"Friesha? Friesha?"

"........"

"My, look at how sound asleep she is."

"......."

"I just hope she'll sleep like this every night of her life."

Too bad, mother. It would seem like I can no longer do that.

I opened my eyes and was greeted by the beautiful sound of chirping birds. Well, they were just a branch away from me as I was sleeping on top of a humongous tree. I just like sleeping on trees. It's much more comfortable than on the ground. I checked my things and soon after levitated down to quench my hunger.

The moment my feet stepped on the ground, I was enchanted by a delicious smell which accidentally wafted inside my nose.

"Could this be?" I searched for the direction of the smell, sneaking in as I felt like I got closer. "Flamebelly Lizard Kebabs?"

I slowly peeked from a bush which I hid. As soon as my eyes were able to see, I was slightly let down.

"So it's not Flamebelly," still, my hunger salivated me upon the sight of lizard kebabs being cooked. "Wait, I shouldn't just take people's food."

Yet my hunger was telling me otherwise. Just one won't hurt, won't it?

After checking there was nobody around, I quickly emerged from the bush and towards the meal gracefully prepared for me. But wait, I thought this already happened before. Indeed, that one time, our first encounter...

I immediately halted my steps and looked around me. If I remember correctly, there was some kind of rundown cage above. I checked and found none. Perhaps there was another trap prepared, yet found nothing this time. Wait, it was the food itself that was the trap. No, last time I sensed nothing from the food. I just felt a weird sensation from all parts of my body. Like I was enveloped by fear, immobilizing my movements. In fact, I cannot truly describe what happened that day. It just-

"Oi, what are you doing?"

"Aah!!"

There he was, with one eye narrowed.

"Y-you!" I exclaimed.

"Felgard's the name..."

"I don't care about your na-" my eyes immediately shifted at what he was holding. "F-flamebelly?! Where'd you get th-that!"

He then sneered at me with his disgusting half smile, "I see..."

"Y-you..." unwillingly, drool began dripping, no, flooding out of my mouth.

"Hmm? You want this?" he began swaying the flamebelly in front of me.

My pupils followed his movements. How dare this creature use my favorite dish against me twice. I just want to punch that irritating half smirk. Perhaps I should give him what he wants. I grip my staff tightly, prepared to challenge him for a fight. After all it's the only thing he wants from me.

"Okay then, wait till it gets cooked," and he just placed the flamebelly lizards right next to the fire.

"H-huh?"

"It takes a while to cook this you know," he said before blowing air to the fire.

"Y-you're just going to give it to me?"

"I mean, there's two of them," he blew air again. "So yeah," and he blew again.

"I know! You poisoned those!"

"Oi, what do you take me for?" he looked annoyed as he stood up after the flames burned brighter. "I don't take advantage like that."

"Eh... Then what are you planning? Don;t you want to fight me?"

"I do," he sat down. "Just after this meal. Or maybe a little later to avoid stomach aches."

Sometimes, no, all of the time, I don't understand him, and I don't intend to do so. However, those flamebelly just looked too delicious to decline.

"W-well then, I'll join you..."

"For real?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. You offered me food. I'm just accepting what's beneficial for me.

I stared at the fire, dancing like a burning lady on those cracking branches.

"You really are a fool," I said.

"Oi! Where did that come from?" replied the airhead.

"I mean," I leaned closer to the fire. "Here you are, sharing food to your enemy."

"You're not my enemy."

"Fool, the fact that you want to capture me is enough to make me your enemy."

"Really? Does it work out that way?"

"Of course!!! Seriously, I don't understand you at all!"

I wish the flamebelly lizards would just get cooked right now so I could leave.

"Funny, because I don't find you as an enemy," the airhead looked confused. "Although I want to capture you..."

I let out a sigh before asking, "Why do you want to capture me anyway... That knight leader person too, Hatedglitch was it? I believe he wanted to get me too."

"It's an order from the high king," he answered.

"What order?"

"He announced that anyone who can bring him the head of a mage will be greatly recognized."

"The head..." I somehow rubbed my neck. "I see, so you want to be recognized? Well no wonder, you are human after all. You do anything for your selfish desires without a care to those which might be affected by your actions."

"I'm not like that," he argued.

"Hoo? Then why do you want recognition?" I asked, tempting him to reveal his inner desires.

He then looked at the fire with a cold expression, "I want to be a knight."

"Huh?! A knight?"

"Yeah, they won't accept me because they think I can't do it..."

"Well, they're right..." I bantered with a smirk.

"Oi!!!"

"I mean, you're too small to be a knight. Can you not at least wait until you've grown?"

"That's why I'll capture you! So they'll recognize my worth!"

"So you'll have to kill me then."

"Kill? Why should I?"

What in the great creation of Astral Mages is wrong with him? How far does his stupidity reach?

"Look here! Your high king demanded the head of a mage. Which means you have to behead me."

"Why should I? That's disgusting. Bringing you whole to the high king is fine, as long as your head is there... I think."

"Either way, I won't let you capture me," I looked away. "I have my own things to do."

"Can you not do that after I take you to the high king?"

"Ah!! Seriously where are the screws on your head?!"

"Ah, it's done!" and he bent over to get the cooked meal.

"R-really? Good thing," I huffed.

He took all the cooked lizards, a total of five including the two Flamebellies, and formed them like a fan on his hands. He took two lizards, one Flamebelly included, and extended it to me.

"Here's yours," he flashed a smile, not the usual half smirk.

I immediately took them and turned away, "Humph! I won't thank you because I didn't ask you to give me."

"I don't really care," and he took a big bite on his food.

I then bit on the food which enticed me so much. Once the flavor touched my salivating tongue, I cannot help but giggle and squirm from overwhelming joy. Although it wasn't as delicious as mother's cooking, Flamebelly will always be Flamebelly.

"You sure like those huh?" he chuckled.

"I-It's none of your business. Just shut up and let me enjoy my meal."

"Okay, okay..."

At last, it was quiet once more. I could enjoy the peace and quiet more together with my favorite food. It was like heaven itself came down to grace me. However, as hell existed beneath, so did Felgard suddenly disturbed me with his loud choking and coughing sound.

"Hey! You're ruining the moment!!"

"Well excuse me for intentionally choking myself."

"Whatever! Just shut up and eat!"

"Okay, okay..."

Seriously, I can't rest easy as long as he is around. Well, perhaps I should be grateful at least. I may hate humans, but I'm not that ungrateful. Because that is a human's job. Just not now, maybe once I leave.

"Haaa..! That hit the spot," the airhead sighed as he lied down open arms on the ground. I cannot disagree. Flamebelly lizard kebabs were always delicious and satisfying.

Now that he's defenseless, perhaps it's my chance to escape. All of a sudden, his innocent smile when he extended the food to me flashed in my mind. It made me hesitate. But why must I? I am a mage, and soon to be the highest being in the world. I must not lower myself with humans, especially humans. No matter how I look at it, he is an enemy.

"Funny, because I don't find you as an enemy," his words flashed back in my mind. Dang it! He's making me hesitate from my actions. He's an eyesore, a nuisance.

It may seem rude but I'll have to leave him be. After all, he'll always be on my tail.

I then rode on my staff and levitated on it. Immediately, I flew upwards and away from that place. Perhaps he didn't notice me as I couldn't hear him shouting out to me. I didn't turn back and just flew away with speed.

After flying for about half an hour, I somehow felt my stomach ache. Perhaps it's from continuous sitting on my staff sideways with a full stomach. It happens to me sometimes. It forced me to take a short rest down into the forest.

"Hopefully, this won't last long," I whispered to myself while totally concealed within a bush under a tree.

I then noticed someone coming from a distance. It felt like someone was jumping, no, more like skipping towards my direction. I kept myself hidden while keeping my sights at the direction of the sound.

"Aah! The pain! The despair! Oh! Woe is me! Woe is me!" There was a girl, about my age or older, in a royal blue dress whirling around from place to place. She had long golden-brown hair with a gorgeous looking mini hat on top. Her accessories were quite in number and size from her humongous earrings up to her glittering glass slipper. Her every movement gave off elegance and class as she danced with her head held high and fingers on pinky up. "Oh, how excruciating! How intensifying! Oh, oh!"

For some reason watching her was annoying and I decided to just leave her be, until I accidentally stepped on a branch which made a sound. Startled, I slowly looked back to where the girl was to see if she heard it. But what I saw instead was her face looking extremely close to mine.

"Kyah!" was the sound that came out of my mouth as I fell down in shock. She just looked at me with her emerald green eyes for a few seconds before...

"Oh, Oh! Oh oh oh oh Oh! Dear heavens have not really forsaken me! Could you be lost in this wilderness like I? Ah, the coincidence! The dictation of fate!" she was placing the back of her hand on her forehead, closed her eyes, and whirled her frilly dress.

"Uhhh.." was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

"It is truly a marvel to have met you!" She then held her dress on the sides, crossed her legs and bowed down as she stated her identity, "My name is Millavuenoghatthendillia Edelvoughahndi Mayoubhoughergoise. It's truly delightful to meet you."

I was left in awe as she stated her extremely long name, and her elegance like that of a doll was indeed astonishing. I marveled at the sight of this beauty in front of my very eyes (without a hint of jealousy).

"Are you not supposed to tell me yours little miss?" she then stood firm with her hands together as she waited for my response.

"F-friesha Mir-miraden," I answered her suddenly.

"Then miss Fifirisha, to what dazzlingly sad reason were you brought here like I, in this realm of danger and fear," her voice was so high, I felt like I stumbled upon a fairy tale.

"Huh? Oh, I was running away from someone," I slipped my tongue and answered her.

"Oh, oh! My my! Oh, the tragedy! The horror it might have been! Oh, how pitiful you are on your current state! Oh, sadness!" she took a delicate lace handkerchief and silently blew her nose on it.

I don't know what kind of situation this might lead to so I decided to leave saying, "Indeed, truly tragic. So, I'll just leave you be and not lead the chaser to you. Bye bye!"

"Dear me please don't leave! Oh, oh! How kind you are to think of others before yourself! Splendid! Marvelous!" she then suddenly grabbed my right hand and held tight before I could leave. "We helpless girls have no one else to lean on but ourselves now. Let your danger be my danger, and your fear be my fear. Indeed, let us rejoice upon this joyful encounter! Oh my, how marvelous!"

For some reason I wanted to pummel her on the head and leave. Just then from the bushes, emerged my chaser. With leaves on his head, he came close saying, "Oi why'd you fly away like that?"

The damsel then set her sights on Felgard for a few seconds before screaming like a hummingbird, "Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!" I covered my ears from the sound and saw Felgard did the same. Just as she finished, she shouted, "Sebaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!!"

Immediately after a few seconds the sound of intense running and trees rumbling, as well as birds fluttering, can be heard coming close to us. Then, out from the trees leaped an old man in a clean tuxedo.

"Miss Millavuenoghatthendillia Edelvoughahndi Mayoubhoughergoise!! Are you alright?!!"