"SOMEONEEEE HELPPPPPPP" Pearl shouted as she saw the huge Bison monster rushing towards her with unnatural speed. The ground trembled as the beast rushed towards her annihilating every tree on its path. Intimidated by the beasts' aura she fell down on her knees as her body gave away, refusing to even move an inch.
Fear struck her as she watched the gigantic monster close in- 15meters... 13 meters..... when the beast was 10 meters away a bright golden light appeared just feet away from her, the beast stopped in its course cautiously watching the light. As the light subsided a small figure with tattered clothes stood ahead of Pearl just between her and the Monster.
Both Peal and the monster looked at the white-haired boy as he stood facing the bison, his back towards Pearl.
Everyone got still, 'Come on MOve, you legs.' Pearl screamed within and jumped onto her feet.
"run" she whispered so her voice could be heard just by the kid.
'He cannot move , he is frightened.' Pearl sighed in horror but she could not let this boy who looked her age to die, she gathered all her courage, she took a step forward and held the boy's hand. She could not leave this kid here just to get killed by the monster. The kid's silver white hair moved around as he turned and looked at Pearl with his blue eyes. Pearl loosened her grip as she saw his face, even though his clothes were a mess and his bright silver hair looked a tone darker, he had not cleaned up after his life threatening battle, he looked regal and those beautiful blue eyes had an unnatural depth to them. Pearl looked in his eyes and to her astonishment the kid had not even a trace of fear in his eyes.
"KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" the Bison bellowed as he continued rushing towards them. Pearl took a step back in fright and covered her eyes with trembling hands.
Nile turned around, and looked at the advancing monster unfazed, just when the monster was a meter away from him, he summoned his sword and swung it. The sword hit the monster right at the middle of its head, to Nile's astonishment the sword made 'hiss' sound while cutting through the monster's bones and flesh without any resistance, it felt like swinging the sword through air instead of a monster.
"Am I dead ?" Pearl whispered, as she slowly opened her eyes and looked around . Her eyes widened and she threw up as soon as she saw the two halves of the monster around her, tangled in its own viscera.
Nile inspected the monster's body, amazed at how easily the sword had cut through the warrior-ranked monster. 'Did it capture its soul?' Nile thought, puzzled as he looked at the monster's burnt eyes. According to Vidan the greatest of poet eyes were the reflection of one's soul.
Pearl stepped meters away from the mess, her brain still dizzy, it was her first time witnessing such a gory sight. Her still trembling hands covered her nose trying to block the stench of blood in the air.
Nile soon analyzed the direction outside the forest by scrutinizing the trees around him. He was on the outskirts of the forest, and it would just take him half a day at his full speed to reach the town, but what about the girl ? The woman cultivator had asked him to protect the girl.
Pearl was standing there like a statue too shocked and her startled brain not capable enough to accept what had just happened moments ago.
"Where are your Gurads ?" Nile asked. He had looked at the Ablon's emblem on her white floral jacket which indicated she was a Royalty.
When there was no reply he spoke again-"If you tell me only then I could help you ." Nile asked in a calm tone, the girl was too frightened already for him to show any sign of irritation or anger he felt.
The girl cleared her throat before speaking- "....The..y went inside, there is a temporary outpost towards there." she pointed out in a direction, her other hands still on her nose and eyes somewhat hesitant and scared.
Nile looked in the direction, luckily it was the same direction his town was at, he did not have to take a detour.
"Get on my back, I will help you reach home." Nile spoke. Walking at a non-cultivators pace and resting occasionally would at least take three- four days to reach their destination, he would not choose this unknown girl over his family even if the old cultivator has asked him to protect her.
Pearl just stood there, when Nile spoke again-
"Listen." Nile said calmly, "I have to be somewhere, and if we walk back at your pace I might get late, so it is your choice to stay here or get on my back. "
All her hesitation disappeared when she heard him, she won't even survive for even an hour without him. She quickly got onto Nile's back.
'That was not much difficult.' he thought as he started running, even though Pearl's weight was almost non-existent to his Warrior-6 strength. Pearl was as tall and Nile looked like an ant carrying food as big as itself.
Nile's dagger was continuously circling them as he carried Pearl, he wanted to avoid her to see any more bloodshed. His dagger had upgraded to Grade-2, and gained the ability to be invisible.
"What is your name ?" Nile asked he could feel the girl's body was still stiff and tensed even after an hour journey, and he wanted a distraction from this monotonous journey, his dagger was enough to slay the monster in these parts of the forest, and the main reason was he could not let his mind wander at corners he wishes to remain distant, at least, for the time being.
"...Pearl." she replied timidly
After a long pause, she spoke again- "How old are you ?"
"Seven and half."
Pearl moved on his back, pushing her head forward over his shoulder trying to look at his face. She was so startled that she had not realized Nile was so younger than her, "wha....t are you doing ?" Nile asked looking at her fiery brown eyes filled with curiosity, her face just inches away from his, Nile blushed as Pearl's eyes keenly looked at him as if trying to solve a puzzle, her fear overshadowed by her deep curiosity.
"How are you a cultivator ?" she asked still staring at him.
"..What ?"
"You not even eight, and you beat that monster how ?" Pearl spoke in a single breath. Recently news had spread that a new prodigy was born in the Otron Empire who became a cultivator at an age of eight. The kid was called a prodigy among prodigies who could breakthrough King ranks, everything else about the kid was kept a secret by the empire.
'hasn't she gotten too comfortable too soon.' Nile thought while turning his head and looking at his path ahead-"Why ?" he said- "Why do you have to be eight to be a cultivator ?"
Pearl gently moved back, thinking hard why the minimum age for awakening was said to be nine.