Why Is Always Spiders

For the first year of his life, Raegar was restricted to his crib because he would wander when out of it, forcing his mother and maids to watch him, unable to do much more than crawl because of his legs.

He spent his days flipping through books he couldn't read; the pages offering only images and words he couldn't make sense of. One day, while he sat there, quietly absorbed in his attempt to escape his prison, someone entered the room.

It was a beautiful young tiger woman he had never seen before, but the stranger's ears caught his attention, her presence commanding yet warm. She was a close friend of his parents, her green eyes sparkling as she bent down to greet him.

''Hello there, you're a handsome baby, aren't you?'' the woman said with a bright, welcoming smile. ''You look like a little version of Victoria, with her white hair and big blood-red eyes. It's so adorable.''

With gentle hands, she reached into the crib and lifted him up, cradling him close. Raegar's eyes widened, unsure of the sudden shift, but there was something soothing in her embrace as he melted into her arms.

The woman chuckled softly before introducing herself in a bubbly voice. ''Little Blackwood. I'm Elara Crowhurst, a close friend of your parents. It's a pleasure to meet you after so long.''

He wasn't listening as his eyes found her twitching ears while becoming fascinated with them, which made Elara giggle before lowering her head, ''Go on touch them, only you can do this though,'' she happily said.

Without hesitation, he reached out and began stroking one of them, drawing a laugh from the woman. Her laughter was infectious, but before he could enjoy it for long, she countered by pouncing on him, her fingers mercilessly tickling his belly.

''Oh no! Why is she doing this!'' he tried to speak but only baby jabber came out.

Seconds later, Raegar erupted into uncontrollable laughter, his voice echoing through the air as he squirmed beneath her playful assault. He folded over, wriggling like a trapped worm, desperate to escape her relentless attack.

Elara finally relented, a triumphant grin on her face, as he gasped for breath, tears of laughter in his eyes. ''Did you like that little one? I love your smile, its so cute,'' she said in excitement.

That memory burned brightly in his mind, a fleeting moment of joy. After that day, he only saw her once more before the years passed by, which was annoying, but thanks to his training, he forgot.

***

Raegar shook his head with a smile, ''Hello Elara, It's been years since I've seen you and I haven't forgotten about the tickling I suffered,'' he said in an amused voice.

When the tiger woman heard that, her green eyes widened while explaining. ''You remember that? Wow, your memory is excellent Blackwood!''

Following that, Ranthar commented while scanning the treeline, ''Bring the boy with us sister, we're headed for Dreadshade Castle before making the long journey to the Dawnfire Empire.''

Elara nodded just as the caravan started moving. She turned to him with a smile. ''Would you like to travel with us?''

Raegar agreed, but had to warn her he wasn't leaving this place. ''Yes, but I won't leave the forest as I'm training,'' he replied before joining her.

The road cut through Bloodfang Forest and made from cobblestones long ago, its stone surface now cracked and worn by time. The wilderness had slowly crept in, nature reclaiming the Nytheria Kingdom.

Weeds and vines, like the fingers of the forest itself, reclaimed by pushing through the cracks. As the caravan wound its way through, their wheels crunching over the uneven road, they passed by an abandoned travel station.

The wooden structure, once bustling with merchants and travelers, now stood silent and decaying. The roof had caved in on one side, leaving a gaping hole through which the sky peeked.

Rusted metal remnants of old signs hung limp from rotting beams, while the faded remnants of paint told the story of a place once full of life, now consumed by time and neglect.

''Why did they abandon that?'' he asked Elara.

She glanced at the buildings before revealing. ''I believe the Nytherian Royal Family pulled them back to Dreadshade Castle because of the constant attacks.''

While walking, he noticed the tiger woman's tail swaying side to side, which made her laugh as she teased him. ''I see you're still obsessed with my ears and tail.''

''Of course,'' he answered with a chuckle. ''Yuki let me stroke her ears years ago, but when I've tried recently, she pulled away.''

Elara chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with amusement. ''So, she's the cat maid who was always hovering around when I was near? Honestly, I could've sworn she thought I'd drop you at any moment.''

Her grin widened mischievously as she added, ''But to answer the question, you're too shy to ask…''

Leaning in closer, her voice dropped to a playful murmur, ''When a demi-human lets someone of the opposite sex touch their ears, it's their way of saying they've accepted them as their lover.''

Raegar's face flushed, and Elara couldn't resist bursting into laughter at his reaction. ''Well then,'' she teased with a sly smile, ''Still feel like touching my ears?''

''One day,'' he muttered, causing the tiger woman to beam.

''I look forward to it, little Blackwood,'' she replied in a cheery tone. ''Now, are you joining the academy when you're sixteen? You know I'm gonna be teaching next year but yet to choose one as I've been offered spots at two so far.''

When Raegar heard this, his eyes widened as he nodded, ''Yes I am. Grandfather is picking me up from here a couple days before the academy tests,'' he revealed.

The conversation flowed easily between them until Raegar suddenly recalled her book. His expression turned thoughtful as he asked, ''I've read your book and it was amazing. It helped me with my speed, but no matter how fast I get, I can't seem to deliver a strong enough blow.''

When the topic shifted, it surprised Elara. She nearly stumbled, forcing him to steady her by the waist. His firm grip kept her upright, and for a moment, she froze, her tail flicking slightly before she recovered.

Regaining her composure, she gave him a sly smile, her golden eyes glinting with amusement. ''It seems Victoria's been teaching you some of her charm,'' she teased.

The older woman shook her head with a knowing smile before explaining, ''There are a few ways to improve this. One of them is refining your technique. Work on it consistently, improve bit by bit, and you'll see results, but it takes time and patience.''

Raegar nodded as he absorbed her words. Satisfied with his attentiveness, she continued, ''Another option is to use the ground. Think of it as a springboard to generate power. It can help you deliver a stronger blow, but it's risky, especially depending on who you're up against.''

''Interesting,'' he replied with a nod. ''I'll work on it when I fight more monsters.''

Afterward, Raegar continued his journey with the caravan, their path winding ever closer to the edge of the Bloodfang Forest where they found a peaceful lake to rest beside. By the time they arrived, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a fiery glow over the treetops.

Ranthar raised a hand, signaling the caravan to halt. ''Set up camp here,'' he commanded, his voice boomed.

The group began unloading supplies, but just as the first tents were being pitched, a series of deep, guttural roars echoed from the forest's shadowy depths. The sound sent a chill through the group, freezing them in place.

He instinctively reached for his weapon, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the treeline. Even the seasoned guards exchanged uneasy glances, their movements slowing as tension hung thick in the air.

Elara unsheathed her sword just as a horde of Forest Widows erupted from the underbrush. Their chittering cries filled the air, their many legs skittering toward the caravan like a tide of nightmares.

Raegar let out an exasperated sigh, his fingers already crackling with energy while muttering as he burst forward. ''Why is it always spiders?''

''Stormfire Bullets!'' he roared, hurling blazing projectiles into the swarm.

Reddish yellow bolts streaked through the air like falling stars, each one detonating on impact. Explosions lit up the forest, sending scorched spiders tumbling in all directions. With a sharp intake of breath, he vaulted into the chaos, moving with impossible speed.

Raegar bounded between the creatures like a Bramblehare, his daggers flashing as it carved through chitinous legs and fangs. One spider lunged at him, but he ducked low, driving his blade upward.

The Forest Widows surged around him, but they couldn't keep up with his relentless movements. He danced through their ranks, every slash of his weapon accompanied by the sharp hiss of burning magic.

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