Months after my birth, I could still feel the contemptful stares piercing into me. I knew that, to them, I was an anomaly, a mistake of nature for being born human in a tribe of demihumans. They didn't need to say it aloud; their rejection was in every gesture and look.
Of course, that didn't mean I felt inferior to them. If they thought their lineage gave them some form of superiority, they were mistaken. I didn't understand the root of their disdain, but there had to be some history behind such hostility. Perhaps a war or an ancient conflict fueled their prejudices. Still, those problems weren't mine, and I wasn't going to let their judgments define me.
They watched me, waiting for me to fail or confirm their disdain. But I had other plans.
Of course, it was still very early; I was still a baby. A very cute baby, by the way. I'd have to wait some time before I could prove my superiority. For now, I suppose I'll try to learn something about the tribe and my own family. I heard that my mother was the matriarch when I was born, but I don't know much more than that.
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Adapting to my new body was harder than I thought. I mean, considering I've been a human baby once before. Well, crawling around and making use of the innate knowledge of languages that the angel granted me, I overheard a few conversations and read a couple of books. There were very few of them, but they did tell part of the tribe's history. The only downside was that the records seemed incomplete; there was a point in the history before which there were no records, at least none I could find.
As for my family, since my mother was the matriarch, they kept detailed records of the members. And, to be honest, my family tree is rather strange.
Let's start with the tribe's history, then… After an event that I assume was a war with humans, the records show several groups of corpses and a single group of survivors. The texts say that only seven demihumans survived, who, after being exiled by someone or something, ended up in unexplored territory in the middle of the Great Aedran Forest.
It was a forest that no one dared explore due to the number of deadly creatures inhabiting it, beings with unimaginable abilities and exorbitant levels of magic. Although they didn't cover the entire forest, as there weren't many of these creatures, their power made up for their small numbers. Each one had a small territory within the forest, and they were constantly fighting to steal the others' domains. That's why this part of the forest could never be explored.
Caught between the territories of the 9 creatures, the 7 survivors spent days, weeks, perhaps months, although the records aren't clear on this. They lived constantly fleeing from the creatures' claws, moving to different territories whenever they could, surviving with whatever they found. They were just trying not to die. After that indefinite time, they came to a part of the forest that even the 9 creatures seemed to avoid. Or at least, that's what they thought.
What happened was that they reached a clearing in the forest, where there was crystal-clear water and fertile land, what seemed like fortune finally smiling on them. But as they approached the water, they realized something strange. One of the large creatures, the one they feared more than the others, was there, lying by the lake, dying.
It was a serpent-like creature. The texts that the survivors had found before varied, but they all agreed on one thing: the creature, regardless of its shape, was always a snake of extraordinary proportions. Some accounts described it as a snake so large that it couldn't even be fully depicted in drawings, others as a snake-like dragon with indescribable power. Others still said it resembled a hydra, with multiple heads rising like snakes searching for their prey.
The fact that it was found wounded and nearly dead was a sign of confusion. At first, some thought the creature was waiting for an opportunity to attack, but as they got closer, they saw it wasn't moving. It showed no signs of aggression, and its breathing was slow and labored, as if struggling to hold onto life.
"Should we help it?" asked one of the survivors, with a mixture of doubt and fear. It wasn't an easy decision. The creature was dangerous, and everyone knew what they could lose if they were wrong.
Despite the resistance from some, the majority decided to approach cautiously. After all, it wasn't just a deadly creature; it was also a source of power, and if they could help it, perhaps they'd find something that could help them survive in this relentless place.
After treating the creature's wounds as best they could, the survivors decided to rest near it for several days. They camped around it, keeping watch to make sure no other threats got close and finished it off while it recovered. Over time, the creature began to move again, slowly, and after a few more days, it showed clear signs of improvement.
In gratitude for their help, the serpent allowed them to live in the clearing, a small paradise within its vast and dangerous territory. The creature, now fully recovered, offered them protection, assuring them that their life in that place would be safe as long as they respected its territory. The tribe, grateful, accepted the offer, and over time, the relationship between the survivors and the serpent strengthened.
Many years later, this tribe would become the village I live in now. The serpent, once just a creature that had shown mercy, was revered as a protective deity. Its figure gained a sacred status, and any offense toward it was considered a serious transgression. The consequences of disobeying the rules set by the serpent were severe, and no one in the village would dare challenge it.
As for my family... well, how should I put it? Over the years, there have been some crossbreeds between species in the village, like werewolves and catwomen, or something like that. However, these crossbreeds were rare, except in one family—mine. In my family, crossbreeding between species was so frequent that, in the end, no one knew what race to call us. And I, well, I'm the result of all those crossbreeds. It seems the only thing I inherited from all that is the small human part that runs through my veins.
As for my mother, she was a demihuman woman, a mix between a human and a fox, with beautiful reddish hair. My father died before I was born, during an expedition to the forest. I'm not sure of the exact purpose, but despite the deadly nature of the territory and the fact that we already have livestock in the village, expeditions continued to be carried out.
In the village, when children reach the age of five, every generation must undergo a set of trials adapted to their race. Something tells me that my trials will be especially tough, but if they think I'm going to back down, they're very wrong. I'm going to start training with my mother today to prepare. I've got four years of training ahead of me, and I'm not going to waste a single one on useless things. Those old men who look at me like I'm inferior are going to see what I'm capable of. Soon, they'll be begging me to stay in the tribe.
After two years of intense training (or at least, as intense as my mother could manage, considering my age), I had finally gotten used to my body. And I confirmed it once again: my mother was truly beautiful. I know I've mentioned it too many times, but it didn't matter what angle I looked at her from, or how tired she was, there was something about her that was simply captivating.
The training was mostly simple. Basically, it consisted of an obstacle course. At first, it was something like the courses used by football players, designed to improve my mobility. But that was just the beginning. You never knew exactly what the final trial would be for each child in the village until shortly before facing it, so you had to be prepared for anything. Even for more extreme situations, like fighting other children from the village or participating in some kind of hunt.
The next two years weren't as simple; in fact, they were quite demanding. At some point, I decided to keep a journal, a record of my new life, maybe to organize my thoughts or simply to stay sane. By then, the initial course had transformed into something that resembled military training, maybe even tougher. The most surprising part was that I managed to endure it at my age; I guess some demihuman blood really did run through my veins.
The training now covered a little bit of everything: survival in nature, basic combat skills, and advanced mobility adaptable to various terrains… Every day was a new challenge that tested my endurance and ingenuity.
After four years of training, the time finally came when the village leaders would decide my trial. When I arrived at the village center, the scene that greeted me was imposing: the whole tribe was gathered, forming a circle around the seven leaders. Among them was my mother, who, upon seeing me, gave me a serene smile, as if trying to convey confidence. The other children, who, like me, would face their trial, were also present.
It took a while before the leaders began speaking. Their words echoed with solemnity: this year, the trial would be joint. All the children in the village would compete in a single challenge, divided into three parts.
The first stage would be a race through the forest, with the goal of reaching one of the temples within the serpent's territory. The second stage would be a The second stage would be a tournament among the participants, which would determine the order of the final trial. And finally, the third part: a hunt in the forest.
I don't know when the individual trials were discarded, but assuming it was because of me would be somewhat egocentric. After finishing explaining the trial, the leaders threw me looks full of contempt. Well, everyone except my mother, of course.
Then, as if it were a rehearsed script, they began speaking, one after the other:
"Oh, what do my eyes see, you're still here, human girl?"
"The village wishes for your expulsion; there's no reason for you to stay."
"In fact, we thought you'd left on your own, to avoid the humiliation of exile."
"Unfortunately, you're still here, among us."
"Repugnant."
"Maybe the trial will be too hard for you. You still have time to withdraw and leave the village, girl."
Were they trying to provoke me? Honestly, they could have done better. This was more pitiful than anything else.
I saw my mother tense up, clearly ready to defend me, but just as she was about to intervene, a loud laugh interrupted her. The laughter resonated forcefully… and then cut off abruptly. Only a defiant smile remained on my face.
"Nah, I'd pass the trial even with my eyes closed. Your pathetic trial is nothing to me. You'll see, old men. Soon, you'll be begging me to stay in the tribe with tears in your eyes."
Did I call them old men? They're not even that old. Though, compared to me... Well, that doesn't matter. I'll shut them up.
Besides, I'll earn my name after the trial. As for exile, I suppose that's only something that applies to me. Normally, those who fail simply live without a name. But I'm not going to fail.
I'm going to earn a name they'll never forget.