**Tatiana's Perspective**
The sun had bowed out of sight, yielding to the onyx canvas of the night. Stars began their vigil in the sky, while we, Lady Sakuya, Mister Kobold, and I, found ourselves near a dilapidated structure swallowed by a riot of ivy. An eerie charm clung to the ruins, transforming it into a tantalizing monument of a time forgotten.
Lady Sakuya, her eyes scrutinizing our peculiar sanctuary, asked, "This is the spot?"
"Yes, regretfully," Mister Kobold grumbled, a tinge of bitterness in his voice. "Monsters typically avoid this area."
I pondered over his statement, finding it paradoxical given that he was a monster himself. I was also captivated by the beauty of our surroundings, an untamed symphony of nature, a place so picturesque that it seemed to belie its sinister reputation.
Directly above, the moon shone down on us, its gleam reflecting off the placid lake nearby, illuminating our surroundings in a soft, ethereal glow. I was so taken in by the view that I momentarily forgot our purpose.
The expressions on Lady Sakuya and Mister Kobold brought me back to reality. "I mean... I'm sorry, we're not here for sightseeing, are we?" I stuttered, suddenly self-conscious under their gaze.
Lady Sakuya, however, surprised me with her response. One hand on her hip, she closed her eyes and offered me a reassuring smile, "Why not enjoy the moment, Tatiana? Life is fleeting. You might regret not cherishing these times."
Meanwhile, Mister Kobold was growing restless, "I've fulfilled my promise by guiding you here. Can I leave now? You both can enjoy your time together."
I felt a pang of disappointment at his words. Despite his gruff exterior, I had started to enjoy Mister Kobold's company. "Hmm... I have so much more to ask you, Mister Kobold. It's a shame you want to leave. I suppose it's time for us to part ways then," I said, trying to keep the sadness out of my voice.
Suddenly, Lady Sakuya moved towards the lakeshore, her hands started to sculpt the earth, creating a sizable hole in the ground. Mister Kobold and I exchanged confused glances.
"What is she doing?" Mister Kobold whispered, his eyes fixed on Lady Sakuya's actions.
A smirk played on Lady Sakuya's lips as she patted down the soil around the hole. Turning towards Mister Kobold, she declared, "There, I've released you. Feel free to climb out."
Mister Kobold looked at the hole and then at Lady Sakuya, "Oi, this is not freeing me. This is imprisoning me!" he exclaimed.
To our surprise, Lady Sakuya pushed Mister Kobold into the hole, patting down the dirt around him. "Do your best, Mister Kobold," I couldn't help but cheer, my heart fluttering with a mix of amusement and empathy.
Lady Sakuya ventured off to scavenge for food, leaving Mister Kobold and me to guard the fort. I walked over to the lake shore, leading Lady Sakuya's horse, Kaze, to water. He seemed exhausted, and I knew a replenishing drink would do him good.
"Here there you go, Kaze. Have plenty of water. You must be exhausted," I cooed, patting his mane as he drank from the shimmering lake.
Surprisingly, Lady Sakuya referred to the horse as Kaze too, and I had started to feel a strange camaraderie with him. As if he sensed my friendly intentions, Kaze didn't mind my presence at all.
I then turned my attention to Mister Kobold, pouring water from my cupped palms over him. However, it seemed I had misunderstood his biology, as puddles formed around him.
"Wait! What are you doing? Are you trying to drown me?" Mister Kobold protested, visibly annoyed.
"Oh, my apologies. I thought maybe monsters like you could absorb water somehow," I explained, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I'm not a plant; I can't do that. Jeez," he grumbled, clearly unamused by my misguided attempt at kindness.
Just then, Kaze let out a soft neigh, drawing our attention. Mister Kobold seemed strangely wary of the horse. "That horse seems to understand what I'm saying," he remarked, a hint of fear in his voice.
"Oh, don't worry, Kaze is a good horse. He doesn't mean any harm," I assured him, trying to dispel his unease as I poured more water over him.
With the water task completed, I walked to Mister Kobold's side while maintaining a safe distance, as per Lady Sakuya's instructions.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "Mister Kobold, why did you say this was the best place to camp?"
He looked at me from the puddle he was still in and said, "This area was once the lake of the forest guardian."
"Guardian?" I queried, intrigued by this unfamiliar term.
"Yes, it's like a protector of the lands. Monsters like us and the guardian would fight for territory in the forest. Anyone trespassing in their domain would not be treated lightly," he explained, his voice tinged with pride and resentment towards the guardian.
"But I don't see any guardian here," I remarked, scanning the surroundings.
Mister Kobold's eyes clouded with sorrow as he recounted the tale. "That's because one day, the guardian broke free from its restraints and rampaged through the entire forest. It couldn't distinguish friend from foe and massacred the forest for a week. Many of our family and friends lost their lives, and we had to go into hiding."
I empathized with his pain, having experienced a similar loss when I was driven out of my kingdom.
"You think I don't care about a monster like you, but you're wrong," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I would be sad if anyone I know was sad."
Tears welled up in my eyes, betraying my feelings, and Mister Kobold looked genuinely surprised by my display of compassion.
Just then, Lady Sakuya returned, breaking the somber mood. She held a bundle of fruits in her hands, and her presence brought a sense of warmth to our little group.
**Sakuya's Perspective**
From the corner of my eye, I spied Tatiana in deep conversation with our involuntary kobold guide. Their lively exchange, although unexpected, bore a quaint charm that tamed my innate urge to butt in.
"Hunting proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated. No meat, I'm afraid. But these fruits should suffice," I interrupted their dialogue, presenting my humble bounty of forest fruits. Their mellow radiance under the soft moonlight was indeed enticing.
The forest around us was eerily devoid of its usual inhabitants and the commonly found wild vegetables. As my gaze fell on Tatiana's slender figure, I couldn't help but feel the pressing need for a hearty meal.
"Lady Sakuya, this is incredibly generous of you. I am sincerely grateful," Tatiana responded, her eyes brimming with genuine gratitude.
With a fruit in hand, she struggled to figure out how to approach eating it. Her attempts to bite the oversized fruit were endearing, but futile.
"Would you like me to cut it into more manageable pieces?" I asked, already reaching for my ever-present knife.
She handed over the fruit with a nod, saying, "Yes, please. That would be much easier."
My knife flashed in the moonlight, and within seconds, the large fruit was reduced to bite-sized portions. Tatiana watched the whole process, her eyes wide with admiration.
"That was quite a spectacle, Lady Sakuya. Your knife skills are impressive," she marvelled.
"No ordinary human could have managed such a feat," chimed in Mister Kobold, a touch of awe lacing his voice.
His comment earned him a stern glance from me, a gentle reminder not to spoil the amiable mood. The kobold gulped, evidently understanding my silent warning.
"Exactly! Lady Sakuya is highly competent and reliable. She's incredible at everything she does," Tatiana enthusiastically concurred, oblivious to the kobold's discomfort.
"Y-yes, indeed, Mistress. She truly is remarkable," the kobold agreed, trying to curry my favour.
The conversation took a serious turn when they mentioned a guardian running rampant in the forest. "Right, we must confront and pacify this guardian to restore tranquillity in the forest," Tatiana declared resolutely.
Her determination forced me to ponder over our potential involvement in this matter. Could the chaos caused by this guardian be the reason behind the forest's sparse resources?
"Lady Sakuya, surely we should lend a hand in these dire circumstances, right?" Tatiana turned to me, her eyes filled with an earnest plea for my approval.
"I'm not sure…" I replied hesitantly, not wanting to express my reservations.
My noncommittal response seemed to throw a shadow over her enthusiasm. It reminded me of the wise words of that Ice mage, about the ambiguity of righteousness. So, I decided to impart a bit of that wisdom to Tatiana.
"Just keep in mind that our perceptions and experiences often influence the choices we make," I suggested as I helped her get settled in for the night.
This is the best course of action for now... or so I hoped.
**Sakuya's Perspective**
After another night of meditation with Tatiana, I remember at the inn, sharing a drink with the enigmatic Ice Mage. The clink of our glasses filled the air as we sipped the potent spirits, though I knew intoxication was a distant dream for her and me alike.
"What is your intention?" I inquired, knowing she was well aware of the question I meant to ask.
She sipped her drink and contemplated for a moment before responding, "Hmm, why not?"
Her nonchalant response left me uneasy, and I probed further, "So, you're pushing her to build her own forces for that war?"
The Ice Mage nodded, unfazed by the gravity of the situation. "The war is inevitable, whether she likes it or not. By having her form her own forces, we simply expedite the chaos that's bound to unfold."
Her casual demeanor toward such a serious matter infuriated me, and I couldn't hide my disdain. "So, you want her to be corrupted faster?"
Her lips curved into a smirk as she replied, "Corrupted or not, it doesn't matter. There's something about her existence that just doesn't add up."
I pressed her further, wanting to understand her perception of Tatiana. "How do you see her?"
The Ice Mage's analogy was unexpected, likening Tatiana to a vulnerable duckling without parental guidance. "She's like a duck just hatched from its eggshell. Helpless and fragile. Without someone to guide her and protect her, she wouldn't last long in this world."
She downed her drink in one swift gulp, as if to drown her thoughts. "The fact that she's survived this long baffles me. It's almost unbearable to fathom her reasoning."
Her words struck a chord, as I couldn't deny the truth in them. Tatiana was like a delicate flower surviving in a harsh storm, defying the odds.
"Perhaps I'm just bored," the Ice Mage added, her voice tinged with mockery.
I was left speechless, realizing that her approach to Tatiana had been driven by a unique perspective. While I didn't agree with her methods, she was right in her assessment. Tatiana's journey would be filled with hardships and tests.
"You don't have to follow my path. We are different kinds of monsters," the Ice Mage acknowledged, implying that I should find my own way in guiding Tatiana.
As we conversed, I realized that our involvement with Tatiana would shape her growth. Whether she became corrupted or not ultimately depended on her choices and the influence we had on her. The path we took with her would undoubtedly shape her future.
Later that night, I returned to find Tatiana asleep, lying on a leaf. I covered her with my coat, and as I caressed her innocent face, memories of my own long-lost daughter, resurfaced.
"This is the best way for you, isn't it, Tachiana?" I whispered, not knowing what future hold for her.
- Chapter 13 End -