*Tatiana's perspective*
As I woke from the night's rest, the first rays of the morning sun gently pricked my eyes, coaxing them open. Glancing down, I found myself covered in a coat, its warmth comfortable against the morning chill. A soft smile danced on my lips, realizing Lady Sakuya must have draped it over me while I was asleep.
We were nestled within a small abandoned building near a lake within the dense forest, a tranquil refuge we had found for the night. The usual forest's eerie aura had been swept away; Lady Sakuya had ensured that, clearing our makeshift camp of invasive roots and veins, crafting an oasis of peace amidst wilderness.
I knew I owed her thanks, not just for the coat but for making the wilderness somewhat hospitable. Yet, a knot of apprehension formed in my gut. She had seemed slightly off yesterday, a hint of irritation that was uncharacteristic of her. Maybe it was something I had done. I really needed to be more careful with my actions; I seem to have an inherent talent for stirring trouble.
But mulling over it wouldn't help. It was a new day, and the first thing that came to mind was to freshen up. I pushed the thoughts aside and decided to wash my face.
With a chipper voice, I greeted the figure standing by the lakeshore, "Good morning, Lady Sakuya." I waved my hand, trying to dispel the awkward tension from yesterday.
"...Good morning," she reciprocated after a moment's pause, acknowledging my presence.
Suddenly, a shrill cry for help pierced the serenity of the morning. From a distance, I saw a frantic mister kobold waving his arms in desperation. His legs seemed to be failing him as he struggled in the water, desperately trying to stay afloat.
"Lady Sakuya?" I turned to her, my eyes wide with concern.
"I'm just fishing for some fish, and he desperately needs a bath," Lady Sakuya said matter-of-factly. Her words held an air of nonchalance, hiding the pragmatic intentions behind them.
It was just like her to perceive a problem and act immediately. That's what made Lady Sakuya... Lady Sakuya. She didn't just talk about helping, she made it happen.
"Don't believe her lies, Mistress! She wants to kill me!" The fear in Mister Kobold's voice was palpable, his pleading eyes staring right at me.
Suddenly, an ominous growl echoed from the depths of the lake, setting our hearts racing.
"Wargh! Boss, there's something in the lake! Please pull me over!" mister kobold shrieked, his desperate cries ricocheting off the still water.
Without a moment's delay, Lady Sakuya sprung into action, pulling the rope that was tied to mister kobold just as a serpent-like monster breached the water surface, lunging for its would-be prey.
With one powerful yank, the blue-scaled monster was flung out of the water, crashing onto the dried ground near the ruins with a resonating thud.
"Good job, Lady Sakuya," I praised her, admiration coloring my words.
The monster lay motionless, dazed and disoriented from the abrupt dismissal from its aquatic home. It was a fascinating sight, a testament to Lady Sakuya's quick thinking and indomitable strength.
With an enthusiasm I found endearing, and a little puzzling. "Finally, some fish we can eat," she declared, a sparkle in her eyes that I hadn't seen before.
"A fish? Can we really eat... that?" I pointed at the bizarre serpent-like creature, skepticism painting my features. The mere idea of consuming a monster was unsettling. Yet Lady Sakuya, a woman full of surprises, seemed undeterred by the creature's grotesque appearance. Her curiosity appeared to outweigh any trepidation.
"Boss, you almost killed me there!" Mister Kobold's indignant voice rang out. The little creature managed to scramble out from the jaws of the 'fish', thoroughly ruffled yet miraculously unharmed.
"Good job, Mister Kobold!" I couldn't help but laugh, raising a hand to give him a thumbs-up. "You live to see another day."
Just as we prepared to turn the creature into breakfast, Mister Kobold shared a revelation. "This is one of the Guardian's underlings. I didn't think any were still alive here."
A startled gasp escaped me. "Wait, what? This... this is a guardian of the forest?"
Despite the revelation, Lady Sakuya remained unfazed. Her culinary curiosity was piqued, and she wondered aloud, "So, do they taste good?"
"Lady Sakuya!" I exclaimed, caught between disbelief and amusement. "We can't possibly eat the guardian of the forest."
Just then, the guardian – our potential breakfast – stirred. It was awake, confused, and understandably terrified. In an attempt to soothe it, I ventured, "You finally woke up, but there's no need to be wary of us; we are good people."
Behind me, Lady Sakuya and Mister Kobold seemed to ignore my words. They had already begun building a fire, their shared enthusiasm fueling their quick actions.
"You cannot be serious," I said, turning to look at them. "We are not cooking the guardian."
Lady Sakuya held up a stone pot that she had somehow conjured up and replied cheerfully, "We could cook it fresh or eat it raw, whichever you prefer."
The poor monster, terrified beyond belief, retreated to hide behind the ruins. "There's no way you people are good people!!" it wailed.
"Lady Sakuya, please!" I implored, hoping to put an end to this wild escapade.
She sighed, a trace of disappointment crossing her features as she extinguished the fire. "Fine…"
"That's too bad, boss," Mister Kobold chimed in, clearly sharing her disappointment.
Dealing with Lady Sakuya's whims and antics was proving to be quite the adventure. I had to admit, though, her eccentricity made our journey far from dull. Only with Lady Sakuya could we go from nearly cooking the guardian of a forest to pacifying it in a matter of minutes.
"Salutations, I am Tatiana, and my companion here is the ever-brave adventurer, Lady Sakuya. And your name is?" I ventured to ask, my gaze meeting hers.
"I...I am Lamia, the guardian's daughter," she revealed, stepping out of her shadowy retreat. Despite her initial daunting presence, there was an unmistakable gentleness about her. This air of benevolence about Lamia eased the process of establishing a connection. Gradually, I managed to unravel the purpose of our journey to her.
"You seek my mother?" Her eyes widened with a mix of desperation and hope.
"Yes, your mother is the guardian?" My question hung in the air, carrying the hope of reuniting a seemingly tender family.
With this new revelation, it was essential to pinpoint her mother's last location. Lamia being the guardian's daughter added an intriguing layer to our mission.
"Could you possibly guide us to where she was last seen?" I asked her, hoping for some positive news.
"I... I'm not sure. An unknown force wreaked havoc on our forest, and then she ordered me to guard the lake until she returned. But...that was years ago. She... she never returned." The sorrow and fear were palpable in her voice. It seemed she had confined herself to the lake since her mother's disappearance.
"That's...complicated." I sighed, feeling the weight of our seemingly impossible mission. The vast forest loomed, teeming with unknown dangers and uncharted paths.
Suddenly, Lady Sakuya broke the silence, her gaze boring into Mister Kobold, "You must know something, don't you?"
"What?!" I exclaimed, taken aback by Lady Sakuya's brashness.
"Is this true, Mister Kobold? If there's anything you know, it's crucial you share it with us," I urged, desperate for any shred of useful information.
"Uh... I don't know her exact whereabouts. But... but my elder might. We could seek his counsel," Mister Kobold stuttered, clearly overwhelmed by our questioning.
"Tatiana, may I have a word with you?" Lamia interjected.
"Certainly, what's on your mind?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
In the solitude of the ruins, Lamia confided, her voice barely a whisper, "Can you really trust a kobold, Tatiana? They're not always what they seem."
Her caution did not go unheeded, but we were desperately out of options. Despite the potential risks, we had to take action to prevent the forest's further destruction.
"Lamia, I appreciate your concern. However, if there's a chance to help, I'm willing to take it," I affirmed, standing strong in our shared resolve.
"Just... be safe, Tatiana. And try to make my mother understand her folly," she urged, her worry evident, but so was her longing for her mother's safe return.
Returning to the group, we steeled ourselves for the journey ahead. As dawn made its grand entrance, Lamia took her leave, opting to stay behind with Kaze, our horse, who would be safer by the lake.
"Lead on, Mister Kobold," I called, handing Lady Sakuya her coat.
With hearts filled with determination, we embarked on the final leg of our quest.
"Tatiana, I...," Lady Sakuya began, her voice laced with encouragement.
"Rest assured. We'll do our utmost to ensure her safety," she promised, her gaze meeting Lamia's anxious eyes.
"Lamia, have faith in us. We will bring your mother home. Make sure you're ready to welcome her back with open arms," I called back, my hand waving a promise to Lamia and Kaze as we headed towards our meeting with the Kobold Elder.
-Chapter 16 End-