "A very respectable defense tactic."

    Right, that Lad with the hook told her that. But man, freaking lava?! That was hardcore!

    A "narrow" path made out of rock connected the stairs with the massive platform that resided the mother of the Lads and, thankfully, Lien.

    Well, narrow would be only for the adult ogres. For them, crossing it was a piece of cake.

    Surrounding the path and the "island" was a monstrous sea of boiling lava. Bubbles emerged from the substance frequently, creating dangerous spills of the sizzling material. It was like they were at the insides of a volcano.

    Another facet of its beauty resided on the ceiling. Rather than the flashy crystal ceiling from the previous room, this one had tiny yet beautiful sparkling blue crystals. It gave a counterbalance to the hazardous nature of the room.

    The duo walked through the path. Stella felt like she was walking the last corridor before she confronted the Lord of Flames or something like that. She held tight to that little trinket the Knight gave her since she could only imagine what she would feel if it slipped from her hands.

    On the way, the Human could see what lay on the colossal platform. A giant table with two equally big chairs, a cabinet, and a cauldron tied to a chain anchored on the ceiling far above. The latter was where the giant witch was busy doing something.

    After finally reaching the stony island, Stella could see the mother of the Lads and, possibly, their biggest obstacle, no pun intended.

    She was stirring something in a giant cauldron until she turned to them when she noticed their presence. "I thought my family was filled with incompetents, but damn! You two beat them on your own?"

    Gryla wore a stereotypical brownish-pink old lady dress with a floral-patterned apron over it. She was wearing white sandals, which was a step forward from her bare-footed husband.

    Her hair was white as snow, mostly covered in a light-gray bandana. Her facial features really showcased how worn-out she was with time. Her ears had given up on their fight against gravity, and she had even fewer teeth than Leppal��ei.

    Stella was the first to engage. "Where''s Lien?!"

    Before the witch could answer, Lien''s voice could be heard. "Stella! Over here! On the table!"

    Suddenly, the Human felt a massive wave of relief. It felt like she could breathe more effortlessly, especially after so many hours of worry and guilt.

    With the fire of her determination rekindled in her eyes, Stella shouted. "Don''t worry, Lien! We''ll get you in no time!"

    The Knight also chimed in. "We''re here to lead you to your home, Lien!"

    Lien''s voice became more packed with excitement. "No way! Is that The Silver Knight! Stella, you did it!"

    Gryla was not all that excited about the reunion. "So cute y''all reuniting and stuff. But..." There was mischief in the way she spoke that last word.

    The witch turned to the cauldron. From it, she pulled out a big, long-handed wooden spoon with a bunch of weird, glowy pink symbols.

    The female Ogre shouted. "YER GOING TO SUPPER!"

 Chapter 22 - Gryla, the Giant Witch!

    "YER GOING TO SUPPER!"

    Gryla swung the enchanted ladle. From the utensil, a gooey, purple substance spilled throughout the floor. The giant giggled while she got more goo from the cauldron and made a mess in her kitchen like an unruly toddler.

    As some drops of purple goo flew towards them, the Knight wrapped his hand around Stella''s shoulder and jumped back a few feet to avoid the purple rain.

    After a few more seconds, Gryla stopped her childish games. The girl watched in confusion as a ton of purple puddles littered the floor.

    Actually, two things were on her mind. First, this smelled delicious! Second, what did she mean by they were going to su-

    "Oh, I get it!"

    She might have understood the pun but not the real threat of Gryla''s messy tactic. The witch held the large spoon with her two hands like a baby, and her hands glowed in a faint pink aura. The instrument reacted by its symbols glowing brighter.

    While Stella was distracted by whatever was Gryla doing, the Knight stood before her. "Stella, stay behind me!" He held his open palm towards her.

    The girl leaned sideways, and she saw what was going on. The gooey puddles started to expand, wiggle violently, and... morph? The gelatinous lumps slowly shapeshifted into a vaguely humanoid shape, and a symbol was branded onto each lump. It looked like an X, but each leg was bent to almost form a polygonal 8 or an hourglass.

    After achieving their final form, the lumps'' purple color darkened, and their skin became a hardened shell. Their feet were toeless and round-shaped like they were naturally wearing shoes, and their hands and fingers were shaped into pointy claws.

    They seemed naked but had nothing on their crotches to cover. Another thing they lacked was faces, replaced by a rough surface. However, the most flashy detail on them was the strange rune carved onto them, so expansive that one end resided on their chests and the other was down to their abdomen. The symbol glowed in a hot pink light, probably a gateway to their insides.

    "Since my family was so useless..." The witch gloated. "How ''bout I create my own helpers?!"

    An entire battalion of these gooplings (the name Stella gave them in her mind) dominated the kitchen floor with their overwhelming numbers. They slowly marched toward the duo with sluggish steps, almost like zombies.

    One was dangerously close to them, ready to swing its claws, but the Knight counterattacked with a roundhouse kick on its left side. Before the goopling could get up and resume its attack, the hero exploded its head into tiny purple globules with a well-placed blaster shot.

    The golem then dissolved into the gooey puddle that it originated from. One down, 999 to go. That was not an accurate number.

    The horde advanced. The Knight was fighting about ten of them at once. Stella would be impressed if it wasn''t for the goopling coming to get her.

    The Human readied her fist for a swing. That was when the Knight''s voice could be heard.

    "Stella, don''t-"

    Whatever he was warning the girl, it was too late. Before the goopling could catch Stella with its claws, the girl countered it with a powerful punch on its rune. Even with the Deheater? in hand, the girl winced with the searing heat from touching the golem.

    How hot was this creature? In the literal way, of course.

    The bright side was that the gooey construct started to dissolve with only one attack from the girl.

    "Stella!" The hero immediately came to her aid. Looking at where he was before, she saw four melting gooplings. Impressive.

    "That''s it! Tactical retreat!" The hero put Stella in a bridal carry and dashed with his lightspeed to the beginning of the giant stairs in mere seconds. It was an unforgettable experience, including the dizziness and the urge to vomit afterward.

    While Stella fought against that urge, the Knight tended to her hand, very concerned. "Is your hand okay?!"

    After ten seconds of almost vomiting, the Human managed to speak again. "It burned a little, but it''s fine now." Then, her attitude brightened. "Hey! I beat one of those guys with one blow! Cool, right?!"

    "Indeed. Not even I was able to do that..." The hero was pensive. "Where did you hit him?"

    "In that symbol they have," Stella explained. "It was a glowy spot. Isn''t that where the weak spots usually are?"

    He facepalmed. "Of course! How could I have forgotten such a fundamental aspect of weak spots!?" The girl expected a hint of sarcasm from him, but there was none.

    Stella and the Knight watched as the army of gooplings slowly descended the rock path. They were still at the beginning.

    Stella pointed out, transfixed at them. "Wow. They''re super slow."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    The Knight nodded and pulled out his blaster. "Perfect! Now I can make my way towards Lien!"

    He turned to Stella. "Look, I beg you to stay here. I''ll carve my way through these constructs and rescue your friend. Can you do that for me?"

    The girl didn''t like being sidelined. However, what else could she do? She knew the weakness of the gooplings, but this wouldn''t help much against hundreds of these creatures.

    She was brave but not stupid. Well, not THAT stupid.

    The girl barely nodded, and the hero already went in a flash of light. She sighed and hoped for the best.

    "Please, don''t fuck this up."

    <hr>

    The Silver Knight:

    He really went over his head on this.

    Wanting to meet the infamous J��lasveinarnir, the hero took the Human girl with him to not diverge from his primary duty. It seemed like a great idea at the time!

    And now, he saw how foolish he was.

    Here he was, charging at an army of constructs made of pego jam. A delicious yet dangerous predicament. His visor detected almost 600 golems that composed the battalion.

    Thanks to his lightspeed, he would dodge and weave over most of the golems to reach his objective. However, he must dwindle their numbers to create such an opening.

    He plunged into the jam battalion, using his "LIGHTSPEED BARRAGE!" to destroy tens of constructs with precise blows on their weak spot. He still chastised himself for not picking up on that sooner.

    That first onslaught greatly repelled the golems'' advance, ultimately buying Stella more time. However, he couldn''t waste energy destroying every opponent, lest he become worn out and vulnerable against the witch.

    Two constructs tried to attack him at once, but the hero jumped above them, and while they stumbled on each other, he blasted them with a single shot midair. Other good news was that only a single Saniya blast is enough to turn them into jam puddles.

    With each construct defeated, the hero carved his way through the sea of living jam. Punches, kicks, the occasional Saniya shot, and long jumps with the aid of his rocket boots. After long and arduous minutes, The Silver Knight crossed the entire army! And now, it was time to rescue a scared Wolf pup!

    Thank goodness he conserved enough fuel for the boots because he had enough to propel himself up to the top of the giant table quickly. After pulling off another flawless superhero landing, the guard could see the imprisoned Wolf.

    The hero called out. "Lien! I''m here!"

    He knew about Lien''s heightened senses, so he was sure this was enough to get her attention.

    "Knight! Over here!" She shouted.

    Before he could prepare himself for another lightspeed dash, a massive wave of jam surrounded Lien''s cage.

    "KNIGHT!" Lien cried, which was quickly muffled by the thick, gooey pego jam.

    The substance hardened and changed color, just like the constructs. It formed a protective dome all over the cage. The hero could see a rune carved into the dome, a circle with a horizontal and a vertical line inside it, forming a cross.

    The guard had zero experience with rune magic, but he knew the meaning of a few symbols. The runes in the constructs meant ''puppet'' or ''golem'', and this one meant ''shield'' or ''protection''.

    The witch laughed from afar, taunting the hero. "Ya thought it would be that easy!? Good luck with my pego dome!"

    The pego fruit was naturally filled to the brim with Saniya. Transforming into a jam only enhanced its potency. This dome wouldn''t be easy to break.

    However, it wouldn''t be impossible. Even if the Knight had to waste all his energy on this, he must uphold his duty! For Stella! Lien! Her mother! And justice!

    Pouring much of his energy into this attack, The Silver Knight dashed and bombarded the dome with his Lightspeed Barrage! Like the humanoid constructs, attacking the rune hastened the process. That is until the rune broke and disappeared, yet the dome remained in place.

    That put a wrench in his plan until something crossed his mind. He ran around the dome, and he found another rune. The hero resumed the fast barrage against the symbol, and then, when it was gone, he attacked the other runes that would pop up.

    He felt the jam barrier cracking and getting closer to their pulverization. When he was striking a rune on the top of the dome, he saw at the corner of his eye five projectiles coming towards him.

    Five purple meteors were propelled by a pink flame.

    "Watch out, ''hero''!" Of course, Gryla was taunting him at a distance.

    The Knight stopped attacking the wall and dodged all projectiles by jumping off the dome. However, his relief was short-lived when the errant projectiles redirected themselves at him.

    They were HOMING magic missiles! Fantastic...

    The hero ran for his dear life, but the missiles were faster than him. He could jump over them, but his only means of dodging would be using the rocket boots to redirect him, and he needed to spare some fuel. The same went for his Saniya.

    So, the only option left would be to quickly sidestep as a dodging tactic just before they reach him. However, it demanded colossal attention to timing.

    After a few dodges, he found the perfect window to destroy one of the comets with his blaster. Little did he know that this only made the four remaining missiles faster, making his arduous task even more difficult.

    Damn it! These missiles seemed very potent! If they hit him...

    Wait, that was it!

    Something clicked in the hero''s mind. Using his special footwear, the Knight propelled himself towards the top of the hardened jam shell and the rune. Then, he waited for the projectiles to find their way to him.

    "Lien, get on the ground!" The guard shouted at the Wolf, hoping that she could hear it.

    Right before the four magic comets could hit him, the Knight jumped the highest he could. The missiles crashed against the rune, finally demolishing the dome into tiny pieces.

    After the dust settled, the guard immediately searched for the kidnapped Wolf. He didn''t need to open the cage since it was also broken due to the deliciously deadly comets.

    Thankfully, Lien had followed the hero''s instructions. She was lying on the ground, shaking in fear. The sound of the explosion was almost ear-shattering, so it must have been scary for the pup.

    The Knight slowly approached and knelt next to her. "Hey, Lien. It''s me, the Knight." He whispered.

    The pup raised her head, and when she saw it was really him, she quickly clung to him. "You''re here! I''m so happy!"

    The guard gently tapped her shoulder. "It''s alright. You''ve been a brave pup, haven''t you?" He broke off his heroic voice, deciding to go with his natural tone.

    Lien nodded. "I''m so sorry! I will never step a paw out of home, promise!" Her grip on him tightened.

    Considering her track record, the guard did not believe much in her words. But that was the most trouble she ever took part in, so there could be truth in her words.

    The hero returned with his signature voice. "Hold tight, Lien! Because The Silver Knight will-"

    Before he could finish, the guard looked upwards. A wave of pego jam, more massive than the last, encased most of the table''s surface area. They were left in total darkness until the dome was illuminated by runes that littered its walls. The bright pink light was overwhelming to his senses.

    The runes were the same as the ones carved on the golems. Could that mean...

    His suspicions were proven true when a ring of jam constructs were spawned from the walls, surrounding the Knight and the Wolf.

    This was far from over.

 Chapter 23 - Army of the Goo.

    Stella:

    "What the hell just happened?"

    The ever-approaching army of the goo was midway through the rocky path until almost all of them dissolved into a gooey, purple mess. Then, it started floating and flew towards the table where Lien and the Knight were, forming a dome. The girl heard the culprit cackling and saw her glowing hands, indicating the usage of magic to create such a thing.

    The bright side was that only five gooplings were remaining to capture her.

    Was that witch underestimating her? Ha! It was her funeral.

    While the constructs slowly walked towards her, Stella searched her backpack for anything helpful against them. The water bottle could be valuable, but it was only a one-time use kind of weapon. Better keep that as a last resort.

    Other than that, there were only a bunch of rocks and her hoodie. The stones could work, but if they missed, it could be a waste of ammo.

    But what if they don''t need to be thrown...?

    Stella tied the two sleeves of the hoodie in the tightest knot she could create, and then she put two rocks down each sleeve. She gripped the rest of the sleeves tightly, not wanting the stones to slip off.

    She started to swing the improvised weapon, getting a feel for it. It seemed to work well enough.

    Time to bash some non-faces!

    She dashed towards the five goop zombies, swinging her weapon like a cowboy with his lasso! When in close range, she smashed one of the gooplings'' heads! It stumbled a few centimeters, then fell on the ground with two cracks on what an ear was supposed to be.

    Another goopling stretched his arms and tried to grab Stella, but she ducked and slammed her body on his legs, making it fall with its "face" on the rough floor.

    These guys were indeed like zombies.

    Having crossed the goopling barrier, the girl stepped back a little, not wanting to test her luck too much. The two fallen constructs were slowly getting up, and three, parallel to each other, were still standing and ready for the attack.

    The unscathed trio lunge at Stella all at once, scaring her at first. However, her mind shook the fear off, and she managed to slide between the legs of the one at the center. Now close to the waking golems, she turned her attention to the most damaged one and swung her weapon at the back of his skull, creating another crack. From the fracture, a trail of purple goo came out, seemingly its blood.

    The other was about to pounce! But Stella threw her hand at its rune while she held the Deheater?. Luckily, she found out that she didn''t even need to strike the creature, only let the Knight''s invention suck out all of its heat. In a few seconds, the goopling became a greyish statue.

    One down, four to go.

    Unfortunately, the three golems were too close to their fractured sibling, so she couldn''t capitalize on its weakened state. She stepped away from them to get a breather. Their slowness really was a blessing.

    The trio was annoyingly close to each other, so taking one per time was impossible. Stella needed to eliminate at least one to throw off their fighting synergy. It was time for the bottle.

    After carefully waiting for the right window, the Human opened the water bottle. Then she ran around them and shoved it on the rune of the center goopling when it turned to her. She almost got caught by the other two, but she slithered away from their clumsy claws.

    The water cooled off the construct''s insides, turning it into a statue like the previous one.

    With one more out of the picture, Stella had better access to the weakened goopling, who struggled to wake up. When it was on the verge of standing again, it received yet another blow from the girl. This time on the center of its non-existent face.

    The Human started to feel bad for the golem. Well, it wasn''t even alive, right?

    The goopling fell on its back, making his rune vulnerable to another visit from the Deheater?. Three gooplings were now neutralized.

    The last two were not as challenging as Stella thought. A well-struck blow from her hoodie weapon on one''s thigh made it stunned for enough time to neutralize another with the tiny object.

    Now, only one remained. The gooplings were terrifying in large groups, but alone? They were nothing but mindless chumps.

    She low-kicked the construct and made it fall on the ground. But this time, she would have her fun.

    After all the bullshit she went through in this damned forest. The Lads, the Cat, Kristal''s rants, and that fucking eleven-meter freak!

    And now, it was that ugly bitch with these faceless puppets. Stella had enough!

    Each time she whacked the last goopling with her improvised weapon, she roared in anger. One, two, three, four, all served as catharsis for the frustrated Human.

    On that blank canvas at the front of its head, Stella imagined St��fur''s, the guy with the hook, and Leppal��ei''s faces instead. She reveled in the thought of messing their ugly, mocking smirks by twisting their faces into a wrinkly, bloody mess!

    But then, she went further! Now, as the purple substance spilled from the construct like a geyser, she imagined all of the fucking wannabe kingpins that littered the slums she once lived. She remembered their disgusting faces and the not-so-subtle features that distinguished each one. A gold-plated tooth, a scar across one''s face, a torn ear, all marks of their supposed claim of their territories.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    They ruined everything! The orphanage! The children! Her life! Sofia''s life!

    Sofia...

    When that name crossed Stella''s mind, she could see its owner reflected on the goopling''s face, making her slowly regain her senses.

    When her vision cleared, she saw a mangled head covered in purple goo. Bits and pieces of its shell were glued on her weapon and her hands.

    Even though she knew it wasn''t a person''s head, Stella felt disgusted by seeing it. Her heart hammered, her body lost all strength, and she lost her grip on her hoodie, letting it hit the ground. She fought against the urge to vomit, which was even more intense than the last time.

    After taking deep breaths, she could suitably reflect upon her actions. Of course, the goopling wasn''t a living being. It was a golem, a puppet made out of purple goo. But she couldn''t shake the feeling that she needed the right push to turn this anger into an actual Human or Monoke.

    Was she that prone to murder? To kill someone in such a gruesome way just to release one''s anger. This was part of the girl?

    She wished these thoughts melted away like the goopling, slowly turning into a meaningless pile of goo. Just like someone''s life could be gone and their body turned into a mush of organic matter if Stella couldn''t control this rage.

    "I underestimated you, girl! Yer not so weak as I thought!" Gryla''s voice could be heard, approaching the Human.

    Right. Gryla, Lien, the Knight, her mission.

    Her friend was trapped by this witch, and the Knight was apparently captured. Only Stella was left. Only she could pull off this rescue.

    She will not run away again! Never!

    She stared at the approaching old hag, and determination burned away the fear in her heart. There was no time for doubt, only action.

    Stella ran as fast as she could towards the kitchen, hoping that she would reach the table. She didn''t care if it was impossible! Only the mission mattered.

    She was not a violent murderer. She refused to acknowledge that.

    <hr>

    The Silver Knight:

    Bam! Another construct down!

    Hordes of Gryla''s arcane puppets were born from the gooey walls of their cell. The overwhelming pink light would have made it difficult for the hero to pinpoint each one if it wasn''t for his helmet. He counterattacked each golem with fast and powerful strikes, not wanting to rely too much on his lightspeed.

    Another advantage he had was his temporary comrade. Lien was considerably more skilled in combat than Stella. Of course, Monoke trained their Saniya since childhood, which was not the case for most Humans.

    Maybe their trip would go more smoothly if the Human received some basic training, at least...

    Thoughts for later. The hero had a bigger problem to solve. He could only hope that Stella was safe and sound. If she wasn''t... That would be an unliftable weight on his soul.

    Lien took out a construct with a double palm strike. "These things won''t stop appearing!"

    The guard''s eyes searched throughout the dome. "I know! But I need to find-" He caught a rune. "I got it!"

    The Knight shot a Saniya blast at the rune, the same one carved on the golems, destroying it and creating a crack in the dome. That made an impact on the prison''s sturdiness and on the puppets'' spawn rate.

    At that point, he destroyed a handful of these symbols with his blaster, monopolizing the initial waves of enemies to break as many runes as possible before the dome became too crowded.

    Before the purple chaos, the Knight counted ten runes. If his calculations weren''t flawed, there was only one left.

    However, by focusing on that, he distracted himself from his enemies. Ten jam golems ambushed him on all sides, only to be repelled by a burst of air magic! The Knight managed to save himself just in time.

    Air magic isn''t nearly as taxing as light magic, so that wouldn''t be much of a problem. However, the ammo on his blaster was running low, indicated by a warning message that his visor projected on the bottom left corner.

    He needed a clean shot.

    He saw the army of constructs blocking the path for the last rune, then turned to the Wolf. "Lien! Super-breath at them!"

    The pup nodded and unleashed the only magic spell she knew. However, she was surprisingly powerful with it, considering her age.

    Lien''s attack made all puppets in an impressive-sized radius lose their balance and fall to the ground, creating the window for the last shot at the dome.

    After the last rune was destroyed, all jam golems were dissolved. However, the dome remained in place. It had a few cracks but still remained strong. What was missing? Were they truly trapped?

    The answer to their problems was revealed when the Knight noticed another rune forming at the top of the dome.

    The shield rune. The dome''s weak point.

    He knew what to do. "Lien! Get on my back!"

    The pup complied and tightly clung to the hero''s back. He bent his knees and gathered golden Saniya on his fist for the final blow.

    The Silver Knight took a deep breath. "ROCKET!"

    Then he jumped high in the air! Like an ascending fireball amidst the dimly lit dome, he crashed his golden fist against the symbol!

    "CRASH!"

    The attack broke through the hardened jam wall like it was made of crackers. The momentum made the two soar to greater heights outside the dome.

    The Knight could finally see what Gryla was up to, and...

    It wasn''t good.

    The witch captured Stella, binding her with only one hand. The Human cried and begged for help against the Monoke''s clutches.

    Lucky for the girl, there was a hero right here!

    In mid-air, The Silver Knight used the remaining fuel in his boots to redirect himself at the mighty Ogre. He prepared for another punch, a regular one this time.

    "THIS HUMAN IS UNDER MY PROTECTION!"

    The hero''s cry took Gryla''s attention, only for her jaw to be the target of his blow! She stumbled back, accidentally letting Stella go. The girl screamed while she fell, but the guard managed to use the last drops of fuel to swoop in, save the Human, and land safely!

    The Knight gently put Stella on the ground, and Lien followed suit. Before he could ask if the Human was okay, the Wolf wrapped her paws around her in a tight hug.

    Strangely, the Human seemed more shocked at the hug rather than at almost plummeting to her death.

    "Lien!? What''s going on?!" Stella asked.

    The pup''s tail wagged in an erratic pacing. "Nothing! You actually came to save me!"

    The Human blushed. "I mean..." She stumbled in her words. "I couldn''t leave my friend behind!" Then her eyes widened. "Uh, we are friends, right? I don''t want to over-"

    She was interrupted by Lien licking her left cheek. Stella didn''t respond, only froze in... well, maybe not disgust, but... shock? The Knight had to admit, it was a little weird.

    "Of course we are!" Lien replied, and then her voice became more reserved. "I was afraid you didn''t feel like that, though..." Her ears lowered.

    Damnit! These two were so cute! Witnessing such a powerful, genuine bond almost made him break into tears!

    But this was no time for tears! It was time to get these girls out of here!

    This was what he thought until a colossal wave of pego jam crashed on the edges of the kitchen. The ones that connected with the path to the stairs, to be precise.

    He looked at the witch, who was already behind her cauldron. "And that was almost all of my jam!" She grabbed her enchanted spoon, filled with more pego jam. "And THIS! Is to make sure ya ain''t never escaping!"

    She drank the substance. Immediately, sparks ran throughout her body, and a powerful magenta-colored aura started erupting from her body in small bursts. She ditched her bandana, letting her messy white hair run free.

    "What is she doing?" Stella asked, clearly terrified.

    To add to the terror. Gryla jumped from behind the cauldron and landed before them, creating a powerful shockwave that launched the two girls a couple meters.

    And now, only The Silver Knight could stop the witch''s onslaught.

    He stood proudly while the giant stared at him with nothing but the desire for violence in her eyes. "No one can escape me!"

    She stomped the ground, and another burst of aura came. A thunderous crack echoed throughout the inferno.

    "No one can defeat the Giant Witch!"

 Chapter 24 - Grylas Overwhelming Might!

    His heart pounded with the speed of a battering ram.

    For all of the confidence he succeeds in projecting, even he knew that going toe-to-toe with the Giant Witch was a fool''s errand. However, he had light magic as an advantage, though he was tired from all that previous fighting. Maybe that was the witch''s intention all along.

    Maybe he could use words to finish this conflict?

    "Ma''am, I don''t want to fight you! Please, just let me lead this Human to the castle!" The Knight pleaded.

    Gryla''s expression soured. "And let this wretched Human not get what she deserves!?" Sparks ran through her left arm, making its muscles bulk and have a decent increase in size. "Not a chance!"

    She slammed her strengthened fist at him. Thankfully, the hero was fast enough to jump away from the blow. However, a loud shockwave reverberated throughout the pseudo-volcano. This couldn''t be good for Lien.

    Speaking of which, where were the girls?

    After searching for a few seconds, the hero found them in a corner of the colossal jam wall away from the fight. Perfect.

    The fuel on his boots was emptied out. There was only one way out.

    "Alright, Gryla! If you want it so badly, I''ll show you the power of the radiant light of justice! The Silver Knight!" Once again, he nailed his signature pose. Even in dire situations, a true superhero must never forget his posing, his identity!

    The giant giggled. "Not bad, soldier! Yer fast as a greased lighting!" Then, her hand started producing a pink flame, immediately condensing into a spherical shape afterward. "How ''bout a magic show?"

    She threw the fireball at the guard, who dodged it by jumping to the side with his lightspeed. The giant launched three more fiery projectiles, all missing. Each created a potent explosion in contact with the ground, resulting in a deep crater.

    By then, the hero was close enough to the Ogre. She tried to push him away with an earth-shattering stomp. However, the Knight backflipped away from the attack, then counterattacked by jumping forward and targeting her stomach with a Rocket Crash!

    Unfortunately, the witch had fast reflexes and conjured a spherical Saniya barrier around her. The attack made a dent in the shield, but not nearly enough to break it.

    The witch taunted. "Aw, nice try! Good luck next time!" She expanded her shield, transforming into a burst of magenta Saniya! The spell pushed the hero far until he crashed into the jam wall. It seemed that his armor received more damage than the barricade.

    That didn''t matter. The Silver Knight stood proud and landed safely on the floor. He decided to wait and see Gryla''s next move.

    It turned out that her next attack was another fireball, but now she poured more Saniya into it. The pink searing sphere grew while she held it with her two hands. When the spell grew too much, she raised her hands to the ceiling and let it grow even more! It was almost as big as her at that point!

    The Knight was confused. Why would the Ogre waste so much energy on an attack like that? As large and intimidating as it was, the hero could easily dodge it, anyway. What was her angle?

    That was quickly answered when the witch launched the fireball at the two girls. The hero was horrified. Was she really going to kill a Monoke child to exterminate a Human?

    He couldn''t put that to the test. Using his lightspeed, the guard approached the two girls, stretched his arms, and summoned his golden Saniya barrier. The infernal spell clashed with the energy layer, violently shaking the ground beneath their feet.

    The hero saw his shield starting to crack. How was he going to react?

    He created an opening on his dome on the back, creating a path for the girls to escape.

    "Get out of here, you two!" The hero shouted.

    Stella protested. "What about you?!"

    "If I stop focusing on my shield, it''s game over!" The Knight explained. "Now go!"

    Stella climbed on Lien''s back, probably the way they ran earlier, and the pup sprinted away on all fours. Now, he could focus on the main threat.

    "Is that the limit of a member of the Dragon''s Guard!?" The Ogre taunted. "Color me unimpressed!"

    And the cracks kept getting bigger by the second. The Knight poured more Saniya into his spell, regenerating a decent amount, but it was only a temporary solution. The witch showed no signs of stopping.

    Was he done?

    <hr>

    Stella:

    He was definitely done.

    Clinging on the pup''s back, Stella saw a pink sun crashing against the Knight''s ever-cracking barrier. The intense shockwaves, the tremors, the unforgiving winds, and the blinding flashes of light that resulted from the clash almost made Stella lose her grip on her friend.

    The bright side was that Gryla was too busy with him to attempt another spell against them.

    However, they couldn''t let the hero be defeated so early. If he fell, they didn''t stand much of a chance.

    "Lien, are there any Ogre weaknesses to exploit?" Stella asked, crossing her fingers for an actual answer.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Luckily, the Wolf didn''t shrug at the question or anything. She cupped her chin as she entered into deep thought. "Well, I heard they have the hearing and the sense of smell of a Wolf." Her ears perked up. "We can scream at her!"

    Stella''s eyes widened. "That..." Then, she reflected upon the pup''s idea with more care. "Can actually work."

    The Human stared at the towering witch. "How can we even get up there?"

    Lien prepared her hind legs for propulsion. "Hang tight!" And before Stella could ask any more questions, the pup was already dashing towards the one they were supposed to stay away from.

    All of this was crazy! Reckless! But you know what? The Human was too numb to reckless stunts at that point. It didn''t take long for her to get on board with the plan, and she had to admit that this was thrilling as fuck!

    The Ogre had one hand outstretched at the fireball, which apparently was necessary to keep her spell going. It worked for them.

    Lien started to climb the giant, starting with her foot and then clinging to her dress. The whipping wind almost cut their journey short multiple times, like when they were at her thigh and later when the girls climbed through her sleeve. But with fierce stubbornness and determination, they reached the witch''s left shoulder.

    That''s when Gryla finally noticed the girls. It seemed like she was too drunk on her own success, or it was the effect of whatever she drank to get this strong. "What the hell are you two doing here?!"

    Right after she got distracted, she immediately turned her attention to the gigantic fireball, stretching now between her two hands. "Ya ain''t getting away that easily!" She was referring to the Knight.

    So, she needed focus to keep up with the spell. Interesting...

    "Lien, go for her other ear!" Stella commanded.

    Lien eagerly complied and crawled to Gryla''s right shoulder. And now, the giant''s ears would beg for mercy.

    Stella and Lien shouted at the top of their lungs at the assigned ears. Sure enough, the Ogre started growling in pain, begging to stop.

    "Damn you! Please! Stop! Screaming!"

    She gave up on the fireball and plugged her droopy ears with her hands. That sudden motion made Stella lose her balance and plummet to her demise! Or so she thought.

    Lien grabbed Stella''s leg with her mouth. The Human felt a sharp pain because of the Wolf''s teeth piercing her flesh, but it was better than dying. She was dragged back to the safety of the giant''s shoulder.

    "Stella, I''m so sorry!" Lien was apologetic. Of course, she wouldn''t do that on purpose, and Stella understood that. Besides, she cared more about returning to ground level.

    Ignoring the pain, Stella clung to Lien''s back. "I''m fine, just get me outta here!"

    And so, the girls descended through the giant''s dress, tearing it with the pup''s sharp claws. They returned to the solid rocky floor in a matter of seconds.

    The flashing lights, the tremors, and the wind were all gone, meaning that they had succeeded in aiding The Silver Knight. Well, it was time to get the hell out of there!

    While they ran, Stella asked. "Where''s the Knight?"

    Right after she made the question, a blinding glow took the attention of her eye, making the girl close her eyes for a few seconds. When she slowly opened them back, she saw him...

    A dome of energy, not made of golden energy, but actual, pure light. Glowing wisps spiral around the Knight, creating a holy light show that could convert any non-believer into whatever religion the hero could herald.

    The dome dashed at the witch with such speed that Stella only registered the moment it crashed on her face, making her fall on her back. The Silver Knight then jumped in the air, and the wisps around him rotated so much faster that it turned the sphere into practically a miniature sun. The heat it radiated could be felt on the Human''s skin, even with the Deheater?, and its light made it impossible for the girl to keep watching.

    Without vision, the girl could only hear the words "SOLAR COLLISION!" and the loud bang that came right after. She was getting accustomed to the violent earthquakes by that point.

    Slowly but surely, Stella opened her eyelids. Lien slowly walked to the humongous crater that was born from the impact. When they got close to it, the Human''s eyes widened when she saw how deep it was, swallowing the ten-meter giant whole. And above her stood The Silver Knight, proudly establishing his dominance over his fallen opponent... with his goofy posing.

    You know what? It was still the most breathtaking thing Stella had ever seen.

    After the adrenaline subsided, Stella''s leg started to REALLY hurt.

    "Shit!"

    <hr>

    Gryla:

    How could she have been so stupid?!

    She let herself open because of her arrogance. She could have let that guard deflect her attack and swat those pests away before they could do anything else.

    But none of that. The witch had to prove how much more powerful she was.

    And now, only the black void greeted her flickering mind. The sounds, smells, and the feeling of the rough floor touching her skin. All started to fade away, swallowed by unconsciousness.

    The worst part was that nefarious Human would roam free through the Monoke''s lands. Leaving a trail of destruction and chaos toward the ultimate goal of Humanity, their extinction.

    Just like... Like...

    "Mommy... I''m afraid..."

    "My love, we cannot waste any time. I will hold them!"

    "I''m sorry, Gryla. I wish we had more time together..."

    "The Humans are coming, Mother! Hide! I will be fine!"

    "Your children are an irreplaceable asset to our army, Gryla. You need to face reality."

    The voices of her past echoed and rang through the chords of her soul. Of course...

    The reason she was doing all of this in the first place. The family she had to leave behind, not by choice. The toll of war on so many lives and the promise of the new generation to pave the way to a better tomorrow.

    And that was why she had to.

    "Get up!" Gryla forced herself to break out of her unconsciousness by sheer willpower. "Don''t ya dare give up now!"

    Using every drop of her unbreakable will, Gryla reconnected the string that bound her mind to the sensible world until...

    <hr>

    She woke up.

    Her eyes were blurry for a few seconds. Only her ears were working adequately, hearing a passing conversation.

    "Breaking this wall might be impossible, and I have no fuel left for my boots." It was that damn Knight. "But I think we can climb it if we''re careful. What do you think, Lien?"

    "Sure!" The Wolf replied. "This thing is sticky, even! Piece of cake!"

    Then that wretched Human started talking. It made the Ogre''s blood boil. "Uh, Is that old hag okay? You just bombed her with the power of the sun!"

    The Knight replied. "I assure you, she''s still breathing. I don''t like how this ended, but my priority is to keep you safe."

    Keep her safe? KEEP HER SAFE?!

    Was this a sick joke? After everything they took from the Monoke, now they must bow to them and treat them as friends!?

    This was all the queen''s fault! That pitiful Dragon had forgotten how dangerous Humans were.

    Well, if she wasn''t going to do anything...

    That anger motivated Gryla to move her sluggish body again. Her muscles begged for rest, but her mind flared with the desire for justice.

    Bit by bit, she crawled out of the crater and met her eyes with the frightened traitors and the cowardly Human.

    Good, they should fear her.

    Standing on her feet again, she steeled her resolve and let her power flow. She let her emotions serve as fuel for the sake of the Ogres, of the Monoke.

    "Sure, after all those centuries, the queen decides to give you monsters a chance..."

    Electricity ran through her veins, and her muscles bulged. It was like she was back in her prime. All courtesy of her prime cooking.

    The boiling Saniya built up inside her.

    "That imbecile, traitorous wench! She may have forgotten the pain of those times..."

    She let it all out.

    "BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET!"

    A geyser of powerful Saniya erupted from her body! It transformed her into a pillar of overwhelming power! She could see the Human and the Wolf covering her eyes at the blinding light that radiated from her.

    The fear was etched on everyone''s faces except the Knight''s. That damn helmet was barring his emotions to the surface.

    It was time to correct that.

    For her lost children. For the ones that once took Gryla''s heart. For the disrespect the crown had put on her species...

    Justice would prevail.

 Chapter 25 - A Heated-Up Showdown!

    Stella:

    She never imagined getting herself in such a mess.

    Crazy to think that yesterday, she was packing her things for a walk through the woods. She imagined that the most threatening thing in Sayama would be a bear or other predator.

    And now, she was in the middle of a fucking anime battle against a 32 foot tall witch who was covered in a god-like aura. The sheer pressure of her energy threatened to make the entire room crumble. Stella could see tiny blue, sparkling crystals falling into the lava as if the lair started to shed tears with the constant destruction.

    Steam came out of the Ogre''s nostrils when she exhaled while she prepared to chase them, scraping her foot on the ground like a raging bull. Thank goodness the Knight healed her leg with those shiny hands of his.

    However, it was futile either way, proven by the giant reaching the Knight and swinging her foot to send him packing back to the wall in seconds. Stella was pushed away a few meters by the displaced air. She didn''t feel like she could handle more of that much longer.

    Worst of all, the Knight impacted the wall so hard that it created a sizeable crack in the jam barricade.

    Yeah, all those gooplings and this barrier were made of jam, apparently. It made as much sense as everything else around here, to be honest.

    Weirdness aside, it was concerning how the Knight was not moving an inch. If he got out of the picture, they would be screwed big time.

    "KNIGHT!" Stella cried.

    That only turned the witch''s attention towards her. The Human''s eyes finally could see the full extent of Gryla''s overwhelmingly powerful state. The violent energy rippling through the air, her black, beady eyes, and her murderous smile. Her apron was torn apart, leaving only a scorch mark on her dress.

    Before Stella could realize it, she was frozen. Her body... didn''t respond.

    The giant raised her foot, ready to squash the Human. Until...

    "JUSTICE COMET!"

    The Silver Knight connected a flying kick onto the witch''s side. His foot was glowing in golden energy, creating a trail of energy that made him look, as the name suggested, like a comet.

    Gryla stumbled back a few feet, giving plenty of time for Lien to run and approach her. "Are you okay?"

    Stella nodded in response, and the Knight landed close to them. His cape and the plates on his shoulders were gone, and his chest plate was deeply dented. The most noticeable change was his visor, now a completely black screen.

    The hero flashed a thumbs-up at the girls. "You two helped a lot!" Then he turned his head at the very pissed Ogre. "But now I must handle this alone!"

    Stella wasn''t very convinced, though. "You sure you can handle her?"

    To answer her question, the hero started to make yet another pose. His arms were outstretched diagonally, then he slowly put his hands close to his chest in a circular motion. Stella could feel the air around him changing.

    "This is The Silver Knight''s true power!" He flared his golden aura, akin to Gryla''s. While not as impressive as the Ogre''s, it was still an awe-inspiring light show.

    That convinced Stella to back down for the moment. "Let''s get as far away from here as possible, Lien." She turned to her friend.

    The pup nodded. "I''m ready!" And so, Stella climbed on her back, and they fled to a safe corner once more.

    The girl really missed the comfort of her tent right now. Though the Wolf''s fur was a suitable substitute. In fact, while she got a little uncomfortable with the hug, it wasn''t that bad after a while.

    The pup was so fuzzy, her fur so warm, so soft...

    "Enough of these thoughts! Just think about how weird the licking was!"

    Well, she was not wrong.

    <hr>

    The Silver Knight:

    He really pissed off Gryla.

    The Ogre stared at him with pure rage oozing from her eyes. Her mouth was wide open in a twisted grin, showing her incomplete rows of pointy teeth. The fact she was bathed in magenta light just completed the mosaic of terror that she personified.

    However, not even the most frightening villains could make The Silver Knight forget his vow to the queen and the people of Sayama!

    "As long as I''m here, you will not lay a finger on those girls! For they are under the protection of I, The Silver Knight!" The hero made his signature pose, complementing the golden glow of his Saniya.

    The Giant Witch cackled with laughter. "Alright, ''hero''! Ya have guts, I give ya that!" She stretched her arms to the side as if goading the guard to strike her. "But that ain''t enough to beat me!"A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    The hero responded with a fighting stance of his own. "You are as powerful as they say, Gryla! Defeating you will be an honor!"

    The Ogre scoffed. "Flattery ain''t getting ya nowhere!" She charged at the hero, fist ready for a powerful punch!

    The Knight flared his aura and concentrated on his fist, clashing against the Giant Witch''s! A violent shockwave rippled the air.

    After a few seconds, the guard didn''t budge an inch. His muscles painfully twitched with the strain, but he couldn''t let Gryla get the upper hand again. The good news was that the witch was exerting as much effort as him, judging by her expression.

    The stalemate ended when the giant charged a fire attack from her mouth. She shot at her own hand, not caring for it because of her natural resistance, but before the hero could be claimed by pink flames, he used his lightspeed to get out of the way.

    With his spell still activated, the Knight revolved around the Ogre and shot her with a series of Saniya blasts on her torso until it was almost drained of ammo. Her growls were proof enough of their effectiveness.

    He was about to strike the witch in her leg, but she used an air spell to create a burst of wind that repelled the guard for a couple feet.

    Thankfully, he anchored himself with his hands and feet, scraping the ground and creating a trail of destruction. The Knight recovered and ran back to his opponent in a literal flash.

    Gryla conjured one fireball in each hand and threw it at the approaching guard. However, he skillfully dodged the two projectiles, then he was about to jump at the Ogre but gave up at the last second. It was a feint.

    Who didn''t get the memo, however, was Gryla, who conjured a shield just like last time. The Knight purposefully wanted to bait this exact same situation. His new strategy was to wait and let the giant burn through her Saniya reserves, but there was more to it.

    The pego jam put one''s Saniya into overdrive, but it didn''t give only advantages. After the powered-up period subsided, the body suffered a significant toll. Depending on the amount consumed, it could be fatal.

    Thankfully, Gryla had a large body, so the amount she consumed wouldn''t kill her, but it would make her too weak to threaten them.

    However, there was a chance that she could defeat him before the time came. He needed a plan B. The problem was, would the Ogre even give him that chance?

    Speaking of which, she was displeased by the hero''s deception, deactivating her barrier. "Ain''t ya a smartass?" She pointed at him. "But don''t fool yourself! I ain''t a fucking idiot like my family!"

    She put her two hands on the ground, and suddenly, the ground started shaking. That wasn''t just brute strength, it was freaking earth magic!

    The Knight jumped as far away from her as possible, avoiding the pointy earth spikes that emerged a second later. That was close!

    Gryla did not give up, however. She transformed the rocky kitchen floor into a colossal safety hazard. More spikes emerged, but thank goodness the guard knew how to predict where they would appear. It was about paying attention to the subtle tremors on the ground, and he didn''t even need light magic to avoid them.

    The witch wasn''t going to leave it at that, of course. Her chest and cheeks inflated, followed by a jet of water coming out of her mouth. The hero wasn''t naive, so he conjured a Saniya barrier. Sure enough, the protective layer started to melt in contact with the acidic rain.

    Fire, air, earth, and water. She had access to all four elemental routes. No wonder she was so formidable. If she kept that up, the hero would be tired before she could feel the strain.

    Wait... He had an idea.

    The Knight knelt and started panting, hoping it was exaggerated enough so the witch could notice his chest expanding and deflating.

    That convinced the witch, who chuckled at the hero''s state. "Ran outta steam, already?! This weird power of yours ain''t that special, after all." She slowly approached the guard with slow and earth-shattering steps.

    The hero smiled under his helmet and slowly walked towards the edge of the kitchen, hoping she would take the bait. "Even a beacon of righteousness can make mistakes!"

    The witch made a vicious grin that gave chills down the guard''s spine. After a few agonizing seconds, he was already at the edge of the massive rock platform. Only one wrong movement to fall into the overheated rock juice.

    Thank goodness the cooldown mode on his suit was still working.

    Gryla cackled. "I hope defending that Human was worth it for ya!" She swung her leg for a final ki-

    "BLINDING HALO!" The Silver Knight''s body shone in a blinding, white light. His plan had worked!

    The Giant Witch put her hands in front of her eyes immediately. "Damn you!"

    The Knight used this opportunity to erupt his aura again. Like a golden flash of light, the hero made a combination of blows with unmatched speed. A blow in her gut, then her jaw, then two blows on her knee joints. After the giantess was brought to her knees, the Knight finalized her with a Justice Comet!

    The Ogre fell into the pool of lava, though it wasn''t as splashy as the hero imagined. It was more like... painfully hitting the ground, then getting slowly absorbed into it.

    Regardless, it worked! Now, the guard had the opportunity to set up his backup plan. He activated his holographic keyboard, which conveniently didn''t break. Over the many, many buttons on it, the hero opted for the big, red one in the middle.

    A message appeared. Distress signal activated.

    What a relief. But wait... where are the girls?

    <hr>

    Lien:

    "I''m smelling it!"

    Lien had climbed to the mouth of the witch''s cauldron. After watching the Knight having so much trouble against the Ogre, Stella planned to use her own cooking against her.

    The hardest part was actually obtaining the pego jam. It wasn''t an easy climb, but slowly, the pup pulled it off. Now, it was time to go descend.

    Descending was a fun experience, sliding with her claws scraping the sticky metallic surface. However, it was loud as heck! Almost made her sensitive ears burst.

    She would get into heaps of trouble if she lost two of her senses. Her mother would never let her step a foot out of their hut.

    Thankfully, it only lasted a few seconds. However, Lien was now sitting in the sticky jam, barely able to stand up. Then, she quickly pulled a spoon, which they got from the cabinet, and scraped the jam off the bottom of the cauldron. Stella would be so proud!

    Speaking of who, Lien was so happy to confirm her friendship with the Human! After all that talk from Gryla, the pup started to doubt if Stella cared about her. Suck on that, witch!

    However, it was a little weird when she hugged the Human. Her muscles tensed, and her heart rate skyrocketed!

    Eh, maybe she was nervous. It happened all the time!

    A more pressing question, however, was how tasty was this jam, anyway? Her mom told her that only adults should taste this treat. But damn! This smelled so good! Besides, she needed to help the Knight. So, she was completely justified.

    After deconstructing this moral dilemma, she licked the spoon clean. By Tizohi''s antlers, this was divine! It was sweeter than the fruit, but it was so intoxicating! She wanted more!

    The pup lapped up more of the jam from the cauldron. Eventually, something... changed.

    Like a lightning bolt, something quickly surged within Lien. She was shaking with excess energy, more than ever in her life. Every strand of her fur stood up, and she could feel her Saniya seeping out of her body.

    This was amazing! She felt INCREDIBLE!

    "YES! YES! I CAN WIN! I FEEL GREAT! I! CAN! DO! THIS!"

    "LIEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" That was Stella''s voice.

    "Uh... Nothing!" The pup responded.

    "Great! Now, where''s the spoon?!"

    Right, the spoon! She was supposed to give Stella some jam as well. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

    Uh...

    Where was the spoon?

 Chapter 26 - With Great Power, Comes a Whole Lot of Pain.

    Stella:

    What was taking her so long?!

    Stella paced back and forth, trying to not freak out. However, this was a tall order.

    She knew Gryla wouldn''t be stopped by the lava. If Ogres weren''t resistant, the witch wouldn''t live surrounded by a sea of molten rock.

    And apparently, the illustrious hero that swore to save them was... meditating? Just waiting for round 2. Fantastic...

    Lien explained the pego jam''s properties to her, which gave the Human an idea. Obtaining a spoon that resided on the cabinet''s lowest drawer, the pup fetched some for them.

    If only she was faster...

    Before her frustration could reach a critical state, the cauldron started rocking back and forth.

    "Lien?"

    A... white meteor? It came out from the cauldron!

    "Shit! It was rigged!"

    It landed right next to the girl, missing her by mere inches! Stella''s life flashed before her eyes. It wasn''t a pleasant flashback.

    She turned to see what the hell was that about. It turned out to be Lien with a spoon in her mouth. Like Gryla and the Knight, the Wolf had a white, transparent aura enveloping her body. She went so fast and hard on her way down that she created a shallow crater on the floor.

    So that jam really was effective! The question was, would that work on Stella? Was it toxic to Humans?

    Those questions didn''t matter because Lien force-fed the miraculous goo down the Human''s throat. It tasted delicious! Better than any sweet she ever had.

    However, nothing else happened.

    Stella clenched her hand, then flexed her biceps. After half a minute of absolutely nothing, she sighed. "Well, that was a b- OH!"

    It came all at once. The Human''s body and mind ignited with energy as her hair stood up. A golden aura, just like the Knight''s, surrounded Stella''s body, as it felt like every neuron in her brain was crackling with excess electricity!

    However... She could barely feel anything other than the changes in her body. Her mind shut off to the outside world, and her muscles threatened to burst at any moment. Did she poison herself?

    Damn it! She couldn''t die like this! She willed her pounding heart to calm the hell down, but it wasn''t as simple as that.

    Through the metaphorical fog, she could hear Lien''s voice. "Stella! ......going.....me!"

    The girl tried to speak, but even using her vocal cords was painful. She could only let out a weak groan.

    Then the Knight''s voice came. "Stella! Can.............. Please!"

    What the hell did he say?! Argh, her head was about to split in two! Or so it seemed.

    Wait, she could feel something else! It was the warmth of the tears sliding down her cheeks. Not ideal.

    This was the worst idea Stella ever had! Her entire body burned, her veins seemingly running lava inside them. She would explode in a disturbing mess of gore.

    "Stella!" The Knight''s voice again. "Deep breaths! And picture your Saniya as a flowing river! Let it flow through you rather than running wild!"

    It couldn''t be that easy, could it? The Knight''s words made it seem like this energy was part of her. But that was impossible!

    Whatever! It was either doing as he said or dying!

    The Human started taking deep breaths, almost in a meditative state. After agonizing seconds that felt like minutes, she could feel... better? Marginally better than before.

    Breathe in, breathe out... Slowly but surely, her body hurt less and less. At least it didn''t feel like she was becoming a living bomb anymore. It hurt like hell, still!

    After a minute, she was making progress. Her burning veins now cooled off, and she was feeling more energized in a good way. However, she could feel the ground shaking again.

    "Not now!" The Knight was clearly frustrated. The witch had risen up from her burning bath. Stella could open her eyes and see for herself, but she needed to concentrate on her Saniya. Maybe then she would get an actual benefit from all this trouble.

    "I''ll help you, Knight!" Lien''s voice chimed in.

    Great, now Lien was going to the frontline without her. She just needed... another... minute...

    Her muscles twitched and throbbed painfully. But... she fought through it and made her first step.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    "Come on, come on!" She shouted to herself. "I can do this!"

    One step, two steps... So far, so good.

    As her muscles relaxed with each passing second, Stella opened her eyes. She saw the Giant Witch launching a barrage of fireballs at her two companions. Thank goodness they managed to dodge all projectiles.

    Seeing them putting their lives on the line motivated Stella to push past her limits! She could run again! And holy crap, she was fast! The rush of adrenaline was intoxicating, but the Human needed to focus. She needed to stop that witch once and for all.

    But before she could go ape on the Ogre, she realized something when she looked at her surroundings. A floor made out of stone where it was thoroughly affected by explosive fireballs and whatnot. And can you guess the result? That''s right, plenty of ammo for Stella''s specialty, rock-throwing!

    The Human used her extraordinary speed boost to grab as many rocks as possible. She also noticed her increase in strength, barely able to feel the weight of ones the size of her head.

    Oh, this would be something special! She could feel it!

    The problem was the constant aura that emanated from her body. She felt like a walking flashlight! Couldn''t she turn that off? A question for later.

    When Gryla turned her back on her, this was the perfect opportunity. Stella launched the heavy rock like it was made of cotton! Suffering all that pain was definitely worth it.

    Even if it was a much bigger projectile than Stella was used to, it still hit the target, the back of the witch''s head. The giant cried in pain and immediately turned her body towards the Human, with spite dripping out of her scowl.

    "So you drank from my cooking, too?!" She stomped the ground again, but Stella was accustomed to those. Her feet remained steady on the floor.

    Gryla noticed the girl''s improvement. "Aw, look at ya! Do ya really think that''s enough to beat me?!" She pointed her thumb at herself.

    Stella gave a smug grin. "Maybe not..."

    A white flash came out of nowhere and pushed the Ogre''s right foot, then the other, making her fall.

    The girl finished. "By myself." Her grin was unchanging.

    "Argh! Ya son of a bitch!" Gryla shouted.

    Then the Knight climbed to her face and shut her mouth with his "ROCKET CRASH!" However, judging by the hero fleeing and the Saniya bursting out from the witch, it wasn''t enough.

    Lien approached Stella so fast she could barely register. "Hey!" She put her furry arm over the Human''s shoulder. "I thought you were a goner!"

    Then, it was the Knight''s turn. "That''s, to put it mildly. Seriously, Stella! You could''ve died!" He was so worked up that he forgot his heroic voice.

    So Stella could have actually died from that. Her body shivered with the thought of getting a brush with death. Well, it was already done, and they had more pressing issues.

    Stella looked at her hands and her arms, admiring her glorious aura. "So THIS is Saniya! Cool!"

    The Knight crossed his arms. "Indeed. I''m glad you managed to awaken AND control it in such an intense circumstance. Pego jam is only made for those who have some Saniya control."

    So that was why Lien was fine after drinking it. That would have been fricking good to know later. However, she couldn''t hold it against the hero since he was too busy fighting to stop her scheme.

    Gryla was not too happy with this result. "Just my luck! Why can''t ya die already, huh?!" She slowly got up again.

    Stella was too altered by the jam to bear any fear towards her. "If you want to kill me, you have to do it yourself, Giant Bitch!" She cracked her knuckles.

    Gryla huffed, then flared her aura again. While impressive, it wasn''t as intense as last time. Perfect.

    Stella and Lien stood side-by-side, ready to take the lead against the witch. However, before they could commence their onslaught, the hero spoke. "You two stand no chance against Gryla still! We only need to stall her!"

    The Human looked at him, puzzled. "Stall her for what?"

    He explained. "Well, either Gryla will suffer the effects of the jam and be neutralized, or the backup I called will arrive. Either way, we win!"

    Lien flashed a thumbs-up. "Alright! We can do this! Right, Stella?"

    The Human smiled. "Of course!" She picked a few more rocks from the ground. "But I''ll need your help!"

    Stella climbed on Lien''s back and darted towards the giant. The Wolf ran on all fours while the Human threw rock after rock. Gryla summoned her shield to stop the stones, then flexed her bulging muscles, followed by a powerful quake.

    She lifted her arms in the air, revealing a gigantic rock her size coming from behind her and floating over her head. That felt like karma.

    "Ya like rocks that much?!" She swung her arms. "Then ya gonna love THIS!"

    Lien ran as fast as she could, barely avoiding the boulder. Okay, so she couldn''t face the witch head-on. What could be her weakness?

    Stella''s line of thought was interrupted by Lien suddenly running again. Before she could ask, she saw the massive, pointy spikes emerging from the ground.

    Human and Wolf kebab. Hmmmm.....

    Gryla smirked, only to be struck in her gut by a golden comet. That put a smile on Stella''s face.

    From that, the hero approached the girls in a few seconds. "You two okay?" He was panting a lot.

    "Absolutely!" Lien eagerly spoke and nodded. She was even more energetic and excited than usual. Her body was basically vibrating! That jam was one hell of a drug.

    "Yeah, what she said." Stella agreed. "Hey, are you sure we can distract her that long?"

    The Knight nodded. "She was considerably weakened. So we only need to divert her attention and tire her out more."

    He turned at the pup. "Lien, can you dodge all of her earth spikes?"

    Lien puffed her chest and saluted him. "Yessir!"

    Then, the hero turned to Stella. "Can you keep throwing rocks at her?"

    The Human shrugged. "Easy. But that witch will only use her stupid shield."

    He flashed a thumbs-up. "Perfect! Get her more tired!" Then, he prepared himself to run once more. "I''ll be the distraction this time, and you attack her blind spots. We''ll keep taking turns, understand?"

    "Yes!" Stella and Lien spoke as one.

    What came after was a routine of bait and switch. The Knight zig-zagged through Gryla''s attacks, only to be attacked by a barrage of stones. Stella and Lien pretended to be stuck on a rock, only for the Ogre to divert her attention and receive a Lightspeed Barrage all over her face.

    Then the hero used his "Blinding Halo!" on the witch, but she closed her eyes before it could affect her.

    She laughed mockingly. "Nice try! But I already am familiar with yer silly tricks!"

    It wasn''t so funny when she got bit in her ankle by a powered-up Wolf pup. It even started to trickle down some blood. Geez...

    That was the straw that broke the camel''s back. Gryla roared, flaring her aura as much as she could muster! "Ya think ya can keep with this charade forever?! Ha!"

    She clasped her hands together, making a loud noise. Then, a massive pink fireball emerged from between them. "Let''s see if ya can escape THIS!"

    The flames revolved faster and faster. It reached a point where the projectile became an unstable mass of plasma!

    The witch launched the spell in the air. When it reached a certain altitude, it exploded into eight smaller meteors!

    ...Which exploded into smaller pieces, which turned into even SMALLER projectiles! The process was repeated a few more times, and before they knew it, not just the trio but the entire kitchen would be about to be cleansed by a burning rain.

    The hero conjured his golden shield! Ready to bravely protect the girls against the deadly meteor shower!

    But would that be enough?

 Chapter 27 - Desperate Measures.

    They were so fucked.

    The Silver Knight''s barrier was slowly cracking and yielding to the never-ending rain of pink flames. He grunted, clearly being pushed to his limits. However, they had to face the truth. He wouldn''t last long.

    The sound of the countless meteors crashing against the ever-weakening protective layer and the rest of the kitchen was unbearable! Would their journey end in this hell? They would burn to their deaths, and Stella could only sit down and watch?!

    Her growing fear was cut short by the Knight''s surprise request. "Stella, I need you for this!"

    The girl''s eyes widened. "What?!"

    The Knight tried to explain as fast as he could. "Your Saniya! Touch my barrier with both hands!"

    His voice carried such a sense of urgency that Stella didn''t even think of questioning his plan. It was either blindly trusting him or dying. Guess what option she picked.

    The girl jumped off Lien''s back. "Like this?" She put her hands on the shield. Her hands were graced with a surprisingly pleasant warmth. It almost made her forget about their impending doom.

    The Knight confirmed. "Yeah! Now listen carefully!" He paused to breathe. Talking was proving to be an almost impossible task. "You succeeded in making your Saniya flow through your body! Now, I want you to transfer this energy to my barrier."

    Stella was understandably freaking out. How in the world was she supposed to do that? It was hard keeping this excess energy in check, and now she needed to transfer to a magical bubble?! The hell?!

    The hero noticed that and cheered for her. "C''mon, you can do it! It''s easier than you think! Picture your Saniya as a river, then picture a tributary, but in reverse!" His voice attempted to be heroic but cracked constantly throughout.

    Stella didn''t know much about rivers but understood the overall message. It was like opening a faucet, she assumed. She closed her eyes, retook deep breaths, pictured her Saniya slowly seeping from her body, and then focused on the warmth of the Knight''s barrier, trying her best to ignore all the chaos around her.

    After a few seconds, she felt something. She was getting a little weaker than before. Was it working?

    The Knight''s voice answered everything she needed to know. "Yes! That''s it! Keep going!"

    Lien chimed in with the cheerleading. "Go, Stella! Go! Go! Go!"

    Slowly but surely, the girl was getting a better feel at this Saniya business. She could sense her energy channeling through her fingertips and powering up the spell. She opened her eyes and watched in awe as the barrier had no more visible cracks.

    "Holy shit! I''m actually doing it!" The Human shouted with the intoxicating satisfaction of contributing to their survival.

    After another minute of relentless assault, the infernal comets stopped coming. With a loud sigh of relief from both the Knight and Stella, the barrier dissolved into tiny golden sparks.

    Lien howled. "We did it! You did it!" She grabbed Stella''s shoulders and frantically shook the Human. She was about to throw up!

    Thankfully, the pup stopped, allowing Stella to catch her breath. Strengthening the dome took a lot from her. "Yeah... I can''t believe I pulled that off..."

    The Knight fell with his back on the ground, breathing heavily. Stella watched him with concern. "You''re gonna be okay, Knight?"

    He weakly nodded. That was enough of an answer for the girls.

    She took a moment to take in the state of the kitchen. All furniture it once had was turned into a valueless, broken heap of trash. The table, the cabinet. Only the cauldron was unharmed, only brought to the floor.

    Then Stella stared at the cause of all this mess. Panting, just like the Knight, and fell to her knees.

    The Human harbored a hatred towards the Ogre. She trashed her own home and almost murdered two of her fellow Monoke just to get her.

    Now that she was led to this pathetic state, it was time to teach this bitch a lesson.

    Stella cracked her knuckles and let her rage freely flow through every muscle, every tissue, and cell in her body. Her aura brightened once again in response.

    While she stepped towards her gigantic target, Lien decided to walk with her. "Whatchu doing?"

    Stella gave a mischievous smirk. "I''m going to beat the shit outta her."

    "Nice! Let''s go!" There was not even a drop of malice in the pup''s voice.

    That killed Stella''s mood. It was hard to keep in touch with her edgy side with that pillar of unwavering joy beside her. It was mind-boggling how she just agreed to do acts of violence like it was nothing.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Stella had only the weirdest of company, huh?

    Another thing that completely destroyed any of the girl''s violent urges was seeing the witch loudly coughing. And then she vomited a concerning amount of blood.

    Stella quickly retreated as the blood almost touched her boots. "Gross! Gross! Gross!"

    Lien clutched her snout. "Yikes! Blood vomit, not a pleasant smell."

    On second thought, punching her in that state just felt wrong. Stella didn''t know why she ever felt like that. Maybe it was because the giant was already suffering enough?

    Eh, whatever. It was time for the girls to pack their things and leave.

    "Wha... Where the hell are ya going...?" Gryla''s weakened voice and ragged breathing only increased the girl''s pity for her. So weird.

    The good news was, the witch''s voice was not deafeningly loud anymore, as it was apparently a feature in adult Ogres.

    Stella put a hand on her hip and spoke in a dismissive tone. "Ma''am, look at you. This is over! Now go to sleep and quit nagging!"

    The Human turned her back to the Ogre once again, only to be surprised by another tremor. What was this crazy old hag doing?!

    Magenta sparks ran through Gryla''s body while she slowly got to her feet again. Stella still didn''t understand. The Ogre''s movements were slow and sluggish, showing she didn''t have the energy to keep fighting.

    Well, Lien disagreed. "Stella, this is bad!"

    Gathering what remained of her power, Gryla roared for the last time and conjured a maelstrom of Saniya! It shaped like a dome around her but entirely different from her shield spell. It was bright, overwhelming, and chaotic.

    Almost like...

    "GRYLA IS BLOWING HERSELF UP!" The Knight shouted, finally standing up again.

    "WHAT!?" The girls cried in unison.

    "Wasn''t she tired from the jam or something? How is she doing that?!" Stella desperately asked.

    "Let''s talk while we run!" The hero gestured towards the jam wall.

    While they desperately ran for their lives, the Knight explained. "Saniya connects our three components: body, mind, and soul! Gryla is willing to burn the energy keeping her together to turn herself into a bomb!" By the time he finished, they got to the base of the wall.

    Gryla laughed maniacally at them. "It''s too late! Even if ya climbed that wall, the explosion will turn this cave into a fucking crater!"

    Even in her last moments, she couldn''t stop mocking them, could she?

    "Can''t we stop her from charging?" Stella asked.

    "Stella, you can feel the heat coming from her, right?! We are not strong enough to pierce through that Saniya!" The Knight grew more impatient.

    Lien agreed. "Yeah, there''s no way we can stop her."

    The Knight pointed at the top of the barricade, far away. "Lien, take Stella and climb as fast as you can!"

    Stella asked. "What about you?!"

    The hero... didn''t answer.

    Oh shit...

    "You... You''re going to..."

    "The truest of heroes know when to give their life to save another!" His cheesy voice returned, as firm and unwavering as ever. "You two are the only ones who can survive this encounter! Now go!"

    Stella''s mind split in half. She couldn''t bear to know that the guy she got attached to was sacrificing his life without a second thought. However, she also didn''t want to die.

    Was she a terrible person to desire for her survival?

    The Knight apparently didn''t think that way. "You have a long life ahead of you, Stella." He flashed a thumbs up. "Live it to the fullest! That''s how you will repay me!"

    Stella started to break into tears. She had known the guard for only hours, yet he did more for her than any adult she met before. Lien rushed at the Knight with a big hug.

    "I don''t want you to die..." The pup''s voice was muffled.

    The hero returned the embrace. "You''re a brave Wolf, just like your mother. Now, please! You''re wasting precious time!"

    The girls begrudgingly complied. And so, their way up officially started.

    Lien was the least affected by the fight, stamina-wise. Her strong muscles were pivotal for their speedy climbing.

    Stella watched the hero shoot the last of his ammunition at the Ogre, probably trying to delay the explosion. All of the time wasted crying for his fate could ultimately lead to their demise, but strangely, Stella did not regret that. She needed at least some closure if she wanted to proceed with living.

    Stella barely cared for the occasional slip-ups Lien went through on their way up. Her mind was tormented by the fear of death and the grief from losing the Knight.

    She never thought she would cry for someone she barely knew, not once, but twice.

    <hr>

    The Silver Knight:

    Alas, this was the end of a legend. The Silver Knight''s last hurrah!

    As he saw the colossal and chaotic mass of Saniya about to end his life, his mind was calm and serene, more than it had in years.

    Stella and Lien would survive, be found by the Dragon''s Guard, and then be safe. This was all that he wanted.

    This... was the perfect death.

    The hero walked towards the soon-to-be exploding witch. As he approached her, she snickered. "Try to punch as hard as ya want! You''re too weak to stop me!"

    Her tone completely changed when he sat next to her and meditated. "W-what are ya doing?!"

    "Meditating! I think it might help with this dying thing." The hero spoke with the purest joy and not a shred of irony.

    "You''re not taking this seriously! I will destroy everything in my lair!" Her frustration grew.

    He hummed. "I know. Although your children, J��la, and your husband are probably in the lair. You''re gonna blow them up for the greater good?"

    Gryla scoffed. "Of course not, you dimwit! I used telepathy to tell them to flee when I started fighting you."

    The Knight sighed. "That''s a relief! But what about Lien? You do know she has a mother, right? Would you rea-"

    The dome of energy around her shrank considerably as she got flustered. "Listen, I don''t wanna do this, alright?! But I have to! Can''t let those monsters run amok in our home! So if I must kill one or two Monoke to keep the peace, so be it!"

    "Even children?"

    "Listen here, you little sh-" Her eyes widened, then she paid attention to her spell. "Aw, you slimy little bastard! Nice try!" Then her Saniya burst again to its previous size. "Ya almost got me! Now, I''ll keep my mouth shut!"

    The guard nodded. "It was worth a try." Then, he also kept himself in silence.

    Only the sound of the swirling Saniya filled the volcanic room. It reminded him of the self-destruct sequences in the old games he played in his youth. They indirectly shaped his career path. It almost made him feel nostalgic.

    No, that life was over. The Silver Knight plunged into a life of devotion to Sayama''s people and justice. And that was all that mattered.

    Maybe now... He could see someone good when gazing upon the mirror... In the afterlife... where probably stuff like mirrors don''t even exist...

    Maybe the floor was reflective? And how abo-

    CRASH!

    The Knight''s meditation got interrupted by whatever had crashed next to them. Even Gryla had lost her concentration again.

    There was a cloud of dust concealing its identity. The hero''s heart started to pound with desperation. Was it the girls? Have they failed?!

    "Stella?! Lien?!"

    A familiar voice answered. "Fortunately, no!"

    The dust settled, revealing five figures. All who the hero knew very well.

    "You guys!" The Knight cried with renewed hope.

    The cavalry has arrived! Well, maybe "pack" would be a more fitting term.

 Chapter 28 - The Lycan Squad!

    His distress signal worked!

    The five guards jumped out from their respective craters and quickly approached the Knight with incredible speed. Well, except for the chubbiest one in the pack. Even so, he was still deceptively fast for what his body made one expect.

    Each guard was exceptional in their own right. They were the Lycan Squad, after all.

    All of them were Wolves, led by the illustrious Captain Tash. Her physical features were almost identical to Lien''s, except for the lack of a fringe and the brown fur patches replaced by grey. She wore an armor that allowed flexibility with metallic grey plates on her shoulders, arms, torso, and legs. Around her neck was a necklace with a trinket shaped like a Dragon''s head (their logo).

    Standing on her right side was Locci, the tallest of them all. He had fur as black as the night sky on a new moon and eyes as yellow as a sunflower. Because of his unmatched strength, he could afford to wear heavier armor than his comrades. The Dragon''s Guard symbol adorned the armor protecting his right biceps.

    Tarb stood by the captain''s left side. He was her brother and Lien''s uncle. He was the smallest, oldest, and chubbiest of the squad but no less formidable. He was completely different from his sister and niece, as shown by the thick folds around his face, flat snout, and protruding lower jaw. Their symbol adorned his right biceps, mirroring Locci.

    Supporting the squad on the back were the squad''s mages, the twins Euraidd and Hufen. They had floppy ears and thicker fur than the other Wolves, and the way to differentiate them was simple. Euraidd had golden fur, while his sister''s were cream-colored.

    They each held a wooden staff with sikpha crystals adorning the top. Euraidd''s were green, while Hufen''s were blue. They wore lighter armor with the Dragon''s Guard insignia on the golden one''s right shoulder and the opposite side in the cream Wolf''s case.

    Gryla scowled at the newcomers. "Y''all came here to die?!" She giggled. "Bunch of fools!"

    Tash got on all fours, and her squad followed suit. The twins held their staffs with their mouths.

    "Spear Formation!"

    They collectively flared their aura, white and transparent like the Lien''s. Their Saniya coalesced into a pillar of unfathomable power, even momentarily dwarfing the Ogre''s.

    The pack''s combined power shaped itself into a point of a spear. Tash took the lead, and then they clashed their Spear Formation against the dome of magenta energy!

    The Knight watched in awe as the energy spear slowly carved its way into the swirling Saniya. Of course, Gryla became more and more desperate as time went on.

    "N-NO! DON''T YOU DARE!"

    Like a bubble, the squad popped Gryla spell! The room finally stopped shaking, and the floor was stable again. The witch was horrified.

    "H-How...?" She was brought to her knees, practically accepting her defeat.

    Tash didn''t answer. The captain jumped at the Ogre''s head and knocked her out with a single punch in her forehead!

    And that was how the Giant Witch was conquered. Now, she lay like a pathetic tall heap on the floor, just like the rest of her family.

    The Knight felt so relieved. He had accepted his death, but he saw no problem getting to live another day. That meant more people to save and more justice to serve.

    The rest of the squad approached him. Tarb already started with his iconic hearty laughter. "Geez, Knight! You''ve been going through the wringer!"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The hero laughed back. "Indeed, my fellow guard! But The Silver Knight always comes on top!" Seeing his colleagues again did wonders for his spirit.

    Euraidd joined in the laugh while Locci and Hufen kept silent. They enjoyed this light moment for a few seconds before the captain chimed in. Then, everyone kept their mouths shut.

    "Well, the self-destructing Ogre begged to differ!" Capt. Tash had that common expression of seriousness but with a slight edge of annoyance. The hero was the target of more of these than he wanted to admit.

    "Captain! I am honored to have been saved by you and your glorious squad!" He always returned the coldness by doubling down on his bright attitude.

    "Save the paw-licking for someone else, Knight." She was more worked up than usual. Yikes.

    She turned her gaze towards the top of the pego jam wall. The hero could see two tiny figures on it. "And, of course, wherever you are, Lien is close."

    She coldly stared at Knight''s eyes, almost as if she knew exactly where they were. "With a Human, no less."

    The captain had always freaked him out ever since they first met. The hero would swear Lien was adopted if it wasn''t for the striking resemblance.

    Speaking of who, Tash shouted at her pup. "YOU''RE GONNA GET IN REAL TROUBLE, YOUNG LADY!"

    "SORRY, MOM!" Lien shouted back from far away. The hero couldn''t help but chuckle at the weirdly adorable scene, then stopped when the captain''s gaze returned to him.

    "Euraidd. Hufen." The twins quickly stood ready for Tash''s orders. "Heal him."

    Oh, boy! It was time for the secret Wolf healing technique! The mages put their staffs and started to lick the unarmored parts of the hero''s body. Except... you know...

    The Knight giggled desperately, trying to hold his composure as the Wolves'' tongues tickled him mercilessly. Thank goodness they couldn''t see his tears.

    This silly act was actually a pretty advanced water spell. The mages channeled Saniya through their saliva to heal the target''s wounds and/or reenergize them. It took a while for the hero to get used to it, but spending as much time with Wolves made him prepared for anything.

    A wave of relief crashed upon him as the water droplets went through his spandex, and the pain and fatigue slowly faded away.

    <hr>

    Stella:

    "So... That''s your mom, huh?"

    Lien nodded. "Yup! She''s the captain of a whole unit! Captain Tash of the Lycan Squad!" Lien spoke loudly with pride, almost like the Knight. However, her mood deflated right after. "And she''s gonna ground me for life."

    Stella took a little while to absorb all of this. After that storm of emotions, she could finally breathe with ease. Everything was going to be alright. Lien, the Knight, herself.

    While her heart lowered its rhythm to a healthy pace, the golden aura was reduced to a faint glow. This was pretty convenient since she didn''t want to continue as a walking lightbulb.

    Yeah, she''d be fine! She even had Lien by her side again.

    Now that the Human thought about it, it was surprising how this rowdy pup made such an impression on her. Stella didn''t have an actual friend for many years, only acquaintances. It was all she could afford with the thieving life.

    However, it was so weird how she reacted to Lien''s touch. Her heart rate skyrocketed by just a simple hug. It was a tight one, but still! It wasn''t embarrassment or discomfort. It was as if...

    ...If she desired this, for some reason. What was wrong with her? Was she that lonely?

    Argh! No use ruining a good thing. Besides, look at her! It would be like dating her dog! Gross!

    Though the view she had from up there was divine! She was now considerably closer to the sparkling blue crystals on the ceiling. Now, her mind drifted to a scenario where the two girls stargazed, just like she did in Namadi.

    Their hands touching, their eyes meeting...

    "ARGH! STOP. IT!"

    The girl focused on the cool stuff, like the pool of lava around them. That was fucking awesome! Literally hot!

    Then she remembered the warmth of the Wolf''s fur.

    "FUCK!"

    Stella blamed her sleep deprivation for these silly thoughts. Just a good night of sleep, and she would be good as new!

    Lien sparked the conversation once again. "What do you think of my mom? Isn''t she the coolest?!"

    The captain was... something, alright. When they met a few minutes ago, she stared at the Human as if she found a cockroach. It was... humiliating and a bit scary.

    "Uh..." Stella couldn''t talk crap about the pup''s mother in front of her. "Yeah! She was cool as heck!"

    Lien''s tail wagged. Damn, she was cute! In a platonic way, of course!

    Her heart pounded again, not because of Lien, but something else. Then, it felt like all her energy was drained in a second, her vision blurred, and her hands took seconds to obey her brain''s commands.

    "Lien... I''m not... Agh!" She rested against the pup.

    Lien grabbed her shoulders and started shaking her. "Stella! C''mon, don''t be like that!"

    Her body was completely spent. Lack of sleep, the jam, you name it. The situation escalated when she vomited a red puddle on the jam surface. She couldn''t see much, but she already knew what it was.

    Lien''s words echoed through her last moments of consciousness. "Stella!" Then she turned to someone else. "HEY! OVER HERE!"

    Then everything went to black.

    She was alone in the void of the unconscious.

    Except for...

    "Ya think that these guards will protect ya? Ya ain''t getting to the castle alive!"

 Chapter 29 - A Moment of Respite.

    She was alive, right?

    Stella slowly remembered her last moments before now, her unstable heartbeat, her body becoming numb, and the puddle of blood coming out of her mouth.

    And right before darkness claimed her, Gryla''s voice.

    What did she mean by that? Did she know something the Human didn''t? Fear started to creep inside her mind.

    However, another thought served as a counter-measure. What if... all of this was a dream? What if she never stepped a foot on Sayama yet?

    I mean, what else could Stella take from all of that madness? Bipedal, talking canines, monstrous elderly, a freaking superhero, and whatever Kristal''s deal was. It must be a dream!

    The girl could feel the solid ground supporting her weight because she slept in her tent without cushions. The wind passing through her skin was a tad stronger than usual, but it must have been some climatic quirk on the day.

    Hmmm... She wasn''t smelling anything unpleasant. That was weird. Not far from there was this open sewer, which could make anyone faint if they got too close.

    Maybe her nose adapted to it.

    ZZZZZZZZZ!

    Okay, who the fuck was snoring? Who dared to sleep next to her tent?!

    That was it. Time to open her eyes.

    And... She wasn''t in her tent. She was still in Sayama.

    None of that was a dream. Perfect...

    Then again, was it that bad? Stella had gained a new friend, maybe two or three (she was still unsure about Kristal). This was more than practically more of her life in Namadi. Ironic since she had to deal with so many fantastic creatures trying to off her.

    Speaking of friends, Lien was peacefully sleeping next to her. The Wolf pup never stopped being more adorable as time went on. Apparently, these feelings still haven''t worn off.

    Eh, she would get over it.

    Stella sat and leaned her back on a large rock. She saw that two Wolf guards were keeping their watchful eyes on them.

    Actually, it was only one. The anthropomorphic bulldog was napping and snoring louder than a Snorlax. That left the big, black one to shoulder this responsibility alone.

    The guard met his eyes with the Human''s. He was a little scary, but after meeting a feline the size of a house, a slightly big canine was no big deal for her.

    The girl then decided to pay attention to what the twin mages were doing a few meters away. The golden one was begging his sister. "C''mon! This is so boring! The captain won''t even know!"

    "Damn it, Raidd! We have a Human with us! Can''t you show a little professionalism?!" The whiteish Wolf was clearly the straight man in their dynamic.

    The male one fell limp on the ground, upset. "You don''t want to play with your bro anymore..."

    Surprisingly, that was effective. "Euraidd, please. You know I love playing with you!"

    "Then just one time, please! For your big bro!" He clutched his paws together in a begging gesture.

    The female one sighed. "Fine." She conjured a tiny ball of... ice? It was hard to see at that distance.

    The sphere fell to the ground, and the cream Wolf prepared her staff for a swing like a golf club. She swung the staff with all her might and launched the ball at a surprising distance. Her brother eagerly ran after it on all fours.

    After he found it, the process repeated, only with the roles reversed. They kept at it for about ten minutes. Honestly, it was quite a captivating experience. Stella and even the guard kept silently watching the game unfolding.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    After all that noise of rustling leaves, bushes, and obnoxious snoring, the pup started to break free from her slumber. Stella decided to keep quiet, curious to see how long it took for the pup to notice her presence.

    After a loud yawn, Lien sniffed. "Hey! Stella! Did you wake up?!"

    Stella did not respond, trying to trick Lien into believing she was asleep still.

    "Stella?" The pup shuffled closer to the girl and touched her thigh, presumably by accident. That made the Human blush, not expecting this turn of events.

    The girl became even more flustered when her friend lifted her hand to touch her arm and then her cheek. Stella''s face was burning.

    However, the embarrassment was cut short by a fierce slap by Lien. "Stella! Wake up!"

    That cry did wake up someone. "SQUIRRELS!" The sleeping guard''s first words after returning to the real world. He was heavily breathing, and sheer terror was etched in his eyes.

    The Human decided to not touch on that.

    Lien waved at her uncle. "Uncle Tarb! Is Stella okay?!"

    "Yes, Lien. I''m fine." Stella rubbed her aching cheek, frowning.

    "Great!" The pup''s innocent voice softened Stella''s demeanor. "I''ve been worried, you know! You passed out on my lap all of a sudden!"

    Stella smiled at the image of her resting on Lien''s lap. Unfortunately, she couldn''t enjoy it while it lasted.

    Wait, why would she want to enjoy such a thing?! Yuck!

    "So, you''re the Human!" Tarb raised his eyebrow and started analyzing Stella. "Lien wouldn''t shut up about you!"

    Lien scratched the back of her head, seemingly embarrassed. "That''s true. But you were so cool back there! You helped the Knight defend us against Gryla''s attack!"

    That was true. Thanks to Stella, they didn''t become the witch''s barbecue. Heh, she felt pretty good about herself, almost like she was a hero or something. Although she wouldn''t do it without the Knight and Lien''s words of support.

    ............

    Wait a minute...

    What about Lien?! She was right there with them! Why didn''t the Knight asked for her help!?

    The Human couldn''t believe she hadn''t picked up on that detail before. In her defense, things were pretty intense back then.

    Maybe it was because the color of their aura was the same? It felt like a flimsy explanation, to be honest. Then again, the girl knew almost nothing about this energy.

    Speaking of which, her body felt weird ever since she drank that jam. That feeling of restlessness rooted deep in her chest still remained. She hoped that wouldn''t cause any other fainting episodes.

    She also felt her muscles a little sore, as if she had just returned from a long workout. Probably nothing to worry about.

    What worried Stella, in fact, was Gryla''s ominous telepathic message. She affirmed that with such conviction. What was waiting for her now? More Monoke like her?

    She was starting to like this place. She couldn''t die now.

    "Are you okay?" Lien asked. "You smell like fear."

    Stella didn''t want to burden her friend with these preoccupations, deflecting the subject with something interesting she had just mentioned. "Wow, you can do that?!"

    "There''s nothing that can escape my nose!" She poked her own nose while speaking proudly about herself. "Actually, since my eyes don''t work, my other senses are even better than most Wolves!"

    "That''s true." Tarb''s eyebrows furrowed. "You wouldn''t believe the number of times she had found my meat stash and eaten them all at once!" He glared daggers at his niece. Of course, Lien hadn''t picked up on that.

    "Oooh! I got a story!" Euraidd came to join in the conversation. "Me and Hufen were playing hide-and-seek with Lien, and we had hidden in bear du-"

    Hufen slapped the back of her brother''s head. "We agreed to never speak of that again..." Her voice was charged with the pent-up desire of shouting.

    "Sorry..." Euraidd hanged his head in shame. "But yeah, Lien''s nose and ears are something else." Then he perked up. "Locci can attest to that!"

    Everyone''s eyes were now on the brooding guard, who turned his head the other way. "Y-Yeah..." His voice was way softer than Stella imagined.

    Honestly, it was super adorable.

    The Human then turned to the pup again. "Damn, you''re really close to these guys!"

    Lien nodded. "Yup!" Then she started pointing at each guard, often missing the mark.

    "Tarb is my uncle and takes care of me sometimes." The old guard nodded.

    "Locci and I played a lot before he joined my mom''s squad." He shuffled his feet uneasily.

    "And Euraidd and Hufen are like my big bro and sis! I play with them the most!" The golden Wolf beamed while the other gave a gentle smile.

    Stella barely had time to become friends with the pup, and now she was meeting her family?! She became a little shy herself.

    "H-Hey, guys..." She waved at them. "It''s an honor meeting you."

    Lien pulled her close with an arm around her neck. "It''s so good they can meet you already! Especially since we two are a pack!"

    That last word made every guard with their mouths and eyes open wide. Seriously, what were the actual implications of being a "pack"!?

    "Damn! You and the Human?!" Tarb cried as if they were announcing their marriage. Stella''s ears rang because of it.

    "Oh, my..." Hufen spoke, dumbfounded.

    It was a solid minute of complete and utter silence. Stella wanted to bury herself in a bottomless hole. She felt dirty.

    Lien''s smile didn''t waver. "Hey! You never told me how you met the Knight! He''s so cool, right?!"

    She was right in both accounts. "You''re right. Although I thought the guy was just a fraud at first. But man! He''s actually awesome."

    Lien''s tail wagged. "Right?! He saved me a bunch of times! There was this one time he-"

    "Oh boy, here she goes..." Tarb yawned. "We gonna stay here for a while, so buckle up!"

    Stella knew he was right. But weirdly enough...

    She didn''t mind hearing more of Lien''s voice at all.

 Chapter 30 - What Comes Next?

    The Silver Knight:

    "I think this is a good spot!"

    They had been walking for almost ten minutes, which felt like hours. Captain Tash called him for a private conversation away from everyone else. Since Wolves have an outstanding hearing, they needed to go far away.

    While they walked without speaking to one another, the Knight''s mind was running with questions. Was she mad? Was it about the Human? Did she not like Stella? Why isn''t she saying anything?! It was driving him insane!

    "Calm down, Knight! You can handle this!"

    Finally, the captain stopped walking. They were next at the border between the Sampiens and the Ganvi Woods, the Kara River. The soothing noise of the running water did a lot for his nerves, but the piercing stare of his superior officer made that go down the drain.

    "S-So..." He was sweating bullets under the helmet. "W-What do you want to talk about, captain?"

    The Wolf kept quiet for a few seconds. She frowned as if it took a lot of effort to speak. "I... wanted to thank you first."

    The hero didn''t respond, waiting for the captain to elaborate. It took a few more seconds, but she eventually did.

    "For saving my pup. Again." That last word came with a hint of frustration. If it was directed at him or herself, he wasn''t sure.

    The Knight saluted. "No problem, ma''am! Only a day''s work for a defender of this forest!" He gathered the resolve to perform his signature pose to her.

    Tash... gazed upon the spectacle with an annoyed stare. She was never into the hero''s eccentric mannerisms. Although she never directly criticized those to his face. Behind his back, perhaps.

    She closed her eyes. "Well, I also appreciate that you went out of your way to go after my daughter, even though you had a Human to escort to the castle."

    Then her eyes opened, following a spine-chilling scowl. "Though you should have brought backup when you were about to deal with the likes of Gryla!"

    Oh, man...

    Before he could process it, her gratitude turned into a lecture. "Seriously, what the hell were you thinking?! You should''ve called us way before that witch threatened to blow my daughter into pieces!"

    The worst part was that she was right. The prospect of encountering these legendary Ogres made him forget what truly mattered, his mission.

    Stella and Lien''s possible death was on his hands.

    The only thing he could do was bow. "I''m sorry, captain. I am willing to go through the consequences of my miscalculation."

    Tash huffed, and her expression softened. "Look, Lien likes you a lot, and you were about to let yourself die to save her. So, I''m willing to let this slide."

    The hero kept bowing. "Thank you."

    "Alright, so straighten up already!" She commanded.

    After that can of worms was sealed shut, the Knight''s mind sparked with a question. "What will happen to the J��lasveinarnir?"

    Tash explained. "I''ve contacted the Hoof Herd to break that wall and carry the witch to prison. Leppal��ei and J��lak?tturinn are missing, but the Soaring Flock is already working on that."

    "What about the Lads?" He asked.

    She shook her head. "Even though they''re hundreds of years old, by Ogre standards, they''re still minors. They won''t be imprisoned, only sent to an orphanage, if no one else can claim their custody."

    It was quite a headache keeping up with the Monoke''s different lifespans. Some lived for about a hundred years, others slightly lower, like Wolves, and a few who lived for hundreds if not thousands of years! The Ogres fell into the latter.

    They had to be careful not to put someone below the age of criminal responsibility in jail.

    The fate of the Lads made the Knight feel slightly guilty. Being separated from one''s parents definitely couldn''t be a pleasant experience. Hell, he missed his every single day.

    He wondered if they were okay.

    "But I brought you here to discuss something else." That caught the hero''s attention. "Or rather, someone."

    Of course. Stella...

    "Knight," The hero immediately looked at her with anticipation. "What is your impression of the Human?"

    "Oh, Stella? She''s been nothing but amazing throughout our time together!" He started reporting his impression of the Human and didn''t know when to stop. "She''s a bit rough around the edges and can be too willing to put herself in danger, but she is a good person and even made a few Monoke friends! Including your..." He finally hesitated, but it was too late to back down. "...daughter."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Her deadpan expression could be even scarier than her angry one. "Yeah, I noticed." Her emotionless voice had an underlying tone of annoyance.

    The captain sighed. "It''s just... Of all the Monoke that Human could find, it had to be Lien!?" Hearing her venting her frustrations to him was an alien experience.

    She waved her hands. "Don''t get me wrong, I trust the queen''s judgment, but..." She covered her face with her paw. "Why am I saying this to you? I''m sorry."

    The Knight reassured her. "It''s alright! Your concerns are totally valid!" He started speaking with his regular voice. "I understand you''re unsure of her, but trust me, that child cares deeply about Lien. When I told her about going with me for her rescue, she did not complain. In fact, she pushed hard for us to get to her as soon as possible!"

    He sighed. "I know I put your daughter in danger. But this was not Stella''s fault. I was the one who had the idea of going directly to them. Again, I am deeply sorry."

    Tash took a few steps away from him and quietly gazed upon the flowing river with her arms around her back. Her tail was slowly swishing from one side to the other.

    The Knight was worried about the captain''s thought process. He didn''t want Stella and Lien''s friendship to go sour. However, he knew Tash needed to think about her next move alone. Interjecting further would only bring unwanted consequences.

    After a few minutes, Tash weirdly opened a new discussion. "So, the Human will be going straight to the castle?"

    The hero didn''t mind, however, and decided to go along. "No. My armor and equipment need replacements. I cannot risk her safety without being in top condition."

    She nodded. "Good call. We never know if Gryla alerted the Tizohi''s Chosen. They might be waiting for the right moment to strike as we speak."

    The mention of that organization gave chills through the Knight''s spine. "You think they''re already coming for her?"

    Tash explained her point. "The time we are spending in this respite is enough for them to have prepared a plan for attack. That girl is the first Human to arrive after they made themselves known, so it''s hard to say."

    The Knight put his hands on his helmet as if he was suffering a headache. "Where should we go?"

    Tash pointed in the direction contrary to the river''s stream. "We follow this river, we reach Pantsti, our closest stash. You can replace your gear, and I can drop Lien home." She huffed. "This time, I will put a tight leash on that girl!"

    The Knight was about to agree, but then he remembered something. "There''s a problem. Stella has spent the night awake and drank from the pego jam without Saniya training. I doubt her nap will make all of that worn off."

    "Alright, it makes sense. But where are we gonna take the Human?" The captain questioned.

    The hero gazed at the distance, in the same direction as Tash pointed out. Then, an idea flashed in his mind. "I got it!"

    <hr>

    After ten more minutes of walking through the woods, the two guards joined the rest of the squad, all sitting and forming a circle around Stella.

    Speaking of the girl, she was... imitating his signature pose?! And it was an impressive imitation as well! The grace, her remarkable equilibrium in standing on one foot. He was almost brought to tears!

    He and Tash kept themselves at a distance, curious to see where this goes.

    Tarb was finding the spectacle particularly funny. His laughter outshined everyone else''s, much to the captain''s displeasure. The Knight wondered why she agreed to be in the same squad as her brother.

    "That Knight is quite the character! But in my day, the Dragon''s Guard had some actual dignity! Seriously, it feels like we become a circus nowadays!" The bulldog-like Monoke ranted.

    Euraidd snorted. "Big talk for a lazy sack of drool!" Hufen tried to hold her laughter.

    That remark touched a nerve on Tarb. "Have some respect, kid! Your rookie ass can''t even comprehend the efficacy of using drool as a weapon! I once fought valiantly against a bunch of Spiders with my hands and legs tied and only escaped because of my spit!"

    "That''s kinda impressive, actually." The Knight whispered.

    Tash whispered back. "If only he would shut up about it."

    Lien interjected. "So that''s why mom said your biggest quality is making the enemies trip all over you!"

    Everyone laughed at the pup''s commentary. Even Tash begrudgingly smiled. That put the Knight at ease.

    Of course, the only one that didn''t take this very well was Tarb. "Well, missy! You can tell your mom-"

    Tash finally made their presence known. "You can say that to my face, brother!"

    Everyone froze, including Tarb. They reacted like they had been caught with their hand on the cookie jar. It was very humorous.

    As always, Lien took the initiative. "Hey, mom!" She ran towards her and ambushed her for a tight hug! Tash was a badass, but she was not above returning her daughter''s affection. Seeing these two together was always adorable.

    "How was your nap?" The captain asked.

    The pup broke the hug. "Pretty good!" Then she grabbed her mother''s hand and pulled her towards the circle. "Hey, you never talked to Stella!"

    Tash was expectedly unsure. "This is not necessary."

    "C''mon! You have to meet her!" She gritted her teeth and pulled her mother with all her might. Eventually, the captain gave in and complied.

    The hero slowly approached to see what these two''s first interactions would be like. For sure, she would take his words into account, right?

    The captain stared at the Human for a few seconds. It was as awkward as one would expect.

    Stella was sweating bullets. "Uh... Hi?" She weakly waved her hand.

    Tash finally spoke. "Human. Do you care about my daughter?"

    Stella''s eyes widened, and the Knight facepalmed. This was seriously the captain''s first question?

    They were doomed.

    Lien saved the day once again. "Of course she does! We are a pack, after all!"

    Tash''s body tensed, and her eyes narrowed. Even the Knight was taken aback since Stella never mentioned this detail.

    The hero knew that a pack was a sacred bond in Wolf culture, the ultimate form of camaraderie. That meant the two girls couldn''t be forced apart.

    That could definitely work in their favor. However, Tash''s reaction was concerning.

    Well, it was the Knight''s turn to salvage this mess!

    "Hey, we bring good and bad news!" Everyone''s attention was redirected at him, except the captain''s. "The bad news is that we''re not going to the queen''s castle yet!"

    The Lycan Squad was clearly taken by surprise. However, Stella didn''t seem to care much. "What about the good news?"

    The hero rested his left hand on his hip and raised his right index finger. "We will go to Pantsti! Lien''s home!"

    Stella smiled at the revelation while Lien howled and fist-bumped the air. "YES!"

    "However, we must get you and Lien to a place where you can properly rest." He warned.

    Stella shrugged. "Fine by me. Where is this place?"

    The Knight triumphally raised his fist in the air. "We''re going to Padda''s house!"

    Lien and the other Wolves started nodding and saying stuff like "Yeah, that makes sense" and similar phrases.

    Stella, on the other hand... "Who?!"

 Chapter 31 - The House on the River.

    Stella:

    She was... safe?

    Stella and Lien walked side-by-side, with Tarb and Locci protecting their left and right, respectively. The twin mages were the rearguard of their expedition, while Capt. Tash and The Silver Knight took the lead. The latter marched with exaggerated swagger, as always.

    Being escorted by a group of armored guards was a disturbing experience for the Human. She never had a good track record with the police in Namadi for blatant reasons.

    Even though the Knight and the Lycan Squad were only after her safety, the girl couldn''t help but feel like a criminal.

    Actually, she wasn''t even sure about her safety with these guys. Captain Tash has been eyeing her with this disturbing cold stare since they met, and after Lien revealed their status as a pack, it turned into a subtle scowl.

    She''d have to stay as far away as possible from Tash. The only problem was, as you could have guessed, Lien. The pup wouldn''t give up on sticking to her, no matter how far she walked, like a putrid fart. While Stella didn''t mind, it only made things more dicey.

    The girl couldn''t believe that thought was crossing her mind, but she''d prefer hearing another one of Kristal''s long-winded rants.

    Speaking of who. "STELLA! STELLA!"

    The universe heard her requests in the oddest of moments.

    The Nguruvil�� herself was frantically waving her arms to get their attention. The Knight waved back, and so did Euraidd. The rest only stared or ignored her.

    Stella waved back. "Hey! Kristal! How''s it going?!"

    "Girl, I could ask the same of you! What''s the deal with those guards?!" Kristal gasped. "YOU''RE GETTING ARRESTED?!" Then she frowned. "Don''t worry, bestie! My pap�� will make these guys leave you alone!"

    On second thought, maybe Stella preferred Tash''s killer stare. She appreciated the Nguruvil��''s support, though.

    As the group left Kristal behind, she shouted one last time. "I GOT YOUR BACK, GIRL!"

    Her voice still felt like needles in the Human''s ears. At least that was finally over.

    After that peculiar reunion, they continued walking for half an hour. Strangely, Stella didn''t feel as tired as she regularly would, especially after all that action from before and drinking that magic jam.

    She was feeling a little hungry, though.

    Lien whispered in her ear. "Hey! There''s so much stuff we can do when we get home. I can''t wait to tell everyone about my Human friend! Speaking of friends, I have so many to introduce you!" Her excitement made her "whispers" quite audible.

    Stella snickered as her friend gushed about what they''d do on Pantsti. It was kinda precious! She would rather have the pup chewing her ear off than Kristal. There was just that child-like earnestness that resonated with the Human.

    And now Stella had a big, dumb smile on her face. Lien had one hell of an effect on her mood.

    At the distance, there was something that sparked her never-ending curiosity. The river expanded exponentially after a certain point, getting wider and wider until it turned out like a lake or when you press a hose when water flows through it, forming a bump.

    It was huge! Stella wasn''t sure if this was another one of Sayama''s weirdness or a natural phenomenon she was unaware of. It was harder to see the Sampiens on the other side. However, the giant mushrooms were too big to be completely unnoticeable.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    The light reflecting in the water created a beautiful mirroring effect that was only slightly distorted by its subtle movements. The bright, blue sky highlighted the "lake''s" beauty.

    But the landscape''s most important detail resided at the heart of the lake. A wooden house supported and anchored by pillars made of the same material. It had two floors, no paint job, a platform beneath, and some stairs that led to another podium where a boat was hitched.

    "I assume that''s Padda''s house?" Stella gestured at the building with her two hands.

    Lien stretched her neck. "I guess. Never been there."

    The Knight placed his hand above the spot where his eyes supposedly resided. "They''re not fishing yet. Do we wait for them?" He turned to the captain.

    "Leave it to me." Tash approached the margin. "Cover your ears!" She inhaled all the air she could hold and produced a loud howl! Everyone in the group had to protect their hearing.

    The howling lasted about ten seconds, long enough to make two unrecognizable figures come out of the house.

    They waved at the group, and the Knight returned the gesture. "SALUTATIONS, CITIZENS! IT''S ME, THE SILVER KNIGHT AND THE DRAGON''S GUARD!" He had a talent for shouting, much to everyone''s dismay.

    Apparently, they managed to understand his words from that distance, or at least went to investigate who were these damn bastards screaming at their riverstep. They entered their boats and started approaching the group''s location. However, they were not rowing, so was the vessel motorized? That or magic.

    Stella''s first hypothesis was confirmed when the two Monoke docked next to them. Seeing these fairytale-like beings with technological advancements was weird still, but she would get used to it.

    One of the Monoke exited the boat and immediately went to shake the Knight''s hand with a big smile. He was an anthropomorphic frog with brown-yellow skin, wearing old, slightly torn blue overalls and a straw hat.

    "Wouldja look at that! Didn''t ask for anything yet!" The Frog spoke with a hint of suspicion.

    The hero shook his head. "No, no! We came here because we need your hospitality! Well, someone specific is."

    He raised a... Uh... He made the anuran equivalent to raising an eyebrow. "Well, who''s the poor bastard?!"

    The Knight gestured at the Human girl. Padda''s big eyes widened, and whatever he was about to say was stuck, only letting out a weak croak.

    Judging by the Frog''s reaction, Stella was expecting rejection already. Maybe some crazed shouting, tons of panic. However...

    "Tizohi almighty! Another one?! Already?!" He was surprised, but his voice carried more amusement rather than fright.

    More importantly, something he said caught the girl''s attention. "Another?" She whispered to herself.

    The other Monoke, who remained in the boat, turned their head to see what was happening with their partner. "Who''re you talking to? Is that that kind young fellow again?"

    They looked like a humanoid blue turtle, down to their head, beak, and shell on their back. However, they also possessed pointy human-like ears and webbed hands with pointy claws for nails. The Monoke''s eyes seemed to be constantly closed shut, and their grey hair covered most of their scalp, except for a hole at the top of their head.

    "Yeah!" The Frog answered. "Along with some guards and a Human!" He laughed. "Can you believe that?!"

    The seemingly blind Monoke tilted their head toward their partner''s voice. "A huge pan?!" He addressed the crowd. "We appreciate it, but it won''t fit in the kitchen!"

    The Frog grunted in slight frustration. He took off his hat and scratched the top of his head. "I don''t know. It''s gonna take a lot of fuel to make y''all cross."

    Captain Tash interjected. "A few electronic devices aside, everyone in my squad can swim."

    "Uh..." Euraidd took everyone''s attention. "I... don''t know how to swim yet."

    Hufen and Locci facepalmed. Tarb started laughing his ass off while pointing at him while Tash stared at him, dumbfounded.

    "You told me you''d take lessons." The captain tried her best to not let her anger seep through. She failed.

    Euraidd nervously laughed. "You know how it is! Guard life is too busy for that stuff!"

    His sister chimed in. "Is that why you spent your whole week off playing that ''videogame'' thingy?"

    "BACK ME UP, SIS!" The betrayed mage shouted, then he pointed at the hero. "The Knight gifted me that game! Not my fault that it was so addicting!"

    The hero shook his hands. "I''d appreciate it if you don''t associate me with your procrastination."

    Stella was smiling through all of this while Lien chuckled. The two girls immediately stopped when Tash put an end to that embarrassment. "Locci! You carry him through the river!"

    Euraidd sighed with relief while Locci eyed him with an uncomfortable expression. Tarb lifted his paw. "Sister?"

    Upon hearing that, the captain produced the most horrifying stare the Human had seen.

    That''s siblings for you. I wish I had one... Better be annoyed rather than bored.

    Returning from this tangent, the humanoid bulldog immediately caved to his sibling''s intimidation. "Captain?"

    Tash sighed. "Speak."

    "I don''t think I can swim that well anymore." He pointed out.

    The captain''s eyes immediately went to Hufen, who responded by shaking her head frantically and joining her paws in a begging gesture.

    The Knight turned to the Frog. "Please, Mr. Padda. If you do this, I will make your next ''refuel'' free of charge!" He bowed.

    Padda''s eyes sparkled, and his demeanor went 180�� after hearing those words. "Why didn''t ya say so! Y''all are welcome! Hop in!"

 Chapter 32 - Their First Sleepover.

    What was the deal with them?

    Stella waited for the Frog Monoke to carry the Knight and Tarb through the pseudo-lake, along with the Squad''s not-waterproof equipment. Lien childishly splashed her paw in the water while the rest dried themselves by shaking their bodies like regular canines. Of course, that meant the Human''s clothes were victims of an unwanted yet needed wash again. They needed to be thrown on a garbage disposal rather than cleaned, but what could she do? Sayama was visibly lacking in clothing stores.

    The waiting kind of sucked, but it would be fine... If not for the Kappa beside her.

    Since Kaku noticed Stella''s existence, they became pretty curious about her to an obnoxious degree. At that moment, they carefully used their claws to pinch the girl''s cheek as if they were an annoying aunt or something. And holy fuck, they smelled like rotten fish! It took every bit of patience the Human had to not snap at this clearly ancient creature.

    "Oh! Your skin is very soft! I''m not feeling any fur nor scales, either." Then they just passed their hand all over Stella''s face, pinching her nose, ears and almost poking her eyes with his fingers. "Very smooth, so it can''t be an Ogre. Too chubby to be a Y��rei, though."

    Stella took a deep breath and slowly pushed their hand away. "I am not a Monoke, sir! I am a Human, believe it or not."

    Kaku''s eyes opened for the first time. It was only a tiny bit, but the girl could peek at their reddish-brown orbs. "Oh, my. A Human?" They hummed for a few seconds. "Well, I suppose it''s been a long time."

    Stella''s frustration was quickly replaced by curiosity. "You met a Human before?"

    The old turtle-like Monoke scratched around the cavity on top of their head. "I did. Though my memory ain''t what used to be."

    Lien chimed in. "I''ve heard that happens with old Monoke. And you''re, like, super old, right?!" Everyone, including Stella, made chastising glances at the pup after her inconsiderate words.

    However, Kaku started laughing his scales off, surprisingly. "That''s true! I''d be a goner if not for that grumpy Frog!"

    Speaking of him, Padda arrived with the two guards. The Kappa waved at them. "More visitors?! Ain''t that a treat?!"

    It was clear that this Monoke''s age was affecting his mental state. Of course, Stella already knew this was just stuff that happened with people of Kaku''s age.

    She had never really interacted much with old folk before. She never knew her grandparents and retirement homes were too far from where she lived to visit. That was if she was ever interested in the first place.

    Stella was momentarily pulled out of her thoughts by Padda. "Alright, officers! Welcome to my humble abode!"

    "OUR humble abode!" Kaku interjected.

    The Frog chuckled. "Whatever you say..." Then he pulled a key from his pocket (it was turtle-shaped) and opened the door.

    The interior was as humble and rustic as Stella imagined. The lower floor had a living room and a kitchen, with no walls separating the two, and a bathroom installed next to the stairs. The walls were adorned with stuffed fish and... frogs?! What!?

    Upon seeing this disturbing image, Stella''s mind flashed with questions. Wasn''t this illegal? What was the relation between the Monoke and their animal counterparts? Maybe it was the same principle between Humans and apes.

    Still horrifying, though.

    The rest was cozy enough. A medium-sized green sofa, two smaller couches, a hearth, wooden chairs, and a table. It was enough to make the Human''s uneasiness almost fade away.

    Padda pointed at the stairs. "We only have two rooms for y''all. Two beds each. The rest can sleep in some bags." Stella hoped it was actual sleeping bags.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The Knight touched the Human''s shoulder. "How about you and Lien get yourselves comfortable?"

    Stella nodded, then turned to her friend. "Let''s go, Lien."

    The pup nodded and followed the girl through the stairs. When they were at the last steps, Padda warned. "Stay clear from the one with the stuffed frog on the door! That''s ours!"

    Great, a Frog stuffing a frog... That was the unsettling imagery she needed for the day...

    The anuran Monoke''s room was at the end of the hall that connected all enclosures on the second floor. That left the girls to decide between the one on their left or right. The fact that they looked identical on the inside didn''t help.

    "Any of those smells better to you?" Stella was using the bottom of the barrel of criteria there. Lien immediately entered the room on the left and started using her nose to do a thorough examination.

    At first, seeing the pup sniffing around every pillow, mattress, curtain, and rug was cute. However, it turned into an overwhelmingly dull experience. Lien had spent about thirty minutes in a single room, then even longer in the next!

    Stella regretted everything, down to her first choices in life.

    Before the girl could bang her forehead on the wall over and over to distract her from boredom, Lien came out of the bedroom on her right, very excited. "This is the best room, no doubt!"

    Stella made a loud sigh of relief. "Oh yeah? How so?"

    The pup extended her paw and showed a centipede she was holding. That took Stella aback, but the Human was way over some stupid fear of the creepy crawlies.

    She raised an eyebrow. "A bug?"

    "Food!" Lien explained with such eagerness. "It will fill our tummies until dinner!"

    Stella silently stared at the pup for about ten seconds. She was not surprised by her friend''s antics anymore. "Yep! It''s settled!" She went to the opposite room.

    The Wolf didn''t get the memo. "Stella? You''re going to the wrong side."

    The Human plopped face first to one of the beds. The softness of it had sent her mind into a state of blissful comfort, and her body melted into the mattress, almost becoming one with it. That was until the sickening, crunchy sound of the centipede being crushed between the pup''s teeth. Yuck!

    Regardless, this comfort was beyond anything she had previously. Even when she managed to get her hands on a dirty mattress in the dumpster, it was better to sleep on the hard floor after some time. Less chance of diseases.

    The girl heard a squeak next to her. Though her face was deeply buried in the bed, she knew it was Lien repeating her same action.

    "Going to sleep, already?!" The pup cried.

    Stella hummed. "This bed has made me its prisoner. You will have to go home without me."

    Suddenly, the girl could feel her friend landing on her bed. Did she really jump from her own? What a stupid question. Of course, she did!

    "Come on! That''s like, our first sleepover!" Lien''s enthusiasm was contagious most of the time.

    However, Stella wouldn''t move from her spot other than her head to meet her unfocused gaze. "I guess it is, huh? What do we do now? Any ideas?"

    Lien scratched her chin. "Well, we usually just keep talking about stuff."

    Stella rolled her body to have her back touching the mattress. "Really? Of all people, I thought your sleepovers would at least involve some demolition. Maybe some arson." She chuckled.

    The pup crossed and rested her feet on the Human''s chest. Stella was about to complain, but- "Our huts are too small for that. We have the playground for that level of play." A little tidbit of Wolf lore made her keep her mouth shut for now.

    "Hey, why don''t you tell me more about your home?" Stella proposed.

    Lien''s ears perked up. "Right! Of course!" She clasped her paws together and fidgeted her fingers. "Where to start...?"

    The pup pondered for a few seconds. The Human enjoyed seeing her friend''s cute expressions when she thought too hard. Her scrunched snout, her tensed jaw. Unfortunately, her eyes were always concealed by her fringe.

    The Human wondered how adorable she would be with her gray orbs completing her beauty.

    Stella''s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushed, and she suddenly became self-aware of the Wolf''s touch on her. Her energy returned, and she quickly shuffled to a sitting position.

    Lien slowly recoiled her legs. "What''s wrong?"

    The Human quickly dismissed her concern. "N-Nothing! Just... Really excited to know more about Pantsti!" She was not entirely wrong, but...

    Of course, it didn''t take much to divert Lien''s attention. "Okay! I think I know where to start!"

    Stella shifted only an inch closer to the pup. She didn''t want to feed these feelings further.

    Lien started. "Pantsti was a tiny mountain, but we hollowed it out and broke off the tip." She unsheathed one claw and then made a circular motion with it. "Then we made it our home!"

    Stella''s eyes widened. "You guys managed to make a mountain hollow?" She had just witnessed the over-the-top powers of Gryla and the Knight, yet this seemed ludicrous.

    Lien nodded. "Oh yeah! But the one who really made the difference was the elder Wolf! His name is H��k��, and he only teaches pups about Saniya nowadays. Pups like me!"

    While the history lesson was interesting, it was the Saniya part that really captured Stella''s attention. The Knight had previously affirmed that she could learn all those cool magic tricks with training.

    If that experience with the jam served as a prelude, the girl couldn''t wait to see how far she could go.

    Wait, what was she doing?

    "Then our playground stands at the center of it all. There are slides, holes where we can use as our own arena, and-"

    Oh, right. Stella was supposed to learn about Pantsti...

    Her sleep wouldn''t come anytime soon.

 Chapter 33 - The Previous One.

    Smack!

    Stella''s eyes opened up, and she frantically searched for... something. She didn''t know what she was doing. It was only an instinctive reaction after being woken up with such urgency.

    Huh. Stella fell asleep, didn''t she? She remembered now. Lien was talking about her home, and exhaustion overtook the Human''s mind. She hadn''t even noticed.

    As she passed her hand over her burning cheek, the girl remembered the culprit, standing close to her bed with her tail wagging and an innocent, toothy grin.

    Stella frowned. "Can you stop waking me up like that?!"

    Lien tilted her head. "I mean, it worked, right?"

    The Human growled, making the Wolf hold her paws placatingly. "Okay, okay! I''ll stop!"

    Accepting her response, Stella sluggishly sat on the edge of the mattress. She hummed with amusement that she hadn''t taken off her boots to nap. Then she did just that, finally giving some well-deserving freedom for her feet.

    That was until Lien came sniffing on them. "Hey! Stinky feet!" It tickled.

    Stella kicked the pup''s snout. "STOP!"

    Lien rubbed her nose to see if anything broke. "That was rude."

    The Human sighed. "Sorry."

    "Nah, it''s alright." Then, her entire body perked up. "That''s right! Dinner''s ready!"

    So that was why Lien had woken up Stella. The Human''s belly was practically growling for sustenance, anyway.

    "Oh! That''s great n-"

    "RACE TO THE KITCHEN! LET''S GO!" Lien shouted and darted towards the first floor on all fours.

    In hindsight, Stella couldn''t have expected anything different.

    "I''M GONNA WIN!" Her voice became more and more distant.

    "LIEN, WAIT!" It was Tarb''s voice, right before the Human could hear a loud thud, then the two Wolves groaning in pain.

    Oh well! Time to dine!

    Stella regained the energy to stand up and look out the window. The sun was already setting... How tired was she? That power nap from earlier appeared meaningless.

    The Human shrugged it off and went for the stairs. At the bottom, she carefully walked over the two unconscious Wolves. Yikes...

    "Are they going to be fine?" Stella asked Locci, who was sitting in a rocking chair and knitting a green sweater. It was kinda cute AND humorous in some way, considering his big frame.

    He spoke nothing, only nodded. That was expected, of course.

    The girl decided to advance to the kitchen and admire the quaint house sheltering her for the night. The sofa and the two smaller couches practically whispered her name, tempting her to the sin of laziness.

    As the night falls, there should be another light so the house won''t be drowned in darkness. And it absolutely had, however, it wasn''t lamps or candles. It was... the taxidermied fish and frogs.

    Their bodies gleamed in a gentle lime green, and their eyes and mouths shone beams of light that repelled the nightly shadows. The highlight (pun may or may not be intended) was the enormous catfish adorning the wall above the hearth with a golden-plated frame.

    Truly awe-inspiring. Stella had to take a minute to bask in its glory.

    Interestingly, the rest of the Lycan Squad and the Knight weren''t anywhere to be found. However, Stella quickly deduced they must have been doing some patrol or other guard duties. She was mostly relieved to not need to cross paths with the captain.

    The Human turned her attention to the kitchen, where Padda and Kaku discussed something. The Kappa poured some stew in a few bowls while the Frog crossed his arms and oversaw the whole process.

    Hot damn! That smelled delicious! Stella''s mouth watered so much that it formed a waterfall.

    "Are you sure that ain''t too hot for ya?" Padda asked, almost yelling.

    "I told you I''m fine!" Kaku shooed him. "Stop being a pest! I know you only want seconds."

    "I mean, I never hide that. But you should hear what I''m saying!" The Frog insisted.

    The Kappa were about to use their wooden cane on Padda before the guttural growl of Stella''s ravenous stomach took everyone''s attention. The girl''s face burned with embarrassment.

    "You came at the right time, child!" Kaku picked two bowls and slowly walked towards the Human. "Where''s the other-"

    "Here!" Stella jumped backward as Lien seemed to have materialized next to her. She would have a heart attack one of these days.

    "Eat up, kids!" They gave a bowl to each girl. "Hope you like fish!"

    Lien scrunched her snout. "I already ate fish last night..."

    Stella filled a spoon and took a swig. "Not a problem for me!"

    Padda chimed in. "Alrighty, girls! Why don''t ya go to the big couch?"The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Stella and Lien complied and went for the green, comfy sofa while the elders sat on the couches. The Human didn''t waste any time digging in. The rich taste of the fish, joined by the vegetables, herbs, and other spices, created a harmonious symphony in her tongue. She vacuumed it all in less than a minute! Even the pup, who had complained earlier, followed the Human on her speed-eating. Both of them finished their bowls with a very audible burp.

    Padda heartily laughed. "They REALLY loved yer stew!"

    Kaku put their hands on their cheeks. The Human could bet that they were, at least, the closest they could get from blushing. "Aw, shucks! It''s just some old family recipes, that''s all."

    Stella felt a little ashamed for her unsightly behavior. She wasn''t used to eating with grown-ups around. Usually, she would creep into an uninhabited corner and eat her daily findings like a famished goblin.

    However, there was a time she didn''t need to go through these lengths, but... It was best to not dwell on that too much.

    "S-Sorry." Stella couldn''t look at them in the eye, focusing on her bowl.

    The Kappa chuckled. "Do you want seconds, child?"

    Both girls nodded, but before Kaku could get up, Padda went for the girls'' bowl. "Let me handle it."

    Kaku''s jaw tensed. "You better not be going to get more for yourself! My cane is right here!"

    Padda waved his webbed hand. "Whatever you say, old turtle!"

    Their nostrils flared. "What did you call me?!" Their change in mood was quite the whiplash from what the girls had seen from the Kappa.

    A mental note glued into Stella''s mind. "Never use the T-word on Kaku."

    A minute later, Padda came with refilled bowls of stew. While Stella only needed the two to be satisfied, Lien needed three more for the same effect. Geez-louise!

    Lien had a noticeable bump on her tummy after that impressive display of gluttony. All things considered, it was adorable!

    In the meantime, Locci went to the kitchen and brewed some tea. He poured some for the two elders in teacups with a water lily pattern.

    Eagerly, Stella took a sip but quickly discovered that this... WASN''T HER CUP OF TEA!

    I regret nothing.

    Kaku leaned their head forward and started shaking, much to the girl''s concern. She was about to ask what was wrong until the Kappa''s eyes slowly opened. It was disconcerting.

    "Tizohi almighty! You''re a Human!" They spoke as if they genuinely forgot such an important detail.

    Padda sighed. "Yes, we already went through this. We''re housing a Human, just for tonight."

    The frail Monoke scratched their chin. "Well, when was the last time I met one? Well, after the war, I..." Then they closed their eyes and hummed in deep thought.

    "It wasn''t THAT long ago!" Padda interjected. "Three years, I reckon."

    Stella''s interest was piqued. She remembered the Frog''s weird phrasing earlier. "There was another Human?"

    Padda nodded. "Yep. In fact, some of your kind visited this forest after the war. However, they didn''t stay for long." He took a sip of his tea. "Alive, that is."

    Stella gulped. A chill ran through her spine.

    The Frog laughed at her reaction. "Don''t ya worry, though. We don''t do that anymore! Well, thanks to the last Human, as it turns out."

    Stella''s curiosity sparkled even brighter. "What happened?"

    "Well-" A fly flew out of his teacup, only to be quickly captured by his tongue. "Sorry."

    He cleared up his throat, then... "Well, about three years ago, a Human came to this dear forest. Like with the previous ones, some folks found out and got angry. However, somethin'' weird happened."

    Stella leaned closer to him, her eyes brightened with curiousness.

    "The Human started doing favors to us. He could create fancy toys from your world, and folk started warming up to him after some time."

    Kaku interjected. "He made me this cane!" Then they pushed a button on the top of it, and the spherical top opened wide. Then, they lifted it up and tilted it towards their mouth, revealing that it had cashews inside of it.

    The Kappa chewed them and hummed with delight. "Love it!"

    Padda continued the story. "So yeah, the Human was some weird magician, I guess. He helped a lot of folks with those things." He leaned closer to the girls and whispered. "We helped him escape the guards by letting him stay here a few times."

    "Good thing we didn''t catch you back then!" Euraidd came out from seemingly nowhere. Stella and Padda jumped back, frightened.

    "''Sup, guys! I love some storytime!" The mage sat on the ground right beside the Human. Hufen was right behind him and hadn''t spoken a thing. She laid down next to Lien, similar to those rugs made of animal pelt.

    Padda sweat bullets, but he slowly recomposed himself. "Heh. So much for that secret!"

    Stella impatiently pressed the Monoke. "So, what happened to him?"

    "Well, the queen became impatient and took it upon herself to take care of the matter. After a few days, she found him. However, rather than killing him on the spot, she got him arrested."

    Stella frowned. "So you people killed Humans just like that? No trial, no nothing?"

    Padda fidgeted his fingers. "You gotta understand that we''re VERY bitter over Humanity. They''re the reason we''re in this pretty prison. While I don''t particularly agree with that, plenty of Monoke think otherwise."

    Stella sighed. "So why didn''t the queen kill him?"

    "That''s the thing. We don''t know for sure. In fact, we all thought the Human was dead until Queen Malka announced his real death a year later."

    Now, that made Stella even more intrigued AND concerned. "So he did die!"

    "Yeah, but apparently, he was at death''s door already. Human disease, or somethin''. The queen told us the news with a big announcement since he was kept from the public, along with a new change in how Humans would be treated from that point forward. Needless to say, that made quite a stir. Especially with the oldest Monoke, like this fella." He pointed at Kaku.

    The Kappa were dozing off and then regained their focus on the waking plane. "Oh, what are you three talking about?"

    Stella''s ears rang with the loudness of Lien''s snoring. It seemed only she held any interest in the story.

    The Human slightly nudged the pup with her elbow, making the Wolf suddenly wake up. "Mom, I swear I didn''t pee on the bed!"

    Well, "wake up" was a bit of a hyperbole. Lien immediately went back to her nap.

    The Frog ignored all that and answered his partner''s question. "Talkin'' about Humans and stuff."

    Kaku''s eyes opened again. "Ah, I met plenty of those! I was friends with some, others I took down in the war, and-"

    Padda gently tapped their shoulder. "How about we not talk about that in front of the kids, okay?"

    The Kappa slowly nodded in comprehension.

    Stella decided to ignore the war comment. "So, is that why there''s Human technology here?" Then her eyes widened as something else clicked in her mind. "The Knight! He told me he created those gadgets of his! How is that possible?!"

    "Easy!" Euraidd chimed in. "The Knight was the Human''s pupil before he died. Apparently, his whole gimmick came from a... Uh..." His eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at the ceiling. "A comic? I don''t know how comedy fits into this, but I guess it''s funny."

    "Yeah, what he said," Padda confirmed. "Right after the Human was supposedly killed by Malka, Sayama changed with your convenient inventions. My favorite is the sewerage one. Before, I would just put my crap into a sack and toss it into the river! Now, I''ll... Eh, it''s about the same, only now it goes down that toilet thingy."

    "Gross comment aside, he''s right." Hufen finally made her contribution, still in an unflattering position. "After he died, the Knight replaced him as the technology expert."

    Stella reflected on this shocking revelation. Well, she tried to, until...

    Kaku clasped his hands together. "Hey, do you girls want to know what I did in the war?!"

    The Human wasn''t interested in gruesome war stories. "Well, I don''t-"

    "I was a Saniya expert! Even made a whole book about it!"

    Stella''s eyes sparkled again. "You know what? Nevermind."

    Kaku struck his partner''s head with his cane. "Go get it!"

    Padda rubbed the bruised spot and grumbled something inaudible while he went to find the book. A few minutes later, he launched it into Stella''s hands. "Have fun!"

    It was larger than she expected, a whole-ass ancient tome. The thick leather cover had four circles of different colors inside a golden triangle adorned the front.

    The girl opened the treasure trove of the knowledge she so desired. On page one, she found...

    .........

    She found out that she forgot a pretty important detail.

    "Can anyone read this for me?"

 Chapter 34 - Every Hero Needs A Backstory!

    Stella knocked on The Silver Knight''s door.

    After all the info she gathered a few hours ago, it was time to consult with the real deal. Everyone else was asleep or scouting far away, so there would be no nosy Wolves with super hearing to bother them.

    Right after she knocked, a loud thud was heard from inside.

    "Shoot!" The Knight shouted. Even now, he wouldn''t say any swear words, huh? Now that she thought about it, Lien never said those either. The Human was too used to the potty mouth of her fellow homeless to reflect on it before.

    While she pondered, the hero opened the door with the dramatic flair he was well-known for. "Ah! Greetings, Stella! What can I help you with?"

    "Well..." The girl hesitated. She was so intent on getting answers from him that she realized just now how sensitive the subject really was. Would he resent her for that?

    Well, if she wouldn''t ask, she would never know for sure.

    "I want to know about the Human before me." She stared at what she assumed were his eyes.

    She missed the emoticons. It was impossible to read the Knight''s expressions now that the visor had been badly damaged by Gryla. In fact, the girl questioned if he was comfortable using this cracked helmet.

    After a few seconds of silence, the hero cordially gestured. "O-Oh! Of course! Please, enter!"

    His bedroom was the same as the girl''s, kinda bland with unpainted walls and white beds. The old couple did not put much care into putting a little personality to where their guests would sleep.

    Huh. What was the deal with those two elders, anyway? Were they a couple? They sure seemed like one.

    Eh, questions for later.

    She sat on the bed that wasn''t littered with the guard''s gadgets and waited for him to do the same on the other.

    He was much more apprehensive than usual, something that Stella could tell, even with his headwear on. "What do you want to know?"

    Stella took a deep breath, hoping this wouldn''t make things weird between them. "I''ve heard from Padda and other guards about the story of this man who visited Sayama three years ago. When the queen got him, Human technology suddenly appeared in the forest."

    It wasn''t exactly what they told her, word for word, but it held the same meaning.

    The Knight fidgeted with his glove. "That is correct."

    So, Stella pressed further. "And I was told you were his student before he perished."

    He nodded. "Yes."

    "Knight?" Stella stared at him intently. "What happened to him?"

    The guard spent a whole minute stalling with the occasional "Uh..." His hands fidgeted non-stop as if they gained consciousness and were trying to find purpose.

    Sighing with defeat, the hero spilled the beans. "Well, after the Human was captured, he was stationed to live in a section of the queen''s castle. He had convinced her that his skills could give the Monoke the edge they needed if the Humans tried to attack again."

    Stella hummed in comprehension. "But how do you fit the picture?"

    "I''m getting to that." The Knight assured. "So, Queen Malka prohibited him from ever going outside." He lifted a finger. "One, she didn''t trust Humans at all." Then another. "Two, if the Monoke discovered she hadn''t executed him, it would be chaos. He had made some good for some Monoke in the Ganvi Woods, but it wasn''t nearly enough to change their minds."

    The girl crossed her arms and frowned. "Those Ogres sure weren''t part of the fan club, I assume."

    The Knight nodded in agreement. "Yes, they are very reclusive Monoke. When they''re not hunting or playing pranks, they keep to themselves. Not to mention Gryla and how much she despises your kind."

    Yeah, she didn''t need a reminder of that. The fact someone hated her so much that they preferred death over keeping her alive was unsettling, revolting even. The worst part was that the witch didn''t even know her, and she already saw her as a monster.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Judging by their history, she may have been right.

    "That''s an understatement..." Stella tried to be witty, but it seemed more like brooding. It kinda was, to be honest.

    Surprisingly, the Knight returned to his trademarked heroic tone. "Even if he was instructed by the queen to never go outside, the young scientist couldn''t resist the calling of adventure!"

    The mood whiplash was uncanny but welcome. That was definitely the hero''s intent. What a guy...

    His gesturing and voice got more and more hammy with each word spoken. "It wasn''t good for a brilliant, scientific mind to stay trapped on those castle walls forever, no matter how big it is!"

    Then he tone it down a little. "Sorry. So, he wandered through the castle''s surroundings and, as hard as he tried to be stealthy, he was seen by a brilliant, young Monoke who had no friends and was trying his luck training for the Dragon''s Guard!"

    Stella rolled her eyes. "And let me guess, this strapping young man was..."

    The Knight pointed his thumb to himself and shouted the deepest and most over-the-top "ME!" then jumped back to his feet, making the wooden floor creak. "Of course, nothing could escape my eyes! An essential trait of any guard!"

    And he was back in full dork mode. This guy flipped-flopped like a freaking light switch. "After he convinced me to not tell anyone about his existence, he brought me to his laboratory. Immediately, I became amazed by his scientific expertise, seeing all the great stuff he was doing for us!"

    Stella watched, amused. "So what? He turned you into a nerd?" She could barely finish the sentence without breaking into a chuckle.

    The guard spun to a heel to be face-to-face with her again. "Not just a nerd, my Human friend! I was enthralled by the extraordinary world of your people''s science! Weapons, household appliances, the internet! Oh, it was destiny calling me!"

    The girl was overwhelmed by the hero''s words and feelings. But she couldn''t deny that all this sounded incredible and quite exciting.

    After all that show of unadulterated goofiness, the Knight took a minute to breathe. That allowed Stella to fill in more gaps in the story. "How did the queen react to this?"

    "Not... well. But! We managed to convince her that this was a blessing in disguise. A Monoke, being a Human scientist''s assistant and learning how he works, was perfect for us. That would mean that this knowledge would pass on to her people."

    Stella''s eyes wandered through the hero''s armor, helmet to boots. "But you never gave up on being a guard, right? And all this..." She gestured at his outfit. "Superhero motif is related to him, right?"

    The guard eagerly nodded. "Yes! You''re right! My mentor introduced me to all these comic books, manga, and other media from Human society. When my eyes met the Super Sentai franchise for the first time, I created the perfect persona to transform me into a beacon of hope! The Silver Knight!"

    As he shouted his hero name, he made his trademark pose. Even though there wasn''t any reason for it. What a weird-ass dude.

    He continued. "Every detail of my armor was carefully crafted to exude heroism but not be too intimidating, hence the helmet." He gently tapped his headwear. "Asra helped me through the whole creative process."

    The Human raised an eyebrow. "That''s his name?"

    The guard sat on the bed again, now more somber. "Yeah. It was a shame we couldn''t save him in time. Apparently, not even your people knew how to treat his disease."

    "That must have been difficult to go through." Stella sympathized.

    He didn''t say anything for about another minute. Again, it was too fucking hard to read him, thanks to that damn helmet. The girl would definitely press on this detail later.

    The hero clasped his hands on his thighs. "Well! I hope your questions have been properly answered!"

    The Human nodded. "That was a great story..." Then she smirked. "...Asra."

    The Knight''s posture tensed, taken aback. "W-What- What did you say?"

    Stella stood up and started pacing with her hands clasped behind her back while a smug smile graced her lips. "Your story is compelling, Knight. However, there are a few gaping flaws in your testimony!"

    She dramatically pointed at the hero, inspired by a videogame she glimpsed with a freaky-haired attorney as a main character. She wondered if an actual courtroom was that exciting.

    "If what you said is the truth, then you''re telling me you succeeded in learning to create all those fancy inventions in less than two years!?"

    The hero began stuttering. "W-What?! I mean-" He tried regaining his boundless confidence. "I don''t want to come across as a braggart, but I am quite the prodigy!"

    Stella snorted. "You may not be a braggart, but you''re a bold-faced liar!"

    "You mean ''bald-faced''." He corrected.

    "Regardless!" She approached him with a confident swagger. "Even if I accepted this impossible claim as truth, I have another question for you!"

    The hero didn''t respond.

    The girl bumped her fist into his helmet a few times. "Why do you keep a secret identity?"

    He puffed his chest and laughed. "I''m a superhero, Stella! This is our main thing! Besides, to keep myself as a perfect agent against Sayama''s enemies, my true identity must be a secret!"

    Stella scoffed. "Even from your fellow guards?"

    That completely broke his facade. "I-I..."

    The girl turned her back at him, hands behind her back. "Does that mean I''m Sayama''s enemy? At least, a potential danger to you?"

    Of course, she didn''t believe that. But she would cut through the guard''s bullshit, no matter what!

    "Stella, please! I didn''t mean it like that!"

    She hummed. "Then show me. Prove to me you''re a Monoke!" She dramatically spun to face him again. "Or just be honest with me, hero! I need to know if I''m the only Human here!"

    To her surprise, the hero stood up, saying nothing. He made steady steps towards her, still in silence. She hadn''t realized how scary he could be without the goofy eyes.

    Stella thought for a second that this was the end. She poked too deep into this hole. Now, she would be silenced like one of those conspiracy theories.

    Her cracked reflection could be seen clearly on the Knight''s black visor. Her terrorized expression was absolutely detectable, unfortunately.

    He stood there menacingly for about twenty seconds, which felt like twenty minutes. Stella tried to tap into her smugness again.

    But nothing came.

    "Knight? I''m so-"

    He shook his fists in the air. "DANG IT!"

 Chapter 35 - The Silver Lining.

    That was... an unforeseen reaction.

    Stella was back on the bed, staring dumbfounded at the pacing and ranting Knight, now confirmed to be a Human just like her.

    "And I had planned the perfect reveal! After you had proved yourself to the queen, she would say something about you being the only Human in Sayama." He finally stopped and turned to her. "Then! I would say, ''Or is she?'' then dramatically remove my helmet!"

    Stella''s eyes followed him unblinkingly. Her mind was racing with a repeated: "What the fuck." Then she finally snapped back to reality when she finally processed his words. "Wait, wait, wait! What was that about proving myself?"

    The Knight''s positive, heroic demeanor was no more. He was genuinely hurt by the early reveal. "Yeah, there would be these tasks we would put you through to test your morality. Completing those would take you to the queen at the end, and she would judge you. But now..."

    He plopped on the bed, looking like a depressive drunkard. The girl felt terrible for ruining his theatrics. She hadn''t imagined the work he put into it.

    She sighed. "I''m so sorry, dude." She clapped, trying to cheer him up. "We can still make the tests! Nobody would know!"

    "No, that would be going against their principle! I can''t do that! What role model would I be?!"

    He was still going on about his heroism and virtue, huh? The only other Human in this forest was a freaking weirdo. How lucky she was!

    After a minute of sulking, the hero shuffled back to sitting. "How did you find out?"

    She could pretend it was all because of her immaculate detective skills or some naturally high IQ. However, she wasn''t in the mood for that anymore. It would be better if she was direct.

    "I suppose it all started with that shield incident. While Gryla bombarded us, you asked for MY help. Even though Lien knows more about Saniya than me."

    He gently tapped his knuckle into his helmet. "Of course..."

    "I only noticed that little hole after we were safe from that hag. When Kaku told me about their book about Saniya, I knew it would enlighten me about that event."

    "You read Kaku''s book?!" It was good seeing him cheering up. "Amazing, isn''t it?!"

    Stella blushed and scratched the back of her head. "Well... I needed someone else to read it for me."

    He tilted his head. "But the book was in English. Wait..." He leaned closer. "Stella, you don''t know how to read?"

    Oh boy, that was so embarrassing. "I-I mean, that''s not important."

    "Stella, this is absolutely important!" He insisted. "How old are you, anyway?"

    "Twelve. But we can worry about that later!" She tried to dismiss this tangent as much as she could. "When we read through Saniya auras, nothing about the golden color was mentioned. There wasn''t a single Monoke species with such an energy. But I did when I drank that weird stuff, just like you!"

    The girl poked her right temple. "Now that got me thinking, what if you weren''t a Monoke in the first place?!" She held her palms at him. "Of course, I didn''t share my suspicions with anyone, I assure you."

    After a few seconds of absorbing this information, the guard praised her. "That was some fine detective work, Stella. I''m impressed." He straightened his posture. "Indeed, I couldn''t ask Lien to strengthen the shield. Human and Monoke Saniya don''t mix well. The shield could have dissolved immediately or worse."

    Nice. Another mystery was solved. Now, the only thing left was...

    The hero grasped his helmet with two hands. "Time for the grand reveal!" He tried to conjure his usual enthusiasm, emphasis on "tried."

    Finally, after all that suspense, Stella would see the man behind the helmet and tacky poses, and...

    ......

    He was white. Damn it!

    He had ruffled brown hair, a thin beard forming on his face, noticeable bags under his eyes, and a small, faint scar on his left cheek. Overall, the girl found him handsome, even though he looked like he hadn''t slept for days.

    Her standards for male beauty were less about personal opinion and more about what the women she met and movies show as good-looking men. She never truly got what the fuss was about. Boys never struck her fancy, although she shrugged it off as being a late bloomer or something similar.

    That was until she met Sofia. They were only friends, but Stella''s feelings about her grew stronger by the day. That was when she truly understood what her tastes were about.

    Unfortunately, she was too late to act upon them. And now, she was feeling something similar with Lien...

    That was so fucked.

    "Focus, Stella!" She rubbed her temples.

    "Is something wrong?" Asra asked.

    "Yeah, it''s just..." She sighed. "It''s a lot to take in, you know?"

    The girl then could stare at her savior''s true face at last. "Hey, Asra."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    He was now acting surprisingly shy, more akin to the black Wolf. "Hi..." He opened his arms, tapping into a shred of his knightly voice. "You are not the only Human in Sayama. Ta-dah..."

    If Stella knew it would get this uncomfortable, she wouldn''t have bothered him in the first place. It was too late for regrets, though!

    "Uh... Nice to meet you?" Stella was tempted to run away and pretend this conversation never happened.

    "Nice to meet you too, Stella. I''m sorry for not telling you earlier. I just wanted to make your stay here fun." At that point, he gave up on the goofy voice.

    She shook her hand dismissively. "It''s alright, dude." Then, she started with the actual questions. "But now that we''re past that bullshit, please answer my questions for real."

    Asra nodded.

    "Okay, first. Why did you come to Sayama?"

    He rubbed his hand on his neck, seemingly uncomfortable with the question. "I wanted to do something meaningful with my life."

    Stella blinked twice. "Really? How?" That sounded awfully similar to her own motives.

    He took off his gloves. "The truth is, I knew about the Monoke before venturing through these woods. I wanted to see how they lived and how I could assist them."

    Stella was baffled. "How the hell did you know about them before going in? I am almost 100% sure these guys existing is not common knowledge!"

    He clasped his hands together, then pointed them at her. "Another astute observation. Only a select group of Humans kept that knowledge after centuries since the Monoke''s imprisonment."

    Stella''s mind flared with inquisitiveness. "Is this, like, a government conspiracy?! Is the royalty involved?!"

    The girl''s enthusiasm easily contaminated Asra. "Yes! Exactly! The king, the queen, the nobles, and some families that remained loyal to the crown formed a secret organization called ''The Knights of Namadi''!"

    "Aw, man! That''s so cool! So you''re a member, too?!" She felt like a child again. Technically, she still was. It was hard to remember that, sometimes.

    He clarified. "I was. A scientist, even though I went through combat and Saniya training. How do you think I got this powerful?"

    Of course, that led to another inquiry. "Why did you leave?"

    The man''s tone softened. "I spent my whole life being taught that the Monoke were perversions of a false god, a pale imitation of Namadi''s gift."

    "Wait, Namadi actually exists?" Stella was never religious, but she had heard a few sermons.

    He shrugged. "I have no idea. But every member of the organization does worship the Goddess of Light. They only seek to enforce her will, which includes guarding Sayama''s border and preparing for a potential Monoke uprising."

    So those guys with weird armor barring anyone from approaching the forest must be them. Nobody she asked seemed to have a concrete answer to what they were, only theories. The only thing known was that they were government agents, nothing else.

    "Do you think that can happen?" Stella asked, a bit concerned.

    The hero closed his eyes and shook his head. "Impossible. The Monoke are powerful but vastly unprepared against the Knights'' power and weapons. No magic they could muster would ever withstand a nuclear bomb, on the worst case scenario."

    The girl felt somewhat relieved. She didn''t care much about the city but preferred that Humanity wouldn''t go extinct.

    The man continued. "After questioning their beliefs, I went to the forest on an unofficial reconnaissance mission."

    Stella interjected. "So, you went rogue."

    "Pretty much! After silently watching the Monoke go about their lives for the first time, I saw the truth. They are sentient beings just like us. Sure, some can be pricks, but that''s how it goes!"

    The girl comprehended after going through so much in the last few days. She saw the good and the bad in these creatures, not much different from their society.

    They had lives, hopes, dreams, and a culture. Of course, these Knights'' were full of crap! The Royal Family was full of crap! Though she was well aware of the latter for a long time.

    But like a hydra, with each answer, two other questions appeared. "So, is that why you made yourself a superhero? How did you convince the queen of that?"

    Asra smiled. "Well, after spending about two years with her, I''ve gained a bit of her trust." He chuckled. "I made this super flashy presentation of my hero persona, which I created intending to strengthen the Monoke''s trust towards Humans."

    Stella scrunched her face in confusion. "But your identity is a secret, right?"

    The man snapped his fingers. "Correct! The plan is to remain in action for at least a decade, then when the people of Sayama get comfortable with me around, I reveal myself to the public!"

    Stella nodded, acknowledging all of her fellow Human''s explanation. "So, does that mean I should get myself a disguise?"

    "Oh, no! You don''t need to do that if you don''t want to!" He assured her. "Actually, I think your surprise appearance is the perfect thing to help with our goal! You already made friends with Lien, and the Lycan Squad seems comfortable with your presence."

    Well, that wasn''t the whole truth. The girl always felt Capt. Tash''s gaze was constantly on her, ready to pounce at any wrong movement. At least, that was her impression.

    But then the Knight''s words made Stella remember something else. "Right. It''s like what you told me yesterday. Creating a good image and whatnot."

    "Exactly! Especially since... Well..."

    That hesitation... What was it now?

    "You can''t leave Sayama. And it''s not the Monoke who will make sure of that." He averted his gaze. "I''m sorry."

    Stella was taken by surprise, of course. That meant she was some enemy of the state. If she was honest, it was a thrilling thought, even.

    But more importantly...

    "You want to know something funny? I don''t want to go back."

    His gaze focused back on her, and his jaw dropped. "What?"

    The girl''s eyes shifted to her calloused feet. "I only came here as a last attempt to be known. If I could cross the infamous Sayama Forest, people would notice me, and maybe..."

    Asra shifted closer to her. "Maybe what?"

    A huge lump formed in her throat. However, she fought through it for a few seconds, finally muttering. "Maybe I would find a family..."

    Opening up was always hard for Stella. Even so, she couldn''t imagine how only these revealing this much would affect her. Her vision blurred with the upcoming tears.

    "I-I... I hadn''t thought I would even survive this place, honestly. But..." She wept. "I don''t know what else I could do. Nothing else worked! I tried being a good kid! B-But..."

    She tried to cover her eyes so Asra couldn''t see her tears. They seeped through her fingers, anyway. Her body tensed when his hand touched her shoulder. "Stella, it''s-"

    By instinct, she rejected his touch and got up. She stared at his eyes, observing his concern growing by the second.

    Her heart pounded. She hated this. She hated the situation she put herself in. She loathed herself for making Asra reveal his identity only to end like this. What the hell was her problem?! It was no mystery why no one wanted her.

    "Stella, it''s okay. I''m he-"

    "NIGHT!" She darted at the exit, then busted the door open! She plugged her ears with her hands so she could not hear his voice before locking herself in her room.

    Lien was buried deep in her sleep. If Stella was silent, she would have the time and space to curl herself into a ball and keep to her own thoughts, which were exclusively about how a colossal fuck-up she was. She just met another Human, and that was the first impression she made?!

    What a fucking joke. The girl silently sobbed like a weak child in hopes that someone would pity and comfort her. But the truth was, this wasn''t in the cards for her.

    "Stop crying, you pathetic bitch! Get yourself together!"

    Slowly, she convinced her feet to stand up and drag her to bed. The creaking sound of the wooden floor was a welcome distraction, not as much as the softness of the sheets greeting her face.

    She would definitely apologize to Asra later. But for now, she wanted some rest.

    Her eyelids got heavier as her muscles relaxed. Tomorrow wouldn''t suck as bad, right?

 Chapter 36 - Interstellar.

    She was a fucking star!

    "WAHOOOOOO!"

    Stella carved her way through the cosmos. Her body was enveloped by a burning aura, allowing her to rocket her way to infinity. A thin, fiery trail drew elaborate figures in the overwhelming blackness of space.

    A dog, a snake, a [male sex organ]! She proudly admired her works of divine art, radiant amidst the universal canvas.

    She was feeling great! Invincible! Freedom was finally within her grasp, with no pesky earthly attachments or responsibilities! There was only the great beyond, her new home.

    Her fire grew hotter, expanding and swirling until it became a miniature sun. "Come on, come on! I want to see MORE!!!"

    Lightyears were crossed in mere seconds, and planets were vaporized by the comet of destruction, creating astounding explosions on the way. Who gave a shit about physics?!

    The meteor could see the white dots that eluded her for many years approaching. They were practically her parents, and now she was FINALLY coming home!

    But before the heartfelt reunion could begin, Stella saw a calling tint of beige in the corner of her eyes. She was intrigued.

    The comet changed course to the cloud, which dwarfed whole galaxies! When she plunged into the mass of gas, dust, and plasma, her eyes sparkled with the discovery of new colors it concealed.

    Countless tones of orange, purple, blue, and red, all swirling in a synchronized dance that reflected their harmony. Sometimes, they intersected, flashing memories of her first day in Sayama. Her first meeting with Lien, the deer, her reconciliation with Kristal, and the reveal of the Knight''s identity.

    Even though some of these events brought some uncomfortable feelings to her, it was ultimately a collection of the people she met and cherished in the forest. As Stella''s mind processed the memories, more detailed representations of these embellished the cloud, and new ones formed.

    The fight with the Yule Lads, the escape from J��lak?tturinn, the trauma from losing Lien to the giant, and the near-death experience from drinking pego jam. These recollections spiraled and pushed Stella in all directions, making her stomach churn.

    The girl''s senses were heightened to an excruciating degree as she could hear the voices of everyone she ever knew screaming in her head. The current of cosmic dust led her to an unknown destination, repeatedly changing course by the second.

    However, after a while, her body moved along with the flow. Her mind felt numb while she entered something akin to an auto-pilot state. She recoiled her arms to her side and her legs straight and together, like a flying superhero.

    The moment she stopped worrying, she could see the beauty of it all again. The excitement, the adrenaline, the determination in the middle of the rising chaos! Then she remembered what she felt when Lien and her defeated the Lads, the weird yet alluring desire for thrill.

    Her mind was now at peace again. The hues that composed the cloud were now absorbed into her reignited aura, pushing her to finally burst through it and return to the vacuum!

    Before she could resume her journey, she glanced back at the cosmic agglomerate. Weirdly enough, it seemed like a piece of her had stuck on it. She felt... incomplete.

    She was half a mind to return to the chaotic mass. However, it seemed to have read her mind and did the courtesy of quickly drifting towards her. What the hell?

    Stella was in awe, transfixed as it flew faster and faster, seemingly teleporting at some point. She could only react by screaming, "WAIT!"

    The full might of the cloud impacted the girl all at once. The flickering dyes overwhelmed her eyes, forcing her to close them to remain sane. She couldn''t resist the force of its current, only accept it and let it guide her again.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Thankfully, it didn''t take long until she stopped spinning, and the heat was replaced by absolute cold. Her eyelids slowly opened to see the oranges and purples fading away. The rest suffered the same fate seconds later.

    Stella summoned her fire and flew to investigate this odd phenomenon.

    She dashed to a safe distance, close enough to see a distinct shape amidst the fading dust and plasma. It certainly wasn''t a Human, not even a humanoid Monoke.

    She slowly drifted towards it, its shape gradually becoming more visible.

    It was...

    "What the fuck is that?"

    It was a large, quadrupedal creature. At first, it looked like a bear, but as Stella approached it, she could see its striped, orange legs, like a tiger. Not only that, but the creature also had an elephant-like trunk with two horns at the end.

    What the fuck did her mind cook?!

    "Ah... This dream is DELICIOUS!" Of course, the creature could talk. "I have never feasted like this since-"

    "Hey! What the fuck are you doing?!" The girl cried.

    The dream creature, of course, quickly turned his attention to her. However, he was more horrified to see her than vice versa.

    "I can''t believe this..." A faint smoke came out from his snout. "TIME TO GO!"

    Stella stretched his arm. "Wait!"

    The monster disappeared with a loud pop. The girl was left with the endless solitude of the cosmos.

    If that wasn''t mind-fucking enough, she now became more self-aware of her surroundings. She was floating in the freaking outer space! Holy shit!

    This had to be a dream. If so, why did that weird chimera feel so... different from anything else. His sheer presence sobered her for some reason.

    And why did her nose itch so much?!

    <hr>

    ACHOO!

    "Good morning!" Lien beamed with unadulterated joy. "Just wanted to wake you up. I''m gonna hunt with my mom."

    Stella rubbed her nose, paying attention to the pup''s tail, suspiciously close to her. What was her deal?

    The Human grumbled. "Okay, Lien."

    The Monoke sat on her bed. "Is everything alright?"

    She didn''t expect that question from her friend at all. She was barely able to respond. "Where did that come from?"

    Lien''s ears slightly twitched. "I heard you crying in the middle of the night. I was worried."

    The girl blushed. Damn it! It wasn''t supposed to be like this. Now, the Wolf saw her as a pathetic crybaby.

    "I-I''m so-"

    Before she could apologize for being a bother, Lien stunned her by jumping on top of her, sitting like a regular canine. "Hey! If you miss your home, I can tell my mom or the Knight! I''m sure they''ll help you!"

    Why is she so... So...

    The Human''s heart drummed at the same pace as the beating wings of a hummingbird. She tried to shake these feelings away, but Lien made it so difficult! Was she doing it on purpose?!

    "Lien, get down here already!" A voice from downstairs. It was her mother.

    "Oops!" She jumped away, landing on her four legs. "See you later!" Then ran away without waiting for a goodbye.

    Stella was left with her own thoughts. Again.

    Wait, again?

    Finally, she vaguely remembered her dream. Well, the end of it, at least. That weird creature greatly unsettled her.

    After that encounter and how her morning started, Stella needed a break already. After taking deep breaths, her heartbeat slowly stabilized.

    It would be fine. It was a brand new day ahead of her. And in what better way to start it than by getting out of bed with a smile?

    That cheery attitude crumbled by the first thing she saw when exiting the bedroom, Asra''s door. The guilt crawled on her back when the memories of yesterday inevitably flashed in.

    She''d have to make it up to him later. But for now, she didn''t want to cross paths with him for a few hours, at least.

    And her prayers were answered! The only people on the lower floor were Padda and Kaku, who were bickering again. That appeared to be a common occurrence.

    "C''mon, old turtle! We gotta get some extra meat!" The Frog held a fishing rod in each hand.

    The Kappa swung their cane again, but their partner dodged. "I already said no! I don''t even know why you still take me. I''m horrible at this!"

    He sighed. "I know! But I don''t know who else to take!"

    Stella saw this as an opportunity. Learning how to fish could be a good survival skill for her. She wouldn''t go against getting free food.

    "I can help you, sir!" Stella shuffled her feet anxiously while the two elders stared at her as if they had forgotten she was there.

    After a closer inspection, Padda''s expression wasn''t much of a relieved one. Actually, he appeared to be... disappointed?

    The Kappa cooed. "Thank you, sweet girl." They patted her head.

    Stella hadn''t expected that gesture to bring such a fuzzy feeling from her. She associated that with the typical image of the sweet old grandma, something she also craved at times.

    They poked their claw at the Frog. "Now you be a decent old Frog and let this eager young girl help you!"

    Padda sighed in defeat. "Alright, kid!" He grumbled. "Here''s yer rod!"

    It was too big for her to wield it properly, or so it seemed. She didn''t know if fishing rods were too light or if she was more powerful than she thought. The same went for that heavy book.

    Her questions were smothered by the blinding rays of light that burst when the Frog opened the door.

    Padda whistled. "Fishing with a Human! Not on my bucket list."

    Stella understood the sentiment all too well.

 Chapter 37 - HUNT.

    Lien:

    She missed this.

    Hunting and tracking a large animal, then killing it with her own paws. It made the act of eating afterward much more satisfying.

    To top it all off, she was being supervised by her mother! It had been a year since the last time. Her aunt did most of the heavy lifting when it came to teaching in this regard, and then she went through some solo practice, much to her fellow Wolves'' anxiety.

    The pup couldn''t understand why they were so antsy about that. Lien was blind, sure, but so what?! She could survive a day without their constant vigilance, a point she proved yesterday.

    Well, that wasn''t true... She was captured by the Ogres. And she only got J��lak?tturinn off her tail because of Stella.

    Speaking of her friend, she was acting weird earlier. She was way less outspoken than usual. And the crying last night...

    Maybe she should''ve consoled her. Lien was not good at these touchy situations, but she was an expert hugger! Maybe when she gets back, then.

    Thoughts for later. The smell of deer entered the Wolf''s nasal radar.

    It was hard for the pup to track anything right now. That was related to where the captain decided to conduct the test, the Sampiens. Other Monoke always gushed about its beauty, which wasn''t a sentiment Lien shared.

    Other than her blindness, the spores from the fungi messed with her sense of smell. It made her feel vulnerable.

    She knew that was why her mom chose this place for her hunting ground. Captain Tash never played nice, a quality Lien admired.

    The pup approached the smell with careful steps. After crossing a considerable distance, that presence turned into more than Lien could count on her paws. That would make this endeavor slightly harder, she had to admit.

    Thankfully, Lien had hunted enough to know the subtle differences in smell between the adult deer and its fawn. Her enhanced sense of smell made it even easier to discern that. Come to think of it, the spores only downgraded her nose to be at the same level as the rest of her kind. That was neat!

    Now, it was simply a matter of carefully hiding her presence in the bushes, which she had to pay extra attention to. The subtle sounds of the vegetation and how they smell are essential for her to know which places she could use to her advantage.

    There were a lot of options for prey in the herd, but the pup wanted this hunt to be memorable. She desired a challenge. She desired to take down the biggest of the bunch.

    After patiently waiting until the smell of male hormones shifted close enough, the Wolf pounced on the male deer, claws unsheathed! She didn''t know exactly where she would hit, so she swung her natural weapon and could feel it cutting through the animal''s flesh. The wetness in her paw and the smell of blood were satisfying for the young huntress.

    Needless to say, she heard the rest of the deers running away, including her target. That wouldn''t do!

    Lien easily outsped the stag and blocked its escape. The deer tried time and time again to flee in different directions, but that only served as entertainment for the huntress. It was similar to the Wolves'' traditional dance, only missing the part where the partner would fake attack her.

    Oh! Scratch that! The herbivore finally grew a spine and used violence to defend its right to live. Lien didn''t have vision, but she knew better than to stand in one place and let the bigger prey pummel her.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    She always kept a safe distance from the target. Even though she preferred the direct approach of overpowering her prey with brute strength, she remembered the core principle of Wolf hunting philosophy: "A good hunt is the one where you are left unscathed."

    Those words are drilled into any pup old enough to hunt rabbits. Lien wasn''t a prime student, but even she was no exception.

    She heard the distinct noise of hooves beating the ground, antlers scraping the tree trunks, and the ragged breathing of the ever-weakening ungulate. Each fighting attempt was met with a slashing attack on its torso, a kick on its knee joint, and then a piercing bite on its hide. The sweet taste of deer blood was reinvigorating!

    After doing this song and dance a few more times, the stag fell to the ground. The weak sneeze it made only confirmed its state to the pup. She was disappointed that it lasted so little but shrugged it off.

    It was for the best. Lien had places to go with her new friend, after all.

    The deer''s life was lost by a decisive throat clamp. Lien''s jaw was strong enough to seal its fate and its windpipe.

    The pup climbed on her fallen prey and lay on its corpse. Sure enough, her mom''s scent was quickly on her radar.

    "Hey, mom!" She front-flipped back to her feet. "Caught it all by myself!"

    Her mother''s feet shuffled in circles around her game. "That was a good hunt, Lien." Her praise made the pup beam with pride.

    "But you could''ve taken it more seriously." Of course, there had to be a point of criticism. The captain was hard to impress, especially when it comes to her own child.

    Lien deflated. "Sorry, mom..."

    Her mood defaulted, and her tail wagged frantically when Tash''s paw scratched her head. Mommy''s caresses were the best!

    "You did good. Now it''s time to go." She spoke softly.

    "Can I carry my prey?! Please!" Lien hopped over and over like a rabbit.

    "Let me do it. You''ve done more than enough." The carcass was lifted, presumably carried on the captain''s shoulder. "Next hunt, I''ll let you. I promise."

    Lien was disappointed by the doting treatment but decided to think of who awaited her at the old Monoke''s house. Oh, man! She had a freaking Human friend! All her friends in Pantsti will bulge their eyes out when they see her. It would be amazing!

    She strutted through the mushrooms, sometimes grabbing into one''s soft stem and jumping to another. It was a gay old time!

    As expected, who didn''t appear to be as excited was her mother. "You''re more jumpy than usual."

    She should begin any conversation with "I''m not happy." It would spare precious time.

    Don''t look at me. This was Lien''s opinion, not mine.

    "Oh! I don''t know why, just feeling good today!" She wiggled along a thinner fungus stem, which she clung to.

    "Is this about your friend?" Lien could hear the uneasiness in her tone.

    The pup decided to not dwell on it. "Huh. Now that you mention, yeah!" She jumped from the fungus and landed back on her mother''s side. "Stella''s great! You should talk to her more!" She walked with her paws behind her head.

    Tash scoffed. "Thanks, but I already have enough friends. But my concern is not about her personality, you know that."

    Lien knew. Among all Wolves in Pantsti, her mother is particularly more vocal about the dangers of Humanity than the rest. Heck, she remembered when she and her cousins were playing a few meters away from the border before the captain came with a ten-minute-long scolding.

    It was suffocating, but she couldn''t blame her. Talking about the root of the issue was something Lien did not dare to do. Even mentioning his name was too much.

    "She''s a Human." Tash continued. "Any thoughts about that?"

    The pup had to do something she wasn''t used to, reflect on her following words. There was no reason to lie, but she didn''t even know how to fully grasp that fact.

    Under these complicated dilemmas, Lien mostly shrugged and settled on going with the flow. Someone more competent could make the hard decisions. She knew her limitations.

    But this time... She was more involved but didn''t want to back off either. It was so weird it made her head spin a bit.

    Oh, right... Her mom...

    "Well, at first, I didn''t know. Then, after Stella told me the truth, I was kinda afraid, I admit." She pointed her finger at the captain. "But! We had a lot of fun together, and I feel good when I''m next to her! Also, we''re a pack now, so it''s settled!"

    The pup practically shouted that last bit to express how her opinion wouldn''t change, no matter how much she insisted. It was surprisingly effective since the captain went silent throughout the entire trip.

    You know what? Lien hated this! She didn''t want to make her mom upset or even sad! There has to be something she could say here, right?

    "I know how you feel about Humans, Mom." She spoke in a gentle tone. "But trust me, if you talk to her, you will see what I mean."

    The captain only responded with a "Maybe later."

    That would have to do for now.

 Chapter 38 - Im so bored I cant think of a cool title.

    Stella:

    Fishing was dull.

    What a surprise.

    Stella sat on the boat, fishing rod in hand. She gazed at the watery abyss that reflected the boredom carved on her features. She hadn''t felt alive for slow, painful, agonizing TWO HOURS!

    The only source of entertainment was wiggling the rod occasionally for the bait to emulate a tiny fish''s movements and Padda''s whistling. The latter was starting to get on her nerves.

    At least she had a gorgeous sight to behold. On her left side was a green and vibrant forest of conifers, and the logic-breaking, towering mushrooms embellished the opposite one. Standing between two contrasting landscapes kept her mind going for a while.

    The fake pond''s water glistened with the scorching sunshine, and the spore mist from the Sampiens occasionally touched it, forming a blueish sparkle on some corners of the body of water.

    The girl wondered if she would get high if she drank the mixed substance. She really needed it at that point.

    "Did''ja roll all the way here? Your clothes look worse than mine!" Padda was the one to start the conversation, surprisingly. He seemed so uncomfortable earlier.

    The monotony was so powerful that the Human had to take a few seconds to answer. "I only have those to wear, I''m afraid."

    "That so? My guess is you turned tail on yer parents, right?" He asked.

    "Don''t have those." Stella''s eyes drifted somewhere else. Not even she knew what she was looking for.

    "Ah..." He tapped her shoulder. "Sorry, kiddo."

    "It''s fine." That was a bald-faced lie.

    And so, they were back into the awkward yet tedious void for about ten minutes.

    "So... Do you... catch a lot of fish every day?" It was Stella''s turn.

    Padda barely rotated his head to address her. "Eh, it''s a scarce season these days. Just catching enough to get by, and sometimes it ain''t enough. To not starve to death, I go to the capital every month or so."

    Okay, now Stella had a topic for conversation. "Where did you get your money from?"

    Padda was distracted by the flies soaring around them, so it took almost a minute to get an answer. "Sorry. I had a job selling the fish I caught, but I''m too old for that nonsense now. Got my money from retirement."

    Stella gave up on her rod. "So does Kaku?"

    "Yeah. But Kaku''s cash mostly comes from their family."

    The girl raised an eyebrow. "What''s the deal between you two?"

    The Frog imitated the gesture. "Excuse me?"

    She elaborated. "I can''t tell if you''re friends, family, or lovers." She put on a snarky grin. "I''m leaning on the third option."

    The Monoke''s jaw hung open, and his eyes threatened to pop out of his skull. Then, after a few seconds, he burst into laughter. "Aw, kid! You''re killing me! Me and that lazy reptile?! What a funny tadpole you are!"

    The Human was not convinced, however. "Then why are you living together. Hell, you even share the same room!"

    Padda frowned, gazing reflectively at his fishing rod. After a while, he sighs. "We go way back. For me, at least."

    That last sentence was odd. "What do you mean?"

    He huffed. "I''ll get to that later. We met when I was a young lad with a tail that had just disappeared. I started selling my fresh products in the capital in a humble stand. There was when I met one of my most loyal customers."

    Stella now paid full attention to his story. "How were they before?"Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    "About the same, actually. A crusty, old Kappa who always greeted everyone with a sweet smile."

    That information made her question if she heard it right. "How old are they?!"

    The Frog chuckled. "He''s more than five thousand years old, last time I asked! He was already a senior when the war came along, to give ya an idea. Crazy, right?!"

    Stella''s mouth involuntarily opened wide. "FIVE THOUSAND YEARS!?"

    His chuckle escalated. "Right?! Monoke years are a hot mess! Like, Frogs live to a hundred, at most." He recomposed himself after a while. "How about Humans?"

    "The same as you, I think," Stella answered. "What happened next?"

    "Right. Decades passed, and we kept seeing and talking to each other. They always came in the morning, every day, without fail. It became a part of our routine until..."

    "Until...?" Stella was intrigued by the Frog''s change in behavior. He seemed confused and upset at the same time. That only stoke the flames of her curiosity.

    He sighed. "They didn''t come one day. I knew where their house was, so I did the courtesy of bringing their usual order directly, even though I didn''t even know if they were interested. Turned out that their age was finally catching up to them."

    Stella felt sympathy for the Kappa. "So you took them to live with you? How about their family?"

    "They were the ones who talked me into this. Saying that their parent wouldn''t shut up about me." He chuckled softly. "So I am taking care of them while their family gives me some money to help with the costs."

    Something about that really rubbed Stella the wrong way. That sweet, old Monoke was left behind by their own family. Those cowards! How could they abandon their own like this?!

    She bet they saw Kaku as a deadweight, a hindrance, a burden. Her blood boiled at the thought, and her fists clenched, almost snapping the fishing rod in half.

    Padda appeared to notice her internal turmoil. "Kiddo, when you live as long as a Kappa, your most vulnerable moments extend for decades, even centuries. Babies, kids, old folk, all need to be nurtured for generations of my kind."

    When that didn''t succeed in easing her mood, the Frog continued. "Also, their family always visit them every one or two weeks. Until then, I try to keep them occupied for their sake."

    That turned a lightbulb on the girl''s head. She remembered Padda''s disappointment when the Kappa refused to go fishing with him. It all made sense now.

    "I didn''t realize. I''m so, so sorry." Her anger faded away.

    The Frog shrugged. "You didn''t know. They need to go outside more and get those fossils they call bones moving. ''Sides, they always have some stories to tell when we''re working. Perks of living that long, I suppose."

    Stella''s mouth subtly morphed into a smirk. "You seem to really care about them."

    Padda chuckled, then gazed at the floating hook. "Sure."

    As if it was magic, when the Frog watched the bait after a long time, it sunk into the river. Finally, this trip wouldn''t be completely pointless!

    He reeled in and pulled the rod, grunting with insurmountable effort. "We got a fighter here!"

    He stood up and tugged with all his might, but even that was proving fruitless. Stella had to step in and assist the old Monoke. "C''mon, fishy! Get on the damn boat!"

    Even with the combined effort of the fishing master and his assistant, they were losing in the never-ending struggle against the Kara River''s beast.

    "Come on, ya bastard! Come to ol'' Padda!"

    "What the hell is that thing!?"

    They were about to give up until suddenly, there was no more struggle on the other end of the line. The momentum led the fishermen to an unplanned bath.

    "Fuck this fish!" That was Stella''s first words after grasping at the boat. Thankfully, the amphibious creature was there to help her not drown.

    "That''s impossible! I got some monsters not too long ago!" The two got back on the vessel safely. "Unless..."

    An invisible force made the craft flip multiple times! Stella closed her eyes and held on to the wood so tightly she could feel tiny splinters digging into her skin. A small price to pay.

    That ruined any goodwill she had for the day. "Can''t even fish here without getting attacked by something! FUCK THIS PLACE!"

    Padda didn''t appear bothered by the swearing, though it might be the shock by the imperceptible ambush. "Aw, damn it! It''s that punk again!"

    She cringed at her hopelessly drenched clothes. "Who?!"

    An unknown voice chimed from above. "Hey, old Frog! Missed me!?" It sounded like a drunk witch.

    Stella quickly lifted her head to see who dared pull this prank on her. The answer was... not surprising at that point.

    It was what appeared to be a red lobster with an elongated body like a snake. It didn''t have legs, only two arms with pincers at the end of the limbs. An elongated bird-like beak complemented its already hideous face, alongside its completely yellow eyes with an almost invisible black dot for a pupil. The spiky green hair gave a not-needed flair to his appearance.

    The girl rolled her eyes. "Ugh. What even is that thing!?"

    Padda explained. "An Amikiri. His kind likes to visit here sometimes. Though this one tends to be A PAIN IN MY ASS!" He shouts directly at the undesirable guest.

    Its laugh was almost as insufferable as St��fur''s. It sounded like a witch and a parrot screaming at the same time. "Where''s your Kappa boyfriend?! Don''t tell me they kicked- HEY!"

    Stella had thrown their fishing rod at the delinquent. "Watch your fucking mouth, asshole! Or I will force you to!"

    He wasn''t laughing anymore. He was smirking.

    She fucked up.

    "You got an ugly friend, Padda. I know how to fix her!"

    He then rapidly flew in a perfectly circular motion. Before the Human could ask what he was doing, the boat moved without turning up the motor.

    "A thorough wash!"

    The Amikiri created a whirlpool, which pushed the vessel to an endless ride! The thrill! The adventure! The urge to hurl whatever remained in her stomach away!

    "WHERE''S THE KNIGHT?!" Stella tried to not freak out. She failed miserably.

    "He went to do some patrollin'' or something!" Padda''s straw hat was tragically taken away from its owner. It lived a good life.

    "Is there anyone left!?"

 Chapter 39 - HOME RUN!!!

    Euraidd:

    "How was I supposed to know he''d react like that?!"

    Oh, he was done for. He had done the unforgivable sin of trying to be a wingwolf for his sister. Some weirdo from the capital named Verp.

    Hufen had been making googly eyes at him for a few months. It was annoying and embarrassing, so he brought it upon himself to settle this at once.

    The result... was not what he hoped. Verp actively avoided Hufen after the golden Wolf told him some of his most treasured moments with his sister. The problem was that one of those memories was about-

    "THE BEAR DUNG INCIDENT!? Why would you ever tell him that?!" She was fuming, clutching her staff so tight he could hear it creaking and almost snapping in two halves.

    He flailed his paws apologetically. "But it''s such a cute story! I thought he would see how good of a mother you''d be! I still don''t see the problem!"

    She swung her Saniya conduit at him, but she thankfully missed by a strand of fur. "He''s from the capital, you dunce! They''re super squeamish!"

    He held his staff with two paws in a defensive stance. "If that guy can''t handle tiny stuff like that, how would you two even make it work!"

    And so, the two siblings entered in a staff clash. Lucky for him, Hufen was not angry enough to use magic against him. However, her ferocious strikes could dismantle his guard if he wasn''t careful. He wasn''t attacking, only dodging, guarding and deflecting.

    "I LEARNED MY LESSON! PLEASE, STOP!"

    "NEVER! YOU RUINED MY LIFE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

    "YOU''RE ONE, TOO!"

    Hufen growled, then swung the wooden weapon with such power that it knocked her brother''s from his hand.

    "I yield-"

    A powerful headbutt on his snout made him shut up, and then a leg sweep for the golden Monoke to lose the height advantage. The female mage pressed her staff on his chest to keep him on the ground.

    "Last words, Euraidd?" Her cold yet blood-thirsty expression was the basis for many of the mage''s nightmares.

    Euraidd whimpered. "Please... If this is to be the end..." He closed his eyes and shuddered. "Do it with one blow."

    The crystal tip of the staff shined with a glorious blue glint as the sun blessed the victor when she swung the weapon upward. The male mage smiled at how beautiful his last moments were. It was like an angel of war was about to claim his life.

    Hufen roared as she swung the conduit down for the final blow! Euraidd accepted his fate as the world dramatically slowed down! Until!

    "HELP! SOMEONE!"

    The Human...?

    Oh, right! They had a job, hadn''t they?!

    I don''t know why I spent so much time here, to be honest. It''s easy to get caught up in the emotions of the ones I narrate through. I''ll get better at this. I think.

    Euraidd jumped back to his feet. "What is that over there?"

    They were at the river bank where they met the old couple yesterday. They could only see the boat being pushed in circles by a whirlpool. A strange figure flying right on top in the same direction could also be seen.

    Hufen squinted her eyes. "If I had to guess, it would probably be an Amikiri. We have to approach them to be sure." She grasped her staff with her mouth and prepared for a swim. "Euraidd, let''s-"

    Right. The whiteish Wolf remembered her brother''s condition. That dumb fuck.

    He fidgeted his fingers with a sheepish smile. "Hey, sister..."

    Stella:If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    She threw up. A lot more than she expected.

    After painting the water green, she was still on the tortuous ride, courtesy of the Amikiri laughing at their expense. He had stopped flying by that point.

    If Stella survived this, she would get whatever she could find to beat the living shit out of him. In that case, the wooden oars would fit the bill just fine. They seemed heavy, though.

    Her violent urges were easily fragmented by the loss of her perception of reality. The world revolved into a spiraling spiral. That doesn''t make any sense? Of course, it doesn''t!

    "The girl already lost her breakfast! Now''s your turn, old Frog!" The delinquent cackled.

    "STOP THERE, YOU FIEND! DRAGON''S GUARD ON THE SCENE!"

    As the voice, which Stella didn''t recognize, rang, she could feel an enormous wave of relief crashing upon her as the boat''s speed lowered by the second until it finally ceased moving.

    "Oh, Namadi''s light!" That event momentarily made the girl religious.

    She was too focused on recovering to pay attention to the lobster-like Monoke. However, the distinct sound of something rapidly clicking was audible.

    "H-Hey, officers! I don''t want trouble!" His cockiness was gone.

    "Strange words, coming from someone harassing the elderly!" Now, she recognized it. It was Euraidd.

    Stella finally had the stomach to look at the guard, who... was riding his sister. Of course...

    Poor Hufen was not having a good time, by the look of her face. Neither was the delinquent, with his snapping pincers that sounded like an assault rifle.

    Wait! Her plan! He was floating pretty close to her.

    Padda had brought some oars in case of the motor malfunctioning. A great call, especially now.

    Stella grabbed one, expecting it to be difficult to wield, but the opposite proved true. She swung the instrument like a tennis racket. It was so light!

    It was perfect.

    Her wicked grin was carved on her facial features as she prepared for a deliciously devious revenge.

    "That Human is under the protection of the Dragon''s Guard! Desist, or else you will be arrested!" Euraidd continued with the intimidation.

    "Of course, of course! Anything you want!" His pincers stopped. "Wait, did you just say-"

    SLAM!

    "HOME RUN!"

    Stella launched the Amikiri into the depths of the Sampiens. Her smile widened as her vindication succeeded.

    In other words, damn, that felt good!

    "I hope you like champignon, you sonofabitch!." Her cocky smile was there to stay.

    "Nice swing, kiddo!" Padda laughed while tapping Stella''s back. It hurt a little.

    "Yeah..." Euraidd wasn''t as enthusiastic. "But next time, let the adults handle this, okay?"

    Before Stella could respond, Hufen took everyone by surprise with the aggression in her voice. "Euraidd! Get on the damn boat, already!"

    Lien:

    Wait. Why I can''t see anything?

    Oh. I''m on Lien''s point of view. Why? I was going for the Amikiri.

    That was never an issue before. Maybe I got too carried away. It''s my first time, after all.

    And doing this job is tiresome! Be grateful, I''m doing this for you, y''hear!

    Well, since we''re already here...

    Something took the pup''s attention, a sound and smell coming from the same direction. It smelled somewhat similar to the fish she caught two days ago.

    She wanted to know more!

    "Lien. Don''t."

    Capt. Tash already knew her next move. It was oddly comforting knowing how well her mother knew her. Or maybe she was THAT predictable.

    Whatever. Lien could already pick up on Stella''s smell.

    She was so excited!

    ???

    Ha! Got the right one!

    Told you it was only a matter of experience.

    Wait. I can''t see anything again. What the h- Oh, the Amikiri passed out. Great...

    ......

    I guess it''s just you and me now. How was your day? Assuming you have a life outside reading my attempts at a decent narration.

    I''m sure you have. Better than me, stuck in a literal void! Did you know I have no idea of what I look like?! There are no mirrors in here! Just...

    Nothing.

    What am I even doing here? Describing the actions and feelings of total strangers. Although, everyone is a stranger to me. Isn''t that wild?

    ...

    ......

    .........

    Do you remember my strange reaction to the first Lightspeed Barrage? The thing is, I had this odd feeling almost every time Asra conjured a spell. It''s like when a seemingly obvious question is thrown at you, but something inside your mind doesn''t click quite right.

    That''s how I feel. And I don''t have anyone to guide me through it. I can''t even fucking hear you!

    It''s not fair! Why was I even born?! What''s my purpose? To watch everyone on the other side live an actual life!?

    No! I don''t want this! I want to be free!

    I want to ?? ????!

    ? ???? ?? ?? ????!

    ? ???? ??-

    "Ugh! What the hell...?"

    Ah. He''s awake.

    ............

    Welp, it''s time to do what I always do.

    "Shit! It hurts everywhere!"

    The Amikiri''s yellow eyes slowly opened to find the towering fungi of the Sampiens. How in the world was he there? He was just-

    That girl. No, a Human...

    He messed with a freaking Human, of all things...

    His pincers snapped with boiling anger. "That little bitch... When I get my claws on her, I''ll-"

    His vow for revenge was put on hold by a giant, looming shadow on top of him.

    "OH, SHIT!"

    He slithered in the air, away from an earth-shattering blow! A cloud of dust made it impossible to identify his assailant. Was it the guards? The Human, thirsty for retribution?! He would prefer to take a beating from that Kappa at this point.

    Golly gee! His karma must have been on the bottom end! Because it was none other than a freaking Ogre!

    She was different from the J��lasveinarnir from the Ganvi Woods. While she had some characteristics in common, like a wrinkly face, grey hair, and a big, thick nose, she also had literal red skin, two horns that grew out of her head, and big, intimidating tusks on her lower mouth. She wore a bear pelt draped around her waist and pants that covered everything up to her knees. An immense piece of sarashi concealed her breasts.

    To top it all off, this particular Ogre was about nine feet tall. Not a great situation!

    She huffed, then roared. "Yes, keep dodging! I love a challenge!"

    Today was not a good day for poor Kreef.

 Chapter 40 - From Prey to Accomplice.

    Kreef would never make another prank again.

    He prayed to Tizohi for his protection while he dodged blow after blow from the Ogre''s kanab��. Its spikes could easily pierce through his natural armor.

    He tried to flee by flying, but an enormous rock dome burst from below and covered his precious escape route.

    She had magic, too! What a blast!

    "I hate fleeing prey! Come and face me!" She flailed her weapon while producing a soul-chilling roar.

    He had no choice. Kreef would have to face her head-on!

    The Amikiri dived at the red brute with incredible speed. After swiftly dodging one of her blows, he coiled his body around her right arm and pecked it! She hissed in pain, but no apparent wound was made.

    He only made things worse, didn''t he?

    The Ogre ditched the club and clutched the Amikiri''s long body. She yanked the river Monoke with one swift motion and threw him to the stone wall! He could hear it cracking on impact.

    "Not bad!" She picked up the kanab��. "But you have to try a little harder than that!" She slammed it on the ground, creating a shockwave that pushed Kreef back to the wall. "Bring it!"

    The Amikiri opened his beak and spat out a sharp gust of wind, which quickly connected on her left shoulder. The Ogre grunted and put her right hand over the struck area. Did it bleed?

    "That''s better..." The blackness of her eyes turned into a small pupil surrounded by a burning yellow sclera. "More!"

    Her left foot stomped the ground in a gesture of power and grandeur. A rock lifted from the floor as on cue. She swung her club at the earth mass, and it flew towards Kreef! He was barely able to evade it.

    "Please, don''t!" He begged, on the verge of tears.

    The red beast chuckled while preparing herself for a shoulder charge. "Here it comes!"

    The horned Monoke was powerful but slow. Kreef had no issue dodging the incoming tackle by simply flying sideways. The dome was vast enough.

    He cackled at the dumb brute, wasting her strength in fruitless attacks. "You Ogres are so stupid!"

    His mocking stopped the moment a bloodthirsty scowl took over her face.

    "I. AM. AN ONI!" Her booming voice shook the very foundation of the arena she had created. Kreef was too stunned by the sheer power of her shout to notice the rubble crushing his scales and dragging him back to ground level.

    He wasn''t in much pain. An Amikiri''s scales are much more durable than that. However, it was suffocating! He could barely move a muscle under the colossal weight of his rocky trap.

    After a minute of strenuous effort, Kreef triumphally poked his head out from the rubble, only to find a grinning Oni with her kanab�� high in the sky.

    "Who''s stupid, now!?"

    Kreef''s life flashed before his eyes. It wasn''t a pleasant experience.

    The voice of his disappointed parents loudly echoed in his mind.

    "An 8/10?! You''re pathetic!"

    "When are you getting a job?! Your cousin Klou was already a famous boxer at your age!"

    He was glad he had long since left the reef, but that meant he''d have nowhere to go after this beating.

    Speaking of, why wasn''t he knocked unconscious yet?

    He paid attention to the Oni again. She had stopped mid-swing, a few inches from his head. He sighed with relief until the club fell on his head anyway, only less painful than it should have been. It still hurt, though.

    After taking two minutes to free himself, he noticed something weird about the raging Monoke, whose muscles were relaxed even if she was still standing. It was hard to see because of the blue mist, but a faint purple cloud came from her nostrils every time she exhaled.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    "Hey! You''re alive!"

    Kreef flew a couple feet from hearing the unknown voice. After two consecutive ambushes, he was understandably on edge.

    The tiny, round figure waved at him from below. "Sorry about my friend! She''s a bit feral today!"

    He sounded friendly, but Kreef couldn''t lower his guard. He carefully flew closer to whatever this Monoke was.

    "Good thing I have business with this one, huh? I know what you''re about to say, so let me speed things up. I know I''m great, and you''re welcome."

    Geez, egotistic much!? Whatever, more important than that was his identity. He was a Baku.

    Characterized by their chubby build, three fingers on each hand, black and white fur, and their elongated and flexible snout, the Baku was a revered species of Monoke, capable of absorbing and manipulating one''s dreams. This particular one wore a purple yukata with a beige sash and... crocs with socks as footwear? The fashion of the land-dwellers was an unsolvable puzzle.

    Kreef had never seen one before. Although there was a reason why, he couldn''t remember it.

    "Ugh... What...? What the hell''s going on?!" The beast had awoken! The Amikiri and the Baku rapidly retreated.

    She glanced at all sides with violent intent, huffing and gritting her monstrous teeth until she detected the interloper. "Gent��!"

    The Oni approached him with earth-shattering steps. However, the dream Monoke was oddly unafraid. "Wait! Before you beat me to a pulp, I''ve found the perfect chance of quenching your anger!"

    Kreef did not dare let a single noise, not even from his claws. He was dumbfounded by the relentless giant stopping in her tracks, though the scowl did not change. "Liar."

    Gent�� chuckled and snorted at the same time. It made him sound like a pig. "You think I jest, but I''ve found the most rare opponent you could ever find!"

    Her expression softened. "Who?"

    The Baku''s face twisted into a villainous grin. It freaked the Amikiri out.

    "A Human."

    The Oni''s eyes widened and turned back to black. "Bullshit."

    Gent�� shook his head. "Not only did I find one, but I consumed her dream! I had not tasted something that good in centuries!"

    The Ogre cringed. "You still doing that? Can''t you eat regular food and let folk dream in peace?"

    His grin turned into a frown in less than a second. "My body wasn''t made for regular food! Dreams are much more gentle to my tummy!" He continuously stomped the ground and shook his fists in the air.

    His frustrated voice was annoying as fuck. And that was coming from Kreef!

    As for me? Eh, St��fur''s was worse.

    These two kept talking for a long, LONG time. Kreef wasn''t afraid of these clowns anymore. It was more amusing than anything else.

    He could fly away, but... Where''d he go? By Tizohi''s antlers, he lived on a river! There wasn''t much he could do! Maybe he could return to the Nexus, in a different reef. Nah, the Monoke there are a bunch of stuck-up pricks!

    "Fine, I''m convinced." The Oni flexed her biceps, the size of a freaking watermelon. "I want to see the power of one up close."

    "That''s the spirit! You help me get that girl, and I let you beat her up!" The Baku rubs his hands together while chuckling like a lunatic. "I will become invincible!"

    Hearing their upcoming scheme, Kreef decided to step in, snapping his claws in quick succession to make noise and claim their attention. "One problem, though. Wolf guards are protecting that Human."

    The Baku snorted. "Please, how many can it be?!"

    <hr>

    A lot. The whole Lycan Squad and that silver weirdo.

    "FUCK!" Gent�� shouted in indignance. "My plan is ruined!"

    The Baku and the Amikiri stealthily surveilled the Frog''s house at a distance. Due to her conspicuous nature, Hanaken, the Oni, had to wait a few meters away from them.

    The Baku scratched the top of his head, then he closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and furrowed his eyebrows. Was he trying to squeeze an idea by force?

    Surprisingly, something did come out. "If only I could know where the Human is headed next. There''s no way they''re actually going directly to the castle. Why would they waste their time here?"

    Hanaken interjected in the distance. "How''re you going to do that? Sneaking around?" She laughed. "These guards have an Oni''s sense of smell. You ain''t going past halfway through!"

    That Oni had a point. It was a fun thought exercise, this harebrained plot. But it was dead before it even-

    Wait. There was a way for them to get past the guards'' noses. Something Kreef was already familiar with.

    "Do you guys know air magic?"

    Gent�� stared at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

    The Oni was not much better. "I don''t know what you''re on about, but I don''t know air magic! Neither does that dainty fool!"

    Before the Baku could scold his friend again, Kreef cut to the chase. "Someone with air magic can manipulate the wind so your smell doesn''t reach their noses."

    Both listeners let out a united "Aah..." only to be met with one more roadblock. "She''s right. I don''t know any air spells." However, his ears perked up when his eyes glued on the Amikiri. "And you?! Do you know any?!"

    Uh oh... He got too close!

    Erm... It was easy! He just had to lie!

    "You can bet your butt he does! He actually made me bleed with one of his spells!" Fuck, Hanaken was always hearing them perfectly.

    "I mean," Kreef nervously passed his claws through his spiky green hair. "I''m not that good-"

    Kreef''s heart (which, if you suck at biology, is located close to his back) skipped a beat when the Baku firmly held his pincers and looked straight into his eyes.

    "I need you." He blinked. "Uh, what''s your name?"

    The Amikiri snapped his claws anxiously. "K-Kreef!"

    "So, Kreef. Will you make me the happiest Monoke in Sayama and help me get that girl?" Gent�� stood on one knee.

    Something the Baku said struck a chord in Kreef. There was Monoke in actual need of his help. He was valuable to someone! "Suck on that, mom and dad!"

    He even forgot he would be enlisting for a treasonous act. I don''t need to tell you how dumb of a decision that is.

    "Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes!"

 Chapter 41 - Shells Kitchen.

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 Chapter 42 - Looming Threats.

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 Chapter 43 - The Journey Goes On...

    Stella:

    "So, this is it. Back on the road."

    The Human girl watched as the Frog''s boat carried Tarb and the Knight back to the main road to Pantsti. The wind blowing on her skin was a welcome farewell gift to soften the crushing uncertainty about her future.

    But nothing in this world could distract her from the fact that she was the public enemy number one for a lot of Monoke. Especially after that Amikiri weirdo spying on them.

    Well, there was one Wolf who came close to.

    "Cheer up, Stella! We''ll get home in no time! You should be excited!"

    She should? The Human was regaining a speck of normalcy here. She had good food and pleasant company. She even learned a few things about fishing and cooking! Okay, that last part was debatable, at best.

    However, seeing Lien with that radiant, toothy smile gave back to Stella a spark of enthusiasm. If she was that excited, maybe things wouldn''t be that bad.

    Yeah, she didn''t need to be a stick in the mud. It would be fine!

    The pup wrapped her arms over Stella''s neck and shook her body left and right. "Oh! I can smell them coming! It''s our turn! Our turn!"

    While still inconvenient, Stella got more accustomed to Lien''s touches with each instance. It was clear as day that this was only a way for the pup to express her feelings. Besides, the thought of being rude to her turned the Human''s stomach upside down. She never had that problem before.

    Stella''s interest shifted to the noise of the opening door behind her. Of course, Kaku had stayed behind, too. "You girls are still here?" They sat on the platform edge beside them, dipping their toes in the water, then took a deep breath. "I hope our home sufficed for you all."

    Stella gently broke free of her friend''s grasp and joined the Kappa. "Are you kidding? You''ve been nothing short of amazing! I..." She rubbed the back of her neck and blushed. "Wish I could''ve stayed longer."

    Man, she was pathetic.

    The old Monoke giggled like a little girl. "Child, I''m flattered! But you have better places to be than with a couple of old sacks of bones. Better go with the Wolves. They know how to have real fun!"

    Kaku, Stella, and now Lien laughed as one. Although the Human''s was tainted with sorrow. She had grown fond of them in only a day and a half. They were like the grandparents she never had.

    Perhaps Stella was going too fast with all that, just like with Lien. The difference was that the pup was even more clingy than her, so it wasn''t much of an issue.

    At the end of the day, she doesn''t know anyone here. Anything can happen. People can disappoint her, or worse. She had to get herself together! At least until she has a stable home. Her current situation wasn''t much different from before, all things considered.

    "It''s yer turn now, kiddos! Hope you enjoyed yer stay!" Padda''s voice was unmistakable.

    Stella could do it. If she survived that witch, nothing else could shake her.

    <hr>

    Gent��:

    "Keh keh keh!" He giggled endlessly.

    The thought of acquiring ultimate power, reaching the heights of his fallen brethren, and then everything he desired would finally be his! He couldn''t help himself but laugh!Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    However, his old (and only) friend, Hanaken, didn''t appreciate his expressions of joy.

    They had known each other for only a measly forty years. Their friendship started when the Oni, who was about to begin her gigantification stage, saved him by beating up some brutes from the capital. Gent�� tried to join their gang to gain some respect for his name but only got laughed at and picked on until a hulking red beast came along.

    They hit it off ever since, though she constantly made fun of his genius schemes. Okay, none of them lasted long or even succeeded in the first place, but it was only a matter of bad luck! His intellect would bear fruit in the end!

    Not to mention, they have the headstart and plenty of time to set their trap. Now, where would be the perfect spot...?

    The Baku''s eyes searched for their prized location. However, he would concentrate much better if not for HIS MINIONS'' CHIT-CHATTING!

    "Does he always make these sounds?" Whispered Kreef.

    The Oni shrugged. "Only when he''s excited. Though I haven''t heard him like that in years, it ain''t that bad."

    What? What was she blabbering about?! He was as ambitious and motivated as ever! Silly Hanaken!

    Erm, well... Fine, he became a bit down in the dumps when he got caught on his "duckcrumbs" scam. Right before Ske dumped him, which was before he lost claim of his house, forcing him to live in the woods.

    Nonsense! He wasn''t depressed! He only needed some cooldown time for his next plan! As proof of that, he had already found the locale of his ultimate victory!

    The start of a hill would lead them to the only path to Pantsti. Of course, this was a border of Chikukei''s territory, but the Basan had no reason to patrol here. This place was perfect.

    Gent�� puffed his chest and dramatically opened his arms. "My dear accomplices! This is the perfect place for our trap!" He pointed a tiny finger at them. "Kreef! Hanaken! You will follow my exact orders, understand?! Otherwise, only defeat shall rain on us!"

    Kreef was leagues more excited than the Oni. "Aye, aye, captain!" He snapped his claws in rapid succession. It sounded like a musical instrument.

    Hanaken was... "Whatever, man. As long as I get a good fight out of this." Always the buzzkill.

    The Baku rubbed his hands with malicious intent. "Keh keh keh! Those guard fools will not even see what''s coming to them. My plan is flawless!"

    "Yeah, good thing you mentioned that," Hanaken crossed her massive arms. "Because you never told us the damn plan! We just followed you for three hours, and you said NOTHING since we left that river!" She somehow became redder.

    "I have to agree with her," Kreef interjected. "It would be nice if you don''t keep us in the dark." His yellow eyes narrowed. "Like when you told us you didn''t know how to make Hanaken cross the river..."

    Gent�� scoffed. "It all went well in the end, didn''t it?"

    The Amikiri shuddered. "Say that to my broken exoskeleton..."

    Noticing the derailment of their conversation, the Baku resumed his evil gloating. "My partners in crime! We will be victorious against the likes of the Dragon''s Guard! For we are-" He stopped mid-sentence, mouth wide open.

    "Uh... We are what?" Hanaken ran her fingers through her grey hair.

    Gent�� couldn''t believe how foolish he was. How could he call himself a criminal mastermind if he forgot this simple yet paramount detail! This could jeopardize everything! Everything he worked hard for could crumble like an old statue.

    However, this segment of their plan demanded a tough choice. Only someone with an artistic intuition and a resolve as unbendable as a diamond could fulfill this role. Only HE could do it.

    "SPILL IT OUT, ALREADY!" Steam came out from Hanaken''s nostrils and ears. Kreef immediately recoiled and vibrated in fear.

    However, Gent�� wasn''t afraid. More pressing matters occupied his mind rather than simple, primitive instincts. He turned to the Oni with a sober expression.

    "What should we name ourselves?"

    No response from either of his minions for a solid twenty seconds.

    "What?" Asked Hanaken, dumbfounded.

    The Baku paced back and forth. "If we''re about to realize such a magnificent feat, we must have a name! Something to remember us throughout history! We cannot be remembered as just Gent��, Hanaken, and Kreef! That will never work!"

    Kreef stood perplexed while the Oni rubbed her temple. "By Tizohi''s antlers, I''ve woken up for this..."

    The Baku huffed, offended that the two weren''t taking this matter seriously. "Listen here, all the most memorable groups have a name! So are we going to do this or not?!"

    The Oni closed her eyes, sighed, and turned to the Amikiri. "What do you think?"

    Kreef appeared genuinely surprised that they wanted his input. "M-Me?!"

    Both Monoke silently nodded.

    He fidgeted with his claws. "W-Well, it can''t hurt to try... A cool name will show everyone that we''re the real deal!" He shuddered when his eyes drifted to Hanaken''s. "B-But if you don''t want it, I can-"

    "Screw it. Let''s give this a shot." She slammed her butt on the ground. The impact created a sizeable shockwave.

    Hanaken crossed her tree trunks for legs. "One chance. We don''t have all the time in the world."

    Of course, the dream Monoke already had a perfect name for their trio. If spoken by anyone''s lips, it will drown everyone''s hearts and minds with fear.

    From now on, they would be called-

    "THE BAKU BUNCH!" He proudly announced.

    However, his pitch was received with the instantaneous "No." from his two minions.

    Tough crowd.

 Chapter 44 - Gotta Go F- Fuck! Another Roadblock?!

    Stella:

    Man, this sure was a bunch of trees!

    The wonder of walking through the woods was fading really fast. The company was great, sure, but they were walking for THREE HOURS! She wasn''t tired or anything, but this was such a slog!

    Because of that, it was comforting that Lien shared the sentiment. "Mom! Can''t we go running?!"

    "Lien, if we do that, we''ll open ourselves for an ambush. Besides, I don''t trust you running around."

    Lien huffed and puffed, and Stella held a chuckle as best as she could. It was enough so the pup could hear it. "Is this funny for you?"

    The Human''s face straightened up, with iffy results. "I mean, a little..."

    "That''s fair. Hey! Do you know we''ll cross a different town on our way?"

    Great. More road ahead. Riveting.

    Two hours ago, Stella saw a wooden plaque with two arrows pointing the same way. On each one was carved a name: Pantsti and Chikukei.

    She assumed there would be a path divergence, but nope.

    Whatever. As long as the Human got asylum, she would climb the damn Everest.

    Speaking of climbing...

    At some point, a thin layer of vibrant green grass stood between the edges of the road and the fir trees. The layer gained more and more ground with each meter the group traversed until the woods turned into an open, green pasture, where the bigger gymnosperms took the backstage. More steps ahead, the path subtly inclined upwards. Before Stella knew it, it became a slope.

    She could say they were in a... Green Hill? What she''d give for a pair of red sneakers and the ability to roll around like a ball. Fighting a fat dude and his army of robots didn''t sound ludicrous anymore, which expressed so much about her circumstances.

    The journey onward wasn''t easy. Even with Stella''s weird improvement in stamina and strength, she struggled hard against the steep terrain. However, she wanted not to show weakness to her travel companions. How uncool would she be otherwise?! Lien wasn''t breaking a sweat!

    She put on a brave face and concentrated on each step. One step, two steps, three-

    She bumped into Asra, who stopped walking for no apparent reason, along with everyone else, including Lien. She didn''t like this.

    "Guys? What''s wrong?" Stella''s apprehension intensified by any second she was left unanswered.

    Thankfully, Lien cleared her doubts. "Someone''s smelling over there." Well, removed, then replaced them with more questions and more fuel for anxiety.

    Captain Tash addressed her squad. "All of you, protect the girls." Then turned to the Knight. "With me."

    The hero saluted. "What an honor you award me, captain!" Which made the Wolf leader let out a weak groan before they strayed from the path.

    Lien''s tail moved in circles. "We''re following them, right?"

    Tarb laughed. "And get in trouble with your mom?! Right!"

    The pup crossed her arms. "Really? I thought she didn''t scare you."

    Was Lien... purposely manipulating that grown Wolf? Lien?!

    To top it all off, it worked!

    "Let''s follow these fools!" He took the lead.

    The rest of the squad stared at him with loads of disappointment oozing from their eyes. It was so bad that Locci spoke up. "Again?"

    One word was better than none.

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    <hr>

    "Please, help me! Save a lady in distress!"

    That was... an Ogre? A red Ogre, no less. Just when she thought she was done with those guys...

    The Monoke was stuck beneath a humongous rock, so large it could be mistaken for a baby mountain. Wait, those don''t exist, do they? How were mountains born!?

    As expected, the Knight was the first to jump into action. "By Tizohi''s antlers! A desperate maiden needs help!"

    Stella cringed. "Maiden...?"

    "I''LL SAVE YOU, CRUSHED CIVILIAN!" But before he could go through it...

    "Don''t bother, Knight." Tash barred his advance with an extended arm. "She''s faking it."

    While the Knight responded with a resounding "WHAT?!" Stella wasn''t surprised. Look at that creature! It was like a mountain was pinning another to the ground! Girl packed some BEEF!

    The captain took a few steps forward. "Nice try, Hanaken! But I can sense your Saniya! This rock is nothing!"

    The red Monoke became flustered. "I-I''ll let you know that I''m not just brute, unrefined strength!" She heightened the pitch of her voice to make her point across. "I''m a delicate flower, and I NEED! A STRONG GUARD''S! ASSISTENCE!" So much for a lady-like voice...

    Stella was so glad she wasn''t down there. Now, she could chuckle at the Ogre''s expense with no repercussion. She was so genuinely broken about her act failing it was hilarious, if not sad.

    None of the other guards took the "anguished" maiden seriously, not even the captain. "Your father won''t be pleased to know you''re involved in another scam! I guess I''ll pay him a little visit!" She turned her back to the Ogre and faced the rest of the group. That encounter seemed to lighten her mood, surprisingly. She wasn''t even mad that they disregarded her orders.

    "We had our laugh. Now, let this clown be. We have better things to do."

    Everyone went their way back-

    The baby mountain fell only a few inches in front of Stella. IT WAS SO YOUNG!

    It was yet another brush with death. Stella''s senses only focused on her heavy breathing, ringing ears, shaking hands, and pounding heart. Only one voice broke through the fog.

    "DON''T YOU DARE SNITCH ON ME, YOU MANGY BITCH!"

    This was fine. Everything was fine. Why wouldn''t Stella be fine? She was fine as a swine on the brine!

    Wait, what?

    Deep breaths. The girl went through worse. A 30 ft. tall rock was nothing compared to that!

    There was growling, shouting, and barking all over the place. Stella couldn''t concentrate on anything! Why wouldn''t these people SHUT-

    "HELP!"

    "Lien!?"

    The Human''s senses sparked with renewed vigor. She turned to see her best friend rolling down the hill. Fuck!

    "LIEN!"

    Stella dashed at the distressed pup as if nothing else mattered. At that moment, she had forgotten she was alive and that her life had value. Her conscience acknowledged a few voices.

    "STELLA!"

    "DAMN YOU, AMIKIRI!"

    The girl slid down the ridge, holding her feet firm on the unreliable grass. It didn''t take long for her to join the reenactment of Sonic, the Hedgehog. Hopefully, no loop-the-loops existed in Sayama.

    Other than dirt and grass forming a mask-like layer on her face, Stella wasn''t feeling much discomfort. However, she was still falling prey to gravity''s mighty pull.

    After a few more seconds, Stella discontinued her rolling by an unknown force. Opening her eyes, she saw The Silver Knight barring her advance with his body while Locci did the same for Lien. They were almost at ground level again.

    "I appreciate the enthusiasm, Stella! But you need to plan ahead before any heroic acts!" He helped her climb onto his shoulders. "You''ll get the hang of it next time!"

    "Next time, huh?" Before she could ask anything, a wall was lifted from the depths of the earth and dragged them downhill before any of them could react. Nothing could ever come easy for her, could it?

    And so, the quartet was dragged to the same level as the Ogre, who was cracking her knuckles with a delighted grin. "Your disrespect will be repaid in full."

    The Knight and Locci quickly stepped in front of the girls. "What business do you have with us, miss?!"

    She pointed at them. "Nothing from you! I want the Human!"

    Of course, she did. Everyone wanted a piece of the girl in this place! She wanted attention, sure, but not like this!

    The hero stepped forward, making his mandatory dance rehearsal. "If you think my resolve is so weak I''ll oblige to this madness, you''re wrong! My punches will bring you to the stratosphere!"

    The Ogre grumbled. "I don''t know what that means, but it sounds like you''re itching for a fight!" She slammed her spiked club on the ground. "Ready?!"

    A lightning bolt crashed between the Knight and the red brute. Euraidd and Hufen landed close to their fellow guard. Stella had to shuffle next to the trees for a clearer view of the action.

    From a crater, Capt. Tash stood up with sparks coursing through her claws. "Step. Back." Each word from her was charged with sizzling rage. "Your partner is neutralized, and you stand no chance against all of us."

    "YAHOO!" Tarb literally went Sonic-style and balled all the way down. The rest of the squad and the Knight joined her against the red giant.

    And yet the Ogre''s grin remained unshaken. Either she was mad, or...

    "That''s what I call fun!" She picked a rock from the ground. It was big yet small enough so she could grasp it in one hand. "CATCH!"

    The ominous projectile was flung at the Wolf pack at an alarming speed. Captain Tash''s paws shone with electricity until-

    The rock turned into a cloud of pink and purple smoke, exploding on the squad''s faces. Stella pulled Lien away before it could reach them as well. That proved to be a good call.

    A mad cackle was heard through the mist. "Pathetic fools! Not even guards can resist my dream mist! That''s the power of a Baku!"

    "You know they can''t hear you, right?" The Oni sounded annoyed.

    "YOU''RE RUINING MY MOMENT!"

    What did she mean by not hearing him? What did they do?

    "Now, fetch me the Human!"

    Gulp! Whatever they had done, it was horrible news, for sure!

    "Lien, let''s-"

    "OUCH!"

    That annoying voice cried for some reason, just in time for the fog to clear.

    Five unconscious guards. Only one remained.

    "Don''t count on your victory yet, evildoer!"

 Chapter 45 - The Conniving, Powerful... Eh, what was their name, again?

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 Chapter 46 - Kamaitachi.

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 Chapter 47 - The Y奴rei.

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 Chapter 48 - The Loser Club.

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 Chapter 49 - The Next Step.

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 Chapter 50 - The Grand City of Bamboo, Chikukei!

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 Chapter 51 - Attracting the Wrong Kind of Attention.

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 Chapter 52 - Do Chickens Dream of Popcorn Sheep?

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 Chapter 53 - The Three Fuzzy Shinobi!

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 Chapter 54 - We dont talk about the third movie...

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 Chapter 55 - Keep Away From The Carbs!

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    The Silver Knight:

 Chapter 56 - Where His Worth Lies.

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 Chapter 57 - Bamboozled.

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 Chapter 58 - Time for School!

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 Chapter 59 - Pantsti.

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 Chapter 61 - H艒k艒.

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 Chapter 62 - The Mighty Gent艒!

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 Chapter 63 - The Trouble Troop Stands Their Ground!

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    <hr>

    Hanaken:

 Chapter 64 - What is Saniya?

    Stella:

    ?When evil threatens you with its raging might!?

    ?When virtue seems to no longer be shining bright!?

    ?There''s a hero ready to give you a helping hand.?

    ?Truth and justice fuel his fists until his final stand!?

    ?His light burns bright as the stars in the sky.?

    ?Keep on the righteous side, or face THE. SILVER. KNIGHT!?

    Her peaceful slumber was disturbed by THIS!

    ...

    ......

    "Goddamnit, Knight..."

    A tiny alarm clock shaped like a hero''s helmet rang with this catchy song. Stella wasn''t a music specialist, but judging by the heavy use of guitars and drums, it was some rock sub-genre. On its visor, it marked 6:00 a.m.

    The girl awkwardly shuffled to silence it, only for someone to do that for her.

    "Thanks."

    "You''re welcome, sidekick!" The Silver Knight was already clad in his armor and goofy helmet. But the alarm had just started blaring.

    "When did you wake up?" When Stella went to her sleeping bag, the hero was on his "nightly patrols." She assumed she''d be the first to wake up, at least.

    "Simple! I didn''t!" He claimed with a cartoonishly chipper emote.

    Stella''s eyes widened. "Is this healthy?"

    The Knight laughed for about twenty seconds before an out-of-character, monotone "No." Then back to his regular self. "But that''s only an occupational hazard of a life of devoted heroism!" His emote changed to a preoccupied one. "But seriously, you''re too young for all-nighters. A healthy sleep schedule is important!"

    This guy was a walking contradiction.

    He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I''m so sorry, but I peeked through your bag without your permission. Only to see what I should buy for you, I swear!"

    Stella cocked an eyebrow. "Rude. But sure."

    He picked a piece of cloth near his sleeping bag. It was wrapped around something. "I''ve bought you a comb, soap, and a toothbrush! You''ll have to use my toothpaste, however."

    Yep, all he had cited was on the bundle. The girl had to admit this act of kindness took her off-guard. Acts of charity were too few and far between for her.

    Asra knelt in front of her. "Are you okay? Did you dislike the comb?" He grunted. "I knew I should''ve picked anything but paddle?! In my defense, they didn''t have the wide-tooth type!"

    Stella chuckled. "Nah, it''s a great gift! I''m just not used to being gifted, that''s all."

    His "eyelids" closed. "I''m sorry. It must not be easy."

    She scoffed. "Yeah, well... I don''t want to bother you with my sob story. Poor orphan is poor. Nothing else to it."

    Asra sat down with crossed legs and then took off his helmet. He looked even worse than before, which was to be expected.

    "If you want to vent about it, never hesitate to confide in me, alright?" His genuine smile, carved on his exhausted features, struck a chord in Stella.

    "S-Sure." She averted her gaze. She immediately wanted out of this excessive sentimentality. "So, first day in school. What should I expect?"

    The hero gasped. "Right! How could I''ve forgotten?!" He facepalmed. "The first stage of Saniya training is very tranquil. Expect a lot of meditating and eating pego fruit!"If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The girl rubbed her hands together, fighting the urge to cartoonishly lick her lips. "What does it taste like?"

    <hr>

    Pain.

    Her teeth threatened to shatter with the excruciating effort of penetrating the fruit''s purple shell. It turned out that the tiny dots on the tree''s bark were these freaky figs that seemed to have made an unholy union with a banana.

    After ten whole minutes of a potential dental issue, Stella threw the damn thing on the tree trunk in frustration. "How am I supposed to bite that shit open?!"

    As always, H��k�� mockingly cackled at her. "You don''t! Call it a harmless prank for the initiates."

    She huffed. "You motherf-" A small vine burst from the ground. It invaded her nostril, tickling it. "Fuck! STOP IT!" Tears formed on the corners of her eyes.

    The white Wolf shook his head. "No swearing near the sacred pego tree!" He raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Unless you gift me my favorite treat. Each time means I''ll tolerate one swear word from you."

    The girl swatted the vine away. "And that is...?"

    He snickered. "Don''t you know? I love leaving my students guessing! It''s what feeds the drive for knowledge!"

    She sighed. "Whatever. How do I open this freakin- OUCH!" A pego fruit fell straight on her head. "What is WRONG with you?!"

    "No trying to find a loophole, either. I can still sense the profanity coming from your lips!" The elder''s grin remained unshaken through the lecture.

    The Human displayed the patience and mental fortitude of a Shaolin monk. With deep breaths, she quelled her anger for now.

    "How do I open the fruit?"

    H��k�� hummed. "Only someone with their Saniya awakened can tear the fruit''s shell apart. You fit the criteria, but your control is poor. So, I''ll help you this once."

    Stella''s expression brightened. "Cool! How will you-"

    A loud, crackling lightning came from the sky, making her jump a few feet. The pego fruit was split apart, with its gooey insides bubbling.

    A sickeningly sweet smell assaulted her nose. "Am I supposed to eat that? This shit''s smoking."

    The elder shrugged. "It''s only a little burnt. Nothing to worry about."

    She was about to brave the strange food until another vine caught her arm.

    "Nuh uh uh! Don''t be so hasty! I prepared this whole speech about Saniya just for you!" He fake pouted.

    Stella stared at him with a seeping frustration but decided to let it be. "Make it quick." She sat on the grass.

    The elder cleared his throat.

    "Saniya is the energy that flows through every living being. Humans, Monoke, animals, plants. It glues together our three components: body, mind, and soul."

    Stella had heard that explanation in a less fancy way when the Knight explained Gryla''s self-destruct spell. What else was there to it?

    "It is a common belief that Saniya is the key to the origin of life in this world. No matter how different I am from a mushroom, this ethereal energy binds us together somehow."

    That provoked Stella''s curiosity to resurface. "Is it related to Tizohi?"

    H��k��''s ears perked up. He actually ceased invading her mind, did he? "Although many stopped believing the existence of a higher being watching over us, Saniya is seen as an alternative answer to the mysteries of this world. However, I suppose these two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive."

    The girl''s gaze shifted to the bubbling fruit while processing the information. "And by training this Saniya inside me, I get stronger. How?"

    "After awakening it, we can amplify our power beyond its regular limits by training each component while in tune with it. Luckily or not, you have already awakened your Saniya recklessly."

    The chastising way he said the last word made Stella blush with embarrassment. "Read my mind, or someone told you?"

    "The latter." He sighed. "Regardless, the pego fruit shall guide you through the process. You are fortunate since only the Monoke possesses this sacred fruit."

    "Seriously?" Stella asked. "How are you so sure there''s not more outside Sayama?"

    The elder Wolf shook his head. "Child, I''ve wandered through each corner of the world. I have contributed to destroying every pego tree in war times so Humans wouldn''t get their hands on such valuable assets. I''m sure it bought us a few years, at least."

    Every mention of the war made the girl more apprehensive. Even though the Monoke seemed fine and thriving, it felt like an eternal scar marked their past and present.

    Will it mark their future? For Stella''s sake, she hoped not.

    H��k�� snuffed out her worries with a whistle. "Alright! Enough talking, start practicing!"

    Stella took a bite out of the fruit''s gooey interior, weary to not break her teeth by the hard exterior. While chewing, the slickness of a grape was the first thing that came to mind, combined with the sweetness of a strawberry and a sour tint at the end.

    Each bite was charged with more hunger than the last, scraping the shell clean after a mere minute.

    "Delicious, isn''t it?" H��k�� displayed an amused smile. "Give it a few seconds. You should feel your body flare with energy by now."

    He was correct. Stella could feel every inch of her curly hair, her heart beat significantly faster, and heat radiated through her pores. Faint golden wisps started circling around her. It was less intense than the jam incident but still exhilarating.

    H��k�� nodded. "Good. Now, close your eyes, clear your mind, and guide your Saniya through your body like a river. This is both mental and spiritual training."

    Right. Just like the Knight had instructed her when she almost foolishly drank her way to become a living bomb. If she could handle it back then, this would be a breeze!

    After crossing her legs, joining her palms, and closing her eyes, the energy flow started to pulse at the same rhythm as her breathing, gentle and steady. Stella''s sharp mind easily tamed the metaphorical stream.

    The elder was impressed. "I see! Your risky first experience made your Saniya control exceed my expectations."

    Before Stella could beam in pride, he added. "However, I still don''t condone eating pego jam with unawakened Saniya. You understand the risks, correct?"

    Stella nodded. "I felt like I was bursting from within. Never again!" After taking a while to relish the energy surging through her, she asked. "Did I pass?"

    This provoked a hearty laugh from the elder. "Oh, girl! Didn''t the Knight tell you? You''ll cycle through your Saniya until it becomes automatic!"

    She gulped. "How long will that take?"

    "A decade if you''re exceptionally talented."

    She groaned. "Fuck. Me."

    She was immediately struck by a whipping vine on her back.

    "No cussing!"

 Chapter 65 - Do you even lift, girl?

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    That motherfucker.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

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    "A book?"

 Chapter 66 - Their First (Play)date.

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 Chapter 67 - Meeting the Cousin.

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 Chapter 68 - Even Extroverts Have Limits...

    "You were not lying. It''s gorgeous..."

    Stella and Lien walked through a hidden path that climbed through the mountain. At its end, only a great, cold cliff awaited them. However, the actual appeal of this spot lay a few feet upward.

    The Human never tired of gazing at the star-filled sky. Cosmic jewels twinkled on the blackened canvas, accompanied by their big, round lunar sister. It had always brought her comfort, especially after Sofia''s death. Now, Lien was here to share this experience with her.

    But wait... Something wasn''t adding up.

    "Why is this your favorite spot? I thought you couldn''t see anything?"

    The pup chuckled. "Ah, I''ve heard Monoke come here to see the stars." She scratched her neck. "Also Locci, sometimes. But he only comes when the Sun is out, for some reason..." She shrugged. "Not me, though."

    Stella tilted her head. "Then, why?"

    She walked to the edge and sat. "It''s quiet in here."

    The Human sat by her side, with confusion etched on her features. "You? Like the quiet?"

    Lien''s giggle sounded so sweet Stella''s teeth could rot from further exposure. "Even I like the silence sometimes! Besides, my family can be so annoying. I need the space."

    Right. The pup had mentioned that before the giant feline pounced on the two. How many days it has been? Four? Five? Stella couldn''t believe a week had passed. A week with a weirdo in a superhero costume and a humanoid, talking canine. It still sounded ludicrous.

    "My mom, her friends, my aunt, and now, my cousin." Lien sighed. "If they weren''t so intent on babying me, I wouldn''t run away so often! They don''t act like that with the other pups my age!" She huffed.

    Stella wasn''t sure how to help her best friend. Her experience with family was as deep as a puddle, filled to the brim with sand. Perhaps only listening would suffice?

    "You know, you''re one of the only people who doesn''t treat me like I''m less capable than anyone else. The Knight saves me a lot of the time, but that''s his job. He never mentions my blindness when he scolds me when I run away."

    The Human''s heart clenched at her friend''s remark. "W-Well, it''s not like I can protect you if you''re in trouble. Your cousin was right about me."

    Lien landed her paw above Stella''s hand. The sudden warmth of her soft, scraggly fur, even if contained in one area, was enough for the Human to ignore the cold breeze.

    "You''ll get there. Your Saniya is much stronger than last I saw you! I mean it!" Her reassuring smile accomplished the impossible task of stealing the girl''s attention away from the stars.

    In Stella''s eyes, the pup was a star, the brightest one she had found. Her light overshadowed even Namadi herself.

    For someone who wandered in darkness for so long, maybe that was why the Human was so drawn to her. That was why losing her to the giant was so painful. That was why she was so determined and impatient to have her back.

    But was it fair to dump all her feelings onto her? Stella was so starved for affection, for a meaningful bond, that as soon as she was smitten with someone, it all came crashing at once. The girl was, by all means, a cesspool of self-loathing and shortcomings. Lien was overly touchy, but that didn''t mean anything. It meant she had a childish mindset if anything else.

    The pup is her best and only friend after YEARS of isolation. She wouldn''t mess that up with her hormone-induced bullshit. Besides, she was not ready to face her mother if anything went wrong.

    "Thank you."

    A few minutes of pleasant silence had passed. Lien hadn''t taken her hand off hers once, fueling the Human''s conflicted feelings. The more she tried to take her mind off this detail, the more it focused on that. A classic self-fulfilling prophecy, only without accidental incest and self-inflicted blindness.

    She cleared her throat. "Do you only come here to enjoy the silence, or...?"

    "I like to pay attention to the small sounds in the woods. The chirp of the crickets, the rustling leaves, the steps of a deer or a boar. My favorite ones are the howls of our beastly siblings."Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    "Your beastly what?"

    "Don''t you know? They''re like us, but only walk on all fours, don''t wear clothes, and can''t speak our language." Lien pouted. "I tried to play with a few, but they''re so grumpy!"

    Ah, she was talking about "wolves." What was the relation between the regular animal and the Monoke version? Did Lien know the answer? Probably not.

    "The priest in the capital told me our conscience was gifted by Tizohi."

    Oh. Stella stood corrected.

    Lien''s eyes shifted to the sky. "But why hasn''t he given all wolves that gift? They said the only one who knew the answer was Tizohi himself." She snickered. "I think that''s a fancy way of saying you don''t know."

    Stella laughed along. "That''s true."

    The pup lay down, arms crossed behind her head. "We should hang out more."

    The Human nodded. "Yeah, but... I spend the whole day training! The Knight told me it''s to maximize my growth."

    Lien''s ears perked up. "Hey, you''re doing just the boring Saniya cycling or strength training as well?"

    "I''m doing both, yeah."

    With one swift motion, the pup jumped back to her feet. "You''re doing the rock method?!"

    Stella blinked, surprised. "Y-Yeah!"

    The Wolf clutched the girl''s shoulders. "How far can you lift it?!"

    She blushed. "A few inches, at most. Nothing impressive."

    Lien cupped her own chin. "Damn. It took me almost a month. Then again, I suck at concentrating when it comes to meditating and training my own  Saniya. So either that or you''re super talented!"

    Stella chuckled. "Nah. I think it''s just I don''t have anything else to do. The only place I''m familiar with is the restaurant."

    The pup licked her lips while rubbing her belly. "I wish I could eat Caire''s food more than twice a day..." Then, she broke off her hungry trance before it was too late. "I know! I can keep you company while you train! The rock stuff, not meditating." She shook her head. "I hate it!"

    Stella was grateful her friend couldn''t see how stupidly big her smile was. "Yes, please! I''d love to see you!"

    Shit, that delivery was too eager. Was it too on the nose?

    "Cool! I already know the way, so I''ll see you tomorrow!"

    Of course not. Lien was as bright as a star yet dense as a black hole, and Stella was grateful for that.

    Although, this conversation begged the question...

    "Can you lift the whole boulder?"

    Lien smirked. "Are you doubting me?"

    Stella smirked back. "I don''t know. It sounds silly, that''s all..." She held back her laughter.

    The pup''s grin widened.

    <hr>

    "Eating your words, Stella?"

    Holy shit, the mad lass actually did it!

    Lien proudly lifted the gigantic rock with a cheeky smile. Stella''s jaw would be on the floor if she hadn''t half-expected this outcome.

    She wondered if her pego-jammed self from the Gryla fight would accomplish this feat. She wouldn''t test that theory, obviously.

    "How much time?"

    "For me to do this?!" Lien slowly put the rock down. "Eh... A year or so?"

    Now, her mouth was agape. "You saying I''m stuck here for a whole year?!"

    Lien sighed. "I know, it sucks. But you''re growing faster than I did, so who knows?"

    Optimistic, but not inaccurate. Another reason to enjoy the Wolf''s company.

    Still, Stella''s lack of motivation was hard to shrug off. Surprisingly, Lien picked up on it.

    "I know what you need!"

    "Wha- HEY!"

    The Human''s reflexes were sharp enough to catch Lien''s furry fist. Now, her wrist was sore.

    "Heh. Pretty good!" Lien beamed.

    Stella threw her hand away. "What are you doing?!"

    "Combat training! Does the Knight do that for you?"

    She shook her head. "Nah. He said that''d be after strength training."

    "Well..." The pup assumed a fighting stance. "How about some sessions with me?! Let me build that confidence of yours!"

    At this rate, Stella wouldn''t have a sliver of free time. Meditating, lifting rocks, studying, and now this... She still remembered how the Knight quickly cut off her previous sparring offer, clearly apprehensive.

    However, what would she even do other than training? Besides, optimizing her growth meant not being in life-risking danger anymore. She might get some retribution against the assassins with her own hands. She also wouldn''t mind a rematch against the Oni...

    "Fine." The girl raised her closed knuckles in front of her face. "Don''t go crying when I win!" Her cocky grin was only a courtesy. She was made aware time and time again of the wide gap between the two of them.

    "That''s more like it!" Lien''s tail swished frantically. "Here we go!"

    The girls engaged in a sparring match for almost an hour. The Wolf knew how to pull her punches with... varied degrees of success. Still, each time Stella fell on her back, the embers of her resolve evolved into a raging fire!

    "Still hungry for more?!" The pup pranced towards the Human.

    Stella was at her limit but still unwilling to tap out. "Are YOU?! You look a little tired to me..."

    The Wolf laughed as her white aura started to radiate. "This is fun! But my mom will ground me if I take too long to return, so..."

    "Yeah..." Stella returned the gesture by flaring her own golden Saniya. "One last time!"

    The pup approached her like a ghostly blur, fist inches away from the girl. However, Stella had already picked Lien''s fighting vices. The Wolf had used this exact same move, in the exact same way, multiple times against her. The fact it took the Human so long to pick up on that didn''t paint a good image for her, though.

    Regardless, she dodged the blow and then concentrated all her remaining energy on her counterattack!

    "Wait, wh-"

    "TAKE. THIS!"

    A powerful uppercut connected on the Wolf''s jaw! The impact made her fly a few feet away, shocking the exhausted girl.

    Her knees gave out. Her ragged breath was all her mouth could produce. Her muscles throbbed with the unhuman exertion.

    Was... Was Lien oka-

    A flash of white light struck her chest! Lien had not only recovered quickly but also counterattacked with a fierce tackle!

    That was it. Stella had finally reached her limit.

    As her vision blurred, the pup''s words echoed in her ears. Almost lulling her to sleep.

    "THAT. WAS. AMAZING!" She giggled. "I knew you had it in you!" She howled. "Let''s do it again!"

    No response. Stella couldn''t lift a finger if she wanted.

 Chapter 69 - For The Money, Stella!

    In the next day...

    "This is it, Stella! Just another push."

    H��k�� was elated by the girl''s progress, so he devised a peculiar change in the regimen. Now, at the final hour of her morning sessions, she would condense all her energy into a few parts of her body. Since her objective was to complete the boulder test, what better option than her arms.

    She had to admit this was not a walk in the park. Allowing energy that was already there to flow through her being was one thing. Now, interrupting that flow and commanding all this Saniya to a specific place? It was like redirecting a raging river, a force of nature. As the elder taught her, she had to find a balance in her mind to wield it without brute forcing it.

    Her power barely budged for almost the entirety of the hour until a burning sensation on her biceps suddenly grew hotter.

    Her arms, and only her arms, started to radiate a faint golden light. Stella felt exhilarated by this slight step on the road of progression.

    Her mentor felt the same. "I had the feeling you''d do it! You''re showing spectacular improvement, Human!" Two branches of the pego tree slammed into each other, his way of clapping.

    As the aura faded and her muscles relaxed, Stella lay down to catch her breath. A proud smirk graced her lips.

    The elder chuckled. "If you keep at it, we''ll start magic training much sooner than I thought!"

    Her eyes sparkled. "Really?! You''ll teach me actual magic?! Like, levitating rocks, shooting fire and stuff?!"

    His hearty laughter intensified. "One thing at a time, girl! But yes, all you mentioned can be part of the course."

    Finally, she would learn how to do the REALLY cool stuff! By the end of her training, those Lads would suffer by her hand if she ever saw them again.

    "Let''s keep those violent thoughts inside your head, shall we?"

    "Why do you decide to be a stick in the mud just now?!"

    <hr>

    After gorging herself on boar ribs, Stella went to the Knight''s training grounds. Back to her loathed, insurmountable opponent...

    Dwayne... That son of a rocky whore wouldn''t keep his ass on the ground for much longer. Not with her newly acquired technique.

    Waiting for her was, of course, The Silver Knight and... Lien!

    Before the girl could say anything, the pup ran a few feet in seconds, then caught her in a powerful hug!

    "What took you so long?!" Her tail swished faster than a desperate fish''s.

    Stella allowed herself to bask in the Wolf''s embrace a few seconds longer than necessary. It felt like hugging a plushie her size.

    Mmm... Now, she remembered those reversible octopi she was enamored with. A year ago, she even stole one from a store. Why had those bastards made its eyes so damn sad!

    Unfortunately, the flood that came months later was relentless enough to wash away most of her belongings. She felt that that octopus wasn''t fabricated to live underwater.

    The girl was pulled away from the painful memory by the Knight. "The elder told me he''s putting you through more advanced Saniya training!" False tears fell from the circles on his visor. "I''m so proud of you!"

    Stella rubbed the back of her head, a little uncomfortable with the praise. "Heh. Is it that impressive, though?"

    "Your growth is up there with a few talented people I''ve met!" He explained. "By the time we catch those assassins, you''ll be powerful enough to defend yourself AND others!" Of course, he started making his dance rehearsal. "A perfect sidekick! A defender of the oppressed!" He stopped posing, with two interrogation marks for an emote. "Hey! We need a hero name for you!"

    Oh no...

    "What about me?!" Lien pouted. "I want one too!"

    The hero cupped his "chin." "Indeed. What about..." After a few seconds, he slammed his fist onto his palm. "The Shining Huntress!"

    The pup scrunched her snout in deep contemplation. "I don''t know... It sounds a little too... sparkly for my taste."

    "I see..." He crossed his arms. "We can keep brainstorming, then. What do you think, Stella?"

    The Human pinched the bridge of her nose. "I think we''re missing the point of why we''re here!" She cocked an eyebrow. "You know... Running around in heavy suits?"

    He laughed sheepishly. "O-Of course! How could I forget?" He straightened his posture. "Alright! Since H��k�� is shaking things up with you, I realized it was only fitting for me to do the same!"This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Stella''s eyes widened. "So, no suits?"

    "Oh no! You still need the armor!" He pointed at Dwayne with his thumb. Her equipment lay next to it. "Go get it!"

    After an audible sigh, Stella complied. "Fine."

    While the suit felt lighter than on her first day wearing it, it was still a heavy task to move around with it. How would she enjoy her gains if she couldn''t take full advantage of them?! This feeling of constraint was hell!

    Whatever. Stella was now fully suited and ready- Wait, Lien was wearing the same armor?!

    "I commissioned another one!" The Knight spoke with the pride of a mother after her child won a gold medal. "Now, before you protest, Lien''s suit is much heavier to compensate for the strength gap!"

    The Wolf nodded. "I can barely jump in this thing!" She made a human-level hop with a visible effort to prove her point. "This is fun!"

    Sometimes, her definition of fun was a point of contention in Stella''s mind.

    The hero clapped twice to attract the girls'' attention. "Listen! Today''s lesson goes beyond only raw strength training!" He raised a fist in the air. "Remember, I''m not just training you two as warriors but as my sidekicks! That means you require a more hands-on approach!"

    Stella questioned. "What do you mean?"

    <hr>

    They stood in Buth''s shop, owned by a Crow Monoke who christened the establishment with his name. The store''s interior was mostly wood, except for the cash register and the products.

    Animal skulls, portraits of the owner''s family, dreamcatchers, and similar artifacts made with black feathers littered the walls. One of which had a stitched pattern of a deer''s skull.

    "Are you sure these two can keep up with the errands for the whole afternoon? I don''t know the Human, but Lien doesn''t have a great track record..." Buth squinted his eyes at the Knight.

    He was an anthropomorphic crow, with the only caveat, other than height, were the hand-like appendages at the tip of his wings. Stella had seen a similar thing in a Pokemon before. An owl archer or something like that?

    He wore a bland white shirt, green-striped pants, and a strap adorned with different animals'' teeth that passed over his shoulder and under the opposite wing.

    The guard clapped his hands together, begging. "Please, Mr. Buth! If the girls make a mistake, I''ll take full responsibility and pay for the damages!"

    Stella wasn''t too sure about this. His idea of "shaking things up" was her becoming a delivery girl?! Was child labor allowed in Sayama? What a pain in her ass.

    After considering for a full minute, the Crow relented. "It''s not like I''m drowning in options." Then he jumped and turned around the balcony to approach them. He was barely taller than Stella, and his noticeable limp silently expressed much about his age.

    The shopkeeper hissed and poked his finger at the guard''s chest. "I''m holding you to your promise if anything goes wrong. I''ve built a great reputation before the pup''s mother could walk!"

    The Knight bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Buth! I trust my students'' capable hands!"

    "We''ll see about that." He turned to the girls. "Alright, lassies! Do a good job, and you''ll receive 30 coins! Sound good?!"

    Stella took a few seconds to register what he just said.

    "You''re paying us?!" Her astonishment made her question a bit louder than necessary.

    The shopkeeper tilted his head. "Why wouldn''t I?"

    Her attitude went 180�� in a split second.

    <hr>

    And so, the two girls began their unsurprisingly arduous afternoon shift. By the Knight''s orders, they had to use the weighted suits and carry the groceries in their own hands, no matter how inconvenient, especially with the larger orders.

    No matter. For that money, Stella would be the best delivery girl! Like no one ever was! To deliver them was her real test! To do it perfectly was her cause!

    I think I''ve broken the rhythm there at the end. Oh well!

    The plaques sprinkled throughout the village had arrows pointing to the numerous huts and their numbering, so being lost wasn''t a problem. However, it didn''t take long before the Human realized the real obstacle was the very own people of Pantsti. Holy shit, these Wolves were restless! From her very first step out of the shop, five Monoke almost trampled her!

    She couldn''t just wait until the storm was over. With only a week of experience, she knew the situation would only calm down when the Moon was out. No, the girl had to use all she''d learned from her training, how to move quickly and gracefully with the extra weight.

    Lien had long since braved the furry sea. Stella couldn''t stay behind, even if it wasn''t a competition. N�� 666 was her target, as shown by the paper glued to each package.

    A deep breath. A step. And...

    She psyched herself up. "Do it for the money!"

    Attempting to emulate the fluidity of water, the Human weaved through the stampede. The bright red tomatoes were still intact, much to her pride.

    Suddenly, a Wolf ran with his cohort on a wheelbarrow!

    "Out of my way!"

    For a fraction of a second, recollections of Stella''s life flashed before her eyes. Was this how her short career would end...?

    "NO!"

    Gritting her teeth and clutching the package, the girl jumped to the side, narrowly dodging the wheelbarrow! After getting up with added difficulty brought by the armor, she checked the tomatoes and the other vegetables.

    Yeah, I know tomatoes aren''t veggies, but Stella doesn''t. So don''t bother correcting me! It''s not like I''ll hear you, nonetheless...

    The point is, they''re unscathed.

    The rest of the path was more of the same. Every time Stella accidentally almost damaged the groceries, her brain subconsciously analyzed each mistake and worked on making sure this wouldn''t happen again. Her movements became less rigid, and her reflexes sharpened.

    After long and difficult twenty minutes, she arrived at her destination: Hut n�� 666.

    After Stella knocked on the door a few times, a female Wolf greeted her. "Oh, my! The Human!"

    Before she could ask, the girl went straight to business. "Ma''am, I''ve brought what you asked from Buth''s shop. Tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and a few grams of salt."

    The Monoke shifted her feet anxiously for a few seconds before responding. "I''m sorry, but I haven''t ordered anything today."

    Stella gasped. "I''m pretty sure you did, ma''am! This is n�� 666, right?!"

    She nodded. "But are you sure you heard it right? I think there was a misunderstanding."

    The girl''s impatience grew. "No, there wasn''t! Here..." She frantically searched for the piece of paper on one of the packages.

    Finally encountering it, she proudly exhibited the Wolf the paper, with half a mind to shove it down her throat. "See? That''s your number!"

    The Monoke took a second to analyze it. "It''s upside down."

    Stella''s world shattered. "E-excuse me?"

    "See? He drew a straight line on the number''s base. The hut you''re searching for is n�� 999."

    The Human couldn''t believe it at first, but... The Wolf was right...

    It was just like Uno cards... How could she have been this BLIND?!

    "H-How far is it?" Stella''s voice was reduced to a measly whimper.

    "Five streets to the left."

    F-Five...? She suffered to go through four...

    She wanted to squeeze the package so damn hard. Something to ease her anger...

    "Do it for the money, Stella..." She took countless deep breaths. "For the money..."

 Chapter 70 - A Crisis in Friend-making?!

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 Chapter 71 - An Unbearable Task.

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 Chapter 72 - Ive already made the bear pun last chapter.

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 Chapter 73 - Where Are The Chips?

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 Chapter 74 - What A Majestic Creature...

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 Chapter 75 - The Black, Fluffy Birds Courting Fiasco...

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 Chapter 76 - Excuse me?! This fiddler has stolen my soup!

    "Do you remember your lines?"

    Stella and Lien stand at the door of the hut n�� 324, Euraidd''s home. The Human intended to recruit him and his sister by the end of this day.

    The pup nodded. "Yup. But here''s what I don''t get. Why would me imploring while lying down on my back convince anyone?"

    Stella sighed. "Because the cuteness factor is a powerful weapon for adults!" She flicked her forehead. "Duh!"

    While rubbing her paw on the struck area, Lien''s eyes widened. "You think I''m cute?! Seriously?!"

    The Human finally took notice of her proverbial slip. Her cheeks started to burn. "I-I mean, Humans usually find puppies adorable, so-"

    The pup grasped her shoulders firmly, almost shaking her like maracas. "You never told me that before! I''m so, so happy!" Her muzzle was a few centimeters away from the girl''s lips.

    "Don''t do anything stupid! Don''t you fucking dare!"

    Her racing heart was stopped by a loud thud caused by the hut''s door being kicked open by its owner. The floppy ears and golden fur were what undoubtedly characterized Euraidd. He wore green khaki shorts and a black and red T-shirt featuring what appeared to be a metal band of four Crows, with a singer, a guitarist, a drummer, and a bassist, each wearing red, tight leather attire, a black hood, and white war paint. The name "Bloody Murder" was emblazoned on the top.

    "Yo, can you guys pipe-" His gaze fixed on the girls. "Oh, it''s you two!!! Welcome!" He took a second to glance behind him, then waved his paw at them. "Please, enter! Don''t mind the mess too much!"

    This was a tall order since the inside of his hut was too similar to whatever improvised home Stella would create in the slums. The decoration included piles of dirty clothes, bones, tools, and other objects on random corners and a Bloody Murder poster identical to the guard''s T-shirt.

    The Human wanted to give them a listen someday. In the middle of this chaos, the only zones of relative order were a drawer and a table with a single chair.

    The golden Wolf sat on a red pillow in front of a television with a black video game console connected to it. Why does his hut get electricity and hers don''t?! It was not fair!

    "Whatchu playing?" Stella asked, sitting at his side.

    The screen displayed a battered guy with a The Sims-like, shining crystal on top of his head, carrying a torch, fighting an oversized rat on a sewer.

    "It''s a game where you fight through many floors with different enemies on each one," Euraidd explained. "There''s secret bosses, challenges, and so many playstyles to choose from! When you die, you reset to square one, but with a few bonuses. So, you always have something to push you further on each run!"

    Stella understood... some of the guard''s words, at least. "So, there''s no checkpoints?"

    His floppy ears waved when he turned his head at her. "I mean, yeah! But it''s a little complicated. Besides, I must complete this game with zero checkpoints for my torchbearer challenge run!"

    In the meantime, Lien was sniffing around the guard''s mess. Stella decided not to bring unnecessary attention to it.

    "How far have you come?"

    "I defeated the ''secret boss'' of the second floor, who technically is the obligatory final boss of the floor. It''s a whole thing."

    The more he talked about the game, the less the girl understood.

    "Oh! And one of my two party members betrayed me and killed the remaining one!" He scoffed. "I never liked them, anyway."

    Oh, that sounded fun, actually.

    The guard''s frantic fingers ceased when his eyes shifted to the girl again. "Do you... want to play?"

    Stella froze. Could she accept such power at such a young age? The life of a fictional someone hanging at her fingertips. Was she ready for her first step in the gamer path? Was a life of Cheeto puffs and energy drinks really worth it?

    Her philosophical riddle was interrupted by someone''s hot breath on her ear.

    "Psst. Is it my cue now?" Lien asked.

    Euraidd heard the murmuring. "Cue for what?" He cocked an eyebrow.

    Without prompt or reasonable context, the pup lay down with her belly exposed and started to make her most babyish voice yet. "Pwease, Mr. Euraidd! Can you help-"

    Stella shut her muzzle by gripping it with her two hands. "Okay! I regretted everything the moment the first word came out. You can stop it now."

    The guard watched them, slack-jawed for a minute before breaking into an unhinged cackle. "I-I don''t know what''s up with you two, but please go on!" A loud cracking noise came out of the TV, bringing a scowl to his face. "At least it was the first floor..."

    Stella let go of her friend''s maw and slowly returned to the guard. "I know you must be busy, mister. But-"

    "Oh no! I''m free this week and the next!" He interjected, not taking his eyes off the screen.

    "Right. Well, me, Lien, and a few others are-"

    "Planning a party for the Knight, I know."

    Oh... Well, that made things easier...?

    "How do you know that?" Stella narrowed her eyes.

    "Locci told everything through our coms." He put the controller down, now giving his attention to them exclusively. "I''m in!"

    The Human exhaled with relief. Finally! No more petty favors!This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    "My sister, on the other hand..."

    She slowly facepalmed as the crushing reality settled in. Why was she expecting anything different?

    "Why? Did she give a reason?" Her tone carried unrest, imagining what type of beast she''d have to fight for Hufen''s approval.

    He grinned sheepishly. "It''s my fault. Other than work, my sis won''t go anywhere with me."

    Lien jumped above Stella, putting her paws on the Human''s head as support, then flawlessly landing.

    "You two are fighting again? Is this about the dung incident?" The pup asked.

    Stella interposed. "What''s that about?"

    Lien was about to explain, but Euraidd hushed her with a finger. "Don''t. For the sake of your friend."

    The pup nodded as he slowly retreated his hand. "Sorry, Stella."

    She shook her head, exasperated. "Look, we''re already without the captain. I need a little more than three adults and two kids!"

    Euraidd scrunched his snout in thought. Lien followed suit.

    The guard gestured to the TV. "Can we just settle down for the day and play some Pen-"

    "I DON''T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT YOUR GAME!!!"

    Stella''s fuse blew into flames. A short, irrational fit of anger before her mind cleared, and her eyes directed towards the two Wolves. They looked... miserable.

    Lien covered her ears, her tail coiled. Fuck, what has she done?

    The girl was desperate. Surely, Euraidd wouldn''t want anything to do with the party after this tamper tantrum. She had failed the simple lesson of not being a raging asshole.

    Asra would finally see her for the lost cause she was.

    Her whole body started trembling. "I''m sorry." The Human fell to her knees, touching her hands and head on the floor. "Please, attend the party. I''ll do-"

    The golden guard''s chuckle was startling yet comforting. Even Lien was taken aback by his action.

    "Kid, I lived with my sis most of my life, including our mom''s womb." That remark made both girls cringe. "I''m not so easily spooked by a tamper tantrum!" His eyes lit up. "You know what you need?"

    Stella answered deadpan, not by annoyance, but mental exhaustion. "Your videogame?"

    He snapped his fingers, shooting an approving wink. "You got it! It helps me when I''m on my last nerve!"

    The girl wasn''t sure what to think or say. Organizing a party was a much bigger headache than she ever anticipated, and she was still in the inviting phase!

    You know what? She deserved an actual break, damn it!

    "Sure." A subtle smirk crept on her lips. "Can you teach me first?"

    Euraidd''s grin outshone even Lien''s. "Hell yeah!" He clenched his paw in genuine excitement. "What class do you want to try?!"

    <hr>

    "Barbarian?" Euraidd asked, throwing a dirty look at her. "This is the worst class! Too much risk and barely any reward!"

    Stella smirked. "What can I say? This ax was practically calling me. Besides, I prefer actual combat rather than relying on pew-pews at a distance."

    The mage gasped. The Human didn''t care if it was genuine or just for dramatic effect. It was hilarious either way.

    "But you don''t know magic yet, do you?" Lien was practically glued to the girl. She cursed herself for enjoying this proximity more than she should. "Magic is pretty fun to use! The boring part is learning it."

    Euraidd crossed his arms and nodded. "I can accept that. But let me tell you something, Stella. Real-life mages are nothing like what the Knight showed me. We must undergo arduous physical training so our use on the battlefield is less limited."

    Something about Saniya lectures and fighting styles resonated with Stella. Her thirst for knowledge in that category was vastly superior to anything else.

    "What about your staff?" She pointed at the majestic weapon, ungracefully standing on top of a pile of dirty underwear. "What makes it different from someone like Captain Tash or the Knight, who can do magic without it just fine?"

    A faint, white aura radiated from Euraidd''s paw. He stretched it at the staff, and its green sikpha crystals started to glow in response. Then, it flew to its owner''s hand.

    "The advantage of a sikpha staff is that it works as a complementary Saniya conduit, working in tandem with your body." He tapped the crystalline tip with one claw. "You can store your own energy inside the crystals, serving as a great way of conserving energy in long battles and casting stronger, more complex spells." He stood up, showcasing many offensive and defensive maneuvers by swinging and spinning his weapon with the fluidity of an experienced martial artist. "Also, it''s a sick weapon to use!"

    Oh, Stella had to try that someday. Perhaps once she had learned a few spells, at least.

    "Okay, enough about staffs!" The mage jumped, crossed his legs, and slowed down his descent back with a mini-tornado beneath his butt. "Ready to get your ass kicked for the first time?"

    The Human scoffed, tightening her grasp on the controller. "You wish!"

    <hr>

    [Game Over! You can''t keep swinging that ax mindlessly, Rod!]

    Stella groaned. "Fuck this guy and his stupid skeleton!"

    Euraidd cackled. "As I thought, you can''t even defeat the necromancer with this shitty class!" He clutched his aching tummy.

    She narrowed her eyes. "What class do you recommend then, smartass?"

    After swatting the painful laughter away, the guard''s eyes sparkled. "Oh! The conjurer one is so broken!"

    "What''s that do?"

    "You create magic animal buddies to fight for you."

    "Like Pokemon?"

    "Dunno what that is."

    Before Stella could open her mouth, Lien cannonballed between them, paws clasped. "I''ve found a friend! Look!" She opened her hands, revealing a small brown rat. "I call him Peat!"

    Euraidd shot her pet a concerned look. "Lien? Where you found Peat?"

    She pointed at his underwear pile.

    The guard gulped. "So that''s why it was so itchy yesterday."

    Lien''s stomach started to growl. "I''m hungry."

    Euraidd and Stella traded glances.

    "Lunch break?"

    "Yep!"

    <hr>

    [Congratulations, you beat the first floor again! Now, stop wasting time, and let''s advance.]

    Stella stood up, howling victorious. "Second try! How''dja like that, golden boy?!"

    He indifferently crossed his arms behind his fluffy head. "Congratulations. It takes a rare breed of gamer to use the most OP class and still sacrifice all your pets to beat the goblin trio."

    Backhanded compliments have always touched the Human''s nerves. "Oh yeah?! It also takes a rare breed of gamer to suck my nonexistent di-"

    "What time is it?" Lien interjected. Peat became more comfortable around the pup, prancing between her toes.

    Euraidd glanced at the window. "Crap, it''s almost nightfall."

    Both girls gasped.

    "How?! I haven''t played THAT much!"

    "I''ve spent two hours explaining Death Boons and stats to you." He reminded.

    "Right... That makes sense..." Stella scratched her chin. "I guess that''s our cue, then. We should still talk to your sister, at least."

    Lien hummed in agreement. "If her problem is with you, you should go with us and sort this out."

    Euraidd fidgeted his claws anxiously, however. "I don''t know... I messed up big time with her. I told what I shouldn''t to a Wolf she had a crush on and singlehandedly ruined her chances."

    The pup turned around him and tugged his shoulder. "Have you said ''I''m sorry''?"

    He grimaced.

    Stella pinched the bridge of her nose. "C''mon man... That''s the bare minimum..."

    He scrambled away from them, flustered. "I was embarrassed, okay? Just apologizing won''t be enough for her!"

    "You''re her brother, so I''ll take your word for it." Stella approached him. "But I don''t think she will hold this grudge for so long. How long has it been? A week?"

    His eyes were focused on a random pile of bones. "Yeah..."

    Lien hopped in front of him with the pet rat on top of her head. "Then what''s stopping you from giving her a big hug?! It''s what I do after I fight with Mom."

    Euraidd''s tail coiled around his leg. "What if I go too far again? I don''t want to ruin her life further."

    Stella punched him in the shoulder. "Then you talk to her and listen to what she needs from you! Don''t go doing stuff that will affect her on your own!" She cleared her throat. "At least, that''s what I''d want in her place."

    After a few seconds, the golden Wolf clenched his paws and took a more confident posture. "Alright! I can do this! I''ll be the most supportive, attentive brother in the history of siblinghood!"

    Lien howled with enthusiasm, which prompted the rat to hide on the collar of her tunic. "What are we waiting for?! Let''s bombard her with our sheer positivity!!!"

    Stella didn''t know what the word ''bombard'' meant, but she was into it! Perhaps spending her time with dumb distractions like these wasn''t a terrible idea at the end of the day. She had to admit it was fun spending time with Lien, Euraidd, and even Locci.

    Huh. Was the Human... making new friends, after all? Nah, that was silly! They probably had better people to hang around than a freaking tween!

    ...

    Still, she wouldn''t mind hanging out with the mage another day.

 Chapter 77 - Love Between Claws and Stakes.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    <hr>

 Chapter 78 - The Power of Friendship AND Barbecue!

This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    <hr>

 Chapter 79 - Asras Face Reveal (40 Followers Special)

    "The streets cleared up quickly, huh."

    After the barbecue ended, it didn''t take long until the army of canines returned to their usual business. Most of them probably didn''t even know this celebration was made for The Silver Knight. Surprisingly, Asra was thankful for that, claiming the gift they had made to the community was enough for him to be honored. He would make Stella vomit from those cheesy lines one of these days...

    The Lycan Squad, Lien, and Stella reunited inside Tarb''s hut, where the main event would commence.

    "Now, this is when the REAL party starts!" Euraidd raised both fists in the air, then started to blow a party horn.

    Hufen quickly brought a chair and pushed her brother on it. "Stay. Here."

    The golden retriever pouted. "I''m not even drunk!"

    His sister shot him a cold, piercing stare. "I can freeze your butt onto that chair."

    The male mage rolled his eyes. "Fine..."

    The Knight almost jumped on his ass on the chair. It was probably a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Was he really going to jeopardize his well-maintained secret identity?

    However, if a tween solved this mystery with relative ease, one should wonder about the integrity of his secret. Something about that made Stella a bit anxious.

    You know what? Not the time or place. Asra was clapping like a small child after seeing a cake with yellow frosting. On top, it was written in green. "Congratulations on getting rid of your fleas!"

    ...

    "Sorry, it was the best thing I could get in an hour." Hufen twiddled her thumbs shyly.

    The Knight faked a gasp. "How did you know?! I was planning to announce my fur cleansing tomorrow!"

    Everyone laughed at the quip except Stella, who scratched her head in confusion. Perhaps it was a Wolf inside joke.

    Tarb playfully slammed his paws on the table. "C''mon! Go straight to what we wanna see! Take off the damn helmet!"

    The hero stood up, clasping both hands together. "Alright! To finish this celebration of camaraderie, I take the next step to our growing closeness! We''ve been working together for a year, and I''m grateful for each second we spent together. You taught me much about improving my skills as a guard, even though we are technically not on the same squad." He bowed. "Thank you so much."

    Aw, what a lovely speech. Hufen and Locci appeared to be the most affected by the hero''s words, averting their gazes in timidness. The golden guard blew the party horn again.

    "Whoo-hoo! Speech! Speech!" After the gallons of mead Euraidd consumed, it was surprising he wasn''t tripping over his tail.

    Tarb cackled. "He''s already doing it, you hairball!"

    "Shut up, you fat mutt!" He was about to stand up until Hufen shot a beam of ice from her finger on his leg. "I''m sorry!" He clutched the frozen area, whimpering. Locci held his laughter in the background.

    Huh. Stella didn''t know he was a dragon type.

    The Knight cleared his throat. "Very well! Time for the truth!" He slowly wrapped his fingers around his helmet, then yanked it out all at once, revealing his true identity!

    The moment his mask was taken, so did his heroic, over-the-top personality. His eyes anxiously darted between the Wolves as if he were walking around naked. In a way, he kinda was.

    Everyone''s eyes widened, transfixed on Asra. Except Stella, and...

    "Guys? Why is everyone silent?" Lien''s tail swished impatiently. Her paws lightly squeezed her pet rat. "Guys?!"

    To the surprise of the Humans, Tarb started laughing uncontrollably. Was he thinking it was a joke?

    He pointed at the golden mage. "I WANT MY 200 COINS, EURAIDD!" He stood up and howled. "Sick Ogre, my left ass cheek!" He pointed at the mentioned region, much to the girl''s displeasure.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "Aw, man..." Euraidd pouted. "That''s what I get for not going with the obvious option..."

    Asra''s eyes threatened to pop out of his skull. "Excuse me? You guys knew?!"

    Hufen held her paws placantingly. "I mean, kind of. We had no proof, but we had our suspicions..." Locci nodded in agreement.

    Tarb started dancing with the grace of a drunken armadillo for about two seconds before he was panting like a panda after a flight of stairs. "Y-Yeah! I mean, some guy showing up with Human stuff a year after the real one died? Even with the student excuse, that''s fishy!" He squinted his eyes. "Not to mention that golden aura of yours. None of us have that!"

    After a whole minute of awkwardly standing around, Asra slumped his shoulders. "When you put it like that, it does sound silly, doesn''t it?"

    Stella felt like she should''ve said something, but what? This situation was uncomfortable enough without any weird input from her.

    Thankfully, Hufen stepped up for the job of comforting him for her. "Don''t be sad, Knight. Your true identity is just a rumor between Monoke. Not everyone will connect the dots." She tapped his shoulder.

    The man''s eyes sparkled with hope. "You think so?"

    Euraidd nodded clumsily. "Y-Yeah! People find your dancing and voice too goofy to be a Human. Like, I was talking to M-" His words started to devolve into incoherent mumbling as his eyelids closed and his muscles relaxed. His snoring was awfully adorable, sounding like a slumbering sheep before he slid out from the chair, falling like an abandoned rag doll. However, his nap remained unbroken.

    "What he said," Tarb grumbled. "Don''t worry, kiddo. Your secret is safe with us."

    Asra exhaled with relief. "I''m so glad. For so long, I wanted to be honest with someone other than the queen. And Stella, of course." He motioned his hand at her.

    Speaking of which, the girl remembered that her friend was also there. Looking at her, she saw the pup''s jaw on the floor, her eyes bulging with shock.

    Stella''s hand hovered above Lien''s shoulder. "Hey. Are you feeling-"

    When her fingers touched her tunic, it was as if the girl had activated a trigger on the Wolf pup.

    She jumped out of her chair. "I''VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH A HUMAN BEFORE STELLA?!" She clutched her ears. "I''m like, a Human magnet or something!" Her milky eyes sparkled with awe.

    The hero scratched the back of his head. "Huh. I suppose that without Lien, I wouldn''t have met the Lycan Squad in the first place."

    Tarb turned his gaze at his nephew. "Hey! You''re right! I guess her rebellious streak isn''t all that bad!" He snickered.

    Stella crossed her arms and legs. "So the lesson here is that Lien is awesome?"

    Lien took on a toothy, arrogant grin, resting her paws on her hips. "A lesson we should take for our lives."

    The Human girl snorted. "Agreed."

    Piercing through the light atmosphere like a sharp blade, the loud thud of the door instantly opening put everyone, except the ones affected by alcohol, on edge. It was none other than...

    ...

    Captain Tash...

    Her solemn eyes were at first locked on her daughter and subordinates. "Why are you looking at me as if you saw me die? I''m here-"

    Her pupils shrank. Her constantly stable, professional body posture broke apart for a split second. Stella swore she saw the captain''s claws unsheathing for a moment.

    The Human girl''s eyes alternated between Tash and Asra. It felt like she witnessed someone finding their arch-nemesis casually hanging out in her house.

    She gripped the chair''s top rail. Her arms started to tremble. With each second of this killing silence, her heartbeat fastened, and her mind ran with anxiety-filled scenarios of her and Asra''s demise. What about Lien? Would the captain-

    Tash closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and her posture returned to normal. When they opened, it greeted the hero with their usual apathy. "You finally decided to show yourself, huh."

    Asra''s eyes widened. "C-Captain, I-"

    "Good for you." She turned her attention to her daughter. "But I''m not here to congratulate you. I''m here to bring my daughter home."

    Lien''s tail slowly wagged with uncertainty. She touched Stella''s shoulder. "See you tomorrow." Then she stepped closer to her mother.

    The pup paced back and forth, twiddling her thumbs. "I''m ready, Mom."

    Tash hummed. "Did you say goodbye to your uncle?"

    Lien turned around and waved. "Bye, Uncle Tarb!" She was waving at Locci.

    Tarb weakly waved back. "Be safe, pup!"

    And so, mother and daughter left the hut, leaving a heavy atmosphere for everyone else.

    Tarb huffed. "Sorry ''bout my sister. She''s a professional stick in the mud. Don''t take it personally."

    Asra waved his hand at him. "It''s alright. We can still-"

    His stomach loudly growled, alerting everyone in the room. Stella was well aware of how embarrassing that was...

    "Eat. We can still eat." He forced a smile with a face as red as a tomato.

    "Your plate is right over there." Locci pointed at a sizeable pile of grilled meat on a plate close to the cake.

    "Thanks!" Asra didn''t waste any time before he devoured those pheasant legs so ravenously it made the Wolves in the room feel awkward witnessing him.

    Well, maybe Stella could remedy that...

    The girl stood up on the chair and shouted. "I bet you can''t finish all that in five minutes!"

    The Lycan Squad''s ears perked up, even Euraidd''s, who groggily rolled on the floor so his eyes could glimpse her.

    Asra''s eyes flared at the challenge. "Make it four! And you can start counting! Here!" She threw his watch, which he used to mark the girl''s progress each day of her weighted armor marathon. She caught it with ease, surprising even herself. However, she shook herself from those thoughts and started to time his ravaging of the meat pile.

    ...That sounded dirty. Not my intention this time!

    Tarb, Hufen, and Locci had their eyes glued to the impressive speed of the Human guard feasting on the massive piece of boar. He was not even using his light magic! It was a crude, primal type of beauty that made Stella invested.

    Only two minutes left! Would Asra fulfill his destiny and reach new heights on his short-lived speed-eating career?!

    Stay tuned! On the next episode of-

    Uhhh...

    Shit, I never gave this story a name, did I?

    ...

    I''ll brainstorm a few, no problem!

 Chapter 80 - Fear Lurks In Every Alleyway.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

 Chapter 81 - Four Paths. One Massive Headache Afterwards.

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 Chapter 82 - Paths and Components.

    Back to a pit of searing heat! How queer!

    Only this time, Stella and her mentor were surrounded by a burning forest. The sky was marked by bleak yet gorgeous tones of orange and black as the flames swirled around them with overwhelming rage. However, the fiery sea couldn''t approach them after a certain point, leaving them in a circular, safe space in the middle of the chaos.

    "Back to the frying pan, eh?" The smirk that was carved on her lips was an easily noticeable facade for her increasing anxiety fueled by the experiences in the Giant Witch''s home. Each day she spent in the comfort of Pantsti made her shake with apprehension when those memories flashed back.

    "Do not fret, young one." H��k�� placed a reassuring paw on her shoulder. "Fire magic is the most aggressive of paths, no doubt. Of all elements, this one almost depends entirely on the user''s Saniya, which is used as fuel for combustion."

    The dancing flames created patterns almost too complex for the girl''s eyes to register. She scratched her head, fumbling for purpose on these alien shapes.

    A bird, a cat, a smile...

    But in the end, it was her mind attempting to impose purpose on a meaningless phenomenon.

    The prickly sensation of H��k��''s tail on her nose made her sneeze. Damn, her attention span was akin to a goldfish''s!

    Stella rubbed her nose. "Sorry! I was paying attention, I promise!"

    "I know. I couldn''t resist when I saw the opportunity." The elder''s lips twisted into a mischievous smile. "Fire is the most offensive-orientated element as well, though it can be used for healing under the right circumstances."

    "Oh! Can I learn this one first!?" The Human''s eyes flared with eagerness. Learning to throw fireballs from her hands was the coolest thing she could think of.

    Unfortunately, the old coot turned her down. "You should dip your toes in a less unstable element first to learn the basics before tapping into the path that demands the most self-control and Saniya mastery."

    Stella slumped her shoulders. "Man, that''s la-"

    A thunderous flash decimated a tree on her right, turning it ash. The girl quickly curled into a ball, the destructive force of nature stinging her eyes and ringing her ears.

    "Your guardian once clarified to me why lighting and fire are essentially the same thing, claiming they''re two different manifestations of a material named plasma." He chuckled with amusement, unaffected as he watched his frightened student. "But I suppose calling this path ''the plasma path'' doesn''t roll off the tongue all that well..."

    Stella quickly stood up again. "I''m ready to move on, please!"

    "That''s your action to make, silly girl! We''re in your mind, after all!"

    Right. The Human closed her eyes and thought of anywhere safer than this infernal plane, somewhere less suffocating!

    ...

    ...The heat has fizzled out. The breeze that came afterward was gentle and caring on her skin.

    The only issue was... Why wasn''t she feeling nothing below her feet?

    Aw, fuck...

    She was floating through an endless sky, so high she couldn''t glimpse any land looking down. Yet somehow, she was stuck in place.

    "Can you feel the currents supporting your weight?" H��k�� carelessly lay down in the air as if he were in the comfort of an invisible bed. "Air magic is the trickiest and most underestimated of all elements. If you cannot sense Saniya, you''ll have difficulty seeing a spell coming."

    She tried to not show her wracking nerves, but her mind was laid bare for the old coot to poke around.

    "Careful, kid." He chuckled. "That tornado doesn''t look very friendly."

    The sky around them went from a friendly blue to a depressing grey. An ominous hurricane formed in the distance, twisting, stretching, and swallowing dark clouds. There was no way that thing would reach them, right?

    Why did that thought cross her mind?! Now, it grew in size, approaching the two with terrifying speed. She felt the pull from the beguiled air currents, too powerful for the girl to deny their purpose.

    While Stella cried for help, the elder howled like a snot-nosed brat on a roller-coaster. "LIVE A LITTLE, KID! PEOPLE SAY AIR REPRESENTS FREEDOM, AFTER ALL!"

    Hell, no! She didn''t want this kind of freedom!

    Regardless of her desires, however, the force of nature couldn''t be less bothered by her cries. As she''s swallowed whole and spun around for 74 miles per hour, her mind is prickled by the most annoying sense of d��j�� vu.

    The swirling vortex had lost shape when her head went numb by the overwhelming speed she was traveling, far beyond what the Human body was developed to endure. Her last shreds of thought were about her desire to cease, to regain control of her movements.

    ...

    ......

    How peculiar. It was as if Stella''s body was in a cold blanket, perfectly capturing her shape. Her skin shuddered with the drop in temperature.

    When her eyes opened, a deep blue canvas was all that claimed her vision. A school of bubbles swam up the watery abyss when she gasped in shock, quickly regretting as the cold fluid streamed down her throat. It was oddly refreshing, weirdly enough.

    Of course, as always, the old coot seemed not unbothered by any of it, swimming circles around her tens of times with the speed of a gracious marlin.

    Eventually, he ceased, lazily floating around her with a childish grin. "Water was my first element to master, believe it or not." He flipped thrice before swimming closer. "Such a majestic, mesmerizing, flexible substance that keeps us alive. No matter the situation, a water magic specialist can adapt to anything and draw their power from practically anywhere! From the shifty vapor to liquid..." He lifted a finger, its aura standing out amidst the oppressive void. "To the fragile yet elegant ice..."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    His claw created a blurry, frosty spot that spread through the infinite ocean, where tiny bubbles were imprisoned in its frigid embrace. It eventually touched Stella''s finger, bringing a shocking chill that coursed down her spine. As much as she desperately tried to pull away, the frozen area wouldn''t budge, extending over the tissue of her skin, muscles, and bones.

    "This path''s potential is vaster than you know. Remember, as your body also contains this sacred substance."

    It burned. Why did ice burn so much?! Her heart valiantly beat as fast as it could, pumping hot blood as her only source of warmth. It persisted until an expression of pure despair was forever etched on her features as the liquid abyss became a colossal solid block.

    Wait... Her mind was still intact. Her senses were still active, regardless of her paralyzed movement. However, the most pertinent question was, where was-

    SLASH!

    Three straight lines carved their way around Stella. A radiant, blinding glow enveloped her, quickly replaced by the same black void from when they began this maddening class. Her teacher casually drank tea from a green, handleless cup while his student remained immobile on an ice block.

    "That was fun!" His ears perked up. "Ooh! I know! We should do it again!"

    The girl''s fingers twitched, melting her prison with the fire of her sheer anger.

    He held his paws in the air, leaving the teacup to shatter and spread its contents on the metaphorical floor. "I jest! You don''t need to burn me with your stare!" He held his left towards the Human. "Here. Let me just-"

    Stella''s cage trembled with the elder''s gesture. Clenching his fist, he tore the ice block into three pieces, finally freeing the distressed girl. She panted, closing her eyes with relief that the nightmare was over.

    ...It was over, right?

    The Human looked at him, seeing much smaller fragments rotating around his tail. "I''m done. I want out of this nightmare. NOW!" She slowly stood up, stomping her feet as a threat.

    The elder shook his head. "Don''t misinterpret this experience with cruelty, child." Four of the icy crystals changed color, floating around him in a quadrangular formation. "This lesson goes beyond the elements, you see."

    Stella huffed, crossing her arms. "I know. You want to train my mind because of that Baku guy." She tapped her feet impatiently. "Could''ve gone easier on me, don''t you think?"

    His tail had divided into four, each pointing at a different crystal. "Perhaps. But there''s a possibility that your time here is shorter than you realize. I prefer we cover all bases before you eventually leave my protection."

    That ominous message... She wasn''t oblivious. She knew the life-threatening stakes that awaited her outside.

    ...Was she ready to be honest with her when the time arrived?

    A fifth tail sprouted from the elder, carrying three white crystalline pieces. The appendage carefully placed each piece into a specific formation. A thin, shining line passed through each fragment, connecting them.

    After her stinging eyes adapted to the light show, she understood what her teacher had created - a white triangle containing a multi-colored square inside.

    ...

    Why did that pattern feel strangely familiar?

    "You see, beyond the basic Saniya manipulation and elemental paths, we have the three components of life: body, mind, and soul." H��k��''s expression was weirdly calm and serene. "Conquering all three is what separates warriors from true Saniya masters."

    His tails extended and swirled around Stella.

    "Body is the easiest to understand. It is your physical shell from which you interact with the world. With Saniya, you can shape and manipulate it to become your most versatile weapon."

    One appendage touches the girl''s arm, compelling it to halt. "With time and dedication, you can manipulate other''s Saniya and, by extension, their components."

    Fortunately, this demonstration lasted for a split second, enough to make his point across. The tails retreated to their regular size.

    "I don''t think I need to explain your mind after what we went through." He spreads his arms at the expansive abyss. "Your senses, feelings, and memories all coalesced into one."

    When Stella finally dropped her guard, the white Wolf teleported only a few inches from her without warning, making her stumble back by instinct.

    "But is our mind the limit of our true self?" He hovers his paw above the girl''s chest. "What lies in our core?" His eyes glowed in an ominous white.

    A short burst of energy pulsed from H��k��''s hand, echoing through Stella''s very being. Her whole body shook as an undescribable sensation took hold of her for a few seconds that seemed like minutes. Colors that her eyes couldn''t detect before flashed before her as if they were as natural as the blue sky. She didn''t feel like herself, and yet, it was like her teacher took hold of her very essence and brought it to the surface.

    "That is your soul, unbound by your material shackles." The girl was about to fall to her knees when the elder Wolf caught her in his bony arms. "That is, by far, the hardest one to master. You probably will never go as far as tap into this path for your entire life."

    Stella had no reaction. What would she even say that would ever describe what she felt by seemingly having her soul pulled from her, even if it was for a brief moment.

    She wanted it to end. She needed the comfort of someone''s embrace. Asra, Lien- Hell, anyone would suffice at that point.

    Her teacher gently rubbed her back, like a parent comforting their child after they had thrown up.

    "I apologize, Stella." His voice was rarely as genuine as it was now. "You deserve some rest."

    As his words rang through the mindscape, a holy light slowly conquered the void. The girl''s conscience burned away, a needed solace in the radiant embrace.

    "I''ll make sure the worst parts feel like a distant dream when you wake up."

    Fucking better.

    <hr>

    Her eyes opened the moment her mind grasped a shred of conscience.

    She fumbled back to her feet. "Fuck! What was that...?"

    Stella was back to the clearing''s pleasant company. She glimpsed the rows of colorful begonias, gently swerving under the breeze''s command. The Sun''s radiant beams weaved through the pego tree''s branches, prickling her globes.

    She sighed with relief, leaning against the mighty plant''s thick bark.

    "How was your slumber, child?" Asked H��k��, his aged, soft voice echoing in her ears as a cozy blanket. "What do you remember from our dream lesson?"

    The Human closed her eyes and pondered. "Everything until you teleported next to me and did something with your paw. Then, you spoke something about my soul before I took a nap."

    She remembered being spun by a tornado, scared by sudden lighting, and frozen in a block of ice. However, those experiences felt so detached when her conscience was brought back to the sensible world that they weren''t as impactful as they were in the mindscape.

    "I''m sorry about all that, by the way." The elder carried genuine regret in his tone. "I''ll admit I was too excited to guide through all that. It''s been a while since I''ve seen someone so talented AND eager to learn!"

    Stella hummed, digging her index finger into the dirt and lazily drawing random patterns. "It''s fine. It was more tiring than anything else, to be honest." She yawned. "Anything else to teach me, teach?"

    "I believe we went through all the different Saniya routes. I can answer any question you might have, though."

    Nah. The Knight must have been waiting for her by now.

    The Knight...

    She looked upward, meeting his fluffy chin. "What''s the deal with light magic?"

    H��k�� lowered his head, locking eyes on her. "Excuse me?"

    The girl scratched her chin. "The Knight told me his light magic is exclusive to Humans. How does that fit in the grand scheme of things?"

    The elder''s eyes widened in realization. "Oh! That." He shrugged. "I have no idea."

    Stella stared at him, her eyes a cesspool of incredibility. "You fucking with me?"

    "Because of my rough treatment in the dream class, I''ll pretend I haven''t heard this profanity for once." He took a deep breath. "And no, I''m speaking the truth. His light magic is beyond my centuries-old comprehension. Its exclusivity might have some validity, after all."

    The girl huffed in defeat, slowly stepping towards the exit. "See ya, H��k��. My coach awaits me."

    The elder''s uncertain words stopped her advance. "About that..."

    She sighed. What other bullshit awaited her now?

 Chapter 83 - The Gap Narrows...

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 Chapter 84 - A Punishment Worse than Death.

    The Silver Knight:

    "Isn''t this punishment... a little too much?"

    The hero accompanied the revered Ch��k�� of Chikukei, watching the Basan chicks'' playground. It was beautifully littered with colorful bamboo poles, slides, a jungle gym, and a massive, elegant, black, red, and gold bouncy castle that could harbor every child in the city, competing with Pantsi''s winding trees.

    A real magical place... if you ignored its secondary purpose...

    Chained to a steel pole by Saniya-constraining chains, the trio of Weasel assassins was bound through the entire day and afternoon, turning back to the Prison Coop at night to sleep in a cell, other criminals taking their place.

    Basans are naturally nocturnal creatures, but the same couldn''t be said for their children. The Monoke chicks were notorious for their energetic personality and less dependence on sleep, much to the parents'' chagrin.

    That was why the criminals in Chikukei were put on... entertainment duty...

    One Basan toddler pulled one Weasel''s tail, another pulled his leg in a torturous tug-of-war game, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, pleading for mercy. The one-eyed assassin was used as a carpet while a chick mercilessly stepped on his back. The sickening crunch of his spine cracking was audible from meters away. The samurai was the luckiest, being used as an unwilling guest on a child''s tea time with a few stuffed animals.

    The brutal display of Chikukei''s justice system reminded him of how Christians described Hell. A chill crept down his spine as the Ch��k�� looked at the scene with dispassion.

    "They should''ve thought better before demolishing our cherished market." The Basan leader adjusted his glasses. "We can''t show mercy to those animals, especially the ones who think they can step all over our economy and stay unpunished."

    Asra had a few words for him. However, any ideological impasse with Chikukei could result in a fracture that would ripple through Sayama. Agreeing or not, he must shut up and leave politics in the hands, paws, or claws of the Monoke.

    The hero decided to skip the subject and cut to the chase. "What makes you sure their companions are working to free them?"

    The Ch��k��''s foot casually scratched the ground. "Our sensory specialists detected a few foreign Saniya signatures in a close radius of the playground. Also, the people are spreading rumors of a long-haired Monoke visiting this place, so it''s fair to say our chances are high."

    So this was it. The Knight was this close to capturing the ones who threatened Stella''s life once and for all. Unfortunately, he had the feeling that the Tizohi''s Chosen was much more than those five.

    Oh, well... A step forward was better than stagnation.

    Asra activated the holographic keyboard on his wrist. Pressing a few buttons, he unlocked his desired feature.

    [Detective mode - Activated.]

    The blue emote on his visor adopted a shade of green as his actual eyes scanned the ground. Even after circling around the playground multiple times, he only found a few footprints that matched a Daien''s.

    "How many Daien exist in Chikukei?" The Knight asked.

    The Ch��k��, who followed him intently, answered. "A small community found shelter in the Haru Coop a few decades ago. I doubt the bard you described is amongst them, but we should investigate them anyway."

    Asra shuddered with the thought. There had to be a more efficient way to advance the investigation than terrorizing innocent civilians. But what?

    ...

    "Any Y��rei?" He pressed further.

    The Basan scoffed. "Foolish boy. The Y��rei rarely engage with any city. Prideful oddballs prefer to rely on their self-sufficiency, not even living amongst themselves!"

    The guard wanted to call him out for the hypocrisy of a Basan complaining about pride. But again, it was not worth the diplomacy nightmare.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    However, that narrowed the search down significantly. Now, to test the hero''s hunch...

    He clicked on a few more buttons on the keyboard, and then a list of contacts appeared before his eyes. Scrolling with the arrow keys, the guard selected Captain Tash''s.

    It took half a second for his colleague to answer. [Knight. Any progress in the investigation?]

    [Did you lock on the Y��rei''s Saniya signature back then?]

    [You mean Hari-onagu''s?] Tash scoffed. [How could I not? Why? Are you sensing it?]

    [No, but the playground is the perfect place to start. If Hari-onagu really visited her companions, she must''ve done so by floating to avoid leaving footprints.]

    [But we should detect the leftover Saniya, burnt by her air manipulation, on the ground.] The captain guessed his thought process.

    He clapped his hands together. [Precisely! No surprise that the magnificent-]

    [Don''t push it.] Tash''s tone was cold and piercing, making him stiffen in dread until it softened again. [But your hypothesis is solid. Very well, I''ll meet you shortly.]

    She has not mentioned his identity since the reveal. This could be seen as a good sign, but Asra remained unsure.

    ......

    Regardless, as long as Stella was safe, he would gladly face her wrath unflinching.

    <hr>

    Stella:

    Ah...

    It was so peaceful...

    Just Stella and absolute nothingness...

    "She ain''t moving for a while..."

    Ugh. Nevermind...

    "What should I do? Stella hates it when I wake her up..."

    Damn right. However, the Human''s body should get a move on by now. What events transpired to result in her being in this state? The memories were all fuzzy...

    "No slapping. No screaming. No tail-tickling." The outside voice hummed. "Maybe cold water is the solution!"

    Crap.

    "Come on, body! Don''t let me down!" Stella psyched herself up. "I already took my weekly bath!"

    Her mind flared with determination, gradually breaking through the void of unconsciousness. She could almost grasp control of her eyelids...

    Almost... There...

    ...

    ......

    .........

    Hah! Gotcha!

    Her eyes burst open, her body jerked forward, and her heart raced with the fear of... Damn it, it was so explicit on her mind before! What was up with that?! It was the exact issue every time she had a long dream.

    Well, at least now she remembered WHY she was unconscious. Lien was a living, breathing wall that was nearly impossible to overcome.

    Speaking of, where was-

    SPLASH!

    After her clothes were drenched beyond repair, her neurons were stitched together by the cold bath. What better time to regain her memories, eh?

    "Did it work? Stella?" Lien asked.

    The Human''s face scrunched up into an ugly scowl. "Yep. All goody."

    The pup''s tail swished with childish glee, her lips bearing a toothy grin that immediately made Stella''s frustration a distant memory. Thank goodness she didn''t know the hold she had on the Human.

    She adjusted her bottom on the bed. Its elliptical, nest-like base was made of straw, and the white cushions were as soft as an angel''s skin.

    "Phew! I was terrified you''d never wake up! I''ve never struck you that hard before!" She sat beside the girl. "You got a lot stronger, though. I''m proud of you!"

    Stella''s cheeks burned. "Th-Thanks..." Her eyes shifted to the hut''s furniture... Wait...

    That bookshelf... Those animal-shaped chewing toys... The Silver Knight''s punch card hanging on a wall...

    She was in Lien''s hut... Shit.

    "Anything wrong? You''re being so quiet." The pup elbowed her arm.

    Stella shook her head. "Oh. I see you brought me to your home."

    She eagerly nodded. "Yep! It was closer than yours!" Suddenly, she grasped the Human''s arms, slightly shaking her. "Besides! We can have our second sleepover! Isn''t this great!?"

    Gosh, the Monoke smelled. However, it wasn''t as displeasing in Stella''s nose for some reason. It was like she was smelling nature itself while strolling through the woods.

    Maybe it was because she was rolling in the dirt not so long ago.

    "Y-Yeah! I''m all for it!" Stella fought through the embarrassment, but when she stood up, her legs threatened to tear apart with this minimal effort, forcing her to retreat to the bed. "Shit. I''m sorry, Lien."

    Lien shifted closer, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "Don''t be. I shouldn''t have gone so rough on you."

    Goosebumps crawled under the Human''s skin with the unfortunate wording. "Y-Yeah, for sure!"

    "So, as the awesome packmate that I am, you''ll be under my care tonight!" Lien proudly declared. "Luckily, I''ve brought some snacks to spend the night!" She fumbled to catch a medium-sized, rectangular container out of a drawer, then returned.

    Stella shook the receptacle, hearing its contents rustling. "Cool!" She removed the lid, hoping it was a bunch of crackers or other dry foods, only to be met with a swarm of dead beetles, centipedes, and a few butterflies.

    Oops, scratch that. Some were alive.

    Stella gazed at the insects, astonished at her midnight snack. "Lien, I don''t think I can eat this."

    The pup gasped. "WHAT?! Humans don''t eat bugs?!"

    Right. Stella never clarified that when she offered that centipede in the fishermen''s house. Well, better late than never.

    She shook her head. "I mean, unless we''re starving and desperate enough..."

    "Darn..." Lien frowned, crossing her arms. "That won''t do at all!" She sat in a meditation-like position, pondering about something.

    Stella could say she wasn''t hungry or anything out of politeness, but her stomach threatened to consume her from the inside out, so fuck etiquette.

    If only she hadn''t wasted all her coins on all those paper poppers... Hah, but Lien''s cousin''s terrified expression was more than worth it, whatever his name was.

    After agonizing minutes, her friend had an idea. "I''ll ask H��k�� for some pego fruit!"

    The Human jumped back at the proposal. "It''s that easy? He gives those to you outside classes?"

    The pup shrugged. "I know the old coot''s favorite treat, so that''s super easy."

    Stella''s eyes sparkled. "What is it?! Can I eat it?!"

    "Caramelized Beetles."

    Her face scrunched into an ugly mug. "Nasty pooches..."

 Chapter 85 - A Mothers Payback

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 Chapter 86 - Fucking Finally.

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 Chapter 87 - Struggle Against the Killer Forest!

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 Chapter 88 - The Y奴rei and The Wolf: Bitter Rivals.

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 Chapter 89 - Cuddle and Trouble.

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 Chapter 90 - A Lone Wolf, Clashing Against the Storm.

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 Chapter 91 - A Cold Night to Die.

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 Chapter 92 - A Frosty Night to Live.

    Captain Tash:

    Fan... Fucking... Tastic...

    This day was just perfect. Just peachy. No complaints to note here! She had just received some good, old cryotherapy - a soothing ice bath and massage, all brought by the capable, bony hands of the Icy Sorceress herself. Hell, she even got a sick-looking, katana-shaped popsicle! That oughta trend with the youth, right?

    And look at the company! She has her squad comrades, some Basan, including her beloved cousin, and, of course, a member of the species that ruined her life! Who held his secret identity for a whole year from everyone else, yet somehow she was the only one who was seeing a problem with it! Golly, what a pile of bull-

    "Excuse me? Ma''am?" A high-pitched voice pestered her right ear.

    How could she forget? The Amikiri, Hanaken, and the Baku had this "change of heart" after Yuki-onna froze their asses weeks ago. She was this close to sending these pathetic clowns packing to a jail cell. Still, oh-so-righteous Knight pleaded their case with his annoyingly saccharine fake eyes. Her companions, a bunch of smooth-brained morons, backed him up. Gah! Why must EVERYONE around her be so... so...

    "I-I know I..." The crustacean stuttered as he fidgeted with his snapping claws, creating a grating, rattling noise in the captain''s ear. Literally every single detail about him made her despise him to her core, down to his green hair, which assaulted her eyesight with its vibrant color.

    "...threw your daughter down a hill..." That bit came as a whisper, but Tash heard it clear. "B-But in my defense, it wasn''t my intention! I was aiming for the Human!"

    Of course. The two times her daughter was at real risk was by defending that Human brat. Because, of course, Lien had to find and befriend a second one. One wouldn''t suffice, no ma''am! And now, it was her turn to bleed and turn into an ice cube for that little shit!

    Tizohi Almighty, her family was cursed... Who would be next? Tarb? About fucking time...

    ...

    ......

    He was still... talking...

    "...Deep breaths, Tash. Murder is still illegal, and you can''t plead self-defense." She muttered to herself.

    The Amikiri''s yellow eyes searched hers. "What did you say, ma''am?"

    "I SAID TO STOP BOTHERING ME, YOU GLORIFIED LOBSTER, BEFORE I EAT YOU WITH BUTTER!" She snarled. The crustacean immediately fled behind his buff bodyguard. No one dared look her in the eye after.

    Finally, they had stepped on Pantsti''s territory. Venghaan said some parting words to the Lycan Squad, probably some self-gratifying bullcrap she didn''t care to hear. She wanted her bed. Now.

    As if her luck wasn''t six feet down under already, the rotund Baku scrambled from his hiding place behind a tree, bearing a smirk that would prompt her to shatter its pearly yellows if she hadn''t discharged a good chunk of her rage on the Amikiri.

    "Life has a special way of surprising us!" He arrogantly adjusted his yellow and green, fluffy bathrobe that he had probably stolen. "There you stand, thanks to the illustrious-"

    Tash pushed him aside, making him trip on a rock. "Back off, shorty. Be grateful I''m not breaking your spine yet."

    H��k�� didn''t needle her head with inane small talk for once. Good.

    Her feet dragged through the dirt, leaves, pine cones, and the occasional branch she would use to make her daughter fetch. You know what? That would be the first thing she would do on her well-deserved week or two off. When was the last time they did anything together? Her lack of instant recollection was concerning...

    Mmm... Her beautiful village... The Moon showering the humble rock formation with its graceful glow was a sight worthy of a minute of pause to behold it properly. Unfortunately, the cold breeze reminded her too much of the unfortunate twists and turns her night had suffered. The growing stress threatened to swallow her whole, and she knew that wouldn''t go well when the HQ would analyze the mission''s report. So she started humming a familiar tune, not daring to utter the lyrics, no matter how low she would whisper.

    "One rabbit ate two carrots that came in packs of three..."

    Rows and rows of prying eyes were fixed solely on the battered captain. Hmpf. As if they had never seen an injured officer before. Sure, Sayama wasn''t very hectic with crime these days until the Tizohi''s Chosen came along. Still, why must her people be so invasive all the time? How fortunate for them that she had family here. Otherwise, she would pack her stuff to the capital as soon as she woke up...

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "Then four owls fought for five hours until the clock counted to six..."

    Tarb volunteered to escort her to her hut. Geez, is he taking real responsibility? That crazy, old Owl she arrested for disturbing the peace with babble about the end of times might have been onto something, after all...

    "Their seven chicks cried for Mom and Dad, hoping they weren''t dead..."

    Her hut... A welcome sight for her sore eyes...

    "But for eight days and nights... They would all be fed..."

    She pondered about her daughter. Luckily, all that commotion didn''t wake her up. Yes, Lien was peacefully slumbering. No harm to be done with her precious pup. Her only...

    "The rabbit? His fate wasn''t as sublime... as he had to be cut into-"

    "Sister." Tarb''s deep voice cut through her lyrical distraction. She instinctively backed off right before his paw would touch her shoulder. "Can we talk?" His eyes desperately searched hers. "Tomorrow, I mean. After you''re well and good again."

    The captain clumsily leaned her back on the door as if she had tasted her first sip of alcohol all over again. "Talk about what?" She growled, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is there left to talk?" The last word came out dripping with venom.

    Her brother pressed his paws together, taking a deep breath. "You know..."

    She clenched her jaw, shaking her head. Her eyes didn''t even dare meet his. "No... No."

    "Please." He begged. "I want-"

    "You WANT?!" Tash''s paw almost slipped as she left the wall''s aid, but she succeeded in remaining steady. "That''s funny because you didn''t want anything for eight. Fucking. Years..."

    Tarb was... slack-jawed, silent... Perfect.

    She poked his chest plate with her claw. "And let me be clear..." Her eyes burned with disdain, reflected on her brother''s frightened orbs. "You won''t even DARE to bother me outside work. You won''t try to finally grow some balls and be a big brother because that ship-" She slammed her fist on the wall, creating cracks and falling debris. "THAT SHIP! HAS ALREADY FUCKING SAILED!" She snarled.

    Her brother flinched, breathing heavily with apprehension. Tash''s wild expression slowly eroded with time, but her eyes did not break contact with him once. "Goodnight, Tarb." She turned to the door and quickly shut it in his face.

    Home. At long last. Although the lack of light made her cozy abode look dreary and depressing, it matched her current feelings all the better...

    Besides... the only light Tash needed was right there, slumbering in bed.

    ...Or so she thought. Tash knew Lien enough to pick up on her natural sleeping patterns, how her daughter''s chest expanded more visibly, inhaling and exhaling in a loud snore that the captain was all too familiar with. Stepping closer to analyze, she saw the pup... shaking?

    Fuck. The child heard the outburst, didn''t she?

    "Lien?" She knelt, her paw hovering above her daughter''s shoulder. "You''re awake, aren''t you?"

    Lien turned around, her chin quivering by pushing back tears that formed at the edges of her milky eyes. "T-They hurt you...?"

    The phantom pain of Yuki-onna''s blade piercing Tash''s torso came in, almost as powerful as the actual event, backed up by her clenching heart.

    "My pup..." The captain''s eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she wrapped her arms around her frightened daughter.

    "Yes." She ruffled the pup''s mane. "But I''m fine. See?" She pulled her closer, almost breaking down by the warmth of her own daughter. "Can you feel me?" She cooed. "I''m not going anywhere." She kissed Lien''s forehead. "Not until I''m an old, nagging coot."

    Lien chuckled. "Do I have to change your diapers like grandma?"

    Tash''s smile brightened. "You better." She playfully tackled her pup to the ground and started tickling her by repeatedly biting her belly. The child''s giggle was everything for the grizzled Wolf, her only motivation left...

    Unfortunately, the sweet sound had no healing properties. The captain''s entire body became even sorer with this simple activity.

    "Darn it!" Tash clutched her sides, the remnants of laughter lingering in her voice. "No comments about my age, young lady." She reprimanded with a cheeky smile. "It''s just..." She sighed. "It''s been a lot..."

    Lien squeezed her tummy, her bright, toothy grin a breath of fresh air. "Mom?"

    "Hm?"

    The pup''s face straightened. "Give Uncle Tarb a chance, will you?"

    Tash stood silent for a few seconds, then muttered. "I can''t promise you that."

    Lien nodded. "I knew you''d say that..."

    Those words stung. Tash knew her resentment was so evident to her pup. Hell, she wasn''t making much effort to hide anymore... And with that Human so close-

    "Mom?"

    Tash''s eyes broke from the elephant-shaped stain on the wall and returned to her daughter.

    "I''d like to sleep alone tonight." Lien rolled back to face the wall.

    The mother felt dejected. She complained about the pup''s clinginess for so long, yet it felt wrong when this routine broke. Her daughter... was growing up. That was a good thing!

    ...Right?

    "Of course." Tash stood up and slowly crawled up to her own bed. Her weirdly empty bed... Why was she hoping this would be a one-time thing so much?

    "Night, Mom! Love you!" Lien shouted, a little louder than necessary, but... still welcomed, anyway.

    "Love you too!" Tash softly smiled. "Goodnight, my pup..."

    Some of the captain''s worries were alleviated when the pup''s infamous snoring started. Not even a bear could compete with that tiny menace.

    But do you know what the best part was? It was so freaking loud Tash could focus solely on that and be driven to sleep. No unwanted thoughts about her brother, the Humans, or that pale bitch stood before Lien''s nightly noise disturbance.

    Well... That wasn''t exactly true... Some of the Y��rei''s words broke through, compelling her to do something reckless like a siren''s call.

    "The Tizohi''s Chosen fight for a safer Sayama, wiped clean from Humanity''s filthy touch."

    "Your daughter deserves this."

    She did, didn''t she?

    "Your daughter deserves this."

    ...

    ......

    Tash glanced at her sleeping daughter one more time before rolling to face the wall, giving up on forcing herself to unconsciousness. Her exhausted body would do the job for her sooner or later.

    ...Or so she hoped.

 Chapter 93 - Mothers Intuition.

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