I asked "What are you exactly?". She looked at me and said "It's not nice to ask me what am I but anyway. My name is Laly, it was given to me when I received this form. To answer your question, I'm Eterian. This is what you humans call my race". I looked at her and asked "What is Eterian?". I asked because I never encountered that name before. She probably knew that and answered "It's a race of beings that do not possess body when they are born".
I asked again "Does that mean you are a ghost?" to which she shook her head and said "No, we are not ghosts or spirits. We are simply born without a body like you humans. When I received my body and name, I became Eterian". I was confused and asked "Then how are you born? You have body of a human and whatnot, similar features, you have veins and walk on two legs. You can also speak our language and show great intelligence. So if you have no body, how can you be born?".
She smiled and said "Just like you, but I have no body. If you took away all the skin, muscles and what not from a baby, you would see a baby Eterian". I was even more confused at that point and decided to just let that go. I had other questions, I wanted to know the answers to. I asked "Then how do you receive your body? Do you kill a human or something like that?" to which she said "No. We don't do that kind of thing. We create it from special materials and when a baby is born, it is then connected with that body then given a name. It's actually a great ceremony when that does happen".
I asked "So why did you say that it is "Sort of" how you look like?" to which she responded "Because we as babies are born looking the same. We are given body that was made by our parents as well as name. Our parents need a lot of effort to create a body for us and so the birth of Eterians is quite rare".
'So this must be some kind of rare race that has difficulties reproducing. I wonder why there were never any records of such race in history. Well, maybe because I lived in village and didn't need to worry about other races' I thought. I decided to ask "Why are you here then and not with your parents? Or with your race?". She became visibly angered and sad at the same time. She said "Because humans killed my race as we didn't want to become their slaves". I could feel the coldness from her words towards me as a human but she didn't try to kill me. I said "Then why didn't you kill me?"
She said "Because you are different. That was why I watched you for a while. You don't seem to share the same ideas that those other humans have. I also wonder why?". I said "Maybe because I didn't have many interactions with those humans, Nick told me to avoid cities and villages as they can spoil my character and progress. I did that till today. I also killed a lot of humans so I guess, I'm not a very friendly person".
She smiled and said "That is why you were different. You don't hate our race. It seems you were only upset about those things you saw in the forest and because I watched you". I looked at her in the eyes and said "I have no prejudice against your race or any race. I've been a slave so I know how fellow humans can treat one another". She asked "Is that why you train so hard?" to which I nodded and said "Yes, I promised Nick that I would master my arts before I go to any city or village. I didn't break that promise…. Well I bent it a bit. It was when Shelly and I razed a village to the ground but other than that, I avoided settlements".
I then asked "So did humans kill all Eterians but you?" to which she shook her head and said "No, it was impossible for humans to kill all of us. We've been here longer than humans and our roots extend much further than they can imagine. I have couple of friends far away that are Eterian. We communicate sometimes just to check up on eachother but it takes a lot of my power so we don't do it often".
I thought about something and said "If I were you, I would still kill me" She seemed surprised and I continued "Not that I want to die but maybe that is what your race lacked when fighting against humans? Maybe you were not as decisive?". I think this struck a wrong cord with her and she seemed very mad but didn't do anything and soon calmed down. She then said "Maybe you are right. No, you are right. This is what we lacked. You were able to figure this out just from general descriptions I gave you".
I looked at her and said "Sorry, it seems you've been through a lot but all of us been through some things. What do you plan on doing now?". She sighed and said "What can I do? Alone or with couple of Eterians? Our race hides in the shadows and for a long time now. We don't want to risk another fight anymore. As long as humans think that only a few of us were left alive and we are no longer a threat, they will never seek us".
I had my own thoughts about that 'Maybe but I wouldn't bet on it. As far as I know something about humans, it would be that they will exterminate a threat completely. No loose ends'. I didn't tell her my thoughts, there was no point. I asked "Do you intend to spend the rest of your life here then?" to which she smiled and said "I don't know yet. So far I'm living here. I can live much longer than a human so to me 10 years is not a long time".
I thought about her skills and decided to ask about them. "Those skills or traits as you call them. Can you teach me something?" to which she narrowed her eyes and said "Why should I teach you anything about my abilities? Why do you want to know them?". This seemed to be a taboo subject with her. I answered "Because I train in the same stuff. I train stealth as well as bow and hidden weapons. I don't have a bow now but if I had one, I would train my aim with it. I can also make some basic medicines and poisons". She said "Then learn your things, why ask about my abilities and traits?".
I was at a loss. 'What did I say that she is acting so differently now? Is this really some sort of taboo and they would be offended by me asking?'. I decided to ask about that "Did I offend you by asking to teach me? I don't know your race so maybe you have different customs. I admire your skills or however you like to call them and would like to improve mine. I wouldn't ask you if I was stronger than you". She seemed to calm down and answered "You didn't offend me but I can't teach you any of that. The processes are too complicated and it requires something I am not prepared to do".
I was confused but I dropped the subject nevertheless. Instead I asked "Then what now? You told me all of those things and whatnot. Are you going to kill me or something? I don't understand why you would answer my questions and let me go like that?". She seemed to struggle a bit about something and said "Well.." but nothing else.
I said seriously "Then I will ask you one more question. What do you want from me? I know you want something because normal person, creature or whatever it was, wouldn't stalk me for months for no apparent reason. Especially me, when all I did was some everyday training. Everyday the same stuff. What is it that you want from me?".
She was thinking about some stuff, that I could see but no answer came from her mouth. I asked "Can I leave now? I want to resume my journey north". She snapped out of it and said "Wait! Sit down, I need to think about some things" then she left the room and went somewhere. I thought 'There is no point running, I think. She is much stronger than me so I will not be able to get away. I will just wait and see'.