-Lexia-

  I watched as the small elf struggled making her way towards the east. It was what I could only describe as a cute struggle. However, the child was also rapidly improving. They went from having to climb over large roots to easily vaulting over them, and even more apparent was the improvement in their stealth skills. By my estimate, in the first day alone, the basic fundamental sneaking skill must’ve improved by at least a dozen levels. Most of the deadlier monsters in the area kept clear because of my presence, but the lower-level ones that were originally harassing her were now struggling to find her.

  It wasn’t just her stealth either; all the skills the girl used grew at what seemed to be an incredible rate, which made no sense because she should’ve been restricted by the longevity trait. Eventually the trees gave way, and a view of the ocean was present. Every internal guide was warning me that I was edging the territorial line of the kind of monster I wanted nothing to do with. Spying on a horribly weakened bear was one thing, but the waters filled me with a primal fear that only someone living in the wild would understand.

  Never had I imagined the ocean could instill such a sense of dread. Port Town was strangely fine, but now I truly felt what it meant to be weak. I didn’t dare leave the tree line as the girl walked out, fascinated by the view of the ocean. She just stared off into the ocean with a fascination that I couldn’t understand. Eventually, she broke away from her reverie of the ocean and started jogging south along the sand. Keeping pace with the girl was easy. Her stamina was limited, and her skills, while improving unnaturally fast, wouldn’t compare to mine any time soon.

  As we moved south, an ominous feeling began to crawl up my spine. Only stronger predators should have felt the territory or respected it, but after hours of travel there had been nothing on the beach. No small monsters hunting nothing; my eyes snapped out to the sea, and just beneath the waves I saw a pair of eyes watching the girl.

  On an instinct I leapt out from my cover, bursting with speed as I grabbed the child. Her startled cry resounded back, and she tried to bare her knife. I moved right past her feeble attempt at resistance, sundering her knife with my fingers while throwing her onto my shoulder and turning back towards the woods.

  The ocean surged up in a small tidal wave as a massive serpent burst from the depths. I would have regretted my every decision, but there was no time. I pushed myself to the limit fleeing inland. The elf who had struggled initially immediately stopped resisting, clinging to my neck like a lifeline. The serpent’s tail lashed down into the path ahead, making a wall as high as the Great Bear when standing. Immediately I cursed silently inside. When I was hunting, climbing had never been a problem, but ever since I came to this damn forest, everything has been putting up walls and towers or using elevation to inhibit me!

  I try to claw into the serpent’s tail to climb it, but my fingers can’t pierce it. Only leaving scratch marks, the girl screams in warning as the head rears back, preparing to strike us. I turn about and rush towards the ocean, running right towards the head. It bends over to bite down at us, but the angle is awkward, killing a great deal of the attack's speed and giving me time to swerve to the side. Its head crashes into the sand, making a large wave of sand and sending us flying. I rode the blast about halfway up the serpent's tail and let go of the girl, entirely focused on digging in my claws deep enough to pull myself up just a bit more.

  It’s barely a half inch of penetration, but it's enough to pull myself and the girl desperately clinging to me up. On the serpent’s tail I ran like hell to get over it and into the woods below. It shifted violently beneath me as the serpent pulled its head from the sand. The shifting motion pulled me off balance and sent us both tumbling from the tail and crashing into the woods below. My ankle twisted horribly from the sudden shift of the serpent. I pull the girl with me into the roots of a tree that had been knocked loose by the serpent. I stilled my breathing and covered the girl's mouth, hiding her body under mine while relying on my hiding skills as a last-ditch effort.

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  Against all odds it seemed to work, as the serpent's head waved from side to side, scanning carefully for any movement. Eventually, in frustration, it swiped its tail, devastating an entire portion of the forest before diving back under. The waves generated by its departure were like small tidal waves crashing over the clearing that it made.

  My hiding spot against all odds had somehow survived the tail swipe, and even though we were soaked from the waves, I slowly pulled us both up to witness the damage. Our tree had been turned into a stump, and the shattered remains of the forest coated the ground like countless twigs. With a sigh of relief, I limped from the area and found shelter in a portion of woods that hadn’t been crushed by the serpent's tantrum.

  Looking down at the little girl in my arms, I’m not sure how I felt. On one hand I’m still not sure what prompted me to act. On the other hand, it felt strangely satisfying to save the small child. Eventually the child stopped clinging to me and instead looked up to me with eyes filled with awe. Is this how Father felt when he established his authority and took me out of the woods? For some reason it felt different to me. It wasn't a bad difference but a good difference. The child seemed lost for words, so I decided to take the initiative.

  “Well, little one, I’m wondering just what led you to this part of the woods?” I barely have time to finish my statement before the small child immediately responds without hesitation.

  “I’m looking for an army, a fairy, or a god!” I’m a bit speechless at what I could only interpret as an honest, if slightly insane, request. Fairies are something I’m unfamiliar with, and worshippers are something that has died out, as all who worship would eventually be hunted and slain by great monsters. It was something I was cautioned against ever investigating or considering. As for an army, well, that brought a smirk to my face. While Father forbade me from outright declaring my lineage, I was never forbidden from claiming something that was rightfully mine. After all, this elf was showing talent that was superior to even humans.

  “I might be able to help with the army, but I’ll need you to obey and follow me. As for the others, I suggest you forget them.” The first part of my demand seemed entirely ok to the girl, but she seemed a bit hesitant to give in on the second part. However, in the end the girl nodded and spoke up again.

  “Um, what should I call you, big sister?” The use of a familial term was enough to make me cheer in victory inside. Tribal elves consider everyone they accept family, most getting titles like "cousin," "elder," or "uncle," but close family terms like "brother" or "sister" were proof of complete trust. It seemed this child was already fully dedicated, and now she only needed training.

  "Big Sister or Lexia is fine." I’ll take you to the town I’m visiting, and we’ll see about getting you enough training so you can earn the right to stay with me.” I stood up and grabbed the girl's hand before heading off south to return to Port Town. A slight limp impairing me for the moment but it would likely pass before the day was out.

  Serpent Sighted

  Callen followed Mayor Hew as he hastily moved about the docks. Only minutes earlier word of a sea serpent sighting from one of the coast guard scouting vessels had arrived. It had sent the whole town in a frenzy to brace the dock from the waves of displaced water its passage might generate. Sea Serpents were high-level monsters, often reaching levels between 2 and 3 hundred, that inhabit and hunt along most coastlines.

  Port Town wasn’t in direct danger, as the Wither Tree had proven many times over that it was stronger, but should the serpent clash with the tree, the waves generated from the conflict could rise high enough to crush houses. Therefore most of the town was going towards the western gate to shelter until the Serpent left. The earthkin were particularly distraught hearing about how their new caves might be flooded and understandably upset that they hadn’t been warned of such risks prior.

  It was such a rare occurrence that the mayor hadn’t even thought of it when the earthkin had originally settled. He promised that while the town waited out the Serpent, they would go over every known disaster for the region. Callen in particular was excited to collaborate with the earthkin on potential improvements for the town. Mayor Hew was more than willing to let Callen take the lead. He watched from the side as watertight sealing and emergency air vents were designed for the earthkin. By the time the alert was lifted, Hew felt it was time to officially pass on his position.