The pair has reached the hut. Onside inside, the girl sat on the floor and stretched her legs. She thought she deserved some rest. She was not given such an opportunity, he picked a few tools and sacks and instructed to go back to the forest with him.

He planned to go back to the forest so that she could practise her skills to identify and find various herbs. She was able to grab the remainder of vegetables and have a quick sip of water, but that was it. He was working her hard.

She had no complaints about that as she felt content. She was still completely bribed by all the gifts she received and would probably do anything he asked.

The forest was steps away and she started her tasks promptly. Whilst at it she wondered why he is bothering picking herbs at all. This did not seem like a task suited for him. She stopped what she was and looked at him appraisingly, he was too busy to notice.

He was very tall and big. Many times bigger than her or even a normal human for that matter. Even at his permanently hunched posture, he stood at roughly two and a half meters. He was as big if not bigger than a bear. His skin was lizard-like, thick and black in colour. On his limbs and back, there were many bone-like protrusions which could be used as a weapon if he so desired.

He did not even need a sickle to cut the plant bundles, as his fingers had sharp claws. His head was slightly elongated, his mouth full of sharp dagger-like teeth. His eyes were yellow with slanted pupils. He looked like a creature who would prey on others at night.

The girl wondered what sort of beastmen race is he. If she had to guess she would say that he was closest to the lizard people as he had a lot common with them. His serpentine skin and tail was the only similarity the rest was different. The nimble lizardmen she knew were short and slim, clad in lean muscle. He was brutish and gigantic, a complete opposite of them in that regard.

He was built like a warrior, yet he lowered himself to gather the bounty of the forest.

‘This makes no sense. Why is he doing this?’ the girl was no expert, but she knew that he could make a fortune as a mercenary. She wondered why he bothers with all this boring herbalism stuff.

“Say, why are you a herbalist and not a warrior? You are so big and strong.”

“What good would it be for me to be a warrior?”

“Money. You could be a nobles’ guard at least, no one would dare to challenge you.”

“I rather serve myself than others, and I want to be served and not the other way round.”

“Hmm…” she racked her brain in order to find what all of this means.

“Good money can be made from the herbs. If done properly earnings would be greater than those of a warrior.” He offered an answer seeing that she was somewhat confused.

The girl somehow doubted about all that money. He lived in the hut which was in ruin.

“How long have you been herbalist?”

“Two weeks or so.”

‘What!’ she did not expect that answer this threw her off. She thought he was here for ages; living in the forest alone, gathering the herbs. There must be some bad past involved, why else he would distance himself from the city.

She knew that it is best if she did not bring up his past. Maybe one day then they knew echoer better, she will.

“You seem so natural at this, being a herbalist. I thought you have been doing it since childhood.”

“I learn quickly. So should you.”

She was unsure if she was capable of that. She was well aware that the younger one started his craft the better he was at it. She was not a child anymore and learning new things will be harder for her. But if he can do it in two weeks maybe she can as well.

‘Yes, I can. With utility magic, I can’ she changed her attitude not wanting to sound defeated before she even tried. She knew utility magic now. The magic skills he paid for her.

‘I need to think how to show my gratitude for all of this, this was so unexpected’. It was still hard to believe that this was her new life. It still felt like a fresh dream.

“Sooo. What did your parents do?” She wanted to know more about him.

“I did not know them.”

“Guardians?” she hoped that at least someone looked after him in his infancy.

“I grew in a wilderness alone” he sounded happy about this.

To the girl this made sense. It was a good explanation of why he was so silent most of the times. Also, this probably was the reason why he took pity on an orphan like her.

“Do you like to be alone?”

“I don’t mind it”

“You won’t be alone since I am here now. But if you… if I tire you it is ok to say so.”

“Hahaha.”

“Why the laugh?”

“Your kind is funny that is all. A thing like you has no chance of tiring me, like ever.”

‘He misunderstood. And also called me a thing. Oh, right he still does not know my name. I forgot to introduce it and he did not ask. Well, it is too awkward now to say it.’

“I meant that if I bore or annoy you, tell me. I do not want to mess this up.”

“I said your kind is fun. Not bored – amused.”

“Mmm… my kind, humans then.” She wondered if he had a soft spot for humans.

What followed was an awkward silence.

“Why did you chose me? Why not anyone else from the orphanage?” she asked what she wanted to ask for quite a while.

“Because you were all right. There was no reason to pick anyone else.”

To some extent she was displeased with this answer, she wanted to feel special. However she knew she was just wishful, she would be happy to be taken as a simple servant so long so she had a roof over her head and a full stomach.

“I think you are very kind.”

“Hahaha!” he laughed. “You jest.”

“No! You are, you been nothing but kind to me so far.”

“I am not someone your kind would consider kind. Far from it. The sooner you understand it and accept it the better.”

‘This your kind bull’ again.’

“You bought me precious magic skills and all these nice things.” She tried to justify her words.

“So you can do your job properly. You will earn it back. Many times more.”

‘Still, I think he is kind, isn’t it unusual to look after someone you don’t really know and are not related to.’ Even though, it was purely out of the pragmatisms which benefited her as well. She gained precious skills and valuable experience.

“But still…”

“Not kind.” He shot her down.

They continued to scout the forest and gather various herbs. He would stop and show some of them to her from time to time so she could identify them and find them better. There was so much new knowledge she had to cram into her head. All these herbs she had to remember about made her mind feel like it was overflowing.

She will have to learn how they are used. How to store and prepare them. She felt that this was a bit too much for her untrained brain to handle, she feared to fail him.

‘What if the kindness will stop? What if she is too slow and incompetent to be of any use? What if she will be denounced and left homeless and all alone?’ she started to overthink.

“Can I ask?”

“You must.”

She got slightly confused by this answer ‘Why I must ask? He is confusing.’’ she continued to look at him with a puzzled expression.

“You need to ask more. How will you learn if you don’t ask? The more you ask the more you learn. I need you to learn and the more the better.”

“Are we are a proper family?”

She knew that this was not a question he was expecting but she had to ask it. She felt insecure. She always felt insecure and vulnerable. Actually, this was the first time in her life she was starting to feel a sense of security and she dreaded to lose it. However, she had to ask to know.

“What do you mean?”

“Like a family where people look after one another and protect each other.”

“I will protect you with all my might. I will feed you and look after you even if you get sick.”

‘He is very kind. The kindest person I have ever met. Even though, he looks like… like a monster. To a normal human at least’. The orphanage had orphans from many species so she held no prejudice against someone who looked different, to put it lightly. She knew that some species of beings looked quite repulse to an average human, the opposite was true as well.

“Will you? Why?” she asked wanting to know if his words were truly genuine.

“I am invested in you. I don’t want to lose my investment and start all over again. I do not have much, but what I have I am very possessive about.” this was genuine self-reflection. It felt quite weird to be self-aware like that.

‘Again not the answer I hoped for, but this is nothing bad. Sounds like a valid reason… I am acting like a girl. He does not know me, I am not a kin to him. Why do I want to hear something that would make me feel special?’

“Do you think of me like of a daughter? Can I call you a father?”

‘Here I am, pushing my dreams on someone.’ She wanted to feel special at least in that way, to have some connection with him.

Her question prompted him to pause.

“This does not sound right. Somehow it feels weird. You are my apprentice, why not keep it like that?”

‘I don’t know what I have expected him to say. I am being silly but I can’t stop being like that. What is wrong with my mind?’ She was having an internal conflict.

“Fair enough, I guess.” she replied and continued her barrage of questions. “So even if I disappoint you, you will not get rid of me?”

“You are funny little thing. I already told you, I am quite possessive. To put it differently, I hold you valuable and this will only increase with time.” He took a deep breath of air and continued. “Sure we might bicker, like you humans do all the time. I know how to put the disagreement to the rest, and I hope that you are wise. Wise not to go against me.”

‘He called me a thing again, this upsets me... Calling me valuable does he mean I am somehow precious, does this mean he likes me and will continue to like me even more. This is good is it not? He seems determined to have me around and he is nice to me. He might not think of me as part of family yet but to me he will become family if this continues.’ The girl took a while to put her thoughts in order.

“I promise not to go against your will. I will protect you with all my might and take care of you even if you are sick.” She proclaimed eventually.

“You do not stop to amuse me. Admit it, you aren’t much are you, and does it look like I need protection?” he said in an amused tone.

‘This was mean, calling me weak. He has a bad side too, but he said the truth. As I am now, I am weak and pathetic. I need to become stronger.’

“Maybe I am not much now, but I can grow and get stronger.” She defended herself.

“Fair point. I like what you said. I would be very happy if you did.”

“I will!”

The two continued to gather rare herbs drifting deeper and deeper into the forest. She learned about edible plants and where to find them; which was good as she was getting peckish. She also was told to gather her share of food as best as she can.

She fully accepted that. She did not dream or want to be a freeloader. She even hoped to be able to gather his share too, even if she was still unsure how much he ate. She did not even know what his favourite food is. What did he like or dislike?

Maybe he did not like talking, but she did. She opted out of asking about boring herbs and plants, she had enough of that so she asked something different.

“I have always wanted a father. Did you ever want to have children?”

“Humans, humans are good.”

‘What a weird answer.’ To make sure she did not misunderstand him she asked again. “What do you mean?”

“You make me think about things I have never thought before. This is good.”

“You never tough about it?” - ‘does he have a pure mind? Wouldn’t it mean he is virgin? … What am I thinking? I have to stop.’

“No, I haven’t. Have you seen someone like me before?

“No, never, but I haven’t seen much.”

“I have never seen anyone like myself. I don’t even know how a female of my kind would look like.”

“Oh. So like do you like… do you feel attracted to other females?” she almost fumbled her sentence.

“What are you even asking? Why?”

She was being weird with her questions and she knew it. She started to blush. This was not the time or even the person to talk about the stuff like that.

“I am being weird again, sorry.”

“That is fine. I said it is ok to ask.”

“I am not asking proper questions, I know that.”

“Does not matter. It is still fine. So answer me why do you ask?”

“I don’t know.” This was an honest answer. She did many things without thinking through, on impulse.

“Ok, I will answer you. I don’t know if I want to have children. It does not seem like a reachable goal. If it would be reachable I would think about it properly. Does my answer answers your question.”

“Yes.”

“Yours doesn’t. ‘Don’t know’ does not cut it’.” He bit back at her.

“Maybe I was interested if you were interested in females, whatever their race.”

“Interested in what sense?”

“Like seeing them naked and stuff?”

“Not particularly, no. But I have seen naked women.” He made himself clear, knowing that she would ask it next.

“Did you? And?”

“And what?”

“Never mind.” She did not have the gut to be that straightforward and obscene. He barely knew her and she did not want to seem like a pervert.

“You are an interesting thing”

“Not a thing’!” She was getting too familiar with him and shouted out without thinking.

“Human girl, then”

“It is a woman, and I have a name!” she liked to think of herself as a woman and not a childish girl.

She was committed to it now. If he will get angry about her talking back so be it. She had to see what happens when she angers him, sooner or later. Better to provoke him for the mild stuff than a major mess up, so she would know what to expect.

“I doubt that you pass as a human woman.” He ignored her attitude, brushing it off as a childish tantrum.

‘He did not bite it, he did not ask my name.’ she also wanted him to answer with ‘what is your name’.

“For your knowledge, technically I do pass!” this was her pride talking. Sure years of malnutrition did not help her development, she was on a crust of womanhood.

“I am not sure about human specifics, but clearly you are not an adult. There are no orphanages for adults, though the idea is amusing.”

“I am not an adult, but also not too far from it.” she said what she wanted to believe. However, there was a hint of doubt in her voice.

Being an adult was not just being a certain age. One would need to be able to provide for himself and his kin to be considered as a proper adult, and she was far from it. She would still have had a year in an orphanage before she would be kicked out to fend for herself, sooner if she messed up.

“How is that?”

“Do I need to be specific?” she was unsure if she wanted to go into the details about her reasoning being a woman.

“No, unless you want to be in the right, girl.”

‘He is provoking me.’

“I can lie with a man” she tried to hint at being of the right age.

“And?” He asked unconvinced.

“This makes me a woman.”

“Does it?”

“Yes.”

“Humans are interesting. Confusing even. I think I understand where you are getting at. Yet, you are not a proper adult?”

“Well no… I am still unable to fend in the streets for myself” she would perish and she knew that.

“But you are a woman? Technically that is?” he thought that he has finally understood her reasoning.

“I am a woman, yes, thank you very much.”

“Hmmm, not an adult but a woman. How about a young woman then?”

“Better.”

“Not a little girl?” he teased her a bit.

“No!”

“You look like one.”

This served to shut her up and this was not intentional. He went too far too quickly. Her silence was a bit unexpected and she looked like she was about to cry.

‘Not my fault I have a body like this…’ his words hurt her. She did not know why she was so adamant about her being called a woman. The day was long and she was exhausted maybe that was why. And she knew that some males called adult women as girls without the intent of offending, it was a figure of speech not poking at someone’s immaturity.

“Young woman it is.” he broke the silence.

“Can you call me by the name?” She went back to her original objective.

“If you prefer it that way.”

“Aiu. Aiu is my name.”

“Yong woman Aiu, store the pods you were about to crush in your hands out of despair.” He pointed at her hands. “Let’s head home.” Today’s job was done at this was time to head home.

She hoped he would tell her his proper name but he did not. He opted out not to be shy this time and just ask for it.

“I want to know your proper name? What is it?”