" Everyone in the village was very well aware of what was going on, but no one interfered. It was quite the opposite. They subtly tried to help the couple but didn't overdo it. They believed that there was a right time and place for everything. "
" With the arrival of the cold winter, things took an alarming turn. This was the only season during which it was possible to collect the unique herbs of yellow snowdrops. With their help, herbalists created all sorts of medicines and concoctions so people in the village could enjoy a long and happy life. They were essential to the ecosystem and self-sufficiency of the hidden village. "
" When it was time to harvest, the village chief appointed fifty women to harvest and one hundred brave men on whose shoulders would rest the duty of protecting the unemployed women. "
" It is worth mentioning that the residents of the village were strong. These were the words of none other than Azahiel himself. All the time, he wasn't approaching Lushi, but but he carefully studied the residents of his new home. After several months, he was able to come to some surprising conclusions. Although none of them could compare to him, each villager, was average, twenty times stronger than the young dragon. They excelled in magic and understood the wild and untamed nature of mana. They lacked training in hand-to-hand combat but made up for it with spectacular spells. "
" This year, it was Azahiel's silent sympathizer's turn to help with the dangerous harvest. In fact, it should have been her turn two years earlier, but because of the village's long-standing tradition and duty to care for an injured newcomer, she was replaced by her friend. "
" Azahiel, from the beginning, didn't like the idea of going on an expedition in the middle of winter. In addition to the raging snowstorm, he felt an insanely chaotic energy hiding in the depths of the snow-covered forest. Although it didn't happen often, a faint whisper in his head told him to stay away from the wilderness... otherwise, he might encounter something that would surpass his capabilities. "
" The brave adventurer took the warning very seriously. After all, life had brutally taught him to always listen to his intuition. Ignoring it never ended well. "
" Azahiel was determined to stop the villagers from harvesting the herbs. He even had a long and grueling conversation with the village chief, but his efforts came to nothing. The village leader was adamant about the annual tradition of harvesting. No logical arguments appealed to him. "
" When the adventurer became an intrusive visitor, he politely let him know that if he didn't like it here, he could leave the safe haven and resume his journey."
" Azahiel had no choice but to sit quietly and humbly accept the unpleasant treatment of the usually kindly old man. He liked the place where he was currently living. He had finally achieved the coveted peace and simple life he had always wanted. He didn't want to let it all go. "
" Our adventurer had another idea. He would go on it himself since he couldn't cancel the expedition. After all, he was the strongest one here... No one was better suited for the job than him... As for the battle wounds... they wouldn't stop him from fighting smaller monsters. At least, that's what he thought. "
" However, contrary to his sincerest intentions, his proposal was again rejected by the village chief. The old man was adamant. Tradition spoke clearly - a hundred brave warriors defending fifty women. "
" Azahiel was frustrated by the absurdity of the situation he found himself in. As a man who had never paid much attention to faith or the world's values, he couldn't understand the villagers' almost fanatical devotion to their customs. "
" At a loss, he gave up. After all, if a problem arose, he could always go out as a one-man relief effort. Don't tell anyone, but he did take some measures to protect Lushie. Despite her high understanding of Broad Mana, she couldn't see through the spells cast by one of the most powerful warriors in the world. After all, it's not like a worldwide catastrophe is going to happen if she bends a few annoying rules. "
" As the sun hid behind the horizon, the shortest day of the year arrived, heralding the beginning of the harvest. It was the first day that the yellow flowers emerged from under the white fluff. The winter harvest was to last continuously for a week. This was the only time when exotic plants could be picked. After this period, they lost their healing powers. "
" Day after day passed, and Azahiel grew more and more impatient. The expedition should have returned as early as three days ago... yet none of the reapers gave the slightest sign of life. "
" The adventurer was comforted by one thing. The protective spells he had placed on Lushi remained intact. Even so, for some time now, he had been haunted by an unpleasant feeling of an approaching storm. It was as if he had overlooked some deadly important detail. A detail that could determine his future fate. He overlooked the night terrors that had been haunting him for several days. "
" Finally, as the sun rose behind the horizon for the third time, one of the brave warriors arrived at the village gate... However, the word "arrived" is far too much. A man covered in blood, he was barely on his feet. He was missing an arm, and flaps of torn skin hung freely from his back, revealing blood-red flesh. The man lost consciousness before he could offer any explanation. Dreaming awake, he repeated only one word... Run. "
" Azahiel didn't need to talk to the man to know what had happened. In his life, he had seen similar wounds among humans too many times. Forest Yetis only rip the skin off their victims for fun and make them fight to the death. As a reward for the magnificent spectacle, the winner gets a chance to get out of captivity... if he can get out of the lair without one of his hands, of course. "
" This time, no one stood in Azahiel's way. Seeing the subtle outline of the mythical aura surrounding the man, the village leader struggled to swallow the words that stuck in his throat. The pressure he exerted on the environment made the old man shudder, "
" Subconsciously, the villagers themselves went out of the way of the hero. Only a few women appeared, asking him to bring their children back in one piece. "
Ceti paused for a moment, looking at Ramiel, who was absorbed by the story. It had been a long time since she had seen her child so focused on something.
" You may not understand it now... but remember one thing, Ramiel, never, but never, can you underestimate a desperate mother. No matter how awful her child is, she will do anything to save it... If necessary, she will even throw herself into the jaws of a bloodthirsty lion. "
Ramiel tilted his head, putting his index finger to his lips. Despite the loud screaming in his head, which he increasingly ignored, he asked the question that was bothering him.
" Mom, will you also jump into the lion's mouth? "
" Of course I will. I will always save my little rascal, no matter what trouble he gets into. The lion's mouth? Do you really think that something as weak as a lion will be able to stop Mommy? "
Ramiel remembered how wild dogs used to run away in fear of Ceti. Admittedly, they weren't a lion, but they were really big...
Mommy can be scary ... but is it enough?
" No ... it won't do ... "
" So why the question? "
Ramiel hesitated. An annoying voice told him not to do it. But what could he know? If Ramiel didn't ask, how could he get an answer?
" I don't understand... it's stupid... If a lion catches me, it will eat me... I don't want it to eat you too... It's better that at least you aren't eaten... I'm enough so that the lion is no longer hungry. Or send Dad! If he eats Dad, he will be eaten! Then he will let me go! Yes, that's the best! "
Sitting on a massive throne, Lucifer covered his face with his hand to hide his embarrassment. Watching Ramiel's family is one of his favorite pastimes. However, the main character's flashes of intelligence, or lack thereof, drive him crazy. What annoys him most is ignoring the scant advice he drops.
A quiet sigh escaped Ceti's lips. Clearly, she had overestimated Ramiel. She wasn't quite sure what she expected. At the end of the day, Ramiel was only five years old.
" Forget about it... "
Ramiel nodded. He was more interested in Azahiel's future than in talking about some hungry lion.
" Where did we end up? "
" Hmm, various ladies asked Azashiel to save everyone! "
" Khm... Without even thinking for a second, Azahiel left the peaceful village. With the vast experience gained over the years, he easily found the footprints left by the wounded warrior. "
" Crossing the forest wasn't much trouble. Most surprisingly, the man on the path he followed didn't meet a single tree. It seemed as if Mother Nature, fearing Azahiel, ordered her children to avoid him at all costs. Most of them heeded the wise woman's advice. However, it would be too good for all children to turn out to be polite and obedient. There will always be little rascals who go against their parents' good advice. "
" In this particular case, it was a group of black and huge cats. They were fast, strong, and insanely dangerous. Their beautiful tails were adorned with a shimmering sword like black amethyst, which could pierce through the hardest diamond. "
" However, they were nothing compared to Azahiel. All it took was one... a brief glimpse of the adventurer for the once bold and brash monsters to turn into docile house cats. "
" Good pets ... I don't think I need to explain to you what I'm looking for? "
" Paralyzed with fear, the monsters obediently led Azahiel to the lair of the Forest Yetis. "
" When Azahiel arrived, he showed no mercy. He paid no attention to the Forest Yetis' pleas for mercy. The way they treated humans, Azahiel treated them. "
" Unfortunately, despite the adventurer's most sincere intentions, he failed to bring everyone home. When he got there, almost all of the one hundred and fifty villagers ended up in the stomachs of dead monsters. "
" As soon as the battle dust settled, Azahiel set out to find Lushi. Despite the clear signs of dormant defenses, his heart was crushed with fear and anxiety. For the first time in centuries, he had fallen in love with a woman. The thought that he might never see her beautiful smile again made him shiver. "
" Fortunately, Lushia lay wounded among the pile of dead bodies. Aside from a few missing patches of skin on her back, she suffered no major physical injuries. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for her head. The psychological trauma will stay with her for years to come. "
" Seeing Azahiel, Lushia threw herself into his arms without a second thought. Her tears, flowing in rivers from her fearful eyes, affected the man like a blanket on a bull. "
" This was the beginning of a beautiful love story for which more than one hundred and thirty villagers had to pay the price. Sometimes, it takes a shocking event of common sense to break the ice between two people."
" Returning to his new home, Azahiel encountered a small, seemingly defenseless kitten staring at the figure of a tired man. Glowing in the darkness, its eyes were bathed in desire and secret hope. Small claws slowly slid out of their fluffy paws, revealing their shiny blades to the world. "
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" For the first time in eons, the mysterious creature saw the hope of breaking out of its eternal prison. If he was going to succeed, he couldn't mess anything up. "
" Sensing the crushing aura of the adventurer, the black kitten temporarily retreated into the dark depths of the forest, leaving behind a plume of smoke as dark as night. "
" Azahiel breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know why, but his hair stood up, and his senses went wild as soon as the black figure emerged from behind the snowdrift. In a strange and unnatural way, the little cat gave him a sense of insanely dangerous threat. It was as if he was standing before a pandora's box. "
" In the village, the adventurer was hailed as a true hero. Not only did he save the lives of the other gatherers, but he also brought back their loot. But despite the atmosphere of happiness and joy, Azahiel couldn't shake the feeling that "someone or something was watching him closely from the shadows. "
" Many winters have passed since the day of the memorable expedition. Azahiel found true happiness and a new home in the village during this time. Despite his otherworldliness and absurd strength, he was accepted by society and treated as one of them. However, we must not forget the most important thing. A few springs ago, he married Lushia. The Goddess of Fate was kind to the two " young people " and blessed them with two beautiful, healthy daughters. "
" The children became the apple of Azahiel's eye. It is no lie to say that he became the happiest man on earth. The older of the two, she was the perfect reflection of her husband. Her love of magic and combat surpassed even Azahiel's. "The younger one, on the other hand, was a mixture of mother and father. She inherited Azahiel's cool intelligence, cold-bloodedness and Lushi's introverted personality and hopeless sense of direction. "
" However, all good things cannot last forever... otherwise, there would be no unhappy people. "