She slowed down as she saw some lights afar; she ran quite few miles. Sachi calmed down her heart which was beating fast due to the run, sweat started forming on her brows.
"That was good" Sachi thought as she walked towards the lights and saw a village. Her entourage passed through this village before while going towards the capital.
She walked towards the entrance and was stopped. The village guards were stunned at her beauty and thought she was some princess from a kingdom.
"May I know who your highness is? And where you are from?" one of the guards asked.
"How much to pass?" Sachi questioned coldly. The guard felt little pressure from her look, so he immediately answered her "10 silver coins" Sachi just threw a gold coin at him and entered the village.
The other guard who stood rooted by her beauty tried to make a move on her as bad vulgar thoughts formed in his head, he whistled at Sachi "Phwoooooh*" Sachi just glared at him and walked away.
The second guard was stunned again. His back was drenched. An invisible pressure just passed by him. "This girl is not simple" he thought.
Sachi found a small inn to stay. She ordered some food and then entered her room, as soon as she bolted the door she jumped to the island.
"I need to be low key for now and should not cause any ruckus until I reach home" she decided.
After having the food with queen she started meditating, the energy started to form a vortex above her.
Next day she was ready to set out. She purchased a long cloak with a hood covering her face and then purchased a horse; her journey back will take 5 to 7 days. Though the run was good and exhilarating she did not think it was a wise choice atleast for now.
She set out from the village towards home. That night she spent in the forest, it was uneventful. The next two days she covered a long-distance crossing two towns and a village.
The fourth day, the sun was about to set, and she encountered three red hyenas. She who once was mortal and needed help was able to defeat the three with ease. And for the first time she used Ice magic. As she had water magic, she used similar principles and created ice spells and easily fend them off.
The Red hyenas were affiliated towards fire, ice and water were its weakness, so it made her little lucky. Though she encountered a caravan and two groups she did not stop, quickly passed them as she was in a little hurry.
As she was nearing the town she came face to face with a winged panther. Winged panther had a tough body and its ability to fly made it a tricky and dangerous opponent.
Sachi thought to test her strength against it, so she did not avoid it. She reined the horse and looked at the beast. The beast looked at Sachi with cruel eyes and drooling a little. It was hungry and found a good prey.
Sachi slowly dismounted from the horse and walked towards the beast with study steps. She did not have fear. If it was previously, even the Sachi from earth would be a little afraid. However, the Sachi who saw the death gate and returned did not fear the panther. Her eyes focused and determined. From now no one will decide for her, no one will order her, she is master of herself. She will decide her own fate. No one will stop her.
Sachi and the beast slowly circled around each other watching the other carefully. Suddenly the panther made a move but instead of Sachi it aimed at the horse first.
Sachi did not expect this, but she was prepared, she stamped her foot on the ground, an ice wall formed infront of the horse and the panther hit the wall which created cracks on it, but the wall did not break.
The panther thought to bluff the attack towards the horse and jump back on towards Sachi but it failed and hit a wall. So, it quickly stretched it wings and flew up and moved forward with great speed.
Sachi jumped up and tried to punch it. She felt she hit a rock as she took two steps back and the panther moved back two steps. It was surprised at Sachi's behavior. It never thought its prey would punch, and it will be so strong.
A little idea popped up to Sachi, so she summoned the Ice phoenix to come out. As soon as Queen came out it gave a cry. The panther shuddered hearing the cry and looked it as the eyes widened.
The energy and temperature in surroundings dropped.
Queen grew to the size of a hen now. As she saw the panther she was delighted. This will be her first fight since birth. She gave a cry once again. The panther felt something was wrong. It felt a little pressure and it came from inside it's blood and bones from a long line of memory. It felt like surrendering to the little bird infront of her.
The thought of submitting to a lowly bird which is a pet of filthy humans made it angry and it flew towards the bird to kill it with a single swipe and gulp it down in one move. However, as it neared the pressure increased.
Queen's eyes narrowed at the beast's expression, and it flew with high speed towards panther. Both bodies collided in the middle and there was a loud sound like two boulders crashing into each other. The panther flew back a few meters whereas queen moved two steps back. Even though queen's size is small, it cannot be belittled for it is a Phoenix a sacred beast of high level.
The panther felt its body freezing slowly from inside. It felt fear and tried to turn Sachi quickly jumped and cut one of its wings with a shorthand sword which she purchased at previous town. The panther fell down and tried to run ignoring the blood and pain.
But queen gave a shout and released ice breath which froze the panther's back and its hind legs. Sachi took the opportunity and cut off its head.
"Good job, little Queen" praised Sachi. The phoenix felt happy and nudged its head into Sachi's shoulder. Sachi patted its head with a bright grin.