I'm drowning, choking on my own blood.

I can feel the cold creeping up me, starting at my legs and moving up. I can feel myself dying. The rest of me is alight in agonising pain.

I think I'm screaming. I can't tell.

I wake to the sound of someone crying.

For several moments I'm blinded by panic, my body frozen between getting away or curling up and hiding.

Before I can do either, I'm gently embraced. Surrounded by my mother's arms like this, I begin to calm down; the tension and terror slowly leeching out.

She continues to stroke my hair gently until my heaving sobs and whimpers peter out.

Fuck. Fuck!

This was going to be a thing now, wasn't it?

Sure, I'd love the occasional terror-inducing nightmare, brain. Thanks for that!

Fuck...

I lean my weight against Eris, close my eyes and just let the waves of comfort from her roll over me. Slowly, my body untenses and my heart rate slows; and not once does she stop holding me or stroking my hair.

A few minutes later, I look up at her. "I-" My voice cracks slightly. "I am ok now. Thank you… M-mum."

She just gives me a sad smile. "Mmm. It is ok, little one. I will always be here when you need me."

She places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I lean back against her and look away, trying to hide the hot flush spreading across my face.

Come on, not right now…

Don't do this to me, brain. Please.

I manage to get my blushing under control quickly enough. And here I had been hoping that my little revelation yesterday might have solved this.

Eris pats my side. "Up we get, Nilas. The garden is not going to tend to itself."

I glance at Eris in confusion when, instead of moving into the apothecary she leads us back into the main room of the house.

Catching sight of my expression, she grins. "You have not forgotten that I was going to teach you about evolution, have you?"

Oh. Oh yeah. Whoops. "Eh heh. Uh, maybe?"

She just snorts in amusement, running her hand through my hair. It had been getting longer already, surprisingly. It already sat just below my ears.

If this rate of growth kept up, I would have my old hair length back before too long. I wouldn't mind that; I always did enjoy having long hair more than short hair.

We sat down opposite each other on the floor. Me with my legs out to one side and my hands resting in my 'lap', while Eris ran her hands idly down her waist-long braid, deep in thought.

"I believe it would be best to start with the story of the Gods and how our world came to be. It is a story every young foal learns after all."

I watch and she seems to go over something in her head, before she nods slightly to herself. "A very, very long time ago before anything walked this land, there were the ones we call Gods. Great entities that held sway over every aspect of our world; from the metal deep beneath the earth, to the sky itself. The Gods were numerous, and as unique and different as the things they held domain over."

Oh, wow. They never had this in the original story. I wonder how literal this creation myth is, since this world actually knows for certain their Gods exist. They could have told people the story directly. Then again, I doubt such a tale would be able to be spread without being twisted along the way.

Shit, I'm getting distracted. Focus.

I turn my attention back to her as the story unfolds.

"...should a being show that they are a truly great example of their kind and obtain the strength necessary, they were to be granted immortality once more and rise to join the Gods as a Demi-God; a reward for the struggles they had endured and as repayment for the transgressions of the Gods so very long ago."

I blink a few times, coming out of the spell Eris had put me under with her telling and realise she is watching me with her chin resting on her hand and smiling. "Uuuh..."

That was some heavy shit. Especially if it was true.

Par for the course where Gods were involved, though.

Her mouth curls into an impish grin. "You did not fall asleep on me did you, little one? I do know how much you love your rest."

"Uh, no. No, I was listening. It was just… wow."

"A very big story, yes?"

"Yeah, it was. I was not, uh, expecting it when you said you would tell me about evolution. Not that I did not find it interesting!"

Eris giggles and waves her hand at me. "Calm down, silly colt. I could tell you were very interested in what I was saying. I am happy you found my telling of it enjoyable; I have never done so before."

"Um, is...is that story… true?"

She lightly shrugs, brushing her braid back over her shoulder. "Who can say? It was simply what I was told when I was young. If you went a few towns over, you would doubtless hear a telling that would be different. Some would tell of how the humans rose up and pushed the darkness back themselves. Some would be a different tale altogether. There are many tales and no way to tell if they are true or not."

I didn't doubt that. I think I remember something about human supremacists from the original story, though I could be misremembering. That's going to be fun to possibly run into.

"Do, uh, you believe it?"

"I know that there are the Gods and Demi-Gods, and that they grant all monsters, non-monsters and creatures the ability to grow and change. As for everything else? I can not say, nor does it bother me not to truly know."

She smiles and pulls me into a hug, running her hand through my hair. "I have more important things in my life to care about, I think."

I relax into it and push my head into her hand more, my ears twitching in pleasure. I let out a sigh.

"Do not fall asleep on me. I have not told you about evolution yet." She doesn't stop running her nails lightly along my scalp, though. That sensation is like a drug, I swear.

I groan at her. "Mmmnot gunna. J'so good."

Eventually, Eris raises me up off of her; ignoring my half-hearted protests. She was so soft. I stare at her through half-lidded eyes, too relaxed to really complain.

"Now, Evolution is just like it says in the story. Firstly, most every creature can evolve, not just monsters; with the exception of humans, elves, dwarves and halflings. No one is truly sure why they work so differently."

"So, normal animals can evolve too?" I furrow my brow in thought. Was that in the story? I think so. Something to do with the Red Bear.

She nods. "Yes, there have been many encounters with animals who look to have evolved, and Beast Tamers have had instances of their beasts evolving too. We do not know if it is the same as for us, but it is close enough that it is believed to be. Now, as a monster grows they gain experience from the skills they practice and the things they do. When they gain enough experience, they Rank Up; or Evolve."

Smiling lightly, she seems to turn in on herself for a moment. "When this happens it is a… wondrous experience. It is something very, very special. It is a physical representation of your drive and skills, and it changes you; inside and out. You get stronger, faster, more skilled. Even the length of your life grows longer. Every monster species is affected differently, however."

...Lifespan extension? That's… how long do centaurs live normally? How much time do I have? I need that. I need to evolve.

"H-how long do… we usually live?"

She gives me a curious look. "We centaurs?"

I nod.

"That is a very mature question to be asking so young, little one. Hmm… we can live for sixty years if we take care of ourselves. Evolving lengthens that of course. It is not something for you to worry about for quite some time, Nilas."

My heart freezes in my chest. O-only sixty years? That's… that's shorter than I had as a human. I don't- I… I need to evolve as soon as possible.

Unaware of my internal panic attack, Eris continues. "It is said that if a monster evolves enough, they become immortal; like the story says. I do not know about the Demi-God part, but there are records of some centaurs living for hundreds of years so there may be some truth to the tale."

That's good. That's good to hear. I can work with that. Hundreds of years…

I need to evolve that high. I'm not dying again. Not for a long, long time; If at all if I can help it.

She focuses back on me, shifting slightly. "Now, while every monster can evolve; it is not something easily achieved. It is something one has to work very hard for, and it is not uncommon for some species to only evolve once or twice in their lifetimes. Some might not evolve at all. Centaurs are known to evolve perhaps once during their lives."

Only once? Shit. The hell was I going to do about that? I didn't have Rou's stupid as shit sue powers, so there was a very real chance if I tried to replicate his actions I'd end up dead. Maybe I could go the Lyra route? That didn't seem much smarter, really. Especially since I wasn't an ultra-predator like her.

But… there was something. Something I vaguely remember about a monster's growth rate. That the speed of experience gained was set from when they were young. The more you fought and levelled so to speak when you were young, the faster your growth rate would be for the rest of your life.

I needed that as high as possible. If centaurs only usually evolved once in their lives, I would need every advantage I could get.

I hear Eris talking again.

Shit! Save this line of thought for later, I can't miss anything right now.

"…most centaurs are a bunch of fearful stable dwellers that are more than happy spending their lives huddled together, flinching at any even slightly threatening thing to pass close to them and looking down on those who do not." I catch the end of her tirade as she snorts, frowning heavily.

Whoa, wait, what? This is the most animosity I have ever seen from Eris. She is genuinely angry and upset.

She must have caught my expression, whatever it was, and she immediately looks shocked and guilty. "I… am sorry, Nilas. It is nothing, just memories from the past that are not so happy."

I lean in and give her a hug.

Yeah, I wasn't going to touch that.

She hugs me back and kisses the top of my head. I can feel her smiling against my hair. "Thank you, my precious one."

Eventually, we pull apart.

"That is most everything you need to know about evolution for now. After all, you will not be evolving for some time, I think."

Hmm… we'll have to see about that one, I think.

...Wait, am I starting to pick up her mannerisms?

Never mind, not important.

I do have something I am curious about, though.

"M-mum, have you evolved?"

"I have, Nilas. I evolved some years back, and was very young at the time for a centaur. I was very surprised and happy. There were many others just as surprised; though my parents not so much. My father told me it was the Gods reward for having somehow not gotten my foolish self killed yet." She laughs at that and I join in.

"What did you evolve into?"

She smiles at me. "I became what the voice told me was a 'Forest Centaur'. Something unusual for our herd, as most evolve into 'Plains Centaur' from what those I asked said; your father included. There are the occasional different ones over the years."

So, was Eris a sub-variant? Or just a different evolution path? I do want to know the difference between the two types, though.

I know, I can ask!

Genius!

"What is different between a 'Forest Centaur' and 'Plains Centaur'?"

She rest her hand on her chin, thinking it over for a moment. "It is hard to say. I am more smaller and more lithe than a 'Plains Centaur'. You can see how much bigger your father is than me, yes?"

I nod. I had just assumed it was a common thing for centaurs, but apparently not.

Does that mean other female centaurs would be taller and bigger than Eris?

Hmm…

Ok, wrong train of thought to go down right now. Moving on!

"I have also been told by traders that I look more elfin and beautiful than other centaurs, though that is most likely just them trying to play nice so they can try to buy my wares cheaper. I am also far faster than your father, but he is much stronger than me."

So, an evolution focused more around speed and agility than strength and durability? Judging by the name she most likely got it from her obsession with the forest and plants. Heh.

"There is also one more thing. Now would be a good time to tell you about it as well."

I watch as Eris almost puffs up, a proud look on her face. "If a monster does something truly amazing, or catches their eye so to speak, Gods and Demi-Gods may give them something called a Blessing."

Oh yeah, I remember Blessings.

Why does she look so proud, though?

"When a God or Demi-God imparts a Blessing on someone, they are giving them a small part of their power as a gift. These are very, very special and very, very powerful. A God's Blessing much more so than a Demi-Gods. But a Demi-Gods one is still not something to take lightly."

...No way.

You're kidding me. She can't- No.

"When I evolved, I was given a Blessing from the Demi-God of Growth."

I stare at her in awe.

My mother… had a Blessing. I remember that being a really big thing.

Holy shit.

She sees my awed expression and her grins grows. "It gives me magic that allows anything I grow to be far greater than average. My plants grow faster, bigger and stronger than any others."

She reaches out and ruffles my hair, a teasing smile on her lips. "If we are lucky, you might be counted as something I have grown, yes?"

I didn't react, still running it all through my head.

Damn. I had quite the legacy to live up to.

A/N: An omake with a guest appearance by the Re:Monster Ex MC, Lyra the Arachne and her friends, which is a primary inspiration for my own story. It's set a few years after current events in the story and is non-canon.

"I am not sure I trust you right now." I look over at the man sitting across from me, his own flagon of something most definitely alcoholic in front of him.

He just grins at me, not even trying to act innocent. "Aw, come on Nilas. What have I done to earn that from you?"

I shoot him a deadpan look, snorting lightly. "Because Ven, when you whispered to get whatever this was in the girl's ear." I point at the suspiciously small cup of liquid in front of me. "She looked shocked and reluctant. I have the every reason to be suspicious, I think."

We were currently seated at one of the number of tables in a small tavern-cum-inn on our latest stop over from adventuring. Seated across from me was Ven, our party's rogue and a shitty practical joker; and who was now trying to me pulled once again into his longest running one. Get the young centaur drunk and see what happens.

Hilarious.

I shift in discomfort. I hated having to sit on wooden floors when I came to these places, I much preferred the woven mats of my home, but most places didn't build to accommodate monsters and so I had to make do.

"Come on, Ni! You're huge, and nothing you've had yet has been a problem. Why not just take a sip, relax a little? You've been really tense since that run-in with the giant spiders." Ven takes a hefty drag of his drink, sighing in pleasure.

I scowl at him. I'd been trying to forget about that. The latest venture into one of the many dungeons that popped up now and again, had led to terrifying circumstances where a delayed trap that Ven had missed had dropped me through the floor and into a room choked with thick spiders webs. I very, very much did not like the sensation of spider webs.

The hole had stayed open, and my party were able to yell down not to go anywhere and that they would find a way down as quickly as possible.

I shrilly told them that I would not be going anywhere soon seeing as I was hanging in a room full of spider webs and that would they kindly hurry the fuck up.

Erette, the party mage, had assured me that any spiders that had been there were dead by now with nothing to feed on.

As I had hung there trying my best not to panic, I had felt movement in the webs.

Spiders the size of large dogs had started crawling out of holes in the walls, making their way straight for me.

I'd managed to get my bow off my back and use whatever arrows hadn't fallen out in my fall to try and fend them off. Thank the Gods for centaur flexibility.

I had put arrow after arrow through every spider that got close, trying desperately not to freak out as they kept coming.

Out of arrows, I had dropped my bow and drawn my dagger when the last spider pounced on me. Screaming in fear, I had desperately fought off its legs and fangs as well as I could before I had plunged my dagger into it again and again.

My party had eventually found me; hanging from the ceiling, covered in ichor, surrounded by dead spiders and giggling madly about 'No spiders.'

"I was trapped in a giant web with a swarm of them coming after me! Of course I'm tense, what did you expect!"

"And then we nearly had to carry you out of the dungeon." Ven laughs.

Embarrassed and angry, I take a sip of my drink. I mumble into it. "Fuck giant spiders..."

Ven laughs again and raises his flagon. "I'll drink to that!"

A couple of hours of drinking later, Ven and I were terribly drunk. Whatever had been in that first drink had nearly knocked me for six. Thankfully, even drunk Ven had the sense to start ordering me something weaker after that. It hadn't tasted that bad either.

Eventually, it was time for us to head off and find the rest of our party and crash for the night.

I manage to stand with only some minor trouble and start making my way past the tables as carefully as I can and towards the stairs.

As we get halfway between them and the front doors, I stop. I feel Ven run into the butt and start complaining, but I block it out.

I could smell something just beyond the doors. Something that was familiar, and made my hair and fur stand on end.

I turn towards them and breathe in deep to get a better idea of the scent, and freeze. My eyes widen in fear.

No.

The doors push open, and I see it. Long, red chitinous legs clacking menacingly against the floorboards; each one ending in a metal-capped spike perfecting for skewering innocent centaurs. A bulbous behind with the skull of some mighty dragon sitting on it. Menacing fangs ready to drain the fluids from me. Dark unblinking eyes.

They had come for me.

"THE SPIDERS ARE HERE! AAAAH!"

Screaming in terror, I turn to flee. Being more than a little drunk, I stagger as I do; my legs getting tangled by something.

IT HAD ME!

"OH, GODS! IT'S GOT ME! SAVE YOURSELVES!"

My legs come out from underneath, and the floor races up to meet my face. I feel a solid thunk and my mind goes black.

I wake to the feeling of someone playing a military tattoo with my skull as the drum, and my mouth having been converted into a desert while I slept.

My stomach roiled and I wasn't sure whether I should be thankful or not that centaurs can't throw up. A question that went answered, my thinking meats too preoccupied with telling me how much of an idiot I was for whatever it was I did.

Finally, I groan and roll over on my side from where I am sprawled out on the floor. Lifting my head, I glance around the room while trying to fight through the pain.

Ven sprawled out on top of the bed tells me this is his room.

I push myself towards the bed; not bothering to stand up fully. When I get close enough I reach up and slap Ven in the face.

"Ven! Ven, I know you had something to do with this! Wake up!"

Ven wakes with a start, yelling out and looking around for what attacked him. Finally, he glances down at me.

I really don't like the shit-eating grin he has.

"Oh Gods, what happened last night."

He laughs at me and then flinches, a hand to his head. "Aha… well you made quite the impression downstairs last night."

"I can not believe I let you get me drunk…"

Ven continues, undeterred by my mumbling. "As we were about to head up here, an arachne came in; lovely girl, was an adventurer too. Anyway, you took one look at her, screamed like a little girl and tried to run. You got your leg caught on a chair, fell and knocked yourself out on the floor."

I cringe. Oh Gods, that sounds so embarrassing. I was actually happy I couldn't seem to remember it. Hopefully that was the end of it.

"The arachne actually apologised for scaring you when she carried you up here." Ven waggles his finger at me, still with that shit-eating grin. "Shame on you, Nilas. I hadn't expected you to be racist to other monsters."

I splutter at that. "I-ah- I am not! I was traumitized by giant spiders earlier! And you got me drunk!" I jab my finger at him. "It is your fault!"

Ven raises his hands up in mock surrender. "I didn't force you to drink it. That was all you."

I groan and plant my face in my hands.

"The moth that was with her looked like she wanted to fight you, as well."

Wait, what?

A moth. An arachne. I remember something red as well.

Oh… oh no.

Don't tell me I drunkenly knocked myself out in front of and got carried by…

I grab the blankets on Ven's bed and pull them off against his protests; curling up and draping them over myself.

"Nilas, what are you doing."

"I am being a centaur ghost, yes. I am not going to leave this room for the rest of the day."

Ven scoffs. "Come on, man. You're not even going to go say sorry and thank you? And besides, you might even be able to follow through with a particular comment from last night. What was it again? Oh, right. Fuck giant s-"

I kick out at him with my hind leg and he rolls away from it, laughing.