Chapter 35

She again signaled as if she understood me by moving her head.

"And Anni don't get carried away while riding on her back."

"Okay dad."

Ah, she's not gonna stop calling me dad.

By the way how did she got on top of her?

Probably Saya lowered herself and climbed on top of her. Maybe her mother helped her too.

As we began to move I focused on my hearings as to be aware of things happening around us.

"Dad, why don't you ride with me?"

"Thank you but your da- I mean I need to be cautious about the surroundings so it's better for me to not to ride with you."

"… okay."

Ah… I almost said dad. Even if I say her to not to address me as dad she isn't going to stop calling me dad. She's three years old and I'm seven. There's a four years gab between us but she calls me dad instead of …oniichan or big brother or by my name.

How should I convince her to stop calling me dad? She's three years old kid and I can not get angry on her on top of that she has lost her dad before surprising him by calling him dad. Maybe I should let her be. She is probably going to stop calling me dad eventually.

Guess I'll let her be. That's good for her.

We walked for a bit and arrived at certain area.

The river is near, the house is there so we're here.

Guess I'm right. She just welcomed me.

Damn, what a peaceful setting.

Anni got off of Saya and moved to their house with her mom.

"Saya, you stay here with me, okay. You're going destroy this house if you got inside with them."

"Woof."

She has made quite a house in this forest. I'm impressed.

"No, don't get inside, you'll destroy it."

"Woof."

I moved inside as to observe the house.

They are packing their clothes and things in one single sheet of cloth.

There's nothing much inside the house. I noticed some weapons made up of rock and secured into a wooden handle.

"Oh…! Are they handmade?"

I got surprised by seeing crafted items.

There were small cup, bowl, clay pots made up of mud.

"Yes daddy. My mom made all this and this is the one I made. Do you like it?"

"Yeah a lot."

"And what this big one? Oh, there's water inside of it."

"Yes, it's water container made up of mud."

"I see and this is also built by your mom."

"Yes."

By looking at all this hand made things, I can by sure that she's expert at carving.

"Okay, I'll be outside. I want to make sure there's nothing dangerous around us."

As I said that I moved outside.

"Let me put protective barrier just in case."

"Saya, did you sense anything around like monster or Annil?"

"Woof."

"Is that yes?"

"Woof."

"Okay."

I didn't understand her.

"Saya, come with me to the river."

As I moved to the river Saya accompanied me.

"Yeah, water is clean and it's big."

"Oh, it's cold."

I washed my face with river's water.

Oh, look at her drinking water from the river. She must have gotten thirsty after eating that much meat of the snake monster.

Oh, still drinking.

I wonder why she didn't come here earlier all by herself as to drink.

Maybe she wanted someone to accompany her but wait, why should she wants someone company? There's no anything dangerous around here, or there is?

Even if there is, I did put protective barrier on the house so I don't have to worry about them since they are already protected by it.

Just to make sure, let me just focus on my hearing.

What? One, no two wait no six. Seems like group of wolf is approaching us, I should inform about it to them.

Saya c'mon, danger is approaching.

"Anni, Reyna, don't get outside of the house if you don't want to get eaten by pack of wolfs."

As I said that I put another two protective barrier just in case.

"Saya, hope you'll scared them."

Great, she looks serious.

I made six sword of ice crystals by using magic.

Good, the vision is there and I'm controlling all the six small sword.

Now wait for them to show up.

This going to be face to face real batter experience.

Hope I don't die.

I also don't want to kill them.

I guess I'll try not to pierce them with sword but smack them like a mother does with her children.

I chuckled.

Get serious like Saya damn it.

Stop imagining stupid stuff.

Breath in breath out, breath in breath out, breath in breath out.

Good, now focus.

Oh, they're already here and I think we're surrounded by them.

If we have to escape, there's only one route which is to cross the river which is not really good idea.

"I guess you guys are hungry so that's why you are here as to hunt me down."

"But you got the wrong impression of me. I'm not your food but the one that'll be smacking you."

Hm, animals are beginning to appear in this forest and monsters too. Guess this forest is going to be traveling or camping spot for adventurers pretty soon.

I'm hearing them making noise and Saya too.

Wait, why're then howling while looking at the sky.

You dumb, I'm gonna smack the shit out of them.

"Shut up."

I govern all six sword made of ice crystals as to smack them in there legs and head.

I chuckled when they all got hit by it and stopped howling.

"Don't howl, don't howl-shut up."

"Keep your voice down and go away. I don't want trouble. If I get serious I'll just kill you all and throw you to the river or I'll let Saya eat your carcass."

"So be gone, you wolf."

They got busy dealing with magical sword.

By the way what should I call those sword?

They're made up of crystals of ice so… ice crystals of sword… crystals of swords, yeah that's good, crystals of sword.

"That's right, run away."

"And don't dare to attack me again, next time I'll show no mercy."

As I yelled, I watched them running away.

"Saya did you get scared?"

"Woof."

"Oh, okay."

I didn't understand her.

"Let's meet with Anni and Reyna."

"Woof."

"Yeah c'mon."

We moved near the house.

"Reyna, Anni, we're good. You good there?"

"Yeah, what actually happened earlier, were you taking with wolf? I heard them howling but they stopped howling midway, did they?"

"Yeah, we encountered six wolfs and scared them away."

"Since they stopped howling, I thought you killed them."

"No, I don't kill for no reason. I smacked them with this."

I showed them small sword made up of ice.

"I see."

"Dad, how did you do that?"

"There's a thing called magic and mana. I used mana to use magic to create this."

"Magic, mana, use, create…?"

"I'll teach you eventually, don't worry about it."

"Thank you."

Her eyes sparkled.

"So you guys are ready to leave?"

"Yes."

"Reyna, I'll be waiting outside."

She's sad.

It can't be help since she's leaving her home, her important home. She did all the work as to made this small shelter for her and her daughter.

Things must have gotten really hard for her for past years.

You know, she have to take care of herself and her daughter all alone plus she have to do everything, from finding foods to cooking it, taking care of her daughter to protecting her, finding safe place to building shelter for themselves.

"Reyna, things were pretty bad for you in the past years right but worry no more, it is going to be better. I'm sorry that you have to leave things you made important memories with but it can't be help. Monsters and wild animals are getting active lately and it's risky to stay here however I suggest you to take things that you cherish from the bottom of your heart. Like things that triggers important memories and sad or bad memories of yours. You know harrowing memories helps you to make you strong."

I spoke.

"You know, you're strong, really strong, stronger than me. You have willpower that can't be compared with mine. You have suffered and seen things that quells one's desire to live. But you're different and you're strong both mentally and physically. I'll be glad to hear your story anytime so I'm looking forward to it. Hope you'll tell me your suffering someday."

"Thank you, Jason."

"Yeah, your welcome."

I moved outside.

I found myself patting Saya's body.

We've say farewell to her too.

"Saya, we'll be going home so hope you will accompany us till we got outside of the forest."

"Don't worry I'll come to visit you, I promise so don't get eaten by monster okay."

"No , I can't take you with me since people will just get afraid of you and will expel you from society."

But wait, there's a tiny bit of chance of villagers accepting her as a pet dog.

"Well, if there's a way I'll definitely gonna take you with me."

Hmm… there'll be food problems if I adopt her.

She's big and eats a lot but wait I can just come here and hunt monsters with her and she'll just eat carcass of the monsters.

No, that way I've to come here everyday as to hunt monsters and spend time here with her till she gets full and I don't know how many times do I have to come here per day as to hunt plus it's not certain that monsters will continue appearing in this forest. They'll eventually stop appearing and that'll be the end of source of food for her.

But wait, can't there be others like her?

There should, she can't just be 'the only one'.