AN: Guys…
Buckle down.
The Terrarian
Sarid put on her pack, her armor on and weapons with her.
It's time.
It had been a few days since the Feast of Valentine, and she had decided to go face Plantera. Leaving the castle, she went to the village and to Asher's home, entering.
"Asher?" She called.
"Yeah?" He asked, his head popping out from the book selves, then looking surprised. "Where're you going?"
"To face Plantera." Sarid told him. His eyes went wide, then he looked worried.
"…Right. Do you have plenty of potions?"
"Yes." Sarid told him. "And don't worry, I'll try not to go into protective mode."
"…" He nodded. "Okay…but…still. Please come back."
"I will do everything in my power to do so." She told him. Lifting a hand, she placed it on the side of his face, he reaching up and putting his hand over hers. After a moment, he kissed her forehead, and they hugged, holding each other tightly.
Sarid stood with her eyes closed, just inhaling his scent and absorbing the feeling of him being there. After a minute, they separated, holding hands.
"I love you." Asher told her.
"I love you too." She told him. It felt wonderful to say that.
He squeezed her hands, and they let go, Sarid going to the door and stepping out, looking back at him with a smile and then closing the door.
Spreading her wings, she took off for the jungle.
When she arrived it was still very warm and humid, to her surprise. She quickly found the entrance to the underground jungle, diving into it.
Later…
"WILL YOU STOP?!" Sarid yelled, looking back at the hornets that were chasing her. She fired her shotbow, nailing the three of them, the corpses falling down into the dark.
For goodness SAKE, why are there so MANY?!
She sighed, then went on her way, flying as fast as she could, slicing through the vines. Eventually, she stopped, landing.
Before her was the plant from her dream.
It was a bulb softly glowing pink, almost seeming to move.
Sarid took a deep breath.
She checked her ammo, potions and the surrounding area, then went back to the bulb.
Taking another deep breath, she looked down at it, her pickaxe in hand.
Alright…
She lifted her pickaxe over head.
For Faye.
Bringing down the pickaxe, she smashed the bulb, causing it to turn into light particles. They glowed softly, making a form similar to the Shadow Man's face, then dissipating.
She looked around, waiting.
A wind tugged at her hair, her eyes widening.
There was no wind underground.
She shot forward, doing a roll, then looking back to see a brown root-like clamp attached to a vine, something moving in the dark. Aiming her shotbow, she began firing, the shape coming into the light.
It was huge, with pink petals and green leaves at the base, the vines connecting to it. Little pink spores shot from where the petals ended, Sarid rolling to the side to avoid them. One of the vines shot toward her, she slicing the end of it away with her sword, the end jerking back. The end twitched, and a new root-like clamp grew from it.
Oh joy.
It shot toward her, she rolling back out of the way, firing her shotbow at Plantera.
To kill a weed, you need to kill the root.
She kept firing until Plantera came close, still shooting the little spores, which she dodged, Sarid charging. Drawing her sword, she sliced at the base, cutting off one of the petals. It shriveled as it fell, until only dust touched the grassy mud. Plantera swooped around, headed toward Sarid, she holding up her shield as a barrage of spores came down. They hit her shield, going plink plink plink, and she jumped into the air, flying back behind Plantera, firing her shotbow at the base of the petals. The arrows sank into Plantera, though it made no noise.
One of the vines shot at Sarid, she slicing it in half with her sword, then another. Flying again, she pulled out her shotbow and fired at her, when something caught her leg. Looking down, it was one of the tentacle vines, Plantera opening its petals.
Sarid could see yellow, thorn-like teeth and two pink filaments.
She smirked, then stretched out a hand.
"DIVINUS FAX!"
Blue fire shot from her hand, going directly down into Plantera's "mouth". It reared back, Sarid being released and she killed the vine that had grabbed her, Plantera moving around in a panicked way, when it suddenly went into the dark, Sarid pursuing it. There was a splash, and Sarid saw it had submerged itself in water, and was not rising out of it, looking back at her.
"What's the matter?!" Sarid asked. "Too hot for you?!"
It shot towards her.
"Then I'll help you cool down!"
She held up a hand.
"DIVINUS GELU!"
Blue frost shot from her hand, hitting Plantera, it trying to move away to the side, though Sarid merely moved her arm to follow the motion. Vines shot toward her, her hand dropping and she swung her sword, slicing off two and then ducking under another, severing the end from the vine.
Something hit her, causing her to go flying, though she caught herself in the air and dove towards the ground, then leveled out and came back up on the other side of Plantera, her face hard. Plantera surged toward her, Sarid pulling out her shotbow and firing. A vine snapped at her, making her move back and she sliced it, Plantera right behind it.
GAH!
Folding in her wings, she fell so that Plantera missed her, then she spread them and sliced its underbelly with her sword. It reared away, then swung back, Sarid pulling out her shot bow. Firing, it swung off to the side, then shot a clamp at her, Sarid dodging, only for Plantera to hit her at full force.
She hit the ground, the shotbow at an angle that she was forced to release it or injure her wrists, though she turning it into a roll and came up.
I don't have time to look for my shotbow.
Instead, she pulled out a megashark, aiming.
Bullets rapidly fired from it, hitting Plantera and leaving little black holes on its side, when its petals color faded and they shriveled, turning to dust, revealing Plantera's "mouth", with three green, petal-like objects.
It shot towards Sarid, she jumping ut of the way and slicing off part of one of the petals with her sword. A pink, spiked orb shot from the inside, Sarid dodging it. It kept on the offensive, going after her.
It's really trying to get me now…Hm…AH!
Sarid flew in the direction she had entered the area, where the vines had been cut, entering into a narrow tunnel lined with grass.
"DIVINUS FAX!"
Fire came from both her hands, catching on the grass. Looking back, Plantera was squeezing through the flaming tunnel, causing the fire to spread to it. Exiting the tunnel, Sarid hid behind a pillar of rock, looking out from behind it, seeing Plantera emerging from the tunnel, still on fire. It looked around, Sarid aiming the megashark and firing, taking it off guard and filling it with her ammo. It looked over at her, shooting out spores, Sarid blocking them with her shield. When she lowered it, Plantera was upon her, mouth open and tentacles reaching for her.
Sarid sliced at the tentacles, making them wither and die, then jumped to the other side of the pillar, and taking off, Plantera following after.
The fire will slowly drain its health. Sarid thought, turning back to it and firing. I just need to hold out a little longer!
She kept firing, and it snapped at her, she dodging. As she did, she noted the clamps were shorter and thinner, and the base of Plantera looked to be wilting. Shooting forward, Sarid stabbed her sword into its side, leaving a deep gash in it.
One of Plantera's clamps shriveled, leaving it with only two, Plantera looking at Sarid, who was still in the air, looking back at it, sword in hand.
It swung at her, Sarid smirking.
It opened its maw, Sarid tucking her wings in. She fell, then let them out and swooped up, driving her sword into Plantera's base, cutting straight through it.
Plantera's clamp went limp, then shriveled with the rest of its remains.
Sarid landed, then stood, going to the items Plantera had dropped. There was a grey and green gun, a green sword resembling a scimitar, a kind of grappling hook, a chain weapon, healing potions, among other items.
She picked up a bag of coins, seeing an object.
It looked like a type of key, with metal prongs protruding from it, and the hand end of it was square and dark orange.
…Where have I seen this? She wondered, thinking. I know I've seen it…and it was in the jun-
She suddenly remembered, recalling the temple she had run across in the jungle.
This must open the door to it! But I need to gather enough materials to go in there now…and I need to find my shotbow.
Backtracking, she went down to where she had awoken Plantera, searching around, finally finding it. Putting it in her pack, she looked into her magic mirror.
She appeared back in the village, surprised to see people gathered around.
"Sarid!"
Asher jumped up onto the platform, hugging her. She hugged him back, then felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Looking, it was Hannah.
"I'm glad you're back, but I'll need to look you over." She told her.
Later…
"You've done very well." Hannah told Sarid, wrapping gauze around Sarid's shoulder. "Just some bruising."
"Indeed." Sarid told her. "Hopefully this will ease Asher's worries."
"Yeah." Hannah said, finishing. "Alright, the salve will help the bruises heal faster, just be careful not to slam into anything."
"Understood." She told her, standing and then pulling on her shirt.
"You know…Forgive me, but it's strange that you…well, your chest. It's still flat."
"…And?" Sarid asked.
"Normally by your age, there's some development."
"I believe it's because of a potion Mr. Merlyn gave me as an infant."
"A what?"
"When I was an infant, Mr. Merlyn gave me a potion to make me…well, better." Sarid told her. "It would enhance the abilities I already had, though he said it was poisoned, and he had to make another. That one was…incomplete, so it might have something to do with it."
"…" Hannah stood, thinking.
"That's his theory, anyway." Sarid told her, finishing dressing. "Anything else?"
"No…but…"
"Yes?"
"…You don't talk like a street urchin."
Sarid slowly looked at her.
"…What do you mean?"
"Your voice is…smooth, and your vocabulary …or, rather, word choice, is more refined." She told her. "And you've known Mr. Merlyn since you were an infant. Surely…surely your father-"
"Hannah." Sarid told her. "My father…was not a good man."
"Did he know Merlyn?"
"…Yes. But he still wasn't a good man."
"…" Hannah blinked.
"If that's all, I'll take my leave." Sarid told her, turning and leaving, twirling her cloak around her shoulders and clasping it.
…Hmm…
Merlyn was whistling to himself, stirring a potion with a glass rod.
Sarid's defeated Plantera. He thought, looking at the potion, then stirring it some more. Another link down…
He set down the potion.
…I should tell her. If what I've seen is correct, then before she fights the Shadow Man, she'll have to-
A knock interrupted his thoughts. He looked over at the door, then went and opened the door, seeing Hannah.
"Oh, Hannah." He said. "Please, come in."
"Thank you." She told him, stepping in. He closed the door, going to the fire.
"Would you like some tea?" He asked.
"No thank you." She told him, going over to him. "I have questions."
"About what?" He asked, surprised. "Are you a magic user?"
"No, they're about Sarid."
"Why not ask her?"
"She doesn't want to be asked about." She told him.
"Then I'm afraid that-"
"It's about Sarid's father."
"…" Merlyn looked away.
"Mr. Merlyn. Sarid…dislikes her father." She told him. "I know she told Ash and I that he was a liar, but…she also said she grew up on the streets. Did…he abandon her?"
"…" Merlyn slowly turned his head to look at her. "What makes you think I knew him?"
"Sarid said you gave her a potion as an infant." She told him. "So you had to know him."
"What if I knew her mother?" He asked. "A father-"
"She's never mentioned her mother." She told him, stone faced. "It stands to reason then that she either has no reason to mention her or never knew her…"
"Hannah." Merlyn told her. "Please leave."
"…" She stared at him. "…Why are you so…apprehensive?"
"Please leave."
"Mr. M-"
"Hannah, if Sarid doesn't want to talk about, I won't either." He told her. "Please leave…"
Hannah blinked, going to the door, putting her hand on the knob.
She slightly looked over her shoulder at him, his back to her.
"…Please leave."
"…" She blinked, then opened the door and stepped out into the cold, closing the door behind her.
Elsewhere…
Sarid picked up the snowball she had made, looking around the corner of Mortimer's shop. Asher stood with his back to her, holding a snowball in his hand, ducking the one Reginald threw at him. Bolting, Sarid ran up behind Asher and jumped, hitting him on the head with the snowball.
She did not, however, realize that would also make her fall onto his back until it was too late.
They fell into the snow, Sarid able to hear Reginald laughing. Pushing herself up, Asher was under her, his back still to her and face in the snow.
"Are you alright?" She asked. His head lifted up, looking back at her.
"…Ow."
"…Sorry." She said sheepishly, standing up and then helping him up.
"You two okay?" Reginald asked, walking over to them.
"Sarid packed the snowball a bit too hard, but other than that I'm fine." Asher told him.
"Sorry." Sarid told him again.
"I'll be fine."
"Do you think Hannah should check it, just in case?" Reginald asked.
"…Yeah, just in case." He said. "I'll see you two later."
"See ya." Reginald told him.
"Goodbye." Sarid said, Asher walking off. They watched him go, when something hit Sarid's head, starling her. Looking, she saw Reginald without his snowball, and suppressing a smile.
"…Oh, you didn't." She said.
"Oh, I did." He said, the taking off.
"GET BACK HERE!" Sarid yelled, smiling. They continued having a snowball fight, though paused when Taylor was walking by, arms full of groceries, Tyler beside her with a bag of them. Sarid saw Reginald drop his snowball, then approach her.
"Would you like some help with all of that, ma'am?" He asked her. She looked at him, then nodded.
"Yes, thank you." She said, handing him some of the things. He took them and they walked past Sparkle's home, Sarid curious and following them. They got to Taylor's house, Reginald opening the door for them and they thanked him, they entering. Reginald went in and closed the door, Sarid standing outside and watching. After a bit, Reginald came back out, closing the door behind him.
"Reginald?" Sarid asked, he looking at her.
"…Yeah?"
"…" She smiled. "I'm glad to see you're becoming a gentleman."
"…" He looked surprised, then smiled. "Thanks. Your mentor, Mr. Flint gave me some advice."
"Yes, the commander is a wonderful man." Sarid agreed, her face soft. Reginald smiled more.
"HEY GIRLIE!"
Sarid turned around, then jumped to the side to avoid a snowball, it hitting Reginald instead. Looking back, she saw Durim.
"I saw you two were having a snowball fight earlier!"
"You want in?" Sarid called, smiling with determination.
"You bet!"
"Show us what you've got!" Sarid yelled, making a snowball.
They ran about, throwing snowballs at each other, until the sun started to set. They bid each other goodnight, Sarid heading to her castle. She had roast duck for supper, the meat nice and tender, then went up and had a bath. After that she put on her pajamas and climbed into bed, reading for a bit by the candle light, until her eyelids were heavy. Snuffing out the candle, she laid down, falling asleep.
She saw the dungeon before her, the doors to it closed. The sun was setting, the area lit up by the lanterns, warm light gently touching the stone pillars. She approached the door, seeing the designs on it, noting that Plantera covered the door, its vines covering the surface.
The sun set, the moon rising behind her, and the lanterns went out, the darkness rushing in. Looking behind her, the moon rays peeked over the hills, reaching out to where she was, lighting the area with cool, cold moon rays. She looked back at the door, examining the patterns of Plantera on it, when it began to turn to dust, withering away. First the petals, showing its second form, then the tentacles, showing chains under them. Plantera withered, showing a lock.
Sarid peered at it, reaching out to touch it, when it suddenly rusted, crumbling away. She drew her hand back in shock, the chains following the lock by rusting and crumbling, gathering as dust on the floor before the door.
The wind picked up from behind her, the door barely opening inwards, the dust blowing into the darkness. Staring into the darkness, she felt as if something was staring back at her.
Lifting her hand again, she pushed open the doors, stepping into the dark.
THOOM
The door closed behind her, leaving her completely in the dark.
She held up a torch, lighting the area.
Before her were Dryads.
They had the same green hair and purple eyes Faye had, tanned skin and they wore clothes of leaves, moss and vines that covered them.
They stared blankly at her, Sarid looking at all of them, the air still and silent.
She heard what sounded like an explosion, the Dryads stiffening.
They suddenly began to yell and scream, their skin slowly disintegrating and hair withering away, holding themselves as if in pain. Sarid stood, horrified, watching as their blood evaporated, they becoming skeletons.
"HELP US!" They shrieked. "SAVE US!"
Sarid took a breath, shaking with fear.
"HELP US, SAVE US!" They yelled, moving towards her. Armor appeared on them, some of them getting robes and weapons.
"HELP US, SAVE US!" They yelled, reaching out to her.
Sarid squeezed her eyes shut.
"HELP US, SAVE US!"
Sarid shot up in bed, a yell escaping her.
She looked around, seeing it was her bedroom, moonlight coming through the windows. A shiver ran down her spine, making her shake, she raising a hand to her head.
"…The dungeon!" She exclaimed, scrambling out of bed. She put on her armor and grabbed her pack, shouldering it. Running out of the castle, she took to the sky, flying as fast as she could to the dungeon, landing outside of it. She went up the steps, the lanterns lit, and she started towards the door, when she stopped, looking at the ground.
There was a pattern.
Her brows furrowed down with confusion, and she approached the end of it.
It was circle, with what looked like an angry octopus in it, four circles around the rim of the outer circle.
What was strange, however, was that the head had three eyes, one on the forehead, rather than just two.
…Have I…seen this? She thought, trying to recall. When she couldn't she shook her head and looked back forward. I don't have time to wonder about this.
She went to the doors, pushing them open, and stepping into the torch light. Going down the stairs, she went deep underground, the familiar moans reaching her ears.
Readying herself, she drew her sword.
Monsters she didn't recognize appeared.
What?
They ran towards her, having blue armor, rusty armor, some being a ruddy red, while another was twice her size and heavily armored.
…
Her brows furrowed down.
I will free all of you.
She charged, yelling a battle cry.
They proved to be challenging, but she refused to back away. There were also casters of more twisted magic in the dungeon as well, attacking her from a distance, though she could fire upon them from a distance. They could teleport, yes, but her ammo was faster.
After clearing an area, she fell against the wall, panting. She drank a potion of healing, the warm liquid spreading throughout her person, feeling her wounds heal. The new monsters had dropped impressive items, though she had yet to look through them as she had been trying to survive.
She heard skeletal rattling drawing closer, making her push off the wall and ready herself, a blue armored bones rushing down the hall. She fired at it with her shotbow, hitting it, knocking off one of its arms. It got close enough, Sarid switching to her sword and dodging its remaining arm, she then decapitating it.
It fell apart, the armor clanging against the ground.
Sarid watch it a moment, then looked down the hall, listening for anything else. Turning away, a strange light suddenly appeared.
Whirling around, her sword drawn, she saw nothing.
…What?
There was no spirit that had come from the corpse, she looking down at it again, seeing the light was coming from the armor. Kneeling, she looked into the chest cavity, seeing a glowing jar. She reached into the cavity and picked it up, looking at it and turning it over in her hands. It was glowing a bright blue-green, when a skull appeared inside the bottle.
"GAH!" Sarid screeched, throwing the bottle into the air and stumbling back. The jar bounced off the ground, and rolled a distance, Sarid still able to see it. She stood, panting, then drew her sword and approached it with caution, getting close to it.
Nothing happened.
She poked it with her sword, the jar rolling slightly.
Still, nothing happened. She blinked.
Kneeling again, she picked it up and looked at it incredulously, the skull appearing again. She jumped, but kept her grip on it. The skull stared at her from inside the jar, then moved, hitting against the stopper on top.
"…You…want out?"
It stared.
"…I…suppose?" Sarid said, about to open it, when it occurred to her that it was an enemy.
Should I ask it, or-…why would it tell me the truth if it was an enemy?
…
Meh.
She opened the jar, the skull flying out.
"YAHOO!"
Sarid jumped, dropping the jar again and pointing her sword at it.
"Whoa, hey, watch it!"
"…What are you?" Sarid asked.
"I'm a wisp!"
"…A wisp?" Sarid asked, surprised.
"Yeah!" It said. "A wisp is-"
"I know what one is." Sarid told it. "Mr. Pip told me stories about them."
"Really?" It asked. "…Wait, who's Pip?"
"One of my parental figures." Sarid told it. She heard rattles again, looking down the hallway. "I need to go."
"I'll go with you!"
"Wh- really?"
"Yeah!" It told her. "Just put my jar in your pack!"
"…Very well." Sarid said, picking up the jar and the stopper, putting them into her pack, and then looked into the magic mirror.
She appeared back in the village, the wisp still with her.
"WOW!" It said, looking around. "Man, it's been AGES since I was above ground!"
"Really?" Sarid asked.
"Really!" It told her. "And…oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Whisper!"
"…Whisper?"
"Yep!"
"…Very well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Whisper." Sarid told him. "I'm Sarid, ruler of Terraria."
"…Wait, the island had a kingdom now?" Whisper asked.
"…" Sarid blinked. "How long were you underground?"
"I dunno."
"…Right. Well…oh, were you partnered with the Dryads?"
"Yep!" He chirped. "Too bad about what happened, though…I miss them."
"There's still one left."
"WHAT?! REALLY?!"
"Yes, she lives here." Sarid told him. "Her name's Faye. Would you like to meet her?"
"Yeah!" He said.
"Follow me." Sarid told him, he doing so as she stepped off the platform. She went to Faye's tree, climbing up the stairs to the home, knocking on the door. After a moment, Faye opened the door, seeing Whisper and getting a shocked look.
"Hi!" Whisper cheered, flying around her.
"…I…Sarid, where did you find him?!" Faye asked, looking at Sarid with shock.
"In the chest cavity of a blue armored bones." Sarid told her, stepping in and closing the door.
"I…I can't believe this!" Faye said, a smile appearing on her face. Whisper nuzzled against her face, Faye reaching up and taking him in her hands, nuzzling him back. "This is wonderful!"
"How so?" Sarid asked.
"Wisps are good allies." Faye told her. "They provide light and can move through solid objects."
"…Then…how was he stuck in a jar?" Sarid asked.
"Oh, they have a special magic." Whisper told her. "It's made that way so we can rest without fear of capture."
"How?" Sarid asked, confused.
"If you try to pick up the jar with bad intentions, it becomes too heavy to pick up." Faye told her.
"…Oh."
"Right." Faye told her. "But I take it you found him in the Citadel?"
"Yes, I had a dream about it last night." Sarid told her.
"A dream?" Faye asked, surprised.
"Yes."
"What happened?" She asked. "Did you see how to free them? Will you free them?"
"I didn't see how to free them, but I will do everything in my power to free them." Sarid told her. "Mr. Merlyn said that if I defeat the Shadow Man, then your brothers and sisters will be free."
"…" Faye blinked, tears coming to her eyes. She hugged Sarid, Sarid hugging her back. "Thank you."
"They are residents of Terraria, and therefore under my protection." Sarid told her, pulling back to look at her. "There is no need to thank me."
Meanwhile…
Flint stood talking with Greg and Mrs. Lee, along with Cannon. They were in a cathedral, dressed up for the service that had just finished.
"That was a good sermon." Cannon said.
"Agreed." Flint told him. "Especially since he mentions not to totally forget after forgiving."
"Yea, someone could always hurt you again if they haven't changed." Mrs. Lee said. "Better to wary of them."
"Indeed." Flint said.
"Excuse me."
They looked, seeing the pastor, he wearing a white alb with gold trim and designs, the stole over his shoulder black. His skin was dark, and his head blad, though his brown eyes were soft and gentle.
"Ah, Pastor Paul." Flint said, turning to face him. "Would you like to join us?"
"Thank you, but I'd like to speak to you in private, Commander Flint."
"Yes sir." He said, turning back to the group. "Pardon me."
"This way, please." Paul said, Flint following him through the pews, to the side of the stage with the podium where he preached from. They went through a door and down a hall, entering into an office room, Paul closing the door after Flint came in.
"What can I do for you, Pastor?" He asked.
"…I'm worried." He said, folding his hands and going around the desk. "Something bothers me during prayers…like a bad feeling, you know, the ones you get when something bad is going to happen."
"Yes, I know the ones." Flint told him.
"Well, it's always when I pray for the parish." He told him. "I asked the gods to reveal the person to me, and since then, Lance keeps coming to mind."
"Really?" Flint asked, barely surprised.
"You don't seem surprised." Paul told him.
"I know Lance can be difficult and…how to put this…he…has an ego, but what would worry you?"
"…" He looked down at his desk. "You might have noticed that I've been preaching about forgiveness and moving on."
"Yes, we were discussing the sermon earlier." He told him.
"Well, I fear something may happen to him, or has happened to him." Paul told him. "Have you seen him recently?"
"No, not since a little after Yuletide."
"Something…seems…off about him." Paul told him. "It…causes an uneasy feeling."
"Hm…" Flint hummed. "Would you like me to speak with him?"
"Yes, I know he'll listen to you." Paul told him. "I was hoping if you were present, he'd listen."
"I'll do whatever I can." Flint told him.
"Thank you." Paul told him, smiling. "I saw him over on the other side of the sanctuary."
"Then let's go talk to him." Flint said. Paul nodded, and they left the office, going back to the sanctuary. They looked around, seeing him, then walking over. He stood with his family, Lance noticing them. Flint noted that his face looked paler and his eyes had light bags under them.
"Lance." Flint said.
"Commander." Lance said.
"We'd like to talk to you privately, if you don't mind." Flint told him. He stood a moment, then turned to them and they walked away from the group, to where no one else was standing.
"What's this about?" Lance asked.
"I'm worried for you." Paul told him. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine." Lance told him.
"You look a little pale." Flint told him. "Have you been ill?"
"No." Lance told him. "Again, what's this about?"
"Like the Pastor told you, he's worried for you."
"There's nothing to worry about." Lance told him.
"Has…anything…unusual happened lately?"
"No." Lance told him.
"Is anything weighing on your mind?" Paul asked.
"I will admit it's been hard to get rid of my frustration regarding Forte." Lance told him, Flint resisting the urge to sigh.
"Sarid?" Paul asked, surprised. "Has h-er, she done something?"
"She exists." Lance hissed, Flint's hand twitching.
"We all exist for a reason, Lance." Paul told him.
"Not her." He told them, folding his arms. "All she does is get in my way."
"How?" Flint asked. "She's on Terraria now, not here in Julo."
"There are reminders of her." He said, eyes looking over at Flint. "Such as still choosing her over me."
Flint still resisted the urge to sigh.
"Lance, does your family love you?" Flint asked.
"Yes."
"Sarid doesn't have a family. She had no one when she came to the school, and she needed someone."
"It didn't have to be you." Lance told him.
Flint did sigh that time.
"Who else?" He asked. "I wasn't going to stand by and do nothing."
Something Lance's eyes changed.
"You could've helped Sarid find a family here." Lance told him. "Wouldn't that of been good and of made her happier?"
…Would it? Flint wondered. I…I was so focused on trying to help her learn how to protect herself. I didn't want-
He blinked, shaking his head.
No. What I did was right. If she hadn't of returned to Terraria, who knows what all the residents there would be doing, what their fates would be…She was right, I am part of the reason the kingdom is there again, and…she's so much happier there…
"No." Flint told him. "Sarid needed to go back there, and to do that she had to learn to fight and defend."
Something in Lance's eyes changed again.
"Why did she need to go back there?" He asked. "Was she that insecure that she needs to be ruler to feel important, or did she just think that there was nothing for her here?"
Sarid knows I love her, right? Flint wondered. "Sarid is not insecure, Lance. She didn't need or want anything from anyone, and never felt a need to fit in with others."
The light in Lance's eyes died.
"…You're such a stubborn man." Lance said. "All you ever talk about is Sarid."
"All you ever bring up is Sarid."
"Do you always have to defend her?" Lance asked. "You never mention my good qualities."
"I've told you that you were a good student."
"I was the best, until you chose Forte over me."
"I did not-"
"YES YOU DID!" Lance yelled, the sanctuary falling silent. "Forte, Forte, Forte…you chose her over me, to teach her what you knew I should've learned!"
"You brushed me aside when I offered, remember?"
"You should've pursued it!" Lance told him. "But NO! Forte showed up and you turned all your attention to her!"
"She needed someone." Flint told him.
"She used you!"
"How?"
"…" Lance stared with burning eyes, then scoffed and turned away. "Mark my words, Forte will get what she deserves."
Flint brows furrowed down.
Lance went off, Paul clearly worried.
"Oh dear…" He said.
"…Pastor." Flint said.
"Yes?"
"…I could swear I saw red in Lance's eyes."
Forte, Forte, Forte…That's all he cares about!
"Agreed." Lance heard the Shadow Man say in his head. "The fool is too blind as to how great you are."
I know!
"Remember: You just need to raise an army."
I know…I'll be at a high enough rank soon.
"Good…"
Forte…she's probably planning how to usurp me next we meet!
Sarid sat with Asher, they out on the balcony of his house, drinking hot chocolate and watching snow fall.
"This is so pretty to watch." Sarid said.
"Agreed." Asher told her. They held hands, Sarid's head against his arm.
This is nice…I want it to stay this way.
She nuzzled into Asher's arm, Asher lowering his head and nuzzling against her head.
They spent what time they could together, between Sarid mining and fighting in the dungeon, as well as fighting in the underground jungle, finally getting the shells needed for turtle armor.
"Asher?"
"Ye-" He turned to see her, down on the floor, hiding under the main shell. Her head poked out, wearing her helmet.
"Fear me."
Asher laughed.
The snow began to melt, though mounds of it remained. Sarid sat out on the dock, the sun just over the horizon as the Royal Paranjay sailed into the bay, Sarid standing. As the ship docked, she went to where the gangplank would go down, the Greenhorn brothers joining her.
"Ahoy, landlubbers!" Sinbad greeted, coming down the gangplank.
"Hello, Sinbad." Sarid told him. "How was the sailing?"
"Smooth as silk!" He told her. "Ye got sum more folks wan'n' t' move here."
Sarid looked up the gangplank.
The first person was a man, brown hair and green eyes, his skin tan. He wore a red sweater and black vest, a black hat on his head, blue pants tucked into black boots. Holding his hand was a young girl, about a year or two older than Tyler. Her hair was also brown, her eyes brown and her skin fair, freckles across her nose. She wore a pink dress, a white turtle neck under and white stockings, black shoes on her feet. She carried a light pack, the man a heavier one.
"Hello." Sarid greeted, smiling.
"Guten tag." The man greeted. "Ich bien Hans Konditor, und this ist mein…how you say, daughter?"
"Ja, Papa." The girl said. "Ich bien Eden."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." Sarid told them. "Might I ask why you came here?"
"Ich bien baker." Hans told her. "Mein home country ist having e…e-co-nom-ic trouble."
"I see." Sarid said. "When I return to the village, you many pick out any available home to set up shop."
"Really?" Hans asked, surprised.
"Yes sir." Sarid told him.
"Danke, Queen Sarid."
"Just Sarid is fine." She told him, he surprised again.
"Tol' ya she were nice." Sinbad told him.
"You're a baker?" Crow asked him.
"Ja." He told him. Crow stared. "…Er, yes."
"Oh! That's great!" Crow told him. "None of us can bake to save our lives!"
"…Ist not difficult." Hans told him.
"Eh, well…" Crow said, rubbing the back of his head. He looked up the gangplank, his face going blank. Sarid followed his gaze, seeing two women at the top.
The first woman had short, curled black hair and dark skin, her eyes dark brown. She wore a red dress with a dark red vest, brown boots and a pack on her back. The second woman wore a blue dress with a dark blue coat, black boots on her feet. She as well carried a pack, hands folded over her lap. Her hair was red, her eyes dark blue.
"Hello." Sarid greeted.
"Hello." The woman in red told her, they coming down the plank. "I'm Raven, and this is Robin."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty." Robin told her.
"Like wise." Sarid told her. "And just Sarid is fine."
"Oh." Robin sounded, Raven raising a brow.
"What were your occupations before coming here?" Sarid asked.
"We were merchants." Raven told her. "Specialized in food stuffs."
"Well, we have merchant…but he sells everything." Sarid said, thinking. "I'll speak with him and see if we can come to an arrangement."
"Thank you." Robin told her. Sarid nodded, then noticed Raven glaring at someone off to the side. She followed her gaze, seeing it was directed at Rooster, while Crow stood, staring at her as if in a trance.
…Are they okay? Sarid wondered.
"Anyhow, Crow, Rooster, Sparrow, we's got th' animals an' seeds ya ordered." Sinbad said.
"…Wh-what?" Crow asked, looking at him.
"…We got th' stuff ya ordered." Sinbad said, failing at suppressing a smile.
"Oh…Oh, right!" He said, shifting awkwardly. "Come on guys, let's get the stuff back to the farm."
"R-r-right!" Rooster agreed, while Sparrow looked amused.
"If the four of you will follow me," Sarid started, "I'll show you the village."
"Danke." Hans said, the four of them following her. They walked down the road to the village, Mortimer and Mercer driving up it on a cart.
"Mr. Mortimer!" Sarid called, waving.
"Morning, Sarid!" He called back, he and Mercer waving. He pulled the reins, making the horse stop. "Who're these folks?"
"This is Hans and his daughter Eden." Sarid said, motioning to them. "He's a baker. And this is Robin and Raven, they're also merchants, but they specialize in food."
"That's wonderful!" Mercer said. "Papa and I have been talking about that."
"Really?" Sarid asked.
"Yes, we wanted to expand inventory, but we didn't know how to do that with the space we have. If they take over the foodstuffs, we can expand on other goods!" Mercer explained.
"Well, what do you two say?" Sarid asked them.
"Sounds good." Raven said.
"Alright, that worked itself out quite nicely." Sarid said. "Thank you, Mr. Mortimer and Mercer."
"It's no trouble." Mercer told her. "Welcome to the island, folks!"
They thanked him, and he whipped the reins, the horse starting up again. Going on, they reached the village, Sarid showing them the available homes. Raven and Robin took up residence at the left end of the south street, across from Carroll, while Hans picked out the house next to the butcher shop. The rest of the day for Sarid was spent adding on an additional bedroom and bathroom for each house. When she finished, it was sundown.
Walking out of Hans' home, she saw he and Eden were building a snowman out of what snow remained, making her smile.
"Ms. Sarid!"
Looking, she saw Tyler running up to her.
"Hello, Tyler." She said. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you knew when they were going to do another…um…raffle…?"
"What for?" Sarid asked.
"Mommy was really happy when we shared the cake!" He said, beaming. "So I was hoping that if there was another raffle, I could enter and try to get another thing to share with mommy!"
"…" Sarid stared at him. You are precious and I would die for you.
"…Ms. Sarid?"
"I'm not sure…" Sarid told him, thinking. "We may have another celebration on the first day of spring."
"Okay!" He cheered. "Thank you Ms. Sarid!"
"You're welcome." Sarid told him. He went off, running over to his house.
"He ist very polite." Hans commented, Sarid looking over at him.
"He is. Ms. Taylor did a good job with him." Sarid told him, he looking at her.
"Just Fraulien Taylor?"
"Her husband died about a year ago." She told him.
"Ah…" He said. "Well, danke for everything."
"It's no trouble." Sarid told him with a smile. Turning away, she went back to her castle and had supper, a venison steak, then went and had a bath, then went to bed. She slept through the night, then got up and did some stretching. Getting dressed, she went outside, looking over the village.
Now… what to do today? She wondered. I've been doing plenty of mining and fighting lately…Hm…
She noticed Hunter, coming around the corner from the road to the pool house, approaching her.
"Good morning, Mr. Hunter!" Sarid called, waving. He waved back, though did not smile.
Hm?
"Sarid." He said, nearing her. "I have a concern to voice."
"What's wrong?"
"I've come across some deer that…" He got a hesitant look, thinking. "…I…I think there are other people on the island."
"Really?" Sarid asked.
"Yes." He told her. "I've come across deer that have been slaughtered. The cuts on them are straight and cleanly made, like with a knife."
"…Hm." Sarid said, her brows furrowing. "You're sure?"
"Positive." He told her.
"…I'll look into it." Sarid told him. "Though…if it was people, why would they leave the carcass?"
"I don't know." He told her. "But like I said, the cuts are made with knives."
"…Hm…" Sarid hummed. "Can you point me in the direction of one?"
"I'll show you." He told her. "Come on."
She followed him away from the castle and into the forest, going along a lightly worn path. Eventually Sarid smelled an awful scent, making her scowl. They came across the carcass he had mentioned, Sarid kneeling down to look at it.
Sure enough, the cuts on the neck were clean, deep and straight, as if made with a knife, while the body, where the meat was, was ravaged.
"Hm…" She hummed, then standing. "How many have you found like this?"
"This is the sixth." He told her. "I originally thought it was wolves, so I didn't take too close a look until this one."
"What made you look at this one?"
"It's too close to the village." He told her. "And it hadn't snowed recently, but there weren't any wolf prints."
"…Hm…" Sarid hummed, looking at the ground. The snow had mostly melted, so there were no tracks like he said. "What about it being close to the village is strange?"
"The wolves are farther out." He told her. "The other five were closer to where they'd hunt. This one…they would've avoided this area since they'd smell us."
"…" Sarid blinked, looking back at the carcass. She then looked around again, going to the snow mounds, examining them. There was nothing she could gleam from them, she looking around again. There was a pond, she going to it, looking at the bank when she froze, eyes going wide.
"…Sarid?" Hunter asked.
"…" Sarid kept staring.
"Sarid, what's wrong?" He asked, going over to her. She pointed, he looking down, his eyes going wide.
There was a pair of large paw prints in the soil of the bank.
"…Please tell me that's just an abnormally large wolf." Sarid told him, he squatting down to look at it.
"…I wish I could." He told her. "The main part is wolf-ish, but the toe part…it almost looks like human fingers."
He stood, and they looked at each other.
A bit later…
Asher dropped the book he was holding, his face draining of color.
"…Asher?" Sarid asked, concerned. They stood in his library, having told him about the paw print.
"…Please tell me this is a joke." He told them.
"I'm afraid it's not." Hunter told him. He gulped, then looked away. After a moment, he went into the book shelves, coming back with a book. They all went to the table, Asher opening the book. It depicted a creature with wolf legs, covering in dark fur with red eyes, fangs revealed by a snarl. The "front paws" did resemble human hands.
"I-It sounds like a werewolf." Asher told him.
"A WHAT?!" Hunter asked.
"A-A werewolf." Asher told him.
"…But – those aren't real! They're a myth!" He said.
"I'm afraid not." Asher told him, looking at the book.
"…" Hunter looked down, eyes wide, then turned away.
"Where are you going?" Sarid asked.
"If those things are real, I need to get Eve and Ella to safety." He told her.
"Are they dangerous?" Sarid asked.
"According to this." Asher said, Sarid looking at her. "One of the minions of the Shadow Man, Fenrir, can grant the ability to become a werewolf, but…in return, he can enslave the person while in the wolf form."
"…To what end?" Sarid asked.
"…He's a minion of the Shadow Man." Asher told her. "His purpose is to destroy the creation of the gods."
Sarid's eyes widened more, brows furrowing down.
"I have to protect my family." Hunter said, quickly leaving.
"…A-Asher, is it possible that this is a prank?" Sarid asked.
"I-I don't know." He told her.
"If it's not…" Sarid said, looking down. "The village is in danger."
"What are you going to do?" Asher asked.
"I'm going to find them." Sarid told him. "I need to know if they truly do pose a threat to Terraria."
"…Alright." He said, nodding. "Be careful."
She nodded, then left the library.
Returning to where Hunter had shown her the carcass, she went to the pond, examining the bank. Finding more paw prints, she followed them until they faded away.
Hm…
She looked around, thinking.
I wonder…
Using her wings, she took to the air, flying up to the tallest tree in the area. Grabbing hold of the trunk, she looked around, having to go onto the other side of the tree, and she saw it: a thin, barely visible plume of smoke.
Spreading her wings, she flew towards it.
After a bit she reached it, landing on the ground a distance away, looking out from behind a tree.
There were tents, people around the fire. They wore worn clothing, no shoes, their hair dark.
How should I do this? Sarid wondered. If they know about the village…they could attack it, should they be hostile. But if they don't…
She kept thinking, when she had an idea.
Creeping closer, she ducked behind trees to get closer, able to over hear them talking.
"Are you sure?" A man asked.
"Positive." A woman replied. "I know I smelled a human scent."
"Then we're at the right place." The man said. "From what I was told, the ruler of this place must die."
So…they are allied with the Shadow Man. Sarid thought. He wants me dead for some reason.
"When the moon is at peak fullness tonight, we will raid the village!" The man said, Sarid's eyes going wide. "We will kill the ruler of this land!"
"Here here!" Said a man, the rest of the group cheering.
This is bad. Sarid thought. I need to take care of this now.
She gripped her sword, and the wind changed, blowing towards the group, who fell silent.
"There's a human near us!" A woman yelled, Sarid getting stiff.
There goes the element of surprise.
She heard their footfall coming close to the tree, her back pressed against it.
"Come out, human!" The first man said, who she assumed was the leader.
Here we go.
She stepped out, dropping er hand from her sword's grip.
The people before her as she noted before were wearing the worn clothes and no shoes, their hair dark, wild and unkempt, their faces having a snarling look on them, as if they were stuck that way.
Their eyes went wide.
"You!" The lead man said.
"Me." Sarid said. "Why are all of you here?"
Instead of answering, he let out a deep growl, the rest doing the same.
"Our master demands your death!" The lead man said, Sarid blinking.
"The Shadow Man or his minion, Fenrir?" Sarid asked.
"What's it to you?" He growled. Sarid then noticed the necklace he wore. It was a light purple, in the shape of a crescent moon.
"From my understanding, Fenrir will enslave those in exchange for being able to become a werewolf."
"We are not slaves." He told her. "Our master helps us to be stronger."
"So you are doing this by choice?" Sarid asked.
"Yes."
"…"
Sarid gripped her sword.
"Wrong choice." She told him, drawing her sword. "I cannot allow you to stay on Terraria if you pose a threat to it."
"We will feast on your corpse!" The lead male said, grinning. He threw back his head and howled, Sarid stepping back into a stance.
They spoke as one:
"Our master, come to us!
Make ourselves as thus:
Big, strong and fast!
Though the moon is steadfast,
We need you now as we speak!
So let our loyal forms peak!"
They then began to change.
They grew slightly bigger, their legs making a horrible noise as they changed, becoming like a wolf's, their mouth and noses becoming snouts, ears going to the top of their heads and pointing upwards, fur sprouting from every inch of their skin, dark in color. Their hands changed, retaining the fingers but growing claws, and their teeth grew longer and sharper.
They were on all fours, hair standing on end and growling, their eyes red and spittle dripping from their teeth.
…Perhaps I should've done something while they were chanting.
The lead man, the biggest of them, ran at her. He jumped, claws ready and teeth bared.
Sarid stuck out the end of her sword, stabbing him in the chest. He fell limp, Sarid flinging him off and the rest of them charged. She let out a battle cry, charging toward them. Swinging her sword, she slit the throat of one, then stabbed another through the neck. One swatted at her with its claws, Sarid jumping back and slashing at a different one.
Pain erupted in her side, and she hit the ground, a great weight on her. She swung her sword, looking up and seeing one of them on her. It opened its maw, about to bite down on her when she stuck her sword in its jaw. Getting her feet between them, she kicked it off, and then did a back roll, getting onto her feet.
The one she had kicked off had blood dripping from its mouth, the others stalking out from behind it. It looked to grin.
The ground rushed up, Sarid doing a front fall, weight on her.
"Foolish human…" One growled, Sarid looking behind her to see one had her pinned. "Fight all you like, but this world belongs to Shadow Man!"
Idiots.
"Divinus-"
"ACK!"
The one she had injured suddenly went stiff and fell, a point coming from its heart.
It fell forward, all the werewolves looking back to see Hunter with a bow in hand, quiver full of arrows on his back. Beside him were Yutpan and Yasha, armed with bowie knives.
"More humans?!" One asked.
"Release Sarid and leave." Hunter said, knocking another arrow. "Or else."
"ATTACK!" One yelled, the pack surging toward them.
"DIVINUS HALITUS FAX!" Sarid yelled, Fire spewing from her maw. It shot out towards the werewolves, hitting their fur. It caught fire, the werewolves roaring in pain. The weight disappeared from her back, and she jumped up, looking back and seeing an arrow in its heart.
Looking back at the others, they were in a panic, trying to put out their fur. Hunter, Yutpan and Yasha made a mad dash toward Sarid, getting to her.
"Any ideas?" Yutpan asked.
Sarid looked around quickly, spotting a tall rock jutting up into the air, having a large, firm foundation.
"Hunter, do you have any melee weapons?" Sarid asked.
"Just my bow and these silver arrows." He told her.
"Yutpan, Yasha, your knives?"
"These are what we brought." Yutpan told her.
"They're also made from silver." Yasha told her.
"Alright, Hunter, I'm going to fly you up onto that rock – you pick them off while we battle them down here."
"Understood." Hunter told her, Sarid seeing the werewolves were regrouping.
"Let's go!" Sarid said, hugging Hunter and taking off with her wings. Flying up to the top of the rock, she put him on the top and then dove down to the ground, drawing her sword as she did a front roll, coming up ready. The werewolves charged, Sarid ready.
One jumped at her, she ducking and stabbing it in the stomach, and then flinging it back at its kin, hitting two of them. They pushed off their fallen comrade, one charging while the other stayed back. The one that charged Sarid side stepped and stabbed through the ribs, throwing it off her sword.
Looking back at the second, she saw it was studying her, down on all fours. It stalked, moving around her as if to circle. Sarid moved to the side, getting closer to it, when it started stalking to the other side, Sarid following it.
If it circles me, my back will be to the others.
"You're very clever." It growled. "I see why you've survived so long."
"…" Sarid merely stared at it, blank faced.
It lowered down more, slowly stalking towards her.
It stopped, staring at her.
"SARID!"
She rolled to the right, feeling something rush past her, and came up, seeing another one had tried to jump her. She charged, stabbing it through the back, then withdrew her sword and decapitated it. The one that had stalked her charged, Sarid drawing her Uzi and shooting it point-blank, right down its maw. It fell to the ground, limp.
Looking up, she saw there were five remaining. They were on all fours, backing away as Sarid, Yutpan and Yasha approached them, weapons ready. The werewolves' eyes darted between them, and one charged Sarid, she raising her sword and it swatted it away. Sarid used her other hand to grab it by the throat, its claws scratching against her armor. She slashed it across the stomach and pushed it back, making it stumble, and she then stabbed it through the neck.
She looked up, seeing the remaining four, their fur standing up. Two of them looked at each other, then turned away and started running. One was shot through the heart, the other in the back of the head.
Two remained, getting close together.
"…You have options." Sarid told them. "Run and die, or face us and die."
"You think you're better than us?" One growled. "All you do to your enemies is kill them."
"And?" Sarid asked. "They invade this place. I protect it. They seal their fate the moment they step on here with bad intentions."
"Oh?" The other growled. "And what of the ones following orders?"
Sarid's eyes widened slightly, her brows furrowing down.
"What of the ones who want to see their families again?" The first asked. "You can act a great as you want, but you're no better than us when it comes to slaughtering people!"
Sarid blinked, dropping her eyes.
"SARID!"
She looked up, one about to jump onto her when a knife implanted into its neck. It fell onto her, she able to catch it and throw it off, then other about to attack, though it stood stiffly. It fell suddenly, Yasha standing behind it with her knives in hand, two stab wounds on the back of the werewolf.
Yutpan went to the one that had tried to jump Sarid, pulling his knife from its neck.
"…" Sarid looked down again, looking at her bloodied sword.
…I…Am I better than them?
"Sarid?"
She looked up, Yasha standing before her.
"Are you alright?" She asked her.
"…" Sarid's eyes dimmed, and she looked down.
"…Don't let them get to you." Yasha told her, putting a hand on her shoulder, Sarid looking up at her. "They were using psychological combat. You've only killed to defend Terraria, there's nothing wrong with that."
"…" Sarid looked away. "…What about the ones who were forced to come here?"
Yasha furrowed her brows up with worry, then hugged her. Sarid stood a moment, then hugged her back. Yutpan watched them, then looked up at the rock to see Hunter was gone, coming around the base of it.
"How'd you get down?" He asked him.
"The back wasn't as steep." He told him, approaching him. "You and your sister are impressive fighters."
"Thank you." Yutpan told him. "But now we need to get back – everyone's still out on the ship."
"Right." Hunter nodded, they looking over at Sarid and Yasha, who were still hugging, and they went to them. "Sarid?"
"…Yes?" Sarid asked, lifting her head.
"The rest of the residents are out on Jack's fishing ship." He told her. "We need to get back so they can come back."
"Right." Sarid said, she and Yasha separating. "I'll come back later and inspect this area further."
"Right." Yutpan said. "Let's go."
Later…
The residents were filing off the fishing vessel, carrying packs.
"This was a good idea, Hunter." Sarid told him.
"The safety of my family comes first." He told her. Eve started down the plank, carrying Ella and followed by Butch, both of them relieved to see Hunter. Reaching the dock, they rushed over to him, he hugging them. Sarid smiled.
"Good to see you're alright, Hunter." Butch said as they stepped back, Hunter still holding Eve's hand.
"Yes." He told him. "Thank you for going and not staying."
"Like you said, you wanted me to watch out of Eve and Ella." He told him. Hunter smiled, then took Ella from Eve, cradling her.
"Da! Dada!" Ella cooed. He smiled at her, holding out his index finger, her tiny hand wrapping around it.
"Let's go home." Eve said, Hunter smiling and taking her hand, they joining the residents in going back to the settlement. Sarid smiled as she watched them going.
"Sarid!"
She looked, seeing Asher rushing down the gangplank, onto the dock and to her, they hugging.
"I take it you were worried." Sarid told him.
"Well yeah." He told her. "You were going up against werewolves."
"There there." She said, reaching up and patting the side of his face. He got and amused look, she smiling back at him.
"That's everyone, Sarid." Jack said, approaching them.
"Thank you." She told him, she and Asher separating. "I appreciate you doing what you did."
"Think nothing of it." He told her. "I'm glad you're alright."
"Thank you." Sarid told him, her brows then furrowing down. "But they got here somehow. I have to find their ship and inspect their camp."
"Right." Jack said with a nod. "Be careful."
Sarid nodded, feeling Asher's hands on her shoulders. Looking back at him, she saw he was worried.
"Don't worry." Sarid told him, putting one of her hands on his. "I'll be careful."
He nodded, though still looked worried. Stepping back, he gave her the room she needed to spread her wings, and she took off, flying back to the camp. The corpses were still there, bleeding and still. She looted them, finding coins and nothing else, though on the lead male, she spotted the amulet he wore, the pale purple crescent moon. Taking it, she looked at it as it dangled from her hand. From the look of it, it wasn't made from metal, but looked like polished stone.
She put it around her neck, then went back to looting.
When she finished, she went and inspected the camp, the tents poorly made from wood and hide. The fire in the center was out, meager belongings in bags. She gathered everything, pulling down the tents, leaving the wood and saving the hide, then took to the skies. She flew towards the coast, reaching the beach and looked up and down it, seeing nothing.
Hm…
Looking up and down again, she saw a cliff near the beach, flying toward it. Sure enough, there was a cave in the cliff side, Sarid flying into it. She landed on a rock, looking around. The light that made it into the cave showed small, single-mast boasts, floating idle in the water. Going onto them, she searched them and found nothing but empty cabins.
Well, might as well sink these.
She held out her hand.
"Divenus Fax!"
Blue fire shot from her hand, hitting the ships and catching on them, igniting the wood, rope and sails. She watched as they burned, slowly sinking down in to the waters, until they were completely submerged.
That's done.
She flew out of the cave and back to the village, the sun nearing the horizon. Landing in the center of the village, she stood and stretched, then looked around.
Well, the village is safe…
"You think you're better than us?"
Sarid stood, her eyes dimming.
…Am I any better?
She stood a moment, then looked around again, then went to the clinic. Entering, she stepped in and closed the door.
"Hannah?" She called.
"Yes?" She called back from her office. Sarid went to it, looking in and saw her filing away papers.
"Could I…talk to you?" Sarid asked.
"Of course." Hannah told her, setting aside the papers and looking at her.
"…" Sarid shifted some, then went and sat down, Hannah sitting beside her in the other chair. "…I…Am I good?"
"Good?"
"I mean…" Sarid started, hesitating, "…I've killed many to protect this place, especially in the invasions. Am I really any better than them, with me killing them…I…I honestly don't…feel…remorse? Even with the pirates, I was shaken after I killed the first, but other than that I moved on when I told myself they were trying attack the village."
"…Sarid." Hannah said, Sarid looking at her. "It does concern me that you don't feel remorse for killing, but you do have to understand: everything you've killed has been in defense. There's nothing wrong with that."
"But…what about the people just following orders?" Sarid asked. "The noble who came here, I did attack his guards, but…that was when they attacked me. All they were doing was following orders."
"Sarid, even they have the choice to follow orders." Hannah told her. "Granted, they'll get in trouble if they don't, but there are people not worth following. If they choose to do so anyway, that's on them."
"…I don't want to hurt innocent people." Sarid told her.
"No decent person does." Hannah told her. "…Sarid?"
Sarid looked at her.
"You have done nothing wrong, trying to defend the village." Hannah told her. "But Asher has spoken with me, and I share his concern at your 'I'll kill them all' mentality. If you are worried about this, give them an out. Tell them you won't hurt them if they leave in peace."
"…" Sarid nodded, though hugged herself.
"…Are you alright?"
"…Well…I just…" She sighed. "I don't know."
Hannah got a worried look.
"Is there something else you want to talk about?"
"…No." Sarid told her, standing. "Thank you for listening."
"If you ever want to talk more, just let me know." She told her.
"…Thank you." Sarid said, leaving. She went out of the clinic, out onto the darkening street, walking up to her castle and entering it, going to the kitchen. She made supper and ate, then went up and bathed, put on her pajamas, then laid down in bed.
She stared up a st the drapery above her bed, then sighed.
…I wonder if Commander Flint had these problems. She thought. …Maybe I should talk to Mr. Pip about all this tomorrow.
She sighed again, then rolled over, feeling her dog tags move, along with something else.
Hm?
She pulled at the chain, pulling out the dog tags, and the moon necklace.
Oh, I forgot about that. She thought. …Meh.
She let it fall, then laid her head back down. Her eyes closed, and she fell asleep.
The village was quiet and asleep, though Sarid, in her sleep, tossed and turned, moaning. Falling out of bed, she pushed herself up, her lips curling into a snarl, the moon pendent glowing.
Asher woke to the sound of distant howling, he sniffing. A yawn escaped him, and he sat up, grabbing his robe and tying it on, lighting the candle at his bedside.
Wolves… He thought, slipping on his slippers. Or a waking dream…
He yawned again, getting up and going into the bathroom. He came out after a moment, then heard another howl, closer. Getting a confused look, he stopped.
…For it to be that loud to get through the walls, it would have to be very close by…
Why would a wolf be in the village?
He went through the upper floor to the stairs, going down them and to onto of the windows, pushing back the curtain. There was nothing out in then moonlit road, though he noticed Reginald was also up, evident by the light pushing through the windows.
He must've heard it too.
Something moved.
Hm?
It had been in the shadow of the house, but he had seen something move. Going to the door, he opened the door and stepped outside, peering out into the dark.
"Hello?!"
He jumped some, then realized it had been Hunter.
"Mr. Hunter?!"
"Asher?!"
"Yes sir!"
"Do you know where that wolf is?!"
Must still be at his house.
"Yes sir! It's between Reginald's and the empty house across from me!"
"Alright!"
He stood in silence then, seeing the shape move again.
It was…big.
Hunter appeared, coming up the street in a robe and his hunting boots, bow and arrow in hand. He slowed, looking at the gap between the houses, then came to a stop. The shape moved, and he raised his bow, taking aim.
The shape suddenly jumped, Hunter missing and the shape was gone.
What?
THUD
Asher looked up at the empty house across the street from him, seeing a shape atop it.
He dropped his candle, the flame going out.
It was a werewolf.
It was not dark in color, but almost silvery in color, somewhat small. It threw its head back and howled, Asher staring in shock.
"Asher, get inside!" Hunter yelled to him. He turned to do so, when another thud reached his ears, he looking back.
Something hit him, making his fly forward, chest hitting the ground and a large, paw-hand on the floor next to him. He rolled over, seeing glowing, pale blue eyes staring back at him.
His breathing hitched, terror filling him. He lay completely still, thought he began to slightly shake as it stared at him.
"ASHER!"
The werewolf looked back, Asher scrambling out from under it, when something grabbed his robe and yanked him back, furry, strong arms holding him close to a body hard with muscle. He felt him move one way, then another, and he was back out in the moonlight, looking up at the werewolf. The warmth drained from his face, his eyes going wide.
"ASH!"
He looked, seeing Hannah on her porch, robe on and a syringe in hand.
"PUT HIM DOWN!"
That had been Reginald's voice, He turning head to see him out on his balcony, holding a minishark. Hunter had rushed out of the library, his bow at the ready and aimed.
The air around him rushed past, startling him and he grabbed onto the werewolf, realizing it had jumped, landing on top of his house.
It's taking me!
"HELP!" He yelled, the werewolf…setting him down gently?
Nevertheless, he scrambled up to run, when it grabbed his robe, pulling him back. He fell onto the slated roof, the werewolf putting a hand on either side of him. He stared up at it in terror, it watching him.
Its head lowered.
Asher squeezed his eyes shut, shaking.
Something warm and wet touched the side of his face, startling him, and he looked up at the werewolf, seeing it had sat back and was wagging its tail.
"…" Asher blinked, speechless.
It sat, panting, looking at him with excited eyes, tail still wagging. He slowly got up, it clamping its mouth shut, making him freeze. Something gleamed around its neck, in an oval-ish shape.
He looked it in the eye, its tail wagging again, then he reached out and took the shape, looking at it.
It was a dog tag, reading Forte, Sarid
"…" He looked up at it. "SARID?!"
She cocked her head to the side.
"Asher!" Hunter called, Asher going to the side of the roof and looking over, seeing Hunter, Hannah, Reginald and others who had come out, armed.
"Are you okay?!" Hannah asked.
"…Yeah." He said.
"Where's the werewolf?" Hunter asked.
"…Still up here."
"…WHAT?!" Everyone asked.
"I-It – I mean, she didn't hurt me!" He said.
"…She?" Hannah asked.
"It's Sarid!"
"…WHAT?!" Everyone asked.
"It has her dog tags on!"
"…" Everyone looked at each other, then back at him.
"H-here, let me just-"
Sarid suddenly scooped him up, then leapt, going from the roof to another one, then to the ground out in the woods, and put him onto her back. His arms were around her neck and he was about to slide off when she took off running, Asher holding on for dear life.
She came to a rock outcropping and stopped, Asher sliding off and stumbling to the ground, shaken from the events.
…What's happening?
Sarid appeared in his vision, he sitting up and looking at her.
"…What are we doing here?"
Sarid blinked, then licked his face, then his forehead, then right beside his nose.
His eyes were squeezed shut, he leaning away when Sarid hugged him, still licking his face. He thought to say something, but decided against it for good reasons. Finally, she stopped, and he looked at her. She stared at him, tail wagging. It was then he noticed the gauze around her chest and the pajama bottoms ripped at the end of the pant legs.
As well, there was the crescent moon necklace.
His eyes went wide, recognizing it from one of his books. He reached out to take it, when Sarid suddenly pinned him. He felt her licking his face again, though he felt around her neck, finding the pendant.
He yanked it hard as he could, hearing a snap.
The weight on top of him lessened, the fur turning to smooth skin, the licking stopped and he felt human hands on his shoulder and at the base of his skull, though he still felt something on his face.
He opened his eyes, seeing part of Sarid's face, eyes closed and kissing his face. Heat rushed to his face, and he put his hands on Sarid's upper arms.
"S-Sarid?" He asked.
"Hm?" She hummed, nuzzling him.
"…C-could…I…Could I please have some space?"
"Hm?" She hummed again, looking at him, faintly smiling.
She seemed to process something, and her smile vanished.
A screech escaped her, she throwing herself off of Asher, onto the ground. He sat up, Sarid's eyes wide, lips parted and blushing.
"…Are…Are you okay?" Asher asked.
"…What…happened?" She asked.
"Well, you…turned into a werewolf." He told her.
"…What?!" She asked. "How?!"
He held up the moon pendent.
"This allows someone to turn into a werewolf without binding their soul to Fenrir." He told her. "It works under the full moon."
"…" Sarid blinked rapidly, then smacked a hand to her head. "I forgot I had put that on."
"…Uh…" Asher sounded, Sarid looking at him.
"Are you alright?" She asked, getting alarmed. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No, it's just…" He looked away, untied his robe and slipped it off, holding it out to her.
"…Oh." She sounded, taking it. She pulled it on and tied it, then stood. "Thank you."
"It's…no trouble." He told her, standing. Looking back at her, she was looking down. "Are you alright?"
"…I caused a panic, didn't I?" She asked. "I don't remember anything else…"
"We didn't know it was you." He told her.
"…" Sarid looked up at him.
"…" He shifted awkwardly. "You uh…wanna go back home?"
"Yes." She told him. They started back, coming to the village after a bit, finding everyone was gathered in the square.
"Ash!" Hannah said, running to him and hugging him. The others gathered around them, still armed.
"What happened?!" Mercer asked.
"I turned into a werewolf." Sarid told him.
"Did they infect you?" Mortimer asked, alarmed.
"No sir, I was wearing this necklace." Sarid said, taking it from Asher's hand and holding it up. "Asher said it can turn people into them without binding the soul."
"Oh…" He said, everyone calming.
"So why'd you kidnap Asher?" Sparkle asked.
"I…honestly don't know." Sarid said. "I barely remember anything."
"…Are you suuu-"
"GOODNIGHT!" Sarid said, angrily walking back toward her castle, going into it, up into the living wing, watching from a window as everyone went back home. Going to her bed room, she fell onto her bed, suddenly exhausted, and fell asleep.
She woke to the smell of clean clothes and old books, making her smile and reach out, looking for Asher, though she found nothing. Opening her eyes, she lifted her head and looked around, seeing she was alone.
…Then why…?
She sat up, rubbing her eye, when she noted he sleeve was longer than she remembered. Looking at it, she saw it was a navy, and fluffy.
…Why…OH! Right! Last night…I didn't return his robe…
She sat for a moment, then tugged it up to her nose and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and finding a strange comfort in the scent. Laying down, she stared at the drapery above her bed, thinking.
…It's strange, with Asher…I feel like I can be vulnerable with him. But…differently. I was able to be vulnerable with Mr. Pip and Commander Flint, but…this is different. It feel like it extends beyond an emotional or mental kind. Closeness.
She laid there for a time, then got up and got dressed for the day, getting Asher's robe and going out to the village. After returning Asher's robe, she went to the mines, and got to work.
A few days passed, the mounds of snow melting and the first day of spring was on its way.
"SARID!"
Sarid stopped, looking up to see Sparkle sticking her head out her window. It was sundown, Sarid having finished in the mines.
"Yes, Sparkle?" Sarid asked.
"We've got to come up with a celebration for the first day of spring!" Sparkle told her, then ducking back into the house. A moment later, her door opened and she came out onto the porch, excited.
"What do you propose we do?" Sarid asked.
"We have it outdoors during the day!" Sparkle told her. "We could have a potluck, hang lanterns like usual, have some outdoor games for people…"
"That sounds nice." Sarid told her, smiling. "I need to put all of the materials I got away. I'll be at your home first thing in the morning."
"Great!" Sparkle told her. Sarid nodded, then went on, returning to her castle and going to the work wing, then the storage room. She put away all of the items she had gotten in the mines, then went up to bed. Getting up the next morning, she dressed herself and went to Sparkle's house, knocking and entering it.
"Sparkle?" Sarid called.
"Up here!" Sparkle called back, Sarid closing the door behind her and going up to the second level, entering the kitchen. Sparkle stood at the sink rinsing off a dish, smiling at Sarid over her shoulder. "Morning, Sarid!"
"Good morning." Sarid told her. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yep!" She chirped. "You?"
"Yes." Sarid told her, Sparkle turning off the sink and putting the dish on a rack to dry then went and sat at her table, Sarid joining her.
"So, I got an idea for a game!" Sparkle told her.
"Oh really?" Sarid asked.
"Yeah! I played it Nedews once!" She told her. "You have a board with holes in it and you stand at a distance, then you try to throw small sacks through the holes!"
"…Hm…" Sarid hummed, thinking.
"…What?"
"I know that would be simple to make…" Sarid told her. "Any others? I'm…afraid this isn't my strong suit."
"Hmmm…" Sparkle hummed, thinking. "…What if we had a smashing game?"
"…A what?" Sarid asked.
"We get a big fruit or vegetable, blindfold someone, then they have to smash it!"
"…That might work for melons during the summer, but what would we smash now?"
"…Fair point." Sparkle said, slumping.
"…OH!"
"Hm?"
"What if…" Sarid started, thinking, "I recall reading in a culture book that there's a country that has colorful, paper objects filled with sweets. You strike it and try to break it open to get them out."
"…Hey!" Sparkle said, getting excited. "That'd be great!"
"We could…have it look like something?"
"…How about a strawberry?"
"That sounds good."
"Great!" Sparkle said. "I'll get with Adria to make it, and…where do we get the sweets?"
"…Hm…" Sarid hummed. "…I could speak with Mr. Hans. He might be able to make something…"
"Like what?"
"…What if instead of smashing it open to get the sweets, who ever breaks it open gets them?" Sarid asked. "Then we wouldn't have to worry about that."
"…Alright!" Sparkle cheered. "That's two things, now what?"
"…I have no idea." Sarid told her. "…What about another raffle?"
"Hm…" Sparkle hummed. "Yeah, we- OH! What if we had a bake off?!"
"A what?"
"People enter a baked good and who ever makes the best one wins!" Sparkle told her.
"…That sounds rather nice." Sarid told her.
"Alright! I'll make up flyers for it!" Sparkle told her. "I gotta go get with Leo for it – see ya!" She told her, rushing out of the kitchen. Sarid smiled, letting herself out and going back outside, she walked onto the road, stretching.
That went well. She thought. …Maybe I should make something. It sound like fun.
"Sarid!"
She looked, seeing Ada, Xanos and Autumn running over to her.
"Hello!" Sarid called with a wave.
"Sarid, ya gotta come see what we made!" Ada told her.
"Yeah, it's great!" Autumn told her.
"We can use it at the Spring festival!" Xanos cheered.
"Very well." Sarid said with a smile, they leading her to Ada's house. She followed them in, seeing several bulky objects covered by sheets worktables having blueprints and random little items on them along with tools, and the three of them stopped around one of the bulky objects.
"Introducing…" Ada said, taking hold of the sheet. "The first, the one, the ONLY…"
Fwip!
"SING MACHINE!" Ada said.
It bared some resemblance to Sparkle's DJ boot, having large speakers, though this also had a microphone and some flat, black square, along with a light fixture above it.
"Amazing." Sarid said. "What is it?"
"It's a Sing Machine!" Ada told her.
"When powered," Autumn started, "it plays music, displaying the lyrics to it on this screen, and you can sing along to it!"
"…Oh?" Sarid asked. "I…huh."
"…Do you not know what to say?" Xanos asked.
"Not really, no." Sarid sighed. "But that is amazing."
"Thanks!" Autumn told her. "We've been working on it for awhile."
"I'm glad to see your work has paid off." Sarid told them. "If you like, I can tell Sparkle about it for the festival."
"Oh no, we wanna surprise her!" Ada told her.
"Very well." Sarid said, nodding. "You have my secrecy."
"Thanks!" Xanos told her. She smiled more.
"Well, I have to get to work on some other things we plan on doing." Sarid told them. "Good day."
"Bye!" They cheered, Sarid leaving. She went down the street to where Hans and Eden were, going up the porch and finding the downstairs was lit, to her surprise. Going in, the bell rang and the sweet scent of baked goods filled the air, Sarid smiling at it.
"Gute morgen, Sarid!" Hans said from behind the counter, kneading dough. "Vhat can ich do for ihr?"
"Uh…"
"Sorry." He said, clearing his throat. "Vhat can I do for you?"
"Oh. Sorry." Sarid said, shifting awkwardly. "I was wondering if you could make some baked goods for the spring festival coming up."
"Oh?" He asked. "Vhat for?"
"We're going to have a paper object that hangs." She told him, he looking confused. "People take turns hitting it, then whoever breaks it gets the baked goods."
"Ah! Ja, Ja, ich know vhat du ein talking about." He told her, putting the dough onto a peel. "Ja, Ich vill do it. Eden has alvays vanted to try one."
"Thank you." Sarid told him as he put the dough into the oven. "I appreciate it."
"Danke." He told her.
"Oh, Sparkle, she also suggested a bake off."
"Bake off?" Hans asked.
"Yes sir." She told him. "Are you interested?"
"Hm…" He hummed. "Ich won many back home…but ich vould like to try new recipe."
"Very well, we'll arrage everything. Thank you again, and have a good day."
"Guten tag, Sarid." He told her. She left, going out onto the road and went to the mines. She spent the day mining then went back to her castle, getting the wood to make the holes for the sack throwing game. The next morning she kept working on it, making a board with holes, that had a short stand. She got small amounts of sand, then went to Pip's shop, he and Taylor helping make the sacks for throwing. When they finished, Sarid paid them and went across the street to Asher's library.
"Asher?" Sarid called, entering into it. He looked up from the book he was reading at the center table, smiling at her.
"Sarid!" He said, getting up. She rushed over to him and hugged him, he hugging her back. They stood for a moment, then stepped back, looking at each other. "How are you?"
"I'm fine. And you?"
"Fine." He told her, they holding hands. "Anything I can do for you?"
"I was wondering if you have any books for baking." She told him.
"For the bake off?" He asked, slightly surprised. "You bake?"
"Oh, no. I just thought it'd be fun." She told him.
"That's great!" Asher said, tugging her towards one of the book shelves. "Here, what do you wanna make? I have books for cakes, pies, tarts, all kinds of good things!"
"Hm…" Sarid hummed, looking at the books. "I…I recall Mr. Burns making a wonderful thing called a trifle."
"Oh, a trifle?" Asher asked. Reaching out, he pulled one of the books off the shelf, handing it to her. "This has all kinds."
"Thank you." Sarid told him, looking through it. She came to one picture, stopping and looking it over. "I'll try this one."
"Alright." He said, looking at it. "Anything else I can do for you?"
"No, this should be fine." She told him. "Thank you."
"Alright." He told her, she leaning up and kissing his cheek. She felt heat rush to his face, and she looked at him, seeing he was blushing.
Hng…!
It was such a charming look. Leaning up again, she kissed him again, then nuzzling him. She felt his arms around her, one on her back and the other holding her head, feeling his breath brush over her ear. She smiled, moving closer to him, and he held her.
"ASHER!"
They heard the door slam open, and they jumped away from each other, heat rushing to their faces.
"Asher?"
SPARKLE, HOW DARE YOU. Sarid thought as Asher rushed around her, stepping out to where she could see him.
"Yeah, Sparkle?" He asked.
"I wanted to…why is your face red?"
"…" He was silent, Sarid panicking.
If she finds out I'm here, she'll…do something. Squeal, maybe.
"I…got frustrated." Asher said. "And rubbed my face."
"…Uh-huh…" Sparkle sounded. "Anyways! Are you going to enter the bake off?"
"Oh yeah!" He told her.
"Great!" She said. "By the way, I wanted to borrow a book of baked good recipes."
"…Oh." Asher said, Sarid feeling her face pale.
Oh no…
"…Do you…have any?"
"…Yes?"
"…Okay, where are they?"
"…Down here?" He said, Sarid looking around.
"Okay!" Sparkle said, Sarid hearing her foot fall.
Silently, Sarid went back behind the next bookshelf, out of sight. She listened as Sparkle pulled out a book, then heard the pages flipping. It was put back, and then another was picked, pages flipping.
"This one's good!" She said.
"Alright, let me just record that." Asher said. Sarid heard them walking, then silence. "Thank you."
"No, thank you!" Sparkle told him, Sarid hearing footsteps, which then stopped. "By the way…I saw you and Sarid leave the Feast of Valentine early."
"…And?" Asher asked, nervous.
Oh no…
"Sooo, where did you two go?"
"…Outside."
"…And?"
"…Outside."
"…Did…anything happen?"
"…Nooo…?"
"…Are you lying?" She asked. Sarid's mind started racing, when an idea popped into her head. Silently, she rushed over to the wall and went along it, then getting to the door.
"Asher?" Sarid called. He and Sparkle appeared to where she could see them, as the book shelves blocked her view.
"Oh, Sarid!" Sparkle said. "I was just telling Asher about the bake off."
Asher looked at her, though Sarid knew questioning it would lead to Sparkle repeating her questions.
"Yes, I told Mr. Hans about it." Sarid told her.
"Great!" She told them. "I'll see you guys!"
"Bye." Asher told her.
"Good day." Sarid said as she left. The door closed, and they stood a moment, Sarid letting out a sigh of relief.
"Quick thinking, Sarid." Asher told her.
"Thank you." She told him.
They stood, silent.
"…So…" Sarid started, Asher looking at her. "…I'll be seeing you."
"R-right…have a good day." He told her, she leaving and going down to Raven and Robin's store. Opening the door, the bell jingled, Robin looking up at her from the counter.
"Hello, Sarid." She told her. "How are you?"
"Fine, you?"
"Doing well." She told her. "Do you know about the bake off?"
"Oh yeah, Raven and I are entering." She told her. "Are you?"
"Yes."
"That's good." She told her. "Feel free to get anything you need. Take it as our way of repaying you."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"…Well, thank you!" Sarid told her. She got what she needed, Robin putting it into a small, open-top crate for her.
"Here you are." She said, pushing it across the counter.
"Thank you." Sarid told her. She heard the door, looking to see Raven coming in.
"Hey, I just got the next shipment from the Greenhorn brothers." She said, looking at a list. Looking up, she saw Sarid. "Oh, hey."
"Hello." Sarid told her. "Are both of you settling in alright?"
"Yeah, though that Crow is…strange." Raven told her. "Do all of them have a stutter?"
"No, just Rooster." Sarid told her. "Sparrow is mute, then Crow can speak just fine."
"Oh really?" She asked, raising a brow.
"From my interactions." Sarid told her.
"Then why-"
Robin suddenly burst into laughter, Sarid and Raven looking at her. She kept laughing, to the point tears were rolling down her face.
"…Rob?" Raven asked. She kept laughing.
"…Well, I need to get started." Sarid told her. "Good day."
"See ya." She told her, Sarid leaving. Getting back to the castle, she started working on the trifle, baking a sheet cake and making up the cream, then getting out the cake and rolling it. As it cooled, she cut up strawberries and then unrolled the cake, putting jam on it, then re-rolled, and cut it up.
She got a large bowl with a flat bottom, layering cake, cream, then fruit, and repeating until it was full. Sarid put it in the fridge, then cleaned up and made lunch. After eating, she cleaned up again, then went out of the castle, looking at the village.
…I've been here almost a year…How much has changed.
She smiled.
…You know what? I'm going to relax. I work so much…I'm just going to lounge and read.
She went back up to her room, laid out on the sofa before the fireplace and read the book Commander Flint had given her, Manifest Destiny. Time passed, she going to the tavern and eating supper, talking, listening and laughing along with everyone else, then went for a walk on one of the trails, returning home for the night afterwards.
After a nice bath, she put on her pajamas and went to bed, quickly falling asleep.
She opened her eyes, seeing green leaves above her. Warm sunlight reached through them as they rustled in a pleasant breeze, the air smelling faintly of a sweet smell. Sitting up, she saw the village, she looking down upon it from where she was, sitting on a blanket. There was a pair of picnic baskets on it, open. There was a canteen with lemon aid, strawberry pastries on a plate, deviled eggs and sandwiches.
Something touched her hand, she looking over to see Asher, looking more mature. He held her hand, Sarid smiling at him, and he smiled back. They moved closer to each other, nuzzling their heads together.
"Sarid?" Asher asked, she looking at him.
"Yes?"
"…" He took a breath. "I…I have something to ask."
"Yes?"
"…" He shifted to face her. "Sarid…"
KA-KROOM
Sarid shot up in bed, looking out the window to see it was pelting rain.
"…SERIOUSLY?!" She asked. "I was in the middle of a good dream!"
Thunder rumbled.
"…" Sarid sighed, flopping onto her back, head hitting the pillow.
She fully processed what she had dreamed, her eyes going wide.
Wait, was he…?
...
Heat rushed to her face, Sarid putting her hands over her mouth. She screamed internally, curling up on her side.
Ah, I can't wait for that day!
She grinned, hugging herself.
I'm so happy…
After some time, she fell back asleep.
She woke up at dawn, rays of light streaming through the windows. Getting up, she got dressed and went down to get breakfast. After eating and cleaning up, she went out to the dock and sat, expecting Sinbad. Humming to herself, she saw a ship on the horizon, pulling out her binoculars.
It wasn't the Royal Paranjay.
Hm?
Looking up at the flag, she saw it was from Realo.
Oh joy.
She stood, watching as it neared, coming up along the dock, throwing down ropes to get the mooring posts. Sarid walked back toward the beach, standing at the end of the dock as the gangplank came down and a man walked down, wearing a crown.
Sarid steeled herself.
Troops came down, armed with swords, axes or spears.
"Forte!" The crowned man said. "I am Hanno Kanmi, King of Realo!"
"I know." Sarid told him.
"…" Looked at her, then regained his front. "You have committed a crime in killing Nobleman Yehomilk, and harboring his son's killer!"
"And?"
"I am here to right this wrong!"
"…Tell me something." Sarid told him. "Was that man worth all of this?"
"If I let you go unpunished, then I will be looked down upon!" He told her, she blinking.
"…Really?" She asked. "You're doing this out of petty pride?"
"It is not!" He told her. "It is justice!"
"For two horrible, odious men who were going to force an innocent woman into marriage?"
"Marriage is marriage!"
"No, what they were doing would've been enslavement! She'd practically be a prisoner!"
"What do you know?!
"I know what they were doing was wrong." Sarid told him. "And what you're doing is wrong. What happened, is happened because of lack of discipline. Had you kept Yehomilk in line, and he had kept his son in line, none of this would've happened!"
"Are you questioning my authority?!"
"No, but I do question how well you use it." She told him. He got an offended look.
"How dare you!" He yelled, grabbing the hilt of his sword. "I will see to it that you pay for your crimes!"
His soldiers drew their weapons.
"You think you're better than us?"
Sarid blinked, taking her hand off her sword.
"This battle is between you and I. Leave your soldiers be." She told him, he looking flabbergasted.
"You expect me to fight you without my men?!"
"Yes." Sarid told him. "They have no reason to go along with petty revenge. Let them return home."
"…Men!" Kanmi yelled, the men getting ready.
Sarid blinked.
"Ready…"
"…" Sarid closed her eyes, thinking of the innocent families.
"And-"
She opened her eyes, her eyes glowing light blue.
"Planto sphaera cira basileus."
A blue orb appeared in her hands and grew, surrounding her and Kanmi, then stopped.
"…What…what is this?!"
Sarid's glowing stopped, and she drew her sword.
"As I said, this is between you and I." She told him. "Now I have ensured it."
"…This isn't fair!"
"How?" Sarid asked.
"…W-well…"
"Or are you that cowardly?"
"…" He raised his sword, though there was fear in his eyes.
Sarid charged, letting out a battle cry. Kanmi charged, raising his sword and tried to bring it down, Sarid blocking it with her shield, then hitting him in the ribs with her sword. He fell down to the side, his crown falling off his head, onto the sand. He looked up at her, fear in his eyes as she stood over him.
"…You are a pitiful excuse for a king." Sarid told him. "You are a petty coward who would send men to die for him rather than face your own choices."
She stuck her sword through the opening in the crown, lifting it up and taking it.
"You do not deserve this crown, your title, or your 'authority'. I'll be keeping this, and you may return to your country ashamed."
"…" He stared up at her, still afraid.
"Summoveo." She said, the orb dispersing. He jumped up and ran to his men, standing before them.
"Get her!"
"…" The men hesitated.
"Well?!" He asked. "Get her!"
"Is he worth dying for?" Sarid asked.
"…"
One of the men stepped forward.
Sarid stared at him, he raising his sword.
He dropped it, the sword clanging against the wooden dock.
The others stood for a moment, then dropped their weapons, Kanmi staring at them.
"What's wrong with all of you?!" He asked.
"She's right." One of the men said. "You are not worth dying for."
"…I…TREASON!" He yelled. "I'll behead all of you! You'll regre-"
Sarid hit him over the head with the flat of her blade, knocking him out.
He fell onto the dock, laying still.
"…Well." Sarid said. "Feel free to do what you wish with him."
"You won't kill him?" One of the guards asked.
"If I did, wouldn't someone else come crying revenge?" She asked.
"No, I doubt it." Another man said. "He's much like Julo's king. We'd like a new king, and he currently has no heir."
"…No man is above the law." Sarid told them. "If you wish, I will kill him and you may take the news back and crown a new king."
"…" They looked at each other.
"No, it's as you said." One of them told her. "No man is above the law. We will take him back and put him on trial for his abuse of power."
"Are you sure?" Sarid asked. "If he escapes justice, he will go after you."
"We'll worry about that." He told her. "But thank you."
"…Very well." Sarid said. "Safe travels."
They nodded, then picked up their weapons and Kanmi, going back onto their ship. She watched as they took up the gangplank and sailed off, passing by another ship and they sailed out of the bay. Taking out her binoculars she looked through them, seeing it was the Royal Paranjay.
Good.
She sat back down at the end of the dock, waiting as the ship sailed up to the dock, a figure waving at her.
"SARID!"
"Commander!" She yelled, jumping up and running to where the gangplank would come down. The ship came up alongside the dock, the lines getting thrown down to the mooring posts, the gangplank coming down and Flint rushing down. They hugged each other tightly, Sarid's face in his shoulder.
"It's so good to see you." He told her.
"It's good to see you too, Commander." Sarid told him. They stepped back, looking at each other.
"I've missed you a great deal since you left." He told her, taking her head in his hand. "But I'm glad you're doing so well here."
She smiled.
"I'm happy."
"…" His eyes softened, and he hugged her again. "That's wonderful."
They stood hugging for a moment, then stepped back again.
"Ahoy, lassie!" Sinbad greeted, coming down the gangplank. "Good t' see ya again."
"Hello again, Captain." Sarid told him. "How was your trip?"
"Smooth as silk!" He told her.
"That's good." She told him. "All of you arrived just in time. We're celebrating the arrival of spring later today."
"That sounds wonderful!" Flint told her.
"We'd be honored t' join ya." Sinbad told her. She smiled.
Later…
"HIYA!"
Sarid lunged, Flint dodging her practice sword, hitting his against hers. She turned it into a roll, coming up and readying herself, Flint ready to strike. They wore padding, Tyler off to the side with Eve, who held Ella.
Flint swung his sword, Sarid parrying, then stepped back and swung around, Flint stumbling forward and she lightly tapped her sword across his back.
"Dead." Sarid said.
"Good, very good!" Flint praised, coming up, panting.
"That was so cool!" Tyler cheered.
"Thank you, Tyler." Sarid told him, Flint taking off the helmet.
"I don't believe I've met you, young man." Flint told him.
"I'm Tyler!" He told Flint.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Flint told him. "I'm Commander Flint."
"Commander?" He asked, his eyes going wide. "Wow, you're almost a general!"
"That's right."
"Are – are you gonna become a general?"
"Ha ha, no, I'm afraid not." Flint laughed. "I'm retired from the official army, now I just run the military school."
"Wow…" Tyler said, Eve looking down at him and smiling. "Can you show me how to do what Ms. Sarid did?"
"Well, swords are a little big for you." Flint told him. "How about I show you some hand-to-hand instead?"
"Okay!" Tyler said, rushing over.
"Now, you want to have a good stance." Flint told him, getting into a fighting stance. "One foot should be back, but not right behind the other in a line, otherwise you'll be off-balance.
Tyler mimicked him, holding his arms up, his hands fists.
"Oh no, don't put your thumb in your fist." Flint told him, kneeling down and fixing his hand. "If you do that, you could break it. Now, when you punch, you want to put your hips into it by twisting, like this."
He punched the air, turning at the hips.
"That way there's more power behind it."
"Yes sir!" Tyler said, punching the air as well.
"Good. But don't extend your arm all the way – that can lead to injury." Flint told him, bending his elbow a bit.
Sarid smiled as he kept showing Tyler how to fight, Sarid walking over to Eve.
"How are you?" She asked.
"Fine, thank you." Eve told her. "Hunter's been more on edge since the incident with the werewolves, but he'll relax after a bit."
"That's good." Sarid said. "Are you entering the bake off?"
"Oh yes, I'm entering one of my honey cakes."
"That's good." Sarid told her.
"Are you entering?"
"Oh yes, I made a trifle yesterday."
"You're entering a bake off?" Flint asked, surprised.
"Yes sir." Sarid told him.
"…" He slinked, amazed. "…You really have come a long way."
Sarid smiled.
"Sarid!"
She looked, seeing Sparkle rushing up.
"Oh, hello Sparkle." Sarid told her.
"It's time to decorate!" Sparkle cheered. "Can you do the lanterns?"
"Of course." Sarid told her, removing her practice helm. "Let me just get the practice armor off and I'll start on that."
"Great!" Sparkle said, then rushing back toward the village.
"Well, I need to tend to that." Sarid told Eve. "It was nice speaking with you."
"You too, Sarid." Eve told her. Sarid went to the racks that held the practice weapons, opening a chest that had the padded armor. After putting all of it away, she pulled on her vest and cloak, then went down to the village. The lanterns were hung from the balconies, stretching across to the other sides of the road, finishing after about a half hour. When she did, she went back to the castle and took a quick shower, then put on clean clothes and put on her crown, put on her cloak and went and got the trifle, then left the castle.
Arriving in the square, she was greeted warmly, making her smile.
"Well! You really have improved!"
Looking, she saw Doc.
"Doc?" She asked. "I didn't see you…"
"I was asleep when we arrived." He told her, chuckling. "It's good to see you doing well, girlie."
"…" She smiled. "It's good to be doing good."
He smiled.
"Ah, this is the trifle?" Flint asked, walking over.
"Yes sir."
"It looks good!"
"Looking and tasting are two different things." She told him.
"Just depends on the recipe," Flint started, "and your ability to follow it."
Sarid laughed, Flint patting her one the back and smiling. She went and put it on the table for the bake off, seeing the other entries: Eve's honey cake, a cherry pie, confetti cake, a plate of pastries, chocolate cake, and her trifle. Hands touched her shoulders, she turning to see Asher. Smiling, she hugged him, her hugging her back.
"Your entry looks good." He told her.
"Thank you." She told him. "Hopefully the recipe is good."
"You dare question the quality of my books?" He asked her.
"I expect you to have only the highest quality books available!" She told him in a snooty tone.
"What is the highest quality isn't available?"
"…Well, I'm in trouble then." She said, making him laugh.
The festivities proceeded.
They started with the bake off, everyone enjoying the taste of the entries, Eve's honey cake winning. Hans asked her for the recipe, though she politely turned him down, as it was a family secret. The Sing Machine was unveiled, Sparkle over joyed and starry-eyed at it. People took turns singing – some better than others – though Taylor showed to have an amazing voice. People ate as they mingled, enjoying the food from the potluck.
Sarid watched as Mortimer, Pip, Flint, Doc and Merlyn laughed with each other – something about a place called Ungar – Tyler and Eden ran around playing with each other, Eve and Taylor talked, Hunter held Ella as he spoke with the Greenhorn brothers and Raven and Robin, Autumn, Xanos and Ada were speaking with Faye, Leo and Sparkle were goofing around, telling jokes and making silly faces, Danel and Esmeralda dancing. Adria and Valria were dancing as well, Ted manning the outdoor bar, where Mercer was drinking a sarsaparilla with Reginald.
A new song came on, Sarid looking over at Asher. He looked at her, they making eye contact. Sarid glanced over at where people were dancing, and he smiled, blushing some. They went to the area, Asher taking her hand and they danced, not slowly but still together.
"Just think…" Doc said, watching them dance. "It seems like yesterday I was holding Ash as a toddler."
"It seems like yesterday Sarid just showed up at the school." Flint said, smiling at the scene. "How they've grown."
"Yes…" Pip said. "I still remember sitting at a tiny table, having a tea party with Sarid."
"I remember putting on little light shows for her." Merlyn laughed.
"When Mercer was a boy, he always wanted to hear stories of great adventure." Mortimer said. "I remember reading him to sleep…He always loved it so…"
They smiled, enjoying the memories of the past and the present they had.
Sarid still danced with Asher, though she knew she was bad at dancing. Though, she did find she didn't care at the moment, and instead, just took both of Asher's hands, both of them doing a goofy dance to the music.
These are the best days of my life. Sarid thought. I am surrounded by loved ones, the village is alive and healthy, I am loved, and I am happy.
I'm so happy, and so loved.
She pulled at Asher hand's hugging him tightly and he hugged her back, Sarid inhaling his scent.
KRSH!
Everyone stopped, looking over at the bar, Reginald staring with wide eyes up the north road, his glass lying in shards on the bar top. Sparkle turned the music off, and everyone looked, seeing a single man.
His long hair was grey with dark red strands, beard the same and horribly unkempt. He wore poorly made rags from animal hide, a tree limb in his hand to help him walk.
He got to the edge of the square, lifting his head, showing green eyes.
Sarid felt her heart sink and the warmth drain from her face.
"…"
Everyone stood silent, Merlyn and Pip coming forward.
"…"
"Artie?" Merlyn asked.
"…Merlyn? Pip?" The man asked in a horse voice.
"Yes, it's us, King Arthur." Pip said. He blinked, then looked past them, seeing Sarid.
"…Sarid…!"
A smile crossed his face, walking past Pip and Merlyn.
"Sarid!" He said.
"…" Sarid stared, wide-eyed and feeling cold.
"It's me, it's father!"
AN – I'm just gonna say this: Pinkpony, Gizmo, Y'ALL CALLED IT!
Dr. Potato: Thank you! :D
Gizmo Gear: I'm glad to see you! I was getting worried. But who knows about Sarid?
Gabrote42: Thank you so much! Your English was very good, actually.
Pinkpony4: I'm sorry about the bullies. : ( In my experience, it really is best to just ignore them. With the whole "just kiss" thing, it's just…obvious they like each other. To the point it was painful not to see them together. And they are, very much so! Tyler's a precious boy.
HECK YEAH.
The "kill everyone" has been addressed as of this chapter.
Yeeaah, they're big shippers. Though floating is actually very easy for me. You just…relax.
Huh. Never heard that song before…And yeah, I write like I've been love. But NOPE, I've never even been on a date. Or had a first kiss. People thought I was weird in high school, but that was fine, there were no good catches there anyway. :P
And yes, the kiss!
Arthur has been addressed.
That sounds like a bad glitch…As for the whole miscommunication thing, I just…HATE IT SO MUCH. It's really over done for ~drama~ when it's SO easy to avoid. Then the whole Yehomilk has been settled, and…then there's Lance.
As for the names, thank you. And yeah, that battle sounds cool. :0
