Bordering the forests in the southern part of the Stone Claw Mountains was the town of Ortelle that made it's fortunes off of the resources from the forest. With a population of around five thousand it was the largest of the settlements that surround the mountains due mostly to the influence of Lord Houd who invested heavily in the town.

"Mornin Barns," A rough looking man gave a greeting to the inn keeper who nodded in return. The shelves that were behind the bar counter were once filled with alcohol of various types now only had a few, Barns however still gave his signature smile of greeting.

"Morning to you too Barat, how was the trip?" Wiping a mug off Barns went to one of the barrels of alcohol underneath the shelves and started to fill the mug.

"Worse than before, the monsters are even more aggressive than last time," Barat was a lumber jack, wood was always needed for a variety of projects within the town but was also one of it's major exports. A little over a year ago however the monsters that would normally be found up in the mountains started coming down making work difficult and dangerous. The lord wasn't helping much either as the price of sending men to kill the monsters was much higher than the income he would be getting, as a result the people were the ones who had to suffer the cost of protecting themselves. "Managed to get two carts before a Stone Bear attacked, we ran from it as fast as we could. It was a good thing we were already packed up." Barat took a drink of the mug that Barns had set down. "How is it here?"

"Not much change, just some of the lords men and mercenaries coming in once in a while and the regulars," Even the mercenaries were starting to leave, most of the adventurers that had come at the beginning had also left; there wasn't enough coin between the residents to keep them here. It didn't help that the lord increased the tax so that the amount of income he gets from here increases and recently his men has been conscripting from here as well leaving everywhere short handed. "Tendit's son was taken away last night, Tendit himself was arrested for interfering."

"Damn it, this place is just being bled out slowly, just what is the royal family doing!" Barat slammed the empty mug down and held his head with the other hand.

"Don't be like that, they tried sending resources to us but the lord taxed almost all of it. And the thing about the fairies coming overseas is causing a lot of problems for them," the one thing that hadn't stopped was news, there were still merchants coming even if there were less of them and with each one the situation looked worse. Like the majority of the common folk most of the people living in Ortelle favored the royal family, but it didn't look good for them.

"We should fight before they kill us all!" Barat stood up and looked straight into Barns's eyes," Nothing good will come out of the nobles winning, we have enough people we can take them down."

"Shh, shh!" Barns was shaking and trying to get Barat to close his mouth, "You want to get us all killed? They're trained soldiers and those same soldiers are patrolling everywhere."

"If I'm going to die anyways I'll do it holding a sword and fighting the bastards than starving to death beneath them." Barat grabbed Barns with both hands, "Join me, you can't be happy with the state of things either." However Barns was no longer looking at Barat but something behind him.

The clatter of something metal hitting the wooden floor made Barat turn around where several men in mail armor were grinning at him. On the ground was a sword that they had tossed, "Then pick it up and die," The leader of the group drew his sword and advanced towards Barat, the other five slowly formed a circle around him.

"Graaaahh!!" Pushing Barns away Barat rushed at the sword, reaching it he pulled at the handle but the sword wouldn't budge.

The soldiers started laughing and jeering at Barat, "That's treason you know?" A malicious smile was on the leaders lips, "Time for your execution."

Barat tugged at the sword as the man approached with sword held high but it still wouldn't budge despite all the muscles tempered from logging Barat simply couldn't draw the sword. "Curses, bloody cowards!" Barat stood up holding the sword like a club and charged at the leader. Grinning the leader easily sidestepped Barat's swing and brought his sword down cutting into Barat's leg.

"That all you got?" The soldiers laughed as blood flowed from the wound, although it didn't go all the way through the cut was still deep.

"Please stop, today's meal would be on the house alright?" Barns grabbed onto one of the soldiers shoulders and begged.

"Hah?!? All your food and drinks belong to us anyways, you were a conspirator in this treachery too you." The soldier shoved Barns against the wall, "Just stay there and watch, it'll be your turn soon."

"Bloody BASTARDS!" Getting up on his good leg Barat raised the sheathed sword limping forward he tried to hit the leader again and once again blood flew, along with his left hand. Clutching his hand in pain as blood spurted from the wound the soldiers started looting the place as the leader slowly walked towards Barat, "This is starting to get boring so let's finish it alright? Oh old man I believe you have a daughter right?" Barns paled as the leader mentioned his daughter.

"Please, please have mercy! Guh" Barns who had got on his knees and had his head on the ground, bowing furiously was kicked by one of the soldiers that was gulping down a bottle of alcohol.

"She looked quite nice didn't she? As a service we'll do her in front of you," a devilish grin appeared on the soldiers face, "Or maybe you would prefer to do her yourself?" At that the soldiers burst out laughing.

"The public order certainly has deteriorated," The laughing was cut off by a feminine voice appearing from the door. Looking over the soldiers had lecherous grins on their faces as they saw the origin of the voice. Despite wearing a heavy traveling cloak her well endowed figure was not at all hidden, although the leader frowned slightly at the fact that they didn't even notice her coming in it was quickly put aside for the lust he felt.

"Another conspirator, we'll have to punish you thoroughly too." Walking by Barak the leader headed towards the hooded figure, "Well if you are obedient we'll let you live." A large grin was on his face, "As a slave though."

As he reached out a hand to grab her she smiled brightly, "I have a better idea," suddenly all the leader could see was red as he felt pain across his entire face, very quickly though his vision faded to black as he lost consciousness. "How about you obediently get beat up and I won't kill you?"

For a bit no one said anything at the shock of the scene before them, in the span of an instant the leader's face was smashed down through the floor boards. "Wh-Who do you think we are!?!?! What you just did is an act of treason!"

"Treason?" She made a feral grin, "I'm just delivering punishment on misbehaving soldiers of our kingdom." As she said that her hood fell back revealing wild red hair and crimson eyes.

"You! But you're supposed to be fighting across the ocean!" The soldiers were shaking with fear.

"I was, I came back for a little vacation," She took a step forward and the soldiers reflexively took several steps back. "

"Ge-Get her! We out number her!" Despite the loud shout even the soldier who spoke didn't believe himself that they could win.

That day Barns and Barat witnessed why the first Princess Gwyn was named the Princess of Hell.

A Rock Bear was a beast that lived in the Stone Claw Mountains, named so because of their skin which had the texture and hardness of rock they were fearsome monsters that required a skilled party to take down. Over the past while however they have come down from their usual habit into the forests creating trouble and chaos. Sherry was part of the group of adventurers that stayed and helped the town for minimal payment out of concern and sympathy and they had successfully defeated several beasts so far with minor injuries. But what, what is one of Steel Bears doing here!?!?

"Graaawrrr!!!" Roughly triple the size of a normal adult bear with fur that was tough as steel and razor sharp claws it was a foe that they had no chance of beating. In fact the Steel Bears were supposed to live in the very deepest caves of the mountain so their presence here was almost impossible despite recent events.

"Retreat!!!" The leader of the group a young swordsman named Jack said the obvious thing they should do in this situation and the group ran as fast as they could away from the thing. Breathing heavily they had almost made it out of the forest when Sherry's cloak got caught on a branch causing her to fall onto the ground.

Turning around their archer Prah shot several arrows which bounced off the bear without a scratch as Jack stopped to help Sherry to her feet, but they weren't going to make it in time. Gripping his sword Jack pushed Sherry forward as he faced the beast, "Go! I'll hold it back!" His voice was loud and steady but his hands were visibly shaking.

"But-"

"Jack!!!" Sherry was cut off as Prah tried to run back to Jack, Sherry barely managed to catch and hold her before she got out of reach.

With a roar the bear swung one silver paw at Jack as it approached, huge form blocking out Jack's entire view. Closing his eyes in resolution he just hopes that his body will slow the bear enough that his companions and Prah can get away.

"Wind Ball!" A tiny cute voice cried out and a metallic ringing sound was heard, the blow Jack was expecting never came but he was knocked over by a strong gust of wind. "Bad Bear!" Floating in the air with her hands on her hips was a small girl the size of a newborn baby. With iridescent wings slowly moving with light trailing from them and an elegant aura the group easily recognized what she was; a fairy. "Are you okay?"

"Ye-yeah Thank you," Jack bowed and Prah ran towards him with tears streaming from her face. The moment was short however as the bear with the sound of screeching metal slowly started getting back up.

"There you are Lily!" Pushing through the vegetation a man appeared, with black pants and a naked top.

Bright red the girls looked on awkwardly as Lily flew right at the chest of the man, hugging onto his bare chest tightly while giggling. The two, or at least Lily seemed to be in her own little world with little regards to the surroundings and because of that the party momentarily forgot about the bear.

"Watch ou-" Before Jack could finish his warning however the man had simply grabbed the sharp claw that was aimed at his head and flipped the bear over his shoulder slamming it into the ground with an explosive sound.

"Lily, you should make sure the enemies disabled first. It's dangerous otherwise."

"You were here though, I knew you would take care of it," while Lily was flirting with the man the adventurers were staring with mouths basically open wide and with their eyes looking like they'll fall out. The bear which would have taken several high level party's to take out with a high risk of casualties was casually taken out. The body was twisted and broken as it lay half buried into the earth, a two meter wide crater around the area of impact.

"Ah right, do you guys know where the inn would be?" he asked while Lily was perched on the man's shoulder humming.

"Uhh, there's an inn right beside the nearest gate to here, its to the left once you enter."

"Thanks, oh right you can have the bear's corpse," With that he started heading off towards the town.

"Wa-wait!" This time it was Sherry who called out, "Who are you?"

"Oh sorry forgot to introduce myself, it's been a while since I've talked to someone else, I'm Shin and this is Nelily Faen. Ah you guys should leave soon too, although the forest should return to normal in a couple of days." With that he left as the group watched his figure.

"We should leave too," Jack snapped out of it first and started to get the others moving, "There may be more bears coming."

"Who was he though? To take out a Steel Bear like that." Sherry was still looking at where Shin had headed, "A hero?"

"Hero's don't exist," Prah was sticking close to Jack as he worked to pull the corpse out of the ground.

"Won't budge a bit... Guess we'll just leave it here, we can go report in to the guild and they can have someone deal with it."

"That'll lower the amount we get though." Prah was pouting a bit.

"We weren't the ones who killed it either way, come on let's leave before more show up." As Jack started to lead the group away from the forest he turned around to look at Sherry who hadn't moved, "What's wrong?"

Sherry looked up, "How did he know that everything will be back to normal in a couple of days?"

"Ah, I overdid it a bit didn't I?" Five bodies were among various ruined furniture, walls and floors. The soldier currently held in Gwyn's grip was the one she had originally buried into the ground, unfortunately for him he woke up and tried to get away while she was beating his men to a pulp.

"Twuu Swon't Gez Away Fifth Dis!" His words were barely comprehensible and drool accompanied each word.

"We'll see, for now go to sleep!" With a grunt Gwyn twisted her body and threw the soldier at the door, with a cracking sound the door splintered with the collision.

"Woah!" Gwyn looked out the open doorway in surprise at the voice that was there. Standing there was a bare chested man with a fairy on his shoulder, wait a fairy?

"Hey you!" Gwyn walked towards him, "What's the fairy's name?"

"That's rude isn't it?" The fairy puffed up her cheeks, "When asking for a name you should give your own first! Vilana said that."

"Calm down a bit, her name is Nelily Faen." The man patted Lily's head and she seemed content with that and calmed down.

"What is your relationship?" Nelily Faen was the fairy that had gone missing which led to the current problem of a group of fairies traveling over the ocean to search for her. It was also one of the reasons Gwyn had returned from the front lines.

"Shin's my husband of course!" With that Lily hugged onto Shin's neck, the latter only smiled wryly.

"I guess you can call me her caretaker? Why do you ask though?"

Gwyn debated for a second in her head before deciding that letting him know won't matter much, "Her mother the queen of the fairies has come over here to look for her," Gwyn looked over at Lily who was smiling happily as she hung off of Shin's neck, "If you don't mind how about you come with my to the capital?"

"What do you think Lily?"

"I don't want to go back! I want to stay with Shin."

"But you still need to meet your mother don't you?"

"... alright but I'm staying with Shin."

"So we can go with you... but first of all would you mind giving us your name?"

"Gwyn Brevar, First Princess of the Kingdom." Gwyn gave a little nod in place of the usual curtsy.

As Shin opened his mouth to say something Gwyn heard a familiar voice. "Princess!!!!" running down the road towards them were a group of around fifty men, clad in a variety of armor and wielding various weapons they look more like mercenaries then the troops of a princess. Out of breath the one in the lead was a young man with brown hair, he had big brown eyes and a thin but strong build. "You shouldn't head off like that."

"Sorry sorry, my bad. Take care of the clean up please Tarbalt. Oh right these two are coming with us." At that the man who was focused on Gwyn jumped back a bit as he noticed Shin and Lily.

"Eh, this... A FAIRY!?!? Could this be the fairy we were looking for?"

"Yeah, so let's go." Gwyn went up to one of the soldiers and picked up a great sword... and buckled it to her back, "Sorry about this Fergul I forgot about my sword."

"It's fine I'm already used to it." the man replied with a voice so deep it was almost a growl.

"... What?" Tarbalt stood there trying to comprehend the situation, a small hand suddenly pat his head.

"It'll be ok, Shin's here." Lily gave off a bright smile as she went by on Shin's shoulder, Shin himself gave Tarbalt a sympathetic look. Holding his face with his hand Tarbalt followed after quietly almost bumping into Shin who had stopped temporarily and was staring into a nearby alley.

"What's wrong?"

"Hmm... nothing." As Shin started to move again Lily decided to sing out a song merrily, after a few stanzas Gwyn and most her troops readily joined in the chorus; an unexpectedly decent mix of bird song and deep gruff chants.

From the shadows of the alley Shin was looking at earlier was a pair of dark eyes belonging a raven, shuffling its feathers a bit it melted into the shadows leaving but a feather as evidence of it's existence.

"You think he'll be fine?" Vilana was sitting on a rock looking down the mountain at where Shin went.

"Grew quite attached to him didn't we?" Fafnoth was sipping tea on the ground next to her looking at the same spot.

"What attached? I don't know what you two are talking about." Riaz's voice was wavering even though he had his back to where the other two was looking at. A moment of silence with only the wind and the sound of metal clashing on stone.

"Well we have work to do now don't we?" Fafnoth said while finishing his tea off, "Come on, let's get everything finished before he comes back."

"You heard that? Get moving you lazy sacks!" Riaz started walking back towards the base while yelling at the variety of undead that was doing construction work.

"I'll stay here a bit longer then go on my way too, it's time for the monsters to come back up the mountain." Vilana closed her eyes and bathed in the warmth of the sun, it's been a long time since she missed someone. A gentle smile that was rarely seen made its way onto her face, "I wonder how that boy is doing." The only other disciple she had that passed her training... she had already left that world behind however and there was no use thinking about it. Taking a deep breath Vilana got up and started heading down the mountain.

Decided to take an approach that wasn't from Shin's pov, let me know how it is ^.^

As always comments are always welcome, (going to have a side chapter at a later point for Lily and Shin's meeting so don't worry about that).