I don’t remember last time when I slept so long. If the feast took place around 10 pm, and I was talking with Gis for over an hour, and guessing by birds that are singing right now… 4th am? Maybe 5?

Seven hours… Am I growing THAT old? Crap. Well… I think I do feel some cracking in my back... Wait, is that notification?

Digesting on [Hydra] completeDNA absorption and assimilation in processEstimated time:44h:34m:11sThis time can be reduced by entering [Meditation] state

So two days? That really shows the difference in quality of monster I ate up to now. Powers of wolfs and deer I got instantly, mantis? Few minutes were required. And that bastard despite snake’s body and few spells boosting metabolism needs two bloody days! COME ON! I AM TIRED OF THIS ALREADY!

“Everything ok? You had really… annoyed expression.” Dragoness said “Also, good morning sleepyhead. You took your sweet time.” “Morning. And nothing is wrong. I simply overestimated my possibilities. I will have to wait for effects of my meal. That’s all.” “How long?” “… few days.” It would be weird if I would answer precisely with seconds, would it? “Hey! Stop whining! Most people would be permanently blind! You should be more than happy that you have possibility to undo your wounds!” “But I want to admire your unspoken beauty again! I can wait no longer!” “… Asshole. Stop mocking me!” “So you noticed?” I was rewarded with punch to the guts which left me breathless. “A…anyway. Get up. Jericho is probably tired of waiting for us. You asked him yourself to investigate swamps, did you?”

In next move she pushed me off her laps and with painful [Thud] I ended on floor. Ok, I crossed a little line with that line a moment ago… but it was totally worth it! We opened the door of biggest building in the village and walked away. All team members were already outside of it.

“Whole night. Alone. In storage room.” Gerwazy only said nodding with approval. “Wait, what do you think that we…” Gisele started “It’s good to be young, cherish those moments! We live dangerous life, finding worthy comrades is important as on battlefield as in life itself…” Aloizy sniffed and blow his nose in handkerchief. “I am telling you that it not what you think! Zari! Say something!”

… How could I miss opportunity like that?

“G..Gis… I… I thank you for this night. What we did there… it meant a lot for me. I am more than grateful that you decided to keep me a company. I will treasure the memories of this night through my whole life…” I said bowing my head. Hey, I was talking about our conversation, so that’s not a lie! “YOU BASTARD!” “Zari…” it was Jericho. Damn, I hope he doesn’t mind us bulling Gisele…

He came closer to me, put both his arms on my shoulders.

“… please, I am leaving Gisele in your hands. Take good care of her. Kids are growing up so fast.”

IT COULDN’T BE ANY BETTER!

“YOU TOO?!” “W…Will it be ok if from now on I would call you father?” I said with voice filled with affection. “STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!” “I wouldn’t allow it to be any other way… son!” “FATHER!” “SON!” “I WILL KILL YOU ALL!”

Even Nyx’s shoulders were trembling holding laugh.

“That’s enough!” Marika joined “You can’t tease anyone that much! Fear not Gisele, I will be always by your side!” “At least you…” “That means that I will be by your side at your wedding too! I am gonna be bridesmaid! YAY!”

Marika! Faith in fairy restored!

I could almost hear the blood pumping through Gisele’s vein on her forehead. And then, out of nowhere, the most powerful blow came.

“I…I actually think…” It was Rus “That brother Zari and sister Gis are making really good couple!”

… all of us were making jokes. And we all knew about it. But Rus… she really meant this! Aaaand.. we also knew about this. The silence that fell was bit more than awkward. Gisele blood started boiling.

“Oh my, oh my, I forgot to polish the blade of my glaive, pardon me…” Gerwazy walked away. “… I think that I didn’t put the fireplace down…” Aloizy followed him “I will inform village’s elder about our departure.” Jerycho also ran away.

You can’t really blame them. Gisele was about to burst with anger.

“Marika, may you please tell Rus what she did wrong? Thanks…” I turned and… “Not… so… fast…” Dragoness grabbed me by hood “I think… we have… to talk…” “I will gladly do as you said… come Rus.” My own trick turned against me. “Well… I see no problem as long as you want just to talk… I mean, you wouldn’t hit blind man?”

But she would. And she did.

We have been heading toward swamps with Marika as guide.

“Lots things changed… yes I still could walk through this place even with my eyes closed…” fairy said with melancholy “Well, you at least have a choice in that matter…” “Zari! Stop being so grumpy! You told us that in few days you should have this problem solved! Come on! Follow me… ah, here huge oak used to grow. It was our favorite spot for dates and picnics. It’s huge branches were spreading shadow on whole glade, protecting from the forest… and there lots of berries used to grow… now there is nothing here but bog… such a shame… Why did it turn this beautiful place into such… such…” Marika couldn’t even find a words describing horror that she saw. “It’s because powerful mana veins are located deeply under ground. It was perfect place for its lair. From here it could absorb unspeakable amount of magic. So would its eggs.” “But why destroying!?” “That hydra’s element was water. Forest was passively changing affinity of magic toward nature/earth. By changing environment more to water-related it boosted overall process of absorption. I am saying hypothetically – if in forest eggs required over 100 years to hatch, in swamps it could take 75 or less… numbers are irrelevant thought…” and then I noticed that Marika didn’t want answer for that very question “… a..anyway, Marika, do you have any idea were lair can be located?” “Sorry, I don’t even know what we looking for.” “Center of the forest? Places where mana veins crossed forming something like knot? Places that you could name as magical, let’s say spring that healed wounds…” “… that fucking bastard…” Marika hissed “… if I am not mistaken… that’s something I won’t forgive it… Zari, how do you think – can there be any more magical place than village of fairies itself?!”

And then she turned to the side and started running.

“HEY! Marika! Wait!”

Rest of the party followed littlies girl of whole party. But she knew the terrain better, also the very earth seem as if welcoming her daughter. Mana was sinking into Marika skin, the essence of magic was spreading through her body, traveling to her muscles accelerating her speed.

“If not that… bloody.. armor… Zari! I am really sorry. But can you… track her?” “I AM NOT A HUNTING DOG! Buuuut… I guess…”

I was about to morph, but in very last moment I remembered about Rus, which I didn’t inform about my… situation.

So, I had to improvise. I raised my hands and started singing non-existing chant

“May the blessing of sprits fall upon me,

The faith of mine is a gift for thee,

Lead my way, and I shall follow your path,

Spreading your name and being blade of your wrath…”

My head turned partly into that of a wolf, tongue became forked allowing me to taste the air, my spine and rear legs cracked few times as I lowered my body on all four. I begun sniffing right away.

“This way…” I started following the scent of fairy. Oh, that smell stood out. The swamp smelled like rotting earth, while Marika was far closer to fresh herbs and milk that she had for breakfast.

It didn’t take us long to finally find her. She was in old fairy’s village. And also hydra’s lair.

“Do you know some good necromancer?” Marika asked “Because I want to resurrect certain monster just to kill it again.” Her voice was full of sorrow “haha, it not only killed everyone I loved, not only turned forest into shit-smelling swamp, but it also laid a fucking egg in my room. In my bed. This is… actually funny, don’t you think?”

I lowered myself over one of the eggs. It was broken.

“Now we know why it went on a rampage. It must have traveled for days to reach the forest, then it slaughter most of intelligent creatures that could been dangerous and even corrupted environment just to lay those eggs, then it waited for years and someone destroyed them… And that was their only purpose. Look, all around there are skeletons of human adventurers that wanted to play hero. Their equipment was left on place… there are also chests in which fairies stored their treasures… and in very lair rare herbs are growing. Yet only thing that were touched are eggs…” “Why somebody would risk their life only to bring destruction without and gains?” Gerwazy asked. “I have theory…” Jericho looked in my direction “… well, I doubt it may be truth, but maybe those skeletons there had friends. The party was ambushed and one or two managed to run away, waited for opportunity for revenge, but as hydra was out of their reach, they studied its behaviors, waited till it leave the lair, and… “ I pointed on eggs.

And then my senses tingled for a moment. I started walking toward one of broken eggs and I shoved arm into crack… I could have sworn that for a moment I “saw” something the…

Crab Hut of Passive EncouragmentItem:HatRank:???This hat originally belonged to Schadof - preacher of old-forgotten Anuel.

He was there since old-forgotten can even remember with his exhaustive motivation.

The greatest orator, his full of passion comments holding so much description always helped the old-forgotten to improve quality and quantity of his teaching!

No matter the day nor season, he was always there to support the creator with his wonderful: "Thanks for the chapter."

The question remains... who the fuck is Anuel!?This item can be used only by [Schadof]While used- change job to - [Couch/Motivational speaker]

- ability to [Make the audience go wild] granted

- Whenever the user of [Hat] appears rainbow shall follow! [Weather manipulation]

- 1% chance of [Unicorn] being spawn around user of [Hat] [It can be used as mount]

- +25% chances of removing [Depression] status effect

You have found [2/7] of forgotten artifacts.

As soon as I finished reading, the object vanished

Not this again! The fuck is that supposed to be! Some Easter egg?! BUT OF WHAT!? This slowly starts creeping me out!

“Zari are you ok?!”

I AM NOT! IF I WON’T GET ANY FUCKING EXPLENTATIONS OF THE SHIT THAT IS HAPPENING HERE I WILL TURN MAD!

“Fine and dandy. I thought that I found something.” “Aaaand?” “I was wrong.”

We started investigating area around us, looking for some kind of traces. In the end someone could do that on purpose for sole reason of killing. Yet in the end we found nothing. All this time Marika was sitting in same spot, saying farewell for the last time to place she used to call home.

“…and I am strong now mom! Even stronger than dad was. And I also have so many wonderful friends. I will be all right, so don’t you worry. I am going on an adventure. When I would stop here next time, I will tell you everything about places I visited, ok? It’s a promise! Just wait for me!” “Marika? We are done, tell us when you are ready so we could…” “No! it’s ok! I am coming!... I have to go now, mom, see you!”

We moved forward, to the city of Agrah.