The sun was up in the sky and the wind was ice cold. Winter was approaching with big steps.
[And you were so busy dealing with beastmen that you didn't have time to prepare your cave for winter. Enjoy freezing your butt off!]
"Oh come on." Rhaëlya rolled her eyes. "There's still time."
"Wait wait! Host look over there!" Orion pointed with her small tentacle towards a...patch of weed?
Rhaëlya looked in that direction but she really couldn't see anything outstanding.
"Weeds??" She asked Orion.
"No no! Under that patch of weeds!" Orion explained again.
Rhaëlya approached the small patch of weeds and looked at it closer. But still, nothing stood out.
Then she simply shrugged and wanted to get up when a small shovel appeared in front of her.
"...really? You guys really want me to dig here?" She asked, though it was mainly towards the screen. As she knew that Orion wouldn't have been able to make things appear whenever she wanted.
[Yes. We detected traces of ginger. It'll be really useful during winter. And it might also save you some sick days.]
"I won't get sick." She replied in a monotone voice. It's true, she hasn't gotten sick since she was thirteen. She only fell sick when she was gravely injured and had lost a lot of blood.
Though this was the beast world, and even the pre-winter period was colder than what she was used to. So maybe she should prepare just a little bit.
While she was thinking all this, her arms were moving. And before she could get tired, she hit something with her shovel.
She put the shovel on the ground and started digging with her hands.
Then she found a baby ginger root, sweet. "Hey, can I use my 'green fingers' power to turn this immature baby ginger into a mature one?" She asked.
[Of course. But I recommend multiplying it manually before enhancing it to maturity.]
Rhaëlya yawned before nodding and then she started looking around again. She really needed to renovate that damn cave. She didn't want her mates to get sick.
"Wait." She mumbled before closing her eyes.
"Ariel, do you not have a 'home making' tool or something? Aren't you here to help me?" She questioned the screen after forcefully summoning it.
[...that's Orion's job.]
"Hmm?" She slowly turned towards Orion, the floating jellyfish.
"...." Orion's thin tentacles trembled.
"Orion~" Rhaëlya called in a sickly sweet voice, with an angelic expression etched on her face and her slender fingers moving gently towards it.
The jellyfish started to panic and wanted to kill that damn mermaid once. Just once! Why did he have to put her in this situation?!
It isn't her fault okay! She also forgot that she could do that!! She's been a dormant system for more than five centuries alright!!
But running was useless. Not only because she was in the form of a jellyfish, but also because she couldn't completely hide from her host.
Then suddenly- she was grabbed by Rhaëlya's hands!!
"Wait wait wait wait!!" She exclaimed before transforming into a little girl. She knew that her host wouldn't be too harsh with her if she took on the form of a small child!
"I can explain! Please older sister~" She pleaded in a honeyed voice while looking at Rhaëlya with big, watery puppy eyes.
Rhaëlya loosened her hand a bit when she saw that the form the system took was that of a small child. One with a very delicate and adorable appearance at that.
[That's still Orion, the multiple century old jellyfish system. She's using a manipulation tactic to on you~] Ariel typed in, with a smug expression on his face.
Although he liked the jellyfish, he also liked to tease it. And this wasn't at all because he was jealous of the name the jellyfish received!
Not at all!! Humph!
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A few meters away from Rhaëlya stood a towering shadow.
The blood red eyes were gazing at the one holding air. That's what it seemed like, at least. But it knew better.
It felt something around her . Something alive. But it cannot be seen with the naked eye.
But that wasn't a problem. It'll figure it out soon as well.
But it's great! She didn't look injured. The last time, it had to leave her before she got back to her den due to circumstances.
Then he smelled blood from inside her cave! It barely held itself from marching in. If only he didn't fear her.
But she was terrifying, alright.
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Rhaëlya kept teasing the jellyfish in it's- her human form. But that doesn't mean that she couldn't feel it. Again. That same gaze.
She couldn't pinpoint the exact location, it felt like it was watching her from everywhere.
The cold wind picked up again, brushing away Rhaëlya's hair as she stood in silence.
That feeling, the one of being watched, hadn't left. If anything, it had grown stronger. More precise. As if something unseen was slowly tightening it's focus on her.
But no matter where she looked, there was nothing.
No shadows darting between trees. No rustle of feet disturbing the moist underbrush.
Just that weight.
Like a predator watching from behind a veil.
"...Any updates?" she asked, her tone casual, though her fingers curled slightly.
Orion floated close, her tentacles unusually still. "Negative. I scanned the surrounding mana and air currents twice. There's something here... but it's fuzzy. Slippery. It feels like a beastman, but I can't identify species or tribe."
[Same on my end.] Ariel's window blinked into view. His expression, for once, was serious while typing, [It's an adult beastman. Power signature's masked. That alone is concerning.]
Rhaëlya's jaw clenched. "Can you tell how long he's been watching me?"
[No. Which means... probably longer than we think.]
She didn't like that answer. Not one bit.
Without a word, she turned and began walking again, footsteps steady despite the knot twisting in her stomach.
Orion floated behind her silently. Even her usual sass was gone.
The forest grew thinner as they moved toward the border. Dew dipped trees gave way to sparser brush, and the familiar outlines of the clearing that marked the path back home came into view.
Just a few more steps-
Thud.
Something stumbled out of a bush just a few meters ahead and collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Rhaëlya's hand instinctively moved toward the dagger tucked at her waist. Slowly, the figure groaned and pushed himself up.
Tall. Definitely a beastman.
Long, purple hair spilled over his shoulders like waves of silk, contrasting starkly with the his sun kissed skin. His eyes, when they met hers, were a deep, unsettling shade of blood red.
"...U-Uh..." He blinked rapidly and rubbed the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Sorry! I-I didn't see you there..."
Rhaëlya said nothing, her expression unreadable.
[Host...that's him.]
Orion hovered a little closer to Rhaëlya's shoulder, whispering, "That's definitely the guy. Same vibes as your forest admirer!"
Rhaëlya tilted her head, watching as the man scrambled clumsily to his feet, brushing mud off his arms. He wobbled a little, as if disoriented.
"Ah... You wouldn't happen to know the way to the beastman village, would you?" he asked with a hesitant smile. "I think I got a bit lost."
His voice was warm. Gentle. Almost nervous. Too perfect. Too harmless.
"...It's in that direction." Rhaëlya replied simply, nodding down the path.
"R-Really? Phew, that's a relief." He said, chuckling awkwardly. "I was starting to think I'd have to spend the night out here."
Orion was trembling slightly. "He's pretending. He's totally pretending."
[He's looking too clean for someone who's been in the forest this long, and his scent's partially suppressed.] Ariel's screen flickered. [But no aggressive intent... yet.]
Rhaëlya stared at the man a moment longer, then turned without another word.
The man blinked in surprise. "Uhm...hey, wait! Do you mind if I walk with you for a bit? Just until we're out of the woods?"
Ariel's screen blinked rapidly.
Orion hissed "No no no!!! Say no!"
"...Suit yourself." Rhaëlya said coolly.
And so, the tall, clumsy stranger followed behind her, his crimson gaze occasionally flickering up to the back of her head.
Always smiling.
Always watching.