1 First encounter.
She turn her head over her shoulder to look once again in the village that she lives, the village that holds most of her memories, better and worse. She is now ready to leave everything here and take a path that she shouldn't have.
In the first Place, she would rather settle in living peacefully with her family. However, things really happen unexpectedly.
Her Father vanished. And never even came back... the only thing that went back on their home was his cut off arm. her mother didn't eve shed a tear for her beloved husband.
The sky is already dark. Night has come so fast. She had no time reminiscing the past or else she will be caught missing. the only light she had to guide her on her way was the light of the full moon shinning brightly up above hers.
Some animals dwelling in the inner of the forest front of her has also the advantages against her. Fortunately she already steeled herself for this incoming plan to runaway.
She would be rather become a meal for these ferocious animal than to be married to the man she never wanted to be part of her. For her, that would only make her suffer in life. Not only that, she had no plan on seeing her mother's lover for all her life in this world.
She had about to step on the way in to the forest. A night howler block her entrance. she has to deal with it and go further on. She took her short sword that is safely keep on her waist.
As she unsheathe her sword, the night howler jump to her trying to tackle and make her fall down on the earthy ground. Yet the night howler didn't manage to do it since Sera manage to defend herself and position her legs in the right spot.
this will be her first time killing a night howler whom she never see around the village.
She raised her sword and swing it with all her might against the Night howler that was about to launch another attack, however this time it bare his fangs.
Thankfully, The night howler was alone. and that is weird for a night howler to be alone despite their breed use to be in packs.
well that doesn't matter to Sera Anymore, She killed it maybe that is due to her hardships and continuous training in secret while she was in the Village.
She took a deep breath and went in. the tall trees are now blocking the light from the moon. She raised her hands as she created a floating orb the began to shone her path.
She cautiously walk as she step on the forest soil. Every noised surrounding her make her skin crawl as she began to feel something was about to come and show in front of her. No matter how scared she is, she swore to herself not to go back on her home.
As she tighten the grip on the hilt of her short sword. She felt a another monster trying to ambush her from behind. As the monster leap to bit her bare nape. she manage to swing her sword slashing the monster into two. Another Night howler fell on the ground bathing on her own blood.
She wipe her forehead as if there a sweat in it. She turn around and she saw... glowing eyes in the depth looking at her. She was surrounded now.
Maybe, her fate is to be a Night Howler Delight meal.
the lights where getting closer, she had to ran back yet, that would be futile. She had to fight now or be a nameless carcass that will soon be rot in the forest.
She didn't even manage to get on the depth yet she already about to become a feed.
She sheath her word and brought out her staff. Her father staff that is handed to her.
She raise her staff as she created ice shards that would be sharp enough to pierce the enemy.
From the distance of four meter and a half a raging ferocious Night howler revealed itself. It saliva dropping on the ground. She was completely surrounded.
She release her magic. Ice shards flew towards the night howler, some of them wailed and whine as the shards struck them. She ran as the night howler got distracted from her attack. yet on of them manage to jump on her back making her fall o the ground. The night howler dug its sharp tooth on her shoulder making her shriek as she felt it in her bones. She pull out on of her daggers secured on her right leg and struck it on the night howler on her back. the night Howler release her as it leap back in defense. This night howler must be one of the leader of the pack.
She then went again creating multiple ice with sharpen blades. Her attack was wide range and all of the Night howler took the damage.
As all the night howler fell on the ground. She heal herself as she went by. Yet another thing made her halt.
A man taller than her was standing right over there. She feel like her eyes were pulling pranks on her. The man came closer to her. Not as she expected. A certain beast showed itself to her.
Black feathers on its wings that is place on his lower back. Its Horn that is peeking on each side of its head.
"Is it going to attack?" she asked herself as her hands become sweaty as she tighten her grip on her staff. She step forward, she kept on taking steps as she began to think.
"Why it isn't moving" she mumble, her eyes didn't let go of him from her sight. What ever she is seeing here might be something that will end her right away. She began to regret she fled from her fate.
"Is it chanting a spell?" "Monster using a magic? Isn't that too dangerous to be encountered… Shit!" She busted as she about to retreat from it.
"Fret not, I had no intention of killing and harming you." A voice reached her mind. It didn't goes through her ears, she heard it directly on her mind. She wince from the weird feeling she felt as the sounds went in to her brain without passing through her auditory sense. She felt static feeling she never felt before.
"This is bad! It is a monster using telepathy' she told herself as she stop from a tingling pain she felt through to her brain. The two light went on her slowly, as it went forward. She began chanting her prayer silently. She even shut her tightly as she dropped her knees on the ground.
"I'm so doomed" she whispered in the cold night air.
"I fear that, I have lost anything that is part of me. I seek for your help. In exchange of that, I will do What ever you wish for." a footstep she heard in front of her at the same time another voice went inside of her. She slowly opened her eyes thinking what the monster wants from her.
A man with pair of ocean colored eyes that are glowing. His black hair that is too black that even light can't pierce in. he was taller than her, and also horns in his head make her tremble. A Demon!
With her eye widened in shock. She still got to asked him about what he meant. Her mind is gotten blank with the fear she felt for the moment.
"W-What it is? What would you like me to do f-for you?" She asked as she bow her head. Is she messed up, she will have to say good bye to the world. If she isn't mistaken. This dude in front of her was a big deal. She can feel it.
"Is my presence making you uncomfortable?" he asked
She shook her head as if its not. She is just scared as she is a mice under the eyes of the a predator who is calmly awaiting her to make mistake.
"It seems too unreal" She said… her mind wonders for a minute.
She look up and slowly stood up trying to hide her fear. she ignore what he said.
"I'll help you... in one condition. You will never harm nor kill any humans that might be standing before us." She said keeping her voice straight and clear.
"I am man of my word. I never betrayed anyone expectation" he guaranteed her his words. Bowing before her to make his words genuinely true and not a lie.
"Call me Sera... What about you? how can I address you?"
"You can call me whatever you want. I do not remember my name" he said.
"Uh... I'll call you Forest then..." she replied without thinking any further about it.
"If that is okay to you"
"That would be fine."
'So you are like making fun of me?' forest said but since he has no choice about it. its either have it or be nameless.
"So let's keep on moving forward. We might arrive at the town tomorrow morning" Sera said as they continue walking forward getting deeper in the forest.
It was morning when they got arrive in the town. Several monster attacked them in the forest. Sera do the work on killing them as Forest just stood on her back. She is like a Knight making sure that her Princess is safe and sound.
As they about to enter the town, Sera had to be sure that Forest would be totally in disguised. It was nice that is wings were able to be hide within him yet his horns was the only thing he cannot put aside.
sera tried to cover him up with her clothes yet nothing work. Only thing happen is that she end up destroying her clothes for his sake. And now force to go first and buy him a clothe.
"Why do I have to waste my money to that guy?" She said as she take a peek on her purse. She barely had anything to her. The money she has is just too small for two person.
She look at the cloak she brought. It was cheap and she was lucky to find a cheap cloak.
"I can't believe my conscience is keeping me bound with him. I should've fled." She said to herself again as she went ahead.
'Yeah I should've fled. But why is it I'm feeling guilty?' she thought. She sigh as she went to the forest to go back to Forest who is waiting for her.
As she reach the destination, Forest was waiting for her. he was sitting on the branch of the tree. He leap down in front of her. She gave him the cloak and he wore it immediately. He smiled to her and patted her head as thanks.
"I like to asked you a question" she said as she look away.
"What it is?"
"What are you planning to do?" she steal a glance to him as she wanted to see how he will react, yet he isn't making any emotions.
"Isn't it already obvious?" He replied.
"Yeah. Yeah" she mumbles within herself without realizing all her thoughts were able to reach him in any way.
They reach the town. The whole town was busy, people in the gate who comes with a cargo were being checking their cargo. Sera and Forest get through as the guards let them in since they are not required to get thought it.
"Want to stay here for a while. We need to go through the adventurer guild and do some minor works so we can have money. We need to buy our daily needs to. I don't have enough budget to cover up the two of us" She look at Forest and he simply nodded in reply.
'It seems that, everything will be fine.' She thought. She felt glad that she was able to get away from her home. Today is her thirteenth birthday, a girl in her age should be about to be doing her responsibilities inside their home. In this age, they can now marry the guy they like. And that is one of her reasons why she run away from home. She doesn't like to be tied with the village chief son who is 6 years older than him. That guy just fallen in love with her that made Sera's mom decided to let sera marry him so she can have a good life.
As they reach the Adventurer's Guild. Sera can't believe she was standing in front of it. A tall two story building made up with sturdy woods and the sign in the side of the door shows that the building in front of them was the adventurer guild.
"Let's go" She said as she went through the door of the Adventurer guild door. As she opened it, the room was lit up with floating lights made from magic. The wooden floor that made a sound as she step on it. She can't hide her excitement from showing out through her smile on her face.
The room was spacious, there is a counter bar that is place on the right side of the room near the front door. In front was a big bulletin board were the Quest is being pinned. Beside the bulletin board was a stairs. Wooden table was set on the wide space in the left. Some of the adventurers were having a feast, and others were just sitting around and taking a sip from the lager that the Adventurer guild offer.
A lady wearing a formal clothes came to her. Sera realized that there are three of them who was working in the adventurer guild.
"What can I do for you? You seems to be new here?" She smiled at Sera, that smile seems to be genuine and not fake so Sera replied back with a smile.
"Yes! We are new and… I would like to join the Adventurer's guild." She said cheerfully. Some adventurer look at them as they heard that Sera and Forest was new.
"I see. Follow me so we can register you"
"How much was the membership fee?" Sera asked as the Lady began to take them away from the front door.
"One silver for each person" he replied. Sera felt Relieve. She had four hundred seventy copper coins that is equivalent to 4 silver and 70. She began to reminisce how hard she work for this money for seven years. She was able to earn five hundred cooper. She sighs through her work she got the attention of that man who fell over her heels and began to pester her for three years. She work under his family as she look over their house.
As they went on the counter the lady standing there took over. She welcomed them with smile.
"Welcome to the Adventurers Guild, My name is Perunia I am the ne taking care of the members and in charge of making deals with the adventurers and quest givers"
"Two of you?" She asked, sera nodded and handed over two hundred copper. The lady handed them a paper and a plume. Sera went ahead and wrote their names on the each paper given. The Lady gave her a needle and Sera pricked her thumb to seal the contract. Forest did the same. The papers burned in and their name was written on the name tag that was put under the stone slab with a magic circle embedded on it.
