Guardian jumped in the water following the lizardwoman. They dived in the sea and were swimming further away from the shore. He did not know where the fish gathered so he just followed her lead for now. Soon he noticed a massive school of fish. It looked like a huge moving ball, it shifted and pulsed never remaining the same size or shape.

This was not the fish they were after. As they were all small, the biggest ones were the size of his finger. He knew what they were hunting as soon as he saw it. It was a bigger fish which prayed on the smaller ones. There were around twelve of them probing the ball made of smaller fishes. Each of them was at least the size of a small wolf.

“It is on.” Tiramisu said while under the water. Her voice sounded fun; water distorted it.

Instead of going straight after the fish, she swam up and took a good breath of air. Guardian followed her suit, he will need plenty of oxygen to remain submerged underwater. Each of them aimed at different fish, judging theirs to be the biggest.

At first, Tiramisu overtook him as she was more nimble and agile in the water. Her webbed feet helped her.

Guardian did not have feet designed to paddle underwater, his feet were more like claws or talons. However, he had a massive and muscular tail. He used it to his advantage. It took him quite a few swings to pick up the speed and outpace Tiramisu; he was the fastest now.

The race continued, each of them was aiming to spear their prey. They were using completely different strategies. Tiramisu was slower but nimbler, she used her agility and ability to turn quickly to spear her fish. Guardian was quicker and his punch a lot stronger, he tried to catch the fish by surprise, stabbing them before they could turn and escape. He also tried stunning them by crashing the water his body displaced towards their sides.

They were at it for an hour, a competition of getting the biggest one was replaced by catching the most. Tiramisu was the one to give up first, she could not keep the pace anymore. She waved at Guardian to stop; she was completely out of stamina.

“Let us take a break.”

“I won!” Guardian smirked at her. At first, they were at the tie but as the time went on hi was taking the lead.

“Yes, yes. You defeated me, you are the winner. Congratulations you are the best.”

Guardian liked to be the winner. Tiramisu intended to let him win regardless, winning this made-up gave was not her objective.

“This sea water… my eyes are irritated, do you have some fresh water?” He wanted to rinse the salt off. Having the eyes open underwater was not a problem for him, doing it under the salty water was. This was why he did not like the sea.

“Not here, but if you go to my place I can give you some.” She liked where this was going, she will be able to lure him to her home.

“Let’s go then.” Guardian saw no reason to wait.

“In return, can you help me with this?” She pointed at her stack of fish. They were too big and too heavy to carry it by herself.

“That is fair enough.” He borrowed her spear and pierced her share of fish, his bag was full of the ones he had caught. He held the spear and fish carrying them with both of his hands.

Guardian followed Tiramisu to her place. She lived in an abandoned warehouse. It was a sorry looking building, full of holes and decade old dust. It was not just Tiramisu who lived there. There was a small community of lizardmen there, most of them were still children or barely adults.

Guardian and Tiramisu were met by salivating stares. The lizards paid more attention to the food than the stranger carrying it.

“Hey Tiramisu, you got an awful lot this time. Mind sharing some?” Small lizardman asked.

“Actually, I don’t.” She had more than she would be able to eat anyway.

The one hearing this did not believe Tiramisu’s words. In this warehouse, their kind lived together, but that was it. They did not share their food or anything. It was out of Tiramisus character to surrender her food just like that.

“What is the occasion?”

“I am just in a good mood, that’s it. You would steal some anyway.”

“That is true.”

“Guardian you can leave my fish here. Guys, you better leave me my share!” She warned children swarming around her fish.

“Let me show you where the water barrel is.”

She escorted guardian to the water so he can rinse his sore eyes.

“Do you mind if I wash the salt off my body as well?”

“Be my guest, water is free after all.” All she had to do was refill the barrel from the well later.

“Ok then.”

“Okay.”

She was not leaving the partitioned space where the barrel was. Guardian expected her to leave, but he did not mind her staying either. She was ogling at him while he took off his loincloth and rinsed the salt away from his body.

“Need a hand?” She offered.

“Ammm, no.” He thought the question was weird. ‘Why are the women weird like that’ he wondered.

“Then let me join you.”

She took a few pieces of clothing she had and stood awfully close to him.

“Make me wet, big man.” She touched his chest with her hand, trying to be seductive.

He felt slightly uncomfortable having her invading his personal space like that. She stood way too close and even touched him. He wanted this whole thing done as soon as possible so he picked up the barrel and raised it above her head.

“What are you doing?”

Then he poured all of the water over her. He was done rinsing his body anyway.

“Here, you are wet now. Not a speck of salt remains.” He thought of himself as a genius for finding a quick solution to this problem.

“Hahaha” Tamia laughed.

“Ha-ha-ha.” He was confused why she was laughing and tried to laugh too.

“This is not what I…” She could not finish her sentence quick enough.

Guardian was leaving the small partition where they were.

“Where are you going?” She said somewhat upset. ‘And why? This was going so well… I thought I had him.’

“Home. I need to feed my pets, all five of them…” He sighed.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Guardian was unsure why she asked this.

“No. Thank you for the water.” He picked up his sack of fish and strapped it on his back.

“If it is not because of me why are you leaving all of the sudden?”

“Why would I stay? I got stuff to do, pets to feed.”

“I understand… Will you come to fish tomorrow?”

“No, I caught plenty for now. Maybe in a few days’ time.”

“I see…” Tamia said dejectedly. However, she did not want to let her catch go.

“If you come again I will show you a different fishing spot. You liked my company, didn’t you?”

“I did. You were better at spearfishing than I expected.” He had honestly enjoyed that competition, it made a basic chore so much fun.

“Then how about I come with you? I really want to see these pets of yours.”

“…” He was looking at her unsure what to say. He failed to see how he would benefit from that.

Tiramisu noticed his hesitant look.

“You are new here aren’t you? I will tell you about the fish you can catch here and stuff like that. It will make a casual stroll home more interesting.”

“I guess you can come.” Once again he had nothing to lose so he agreed.

“Yes-ss!” She hissed in excitement. She was back in the game. “I mean, let me grab my share of food and let's go.”

She wrestled a large fish away from other lizardmen and took it with her. She knew Guardian had plenty of it already but she planned to offer to eat her share together at his home.

“I am taking this just in case I get hungry.”

“That is perfectly fine. I understand.” He saw the battle the food she brought has caused. He did not blame her for wanting to make sure she has something. After all, when she will be back no fish would be left.

They walked at a casual pace, Tiramisu was the one doing all the talking. Some of the things she said or asked were completely irrelevant. Like, asking if he liked her tail and stuff like that. Others were more useful, like finding out what fish and where he could catch it. He found out that there were fish which only could be caught at night, this sounded interesting.

Tiramisu was trying her best to sweet talk him, she wanted to win him over. This was because she wanted a mate. A powerful and strong mate, the bigger the better. Guardian fit that picture perfectly, she had never seen anyone this huge. However, she was slightly confused. She grew up without parents or any adult supervision, the fact that two different species cannot produce an offspring was unknown to her.

Actually, she believed that they can because some of the girls she knew went after some tough looking beastmen. Unbeknown to her the beastmen only tricked young lizardwomen so that they can exploit their bodies for carnal pleasures. They lied that with them lizard woman will produce strong and healthy children.

“Here we are.” Guardian let her in his house and led her to the cages containing swamp monsters.

“They are so weird.”

“They look normal to me.” He sliced one of the fish to the pieces and fed it to the creatures.

“This is only three of them. You mentioned five, so where are the other two?”

“Ah, about that. The other two mouths I need to feed is my errand boy and another servant.”

“Go on then, introduce me to them.”

“I guess I can. Ithayiga, come here boy!”

He showed off his servant boy.

“He is quite cute for a beastman.” Tiramisu said rubbing the boys head.

Ithayiga wagged his tail in response.

“I did not expect you to have servants. You live in a slum district after all.”

Guardian did not make a comment on that.

“Not that I am interested if you have money or anything.” She said just in case. She did not want to appear as a gold digger.

“You are not? I find it hard to believe.”

“I swear it on my tail! By the way where is your another servant?”

“She should be back by now.”

Just as he said that Tamia opened the doors and wobbled in. She looked at Tiramisu suspiciously and just sat beside the table. Tamia eyed a pile of massive fish stacked in front of her.

‘Why is she giving me a stink eye?’ Tiramisu did not understand what the problem was.

“Master.” Tamia addressed Guardian, displeasure clear in her voice. She hatted to call him like that. “Shall I cook the fish?” She continued.

“Yes, they are for you and the boy. I have already fed the swamp critters.”

“You are sooo kind, master. One less chore for me to do.” She put a stress on kind, sarcasm was in the air.

Guardian did not have enough social skills to pick up on that. Tiramisu, however, was different, she noticed the woman’s rudeness.

“Do you all mind if I join you for the dinner? I brought my own food after all.” Tiramisu asked.

“I don’t mind at all! Master can she?” Ithayiga asked bogglingly. He quite liked this new guest, she gave him head rubs and brought fish.

“How about her? What is your name?” Tiramisu asked the one who was still giving her a bitchy face.

Tamia frowned at her and continued gutting the fish ignoring the question. She was not here to make friends with her Master’s acquaintances. She hated him, and those who were close to him.

‘The attitude of this woman. Does she see me as a competition? That must be it. He is a good catch after all.’ Concluded Tiramisu.

“Anyway. If you all do not mind I will eat mine raw.”

“Why is that?” The boy asked Tiramisu.

“It tastes better that way.”

“So why is Tamia cooking it then?” The boy wanted to know.

“It is because different people like it different. Humans like their food cooked.” Guardian spoke from experience. Remembering that Aiu despised raw food, especially raw meat.

“So, how do you eat your fish?”

“Depends.” If the cook was good and knew how to spice and prepare it properly he would eat it cooked. But it was Tamia who was cooking, she even made his gruel taste bad for some reason. “I will eat it raw this time.”

Tiramisu smiled at him. She was glad they have similar preferences.

They had waited for Tamia to gut the fish, then she cooked some for herself and the boy. Once everyone had their food ready they began to eat.

“So, what are the jobs you have to do for your Master, Ithayiga?” Tiramisu asked the boy, she wanted to know if she can offer some help so she can come and visit the Guardian.

Ithayiga explained his simple daily routine. It was mostly going from one place to other as an errand boy. He has also mentioned that he was doing some exercises. He wanted to get stronger so he can fight together with Guardian.

“I might actually help with that. I know how to use a spear and a dagger, I could teach the boy a few tricks. That is if you don’t mind.”

Guardian did not understand why she was being so nice. This seemed odd. He wanted to find out what was the real objective Tiramisu was trying to achieve and then deal with her appropriately.

“I do not. You are not going to charge me, no?”

“Of course not, I have a lot of free time on my hands anyway.”

Ithayiga liked this lizard even more now. He will be able to get stronger quicker with a teacher.

“How about Tamia what does she do, boy?” Instead of asking Tamia directly she asked the boy. She knew that it was a bad idea to talk to her now.

“She is sneaking around the slums and looks at people.”

Tamia and Guardian glared at the boy, he was not supposed to say that.

“What?..” This threw Tiramisu off slightly. It took her a moment but she understood what Tamia has been doing; spying and gathering information.

“Of course, what she does is clearly not my business. I should not have asked.” Tiramisu was looking at the guardian trying to understand if he was mad at her or not.

Guardians face was hard to read. He looked indifferent. Tiramisu needed more time to be able to read his expressions, it was always like that when she met someone looking radically different than a lizardman.

“Tell us instead what do you do?” Guardian asked trying to get some indication what she might want from him.

She was glad that Guardian was interested in her. Her feminine charms must be working, or so she thought.

“I am a fisher. I catch fish and sell it to the fishmonger in the market. He pays me good, but it is not enough to move out of the slums.”

“That is it? Do you do anything else? Like spy on people?” He was being very direct with her. He tried to provoke a reaction.

Tiramisu took this as if he was interested in her natural gifts.

“I can. We lizardfolk are good at things like that. Sneaking, spying, information gathering.” She chose not to mention other inborn traits like being sly and being good at getting others killed, especially out of spite. “But I do not do these things, there are better people at this than me. However, if you need help with something like that I am more than willing.” She was not against doing such things, anyway.

“Are you? I could use someone like that.” He was thinking about sending her to infiltrate the rogue mage’s base.

Tamia made some progress, but she has yet to visit the actual place. All she did so far was observe who went there.

“Take me on a date and I will see what I can do.”

After hearing this Tamia almost choked on her food. She did not understand why anyone would even flirt with the likes of a violent monster her master was.

‘I knew it. That bitch is jealous.’ Tiramisu misunderstood Tamia’s reaction.

“Not money?” Guardian was beginning to believe that she was not after his money after all.

“No. It has to be a date. Otherwise, I am not doing it.”

“Fine with me. We have a deal.” He was not sure what an actual date looked like but he knew it was not a material thing. He knew it was activity and assumed that it would cost him no money. ‘How hard a date can be?’ he was actually glad he won’t need to spend his coin on this. If only Guardian knew how wrong he was, he would not have agreed to this.

“You made my day!” Tiramisu was celebrating her success already. She pictured all the children she would conceive with him, all strong and powerful. This would make her family known and respected.

“But first, I need to know you are up for the task. I need to test your skills.” Guardian interrupted Tiramisus fantasy.

He explained what she would need to do. Her job would be to infiltrate the prison ruins. He did not mention anything about the mages or how dangerous it is. Guardian did not want her to change her mind, and if she died in the process… He would not care anyway.

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I will be inside in three days time.”

“We will see about that!” Tamia practically yelled that out. She was convinced that Tiramisu will get herself killed, and was actually glad. Maybe this would hurt her master in one way or another.

“Tamia, you better tell us what you have gathered so far, this might help her to do what you couldn’t.”

“As you wish, Master.” She almost spat the last word out because of her discontent.

Tamia described when, who and for how long would the people go inside the ruins. She has also described each of the people. She even mentioned the possible locations and times someone could enter it unnoticed. She did not dare to lie, in case Guardian finds this out, she did not want to die for that. Tamia knew that she does not need to lie, if Tiramisu entered it she would not leave it alive. That is why Tamia herself did not explore the ruin. Who knew what lurked inside?

“Using what you said… this reduces it to the two days. Only because I will need to confirm it by myself.”

“I have high hopes in you, Tiramisu.” The sooner Guardian got his hands on some magic knowledge the better.

“Spaghetti spaghetti you won’t regret it.” Tiramisu said cheerfully.

“What is spaghetti?” Ithayiga asked; the word sounded funny to him.